jtrent238 test blog: Travel Dispatch: Naked? With Strangers? In Europe, It’s How You Relax.

March 2, 2024

Two people at the edge of a turquoise swimming pool overlooking lush green mountains and the deep blue sea beyond.

A pool at Jungle Bay Resort on the Caribbean island of Dominica. Christopher H. Warren for The New York Times

Dear Travel Fan,

One of the big reasons to travel is to try things that might push us out of our comfort zones. This week, Valeriya Safronova puts that idea to the test when she visits the thermen spas of Germany and Austria, where getting the full experience requires being naked in mixed-gender saunas.

Jay Peak, the northernmost ski area in Vermont, has long been known for its powder. But in more recent years, it has become famous — or infamous — for a $200 million financial scandal that defrauded investors and sent two men to jail. We take a look at how Jay Peak has emerged as a modern resort.

The Caribbean island of Dominica was one of our 52 Places to Go in 2024, for its wild beauty and coming changes to its infrastructure. We've got a report from the island that further explores what makes it such a great destination this year.

Our 36 Hours column visits Austin, Texas, a city that has changed rapidly in the last few years, but continues to have a down-home appeal.

American Airlines is changing some of the rules around how its frequent fliers can earn miles. We've got what you need to know (and whether other airlines will follow suit). Eric Newman, the creator of "Narcos" and the new series "Griselda" with Sofia Vergara, has spent years shooting in Miami. He shares five of his favorite places from that city with us. And the Amsterdam street artist known as Frankey talks to us about his work (and how he gets away with his illegal installations by wearing a fluorescent orange work jacket). You're bound to run into one of his works the next time you visit that city.

Wishing you safe and happy journeys,

Amy Virshup

OPEN UP YOUR WORLD

An illustration of many people of many different ages and skin tones wearing no clothes, lounging in a flowery garden and a sauna. Leaves, flowers, books and steam inside the sauna obscure the bathers' breasts and other private parts, and in the background, there is a bright blue lake and a snow-dappled mountain range.

Chuchu Wang

Naked? With Strangers? In Europe, It's How You Relax at the Spa.

Austria and Germany abound with popular resorts called thermen where getting the full sauna experience typically means having to take it all off.

By Valeriya Safronova

Clouds reflect in a cobalt blue bay surrounded by lush, green mountains and, in the foreground, cottages with pale green roofs. There is a rocky outcropping rising from the middle of the bay, just before it becomes open ocean.

Christopher H. Warren for The New York Times

A Secret Garden to Discover Before the Cruise Ships Do

Dominica, a remote Caribbean island, enchants with its waterfalls, hot springs and hummingbirds. But a new airport and more tourists could tame its wildness.

By Nina Burleigh

A view of a short dock stretching out over a calm body of water during the daytime. A small boat rests at the end of the dock. A bridge runs across the water, and on one side of the bank are tall buildings.

36 Hours

36 Hours in Austin

Admire the skyline from a kayak, treat yourself to barbecue and start each morning with a breakfast taco in the colorful capital of Texas.

By Shannon Sims

A man wearing a blue shirt and an orange hat with a pom-pom faces forward with his mouth open wide. In a separate image to the right, a small wooden Pinocchio figure hangs from a small tree branch by what would be his nose.

From left: Arie de Leeuw; Yvonne Mak

Q. and A.

Meet the Artist Delighting Amsterdam

Thanks to a street artist named Frank "Frankey" de Ruwe, a wander through the Dutch capital may lead to a playful discovery or two.

By Noëlle de Leeuw

A cobblestone path bordered by verdant trees and stone walls leads down to large strip of green grass and an ornate, large water fountain.

Scott Baker for The New York Times

5 Favorite Places

The 'Griselda' Creator's Miami

Eric Newman, who created the Netflix show "Narcos" and produced his new show with Sofia Vergara, shares his love for a lesser-known side of the South Florida playground.

By Danielle Pergament

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THE CHANGING WORLD OF TRAVEL

On a bluebird day, two skiers glide downhill on a ski trail lined with snow-covered trees.

Caleb Kenna for The New York Times

How a Vermont Ski Area Roared Back From a Financial Scandal

Less than a decade ago, the biggest fraud in ski industry history nearly took down a beloved ski area. But Jay Peak, long known for its powder, has since transformed into a sparkling modern resort.

By David Goodman

A commercial airplane with red and blue stripes on its tail and the word "American" in large blue letters on the side of the aircraft, takes off from an airport runway.

Mike Blake/Reuters

Frugal Traveler

To Protect Your Miles, Be Careful How You Book

American Airlines recently announced new restrictions on point allocation based on how you book a flight. What does that mean for loyalty members?

By Elaine Glusac

TRAVEL 101

An illustration shows a hand holding up a cellphone with the image of a credit card on it. Behind the phone, the edges of some $100 bills can be seen. Framing the hand are various iconic travel sights, including the Eiffel Tower, along with bills and coins from various countries.

Dani Pendergast

Travel 101

Foreign Exchange: Get the Best Rate

How to avoid foreign transaction and bank fees, and where to get the best rate when you travel abroad.

By Elaine Glusac

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