Unpacked by Afar

• The World's Best Cities List Is Out. Here's How They Actually Pick Winners

  How do you determine what makes a great city? This week on Unpacked, Afar editor at large Laura Dannen Redman sits down with Chris Fair, president and CEO of Resonance Consultancy, to unpack the firm’s annual World's Best Cities ranking. Chris explains how the list measures livability, lovability, and prosperity; the UK city that still tops the chart; the methodology changes that reshaped the top 100; and what the ranking means for overtourism, climate risk, and destination marketing. In this episode you’ll learn How Resonance measures a city’s livability, lovability, and prosperity The two cities that remain neck and neck at the top of the list Which cities climbed or slipped after switching data sources from TripAdvisor to Google Maps The perception gap between measured performance and global awareness, with Sao Paulo as a case study How climate risk and resilience are starting to factor into city rankings Don’t miss these moments [00:03:00] How the ranking began as a consulting tool and evolved into a public benchmark [00:08:00] The top 10 cities, revealed [00:10:00] Why switching from TripAdvisor to Google Maps changed the makeup of the top 100 [00:11:00] Sao Paulo’s rise in lovability and the perception gap in Ipsos survey results [00:16:00] The emerging role of climate risk and resilience in city rankings [00:20:00] The challenge of destination concentration and how only a handful of places capture most traveler interest [00:23:00] Vancouver’s spot at 41 and what it reveals about livability versus prosperity Meet this episode’s guests Laura Dannen Redman, Afar editor at large Chris Fair, president and CEO, Resonance Consultancy Resources Read the full World's Best Cities report at WorldsBestCities.comExplore Afar’s coverage of the World's Best Cities List Read about the WrldCity Forum, hosted by Resonance If you’re interested in small city rankings or regional lists, check Resonance’s Americas and Europe city reports Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• "The Amazon at Night Is Dolby Sound"—What It’s Like to Visit Peru as a Blind Traveler

  Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of ⁠Afar magazine⁠, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips. In the final episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine LaGrave speaks with Ryan Knighton, a memoirist, screenwriter, surfer, and Afar contributing writer, about his first trip to Peru with Intrepid Travel. Blind since his late teens, Ryan reflects on orchestral nights in the Amazon, the terrifying thrill of canopy rope bridges, and why tactile histories — from Incan pebble counting to khipu knot records — stayed with him long after he left Machu Picchu. On this episode you'll learn How a blind traveler experiences the Amazon’s soundscape and why a night in the Amazon became the trip’s standout moment What the canopy walk felt like and why tactile, sensory experiences mattered more than famous vistas The Incan tactile systems Ryan encountered and why those discoveries resonated with him personally How group travel reshaped Ryan’s experience and turned strangers into a supportive traveling “tribe” Don't miss these moments [3:23] Ryan describing the Amazon at night and its “Dolby” soundscape [6:25] The first step onto a high canopy rope bridge and the trust it required [8:49] Reflections on Machu Picchu, expectations, and why some bucket-list sites land differently for different travelers [13:46] The guide’s tactile pebble-and-grid demonstration of Incan counting systems [20:29] How group dynamics transformed the trip into a shared, memorable experience Resources Read Ryan Knighton’s Afar story about Peru Learn more about Intrepid Travel Take This Trip Contributing writer Ryan Knighton joined Intrepid Travel on its nine-day “Premium Peru” trip, which visits Lima, the Amazon, Cuzco, and Machu Picchu. On the ground, meals, transport, accommodation, and luggage and airport transfers are included. Travel dates for 2025, 2026, and 2027 are available at intrepidtravel.com. From $4,600 per person. Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• In Botswana, Tracking Lions and Elephants—By Bike

  Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of Afar magazine, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips. In the third episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine La Grave speaks with Afar contributor Chris Colin about his first safari — a family trip through Botswana that mixed biking, Land Cruisers, salt pans, and intimate wildlife encounters. Chris describes the sensory moments that changed how he pays attention, the guides who opened the landscape to his family, and the small-scale wonders (including an antlion and a near-miss with a cobra) that stayed with him long after the trip. In this episode you’ll learn Why Botswana’s slower pace and fewer vehicles make it a different kind of safari How biking through the bush reveals small-scale wildlife moments you won’t see from a Land Cruiser Practical travel advice for families and first-time safari-goers (how to slow down, pack flexibly, and read local history) How local guides turn instincts and small signs into unforgettable wildlife sightings Don’t miss these moments Opening conversation on why Botswana felt like the right first safari Riding on elephant trails with a bike-supported vehicle nearby The antlion pit: a small, gruesome, unforgettable predator encounter Lying on the salt pans under a vast African sky and hearing lions roar at dusk A near miss with a massive cobra while answering nature’s call Meet this episode’s guest Chris Colin — Afar contributing writer and the traveler at the center of this episode Take this trip Contributing writer Chris Colin’s eight-day Botswana itinerary was put together by Teresa Sullivan, cofounder of Mango African Safaris, who specializes in family travel. The trip featured a Natural Selection cycling safari into the Makgadikgadi Pans and exploring the Okavango Delta. From $2,444 per person, per day.  Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Unpacked, Five Questions: Finding Flow on Canada's Oldest River

  Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of ⁠Afar magazine⁠, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips. In the second episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine La Grave sits down with journalist Chloe Berge. Chloe spent 13 days paddling 80 miles down Canada's Firth River—one of the country's oldest and most northern rivers—before reaching the Arctic Ocean. This epic journey through Ivvavik National Park combines adventure, science, and deep cultural history in one of the most remote regions on Earth. Chloe shares her experience navigating Class IV rapids, disconnecting completely from the digital world, and standing in ancient Inuit hunting grounds that have been used for thousands of years. She reveals why this unique expedition—which hosts only about 100 visitors annually—serves as the sole opportunity for Parks Canada scientists to collect critical environmental data in this pristine wilderness. On this episode you'll learn: Why Canadian River Expeditions' partnership with Parks Canada makes this the only annual scientific data collection opportunity in the region How two weeks completely off-grid changes your relationship with time and the natural world What makes the Engigstciak mountain one of the most important archaeological sites in Arctic Canada Why the region's unglaciated history during the last ice age created such unique geological formations How paddling expectations versus reality shaped the physical demands of the journey Don't miss these moments: [04:00] Chloe's previous Arctic experiences and what drew her to this inland expedition [06:00] Standing at Engigstciak—an ancient hunting lookout used for thousands of years [08:00] Finding the rhythm of the river and how time becomes less linear in the wilderness [10:00] The immediate sense of remoteness when dropped by bush plane 200 miles from civilization [13:00] The geological wonders that didn't make the story—from glittering quartz pillars to sandstone archways [15:00] Surprising truths about the paddling requirements and physical demands [19:00] The profound mental clarity that comes from two weeks without digital connection Resources Read Chloe's complete Afar feature about paddling the Firth River to the Arctic Ocean Learn more about Canadian River Expeditions and their science-focused Arctic trips Explore Ivvavik National Park and its rich Inuit cultural heritage Follow Chloe Berge for more stories at the intersection of travel, environment, and culture Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Unpacked, Five Questions: A Ski Photographer's Love Letter to the Balkans

  Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of ⁠Afar magazine⁠, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips. In the first episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine La Grave speaks with photographer Kari Medig. Kari has spent 15 years traveling the world documenting ski culture—from Austria's iconic Hahnenkamm downhill to landlocked Lesotho. But one region has captivated him above all others: the Balkans. Kari shares his journey through Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, revealing why these mountains—many higher than the Swiss Alps—offer something beyond world-class skiing. He discusses the unbelievable hospitality that keeps bringing him back, his unique analog photography approach using a Hasselblad film camera, and why he seeks out parking lot encounters as much as pristine powder. From a chance morning photo of a ski rental owner in her bathrobe to reconnecting with a Bulgarian café owner a decade later, Kari's stories illuminate how skiing becomes a lens for experiencing culture in its most authentic form. On this episode you'll learn: Why the Balkans' mountains are higher than many expect—and vastly underdeveloped for skiing How "Midwest Kind" isn't the only form of extraordinary hospitality—the Balkans surprised Kari with their warmth Why Kari shot his Balkan trips on film with a single Hasselblad camera instead of modern digital equipment How parking lots and ski rental shops become unexpected locations for the most meaningful photographs What makes skiing a unique way to participate in—not just observe—a culture Don't miss these moments: [02:00] Kari's first trip to Bulgaria in 2004 and his amazement at the scope of the mountains [03:00] The café owner who Kari reconnected with a decade later [05:00] Why Kari uses a Hasselblad film camera for his nostalgic, muted aesthetic [08:00] The ski hill in Bulgaria and why parking lots are Kari's favorite shooting locations [10:00] The last-morning photo of a ski rental owner in her bathrobe that captured the entire trip [12:00] Why people always ask Kari—who grew up skiing in Canada—"Why are you here? You have the best skiing in the world" Resources Explore Kari's complete Afar photo essay about skiing in the Balkans Follow Kari Medig for more ski culture photography Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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