The 8 best affordable tropical vacations

Basking beneath palm trees on powder-soft sand, snorkeling warm turquoise waters amid multicolored fish, catching waves, hiking through rainforest to crystal-clear waterfalls, breathing in flower-perfumed air… a dream tropical vacation can be a reality, even on a budget. Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, 36% of the earth's landmass is tropical,…

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Everything you need to know before visiting Grand Canyon National Park

Bigger than Rhode Island and large enough to influence the weather, Grand Canyon National Park can be overwhelming for first-time visitors.  Millions make a special effort to visit the park each year but some don't account for the blistering desert heat, sporadic monsoons, trail safety along a whopping 595 miles of hiking routes, or the…

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What you should know about Brazil’s favelas

Most middle or upper class Brazilians will warn you off from visiting favelas. They're too dangerous, they'll tell you. It's too risky. Then the question will inevitably follow: why would you want to go to one anyway?  Slum tourism is a tricky subject. Visiting neighborhoods just to gape at residents is akin to visiting a…

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Give it a try: take the worst tour in Porto to get under it’s skin

Lonely Planet’s “Give It a Try” series makes a case for mainstream travel experiences that most consider too touristy or unsophisticated.  Austin Bush discovers why Porto’s “Worst Tour” might be the perfect way to get under the skin of Portugal’s second city. Walking tours are undoubtedly one of the best ways to get your bearings…

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