Every December, the cycle repeats itself: a predictable flood of "Top 10" lists heralding the "must-visit" destinations for the new year. These curated lists, fueled by travel publications and large tour operators, often funnel an ever-increasing global populace toward the same finite number of locations. For the conscious traveler, this approach is deeply problematic. It’s disingenuous...

When planning a trip abroad, one of the first decisions you’ll make is where to stay. While vacation rentals like Airbnb have been...