In 2025, APL Media’s editors travelled to nearly 40 different countries, which certainly made for a wealth of groundbreaking storytelling across all publications. Some stories, however, stood out.  

Get inspired for travel plans in 2026: 

January 

Pakistan’s mountains are calling — here’s why you should go: Pakistan’s far north holds some of the world’s highest peaks and has a proud cultural identity, but until now international visitors have been thin on the ground. A new hiking tour explores a spectacular corner of this often-misunderstood country. Read more. Picked by Pat Riddell, editor-in-chief 

February 

Visit America’s historic love motels before it’s too late:  The honeymoon period seemed over for Pennsylvania’s ‘love motels’ — until a new generation fell for their kitschy charms online. Viral snaps of heart-shaped baths and champagne glass whirlpool baths have reignited a modern romance with the retro accommodation, offering a lifeline to the previously-endangered couples-only retreats. Read more. Picked by Karlina Valeiko, digital content editor 

March 

Why northern Portugal should be your next road trip destination: In Portugal’s wild northern borderlands, survival and spirituality go hand in hand with the changing seasons, as they have for millennia. A road trip through its remote reaches uncovers pagan festivals, age-old crafts and Roman relics in the country’s only national park, Peneda-Gerês. Read more. Picked by Amanda Canning, deputy editor 

April 

‘I spent 72 hours alone in an off-grid cabin — this is what happened’: Is regular digital detoxing essential for our wellbeing? Three solo and offline days later, L360’s Katie Sipp-Hurley shares her thoughts. Read more. Picked by Evelyn Richards, acting deputy editor 

May 

Inside London’s coolest social clubs: from cinema nights to test kitchen feasts: To help combat the loneliness epidemic, Londoners are seeking community in the most unlikely places, from book clubs to the city’s art galleries. Read more. Picked by Priya Raj, content editor 

June 

Sierra Leone is finally stepping into the spotlight — here’s why you should visit: Sierra Leone’s present beauty and past pain are intimately bound. A journey from the West African country’s jungles to its jade-green shores reveals a nation with its eyes fixed on the road ahead. Read more. Picked by Lorna Parkes, executive editor 

July 

‘I visited Spain’s best-kept secret — it felt like a private sanctuary’:  Situated far from the crowds of Palma, Valldemossa awaits those looking for a dreamy and serene wellness break in the mountains. Read more. Picked by Anna Evdokimou, acting editor of Living360 

August 

Missions, murals and more — what to see and do in San Antonio: Historic sites, culture and caves converge in Texas’s most attractive city, where the best of the Lone Star State is on display, from mouthwatering culinary offerings to Tejano heritage. Read more. Picked by Lena-Marie Müller, digital content assistant 

September 
 
From kasbahs to couscous — how Sicily has celebrated its diversity through the centuries: A journey across the Italian island reveals the essence of a place shaped by outsiders, where successive waves of immigration over the centuries have created a unique cultural identity. Read more. Picked by Sam Kemp, assistant editor 

October 

Interested in Greenland? Here’s what it’s like to live there: Life along the west coast of Greenland, high above the Arctic Circle, continues much as it has for centuries, with the natural world and a respect for heritage setting the rhythm during the long, frozen winters. Read more. Picked by Angela Locatelli, commissioning editor 

November 

How kimchi brings Vancouver’s Korean-Canadian community together: The traditional preparation and consumption of fermented cabbage has become the connective thread uniting the growing number of Korean-Canadians in British Columbia’s most multicultural city. Here, South Korea’s most prized culinary product serves as a bridge, found everywhere from humble taverns to hip restaurants. Read more. Picked by Berkok Yüksel, senior content strategist 

December 

Why Edinburgh is Europe’s ultimate escape for book-lovers: Over the centuries, countless literary greats have been inspired by the Scottish capital. In winter, when the cobblestones are damp and the taverns are firelit, the city ushers visitors indoors to find warmth in whisky and a good book. Read more. Picked by Georgia Stephens, features editor 

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About APL Media 
APL Media is a multi-award-winning content marketing agency and publisher, producing high-quality print, digital, and live media across the travel and lifestyle sectors. Since 1997, it has published National Geographic Traveller (UK) under licence from National Geographic Partners LLC, supported by brand extensions including guides, events, and digital platforms. The portfolio also features Living360, a digital lifestyle brand covering wellness, travel, food, sustainability, and culture, distributed via national media and its own platform. APL Media delivers custom content, branded campaigns, editorial consultancy, and leading events such as the Travel Media Awards and Step Up. Its trade titles include Postcards and the ASTA Worldwide Destination Guide, with content also produced for national newspapers. 
aplmedia.co.uk