Amazing Hotel Suites In Caves, Flying Private For (Almost) Nothing And More Travel News

20.10.2023 - 15:27 / forbes.com / Johnnie Walker

It’s one thing to love a hotel room with a balcony, quite another to stay in one that’s built into the side of a mountain. But for longtime Forbes travel writer Jim Dobson—who first slept in a cave hotel many years ago in Santorini, Greece—the experience provides a neo-ancient twist on a room with a view. From Mallorca and Puglia to Turkey and Texas, here are some of the most amazing hotel suites built into caves.

Long a favorite among solo cruise travelers, Norwegian Cruise Line recently announced it will more than double the capacity of solo cabins across its 19 ships beginning next year. Among the nearly 1,000 new studio staterooms to be introduced will be three new categories: Solo Inside, Solo Oceanview and Solo Balcony. Perhaps most appealing is that the pricing will be more favorable for single passengers, who typically pay more for solitude. And some NCL cruise ships will also offer access to a Studio Lounge, where solo travelers can meet one another—and perhaps double up for the next voyage.

The average cost of flying private is about $11,000 an hour. By contrast, empty-leg segments (in which no passengers have booked a return flight) can often bring that price down by as much as 50 percent. If you’re flying with a few friends, the cost can come down even more. But empty-leg flights are not always reliable and are often canceled. Enter Vaunt, a new platform that connects travelers to private jets operating out of top airports or cities. After paying a $1,000 membership fee, passengers can select empty-leg flights (typically two days in advance) through the Vaunt mobile app for no additional fee on a first come, first served basis.

Looking to rent a car when you travel? J.D. Power—which ranks airlines, airports, hotels and more—recently released its annual North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study. According to the survey, Enterprise is the top-rated rental car company for the third consecutive year with National ranked No. 2 and Alamo rounding out the top three. See the full rankings of the top rental car companies in America for 2023.

Among the many pleasures of visiting Scotland is sampling Scotch whisky on its native soil. Dr. Emma Walker, the first female master blender in the 200-year history of Johnnie Walker (no relation), recommends some of her favorite pubs, bars and saloons in Edinburgh (where she lives in Leith). “Edinburgh is full of creative people who can think of new and different ways of delighting customers and can build amazing teams around them,” Walker says of Auld Reekie, as the city is affectionately known. “And it has great local ingredients and gifted suppliers across food, brewing, and distilling—along with the talented craftspeople who help to build these venues.”