Let’s get real for a second – after the last couple of years, we could all use a holiday. And the best travel magazines will give you exactly that. Whether you’re researching the best travel tips for your next adventure abroad or if you simply want to indulge yourself in a feast for the eyes by flipping through the best luxury travel magazines, some travel inspiration might be just what the doctor ordered.
So, put your feet up, grab a tropical drink, and relax. We’ve traveled far and wide (on the Internet, that is) to find you the best travel magazines to suit every kind of adventure. If you’re a first-class traveler on the hunt for the best luxury travel magazines to plan your summer getaway, you’re in the right place. On the other hand, if you’re a seasoned global traveler looking for a budget travel magazine to find your next hiker-friendly hostel, we’ve got something for you too. Buckle in, folks! We’re taking a trip through the best magazines the travel industry has to offer.
What is the best travel magazine to subscribe to?
According to our research, the best travel magazine to subscribe to is Conde Nast Traveler. This award-winning publication comes out top on our list because it offers a range of valuable travel tips for both first-time flyers and seasoned travelers. Conde Nast Traveler also offers sustainable, affordable, and luxury travel destinations for discerning readers and lovers of travel to explore.
Cost of subscription: $10 for the first year, renews automatically at $21.99 per year
Number of issues: 8 per year
Our favorite feature of the award-winning travel magazine is its annual Hot List, a compilation of the most charming new hotels, the freshest new restaurants, dazzling cruise ships, fascinating museums, and much, much more. The Conde Nast Traveler Hot List is a goldmine for any global traveler with an ever-evolving list of tastes and interests. And the best part? The Hot List is formatted as an interactive map on the Conde Nast Traveler website, which means that travelers can literally visualize where in the world they might like to pay a visit to a Danish design museum or embark on a lazy cruise along the River Nile.
For informative listicles and intriguing travel guides with titles like “A guide to holiday packing if you have ADHD” and “How to eat a Michelin-starred meal in the UK and Ireland for under £100”, Conde Nast Traveler is the best travel magazine for you. Though it has to be said that the publication’s position in the top spot was tightly contested by one other standout travel magazine: Travel + Leisure.
What kind of magazine is Travel and Leisure?
Travel + Leisure is a travel magazine that publishes trip ideas, travel guides, travel product catalogs, and more every month. The magazine is renowned for its alluring travel photography and often features articles written by non-travel journalists, poets, and novelists – for a worldly stylistic flair.
Cost of subscription: $19.99 per year
Number of issues: 12 (including one double issue, which counts as two issues)
Although both Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure focus on luxury travel, the latter is more inclined to feature practical guides on what to pack and where to go, both overseas and within US borders (like which national parks to visit depending on the season). Our favorite feature of Travel + Leisure is the “Travel Guides” page on their website. Here, you can search an impressively expansive volume of comprehensive travel guides organized alphabetically. We wish we could say that you can search any city from Amsterdam to Zagreb, but the list stops at “W” with “Washington, D.C.”
Don’t let that stop you from mining the well-documented travel expertise of Travel + Leisure for your next holiday trip, though. The publication boasts everything from budget travel deals to packing tips as well as “World’s Best” compilations categorized by hotel, island, city, and more.
What is the advantage of a travel magazine?
The best online travel magazines can prove to be an invaluable resource for people with a travel for passion. With a travel magazine in hand, you can discover new travel destinations, educate yourself about the different sociocultural mores of different cities (like where tipping is and isn’t the norm), and save money on your travels by getting early access to discounts on hotels and flights.
Best of all, a truly well-produced travel magazine will make you feel as though you can travel the world from the comfort and convenience of your couch. Gorgeous, glossy photography and beautifully descriptive journalism might be all that you need to be transported to the earthy, sun-baked Mediterranean or the alluringly luminous lagoons of Iceland. Even if you never get off the couch, a touch of travel inspiration might be all you need to feel the positive effects of a travel mag. And, should you decide to act on your inspiration, you’ll have a wealth of resources at hand to plan your next trip.
More of the best travel magazines to transport your body and mind
You didn’t think we’d stop at Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, did you? As we said earlier, we’ve got a range of travel guides for intrepid adventurers on the hunt for a new and exciting travel experience. This guide is especially useful for readers looking for digital versions of the best travel magazines the world has to offer so that you can keep your travel tips at your fingertips – no matter where you are (or where you’re going) in the world.
National Geographic
National Geographic is a monthly publication covering a wide range of topics from geography, science, history, culture and, of course, travel. The magazine is renowned for its iconic yellow rectangular border, as well as its high-quality photojournalism.
Cost of subscription: From $39 per year
Number of issues: 12 per year
The magazine has enjoyed a long and illustrious history on American shelves. It was founded by the eponymous National Geographic Society and evolved from an educational publication about geography to the photojournalistic triumph that we know it as today.
Wanderlust
As far as British travel magazines go, there is scarcely a better-known publication than Wanderlust. Every issue details hidden gems to be found in both far-flung places and more familiar destinations closer to home. Responsible, conscious, and sustainable travel is at the heart of everything they cover in their issues.
Cost of subscription: From $28.83 per year
Number of issues: 12 per year
Every issue of Wanderlust includes witty and engaging tales from award-winning travel writers, trip planners from destination experts, news and reviews of the best new openings, travel gear, books, and podcasts, as well as interviews with the most interesting personalities in the travel industry.
Men’s Journal
Men’s Journal is a monthly magazine geared towards men with an affinity for action, accomplishment, and adventure. The publication focuses on the outdoors, health and fitness, style and fashion, and travel.
Cost of subscription: $14.95 and Free with the Invisibly app
Number of issues: 12 per year
The travel portion of Men’s Journal tends to focus on deluxe travel destinations, so if it’s luxury travel you’re after, this is the magazine for you. Plus, you can read it for free using the Invisibly app – we’ll explain more about how that works below.
A new, better way to read the best travel magazines for free
With the Invisibly app, users exchange their actively-consented data for access to premium content. Invisibly is a new, better digital marketplace where users can sample new content from a growing roster of high-quality publications without committing to a subscription right away.
To learn more about how to read the best travel magazines for free, click here. For more information on how you can attract more subscribers to your publication, get in touch with Invisibly here. We can’t wait to meet you.
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