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During a recent trip to Chicago, travel writer David Duran stayed at the brand new LondonHouse Chicago. Here’s his take on the experience.

With snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes and endlessly green pastures, Switzerland is post card-worthy in more ways than one. There are quite a few options as to where you can travel in the small but spectacular country, so we’re narrowing it down to five beautiful towns to help you along the way. Make sure these unforgettable spots are on your Switzerland must-visit list.

Acadia was at the top of my bucket list for many years, and I was finally able to experience the rugged beauty of Maine’s most visited attraction. This National Park is celebrating its centennial and my husband and I were eager to hit the trails and soak up the New England charm on our long-weekend getaway. As soon as we got off the plane, we headed straight to Hertz and, within a matter of minutes, we were in a brand new Volkswagen Jetta. Thanks to my husband’s Hertz Gold Plus Rewards status, we didn’t have to wait in line or spend time getting the car. We zoomed past the airport exit and off we were on our adventure!

Amman (once known as Philadelphia – yes, Philadelphia!) is one of the easiest cities in the Middle East to experience real culture at the same time as embracing modernity and change. The city can be easily divided into two distinct parts. The west will provide you with a leafy residential culture, with bars, cafes, art galleries and modern style shopping malls. Further to the east you will encounter a more conservative atmosphere where more traditional shops and markets can be found. In the middle of all of this you will discover downtown, where you will stumble upon the famous Citadel, souks, more traditional cafes with a twist, as well as a Roman Theatre. The city is home to four million people and it offers up an array of attractions. Below we’ve rounding up five of the best things to do and see when you visit Amman.

The floodgates have opened – ok, maybe not exactly, but that’s how many people feel after the laws for US citizens changed earlier this year, allowing for American visitors to travel more easily to the island of Cuba. The island stuck in time is now open to everyone, and with that means there will be lots of changes, right? We’ve already seen the introduction of flights from the US as well as the first cruise ship arrival to Havana. Before we know it, Cuba will be just another island in the Caribbean that most stop by during a 7-day cruise. The realities of what’s to come for the poor island nation are truly unknown, and yes, there will be changes, but now is not the time to rush to get there, here’s why…

Once a haven for industrial and artistic giants, Pittsburgh is in the midst of a resurgence. Home to storied sports teams and one of the world’s most beloved condiments, this underrated Pennsylvania city is bursting with creative genius as it continues its metamorphosis from the Age of Steel to Silicon. Here are five hotels for any budget to provide the perfect abode as you explore this trendy town this August.

On a recent trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, travel writer Cheryl Rodewig stayed at the Wingate by Wyndham Charlotte Airport South hotel. Here’s her take on the experience.

As a travel writer, and someone who travels full time, visiting places all over the globe, a day doesn’t go by where I’m not asked, “What’s your favorite place you’ve been?” Most realize immediately, after seeing the expression on my face, that I am not going to be able to answer that question, mostly because, I’d have to break it down into categories and then sub-categories, until I was able to at least list out 10 destinations, due to the fact that I’ve enjoyed so many places during my travels, and narrowing it down to one, would be impossible. I’m also asked often to recommend places to visit, and that list can be exhausting, because again, there are too many amazing places to list off. So, what I thought might be fun would be to recommend three places that one would never expect me to recommend, and I’ll state my case for each one, starting with one so obvious that you might think my credibility is on the line, but trust me on this one, as well as the other two – I wouldn’t steer you wrong.