Matador Network's Blog, page 51

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Published on March 18, 2025 13:50

United Airlines Just Added Bartender-Approved, In-Flight Cocktails to Its Domestic Routes

In-flight cocktails are often lackluster, and that’s being generous. But United Airlines is changing that on certain routes. Crafthouse Cocktails, the award-winning ready-to-drink (RTD) brand co-founded by renowned mixologist Charles Joly, is now available on select United Airlines domestic flights — bringing bar-quality libations to 30,000 feet.

The Chicago-based Crafthouse Cocktails is known for its commitment to natural ingredients and cocktail recipes curated by James Beard Award nominee Charles Joly. “We’re thrilled to partner with United to elevate the inflight experience by offering passengers the balance and flavors they’d expect from their favorite cocktail bar,” Joly said in a press release.

Photo: Crafthouse Cocktails

United is now serving four Crafthouse favorites, including the espresso martini, moonlighter, mai tai, and pineapple daiquiri. The cocktails are complimentary in United Business and United First, and available in United Economy for $12 on domestic flights over 300 miles and flights between the mainland United States and Hawaii.

Beyond the cabin, Crafthouse’s rise reflects broader shifts in the RTD market. According to Fortune Business Insights, global RTD beverage sales are projected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2032, driven by consumer demand for convenience and quality. Crafthouse’s approach — eschewing citric acid in favor of real citrus and partnering with high-end spirit producers like Plantation Rum and La Cofradia Tequila — has carved out a niche among discerning drinkers.

As the RTD cocktail space continues its meteoric rise, Crafthouse is proving that convenience and craftsmanship can coexist. And thanks to its new partnership with United Airlines, travelers can now savor a sophisticated cocktail experience midair—no bar tab, no turbulence.

More like this Airports + Flying Buying a Mid-Flight Snack on United Airlines Just Got a Little Easier

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Published on March 18, 2025 13:40

The Most Convenient Airbnbs in Each of Dublin’s Top Neighborhoods for Visitors

Teeming with historical attractions, gorgeous green spaces, and epic pubs, Dublin is a charismatic city you’ll not forget in a hurry – subject to how many pints of Guinness you knock back. The spirited Irish capital draws backpackers, couples, and families in equal measure. Whether you’re hankering after a weekender or planning a pitstop on a wider Emerald Isle adventure, you need to know where to stay in Dublin. Check out our guide to Airbnb Dublin, Ireland, scene in and around the city center.

These Airbnbs in Ireland Showcase the Best of the Emerald Isle Rent The Holiday Pub in Cork or Tipperary for the ultimate Irish getaway The best Airbnbs in Belfast, from the Titanic Quarter to Shankill Road 10 Airbnbs Make You Feel Like You’re Living in Game of Thrones Stay like royalty at these Airbnb Ireland castle rentals

We hope you love the Airbnb Dublin vacation rentals we recommend! 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.

Coolest Dublin Airbnbs – St. Stephen’s Green and Portobello Dublin Airbnb rentals in Temple Bar Unforgettable Dublin Docklands Airbnbs Relaxing Airbnbs in Monkstown, Dublin Bay Best Airbnbs in Dublin, MalahideCoolest Dublin Airbnbs – St. Stephen’s Green and PortobelloThe Tailor’s Room – boutique pad in Central Dublin

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This meticulously renovated basement apartment Airbnb in Dublin’s city center is right in the core of the historic quarter. The bed is partitioned from the main living zone where you can fling open the window and let fresh air and natural light flood the space. When the sun shines, make yourself at home on the hidden patio. A short stroll from Dublin Castle and St Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Stephen’s Green offers a quieter environment in comparison to neighboring Temple Bar.

Two guests, one bedroom (studio)
Price: $205 per night

Luxury George’s St house with four ensuites and rooftop

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Kick back in this voguish Dublin Airbnb apartment steps away from Grafton Street, Trinity College, and St. Stephen’s Green. Each of the four double bedrooms comes with its own fireplace and bathroom. Sure to delight those who need solitude in the morning, one even has its own kitchenette. Climb up onto the roof terrace with a mug of joe and plot out your day in Dublin with a picturesque backdrop.

Nine guests, four bedrooms
Price: $1,245 per night

Boutique townhouse in the heart of Dublin

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This Airbnb in the Dublin city center is ideal for large groups, occupying a former cobbler’s workshop. Although carefully refurbished to cater to modern travelers, the lounge decor remains faithful to the heritage of the building with exposed stonework and industrial-chic touches. At full capacity, this family-friendly vacation property on the corner of the green can accommodate fifteen guests. The walled backyard and nursery with a crib make it a top contender for those with younger kids.

Fifteen guests, six bedrooms
Price: $1,995 per night

Dublin Airbnb rentals in Temple BarPenthouse in the heart of Dublin City Temple Bar

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Slap-bang in the middle of the nightlife hub, this penthouse Airbnb in the heart of the Dublin city center is a perfect pick for those looking to sample the best of Irish nightlife. The squeaky clean minimalist space consists of two double bedrooms each with its own bathroom, a full kitchen, and an airy lounge that opens out onto a spacious patio.

Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $285 per night

Chic riverside one-bedroom condo in Temple Bar

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Kitted out with funky pieces of art, scarlet-hued settees, and a well-stocked bookshop, this Temple Bar Dublin Airbnb is an oasis from the bustle down below. The compact kitchen contains all you need to rustle together a meal before a night in the local pubs while views of the River Liffey add charm.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $250 per night

Iconic Dublin cottage walkable to the best Temple Bar pubs

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The interior of this spot exudes warmth, as any good Irish residence must, with a cozy interior, modern amenities, and walkability that creates an inviting atmosphere no matter what you’re doing in Temple Bar (we have a guess). The area is iconic of Dublin’s rich cultural tapestry, and its pubs. Renowned landmarks such as Trinity College and St. Stephen’s Green are within easy walking distance, while an array of traditional pubs, gourmet restaurants, and boutique shops await.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $202 per night

Unforgettable Dublin Docklands AirbnbsHouseboat, Grand Canal, Dublin – the Sunny Barger

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All aboard the best Dublin Airbnb houseboat! Moored in the Charlotte Key Docks complex at Grand Canal, the vacation home is within walking distance of the city center. Each of the three cabins contains a double bed. The galley is rigged with a fully-functional kitchen, plump leather couches, a wood burner, and the captain’s helm – awesome for a selfie. On a sunny afternoon, you can sit out on the deck and soak up the nautical atmosphere.

Four guests, three bedrooms
Price: $420 per night

High-ceiling home in South City Center

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This stylish high-ceiling home offers guests an exquisite blend of historic charm and modern luxury. The spacious interiors are bathed in natural light, highlighting contemporary furnishings and tasteful décor that create an inviting atmosphere. With a fully equipped kitchen and comfortable sleeping arrangements, the place is ideal for cooking and raising a pint at happy hour. Renowned landmarks such as Trinity College and St. Stephen’s Green are within easy walking distance, while an array of pubs, restaurants, and shops await — and there’s room for a decent group, as up to six can stay in the pad.

Six guests, two bedrooms
Price: $186 per night

Relaxing Airbnbs in Monkstown and Dublin BayDazzling sea view villa on Dublin Bay

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Flee the city center for a night and savor R&R with a view of the Irish Sea from this Mediterranean-style Airbnb in Monkstown, Dublin. A wide terrace on the upper story grants dreamy panoramas across the water from this village-like suburb. Interiors are dressed with period furnishings and upholstery but topped off with state-of-the-art appliances. The sauna and games room are two key highlights of this family-friendly home. The center of Dublin is a 25-minute drive away or 30 minutes via the DART commuter line.

Thirteen guests, six bedrooms
Price: $1,525 per night

Seaside hideaway, Dún Laoghaire

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Nestled in between Monkstown and Dún Laoghaire, this two-story end terrace is the seaside abode of a local family. This is reflected in the style of the rental – you’ll find all your creature comforts and appreciate the homely ambiance. French sliders reveal a secluded back patio with seating and a hammock. All in all, this is the perfect family-friendly Airbnb in Monkstown.

Five guests, two bedrooms
Price: $355 per night

Stunning remodeled cottage in Dalkey Town

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This remodeled cottage offers a harmonious blend of traditional Irish charm and modern luxury — and it’s right by the bay, so the views are epic. The interior boasts contemporary furnishings that complement the cottage’s classic architecture. The kitchen is chef’s quality, the place is spacious by European standards, and its walkable to the surrounding pubs and neighborhood. Four a small group or single family, it’s an ideal spot to post up.

Stepping outside, visitors are greeted by the picturesque streets of Dalkey, renowned for their historic allure and vibrant local culture. A short stroll leads to an array of quaint shops, traditional pubs, and gourmet restaurants, offering an authentic taste of Irish hospitality. For those keen on exploration, the nearby coastline provides scenic walks with breathtaking sea views, making this cottage an ideal base for both relaxation and adventure.

Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $293 per night

Best Airbnbs in Dublin, MalahideGuestReady – stunning two-bedroom flat with terrace and sea view

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Located a 20-minute drive (30 via DART), Malahide is a charming seaside resort with pretty beaches and a castle. It’s suitable for guests who want to fuse city attractions by day with sleepier – yet devastatingly scenic – digs. This modern but homey Airbnb family home comes with two bedrooms and a terrace surrounded by greenery. Situated conveniently in Malahide Marina, it’s a top choice for sunset lovers. [mn-post-enders]

Three guests, two bedrooms
Price: $240 per night

Double-ensuite in cute Malahide property

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The picturesque coastal village of Malahide is a nice alternative to busy Dublin that still provides easy access to the city, and this charming guest house offers travelers a serene retreat just a stone’s throw from Dublin’s vibrant city center. The double ensuite room provides a cozy and comfortable space, perfect for couples or solo adventurers seeking tranquility. Guests can enjoy modern amenities, ensuring a restful stay amidst the quaint Irish surroundings.

Beyond the comfort of your room, Malahide boasts a rich tapestry of attractions. Stroll through the lush grounds of Malahide Castle, indulge in local cuisine at nearby eateries, or take a leisurely walk along the marina. With easy access to public transportation, Dublin’s cultural landmarks are within effortless reach, making this guest house an ideal base for both relaxation and exploration.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $122 per night

More like this Food + Drink These Dublin Food Tours Showcase Irish Cuisine at Its Finest

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Published on March 18, 2025 06:00

These 11 Airbnbs Place You in the Heart of the World’s Most Stunning Wildlife Destinations

For a wildlife photographer, scoring the perfect image means immersion within the habitat. If you want to witness and document some of the planet’s most impressive wildlife spectacles, these Airbnbs will set you up for success. From the elephant herds of Botswana’s Chobe National Park, where a riverfront villa places you at the heart of the action, to the cloud forests of Monteverde, where a treehouse cabin provides a vantage point for observing endemic birds and monkeys, these rentals offer you front-row seats and some of the best conditions for wildlife viewing in the world.

We hope you love the Airbnbs we recommend! 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.

To capture the elusive resplendent quetzal in its natural habitat, Monteverde’s cloud forests, Costa Rica

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: crbellette, Bob Hilscher/Shutterstock

Photo: Airbnb

Early morning or late afternoon are the optimal times for better light and animal activity in Monteverde. Giving yourself the gift of flexibility and time to enjoy photography here will significantly improve your experience, your chances of seeing more wildlife, and the end product. That’s why having a base in the forest is a must. This area of Costa Rica is a haven for wildlife due to the cloud forest ecosystem. Expect to see the colorful, resplendent quetzals, hummingbirds, howler monkeys, two-toed and three-toed sloths, red-eyed tree frogs, snakes, and tarantulas. One of the dreamest Airbnbs in the forest is this cabin in the trees. It’s within a private estate, so there’s a nice blend of luxury and adventure. The cozy space offers breathtaking mountain views and unforgettable sunsets from the deck and Jacuzzi.

Three guests, one bedrooms
Price: $439 per night

For your best chance to capture a herd of elephants, Chode National Park, Botswana

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: 2630ben, Henk Bogaard/Shutterstock

Photo: Airbnb

At the end of Botswana’s dry season (May to October), Chode National Park is one of the best places in the world to see herds of elephants. Over 120,000 elephants call this area of Botswana home, and the river that runs through the northeastern border of the park delivers some of the best safari boat cruises in the world. This four-bedroom private villa has an unbeatable location right on the water and three minutes by boat from the park entrance. It might be considered a bit pricey, but if you have a group, it’s considerably cheaper than staying at a nearby safari lodge. The property is fully staffed and luxurious. The large open deck with a private pool looks over the river, where hippos often relax under the trees; each bedroom has an ensuite, and there’s a library, gym, private jetty, and an outdoor dining area.

Eight guests, four bedrooms
Price: $1,173 per night

To document the iconic giant tortoises roaming freely in their natural environment, the Galápagos Islands

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Maridav/Shuttestock

Photo: Airbnb

The Galápagos Islands need no introduction. The archipelago is on the list of any wildlife enthusiast, and those lucky enough to visit return with stories that bolster its legendary status as one of Earth’s most scientifically important and biologically outstanding areas. The journey includes border crossings and multiple flights, but it wouldn’t be such a natural paradise if it were close to civilization. Getting there is expensive, but there are a handful of afforable Airbnbs that can help keep your budget in check. This villa sleeps five and is located on the slopes of an inactive volcano on Santa Cruz Island, almost 400 meters above sea level. The Scandinavian-style property is surrounded by endemic Scalesia trees and fruit (oranges, lemon, and tangerine) trees — which guests can harvest during their stay. And you won’t need to go far to see a Galápagos giant tortoise as they roam the property’s grounds.

Five guests, two bedrooms
Price: $585 per night

For a chance to photograph rare and endemic Sri Lankan birds, south Sri Lanka

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Martin Mecnarowski, Lubos Houska/Shutterstock

Photo: Airbnb

The southern littoral of Sri Lanka has some exceptional protected areas for birdlife. The Yala, Bundala, Lunugamwehera, and Udawalawe National Parks offer diverse habitats, from arid scrublands to wetlands and seasonal waterholes, perfect for various birdlife. The region is also within the Indian subcontinent’s migratory flyway, with seasonal influxes of waterbirds and raptors. You can find endemic species, such as the Sri Lanka Junglefowl, the Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, and the Sri Lanka Woodshrike, alongside many smaller passerines, including warblers, flycatchers, and babblers. This luxury lakefront safari house is within a bird sanctuary near the parks and Weerawila Lake. Although it’s a private residence, it is part of a hotel, so guests can use those facilities and enjoy a complimentary breakfast before heading out for a shoot.

Five guests, two bedrooms
Price: $440 per night

For polar bears, walruses, reindeer, and the Arctic fox, Svalbard, Norway

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Ondrej Prosicky, Incredible Arctic/Shutterstock

Photo: Airbnb

This region’s stark, glacial landscapes and extreme climatic conditions create a dramatic backdrop for capturing images of Arctic wildlife. Depending on when you’d like to visit, the midnight sun during summer and the polar night during winter offer very different but equally impressive lighting conditions. The polar bear is the primary subject for many, but you’ll also have the chance to see the endemic Svalbard reindeer, walruses, and various species of seals, such as the bearded and ringed seals. Accommodations in the area are in limited supply. You need to plan a trip to Svalbard in advance and do your research (perhaps even including getting a local guide). This Airbnb cabin is near Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen (the largest island in the archipelago.) It’s the main settlement area, so it’s accessible and makes an ideal base for exploring the region. It sleeps up to seven people, and one of the bedrooms benefits from a glass ceiling that allows you to watch the northern lights dancing across the night sky from bed.

Seven guests, three bedrooms
Price: $251 per night

For stunning images of Atlantic puffins in their breeding burrows, St. Kilda, Scotland

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: grafxart/Shuttestock

Photo: Airbnb

St. Kilda, a remote archipelago 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, is home to seabird colonies, namely the largest puffinry of Atlantic puffins in the UK and Northern gannets, and free-roaming Soay sheep. Also known as Hiort, in Scottish Gaelic, the landscape of rugged terrains, towering sea cliffs, and exposed moorland create a dramatic backdrop for photographing these beautiful species. There’s camping on the main island but no formal accommodations. Because of this, I choose a nearby Guest Favorite one-bedroom cottage on the Isle of Harris. Plenty of boat trips leave Harris for St. Kilda, but because seeing the circus of puffins is high on the list of many visitors and locals in the country, you should book boats as far in advance as possible.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $237 per night

For close-up photography of the endangered huemul deer in its rugged mountain terrain, Patagonia, Chile

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Olena Viktorova/Shuttestock

Photo: Airbnb

The Río Ibáñez region of Aysén, and Patagonia as a whole, are home to diverse landscapes: Andean foothills, steppe grasslands, and glacial watersheds. This combination creates habitats for many species, and the region’s remoteness, coupled with its relatively low human population density, allows for observation of wildlife in a largely undisturbed state. The main draw is the Patagonian mammals. If you’re lucky (and have a deep understanding of animal behavior), you might spot a puma. You’ll likely see guanaco, a wild relative of the llama, and an Andean deer, or huemul. Huemuls are shy, so again, you’ll need to do fieldwork and perhaps get a local guide to see the largest native deer in Chile. This three-bedroom cabin is one of the top one percent listings on Airbnb. It overlooks Patagonia National Park and is decorated with traditional Chilean textiles and artwork.

Six guests, three bedrooms
Price: $287 per night

To photograph the African Big Five, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: PACO COMO, Miroslav Srb/Shutterstock

Photo: Airbnb

The dry winter months, from May to September, offer optimal conditions for photography in Kruger National Park. The sparse vegetation and concentrated water sources increase the likelihood of encountering the Big Five — lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo. There’s a surprising number of Airbnbs and lodges in or near the park. If my suggestion of where to stay is too expensive, check out Matador’s largest selection of other vacation rentals. With views of the Crocodile River and renowned Kruger National Park, this Airbnb is a modern architectural masterpiece, blending indoor-outdoor living seamlessly. Ideal for multi-generational families or small groups of close friends, the house sleeps 10 in its luxury five bedrooms. The waterfront property has WiFi, free parking, a swimming pool, and an expansive deck with a fire pit and outdoor dining facilities.

10 guests, five bedrooms
Price: $1,247 per night

For close-up photography of Yellowstone’s megafauna, Yellowstone National Park

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Laurens Hoddenbagh, Ben Wickham/Shutterstock

Photo: Airbnb

You don’t have to go halfway around the world to flex your wildlife photography muscles; Yellowstone is one of the many parks in the US with exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. Yellowstone’s megafauna are a primary draw for photographers. Elk, bison, and pronghorn are abundant. Wolves and grizzly bears, though more elusive, are present, requiring significant time and knowledge of their habits to photograph, and smaller mammals, such as coyotes, badgers, and marmots, also contribute to the park’s biodiversity. You’re spoilt for choice for Airbnbs near the gateways to the park. This family cabin not only has a jaw-dropping view and hot tub, it’s just minutes from West Yellowstone. The two-bedroom has a modern Scandinavian style, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a stylish neutral color pallet.

Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $541 per night

For a chance to document the breaching of humpback whales in their winter breeding grounds, Maui, Hawai’i

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: idreamphoto/Shuttestock

Photo: Airbnb

Maui’s isolation means a high degree of endemism, and its topography, ranging from coastal reefs to high-altitude forests, creates many habitats for land and water species. In a nutshell, it’s a playground for any wildlife enthusiast. During winter, the waters surrounding Maui become breeding grounds for humpback whales. The gentle giants migrate from their Alaskan feeding grounds to the warm, shallow waters of the Au’au Channel between Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Maui is one of the best places in the US for land-based whale watching. There are various places on the shore where you can spot whales during the season, including the beaches of Pu’u Ola’i, Makena, Kāʻanapali, Kīhei, and Wailea, McGregor Point lookout, and Lahaina Pali Trailhead. It’s also another place where you have many choices on Airbnb. Check out this two-bedroom newly remodeled luxury suite for a Lahaina stay close to the action. The oceanfront location is prime Hawai’i real estate; the beach is on your doorstep, and it’s a short walk to Whalers Village.

Eight guests, two bedrooms
Price: $1,045 per night

Book NowMore like this Travel Camera Roll: A Seven-Day Wildlife-Watching Trip Around the Galápagos Islands

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Published on March 18, 2025 00:58

March 17, 2025

Slow Down, See More: the Joy of Slow Travel on a Tanzania Road Trip

I was a travel writer for almost seven years before I went to Africa for the first time. It wasn’t from lack of interest. The continent felt somehow prohibitive in ways others didn’t. Like many travelers, I enjoy making my own itinerary, keeping a loose schedule, and taking a self-guided trip rather than relying on a tour company to escort me around. Though I’ve wanted to see the lions, zebras, and elephants of sub-Saharan Africa since I first watched The Lion King at six years old, renting a car and spontaneously winging it through the Serengeti on a Tanzania road trip never felt logistically feasible. But I was loath to limit my experience to a predetermined itinerary, or share a cramped safari vehicle with a bunch of strangers.

That’s why, when a friend floated the idea of a Tanzania safari, I investigated how to make it happen with the most flexibility and freedom possible. During the planning process, I got in touch with Unforgettable Travel Company, a luxury travel agency specializing in custom trips, and it convinced me to give a travel agent-planned trip a try. I told them we wanted to do three things: see diverse landscapes, experience the country by car, and stay at a range of different campsites. And now, having returned from my trip, I’m glad I leaned on experts when it came to visiting the real-life Pride Lands.

I was surprised by the travel-planning company’s flexibility

Photo: Delbars/Shutterstock

Everyone who knows me knows I’m stubbornly anti-itinerary and anti-tour company, sometimes to my own detriment. But since it’s a custom travel company, it felt more rugged and individualized than I expected.

My planning calls with Unforgettable Travel felt like I was brainstorming road trip plans with a friend. I wasn’t asked to simply choose a premade itinerary from a website; I told them my three key criteria, and we worked out a great week-long safari experience in the Serengeti.

I looked forward to this initial itinerary for all of two days before I annoyingly called my advisor back.

“So, I’ve been Googling,” I said, “and I found this place called Ngorongoro Crater southeast of the Serengeti. It looks like Jurassic Park. Can we work it in?”

“No problem,” was the immediate answer, impressively hiding their frustration with me.

My advisor probably already thought I was odd, as what I looked forward to most about the trip was something many travelers probably try to avoid: traveling by car through the country. Given the vast distances between lodges and game reserves, the most popular method for travel in the country is domestic flights in small bush planes, hopping from camp to camp. But to me, driving felt like the best way to see more of the countryside and savanna, and added a fun road trip element. Now, having done that, I can say it was the best of both worlds, giving us additional autonomy to make stops, but with the safety and convenience of a knowledgeable guide who navigated the Serengeti like he was traveling through his own backyard.

Driving to Ngorongoro helped build excitement for the trip to come

Tanzania’s parks have mostly unmarked dirt roads that could be hard for solo drivers to navigate. Photo: Jen Watson/Shutterstock

Our guide picked us up from our hotel in Arusha, the gateway city to the Serengeti, in a rugged-looking safari vehicle. It could seat seven, but since all Unforgettable Travel tours are private, my friend and I had the spacious car all to ourselves. It would be our home for the next week as we traveled more than 300 miles across the plains of the Serengeti.

Geoffrey, our guide, wasn’t a man so much as a wildlife encyclopedia. En route to Ngorongoro Crater, he rattled off interesting facts about the baboons on the roadside, and swiftly identified birds we’d never heard of. He answered every question I asked with confidence, even ridiculously stupid ones, like “If giraffes only eat plants, how do they get so tall?”

Smooth roads soon turned to bumpy gravel, then dirt. And it didn’t take long to make me happy we hadn’t opted for a full do-it-ourselves road trip, as it quickly became clear you shouldn’t go off-road driving on the unmarked roads and trails around Tanzania’s national parks. Away from the main roads, it was mostly dirt roads with no signs or markers whatsoever. It seemed like you’d just have to know where you were going. Technically, you’re allowed to drive yourself without a guide, but I’m not sure how anyone actually does it because it’s so easy to get lost. And since you need to make all your hotel and resort reservations in advance, you can’t just wing it to figure out where to stay based on how much distance you can cover each day — showing up to a safari camp without a reservation is not a great idea.

The drive took about four hours, passing Maasai villages on hillside as we skirted the crater’s rim. Eventually, we arrived at Entamanu Camp, our first hotel of the trip. Anyone thinking that safaris still mean camping in wind-rattled tents has never seen a place like Entamanu Camp. The cozy cottage felt like I was staying at a cousin’s lake house, if that lake house had near-panoramic views of the natural scenery. And this isn’t camp dining — the food was fantastic and we certainly didn’t go hungry.

entamanu camp - serengeti road trip tanzania

Photo: Entamanu Camp

“More steak?” the waiter asked us at dinner, when he noticed we’d devoured our steak tips in record time.

“Sure, why not?” we replied.

He gave us a knowing smile, disappeared into the kitchen, and returned 10 minutes later with a massive tray of steak fillets.

Praising a hotel’s hospitality has become cliche. They’re in the hospitality industry — of course they’re hospitable. But the team went above and beyond, and we joked that they felt like doting mothers trying to fatten you up with food and affection.

“You are welcome,” the staff say upon arrival, upon your return from safari, when you sit down to dinner, and pretty much whenever else they cross your path. It means, quite literally, “you are welcome here.”

Entamanu Camp, as well as the others we visited, are camps owned by Nomad, a safari company that partners with Unforgettable Travel. Between arriving at the camp and spending time with Geoffrey, it was clear after just one day that warmth and friendliness are two staples of the Nomad experience.

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Our first morning, we woke up bright and early – or, more accurately, dark and early, as our game drive began just before 6 AM. Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, and known by some as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” It’s also a protected area within Tanzania, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to more 26,000 large mammals and 500 bird species.

If you’ve always wondered if The Lion King was based on a true story, visiting Ngorongoro will dispel any doubts. Zebras, elephants, rhinos, antelopes, and flamingos live alongside one another in relative harmony on the vast grasslands. Baboons make their home in the forest trees, while hippos lord over the lakes. And in true Lion King, it didn’t take long to witness a drama unfold between lions and hyenas as they vied for the same wildebeest kill.

As we watched the animals go by, I kept thinking that it felt like a Garden of Eden, but without the humans — which is probably for the best.

The southern Serengeti

tanzania road trip - giraffe and safari car

Photo: Michal Hamet/Shutterstock

After visiting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, safari-goers would typically fly from a nearby airstrip to somewhere within Serengeti National Park. But because we’d chosen to take a Tanzania road trip, we instead embarked on a five-hour road trip to the southern part of the Serengeti through a variety of diverse landscapes.

Leaving the Ngorongoro area, we passed through lush hills home to scores of Maasai villages. Maasai men worked in the fields, while women impressively balanced baskets of fruit on their heads. One school-aged girl, with elaborate handcrafted earrings and a bag slung across her back, walked through the tall grass between a group of giraffes and zebras, paying them no more attention than if they had been squirrels. This brief window into daily life in the Serengeti instantly made me thankful we had driven instead of flown.

The southern Serengeti is flatter and more open. Photo: nshah86/Shutterstock

A few more hours of bumping along under forested canopies and muddy plains, and we were knocking on the door of the southern part of the Serengeti. The plains are almost completely flat, with acacia trees dotting the misty horizon. The region’s famous wildebeest migration starts from this region in July, and it was only January, so there were still hundreds of wildebeests milling around in giant herds.

On the way, in one particularly muddy stretch, our car lurched and stopped, tires stuck in the mud. Looking ahead, we saw that rain from the night before was making the road ahead of us look a little dicey. But it was no problem for Geoffrey, who grabbed a machete from under his seat, and ran off to find an alternate path, in a truly Indiana Jones-esque move.

My friend and I poked our heads through the sunroof, and were astonished by the sheer flatness of the plains around us. We saw no mountains, no bodies of water, and no other cars in any direction. Just Geoffrey on a solitary trek through the tall grass and a distant herd of wildebeest, all marching single-file toward their next watering hole, their backs tinged orange by the setting sun.

Photo: Robert Harding Video/Shutterstock

Geoffrey eventually did find an alternate route, and we backed up, changed direction, and soon arrived at the Serengeti Safari Camp. Rooms at the resort are sturdy canvas tents without any frills or luxuries, but everything you need for a comfortable stay.

“You are welcome,” we heard again and again when we arrived. We would become quite close to the staff here, thanks to an innovative feat of bush engineering: the bucket shower. Because Serengeti Safari Camp is a mobile camp, moving with the wildebeest as they migrate, there’s no permanent plumbing. Instead, guests inform the staff when they’d like to shower, and a team member will fill a bucket with heated water, hoist it into position, and refill it as needed while you pull levers to activate the water flow. It’s not as weird as it sounds, though calling out instructions to a random guy while showering does take some getting used to.

Photo: Eben Diskin

Showers aside, everything in the tent is what you’d expect from a normal hotel room. My favorite part of staying at a rustic camp like this was feeling closer to nature. You can hear lions roaring in the night (hence the guards with spears who keep watch during the night), and we even saw an elephant casually stroll past the front opening of our tent. It was like a little amuse-bouche — a prelude to the safari to get us excited for what was to come.

“The animals always have their own story,” Geoffrey told us the next day on safari, as he stopped our vehicle beside a small pack of lions, feasting on a dead wildebeest. “You never know what they will be doing.”

Sure, Geoffrey was explaining to us why he loves his job — but it really did seem like he always knew what the animals would be doing.

“Watch the hyenas on the ridge,” he said. “They will wait for the lions to finish, then come in and finish the meat. They are scavengers.”

Hyenas watching a lion with a kill in Tanzania. Photo: Vladimir Strnad/Shutterstock

Sure enough, the hyenas eyed the lions below, waiting somewhat impatiently for them to fill their bellies. There were four lions, and about seven hyenas.

“Will they attack?” I asked, eager for some action.

“They are thinking about it,” Geoffrey answered, “but probably not. There are too few of them, and too many lions.”

For at least 45 minutes we watched the scene unfold, lions feasting on the wildebeest while the hyenas circled and waited. Eventually the lions cleared out, and as Geoffrey had predicted, the hyenas descended on the remains.

Watching lions eat a wildebeest might not sound too thrilling, but the social dynamics at play – between the lions and hyenas, and within the groups themselves – were fascinating. We hadn’t exactly witnessed a Lion King-esque war between lions and hyenas, but it still felt like we’d been privy to something special.

Driving to the northern Serengeti

A Tanzania road trip through the northern Serengeti. Photo: padchas/Shutterstock

Two bucket showers later, we started our long drive to the Northern Serengeti. The safari vehicle had become our home away from home, more so than the camps. Nomad had stocked it with a cooler containing our drinks of choice (orange juice and Coke Zero), as well as Pringle containers that were vanishing quicker than a zebra being devoured by a pack of hyenas.

Thanks to these little luxuries, the six-plus hour drive north through the mountains felt more like traveling in a mobile apartment than a cramped car. It also helped that Nomad provided picnic lunches and breakfasts for our days on the road, or while we were on safari. The breakfasts were particularly sumptuous, and in the mornings, we’d stop at picnic sites with fabulous Serengeti views to dig into the overpacked boxes.

The drive necessitated a lengthy climb over the mountains, down uneven crags, and through muddy fields, all of which Geoffrey was able to navigate far better than I would have. Eventually, we entered the Northern Serengeti, and the landscape changed. Endless flatlands were exchanged for hills covered in tall grass, and rock formations resembling Pride Rock dotted the area.

Tanzania road trip -lamai camp on north part of park

Photo: Lamai Camp

Lamai Camp is a masterclass in architecture, sitting atop a hill overlooking the northern Serengeti. On arrival, we were led down a tree-lined dirt path to a Maasai-inspired building that revealed panoramic views of the Serengeti and Mara River as we walked further in. This main building and the camp rooms were built with locally sourced materials using methods unique and authentic to Maasai tradition. The main building and cottages feel both luxurious and organic, achieving an aesthetic authentic to the area’s Maasai roots.

Technically, you could get the experience of being on safari just by sitting on your private wrap-around porch. I could have spent all day overlooking the plains, spotting elephants breaking down tree branches with their trunks, baboons chattering in the brush, and wildebeests marching toward the river. But without Geoffrey, our private wildlife encyclopedia, much would have been missed.

Most notably, while driving through a field of antelopes, a bird call rang out from somewhere in the trees, and Geoffrey abruptly stopped the car.

“Watch,” he said. “The bird is alerting the antelopes that there is a predator close by. Maybe a leopard.”

The herd of antelopes stood at attention, watching the grass silently, fearfully. All at once, they suddenly bounded away for higher ground.

“See? In the grass?”

Photo: Ilyas Kalimullin/Shutterstock

Sure enough, a leopard lay in the grass. Foiled in his pursuit by the bird call, it slinked away to find other prey. It was yet another example not only of Geoffrey’s impressive knowledge, but of the subtle dramas playing out between the animals all around us, and the way they communicate and collaborate much as humans do.

The last leg of our Tanzania road trip actually wasn’t on the road — we took a two-hour bush plane flight from a nearby airstrip to Arusha for our international flight home. It was fascinating to have a bird’s-eye view of the sprawling landscape, but also made me thankful for spending the last week on the ground, getting a slower, more in-depth look at the landscapes, towns, valleys, and rolling hills of the Serengeti. Yes, driving was slower, and it’s easy to get impatient. But it’s also a chance to experience the full range of the Serengeti — not just for its myriad flora and fauna, but for its muddy roads, mountain passes, lush forests, and small, traditional communities.

The author with his travel companion and guide. Photo: Eben Diskin

Saying goodbye to Geoffrey on the landing strip felt surreal. He had been our window into the complexities of the animal kingdom for the last week, and guided us safely and skillfully across dicey roads and terrain. He’d also put up with our loud American humor and entertained our stupid questions, always with a genuine smile on his face. It felt surprisingly sad to say goodbye to him after how much we’d come to enjoy and appreciate him over the last week. How do you say goodbye to someone like that, knowing you’ll likely never see him again?

“I’ll admit, at first I didn’t want a guide at all,” I told him. “I was worried we’d feel like spectators at a zoo, and it wouldn’t be authentic. But you gave us the best of both worlds – like we were actually part of the animal kingdom. Thank you.”

Ever shy, Geoffrey just looked at the plane, then back at us, and hugged us both.

“You are welcome,” he said.

More like this Wildlife The Lesser-Known Wildlife Reserve Where In-the-Know Travelers Are Going on Safari

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Published on March 17, 2025 14:19

The Coolest Airbnbs in Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt is not the first destination most travelers think to visit when they’re headed to Europe. But many will end up there regardless, if only in transit, as the city is home to one of the largest and most trafficked airports on the continent. That’s not the city’s only claim to fame — Frankfurt is also the financial capital of the European Union, housing both the headquarters for the European Central bank and one of the world’s largest stock exchanges. Whether you’re passing through en route to somewhere else or are planning a trip to Frankfurt alone, there’s plenty to do that has more to do with culture than commerce, from touring its museums and galleries, to visiting its parks, to eating your way through the city that gave the world frankfurters. These are the Frankfurt Airbnbs to book during your stay.

We hope you love these Frankfurt Airbnbs! 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.

Urban Studio with a Balcony

Photo: Airbnb

See more photos This newly renovated studio is perfect for business or solo travelers, complete with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, balcony. For travelers on the go, one of the biggest perks of the apartment is that the experience is completely digital, relying on contact-free technology and a support team to ensure that every stay is seamless from check-in to check-out. Located in the heart of Frankfurt near the Frankfurt West train station, the building also comes with helpful amenities such as complimentary laundry facilities and a shared rooftop terrace for relaxation.

One bedroom, one guest
Price per night: $92

Apartment Overlooking Frankfurt’s “Central Park”

Photo: Airbnb

See more photosLocation is a big selling point for this one-bedroom apartment by Eschenheimer Turm, a landmark city gate on the northern side of Frankfurt and one of the tallest late gothic towers in Germany. The apartment overlooks the city’s “Central Park” in the upmarket Westend neighborhood, near the Old Opera House and other attractions. The apartment itself is a mix of classic comfort and fun decor touches, including specialty lighting in the bedroom and a modern kitchen. You’ll love the terrace outside the living room, and a parking spot is available if needed.

One bedroom, three guests
Price per night: $215

The Flag West M

Photo: Airbnb

See more photosThe Flag West M is a modern hotel in the heart of Frankfurt that caters to business travelers. There are 228 rooms total, all of which come with amenities like high-speed WiFi, a fridge and Nespresso machine, a jukebox, a safe, and a digital concierge that help guests get settled regardless of their length of stay, as well as communal amenities such as a rooftop terrace, gym, and coworking space. Pets are welcome for an additional fee.

One bedroom, two guests
Price per night: $128

Bright, Roomy, and Centrally Located

Photo: Airbnb

See more photosLocated between two of the most popular parts of town, this one-bedroom apartment has the benefit of connecting you to all the most important parts of the city while being surrounded by green spaces and including a small balcony overlooking the garden, making Frankfurt feel a little less industrial. Techies will appreciate the devices that come with the apartment, from the Philips Hue lighting system to the Sonos speakers and Apple TV. The apartment is located a five-minute walk from the commercial area of Berger Straße where several grocery stores and supermarkets can be found, as well as many restaurants and cafes. Günthersburg Park is right across the street from the apartment for an afternoon stroll.

One bedroom, two guests
Price per night: $126

Cute house in east Frankfurt with private garden

Photo: Airbnb

See more photos This full house and property offers guests a spacious and comfortable stay in Offenbach am Main, Hessen, Germany. This bungalow provides ample living space, a private garden, and the convenience of an on-site parking lot, making it an ideal choice for families or groups seeking a homely atmosphere. The property’s generous size and amenities ensure a relaxing and enjoyable stay.

Located in Offenbach am Main, guests are within easy reach of several notable attractions. The German Leather Museum, showcasing the history and art of leather crafting, is nearby. For nature enthusiasts, the Büsing Park offers beautiful green spaces and walking paths. Additionally, the vibrant city of Frankfurt, known for its impressive skyline and cultural landmarks, is just a short drive away, providing guests with a variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. This property’s prime location allows guests to explore both the local charm of Offenbach and the bustling city life of Frankfurt.

Nine guests, three bedrooms
Price: $267 per night

Conveniently located six-person apartment in Frankfurt am Main

Photo: Airbnb

See more photosHigh rises are key to city life, and this one offers guests a convenient stay in Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany. This condominium accommodates up to six guests and includes a parking spot, making it suitable for families or groups traveling by car.

The property’s strategic location provides easy access to several notable attractions. The Frankfurt Trade Fair (Messe Frankfurt), one of the world’s largest trade fairs, is within close proximity. Guests can also explore the Palmengarten, a vast botanical garden showcasing diverse plant species. For art enthusiasts, the Städel Museum, renowned for its impressive art collection, is easily accessible. Additionally, the nearby Bockenheimer Warte U-Bahn station ensures seamless connectivity to other parts of the city, allowing guests to explore Frankfurt’s rich cultural and historical landmarks with ease.

Six guests, two bedrooms
Price: $400 per night

Modern condo on 28th floor of Henninger Tower

Photo: Airbnb

See more photosTake advantage of a contemporary stay in Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany. This apartment boasts modern amenities and panoramic city views from its high-rise vantage point, providing a unique urban experience. Located in the Sachsenhausen district, guests have convenient access to several notable attractions. The Museumsufer, a cluster of museums along the Main River, is nearby, offering cultural enrichment. The Frankfurt Cathedral, known for its Gothic architecture, is also within easy reach. Additionally, the vibrant Zeil shopping street provides numerous retail and dining options, enhancing the overall stay experience.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $305 per night

Westend apartment with cool interior design

Photo: Airbnb

See more photosFrankfurt’s prestigious Westend district is where you’re likely going to spend some time while in the city, so staying there makes everything easier. This apartment features modern amenities and spacious accommodations, making it suitable for both business travelers and tourists.

Located in the Westend, guests have convenient access to several notable attractions. The Palmengarten, a renowned botanical garden, is nearby, offering a serene environment for relaxation. The Senckenberg Natural History Museum, known for its extensive dinosaur exhibits, is also within easy reach. Additionally, the Frankfurt Messe exhibition center is accessible, making the apartment ideal for those attending events or conferences.

Four guests, two bedrooms
Price>$353 per night

Stellar architectural and interior design with great city view

Photo: Airbnb

See more photos This brand-new flat features a large living room and a designer kitchen, providing a comfortable and stylish environment for visitors. Situated in Frankfurt am Main, guests have convenient access to several notable attractions. The Frankfurt Cathedral (Kaiserdom), known for its Gothic architecture, is within easy reach. The Römer, a historic building complex that has served as Frankfurt’s city hall for centuries, is also nearby. Additionally, the Städel Museum, renowned for its impressive art collection, is accessible, offering cultural enrichment during your stay. And, just look at those views.

Three guests, one bedroom
Price: $130 per night

Apartment with epic patio in Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen

Photo: Airbnb

See more photos This one offers guests a comfortable stay in Frankfurt’s Sachsenhausen district. This apartment features a 35-square-meter garden, providing a private outdoor space for relaxation. Amenities include access to a sauna and gym, and the property is child-friendly, offering necessary accommodations for families. Additionally, free parking is available, enhancing convenience for guests with vehicles.

Located in Sachsenhausen, guests have convenient access to several notable attractions. The Frankfurt City Forest is nearby, offering extensive trails for hiking and cycling. The Städel Museum, renowned for its impressive art collection, is also within easy reach. Additionally, the vibrant Schweizer Straße provides numerous dining and shopping options, enhancing the overall stay experience.

Five guests, three bedrooms
Price: $276 per night

Beautiful apartment on the riverside

Photo: Airbnb

See more photosSituated along the river, guests at this apartment have convenient access to several notable attractions. The Museumsufer, a collection of museums along the Main River, is nearby, offering cultural enrichment. The Frankfurt Cathedral (Kaiserdom), known for its Gothic architecture, is also within easy reach. Additionally, the vibrant Zeil shopping street provides numerous retail and dining options, enhancing the overall stay experience.

Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $300 per night

More like this Travel Why Frankfurt Is the Most Underrated City in Germany

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Published on March 17, 2025 06:00

For Multi-Sport Days, Nothing Beats Whistler in Spring

Skiers and snowboarders the world over hold Whistler Blackcomb in high regard as the largest ski area in North America. It’s a veritable winter wonderland — that much we know. But Whistler is so much more than its slopes, especially in spring. In fact, many locals and sage travelers say spring is the time to visit for an even wider range of action sports, outdoor thrills, and big wilderness — plus the bustling arts, dining, and entertainment scene that “the Village” is known for.

There are two main reasons for this: First, as the seasons transition, you can enjoy early spring savings and more availability at local accommodations, culinary deals, and better value on everything Whistler has to offer, including end-of-season skiing. (Washingtonians can save even more, thanks to an extra favorable exchange rate of $1 USD to $1.42 CAD. That’s 30 to 40 percent less right now on top of already discounted spring rates.) Second, as the days stretch out and thaw, you get even more of Whistler’s two dozen multi-sport activities in a single day.

To help you plan, save, and make the most of a trip to wonderful Whistler this spring, here are five things nature lovers, energetic travelers, and active couples and families should consider before booking their next stay.

More daylight, more sports Whistler in Spring

Photo: Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova

It goes without saying just how fast time flies. The good news is that the days get longer (and warmer) in Whistler with the arrival of spring. That means more time for biking, hiking, zip-lining, and other outdoor recreation (plus the start of golf season). Of course, ski season doesn’t end with the arrival of spring, either. So you still get Whistler and Blackcomb’s world-class slopes on top of all the added activities and daylight that shines on the Fitzsimmons Range in the Coast Mountains beginning in March. (Fun fact: March is the snowiest month.)

Maybe you’ll dedicate one spring day to water sports: Wake up to waterfront yoga, rent a SUP at Lakeside Park, take it for a spin on Alta Lake, and then up the exhilaration with some whitewater rafting on the Green River. You could start another day with righteous groomers off Blackcomb’s 7th Heaven lift, then swap the snow for a beautifully forested cross-country bike trail near Lost Lake to experience one of the area’s most peaceful pockets. (To pair downhill with downhill, Whistler Mountain Bike Park generally opens in May, too.)

Want a slower pace with a hint of a thrill? You could book a morning tee time at one of Whistler’s four golf courses — Big Sky, Nicklaus North, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, or Whistler Golf Club — then venture off-road on a two-hour Easy Rider ATV Tour through the woods. Or perhaps you’d prefer to tackle a sizable section of the Whistler Valley Trail on foot. The car-free trail network that connects Whistler’s neighborhoods and open spaces should be (mostly) snow-free by early spring, so it’s yours to meander.

You get the idea. Whistler in spring is all about two-for-one outdoor fun.

It takes a village Whistler in Spring

Photo: Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova

Is après-winter a thing? It should be. Because the arts, entertainment, dining, shopping, and cultural energy don’t stop in Whistler at winter’s close. In fact, the pedestrian-friendly Whistler Village is just as vibrant and more temperature-friendly in spring — and there are patios aplenty to lean into the vibe. Earn your Whistler cred at the rollicking The Longhorn Saloon or keep it breezy (literally) at HandleBar.

Late spring kicks off the Whistler Farmers’ Market. Starting in May, producers from across the region congregate at the Upper Village Stroll to share their grown-with-love crops, responsibly raised meats, pre-prepared specialties, and more. May also sees the return of the Whistler Children’s Festival, which has been entertaining families with tunes, scavenger hunts, magic shows, and roving performers for more than 40 years — longer than any other festival in Whistler. In other words, the community heats up in more ways than one with the arrival of spring.

Delicious dining for less Whistler in Spring

Photo: Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova

Few settings are as stunning as Whistler. But beyond the views, Whistler also “tastes” fantastic as an established culinary hotspot that successfully merges the great outdoors with fine dining. In spring, visitors can sample fresh and inspired new menus at the many restaurants, pubs, and eateries that fill the area.

Coastal-inspired, local-focused Wild Blue is one to have on your radar if you’re feeling celebratory — specifically, the seafood towers (that’s right, plural). Elsewhere, the tapas at Bar Oso and many plates of pasta at Il Caminetto are standouts for continental fare, while Sushi Village brings a whole different culinary tradition to Whistler. For something quicker (and more portable if a picnic in the park or trailside lunch is calling), Portobello is an all-day go-to for breakfast bowls and burritos, signature sammies, and baked goods (try the donuts).

Better yet, many participating restaurants offer dining deals and special rates on multi-course meals in spring. New offers on upscale Pacific Northwest cuisine, sustainable seafood, charcuterie boards, farmers market fare, noodle bowls, and loaded waffles begin mid-March — just in time to complement the overall value of spring.

Stay longer, save more Whistler in Spring

Photo: Tourism Whistler/Mirae Campbell/Scandinave Spa

Truth be told, there’s never a bad time to visit Whistler. But during spring, when virtually every activity is available, it just makes sense. This is especially true for travelers seeking extra discounts to prolong and maximize their vacation dollars. With so many ways to save in spring, you’ll want to stay longer to take it all in.

For guests coming from Washington, additional discounts and spring savings are offered to those who extend their stay to more than just a weekend. For example, a midweek stay of three nights or more at select properties in April or May starts at $95 per night. On top of that, Washington residents can sign up for free rewards and exclusive access to special offers on accommodations, activities, and events. Talk about taking advantage of all the activities that spring affords without breaking the bank.

Stay longer and do more for less (a lot less with an enticing exchange rate for those heading north). It’s a no-brainer.

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Published on March 17, 2025 05:00

March 16, 2025

Traveling With Kids Made Easier: Packing Tips From Real Parents Who’ve Done It All

Getting anywhere with a child can test even the most seasoned traveler. Still, the effort is always worth it — yes, even if they won’t remember the trip when they’re older (but that’s a story for another time). When my daughter turned two, she had been on more than 20 flights, visited six countries, even more states, and had taken a few week-long road trips.

My wife and I got into a routine of quickly gathering what we’d need before a trip: food, snacks, water or milk, plus guesstimates for the right number of diapers, toys, and clothes. Add to that any emergency needs, wipes, travel documents and extras of, well, pretty much everything.

I’ve found a few tips that have made travel easier: mapping out road trip routes that include stops at kid-friendly outdoor spaces, saving new toys until the flight, and wrapping toys like a present to extend their entertainment value. There are even a few “travel hacks” that I’ve tested and found aren’t completely designed for viral attention.

All of the advice in the world does no good, however, if you don’t have the right kid-friendly travel bag to fit everything in an organized way. After all, the spare blowout outfit is useless if you have to dig through everything to find it while trying to minimize the mess. Following all of the international travel, road trips, and weekend getaways with my first-born, my wife and I got a good idea of what doesn’t work. Then we got our hands on the the Getaway Bag from No Reception Club.

Infographic: Matador Network

More like thisLooking for a full packing list? Check out Matador’s Family Travel Packing Checklist

No Reception Club was founded by Gemma and Daniel Ng — two frequent travelers who are also parents of young children — in 2020. After their first baby, they realized there wasn’t a bag that offered the functionality they needed while avoiding that typical “diaper bag” look. After 14 months of development, input from more than 100 parents, five bag iterations, and design help from an industry expert with experience at big-name brands like North Face, they launched the Getaway Bag backpack and Sidekick hippack, followed by the The Hideaway Carry-on Duffel and Dopp Kit. The name evokes an era when it was easier to completely unplug, before great phone service and standard free Wi-Fi just about everywhere you would want to take a child.

Real parent needs are at the heart of each design choice — and not just the needs that the Ng family saw. They gathered input from more than 100 parents in the design process, and today the brand also has The Clubhouse Community: a group of more than 10,000 parents who share knowledge on the best way to travel with young kids of all ages covering everything from strollers to packing hacks and other product recommendations.

And as a member organization of 1% for the Planet, No Reception Club donates at least 1 percent of annual sales to the non-profit Baby2Baby, which provides diapers, clothing, and necessities to children living in poverty. (To put that 1 percent into perspective: each Getaway Bag sale helps Baby2Baby distribute 20 diapers, and each Hideaway Duffel, 25 diapers.)

Needless to say, the Ngs have put more thought into optimizing travel with a little one than most. And with my second kid on the way, I tapped the founder couple to see how to make future travels even smoother with two kids in tow.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

traveling with kids and toddlers small plane best bag no reception club

Photo: No Reception Club

Matador Network: What’s the most space-efficient method: folding or rolling clothes?

Gemma and Daniel Ng: This feels like the million-dollar question when it comes to packing clothes! When we need to pack a lot of clothes for our kids, say for a trip that is a week or longer, our preference is to fold everything into stacks, which then fit neatly into the divided sections of our Hideaway Carry-On Duffel. That way, we’re able to see every item in the stack of clothing easily and remove items as needed throughout the trip.

We’ve learned that with folding, we’re able to fit a ton of children’s clothing into a small space and still visually know exactly what kind of item has been packed — for example, a sweatshirt vs. pants and so on. Additionally, because folding makes it easy to visually spot items, we’ve found this method also makes it possible for our kids to be able to access their clothes on their own, which makes it fun and interactive for them to get dressed each morning, beginning at roughly age 2.5 onward.

Whenever we pack a smaller amount of clothing, say, just for immediate needs during a flight, we prefer rolling outfits together so you can easily grab and access everything we might need in one swoop from our Getaway travel diaper bag. We always pack clothes for both of our kids to bring on board, so having them rolled together but separate from one another helps to simplify grabbing the right kid’s clothes in a hurry.

What packing techniques help reduce the overall volume of children’s clothing?

Everything we pack for our kids generally has to mix and match easily to make more combinations with less clothing. Unless we are going to attend a special occasion, like a wedding, we don’t typically pack any clothing that feels too “special,” as it may take up extra space and not get used as often on a trip.

Another thing that’s easy to overdo is packing too many heavy layers. We try to avoid packing multiple bulky layers such as fleece and thick sweatpants as they can take up huge amounts of space. When the weather requires it, we will bring a couple of warmer options per kid, but generally try to focus on layering pieces that can be worn underneath for more versatility.

While it’s not a packing technique, considering places where you can do laundry while on the road is a great way to minimize overpacking. We often prioritize accommodations that have a laundry machine accessible, and when this isn’t possible, we handwash and hang dry clothes as early into the trip as we can so we can re-wear the same clothing later in the trip.

Photo: No Reception Club

What’s the ideal way to layer items in a suitcase or backpack for a long trip? Outfits by day, or organizing by type of clothing?

We definitely prefer to organize our children’s clothing by category to provide better flexibility when it comes time to get dressed for the day. It can be hard to plan for the weather each day when you’re packing in advance, so having your kids’ clothing laid out in a similar organization as they are at home makes it easier to pick and choose an outfit each day.

The way our Hideaway Carry-On Duffel is laid out makes it really easy to visually spot each type of clothing at a quick glance — we personally designate each section in the packing Cubby for a different type of clothing. Additionally, when you pack items by category, they fit more snugly into each section, almost like a puzzle, so you’re able to optimize the space. And finally, our kids are old enough to want to choose their outfits on their own, and every parent knows, there’s no predicting what your kid will want to wear until the morning of!

When we’re packing just enough clothing for a day adventure in a new place, or for a quick trip, we simply roll up a couple of outfits and pack them in our Getaway travel backpack. With a backpack, this method makes it much more accessible and easy to stay organized. For a quick trip, we are bringing such a limited amount of clothing (two outfits per kid = four outfits total) compared to what we’d bring in a larger piece of luggage, that we don’t benefit from organizing things by category.

Laundry for the little ones during travel — should people consider it?

We completely believe that doing laundry during travel is a great idea. When we’re booking our accommodations, we try to ensure that there is a way to do laundry while we’re there. This alleviates such a burden while traveling with your kids and ensures you aren’t over-packing.

Also, there is a pretty high likelihood that you will need to do laundry for various mishaps that happen with little ones throughout the journey, and you’ll never regret having it. For us, when we are on any trip longer than 4 days, we plan to do laundry. If the trip is more like a long weekend (2-4 days), we generally don’t bother.

Are there specific fabrics or clothing items that are easier to wash and dry quickly while traveling?

Fabrics are a very personal choice whether it’s for your kids or yourself, but generally speaking, we only pack clothes that are easy to throw in the washer and dryer to make laundry an easy task. For the most part, we stick to cotton or other natural fibers for our kids because they’re versatile and easy to wear, and drying quickly isn’t a top priority as we always have some backup clothing readily available.

carrying no reception club bags while traveling with kids

Photo: No Reception Club

How can I distinguish between necessary items and potential “nice to have” extras? Any things that are better purchased at the destination to save packing space?

I think the distinction between essentials vs. “nice to haves” comes down to what items you can easily buy when you arrive at a reasonable price. When packing ahead of any trip, we consider clothing and other comforts of home as necessary items, whereas items that we’d call “supplies” — like diapers, wipes, food, and certain toiletries — we tend to buy at our destinations. We’ll usually only bring enough consumables to last us through the entire travel day, plus half a day extra as you can’t always plan for travel delays.

What are the best strategies for organizing and accessing items during travel?

When you’re packing for a travel day, we recommend organizing your travel diaper bag according to the activities you will most likely engage in with your little one while in transit. We consider the main activities to be: (1) feeding them; (2) playing with and entertaining them; (3) changing their clothes if needed; (4) changing their diaper; and finally, (5) helping them fall asleep.

If you divide your backpack up according to these activities, you’ll find it very easy to quickly know where to go in your bag to grab what you need. The last thing you want during those sometimes chaotic travel moments is to feel like you are digging through a bottomless pit, unsure of where an extra pair of pants or the portable sound machine is located!

One other thought we’d be remiss to mention is easy access to your own personal items such as your phone, keys, wallet, passport, headphones, or laptop. Consolidating the items that you personally need into a couple of sections of your bag is also the optimal way to ensure your essentials are always at your fingertips.

Do you have any tips on balancing weight in a bag for a family trip?

The items that we find that tend to weigh down a bag are usually non-clothing items like laptops, adult shoes, breast pumps, and so on. We do our best to spread these out as much as possible between all of the backpacks and carry-on bags we travel with to distribute the weight for easier carrying.

How should I organize items differently for carry-on versus checked luggage?

While we are solidly a #teamcarryon family, we of course do also have trips that involve checked luggage too! If we are bringing carry-on instead of checked luggage, or if we are bringing checked luggage instead of carry-on, the way we organize the items inside really doesn’t differ. In both cases, we are organizing items by category within our luggage.

However, if we are bringing both carry-on and checked luggage, the way we split items is by putting children’s items into our carry-on, and adult items into checked luggage. At the end of the day, we feel that as parents we can adapt more easily if the entire checked luggage goes missing. It’s much easier for us — though not ideal — to buy some clothing at a local store and still get through a trip pretty easily if our entire trip wardrobe is lost on the way. If our little ones’ things are lost, it is certainly not as straightforward to reproduce their favorite stuffed toy that gets them to sleep every night or other sentimental items that make any destination feel more like home.

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Published on March 16, 2025 12:43

March 14, 2025

5 Destinations for the Best Cenote, Cavern, and Cave Diving in the World

Cave and cenote diving offer some of the most surreal and technically challenging experiences in the underwater world. Unlike open-water diving, where sunlight and currents dictate the environment, these dives take place in flooded caverns and subterranean tunnels, where visibility can be crystal clear but overhead environments demand precision and control. For divers with the necessary training, the rewards are unparalleled—otherworldly rock formations, shimmering light beams piercing through narrow entrances, and a silence unlike anything found in the open ocean.

While recreational cavern diving allows divers to remain in naturally lit zones with an easy exit, full cave diving requires specialized training, redundant air supply, and careful dive planning. The risks are higher, but for those prepared, cave diving provides access to some of the last truly unexplored frontiers on the planet, and places where only a tiny fraction of a percent of people have gone.

There are some key differences between cavern and cave diving, and if you don’t know what they are, then you’ve likely only done cavern diving. If you can see the sunlight and have a direct exit to the surface, it’s cavern diving. If you go beyond the light zone and need to navigate your way out, it’s cave diving. Cave divers have no natural light, need to follow a sometimes very narrow exit path to reach the surface again, and use specialized gear like sidemount setups and, often, rebreathers.

Cavern diving is generally more accessible and can be done on single tanks. Cavern divers are limited to “light zones” (always within sight of natural daylight) and can’t travel more than 200 feet from the entrance, whether that’s in depth or distance.

We’ve recommended below some of the most popular and most convenient places to stay (mostly dive resorts) in each destination. Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.

Photo: Kichigin/Shutterstock

Tulum, Mexico

Can’t-miss sites: Angelita cenote, Carwash cenoteWhere to stay: Stay in town at a place like Kimpton Resort Tulum to avoid the year-round traffic delays around Tulum BeachRecommended operators: The Cenote Guy or Koox DivingBest season: November to April

Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is home to the world’s most extensive underwater cave systems. Cenotes, or natural sinkholes formed by limestone collapses, provide divers with an entrance into a labyrinth of submerged passageways, some stretching for miles beneath the jungle. Tulum is home to the Sac Actun System, the longest underwater cave system on the planet at more than 230 miles long. It’s a labyrinth of flooded tunnels adorned with stalactites and stalagmites formed over millennia. At cenotes like Dos Ojos and Carwash, divers can navigate between light-filled chambers and dark, cavernous passages.

Tulum requires buoyancy precision to avoid stirring the fine silt that can reduce visibility to zero. Some cenotes, like The Pit and Angelita, have surreal hydrogen sulfide layers at roughly 100 feet deep, mimicking an eerie underwater river. It’s pitch-black beneath the layer, and lightweight items like leaves will sometimes float on top of it. It’s wildly unique and otherworldly to see, but you’ll need to be an advanced open water diver, and Nitrox is highly recommended.

Advanced certifications are always recommended for divers exploring cave systems, but the lack of currents (or wildlife) in Tulum means many sites are open to beginner divers, though they’ll need to stay in naturally lit areas fairly close to the entrances.

Northern Florida

Can’t-miss sites: Ginnie Springs is probably the most popular, as well as one of the prettiestWhere to stay: Blue Grotto Dive Resort is basic, affordable, and steps from the Blue Grotto dive sitesRecommended operators: Rent gear from Ginnie Springs Outdoors, or book guided cave dives with North Florida Cave TrainingBest season: Fall and winter

Northern Florida has the best cave diving in the US, with caves formed as the result of millions of years of geological transformation. Much of northern Florida is limestone, and over time, a vast underground aquifer (the Floridan Aquifer) dissolved the porous rock, creating an extensive network of tunnels, sinkholes, and submerged chambers. As the underground channels expanded, some collapsed to form sinkholes and springs, while others evolved into giant underwater chambers that divers can explore today. The whole area is collectively referred to as Florida’s “Cave Country.”

Ginnie Springs, just outside High Springs, is a well-known training site, known for its high-visibility water and the Devil’s Spring System, including Devil’s Eye, Devil’s Ear, and Little Devil. Beginners can find more approachable cavern systems around Morrison and Vortex Springs, near the town of Ponce de Leon.

Corfu, Greece

Can’t-miss sites: Colovri Cave for advanced divers, The Hole of HaWhere to stay: Ikos Dassia has high-end, brand-new rooms, plus a robust on-site dive centerRecommended operators: Achilleon Diving CenterBest season: May to October

Corfu is beautiful above the surface, but its underwater landscape is equally beautiful when it comes to diving. The island’s coastline is dotted with numerous caves and caverns, making it the best place to cave dive in Europe.

Visibility in Corfu’s waters is typically excellent, often reaching up to 90 feet. However, water temperatures can change quite a bit, ranging from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to the high 50s in winter. It’s a great place to dive if you want to do some cavern and cave diving, but don’t want that to be the whole focus of the trip. Many sites offer a mix of open water and cavern diving, with some caves accessible to less experienced divers and others requiring advanced certifications. One of the coolest sites is the Monastery, with an impressive underwater arch about 50 feet deep, and a 30-foot-long underwater tunnel filled with colorful fish. It’s suitable for all open water divers.

Photos: Suzie Dundas, PADI, and Kichigin/Shutterstock

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Can’t-miss sites: Garden of Eden and Chikin Ha cenotesWhere to stay: Royal Hideaway Playacar is an adults-only all-inclusive with an on-site dive centerRecommended operators: Deep Dark Diving, or Dive Paradise if you’re staying in CozumelBest season: Year-round, depending on your goals

It’s not just Tulum that has great access to cenotes. Travelers staying around Playa del Carmen have plenty of options for cenotes that don’t require a long drive south. That makes them more accessible for quick trips, since there’s a large international airport in Cancun. Even divers in Cozumel can come to the mainland for a day, as many companies offer full-day trips from the island of Cozumel that include your ferry ride to the island and pick-up in Playa.

Chikin Ha is only about 30 minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen, and close to many dive shops. Cenote Jardín Del Eden is also pretty close, so it’s easy to dive both in one day. And about an hour north is Cenote Azul Ha, a beginner-friendly site. It’s relatively shallow, but features stunning limestone formations and crystal-clear water, making it an excellent introduction to cenote diving. Visibility is always better in the winter dry season.

Playa del Carmen may be a better pick than Tulum for visitors who want to cavern dive for a day or two, but don’t want it to be the entire focus of their trip. Certified divers can also get in the water with relatively docile bull sharks just off the shores of Playa del Carmen.

The Abaco Islands, Bahamas

Can’t-miss sites: Anywhere in Dan’s Cave or Ralph’s CaveWhere to stay: Abaco Beach Resort is near dive shops and popular Mermaid Reef BeachRecommended operators: Bahamas Underground Best season: November to May

Diving in the Bahamas is usually associated with the same reefs, gentle currents, and colorful fish that define dive sites throughout most of the Caribbean. But Great Abaco and the other Abaco islands in the Bahamas is distinct for its intricate cave systems under the pretty island. Divers can go under the surface from the coast or from inland cave systems, like Dan’s Cave located in one of the island’s pine forests. It has more than 17,000 feet of mapped passages, exceptional visibility, and expansive rooms with crystal stalactites and stalagmites. In Dan’s Cave, rebreather and mixed-gas divers can explore a room called “Fangorn Forest,” named after an ancient forest in the Lord of the Rings books.

Great Abaco also has plenty of great coastal diving, including sites with swim-through and arched reef formations. There are lots of popular sites around Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park, a 2,100-acre marine preserve established in the 1970s.

Where can you find diveable caves and cenotes?

best cave diving - cave with pool beneath

Photo: Ethan Daniels/Shutterstock

Most underwater caves are formed in karst, where soluble rock (usually limestone) is slowly dissolved by the flow of groundwater over thousands or millions of years. As the rock dissolves, it creates voids that sometimes fill with water as sea levels change. In some cases, the roofs of those voids collapse, creating sinkholes (or cenotes). The remains of cave system may also exist underwater in the form of swim-throughs in open ocean environments, while areas with high volcanic activity may have underwater caves and tubes formed by ancient lava flow.

Diving in caves and caverns is one of the most specialized and advanced types of diving available, and requires a serious education component to get certified. If that doesn’t float your boat, you can find a similar experience in some coral reefs with tower or tube formations. They’ll give you a chance to feel what it’s like to dive in a narrow, tight area for only a few seconds, rather than committing to it for a full hour-long dive. Read more about how scientists discovered the world’s longest underwater cave system, explore 18 awesome cave tours open to the public, and read about the controversy over the Tren Maya through Mexico’s cenote country.

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Published on March 14, 2025 15:16

The 5 Best Liveaboard Diving Destinations in the World

Liveaboard diving is the ultimate way to experience the ocean. These immersive, expedition-style journeys take divers far beyond the reach of day boats and crowded reefs. Unlike land-based dive trips, where the best sites may be hours away, liveaboards put divers right in the center of the action, waking up each morning just minutes from world-class dive sites. From remote seamounts teeming with pelagic life to pristine coral atolls untouched by human traffic, liveaboards provide access to the most breathtaking and least-explored underwater landscapes on the planet.

Diving from a liveaboard isn’t just about the locations—it’s about the rhythm of life at sea. Days are structured around diving, with multiple dives per day, followed by onboard meals, dive briefings, and surface intervals spent lounging on deck or reviewing underwater footage. Without the constraints of shore-based logistics, dive plans can be more flexible, adjusting to tide changes, marine life activity, and weather conditions to ensure the best possible experience.

While liveaboard trips are usually fairly relaxed, it’s still an intense level of diving, with four or sometimes five dives per day. You’ll want to know your limits, and skip a dive or two if you get too tired. Especially on longer trips, it’s very common for divers to skip a dive or two. Liveaboard trips are about going farther, diving longer, and seeing the ocean in its purest, wildest form. For those who want to experience the underwater world at its most remote and untouched, a liveaboard is the only way to go.

Photo: Julie Andersen/PADI

Rowley Shoals, Australia

Can’t-miss sites: Clerke Channel for wild drift diving, Mermaid Wall for coral and crittersWhere to stay: Liveaboard onlyRecommended operators: Odyssey Expeditions is the most well-known Best season: September to November

Located about 160 miles off the northern coast of Western Australia, Rowley Shoals is a group of three coral atolls rising from more than 1,000 feet below the surface. Each is surrounded by a shallow, healthy lagoon. Among dive sites that can be reached by the public, it’s one of the least-dived in the world, with some sources citing just 200 divers per year. That makes the sites nearly untouched by humans, with visibility regularly in the 130-to-150-foot range. The sites are quite varied, from leisurely reef dives around the lagoons to speedy drift dives where you’ll want to make sure you know how to use your SMB.

Southern Red Sea

Can’t-miss sites: The Brothers Islands for sharks, Elphinstone Reef for drift divingWhere to stay: If you don’t do a liveaboard, the farthest south you can stay is around Marsa Alam, at places like Marsa Shagra Village. Recommended operators: Emperor has several ships focused on the southern Red SeaBest season: Autumn

Many locations in the Red Sea are fantastic for diving, and much of the northern part can be explored while staying at luxury resorts near places like Sharm-el-Sheihk. But if you want to explore the southern Red Sea, you may be better off taking a liveaboard trip. The northern part is known for wrecks, but when it comes to the southern part of the Red Sea, it’s pelagics that are the big draw. That includes hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, threshers, and the occasional whale shark.

Many of the most popular dive sites, such as The Brothers and Daedalus Reef, are too far from shore for day trips. That means many fewer people dive them, so they’re both less impacted by human activity and less likely to be crowded, increasing your chances of bigger creatures lingering for a little longer. The southern Red Sea also extends into Sudan and Eritrea, where it’s harder to find safe on-land accommodations.

Diving in the southern Red Sea is possible all year long, and it’s known for being one of the most affordable liveboard locations in the world. It’s more beginner friendly than other liveaboard locations, but still slightly more challenging than the reefs and wrecks to the north. You’ll probably want the experience from about 50 logged dives, and it’d be good to have some experience in currents and drifts.

Tubbataha Reef, Philippines

Can’t-miss sites: Washing Machine for sharks, Malayan Wreck for mantis shrimp and nudisWhere to stay: Liveaboard onlyRecommended operators: The Aggressor Fleet is quite popular, but Solitude One looks gorgeous, too Best season: March to June

Tubbataha Reef is one of the world’s most biodiverse marine environments, sitting in the Sulu Sea. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Marine Park in Indonesia. That protected status (plus the remote location) means the reef is known for pristine coral, healthy vertical walls, and an abundance of marine life.

Divers can expect encounters with large pelagic species, including various shark species, manta rays, and whale sharks. Visibility is often 100 feet or more, and there are plenty of dives in the 15 to 80 foot range for max depth — something rare in the world of liveaboards. While it doesn’t have quite the diversity of, say, Raja Ampat, it’s still home to more than 600 fish species and 350 types of corals. It’s only diveable for a short window in the spring, as monsoon seasons and rough sea conditions make it too challenging to dive the rest of the year.

That means you should plan your trip well in advance, as the limited season and Tubbataha’s popularity mean liveaboards fill quickly. Diving on the reef isn’t as challenging as sites like Socorro or even Galápagos — no reef hooks allowed in Tubbataha — but you should still be comfortable with drift diving.

Photos: PADI

Socorro Island, Mexico

Can’t-miss sites: Cabo Pearce for mantas, Roca Partida for hammerheads Where to stay: Liveaboard only Recommended operators: Nautilus Liveaboards seems to be beloved by anyone who’s done a tripBest season: December to May

Socorro is an uninhabited island about 250 miles off the coast of Baja California, in the Mexico’s Revillagigedo Archipelago. This protected biosphere reserve is teeming with pelagic life, and most known among divers for its abundance of large marine species. Divers can expect encounters with various shark species, including hammerheads, silky, and white tips, as well as humpback whales, dolphins, and the area’s famous giant manta rays.

The extreme remoteness means liveaboard diving is the only way to access Socorro, and diving conditions can be challenging, making it best reserved for experienced divers. Water temperatures range from the high 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit, and the best diving season is from November/December to May, coinciding with humpback whale breeding season and optimal manta ray sightings.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Can’t-miss sites: Cape Kri holds the world record for the most species sighted on a single dive Where to stay: If you don’t use a liveaboard, Papua Paradise Eco Resort partners with on-site Gangga DiversRecommended operators: The number of liveaboard options seem endless, but Gaia Love is one of the highest ratedBest season: Year-round, but summer offers the calmest conditions and best visibility

Liveaboard diving in Raja Ampat is a chance to sleep above one of the world’s most biodiverse marine environments. Raja Ampat is in the center of the Coral Triangle and has more than 1,500 islands and cays, creating a labyrinth of waterways perfect for divers. More than 75 percent of the world’s known coral species are found in Raja Ampat, and the remote location means its reefs are pristine.

Liveaboard diving is the best way to experience Raja Ampat as it allows access to remote dive sites unreachable by day boats, plus, you won’t find many hotels scattered on the remote islands. Liveaboards can also cover large distances overnight, maximizing your diving time and letting you explore the northern and southern parts of the archipelago in one trip. Raja Ampat’s dive sites are not particularly deep, but strong currents (including downcurrents) make it recommended for more advanced divers, especially as you may need to use a reef hook when currents and swells are at their peak.

How much does a liveaboard dive trip cost?

Liveaboard destinations like the Red Sea are known for their affordability. Photo: BY-_-BY/Shutterstock

The cost of a liveaboard dive trip varies widely depending on the destination, duration, type of vessel, and level of luxury. Budget-friendly liveaboards in places like Egypt’s Red Sea or Southeast Asia can start at around $100 to $200 per night per person, including meals, basic accommodations, and several dives per day. Mid-range options, which offer more comfortable cabins, better food, and added amenities like onboard Wi-Fi or entertainment, typically cost between $250 and $400 per night. High-end liveaboards in premier dive destinations such as the Galápagos, Maldives, or Raja Ampat can range from $400 to over $1,000 per night, especially if they have to cover a long distance to reach dive sites.

Luxury liveaboards usually have roomy cabins, gourmet meals, and on-board amenities like sun decks, hot tubs, massage services, and comfortable indoor lounge spaces. Budget liveaboards typically offer basic cabins with bunk beds and shared bathrooms, while luxury options provide spacious, air-conditioned en-suite cabins with premium bedding and sometimes ocean views. They may also include add-ons like nitrox, specialty dives, sodas and drinks, or Wi-Fi, while budget trips may not include them in the cost. The diving is often the same no matter how much you pay, so it comes down to what level of luxury you want onboard.

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