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This week’s travel news: A behind-the-scenes look at ‘White Lotus’ Resort, the perfect place to retire in 2026, and tips to avoid vacation stress.
Greece was recently named the best place in the world to retire in 2026, according to International Living’s annual index. Panama and Costa Rica rank second and third on the list and are especially popular with North Americans.
However, the grass is not always greener overseas. Navigating foreign tax systems and bank accounts can be particularly confusing. CNN spoke to several experts who have done just this and learned some hard lessons along the way. Watch their tips in the video above.
Finally, here are some true stories of people who made the leap to Europe and Asia.
Barbara Olpinski, a New Jersey native who moved to Poland from Chicago in 2020, had a hard time adjusting to her husband’s home country. “I cried a lot of tears,” she told CNN, fearing she would never fit in. But taking up a new hobby helped change things.
Victoria Shouse, who is in her 70s, moved to Bali in 2022 after becoming disillusioned with life in the United States. She told CNN that she immediately felt “very comfortable” there and loved the state’s “calm energy.” But she says she made a lot of “mistakes” when it came to finding a place to live. Here’s what she learned.
The lives of wealthy and luxurious people
Inside “White Lotus” Resort
If you’re looking for a less permanent change in your life, perhaps a short trip to dizzyingly luxurious heights might tempt you.
HBO’s “White Lotus” Season 3 was filmed at several hotels in Thailand, including the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket. CNN Travel’s Kara Cripps visited earlier this year and took us on a quick tour.
Luxury luxury yachts are the newest attraction in the luxury hotel world, with the likes of Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman competing to launch them on the high seas.
“We’re introducing people to cruises they never thought of before,” said Tina Edmundson, president of Marriott International’s luxury division, about the boutique-style service, which is the antithesis of the mega-cruise boom.
Behind the scenes of the 1982 Air Florida disaster that changed pre-flight standards every winter
In 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed at Washington National Airport, exposing the dangers of icing during winter flights. This was a tragic event that changed the way U.S. airlines deal with freezing conditions.
CNN’s Alexandra Scoles went behind the scenes and underneath planes at Chicago O’Hare Airport to see how professional de-icing crews keep passengers safe.
Dulles International Airport, located on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., was supposed to be the airport of the future when it opened in the 1960s. It was the first airport in the United States built for the jet age, and its iconic mobile lounges, or people transportation, make Dulles unique. But in its 60 years of operation, Dulles International Airport has regularly been named to “worst airport” lists, and President Trump recently called it a “terrible airport.” This is the story of how the innovation that made it so original also made it unpopular.
Do you always feel exhausted when planning your vacation? Here’s how to fix it
Travel expert Jake Haupert says running through a jam-packed itinerary will only increase your stress and leave you exhausted. Instead, he suggests practicing “slow travel,” which can deepen your connection to your destination. Watch the video above to see how it works.
The “Unlocking the World” newsletter will be closed next week on December 27th. So stay tuned for more travel news on January 3, 2026.
presidential speech. A search that lasted several days.
Hollywood legend. What do you remember about that week?
Detty December is one of the biggest parties in the world.
And that’s a big problem for some people.
Americans are hungry for community.
So why not create more European-style plazas?
British “tea time” is very complicated.
Sometimes there is no tea available.
