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There are hotels you stay in, and then there are hotels that stay with you. The The Phoenicia Malta is firmly the latter. It is a place where every detail feels considered, every moment intentional, and every guest quietly and effortlessly cared for. From the very beginning, it is the small things that set the tone. In the gym, chilled scented towels wait for you after a workout, alongside neatly arranged granola bars and crisp apples. Simple, thoughtful touches that feel any

Looking to go to Tirana, Albania but not sure what to do? That was exactly the situation my friend Cora and I found ourselves in. We stumbled upon insanely cheap Ryanair flights from Sicily, $68 round trip for a 24-hour adventure, and immediately booked. The only thing we planned ahead of time was a cooking class at 5:30 PM. Everything else we decided to figure out as we went. And honestly, that is what made this trip so special. We started our day a little later than planned

Coordinating travel for a group is one of the most rewarding things you can do, and also one of the most chaotic if you go in unprepared. After helping dozens of groups plan everything from girls’ trips to milestone birthday getaways, I have seen the same avoidable mistakes come up again and again. Here are the top five, and how to sidestep them. 1. Trying to Please Everyone The Mistake: Budget mismatches or conflicting priorities can derail trips. One person wants luxury, an

When hiking Machu Picchu, there are a lot of things people worry about. Is the hike too intense? What are the accommodations like? Is there dangerous wildlife? How do you avoid altitude sickness? Will sunscreen even be enough for that UV? I thought I had prepared for all of it. Turns out I missed one thing. An allergic reaction. At 23, I had exactly one allergy, jewelry. Easy to manage and never a real issue. My whole life, I just avoided certain metals and moved on. No probl

Written by Sara When I visit Follonica, I’m always reminded that some places don’t try to impress you, they simply welcome you. This small Tuscan seaside town is where some of our family and friends live, and each time I return, I slip right back into its easy rhythm. I’ve spent multiple summers here, long before I could properly hold a conversation in Italian, and over time the town has become a second home. Start your day the way the locals (and my family) do: at a neighbo

There are trips you plan, and then there are moments that stay with you long after the itinerary ends. This is one of mine. I didn’t expect one of my favorite travel memories to come from a single night in Vietnam. My parents and I had been traveling through Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and the surrounding countryside as part of a guided tour. For six days, our guide Mai was with us for everything. She wasn’t just knowledgeable, she was thoughtful in a way that made every stop feel pers

So you’re thinking of doing some volunteer traveling? Well, I’ve got two things to say: DO. IT. Hi!! My name is Cora Bassett, and I’m on the team here at Sam Travels! When I got invited by my undergraduate school (GO HOOSIERS) to travel to southern Vietnam, the Mekong Delta, for a month to teach kids how to play sports, I thought I was crazy to even consider accepting it. You see, as a recent graduate, I had traveled to exactly one new country in my 23 years of living, and it

Some trips you plan for years. Some trips find you. This one promised glaciers the size of cities, mountains that defy physics, and hikes that quietly rearrange your sense of what is possible. Here is how ten days actually unfolded, every flight, every bus, every blister. Day 1: Departing The hardest part of any Patagonia trip is the journey itself. Watching the city shrink beneath you as you lift off O'Hare, the afternoon light turning gold over Lake Michigan, it is a good

When I visited Sydney, I quickly learned that rain is just part of the experience, especially if you are traveling during the wetter season. It rained a lot while I was there, but honestly, it did not take away from the trip at all. If anything, it forced me to slow down and experience a different side of the city that most people overlook. Start your day somewhere cozy, like a tucked-away café in Surry Hills, where you can sip a hot latte and watch the rain fall against the

(If I weren’t 24 and just getting started… here’s exactly how I’d celebrate retirement) There’s something special about retirement. It’s not just the end of a career, it’s the beginning of complete freedom. No PTO limits, no rushed long weekends, no squeezing trips into tight schedules. Just time to travel the way you’ve always wanted to. If I were stepping into that season of life, these are the 10 trips I’d take right away. Not someday. Not “maybe next year.” Immediately. A

Environment shapes everything around it. Animals adapt to their surroundings to survive. Chameleons change color to blend in, birds migrate based on weather patterns, bears hibernate, and humans evolve alongside their environments. Whether we notice it or not, environment plays a critical role in growth and survival. The same is true in life. The people you surround yourself with, the standards that exist around you, and the overall energy of a place quietly influence who you

“Seek Discomfort” is a message popularized by the YouTube channel Yes Theory, built around the idea of saying yes and intentionally stepping outside your comfort zone. It is a mantra I try to live by in every area of my life. Staying comfortable is easy. Growth is not. When you remain where everything feels familiar and safe, there is very little room to change, learn, or surprise yourself. That is why I make a conscious effort to seek discomfort, to push myself regularly in

Colosseum, Italy I booked a guided tour through a company, and it was amazing to learn about the history and importance of the Colosseum. We walked around and saw the incredible architecture, including where the gladiator fights used to take place. Fun fact: it could hold up to 50,000–80,000 spectators and had a complex system of underground tunnels where animals and performers waited. It’s also nearly 2,000 years old and still stands as a marvel of Roman engineering. My only

I’ll say it upfront: this was hard. Possibly more mentally challenging than running a marathon, which is saying a lot. But it was also one of the most grounding, awe‑filled experiences of my life. For 28 hours, I was completely unplugged from my phone. No scrolling, no checking the time, no documenting for anyone else. Just walking, breathing, and paying attention. It was refreshing in a way I didn’t realize I needed. Three Climates, One Climb From the very beginning, the hik

Chicago Food & Drink: A Culinary Adventure These are the dishes that left a lasting impression on my taste buds. Each one was a true...

1. Sticking to Tourist Traps Yes, you should see the big landmarks, but avoid the restaurants or shops directly around them. Prices are...

Growing up, my childhood guided me toward business and marketing without me even realizing it. My dad, a businessman, and my mom, an...

I’ve been fortunate enough to visit 56 countries, but the world is endlessly rich with places to see and experiences to have. These...

As a recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with an MBA, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on the past two years. My...

Soccer was at the center of my life for 20 years. From age 3 to 23, everything revolved around the sport. In little league, I skipped...