Skip Yosemite’s queues and Zion’s car parks.
The past few years have seen record-breaking numbers of visitors flock to the United States' 63 national parks. Big hitters like the Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, Yellowstone and Yosemite continue to pull in the masses—but increasingly, visiting their trails and viewpoints can feel a little like trying to glimpse a headline act through a sea of phones.
Look beyond the famous names, though, and America's park system still has plenty of overlooked treasures waiting to be discovered: boat trips from the California coast to the so-called Galápagos of North America; a new cultural centre within easy reach of free-roaming bison; and otherworldly landscapes formed by some of the world’s most active volcanoes included.
At the link in bio, find the best US national parks to visit for incredible scenery—and fewer crowds.
Words by @zoeygotowriter
Photos by Priya Karkare/Unsplash; Leon Wu/Unsplash; Cedric Letsch/Unsplash; Jason Hawke/Unsplash; Zack Frank/Shutterstock
In Rome, five-star luxury often arrives in muted marble. Not at @casamontiroma .
Opened in late 2023 on Via Panisperna—a road that’s existed since antiquity—Casa Monti sits in the heart of Monti, a Roman quarter known for its artisans, vintage boutiques, and late-night wine bars. Yet despite the neighbourhood’s atmospheric, underground feel, the Colosseum is just a 15-minute stroll away.
Inside, travellers wheeling silvered Rimowas or lugging Loewe weekenders glide through a lobby layered with florals, mosaic details, rich upholstery, and curated stacks of contemporary art books. The kaleidoscopic energy of the salon spills into the hotel’s bar, restaurant, and 36 rooms, all connected by a stage-like staircase embellished with Greco-Roman motifs that leads to a rooftop bar and bijou spa overlooking Monti’s terracotta rooftops.
Read the full hotel review at the link in bio.
All aboard: Baz Luhrmann’s one-of-a-kind carriage for @belmond ’s British Pullman train has officially arrived. 🛤️
The renowned director teamed up with Oscar-winning costume designer Catherine Martin to transform a 1930s-era railcar into a maximalist, theater-inspired escape aboard one of England’s most beautiful luxury trains. Named “Celia,” the carriage was imagined as the private railcar of a fictional actress and draws inspiration from Shakespearean comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
It hosts just 12 guests at a time, all of whom can enjoy private transfers from London, a private cocktail bar, exclusive menus, a dedicated chef, and special wine pairings.
Celia officially launches to the public on May 15, with bookings now open on all British Pullman journeys.
Video by @lucykehoe , Afar senior editor
With its sugar-cube-shaped villages, rocky peninsulas and sun-baked, herb-scented valleys that swoop down into quiet coves, Sifnos is a quintessentially Greek island that’s managed to remain unpretentious.
The locals’ devotion to good food is apparent from the off. This small Cycladic island has a cooking tradition stretching back centuries, and you feel it everywhere, from the cheesemakers and heirloom vegetable growers to the fishermen hauling in blue crab and bluefin tuna in the harbours. No one knows this larder better than Giorgos Samolis (@endless_g_summer ), the chef-owner of three restaurants on the island. Born in Athens, he spends six months of the year here, rooting his cooking in its seasons and producers.
“What I love about Sifnos is its bright light—it fills every cell in my body,” he says. “It’s blinding, yet crystal clear, from the moment you wake up. That’s why every island morning begins with a coffee in my yard, praising the sun and feeling grateful for yet another day in paradise.”
Get his guide to Sifnos—including the best places to eat, stay, and play—at the link in our bio.
Words by @lucykehoe
Photos by Apostolis Michailidis/Unsplash; Cantina; Christina Terzidou/Unsplash; Lamarina; MM Vision/Shutterstock
Cheap, short-haul flights have rarely felt less appealing.
Luggage allowances seem to shrink by the year, fuel prices continue their upward climb, and aviation still accounts for roughly 2.5 per cent of global carbon emissions. In other words, there’s never been a better time to swap the airport terminal for the train station.
As historic rail routes relaunch and new sleeper trains debut—threading through some of the world’s most cinematic landscapes—slow travel is becoming increasingly seductive. And while a new generation of ultra-luxury trains is drawing attention, there are still plenty of scenic journeys that won’t break the bank.
We've pulled together a list of budget-friendly rail trips that prove getting there can be half the pleasure—and not necessarily the most expensive part.
See the world's most beautiful and affordable train rides at the link in bio.
Story by @phoebetravelpig
Photos by @tim_woolliscroft /Unsplash
Perched in the hills between Florence and Fiesole, Il Salviatino began as a 16th-century villa owned by the influential Salviati family. Overlooking Florence, the panorama has remained unchanged for more than 500 years.
After centuries of transformation, the villa was revived in the early 20th century by Ugo Ojetti, who turned it into a cultural salon hosting icons like Salvador Dalí and Gabriele D’Annunzio.
Today, Il Salviatino is one of the most distinctive luxury hotels in Florence—an intimate, design-forward retreat with Renaissance gardens and sweeping views, all within a villa that feels like a private home and offers one of the city’s best vantage points.
Click the link in our bio to learn more about the property.
"Tonight, I was sleeping in a room where members of the Brontë family had slept some 200 years ago, in the building where Charlotte, Emily, and Anne—the literary sisters who gave the world Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall respectively—were born,” writes @thetraveljourno .
She’s describing a stay at the Brontë Birthplace, now a museum that also offers overnight stays, in the village of Thornton. It’s one stop on a literary journey through the homes, landscapes, and inspirations behind the sisters’ novels.
Tap the link in bio to follow Lucy’s itinerary—including the house where some of the Brontë's most famous works were written—and plan your own literary tour.
The best things to do in America aren’t always found where you’d expect.
New York, Florida and the palm-lined beaches of California may still command the spotlight for travelers to the United States, but beyond its headline acts, the country has plenty to offer those who want to give the crowds the slip.
Whether you’re seeking serenity in nature, the finest cuisine in the land, or the freedom of the wide-open road on the Great American Road Trip, we’ve rounded up five states that deserve more than a quick flyover.
Read more on what makes these the most underrated places to travel in the U.S. at the link in bio.
Words by @zoeygotowriter
Photos by Max Harlynking, Kit Turk, Ian Dooley, Jametlene Reskp, Gary Yost, Steve Wrzeszczynski, /Unsplash
A skin-contact sipper from Armenia? A low-intervention tipple out of Ukraine? To try them, head to London’s latest wine bar, @sova.london .
Opened on 8 April just off Portobello Road, Sova—which means “owl” in several Slavic languages—is the newest addition to a capital increasingly obsessed with low-intervention pours, hyper-specific wine lists and late-night vinyl listening sessions. Curated by a consultant sommelier, the bar showcases bottles from lesser-explored regions across Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and beyond.
Read more on the opening at the link in bio.
Words by @lucykehoe
Photos courtesy of @sova.london
When the social team asks if you’d like to eat dirt on camera… you eat dirt on camera.🫡
Forever a trooper, @lucykehoe stopped by Somerset House in London to attend the Museum of Edible Earth.
The show explores geophagy - the practice of eating earth for medicine, health, and ritual. You’ll learn all about dirt’s role in many cultures and even get to sample some soil yourself.
The show is pay-what-you-can and will be in London until April 26th.
But don’t worry if you’re missing it, the exhibit is traveling around the world, so check if it’s coming to you on their Instagram page: @museum_of_edible_earth
In December 2025, photographer @issycroker travelled to the western state of Karnataka, India for the first time in seven years, basing herself in the quiet seaside village of Thottam near Udupi. From there, she explored the state’s 320-km coastline, photographing beaches, markets, and everyday life along India’s western shore.
“It didn’t take long to remember how visually overwhelming India is—in the best way,” Croker says. “From a photographer’s point of view, everything feels alive: the colours, the people, the constant street-level movement…”
“I am always drawn to the contrast that defines India; the beauty alongside the chaos,” she continues. See her visual diary from coastal Karnataka at the link in bio.
Photos by @issycroker
Words by @lucykehoe
When you travel slowly, perhaps venturing off-grid into remote landscapes, digital doesn’t always cut it. There’s no WiFi on that overnight ferry; no charging point at that desert camp; and your Kindle battery inevitably flashes red just as the plot thickens.
A paperback, on the other hand, asks for nothing. It will bounce back from sand, sunblock, being wedged in a glove compartment, dropped in the hot tub and then dried on a rock in the sun.
Slim enough to slip in a pocket, the stories contained within these quick reads are substantial enough to stay with you long after your trip ends. At the link in bio, find our 16 favourite books under 200 pages—perfect for packing in your carry-on.
Words by @she_wears_the_trousers
Images via Unsplash
Book covers courtesy of Penguin Books, Faber & Faber, Sort of Books
