Tim Leffel

When we moved to Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese in Rome, it was like turning on the noise-canceling function on a set of good headphones and feeling the world get instantly calmer.

Visiting the Naso self-governing people of Panama means going off the grid for the simple life in Bocas del Toro before island-hopping for the postcard views.

You’ve seen them in almost every big city you’ve traveled to, ads for them on the official tourism site, half the unofficial sites, and on half the travel blogs with an article about things to do in that destination.
Deal or no deal?
The short answer is that it depends on how much sightseeing you want to do in a short period.

A young man in traditional, loose-fitting clothing and a straw hat arranges a cloth filter over a metal pitcher and carefully measures out the right number of scoops. He pours steaming water over the grounds as we look on with anticipation. When it has all flowed through, he pours the black liquid into mugs that warm our hands in the morning mountain mist. We take sips and smile, drinking coffee from the source that tastes nothing like what comes out of a pot at the local diner.
We’re finishi...

Three adventure stories about lesser-known areas in Mexico.

At first, there’s not much happening – just five men in white tops and tasseled red pants clinging to a small platform high atop a single pole. One plays a metal flute and beats a pattern on a drum. Eventually the other four rise in unison and launch into the air...

On a trip through Pilsen and the spa towns of Marianske Lazne and Karlovy Vary, a writer experiences the region’s essence through beer, biking, and a few long soaks.

(CNN) — Just as we were coming out of a long period of lockdowns and entry restrictions, world oil prices went through the roof.
This affected flights using jet fuel and the cost to fill up a car's tank for a road trip.
Now, interest rates are...

With atmospheres of dark and light, pageantry and pain, the traveling circus has captivated creative writers since the first tent went up. The Ringling Circus Museum presents the stories behind the spectacles.

In the morning we enjoyed a lavish breakfast while looking out at the ocean and seeing the waterspouts of humpback whales as they swam by. We then played golf on one of the most challenging courses in Mexico, designed by Jack Nicklaus. As the sun dipped down, we took an ATV ride through the desert dunes and along the beach, then hit downtown Cabo San Lucas for margaritas by the marina.

The next day we could choose from dozens of other options — or just kick back on a lounge chair by the pool ...

Trendy, cool, artistic, stylish… the OLV 55 boutique hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico checks off all the boxes for an elevated adults-only stay near Condado Beach.

Located a block and a half from the waves and overlooking the lagoon, this intimate hotel is a romantic place to stay with a dramatic wow factor, amplified by the red and orange sunsets over the lagoon in the evenings if you have a room with a balcony.

If you can work from anywhere, why not work from Europe? The infrastructure is good, there’s a wealth of culture, the internet is fast, and you’ll be in beautiful surroundings. These days, it’s not even that expensive. There are rules to navigate though, of course, so here’s a primer on how to live in Europe as an American who is location independent, or a digital nomad.

A writer who has traveled to the Yucatan state of Mexico a dozen times finds surprises around the corners and underneath his feet on a return trip to the peninsula.
After going through the admission building and past the locker rooms, the place didn’t look like anything special. There was just a dining pavilion and a few empty hammocks, connected by gravel paths. Through the doors and down the steps though it was a different world: a gigantic cave with a body of water that would take several ...

Parejas + Familia
Con su multitud de caminos y vías fluviales, el centro de Tampa es tan amigable para las familias como las ciudades deben de ser, permitiendo a los padres y sus pequeños explorar la ciudad sin esquivar automóviles y moverse libremente con una carriola o en bicicleta. Entonces, si estás planeando una estadía en Tampa con niños, esta es su guía para hacerlos chillar de alegría, sin gastar una fortuna.
Encuentra diversiones libres de costo
El Riverwalk de dos millas (tres kilóm...

Mexico City from the air looks like a never-ending floor covered with Lego blocks, but an escape from the concrete leads to adventures in the natural world and on community-owned land.