The Best Newspaper Travel Sections

April 13, 2009 by Gennaro
Filed under Features

Newspaper circulation and advertising revenue has taken a major hit over the past few years. That drop has been partly connected to the rise of Internet media. Despite this, a number of newspapers maintain excellent travel sections that are worth reading on a daily basis. These papers have also made a strong transition into the Internet Age with comprehensive websites. Enduring Wanderlust travel blog has compiled a list of the best travel sections for English-language newspapers:

United States

The New York Times

The New York Times has the third highest daily circulation of the U.S. newspapers. It is considered the most respected newspaper in the country. The NY Times travel section is comprehensive with in-depth feature stories, tips for the selecting local eateries, and reporting on consumer issues. Its website also manages to organize their content into multimedia presentations and featured destination guides for readers who want to follow years of coverage. For wanderers on a budget, try The Gray Lady’s Frugal Traveler blog.

The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal has the second highest daily circulation of the U.S. newspapers. Its coverage is focused primarily on U.S. and international business and financial news. That focal point makes the WSJ a must-read for business travelers. It also provides a wealth of information for travel-industry professionals and consumers. The Wall Street Journal’s reporting on the airline industry is particularly comprehensive. Give The Middle Seat Terminal blog a trial run.

Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times has the fourth highest daily circulation of the U.S. newspapers. Its travel section has excellent coverage of California, Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Mexico. Online readers also have access to the LA Times message boards and nearby destination guides. The former gets few responses, but the latter is perfect for locals looking for weekend trip ideas. The LA Times has recently been featuring top travel photography, which has been successful in capturing a lot of attention from social networking circles. As with the other papers, they have a blog that’s worth a trial run: Daily Travel & Deal Blog.

Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune has the eighth highest daily circulation of the U.S. newspapers. It has wide-ranging coverage of international and local travel. Online readers have access to the Tribune’s well-organized Midwest destination guides. Each destination has a section covering top attractions to go along with a list of the Chicago Tribune’s feature stories for that location. The paper has also developed a Chicago tour connected to President Barack Obama’s life in the Windy City.

United Kingdom

The Guardian

The Guardian has the ninth highest daily circulation of the United Kingdom newspapers. Its travel section has outstanding coverage of international and UK travel. In addition, The Guardian website has been effective with its integration of journalistic reporting and blogs that focus on the current “hot” trends in travel such as Twitter. They also have a section dedicated to readers’ tips in their coverage.

Canada

The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail has the second highest daily circulation of Canadian papers. The Globe’s travel section has a mix of coverage including destinations, ‘tripping’ narratives, and consumer news. Their reporting has a personal feel to it since articles often focus on an individual’s experience with a place or activity. The Globe’s website is comprehensive, but their multimedia presentations are limited in comparison to the other papers on the list.

Which are your favorite newspaper travel sections? Why?

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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.