48 HOURS IN EUROPEAN CAPITALS

Every Saturday in The Independent’s award-winning Traveller section, our “48 hours” stories explore new and exciting city-break itineraries. Now, 25 years after the series was first launched, we’ve produced this special, designed to help you get the most from a visit to a selection of 20 key North American cities. Among them, you can choose from New York’s dizzying nightlife, the rollercoaster thrills of Orlando, the Hollywood glitter of Los Angeles or Vancouver’s great outdoors. We’ve also included a range of accommodation options to suit your budget.

The Definitive Guide to Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in Curaçao

#1 New Release in Scuba Travel Guides and in Aruba & Netherlands Antilles Travel

From the authors of the Reef Smart Guides series comes Reef Smart Guides Curaçao, a unique and essential scuba, snorkel, and surf travel guide for the island of Curaçao─one of the top shore diving and snorkeling islands in the Caribbean.

A great travel gift. The ultimate guide for visitors and locals looking to explore the underwater world in Curaçao. This guidebook provides detailed descriptions and imagery of the island’s best dive and snorkel sites, including shipwrecks and coral reefs. The guide also details popular beaches, surfing and kiteboarding sites and gives recommendations for dive operators to use and restaurants to visit.

Detailed descriptions and 3D maps. With the help of Reef Smart’s unique 3D-mapping technology, learn all you need to know about the region’s top dive and snorkel sites, including the world famous Superior Producer wreck, Tugboat, and popular shore-accessible coral reef sites like Director’s Bay, Double Reef and Fisherman’s Wharf and Playa Marie Pampoen.

Don’t go diving without it. This indispensable resource helps you plan and execute dives without a hitch. Make sure to pack this unique guidebook with the rest of your scuba gear!

This guidebook provides:

• Descriptions of 95 dive and snorkel sites in Curaçao, including Klein Curaçao
• Detailed 3D maps of 38 of the most popular sites, with access imagery for an additional 46 sites
• A 31-page species guide to help you identify and understand the marine creatures you’ll encounter
• And so much more!

A unique and comprehensive scuba diving book. Also look for Reef Smart Guides Bonaire; Grand Cayman, and Barbados, as well as our guides to diving and snorkeling throughout the state of Florida. If looking to learn more about the world’s ocean, and specifically coral reefs, check out Beneath the Blue Planet.

Visit the Most Popular Destinations in Provence, France

#1 New Release in Flowers and Bed & Breakfast

Discover why Provence, France is the best place for your next wanderlust-fueled quest and lose yourself to sunny beaches, lush vineyards, and historic architecture.

Take an unforgettable tour of this treasured southern region of France. Soon to be your favorite of all tour guide books, author Georgeanne Brennan uses her insider’s view to take you on the getaway of a lifetime. With engaging text and gorgeous photos, she paints the perfect picture of the many gems of Provence. Beauty abounds as you travel through the sunny Côte d’Azur to the mountains of Haute Provence; to lavender, poppy and wheat fields; through bustling markets; to fisherman-filled harbors; over vine-covered hills; and into ancient castle ruins.

A guide for travelers, wine lovers, dreamers, and anyone interested in Provence, France. Discover Provence is also for those who want to be a part of something picturesque and historically significant. One of the most visited areas of the world, Southern France is famous for its beautiful views, flavorful foods, and opulent French wines. Turn the pages of Discover Provence to immerse yourself in this magical region.

Inside this perfectly curated Provence book, you’ll find:

• Indispensable driving tips for stress free way-finding
• An insightful guide to understanding French wine
• Intimate knowledge of Provence’s villages and their traditions

If you enjoyed travel destination books such as A Year in Provence, Rick Steves France, or Adventures on the Wine Route, then you’ll love Discover Province.

Take a Deep Dive into the Secrets of Our Blue Planet

"The author is one of the most experienced in the world. A fascinating and engaging toom. Well worth the read. A valued forever reference." —Amazon review

#1 New Release in Scuba Travel Guides

Venture into the thrilling realm of underwater exploration with Beneath the Blue Planet by the founders of the popular Reef Smart Guides series for snorkelers and scuba divers. A perfect travel gift for nature lovers and a rich source of shark facts, this book unearths the secrets of the ocean, from coral reefs to the world of deep diving.

Dive into the ocean's untold stories. Discover the captivating universe that exists beneath the waves. From the diverse inhabitants of the coral reefs to the deepest, most mysterious corners of the ocean, Beneath the Blue Planet unveils everything you've ever wanted to know about our underwater world.

Experience the thrill of ocean exploration. This immersive guide provides fascinating shark facts, explores the incredibly beautiful world of coral reefs, and encourages sustainable tourism for divers. Designed for anyone who loves the ocean, this book is a treasure trove of knowledge, making it an excellent travel gift for adventure seekers.

Immerse yourself in Beneath the Blue Planet and:

• Unearth the hidden world of ocean reefs, and understand their essential role in marine ecosystems
• Gain invaluable insights into snorkeling and deep diving, enhancing your ocean exploration adventures
• Explore intriguing shark facts, providing a closer look at these fascinating marine creatures
• Discover practical ways to contribute to ocean conservation, turning your love for the seas into meaningful action

If you've read Oceanology, National Geographic A Diver's Guide to the World, or100 Dives of a Lifetime, and are a fan of the Reef Smart Guides dive and snorkel travel series, you’ll love Beneath the Blue Planet.

Find the Best Beach in the Keys to Dive

#1 New Release in Florida Keys Travel Books and Scuba Travel Guides

The newest addition to the Reef Smart series, Reef Smart Guides Florida Keys is the #1 guide to finding the best beach in the Keys to dive—from North Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas.

An essential guide to exploring the Florida Keys. Whether you’re looking to spice up your current dive log book or if you're looking for the perfect adventure gift to give, Reef Smart Guide Florida Keys is it! This guide helps snorkelers, swimmers, and scuba divers in the keys find the best beach in the keys—along with access points and what to expect along the way.

Detailed descriptions and maps for your cool new hobby in Florida. With incredible detail, and Reef Smart’s 3D rendered illustrations, learn every aspect of over 100 sites. From currents and depths to dangers and suggested routes—even reef guides and common wildlife—everything is planned out—so you can dive without a hitch!

In this guide to snorkeling Florida Keys beaches, you’ll find:

• A guide to diving in the Keys with descriptions to over 100 sites
• 3D rendered illustrations to prepare you for each site on your Florida adventure
• Information on Florida nature and species, you’ll find while snorkeling Florida Keys sites

If you enjoy diving books like 100 Dives of a Lifetime, Florida Bucket List Adventure Guide & Journal, or Reef Smart Guides Bonaire, you’ll love Reef Smart Guide Florida Keys.

Reconnect With Your Inner Wild

From wild harvesting, finding your own paths and reading hiking guides, to just stepping outside and appreciating nature, Re-Wild brings you 50 practices to bringing nature home. Book a stay here!

Beginner’s hiking guide to pro wild harvesting. Divided by levels of difficulty, this nature guide book gives swaths of practical advice. From simple things like how to feel at home in nature and learning fun nature facts to finding a trail if you’re lost to foraging plants, mushrooms, herbs, or wild harvesting knick-knacks on nature trails, this hiking book has something to teach you.

Connect with nature. In the day-to-day, we can lose ourselves in the stress and anxiety of the world we have built. Nature is enough to help you reconnect physically and spiritually to your roots. Simple practices such as taking a walk in the woods or swimming in a cold lake can help you to get outside your head and become one with nature. Immerse yourself in the beautiful images of places you've never been and find the most primitive form of peace we have ever known with Re-Wild.

Inside Re-Wild, you’ll find:

• 50 accessible and simple practices to reconnect with nature
• A stirring mix of evocative illustrations and photographs
• Tips on everything from wild harvesting to mindfulness, helping readers from both a practical and conceptual point of view

If you liked The Nature Fix, Surviving the Wild, or The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods, you’ll love Re-Wild.