An Elegy for Crystal Cove A7, Our Family’s Piece of Paradise

As the travel industry prepares for the busy winter holiday period, American Airlines announced that it would offer more than 118,000 flights that will carry an estimated 12.7 million customers between December 18 and January 6.

Imagine walking down Main Street, USA, at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom only to realize that the cute shoes you’re wearing are starting to give you blisters before you’ve even gotten on the first ride of the day. Finding the right shoes to wear for a full day of walking around the Disney Parks is crucial—blisters and foot pain can quickly cut your day short. With an abundance of different shoe types, brands, and price points to choose from, it can be hard to know what shoes are the best to wear to Disney World, or any theme park, for that matter.

With more than 8,300 locations worldwide and 24 distinct brands, there's a Hilton stay experience for every type of traveler. This year, Hilton® has expanded its portfolio and partnerships to include even more options for travelers.

In 1999, my husband and I left our consulting gigs in Palo Alto, CA, rented our home, and took off on an international self-designed sabbatical .

Interest in digital nomadism only continues to grow, and for many, Brazil is a top destination. In 2022, the country launched a digital nomad visa and is famous for its communities that are dedicated to attracting foreign talent, such as the beach town of Pipa. And this October, the country's capital, Brasília, was just named the best city in the world for digital nomads by the travel insurance comparison site, InsureMyTrip.

About 15 years ago, I moved to Nashville and was excited to learn that it was located just a short drive away from Tennessee's Smoky Mountains.

I didn't grow up in a family that traveled. The first time I vacationed outside the US was on my honeymoon, and just a few years after getting married, our first child was born, significantly slowing down our travels. It's only been since my kids got older that I've been traveling to spots I've always wanted to visit, like Italy and Mexico's Baja California peninsula .

Using credit card points for flights can be a great way to save on airfare costs, but the real secret is taking advantage of bank-issued transfer bonuses. Right now, American Express Membership Rewards members can get a 25 percent bonus when moving their points over to JetBlue TrueBlue.

At first glance, New York City might not scream intimacy—reservations get booked up weeks out, open bar stools are snatched up in seconds, and dates squeezed into overpacked schedules. But it's the potential—the low-lit room, delectable shared dish and bottle of red—that pushes New Yorkers to fall head over heels, if not with their date, then at least with the restaurant itself. This city's dining scene brims over with romance, thanks to visionary restaurateurs who have mastered the art of ambiance.

The US dollar is strong right now, meaning Americans' spending in countries with weaker currencies could go further, making it a convenient time to consider taking that impromptu trip you've been dreaming about.

Cruise passengers in Mexico may have to pay more in 2025.

This story was originally published on The Conversation . It appears here under a Creative Commons license.