Being great at going out of office is part of being great at your job. As 2026 shapes up to be a prime year for PTO, this guide breaks down how to maximize your vacation days without hurting your reputation—drawing on real career lessons from going OOO from the intern to VP level. These six tips will help you take uninterrupted time off while keeping your boss and team fully on your side.

Looking for affordable Christmas gifts that the traveler in your life will actually use? These eight under-$30 travel essentials have earned permanent spots in my suitcase after a decade of traveling across 30+ countries — and they’re all on sale this season. If you want thoughtful, budget-friendly gift ideas for your travel lovers (or for yourself), this curated list will make packing smoother, smarter, and stress-free.

If you’ve ever dreamed of standing before the Pyramids of Giza but haven’t had time for a full Egypt trip, your Cairo layover might be the perfect chance. With the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum finally open beside the pyramids, you can now experience thousands of years of history — from the Great Sphinx to King Tut’s treasures — all in one unforgettable layover.

Getting to check off two bucket list items in one trip is one of my favorite things, but this one humbled me. Maybe it’s my millennial knees speaking, but here’s what I wish someone told me before we hit Afro Nation and the Algarves earlier this month.