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Women Who Travel Podcast: Bear Encounters in Nevada and Chasing Poachers on the Masai Mara

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The future of travel, bright ideas in travel 2023.

Digital Nomads: Are They Crowding Destinations or Reviving Them?

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The Future of International Travel Is Passport-Free

Sailing the Aegean Sustainably—Just Like the Ancients Did

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AI Chatbots Want to Plan Your Future Trips—Should You Let Them?

Can Aviation Ever Be Sustainable?

California Is Getting ‘World-Class’ High-Speed Trains

These Major Airlines Just Flew Planes Powered Entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel—So, What's Next?

By Rachel Chang

Wedding Guest Essentials 

43 Spring Wedding Guest Dresses for Every Type of Ceremony

By Meaghan Kenny

The Most Comfortable Heels to Pack for a Wedding

The best garment bags for travel, tested and reviewed, tested and reviewed: the best travel steamer to take on the road.

By Erinne Magee

The Best Packing Cubes to Keep Your Suitcase Organized

By Kristi Kellogg and Meaghan Kenny

35 Beach Wedding Guest Dresses to Pack This Summer

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The Best Travel Writing of 2021: Our Favorite Stories of the Year

Tom Lowry , Skift

December 28th, 2021 at 1:30 AM EST

In a year when travel's recovery began, only to sputter, the pandemic was still a story for Skift that just kept giving. Our reporters and editors kept their heads down on crisis coverage, but shared some of the adrenaline too, on other worthy travel topics. Here's our team members' favorites, and how those stories came to be, in their own words.

The first year of the pandemic was an extraordinary achievement for Skift’s team of reporters and editors covering the unparalleled crisis in real time. Year two tested the mettle of the team in new ways, as glimmers of hope seesawed with the heartbreak of setbacks. But the journalism was no less exceptional in 2021.

As I am at this time every year, I am proud upon reflection of what Skift’s journalists accomplished. As is our tradition, I once again asked the difficult question of every reporter and editor who each produce a couple hundred stories a year: Which one was your favorite? They delivered, of course, explaining why the story was their favorite, and how it came to be.

We hope you find that our favorites are yours, too.

Edward Russell, Airlines Reporter

Behind-The-Scenes With American Demothballing Jets From Pandemic Storage

The Backstory: After writing so much about airlines pulling down their schedules, parking jets, and threatening to furlough staff, it was refreshing to actually see how airlines were recovering. In this case, how American Airlines put their jets back in the air to be ready for the then-forecast surge in summer travel. I flew to American’s largest maintenance base in Tulsa, Okla., to see exactly how the carrier did this. The team in Tulsa walked me step-by-step through the process of checking and re-checking every flap, seal, door, and crevice to make sure they were up to par for carrying passengers again.

What really struck me on my visit to Tulsa was how, for all the doom and gloom around the pandemic, the dedicated professionals at American never ceased working hard to make sure every aircraft was safe and ready to fly. Even for the seemingly thankless task of keeping black widow spiders from building webs in wheel wells.

Matthew Parsons , Corporate Travel Editor

Companies Face Challenge of Inclusivity on Travel for Remote Workers

The Backstory: The conversation around business travel shifted even further to remote work In 2021, as the phenomenon flipped from temporary measure to mainstream movement. It spring-boarded countless scenarios, mostly tinged with tourism because destinations saw plenty of marketing opportunities.

But among the images of work and play, I was struck by a conversation I had with the co-founder of a community interest organization who wants to level the playing field. Talking with Lorraine Charles of Na’amal , I was reminded the brave new world of remote work doesn’t revolve around middle and high-income countries, where people have ample opportunity to travel and work where they please.

Charles’ mission is to make remote work available for refugees, for people who don’t have the privilege of a U.S. or European passport, or the means to hop from one sun-kissed island to another with their laptop. She told me she wanted to help convert refugees into employees by training them on the softer skills needed, like Zoom meeting etiquette, then help them connect with potential employers.

In the same way travel broadens horizons for a tourist, does the same apply to an organization that recruits outside of its comfort zone? Later on in the year the topic was broached by immigration lawyer David Cantor , while the growing need for intercultural communications also emerged as a one-to-watch topic during 2021.

The plight of refugees around the world was brought home as we witnessed crises such as the large-scale evacuations from Kabul, and the tragedies of migrants in France attempting to cross the channel to the UK. Climate migration may also become a factor in the years ahead. 

A lot of progress has been made in diversity and inclusion over the past few years, and this is one area that I imagine, or hope, more organizations will address over the coming years.

Sean O’Neill , Senior Travel Tech Editor

What Accor’s Top Technology Executive Has to Say May Surprise You

The Backstory : This year, we launched Skift’s first Travel Tech Briefing , a guide for travel executives to decide if their company should “build, buy, or partner” to stay ahead in enterprise technology.

I was delighted that the first edition spotlighted Floor Bleeker, who gave his first interview since becoming Accor’s chief technology officer. The hotel giant had taken a contrarian tech strategy but hadn’t publicly discussed it before.

Until recently, Accor had planned to centralize its core technology systems. That’s a common trend among many large hotel groups. But around the time Bleeker came on board, the company decided to give up its plan to centralize its core technology systems. It will now be running multiple property management systems instead, allowing owners to tap upstart players, such as Treebo and Mews, after it certifies them.

While the move may seem like small potatoes to an outsider, the decision is significant for the hotel technology sector. It allows smaller players to compete to provide critical software to properties. Guests could be the ultimate beneficiary as competition may spur faster innovation in how hotels interact with guests.

Madhu Unnikrishnan , Editor, Airline Weekly

The United Airlines Engine Failure Is a Story Being Wildly Botched by Media: Commentary

The Backstory : On February 20, 2021, one of the two engines on a United Airlines Boeing 777 exploded in spectacular fashion, showering a Denver suburb with wreckage and terrifying passengers with sights of flames shooting out of the jet. The story dominated U.S. television news for several days, and pundits spouted dire predictions about Boeing’s future and the safety of commercial aviation.

Granted, it’s been an exceedingly difficult few years for Boeing, after two fatal crashes grounded its best-selling 737 Max for almost two years (forcing Boeing to admit that the aircraft’s flight-control software was flawed and responsible for the crashes); Federal Aviation Administration inspections of its 787 have halted delivery of a long-range aircraft airlines depend on; and its 777X has been delayed by several years. Boeing has gotten a lot of things wrong in recent years, but the United 777 failure was not one.

There’s an old adage that says a lie travels halfway around the world before the truth puts on its pants. Television news fell all over itself to air video that had already spread on social media. Important context was missing. Yes, the footage was horrific, but what was lost was why the incident happened. A fan blade broke loose from one of the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney engines, causing the engine to fail and exposing its combustion chamber. The fan blade did not pierce the fuselage.

What was lost in the consumer media’s coverage was this: The aircraft stayed intact, and its many safety systems prevented a catastrophic accident. The crew performed flawlessly and safely landed the airplane without any injuries. In fact, most of the flight’s passengers were rebooked and carried on with their travels that same day. In other words, the real story was that the everything and everyone worked as they should, which may be a lot less exciting than the breathless stories the news media reported, but important to note.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Global Tourism Reporter

Why Tourism Needs to Step Up and Push for Vaccine Equity

The Backstory: The horrific pandemic surge in India in April had just unfolded and in parallel, the travel industry in the U.S. and Europe, and their consumers, were focused on planning for the start of a “hot vaxxed summer.” The contrast was glaring and a clear sign to me that vaccine access would be critical for a full and fair tourism recovery. So while it was a difficult choice to make — this being my first full year of tourism coverage for Skift — I am most proud of this initial story on vaccine equity. It became the first in what has been a series of updates from us throughout the year after leading this conversation for the travel industry.

Why this topic continues to matter is because first, it’s an issue that remains critical for the industry and continues to impede and influence travel’s recovery everywhere, as we’re currently witnessing with the Omicron variant. Second, it’s critical to push travel leaders in the major source markets to recognize that solely advocating for the lifting of border restrictions is a short-sighted approach. There’s a clear business case for the industry — particularly the World Travel & Tourism Council and the United Nations World Tourism Organization and their members — to use its political muscle to push for more rapid vaccine distributions and donations globally so that the recovery is sustainable.

Third, this is a time in which we need bold leadership and vision. We saw companies such as Intrepid Travel and Expedia Group move forward with vaccine equity campaigns some months after this initial story was published. Many more need to follow.

We need this industry to have a reckoning on what global tourism should represent and stand for in the future, and that it’s about more than arrival numbers and gross domestic product. Vaccine equity is an opportunity to do just that.

Rashaad Jorden , Editorial Assistant

How One Tour Operator Is Using a 1977 Hit Tune to Lure Back Travelers

The Backstory: I was looking to write a story about a tremendously successful tour operator marketing campaign that I thought could become a regular feature, and I was referred to Steve Born, the chief marketing officer of the Globus family of brands. 

How exactly? Globus was saying that landmarks popular with their guests – including the Eiffel Tower and the Easter Island statues – had missed them by singing Player’s hit Baby Come Back. Born explained in the story how the campaign came about and why it had enjoyed success.

It was my favorite story from the year because as Born mentioned, travel is fun and supposed to bring a smile to travelers’ faces. Seeing the video of popular landmarks — or even thinking about it — has never failed to elicit a chuckle from me. Born talked about the hard work that went into creating the campaign, which was timed to coincide with the reopening of numerous destinations. 

But most importantly, travel for many is a cause for celebration, and despite numerous ongoing challenges, some tour operators have had things to celebrate this year. 

Cameron Sperance , Hospitality Reporter

Lessons for Travel’s Recovery From Anthony Bourdain’s New Book

The Backstory: Some travel stories span beyond one’s assigned beat. It was timely to see the late Anthony Bourdain’s travel guide come out just as unruly airline passengers and rude hotel and restaurant guests became the unfortunate legacy of the pandemic. You couldn’t go days without seeing a headline of a diverted aircraft because some idiot wouldn’t wear a mask and punched a flight attendant to make a point — a point the federal government and airlines responded to with jail time and a lifetime ban from flying.

Restaurants and hotels weren’t spared the abuse. Irate was the default mood for patrons who had to wait longer than expected for a meal or, heaven forbid, were told by hotel management to keep their volume down.

Bourdain’s book made me miss his weekly wisdom doled out on his TV series, and I felt a particular bond with the words since I live in Provincetown, Mass. — the seaside town at the end of Cape Cod where he got his start in the world of restaurants.

But the guide also painted some important travel lessons: Always remember you’re a guest in someone else’s hometown. Be patient in this era of longer waits: It’s not neglect; it’s a labor shortage crisis.

Oh, and stop being a jackass to hospitality workers.

Angela Tupper, Deputy Editor, EventMB

The Catch-22 of Zero-Covid Zones: Events Happen But Can Cancel on a Dime

The Backstory: A major part of our 2021 news cycle was dominated by Covid coverage, but this story was particularly compelling because it approached a well-known news story from an under-reported angle. While major publications were drawing attention to Australia and New Zealand’s success with enforcing a zero-Covid policy, there was very little coverage of what this approach meant for the event industry. Headlines announced that life Down Under was able to continue largely as normal, apart from periodic snap lockdowns whenever a handful of cases were confirmed. Were large-scale events able to move forward as well? 

Through multiple interviews with event professionals in Australia, a consistent story emerged: The nation’s successful suppression of Covid transmission made it much safer to hold events from a public health standpoint, but the measures needed to maintain zero-Covid status also meant that a lockdown could be triggered by just one case — with events therefore prone to last-minute cancelation. In other words, reducing the health risk indirectly amplified the financial risk. In turn, What began as an investigation into the viability of events turned into a conversation around the need for event cancelation insurance. With private insurers unwilling to cover the risk, lobbyists were calling for government-backed programs. 

In some ways, this story provided a glimpse into the “stop-and-go” future that the global event industry would soon be facing in a post-vaccine world periodically threatened by new variants of concern. Since then, the UK has announced a government-backed event insurance scheme, as has the Australian state of Victoria. The impact of these programs will be a story to watch in the coming year.

Dennis Schaal , Founding Editor

Vacasa Paid $619 Million for TurnKey Vacation Rentals in Mostly Stock

The Backstory: This story combined two things I love: A scoop of sorts and scouring Securities and Exchange Commission financial filings.

What’s the first thing that travel veterans ask you when they learn of an acquisition? Namely, what do you think the sale price was? On smaller deals, when a startup gets bought by a public company, the buyer doesn’t necessarily have to explicitly disclose the price, and when a private company acquires a startup, the usual thing is there is no public statement about the price.

Vacasa’s acquisition of a smaller property management company, TurnKey, wasn’t a small deal, it turns out, but it involved two private companies. I therefore didn’t expect Vacasa to disclose the acquisition price — and apparently neither did the rest of the press — but the twist was that Vacasa was slated to go public in a blank check merger and was filing its financials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Vacasa eventually went public, on December 7.

I love reading certain Securities and Exchange Commission documents and frequently tell my reporter colleagues that you can find all kinds of news bits and scoops if you take the time to read them, which I often do during the evenings or on weekends — for fun.

So there was the price tag and details about the deal in a Vacasa financial filing. Vacasa acquired TurnKey for nearly $619 million, mostly in stock. As TurnKey had only raised some $120 million in funding, it appears as though co-founders T.J. Clark and John Banczak did fairly well for their investors.

Miguel Neves , Editor-in-Chief, EventMB

Event Tech Investment Tracker

The Backstory: For my favorite article, I am going to say the  EventMB Event Tech Investment Tracker . This continually evolving post sums up a lot of my learnings in 2021. I knew that joining Skift to lead EventMB, I would bring the event professional’s point of view with me. With this post, I am not distilling what I have learned from all the amazing editors at Skift and their unique ways of looking at the travel industry. I’ve had help from many members of the Skift and EventMB to make this post a real at-a-glance review of the crazy world of mergers and acquisitions in event tech. Everyone I have shared it with has given positive feedback and I know it will be an important part of future iterations of the EventMB website, so the story will continue to evolve.

Colin Nagy, On Experience Columnist

Doha Quickly Comes of Age Ahead of World Cup 2022

The Backstory: This was an interesting story to report, as Doha is in the harried run-up to a major milestone, the World Cup in 2022. The event has been a forcing factor for a lot of the obvious things like hospitality and infrastructure but also has accelerated a lot of Qatari soft diplomacy: museums, interesting small businesses and centers to attract more of the global creative class. Covid has put a damper on a lot, but it is clear to see there’s been clear vision and a lot of progress. I liked this piece because it was an honest look at what is working well, and what needs to be improved in a region that has a lot of shallow, one-note coverage from Western outlets. There is a lot of depth and moving parts to the modern Qatar story: from regional and global politics, to business, investment, real estate to national country branding and the desire to live up to the promise of the World Cup. These are my favorite stories to try and make sense of when I can.  

Ruthy Muñoz , Freelancer

How Unruly Do Airline Passengers Have to Be Before the Government Decides to Prosecute?

The Backstory: I love writing feature stories that bring extraordinary people to the forefront, but surprisingly, when faced with choosing my favorite account this year, a Skift feature wasn’t it. Instead, my favorite story is accountability in the other pandemic- unruly passengers.

As a former flight attendant, I understood there’s only so much flight crews could do without the backup of airlines, the FAA, the Justice Department, and Congress.  Writing this and other stories on unruly passengers and holding everyone accountable to bring about needed change is what the power of the journalistic keyboard is for me.

Lisa Jade Hutchings , Branded Content Writer

How Event Professionals Can Cope With Imposter Syndrome

The Backstory:  I have had the opportunity to work on some great stories this year, such as the effect of the pandemic on local event industries around the world and an analysis of the sector’s commitment to net-zero. However, my favorite post explored the topic of how event professionals can better cope with imposter syndrome. 

While massive technological advancements and innovation have taken place within the sector, I wanted to delve deeper into the human experience of an event professional through real-life insights into the current situation. As professionals working in a high-stress industry (events), the cancellations and job losses due to the pandemic have impacted the mental health of those working within the space. Because of this, many planners have experienced crippling self-doubt in adapting to new tech, event formats, external stressors — all while learning new skills.

In writing the post, a background of the syndrome was given, alongside actionable tips to coping so people could gain tangible value by reading the piece. To better understand imposter syndrome, its effects, and how people can manage, insights were gained by speaking at length with a counseling psychologist, researching the topic online, connecting with others in the industry, and drawing on past personal experiences. 

The highlight of the post for me was seeing the effect it had on others in the industry — people were able to relate and felt that a voice had been given to an experience so many people live with daily.

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Tags: airlines , coronavirus , events , tour operators , tourism , travel recovery , vacation rentals , vaccine equity

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Indulge in Desert Luxury at Camelback Inn Resort & Spa

When I go to the desert I want to be in the desert. I want plants to have spikes on them. I want everything to be a shade of brown. I want to see dusty little critters I’d never see back home, Back East, in the old green America, with all its history and life. I want to feel like I’m in a movie old men would watch. I want to hang out at a place like the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa , as it’s officially known, sprawls out over 100 acres at the feet of both Camelback and Mummy Mountains, and unlike a lot of what you’ll find in Arizona, it’s got a history. When it opened in 1936 it was one of the first resorts in the area to style itself after the region’s indigenous culture, with individual casitas built out of adobe bricks. It quickly became popular with Hollywood celebrities and the moneyed elite, and today photos of stars and other famous guests adorn the hallways of the resort’s main building. Want to see Jimmy Stewart lined up for a good ol’ chuck wagon BBQ? Walk these halls. Marriott purchased the property in 1968, and has preserved its Southwestern charm; with its pueblo-inspired structures, Camelback Inn feels like a natural extension of its environment, and unlike so many other hotels and resorts that try to impress with size and glitz. 

Camelback isn’t one of those hotels that tries to feel like a nightclub. If you told me it looked just the same today as it did in 1936, I would believe you; it is exactly the type of resort I picture when I think of the Southwest, a glamorous retreat from the real world but with a rugged exterior befitting the region’s rich cultural heritage. With its stunning views of mountains and the desert landscape, and the sense of solitude provided by all that space, it feels like a remote outpost on the edge of human civilization, and yet it’s just a few minutes away from stores, restaurants, and everything Scottsdale has to offer. 

The first thing you’ll notice when you drive up to Camelback Inn is that it doesn’t have the kind of tower you might expect from a hotel. There’s no high-rise building blocking the view of the mountains; instead it’s a complex of low-slung, one-to-two story casitas with a handful of guest rooms each, clustered around the lobby and a central lawn, and surrounded by both the mountains and a golf course. The spacious rooms have ample space and their own private balconies or verandas; our ground floor room opened out onto the lawn, where a wedding took place during our stay. It doesn’t really feel like any other hotel I’ve ever stayed at—it has the air of a Western film set of an old Mexican village. Because you don’t necessarily have other people staying in rooms on either side and above and below you, it feels more private than most hotels, even when a few hundred people are sitting 30 feet outside for a wedding.

The Old West ambiance starts when you check in. Southwestern art can be found throughout the lobby, from figurines adorned in indigenous dress, to paintings of wagons and horses beneath a blue desert sky. Modern amenities, including a Starbuck’s and a gift shop, can be found at one end of the main lobby building, whereas the resort’s two main restaurants sit at the opposite end. Lincoln Steakhouse & Bar is the tonier of the two, with a smart casual dress code and a classic steakhouse menu with mouth-watering cuts, rich sides, and a deep and impressive wine list. It’s also hard to beat the view from the patio seating. Rita’s Cantina & Bar is the move, though; with a menu full of Mexican favorites and fantastic margaritas, it offers top-notch takes on what you expect to eat in Arizona. (Definitely finish with the churros.) You can also grab breakfast or lunch at Tavern 37 if you’re hitting the links, or eat healthy fare at Sprouts at the Spa if you’re booked yourself a spa day. (Which, obviously, is always a good idea.)

If you think it might be a little lazy for some Southern yokel to keep comparing a pueblo-style Arizona resort to Westerns and other old movies, well, lay off, already. Camelback Inn absolutely invites the comparisons, especially with its Mummy Mountain Western Town. Yep, not far from the resort, at the base of the awesomely named Mummy Mountain, you’ll find a reconstruction of a stereotypical 1800s Western town. It explicitly looks like it’s plucked straight from a Hollywood backlot, making it a fantastic place to take photos and also immerse yourself in the fiction that the rest of Camelback Inn already evokes. From the pictures of old Hollywood stars in the lobby, to the facade of an Old West town on its outskirts, Camelback Inn purposefully highlights the make-believe that has long defined the west in the public imagination. It doesn’t blur the lines between the real and the artificial so much as reinforce them with deep, dark pen strokes.

Camelback Inn brought me to the real desert I longed to see, while also playfully recreating the cinematic desert that has informed most of what I know about the Southwest. The plants had spikes, everything beneath the sky was khaki, and there was an honest-to-God movie-style Old West town to hang out in. It presents its beauty and luxury with a little wink, and the total package is almost impossibly charming.

Senior editor Garrett Martin writes about videogames, comedy, travel, theme parks, wrestling, and anything else that gets in his way. He’s also on Twitter @grmartin .

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The 9 Best Packing Cubes for Travel

Whether you fold your clothes or roll them, using packing cubes will make it easier to organize your travel belongings. here are the best, tested and reviewed by frequent travelers..

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If you’re like me, packing a roller bag for a trip often consists of making sure you’ve packed your passport, charging cables, socks , and underwear. Everything else is dumped into the bag (or rolled up if there’s time). But there’s a better way to pack a suitcase : with packing cubes. There’s a reason why travelers worldwide swear by this travel accessory .

Packing cubes are small bags that function like mini-luggage inside your luggage so that you can separate your shirts from your socks and your socks from pants. Packing cube systems vary in quality, price, and style. At their most basic, they feature a nylon or polyester body with a mesh zippered top so you can see inside. At the higher end, the systems are made with more durable materials and quality zippers and feature more compartments.

Once you try packing cubes, you’ll be hard-pressed to go back. Of the dozens of packing cubes that AFAR editors have tested over the years, here are reviews of the nine best systems that are worth spending your money on:

The Eagle Creek Pack-It Packing Cubes come in a variety of colors and styles.

Courtesy of Eagle Creek

Pack-It Packing Cubes by Eagle Creek

Best overall packing cube system

• Buy now: $55 for three, eaglecreek.com
• Pros: Covered by Eagle Creek’s Lifetime Warranty, made with recycled materials, easy to mix and match for a variety of types of travel
• Cons: None, really, but it might be hard to choose from all the different options offered

Completely redesigned in January 2021, Eagle Creek’s popular Pack-It packing cube system comes in a myriad of colors and is frequently cited by travelers as their go-to choice for packing cubes. The starter set comes complete with a large garment folder and guide, a medium-size cube, and a small cube, making it a rather good deal. The folder helps to get shirts and pants to fit right into the cubes.

The Pack-It series comes in three different styles: Pack-It Reveal cubes are made with recycled poly material and feature see-through mesh so you can easily see your belongings. Pack-It Isolate cubes are made with an ultra-lightweight ripstop material with anti-microbial odor control properties, making them ideal for dirty laundry or shoes. Pack-It Gear cubes are the most durable and water-resistant option in the Eagle Creek line for those who are going camping or bringing lots of tech along that needs some more protection.

Added bonus: Eagle Creek products are PVC free, are covered by a lifetime warranty , and are designed to have minimal negative environmental impact.

These semi-transparent packing cubes are made with durable compression zippers to maximize your packing space.

Courtesy of Thule

Compression Packing Cubes by Thule

Best compression packing cubes

• Buy now: $20–$25 for one, thule.com ; $45 for set of two, rei.com
• Pros: Durable, water repellent, and made with materials that meet the highest safety standards for people and the environment
• Cons: Expensive

Starting at $20 for one small cube, these Thule compression cubes are one of the priciest options on this list. But after using them for a few years, Lyndsey Matthews, AFAR’s senior commerce editor, can vouch that they are very durable.

Made with bluesign-approved ripstop nylon, these packing cubes are semitransparent, water repellent, and manufactured with minimal impact on the environment. Like other compression cubes, they feature a double set of zippers—one that closes the cube and another that zips it even tighter to eliminate extra air and reduce bulk.

“I’ve had the zippers on other compression cubes snag on the fabric or bust open on me when overpacked,” Matthews said. “But the YKK zippers on the Thule cubes are ultra durable and slide closed so easily—even when I packed three bulky sweaters in the medium-size one.”

You can buy them individually or in a set of two with one medium and one small cube. A standard-size carry on can fit either one medium and two small cubes, or four small cubes on each side.

The Mystery Ranch Zoid Cubes are sold individually and also in sets of three.

Courtesy of Mystery Ranch

Zoid Cubes by Mystery Ranch

Best extra-durable packing cubes

• Buy now: from $24 for one; $69 for three, mysteryranch.com
• Pros: Durable, water repellent, and made with lots of handles for easy portability
• Cons: The 14.5-liter large Zoid cube is almost too large to be useful in a standard carry-on suitcase.

Sold individually and in sets of small, medium, and large sizes, Mystery Ranch’s Zoid packing cubes are made with durable YKK zippers and 210D Hitra Robic nylon that is more tear- and abrasion-resistant than regular nylon. In addition to being virtually indestructible, this lightweight yet thick nylon is sturdy enough to stand up on its own, making it easier to pack clothes in it without fighting floppy sides. (That said, the material is soft enough you can squish the cube into the nooks and crannies of a duffel once you’ve filled it with clothes.) These cubes also come with handles on both sides and the top lid for easy portability.

Though we haven’t tested these cubes in heavy-duty camping situations, rest assured they can withstand anything you throw at them. One reviewer on backcountry.com wrote, “I woke up in the middle of the night to some scratching inside my tent vestibule, then heard something slowly being drug away from my tent. I then heard what can only be described as a cacophony of squealing as two raccoons fought over my food-filled Zoid cube. After the victor began to investigate his spoils I slowly emerged from my tent and found a raccoon mauling the lid to my Zoid. In the end, the raccoon got none of my food and minimal damage was done to my cube.”

Just don’t store food in your tent, OK?

Every set of Cubos Travel Cubes – Del Dia from Cotopaxi is unique.

Courtesy of Cotopaxi

Cubos Travel Cubes – Del Dia by Cotopaxi

Best sustainable packing cubes

• Buy now: $50 for three, cotopaxi.com
• Pros : Variety of sizes, made with repurposed materials, bright and colorful, handles, and see-through mesh siding
• Cons : They lack compression technology and only have one zipper. (Two zippers are useful when closing an overstuffed cube, but it’s not a deal breaker.)

We’ve long been fans of Cotopaxi’s Del Dia collection, which makes use of repurposed materials and ethical labor practices, and its Cubos Travel Cubes are a welcome addition to the line. The Del Dia set comes with three packing cubes—large (10 liters), medium (3 liters), and small (2 liters). Each includes a side handle to easily lift the cube out of your bag and mesh siding for peering inside.

While no two sets are exactly alike in design—they are, after all, made from leftover fabric—they’re always bright and colorful, making them one of the most playful options on this list. “Surprisingly, though, the cubes’ sizes are what I loved the most about them,” said Jessie Beck, AFAR’s associate director of video and SEO. “The medium is 6 x 11.5 inches, which is a tad longer than the 9 x 6 inch cubes I had been traveling with, making it a far better shape for rolled-up pants. The 7 x 8–inch small is also the perfect size for a week’s worth of underwear or four or five small T-shirts and tank tops.”

Away’s packing cube system is designed specifically to fit the dimensions of its carry-on luggage.

Courtesy of Away

The Insider Packing Cubes by Away

Best stylish packing cubes

• Buy now: from $45 for four, awaytravel.com
• Pros: Fun colors, see-through top, designed to fit popular Away luggage
• Cons: Not compressible

Sometimes the best travel accessories are the ones designed for the luggage you already own. Case in point: Away’s Insider Packing Cubes are sized to fit specifically in its Bigger Carry-On luggage . Sold as a set of four, these lightweight cubes are made with water-resistant nylon to protect your belongings and have a mesh panel on top so you can see what you’re looking for in your bag. Each set includes a small wide cube, as well as a medium wide, medium slim, and large wide cube to keep your socks organized and separated from bulkier items like sweaters. As with its suitcases, Away sells its packing cubes in a variety of colors.

Own Away’s checked luggage? The brand also sells packing cubes in sets of six to fit in its large and medium-size suitcases.

The BluffCube comes in two different sizes and appears here in the “Sport” fabric.

Courtesy of Bluffworks

“BluffCube Pro” Compression Packing Cubes by Bluffworks

Best packing cubes for business travelers

• Buy now: $11–$16 (was $22–$32 for one), bluffworks.com
• Pros: Machine-washable, lightweight, adjustable size
• Cons: Expensive when they’re not on sale

Founded in 2012, Bluffworks has gathered a cult following for its travel-friendly pants , blazers, and dresses made from wrinkle resistant, moisture wicking, and machine washable materials. Now the travel clothing company also makes “BluffCube” compression packing cubes.

In addition to a side-access zipper, these packing cubes can be packed from the elastic top access opening and compressed with a strap that has an adjustable buckle. The “Pro” fabric is a slightly structured brushed ripstop nylon designed with business travelers in mind. (There’s also a “Sport” option made with an ultra-light ripstop nylon.) Each type comes in two sizes—large (10.5 liters) and small (3.9 liters). The small is ideal for shorter trips, with room to fit one T-shirt, two pairs of shorts, three pairs of underwear, and two pairs of socks. The large can fit up to six shirts, two pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, three sets of underwear, and two pairs of socks.

The Matador Packing Cube Set comes in three colors, including Black, Slate Blue, and Arctic White, seen here.

Courtesy of Matador

Packing Cube Set by Matador

Best packing cubes for clamshell-opening backpacks or duffle bags

• Buy now: $30 for three, matadorequipment.com
• Pros: Waterproof coating, dual handles, and simple, modern design
• Cons: No option to buy individual cubes

Like just about every item in Matador’s line of travel-friendly gear, the brand’s new Packing Cube Set has a sleek, modern, and minimalist aesthetic. Sturdily crafted from recycled nylon with a waterproof coating, these cubes are ready to stand up to the rigor of travel.

Available in a set of three cubes of different sizes—small (2.5 liters), medium (5 liters), and large (7.5 liters)—they’re designed to fit perfectly within the body of the Matador GlobeRider45 Travel Backpack or any other clamshell-opening backpacks of similar size.

The best parts of these cubes are in the details. The inclusion of handles on two sides of the cubes help travelers tug their packing cube out of a tightly packed backpack or duffle. Plus, each cube has two zippers, which can help close a particularly overstuffed cube.

The PackStack system is designed specifically for use in top-loading backpacks.

Courtesy of Hillsound

PackStacks by Hillsound

Best packing cubes for top-loading backpacks

• Buy now: $22–$25 for one, hillsound.com ; amazon.com
• Pros: Designed for top-loading backpacks, handles, weatherproof
• Cons: “Tall” packing cube is too large

While most packing cubes come in a square shape designed for suitcases, the PackStack by the Canadian gear company Hillsound stands apart for its semicircle shape that fits perfectly in a traditional outdoors backpack. A top handle makes the cube easy to pull out from top-loading packs, while the weatherproof fabric keeps what’s inside safe from any weather you might encounter. Although we’ve yet to test them more long-term, these cubes have remained sturdy and intact after several trips—from camping in California to backpacking in Borneo—making them an ideal option for packing up your rucksack. The PackStack system comes in four different sizes, with short and tall versions designed specifically for 60L and 40L backpacks. The 40L short PackStack has room for 5.6 liters worth of stuff, while the 40L tall is 9.8 liters. The 60L short is 6.4 liters and 60L tall is 11.1 liters.

“I tested the 40L tall, but I would have really preferred two 40L shorts—the tall is quite spacious and I was actually able to pack all my clothes for Asia (which, admittedly, is abnormally minimalist) and had extra space leftover,” said Beck.

The five-piece Shacke Pak system includes a small laundry bag.

Courtesy of Amazon

Packing Cubes by Shacke Pak

Best value packing cubes

• Buy now: $22 for four (plus laundry bag), amazon.com
• Pros: Affordable, bonus laundry bag, over 18,000 five-star reviews on Amazon
• Cons: Hand-wash only, not made from sustainable materials

The Shacke Pak set comes with four packing cubes that feature zippers made by the recognizable YKK brand, and the materials are nylon with a mesh cover. (A laundry bag is also included.) The product itself is simple, but it definitely gets the job done, according to travel blogger Sophie Anderson, who said that Shacke is her preferred brand of packing cube. “Having a designated cube for my shirts, pants, undergarments, and miscellaneous items seriously simplifies the packing process. I mean, who wants to have to take out everything when looking for one shirt or one pair of socks?” said Anderson.

How to use packing cubes

There are no set rules on how to use packing cube, but here are some tips on using them to organize and pack your luggage:

• Find packing cubes that fit in your luggage. Optimize the space your cubes take up by buying ones that fit the dimensions of your suitcase or backpack. For example, Tortuga Backpacks sells packing cubes designed to fit perfectly within the main compartment of its backpacks.
• Use cubes to sort your clothes or group similar items together. Underwear in one cube, hiking clothes in another.
• Roll your clothes before you place them in the cube. This will make it easier to see everything that’s in a single packing cube without rummaging through it.
• Layer flat items, like jeans, on top. Some items are hard to roll. That’s OK. Fold them and place them on top of your smaller, rolled T-shirts and dresses, before you zip your packing cube shut.

Can I just use Ziploc bags instead?

For the very budget-minded, there’s always Ziploc bags, including the larger Ziploc storage bags , and the brand’s travel “Space Bags,” which are a compression version space saver. These budget substitutes may be perfectly acceptable to some, but given the very short life span of a Ziploc bag compared with proper packing cube systems, this is not only the least durable option but also by far the least eco-friendly option of the bunch.

Are packing cubes worth it?

Packing cubes are absolutely worth using to keep your luggage organized, separate dirty and clean clothes, or corral small items—like electronics and cords—in one place. Generally speaking, packing cubes won’t save you space (unless you previously packed with the “shove all my clean laundry in a suitcase” method). However, a compression cube, which is like an expandable suitcase in cube form, can squish bulky items like sweaters and jackets into more manageable parcels. For frequent travelers, it’s certainly worth investing a bit more if you want your packing cubes to last.

Lyndsey Matthews and Jessie Beck contributed additional reporting to this story.

This article originally appeared online in 2018; it was updated on April 12, 2024, to include current information.

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This Is the No. 1 U.S. City People Want to Move to in 2024 — and It Has the Largest Retirement Community in the World

Hint: it's in the Sunshine State.

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Americans are on the move. Over eight million people relocated to a different state in 2022, according to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau . And a new report by relocation company MoveBuddha sheds more light on where Americans are headed in 2024. Based on customer search data, the company identified the most desirable destinations with the highest migration rates, and a city in the Sunshine State topped the list.

The Villages in Central Florida, known as the largest retirement community in the world, had the highest in-to-out ratio, 4.38, meaning that for every one hundred people who leave the city, another 438 move in.

“The Villages is a racehorse that’s outpacing every other city in the country for growth. Fueled by a ‘silver tsunami,’ this Baby Boomtown has been on the rise for a decade and shows no signs of slowing down in 2024. With baby boomers reaching retirement age through 2031, the Florida destination is poised for even more growth in years to come,” the report stated, noting that the community offers a mix of good weather and activities.

MoveBuddha’s analysis also shows that while housing costs are a consideration, Americans are willing to relocate to a destination where real estate prices are not necessarily the lowest. In The Villages, for example, the median home value is $407,528, which is more than the nation’s average of $347,716.

Another destination popular with senior adults that made it to the top three is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where over a fifth of the population is aged 65 and over. The oceanfront community ranked third with an in-to-out ratio of 3.22.

However, MoveBuddha noted that cities with bustling art scenes located in natural settings draw the most interest overall. Asheville, North Carolina, for example, which takes the No. 2 spot with an in-to-out ratio of 3.29, is one of them. Similarly, Billings, Montana; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Boulder, Colorado; and Burlington, Vermont; are in the top 10 most desirable places to move to in 2024.

But if you are looking for affordability, the report also points out that five of the 25 winning cities have median home values of under $200,000, and those are Dayton, Ohio; Hartford, Connecticut; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Des Moines, Iowa; and Champaign, Illinois.

Another significant outtake from the report is that Americans are no longer leaving urban areas — a trend that started during the COVID-19 pandemic. People favor mid-size cities of about 200,000 residents, with Boston being the most populous of all on the list.

You can read the full report at movebuddha.com .

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In Kyoto, Five Hotels to Add to Your Travel Wish List

The city’s newest crop of hotels — from a luxury retreat on a historic estate to a 10-room inn surrounded by forested mountains — were worth the wait.

By John Wogan

The pandemic lockdown in Japan coincided with a flurry of new hotels, especially in Kyoto, where the Park Hyatt, Aman and Four Seasons were joined by a group of independent properties and the first Ace hotel in the archipelago. When the country finally reopened to foreign visitors in October 2022, tourists came flooding back to the city of 800-year-old temples and bamboo forests spoiled for choice of accommodations, at a range of prices. The number continues to grow: Next month, the wellness-focused Six Senses brand will open its first Japanese outpost in the city’s Higashiyama district, home to many of the main tourist sites. Here, a look at five of Kyoto’s newer hotels that are redefining the city’s hospitality scene.

Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto

Andre Fu, the interior designer behind hotels like the Upper House in Hong Kong and Villa La Coste in Aix-en-Provence, France, has infused his signature aesthetic (extravagantly refined, with warm woods and luxurious textures) within the confines of a particularly historic area of Kyoto. The 161-room Mitsui, opened in late 2020, sits across from Nijo Castle, an enormous 17th-century compound and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s in stark contrast to the hotel, whose only timeworn element is an imposing entrance gate — a traditional wood structure over 300 years old and a remnant of the days when the Mitsui family lived on the grounds. Once past the gate, you’ll find a glass-and-steel building, designed by the Japanese architect Akira Kuryu, and landscaping that’s meant to echo the original garden pathways of the Mitsui residence, planted with cherry trees and steppingstones that meander above a glassy pond. The four food and drink venues include the French-Japanese Toki, overseen by the chef Tetsuya Asano (previously of the Ritz Paris), and the Garden Bar, strategically positioned to capture seasonal views, like the spring cherry blossoms and blazing autumnal foliage, out of massive double windows. Rooms from about $1,360 a night.

Ace Hotel Kyoto

The youthful Ace hotel brand might seem like an odd fit in staid Kyoto. But this 213-room property, which opened in 2020, fits seamlessly into the city center thanks to a collaboration between the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and the California-based design firm Commune. Kuma, who designed the Japan National Stadium (the centerpiece of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics), renovated the imposing 1920s-era, red brick Kyoto Central Telephone Office, while adding an industrial-looking building — sheathed in copper sulfide plating, cedar, glass and concrete — next door. Commune infused the guest rooms with Ace’s signature mix of bright colors and patterns: original dyed prints from the Japanese folk artist Samuro Yunoki sit alongside Tivoli radios, turntables and vintage records. The most popular part of the hotel, though, might be the street-level branch of Stumptown Coffee Roasters — the first in Japan. From about $300 a night.

Arashiyama House Mama

Like Kyoto’s dozens of temple gardens, this 10-room property offers an immediate sense of calm. Its entrance is so discreet, you could easily miss it. (Look for the flowing white cloth curtain with simple black signage, behind which is a garden path leading to a minimalist building made of wood, concrete and glass.) The hotel’s location informs the interior design: Thirty minutes west of central Kyoto, the Arashiyama district is defined by nature, with the Katsura River at its center, and filled with bamboo groves and surrounded by forested mountains. Guest rooms are simply furnished with beds, chairs and tables handmade by both Kyoto artisans and the Danish furniture maker Carl Hansen & Son, and each one has a soaking tub. Rooms from about $540 a night.

The Shinmonzen

The Gion district epitomizes Kyoto for many visitors, with its maze of narrow alleys and ryokans, traditional Japanese inns. It’s here, on a quiet side street among artists’ studios, antique shops and galleries, that the Shinmonzen opened in December 2021. Although it’s a new build, the aim was for the hotel to blend in with the surrounding structures. To accomplish this, the famed Japanese architect Tadao Ando created a wooden facade that replicates a machiya , one of the venerable townhouses found throughout Kyoto. There are only nine guest rooms, but they’re unusually spacious, and all have balconies with views of the Shirakawa River. Each one is an ode to Japanese interior elements, furnished with tatami mats, shoji (panels lined with rice paper) and cypress soaking tubs. And for dining, the chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, whose restaurant empire spans the world, devised a menu blending French, American and Asian influences, sourcing much of the produce from local farms. Rooms from about $1,500 a night.

Maana Kiyomizu

A three-suite hotel near the 16th-century Toyokuni Shrine, Maana Kiyomizu is the latest offering from Maana Homes, the small local hospitality group, which operates two other properties in the city. This one, opened in the winter of 2022, is located in Higashiyama, and is a complex of four machiya that also houses POJ Studio — a boutique that sells artisanal Japanese crafts and home goods. There’s also Kissa Kishin, the second branch of a popular Gion cafe, which serves coffee, matcha and pastries and acts as the unofficial social center for the property. The Japanese architects Uoya Shigenori and Takeshi Ikei renovated the suites to create a minimalist wabi-sabi ideal of city living, where handmade pottery from Shigaraki (a town famous for its ceramics) are the only decorative flourishes to be found. Rooms from about $560 a night.

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