Where to find and celebrate Rio de Janeiro’s Afro-Brazilian roots

Writer Georgina Lawton has been to Rio before. But on a recent trip, she travels through the city with a clear mission to venture off the tourist trail and uncover the city’s African heritage. A blue sky – naked except for the burning midday sun – radiated a heat so heavy that I was almost…

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8 great treks in Vietnam

Modern Vietnam is a million miles from its war-torn past. Jungle-cloaked hills that once shook with the sound of combat are now the serene setting for adventurous hikes to remote villages, lofty lookouts, tumbling waterfalls and the summit of Indochina’s highest mountain. With plenty of local guides and trekking agencies on hand to help you…

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19 free things to do in Amsterdam

A mash-up of tradition, technology and creative energy, Amsterdam’s star continues to rise – as do travel costs. Save money by taking advantage of a host of freebies, from architectural jewels and archeological treasures to inventive art exhibitions and concerts. Here’s our guide to the best free things to do in the Netherlands’ spirited capital.…

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Postcard from Istanbul… my trip to the Bosphorus in pictures

Demi Perera, a London-based travel journalist, shares a snapshot of her recent trip to Istanbul, Turkey, highlighting the best things to do, experience and eat.   In a previous career as a fashion buyer, I traveled to Istanbul for work several times where prolonged meetings, dinners, and emails were the norm. At fleeting moments of respite,…

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Find the sun in these 10 warm winter vacation spots in the US

From a traveler’s perspective, there are two reasonable responses to the prospect of a long, cold winter: embrace the chill and seek out the most spectacular winter destinations, or follow the warmth, wherever you can find it. If you’ve had your fill of icy sidewalks and overheated buildings, no one will blame you for choosing…

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Ghana’s best hikes – Lonely Planet

Best known for its gorgeous Atlantic coastline and immense cultural wealth, Ghana is also a great destination for keen walkers. While this compact West African may lack any showstopping hiking icons, a well-organized network of reserves and community-based ecotourism projects offers some great guided day walks in lush tropical settings inhabited by elephants, monkeys and…

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The top 10 things to do in Cape Town

Cape Town has a long-standing reputation for outdoor activities, thanks to its chain of mountains overlooking an equally beautiful string of beaches. Over the past decade or two, this city at the tip of Africa has added gastronomy and culture to the list of its best things to do. Having weathered colonialism and apartheid, the…

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