Not long after my 48th birthday, in August 1999, my husband Barry invited me out for a margarita at Compadre's, a Mexican restaurant near our home in Palo Alto. It turned out he had an agenda.
14.05.2024 - 17:01 / forbes.com
As Google reveals that one of its most popular travel search trends is currently 'cheap summer vacations', there are lots of ways that travelers can find ideas to travel for less.
This is particularly important as Bloomberg reports that the post-pandemic travel boom, merged with curbs on hotel construction, overtourism and restrictions on Airbnb in many cities, is sending hotel rates sky high, especially in Europe.
It's also clear that travelers might be feeling the pinch. Vacasa, the home rental platform found that while 4th July and Memorial Day will be the big summer travel weekends, its poll suggests that some people have shifted their travel plans or planning behavior to be more budget conscious (81% of respondents), driven significantly by higher cost of living and inflation (74%).
Bloomberg recommends ignoring Instagram feeds for overhyped, over-expensive destinations and instead hitting places under the social radar for cheap summer vacations—in Italy, this might be the picturesque Costiera Cilentana, an hour from the Amalfi coast or the stylish but under-developed peninsula of Monte Argentario, just 90 minutes from Rome's Fiumicino airport.
If Italy still seems like too much on the beaten European track, Romania's travel star has been rising for a while, hot on the heels of the much-beloved (and still relatively cheap) Albania.
There are also alternatives to the hotel for cheap summer vacations. Bloomberg reports that European hotel rates have increased 50% since 2019, according to market researcher CoStar Group, so maybe a boat would be better value.
Alternatively, HomeExchange, the home swap website, allows members unlimited exchanges for only $220 per year, meaning you can travel relatively cheaply but also visit places that might not be quite so crowded this summer.
The U.K's Telegraph also advocates finding some of the nicest youth hostels or staying in a mountain bothy in Britain—these are remote shelters in some of the most breathtaking hills and woods across the U.K. that are free to use for just an annual subscription of $32 from The Mountain Bothies Association. There are similar refuge schemes across Europe in the most spectacular places—many also run a basic menu for breakfast and dinner.
Change your mode of travel for cheap summer vacations. Though there are cheaper ways to fly (the London to New York route remains one of the most competitive, if you are available to fly at any time) but one of the most inexpensive ways to travel on holiday this summer might be by train.
The Telegraph lists several examples, notably Eurostar tickets if you book a long time in advance (around $50 one-way)—it's sometimes easier to find deals if you book to Brussels and not London to Paris. The
Not long after my 48th birthday, in August 1999, my husband Barry invited me out for a margarita at Compadre's, a Mexican restaurant near our home in Palo Alto. It turned out he had an agenda.
New York City rolled out the One Metro New York contactless payment system five years ago, but thanks to a slew of issues, less than half of subway riders currently use OMNY. For example, passengers who are entitled to discounted fares (like students) can't use it if they expect to get a cheaper ride, and people living in the greater New York transit system are also unable to take advantage of the system.
A version of this article originally appeared in Vogue.
The shortlist for this year’s world’s best aerial photography has been chosen, featuring five nominees in each of the nine categories. The winners of the Drone Photo Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Siena, Italy on 28 September 2024. The annual competition is open to professional and amateur photographers and is judged by a jury of five international professional photographers, filmmakers and curators.
Halifax is a harbor town. A narrow neck opens up to the protected waters of Bedford Basin, making it ideal as a naval and shipping port. Before Europeans arrived, this body of water was a sanctuary and home to Indigenous Mi’kmaq for millennia.
In the ever-expanding wellness world, one of the latest trends is actually one of the oldest: soaking in, and sometimes drinking, therapeutic waters. In ancient Greece, physicians, including Hippocrates, prescribed mineral-rich baths to treat everything from skin diseases to insomnia. (According to one theory, the word “spa” is an acronym of the Latin phrase “sanus per aqua,” meaning “health by water.”) The practice has also been employed in Asia since at least the sixth century A.D., when nomadic Buddhists are said to have brought the concept of onsen (inns and bathhouses built around natural geothermal pools) to Japan from the Korean Peninsula. Now, with various forms of hydrotherapy, such as cold plunges and steam saunas, making a comeback, wellness entrepreneurs are debuting properties centered on bathing. Here, five places to take a dip.
For those who love to visit the poshest places on earth, a new study by Optimos travel ranks Aspen, Colorado as the most expensive vacation destination in the United States. According to the survey, visitors can expect to spend more than $761 a day in Aspen—although that amount fluctuates by season and how large you live. Rounding out the top three destinations are Park City, Utah and Maui, Hawaii.
If you've ever struggled to choose between a cabin (or tent) in the woods and a seaside getaway, you’ll love Oregon’s Coast – especially in the summer. This 363-mile-long stretch of Pacific wonderland is not your typical beach destination.
A majority of American adults (82%) plan to take at least one vacation this summer, according to The Vacationer’s recent travel survey. With that in mind, here’s a sampling of unique and unexpected summer escapes at you can find at centers and lodgings from the Pacific to Provence: creative and luxurious experiences to help you beat the heat and lean into the season. These may inspire you to find others to suit your summer interests—and go.
Shannon Airport reaffirms its commitment to making it easy for passengers this summer.
Anxiety, stress, and exhaustion are common; travelers want more support from employers.
The heatwaves that have swept over southern and central Europe in recent summers have led many travelers to consider an adventure trip further to the north, specifically to the Nordic countries — including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the Faroe Islands. While climate change has wreaked havoc on forecasts, there’s a reasonable expectation that summer in Oslo or Stockholm should be a bit more temperate than in Rome or Athens. Here’s a look at five Nordic adventures to consider this summer.