Cinque Terre is one of my favorite cities — or, more accurately, my favorite collection of five villages.
Nestled along the Italian Riviera, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are accessible only by train, ferry, or foot.
Each has a distinct style, and hikers flock to this region to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Vernazza, my favorite village, is the gem of this region. I love wandering the cobbled streets to shop, snack, and explore. You can also visit the Castello Doria or the church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia.
In the summer months, tourists sunbathe on the beaches of Monterosso or take a dip in the sea. For a history lesson, visit the remains of Castello Fieschi or the Church of St John the Baptist and the Capuchin Monastery.
In Manarola, take some time to watch locals cliff-jump into the marina. I also suggest taking a wine tour through the town to sample some local specialties. Be sure to try Sciacchetrà, a sweet but strong dessert wine produced in Cinque Terre.
Riomaggiore is also home to a castle and churches dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The center of the town is great for wandering, shopping, and eating.
Corniglia is probably the quietest of the five villages. There, climb the Lardarina staircase for beautiful views of the coastline or take a boat tour to fully enjoy the area’s beauty.
Major airlines are making it free to change your flights ahead of a dangerous winter storm.
Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue are waiving rebooking fees for flights to and from affected regions this weekend.
If your travel plans this weekend include major cities such as Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, you may want to contact your airline to avoid prolonged delays or cancellations at the airport. The National Weather Service is warning that more than 230 million Americans will be affected, from the Southwest to New England.
Even if you won’t change your plans, your flight may still get canceled. Delta Air Lines said Thursday it is canceling flights at airports in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, citing safety concerns caused by heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The airline will also be bringing in cold-weather specialists.
As of Thursday evening, based on the Misery Map, which tracks real-time flight disruptions, there hasn’t been a spike in delays or cancellations.
Based on recent storms, such as the one that hit over Thanksgiving and coincided with the end of the government shutdown, mass cancellations may be inevitable. So it’s good to know your passenger rights and your options when things don’t go according to plan.
Know your rights as a passenger
Opt in to automatic flight updates via text or email so you don’t miss a flight delay or cancellation notification.
JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images
If your flight is canceled and you choose not to rebook, the airline is legally required to provide you with a cash refund — not a voucher or credit.
However, things are different for delays. The Trump Administration recently killed a proposal that would have required airlines to compensate passengers for long delays, so flyers largely have to rely on airline goodwill or their credit cards to get anything for the inconvenience.
Some airlines have committed to providing accommodations, transportation, and food during a controllable overnight delay or cancellation, as outlined in the Airline Customer Service Dashboard.
Controllable disruptions include issues such as maintenance or crew staffing. Frontier Airlines is the only carrier that does not offer accommodations in the event of a controllable overnight delay or cancellation, but it will provide a meal voucher.
It still doesn’t hurt to ask for a meal or hotel voucher when a non-controllable issue arises, such as the weather. The worst they can say is no.
Use your airline’s mobile app to change or cancel your flight
Most airlines also offer a chat function if you prefer to text.
United Airlines
During disruptions, airlines often allow you to make changes via their mobile app or website, rather than waiting on clogged phone lines or in long customer service lines.
If this isn’t an option, try an online chat. Carriers like Delta Air Lines allow you to text a representative for help.
You can put yourself in the virtual queue and wait in line at the airport, potentially upping your chances of speaking with an agent sooner.
Here are the phone numbers for each airline:
Alaska: 1-800-252-7522 or text 82008
Allegiant: 1-702-505-8888
American: 1-800-433-7300
Avelo: 1-346-616-9500
Breeze: No phone number to call, but you can text the airline at 501-273-3931.
Delta: 1-800-221-1212
Frontier: No phone number. The best way to contact Frontier is via online chat or email.
JetBlue: 1-800-538-2583
Southwest: 1-800-435-9792
Spirit: 1-855-728-3555
Sun Country: 1-651-905-2737
United: 1-800-864-8331
Check if you have travel insurance through your credit card
Some travelers rely on their travel credit card to recoup costs during non-airline-controlled flight delays.
Evgenia Parajanian/Shutterstock
Travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Platinum, offer built-in insurance that reimburses travelers for hotel, meal, and transportation expenses incurred due to certain flight disruptions.
The weather is typically covered. For this to work, the traveler would have needed to book their flight with that travel card.
If your credit card doesn’t offer travel insurance, it may be worthwhile to purchase a separate trip insurance policy before traveling. This type of insurance can help reimburse costs you might lose due to flight problems, such as prepaid hotel stays or cruise bookings.
However, you must purchase this insurance before any travel disruptions occur — once you know a flight might be affected, it’s likely too late.
Visits to the US by international travelers declined for the eighth straight month in December, according to data released earlier this month by the National Travel and Tourism Office.
In 2025, visits to the US were down among 10 of the top 20 overseas tourist-generating countries, including India, Germany, and South Korea.
The decline is a sustained blow to the travel and tourism industries, which in 2024 supported more than 15 million jobs, and generated about $1.3 trillion in economic output — including $181 billion from inbound international travel.
Major tourism hubs like Las Vegas are seeing widespread layoffs due to the downturn, forcing workers to get creative with their career pivots. Business Insider reported earlier this month that laid-off hospitality workers contributed to a 55% increase in dancer auditions at a Las Vegas strip club compared to the prior six months.
It doesn’t appear the travel bug has gone anywhere — just that international tourists are avoiding the US.
In Australia, for example, overseas arrivals and departures data released Friday by the country’s Bureau of Statistics shows that international travel returned to pre-pandemic levels just before the lockdowns began in 2020. Australians travelling to Canada rose 4% in the last year, 10% more visited India, and visits by Australians to China and Japan rose 20% and 21%, respectively, but 3.2% fewer booked a trip to the US.
Fewer Canadian travelers are visiting the US, as well, opting instead to go further south to Mexico, Business Insider reported last April.
Complicating demand were ongoing trade frictions, tariff battles, and geopolitical unease, which helped fuel grass-roots boycotts of US goods and, in some cases, changes in travel plans.
European travel firms and analysts pointed to tariff-driven consumer backlash and growing anti-American sentiment as factors that contributed to early-year softness in bookings, even as demand showed signs of rebounding later in the summer.
Domestic travel has helped cushion the blow so far, with the US Travel Association projecting that domestic leisure travel was forecast to grow 1.9% to $895 billion in 2025.
However, if international visitors continue to stay away, destinations that depend on overseas spending — from iconic tourism cities to national parks — could feel growing pressure as the US heads into a high-stakes stretch of global events in 2026 and beyond.
My coworker and I were both single, and I was in the trenches of online dating. Stew and I took lunch at the same time, and over sandwiches eaten from Tupperware, we bonded over our shared love of cycling.
One lunch, he told me he was going to cycle the highest pass in Wales. My eyes widened, “I’d love to do that.” That’s when he told me to join him.
He picked me up that weekend, and we cycled Gospel Pass.
The next lunch break, Stew asked me out for dinner. I said yes. He stayed over and never went home. The rest, as they say, is history, and what a ride it’s been so far.
I joined his 24,000-mile cycling adventure
We were dating for about a month when Stewart said, “I’ve got something to tell you.” He continued: “I’m going to quit my job and cycle around the world. Do you want to come with me?”
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“Yes!” I said without hesitation.
Stew had already planned a 24,000-mile turn-by-turn route across 32 countries.
He saved enough money that he could ride around the world for 18 months unemployed. His plan was to carry a tent and stay in cheap accommodations, like hostels and Airbnb rooms.
All I needed to do was save enough money to cover my flights. For a few months, we cut costs, but left ourselves with enough money to enjoy being a young couple; a meal out each month was a non-negotiable.
As we left our jobs, Stewart also organized the bikes: bright yellow steel-frame touring bikes that could manage long-distance cycling, as well as the additional weight of our luggage.
We explored countries together
When we left the UK, we waved goodbye to our families at Stewart’s mom’s house, and we wobbled down the driveway on the heaviest bikes we’d ever ridden.
I will never forget the feeling of freedom. We were unemployed, and everything we needed for the next 18 months was packed into six bright yellow panniers, which fit proudly on our bikes.
I was nervous, excited, and weightless.
There are many prominent moments as you cycle from one country to another. But the first one was leaving Georgia and arriving in Azerbaijan. The gorgeous greenery of Azerbaijan turned into flat desert landscapes.
The author and her husband eloped in New Zealand.
Courtesy of Zoe Ashbridge
Australia was similar. Across Nullarbor Plain, we rode desert flatlands with kangaroos and Wedge-Tailed Eagles. Service stations were over 100 miles apart. Then we reached New South Wales, home to green mountains and Bulli Pass.
At the top, there was a wedding venue overlooking the sea. We talked about weddings and all the things we didn’t want: first dances, speeches, and the pressure of invitations.
Planning an elopement in New Zealand
After Australia, our next stop was New Zealand. We flew to Queenstown and researched what it takes to get married there. You need a marriage license and a celebrant who will officiate the ceremony in front of two witnesses.
Our celebrant was someone we found online, named Sean. He was a lovely Irish gentleman with a steady voice, a calming presence, and an art for perfectly timed humor. He knew exactly when to drop a joke and when to let a moment breathe. He promised us two witnesses (his wife, Vee, and friend, Chris) for the price of two quality bottles of wine.
After one call with Sean, we stepped out into Queenstown, engaged-ish. We booked a date, bought New Zealand-gold wedding rings, and hired wedding attire.
Stew surprised me with a proposal and a placeholder ring, and of course, I said yes.
Our next bike ride was 500 miles from Queenstown to Christchurch, so we could marry. I’d love to tell you that it was straightforward, but on a cycling adventure, unforeseen challenges arise. At Haast Pass, there was a landslide. Delays meant we would miss our own wedding.
The beauty of an elopement? We only had ourselves to please. I called Sean, the hair salon, and the florist to change the date. The landslide was cleared, and we made our way to Christchurch.
The wedding was perfect
We married at The Sign of the Bellbird in the Port Hills. It was beautiful. Rolling hills with the yellowest of flowers looked stunning against the deep green mountains and gorgeous blue skies.
On that quiet hill, with only us to please, and nothing but birdsong and sunshine, we spoke our vows and became husband and wife.
There were no crowds, no pressure, and no expectations. It was just us, which was all we’d known in the year leading up to it as we cycled from the UK to New Zealand. What followed was an eight-month honeymoon cycling home via South America.
Almost 1,000 flights to and from the Caribbean were canceled on Saturday after the US raid on Venezuela.
The Federal Aviation Administration banned commercial aircraft from flying over Venezuelan airspace before expanding restrictions to much of the Caribbean.
Puerto Rico was the most affected, with 400 flights canceled to or from the main airport in San Juan.
There were also over 140 cancellations in the US Virgin Islands, and 91 in Aruba, which is only about 20 miles off the Venezuelan coast.
Using data from FlightAware, Business Insider put together this map to show the scale of the disruption. You can hover over an icon to see the number of cancellations at the airport.
After airspace restrictions ended early Sunday, airlines added dozens of extra flights to help passengers get where they needed to go.
The region is a particularly popular destination for vacationers seeking some winter sun over the New Year holiday.
American Airlines added 43 extra flights on Sunday and Monday, with room for 7,000 passengers.
For the first time in over a decade, it operated interisland flights in the eastern Caribbean on Monday. Namely, to Puerto Rico from Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
American’s expanded schedule included deploying a Boeing 777-300, the largest model in its fleet, to ferry passengers between Miami and Puerto Rico.
United Airlines listed 17 additional flights scheduled for Sunday and Monday, to and from its hubs in Houston, Newark, and Washington, DC.
Delta Air Lines said that it has added space for 2,600 people on Monday. It didn’t immediately provide details of the extra flights it has scheduled.
Airlines have waived change fees and fare differences for passengers flying to or from the Caribbean, to rebook for flights later in the month.
Have you been affected by the travel disruption in the Caribbean? Reach out to this reporter at psyme@businessinsider.com or via Signal at syme.99
Snow and rainstorms hit multiple states on both coasts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and are now heading for the Northeast, including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Travellers are now having a difficult time getting home as major airports see mass delays and cancellations.
According to the “Misery Map,” published by FlightAware, which tracks real-time flight disruptions, there have been over 1,000 delays and more than 350 cancellations across the largest US airports as of 6:45 p.m. ET on Friday.
Here’s a look at the latest flight disruptions, and when you may expect to fly if your flight has been canceled.
The Midwest and the East Coast
JFK International Airport is experiencing more than 369 cancellations and 210 delays.
Screenshot
The storm that first hit the Midwest is coming for the East Coast. New York City is set to see the most snow it has seen in years, since the last time it saw at least 4 inches of snow was January 2022. New Jersey and upstate New York will see similar weather conditions.
The NYC Emergency Management said in a press release that “snow is expected to develop Friday afternoon and intensify into steady, accumulating snow Friday night.” The National Weather Service has forecast 3 to 7 inches of snow with locally higher amounts possible.
According to FlightAware, JFK International Airport is experiencing 369 cancellations, with 210 on Friday alone. The situation at Newark Liberty International Airport is also not optimistic, with 244 cancellations and counting.
Based on the Misery Map, flights from airports around NYC to Chicago, Detroit, and Denver are seeing the highest number of delays and cancellations.
The West Coast
Los Angeles International Airport is seeing a total of 283 delays and 41 cancellations.
Screenshot
The West Coast is slowly recovering from an exceptionally wet Christmas.
Over the past two days, most residents of California have received at least one weather warning as an atmospheric river accompanied by high winds, floods, and mudslides hit the Golden State. The NWS said that this Christmas season is the wettest one Los Angeles has experienced in 54 years.
The San Francisco International Airport said that 153 flights had been delayed on Friday morning due to windy conditions. To make matters worse, the police briefly shut down Terminal 1 due to a “suspicious package,” but then reopened it without explanation. By midday, FlightAware reports that a total of 381 flights from SFO have been delayed.
According to the Misery Map, flights from the Los Angeles International Airport to Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, and the East Coast are all experiencing disruptions. FlightAware counted a total of 283 delays and 41 cancellations.
The disruptions come at the end of a tough year for air travel.
High-profile plane accidents, including when an American Airlines Flight crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter, and the firing of hundreds of FAA employees by the White House DOGE office, triggered a newfound fear of flying among some Americans earlier this year.
The subsequent government shutdown also led to flying snags this year, as air traffic controllers who were left without pay called in sick, and some airports were paralyzed.
The world’s largest technology companies are scrambling to manage a growing crisis affecting thousands of their employees on work visas, as new social media screening requirements trigger delays at US embassies and consulates worldwide.
Google, Apple, Microsoft, and ServiceNow have all sent advisories to visa-holding employees in recent days, warning them against international travel and describing appointment delays stretching up to a year.
The memos, sent by immigration law firms representing these companies or by their internal legal teams, paint a picture of mounting uncertainty for foreign workers who form a critical part of the tech industry’s workforce.
The warnings come as American embassies have postponed routine visa stamping appointments, leaving some employees already abroad unable to return to work in the US for extended periods.
For H-1B holders, the primary work visa used by tech companies, the situation creates a particularly difficult bind. If their visa stamp expires and they travel abroad, they must obtain a new stamp at a consulate before re-entering the US. With appointments now being rescheduled months into the future, what would typically be a routine trip home has become a potential career disruption lasting up to a year.
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On Friday, a spokesperson for the Department of State told Business Insider it was now conducting “online presence reviews for applicants.” The department said it may move appointments as resources change, with applicants able to request expedited slots on a case-by-case basis.
“While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else,” the State Department spokesperson said. Appointments in Ireland and Vietnam have also been postponed, according to immigration firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC.
Below are the full texts of the internal memos sent to employees at these companies, obtained by Business Insider, which reveal how corporate America is responding to the visa processing slowdown.
Google declined to comment, while Microsoft, Apple, and ServiceNow did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Microsoft
Microsoft has advised its visa-holding workers not to travel.
Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images
Below is the text of a memo sent by Jack Chen, Microsoft’s associate general counsel for immigration.
Update #1 on H-1B/H-4 Visa Appointment Rescheduling and Stamping DelaysHi everyone,As shared yesterday, some U.S. consulates are rescheduling existing H-1B/H-4 visa appointments and pushing dates out by several months. Here’s what we know:
Rescheduling notifications are concentrated in Chennai and Hyderabad, with some unverified reports from other consulates. New dates are as far out as June 2026.
The delays stem from operational constraints tied to the new online presence review for H-1B/H-4 visas, effective December 15, which reduces daily processing capacity. We’re also hearing that these consulates needed time to implement new vetting procedures.
We have no confirmed reports of rescheduling for other visa types yet. While only H-1B/H-4, F, J, and M visas are subject to the online presence review, we think secondary impacts on overall processing may emerge.
We don’t know if rescheduling is ongoing, for those whose original visa appointments have not been changed.
Some employees have already traveled for appointments and received rescheduling notices without warning; others are getting notices before departure. To set expectations, it is highly unlikely emergency appointments will be granted, given the circumstances.This is a rapidly developing situation. Here is our preliminary guidance, which we’ll update as we learn more. Please read this next section carefully—I’ve tried to simplify it, but the details do matter:
For those currently outside the U.S.:
You need a new visa stamp + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: We will contact you. Please follow the instructions below to report your situation (even if you’ve already contacted AskUSI).
Your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled BUT you still have some validity left on your current visa stamp: If your visa is for the proper work-authorized category, return before your current visa expires. This situation applies for people who had scheduled visa appointments because their visas are expiring soon, not before the return to the U.S. is planned.
For those still in the U.S.:
You have upcoming travel + will need a new visa to return + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: You should strongly consider changing your travel plans. You cannot return until your new visa stamp is issued, and it’s highly unlikely that the appointment can be moved earlier. And there are limitations to your ability to perform work for your U.S. role during that period. See Microsoft Global Mobility Payroll and Tax Compliance Policy.
You have upcoming travel + will need a new visa to return BUT your H-1B visa appointment has not been rescheduled: There is risk your appointment could be moved during your trip and result in you being stuck abroad. Factor this into your decision. We are still learning more about how widespread and significant delays are in other consulates.
For other visa categories (not H-1B/H-4, F, J, M): Proceed as planned for now, but note things can change quickly.
HOW YOU CAN HELP US IDENTIFY TRENDS
To track real-time impacts, we need data from employees whose appointments have been rescheduled or may be soon. This will help us identify:
Which consulates are affected
When notifications of rescheduling are being sent
Length of delays
Whether other visa types are impacted
If you have a visa appointment scheduled with a U.S. consulate for any visa category, we’ve created a survey where you can share these details with us. And importantly, the survey allows you to update your responses—for example, if you haven’t been rescheduled when you originally complete this survey, but subsequently receive a rescheduling notification. This form is also the clearest way for us to identify employees who are currently outside the U.S. and cannot return until a new visa stamp is issued: Census of Upcoming Visa Stamping Appointments — Fill out formWe’ll share out insights based on these responses and further information we’re able to gather by the end of the week.For employees currently stuck abroad—we know this is an anxious moment. We will provide clear and orderly guidance to you directly as soon as we can.
Google
Lawyers for Google told the company’s visa-holding staffers that visa processing is facing delays as long as a year.
Cheng Xin/Getty Images
Below is the text of an email sent by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), the immigration firm that represents Google.
Hi everyone,Please be aware that some U.S. Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months.Due to high demand and enhanced screening for H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas, visa processing is taking longer than usual. If you require a new visa stamp to re-enter the U.S., we recommend avoiding international travel at this time as you risk an extended stay outside the U.S.We encourage you to review go/bal-travel-advisory. If you have any questions, reach out to schedule a consultation with a BAL attorney at go/getsupport.Thank you,BAL
Apple
Apple also sent memos to visa-holding workers warning them of extended delays in visa processing.
Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images
Below is the text of an email sent by Apple’s immigration team.
Given the recent updates and the possibility of unpredictable, extended delays when returning to the US, we strongly recommend that employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for now. If travel cannot be postponed, employees should connect with Apple Immigration and Fragomen in advance to discuss the risks.
ServiceNow
ServiceNow, an IT automation firm, told its visa holders that a new immigration policy requiring the vetting of social media is causing delays in processing.
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
Below is the text of an email sent by ServiceNow’s Global Mobility Team.
Potential cancellation of US consulate appointments for H-1B and H-4 visa holders
Global Mobility update
What to knowThe US State Department has announced that some consulate appointments for individuals holding H-1B and H-4 visas are being canceled due to a newly implemented review process that examines applicants’ online presence, including social media activity.This change primarily affects foreign nationals with appointments scheduled on or after December 15, 2025, at US consulates in India who require visa stamps to return to the United States. However, it could also impact other visa types and consulates in the future.Please see the Fragomen client alert here.Notification processIf your appointment is affected by this process change, you will receive an email from the consulate with a cancellation notice and a new appointment, which in some cases could be as late as November 2026.If you’re outside the U.S. right now
If you need a new visa stamp and your H-1B visa appointment has been delayed by several months: Reach out to your manager as soon as possible to discuss whether an exception to the 30-day Work from Anywhere policy is warranted.
If your H-1B appointment has been delayed, but your current visa stamp is still valid: If your visa category allows you to work in the U.S., we recommend you return before your current visa expires.
Exceptions and emergency appointmentsIf your appointment has been cancelled or rescheduled, you may apply for an emergency expedited appointment if you meet one of the following criteria:
Death in the family
Medical need / Family Emergency
Potential loss of substantial revenue, profits, or contracts for the company
We have heard that the expedited consulate appointment process is resulting in an earlier appointment, so you are encouraged to try this approach by completing the request form. Please review the Expedited Consulate Appointments site for additional details.Working from India or any location using the Work from Anywhere exceptionIf delay would materially impact revenue/contracts or there’s a medical/family emergency, ServiceNow will review and approve exceptions to the 30-day Work from Anywhere guidelines on a case-by-case basis.Travel guidanceIf you’re planning travel, please consult with Fragomen for guidance before making any arrangements. If you have upcoming trips to India that require a consulate appointment for visa stamping to return to the U.S., we recommend cancelling those plans. Otherwise, you risk significant delays in securing an appointment to apply for a visa stamp.SupportIf you have questions about consulate appointment cancellations or upcoming travel, you can reach out to Fragomen through the Fragomen Messenger feature within the Fragomen Connect Portal or submit a request to the Global Mobility team.The Global Mobility Team
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When I found out that Windstar Cruises had begun winter sailings to the Mediterranean, I couldn’t book fast enough.
I’d visited France, Italy, and Greece during the summer months before, and I had grown increasingly disillusioned each year as Mediterranean Europe became more crowded, expensive, and uncomfortably hot.
It seemed like a January cruise would help me avoid a lot of my past grievances, so I booked Europe’s Winter Riviera eight-day itinerary on Windstar, sailing from Barcelona to Rome with stops in Nice, Genoa, and Livorno, the port city for excursions to Florence, Pisa, and Lucca.
After a week of seeing these iconic destinations in a whole new light, I went home with the conviction that winter is the absolute best time to take a Mediterranean cruise.
I loved feeling like I had the Mediterranean to myself
There weren’t too many crowds when we visited the Colosseum in Rome.
Rebecca Deurlein
Rather than stumbling through hordes of tourists filling Barcelona’s streets, trying to find towel space on a beach in Nice, or waiting hours in lines to enter the Vatican museums, I felt like I had a lot of memorable places to myself.
That’s probably because I visited during what Windstar calls the “Local Season,” the time between late fall and early spring, when this area typically welcomes far fewer tourists.
Fewer crowds and shorter lines meant I could see more of each city I visited throughout the cruise. I took all the time I liked exploring each place and capturing it all without having to erase throngs of people from my photos.
On one excursion, my small group climbed the medieval village of Èze on the French Riviera — a popular spot often filled with cruise passengers and tourists — and never saw another person. I loved taking in the sweeping views of the sea, unobstructed by massive cruise ships.
In Florence, no more than 20 people circled Michelangelo’s famous David statue. And in Rome, my husband and I purchased tickets to the Colosseum 15 minutes before our scheduled entry time and were allowed to enter even earlier.
We felt like VIPs with special access to the best of the region — quite different from the summer months when we had to wait for hours just to get close to an attraction.
Though we had to adapt to the weather, the special winter experiences were worth it
The weather was chillier than what we were used to at home, but it was easy to adapt.
Rebecca Deurlein
We may have escaped the sweltering heat the Riviera is famous for in the summer, but we did experience some chilly weather.
By our hometown of Houston’s standards, it was cold, with morning temperatures dipping into the 40s and afternoons hovering in the 50s — and we were not prepared. Luckily, hats and scarves were readily available and cost about 10 Euros, so we managed.
And, we had to give up some usual summer fun, including relaxing on the ship’s deck, which meant spending a bit more time indoors.
I really didn’t mind, though, especially since sailing during this season came with some special seasonal activities and spots.
Some winter itineraries include cities Windstar only visits (or spends extra time in) during winter, when there are typically fewer crowds and ships.
Another perk of cruising during the winter is the opportunity to experience seasonal events and activities.
For example, while docked in Nice, France, cruisers can travel less than an hour from the port to visit Menton’s Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival), held annually starting in mid-February. The two-week festival features giant floats and structures made of fruit, as well as performances, parades, markets, and more.
All in all, I think winter is the absolute best time to visit
As an added bonus, our winter sailing was hundreds of dollars cheaper than a similar one at peak season in June and July.
Of course, if your dreams of the Mediterranean include sunbathing on the beach or swimming in the sea, this isn’t the vacation for you.
But for me, the positives far outweighed the negatives. We got to see so much more than we could have during the summer months, without the crowds — and for that, I’ll pack a cozy hat and gloves any day.
When one of my favorite graduate school professors died just weeks into her retirement, it hit me: I didn’t want to spend my life working toward a future I might never get to experience.
I started my career in education as a high school counselor. My husband, Sam, was a self-published author who could work from anywhere, so we took full advantage of my school holidays and long summer breaks, jetting off to new places whenever we could. We created a travel blog, ForgetSomeday, to share our stories.
But the trips we took during school breaks left me yearning for more, and I approached my husband about taking a year off from our careers to travel full-time.
It didn’t take much convincing. We didn’t own a home and hadn’t yet started a family, so the timing seemed right.
I submitted a request for a year of leave, but it was denied due to pending budget cuts. We decided to move forward with our plan anyway, not wanting to wait until retirement to make this dream a reality.
The couple’s adventures included a road trip through Scotland.
Provided by Toccara Best
Time for an adventure
Over the next year, we slashed our spending and saved more than $30,000 by cutting out anything nonessential.
We sold our car for $5,000 and brought in a bit more by selling smaller items, storing the rest in a 10×10 unit because we thought we’d be gone for just a year.
By June 2015, we had about $40,000 in the bank, walked away from our lease, and flew to Prague on one-way tickets.
We ate our way through Central and Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, partaking in bucket-list festivities like Oktoberfest in Munich and St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin along the way.
Best visited more than a dozen countries, including Vietnam (pictured).
Provided by Toccara Best
We visited more than a dozen countries — island-hopping in Croatia, Thailand, and Portugal; exploring Cambodia’s temples; soaking in Hungary’s thermal baths; and driving 500 miles through Scotland in a campervan.
From hiking in Austria and Slovakia to swimming with seals in Sweden, the year became a crash course in adventure travel.
As our official gap year came to an end, our bank account was still surprisingly healthy, thanks to housesitting opportunities and blog partnerships that helped stretch our budget. And because I didn’t have a job to go back to, we decided to keep traveling.
Little did we know, our biggest adventure was right around the corner: 6 months later, we found out we were expecting.
Iceland was Best’s final stop before returning to the US.
Provided by Toccara Best
And then we were three
We returned to the US to have our son, but just a few months after his birth, we began traveling full-time again, this time exploring America.
By his third birthday, my son had already visited 27 states. Eventually, the pandemic put a halt to our full-time travels, and we took that as a sign to settle down.
We returned to California five years after the adventure started.
When we planned our gap year, it was supposed to be just that, a year. But as time went on, the gap on my résumé grew, and my motivation to return to the career I once loved began to fade. My husband was also trying to figure out what he wanted to pursue next.
The couple continued to travel around the US after having their son.
Provided by Toccara Best
Reentering the workforce
We didn’t realize that our global adventure would end with such a hurdle — a career pivot after five years away, right in the middle of a global pandemic.
Maybe it was the break we both needed to reevaluate our next steps, but it has taken us both quite a while to get back in the saddle.
Once our son started preschool, I transitioned back into the workforce as an executive personal assistant for a busy entrepreneur, putting my organizational skills to good use.
When the executive moved out of state just over a year later, I quickly found a new role as operations manager at a nonprofit organization, where I’ve worked part-time for nearly four years. I’ve been searching for meaningful full-time employment for the past year and a half, which has been especially challenging in today’s competitive job market.
Was our gap year impulsive? Not exactly. We spent a year saving and planning. Was it risky? Definitely. More so than we imagined. Would we do it all over again? Absolutely.
That said, if we were to do it again, we’d probably just stick to a year.
Do you have a story about taking a gap year that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com.
