Hello again fellow travelers,

Have the ghosts, giant spiders and grinning pumpkins invaded your neighborhood yet?

It’s that wonderfully weird time of year when perfectly sensible adults dress up as vampires and otherwise respectable front lawns become graveyards.

Venture beyond North America, though, and late October and early November take on some fascinating twists!

Mexico: A party for the dearly departed

We find this tradition both beautiful and poignant. In Mexico, loved ones who’ve passed aren’t forgotten. They’re welcomed back for a joyous visit!

During Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), celebrated mainly November 1 and 2, families create colorful altars with photos, candles, marigolds and favorite foods to welcome the spirits of loved ones.

• Where to go — Oaxaca’s cemeteries glow with candlelight, while Mexico City puts on spectacular Day of the Dead parade.
• The lovely twist — Despite all those skeletons and painted skulls, this isn’t Mexican Halloween. It’s a colorful, deeply meaningful celebration of life, love and remembrance.

Ireland: Where Halloween got its spooky start

Who knew Halloween had Irish roots?

Back in the “old days,” the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter. People believed the boundary between the living and spirit worlds grew thin — allowing spirits to wander among the living.

• The place to be — Derry goes all out with its huge Halloween festival, complete with costumes, street performances and spooky spectacles.
• The quirky bit — If you’re offered a slice of barmbrack (traditional fruit bread), chew carefully! A hidden ring traditionally foretells marriage.

Germany: Ghosts, gravestones and hidden knives?

Germany has embraced Halloween’s pumpkins and costume parties, especially in bigger cities like Berlin and Dresden.

But November 1 brings a quieter observance in many regions.

• The tradition — On All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen), families visit cemeteries, laying flowers and lighting candles on loved ones’ graves.
• The curious superstition — According to folklore, knives were hidden on Halloween night so returning spirits wouldn’t accidentally hurt themselves. Ghosts wielding kitchen knives? Hmmm... That’s a Halloween movie we’d rather not star in!

Portugal: Trick-or-treating, Portuguese-style

Forget plastic pumpkin buckets and miniature chocolate bars!

On November 1, children in parts of Portugal celebrate Pão por Deus (Bread for God). Carrying little cloth bags, they go door to door reciting rhymes, hoping neighbors will fill their bags with treats.

• What do they receive? — Bread, cakes and nuts are traditionally given, though sweets are common today. It’s Portugal’s answer to trick-or-treating, minus the vampires and witches!
• A sweet excuse — Visiting Porto? We’d suggest sampling Portugal’s famous pastéis de nata (flaky little custard tarts that are utterly irresistible warm from the oven). Purely for cultural research, of course!
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A peek inside our carry-ons 🧳

​Kindle Paperwhite — We wouldn’t dream of traveling without our Kindles! We load them up with books before leaving home, so we’ve got weeks of reading at our fingertips. No lugging around heavy paperbacks (a big plus when traveling carry-on only)! And the battery lasts for weeks. What’s not to love?

​Compression packing cubes — We recently got this 8-piece set by Well Traveled. And they certainly are “well made”! The fabric feels tough, the zippers are sturdy and the stitching looks like it could survive years of suitcase squishing. We’re impressed!

Awesome travel contests!

🚢 Win an 8-day Viking cruise for two (plus airfare!)

Dreaming of your next cruise? Viking is giving away an 8-day voyage for two in 2027, with roundtrip airfare included. Choose a river, ocean or expedition cruise. The prize could be worth up to $29,500 USD!

(We’ve sailed with Viking Ocean three times (and loved every voyage. Next year, we’re trying our first Viking river cruise — we’re looking forward to it!)

🔹 Eligibility: U.S. and Canadian residents aged 21+ (excluding Quebec)

🔹 Deadline: December 31, 2026

🔹 Enter the travel contest: U.S. readers click here | Canadian readers click here​

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Travel news worth sharing 🤗

​The “Not Hot List” of places to go in 2027 — Forget the tourist hotspots! Intrepid Travel’s “Not Hot List” for next year highlights 10 lesser-visited destinations worth exploring. Think Greece’s peaceful Alonnisos island, Kenya’s wildlife-rich Samburu, Sri Lanka’s scenic Pekoe Trail and Canada’s own Whitehorse! The goal? Fewer crowds, more discoveries and a little tourism love for overlooked places. We’re all for it!

​One simple trick to avoid travel scams — Before booking a hotel, vacation rental or tour, try this quick tip from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission: Google the company’s name along with “scam,” “review” or “complaint.” Watch for recurring red flags, like unexpected charges, canceled bookings or refund problems. One bad review isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker, but several similar complaints? That’s a warning sign.

​No more dumping out your water? — The TSA may soon let PreCheck travelers take full water bottles through security at some U.S. airports. New CT scanners can tell water from potentially dangerous liquids. It’s not official yet, but after 20 years of emptying our bottles, we’ll happily raise one to that!