Unpacked by Afar

It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year. Places like Saba, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island with no beaches, no cruise ports, and the world's shortest commercial runway—just 400 meters long. What it does have: lush volcanic landscapes, 20 hand-built hiking trails, and a population of just over 2,000. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with ⁠Bianca Bujan⁠, a Vancouver-based travel journalist who shares the thrilling 12-minute flight from St. Martin, the island's gingerbread-house architecture, and why her teenager called it his favorite trip ever—despite spotty wifi and no beaches. Plan Your Saba Getaway Stay ⁠Juliana’s Hotel⁠ in Windward Side, a boutique property ⁠The Scenery Hotel, a new luxury boutique hotel opening in 2026 at the base of Mount Scenery Eat and Drink ⁠Tropics Cafe⁠ at Juliana's Hotel—popular with locals Try ⁠Saba Spice⁠, a local handmade spiced rum served on ice Time your visit for the ⁠Saba Rum and Lobster Festival⁠ in November See and Do Hike ⁠Mount Scenery⁠, technically the highest point in the Netherlands Try the ⁠Mas'Cohones Trail⁠ for spectacular views with a less strenuous climb Book a guided hike with ⁠Crocodile James⁠, a local legend, via the Saba Conservation Foundation Join a ⁠Sea and Learn Foundation⁠ workshop for hands-on experiences like wild clay pottery with locals Resources Follow Bianca on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ or read her work on her website Explore ⁠Afar's ⁠Where to Go in 2026 list⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠@afarmedia⁠⁠ Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E4: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠⁠⁠⁠ E5: ⁠⁠⁠Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention ⁠⁠⁠ E6: ⁠⁠⁠Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting⁠⁠⁠ E7: ⁠⁠⁠The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret ⁠⁠⁠ E8: ⁠⁠⁠Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari ⁠⁠⁠ E9: ⁠⁠The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better ⁠⁠ E10: ⁠⁠The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing⁠⁠ E11: ⁠Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense⁠ E12: ⁠The Texas City Getting a Juneteenth Museum, FIFA World Cup Matches, and a Cowgirl Museum Expansion⁠ E13: ⁠The South Australian City That Punches Above Its Weight⁠ E14: East London's Olympic Park Has Transformed Into a Cultural Powerhouse E15: (this one!) The Five-Square-Mile Caribbean Island That's Nothing Like Its Neighbors Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And explore our other podcasts, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠⁠⁠: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year. Like East London, where a billion-pound investment has transformed the 2012 Olympic Park into a creative powerhouse. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with ⁠Nick DeRenzo⁠, Afar's editorial director of newsletters (sign up here!) and a self-described Londoner at heart. Nick makes the case for hopping on the Elizabeth line and devoting time to the East Bank cultural quarter, where you can order a David Bowie costume at the V&A East Storehouse, dine on Chinese-Texas barbecue on a canal barge, and sweat it out in a community sauna. Plan Your East London Getaway (First, explore our ⁠London travel guide⁠.) Stay ⁠Moxy London Stratford⁠ for budget-friendly stays ⁠The Stratford⁠, an Autograph Collection hotel ⁠The Gantry⁠, a Curio Collection by Hilton property Eat and Drink ⁠Barge East⁠, a restaurant on a canal barge Chinese-Texas-style Uncle Hon’s BBQ ⁠Badu Café, a Black-owned coffee shop run by a youth athletics nonprofit Snacks and drinks along ⁠Hackney Bridge⁠, an incubator space in an old candy factory See and Do Explore ⁠Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park⁠, the heart of the East Bank cultural quarter Visit the ⁠V&A East Storehouse⁠ to see 250,000 objects—and use the "Order an Object" program for a personalized curator experience Catch a show at ⁠Sadler's Wells East⁠, dedicated to non-ballet dance Soak at ⁠Community Sauna Baths⁠, a not-for-profit with Scandinavian vibes Dance at ⁠Coven⁠, London's first permanent Black-owned queer venue since the 1970s Coming in 2026 ⁠V&A East⁠ museum dedicated to East London design opens April 2026 BBC Music Studios moving to the area in 2027 London College of Fashion campus now open Resources Follow Nick on ⁠Instagram⁠ Explore ⁠Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list⁠ Follow us: ⁠@afarmedia⁠ Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E4: ⁠⁠⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠⁠⁠ E5: ⁠⁠Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention ⁠⁠ E6: ⁠⁠Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting⁠⁠ E7: ⁠⁠The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret ⁠⁠ E8: ⁠⁠Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari ⁠⁠ E9: ⁠The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better ⁠ E10: ⁠The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing⁠ E11: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense E12: The Texas City Getting a Juneteenth Museum, FIFA World Cup Matches, and a Cowgirl Museum Expansion E13: The South Australian City That Punches Above Its Weight E14: East London's Olympic Park Has Transformed Into a Cultural Powerhouse (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And explore our other podcasts, ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠⁠⁠. And in 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. So our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. Places like Adelaide, Australia, a city within a park that punches above its weight with world-class wine, a booming food scene, and Australia's only UNESCO City of Music designation. In this episode, producer Nikki Galteland interviews host Aislyn Greene, who traveled to Adelaide last year. Aislyn shares why she waited 10 years to visit, what makes Adelaide different from Sydney and Melbourne, and how to engage with Aboriginal history—including a new $35 million cultural center. Plan Your Adelaide Getaway (First, explore our ⁠Australia travel guide⁠.) Stay Adelaide Marriott⁠ Eat and Drink ⁠Shobosho⁠, a Japanese izakaya with a custom yakitori grill ⁠Golden Boy⁠ for Thai food in an art-filled space Fino Vino⁠ for a daily-changing tasting menu Ondeen⁠ in the Adelaide Hills for fireside dining ⁠Salopian Inn⁠ in McLaren Vale Lino Ramble⁠ Wines—ask for the fortified arinto Explore Barossa Valley⁠ for world-famous Shiraz McLaren Vale⁠ and ⁠Adelaide Hills⁠ for boutique wineries Small Batch Wine Tours⁠ for off-the-beaten-path tastings The newly expanded ⁠Adelaide Central Market⁠ The Thebarton Theatre⁠, a 1928 theater reopened after an $8M renovation Kangaroo Island⁠ for wildlife The ⁠Eyre Peninsula⁠ for a coastal road trip The ⁠Flinders Ranges⁠ for Outback landscapes Engage With Aboriginal Culture ⁠Yipti Yartapuultiku⁠, the new $35.2M Aboriginal cultural center ⁠Bookabee Australia⁠ for the Adelaide Aboriginal Cultural Experience The Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery at the ⁠South Australian Museum⁠ Know Before You Go New: United flies direct from San Francisco to Adelaide Best time: Australian fall (March–May) for harvest and mild weather Or plan around ⁠Adelaide Fringe⁠ (Feb–March) or ⁠WOMADelaide⁠ (March) Very walkable; rent a car only for wine country and day trips Resources Follow Aislyn on ⁠Instagram⁠ Explore ⁠Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list⁠ Follow us: ⁠@afarmedia⁠ Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E4: ⁠⁠⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠⁠⁠ E5: ⁠⁠Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention ⁠⁠ E6: ⁠⁠Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting⁠⁠ E7: ⁠⁠The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret ⁠⁠ E8: ⁠⁠Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari ⁠⁠ E9: ⁠The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better ⁠ E10: ⁠The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing⁠ E11: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense E12: The Australian City That Punches Above Its Weight (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠⁠⁠—24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year. Like Fort Worth, Texas, a city that blends its cowboy heritage with world-class museums, a thriving food scene, and major developments on the horizon. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with ⁠Nora Walsh⁠, a travel writer and podcast host who fell hard for the "Unexpected City." She took line dancing lessons at the world's largest honky-tonk and had a chance sauna encounter that connected her with a community of female entrepreneurs. She digs into the city's incredible museum district, the revitalized Stockyards, and how to get yourself a proper cowboy hat shaped to your head. Related reading: Circle L Five: The Oldest All-Black Riding Club in Fort Worth Plan Your Fort Worth Getaway (First, explore our Texas travel guide.) Stay —Check into Hotel Drover in the Stockyards for a luxe take on Western heritage —Book The Crescent Hotel, a new modern hotel across from the Cultural District museums —Stay at Bowie House, an Auberge hotel and resort —Try The Nobleman, which just opened in Fort Worth —Watch for the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Hotel opening in 2026 Eat, Drink, and Dance —Take line dancing lessons and boot scoot at Billy Bob's Texas —Have a drink at Low Doubt —Catch live music at Tulips FTW, a local live music venue —Explore the restaurants and bars along Mule Alley in the Stockyards —Visit the annual Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival Explore....\ —The Fort Worth Cultural District, home to four world-class museums —The Kimbell Art Museum —American West art and photography at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art —Contemporary works at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth —The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame—expanding in 2026 —The National Juneteenth Museum breaking ground in 2026 i —The daily cattle drive in the Fort Worth Stockyards —The Cowtown Coliseum rodeo —The Cowboys of Color Rodeo in January 2026 Shop —Get a proper cowboy hat shaped to your head at The Best Hat Store —Shop City Boots for cowboy boots specifically designed for women —Pick up Fort Worth–branded gear at Morgan Mercantile in Southside Resources • Follow Nora's work on Instagram and her website and podcast • Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list • Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E4: ⁠⁠⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠⁠⁠ E5: ⁠⁠Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention ⁠⁠ E6: ⁠⁠Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting⁠⁠ E7: ⁠⁠The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret ⁠⁠ E8: ⁠⁠Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari ⁠⁠ E9: ⁠The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better ⁠ E10: ⁠The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing⁠ E11: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense E12: The Texas City Getting a Juneteenth Museum, FIFA World Cup Matches, and a Cowgirl Museum Expansion (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, explore our other podcasts, ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. So our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. Places like Penang, Malaysia, a small island with one of Southeast Asia's most fascinating and underrated food and cultural scenes. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Kathryn Romeyn, a Bali-based journalist who explored Penang for the first time last year. Kathryn shares what it's like to wander the UNESCO-listed streets of Georgetown. She digs into the food—from char kway teow to laksa to the elaborate Malaysian breakfast culture that UNESCO recently recognized—and shares what's new on the island, including boutique hotels and a weekend art market that's become a creative hub for locals and travelers alike. Plan Your Penang Getaway Stay —Book a room the Millen Penang, Autograph Collection, a hotel on Millionaire's Row —Watch for Soori Penang, a new 15-room boutique hotel opening in January 2025 Eat and Drink —Try char kway teow, the iconic Penang dish of flat rice noodles stir-fried over charcoal flames with prawns, cockles, sausage, and bean sprouts —Eat laksa, the spicy, aromatic noodle soup that's a Penang obsession —Visit Mum's, a beloved Peranakan restaurant serving home-style cooking —Experience Malaysian breakfast culture (a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage) See and Do —Visit Hin Bus Depot on weekends for the art market —Visit Kek Lok Si Temple, home to the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas —Ride the Penang Hill funicular, the oldest in Southeast Asia (opened 1923), for panoramic views —Join the local hiking community via the Facebook group "Hiking Trails in Penang" (nearly 50,000 members)—they've created trails in the shapes of animals like elephants, unicorns, and even Pokémon characters Resources • Follow Kathryn's work on Instagram • Visit Kathryn's website • Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list • Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E4: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E5: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention ⁠⁠⁠⁠ E6: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting⁠⁠⁠⁠ E7: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret ⁠⁠⁠⁠ E8: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari ⁠⁠⁠⁠ E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better E10: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing E11: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices