2025 is poised to be another colossal year for travel and tourism and many of those trips will include travel professionals such as advisors and suppliers and traversing the globe to meet and share ideas and insights.
21.12.2024 - 16:21 / lonelyplanet.com
Dec 20, 2024 • 9 min read
At any time of year, Central America astounds with its gorgeous beaches, exciting hikes, ancient ruins and – above all else – extraordinary natural beauty.
As you mull a getaway to this region of small countries and huge pleasures, two of its most welcoming destinations will surely rise to the top of your list: Belize and Costa Rica.
Both Belize and Costa Rica offer incredible experiences. We've consulted two travel experts to provide you with the best insights. Below, they cover all the basics (like climate and costs) and help you figure out which country works best for your travel needs.
As Costa Rica has become a popular tourist destination, so have the prices. While it's possible to visit Costa Rica on a budget, you may need to forego the fancy hotels and restaurants to make it happen. Opt for cabinas (simple, single-room cabins) or hostels to reduce accommodation costs. Traveling during the wet season (August to November) can also offer savings, though you'll need to brace for frequent rain and muddy conditions.
Although Belize has become more popular and developed a range of high-end resorts, it remains surprisingly affordable for budget-conscious travelers. Consider staying in more budget-friendly areas such as Belize City and San Ignacio, where you'll find a wider selection of hotels and hostels. To make a Belize trip even cheaper, focus your itinerary on exploring the country's 17 national parks, dine at local hole-in-the-wall restaurants and food trucks, and use public transportation.
If you’re aiming to travel to and/or through Central America on a budget, Belize is your best bet.
The entire country tends to get plenty of rain, with annual rainfall ranging from 1,350mm (or 53 inches) in the far north to over 4,500mm (or 180 inches) in the extreme south. And since the most heavily visited areas tend to be the flat areas at or near the coast, Belize’s most popular destinations (like San Pedro) face a greater risk of hurricanes during the summer and fall (especially in September and October).
Since Costa Rica has a Caribbean Sea coastline, a Pacific Ocean coastline, and larger mountain ranges in the interior, you should expect many more variations in climate throughout the country. By the Caribbean Sea, you can expect warm and wet weather year-round at beach towns like Limón and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. In contrast, Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast beaches tend to have more distinct wet and dry seasons, such as Tamarindo and Jacó, with their December to April dry season. And though Costa Rica does lie in North America’s hurricane belt, hurricanes rarely make direct landfall on either coast.
If you prefer more predictable and warmer weather, you might have an easier time in
2025 is poised to be another colossal year for travel and tourism and many of those trips will include travel professionals such as advisors and suppliers and traversing the globe to meet and share ideas and insights.
INRIX, Inc., a prominent transportation data and analytics company, has just released its 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, which analyzed and ranked congestion and commuting patterns in nearly 1,000 cities across 37 nations around the world. The results indicate that traffic congestion has surged across major cities as workers return to offices and weekend activities increase.
Like most travelers, I’m determined to maximize my vacation days in 2025. The key to making the most of your paid time off—whether you’re hoping to plan lengthy bucket-list trips or are looking to ramp up your weekend getaways—is being strategic about which days you request vacation. It’s a common hack: To smartly link your PTO with holidays and office closures, which allows for more overall time out of office. Effectively, you get more vacation from the same number of vacation days.
After saving up for years, my partner and I spent 17 months traveling around the world.
The Department of Transportation said on Friday that it will fine JetBlue $2 million over chronic delays, accusing the airline of publishing unrealistic schedules that it knows it can't actually achieve.
JetBlue Airways will pay the first-ever penalty for delayed and cancelled flights. The New York-based airline was recently placed under an investigation by the Department of Transportation over flights that were «chronically delayed» at least 145 times between June 2022 and November 2023. The agency says it provided warnings to JetBlue about the delays, which occurred over five months, however the flight schedule continued, despite the repeated delays. As a result of the investigation, the government fined JetBlue $2 million. “Illegal chronic flight delays make flying unreliable for travelers,” U.S.
Jan 2, 2025 • 9 min read
New year, new routes.
There’s nothing like slipping into a fresh, cozy robe at your favorite luxury hotel. And while some aspects of vacation can be easily recreated at home, finding a robe that’s just as good can be difficult. Luckily for anyone who has ever wanted to steal one from a five-star hotel, we rounded up all the best robes you can lounge in at home.
Being from Southern California, many would ask why I'd want to spend the money to go to Walt Disney World in Florida when I had Disneyland in my backyard. I would say that if you ask that question, you've never been there. It is a magical world unto itself.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andrew Jernigan, CEO of Insured Nomads. It has been edited for length and clarity.