Across Europe’s most popular destinations this weekend, the weather forecast says cloudy with a chance of water guns.

Coordinated anti-tourism demonstrations, which recently have taken the form of crowds of locals spraying tourists with water pistols, are scheduled to happen on Sunday, June 15, in cities such as Barcelona, Ibiza, and Palma in Spain, as well as elsewhere in Europe, including Venice, Palermo, Lisbon, and other cities.

“Tourists have been warned of potential disruptions caused by activist groups preparing a large-scale protest for June 15th,” says Pablo Calvo, Spain Manager for travel operator Tours For You. “The demonstration, organized by the Southern European Network Against Touristification (SET), will focus on major Spanish destinations, such as the Canary Islands (Lanzarote and Tenerife) and the Balearic Islands (Barcelona and Mallorca).”

The protests are a continuation of a movement that first gained momentum in summer 2024 in Barcelona and the Canary Islands, as locals demanded action from politicians to limit mass tourism’s impact on housing, jobs, and daily life. Spain, and Barcelona in particular, remain ground zero for the movement. Here’s everything to know if you have an upcoming trip planned to one of the impacted destinations.

When and where are the protests?

In Barcelona, the protests are scheduled to start at noon on June 15 at the city’s Jardinets de Gràcia.

Additional cities in Spain that are planning to participate include Donostia-San Sebastian, where demonstrations will begin at 12 p.m. at the clock at La Concha beach; Granada, where protests will start at 11 a.m. at the Mirador de San Nicolas; Palma, where demonstrations are scheduled for 6 p.m. at Placa d’Espanya; and Ibiza, where protests will start at 6 p.m. at Portal de Ses Taules and follow the Plaça de la Constitució, ending in the Plaza de sa Graduada at 9 p.m., according to local news site Periodico de Ibiza.

Protests are also expected to take place on June 15 in major cities throughout Europe, including Venice and Lisbon. Specific plans have not yet been released to the public, but parks, public squares, or popular tourist sites are likely gathering places.

What are the protests about?

The protests aim to highlight the “growing concern over the uncontrolled growth of tourism and its negative effects on local communities,” Calvo says, including rising housing costs, overcrowding, and the treatment of the industry’s hospitality workers.

Lluís Diago, a worker at Barcelona’s famous Park Güell, said in a statement many of the jobs in the city’s tourism sector are “plagued by subcontracting and undignified and unsafe working conditions.”

Improving working conditions and the housing market is a core focus of the coordinated demonstrations on June 15. The protests are fighting against “injustice from the economic model [tourism] sets,” said a spokesperson from the Assembly of Neighborhoods for Tourist De-Growth. In Barcelona, locals are pushing the city’s politicians to reform policies like stopping a proposed expansion to Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, tightening restrictions on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals, and placing limits on cruise ship arrivals.

Should travelers be concerned?

The message of the demonstrations may be geared toward politicians, but tourists could still be caught in the watery crossfire. “We don’t think there will be aggressive behaviors against tourists, so no fear for travelers,” says Bruno Gomes, who works for We Hate Tourism tours in Lisbon, which aims to help visitors experience the city in a deeper way beyond its biggest tourist attractions.

The pinkish light of the setting sun spills across the desert just as I crest the ridge, breath shallow from the climb, boots coated in a thin layer of dust. All around me, the Santa Catalinas glow as if lit from within, their jagged edges softened by the dusk, while the valley below stretches endlessly, the silhouettes of cacti fading into shadow. I pause, letting the silence press in, broken only by the faint call of a cactus wren. Out here, surrounded by so much space, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of what my brother is missing—and the strange, aching freedom I carry in his place.

Two years ago, I unwittingly joined a vast, often invisible network of travelers—nearly six million strong. We come from every walk of life, journeying by car, train, bus, or plane to bridge the distance to our loved ones. My own journey begins in Rhode Island and ends on a dusty, desolate road on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, where I visit my youngest brother in prison. In America, the majority of prisons are located far from where inmates—and their families—call home. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, over 63 percent of people in state prisons are incarcerated more than 100 miles from their families, while in the federal prison system, it jumps to 500 miles. For me, that distance stretches over 2,500 miles. The physical distance underscores the emotional isolation incarceration creates. Having a loved one in prison burdens families not only financially—with the cost of travel, lost wages, lawyer fees, long-distance phone calls, the ongoing expense of funding commissary accounts for basic necessities—but emotionally, straining relationships, breaking family units apart, and deepening the sense of helplessness and grief.

My brother is 16 years younger than me—we share the same parents, and I still remember the day he was born, the tiny weight of him in my arms as I first held him. I’m his big sister, and he’s my baby brother. Nothing will ever change that, though now the time we share is regulated and restricted. Our visits take place on weekends, in a sterile room with chairs bolted to the floor, under strict rules: no food, no drinks, no cell phones, no distractions. For seven uninterrupted hours, we talk. Through our words and memories, we transcend the barbed wire and armed guards. Together, we imagine a future beyond confinement—what we’ll eat, where we’ll go, what it will feel like to once again plunge into the cherished lakes of our Midwestern childhood summers, together and free. These conversations, unbroken by modern distractions, have taught me the value of sitting with discomfort. My brother’s life will never be what we once imagined, and we talk about that with unflinching honesty. The hardest moment is always the end of the visit. We’re allowed a single, brief hug before he is led away, and I step back out into the desert’s fading light—heartbroken yet steadfast, ready to begin the long journey home.

Reaching Tucson from Rhode Island is neither straightforward nor inexpensive. Each time, I weigh whether to drive into Boston and fly direct or leave from our smaller airport, where I’ll have to connect in Atlanta. Should I rent a car or rely on a rideshare, knowing full well how difficult it will be to get an Uber to pick you up from federal prison 15 miles outside of town? And then there’s the matter of lodging. The costs pile up—and that’s assuming the visit goes as planned. More times than I care to count, I’ve arrived in Tucson after a long day of travel, only to learn the prison is on lockdown with visitations suspended. Our family—my husband, our three kids, and I—once spent Thanksgiving week there, planning to visit my brother on the holiday itself and during the weekends before and after. Upon landing, we learned the prison was locked down and would remain so for the entirety of our trip. I’ve since learned to book refundable hotels and airline tickets, plus a window seat on my return flight, so I can cry in private.

On my first visit, I fully expected to resent the perpetually sunny desert town surrounded by vast mountain ranges. The Santa Catalinas, the Rincons, the Santa Ritas, and the Tucson Mountains circle the city, glowing a brilliant gold at sunset. How dare this place remain warm, bright, and beautiful in the face of my grief. Yet, over time, the stark beauty of the Sonoran Desert has captivated me. Now, I look forward to these visits—not just to see my brother, who I miss with an unending ache, but also to experience this remarkable landscape.

Among the things that don’t come cheap, family vacations can feel like one of them. There’s an oft-repeated joke that traveling with children isn’t really a vacation—it’s just picking up after them in a new location. Add in the often high cost of flights for the whole family, plus hotel rooms or home rentals and meals, sometimes it seems like it might be easier to just stay home. But travel, as you already know if you’re reading this, pays dividends that can’t always be quantified: There is no price that equates to that first sip of fresh coconut water from the roadside stand in Puerto Rico, or watching the delight in your children’s eyes the first time they see a giant panda in person.

But happily, you can make these memories without spending a small fortune on your vacation. In fact, many of the country’s liveliest cities, as well as hotspots in the Caribbean and Europe, are absolutely doable on a tight budget. You just have to know where to look. Below is a list of nine of our favorite family-friendly spots where you can eat, stay, and play without spending a ton. We’ve found places for every type of family trip, from sandy escapes and outdoor adventures to city spectaculars. All that’s left for you to do is to pick. Read on for the best destinations for cheap family vacations from the United States, with affordable destinations in the US and beyond and hotel recommendations below $200 a night.

Aruba

The Caribbean playground whose nickname is “one happy island” will also keep your wallet quite pleased. With plenty of affordable (and direct!) flights from the US, plus a surplus of hotels that are both inexpensive and family-friendly, there may be no better cheap warm weather destination than Aruba. Beaches here are the main draw, and those outside of the resorts are open to all (and often very easy to reach via public transportation). Eagle Beach is considered the crown jewel, known for its soft sands and family-friendly turquoise waters, plus beach huts and water sport rentals. Those looking for more active activities can head to Arikok National Park, where you’ll find the otherworldly limestone Fontein Cave and the remote and beautiful Natural Pool. Many local businesses and hotels also take part in the One Happy Family program, which offers deals specifically to those traveling with kiddos—think free accommodations for children or discounts on activities like sailing trips.

Where to stay in Aruba:

For beach time: Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort
For kids stay free: Holiday Inn Resort Aruba
For walkability: Courtyard Aruba Resort

Croatia

This Balkan nation has been steadily rising in popularity amongst European destinations, but a trip here can still be far more affordable than to Italy or France. The Dalmatian Coast is the most popular stretch of the country: It’s here you’ll find both the historic city of Dubrovnik and Split, its more relaxed counterpart. In the former, you can wander the Old City and explore the beautiful wall walk, as well as take a dip in one of the many nearby beaches (Banje, though sometimes crowded, is wonderful for families). Split, meanwhile, has a more modern feel outside of its Old Town, although some of the best-preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy can be found within its perimeters. And if the crowds of the Coast have you craving a bit more solitude, the country’s eight national parks offer some respite. UNESCO-listed Plitvice Lakes and Krka are two of the most popular; both boast plenty of waterfalls, serene hiking paths in the forest, and peaceful lakes.

Where to stay in Croatia:

In Dubrovnik: Berkeley Hotel
In Split: Hotel Corner
In Plitvice Lakes National Park: Ethno Houses

Guatemala

While its neighbor to the north, Belize, has long been a favored destination for adventure family travel, Guatemala has not always enjoyed the same level of recognition. In the last few years, though, this Central American nation has become one of the most exciting—and affordable—places to visit in the region. After all, there’s an area to entice every type of traveler: the beautiful and lively UNESCO World Heritage site of Antigua, with its Spanish Colonial architecture and bountiful hot chocolate shops for the kids; to the famed and majestic Lake Atitlán, the deepest in all of Central America; to the impressive and sprawling ruins of Tikal, a Mayan citadel which is now a national park. And if all else fails, there are always the beaches, which fly more under-the-radar here than the historic sites but are nevertheless absolutely worth a visit. Playa Dorada on the shore of Lake Izabal, and Playa Las Cristalinas at Lake Atitlán are two of the best for families.

Where to stay in Guatemala:

In Antigua: Posada del Angel
Near Tikal: La Lancha
In Lake Atitlán: Casa Palopó

Mexico City

There are few cities as saturated with affordable, kid-friendly activities as this sprawling North American capital. And, with many American cities on both coasts flying directly into Mexico City, airfare is often quite reasonable. Once on the ground, you can steer your trip in whatever direction your family is interested: big on trying local food? Explore one of the city’s many markets for cheap and unique eats on the go. Love to wander museums? Then a trip to Museo Nacional de Antropología, which has the world’s largest collection of Mexican artifacts, is a must. Toddlers just need to run off some excess energy? Head to Bosque de Chapultepec, a huge expanse of 1,700 acres that includes botanical gardens and a large lake. And finally, art lovers shouldn’t miss Coyoacán, a charming, family-friendly neighborhood that also contains the Frida Kahlo Museum, one of the city’s premier and most fascinating attractions.

Where to stay in Mexico City:

For views: Hilton Mexico City Reforma
For design: Gran Hotel Ciudad de México
For kid-friendly amenities: Camino Real Polanco

The Poconos

The northeast has a plethora of plural noun destinations: The Hamptons. The Berkshires. The Catskills. But none stick the landing mixing family-friendly and affordable quite the way The Poconos does. The region—an area of northeast Pennsylvania just north of Allentown—has long been a favored vacation destination, but prices have remained accessible even so. In the summer, head to the enormous Lake Wallenpaupack: 13 miles across with six public recreation areas. In winter, ski slopes—many that are ideal for beginners and with lower rates than further north—are the biggest draw, especially Camelback Mountain. The area is also famed for its campgrounds, which offer an even more inexpensive way to explore the region via tent and RV sites, or camping cabins. And if the weather isn’t cooperating, you can always head to a waterpark for indoor fun: The Poconos has three year-round parks—Kalahari, Camelback, and Great Wolf—from which to choose.

Where to stay in The Poconos:

Best for large groups: Stroudsmoor Country Inn
Best for on-site activities: Skytop Lodge
Best for skiing: Camelback Resort

Lisbon

In the past, Lisbon often played little sister to the likes of Barcelona. Now the Portuguese capital takes her rightful place as one of Europe’s most vibrant (not the mention affordable) cultural centers. Although its hilly streets are tricky to navigate with a stroller, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be rewarded with a superb restaurant scene, lively neighborhoods filled with boutiques that will tempt shoppers of any age, and stunning vistas from the many miradouros (viewpoints) scattered around the city. Kids will love seeing the winding paths of the city via the famed No. 28 tram, as well as exploring the Moorish São Jorge Castle (don’t miss its camera obscura). And we’d be remiss if we didn’t call out Portuguese desserts, specifically: the famed egg custard tart pastel de nata, a revelatory, creamy bite no one should leave without sampling. You can also consider taking the train for a day trip to Sintra: where colorful palaces abound and are beautiful enough to inspire dreams of fairy tales in everyone, young and old.

Where to stay in Lisbon:

For design lovers: The Vintage Lisbon
For entertainment: Lumen Hotel
For sightseeing: Mama Shelter

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Few places in the Caribbean tick all the boxes the way Puerto Rico does: dozens of daily non-stop flights, a mix of beach and culture, and plenty of affordable activities and places to stay. Plus you don’t even need your passport. San Juan is the most popular home base for good reason: It’s home to the airport, and the abundance of beachfront hotels means the whole family can have their feet wiggling in the sand not long after landing. Make sure to carve out time to explore the castillos of San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal, as well as the charming cobblestoned streets of Old San Juan. Budding biologists will get a kick out of the island’s bioluminescent bays (there are three here), where the water glows otherworldly from the presence of dinoflagellates. Laguna Grande, in Fajardo, is the closest to San Juan.

Where to stay in San Juan:

For beach access: AC Hotel San Juan Condado
For Old San Juan: Alma San Juan
For resort vibes: Caribe Hilton

San Diego

On vacation, few things are worse than being relegated to a cramped hotel room with your whole family when the weather takes a turn. To give yourself the best possible chance of temperate climes, there is probably nowhere better to visit in the United States than San Diego. And while the sunny skies and plentiful beaches would probably be reason enough to book a trip, this southern Californian city has more to offer than good looks. Most famous is the city’s eponymous zoo, which has 100 acres and over 600 species on display—plan to spend at least half a day here. It’s nestled inside Balboa Park with its 1,200 acres of museums (some of which are free), the Old Globe Theater, and tons of restaurants. And for sea views on the cheap, grab ferry tickets for the ride to Coronado, the oozing-with-charm island just across the bay. Its main street, Orange Avenue, is especially filled with family-friendly shops and places to eat.

Where to stay in San Diego:

For access to Downtown: The Bristol Hotel
For resort-like feel: Humphreys Half Moon Inn
For beach access: Beach Haven

Washington, DC

There may be no city in the United States with more free, family-friendly activities than our nation’s capital. And we’re not just talking local playgrounds or libraries: Many of DC’s most famous attractions are completely gratis, making the city a no-brainer for an inexpensive family trip. The greatest concentration of free museums is on the National Mall: biggest hits with kids include the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History. If the latter doesn’t suffice for animal lovers, however, make a beeline for the National Zoo to see the pandas for free. Another interactive way to learn about the city is through a DC by Foot tour, which range in topics from the ghosts of Georgetown to Arlington Cemetery and has free or name-your-own-price options. And don’t leave without trying some of DC’s most famous foods, many of which are super affordable, like Ben’s Chili Bowl’s half-smokes and the stalls inside Eastern Market.

Where to stay in Washington, DC:

For sightseeing: Arlo Washington DC
For access to Capitol Hill: Kimpton George
For everything under one roof: Generator Washington DC

“There were a lot more kids on this cruise than previous cruises, which was wonderful because they made friends,” Courtney says. Having so many other children on board gave her kids built-in playmates, making the experience even more enjoyable for them—and a little easier for her.

Another unexpected hit? Guy Fieri’s burger spot on the ship. “It was a big hit,” Courtney says. “We didn’t expect much, but we kept going back.” Sometimes, the simplest pleasures—like finding a favorite meal—make a trip memorable.

Of course, not every surprise was a welcome one. Just five hours before departure, their original flight to Miami was canceled, turning what should have been a quick direct flight into a 12-hour travel ordeal with two separate flights. “The kids weren’t thrilled about spending so much time in airports, but honestly, they didn’t complain much,” she says.

Thankfully, her decision to fly in a day early prevented what could have been a much bigger disaster. While the delay was frustrating, they still made it to the ship in time—a reminder of why buffer days matter when traveling.

Some surprises made the trip more fun, and others tested their patience, but together, they added to the adventure of it all.

What she would do differently next time

Even though the trip was a success, Courtney would tweak a few things for the future. First, the length of the cruise. “The cruise was about one day too long,” she says. “Moving forward, we would look for five- to seven-day cruises.”

Then, the choice of ship. “The boat we were on was somewhat old,” she says. “It still had a lot to do, but I would want to try a newer boat with more going on—like Icon of the Seas.” For her, it’s less about bigger being better and more about having more variety to keep the kids engaged.

Takeaways for other single parents considering a cruise

For Courtney, this trip reaffirmed why cruising works so well for her family. It gave her a mix of structure and freedom, built-in entertainment, and an easy way to explore new places without feeling overwhelmed. Her biggest advice? Just do it.

“Go in with an open mind and let the kids help plan pieces of it,” she says.

And the most important logistical tip? “Always pack extra snacks than you think you need for the airport and always fly in at least 24 hours before the cruise leaves,” she says. “Our flight was canceled, and we never would’ve made the cruise if we flew in the day of.”

Would she cruise again? Absolutely. “We’ve done three cruises now, and the kids enjoy them,” she says. “We would cruise again to the right place on the right ship.”

Because at the end of the day, a vacation that lets everyone have their own version of fun while still making memories together is exactly what she’s looking for.

The bottom line

Group size: 3

Days: 8

Cruise cost: $2,100

Flight cost: $1,700

Hotel cost: They flew in the day before the cruise and the stay was free with points.

Additional costs: $180 for Wi-Fi, $400 alcoholic beverages, $1,000 for excursions (used $300 in points to pay for one), $200 for Ubers, and $500 for miscellaneous spending.

Total cost: $6,000

Budapest is just one of 24 races across 21 countries that F1 fans can choose to plan trips around. “Formula 1 isn’t just a sport; it’s a global passport,” says Valen. “You can soak in the glamour of Monaco from a yacht-lined harbor, or stroll through the tree-lined pathways of Notre Dame Island in Montreal before lights out…F1 turns travel into something cinematic.”

Mawdsley says more and more of Grand Prix Grand Tours’ clients are looking to destination races, such as Qatar or Singapore, and wrapping the event into a longer luxury trip. The Middle East, in particular, is very popular for its safety, family-friendliness, and quality of services, he says. “You can spend four nights at Qatar Grand Prix, staying in a stunning five-star hotel, with guaranteed great weather, for the same price as three nights at the Belgian Grand Prix. It’s not difficult to see the attraction.”

As the sport’s 2025 season kicks off in Melbourne, starting on March 13, more fans than ever will want a ringside seat to this year’s action, including several new driver pairings such as Hamilton’s much-anticipated debut with Scuderia Ferrari—and a potential shake-up to the leaderboard. That energy will only mount in 2026, as F1 adds a new American team, Cadillac, to the grid, and rolls out major technical changes including sustainability regulations. There are even hints at new race locations, including the rumored move of the Spanish Grand Prix from Barcelona to Madrid. “The interesting thing, as we saw with Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, is that nobody is waiting for their favorite sport or musician to come to them,” says Roe. “Now they’re saying: ‘Where can I go to find it?’ And they’re anchoring their travels around these events.”

The 2025 season calendar + what’s new this year

The 2025 Formula 1 calendar features 24 races across 21 countries and 5 continents. Preseason testing began in late February at the Bahrain International Circuit, which traditionally also hosts the season opener. However, due to Ramadan, the 2025 calendar was adjusted, and the Australian Grand Prix (March 14–16) at Albert Park in Melbourne will now kick off the season for the first time since its cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After Australia, the championship will head to China (March 21–23), followed by the Japanese GP (April 4–6) and two of four Middle Eastern races, Bahrain (April 11–13) and Saudi Arabia (April 18–20), later on. To improve geographical flow, the European leg will take place over the summer, starting with Imola in May, while the Americas will be featured in autumn before the final races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi in winter.

This season will also include six sprint races, held in Shanghai, Miami, Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Austin, São Paulo, and Lusail (Qatar), with Belgium returning to the sprint schedule for the first time since 2023.

• March 14–16: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
• March 21–23: Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
• April 4–6: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
• April 11–13: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
• April 18–20: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah
• May 2–4: Miami Grand Prix
• May 16–18: Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Imola
• May 23–25: Monaco Grand Prix
• May 30–June 1: Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona
• June 13–15: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
• June 27–29: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg
• July 4–6: British Grand Prix, Silverstone
• July 25–27: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps
• August 1–3: Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
• August 29–31: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort
• September 5–7: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
• September 19–21: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku
• October 3–5: Singapore Grand Prix
• October 17–19: United States Grand Prix, Austin
• October 24–26: Mexican Grand Prix, Mexico City
• November 7–9: Brazilian Grand Prix, São Paulo
• November 20–22: Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas
• November 28–30: Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail
• December 5–7: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina

When I tell my granddad that I’m going to Rome to stay in the gut-renovated Hotel D’Inghilterra for work, he says, “Give me a minute,” and goes into his bedroom. We are in the foyer of the carriage house he shared with my grandmother until her passing two years ago—the bedroom is just to the left of the front door. I stand there for a minute not thinking of anything much at all, expecting nothing and enjoying, as I often do, the black-and-white tile on the floor and the robin’s egg blue runner (my grandmother’s signature color) that crawls up the stairs. He returns holding a pair of slippers. Once white but now a dusty gray, the terrycloth set is not quite tattered but definitely peeling in places, and there are stains. Emblazoned on the top lining, the cursive text a faded gray, is the logo of Hotel D’Inghilterra.

He and my grandma stayed there once. When I push him for details, he asks to think about it because he can’t remember and then sends a “necessarily vague” email: “Late in the last century we planned a trip to Rome and discovered the D’Inghilterra, which had proximity to one of Rome’s most fashionable shopping streets, the iconic Spanish Steps and, important in those pre-cellphone days, an American Express office. We spent an idyllic week there and when we left I took with me the complementary bathroom slippers which I wore at home for many years and then saved to remind me of that special time and place.” In his memory, the hotel was utilitarian and serviceable, white and gray.

To say that my grandparents lived a blessed life would be to put it lightly. They were two people well-matched in ambition and values, who through a combination of hard work (he running the family construction business, she as a formidable educator) and good fortune were able not only to travel extensively but also make sure their grandchildren could do the same. Italy was a regular destination of theirs for the obvious cultural reasons, my grandmother having studied art history, and the first time I left the country was not with my parents but with them, age 10, to see Rome, Florence, and Venice. My grandfather describes my twin brother Jack and I as “copacetic travel companions” and generously makes no mention of my wetting myself in my sleep on the flight over. (My grandmother, anticipating such an accident, had packed a change of clothes for me in her carry-on.) I did my first travel writing on this trip as we were each assigned to record accounts of each day in black leather journals after dinner for us to show our parents upon return (who, in turn, lost them.) When I returned to Rome with my grandparents six years later, age 14, I found another first favorite in that I drank limoncello and was drunk.

And so I became even more excited for my own impending trip. I packed the slippers, with the vague idea of making some sort of TikTok with them, everything being copy. My trip would be different from those of my grandparents’ in that I would be there for work, the hotel would look nothing like it had, and I would be by myself. A lone traveler, something neither grandparent chose to be after they got engaged in Paris, on the Eiffel Tower in 1963, age 22.

When Samantha Brown was hired to host a show on the Travel Channel back in 2000, she was just happy not to be waiting tables anymore. She’s been on the road ever since, though, and 25 years later is hosting her own show for PBS. Samantha Brown’s Places to Love is about to enter its eighth season, and the show is very much sculpted by the lessons Brown has learned over a quarter-century in the game. Namely, she knows now that it’s the people that make the place.

Of the early days of her career, Brown says, “Being on the road 220 days out of the year was just lonely—I was mostly shooting castles, monuments, and cathedrals, which just naturally puts you in the past.” Long walks at the end of long shoot days helped Brown learn how she really likes to travel: instinctively, intuitively, spontaneously, and socially. “The energy of locals doing their everyday thing really filled me up,” she says. “That’s why, for Places to Love, I make sure the focus is on the people, neighborhoods, and places where you can be a part of the community.”

One episode in the eight season of Places to Love sees Brown on the North Carolina coast—here, she sits down for a seafood boil on Oceania Pier.

Samantha Brown Media

The last time Brown sat down with us for a chat, on an episode of the Women Who Travel podcast back in 2021, she was reflecting on the year prior, which she—and most of us—spent cloistered in our homes. Now that she’s decidedly back out in the world and the cameras are rolling once more, she joined us to talk about how her viewpoint has changed, trends she’s totally called, and more.

At our 2024 Points of View Summit, you mentioned your current approach to producing Places to Love, which involves a lot of boots-on-the-ground scouting. How did you land there?

It started when I was more of a “hired host” for The Travel Channel, and those shows were really centered on showing you the greatest hits, no surprises. Just like: What is the place known for? That’s where we’re going to take you. And that was great. But at the end of the day, I just wondered, What else is there? I actually felt a real loneliness and kind of disconnect with the location, and thought, “I guess I’m really not a traveler.”

On another tiny islet, aptly named Lemur Island, or Nosy Komba, lies another iteration of a tropical idyll: Tsara Komba. Set on the side of an extinct volcano, off the less rainy northwestern coast of Madagascar, this little eight-room ecolodge was built by a Frenchman two decades ago and has recently been taken over by the sea-and-safari specialist Time + Tide, which also owns the smart retreat Miavana on the northeastern tip of the island. The lush terraced gardens, full of glossy, iridescent sunbirds darting amid exotic flowers, are the best place to admire the white sails of a traditional dugout dhow turning tangerine in the setting sun.

A paddleboarder floats just off the beast at Tsara Komba.

Time and Tide

It’s a place so beloved of Madagascar aficionados that many of the guests sunning themselves under the shaggy beach umbrellas or on the palm-fringed ocean deck return year after year to its wood and thatch villas. Key members of the 40-strong multitalented staff include Tina Hary, a Malagasy chef known for his ginger-tinged ceviches and rich octopus salads, and the adored lodge manager, Nava Rabe, who sprinkles joy as she moves calmly between guests. Part of the warmth and community feel can be explained by the fact that Tsara Komba built a village next door and has hugely improved the residents’ lives. Villagers work at the hotel and catch the (strictly monitored, deep-sea) fish served there. The eco-lodge brings in much-needed cash to fund national parks including the Lokobe forest reserve, full of energetic lemurs, camouflaging geckos and nail-sized chameleons. Tourist money also aids the Ambohibe Turtle Reserve, where I swam with the reptiles, and the island of Tanikely, where I snorkeled amid clouds of rainbow-hued fish (and, sadly, the badly bleached coral now common along the East African coast). Lodges such as these, where the rate per night tops the Madagascar GDP per capita, are lifelines for local communities.

I leave here glowing effortlessly from the overabundant but nutritious food, tropical air and sea – and long nights of rest untroubled by tech. When, hopefully in 2025, more private air charters take to the skies, linking remote spots such as these, Madagascar will be the hottest beach spot on the continent for smart travelers. “It’s like Bali 40 years ago,” proclaims Kjellgren. And having visited 150 countries, and more than 2,000 hotels, he would know.

Scott Dunn offers a nine-night Madagascar itinerary from $7,675 per person, with four nights each at Voaara and Tsara Komba, full board, and a night at Maison Gallieni, B&B, plus international and domestic flights and transfers; a version of this story originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller UK.

Ten minutes down the road from Leo’s is Teach Hiúdaí Beag. Sitting there on the last night of my trip, I realized that the Irish pubs I’d frequented in America were imitations of pubs in Ireland that were themselves imitations of pubs like this. There was no pool table, no food. Just a dark room, dark beer, and endless whirling gusts of music from a dozen musicians. Around 11, there was a stir of excitement. A woman in her 60s had entered. She was beautiful, with long blonde hair and a fiddle case by her side. Her name was Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.

Before I’d come to Ireland, someone had described Ní Mhaonaigh to me as the Queen of Donegal. Listening to her music online, I’d heard a voice as clear and gentle as a mountain stream. Her story seemed to have all the essential Irish themes: romance, loss, longing, perseverance. In 1973, when she was 14, she fell in love with an 18-year-old from Belfast named Frankie Kennedy. Like other people from the six counties under British control, Kennedy spent summers in the Donegal Gaeltacht. It was the height of the Troubles, and Donegal was a refuge. Ní Mhaonaigh would soon make a name for herself as a session fiddler at Teach Hiúdaí Beag. Kennedy learned the tin whistle so he’d have an excuse to spend time with her. They married when she turned 21 and later formed a band called Altan, after a lake at the foot of Errigal, Donegal’s tallest mountain. Soon they were touring America on the wave of the Irish music revival, playing Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. “We were totally in love and just wanted to be together all the time,” she told the Irish Independent. But while they were on tour in 1992, Kennedy’s back and neck began to hurt. He was diagnosed with bone cancer and died two years later, at 38.

Ní Mhaonaigh remarried and, at 45, had a daughter, Nia Ní Bheirn, in Dublin. After parting from her second husband, she and Nia, then three, moved back to Donegal. At the pub, Ní Bheirn, now 20 and a gifted musician in her own right, accompanied her mother as she made the rounds and greeted friends. Once they’d settled in, I asked Ní Mhaonaigh what accounted for the region’s remarkable creativity. “There’s nothing else to do,” Ní Mhaonaigh said with a laugh.

But perhaps there are deeper reasons, older ones. If science has shown that trees can talk, then perhaps even the skeptics among us should refrain from ruling out the possibility that one source of Donegal’s creativity might not be in Donegal at all. According to the origin myth of the Irish nation, another people already lived in Ireland when the Gaels arrived. The Gaels slaughtered them and drove them from their homes, dispossessing them of their lands just as the British would eventually dispossess the Gaels. The survivors fled into the Otherworld and became fairies—enigmatic beings whose attitude toward humankind was ambivalent at best. There is an old story about a fiddler who, stumbling home from the pub at night, heard an enchanting tune drifting out of a cottage he’d never noticed before. Unable to resist the music’s allure, he opened the door to discover a room full of fairies with fiddles. When he returned to his village at dawn, he found that 50 years had passed and nearly everyone he had ever known was dead. But his loss was our gain, for he had returned bearing the gift of the fairies’ songs. Some say the most beautiful tunes in the Irish tradition come from the Otherworld. This might explain why they so often seem to ache with longing. Just as the Irish yearned for the world the British took from them, the fairies must have yearned for the world they lost to the Irish.