Destination guides that start with where to stay

A destination guide should answer where to stay before it gets to what to see. On the Grand Strand that means choosing between North Myrtle Beach, central Myrtle Beach and Surfside. In Charleston it means deciding whether you want to walk the historic district or save money across the bridge. In New York it can mean picking a neighborhood by its subway line.

Our guides cover the places our readers actually go: South Carolina's coast, Florida, New York, California, the Caribbean and the easier first-timer cities of Europe. Each one looks at getting there, where to stay, getting around and which attractions are popular for a good reason.

We check entry requirements against official government sources and date every guide, because rules change and an old answer stated as current is worse than no answer. You won't find a list of secret spots here. You'll find honest notes on which part of town fits which kind of trip.