Travel

Once a quiet seaside haven for backpackers, Sihanoukville has morphed into a giant construction site in the past three years. Cranes dot the skyline, roads have become muddy potholed lanes and jackhammers resonate late into the night. Many of the new buildings are casinos. The province hosting the city on Cambodia’s south coast now boasts

(CNN) — Christmas shopping doesn’t have to mean joylessly battling through department store crowds or trawling the Internet for bargains. Why not combine present-buying with some travel? These 17 Christmas markets scattered around the world make great destinations for traditional gifts, glasses of glühwein and that unbeatable festive feeling. Strasbourg, France Strasbourg, in eastern France,

The New York Police Department said the culprit is Myah Autry. She shared videos of herself climbing over the wooden fence Saturday, then waving and dancing once inside as the big cat gawked. In the video, the lion appears too stunned to pounce and the woman seems unbothered even as it takes a few steps

International party planner Bally Singh and his wife, Ana Santos. Singapore (CNN) — International events planner Bally Singh lives large. He has organized superyacht parties for oil tycoons and a 100-supercar road trip for American rapper 50 Cent. Last month, he landed in Singapore to ramp up the party during three days of money, fandom

(CNN) — Back in September 1522, an 85-ton carrack barely larger than a modern leisure yacht became the first ship to successfully complete a circumnavigation of the globe. The hazardous journey, which began with a fleet and ended with one lone vessel, saw the deaths of at least 50 crew members, including the original captain.

(CNN) — For just $7.5 million, you can own a piece of rock ‘n’ roll history. Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love bought the Seattle house in January 1994. The couple lived in the home with their daughter Frances Bean Cobain until the Nirvana frontman died by suicide in the greenhouse on the property on April

(CNN) — Fat Bear week is here to remind us there’s still good in the world. And by that, we mean pictures like this one: Katmai National Park & Preserve from Facebook I’m listening… The annual competition, held by the Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska, crowns the winner the fattest bear of the

“Our aim is not only to prevent future generations of whales and dolphins from being raised in captivity, but also to encourage the industry to move towards alternative models, like seaside sanctuaries, that will better provide for the needs of the current captive population,” TripAdvisor’ President of Experiences and Rentals Dermot Halpin said in a

(CNN) — A Rome restaurant has attracted a wave of complaints over the alleged overcharging of tourists after two Japanese diners claimed they had been slapped with a bill for €430 ($470) for two plates of spaghetti and fish, and water. A picture of the hefty bill by Antico Caffè di Marte restaurant, near Castel

(CNN) — It’s been a two-horse race this year to be named the world’s most powerful passport, with both top contenders in Asia. Now, as we enter the final quarter of 2019, Japan and Singapore have held onto their position as the world’s most travel-friendly passports. That’s the view of the Henley Passport Index, which

The “Great Aussie Coin Hunt” is designed to create “an iconic reflection of Aussie life” thanks to an A-Z set of special $1 coins, according to a statement from Australia Post. Footy (Australian Rules Football), cricket and the Iced Vovo — a popular biscuit — also get their own coins. So does the small marsupial

Beijing (CNN) — As Beijing’s new, multibillion-dollar airport opened with great fanfare last Wednesday, a piece of China’s history quietly closed its doors on the other side of the city. The country’s very first airport, Nanyuan Airport, shut its doors for good on September 25, the same date that Beijing’s new $11.5 billion Daxing Airport

(CNN) — Atlantis, The Palm hotel has been a byword for opulence since it opened in 2008. Situated on the man-made island of Palm Jumeirah, the hotel has earned a reputation as a magnet for celebrities, drawn by attractions such as one of the Emirate’s most spectacular- and expensive – suites. But a sequel project

The move will see more police officers sent to border zones in an attempt to crack down on “secondary migration” — the illegal movement of non-EU migrants between EU member states — according to a Sunday tweet from the Interior Ministry. The latest move to secure the country’s borders has raised fears that the Schengen

(CNN) — For 147 years, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming has been overseen by a parade of chief rangers, all of them men. Until now. Sarah Davis, a 20-year National Park Service veteran, will become the park’s 18th chief ranger — and the first female to officially hold the role. (Yellowstone has had interim or

(CNN) — Every traveler has their pet peeves, but crying babies are almost guaranteed to grate. Now Japan Airlines has revealed a new tool that lets you dodge infants when you book your seat. “Passengers traveling with children between 8 days and 2 years old who select their seats on the JAL website will have

(CNN) — Napoleon is said to have claimed that an army marches on its stomach. And while comparing a modern cruise ship to a unit of the Grande Armée might be a bit of a stretch, both face the same basic problem: how to keep several thousand people constantly supplied as they move from one

(CNN) — It’s got year-round sunshine. It’s got incredible beaches. It’s got ancient historical sites. It’s got theme parks. It’s got luxury hotels. It’s got adventure. It’s got relaxation. So why isn’t this destination a hotspot for tourists? Because it’s Saudi Arabia, and until now, unless they were making a religious pilgrimage to Mecca or

Editor’s Note — CNN Travel’s series often carry sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However, CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy. (CNN) — Six thousand years before Christ turned water into wine, the ancestors of modern-day Georgia were turning grapes into it. It’s thanks to

(CNN) — Think you’ve budgeted for everything on your European vacation? You could be in for an unpleasant surprise when you check out of your hotel. City taxes across are commonplace across the continent and, according to new research, can add hundreds of dollars to hotel guests’ bills, according to new research. The European Tourism