Archives 2025

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Last Updated 1 day ago

As iconic as London may be, it might be a bit of a stretch to say step aside, but every giant has its downfall at one point or another.

For 2025, in a David vs. Goliath-type duel, the former is coming out on top, at least according to the UK’s longstanding go-to news source, BBC.

Compiling an insightful list of the 25 best places to travel this year, the nation of Wales took the crown as England’s top destination, but as far as individual cities go, there was an even bigger surprise.

In fact, London didn’t crack the top 25. Perhaps, like me, they were tired of dishing out $12 for a pint of local brew and $25 for so-so fish and chips.

Bradford, on the other hand, is much more affordable and declared the UK’s next big thing, backed not only by BBC but highlighted as a top 5 destination by TimeOut as well.

So, what’s all the hype for this relatively unknown city? Let’s dive in.

Bradford: The UK’s New Capital Of Culture

London may be the U.K.’s global household name and a melting pot of cultures in its own right. I mean, is there anywhere else in Europe to get better Indian food?

I think not.

That being said, Bradford is being given the chance to take center stage in 2025 to showcase its newfound cultural explosion and step out from the shadows of other major British cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, and neighboring Leeds.

Bradford has been nominated for the title of the 2025 UK City of Culture, and honestly, there’s no better time to visit.

Holding hundreds of spectacular events throughout 2025, there’s no bad time to visit. But, if you do squeeze in a last-minute winter getaway, definitely pack a raincoat.

Here are 10 exciting Bradford events to keep an eye on throughout 2025:

• A City of Film (the world’s first UNESCO City of Film)
• Nationhood: Memory and Hope
• Ramadan Festival 2025
• Marshmallow Laser Feast
• Ice Age Now
• Meet Our Mothers
• Dragons
• Dialled In
• BBC Introducing at the Underground
• Time for Tea (free; and what’s more British than this?!)

One cool experience to check out is the newly reopened Science + Media Museum.

Explore Bradford’s Timeless Streets, Including “Little Germany”

In typical U.K. fashion, you will captivated by timeless marvels and historic attractions dotted throughout the rather small city of 560,000 residents.

If you’re visiting to partake in the aforementioned events, then surely you’ll pass through the city center, where you can’t miss the staggering Bradford Cathedral, one of the city’s most photo-worthy sites.

An absolute must-visit is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Saltaire. Here, you’ll discover one of the most unique architectural villages in all of Europe, now lined with delightful shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Better yet, while thousands of tourists simultaneously gawk at Big Ben and the London Eye, you can stay in one of the most well-preserved picturesque villages in Europe by kicking back, grabbing a beer at Salt Beer Factory, where one recent patron boasted, “Don’t leave Saltaire without stopping here. In fact, make a special journey to go.”

Last but not least, “Little Germany” is small yet mighty. This pint-sized district is a window into the past with rows of Victorian structures and imposing facades.

It’s a true delight for those who like to arrive with an empty camera roll.

How Affordable Is Bradford? Very!

Whether it’s the Cotswolds, London, or numerous hidden gems, the big question mark for travelers visiting the notoriously pricey U.K. is always their budget.

While certain restaurants and pubs can still getchya with tourist prices, especially in a year with possibly more tourists than ever visiting, Bradford is still surprisingly affordable to visit compared to its counterparts.

For example, you can score a 4-star hotel such as Cedar Court Hotel Bradford under $60! Yeah… try that in London.

Getting around is fairly inexpensive too. Single bus tickets start at just $250. Check out a full list of MCard prices here for bus, train, and tram travel.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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Last Updated 2 days ago

It’s not every day we get to report on a country going from being violence-torn and one of the most dangerous in the world to one of the fastest-growing, recognized for its enviable advances on the security front and decreased criminality…

Yet here we are.

It feels untrue even as we type this out, but El Salvador, historically known as a drug and murder capital and a no-go zone for most Americans, is now officially one of the safest countries for tourists to explore, not only in its tiny Central American nook but the entire Global South.

So how did El Salvador achieve this remarkable feat, and most importantly, how has the situation on the ground changed over the years?

El Salvador Is The 2nd Fastest-Growing Destination Globally

On January 27, El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele sent shockwaves through X (formerly Twitter) when he publicly celebrated a major milestone for his country:

El Salvador is now the second top performing country worldwide on the tourism front, with a year-on-year increase in visitor numbers of 81%, ahead of fellow hidden gem Albania, which posted an 80% growth, and just behind Gulf nation Qatar, with 137%.

The figures are UN-issued, and Bukele’s exact words were ‘from the murder capital of the world to the second highest-performing tourist destination in the world‘:

From the murder capital of the world to the second highest-performing tourist destination in the world 🌎

De la capital mundial de los homicidios al segundo destino turístico con mejor rendimiento en el mundo 🌍 https://t.co/oCyfHzaZL0

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) January 27, 2025

In his X post, Bukele refers to a badge, or dare we say, a stain, El Salvador ashamedly wore for many decades, as it has been historically considered one of the worst countries for crime in the whole of the Western Hemisphere.

In 2015, the most dramatic year for crime, it had a homicide rate of 103 per 100,000 inhabitants, and this has been gradually decreasing since, reaching a significant turning point in 2019, when Bukele himself became President.

During the first year of his term, the country’s homicide rate stood at 36 per 100,000.

Fast forward to 2024, and it’s a shockingly low 1.9.

On X again, Bukele vowed that this year, the murder rate would be below 1 even, so how did he achieve it, and how does visiting El Salvador feel like in 2025?

How Did El Salvador Get Here?

From his inauguration onward, the right-leaning El Salvadorian set out on a full-fledged war on crime:

Be it the aggressive crackdown on gangs, which used to run the streets in El Salvador, or the much-controversial declaration of a State of Emergency that granted the Government broader powers to speed up criminal procedures and prosecutions.

If you’re wondering where exactly the controversy lies, given the Bukele administration’s excellent outcomes, some of his fiercest critics have pointed to human rights violations, such as mass incarcerations, overcrowding in prisons, and supposed abuse of power.

According to the opposition, Bukele’s tough stance on crime inevitably undermines constitution-guaranteed individual freedoms by oftentimes suspending due process and, in many cases, does not address the root of the gang violence problem, namely poverty or lack of opportunity.

They can run as many opinion articles as they want, but the effectiveness of Bukele’s zero-tolerance approach is undeniable, at least as it pertains to homicides: El Salvador has never been safer since records began, and that’s just cold, hard, unbiased fact.

You don’t have to believe us: believe U.S. authorities.

For the first time in years, the White House has downgraded El Salvador from a blacklisted Level 4 to Level 2, in recognition of the progress local authorities have made in reducing insecurity.

In non-technical terms, prior to Bukele’s widespread purge, Americans were advised to avoid visiting El Salvador at all costs––now, they are simply told to exercise ‘increased caution,’ essentially the same advice applying to a bunch of European nations traditionally considered safe.

Think England, France, Spain, Italy and the like.

What Does Visiting El Salvador Feel Like In 2025?

El Salvador is a very different country than what it used to be 10 years ago, or even 5 or 3.

If you’ve visited during the height of the gang violence, you might remember certain precautions you were required to take, be it booking chaperones or tour guides to be accompanied at all times when doing outings, avoiding certain areas altogether, and never, ever commuting during the night.

As the crime rate has plummeted to new record lows, all that tiptoeing around safety and a state of hyper-awareness has been replaced with the usual common sense.

You still can’t rule out pickpocketing, and although largely uncommon now, you should keep a watchful eye on your belongings in crowded areas and beaches, especially if there are no police patrolling nearby.

Similarly, you shouldn’t leave your hotel with flashy valuables, and this includes expensive watches and jewelry, to not draw unnecessary attention to yourself.

The U.S. State Department continues to advise tourists to use only major highways and roads and minimize travel beyond the limits of metropolitan zones after dark, as well as strongly discourage hitchhiking and resisting robbery in the (now less likely) event it happens.

In sum, is El Salvador one of the safest countries in the world?

It certainly is no Switzerland: crime can occur, albeit on drastically-lower levels than before.

That being said, your chances of falling victim to the rampage violence that was oh-so-ordinary to observe on the daily have been reduced to a minimum.

All in all, El Salvador is a beautiful country comprising vast rainforest-clad landscapes, imposing volcanos, and endless miles of golden sand beaches hugged by the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean, and it’s never been this friendly and inviting to foreigners.

Political disagreements aside, El Salvadorians and tourists alike have an unwaveringly patriotic, ambitious Bukele to thank for.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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As San Francisco had one of its worst years for tourism and wildfires have decimated some of the most beautiful regions of Los Angeles, travelers may be opening their eyes to new destinations in the “Golden State”.

Home to new lavish resorts and world-class eats, there are 3 California getaways on the rise, perfect for a memorable vacation this year.

Whether it be wine country, small coastal gems, or the first-ever resort coming to an overlooked SoCal city, vacationers should keep an eye on this trio of up-and-coming gems to avoid the chaos of California’s major cities.

3 up-and-coming California getaways you should visit in 2025:

Elk: Northern California’s New Hotspot

A case of the winter blues can make you feel stuck in a rut, so what’s more fitting than paying a visit to Elk?

This blip on the map along the famous Pacific Coastal Highway (PCH) is more than a road trip pit stop for beef jerky and Big Gulps; it’s a place you’ll want to arrive hungry and stay a while.

Receiving 2 stars from Michelin Guide is Harbor House, anchoring the city’s surging food scene. Here, you’ll get the VIP treatment with divine entrees such as ‘Slowly-grilled Halibut‘ and ‘Abalone poached in sake, calhikari rice, offal‘.

Better yet, when you’re feeling overstuffed, you can head straight to your room as Harbor House, the restaurant, is located inside the Harbor House Inn.

Seen as Big Sur 2.0, this small town on the rise is one of California’s most picturesque coastal gems.

Albeit NorCal’s beaches can be a bit nippy, to say the least, the scenery is astounding. Check out Greenwood State Beach to see what I mean.

Nature is completely untamed here, and the town couldn’t be more authentic without the eyesores of fast food chains.

Instead, you can mingle with locals at dim-lit dives like Beacon Light By The Sea.

Chula Vista: San Diego’s Last Frontier

Chula Vista is more than a suburb; it’s soon to be a destination on its own, yet already boasting its own unique culture where chill San Diego vibes meet Tijuana delights without needing a passport.

Home to nearly 300,000 residents, including myself, I’ve never understood why I constantly get a stink-eye when I tell “San Diegans” where I live.

Truth is, I love it!

While many tourists visit downtown San Diego’s buzzing Gaslamp Quarter for late-night ragers, Chula Vista’s 3rd Avenue is a great alternative with a much calmer atmosphere for the “happy crowd” at numerous breweries and up-and-coming restaurants like locally hyped Tuétano Taquería, Canelo Alvarez’s recently opened lines-out-the-door taco shop El Pastor Del Rica, and my new favorite, Lime in the Coconut, for the city’s best cocktails.

There are countless Tijuana-inspired taco shops here, being so close to the border, and yes, it’s home to the O.G., Tacos El Gordo – so insanely delicious, it’s rumored to be raking in $5 million per month in their Vegas location!

Sorry, Gordon Ramsay.

As incredible as Chula Vista’s food scene may be, the claim to fame for 2025 will be the city’s first-ever resort, Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, overlooking the San Diego Bay and only 7 minutes from downtown San Diego.

It’s set to open in ‘late spring 2025′ at an undisclosed date.

Chula Vista is often mischaracterized as a border town, but that’s only if you haven’t been to the Eastlake district.

Check out Mountain Hawk Park, one of my favorite hidden gems overlooking staggering mountains and the scenic Otay Lakes that I would assume less than 1% of San Diego tourists know about.

Murrieta: SoCal’s New Wine Country Hideaway

Temecula is SoCal’s version of Napa, lined with chateau wineries and a charming downtown. Despite being more low-key than Napa, Temecula can draw a crowd, and traffic is unbearable.

The neighboring town of Murrieta is the place to be with a picturesque main strip, wineries like Wine Ranch Grill and Cellars with far fewer crowds, and a newly revamped resort that easily became one of my favorite California stays.

Here is what the perfect day in Murrieta looks like:

Take a nice stroll through downtown Murrieta and grab a delicious latte at The Crafted Scone, holding an impressive 4.6 Google Rating.

Head over to Toast for brunch, where they serve mimosa flights and sinfully delicious Crab Cake Benedict.

Relax for a few hours at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, whether as an overnight guest or Day Pass holder. Make use of over 20 pools open 24/7 to soak in or a Roman Spa just like you’d find in Europe.

Cap off your day with a flawless meal at the resort’s very own Talia Kitchen, which is truly one of the best meals I’ve ever had.

Ask for Isis and indulge in the chef’s latest dish I had the pleasure of sneak-previewing, Prime Back Loin Center Cut Local Swordfish.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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Last Updated 21 hours ago

Sunny San Diego. Well, most of the time…

“America’s Finest City” isn’t immune to occasional rain showers and a couple of months of gray skies. Vacationers are often disappointed by “May Gray” and “June Gloom,” as locals have dubbed them.

Besides checking the weather forecast, there are 4 exciting new things every traveler needs to know when visiting San Diego in 2025.

First, you might want to double-check the airport you’re flying into.

Second, before booking your stay, there’s a pair of lavish new ‘firsts’ hitting San Diego shores.

Lastly, crossing into Mexico is about to get a whole lot easier. You can bypass the ‘busiest border in the world’ without stepping foot in neighboring Tijuana – and no, it’s not locals’ favorite travel loophole, the Cross Border Xpress.

So, without further ado, here are 4 exciting things travelers should know when visiting San Diego in 2025:

1) American Airlines Now Flies To Carlsbad

San Diego is often categorized into 4 quadrants: North County, Central, East County and South Bay.

As such, sometimes visitors miss out on North County’s delights, given the headache-inducing traffic through a cluster of pristine beach towns.

Well, that doesn’t have to be the case anymore, especially since Carlsbad, in particular, should be a destination city in its own right.

McClellan-Palomar Airport is reopening for commercial traffic, where American Airlines is betting big on Carlsbad’s potential with the first and only flight (for now) set to launch February 13th from Phoenix.

Located less than half an hour from Orange County and roughly 40 minutes from San Diego’s main attractions, Carlsbad can be used as a gateway to other cool spots or your base as it’s home to beautiful beaches, upscale resorts, and LEGOLAND, a popular spot for families who don’t want to deal with all that comes with giggly oversized rodents of Anaheim.

Travel Tip: American Airlines now also flies nonstop to Tijuana, the city’s only U.S.-based airline.

2) Avoid LEGOLAND Crowds! San Diego’s First Adults-Only Resort

On second thought, if you’re not traveling with the kiddos in tow and prefer to avoid the under-18 bunch altogether, there’s exciting news just for you.

A few miles down I-5 lies the coastal paradise of Encinitas, home to numerous celebrities hiding out from Hollywood (smart move!), a close-knit surfers community, and multiple stunning beaches such as one of my favorites, Moonlight Beach.

What you may not know is Encinitas is home to Alila Marea Beach Resort, which is transforming into San Diego’s sole adults-only resort.

As such, could there be a better re-opening date than Valentine’s Day? Just don’t come back home with a bun in the oven…

Kinda defeats the purpose, no?

3) A New Era of Tourism With Chula Vista’s Inaugural Resort

Chula Vista is typically way off tourists’ radar and more often seen as one of the best San Diego County cities to score cheap(er) rent.

Heck, that’s what got me to move here! Honestly, Chula Vista has been a pleasant surprise with scenic mountain-view parks, an underrated downtown, and endless Tijuana-style taco shops without having to step across the border.

Soon, Chula Vista will be casting San Diego’s often-overlooked South Bay in the spotlight with the grand opening of the city’s first-ever resort, Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, boasting 1,600 rooms and 12 restaurants and bars.

Gaylord scored prime real estate as this area is the last frontier of San Diego’s untouched shores along Chula Vista’s San Diego Bay, with epic coastal views facing west over popular vacation spot Coronado.

According to local news source NBC 7, there will be a soft opening in mid-May, followed by an official grand opening in July.

4) Skip The Border! New Direct Ferry Into Mexico’s “Napa”

I go to Tijuana every month. Despite having a SENTRI card, crossing the border can still be a grind, which is often a deterrent for fellow Californians and tourists alike who want to see what Northern Baja is all about.

Plus, Tijuana has a sketchy reputation. Not everyone wants to take that chance. The neighboring town of Tecate (yes, that Tecate you might have in your fridge) is widely considered much safer, serving as a gateway into Mexico’s gorgeous Valle de Guadalupe, commonly dubbed Mexico’s “Napa”.

Stretching from Tecate to Ensenada is the Ruta del Vino, a scenic wine route passing numerous vineyards, luxe resorts, and bucket-list Airbnbs.

While most Americans start their wine adventures in Tecate, a new direct ferry capable of carrying up to 330 passengers from San Diego is set to change that.

Slated to launch in May (if necessary tests go according to plan in April), the Azteca Ferry will give travelers the ultimate loophole to bypass the hectic border, which often has 3-hour wait times at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Tickets are not sale as of yet, but last we reported prices were expected in the $100 range. However, there is a schedule posted on Azteca Ferries’ website:

Travel tip: If you complete the whole Ensenada – Tecate wine route, I can’t recommend 4-star Santuario Diegueño enough to rest up and enjoy sensational eats at on-site restaurant, Asao.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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Last Updated 16 mins ago

According to the United Nations, France is once again the most popular country in the world, having returned to 99 percent of its pre-crisis levels of tourism, with over 100 million visitors recorded last year alone.

As a local, I can’t say I’m surprised or too thrilled about it, if I’m being honest:

I live in Paris, by default, the world’s most visited capital, and compared to two or three years ago, it definitely feels a lot busier:

You can barely go for a stroll in Montmartre without bumping into someone too distracted taking pictures to notice, and if you plan on browsing the Louvre’s art collection or going up the Eiffel Tower, you better book in advance, as the line outside the door is going around the block.

As much as I love my city and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, I wouldn’t be encouraging friends to come and visit me in 2025, especially when those numbers are expected to grow exponentially––but hey, it’s not like the Eiffel Tower is all that France has in store.

You can still gorge on delicious food, admire the architecture, and practice your savoir-vivre skills in these 5 alternative, equally-beautiful destinations… without the crowds:

Provins

Ile-de-France

If you have 3 to 5 days in Paris, chances are you’re planning on taking a day to explore Versailles or maybe Disneyland for the nostalgic feel and thrilling adventures, so before tickets are booked and your plan is set in stone, let me first introduce you to Provins:

Located in the capital region, this much-overlooked town dating back to the Middle Ages still has its walls intact, stone-built houses that have survived the passing of time unscathed, albeit partially claimed by ivy, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at that.

Other than strolling the marketplace and getting lost in the cobbled streets, something I love Provins for is its food scene, from sweet shops where you can get the original 600-year-old macaron recipe to the rustic Crêperie La Malouiniere––hands down the best crepes in town!

Oh, and if you plan on making the most out of your visit, get a Provins Pass: it costs only $18, and grants entry to all of the paid attractions, including La Tour César, a medieval tower commanding an idyllic panorama of the surrounding countryside, and its underground tunnel system.

Rouen

Normandy

Sitting only two hours north of Paris, in the heart of Normandy, Rouen is one of my favorite day trips from the capital mainly for two reasons: it is deeply historical––it is here Joan of Arc met her tragic fate at the stake––and its medieval center is largely preserved.

Centered around a beautiful Gothic cathedral, with not two, but three soaring spires, each of them unique in design, the historic center is a maze of alleyways flanked with askew, half-timbered 15th century houses, and it holds a gem or two:

The Gros-Horloge, arching over the Main Street, is an astronomical clock that rivals Prague’s in beauty, at least in my book, and in summer, the charming, runnel-lined Eau de Robec is a great spot to visit for coffee or an early-afternoon aperitif.

For something truly unique, though, make sure you don’t miss place du Vieux-Marché, or Old Market Square, where Joan was burned, and a modernist, stained-windowed church I always believed to be shaped like a witches’ now stands.

Honfleur

Normandy

Up on the Normandy Coast, Honfleur is what I like to describe as Amsterdam and Copenhagen’s lovechild: it is a timeless historic port lining the English Channel, famous for its seafood and Monet associations.

Indeed, it is an Impressionist painting come to life, with a picture-perfect harbor front made up of somber-colored, skinny edifices, and a maze of back streets flanked with shops and brasseries serving moules-frites and other traditional seafood.

The harbor is undoubtedly Honfleur’s pride and joy, though you shouldn’t miss out on the gorgeous Église Sainte Catherine, the oldest and biggest wood church in France, built in the 1400s, or the canal at Vieux-Bassin, where some of the best restaurants are.

Only have time for one? The centrally-located Bistro du Port has menus or lunch deals, starting from only $23.55 and typically includes a main dish, a drink, and a choice of starter or dessert. just so you know, their Camembert fondue is to die for.

Orange

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

We’re going to the deep French south for the next one, and this one’s for my fellow Roman Empire enthusiasts: in case you didn’t know, this region of France is littered with remnants from what’s arguably the greatest period of Western civilization, and this includes Orange.

A traditional ocher-colored town of Provence, it is a storied municipality of many cafe-bordered places (that’s French for square) and ancient landmarks that never seem to get the level of praise they deserve, starting with the UNESCO-protected Théâtre antique d’Orange.

A 1st-century theater in an impressive state of preservation, it continues to host festivals and live performances in summer, and on non-event days, it welcomes guests as an open-air museum for around $10––remind me how much it costs to access the Roman Colosseum again?

For other must-sees in Orange, add the equally Roman Triumphal Arc, the ruin-dotted Parc de la Colline Saint-Eutrope overlooking the theater, and a whimsical Château de Beaucastel, a winery centered around a centuries-old country manor surrounded by vineyards to your list.

Menton

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

My sneaky addition, as it is neither not-crowded nor necessarily a hidden gem, Menton features here simply because there is no prettier town in France, lemon gelato that’s more deliciously bitter or creamier, nor coastal views elsewhere that can rival it:

It straddles the Franco-Italian border, and as you’d expect of a border town, it has elements of both cultures, with trattorie galore and rows upon rows of warm-colored facades, contrasting with your usual boulangeries selling fresh croissants and locals’ undeniable provençal accent.

Menton is quintessential French Riviera and has been many times over the years; I can confirm it never loses its appeal––in fact, I keep stumbling upon more reasons to love it, be it viewpoints of the Jaune townscape from surrounding hills or new swimming spots along its turquoise waterfront.

Before I go, I must add no trip to Menton is complete without strolling the extent of its palm-strewn promenade, a mango or lemon sorbet from Tutti Frutti Glaciers in hands, pass the lush Val Rameh gardens, all the way into Italy.

The walk to the border takes 45 minutes to complete, and at the very end, you can reward yourself with dinner at the world-class Mirazur restaurant, run by a Franco-Italian chef who certainly knows how to knead fresh pasta into shape.

And those views of Menton in the distance? Mamma mia… c’est juste la huitième merveille du monde !

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

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