Travel blog

Thailand’s temples, or wats, are among its most popular tourist attractions. There are over 30,000 Buddhist and Hindu wats found across this Southeast Asian country. They are sacred places that many people visit every day to pray, meditate, and seek counsel from monks.

Thailand’s wats are colorful, ornately decorated complexes that are as beautiful as they are sacred. With multi-layered roofs, bell-shaped stupa towers, holy relics, and elaborate ornamentation, they are some of the most impressive religious structures in the world.

With so many options, how do you choose which Thailand temples to visit? Easy. You start with this list.

The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is one of the finest resorts in the country. The hotel was built in 1887 as a lakeside retreat for wealthy Golden Age travelers. Almost 140 years later it has retained its ambiance of refinement and gentility. The setting for the 1980 film Somewhere in Time is romantic, elegant, and the ultimate escape from modern life.

Iconic, historical, and famously luxurious, the Grand Hotel is the type of place you must visit at least once. A 2-night stay at the Grand Hotel is the highlight of YMT’s Mackinac Island & Grand Hotel tour.

Vancouver, British Columbia is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world. With an eclectic array of neighborhoods blessed with abundant outdoor activities and magnificent waterfront views, there’s a lot to love here -- not the least of which is Vancouver’s exciting culinary scene. One of our favorite foodie destinations is Granville Island Market, a bustling public market in a gentrified former industrial area right along the waterfront.

TSA PreCheck streamlines the airport security process, providing you a dedicated line at airport security (that typically moves faster), making it a more convenient experience.

If you’ve been considering filling out a TSA PreCheck application, below is your guide to everything you need to know about the program and process.

There are many romantic cities in the United States. From the west coast to the east coast, from the south to the north, from tropical islands to desert vistas. There is a huge variety of stunning destinations, each with their own flavor of love and romance.

10 Most Romantic Cities in The U.S.

Here is our guide to the 10 most romantic cities in the US. From laid back to bustling, these cities each offer something special for visitors looking forward to a romantic escape.

The Panama Canal is one of the world’s most important and impressive engineering marvels. Once considered an impossible dream, this on-land shortcut across 50 miles of Central American jungle connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

There’s no better time to experience Germany than during the Christmas season when Deutschland sparkles with lights and merriment. Christmas markets are the epicenter of gemütlichkeit, or winter cheer. Each November and December, these festive celebrations dominate the town squares of nearly every city and hamlet.

Decorated market stalls spill over with handmade goods, seasonal food, and drink. There is an endless supply of ornaments, wooden toys, and weihnachtspyramiden, traditional candle-powered merry-go-rounds.

From the enormous Christmas tree in Munich to the Erzgebirge pyramid in Erfurt, German Christmas markets are the perfect places to get into the holiday spirit. The best way to learn about Germany’s brightly festive season is to follow YMT’s German Christmas market guide.

European travel is expected to come back in a big way in 2022. There is so much to see across the 44 countries that make up Europe that it can be a little overwhelming deciding where to start. Do you want to see history? Drink good wine? Watch the sunrise over a famous skyline? No matter your travel dreams, there is a European destination for you. Here are 22 of our favorites for 2022.

America’s vast and hugely diverse landscape is ripe for discovery in 2022. The United States covers almost 4 million square miles, each one special in its own way. You could spend your whole life exploring this country and still have more to see. The best places to visit in the U.S. range from bustling cities to the blissful quiet of the deep wilderness. From Alaska to Hawaii, from the West Coast to the East Coast, get inspired to find your dream vacation without even needing a passport.

Travelers taking to the skies during the COVID-19 pandemic should be aware of current mask mandates. The TSA and CDC are in charge of the rules and regulations for airports, airlines, and passengers. Their basic rule is that all travelers over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask when in an airport or on a plane. These regulations were recently extended to April 18, 2022. Here are a few more specifics you might like to know.