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The Best Inspiring Travel Love Stories to Read in 2024

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Romance on the road can be one of the biggest travel life lessons we can experience when travelling to new destinations and chasing our travel drams,

Our romantic travel love stories can become a big part of our adventures and linger for years in our memories.

I still fondly remember the guys I met on my travels and the fleeting travel romances forged in destinations worldwide.

Brief flings, hookups, dating disasters and full-blown relationships impact our adventures and lives. A little romance can often be one of the best outcomes of travel.

Inspiring Travel Love Stories

When we are in the zen of travel, our emotions are heightened. Sunsets seem dreamier, food tastes fresher, and possibilities seem endless.

With your feelings dialled way up, it can become easy to convince yourself that a scruffy German called Wolfgang, with a mere $12 to his name, is “the one”.

High on cheap cocktails and moonlit walks on the beach is a surefire way to get swept up in the moment and make starry-eyed plans to “meet in Paris ”.

Romance stories from the road

The problem with travel romances is that when you actually meet up away from the beaches, the mountains, or the frenetic energy of a busy city, there’s a danger it can all seem a bit beige.

Keeping an exciting connection alive once the holiday ends can be challenging for couples, especially if a big distance is involved. Sustaining a post-holiday romance or moving on from one is one of the most emotive lessons you can learn from travel.

We talk more about travel life lessons on my travel podcast Travel Goals , subscribe now and download all the latest episodes.

So, do travel romances ever really work out? Here’s a collection of inspiring travel love stories from travel bloggers. These tales include times when they found long-lasting travel romance on the road and also stories of heartache and disappointment.

Tinder travel romance

My story starts in Christchurch, New Zealand, four years ago. While backpacking, I turned to Tinder not to seek romance but to gather some tips for places to explore in the area and, quite frankly, beat the monotony of my own company.

After I matched with Kazimir, we immediately hit it off, and the next day, he suggested taking me on a walk around Christchurch. What better way to get the scoop on a new city than with the help of a local?!

That day was notable for three reasons: Firstly, it was Valentine’s Day! A fitting occasion to meet someone special.

Secondly, a 5.7 earthquake struck the city that morning, so I was keen to escape the shaky old hostel. Lastly, of course, it’s the day I’ll treasure as the day we first met.

We talked, walked, and explored some gorgeous spots of a city I now love. I felt so at ease with this handsome man, and we arranged to meet a handful more times.

Long-distance relationship

A month or so later, I left New Zealand to continue my travels, and I didn’t think we’d see each other again. But yet, our connection only got stronger.

Later that year, he came to stay in the UK with me. When we were reunited, I knew we had something worth trying. We endured a long distance realtionship for three years before we finally moved to Australia together.

I’ll never forget that bizarre start to our relationship. Because of that dramatic earthquake to trigger our meeting, I like to say he rocked my world! Contribution by Suzy Stories .

We met on a dating app

This is a story that was actually rejected by BBC travel for their ‘chance encounters series’. It was the first day of my round-the-world trip. A trip meant to last six months has now stretched past the six-year mark and is still climbing. 

I was jet-lagged, having just flown from the States to the South Islands of Thailand, a trip that took more than 30 hours.

Exhausted but unable to sleep, I was chatting with a couple of different guys on dating apps with 0 intention of meeting that night. In fact, I was already in bed happily watching ‘Breaking Bad’. 

One guy stood out—cute, Eastern European, and very my type. He asked if we could meet for a beer, and I said maybe tomorrow.

He said that night was his only available night as he was travelling with a friend, and they had plans. It wasn’t meant to be, I told myself as I directed my attention back to Breaking Bad. 

Swiping right

But, as I sat there, I thought- isn’t this why I left home on this big adventure- to meet new people and explore new places? And now, some good-looking guy is asking me out for drinks, and I’m begging off to stay in my hotel and watch Netflix. How lame.  I asked him where we could meet.

We met for drinks and then bought more beers to take back to my room., staying up all night talking.

We debated religion and politics, played our favourite music for the other one, and eventually chatted until sunrise. We took our beers to the beach to watch the sun rise as others did yoga and went for their morning runs. 

Romance in Bangkok

After that night, I assumed I would never see him again, but we stayed in contact and actually met up a couple of weeks later, this time in Bangkok. And then again, and then again.

Him being a flight attendant and me being a traveller, our romance played out all over the world. In more than 2 years of dating, we visited nearly 20 countries together.

We went hiking to see the ‘death corpse flower’ in Malaysia, scuba diving off Indonesian islands, and hurling tomatoes at the La Tomatina festival in Spain. He even came home with me one year for Christmas. 

Sadly, the romance didn’t work out after two and a half years, but the friendship remains to this day. Contribution by Foodie Flashpacker .

Los Angeles love story

I had a friend in high school I’d talk to throughout the years after we graduated from college and started our lives. Oddly, we’d reconnect randomly throughout the years and lose touch for some reason.

In 2011, I moved from Columbus, OH, to Los Angeles, CA, to get a fresh start. In 2016, she messaged me and asked how I was doing, and we started talking more and more every day.

After two months, she came to visit me for my birthday, and we had a lot of fun. We explored the city, hung out with friends, walked the beach, and started developing feelings for one another.

A month later, she visited me again, and we just clicked. Within a month and a half, she had packed up her life in Ohio and moved to San Diego with me.

Travelling full-time as a family

We got married in December 2017, had a baby in November 2018, and now travel the world full-time as a family .

It is unbelievable how we reconnected 11 years after our first meeting when we were 16 years old in high school.

It just shows you that love can show up when you least expect it. Contribution by It’s a Family Thing .

Quitting work to travel around Europe

When my work contract ended, Julie decided to travel around Europe with me for two months to escape her stressful tech job.

We bought flights, a six-week Eurail pass, and a four-week Britrail pass; everything else we booked as we went along. So much fun!

I have wonderful memories of bartering various country currencies (pre-Euro) for enough German Marks to buy another Hofbrauhaus beer, picnic meals on balconies overlooking the Florence Duomo and French Alps, and so much more.

Road trip romance

In fact, we had so much fun that when the trip was over, we decided to keep travelling.

A friend worked in a foam factory and custom-cut a six-inch-thick piece of foam to fit in the back of our SUV.

We spent the next 14 months road-tripping the US and Canada, camping most nights inside the snuggly confines of our temporary wheely home. 

Such experiences can make or break relationships, and we decided to stay together and get married.

We just celebrated our 25th anniversary and travel is still an essential part of our life together. Submission by  McCool Travel  and  Fun in Fairfax VA .

Love on a tour bus

My fiancé (Daniel) and I met about seven years ago while travelling in Europe. Honestly, it didn’t start nearly as romantic as most would assume. We were young, 21 years old, and on a Contiki bus tour.

For those of you who don’t know, these organized bus tours take you to many amazing places, but they focus on partying quite a lot.

What started out as a fun travel fling, though, eventually turned into something a lot more. After the Europe trip ended, Daniel and I kept in contact somewhat online.

A year later, I moved from Canada to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. Daniel, who is Australian, and I reconnected and started a real relationship. And well, the rest is history!

Backpacking as a couple

We lived in Australia for a couple of years together before packing our bags and heading to South America.

We have been backpacking as a couple for the last four years and currently work full-time on our travel blog business together. We are currently in the process of planning our wedding, which will be held in Fiji next year! Contribution by Destinationless travel .

We met on Instagram

I met my partner while he was working in my home town, London. He is Dutch and was in London making a video for the drone company DJI.

We had been speaking via Instagram DM for a while about my drone obsession, as I wanted some tips on which one to buy.

We met at the station near my house. I had just finished a night shift as a nurse, so I have no idea how he stuck around after seeing me after a 13-hour night shift.

I ended up being his tour guide around London for four days, and he kept postponing his flight home as we wanted to spend more time together!

Quitting our jobs to travel

Following this, I had already booked a trip to Amsterdam, where we met again and had our first date. Soon after, he drove to London and whisked me off on a road trip around Dorset.

A few months later, we had both quit our part-time jobs to travel full-time! Now, we run a travel blog and videography company. We spent a while living in Bali and have travelled to over 20 countries in the last year alone. Contribution by Solar Powered Blonde .

Romance on the Taipei MRT

I moved to  Taipei  in 2008 as an English teacher, planning to stay there for one year at most. Having recently ended a sour relationship in my home country, I went most of the year without dating.

That all changed one day when I was riding the MRT to work. Listening to music on headphones and tapping my foot, I was approached by a local woman the same age as me, but nearly a foot shorter.

She asked me a few of the usual questions, but unlike most such conversations, she wasn’t looking to practice English. She was nervous but clearly interested.

We swapped numbers

I got off at my stop, and so did she. As we parted ways, she grabbed my hand and wrote her number on it (in those days, we still exchanged numbers). I decided to ignore the unspoken rule of waiting a day and call her 10 minutes later.

We met the following night for a drink, shared a taxi home, and had a kiss to remember outside her door (that is, until we were interrupted by my future father-in-law, who pulled up beside us on a scooter and pretended he hadn’t seen a thing).

Little did he know that the foreigner before him would be living in his home a few years later or that he was to become a proud grandfather of two! Contribution by  Spiritual Travels . 

Falling in love while studying abroad

I never planned for this to happen. I studied abroad in San Diego (I am originally from Germany), and I was supposed to return home after three years in the US. Well, fate had other plans. One day, he showed up in my class.

A new guy that I had never seen before at my school, which was unusual because, with only 150 students at the university and me working at the front desk, I knew everyone. So, of course, I had to investigate. 

We started talking during our break and ended up in the same group project, so we chatted frequently and became fast friends and study partners.

I was about to finish my MBA and then do a 1-year work exchange in San Diego before returning to Germany, so I was not looking for a serious relationship.

Moving fast

Well, that plan didn’t work out too well. After being friends for a few months, we started dating and things went really fast after that.

I moved in with him a few weeks later, and we got married less than 1.5 years after we met. We just celebrated our 10th anniversary, and we’re as happy as ever! Contribution by San Diego Explorer.

Travel Love story in the Philippines

I met my husband seven years ago while travelling in Southeast Asia. We were both travelling solo and, due to unplanned circumstances, ended up in San Fernando, a small place in the Philippines. Neither of us was planning on being there.

We stayed in the same dormitory at a small surf hostel. In fact, we were bed neighbours. Soon after meeting, we realized we loved the same things: surfing, diving, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

We decided to continue travelling together. After two months of exploring the Philippines together, I had to go back home. My husband decided to continue travelling and went to India.

Meeting up in Nepal

Two months later, we met in Nepal and went on our first multi-day trek to Everest Base Camp. Since then, we’ve been travelling together for six years.

Somewhere during our Latin America hitchhiking adventure, we started a travel blog for fun.

Now it’s our full-time job. 3 years ago we got married. We still travel full time visiting our home countries Russia and South Africa every year. Submission by Stingy Nomads .

South Korean travel romance

I met my husband in 2014 while solo travelling through South Korea. I had just finished university and had a graduate job waiting for me starting two months later. I took the opportunity to travel to Asia for two months before starting work.

My whole trip included one month in China, two weeks in Korea, and three weeks in Japan. It was one of the best trips of my life, and I had so much fun discovering Asia. 

Connecting through Airbnb

In South Korea, I tried to stay in Airbnbs and do Couchsurfing, as I read that it was quite safe for a woman to stay with local families there.

I met my husband when staying in his Airbnb in Gyeongju. As he had time off work those days, he showed me around the city.

We had such a great time together, and it immediately clicked. I never expected to see him again after leaving, but he came to visit me in the UK five months later.

Since then, we have been inseparable and now live together in Seoul. I absolutely love living in Korea and writing a Korea Blog . I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Contribution by Be Marie Korea .

Couchsurfing love story

During my semester break some years ago, I decided to travel through southern Europe with a good friend.

Since we also visited the beautiful city of  Barcelona on a budget and wanted to get to know a few locals, we decided to use the Couchsurfing platform to stay home with locals.

Little did I know I would get to know my future husband during my short time in the Catalan capital. I also would have never thought that I would fall in love with the guy who hosted us in his flat.

Barcelona romance

The chemistry between us was just right from the start. Only ten days after I left Barcelona in the direction of Paris, our host from Barcelona, Eduardo, came to visit me in the city I used to study in Germany.

We spent a few days together and even went on a weekend break by bus to Amsterdam. This little trip should become just the first of many trips we would take together.

I moved to Barcelona to be with Eduardo only a few months later. Since then, we have started working location-independently, travelled together to more than 20 countries, and even got married a couple of months ago. Contribution by Vicki Viaja .

When travel romance doesn’t work out

I wasn’t expecting to meet anyone special while I was travelling.  I had planned the trip for months and wanted to get out alone and enjoy my freedom. 

But then I met him Backpacking in Peru. He was a tour guide who was sweet, funny, and kind. He really seemed like a nice guy, which should have rang alarm bells for me straight away. My taste in men hasn’t always been the best! 

However, we hit it off and spent the weekend together. I told him that I’d been cheated on before and that all I wanted was honesty. I didn’t think that was too much to ask. 

I wasn’t stupid; I didn’t think it would last. I continued my travels for a week, and he took a tour group to a different part of Peru. Then, we met up again in Lima .  

It was wonderful when we were together. I felt a strong connection to him, and when he told me he loved me, I didn’t hesitate to say it back. 

We met in Peru

We’d spend a week together, and then, thanks to his job as a tour guide, he would leave Lima for a couple of weeks at a time. We’d meet up again when he came back. I’d go travelling in the meantime and explore more of Peru. 

Then things started to change.  I couldn’t turn that down because I had the chance to go to Venezuela.  I didn’t forget that this trip was for me, but leaving him was hard. 

I knew that if I left, things wouldn’t be the same. We kept in touch, texting as often as we could, but gradually, contact became less and less, and when I really needed to talk to him, he didn’t have his phone.

He had a girlfriend the whole time

When I returned to Peru a month later, I didn’t really expect anything to happen between us, but he said he was desperate to see me. 

We got together again, and he invited me to Bolivia with him.  However, I quickly realised he was spending much time on his phone.  It turned out that he had a girlfriend, he’d been with her the whole time. And she was pregnant. 

I was heartbroken.  I felt so stupid, somehow believing we had something special when I knew better. 

He was the one who pushed for us to see each other again, the one who said I love you.  The one who had lied since the moment I met him. Love on the road can be fun, but it can be painful, too. Contribution by Tales of a Backpacker .

A Couchsurfing romance

One of the most important experiences when it comes to travel is meeting the locals. I’m always looking to get to know the traditions and costumes.

I love spending mornings people-watching in a café or making new friends in a bar.

This is why I use Couchsurfing as much as possible. For those who don’t know of it, Couchsurfing is an app where you can find a couch to crash on, [and to offer your own], for travellers looking to stay with locals.

Little did I know that this app would allow me to make friends in many different countries and introduce me to the love of my life.

Croatia love story

After a quick visit to  Croatia  5 years ago, I stayed in touch with the guy who let me use his couch for the night.

I was backpacking around Europe then, so a month after we met, we decided it was time to meet again. True to travellers’ style, we set a date in Slovenia, halfway between us.

The rest is history. After a few years of long-distance, I moved to Croatia. More than two happy years later, I can say that travel romance is wonderful. Contribution by Experiencing the Globe .

A Rome Travel love story

My husband and I first met in the Roman Forum in 2001, when he was a tourist backpacking around Europe, and I was a tour guide.

He immediately fell in love with the city (it would take another year before he fell in love with me) and decided to stay and become a tour guide.

So we became colleagues, and then we became good friends and we bonded over our mutual passion for travel and desire to see the world.

We travelled the world together

When he told me he planned a three-month overland trip through the Middle East from Cairo to Istanbul, I presumptuously invited myself along.

I wanted to see that part of the world, too, but I was nervous about going there myself, so tagging along with him seemed like a great idea. Though we were not yet a couple when we started planning the trip, we were by the time we set out on the road.

For the next few years, we spent about half our time working in Rome to save money while exploring the city and  dining in its amazing restaurants .

We spent the other half of our time travelling the world in the off-season. Six years after we met, we returned to Rome to get married. Contribution by The Nomadic Vegan .

We eloped to Vegas

A 22-year-old UCLA senior meet a 25-year-old party-loving San Diego surfer in a Mexican bar and sparks fly. It sounds like a movie, but it was a life-changing Spring Break trip.

The bar was Carlos O’Breins, and he was wearing an unfortunate blue striped tank top with a day-glow pink lining. After spending hours chatting on the beach, he told me he was going to marry me.

We returned to California, LA, and San Diego, respectively. We visited each other but quickly became inseparable and decided to elope to Las Vegas. It had been six weeks since we met, and the tank top had been discarded! 

We’ve been married for 30 years, have two kids in their 20s, and have travelled to all 50 states and 40+ countries.

Almost empty nesters, we embarked on a travel challenge to visit 50 new countries in our 50s, and we have detailed it all on our blog, The Evolista.

Spending time together, being with our family, and sharing fun travel adventures are our dreams come true. Bon voyage! Contribution by The Evolista .

Hostel travel romance

In late 2015 I was living in a hostel in  Dunsborough , Western Australia when I met my girlfriend, Roxy.

I had flights and accommodation booked to go to New Zealand, but a week before I was supposed to leave, I cancelled my plans to stay and see how things with Roxy would work out.

It was easily the best decision I have ever made, and we spent the next four years travelling full-time throughout Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.

We met in a hostel

Over the last four and a half years, we have spent nearly every second of every day together, which seems crazy but has always felt pretty easy.

Roxy is the planner, and I am happy to go along with whatever off-the-beaten-path adventure she creates, which makes it work.

I am originally from Ireland, while she is Canadian, and we have recently settled in Vancouver, Canada.

We are adjusting to a more settled lifestyle but have grand plans to travel the world once again soon. Contribution by The Coastal Campaign .

Thailand travel romance

Many people are probably sceptical of travel romances and wonder if they can work. But the thing is, they can, and they do! I travelled solo in Thailand when I met a handsome guy on an island.

We instantly hit it off and talked well into the night. We made plans to meet up the next day for dinner, but after that, we were inseparable for four days.

Our time together ended when I had to fly home, but I had hardly made it to Bangkok when he called me on Facetime. And just like that, our romance continued.

Making A long-distance Realtionship work

I’m American, and he’s Dutch. We never discussed how difficult it would be to pursue a relationship or how many obstacles would be in our way.

We kept talking because we enjoyed hearing from each other. We planned to visit each other because we wanted to see each other.

We had a long-distance relationship, visiting each other whenever and wherever possible, and were engaged in less than a year. Now we’re married and living in the US! Contribution by Jetset Jansen .

A sunset date in California

I was about to graduate from college and had my whole life ahead of me. I didn’t have time to meet a guy—or so I thought!

In the winter of 2014, I found myself in a small college beach town on the central California coast, visiting a friend. While there, I met a dorky guy who asked me on a date to see the sunset along the beach.

Relocating to California

Sunsets and beaches are my favourite things in the world, but I wasn’t sure about getting in a car with some guy I barely knew. Luckily, the friend I was visiting encouraged me to go on the date, and I’m so glad she did!

That first sunset date lasted over five hours and became a day trip to San Francisco. We found a lighthouse that’s only open two days a week for three hours each day, open on the day we were there. It was kismet.

As I fell in love with the city, I fell in love with him. A few months later, a day after my college graduation, I relocated to the California coast. It’s been almost six years, and I’ve loved every single one. Contribution by Sea salt and fog .

Left home to travel the world

When I was 19, I quit my job and left home to travel the world. My first stop was sunny Costa Blanca in Spain. Romance had its own plans, though, as I met my husband about an hour after arriving.

Some 30 years later, when our daughters left home, we travelled the world together. Juan and I bought a one-way ticket to Nepal and trekked the Himalayas and journeyed for two months overland through India.

We enjoyed living in a rural village in Thailand and celebrating New Year’s Eve with the monks.

I took a slow boat down the Mekong in Laos, rushed through Vietnam on a 15-day visa, and chilled for four weeks in a beach cabin in the Philippines.

Digital nomad Romance

The ultimate digital nomad life, moving on where and when the fancy took us, sleeping in overnight buses and trains.

We’d stop for a few days in places we felt at home, where I would write my travel articles and where Juan would go cycling and chat with the locals.

And then he wanted to come home, so we didn’t get to the faraway lands of Australia and New Zealand.

That’s what being a couple is really about respecting each other’s dreams and agreeing on limits. I found a cheap flight home via Singapore, Greece and Bulgaria, so I am not complaining.

He cleverly tempted me back for a while with promises of the Amazons, our South America adventure, but that’s another story, another chapter in our lives that we embarked on together.

inspiring love stories

Travel romance can be a transformative experience, as seen in this travel love story collection.

Sometimes, things work out when we fall in love on the road; other times, it can lead to heartbreak.

No matter how it pans out, you can learn from each romantic encounter on the road.

Have you ever had a travel romance? Did it work out? Let me know in the comments below.

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Portia Jones has spent years traversing the globe and having many misadventures. She now works as a freelance travel journalist and is a Lonely Planet guidebook author and hosts the Travel Goals Podcast. She specialises in adventure travel, destination guides and city breaks. Her work has appeared in The Times, National Geographic, Wanderlust Magazine and the Independent. She can normally be found hiking, swimming outdoors in icy waters, or drinking coffee in bougie cafes.

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All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

As a first generation Taiwanese immigrant, Kathy Yen says she feels a “profound significance” being an Asian American business owner.

“It’s a testament to the perseverance required to overcome the language and cultural barriers that I’ve faced along my journey,” Yen, who runs sustainable personal care products brand Oliver Flynn with her sister, says. “Each day, we work tirelessly to bridge these gaps, striving to communicate effectively and navigate cultural nuances in the business world.”

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“For decades, Asian Americans have been seen as service industry providers, as our parents and grandparents came to this country to open up restaurants, dry cleaners, and nail salons,” says Jin Chen, founder of the multi-purpose Planeket . She says because of the “lower class” perception of those businesses, “some people feel it’s okay to be rude to Asian Americans, especially the older ones. But what I see is that they are also entrepreneurs.”

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Banding together has been especially crucial to Asian Americans, as Yen says there’s active participation in community events, forums, and discussions that promote diversity, inclusion, and representation. “Whether it’s sponsoring cultural festivals, hosting educational workshops, or participating in advocacy campaigns, we are dedicated to creating spaces where the voices and experiences of AAPI individuals are valued and celebrated,” she says.

Below, 14 AAPI-owned brands to support while refreshing your travel gear.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Shop AAPI-owned brands by category:

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Lo & Sons

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When Brandon Kim invested in a sewing machine and started designing a backpack prototype, he had no idea that it would become the start of a family business. He soon recruited his younger twin brothers—Dylan to handle marketing and Elliot to be in charge of finance—and the Kim brothers’ Brevitē was born. Shutterbugs will love the popular Jumper photo camera backpack and all travelers will enjoy the thoughtful features of the namesake Brevitē backpack with its passport pocket, luggage pass-through strap, and hidden compartments for valuables. Day trippers can depend on the ease of the crossbody, with four convenient pockets and an anti-theft design.

As co-founder of the luggage and travel brand Away (an obsession of mine— and many other Traveler editors ), Filipino American Jen Rubio has been leading by example, making a major contribution to Stop Asian Hate, a community fund to fight the surge in anti-Asian violence. Away has also committed to making travel more equitable, through partnerships with Global Glimpse , International LGBTQ+ Travel Association , and Together We Rise .

Best known for its savvy, lightweight rolling suitcases like The Carry-On Flex and The Bigger Carry-On, the brand has also ventured into city-friendly bags, like my personal daily bag, The Everywhere Zip Backpack, and travel accessories, including packing cubes and tech cases.

Shown in green

Dagne Dover

As one of the three female co-founders of Dagne Dover, Korean American Melissa Shin Mash serves as the CEO of the bag line where practicality is top of mind. Take for instance its Landon Carryall bag, which is available in five sizes and multiple eye-catching colors and comes with a detachable key leash, exterior ID and phone pouch, and removable shoe bag. Other travel favorites include the Dakota Neoprene backpack and the Hunter toiletry bag.

Senvere’s Asian American co-founders Coral Chung and Wendy Wen originally started their luxury handbag brand in 2016 to fill a gap in the market for trendy laptop bags for women. Now an Instagram and celebrity favorite (Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Lady Gaga, and Angelina Jolie are all fans), the line’s convertibility makes it extra travel-friendly. Standout products include the Maestra bag, which can be worn as a satchel, tote, backpack, or crossbody, and the vegan Aria belt bag which functions as a belt bag, sling, shoulder bag, crossbody, or clutch.

Bringing your personal care routine with you has never been easier thanks to Cadence’s chic magnetic capsules designed by Steph Hon. Made of recycled ocean-bound plastics and customizable with icons or words, they’re the best way to keep your routine organized at home—and then pick it up and take it on the go (they're both TSA-compliant and leakproof, so you can put liquids in without worry).

Shannon McMahon

CNT Editors

Hannah Towey

Choose from the seven-piece pill case to organize daily vitamins and medications or the capsules bundle that’s customizable to fill with anything from toothpaste and skin cream to supplements. If you’re more about accessories, go for the jewelry set or keep it casual with the Situationship Set .

Living in Anchorage, Chinese American Jin Chen came up with Planeket to serve multiple purposes during air travel. At its core, it’s a cozy blanket , sure to add comfort to any plane ride. But it also doubles as a wearable shawl (there's an S-shaped clip on the back to keep it in place around your shoulders), a pillow when folded up, and a storage pouch with a hidden pocket and a phone holder. Plus, it straps onto rolling luggage or clips onto a bag for easy transport. The four shades of the original Planeket—Alaska Flag, Glacier Mint, Silt Gray, and Alpenglow—all pay homage to Chen's home state.

Chen has since expanded her brand to include even more travel-friendly products, including a foldable sleeping eye mask and six-piece compression packing system designed to give you 33 percent more space.

Aches and pains have long plagued my travels, so when I first learned about Forme, which makes posture-correcting bras, I had to give it a try. Admittedly, it took some getting used to, but soon I realized how much lighter my shoulders were and how I was focusing on my actual adventures instead of fighting a fatigued neck and shoulders.

It wasn’t until later that I learned Taylor Swift was a fan of the Forme’s Power Bra, with FDA-registered correction technology—and even later than I learned the company was founded by a Taiwanese orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Liu to help his mom with her posture and compressed lungs from cancer.

Now the brand’s Sculpt+ Legging is among my favorites to run and travel in. Also great to alleviate natural pain on long travel days: the Arch Booster Sock and Core Tee.

As a longtime beauty executive, Chinese American Amy Liu wasn’t able to enjoy the perks of playing around with all the products around her—eczema left her dependent on high-priced or clinical alternatives. So she launched Tower 28, a brand suitable for all skin types, with every ingredient complying with the National Eczema Association’s guidelines. The line includes the popular SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray to freshen up stressed skin and BeachPlease cream blush for cheeks and lips in six shades. Build your own set of five must-have travel staples, including tinted moisturizer and mascara, with the Tower 28 Essentials Set .

Oliver Flynn

When Brooklyn-based Taiwanese sisters Kathy Yen and Erine Yen both became new moms, they started to think ahead to an eco-friendlier world for their kids, Oliver “Ollie” and Flynn. So they launched Oliver Flynn, dedicated to plastic-free personal care products with safe ingredients.

I stumbled upon their booth at Manhattan’s Passport to Taiwan Festival two years ago, and as a bug magnet, the Don't Bug Me! natural bug repellent balm has become a staple in my travel bag. Other great sustainable options include a honey and citrus shampoo bar with a travel tin and natural lip balm, available in lavender, vanilla, peppermint, and natural.

Tay Skincare

Growing up eating organic fruits from her family’s garden, Sarah Tay was stumped when she moved out and saw the drastic difference in her first store-bought orange. That contrast sent her on a decade-long mission to better understand how to develop high-end botanical skincare products. The result is Tay, a line made in small batches every few months without any harsh ingredients, all of which are packaged in natural bamboo containers made of recyclable PET. Among the highlights are the Youthful Eye Treatment with apricot kernel oil, Lavender Body Crème with chamomile, and the long-lasting Essential Oils Bar Soap.

During a trip to Kyoto , Vicky Tsai—the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants —was inspired by the Japanese approach to skincare that less is more; she founded Tatcha with that idea in mind. With products like the Silken Pore Perfecting SPF and Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, the brand is built on green tea, algae, and rice—the three ingredients that make up Japanese geishas’ beauty rituals. Travelers can even curate their own Custom Travel Set (prices vary). Plus, with every purchase, the company helps fund girls’ education through Room to Read .

When Taiwanese American Cat Chen—who has openly shared her experience as an immigrant in an Instagram video —started looking for a fragrance that was “fresh and sophisticated,” but didn’t contain any harmful chemicals or allergens, she couldn’t find any that checked all the boxes. So she started her own line of natural perfumes called Skylar. Among the travel-sized rollerball scents are the driftwood-infused Salt Air and the popular ocean Isle Escape . Also in travel-friendly sizes: a body and hair mist duo and a range of mini fragrances, like Rainforest Mist or Lavendar Dunes .

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People Are Sharing The "Not-So-Popular" Vacation Spots That Deserve WAY More Attention, And I'm Already Planning My Summer Vacation

"It's like Paris, only with a small fraction of the crowds..."

BuzzFeed Staff

Don't get me wrong, there's a reason why places like Paris, Tokyo, and Los Angeles are popular tourist destinations. These places have so much to offer visitors. But it's a great big world out there, full of hidden gems and lesser-traveled locales. So, redditor u/Hot-Vegetable3827 asked, "Which not-so-popular country is a must-visit?" Here's what people said, including some members of the BuzzFeed Community.

1. "hydra, greece. my wife and i just took a long greek honeymoon. one island we really liked that isn't as well known as santorini and mykonos was hydra. in fact, it was probably our favorite island. there isn't much to do or see there, but it was very laid back and chill. it was basically a vacation from our vacation, which we needed after a couple of busy days of sightseeing in athens and before we went partying in mykonos. there aren't any cars on the island, only donkeys, and it's very walkable and small.".

— flyerboy6

2. "Laos. I totally fell in love with every last thing about this country. The people are fantastic, the food is killer, and the landscape is just gorgeous."

— u/Westonworld

3. "Cartagena, Colombia. My wife and I went last year, and we have already planned our next visit. You can get there pretty easily and quickly from the US. There's cheap and delicious street food, friendly people, and nice weather all year round."

— u/Wakan_Tanka

"I always recommend Cartagena and the Rosario Islands. The whole week I spent there was cheap and incredible, and the Rosario Islands are on par with any tropical vacation spot but with hardly any tourists and extremely cheap."

— JessicaPage

4. "Slovenia. My wife was born there, and we go back every other year to see her family and friends. It's such a beautiful country. The secret is starting to get out now, especially Instagrammable places like Lake Bled and Predjama Grad. Granted, it's still nowhere near as crowded as similar countries like Croatia."

— u/gratusin

5. "Tunisia, especially Tunis and Monastir. I absolutely love it there. It's very cheap to visit, and the people are incredibly friendly."

— kimberlywilley1979

6. "Curaçao. I had an amazing beach vacation there. It was much cheaper than the more well-known and visited Caribbean islands."

— u/humancanvas79

7. "Oman. This Middle Eastern country has rugged mountains, desert dunes, historic forts, and amazing ships."

— u/Echo71Niner

8. "Sri Lanka. Damn, it is beautiful, and this country has it all: beaches, forests, mountains, ancient temples, and wildlife safaris. I loved the food there, including lots of curry. The beach areas offer a lot more culinary variety, like lots of fresh seafood."

— u/blahblahrasputan

9. "Ghent, Belgium is an incredible city. It's vibrant, historic, and fun! I would highly recommend a visit."

— laughingcaptain56

10. "Malta. You'll find delicious food (it's sort of a mix of Arabic and Italian influences) and lots of historical places like ancient ruins. The capital, Valletta, is beautiful, and there are also two smaller islands called Gozo and Comino that you can visit. There's also extensive public transport, so it's easy to get around if you don't drive. I can't recommend it enough if you're the sort of person who's into exploring history, food, and culture."

— u/TheKnightsTippler

11. "Belfast is underrated, IMO. I wanted to revisit Dublin, but hotel prices are absolutely wild at the moment, so I went to Belfast instead. I found that it was a very interesting city with excellent food, pubs, music, culture, and proximity to the countryside for day trips. Everyone I met in the city was funny and friendly."

12. "Lyon. It’s a two-hour train ride from Paris but with a fraction of the population. It’s like the Florence of France with its walkability and world-class cuisine."

13. "Kazakhstan. Stunning nature and landscapes, a unique cuisine, and friendly people who are really generous to guests. It's also home to some fascinating archaeological sites."

— u/Meorazhar

14. "New Mexico. People who live in the US don't realize how unique and beautiful the landscape is. The drive from Española to Taos is probably one of my favorite in the world. The food really is second to none. Plus, there's a Balloon Fiesta. Enough said."

— rachadach23

15. "I absolutely love Guatemala. If you can speak even a little bit of Spanish, it's even better. Fly in, leave Guatemala City, and make Antigua your base. There's enough to see in Antigua and the surrounding areas that it can be a whole vacation alone, but there are also many places to visit on a day or overnight trip from Antigua."

— u/ShitfacedGrizzlyBear

16. "Bolivia. It has an amazing landscape, it's spotlessly clean, the people are friendly, and there's a lot of fun to be had if you want to party. I haven't been back in ten years, and I hope it's still as lovely. It holds a special place in my heart."

— u/canntrelaxneverrelax

17. "Jordan. Petra is easily the coolest thing I’ve ever seen with my own eyes. Pictures do not do it justice at all. You could fit elephants through the door of the Treasury. It’s wild."

18. "Mongolia. There's really only one big city, Ulan Bator, and one or two days there is enough. But that countryside! It's so beautiful. I went out to a camp where I was set up with a ger (a Mongolian yurt), and you just hang out in the beauty of nature."

— u/da_choppada

19. "Sapporo, Japan. My husband and I went to this city on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, and it was spectacular! When most people think about traveling to Japan, they think of Tokyo, but Sapporo is much less touristy, the mountains around the city are incredibly beautiful, and the food is to die for. A scenic hour-long bus ride takes you to the old city of Otaru, best known for its glass-blowing industry and beautiful canals. The subway system is amazing, and the people are friendly and helpful. I've been to a few places in my travels, but Sapporo stands out as the best so far. We already vowed to go back someday."

— Luckie11eleven

Do you have somewhere to add? What's an often overlooked destination that should be way more popular? Tell us in the comments or drop it into this Google form.

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More From Forbes

What fuels nascar legend jimmie johnson’s love of travel.

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Johnson at his Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Most of us will never know what it feels like to stand on a stage and give a speech after being enshrined in the hall of fame for our chosen industry. Driving legend Jimmie Johnson surely does. Already this year, Johnson has been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Arguably the most skilled person ever behind a steering wheel, Johnson has a record-tying seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, 83 race wins and an astounding 374 top-10 finishes.

Though he’s not on the track nearly as much these days as he used to be, the 48-year-old Johnson hasn’t said when he’s going to put his car in park forever. For now, the Southern California native seems content owning the Legacy Motor Club team, racing part time in the States while living in London with his family and traveling during any free time between.

During one of those recent pit stops in the schedule, Johnson sat with Forbes Travel Guide to talk racing, retirement and the one Asian country he hasn’t reached yet.

What’s been the proudest on-track accomplishment of your illustrious career?

It’s hard to pick one. I was at it for a while. There were these breakthrough moments in my career where particular victories unlocked the next opportunity. When I go back to my younger days, there are so many moments. But I would say one that’s very logical and one many will grasp and understand is winning my seventh championship and being able to tie Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

In addition to that amazing accomplishment, that [2016 Ford EcoBoost 400] was probably one of the more challenging races I had. I think I only led a lap and a half of the entire event. But I led the lap that mattered the most. The emotional roller coaster that I went on that day, along with my family and fan base, [was a lot]. I was convinced, with 15 laps to go, that it wasn’t my year. I wasn’t going to be the champion. And 15 laps later, I was standing there on the front straightaway, couldn’t even control myself. I was just floundering around and jumping all over the place like a fool.

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The two-time Daytona 500 winner.

You haven’t retired, but you’re not fully active on the NASCAR schedule. Give your definition of where you are in your career right now.

Yeah, it’s funny. When I stepped away from full-time driving in NASCAR, that was my announcement — that I would no longer race full time in NASCAR. The label “retirement” was thrown on me straight away. I spent a couple of years in IndyCar, living out a childhood dream of mine of doing sports car racing. I felt like I would come back to NASCAR, given the right opportunity.

Much like a musician, I can’t put my instrument down. I feel very fortunate that, in my sport, I can continue to do it late into my career where a lot of stick-and-ball guys in their late 20s and mid-30s, that opportunity goes away for them. So, having this great sport that I can still compete in at 48 [is wonderful]. Believe me, I plan to push it further — as long as I get the green light from family and sponsors.

I’m very interested in [racing in] the marquee events. I’m still very interested in racing and the experience I have in the car. My focus has changed a little bit here, becoming a team owner. It’s been a nice shift for me because it’s allowing me the head space to enjoy the limited schedule that I’m running but also fighting for a greater cause and making Legacy Motor Club stronger.

You mention the marquee events. Let’s talk about the travel to Daytona and Bristol and all these top events. What are some things you do to stay sharp for all the moving around that you do during the season?

I feel like being aware of the time zone I’m flying to and trying to get some rest accordingly has been wise for me. Of course, staying hydrated [is key]. I always load up on a bunch of vitamins. More so than normal. When I know I’m going to fly [I take vitamins] just to try to fight off any viruses that are floating around or exposure I might have to illness.

I’ve always found that when I arrive somewhere, if I can get in a little workout — I’m just trying to recenter myself; nothing crazy — or just go outside and get a nice walk or go for a jog [it’s beneficial]. My wife loves to walk, so we’ll often do a walk. If I’m solo, I’ll go out and just try to get a run in and take in the sights of wherever I am. That grounding moment gets my heart rate up and helps pull me into that time zone.

Johnson enjoys traveling around Europe with his family.

Have you been able to explore the U.K. much?

Yeah, it’s been adventurous and fun. We know we’re here for a short period of time, so we’re trying to maximize what we have in and around England. We’ve already been to Scotland and Ireland. We’ve been to Holland, Spain and France multiple times. We’re leaving tomorrow for Japan with our kids.

Through the long grind of racing nonstop, my wife and I have always loved travel and have tried to spend time in Europe. Really anywhere that we can go. There were a few summers when my family came to Europe and was based here while I stayed in the States and worked. When I would have an off weekend — there aren’t many in NASCAR — I would join my family and spend a couple of weeks and then go back to racing. We just have a love of travel, a love of culture and a love of culinary experiences.

We’re maximizing our time here in the U.K., doing anything and everything we can. Even if it’s a weekend that we stay in the U.K., we’re off in a car. We’re in the countryside. This last weekend, we were exploring and eating at great little countryside pubs and staying in a quaint little cottage. Something you would never do in the States, right?

Will you be exploring Japan for the first time?

Yeah, first time in. We’re avid skiers, and it’s been tough for me to not chase some snow because I understand the snow is just epic in Japan. But it’s much more of a cultural experience with taking the girls. We’re hitting four different cities, starting in Tokyo and Kyoto . I can’t remember the other two.

Maybe Osaka ?

Yeah, I think Osaka is one. But there’s another one. My wife is a gallerist and owns an art gallery. There’s this little town we’re going to that has a permanent art installation that’s on an island.

When you pack for Japan or any of your other trips, what are a few things that are always in your luggage?

Well, being in England, your wellies [or rain boots] and your slicker are mandatory because it’s going to rain. Happens all the time. And that’s new for me. I didn’t need to plan on rain so much in the States.

I would also say my earbuds. I’ve also found that listening to — and you might find this ironic — sound baths or Tibetan bowls is something that’s calming for me and helps me sleep. I found some that tuck in [my ears] that I can sleep with. I pop them into sleep on flights. Or, if I need to try to nap to get into a certain time zone, the Tibetan bowls just knock me out.

The Queen City is Johnson’s U.S. home.

Where will home base be when you move back to the U.S.?

I grew up in Southern California but moved to North Carolina in ’97 and have been there since. Charlotte is the town that we live in, and we still have our place there, and we’ll return whenever this adventure wraps.

What do you miss most about Charlotte?

Charlotte’s an amazing city. We’ve really been able to enjoy its growth. I’ve lived there for so long now that I’ve been able to watch it change, grow up and mature. It’s been nice to be a part of that. I’ve come to better understand that Charlotte’s not going anywhere. It’s always going to be there. But what I miss are the people. Been there for so long. I have so many great relationships, friends, coworkers and on and on. I truly miss the people.

You’re scratching Japan off the bucket list next. Where are a few other places you want to go but haven’t yet?

We had a trip planned to Thailand that, unfortunately, we had to cancel due to some civil unrest years ago. And then my wife was pregnant with our second daughter, Lydia. We found out just two or three weeks before our trip. She was so ill with morning sickness that we had to cancel the trip a second time.

There’s still so much of the world to see. But our 20th wedding anniversary is coming up this December. We need to make that trip. I’m not sure if it’ll work for that celebratory trip, but at some point, we want to go experience it.

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Sarah Jessica Parker loves this Irish radio show - and the feeling's mutual!

Sarah jessica parker has shared her love for this irish radio station, the latest in her embrace of irish culture..

Sarah Jessica Parker, the star of "Sex In The City," has been visiting Ireland for decades, and on Monday night, she took to social media to share how much she loves one particular classical music Irish radio show.

Parker and her family spend as much time as possible at their vacation home in Killybegs, Co Donegal, which her husband Matthew Broderick's parents bought decades ago. 

Through her many vacations in Ireland, Parker has developed a deep love of all things Irish, as noted by her latest Instagram post.

On Monday night, Parker posted a screengrab of RTÉ Lyric FM, an Irish classical music and arts radio station.

"I try to remember. Cause it’s always so lovely," the starlet captioned her post.

"X, SJ #rtéradio."

The post has been flooded with comments, with many coming from fellow RTÉ Lyric FM fans.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by SJP (@sarahjessicaparker)

Over on X, RTÉ Lyric FM said that the "feeling is mutual."

💜 @SJP , the feeling is mutual X 🎧📻📱🌎RTÉ Radio Player App 🇺🇸 New York ↔️ Donegal & Limerick 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/jqx51jD9Jn — RTÉ lyric fm (@RTElyricfm) April 23, 2024

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This certainly isn't the first time Parker has expressed her grá for Ireland and its culture.

Last summer, Parker and her family spent a good deal of time in Ireland . As they prepared to head home to New York, she posted a carousel of photos celebrating what she loves about her time in Donegal.

In her post, she wrote "Photos really. They never quite capture it...And there is always more. And you should have SEEN it."

Parker highlighted some of her favorite Irish foods, including a bag of SuperValu's Irish York cabbage, a delightful-looking cup of tea, and a package of Charleville mature red cheddar.

Also in her post was an idyllic-looking set-up of two books (one about Churchill, the other a satire), another cuppa, and what appears to be a pork chop on a sunny summer evening. It does look magical and Lyric FM would be the perfect calming soundtrack.

Parker's husband Matthew Broderick inherited their Donegal holiday home in Killybegs and Kilcar that his parents had purchased when he was a child.

A few years back, Broderick told the Irish Voice, a sister publication to IrishCentral, about his Irish homestead: “You know the landscape, the hiking but it's also the people there that I grew up knowing.

"Real farmers who worked the hay in the summer and milked cows. I really, really got to know my neighbors and that just doesn't happen in the same way here in the US.

"We just really felt welcomed there [in Donegal]. It's another culture, a wonderful place."

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