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Did you know that your smartphone can be one of your most valuable travel tools? With ever-growing lists of useful features, smartphones are the ultimate multi-purpose device. Click to see a list of practical ways to use your smartphone while traveling.

Winter has reached its peak, but if you’re anything like us, you’re probably already looking ahead at your summer travel plans. So, we’ve collected five cool-climate tours that are perfect for beating the summer heat – after all, those warm “dog days” are approaching faster than you think!

This past year was one for the books – and we've compiled our annual “Year in Review” to celebrate it. Relive some of our favorite moments from 2024 with our collection of Odysseys guest and employee travel photos, memorable on-tour moments, office events, company milestones, and so much more. Click to begin your walk down memory lane.

Since the Middle Ages, Notre-Dame Cathedral has been an integral part of Parisian life. Known as the “people’s cathedral,” it has withstood natural disasters, revolutions, and wars – a constant amid centuries of history. Learn more about this iconic Gothic masterpiece in this post.

Many associate Voodoo with witchcraft and “black magic.” However, in West Africa, Voodoo (or, more accurately, Vodun) exists as an ancient aspect of a culture that unifies some 50 million people. West African Vodun embraces calm and tranquility, a deep connection with nature, and an everlasting respect for the dead.

Sloths and boobies and rheas...oh my! Central and South America rank as two of the best places to see wildlife you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Click to read fun facts about animals you can find on our tours to Costa Rica, Patagonia, and the Galapagos.

Autumn celebrations across the globe revolve around a theme similar to the origins of Halloween: the merging of the spiritual world and the living world. Learn more about some of these holidays in this post.

With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about shopping for gifts. We’ve gathered some ideas for the travelers in your life (and maybe for yourself, too!), and invite you to check out this list for inspiration on what to surprise your loved ones with this year.

From Paleolithic-era cave dwellings to rainforest bungalows just a stone’s throw from a volcano (pictured above), unique lodgings are a key element of the Odysseys Advantage. In this post, you can learn about the special features of 10 one-of-a-kind accommodations that you can experience on an Odysseys small group tour.

If you’re looking for a sunny getaway for the coming cold months, we have five tours that are perfect for keeping the wintertime blues away. However, if you wish to make a reservation for this winter, act fast – sweater season is approaching faster than you think!

Many seasoned travelers are familiar with jet lag, but this temporary sleep disorder (which may occur any time you transition from one time zone to another) doesn’t have to ruin your vacation. Follow these tips to lessen the effects of jet lag.

Focusing on our five senses while traveling helps us connect with and learn about our destinations in unique ways. That’s why so many of our tours offer multi-sensory experiences that engage our sense of sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing. Find Odysseys experiences for all five senses in this post.

Did you know that your smartphone can be one of your most valuable travel tools? With ever-growing lists of useful features, smartphones are the ultimate multi-purpose device. Click to see a list of practical ways to use your smartphone while traveling.

Considered paradigms of Catalan Modernism, Antoni Gaudí’s works are symbols of Barcelona, Spain, where they attract millions of visitors a year. Dive into his life in this post.

For some, packing can be one of the most arduous – and confusing – parts of travel. With a multitude of different sources on the internet that often offer conflicting suggestions, researching what to bring on your trip can quickly become overwhelming. So why not go straight to the source? Our experienced Odysseys Unlimited Tour Directors live where they work and have firsthand experience with our tours, meaning they know exactly what you should (and shouldn’t) pack. Click to watch TD Keri-Lyn's packing video guide for Alaska.

Paris, France – it’s the number-one most visited city in the world, and considering its world-renowned museums, gastronomy, fashion and design, shopping, and entertainment, it’s easy to see why. We’ve curated a guide with our expert advice on how to get the most out of your trip to Paris. Click here for more information on the city’s best neighborhoods, cuisines, activities, attractions, and more.

If you’re anything like us, you probably have a running list of destinations that you dream of visiting. Maybe you wish to go on safari in Africa, or explore the mysteries of Southeast Asia, or traverse the Australian Outback… Odysseys employees are no different – we have our own travel dreams, as well. Check out what Odysseys employees have in mind for their own future adventures.

A driving force for many travelers is the opportunity to see indigenous wildlife in their natural habitats. If wildlife encounters count as a travel highlight for you, we have five excellent destinations that allow you to see animals of all types – and best of all, our visits to see these creatures help support the work being done to keep them safe. Click to learn all about five destinations perfect for spotting wildlife.

If you’ve ever wanted to immerse yourself in locations with strong ties to famous literature – either to revel in the setting of your favorite book, to see where the some of the world's greatest writers worked, or to soak up the atmosphere of a truly world-class bookstore – then we have the list for you.

For over 1,500 years, the Silk Road connected the East and the West. Along this ancient route lies some of Central Asia’s greatest gems. We uncover the treasures these cities hold on our Along Central Asia’s Silk Road small group tour. Get a taste of the sights and experiences you can enjoy on this journey by viewing our gallery of on-tour photos, taken by guests just like you.

Winter is in full swing and we hope that yours is full of magic and memories. But if you’re anything like us, you’re probably already looking ahead at your summer travel plans. So, we’ve collected five cool-climate tours that are perfect for beating the summer heat – after all, those warm “dog days” are approaching faster than you think!

From massive waterfalls and intimidating mountains to winding canyons, crystal-blue glaciers, and much more, Earth is home to some of nature’s most magnificent scenery. If you’re yearning to experience Mother Nature at her best, consider one of our small group tours to check some items off your travel wish list this year. Read on to learn about six natural wonders that you can see while traveling with Odysseys Unlimited.

As this year comes to a close, we’d like to take a moment to look back on some of the moments that made 2023 special. We’ve collected photos and quotes from both guests and employees to highlight our favorite moments from this past year – like our 25th anniversary celebration in June, pictured above. Take a walk down memory lane with us.

At long last, it is here – our ultimate packing list for an Odysseys Unlimited tour! Our guests often ask us what to pack for their trip, so we put together this suggested list of both general necessities and specific items to bring on tour. And, we included a printable PDF checklist to make sure that you are fully prepared – and that you don’t forget anything!

Remember those old Foster’s beer commercials aiming to teach the viewer “how to speak Australian”? Well, although they were meant to be tongue in cheek, they had the right idea; Australia and New Zealand both have their own distinct idioms that you won’t hear in other English-speaking countries. Learn some of them here.

In 2025, Americans traveling to Europe will need to obtain a travel authorization before their trip. Learn about this new measure here.

One of the reasons we travel is to experience other cultures – and one of the most fascinating and inspiring outputs of culture is art. While most of our small group tours touch on artistry in some way, these five tours offer the most opportunities to experience (and even create) art.

London, England hardly needs introduction. An epicenter of culture, the U.K.’s capital is a superb destination for those looking for an array of diverse experiences. If you’re traveling to London either this year or next, check out our detailed insider’s guide with expert advice on neighborhoods to visit, activities to enjoy, cuisines to sample, and cultural differences to keep in mind.

For travelers, architecture’s power to create a sense of place cannot be underestimated. From arches to columns, windows to ceilings – it all works together help fully immerse you into your destination. We’ve collected a list of Odysseys Unlimited tours that visit locations with unique architecture styles; if experiencing that transportive, “out of this world” feeling is a priority for your next trip abroad, consider booking your next flights to one of these cities and experience them for yourself.

On St. Patrick’s Day, people the world over celebrate all things Irish with parades, festivals, “the wearing of the green,” and dyeing everything from beer and bagels to the entire Chicago River to the color green. In honor of the holiday, we invite you to take a moment to learn about the Irish language, known as Irish Gaelic or just Gaelic – which is in danger of going extinct, with only some 73,000 native daily speakers using it as their primary language.

Arranging phone service for overseas travel can be overwhelming for even the savviest of travelers. The good news is that a variety of possibilities exist that will help keep you connected while traveling. We’ve compiled a list of these options below. Of course, these do not apply to every individual or location; we recommend researching your specific options based on your destination(s), cell phone type, and service provider.

There are aspects of travel that no one wants to worry about – packing, currency conversions, and jet lag, to name just a few. From converting 130 different currencies to creating packing lists customized for your trip, these six apps make organizing the finer details of your journey a breeze.

Every year, Odysseys Unlimited sends employees from different departments on training trips, giving them firsthand experience so that we can continue to provide our guests with the best possible service, from pre-tour customer service interactions to on-tour encounters. We interviewed some employees who have taken these training trips recently about their travels; read on to get an insider’s look at some of our small group tours, and what our employees learned while on the road.

It seems like every year another wave of tech products are released, continuing to make work and play – and travel, too – easier and more efficient. We love items that make traveling a breeze, so we’ve gathered some of the most useful gadgets for globetrotters and road-trippers alike. 

Sheets of water cascading from cliffs, mountains, and glaciers rank among nature’s most jaw-dropping sights. Luckily, Earth hosts an abundance of these natural vistas; from Iceland to Turkey and Zambia to Argentina, these are five waterfalls you can visit on our small group tours.

The roar of airplane engines, the drag of suitcases on slick tile, and the ding of an airport intercom system serve as exciting reminders that a travel experience is about to begin…after, of course, the flight to your destination. Whether your time in the plane will last two hours or 12, you can experience an efficient and comfortable flight with proper pre-flight preparation, knowledge of airline policies, and the utilization of easy in-flight routines. This FAQ guide provides information on how to prepare for the airport and answers questions you may have about your flights with Odysseys Unlimited.

A post used by Odysseys Unlimited to provide customers a step-by-step guide to logging in and using their online guest portal, including information on what services and information is available in the portal. The post is linked throughout company customers-facing materials and marketing as a baseline guide for guests to reference.

For movie buffs, travel can be an exciting chance to see some of the real-life settings of favorite films. From Italy to Egypt and Austria to India and beyond, recognizable locations from iconic movie scenes can be found all over the world. Here are some of our favorite movies and settings that you can spot while on tour with Odysseys Unlimited.

Women in the Renaissance didn't have much in terms of power, but Isabella d'Este, art patron and powerful politician, did not live to serve men, despite the expectations thrust upon her. Learn more about the most badass woman in the Renaissance.

Join us as we return to Renaissance Italy! A possible new work of Leonardo da Vinci has been discovered in a Swiss bank vault--could it be the lost portrait of Isabella d'Este? And what does this new discovery mean for the identity of the Mona Lisa?

Does the thought of vellum scrolls, quill pens, pots of ink made from berries that you gathered in misty woods, and traveling the world by camel seem attractive to you? Then cartography probably isn't your gig.

Pros: Being the savior of penguins, polar bears, and basically the earth.

Cons: Maybe getting a sunburn.

Are you looking for a part-time gig that allows you to people-watch to your heart's content? Maybe you're still in high school and you need to build up your resume. Or maybe you truly have a passion for iPhone cases but hate the idea of working in a huge store. Working at a mall kiosk may be the job for you.

A technical manual infused with humor and visual aids describing the various aspects of a student account on the website Handshake.

Have you ever played a tycoon game where you build a zoo or rollercoaster and end up making millions of dollars (and then you release the dinosaurs in your zoo or delete a piece of track on your rollercoaster and watch the sheeple wreak havoc on themselves)? Then you might be interested in being a financial analyst.

Do you thrive off the adrenaline that kicks in an hour before a big project is due? Are you the kind of person that does all the work in a group project? Do you lack any semblance of a social life and instead constantly read fanfiction (real books are fine too, you’ve just read all the good ones)? Then you may want to think about becoming a publishing assistant.

Do you immediately fact check Trump every time he opens his mouth? Have you spent (wasted) most of your life watching Law & Order? Have you won (at least in your mind) every single argument you’ve ever had? Then becoming a legal assistant may be the next best step for you.

Do you spend every waking moment on Twitter? Do you still actively use Facebook, even though the rest of your generation avoids it like the plague? Do you follow companies on Instagram solely for their hilarious advertising strategies? Then you might want to consider becoming a social media manager.

First practicing woman doctor in India, first Indian woman to study medicine in the US, and first Hindu Indian woman to step foot in the US are just a few of Anandibai's "firsts."

Wilma Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation, paved the way for women's rights within her Native American tribe.

As the first and only ruling Empress of China, Wu has been unjustly demonized as one of the most despised historical figures of the country's past.

The discovery of a possible new work of Leonardo da Vinci may lead to new research on the identity of the woman in the Mona Lisa. Is Isabella d'Este the face of the famous smirking woman?

As the First Lady of the Republic of China from 1928-1975, Meiling played a more important part in Chinese politics than history gives her credit for.

The title says it all, doesn't it?

Sexual divergence was old new to this blues singer who brought self-expression to 1930s Harlem, NYC.

In a time when women were expected to be submissive and silent, Isabella ruled the Renaissance quite loudly.

Entry in a bi-weekly column published by The Navigator newspaper profiling entry-level jobs for undergrads.

Forever ahead of her time, Artemisia painted with revenge. Her anger-filled images led to fame in a period where women in art were shunned.

Free-verse poem published in the 2018 edition of The Aquarian literary arts magazine.

Free-verse poem published in the 2018 edition of The Aquarian literary arts magazine.