Visions of champagne and lie-flat seats danced in my head when Azores Airlines accepted my 500-euro bid to upgrade my husband and me to business class during our kid-free vacation this past August. But the reality was far less cushy: Our seats reclined only a few inches more than regular coach seats. There was no…
Our 52 Places to Go Lists Show How Travel Has Changed Over 20 Years
Exploring a new country can be exhilarating, but that excitement comes with risks. Most of the nearly 100 million Americans who traveled abroad in 2023 didnât deal with anything more than stomach discomfort or a common cold. But what happens if youâre injured or get sick? How do you find a doctor, and who pays…
In 2025, travelers who are reluctant to abandon overcrowded hot spots like Barcelona and Lisbon and take advantage of the near euro-dollar parity â which makes traveling to Europe more affordable for U.S. visitors â are instead striking a balance by booking quieter âdetour destinationsâ: lesser-known places close enough to take a side-trip from a…
The 2025 forecast on pricing: Mixed. Airfares are up, hotel rates are mostly flat and cruise lines are more likely to waive your gratuities than slash your fare. Hayley Berg, the chief economist for the travel booking app Hopper, said, âDomestic airfares in 2025 are expected to remain above 2023 and 2024 levels until midyear…
Rich Harrington had always wanted to visit Europe, but planning a trip with others felt daunting. âItâs hard enough coordinating dinner out with friends,â he said. Then Mr. Harrington, a 41-year-old animator from Middletown, Conn., discovered group trips that cater to solo travelers, and in 2023, he traveled with the tour operator Exoticca to Italy,…
Have we passed peak vacation connectivity? New data suggests that travelers increasingly want to use their getaways to get away from cellphones and laptops. According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, which surveyed 13,000 adults around the world who plan to travel in the next year, a quarter of respondents say they turn off social…
In 2025, air passengers will see lounge openings and changes in frequent flier programs, and the number of premium and elite offerings will continue at a steady ascent. For some travelers, reaching elite frequent flier status will be more costly and challenging. United Airlines has plans to raise its status thresholds, requiring travelers to spend…
This year, travelers of means will be checking into remote new lodges and upscale all-inclusive resorts, and demanding reasonable prices, relatively speaking. âThe high-end market is responding to three plagues in travel: overpriced, overcrowded and overheated, as in global warming,â said Jack Ezon, who runs the bespoke travel agency Embark Beyond, based in New York….
Responding to record cruise demand, major cruise lines will continue to launch new mega-ships this year, with countless over-the-top features and amenities that will appeal to families. âWith every big, splashy new ship launch, weâre seeing even more investment in the family market,â said Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of the cruise news site Cruise…