Start the week with great travel reads and tips! If you need to catch up on travel round-ups, start here. Don’t miss Annita’s article on Paul Gauguin cruises. Happy reading!

• Donna Karan Shares Her Must-Have Travel Essentials via In Style
  Fashion icon Donna Karan has used the inspiration of travel to create unique designs for her clothing brand. In this interview she shares some of her favorite places, travel goals, and carry-on essentials.
• More Services Helping Women Travel Solo by Korky Vann via Hartford Courant
  Traveling solo doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone. This article provides resources for women who want to travel solo but don’t know where to start – from travel packages to organizations that coordinate events for solo travelers.
• 4 Travel Tech Innovators to Tap Into by Kelly McCabe via Tech.Co
  The travel apps detailed in this article are growing in popularity, and they each offer something unique and helpful to travelers, such as an app built for long-distance relationships.
• Calling All Foodies: 5 Exotic Food Travel Experiences Right Here in the U.S. by Mia Taylor via The Street
  The United States aren’t commonly called a melting pot for nothing. Home to a wide variety of cultures and diverse landscapes, it is easy for travelers to find unique locations and dishes in all corners of the country.
• How to Handle Work Travel Like a Pro by Hallie Crawford via U.S. News
  Many business people travel on a monthly basis and some travel even more frequently than that. Business travel can open the door for procrastination or other travel mishaps, but this article provides a few tips for staying prepared, organized and on track.
• Paul Theroux’s Journey Through America’s Deep South by Robert Hull via The Guardian
  Travel writer Paul Theroux shares a few highlights from his exploration across the southern United States while writing his newest book, ranging from the people he met to the unexpected locations he came across.
• 4 Companies Trying to Revolutionize Currency Exchange by Kevin Farrell via Road Warrior Voices
  These companies are providing more convenient ways for travelers to exchange their currency and also to avoid extra exchange fees.
• 12 Ways to Give Yourself a Travel Checkup by Ellen Creager via The Seattle Times
  Even if there aren’t any travel plans in the near future, staying prepared will pay off in the long run. And keeping up to date with apps and customer rewards programs may present new travel opportunities along the way.
• The Stunning Sights That Made Ethiopia ‘The World’s Best Tourist Destination’ by Sophie Eastaugh via CNN
  The European Council on Tourism and Trade named Ethiopia the world’s destination for tourists in 2015. With landscapes ranging from sulphuric rocks and acid lakes to lush vineyards and colorful cities, it’s easy to see why the country was awarded that title.
• 11 Travel Apps for Your Next Vacation by Natasha Burton via Market Watch
  Find apps that will help you save money, stay on track while traveling, avoid lines, and find ways to add even more excitement to your vacation.