Matador Network's Blog, page 179

Take Part in Pioneering A New Yemen Trekking Route In 2025

Yemen doesn’t top desired destination lists for most casual trekkers. However, guided treks in the Arabian Peninsula and eastern Mediterranean countries have become more established in recent years, according to James Wilcox of tour operator Untamed Borders. The global travel operator will offer its first-ever guided trek in mainland Yemen for nine days in early 2025, giving 10 trekkers the chance to explore the country’s Hadramout region along with an Untamed Borders guide and local Bedouin villagers assisting en route.

Logistics for embarking on Untamed Borders Yemen trek in 2025

Trekkers will pass this canyon in Wadi Dawan. Photo courtesy Untamed Borders

The trek will cover the wadis, or dry valleys between desert mountains, and desert-scapes of eastern Yemen’s Hadramout region, beginning January 28 and reaching the end of the trail on February 6. Travelers must arrive in Cairo prior to the departure date and will fly together to Seiyun, Yemen, from there. Following the trek, the group will return to Seiyun to fly back to Cairo.

“There’s an area called Wadi Dawan, and others wadis in the region, and inside these wadis (are) villages,” Untamed Borders founder James Wilcox told Matador. “They’re all mud-built, not really towns but more like oases. We’ve set up a route to visit them and experience what their life is like.”

These areas house the route Untamed Borders has established for this trek. The only flights into the mainland of Yemen are with Yemenia Airways, a Yemeni airline that flies in from Cairo. The airline’s flights aren’t generally listed on flight comparison sights, and as such, Untamed Borders handles the booking of its guests’ flights into and out of the country. Travelers are responsible for getting to Cairo, and everyone on the trek will fly into Yemen together. Other logistics, including visas and additional paperwork, will be handled in advance by Untamed Borders.

“We need a whole bunch of documentation from the Yemeni government,” Wilcox says. That’s because guests need a visa, a security document, and other permissions. There are effectively three governments that must provide permissions – the Houthis, as well as two anti-Houthi groups, including the Southern Transition Council (STC) and the old Yemeni government.

Travelers will receive confirmation of their visa status and permissions prior to flying into Yemen. Once in-country, the group will head to Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Manhattan of the Middle East for its mid-rise mud buildings. Here, the group will experience one of the country’s poshest hotels overlooking Wadi Dawan and take in the sunset over the UNESCO site. The 8-day trek begins at Wadi Darwan. The operator provides all food and camping equipment and hopes to include a toilet and shower tent — quite a luxury in this wild landscape. Trekkers will carry daypacks with minimal supplies, the rest being carried by the camels. Throughout, guests will interact with local Bedouin villagers and experience Yemeni cuisine and culture.

Check out Matador’s podcast interview with Untamed Borders founder James Wilcox

What is the trail like, and how did this trek come to be?

Photo courtesy Untamed Borders

The idea was born between Wilcox and two of his guides, including Ade Summers, who will lead the 2025 expedition. The group planned to develop a trekking route through multiple wadis and villages, partnering with local residents to provide an economic boost to their villages and a more thorough experience for the trekkers. Over the winter of 2024, the team visited the region to develop the route and work through the logistics with locals on the ground.

“There was some tourism there before the current conflict, but no one had really done trekking trips to those areas,” Wilcox, the tour guide, says. “The route that we’ve done is a new route. We’ve come up with it ourselves in collaboration with the local team. As well as it being something fun for our clients, we think it’s really good that we get to work with the local guys there and train them up to be competent enough to be able to do this for future tourists, and future income for the area. It’s not just cultural tourism, they’ll have other types of tourism as well.”

Trekkers will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shibam, known as the Manhattan of the Middle East. Photo courtesy Untamed Borders

Lest you think you’re tossing yourself into the abyss with an overly ambitious crew, Untamed Borders began organizing tours and private trips for journalists and other professionals in Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2008. It has since expanded across the region to include other parts of the Middle East, northern Africa, and elsewhere. The company has employed the first female tour guide in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. In 2019, the company piloted its first traveler-oriented trips in Yemen with Summers at the helm.

“Most of the trails on this trek are goat tracks,” Summers says. “We’re using camels as our logistics, which is quite cool. They’ll be carrying the tents and the food.”

In the case of an emergency, the trail will not be more than about 13 miles from a Jeep road, and Jeeps will be used as emergency response vehicles if necessary.

Summers is a former engineer who became bored with office life. After overlanding across Australia, he moved to Mongolia, and eventually made his way to Pakistan and elsewhere in the region. He developed a desire to help shatter preconceptions about this part of the world and show those interested the nuanced splendor of traveling beyond the usual tourist and backpacker circuits.

“Because people perceive this to be such an extreme place, and the history and culture of the place,
the experience of traveling (in Yemen) is so much richer,” Summers says.

How current events play into the trip-planning process

A Bedouin village along the route. Photo courtesy Untamed Borders

During the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the organized Hothi group of Yemen has launched assaults on maritime vessels passing through the Red Sea. The Untamed Borders team team saw no problems with the current conflict during its route-planning expedition in January. The trek is not in an area of the country experiencing Houthi-driven conflict, passing instead through remote and largely self-sufficient villages and areas. Part of the trip’s goal, Wilcox emphasizes, is to showcase to travelers that there’s more to Yemen that what is portrayed in the mainstream media.

“As soon as you start doing a bit of research and asking the right questions, you’ll soon realize there’s no conflict in that area,” says Summers. “It’s all on the coast and in what we’re calling the west of the country. It’s not like the whole country’s in conflict.”

The precautions taken by Untamed Borders and its local partners mean it can offer a safe route for guests, in which they can interact with locals in the desert villages along the way. The experience in Yemen speaks to Untamed Borders larger goal of helping the public see through widely-held misconceptions about this part of the world.

“At a cursory glance, this may not seem like a good place to go,” Wilcox says. “But when they actually go they realize that it’s a lot more nuanced.”

Photo courtesy Untamed Borders

The company was formed as a collective initiative between Wilcox, a Pakistani contact, and an Afghan contact, the former of whom is still involved in the company. It’s earliest work was organizing trips for war journalists and other professionals assigned to cover difficult-to-access regions. Wilcox saw the value of helping them provide a better understanding of these places, and felt that providing the same service to the general public could be quite an opportunity.

“For me, it doesn’t make any sense to promote the countries we go to in any other way than the multi-faceted places they are,” Wilcox says. “Which has really interesting culture, really interesting architecture, geography, history. The geopolitical aspect is really interesting, but that’s just one facet of it. The guys we work with on the ground in Yemen, they’re really proud of Yemen and they really want to do this.”

The overarching goal, in addition to an incredible experience, is to create a lasting economic impact for the villagers and for the trekkers, to provide a desire to constantly broaden their broader worldview and spark continued curiosity. “Maybe this experience will spur another trip,” Summers says. “We’re trying to promote a longer legacy of trekking for our travelers.”

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You Can Now Search Hotels With EV Chargers and Local Charging Stations On Google Maps

EV drivers can now take advantage of new features from Google Maps and Google Search. The most notable is EV charger locations searchable on Google Maps. Additionally, users can now search for hotels with EV chargers on Google Maps.

EV charging locations listed on Google Maps also now include information about the charging stations. Users can see the number of chargers available as well as the kW of each charger. Google Maps also lists the brand of charging station. This is helpful because many EV drivers are members of one program or another, such as ChargePoint or Electrify America, and therefore prefer to charge with that company to take advantage of lower rates for members.

Screenshot/Google Maps

One primary benefit of this is that it allows users to not only located the specific charging company they wish to charge with, but route directions directly to that charging station including distance and travel time to get there. Not displayed, however, is how many of those chargers are occupied or out of order. Drivers will still need to reference mobile apps or other sources for this information.

Screenshot/Google Maps

For users of Google Search, running a search for hotels in a specific location with EV chargers now returns those hotels displayed at the top of the page. This precedes other results from other websites that may include hotel websites and sites from media companies and others reporting on hotels with EV chargers in that location.

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Lake Como’s Hotel Royal Victoria Is A Must-Stay In Northern Italy

An idyllic setting on the shores of Lake Como is enough to kindle wanderlust but why not push the boat out and stay in the hotel where a British monarch once spent the night? Queen Victoria slept at what later was rechristened the Hotel Royal Victoria the year after her coronation. Before being reimagined as a hotel fit for royalty, the building had humble origins as a mill. One thing that hasn’t changed is the spectacular views of Northern Italy’s cherished lake.

The Hotel Royal Victoria by R Collection Hotels is located on the southern edge of Varenna. Direct trains take just over an hour from Milan, making this small resort town on the eastern side of Lake Como an ideal contender if you’re traveling without a car. Whether, like the monarch, you’re celebrating a recent career milestone or are looking to experience the Dolce Vita lifestyle, here’s what to expect from this historic luxury hotel in Northern Italy.

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We hope you love the Hotel Royal Victoria! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Rooms with a view on Lake ComoPhoto: BookingPhoto: BookingPhoto: Booking

This four-star hotel is composed of 39 elegant guest rooms and four refined junior suites. Classic rooms overlooking the main square in Varenna are kept simple with premium satin linens and plum or Champagne paintwork. Deluxe rooms peer over the lake while the top-tier prestige rooms go one step further with a furnished balcony. Go on, order an aperitif, and drink up those views – the boat tour can wait.

Suites at the Hotel Royal Victoria are ideal if you appreciate extra living room while on the road or plan on returning to basecamp for regular siestas. All junior suites have a seating area while bathrooms come with a tub and a separate chromotherapy shower. In terms of views, these are comparable to the prestige rooms so the main gain in upgrading is the additional space.

Spa and pool facilities

The outdoor pool is the star of this coveted Lake Como hotel. You’ll enjoy an eyeful of the famous lake and the surrounding mountains from both the water and the poolside where refreshments are served.

Meander your way through the grounds and you’ll soon wind up at the Hotel Royal Victoria’s spa suite. Hotel guests are invited to reserve a private pampering session and claim exclusive use of the oak sauna, eucalyptus steam bath, and relaxation zone. These facilities feature customizable lighting and an audio kit to set your own spa soundtrack.

Casual and fine dining at the Hotel Royal Victoria

Hotel Royal Victoria by R Collection Hotels gives guests the choice of three restaurants. Ristorante Visteria has a panoramic dining room plus a verandah granting views of the lake towards Bellagio. It’s hard to tear your eyes away from the water but do take the time to admire the artful food – particularly if you opt for the tasting menu. The chef is known to pop out of the kitchen from time to time to hear the verdict on his latest creations. This and the à la carte is a fusion of Italian and Mediterranean styles and all desserts and pastries are made in-house.

The Victoria Grill is a laid-back affair where pizza and tiramisu are served with a view of Varenna’s Old Town. Alfresco appetizers and spritzes are best enjoyed under the vines in the waterfront Bar Giardino.

Around the hotelPhoto: BookingPhoto: BookingPhoto: Booking

Varenna has all the charm of bustling Bellagio (a 15-minute hop on the ferry) while benefiting from a calmer experience in the evening. The town does tend to fill up during the day as day trippers arrive to marvel at the waterside gardens and savor views across the lake. Come nightfall, it’s noticeably quieter and you can enjoy a handheld stroll along the Passeggiata degli Innamorati – the Lover’s Promenade.

Wake up early and idle through the hotel gardens to the sister property. Hotel Villa Cipressi by R Collection is another heritage manor on a separate plot of land. This garden is open to the public and you’ll appreciate a head start as spring tips into the summer high season.

Villa Monastero stands right next door to Villa Cipressi. The House Museum at Villa Monastero comprises 13 rooms furnished with 19th-century art and carpentry and a sumptuous neo-Pompeian bathroom. Cypress trees, yuccas, citrus fruits, and rare botanical species bring a bounty of color to the gardens and terraces. It’s no surprise that these two garden villas are the destinations for wedding photoshoots in Northern Italy.

Journey back further in time at Castello di Vezio. It’s a 40-minute climb to reach this 12th-century defensive castle and the views over Lake Como justify every step.

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What It Looks Like Inside the World’s Largest Underground Cave Waterfall

Deep within Lookout Mountain, on the outskirts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is Ruby Falls, the world’s largest underground waterfall. Accessible by a glass elevator that descends hundreds of feet into the earth, this is one of the coolest outdoor experiences you can have in the state.

The journey begins with a 260-foot descent by a glass-fronted elevator, offering a glimpse of the mountain’s interior before plunging you into the cavern. You can then join a guided tour that takes you along a paved half-mile trail past rock formations sculpted by millennia of water erosion.

Photo: Ruby Falls

As you near the end of the path, the cavern opens into a breathtaking chamber where Ruby Falls crashes down a moss-covered cliff illuminated in lights.

Photo: Ruby Falls

The tour also offers information on the cave’s history. You’ll learn about Leo Lambert, the man who stumbled upon the waterfall in 1928, and how he transformed it into a popular tourist destination named after his wife, Ruby.

There are a few tour options to choose from. For the adventurous, there’s the Lantern Tour — limited to a small group, the after-hours experiences take you through the cavern with hand-held lanterns, an early morning Gentle Walking Tour, and the Low Sensory Cave Tour.

Included in your ticket is entry to The Lookout Mountain Tower, which offers panoramic vistas of the Cumberland Plateau and the Tennessee River winding through the valley below.

A separate ticketed activity, the High Point Zip Adventure course, will take you on a zipline through the mountain forest.

Photo: Ruby Falls

The Ruby Falls Castle also has a cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and lighter fare. The seasonal menu is complimented by a range of local craft beer and Chattanooga-roasted fair-trade coffee. You can also stay overnight in one of the luxury treehouses and take advantage of the stunning Tennessee mountains.

The Cave Walk tour to the waterfalls costs $25.95 for adults, $15.95 for those aged three to 12, and free for those under two. The Lantern Tour and the Gentle Walking Tour tickets are $39.95 and are available to those over five. You also get a keepsake miner helmet with admission. If you’re local or intend on visiting more than once, there are season passes for purchase.

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Jamaica Carnival Is a Colorful Dream of a Celebration

It’s strange to feel like you know both so much and so little about a country. For me, that’s how I’ve always felt about Jamaica. Bob Marley, the Rastafari Movement, ganja, reggae, dancehall, Usain Bolt, the colors of the Jamaican flag… those elements reminded me of the Jamaica I thought I knew. But when I touched down at the airport, seeing the Blue Mountains towering over Kingston Harbour, I realized it wasn’t as familiar as I thought.

As my van drove me from the airport, on the left side of the road, I realized I had lots to discover about the island nation. With each mile we drove, the island’s beauty was unveiled before me. And from what I could see, it looked as inviting and refreshing as a bottle of the country’s beloved Red Stripe beer.

I arrived in Jamaica with the intention of photographing one of the wildest Carnival festivities in the world. But secretly, I also wanted to close the gap between the Jamaica I thought I knew, and the reality of being there. Fortunately, my quest to experience a deeper side of Jamaica paid off, and I ended with so much more than just Carnival photos.

Here’s everything I got to experience during my visit, and why I can’t wait to go back and get to know the island and its culture a little better.

Jamaica Carnival is a colorful, thriving celebration

The Sunday Road March is the main event of Jamaica’s multi-week Carnival season. Thousands of people take the streets of Kingston, Ocho Ríos, and Montego Bay in multi-town events full of music and some of the most vibrant costumes you’ll ever see.

The pictures here are from the Kingston Road March on April 7, 2024.

Streets are full of color and celebrations of culture

Street art is strong in Jamaica, with various murals celebrating Jamaica’s culture everywhere from the Kingston Harbour to the back alleys of Ocho Ríos. Most of the murals portrayed here are from Water Lane in Kingston, produced and maintained with the help of Kingston Creative, a non-profit organization transforming this section of the city into a multidisciplinary arts district.

Celebrating a true Jamaican legend

The Bob Marley Museum is in the musician’s former home in Kingston. The place is a tour de force for every Bob Marley fan, but also for those who appreciate music history in general. A major highlight is Marley’s studio, unaltered from his recording days.

Also worth mentioning is the collection of the musician’s most iconic possessions, like his famous 1976 Land Rover. Photos of Marley himself decorate the walls as a reminder that this legend of a man once occupied the same space you’re standing in.

History lessons at Devon House Heritage Site

The Devon House Mansion is one of Jamaica’s better-known historic landmarks. This palatial, tropical manor was once the property of Jamaica’s first black millionaire, George Stiebel. Now, the manor and its gardens house shops and renowned restaurants.

Jamaica Carnival’s party scene rivals bigger celebrations

The Road March might be Carnival’s main event, but it’s not the only party taking over the streets of Jamaica during this time of the year. Carnival-related events are frequent nearly everywhere on the island, and you could easily party both day and night if you’re up for it.

These photos are from two separate events: a nighttime “Tailgate Party” in the heart of Kingston, and a “Breakfast Party” in the outskirts of the city.

A peaceful haven in the middle of the city

An afternoon walk took me to Emancipation Park, a public park built to commemorate the end of slavery in the Caribbean. It had a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted with the Jamaica Carnival activities around town, with families relaxing under big tropical trees and photographers using the beautiful setting as the perfect backgrounds for photo sessions. The park also contains several sculptures of Jamaica’s national heroes, and a monumental sculpture at the entrance, called “Redemption Song.”

An offshore white-sand paradise

A short boat ride from Port Royal in Kingston can take you to one of several white-sand cays. These small islands are an ideal option for enjoying a day of sun and sand near Kingston, since the city itself doesn’t have a proper beach. These photos are from near Maiden Cay during a post-Carnival event. It was lively on land, but I’m told that this small sand island is a much more quiet destination during the rest of the year.

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Have Packing Anxiety? This Customizable Spreadsheet Is All You Need to Ease Your Mind

No matter if you have the best packing cubes in the world, the backpack with the most practical pockets, and the most functional check-in suitcase, when it comes to packing, you’re still vulnerable to forgetting some of the most essential stuff. Sometimes it’s something crucial but easily replaceable like your toothbrush, and sometimes it’s something that will be tough to live without and will cost you a bundle to buy again, like your laptop charger, or, God forbid, your headphones.

One way to stay on top of it all is to grab a piece of scrap paper and a pen and make a list of everything you’ll need for an upcoming trip, adding a little check mark beside each item once it’s in your luggage. But if you travel frequently, you might want to take a leaf out of Tiktok’s luke.scarpino’s book and have an extremely thorough packing Google sheet that you can use over and over again. Who knew Tiktok was so chockfull of geniuses?

@luke.scarpino Is how i pack for vacation normal? #travel #productive #excel #googlesheets #finance #packing #suitcase ♬ original sound – Luke Scarpino

Scarpino’s Google sheet does not only list all the things he needs to pack but it also includes a color-coded drop-down menu of where each item must go: toiletry bag, backpack, duffle, checked suitcase, and even “on person” for the stuff that he needs to have in his pockets. The icing on the cake, however, is probably the section of the Google sheet that tells him the packing ratio of each bag. Once he hits 100 percent, he knows he’s done.

Some might think that Scarpino’s too fussy for his own good, but you have to give it to him: He’s one organized traveler who’s pretty unlikely to forget the essentials. And as one of his viewers commented, “The fun thing is if you use this same list when it is time to return home, you will never forget something at a hotel again.”

Kindly, Scarpino has shared his packing list template with the world, making it available for free on his online shop. You can download it and edit it to suit your own packing needs — Scarpino added some instructions to help you out in the process. You’ll never forget your toothbrush ever again.

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You Can See the Northern Lights From Michigan’s First Dark Sky Sanctuary

The Great Lakes State just received its first International Dark Sky Sanctuary certification. Earlier this month, DarkSky International recognized northern Michigan’s Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area, which spans 9,425 acres of Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, for its “exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights.”

The research area was certified as a Dark Sky Sanctuary (rather than a Dark Sky Park or Reserve) due to its relatively isolated location. Sanctuary designations are generally designed to promote awareness for properties whose remoteness limits their risk of light pollution but also inhibits public outreach efforts. Beaver Island, the largest island in Lake Michigan, is only reachable by ferry or plane, weather permitting. That the island is a wildlife research area, and therefore conserved for its natural and scientific value, also qualifies it as a Dark Sky Sanctuary.

In addition to hosting a newly minted International Dark Sky Sanctuary, Beaver Island falls within UNESCO’s Obtawaing Biosphere. While more than 97 percent of the sanctuary is overseen by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Central Michigan University oversees 230 acres as a Biological Research Area.

But at the end of the day, what unites all International Dark Sky properties is their extraordinary night skies. On Beaver Island, any number of celestial bodies and phenomena are visible at night, from various constellations and galaxies to meteor showers and the Milky Way. Two particularly special presences are that of the northern lights and zodiacal light, a rare and ethereal astronomical occurrence that occurs when soft sunlight reflects interplanetary dust.

An increasingly popular stargazing destination, Beaver Island at large may be due for an International Dark Sky certification one day, beyond the research area, says Dark Sky Places Program Manager Amber Harrison.

“Through education and advocacy, these efforts protect the natural and cultural setting of the island against the threat of increased growth,” says Harrison of the research area’s International Dark Sky Sanctuary designation in the previously linked release by DarkSky International. Harrison adds, “I am excited to continue our work towards growing the certification area to include the full island in the future.”

Kevin Boyle, Vice President of the Beaver Island Association, agrees, noting, “Eventually, we hope to expand the sanctuary’s boundaries to include the entire archipelago.”

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Tortuga Knocked $100 Off Its Newest Travel Backpack, And It’s a Game Changer

I’ve made no secret of my affection for Tortuga travel backpacks. As a travel editor, I’ve hauled a Setout around the globe for over six years with the complete satisfaction that comes from a bag that easily zips no matter how full it is. On April 17, the brand released its newest travel backpack, the Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite 40L, as a lighter alternative to its popular Travel Backpack, and it’s available now for $250 via the company’s website.

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We hope you love the Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite 40L! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Why the Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite 40L is worth itPhoto: TortugaPhoto: TortugaPhoto: Tortuga

In addition to being one pound lighter and $100 cheaper than its girthier counterpart, the Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite 40L offers slightly different specs. It’s made of 630D CORDURA® re/cor RN6 nylon, has multiple zipped compartments that allow for a bit of bulge without sacrificing “ease of zip,” and is guaranteed carry-on size. It embraces the Tortuga playbook of opening like a clamshell so you can pack it like a suitcase, but retaining comfortable straps for backpack-style carrying. The tight-fitting water bottle holder also remains part of this pack. All this and it’s still designed for trips of longer than a week. The photo collage above demonstrates its features.

The Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite 40L features a hip belt designed to take 80 percent of the strain off your shoulders, so you can walk with it through big airports or across city centers without throwing out your back. The exterior of the pack is water-resistant, so no big deal if you get caught in a rainstorm while heading to the hotel or Airbnb. This is the age of remote work, and the pack accommodates this with a dedicated laptop sleeve and a surrounding compartment that holds chargers, headphones, and other remote work accessories.

What really sets this pack apart, however, is that it fits into the overhead bin even on most smaller regional jets. In all my time traveling with a Tortuga pack, I’ve never had issues getting it through security or past gate agents as a carry-on – in fact, on multiple occasions airport staff has complimented the pack as the most efficient they’ve seen.

The Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite 40L is available now for $250 and includes free shipping. That means you can order today and have the pack in plenty of time for your next trip. Always remember the golden rule – though shalt not roll.

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5 of the 10 Busiest Airports in the World Are in the US, For Now

On April 15, The Airports Council International (ACI) World unveiled some interesting trends in global air travel with their list of busiest airports in the world in 2023. The findings showcase the world’s magnificent (and sometimes maddening) hubs that keep the globe in motion and a significant uptick in air travel since the pandemic.

Within the top 10 busiest airports were five major hubs in the US: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

ACI says across the globe close to 8.5 billion people took to the air, demonstrating a staggering recovery of 93.8 percent from pre-pandemic levels.

The uptick in international flights was another key takeaway, indicating we are again comfortable to go further than domestic destinations.

ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira applauds airports for their ability to adapt to the “ever-evolving landscape,” withstanding everything from extreme weather events due to climate change to challenges presented by global pandemics.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retained its crown as the world’s busiest airport based on passenger traffic. It processed a staggering 104,635,151 passengers. This represents a nearly 12 percent increase compared to 2022 and is just over five percent shy of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) took second place for the first time and emerged as the busiest international airport in 2023. This is no surprise. Dubai’s strategic location and focus on international travel continue to make it a major hub. The airport handled a whopping 86,994,365 passengers last year.

The most significant jump in the top 10 rankings is recorded for Tokyo Haneda (HND), leaping from the sixteenth position in 2022 to the fifth spot in 2023.

There was also a recovery in traffic in Europe. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) witnessed a strong rebound, up from eighth position to fourth with 79,183,364 passengers. It represents a significant increase from 2022, also a return to near pre-pandemic levels. Istanbul Airport (IST) retained its spot with 76,027,321 passengers.

The top ten airports managed 10 percent of global traffic in 2023. Here’s a list of those that ranked:

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), 104,635,151 passengers2. Dubai International Airport (DXB), 86,994,365 passengers3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), 81,755,538 passengers4. London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), 79,183,364 passengers5. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND), 78,719,302 passengers6. Denver International Airport (DEN), 77,837,917 passengers7. Istanbul Airport (IST), 76,027,321 passengers8. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 75,050,875 passengers9. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), 73,894,226 passengers10. New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), 72,214,841 passengers

The ACI World’s findings paint a picture of a recovering air travel industry, with a clear shift towards international travel, welcome news for aviation and the travel industry.

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This Portofino Coast Hotel Epitomizes The Best of the Italian Riviera

No, it’s not a typo, and yes, the Grand Hotel Bristol is as close as you’ll get to everyone’s favorite fictional hotel. Whether the cherry blossom paintwork, dollhouse symmetry, and name were intentional or coincidental is a mystery. One thing is certain: you’ll be the main character at this luxury hotel in the northwest Italian Riviera.

The Grand Hotel Bristol Spa Resort springs out from a tangle of cypresses and azaleas on the azure Portofino Coast. Wake up to vistas sweeping across the Gulf of Tigullio and the Ligurian Sea from the best rooms or get your money’s worth of views by the pool with the summer rays on your neck. Service is attentive and between the superb location and outstanding resort facilities, you’ll not struggle to find ways to fill your day.

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We hope you love the Grand Hotel Bristol Spa Resort! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

A prime location on the Italian Riviera

There’s nothing alpine about the setting of the Grand Hotel Bristol Spa Resort by R Collection Hotels. This Liberty-style resort is located on the outskirts of Rapallo in the Liguria region of Italy. It’s a 10-minute drive (or 30-minute walk) to the harbor where boats ferry passengers to Portofino and other pretty Italian Riviera towns and catamarans set sail at sunset.

The seaside town itself squeezes a lot of sights into a small area. Once used to shoo away pirates, the 16th-century castle now brings in day trippers by the boatload. Ride the cable car up to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro for epic views and make it back down to the lungomare to partake in the Italian tradition of passeggiata, a pre-dinner stroll.

Genoa and the nearest airport sits 20 miles north along the coast. Cinque Terre is a similar distance in the opposite direction and is a straightforward day trip from Portofino. Group tours give you the choice of hiking or riding the Cinque Terre Express train between the villages. There’s also the option of getting there by boat during summer.

Sea-view rooms and suites at the Grand Hotel BristolPhoto: BookingPhoto: BookingPhoto: Booking

This five-star spa resort comprises 69 rooms and 11 suites, many of which grant gulf views. All units have been recently refurbished and feature hardwood flooring, upholstered beds, and an ambient pastel color scheme. Most rooms have air conditioning and coffee makers and there are options to accommodate couples and families.

Deluxe seafront rooms come with a French balcony and a private bathroom with a tub. Junior suites have comfortable seating areas and panoramic windows to maximize the Italian Riviera scenery. The most exclusive suites come with larger balconies or even a free-standing private hot tub.

Make time for me time

Slide straight into vacation mode at this luxury hotel with a huge swimming pool, a private beach club, and a much-hyped spa.

Teetering off the rocky cliffside, the Marina di Bardi Beach Club is a three-minute journey by complimentary shuttle. All facilities are for the exclusive use of hotel guests and you can enjoy a meal or cocktail with a view from the restaurant and bar in between dips.

The spa is of such caliber that it wriggled its way into the hotel’s name. Erre Spa has an indoor pool, sauna, ice wall, Turkish and Mediterranean baths, hydrotherapy suites, emotional showers, and multisensory relaxation zones. If these aren’t quite enough to banish the tension of a long-haul flight, you can browse a hefty list of massage, body, and face treatments delivered with natural ingredients such as cocoa butter and citrus. Therapists are trained with the latest technologies and techniques.

General admission to the spa at Grand Hotel Bristol Spa Resort by R Collection Hotels costs €58 (around $63) per person. Choose to bounce between the amenities at leisure or devise a bespoke wellness path with one of the technicians.

Italian and Ligurian cuisine with a viewPhoto: BookingPhoto: BookingPhoto: Booking

The closest off-site restaurants are an easy 10-minute walk from the hotel and you can select from three restaurants at the Grand Hotel Bristol Spa Resort. Breakfast is a continental buffet of fresh fruits, cereals, pastries, and cold cuts served on the terrace.

Le Cupole dishes up Michelin-starred fare from Liguria and other regions of Italy. Pansotti al Preboggion – Ligurian cheese-stuffed pasta flecked with herbs – is the plate to order. It pairs deliciously with the regional white wines made from Vermentino (Pigato) grapes. La Veranda has a more down-to-earth vibe with shareable plates of toasted octopus and salted cod followed by homestyle pasta and risotto.

Last but not least, The Flamingo is the poolside bar serving Ligurian focaccia and pizza that’s far too good to share.

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