Travel in city Tampa, county Bay

H​urricane Idalia is barreling toward the Florida Gulf Coast and is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane on Wednesday and disrupting travel up and down the coast.

It’s the not-so-glamorous side of travel that might make you squirm: Bed bugs are known to nestle into hotel mattresses, hitchhike in luggage, and burrow in fabric on public transportation head rests or seat backs. But how common is it to actually come across these pesky blood-sucking insects when you travel?

Delta Air Lines will return to Amsterdam with daily flights from Tampa this fall, allowing Floridians the chance to satisfy their cravings for stroopwafels and Gouda cheese.

Florida's public-transit situation isn't great, even though it's home to tourist hotspots like Orlando and congested cities like Miami.

When it comes to sun-soaked adventures, Florida reigns supreme. It was the most popular U.S. state among international visitors in 2022, according to the latest report from the International Trade Administration. Beyond its famed theme parks, the vacation destination offers plenty of exciting excursions for thrill-seekers of all ages.

Amidst the diverse landscapes and crystalline waters of Florida, lies a gentle giant—the manatee. From the cool springs of West Volusia County, to the warm havens of Fort Myers, Tampa Bay, and Central Florida, these majestic creatures find refuge and care in various sanctuaries, parks and natural habitats. Here are some of the best places to see manatees in the Sunshine State.

Best place to live in Florida; a top-ten market for millennials to move to; one of the world’s greatest places. In a world that loves a superlative, Tampa has secured a spot on an outsized amount of best-of lists of late thanks to new and rapid development. And while we’re not ready to say “move over, Miami,” just yet, if it’s been some time since you checked out this sun-splashed city on Florida’s Gulf Coast long been overshadowed by heavier Florida hitters, then chances are you’ll be surprised by the Tampa of today.

Florida is a top destination for many domestic and international travelers thanks to various entertainment attractions, including major theme parks, the warm weather and sandy beaches, and numerous cultures and cuisines to explore. With that in mind, Florida is a large state with many places worth visiting. To help you plan your 2024 travels, I’ve listed the best places to visit in Florida.

Margaritaville at Sea’s newest flagship vessel will offer longer, 4- and 5-night cruises with stops to Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso beginning in June 2024.

St. Pete/Clearwater closed out the year with a strong September, generating a 2.4% increase in hotel bed tax funds  compared to September 2022, despite Hurricane Idalia’s impact on the destination during Labor Day weekend.  

Following two flat months, Hillsborough County’s hospitality industry saw a large surge in growth in July according to the latest reports from STR, Inc. July’s hotel revenues were up 13.8% while occupancy increased by 3.4% to 70.4%, average daily rate (ADR) up 11.5% to $143.55 and RevPAR up 15.3% to $101.08.  July tourist development tax collections for Hillsborough County, which reflect June collections, came in at $4,347,279, bringing the total collection for the fiscal year to $56,732,408. Total taxable hotel revenue through June has reached more than $900 million for the fiscal year-to-date indicating that Hillsborough County will surpass $1 billion for the second continuous fiscal year.

After bringing strong winds and flooding to Cuba as a tropical storm, Idalia became a Category 1 hurricane early Tuesday morning, fueled by unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

In a stunning and comprehensive report, the Tampa Bay Times has uncovered systemic mechanical problems on Allegiant Air’s planes.

The last of Allegiant Air’s aging fleet of MD-80 planes took its final flight this week, hopefully putting an end to years of safety and reliability concerns swirling around the carrier’s use of an outdated aircraft. Early MD-80 models debuted about 40 years ago, and have been since retired by most other airlines.

Have you questioned flying Southwest since its deadly engine failure made headlines this spring? The incident might have overshadowed a watershed safety moment for another low-cost airline—one that’s long faced questions about its safety: Allegiant Air.

We were lucky enough to welcome an astronaut all the way from the Kennedy Space Center to Rough Guides HQ recently, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask him a few questions.