how was your trip so far

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How is your trip so far?

• Thread starter Kenny Chang
• Start date Jul 16, 2023

Kenny Chang

Senior member.

• Jul 16, 2023

Hello, everyone. My friend is on vacation. If I want to know whether he is having fun, but the vocation is not over yet, which one of the following sentences should I ask him? 1. How is your trip so far? 2. How has your trip been so far? Thank you.  

For me, 2 works much better with “so far”. But you could ask “How is your trip going?” (where the progressve aspect, rather than the perfect aspect, makes “so far” superfluous).  

1. would presumably be acceptable in American English but 2. makes more sense.  

1 makes sense, but 2 also makes sense and is, I think, what American English speakers would be more likely to say.  

sound shift

"How is your trip so far?" is not something I could say.  

Use 2, not 1. "So far" is the same as "up until now". They both mean "before now". This matches "has been", but does not match "is".  

• Jul 17, 2023

Husband and wife duo with a passion for travel and documenting the journey along the way!

13 Clever Ways to Ask: How Was Your Trip?

Traveling is one of our favorite things to talk about.  In fact, we always find ourselves asking others about recent trips and often get the best tips from those who experienced a location or destination first hand.  In this post, we’ll share with you our 13 clever ways to expand on the popular question “How was your trip”, to learn more about someone’s recent travel adventure.

How was your trip?

“How was your trip” – The go-to question to kick off a travel conversation.  We are very intrigued to learn about new locations as well as listening to someone else’s opinion of a location we’ve already been.  Here’s the quick list of our 13 go to questions we ask to dive deeper into the How was your trip, conversation.

• How is the culture? 
• Are the locals friendly?
• How is the food?
• Is it packed with tourists?
• Is it expensive?
• What currency is used? Is credit and debit cards accepted?
• Did you get good weather?
• Is the location heavily dependent on seasons?
• How did you get there?  How was the flight, what route did you take?
• Did you use public transportation?
• Did you learn anything new?
• Would you recommend it?
• Would you go again?

How Was Your Trip - Cultural Questions

How is the culture.

This question is more specific for international travel, however, there are plenty of cultures within the United States depending on which region you visit.  We love to ask about the culture to get an idea of what to expect.  However this is completely subjective so if someone has a bad experience at a particular location, it does not mean you will!

Asking if the locals are friendly ties closely to the question about the culture.  However if you can get a gauge on whether the locals are friendly that will provide insight if a location is welcoming to tourists!  

We found throughout our travels that Denmark (Copenhagen in particular) are some of the friendliest locals we’ve ever met.  But this is just from our experience!

Are you a foodie?  If so then this is likely your go to follow up question after “How was your trip?”!  Many locations have at least one or two food meals or snacks that originated there and are must tries!  One of our favorite local meals is a Belgium Waffle, which we had when we visited Brussels, Belgium .

Below is a picture of a local meal from a recent trip visiting Finland.

Many popular locations can be jammed pack with tourists.  For example, when we were in Switzerland, we visited a lot of the mountain tops in the Swiss Alps.  For one of the mountains we visited, the Top of Europe (Jungfraujoch), there was a massive group of tourists that took over the entire place!  Most of the time we like to avoid group tours so we often find ourselves asking this question and we will visit a place during off-peak hours to avoid the crowds.  

How Was Your Trip - Money Questions

This is a general question but you will quickly get a gauge on how expensive a particular location is.  Sometimes food is really expensive, but hospitality is relatively cheap and vice versa.  Sometimes, everything is expensive, like Switzerland (HOLY SMOKES!). 

 We found that the Switzerland is the most expensive country we have visited so far, but Western Europe and Scandinavia are pretty expensive comparable to the coastal cities in the United States. 

Southeast Asia is by far the cheapest location we’ve ever visited. 

Another question that applies for more international travel.  What currency do they use and whether or not they accept credit or debit cards.  The latter part of this question is a game changer for us.  We always try to pay with credit cards whenever possible to get the best exchange rates while traveling, avoid foreign exchange fees, and to accumulate points and miles for future travels.   

How Was Your Trip - Weather Questions

The weather is one of the most critical things that can make or break a trip.  Diving deeper into the conversation with did you get good weather can lead to learning more if the success of a trip is dependent on the weather.  For example if someone is traveling to a beach location and it rained the entire time, their trip may not be as enjoyable as if it was sun shine and rainbows.   

Understanding if a particular location is dependent on seasons is good insight for future travel.  For example, we live in a coastal city in New Jersey close to Atlantic City.  Other than Atlantic City, the Jersey Shore pretty much shuts down after Labor Day until Memorial Day every year so you want to keep that in mind if you want to get your typical Jersey Shore vacation.  

Below are a few of our favorite post on things to do near the Jersey Shore:

Best Things to Do in Atlantic City in the Summer

It’s no secret that one of the best things about...

20 of the Best Happy Hour Spots in Atlantic City

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Things to Do in Atlantic City in the Winter

As most of you already know Atlantic City, New Jersey...

The Best Breakfast Restaurants in Ventnor City, NJ

If you’re looking for the best breakfast restaurants in Ventnor...

How Was Your Trip - Transportation Questions

How did you get there - how was your flight.

I am always interested in the mode of transportation one took to get to a particular destination.  If someone decides to drive, fly, take a cruise, or train, it’s always interesting learning why they chose the transportation method.  

For someone flying, you can often ask what route they took and if there’s a non-stop direct flight option.  I am a bit of a flight geek so this sparks my interest.  

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Once one gets to a location they often have to get from point A to point B.  Depending on the location will dictate whether or not you chose public transportation or use a rental car.  

We often find ourselves searching the best way to get to and from an airport before we takeoff so we’re not scrambling once we land.  If we’re visiting a city then we will likely use public transportation, trains, buses, or uber.  In a more rural location we often opt to rent a car that way we can travel at our pace.  

How Was Your Trip - Recommendation Questions

Taylor and I always try to learn something new about a particular trip, whether that’s something historical, something about the culture, food, or really anything.  

When talking about one’s trip, ask if they learned anything new, I bet you they did!

Do you recommend it?

We love asking if people recommend a particular destination.   I can honestly say I’d recommend just about every place we ever visited because there’s a unique thing to do in each location.  

This is a great question to ask to see if people enjoyed their trip when asking folks, “how was your trip”.

“Would you go again” is the ultimate question to find out if someone absolutely loved a location.  We are constantly trying to visit new locations since there are just so many amazing places here on planet earth so if we say we will visit a place again, we really really love it!  Now we understand, not everyone is like us and may not want to visit as many places as we do but the general census is if you want to go back to a location, you definitely like it.  

For example, if you’re like my dad, you will make your way to the same spot every year, like Key West, FL (I think it’s his favorite place on earth).  

Overall we hope this post encourages you to talk more about travel and experiencing new places!  If you have any other suggestions on great questions to ask to expand the conversation of How was your trip, please let us know!  Again here’s the quick list of 13 different questions to expand on the question, How was your trip?

If you have any questions about about traveling in anyway shape or form, please let us know in the comments below!

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“How was your trip?” Strategies for the Perfect Reply

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Social Responses

When your friends, family, and even coworkers know you were away for a trip, it’s common for them to ask about it. The next time you see them, you’ll get questions like “How was your trip?”, and others asking for details about your trip.

Your response will depend on different things, most importantly how close the person is to you, and secondly how your trip actually went. We’ll guide you on how to navigate the “How was your trip?” question in several situations so you don’t become overwhelmed by everyone asking.

Things to pay attention to before replying to someone not close to you

  People you are not so close to will ask you “How was your trip?” as a form of small talk, or even as their way to be a bit nosy. It’s up to you to decide if you want to share the details with this person or not.   Here are some things we think you should pay attention to before replying to someone you are not close to when they ask, “How was your trip?”:  

How To Answer, “How Was Your Trip?”

  When we don’t mind sharing the details about how our trip went with the people we are close to, we can sometimes be short in our responses. Saying your trip went ‘well’ or was ‘good’ to your close friends is simply not enough and they deserve better answers than that.   These 10 questions will help you to better answer “How was your trip?”:   1. What was your favorite part of the trip?   2. What did you learn on this trip?   3. How are you going to use what you learned from this trip in the future?   4. What is one thing that surprised you most on this trip?   5. Tell them about the best meal or drink that you had while traveling   6. What is the difference between how people live there and here?   7. How did you get around?   8. Is there anything you wish you had packed?   9. What advice would you give to anyone going there for the first time?   10. Would you go back?   Once you can answer these questions for yourself, you can use these responses to curate more detailed and better answers to “How was your trip?” 

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If it’s a business trip

  When you get asked “How was your trip?” and it was for business, you’ll want to avoid using words such as good and bad, especially when speaking to your boss and colleagues. Instead, mention the highlights of your trip or anything that stood out.   This is what you can say:  

When the boss asked

When a colleague asked

If the trip was amazing

  When you go off for holiday, whether it’s for a week or just the weekend, the people you told beforehand will likely ask you about it the next time you see them.   When you have had an amazing time, this is what you can say when asked “How was your trip?”:  

When friends or family ask

When colleagues or neighbors ask

If the holiday trip was bad

  When the trip hasn’t gone so well, it’s harder to come up with an answer to “How was your trip?”. Still, your friends, relatives, and others that ask the question will expect a response.   Here’s an idea of what you can say when asked “How was your trip?” :  

15 Sincerest Thank You Notes for Your Business Partner

  After your trip, the most important thing you should be focused on is getting back into the groove of everyday life. When you’re asked, “How was your trip?”, don’t stress yourself for an answer.   We’ve given you 30. Just pick one!  

Guide: How to Say “How Was Your Trip”

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on expressing the question “How was your trip?” This common greeting allows you to show interest in someone’s recent journey and initiate a conversation. In this guide, we will cover both formal and informal ways to ask about a trip, and provide some useful tips and examples to ensure you communicate effectively and maintain a warm tone. So let’s dive in!

Formal Ways to Ask

When addressing someone in a formal setting, it’s important to use polite and respectful language. Here are some ways to ask about a trip formally:

1. “How was your trip?” – This simple and direct question is suitable for most formal situations. 2. “I hope you had a pleasant trip.” – This expression conveys well-wishes and is commonly used in formal settings. 3. “May I ask how your trip went?” – This polite request shows consideration for the person’s privacy while still expressing interest.

Informal Ways to Ask

When talking to friends, family, or in casual situations, you can use more relaxed language. Here are some informal ways to ask about a trip:

1. “So, how was your trip?” – This is a friendly and straightforward way to show interest. 2. “Tell me everything about your trip!” – This enthusiastic request encourages the person to share their experiences in detail. 3. “Did you have a blast on your trip?” – This playful expression conveys excitement and anticipation for their response.

Tips for Asking about a Trip

Now that we’ve covered some ways to express the question, let’s explore a few tips to ensure your question is well-received:

1. Use Active Listening

When asking about a trip, actively listen to the person’s response. Show genuine interest in their stories and ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation going.

2. Show Empathy

If someone had a challenging or stressful trip, show empathy and support. Consider using phrases like:

“I’m sorry to hear you had a challenging trip. Is there anything I can do to help?” “That sounds difficult. How did you manage to stay positive during your journey?”

3. Tailor Your Response

If you know the person well, tailor your response to their personality. For example, if they enjoy humor, respond with a light-hearted comment or joke. If they prefer serious discussions, maintain a more introspective tone in your reply.

4. Acknowledge Achievements

If the person accomplished something noteworthy during their trip, acknowledge it. Compliment their achievements and let them know you are impressed. For instance:

“I heard you climbed Mount Everest! That’s absolutely incredible. How did it feel to reach the summit?”

Let’s now look at a few conversational examples to help you visualize the application of the phrases we discussed:

Example 1: Formal: Person A: “How was your trip, Mrs. Smith?” Person B: “Thank you for asking, it was splendid! The scenery was breathtaking.” Person A: “I’m glad to hear that.” Informal: Person A: “So, how was your trip? Did you have an amazing time?” Person B: “Oh, it was incredible! I swam with dolphins and explored hidden beaches.” Person A: “Wow, that sounds like an unforgettable experience!” Example 2: Formal: Person A: “May I ask how your trip went, Mr. Johnson?” Person B: “It went well, thank you. The business meetings were productive.” Person A: “That’s great to hear. Did everything go as planned?” Informal: Person A: “Hey, how was your trip? Did you have a good time?” Person B: “It was awesome! I met so many interesting people and tried delicious local cuisine.” Person A: “That’s fantastic! I’d love to hear more about it sometime.”

Congratulations! You are now equipped with various formal and informal ways to ask about someone’s trip. Remember to adjust your language based on the situation and show genuine interest in their experiences. Happy conversations and safe travels!

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30 Best Replies to “How Was Your Trip?”

It is a delightful experience to have someone who seeks to know how your trip went. There could be some expectations in your heart before you leave. However, you can share your journey experiences just as it is.

In this article, there are 30 interesting replies to ‘How was your trip’ that you can get clues from on what your response should be.

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

30 Best Responses to “How Was Your Trip?”

• ‘Fantastic! I enjoyed every moment of it.’
• ‘Awesome! I explored new places and tried different meals.’
• ‘Great! The trip was an excellent breakout from my shell.’
• ‘Wonderful! I made some unforgettable memories.’
• ‘Amazing! It was a much-needed recess from everyday activities.’
• ‘Excellent! The atmosphere was totally nice.’
• ‘Lovely! I learned about the local culture and traditions.’
• ‘Fantastic! The trip was as satisfying as the destination.’
• ‘Incredible! I found out hidden talents in me along the way.’
• ‘Superb! The weather couldn’t have been better.’
• ‘Fantastic! I found peace and ease.’
• ‘Terrific! I studied the city’s history and landmarks.’
• ‘Awesome! Every day brought new experiences.’
• ‘Great! I’ll hold dear the memories from this journey.’
• ‘Fantastic! I connected with locals and fellow visitors.’
• ‘Amazing! The trip had the perfect mix of excitement and calm.’
• ‘Memorable! I explored diverse landscapes.’
• ‘Fabulous! It was a journey filled with joy and laughter.’
• ‘Wonderful! I engaged with the locals.’
• ‘Fantastic! The trip was an entertaining one.’
• ‘Lovely! I explored both urban and natural wonders.’
• ‘Awesome! The trip left me feeling refreshed and inspired.’
• ‘Great! A perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.’
• ‘Incredible! The beauty of the surroundings was thrilling.’
• ‘Fantastic! I found incredible items and spots.’
• ‘Amazing! The trip allowed me to unwind fully.’
• ‘Superb! I was captivated by the charm of the place.’
• ‘Wonderful! I found surprising treasures during my trip.’
• ‘Excellent! The trip equipped me for a change of pace.’
• ‘Fantastic! I loved the local markets and calm neighborhoods.’

1. ‘Fantastic! I enjoyed every moment of it’

One of the best ways to respond when someone asks you how your trip was is to tell them that it was a fantastic experience, especially if you enjoyed your time during that moment.

You can explain further how delightful your experience was and how you didn’t want it to end so soon.

Sentence examples:

• The hiking was simply breathtaking. I enjoyed the sunset by the beach as well.
• Exploring the sites and trying local delicacies was an enjoyable experience.

2. ‘Awesome! I explored new places and tried different meals’

In response to how your trip was, you can say in detail what stood out the most for you. In most cases, it could be the new places you visited or even the varieties of meals you explored.

However, tell them that it was an awesome experience.

• Going through the markets and munching street food was a delightful part of my travel adventure.
• It was great! Each day brought a new meal experience, from traditional to modern dishes.

3. ‘Great! The trip was an excellent breakout from my shell.’

This response is simply the best for you if you are an introvert who loves to stay indoors and finally has the opportunity to go on an adventure.

You can say that you had a great trip, and the journey was simply remarkable since it afforded you the chance to break out of your shell.

• Stepping out of my comfort zone was remarkable. I joined a local dance class and built new friendships.
• I engaged in cultural activities that caused me to break free from routine.

4. ‘Wonderful! I made some unforgettable memories.’

Most times, adventures afford one a chance to make memories. However, you can highlight the fact that the memories you gained during your trip were wonderful.

You can go further to give a breakdown of how those memories have shaped your life.

• Going around ancient places brought new friends to me and created lasting memories filled with laughter.
• A lucky road trip led to surprising encounters and memorable moments that will stay with me forever.

5. ‘Amazing! It was a much-needed break from everyday activities’

A trip away from the norm is an opportunity to take a break from your typical daily activities. In such a case, you need to admit that the trip you embarked on has afforded you a break from your usual engagements, especially if you were getting used to them or they were quite burdensome.

• I escaped the hustle and bustle; the countryside provided me with a peaceful retreat from the demands of my daily life.
• During this period, I disconnected from technology and put myself in nature. It was a refreshing break.

6. ‘Excellent! The atmosphere was totally nice.’

It is quite appropriate to say that your trip summarizes that you enjoyed a super nice atmosphere. It tells a lot about the people and the place in general, and, of course, how easily you adjusted to the place you journeyed to.

• The charming atmosphere of the town, with its colorful streets and cafes, created a pleasant atmosphere.
• The lively cultural events and friendly locals made the atmosphere full of warmth.

7. ‘Lovely! I learned about the local culture and traditions.’

It’s a beautiful thing to be an inquisitive person. If you embark on a trip and you seek to know about the people of that place and their traditions, you can employ this reply to describe how your trip was.

• I participated in a traditional festival, and that experience gave me an idea of the local culture’s richness.
• I visited the museums and interacted with locals to look into the unique traditions of the region.

8. ‘Fantastic! The trip was as satisfying as the destination.’

This response is a great way to express your satisfaction with the trip you embarked upon. While using this statement, your body language should be in accordance with your words.

You can further say what made it satisfying and what stood out in the new environment for you.

• The journey itself, filled with unexpected happenings at first, was as fulfilling as reaching the final destination.
• Through the here-and-there tough process of the journey, the overall trip was incredibly satisfying.

9. ‘Incredible! I found out hidden talents in me along the way.’

One of the beautiful things a trip can open you up to is self-discovery. It is possible that you stumble on a talent that you never knew was inherent in you as you serve or engage in something during your trip.

That could be a sign that you need to develop that talent. However, you can employ this response in such a case when someone asks you how your trip was.

• Joining a local art class during the trip revealed a passion for painting that I never knew existed within me.
• I tried various adventure sports, which unveiled a hidden thriller side dimension to my personality.

10. ‘Superb! The weather couldn’t have been better’

If you enjoy the weather in the new environment of the place you journey to, you can spill it out when someone seeks to know about the experiences you had during your trip.

It will be more reliable when you describe the climate condition of the place and its effect on your skin, the plants, or the animals there.

• The weather is superb. There are sunny days and cool evenings—just the perfect climate for exploring outdoor and indoor activities.
• They’ve got ideal weather conditions that made my whole experience of the trip comfortable and enjoyable.

11. ‘Fantastic! I found peace and ease.’

Beyond sharing your experience about a trip with someone, you can tell them precisely what stood out for you. Peace is fundamental when it comes to engaging in fulfilling activities.

You can say how peaceful you felt and how you navigated through the trip with ease.

• My quiet retreat in the mountains allowed me to have moments of reflection and a deep sense of peace.
• Strolling through serene gardens and meditating by a quiet lake was the highlight of a profound sense of peace for me during the trip.

12. ‘Terrific! I studied the city’s history and landmarks.’

As an enthusiastic student of history or an inquisitive person, your point of attraction may be a city’s history and landmarks.

Since it’s a great thing to get this information about a place you visit, you can say it to someone who wants to know about your trip.

• I explored historical sites and museums, and this gave me a rich understanding of the city’s cultural heritage.
• I toured iconic landmarks and got interesting narratives about the city’s history.

13. ‘Awesome! Every day brought new experiences.’

There are certain trips you embark on, and new things keep unfolding every now and then.

You may learn about new places, people, and events on such trips. When you are asked how the trip was for you, you can talk about the truckload of information that got to you daily.

• From sunrise hikes to random meetings with locals, each day was filled with unique and surprising experiences.
• I tried different activities, such as cooking classes and cultural workshops. Every day brought a fresh and exciting experience.

14. ‘Great! I’ll hold dear the memories from this journey.’

This response is suitable when you cannot tell exactly what you enjoyed best during a trip or you do not have so much time to share your experiences during your adventure.

You can simply crown it all with a positive, I’ll cherish the memories from this trip’ and emphasize that it was a great one.

• I capture beautiful moments with a travel journal and photographs. It will be a cherished reminder of the wonderful experiences.
• I received cultural souvenirs that will serve as lasting reminders. I am reserving the memories for years to come.

15. ‘Fantastic! I connected with locals and fellow visitors’

This comment is suitable for you if the highlight of your trip was connecting with the identity of the place you went to.

You may admire their lifestyle, their hair texture, or simply something about them that fascinates you. You can explain how nicely you bond with them too.

• I joined the community events and engaged in discussions with locals. It was so exciting!
• I made friends with fellow travelers during group activities. This added a sense of togetherness during the trip.

16. ‘Amazing! The trip had the perfect mix of excitement and calm.’

It is quite beautiful to enjoy calmness and joy at the same time during a trip. You can employ the reply ‘Amazing! The trip had the perfect mix of excitement and calm’ if you enjoyed serenity during your journey and had fun due to the exciting atmosphere you encountered.

• Interesting adventures like hiking were at the top of my list. However, we have moments of relaxation by the beach.
• I explored the rowdy markets during the day and had peaceful spa retreats in the evenings.

17. ‘Memorable! I explored diverse landscapes.’

Instead of stopping at saying that you had a memorable time, you can add that you explored diverse landscapes for the first time if you have hardly had such exposure.

You can add imaginary pictures to your description so that they will understand how the trip has broadened your horizons.

• I experienced the unique beauty of the environment. From lush green valleys to deserts, the trip surrounded a wide range of landscapes.
• I trekked through mountains and cruised coastlines. The whole urban trip was a memorable journey.

18. ‘Fabulous! It was a journey filled with joy and laughter.’

If you had a fabulous time away from home, your response to how your trip was can be, ‘It was a journey filled with joy and laughter.’

This statement points to the fact that you enjoyed your journey to the fullest and beyond aesthetics; you had a joy-filled moment.

• I had moments of laughter during impromptu dance sessions. The journey was indeed hilarious and full of joy.
• I attended local celebrations and artistic performances that created a lively and fabulous atmosphere.

19. ‘Wonderful! I engaged with the locals.’

This reply is most suitable for people who love to connect with others. You can say that you had a wonderful time, as the trip granted you the opportunity to connect with the local people in that place. It will be great if you share the contents of your conversations or what made your connection with them remarkable.

• I participated in community activities and volunteered in my own capacity after having meaningful interactions with the locals.
• Dining in restaurants and attending local gatherings made me engage with the people, and I enjoyed it so much.

20 .’Fantastic! The trip was an entertaining one.’

‘The trip was an entertaining one’ is an encouraging way to respond to how your trip was, especially if you enjoyed so much entertainment during your stay.

You can further use this statement to encourage someone to embark on the same adventure or a similar one with the assurance that it is not boring but worth it.

• I attended interesting street performances and cultural shows that were so entertaining and lively.
• I explored nice attractions and attended local events, which made the trip less enjoyable and entertaining.

21. ‘Lovely! I explored both urban and natural wonders.’

Beyond seeing beautiful sites and having joyful experiences, you can enjoy a mix of urban and beautiful elements of nature.

This response is a suitable one if you intend to talk about your lovely urban and nature experiences.

• I roamed through busy city streets and then rested at serene national parks. This was a nice and mixed exploration.
• Discovering colorful sites in urban centers and then the calm of gardens portrayed the summary of my lovely experiences.

22. ‘Awesome! The trip left me feeling refreshed and inspired.’

You can return from a trip with mixed feelings. However, if you had a lovely experience that got you fired up and exposed, you can say that the trip left you feeling refreshed and inspired.

This statement gives a glimpse of how the trip left you in a better state.

• I breathed in the fresh mountain air and experienced the beauty of nature, which creatively inspired me.
• Visiting cultural hubs and art galleries ignited a sense of inspiration, and this made my trip more than a vacation but a source of restored energy.

23. ‘Great! A perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.’

When someone asks you how your trip was, your reply could be, ‘A perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.’ By employing this statement, you highlight that you enjoyed a mix of fun and rest as well.

This made the trip a profitable one.

• I had thrilling activities like river diving and finished off with a nice time at the spa.
• Exploring historical landmarks during the day and enjoying peaceful evenings by the waterside contributed to my completely balanced travel experience.

23. ‘Incredible! The beauty of the surroundings was thrilling.’

‘The beauty of the surroundings was thrilling’ is a suitable response to how your trip was if you had a great time and you were blown away by the beauty of the environment.

This statement reveals how captivating the environment of the place you traveled to looks.

• Gazing at the beautiful landscapes, from the magnificent mountains to the quiet lakes, was a thrilling experience.
• Sunset views over valleys and cityscapes created moments of beauty that were truly exciting.

25. ‘Fantastic! I found incredible items and spots.’

As a tourist or someone who has explored diverse landscapes, your experience could be that of making new discoveries.

Your response to how your trip was in this case could be that ‘you found out incredible items and spots.’

• Exploring local markets revealed unique handicrafts and treasures that were so beautiful to behold.
• I ventured off the paths to discover hidden gems and spots that added an extraordinary touch to the trip.

26. ‘Amazing! The trip allowed me to unwind fully.’

You can share your experience of having time to relax and rest after a trip when someone seeks to know your experience. Simply say that ‘the trip allowed you to unwind fully.’

This statement is also suitable when you have had a lot of things to deal with before going on the trip.

• Relaxing on nice beaches and enjoying spa treatments made me enjoy full relaxation.
• I embraced slow activities like nature walks and meditation, which allowed me to unwind fully.

27. ‘Superb! I was captivated by the charm of the place.’

‘I was captivated by the charm of the place’ could be the best way to describe your superb trip adventure. You can also express yourself using this statement by saying that you didn’t want to leave the place you traveled to due to the captivating occasion you had.

• The historical architecture of the streets created an enchanting atmosphere that captivated my senses.
• The local folklore and traditional performances added a charming atmosphere that made the atmosphere truly captivating.

28. ‘Wonderful! I found surprising treasures during my trip.’

‘Wonderful! I found surprising treasures during my trip, which shows that you had a great time seeing new things and exploring treasures. You can show them pictures that you took on those adventures and say how much you enjoyed them.

• The markets and hidden bookstores revealed surprising treasures that became the highlights of my journey.
• I had encounters with local craftsmen who created handmade souvenirs, which were so beautiful.

29. ‘Excellent! The trip equipped me for a change of pace.’

A trip beyond being an adventure could be a time to enjoy a new experience of change. You can reveal the things that have changed about you since you embarked on the trip or those things that are currently undergoing transformation.

• The moments of solitude and reflection during the trip provided clarity and prepared me for a positive change.
• During the trip, I engaged in mindful activities and wellness practices that equipped me for a positive shift in pace.

30. ‘Fantastic! I loved the local markets and calm neighborhoods.’

You can employ the positive and engaging response that it was fantastic and that you loved the local markets and calm neighborhoods.

This statement paints the picture that the people in the environment are nice and accommodating.

• I explored the markets filled with beautiful colors, which allowed me to immerse myself in the local culture.
• I strolled through calm neighborhoods with charming cafes and friendly locals.

From reading the responses shared, you might have gotten a clue as to how your response should be composed.

Simply be free with the person you are sharing your happenings with and ensure you bookmark this article for future reference.

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• French (France)
• English (UK)

Is it correct to ask this question: How is your trip going/ getting? See a translation

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Going probably si better

• Simplified Chinese (China)

its better with "going"

• English (US)

Yes, "getting" is unnatural here. We would probably still understand you just fine, but it's incorrect.

How is your trip going? is the correct version. How is your trip getting? sounds very strange unless you are enquiring what may have been going wrong, causing you worry.

• Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong)

"How is your trip going?" is correct.

• How long are we going to drive there? Is this correct?
• Do you offer transportation? Is it correct Or what's the best way to say it?
• Is this correct? I haven't travelled a lot in my life, but I like travelling.
• Is it correct to say How is your packing going on ?
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In the coming months, the Location History setting name will change to Timeline. If Location History is turned on for your account, you may find Timeline in your app and account settings.

Google Maps Timeline

Manage your Timeline

Google Maps Timeline is a personal map that helps you remember routes and trips you've taken and places you've been based on your Location History. You can edit your Timeline at any time and delete your Location History in Timeline.

If you have settings like Web & App Activity turned on and you turn off Location History or delete location data from Location History, you may still have location data saved in your Google Account as part of your use of other Google Sites, apps, and services. This activity can include info about your location from your device’s general area and IP address. For example, location data may be saved as part of activity on Search and Google Maps when your Web & App Activity setting is on, and included in your photos, depending on your camera app settings.

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You can find how far you've traveled and the way that you traveled, such as walking, biking, driving, or on public transport. Timeline measures distances in miles or kilometers is based on your country or region.

• On your computer, open Google Maps .
• Sign in with the same Google Account that you use on your mobile device.

• To find another date, at the top, choose a day, month, and year.

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If you've saved your home and work addresses, they show up on Timeline. In addition to Timeline, this information may also be used in other Google products and services.

Learn how to set your home and work addresses .

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If a place is wrong on Timeline, you can edit the location and when you were there. 

• On your computer, go to Timeline .

• Choose the correct place or search for a place in the search box.
• To edit when you were there, click the time.
• Click the day that you want to delete.

• Click Delete day .

To delete Location History:

• Click Delete Location History .

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You can automatically delete Location History that’s older than 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months.

• Follow the on-screen instructions.

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When you turn on Location History, your precise device location is regularly saved — to your devices and Google’s servers, even when Google apps aren’t being used, and creates your Timeline.

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Why you should start planning a trip really far in advance

Jan 1, 2022 • 5 min read

In this new era of travel and travel restrictions, planning a trip far in advance has never seemed more practical © Pakin Songmor / Getty

In a world where spontaneity in travel is almost fetishized, meticulous planners – a group with which I proudly identify – tend to get a bad rep. “You’re dull,” they say, “planning itineraries in advance is boring.” In my humble opinion, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Regardless, in this era of travel restrictions, we must all become long-term planners; and there are some very good reasons to embrace it. Here are some of the benefits of planning a trip a (very) long way in advance.

Planning ahead can help to save money

Extra legroom. An extra night’s stay. Heck, who wouldn’t want a hotel upgrade? Maybe it’s the fact I’m over 30, but I find a little bit of luxury – whatever that means to you – can take a trip from ‘meh’ to memorable. And the more time you have before you go, the more money you can save for those "treat yo’self" moments.

Staunch budget traveler? You do you. Traversing the globe on a few dollars a day can be an enlightening, life-affirming, addictive experience – but it never hurts to add a bit of slack to the shoestring, so to speak, and planning in advance provides a chance to squirrel away more funds, which can be handy in emergencies.

With all this time on your hands, you can also afford to shop around, wait for flash sales and – where it makes sense to do so – book well in advance. Paying for transport, accommodation and activities over the course of a few months helps spread the cost too.

Take the time to craft the perfect itinerary

Paid leave is precious. Travel is a privilege. If you want to squeeze every last drop out of your next adventure, I implore you to consider my secret weapon: the humble spreadsheet. It might sound as sexy as a bedbug-ridden bunk, but hear me out. When time away is limited, plotting out your ideal itinerary, day-by-day, can help you make the most of it.

There are numerous benefits to taking the Excel approach. You can sense-check the pace at which you plan on moving between destinations, factoring in days for traveling from A to B, plan backup options for rainy days and juggle things around where necessary.

You’ll know where you’re likely to be on the weekends (this can affect what you choose to do, as major attractions will be busier during these times) and you can plug in your pre-bookable big-ticket items while saving room for spontaneity – for example, before a three-week trip to Australia I arranged to go to a popular outdoor spa well in advance but reserved the days either side for whatever we fancied at the time (it was winery hopping on the Mornington Peninsula).

Pro tip: if you’re anything like me, you’ll find too many things to squeeze onto your itinerary ( Melbourne has approximately one quintillion drool-worthy brunch spots). Bookmark them all on your chosen mapping app (the Lonely Planet Guides app is a good place to start) and if you find yourself at a loss on the road, open it up to see what’s nearby.

Book popular things to do

Ever stumbled across the dreamiest of digs on Instagram, immediately pinned all of your hopes and future happiness on staying there, only to find they’re booked out solidly for the foreseeable? I feel your pain.

Planning your travels well ahead not only gives you the widest choice of accommodation – including those quirky-cool home rentals – it also offers the best chance of snagging sell-out gig and theatre tickets, elusive restaurant reservations and a table for drinks in the trendiest spot in town (achingly cool but perpetually occupied igloo bars, I’m looking at you. Your fairy lights give me major FOMO).

The only way to harness this travel superpower is to know what you’re looking for, which means doing plenty of research early on. Admittedly, there is a certain joy in striding into a randomly-selected neighborhood cafe in hopes it’ll be the city’s next undiscovered gastro hotspot, but there’s more fun in trying the food at that limited capacity pop-up place all the locals have been raving about on social media for the last month. Scour guidebooks, magazines, blogs and social media to find the events and attractions you simply can’t miss, then check their availability ASAP and seal the deal.

Get to know the destination before you arrive

Some people prefer to know very little about their chosen destination before they go – and I understand the logic, to a degree. With the world increasingly at our fingertips, the joy of experiencing the unknown is almost unattainable.

Browsing Google Street View might not be your favorite way to pass the time pre-trip (reader, it may not surprise you to learn I am partial to the occasional virtual bimble), but understanding the history, geography and culture of a place you’ll soon be immersed in is never a bad thing. Being aware of local customs, taboos and current affairs can only make you a more engaged, respectful and responsible traveler. So get reading in the run-up to your departure!

Want to impress the locals? Consider tapping into the destination’s cultural offerings – books, films, music, language – to prepare you. Guatemala ’s Top 50 chart hits from 2017 will forever be top of my Spotify list.

Achieve packing perfection

Packing. Love it or hate it, it’s hard to get right . But for once, you have the gift of time. Take this opportunity to craft the ultimate capsule wardrobe; stock up on (or locate those pesky) adaptors, spare chargers and all the other paraphernalia you usually have to panic buy at the airport; and get your digital life in order – I’m talking a suite of essential apps, curated playlists, movie downloads and a clean digital camera roll to fill with your prize-winning travel snaps. You might even like to practice packing and unpacking your luggage to optimize your on-the-road technique… or is that just me?

Enjoy the anticipation

The instant gratification of last-minute getaways can be thrilling. But slowing down and mindfully planning a future trip can help us appreciate the true value of travel, instilling a sense of gratitude and wellbeing. Practice patience, relish the anticipation, and research, research, research – while remembering to enjoy the here and now. Plus, if you aren't able to travel at the moment, what else are you going to do?

You might also like: How to budget for a big trip The best Asian destinations for female solo travelers The best Lonely Planet Spotify playlists

This article was first published March 2020 and updated January 2022

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Matador Original Series

This Map Shows How Far You Can Travel in Europe by Train in 8 Hours or Less

T here’s plenty to say about riding the train being a better way to travel than flying, especially in Europe: It’s more convenient, it’s more comfortable, there’s no luggage restriction, there’s no security line, it’s better for the planet , etc. One aspect of train travel that worries travelers, however, is how long it takes to get from one place to another. While some train routes, like the Eurostar between London and Amsterdam , or the high-speed train that runs between Paris to Zurich , are just as fast as flying, riding the rails can sometimes be slow.

Pressed-for-time travelers who like to plan their train trips well ahead, as well as those who fancy spontaneous day trips to unknown destinations, can make good use of Chronotrains’ fantastic interactive map which shows how far you can travel in eight hours or less by train anywhere in Europe. By just hovering your mouse above a point on the website’s isochrone map, you can see the areas you can visit by train within a certain time period, with one hour being the minimum and eight hours being the maximum.

Once you’ve chosen your point of departure, you can zoom in on the area and see all the destinations at your disposal within the time frame you selected, with the route highlighted in blue, the exact time it takes to get there displayed, etc.

The maps below show all the train travel options from Paris within an eight-hour time period, including lesser-known and underrated French cities like Brest and Reims, as well as international destinations like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Luxembourg, etc.

Once you’ve chosen your destination, Chronotrains will give you an idea of the price that your trip will cost and provide the links to the websites you need to make a booking.

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"How's your trip going so far" vs "How's ur trip going so far"

Last Updated: March 19, 2024

How's your trip going so far

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It is a formal way to ask about someone's trip.

Alternatives:

• how is your trip going so far
• how has your trip been so far
• how is your journey progressing
• how is your travel going
• how is your vacation going

How's ur trip going so far

This phrase is correct but informal. It uses text language and is more suitable for casual conversations.

• how's the trip going so far
• how's it going with your trip
• how's the journey going
• how's the travel going
• how's the vacation going

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The 18 best places to see the northern lights.

Check the aurora borealis off your bucket list.

The Best Places for the Northern Lights

Getty Images

The northern lights, known as the aurora borealis, are a spectacular natural light show visible at certain times of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. They occur when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, creating vibrant streaks of blue, green, pink and violet dancing across the night sky. 2024 and 2025 are an excellent time to catch the northern lights: Solar activity will be at a peak, making for a more impressive experience, if you're in the right place.

The best places to see the aurora borealis have little light pollution, clear skies and no precipitation. The lights are only visible at northern latitudes when it's dark outside, so the months from September to April are best for seeing the aurora. There's also a Southern Hemisphere counterpart, the aurora australis; there are fewer easy spots from which to view this phenomenon, but if you're lucky, it can be equally brilliant.

For more information on the northern lights, scroll down to the FAQ section at the bottom of this page. Read on to discover the top destinations where you can see the kaleidoscopic northern and southern lights.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks is by far one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights, as it's located directly under the auroral oval. This ring-shaped zone sits around the Earth's geomagnetic North Pole and is generally associated with the most vibrant aurora sightings. Visitors can expect to see the lights on an average of four out of five clear nights during aurora season, which lasts from late August to late April.

You can book a northern lights tour to see the aurora from the springs and tubs at Chena Hot Springs Resort. This excursion includes round-trip transportation to the resort from town, a soak in the hot springs, a visit to the Fairbanks Aurora Ice Museum and an aurora viewing tour; dinner and drinks centered around Alaska produce are an option extra with hot drinks supplied.

There's more to Fairbanks than just the northern lights: If you visit in late summer, consider family-friendly activities like a ride on the Riverboat Discovery or gold panning. For a festive holiday experience in the winter, head around 15 miles out of Fairbanks to visit the Santa Claus House in the city of North Pole. Travelers can also see ice sculptures in February and March at the impressive World Ice Art Championships or take a dog-sledding or snowmobiling tour .

Where to stay: For excellent chances of aurora viewing, book a private igloo at Borealis Basecamp, a top glamping resort located on 100 remote acres of boreal forest about 25 miles from Fairbanks. With activities like dog-sledding on top of aurora viewing, past visitors regularly describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tromsø, Norway

Located about 220 miles above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is one of several top spots to view the northern lights in Norway. At the darkest point of the aurora season – which runs from September to early April – the sun doesn't rise in this northern part of the country, although there is twilight during the day. With this level of darkness, there are more opportunities to see the aurora.

Tromsø itself is a small but lively city, so there's plenty to see and do when you're not looking up at the sky, including a visit to the beautiful Arctic Cathedral. In late January to early February, the city hosts the Northern Lights Festival, a 10-day music and performing arts event featuring a variety of musical genres.

Aurora chasers can view the lights on their own while in town, but to get a better view, it's recommended to head away from the city lights. Arctic Circle Tours is one company offering guided trips, with small groups for a more personal vibe. Alternatively, adventure-seekers can embark on an exhilarating husky trekking expedition in the Arctic wilderness.

Where to stay: For accommodations with harbor views, look no further than the Scandic Ishavshotel – guests love it for its convenient central location in the city, as well as its plus-sized breakfast buffet with plenty of choices.

Luosto and Rovaniemi (Lapland), Finland

Lapland is located within the Arctic Circle in the northernmost part of Finland. The northern lights are most visible here between the end of August and April – and approximately 200 times a year – so there are many opportunities for aurora spotting. Finnish Lapland is also known as home to the Sámi people (the only recognized Indigenous group in the European Union region), some 200,000 reindeer and Santa Claus – who can be visited in the town of Rovaniemi, the region's largest city and a great base for your aurora expedition.

Consider venturing roughly 70 miles north of Rovaniemi to the resort town of Luosto, set among the picturesque and hilly landscape of Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Here, you can also spend a magical evening outdoors under star-filled skies during a reindeer-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered forests. Jaakkola Reindeer Farm offers a reindeer sleigh tour to spot the aurora once weekly; it includes a stop to warm up at a bonfire camp with snacks, hot beverages and local fireside stories.

Where to stay: For a bucket list experience, watch the impressive light show from a glass igloo at Santa's Hotel Aurora & Igloos in Luosto. Past visitors love the cozy atmosphere here, boosted by amenities like saunas and log fireplaces. If you're sticking to Rovaniemi, the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is a stunning choice, with designer cabins perched among the snow-covered taiga forest.

Orkney, Scotland

This group of captivating (and mostly uninhabited) islands, located about 10 miles off Scotland's remote northern coast, is one of the best places to see the northern nights in the U.K. Fall and winter are the best seasons to witness the aurora, also known in local Shetland dialect as the "Mirrie Dancers," with fall bringing the highest proportion of clear nights. A few places to see the spectacular light show include along the coast at Birsay or the Broch of Gurness, an archaeological ruin on a sweeping and dramatic coastline.

In addition to the aurora, Orkney is home to breathtaking coastal landscapes and more sheep than you can count (try some local lamb, if you can). Travelers can also visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several monuments dating back 5,000 years.

Where to stay: During your visit, plan to stay in the historic town of Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands: The no-fuss Ayre Hotel offers harbor views, and past visitors compliment the hearty meals in the hotel restaurant. Spot the aurora close to town at Inganess Bay and Wideford Hill.

Yellowknife, Canada

Yellowknife, the capital of Canada 's Northwest Territories, dubs itself the "Aurora Capital of the World." Thanks to its position in the middle of the auroral oval, the city puts on one of the world's most awe-inspiring light shows. The period from mid-November to the beginning of April is the recommended time to spot the aurora, but it's also possible to see the aurora during more hospitable weather from late summer to early fall as the lights are visible up to 240 days a year.

Located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife boasts winter sports such as ice fishing and cross-country skiing. If you visit in March, plan to attend the monthlong Snowkings' Winter Festival, which features events and activities like a snow-carving competition, a snow castle, live music and more.

For a unique experience, book a tour through Aurora Village to view the lights. The property will pick you up from your hotel and take you to its site, where you can stay warm in a tent while sipping hot beverages. The Aboriginal-owned Aurora Village also offers activities such as dog-sledding or snowshoeing excursions.

Where to stay: Warm up in the fireside lounge at The Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife. Previous visitors note the warm and helpful staff as a strength here.

Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

The optimal time for seeing the illuminated skies in the northern part of Sweden, known as Swedish Lapland, is between early September and late March. The small Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi sits around 125 miles above the Arctic Circle on the Torne River and is an ideal locale for aurora viewing. You'll fly to the nearby Kiruna Airport to get here. With the village's origins dating back to the 17th century, you can still find some of the original homesteads, including an old timber cottage. Today the village boasts 800 residents – and more than 1,000 dogs.

Where to stay: If you're up for a chilly overnight adventure, reserve accommodations at the world's first permanent ice hotel, the aptly named Icehotel 365. Each of its artist-designed suites is sculpted from ice with a unique theme and maintains temperatures around minus 5 degrees Celsius (about 23 degrees Fahrenheit). The rooms also feature beds with reindeer hides and thermal sleeping bags so you can bundle up during the night. While you're at the property, take advantage of the guided "Northern Lights Safari on Snowmobile" or embark on the "Moose Safari on Horseback" atop an Icelandic horse.

Reykjavik, Iceland

October through March is the best time to chase the aurora borealis in Iceland . There are numerous natural parks and attractions throughout the country where you can view the show during the long and dark winter, but the capital city of Reykjavik also offers many options for accommodations, restaurants, tours and other activities for your visit. For optimum aurora viewing in the city away from the light pollution, head to Öskjuhlið. This wooded and hilly area in Reykjavik sits at 200 feet above sea level and has walkways and paths where you can see the nighttime show.

Atop this hill sits Perlan, which houses the only planetarium in the country and a museum featuring exhibits about Iceland. Perlan is also home to the world's first indoor ice cave and glacier exploratorium. During your visit, don't miss the panoramic views of the city from the building's fourth-floor observation deck. From this vantage point, you'll be able to see the Snæfellsjökull glacier; Keilir, a volcanic mountain; and Esja, the mountain of Reykjavik.

Where to stay: While in Reykjavik, splurge on an overnight tour with Buubble Tours. This experience includes breathtaking sightseeing spots and a night spent under the magical northern skies in a transparent bubble at the 5 Million Star Hotel. For longer stays, consider the eco-friendly Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel, with sweeping views of the city – guests love it for its cozy yet chic Scandinavian design.

Southern Iceland

While Reykjavik is a great aurora-viewing spot if you like having amenities close by, consider getting out into Iceland's stunning, otherworldly countryside for a unique backdrop for the northern lights. One unique place to see them is the black sand beach at Reynisfjara (but watch out for the dangerous waves here). Alternatively, head to Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon and seal habitat, where the aurora's reflections in the icy water are truly beautiful.

There's no shortage of tours that will stop by these locations and more for possible aurora sightings. Consider a 10- or 13-day tour around the country with Fun Travel, or a four-day option from Arctic Adventures. If you want to do things at your own place, it's also possible to self-drive – just know that road conditions can be icy, particularly in the depths of winter (although Icelandic roads are generally well-maintained).

Where to stay: Hotel Rangá is a formidable option for aurora-spotting. It offers a variety of special amenities, such as aurora wake-up calls, a lookout deck and snowsuits to keep you warm if you're outside viewing the lights. Past visitors praise Rangá for being a comfortable yet luxurious place to relax, be it in the outdoor hot tubs or the cozy and sociable bar.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Greenland may not be the most accessible place to travel for viewing the northern lights, with limited flight options (mostly via Iceland), but those who make it here will be thrilled they did. The tundra of Kalaallit Nunaat – the Greenlandic name for the country – is one of the best places on the globe to see the aurora from September to early April.

For the more adventurous aurora seekers, head to the top of the Greenland Ice Cap for spectacular views of the lights. This impressive glacier covers 80% of the country and is accessible via the tiny town of Kangerlussuaq. Located on a fjord right along the Arctic Circle, the town, often described as a gateway to Greenland, was a former U.S. Air Force base and is now home to Greenland's main airport. The town is known for having clear skies on some 300 nights per year, so chances of a sighting are particularly good here.

Tour company Guide to Greenland offers various tours, from two-hour aurora-viewing trips to a tough but rewarding multi-night dog-sledding expedition across the ice. For a less strenuous experience, companies like Nordic Saga Tours offer cruises through the Arctic landscapes around Kangerlussuaq.

Viking cruise along Norway's coast

Courtesy of Viking

Embrace the winter and set sail for the Arctic Circle to experience the aurora in northern Norway. The 13-day "In Search of the Northern Lights" cruise itinerary with Viking departs from London for the North Sea with stops in ports of call that are top aurora-viewing locales, including Tromsø, Alta and Narvik, plus a stop in Amsterdam en route. The cruise ends in Bergen, Norway.

While on land, take in the natural beauty of the snow-blanketed landscapes and book bucket list excursions like a night spent in an igloo or a reindeer sledding adventure. You can also chase the lights into the wilderness by snowmobile, take a dog sled ride under the stars or view them from a Sámi tent atop the mountain Pæska in Alta. This Viking Ocean Cruises itinerary is offered with departure dates from mid-January to mid-March.

Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Michigan

Regarded as one of the top spots in the U.S. to see the aurora outside Alaska, Headlands International Dark Sky Park sits at the top of Michigan 's lower peninsula, less than 5 miles from Mackinaw City. While the northern lights are less common here due to the relatively southern location, the best time to catch a glimpse of this phenomenon is typically during the spring and fall – and appearances can usually be predicted a couple of days in advance. The park even maintains an online Clear Sky Chart so you can check the weather forecast before you go.

There are also other stargazing opportunities throughout the year at Headlands. During the summer months the Milky Way is visible across the sky, and late summer evenings entertain visitors with meteor showers.

Where to stay: If you're visiting between late April and the end of October, splurge on a stay at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island, where the aurora should also be visible. Guests describe this iconic property situated along the shoreline of Lake Huron as positively charming, thanks to its historic nature and manicured grounds. The resort also offers a host of outdoor activities from bike rentals to swimming.

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Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Martha Shuff | Courtesy of Voyageurs National Park

Located on the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, Voyageurs National Park is an approximately 218,000-acre labyrinth of boreal forests, lakes and streams. Voyageurs is Minnesota's only national park; it's also unique in that the park's interior is accessible only by boat, unless you visit by snowmobile in winter. As a certified International Dark Sky Park , Voyageurs provides opportunities to view the Milky Way on clear evenings, especially in the summer. Year-round aurora viewing is also possible on evenings with clear dark skies, but chances are better during the winter, when it's dark for longer.

For a guided stargazing tour – including the Milky Way, the constellations and (if you're lucky) the northern lights – book with Voyageurs Outfitters. If you're on your own, park officials note that almost any campsite is a good spot for northern lights viewing and stargazing. You can also check out the boat launch areas around Ash River, Kabetogama Lake and the Rainy Lake Visitor Center for top-notch views.

Where to stay: Those who prefer to sleep in a warm, cozy bed instead of camping under the stars can make reservations at the Cantilever Distillery + Hotel, a boutique Trademark Collection by Wyndham property in the nearby town of Ranier, Minnesota. Visitors report that there's a lot to like here, from the industrial-chic rooms to friendly staff to top-notch cocktails in the active distillery on the premises.

Abisko National Park, Sweden

Given its Arctic location, Sweden is one of the prime spots for aurora viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, with Swedish Lapland at the top of the list. The fall and winter months (from September to March) offer the best opportunities to witness the spectacle, as there is more darkness than light during the days.

If you're up for the Arctic adventure, December is an ideal month to visit Abisko National Park, which some regard as one of the best places on Earth to see the lights dance across the sky. The park's mountainous terrain and clear dark skies offer dramatic front-row seats for viewing the northern lights. The Aurora Sky Station is one of the best vantage points to see the aurora in the park. Join one of the expert presentations to learn about the science behind this fascinating phenomenon.

If you'd prefer to chase the lights with a curated tour, professional photographers and aurora-chasing guides at Visit Abisko lead three- to four-hour tours throughout the fall and winter. If you can, try to join the tours in fall, as this time of year offers a unique opportunity to view the lights both in the sky and reflected in the lakes and rivers, which you won't see in the winter months.

Where to stay: For cozy Nordic vibes, stay at Abisko Mountain Lodge, which also offers activities like ice climbing and snowmobile tours in winter. Guests love the excellent restaurant here, which offers Swedish specialties ranging from salmon to moose.

Nellim, Finland

Courtesy of Wilderness Hotels

Located a stone's throw from the Russian border in Finnish Lapland, this remote Arctic destination is a top-rated locale to view the northern lights due to the lack of light pollution. You'll be seriously out of the way of any built-up areas, as there's not even a paved road into Nellim. The best time to visit is between December and early April. This village is a great place to hunker down in a lodge and relax while enjoying a slice of life in the Finnish wilderness.

Where to stay: The Nellim Wilderness Hotel offers a perfect base with year-round activities, including aurora-chasing tours by car, snowmobile or on snowshoes. You can even take a sleigh ride through the snow to a campsite on Lake Inari to spot the aurora in pristine nature.

Beyond standard rooms, the Wilderness Hotel also offers glass-roofed cabins, as well as classic log cabins and bubble-shaped accommodations for two where guests can watch the dancing lights through the glass roof above your warm, cozy bed. When you're not chasing the lights, enjoy other Arctic activities like a husky safari, ice fishing, snowmobiling or a day in the snow meeting the local reindeer.

Saariselkä and Kakslauttanen, Finland

These two towns are around 150 miles above the Arctic Circle, with a prime location under the auroral oval, allowing as many as 200 opportunities per year to see the northern lights (weather permitting, of course). This area in Finnish Lapland is known for its stunning scenery, Sámi culture, cross-country and downhill skiing, and Urho Kekkonen National Park – one of Finland's largest.

Ski enthusiasts can roll two trips into one by hitting the slopes by day in Saariselkä and aurora spotting by night at Finland's northernmost ski resort. March into early April is the best time to view the aurora, as the Finnish Meteorological Institute notes that the weather is usually clearer at this time of year. But it's possible to see the northern lights at any time during the season from late August to early or mid-April.

Where to stay: Seven miles south of Saariselkä sits the village of Kakslauttanen, where you can book two- or four-person Glass Igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. The new Kelo-Glass Igloos, which sleep up to six, mix the comforts of a log chalet with the visibility of the glass roof; enjoy a private sauna, a fireplace and more. There's also an impressive selection of year-round tours and activities at this resort, including northern lights excursions on snowmobiles or by horse-drawn carriage.

Stewart Island, New Zealand

Courtesy of RealNZ

Although they may be isolated, some far-south destinations offer the chance to see the aurora australis – or southern lights. While you might be able to see them year-round in some locations (just as with the northern lights), certain months are better for aurora viewing in the Southern Hemisphere. Stewart Island is regarded as one of the top spots to see the brilliant display in New Zealand , with 85% of the island encompassed by Rakiura National Park, so there are few people and virtually no light pollution. You can reach Stewart Island by flying in from Invercargill or taking a ferry from Bluff.

New Zealand's winter months – June to August – are the best time to see the southern lights; spring and fall are also not bad times to spot them. The brighter summer months, between December and February, make it more difficult to spot the aurora, but there's still a chance you'll catch a glimpse between midnight and 4 a.m.

Where to stay: Consider reserving a room with at Stewart Island Lodge, an intimate bed-and-breakfast. This beautiful property is just minutes by foot from the village of Oban, and the property will pick you up at the ferry terminal for your stay. Past visitors rave about the spectacular views of Halfmoon Bay and the Foveaux Strait from both the rooms and lodge terrace.

Tasmania sits approximately 150 miles south of mainland Australia. This mountainous island is one of relatively few places on the planet where it's theoretically possible to see the aurora 365 days a year due to its latitude, which allows for full darkness even on summer nights. The capital city of Hobart is the easiest point of entry: It's home to Tasmania's largest airport and serves as a convenient base. The city's burgeoning food and cultural scenes will also give you plenty to see and do.

From here you'll be able to reach several great viewing locations with unobstructed and open views of the sea along the southern and southeast coastlines, like Goat Bluff and Tinderbox Bay. When you're not staring at the night sky, splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter flight with Tasmanian Air Tours. Depending on your whims, your private pilot can whisk you away to soar over the sea cliffs; stop at a local winery to sample local vintages; or head south to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Port Arthur , Tasmania 's historic and most notorious prison.

Where to stay: Reserve accommodations at The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart. The historic luxury property is situated along the lively waterfront area with harbor views. Past guests admired the historic building housing the hotel and loved the heritage rooms featuring gas fireplaces for those cold Tasmanian nights.

Expedition cruise to Antarctica

If you're one of the lucky few people on the planet to travel to the southernmost continent on Earth, it may be pricey, but you'll have an adventure of a lifetime in Antarctica, especially if the aurora illuminates the sky. The southern lights are most visible in the winter months (between March and October), but due to weather conditions, only researchers brave the Antarctic winter – and they mostly stay indoors.

However, all hope is not lost if you seek to view the aurora australis in Antarctica. Late-season expedition cruises to this continent offered in March also bring the opportunity to view the southern lights and enjoy the end of Antarctica's fleeting summer. As the days shorten in length, you may encounter light snow across the extreme landscape and ice starting to form on the water's surface.

When it comes to wildlife viewing, humpback whale sightings are abundant, and you'll still see penguin colonies – including king and gentoo penguins. You can also keep your eyes peeled for elephant seals, leopard seals, wandering albatross and other species of birds. When night falls on clear evenings, look for the light show in the southern sky. Companies that offer March voyages include Swoop Antarctica, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Silversea Cruises , Aurora Expeditions and Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

There's no one location that's widely accepted as the best place to see the northern lights. However, the strongest light displays are within what's called the "auroral oval": a rough circle around the Earth's magnetic northern pole that tends to occur around 60 to 70 degrees of latitude. The oval's exact size expands and contracts (some more southerly destinations can fall under it when the aurora is particularly strong), but there are certain locations that generally fall within the oval most of the time.

These places include:

• Central and northern Alaska
• Large areas of Yukon, the Northwest Territories and northern Quebec in Canada
• Southern Greenland
• Far northern Norway, Sweden and Finland

Within these areas, it could be argued that Iceland is the best place to see the aurora as it experiences much milder temperatures than some other areas within the oval. But this is subjective, and some travelers may prefer a location like Yellowknife in Canada for a full-on, very cold Arctic experience.

The northern lights are only visible when it's dark out. Since many of the best places to see them are so far north that they experience near-constant daylight in the summer, you'll generally want to schedule a trip between late August and early April. However, within this time period, there's some debate about the best time to catch the lights. For example, the aurora tends to be more active around the September and March equinoxes due to stronger solar winds – but on the other hand, your chances of seeing them may be higher in the depths of winter, since there's longer nights and therefore a longer window in which they might appear.

In more southern locations like Minnesota, it may be possible to see the light show in the summer months, but it's still advisable to go at a time when the nights are longer. It can also be worth trying to schedule your northern lights trip when there's a new moon: While the aurora can shine through moonlight, it may be harder to see if there's a full moon.

Of course, cloudy weather can block the aurora even if you go at the right time of year. So, it may be wise to research the local weather patterns at your chosen destination to find out if there's a month where you can expect clearer skies. In many cases, though, there's a little luck involved.

These two countries can offer excellent views of the northern lights, since both are directly under the typical auroral oval. Yet there are some differences to be aware of.

In Norway, you'll need to head to the north of the country to catch the aurora: While they have been sighted in Oslo , the capital and largest city, it's too far south to be a reliable vantage point. Cities like Tromsø are popular spots, but direct flights there are only possible from some European cities, so North Americans will have to take connecting flights. On the other hand, Iceland is generally easier to reach, with direct flights to its capital, Reykjavik, from a large number of U.S. destinations (particularly from the East Coast) with no further connection required.

Since clear skies are key for seeing the northern lights, weather is another factor to consider. In November, December and March, Reykjavik has statistically slightly more frequent clear skies, while in January and February, Tromsø is a little better, but the difference isn't big: Both places have clear skies only around 25 to 30% of the time in these months. Reykjavik has slightly warmer weather, though, so between that and the ease of access, it has a slight edge over Norway for seeing the northern lights.

Alaska and Iceland are known for stellar aurora light shows, so deciding between them may depend on which destination you find more convenient and more to your tastes. In Alaska , the city of Fairbanks is considered a great spot to catch the northern lights. (They can still be seen elsewhere in the state – for example, in Anchorage, although they're not so common in more southern locations like Juneau). The advantage of Fairbanks is that you won't need a passport , yet there aren't many direct flights from the lower 48 states. Despite being an international destination, Iceland may be more accessible (particularly from the eastern U.S.), thanks to fairly regular flights to Reykjavik from numerous American cities.

Fairbanks does offer statistically better weather for aurora viewing: It has clear skies more often than Reykjavik, particularly in March when the Alaska city experiences them around 45% of the time (compared to about 25% for Reykjavik). But you'll have to be able to tolerate the cold. While temperatures in Reykjavik hover around freezing in midwinter, Fairbanks is a veritable deep freeze, with average highs around 5 degrees Fahrenheit down to lows colder than minus 5 in December.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Timothy Forster , as a Canadian who has traveled from coast to coast in that sprawling country, knows all about travel in the cold northern reaches of the world. Forster used his extensive traveling background along with research expertise to curate this article.

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Pentecost: A Premium Sermon Kit!

How's Your Trip So Far?

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Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Jul 15, 2014 (message contributor)

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

Summary: 1. Purpose For The Trip 2. Pack What You Need 3. Expect The Unexpected 4. Flexibility & Patience Is Necessary

Our Trip to Winnipeg & Back to see family

- Traveled 3500 miles

- Stop every 2 hours for fluid management, de-cramping

- Route changes for sightseeing & detours

Question most asked when we got back from Canada

- How was your trip?

My question this morning, How's Your Trip So Far

We can start out one place in life and end up somewhere entirely different. You can start out one way and end up another

Travelers in Scripture

• Adam & Eve

• Noah

• Abraham

• Jacob

• Joseph

• Israel - Lasted 40 yr.

NT journeys

• Mary & Joseph From friends of Nazareth to a stable in Bethlehem

• Paul's missionary Journeys

Most mysterious Journey was Jesus - From glory to the cross

1. Purpose For The Trip

- To reach the goal

- Visit the family

- A focus each day

- Hotels were picked

Our route was all planned out - Straight west then straight north

A rare twin tornadoes that spun through Pliger Nebraska on Monday night wiped out the town's business district, obliterated its fire station and ground 40 or 50 homes into rubble. 2 people were killed. Plus intense flooding through the mid west

It was not to cancel but re-route

We changed the route through Michigan

- Why are you alive?

- Does my life matter?

Philippians 3:13 –14 (AV)

— 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus

2. Pack What You Need

- Get rid of excess baggage

- Stuff slows the progress & hinders the trip

- Baggage we need to get rid of

- Bitterness, Pain, Guilt, Sin

Isaiah 55:6 –7 (AV)

— 6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon

- Note the verbs - Seek, Call, Forsake (his way, his thoughts). Return

- Promise - He will have mercy, He will abundantly pardon

3. Expect The Unexpected

- Life inevitably throws us curve balls

- No matter what don't quit

Let’s say you had to walk three blocks to collect a million dollars left to you in a will. Suppose you stubbed your toe during the first block. Would you conclude the trip was too long and hard because you still had two blocks to go and could stub your toe again? Of course not. Your primary focus would be on the end of your journey, not on the journey itself.

Where is your focus? Are you primarily concerned with the next obstacle or are you fixing your eyes on an eternity without obstacles?

To worry habitually about all the troubles to come in life is much like fearing you will get a paper-cut while opening a Christmas gift from a loved one. The journey is brief, a flash of light. But there is no end of the end of the journey! There is no end of rest, no end of joy!

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

— For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope

4. Flexibility & Patience Is Necessary

- Prairie Grass survives a hurricane better than the tree

- It bends with the wind

- Going back roads we were blocked with bridges being out

- Inflexible would still be their waiting

Genesis 24:27

— And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

How is your trip so far?

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Scriptures: Genesis 24:27 , Isaiah 55:6 , Isaiah 55:6-7 , Jeremiah 29:11 , Philippians 3:13

Sermon Topics: Trust , Journey , Trip

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More than 150 passengers on board US cruises ships suffered diarrhoea and vomiting in two separate norovirus outbreaks in April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The health agency said that 94 of 2,532 passengers on a Princess Cruises ship and 67 of 1,993 passengers onboard a Royal Caribbean ship reported sickness during voyages this month.

Diarrhoea and vomiting were the predominant symptoms reported during each of the outbreaks.

Alongside the 161 struck passengers, 20 crew members on Sapphire Princess and two on Radiance of the Seas also suffered from norovirus symptoms.

The Princess Cruise voyage departed Los Angeles for a month-long round trip to Hawaii and the South Pacific islands on 5 April, while the cruise operated by Royal Caribbean started its two-week trip from Tampa, Florida  to Los Angeles via South America on 8 April.

Both ships implemented “increased cleaning and disinfection procedures” and isolated ill passengers and crew, reported the CDC.

A spokesperson for Princess Cruises said in a statement: “Onboard the most current sailing of Sapphire Princess, there have been a small number of cases of mild gastrointestinal illness among passengers, the cause likely is the common but contagious virus called Norovirus.

“At the first sign of an increase in the numbers of passengers reporting to the medical center with gastrointestinal illness, we immediately initiated additional enhanced sanitization procedures to interrupt the person-to-person spread of this virus.

“Our sanitization program, includes disinfection measures, isolation of ill passengers and communication to passengers about steps they can take to stay well while onboard.”

The Independent  has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.

Six outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships have been logged by the CDC  so far this year. The agency recommends washing your hands and hydrating for “healthy cruising”.

The outbreaks come after 28 passengers onboard Silver Nova, operated by  Silversea Cruises, were struck down by norovirus  earlier this month.

In the UK, 116 people on a cruise holiday with  Cunard suffered some form of gastrointestinal illness  on board a Queen Victoria ship from Southampton in January.

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Promises Donald Trump has made so far in his campaign for a second term

Former President Donald Trump, now the presumptive Republican nominee, has made a number of promises on the campaign trail, including rolling back car pollution rules, building 10 new cities and appointing a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden and his family.

While some of Trump’s plans are lacking in detail, here are some of the policies he says he would enact if elected for a second term.

Immigration

Trump has made immigration and the border a central campaign issue, successfully pressuring Republicans to reject a major bipartisan border deal last month and making a trip to the southern border on February 29, where he touted his previous hard-line immigration policies.

In a Des Moines Register op-ed published roughly a week before winning the Iowa caucuses in January, Trump vowed to use the “Alien Enemies Act to remove known or suspected gang members, drug dealers, or cartel members from the United States.”

“We will shift massive portions of federal law enforcement to immigration enforcement — including parts of the DEA, ATF, FBI, and DHS,” he wrote.

In a video posted on Truth Social in late February before his border visit, Trump also promised to “carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”

We will shift massive portions of federal law enforcement to immigration enforcement — including parts of the DEA, ATF, FBI, and DHS.”

After the Israel-Hamas war began last October, Trump also promised to terminate the visas of “Hamas’ sympathizers.”

“We’ll get them off our college campuses, out of our cities and get them the hell out of our country, if that’s OK with you,” he added.

Drug cartels

The former president has also made waging “war” on drug cartels a priority for his second term. If elected, Trump said in his November 2022 campaign announcement that he would ask Congress to ensure that drug smugglers and human traffickers can receive the death penalty for their “heinous acts.”

Trump also vowed to “take down” drug cartels by imposing naval embargos on cartels, cutting off cartels’ access to global financial systems and using special forces within the Department of Defense to damage the cartels’ leadership.

Trump announced plans in a September 2023 campaign video to close the Department of Education and send “all education and education work and needs back to the states.”

“We want them to run the education of our children, because they’ll do a much better job of it,” he added.

The former president has also promised to “put parents back in charge and give them the final say” in education. In a January 2023 campaign video , the former president said he would give funding preferences and “favorable treatment” to schools that allow parents to elect principals, abolish teacher tenure for K-12 teachers, use merit pay to incentivize quality teaching and cut the number of school administrators, such as those overseeing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

We want them to run the education of our children, because they’ll do a much better job of it.”

Trump also said in that campaign video that he would cut funding for schools that teach critical race theory and gender ideology. In a later speech , Trump said he would bring back the 1776 Commission , which was launched in his previous administration to “teach our values and promote our history and our traditions to our children.”

The former president said he would charge the Department of Justice and the Department of Education with investigating civil rights violations of race-based discrimination in schools while also removing “Marxists” from the Department of Education. A second Trump administration would pursue violations in schools of both the Constitution’s Establishment and Free Exercise clauses, which prohibit the government establishment of religion and protect a citizen’s right to practice their own religion, he said.

Health care

Last November, Trump promised to replace the Affordable Care Act , known colloquially as Obamacare, in a series of posts on Truth Social. A Trump-backed effort to repeal and replace Obamacare failed in 2017 after three Republicans senators joined with Democrats to vote against the bill.

“Getting much better Healthcare than Obamacare for the American people will be a priority of the Trump Administration,” he said .

“It is not a matter of cost, it is a matter of HEALTH. America will have one of the best Healthcare Plans anywhere in the world. Right now it has one of the WORST!,” he continued. He also doubled down on his vow during a speech in early January.

Getting much better Healthcare than Obamacare for the American people will be a priority of the Trump Administration.”

Trump also vowed in a June 2023 campaign video to reinstate his previous executive order so that the US government would pay the same price for pharmaceuticals as other developed countries. Some of the former president’s pharmaceutical policies were overturned by Biden.

Gender care

“I will revoke every Biden policy promoting the chemical castration and sexual mutilation of our youth and ask Congress to send me a bill prohibiting child sexual mutilation in all 50 states,” Trump said at the 2023 Conservative Political Action Conference last March.

Trump added in a campaign video that he would issue an executive order instructing federal agencies to cut programs that promote gender transitions, as well as asking Congress to stop the use of federal dollars to promote and pay for gender-affirming procedures. The former president added that his administration would not allow hospitals and health care providers to meet the federal health and safety standards for Medicaid and Medicare if they provide chemical or physical gender-affirming care to youth.

Justice system

Trump has promised to use the Department of Justice to attack critics and former allies. In several videos and speeches, the former president also laid out plans to gut the current justice system by firing “radical Marxist prosecutors that are destroying America.”

“I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family,” Trump said in June 2023 remarks . “I will totally obliterate the Deep State.”

Trump said in a campaign video last year that he would reinstate a 2020 executive order to remove “rogue” bureaucrats and propose a constitutional amendment for term limits on members of Congress.

I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family.”

To address what he labeled the “disturbing” relationship between technology platforms and the government, the former president said in a January 2023 video that he would enact a seven-year cooling off period before employees at agencies such as the FBI or CIA can work for platforms that oversee mass user data.

Trump added in multiple campaign releases that he would task the Justice Department with investigating online censorship, ban federal agencies from “colluding” to censor citizens and suspend federal money to universities participating in “censorship-supporting activities.”

In a September 2023 speech at the Family Research Council’s Pray Vote Stand Summit in Washington, DC, Trump also touted plans to continue appointing conservative judges.

“I will once again appoint rock-solid conservative judges to do what they have to do in the mold of Justices Antonin Scalia; Samuel Alito, a great gentleman; and another great gentleman, Clarence Thomas,” he said.

Trump has also pledged to “appoint U.S. Attorneys who will be the polar opposite of the Soros District Attorneys and others that are being appointed throughout the United States.”

In a September 2023 speech in Washington, DC, Trump also announced that he would appoint a task force to review the cases of people he claimed had been “unjustly persecuted by the Biden administration.” Trump noted that he wanted to “study the situation very quickly, and sign their pardons or commutations on day one.”

It’s a move that could lead to potential pardons of many rioters from the January 6, 2021, insurrection – which he suggested he would do at a CNN town hall in May 2023.

* Only promises on judge appointments and congressional term limits are similar to prior campaigns

Trump said in two February 2023 campaign videos that if “Marxist” prosecutors refuse to charge crimes and surrender “our cities to violent criminals,” he “will not hesitate to send in federal law enforcement to restore peace and public safety.”

Trump added that he would instruct the Department of Justice to open civil rights investigations into “radical left” prosecutors’ offices that engaged in racial enforcement of the law, encourage Congress to use their legal authority over Washington, DC, to restore “law and order” and overhaul federal standards of disciplining minors to address rising crimes like carjackings.

Addressing policies made in what Trump calls the “Democrats’ war on police,” the former president vowed in a campaign video that he would pass a “record investment” to hire and retrain police, strengthen protections like qualified immunity, increase penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers and deploy the National Guard when local law enforcement “refuses to act.”

The former president added that he would require law enforcement agencies that receive money from his funding investment or the Department of Justice to use “proven common sense” measures such as stop-and-frisk.

Foreign policy

Trump has continued his attacks against member countries of NATO, a European and North American defense alliance. At a South Carolina rally last month, Trump said he would not abide by the alliance’s collective-defense clause and would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” if a member country didn’t meet spending guidelines.

“NATO was busted until I came along,” Trump said. “I said, ‘Everybody’s gonna pay.’ They said, ‘Well, if we don’t pay, are you still going to protect us?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ They couldn’t believe the answer.”

The former president has also previously pledged to end the war in Ukraine, though he’s offered no details on how he would do so. “Shortly after I win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled,” Trump said at a New Hampshire campaign event last year, adding in another speech that it would take him “no longer than one day” to settle the war if elected.

NATO was busted until I came along. I said, ‘Everybody’s gonna pay.’ They said, ‘Well, if we don’t pay, are you still going to protect us?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not.’”

Trump further addressed his strategy of stopping the “never-ending wars” by vowing to remove “warmongers,” “frauds” and “failures in the senior ranks of our government,” and replace them with national security officials who would defend America’s interests. The former president added in a campaign video that he would stop lobbyists and government contractors from pushing senior military officials toward war.

In addition, Trump has said he would restore his “wonderful” travel ban on individuals from several majority-Muslim countries to “keep radical Islamic terrorists out of our country” after Biden overturned the ban in 2021.

New cities and flying cars

Trump said in multiple campaign videos that he would spearhead an effort to build so-called “Freedom Cities” to “reopen the frontier, reignite American imagination, and give hundreds of thousands of young people and other people, all hardworking families, a new shot at home ownership and in fact, the American Dream.”

In his plan, the federal government would charter 10 new cities on federal land, awarding them to areas with the best development proposals. The former president said in a campaign video that the Freedom Cities would bring the return of US manufacturing, economic opportunity, new industries and affordable living.

In the March 2023 video, Trump added that the US under a second Trump administration would lead in efforts to “develop vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicles for families and individuals,” not letting China lead “this revolution in air mobility.” The former president said these airborne vehicles would change commerce and bring wealth into rural communities.

Electric vehicles

Trump has promised to roll back new car pollution rules at the Environmental Protection Agency that could require electric vehicles to account for up to two-thirds of new cars sold in the US by 2032. Biden’s electrical vehicle-related policies, Trump claimed at a Michigan rally last September , “spell the death of the US auto industry.”

“On day one, I will terminate Joe Biden’s electrical vehicle mandate, and I will cancel every job-killing regulation that is crushing American autoworkers,” Trump added.

Trump has promised to reduce energy prices by increasing domestic production. In several campaign appearances, he has laid out plans to end delays in federal drilling permits and leases.

“We’re going to ‘drill, baby, drill’ right away,” Trump told a crowd of supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, during a victory speech after winning the state’s Republican caucuses in January.

At a South Carolina rally in February, he pledged to remove limits on American natural gas exports.

At the same rally in South Carolina, Trump pledged to impose “stiff penalties on China and other trade abusers.”

“It’s called you screw us, and we screw you,” Trump said.

Under his proposed “Trump Reciprocal Trade Act,” the former president said if other countries impose tariffs on the US, the country would impose “a reciprocal, identical” tariff right back .

It was the same pledge Trump made in a campaign video in 2023: to impose the same tariffs that other countries may impose on the US on those countries. The goal, the former president said then, is to get other countries to drop their tariffs.

It’s called you screw us, and we screw you.”

As part of a larger strategy to bring jobs back into the US, Trump also said he would implement his so-called “ America First ” trade agenda if elected. By setting universal baseline tariffs on a majority of foreign goods, the former president said Americans would see taxes decrease as tariffs increase. His proposal also includes a four-year plan to phase out all Chinese imports of essential goods , as well as stopping China from buying up America and stopping the investment of US companies in China.

Trump also said in February that he would consider imposing a tariff upward of 60% on all Chinese imports if he’s reelected.

The former president has particularly focused on China, vowing in a January 2023 campaign video to restrict Chinese ownership of US infrastructure such as energy, technology, telecommunications and natural resources. Trump also said he would force the Chinese to sell current holdings that may put national security at risk. “Economic security is national security,” he said.

Trump has promised to extend the cuts from his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, notably the TCJA’s individual income tax breaks. The former president has also talked about reducing the corporate tax rate from the current 21% to 15%.

“I will make the Trump tax cuts the largest tax cut in history,” the former president said last month at the Black Conservative Federation’s Honors Gala in South Carolina. “We’ll make it permanent and give you a new economic boom.”

I will make the Trump tax cuts the largest tax cut in history.”

Trump has also pledged to repeal Biden’s tax hikes , “immediately tackle” inflation and end what he called Biden’s “war” on American energy production.

Second Amendment

“I will take Biden’s executive order directing the federal government to target the firearms industry, and I will rip it up and throw it out on day one,” Trump said at the 2023 National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action leadership forum last April.

The former president also promised in the speech that the government would not infringe on citizens’ Second Amendment rights and that he would push Congress to pass a concealed carry reciprocity.

“I will create a special team to rapidly review every action taken by federal agencies under Biden’s ‘equity’ agenda that will need to be reversed. We will reverse almost all of them,” Trump said in a campaign video .

Trump added in multiple campaign videos that he would revoke Biden’s equity executive order that required federal agencies to deliver equitable outcomes in policy and conduct equity training. If elected, Trump said he would also fire staffers hired to implement Biden’s policy, and then reinstate his 2020 executive order banning racial and sexual stereotyping in the federal government.

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The Best Sci-Fi Books of 2024 (So Far)

Posted: March 6, 2024 | Last updated: March 11, 2024

The opening page of Malka Older’s new book says simply, “There are other ways to live.” That idea carries through so many of this year’s best science fiction books, which are full of questions about how we might live differently with each other, on our troubled planet or in the furthest reaches of space. Science fiction, as Ursula K. Le Guin once wrote, is not predictive but descriptive, and what contemporary science fiction authors are so often describing is a world that seems to be less and less built for humans to thrive in it. We are still close enough to 2020 that we’re reading books that have their roots in that particularly tumultuous year—roots that dig deep into surveillance , capitalism , protest , inequity , and failures to learn from the past.

But there are other worlds, other ways to thrive—and other ways to replicate humanity’s worst failings, too. This year’s best books don’t shy away from who we’ve been, and who we are, but they also brim with a fierce curiosity about who we might become. As Martin MacInnes writes in the glorious In Ascension , “The original science-fiction story—the impossible adventure full of wonder and awe—was merely the existence of the species, all the movements she and her sister and their family and every other living person had shared.”

Below, listed in publication order, are our favorite science fiction books of the year (so far). Watch this space for updates; we’ll continue adding to our list as the year unfolds.

1) Your Utopia, by Bora Chung (translated by Anton Hur)

Bora Chung’s impressive second collection sets its tone with its title: if a utopia is yours, can it be shared? Can it be anyone else’s? There’s a melancholy and a wryness to these stories, in which lonely people (or other beings) try to connect, or protect, or simply survive. In “The End of the Voyage,” the urge to consume dooms humanity. In “A Song for Sleep,” an AI elevator does its best to care for a resident of its building. The elevator seems kind, but its knowledge of the building’s inhabitants is due to an alarming level of surveillance. Through the prism of her singular imagination, Chung looks sharply at the ways the world we’ve made doesn’t suit us: corporate greed is a frequent enemy, whether it’s focused on controlling the natural world (“Seed”) or extending its own existence (“The Center for Immortality Research”). These are stories to sit with, to read one at a time and savor.

2) The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles, by Malka Older

The second volume in Malka Older’s utterly delightful Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti series finds Mossa searching for a missing student—a case that expands to include over a dozen missing people. The mystery is satisfying, but the heart of this story is the tentative and endearing relationship between Mossa and the academic Pleiti, the Watson to Mossa’s Holmes, who narrates the bulk of their tale. Older packs a ton into barely 200 pages: academic wrangling, space libertarians, the state of the distant and troubled Earth, a visit to the moon of Io, a trip on Giant’s fascinating railcars, and so much more. This is distinctly a cozy mystery, but also a space opera in miniature. Part of what Older so beautifully illustrates is the way humanity might bring its history and culture—food, tea, language, rituals, fears—into the alien landscapes of space. You can read this one without reading the first book, The Mimicking of Known Successes , but why deprive yourself?

3) In Ascension, by Martin MacInnes

MacInnes’s third novel—longlisted for last year’s Booker Prize—is simply like nothing else I’ve ever read. In Ascension centers on Leigh, a marine biologist who spent a troubled childhood in Rotterdam before venturing far from home: to a distant island, to the depths of the ocean, to the Mojave Desert, and eventually to the stars. But that sounds so simple, and this book is expansively, engrossingly complex, meticulously observed and quietly moving. As Leigh’s work turns confidential and mysterious, involving strange phenomena that connect to her deep-sea adventure, MacInnes details her focus on algae with the same care and consideration that he uses to depict her relationship with her mother, her sister, her colleagues, and her world. This isn’t a book that offers anything approaching a tidy resolution. What it offers instead is the texture of an entire life, reflected and refracted by the lives around it. It’s as immersive and astonishing as the deep-sea dive Leigh takes, a journey through a familiar world made freshly, improbably new.

4) Those Beyond the Wall, by Micaiah Johnson

If this were a ranking of the most memorable characters of the year, Scales would be at the top. A mechanic by assignment but a killer by skill, she’s one of many lieutenants to the Emperor of Ashtown, a desert community that exists outside the walls of privileged Wiley City. Ashtown is not an easy place to live, even when you’re the Emperor’s favorite. But when mangled bodies start appearing, no one is safe, and it will take the combined efforts of Scales, her least-favorite colleague, a disgraced scientist, the Emperor, and a worldwalker to save them—all of them. Johnson’s second book, a standalone set in the same world as her The Space Between Worlds , is fueled by the rage that comes from love. When you love a people, love a place, and that people and place are treated as lesser and disposable, rage is inevitable. (As Johnson writes in the author’s note, “Rage is a beacon calling out to others.”) Complicated, deadly, and absolutely full of secrets, Scales is one hell of a narrator, and her sharp, distinctive voice propels this story though desert, city, multiverse, and her own hidden history. Those Beyond the Wall is a novel about holding tight to community in the face of devastation, and it is a triumph.

5) The Siege of Burning Grass, by Premee Mohamed

The latest work from the astonishingly prolific Mohamed (who has three books out this year alone) is a visceral yet intimate story about violence, nationalism, and war. Injured, captured, and tortured by his own side in an endless conflict, the famous pacifist Alefret is sent on a mission to infiltrate an enemy city. With him is Qhudur, a fanatic who will do anything for victory. Mohamed’s bio-technical setting is vivid and unusual—trained medical wasps, floating cities, and lightspiders dot these pages—but the heart of her story is Alefret’s moral struggle. Would killing Qhudur, an act of violence, lead to peace? When does violence become a habit that a country cannot break? How can a person hold tight to their ideals even amid suffering? How can stories and myths help sustain us? But The Siege of Burning Grass isn’t just a thoughtful consideration of war and pacifism; it’s also a feat of worldbuilding, moral complexity, and taut, precisely paced storytelling. After this, I’m ready to hunt down everything else Mohamed has ever written.

6) These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart, by Izzy Wasserstein

In post-climate disaster America, in what’s left of Kansas City, a woman named Dora investigates a death in the anarchist commune to which she once belonged. She’s certain her ex didn’t overdose, but finding out what really happened isn’t going to be easy. Wasserstein excels at the near-future details of her SF-techno-mystery, but she shines even more when it comes to the unexpected connection between Dora and the person sent to kill her—a person who is wearing her pre-transition face. These Fragile Graces is at once a stylish noir and an exploration of identity, gender, selfhood, control, consent, and intimacy. Wasserstein more than pulls it off—everything here feels lived-in and real, from the details of the commune’s processes to the corporate powers that treat people as disposable or replaceable. Dora’s distinctive, terse voice is one I keep hearing in my head, long after the last page. Maybe, if we’re lucky, she’ll find more mysteries to solve.

7) Floating Hotel, by Grace Curtis

In her second novel, Curtis makes an impeccable balancing act look easy. Floating Hotel is, on the surface, a cozy sort of tale about the staff at the titular spaceship, the Grand Abeona Hotel, which endlessly traverses the same route, catering to wealthy people among the stars. Young, miserable Carl stows away on the hotel as a kid; decades later, he’s risen to the post of manager, now a gentle charmer with a soothing word for everyone. When a peculiar academic conference converges with the search for the Lamplighter (a seditious, anti-Empire figure whose broadsides appear between chapters), the fate of the hotel—and its endearing staff—is called into question. But Curtis doesn’t let the spies, codes, and mysteries take over the story; there’s still time for illicit movie nights and anxious musical performances. Floating Hotel is rich with kindness, with big-hearted characters from every corner of the ship, but it also has teeth, a working-class sensibility, and a rebellious heart. This one is a treat.

8) Calypso, by Oliver K. Langmead

“Generation ship novel in verse” is a series of words I had never considered until I read Oliver K. Langmead’s ambitious and immersive Calypso . While the engineers slept, the crew of the Calypso experienced a schism. When Rochelle—whose role is to question Sigmund, the expedition’s leader—wakes, nothing is as she expects, and nothing goes as planned. Four narrators tell the tale: Rochelle, a woman of faith; Catherine, a biologist; the Herald, who relates the ship’s history; and Sigmund, whose narrative is largely set in his own past. Their voices take different shapes; the Herald’s words are squared off, blocky and challenging, while Catherine’s words bend and twist, branching outward more dramatically as she gets closer to the culmination of her role. In a stunning central chapter that’s part body horror and part triumphant act of creation, Catherine transforms, filling a planet with myriad forms of life. Outside of that section, Langmead’s verse creates a sense of spareness, of space unfilled, that echoes the loneliness Rochelle feels. Like so many generation ship stories, this is an elegantly told meditation on how we can’t leave ourselves behind. Any new world will be seeded with what we know, what we’ve learned, who we are, for better or for worse.

9) Lake of Souls, by Ann Leckie

This complete collection of Leckie’s short fiction contains both science fiction and fantasy stories, but the SF stories make up a full half of the book—and are unmissable. They range from flash fiction to a creation myth from the world of the Imperial Radch to “The Justified,” a haunting story about power, mortality, and choice. The title novelette follows a sentient crustacean—called a “lobster dog” by the anthropologist who crash-lands on its planet—as it leaves home, looking for answers about its world and existence. (I would read an entire novel about the lobster dogs, or about the bird-people who transmit their histories through songs.) Every one of these stories is masterfully told, but the standout is “She Commands Me and I Obey,” which depicts a moment of political turmoil through the eyes of a young monk watching a momentous sports game. Tense, affecting, and layered, it’s a perfect example of Leckie’s gift for knowing exactly the right perspective from which to tell her stories. A child, an elder, a guard on a ship’s journey through troubled space: it is a gift to spend time with these characters.

10) The Practice, The Horizon, and The Chain, by Sofia Samatar

Samatar’s latest is a breathtaking novella that resonates like a new myth made of familiar materials. Deep in the bowels of a spaceship, a boy is imprisoned, linked to others by the chain around his ankle. A professor who wears a lighter anklet works to free him, to elevate him to the level of a student, to give him an opportunity. Neither of them have names; nor do the guards, nor the prophet who encourages the boy’s art. They are individuals, but also archetypes, strong and aching, as they move through Samatar’s critical look at labor, exploitation, community, hierarchy, revolution, and worn-out narratives about acceptance and tolerance that do not allow space for real freedom. This story has its roots in academia, but it’s about any organization built to sustain itself at the expense of those who toil within it. Samatar’s gorgeous prose rings clear as a bell. There are no easy answers here, only a sense of possibility, of— as she puts it —“an invitation to exist in the cracks.''

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NFL Draft 2024: Grading every Giants pick so far — Malik Nabers, Tyler Nubin, Andru Phillips

• Updated: Apr. 27, 2024, 3:08 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 27, 2024, 6:00 a.m.

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers was picked by the Giants in Round 1. AP

• Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Grading draft picks immediately after their selection is sort of a silly process.

But let’s do it anyway.

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