Copy My Trip: a weekend getaway in Lisbon

Memorial Day is a chance to honor U.S. military personnel and to celebrate the distinct history and landscapes that make this country so unique. The three-day weekend has become the unofficial kick-off to summer and one of the year's busiest travel weekends. More than 42 million Americans traveled over the weekend last year, and airlines and experts expect a similar number this year.

With the three-day Memorial Day weekend just a week away, travelers can expect roads and airports to be more crowded than last year. But will your getaway cost more than it did last year? It depends on how you plan to get there.

Memorial Day Weekend sneaks up on you. Suddenly, it's less than two weeks away, but it's not too late to plan a fabulous last-minute trip.

Lonely Planet Destination Editor Amy Lynch traveled to Tampere, Finland – the sauna capital of the world – to discover what lies behind the Finnish passion for saunas. Here, she shares some tips and insights for anyone planning a similar trip.

Lonely Planet associate editor Ann Douglas Lott recently traveled to Newport Beach, California, for a sunny coastal getaway. Here, she shares some tips and insights for anyone planning a similar trip.

With Lisbon, in Portugal, revealed as host of the annual EuroPride festival in 2025, and more than 100,000 people expected to attend annual Lisbon Pride events over two weekends in June, the team at Visit Lisbon (visitlisboa.com/en) has revealed its recommendations for uncovering the best of the region for LGBTI+ travellers. The annual Pride March (22 and 23 June 2024), transforms the city with a kaleidoscope of colour, music, and festivity, serving as a celebration of love and freedom and providing a platform for LGBTI+ advocacy and awareness. A week later, Pride Village (29 and 30 June) is held in the iconic river-facing square, Praça do Comércio, with open-air bars, concerts and DJ sets that acclaim gay community and culture, and workshops that address the LGBTI+ experience.

Travelers worldwide are celebrating the highly anticipated opening of Firefall Ranch near Yosemite’s northwest entrance. The ranch is grand and refined, yet warmly welcoming, with a sophisticated blend of rustic elegance and nature-forward experiences.

More than 43 million Americans are expected to travel for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, and a record number of those will hit the roads, making it essential travelers plan their road trips ahead.

A forecast from AAA estimates Memorial Day weekend travel will be up from last year with boosts in travelers across modes of transportation — but still shy of the all-time record set in 2005.

As April showers turn into May flowers, it's time for another memorable Memorial Day weekend. This time every year holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans, especially those who eagerly plan and pack for upcoming travel. As the unofficial kick-off to the summer season, this end-of-May vacay is a quintessential American experience. Whether it's a quick getaway or an extended 3-5 day weekend, MDW serves us all as an open door of endless potential for summer fun (and, of course, the outdated societal approval to wear white jeans). In any case, who doesn’t love a long weekend?

In the 1970s, Chevy Chase and Garrett Morris had a regular skit on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update. Chase, the anchor, would tell viewers, "Our top story tonight is Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead." That pronouncement, based on a premature report of the dictator’s passing, would be followed up with Garrett Morris, who would join Chase to repeat the news for listeners with hearing impairments. Instead of signing, Morris would cup his hands and scream at the top of his lungs the punch line that Franco was still deceased, even though he hadn’t yet passed. They repeated the skit week after week. It has been a year since we started seeing reports about the pending departures of Wheels Up and VistaJet. However, unlike the general who did succumb, both are still alive, and flying, although at what altitude is open for discussion.

Tripadvisor offered a muted outlook across its major businesses, and attributed the softness to changes in Google’s travel search results pages.