Travel blog

We all wish we could avoid jet lag, the annoying side effect of long flights. Your internal clock, or circadian rhythm, is thrown off. So, for a few days, your sleep/wake cycle remains out of sync with the time zone you’ve flown into. Jet lag can make you wake up at 2 AM, want to go to bed 4 PM, and just not feel your best for the start of your vacation.

Thankfully, there are ways you can minimize the severity and length of jet lag. Smart choices before, during, and after you fly give you more time to enjoy your vacation without being bogged down by the frustrating symptoms of jet lag.

Photo Credit: Daniel Hernandez

Cruise lovers have been dreaming of returning to sea, including YMT Tour Director Daniel Hernandez. Daniel is an avid cruiser who has led countless cruise tours over the course of his career. He was as enthusiastic as our guests to board Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway for a 7-day Caribbean Cruise—his first cruise in two years.

Daniel’s experience leading our New Orleans & Western Caribbean Cruise left him happy and enthusiastic for what’s to come. He observed a few changes and new protocols, but the fun of cruising is back and better than ever.

Are you curious what cruising is like now? Read about Daniel’s experience, and what you can expect on a cruise in 2022!

America’s national parks are so precious that they are nationally protected and preserved as a birthright for all future generations. These natural wonders make us feel small—and we can’t help but marvel at their extraordinary beauty. Popular parks receive over a million visitors annually. The 10 most visited parks welcome more than 3 million people each year.

One of the biggest concerns our guests have before they embark on a YMT vacation is how they are going to do laundry while on their trip. Do hotels have laundry service? Is there laundry service on cruise ships? Will there be time to clean their clothes? Will there be facilities? What will it cost?

Based on these common questions, we’ve compiled a list of the best ways to wash clothes when traveling. Our suggestions vary by type of trip, cost, effectiveness, and convenience.

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.