#small-island-nations

#small-island-nations

"It's not exactly a dream vacation to come and be harassed by mosquitoes," says Hervé Bossin, director of the medical entomology laboratory at Tahiti's Institut Louis Malardé.

San Sebastián, the capital of La Gomera, served as Christopher Columbus's provisioning point in 1492, with historical sites like the Columbus House Museum and Torre del Conde nearby.

These reefs are living, breathing snapshots of a watery world that you can peek into: refreshing oases where the noise of the land falls away; in its place, an intricate and utterly at-ease slice of life that you're lucky enough to witness.

The second-round results consolidated their dominance in the most populous centres of the overseas territory, which has been politically polarised for years between pro- and non-independence parties.

"There was so much beauty, so much more than enough for everyone, that it did appear to be a vain activity to try and make a corner in it." This quote captures the essence of Villa Beatrice, where beauty and luxury converge in a breathtaking setting.

We're not expecting much in terms of winds, mainly just going to be flood potential. And thinking that the focus is going to be Oahu, Maui County and Big Island, with Kauai kind of being on the fringes of it versus, you know, all the Islands were impacted last time.

Laterite deposits are created by intense humidity and tropical weathering of rock and so they form in the tropics, often in hotspots for biodiversity and rich, intact rainforests. These deposits account for about 70% of the world's reserves of nickel, a mineral now in high demand for manufacturing batteries, especially for electric cars and clean energy infrastructure.

"Guadeloupe is not a resort island; it is a living culture, a living experience. Even the landscape tells a story. The scent of burnt sugarcane fields before harvest. The volcanic silhouette of Basse-Terre. The lunar stillness of Pointe des Châteaux under a full moon. This is not a backdrop; it is part of the lived experience."

As a collection of over 7,000 islands spanning 13 sovereign island nations and more than a dozen dependent territories, there's always a new cove or cay to uncover. Recent years have seen the Caribbean's popularity boom among British holidaymakers, too, with areas including the British Virgin Islands and Jamaica reporting record visitor numbers in 2025.

Santa Teresa on Costa Rica's Pacific coast is a favorite among surfers and traveling professionals because of its long beaches and relaxed atmosphere. The town offers several coworking spaces and cafés with reliable internet, which makes remote work easier. The area is accessible via Tambor Airport with onward road and ferry connections to larger cities. Accommodation prices range from budget hostels to luxury villas. The local community is international, and the abundance of healthy restaurants and yoga studios contributes to a comfortable and productive stay.

A lack of insurance coverage in Southeast Asia threatens an increasingly important hub for supply chains, as the region is battered by tropical storms, major flooding, and other natural disasters. Total losses from natural disasters across Asia-Pacific last year totaled $73 billion, yet just $9 billion was insured, according to Germany reinsurance company Munich Re. That makes Asia one of the world's least insured regions against natural disasters.

From glacier-fringed archipelagos to palm-lined atolls, islands come in every imaginable shape and size. But when it comes to sheer numbers of islands, not every country is created equal. The nations that top this list aren't just tropical destinations or volcanic chains, they're often places where inland lakes, fjord-laced coastlines, and geological fragmentation have produced thousands of discrete landmasses. That raises a deceptively simple question: which countries have the most islands?

So exclusive are the Grenadines that islands like Mustique and Canouan are even known for being where billionaires go to escape millionaires. Yet, hidden between luxe private island resorts and harbors for mega-yachts, the tiny island of Mayreau (pronounced my-row) is a blissful exception, having escaped almost any development.

Easily accessible from major U.S. cities, the Exumas remain refreshingly uncrowded, making them one of the Caribbean's true hidden gems, at least for now. As the wealthy look for privacy in paradise, and the world's most sought-after resort groups like Aman and Rosewood prepare to plant their own flags there in the coming years, everyone seems to have their sights on the Exumas.

I recently returned from my fifth trip to French Polynesia-specifically, Bora Bora-and I remain convinced it's the most beautiful place on earth. Since I first honeymooned there in 2010, every trip back feels just as awe-inspiring as the first: impossibly turquoise lagoons, powder-soft sand, Instagram-worthy overwater bungalows, and underwater scenes that are almost too magical to be real. But here's something else about this kind of paradise: It's remote.

Despite decades of jokes and occasional bad publicity, cruise vacations are more popular than ever - just ask the tens of millions of Americans who take one every year and together represent more than half of all annual cruise travelers. Today's ships are massive, complex affairs backed by giant corporations and celebrity commercial sponsorships, all commanding big money. And while to the uninitiated, a ship may just seem like any other ship, experienced cruisers increasingly understand that unique offerings make all the difference.

Positive update from the Caribbean-I was online and on the phone for HOURS all day yesterday but finally got flights so we will be heading home sooner than Friday," Han wrote in an Instagram post, adding in the video, "We all recognize and realize fully that there are far worse places to be stuck. We're lucky just to be able to have been here in the first place.

Rather than just looking out to sea, why don't you also set sail on it? Hawaii has great options for boat rides, but the vast open waters can mean windswept hair (the bad kind). While some tousling is unavoidable, a drawstring bucket hat with ties under the chin can help keep your hair in place-all while protecting your face from the sun. Where to wear it: Maui is home to The Sailing Trilogy, a company that's