Grüße aus Düsseldorf, Travellers!

Thanks to your excellent suggestions over last week, I've got a packed schedule for my short time on the banks of the Rhine. As soon as we arrived yesterday, we headed into Little Tokyo, Düsseldorf's very own Japanese quarter, for a lunchtime bento box and a stroll through the Old Town.

Today's plans involve some serious public transport nerdery in nearby Wuppertal, where I'll be riding the famous Schwebebahn. For those not in the know, that's the world's oldest suspended railway. 

Once we've had our fill of public transport (if that's even possible), it'll be time to use our two feet on a walking rollercoaster. I'm expecting some great views and sore glutes after that! Don't worry, I'll report back on whether the burn is worth the reward.

Meantime, Flight Finder Olivia has put together all the essential info for making your Yellowstone dreams a reality, while Genora is helping you navigate the Caribbean, and Kash needs some more of your Italian wisdom.

Happy travels and safe landings,

If you’ve only heard of one US National Park, there’s a pretty good chance it’s Yellowstone. Visitors have been flocking here to witness the wide open plains, roaring waterfalls, roaming bison, and geothermal weirdness since 1872.

In addition to being the first national park, it’s also one of the largest — almost half the size of Slovenia — which can make it a bit daunting when you’re in the early stages of planning. 

The first decision you’ll need to make? Where to begin your adventure! Because this massive park has a total of five entrances, Yellowstone visitors can fly in and out of several different airports dotted around the region. Each one comes with its own pros and cons, but all are within a day’s drive of the park. 

I’m here to break down some of the most popular airports near Yellowstone and help you decide which one is right for your trip. Before we get going, keep these three things in mind:

• Each one of these towns host plenty of tour companies, so non-drivers can also take their pick from any of these options.
• Aside from one stretch of park inside the North Entrance, Yellowstone is closed from October-May due to weather. We’ll be focusing on the fully operational months here.
• Have a look at this park map to get your bearings. Note the entrances at the edges of the park; that’s what we’re measuring to get our drive times.

Now without further ado, here's where to fly into Yellowstone!

West Yellowstone (WYS)

Montana

Why fly here?

Proximity to the park! This is the closest airport to Yellowstone. You can leave the airport parking lot and be at the West Entrance in less than ten minutes, and you can make it all the way to Old Faithful in under an hour. The town itself is pretty small but has plenty of accommodations, so you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for convenience either.

The catch? Severely limited flight options. Routes only go through Denver and Salt Lake. But if you don’t mind stopping in one of those cities and splurging for the rarer flights, you’ll be rewarded with the most seamless park access that a visitor can get.

• Distance: 5 minutes from the West Entrance
• Available routes: Non-stops to DEN, SLC (May-October) exclusively
• Airlines: Delta, United (regional networks only, not the primary airline)
• Rental Car Agencies: Avis, Budget

Jackson Hole (JAC)

Wyoming

Why fly here?

You’ll be right between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, its slightly less famous but just as beautiful neighbor (pictured below). This is the closest airport to Grand Teton, but it’s also one of the most convenient options for Yellowstone.

Jackson Hole is a charming mountain town that grew around visitors like you, so this option is perfect for people who want a comfortable homebase with accessibility to both parks. Spend your days hiking and paddling, then come on back for fine dining or local brews! 

Routes are still a bit limited here, but way more varied than West Yellowstone’s. Plus, take-offs and landings come with absolutely stunning views.

• Distance: 1 hour from the South Entrance
• Available flight routes: Daily flights to some major US airports, no international non-stops
• Airlines: Alaska, American, Delta, United
• Rental Car Agencies: Avis/Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National

Salt Lake City (SLC)

Utah

Why fly here?

Salt Lake isn’t exactly close to the parks, but it’s the closest major city with a big international airport. That all means it's usually the cheapest airport to fly into Yellowstone. And that extra time in the car won’t be a slog — this is an established road trip route.

With by FAR the most options for routes and airlines, this is also typically the best choice for people flying into Yellowstone from overseas. We’re talking hundreds of dollars cheaper than the other airports at times! And while it’s not exactly convenient, the drive is totally doable in one day, so you need not spend any extra cash on hotels if you don’t want to. 

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Hi Kerstin, a singing retreat in Dominica sounds amazing!

And I totally get wanting to do some sightseeing beforehand. To stay on budget and avoid the US-run islands, I’d suggest focusing on the Lesser Antilles. The FRS Express runs a reliable ferry corridor connecting Guadeloupe -> Dominica -> Martinique -> Saint Lucia.

One option is to fly into St Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) — flights are usually cheaper via the US, but sometimes you’ll find good routes with a stop in Toronto or Ottawa. From a base in Kingstown, you can ferry-hop to Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island on local ferries (usually around US$10–20 per leg).

From there, take a short flight (about 45 minutes) from SVG to Saint Lucia. If you time it right, try to land there on a Friday for the legendary Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party.

Next, catch the FRS ferry to Martinique (~90 minutes), then continue north through Dominica and up to Guadeloupe, where you can do easy side trips to Les Saintes and Marie-Galante. Afterward, head back down to Dominica for your retreat.

FRS also runs ferries to islands like St Kitts and Montserrat, but those routes tend to be pricier. This route works nicely because your biggest transport cost will be the international flight from Québec to SVG. After that, it’s just one short SVG → Saint Lucia flight, and the rest is ferries - usually €19–31 for FRS depending on fare class. I’ve attached an FRS brochure that might come in handy.

If you’d prefer to avoid commercial ferries altogether, there’s also the option of yacht hitchhiking or crewing through sites like CrewBay or FindACrew. These usually work on a cost-sharing basis, but you’d need to stay flexible on timing (don’t expect same-day departures). If you go that route, take safety seriously: verify the captain’s ID/registration, and make sure they’re clearing through official ports only. 

And then there's the option of mail boats, which Kash wrote about a couple of months back. They are definitely the slow way to travel, and harder to find. But if you're up for doing some research, you might strike gold.

I hope this helps you plan, Kerstin! If any of you other intrepid island hoppers have some tips to share, please hop into the comments.

Hello, lovely readers. Are you feeling the shift of seasons? I sure am!

Here in Ireland, September’s light quietly sets in. The festivals of Samhradh (that’s summer as gaeilge) slowly slip away, and cloudbursts loom over the four corners of my thatch cottage - as if to see whether I’ll be the one to break the season open with the first fire in the stove.

Not yet.

No match will be struck until I’ve squeezed in every last ounce of summer into my suitcase! Cue a gals trip to Italy with my BFF. And that’s where we need your tips on what to see and what to skip.

After hearing so much praise from our members about Lucca’s medieval charm (thanks for the Postcard James!) we thought we’d go and see what the fuss was about.

Afterward, we’ll head for Liguria’s shimmering coast, skipping Cinque Terre’s touristic chaos. Instead, we'll plop ourselves under the peaceful parasols of a place known to locals as "la città dei due mari" - the city of two seas, Sestri Levante. We stumbled upon this seaside town on Google Maps purely by chance, and zooming in on the “Bay of Silence” we were sold.

For us, it’s all about authenticity, slowing down, and, of course, the people (and food) you encounter along the way.

Been to either spot? I’m dying to hear your favourite hidden corners, hikes, cafés, stories, sunset spots — we're all ears, just let us know in the comment section.

Grazie Mille!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.

• Petty, or justified? One traveller’s reaction to a lack of overhead bin space has the internet divided. 
  
  
• The population of near-extinct mountain gorillas has increased from about 300 to over a thousand — here’s a look inside the violent, complex struggle that made it happen.
  
  
• From pastries atop a Kosovan mountain, to whatever this man in Crete happened to harvest from his garden that morning, Guardian readers are sharing their favorite culinary experiences across Europe.
  
  
• Hotel prices in this popular US city have ballooned by 70% in the last decade, causing tourism to plummet — and airlines are taking notice.
  
  
• And finally, wholesome lessons from a 95-year-old solo traveller. Pen and paper at the ready!