The Top Travel Gear Matador’s Editors are Actually Using
We won't tell you how many days our team is on the road every year. It's safe to say it's a lot. Midnight trains across Eastern Europe. Dawn safaris in the Mara. We've tested backpacks on Himalayan switchbacks, binoculars that survived desert drop-kicks, and chargers that kept the playlists going from LA to Laos.
Thousands of miles and a strict "only the good stuff" policy went into this list. Here's what earned a spot in our bags this summer.
N E W S
A New $5 Shuttle Makes It Easy for Visitors to Help O‘ahu's Post-Flood Recovery
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority
The North Shore is the whole reason some people visit O'ahu. In March 2026, back-to-back storms sent floodwater through Hale'iwa and Waialua.
Now there's a way to help. The new North Shore Huaka'i shuttle gets visitors to the North Shore for $5. The only ask: spend money while you're there.
D E A L S
Travel Worth Booking
No affiliate links. Just solid finds.
Tyax Heliskiing: Dreaming of anywhere that isn't 100 degrees? Save $2,625 and score a free private room upgrade. Book by Monday, July 20.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions: Now with a 50% reduced deposit on eligible voyages, from the Galapagos to Antarctica and beyond.
Interpid Travel: Celebrate America250 with $250 off select national park trips. Explore Yellowstone, Yosemite, Denali, and more with an expert guide.
CIE Tours: Book early and save up to $1,200 per couple on unforgettable 2027 vacations.
G U I D E
How to Visit Provence, France, Home of the World’s Most Beautiful Lavender Fields
Photo: Francois Roux/Shutterstock
To most outsiders, Provence means lavender fields. The historical region is all simple beauty and unhurried pleasures, best enjoyed in early July, when the blooms are at their peak.
Here’s everything you need to know in order to see it.
T R A V E L
This Community-Focused Tour Is Changing the Way Travelers Experience Tulum
Photos: Intrepid
Intrepid's new Short Breaks series balances the beauty of Tulum with a local side. The Tulum to Chichén Itzá trip packs in cenotes, ruins, and plenty of tacos over four days, skipping the hotel zone for community-based tourism co-hosted with Mayan guides.
S T A Y S
Eat Well and Stay a While: Inside the New Grand Cayman Hotel Built for Both
Photo: Linnori/Shutterstock
ONE|GT doesn't try to be a beach resort, and that's exactly its appeal. The 10-story tower rises from the heart of George Town. It's polished without losing warmth, refined without losing character.
As the first Cayman Islands property to join Small Luxury Hotels of the World, ONE|GT proves you don't need sand under your feet to feel the island around you.
G I V E A W A Y
Win a Dream Trip to Norway for 2
Six nights across Norway for two: fjord cruises through Nordic waters, some of the world's most scenic rail journeys, and stays in the country's storybook Scandinavian cities.
Enter for your chance to win the whole itinerary.
Travel Well
The Matador Editorial Team
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