Travelogue

There are so many things to love about Airbnb and its competitors: the price point, the flexibility, the immediate access to a culture. But, there are a few things some frequent travelers take issue with—sleeping in a stranger's sheets to start. Our complicated feelings regarding Airbnb have been behind many a debate among Traveler's editors. But in a world where home shares are drawing many travelers away from hotels, we used this week's episode of Travelogue to dig in to who should be using Airbnb and why.

We've said it before: Travel can be addicting. But, is there a point where travel becomes a competition for bragging rights and a life constantly on the move starts to eat away at any semblance of normalcy or stability—and, if so, is that a bad thing? This week, we talked with two of the world's most traveled men about their best trips, their scariest experiences (what would you do as a tourist in Tehran when the Iranian Revolution hit in 1979?), and why they continue to travel with such urgency.

Back in January, we set ourselves up for what quickly proved to be an impossible task: Give a 45-minute run-through of all things Asia over the course of a single episode of our podcast, Travelogue. We knew it as we were wrapping up, but with some extra motivation from one communicative Twitter user (we really do love hearing from you), it became clear that a "part two" was desperately needed. So, on this episode of Travelogue, we cover some of the ground we didn't get to last time, and came to realize, inevitably, that we could talk about this massively expansive and beautifully diverse continent for hours—if not days.

Does travel net out to mostly good effects on our minds and bodies? Or can we get a stronger brain by just exploring our own cities? This week, we dive deep into the science of travel and social interaction to see if we can live longer and be smarter just by hopping on a flight.

If you listened to Travelogue a few weeks ago, we gave you all the intel on how to get airline miles and now, we've got a crash course in how to spend them. Sure, credit card companies often promote redeeming for cash as the simplest way to turn your spending into free money, but you can do more—a lot more. Trading in those points for an amazing trip requires only a little knowledge and flexibility. You've just got to know when and where to look. Looking for more info? Listen up.

Pop quiz: What do the Great Barrier Reef, the Alps, Venice, and Napa Valley have in common? They're all buckling under a force that is threatening their very existence—climate change. In light of the news that the U.S. government has decided to pull out of the Paris Agreement, the one global accord aiming to stem greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change, we at Condé Nast Traveler felt it appropriate to tackle one question head-on: What is our duty, as travelers, to make sure that our islands, snow-capped mountains, and glaciers stick around long enough for our grandchildren—or even our children—to enjoy them?

We share our own harrowing tales of health emergencies on the road—and what we learned from them. There are stories of organ-destroying parasites, plane rides in which we spent more time in the lavatory than in our seats, and references to at least two different words that end with "rhea". It gets graphic, it gets funny, it gets scary. Brace yourselves.

If you've made it this far, you know something about frequent flier miles—or at least that you don't know much. Tales of road warriors whizzing about the skies, sipping free champagne, and enjoying automatic upgrades are enough to make you want to get into the game. Where to start can feel daunting—but it doesn't have to be.

Group travel. Once upon a time, that simple phrase sent shivers down these Traveler editors’ spines. But this week, we decided to put our heads together and explore how to have an enjoyable group trip (from bachelorette and bachelor parties to college reunions) and make it home on speaking terms. We weighed up what ingredients make for a top-notch group travel destination when there's five, six or even ten of you to please (turns out, Nashville is pretty much perfect) and discuss the tips and life lessons we've picked up along the way.

A man dragged off an overbooked United flight, a woman accidentally sent to San Francisco instead of Paris, and an all-out brawl at Fort Lauderdale airport due to a string of cancellations: It's been a rough couple of months for air travel. And here's the thing—even we, well-versed in travel hacks, sometimes reach wits' end in the emotional maelstrom that is air travel. On this week's episode of Travelogue, the podcast of Condé Nast Traveler, we tell those stories; grapple with the new, troubling normal of airport stress; and share what we've learned along the way. Believe it or not, sometimes even the worst situations can be avoided—or, at least, mitigated—with a little savvy and kindness.