Travel
fromLos Angeles Times
9 hours agoTell us: What are your best train travel memories?
Train travel evokes vivid memories and stories through slower, ground-level journeys and memorable scenic moments that passengers cherish and share.
The U.S. Department of State recently increased its travel advisory to a Level 2 for the country of Grenada, recommending Americans "exercise increased caution" when heading there. The advisory was updated on Jan. 5 to include the crime indicator, mentioning instances of armed robbery, assault, and burglary. "Violent crime can occur anywhere in Grenada," the State Department wrote in its message, adding "In some cases, American citizens have been killed. Police response times are not as fast as one may expect in the United States."
Paris has long been considered the ultimate symbol of European beauty, romance, and culture. However, younger retirees, digital nomads, and lifestyle seekers are increasingly discovering that many smaller European towns offer equal or greater charm without the high costs and crowds. These destinations provide historic architecture, walkable streets, vibrant local culture, and stunning natural surroundings, often at a fraction of the price associated with major capitals. From coastal villages to medieval hill towns, Europe offers countless alternatives that feel authentic, relaxed, and deeply rewarding.
Tumi's Alpha line is business chic, looks good but is really all about function. If you have enough money to have a money manager, this is what you want that guy carrying onto his reasonably priced business class flight. The Dual Access carry-on puts an emphasis on performance, with a second zipper entry for quick access to your main compartment. It also comes with a removable garment bag so your suit or jacket can stay spiffy for that wedding you're heading to.
When my first flight was delayed to the point of no return, I accepted that missing my second flight meant I'd be unwillingly spending the night in Detroit. Instead of scrambling for a late-night shuttle to one of the off-airport properties Delta Air Lines offered for free-some of which were 18 miles away!-I quickly pulled up my Marriott app and snagged a room at The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport, located directly inside the McNamara Terminal of Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
As global air travel settled into a new rhythm in 2025, OAG's latest Busiest Flight Routes in the World report offers a clear picture of where travelers have been flying the most across the year. Based on scheduled seat capacity, the rankings highlight the air corridors that carried the highest volumes of passengers worldwide, and they are overwhelmingly concentrated in one region.
When Mandarin Oriental Qianmen opened its doors in late 2024, the property shone the spotlight on a different side of Beijing. Rather than a sleek, multistory modern building, guests can now immerse themselves in the historic side of the Chinese capital by staying in a hutong, or one of the ancient alleyway networks that have been a hub of local life for centuries-all with Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City (The Palace Museum), and the National Museum of China within walking distance.
"They say that the Azores is made up of eight islands and an amusement park," my guide, Fernando Brazil, joked as he drove his Land Rover past one of the island's many colorful chapels, known as impérios. Brazil explained that Terceira holds more festivals than all the other Azorean isles combined. Most revolve around the impérios, which are dedicated to the Holy Spirit and can last up to 10 days, with concerts, parades, and bullfights.
"What passengers often interpret as cabin hosts 'sitting on their hands' is actually a deliberate brace-ready position. Cabin hosts sit upright in the jump seat with feet flat on the floor and hands secured on their thighs or beneath the legs," Drossos says. "This posture stabilizes the body, minimizes the risk of injury during sudden movement or turbulence, and ensures hands are immediately available to respond if an evacuation or safety action is required."
There are several reasons Hallstatt, a hamlet in Austria's Salzkammergut region, is one of the most-visited destinations in the country. For many travelers, its storybook appearance is the primary draw. "This postcard-worthy destination...delights with its colorful houses, a historic market square, the country's largest bone house, and a 7,000-year-old salt mine that is still active today and fun to tour," says Michaela Muhr, an Austrian guide with ToursByLocals.
After visiting more than 70 countries and learning to live out of a carry-on for weeks at a time, I've made every packing mistake in the book-literally. From cramming too many "just in case" outfits to forgetting something as simple as a charger adapter, I've found myself spending way over budget just to account for all the things I've forgotten.
I trekked it in December 2023 with plans and a permit to camp at Bright Angel Campground, a scenic cottonwood-shaded hideaway just near the famed Phantom Ranch (the only lodging on the world wonder's floor). Then, two days before my trip, a miracle happened: One last-minute reservation became available for Phantom Ranch. The ranch digs typically book out over a year in advance, but if you're lucky, you can either get in via the lottery or a last-minute opening. This made the grueling but gorgeous hike down and up the steep South Kaibab Trail even more memorable.
Having settled on where to ski in Norway, I found myself packing up the Kvikk Lunsj wafers and sweet brown brunost cheese sandwiches at the glassy Juvet Landscape Hotel, deep in the Sunnmøre Alps. Then the slow ascent, with skins on our splitboard skis, up to the peak at Mefjellet: torturous in some ways, looking at all that glinting Care Bear snow all the way up, but also a deliciously tantric act of meditation and delayed gratification.
As The New York Times reported, the average cost of a single-day lift ticket in the U.S. hit an astonishing $250 in the 2024 season. And, again, that's the average. It's also only the cost of a ticket, so you'll still need to pay for food and drinks, lessons (if you need them), and a hotel if you plan to stay overnight.
Allegiant Travel Co. will acquire Sun Country Airlines Holdings Inc. in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $1.5 billion including Sun Country's debt, the two carriers said in a joint statement on Sunday. Sun Country's shareholders will receive 0.1557 shares of Allegiant common stock and $4.10 in cash per Sun Country share, the companies said. The offer represents a premium of 19.8% over Sun Country's closing share price on Friday, according to the statement.
With a population of about 200,000 residents, this eastern Florida city is known for its quieter beaches, walkable downtown, and vibrant stores and restaurants. It's also famous for having hundreds of miles of canals that curl in and around the city - a feature that's earned it the nickname "Venice of America." Just like in Italy's Venice, these winding waterways are very much a part of daily life in this Florida city.
Quintana Roo is consistently Mexico's most-visited state. Travelers flock here for blue waters rich in snorkeling and dive sites, powder-soft sands, ancient Maya cities cocooned by jungle, and a proliferation of rowdy bars, clubs, and all-inclusive resorts. But as millions of sun-hungry travelers pack their bags for Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum this winter, remember there are still pockets of secluded paradise to be found and cherished along Mexico's Caribbean coastline.
Living abroad as a digital nomad, traveler, or retiree isn't just a great way to experience new cultures, try new things, and explore the world. It's also a great way to save money. While the cost of living in many countries is high, making it more challenging to buy a home, it's surprisingly low in other countries. Did you know you can find places to live worldwide for less than $500 monthly?
Astypalaia has the same pretty, white-washed houses you see on the famous Greek islands, but it's far less busy. The main town is beautiful, with buildings leading up a hill to an old castle. We rented a small apartment and spent our days on quiet pebble beaches that we had almost to ourselves. It's a genuinely peaceful place where you can properly switch off from the noise of modern life. Roy A Corsican beach that never gets busy Plage de Peru. Photograph: Jon Ingall/Alamy
Many of the lowest fares came from regional and secondary airports rather than the country's largest hubs. That's partly because smaller airports operate a little differently, with lower costs, fewer delays, and more low-cost carrier routes. They're also less likely to see the sharp price jumps that hit major hubs as flights fill up, which helps keep fares steadier-even during busy travel periods.
On the first Sunday in September, around a hundred people from municipalities in Ourense, Madrid, Barcelona, and Ponferrada travel to a chapel and a cemetery on a special spot in the vast landscape of southeastern Spanish region of Galicia. The location is enveloped by the Serra Seca mountains (1,100 meters above sea level), the eternal route to Castile, and the Invernadoiro Natural Park (1,550 meters).
Rushing to get on board with your carry-on may seem like a good idea (there's only so much overhead bin space, after all), but attempting to take shortcuts during the boarding process can actually delay your travels even more. "We understand that boarding can make people anxious, but I promise: If you have a seat assignment, you will get on the plane,"
Each city was scored across five weighted factors using publicly available data sources: average winter temperatures (NOAA), trail accessibility, average number of reviews, average trail ratings (AllTrails), and the number of campgrounds in the state (Camping USA). After looking at all the available information, Extreme Terrain named Tucson as the No. 1 destination for a nature getaway this winter. According to the findings, it won out thanks to its "excellent trail access and highly rated hikes."
It just got more expensive to stay on the Hawaiian islands thanks to a tax increase affecting accommodations across the state. On Jan. 1, Hawaii raised the statewide Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) from 10.25 percent to 11 percent with each county able to also impose an extra 3 percent tax on top of that. The state's Gov. Josh Green has dubbed the increase a "green fee" with the goal of building climate change resiliency.
The Holiday Happiness Index study, which was conducted in collaboration with Natalie Dattilo-Ryan, a Harvard-affiliated clinical psychologist and holistic happiness expert, looked at 50 destinations throughout the world and ranked them across five "feel good" factors, including sunlight, quality sleep, a healthy diet, time in nature, and physical exercise. To determine which are the sunniest, the study also took into account each place's total hours of sunlight per year.
The celebrity clientele says a lot about how far this once-sleepy village has come. El Zonte first attracted local and international surfers in the 1990s, drawn to the consistent waves and tight knit community. (The town was largely spared from lingering violence of a civil war between the military and left-leaning guerrillas that ended in 1992.) And despite El Salvador's struggling economy-the country, which is about the size of New Jersey, has one of the highest poverty rates in Latin America-
As the final hours of 2024 crept up, I sat on my parents' hardwood floor with a giant whiteboard, a box of colorful markers, magazine cutouts and a Don Fulano Margarita. It's become a New Year's Eve tradition to make a vision board, my creative outlet to manifest what's to come, along with picking a color and a word to live by for the upcoming year.
Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Colo., is an awe-inspiring canyon boasting scenery any traveler would be lucky to soak in. It's also, bafflingly, crowd-free. "People tend to head straight for the Grand Canyon, or maybe Arches or Zion national parks," says Adam Kinsey, owner and founder of Grand Junction's Handlebar Tap House as well as the new WestCo Brewing. The canyon boasts a serenity you simply won't find at the Grand Canyon, with its steady flow of tourists.
We had a brief stopover in Frankfurt before connecting to a transatlantic flight back to the States a couple of hours later. There is no angst quite like "I hope we don't miss our connection" angst. We got to the Berlin airport and it said that our first leg was delayed by 10 minutes. Not a problem. I'm a veteran flyer and a regular Zoloft patient; a 10-minute delay ain't s-t to me.
The drive to Bowral in New South Wales takes you through some of Australia's most English countryside. Pastoral hills roll right up to the roadside and finish in grassy verges, flecked with yellow and white wildflowers. Alliums stand sentinel around vibrant lawns. Even the eucalypts are cosplaying as beech and oaks. You might be in Hampshire, if it weren't for the dazzling sun. Just a few roads from the high street storefronts full of fancy cookware and country casuals is the Bradman Oval.
Due to a technical issue with a software update, passports issued between 23 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 inclusive are not fully compliant with international travel standards and there is a possibility that some passport holders may have an issue at eGates and border control when travelling. The Passport Service sincerely regrets this issue and apologises to affected citizens for the inconvenience caused. In order to mitigate against any possible travel issues, the passport service has notified border authorities worldwide through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), as well as Irish Border Management.
As I'm stuck in my NYC apartment on a brisk day in January, I can't help but daydream about the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach in Florida. I spent one night there in October 2025 and booked the cheapest available room for $920. Sitting in a cushioned rattan chair on my balcony as the sun went down, I could see the pool surrounded by palms and cabanas, tropical gardens, and the five-star hotel's private beach.
Onboard/Offboard is a series that explores the can't-miss highlights of our favorite cruises-from the shore excursions to book to the spa treatments too relaxing to pass up. A new ship sometimes needs time to work out the kinks, but at this point-more than 100 vessels later- Viking has the routine down pat. In early November, I boarded the Viking Vesta, the line's 12th ocean vessel, in Istanbul, a few months into service.
In its new report, it analyzed 75 major U.S. cities to identify which spots have seen the largest surges in hotel, meal, car rental, and flight costs over the past year. According to their findings, across all 75 cities, hotel costs increased an average of 3 percent, while meal costs increased an average of 24 percent. Getting there is also expensive, with airfare costs increasing an average of 8 percent.