Travel

Travel

And the cruise industry is ready: Celebrity Cruises and Ponant have launched eclipse-specific itineraries, while Holland America Line (HAL) will have three ships off Iceland and Spain. According to Robert de Bruin, HAL's director of deployment and itinerary planning, the Nieuw Statendam, Zuiderdam, and Oosterdam will host astrophysicists on board, including Adam Burgasser from the University of California, San Diego, to provide real-time commentary and lectures "to give insight into one of nature's most spectacular spectacles."

When buying for someone who's a little particular, an experiential gift is always a great shout. Instead of picking something you fear they'll end up shoving in a drawer, you can send them off on an adventure where they'll learn how to fly a plane, make their own ring or master the art of Mexican cookery. Here are some of the best gift experiences you can buy:

For a panoramic perspective, the Dubrovnik Cable Car offers magnificent views of the city's ancient rooftops and the distant Elaphite Islands. As the sun sets, enjoy a cliffside dinner with a glass of Dingač wine and soak in the fiery horizon. The following day, sail to the Elaphite Islands, a trio of serene escapes. Continue to St. Pietro, a secluded islet perfect for swimming, a chef-prepared onboard picnic, or simply enjoying the peace.

This 15th-century inn is a balancing act of old bones and contemporary attitude. Sloping floors, exposed beams and stone fireplaces meet clean modern lines, warm lighting and an outrageous art collection. You turn a corner and find a Basquiat staring across at a Warhol; a quick detour and there's Dali, Bacon, Hirst and many, many more. It's curated yet still feels comfortable and homely.

You don't have to fly halfway around the world to experience an authentic European Christmas market. Just head to Chicago for a festive holiday escape to Bavaria, complete with warm pretzels, delicious bratwurst, and steaming mugs of mulled wine. Chicago is home to Christkindlmarket, one of the most authentic European-style Christmas markets in North America. A few blocks from the Bean, cozy wooden stalls line the bustling downtown plaza, selling handcrafted Christmas decor, nutcrackers, and festive décor.

Hang up damp clothes and towels. At Twinpalms Surin Beach Phuket, a resort known for its water gardens and signature scent, the housekeeping team appreciates the simple gesture of hanging up damp items. "One of the most appreciated gestures is when guests gather their beachwear or damp towels and hang them on the provided facilities in the bathroom, balcony, or garden," says housekeeping supervisor Ploypailin Funnimit, who explains that it prevents humidity from spreading and helps make turndown services quicker.

I spent 15 years working in the travel industry, specifically as an airline check-in and gate agent for the majority of that time. During those years, I encountered a variety of amusing, shocking, and often frustrating mistakes made by passengers. As someone who has traveled to over 40 countries, I know how stressful flying can be. However, being courteous to airline agents will actually increase your likelihood of receiving help, ensuring you board your flight and take off seamlessly.

I've visited all 50 states and most major US tourist attractions - some of which I found overrated. I wouldn't plan trips around the Four Corners Monument or Mount Rushmore. I'd also recommend avoiding Salem, Massachusetts, in October due to the immense crowds. I love visiting kitschy or unique tourist landmarks on a road trip or weekend getaway. In fact, after visiting all 50 states solo, I've enjoyed my short visits to nearly all the major tourist attractions in the United States.

Passengers on a United Airlines flight from Newark to South Africa faced an unexpected ordeal when the plane turned back over the Atlantic Ocean. However, instead of completing its nearly 8,000-mile journey, the Boeing 787-9 got four hours into the flight and roughly a quarter of the way to Cape Town when it made a U-turn mid-Atlantic and flew back another four hours to the US.

Located roughly an hour and a half from Washington D.C., Shenandoah County, Virginia, is home to Blue Ridge views, boutique wineries, and charming valley towns steeped in history. Growing up in northern Virginia, I spent countless days leaf-peeping on the Skyline Drive and taking field trips to Shenandoah Caverns, but it wasn't until I returned as an adult that I realized just how special the area truly is.

The island of Sifnos, nestled in the famous Cyclades archipelago, is a beautiful Greek gem that remains under the radar. With its gentle, laid-back atmosphere and charming villages, it's the perfect place to escape and feel time slow down. The island is known for its beautiful landscapes and historic pottery traditions, but there's also an incredible culinary scene showcasing Sifnos' invaluable contributions to Greek cuisine that's well worth your attention. Here's everything you need to know for a perfect trip to this Aegean Sea paradise.

"I think the important thing is the ease of use. To be able to come in, get through security, get on your airplane and get out of here is really what you're after," he said. "You want to start that vacation. ... It's not about hanging out and doing things at an airport."

The travel bucket list, or a catalog of places you must go, has long been a thing, but with the rise in global tourism - and subsequent strains of overtourism - there's increasing talk about where not to go. International tourist arrivals increased 5% globally in the first half of 2025 compared to the same time period a year prior, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Skybus, a carrier operated by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, has flown in like a knight in shining armour to take over the route. It's only temporary for now, but the airline has revealed loftier plans for the future. The Skybus flight will launch on November 23, with flights already on sale. Prices for a single journey - inclusive of 15kg worth of hold luggage, 6kg of cabin luggage plus a handbag - start at £79.99.

When I booked a last-minute trip to Boston and Martha's Vineyard, I didn't give much thought to my packing list until the night before our flight. But then I remembered how much walking would be involved, and I knew I didn't want to wake up every day and ask myself, "Should I wear my cute shoes or my walking shoes?"

In this week's air travel developments, the government rescinded its mandatory flight cutbacks for U.S. airlines as record passenger numbers are expected over the Thanksgiving period - although some flyers may have changed their plans during the recent spike in cancellations and delays; Southwest Airlines enhances passenger check-in procedures; the Transportation Department drops a proposed mandate for airlines to compensate passengers whose flights face lengthy delays; Delta ends a California transcontinental route, and Frontier pulls out of Palm Springs; JetBlue adds two more European destinations,

Long-term travel is the ultimate dream for many Americans, whether it's working remotely in Europe, learning a new language in Latin America, or embracing a slow-paced beach life in Southeast Asia. But visa restrictions often cut those dreams short, forcing travelers to shuffle in and out of countries on tourist permits. Luckily, a surprising number of countries now offer visa-free stays, extended tourist visas, or digital nomad visas that let Americans remain for up to a year with minimal hassle.

Fans' strong emotional attachment to favorite characters and celebrities leads to a desire for proximity. Travel to locations significant to fandom helps fans feel like part of the story - a source of meaning. Fans describe these pilgrimages as providing a sense of homecoming to a place that is new but familiar. The location is invested with the symbolism of something special and sacred, no matter how mundane it seems.

The first thing I notice when I walk into the oasis is the temperature drop. Then, I hear the birdsong and the rustling of the palm trees. The harsh sun dims and there's water and the smell of damp earth. It's easy to understand why desert travellers yearned to reach these havens and why they have become synonymous with peace.

Network Rail said a large section of the railway south of Peterborough will be closed between Saturday and Sunday. This was due to in-cab digital signalling being installed as part of a 1.4bn East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), which aimed to create greener, safer and more reliable journeys for passengers. As a result, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) will have rail replacement coaches between Peterborough and Bedford, where customers can join train services to London St Pancras.

I've been on over 20 cruises in the last 10 years, and always have another one on the horizon. Over the years, I've accumulated an array of helpful travel tips, but my favorite hacks go beyond the usual advice like downloading the cruise line's app and packing a lanyard. Here are five unconventional cruise tips I swear by that make life on board easier, more comfortable, and more cost-effective.

My partner and I took an overnight train ride from London to Scotland on the Caledonian Sleeper. We splurged on the Caledonian double en-suite, which came with a shower, a toilet, and a bed. I didn't get much sleep, but this beat a flight. I'd do it again, but only under a few conditions. In my opinion, there's something alluring about the idea of an overnight train ride -

The historic Southern California resort first opened in February 1888, and entering the landmarked Victorian building feels like stepping into a storybook. I could just imagine why an author as whimsical as Lyman Frank Baum, the man behind The Wizard of Oz series, felt so inspired there. Baum wrote at least three Oz books at "The Del," as it's affectionately known, between 1904 and 1917.

A young group of teens stood on top of a rocky ledge, some fearful, some excited, some just egging their friends to jump. Their trepidations were warranted - it's not every day you're faced with a drop of about 30 feet above the surface of a pool of water. But inevitably, each brave adolescent took the leap and gasped for a few seconds of unnerving airtime before gravity plunged them into the cool freshwater below.

The answer is yes, but with a caveat. According to the 2024 SITA Global Baggage Report, the airline industry loses about $2 billion annually due to lost or mishandled luggage. So, lost luggage payouts are certainly happening at a grand scale, no doubt about it-but the individual payouts are sometimes a fraction of the value of the lost items. Per the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines are liable for up to $4,700 per person for lost luggage on domestic flights

"thought the girls were mucking around and they turned off the lights in the bathroom. "I came out and there's buckets in the room and I was like, 'what's happening?' Then there's water dripping through the ceiling."

Let us now praise foraminifera. Tiny maritime creatures, too simple to be classified as animals but absolutely alive, they grow protective shells like microscopic mollusks and attach themselves by the billions to coral reefs. They live and feed happily there until they die and the ocean pulverizes their shells to powder. It's hard to pick out a single foraminifera on its own, but collectively these single-cell organisms,

It was Ramadan, and in Zanzibar - outside the tourist area - this meant closed restaurants, shuttered groceries, and recommendations to refrain from even drinking water in public until after dark. The cultural norms, so normal for our hosts and neighbors, were way out of our comfort zone and, unfortunately, our realm of understanding. Still, my family of four made it our mission to connect with our Tanzanian neighbors.