Travel in state Texas

In the dusty desert of Marfa, Texas, hotel and campground El Cosmico serves as an eclectic respite in Far West Texas.

Southwest Airlines is giving travelers an extra reason to say “wow” when planning a vacation.  The Dallas-based airline recently announced the «Save WOW» fare sale, with deals up to 40 percent off base fares. Best of all, the sale covers flights through March 2025 to several popular destinations, making it a perfect option for travelers looking for a fall, winter, and even early spring getaway.  The fare sale runs from now through October 3, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

We are thrilled to announce the speakers for Skift Aviation Forum, co-hosted by American Airlines and DFW International Airport, set to take place on November 12 in Dallas, Texas. This year’s lineup features some of the most influential leaders in the aviation industry, who will share their insights and expertise on the future of aviation.

Delta Air Lines announced five new routes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, starting in March 2025.

Delta Air Lines is on a roll in Austin with plans to add five new routes next year.

Delta Air Lines is picking up the slack that American Airlines left in Austin.

A popular low-cost air airline is expanding globally. Southwest Airlines recently announced a partnership to offer international flights by partnering with carriers who operate international fights in Southwest markets. “Southwest is formalizing partnerships with international carriers to expand its network and connect Customers with more global destinations to generate additional demand for travel across the Southwest network,” Southwest shared in a news release. The launch of this new international flight program will take place in 2025, with Icelandair as the first partner airline, and will depart from the Baltimore, MD (BWI) airport. There, travelers can fly on Icelandair to Iceland, where they can connect to a variety of European destinations including Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, Oslo, Prague, Rome, and more. Icelandair is a discount carrier that operates international flights, and similar to Southwest, does not have a first or business class section on their aircraft.  “The partnership will unlock many exciting travel options for our customers, and our extensive network in Europe will open for Southwest customers,” Icelandair President and CEO Bogi Nils Bogason said in a statement.  “As part of our strategic focus on expanding our global partnership network, we seek out airlines known for exceptional service and connectivity.” As an example, a traveler would start their journey on Southwest from Nashville to Baltimore, and then continue on Icelandair from Baltimore to Iceland.

Scotland has no shortage of draws for travelers. More than 4 million people traveled to Scotland in 2023, and that number is only growing. Famous draws like world-class whisky and museums fill itineraries, as do castles and nature that’s being restored through an ambitious rewilding program. And while there are plenty of things to do, the best way to experience Scotland is through slow travel, which the region is actively promoting. It’s just one of the reasons Matador Network named Scotland its Sustainable Destination of the Year in 2023.

Few films drive home travel’s ability to help us understand one another as poignantly as Will & Harper. When Will Ferrell’s longtime friend and Saturday Night Live collaborator Harper Steele comes out as a trans woman, the two set off on a road trip from New York to Los Angeles to better understand her transition and, in turn, their friendship. “I love this country so much,” Harper says. “I just don’t know if it loves me back right now.” Over 17 days, a three-vehicle crew followed the pair and, with mounts on Harper’s Jeep and car-to-car shooting, captured 240 hours of footage. Here, director Josh Greenbaum reflects on the places that moved him and on navigating the country in a new light.

A new nonstop flight from Dallas Fort Worth straddles three days. On Wednesday, Cathay Pacific announced it will launch services from Hong Kong to and from the Texan hub.

Members of American Airlines AAdvantage have a new option in South America via budget airline JetSmart.

Marriott Bonvoy is making it easier to plan a fall getaway for less with a flash sale that has up to 20 percent off stays around the world.

A haven of high desert peaks set amid otherwise flat West Texas, Big Bend has been a draw for curious travelers for over a century, but given its recent boom in popularity, finding that elusive perfect accommodation can prove challenging.

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Just as September or «National Passport Month is underway, the U.S. State Department has released additional dates for its ongoing passport fairs, making applying for a first time passport even easier.  The agency published an updated schedule for September and October, which will take place in many states including California, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. For example, the Seattle Passport Agency will be open on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 9am-2pm, where the office is regularly closed on weekends. Applicants should be advised that appointments are required, and can be booked on the office’s website.  Other events include the Boston Passport Agency on Sept. 26, Atlanta Passport Agency on September 28, the University of Texas at Dallas on September 28, the Broward County Clerk in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on Oct. 12, and more. 

American Airlines is going back to basics in Austin after experimenting with dozens of new nonstop flights during the pandemic. The carrier will no longer be an option for Austinites eager to visit Bourbon Street in New Orleans after October or soak up the history of Boston’s Freedom Walk after November. Nonstop flights to both cities are among the seven that will end in the next few months. Also gone are American’s nonstops from Austin to Las Vegas and Orlando in October; Nashville and Raleigh-Durham in November; and Orange County, Calif., in January 2025, Cirium Diio schedule data shows. The reductions bring to an end a pandemic experiment for American that peaked at nonstop flights from Austin to more than 45 cities in early 2023. The cuts are part of a “continuous evaluation” of American’s network, an airline spokesperson told Travel + Leisure on Monday. “American will continue to offer customers access to our comprehensive global network of more than 350 destinations with one-stop connections,” the spokesperson added. Other factors include the rapid airline industry growth in Austin during the pandemic and the now slowing travel recovery.

I fly a lot compared to the average person. It's pretty common for me to be in the air multiple times a month for a mix of work and fun, and the overwhelming majority of my trips are on one airline. If you didn't know better, you'd probably think that flying more than 40 times a year would mean I'd unlock some pretty high-end airline elite perks, but these days, you'd be wrong.

American Airlines continues to downsize in Austin, where the carrier is exiting another four markets.

Whenever possible, I try to combine two of my greatest passions — travel and sports.

As the summer travel season comes to a close, many travelers are getting a jumpstart on next summer's travel planning.  British Airways recently revealed it will operate its highest number of flights from North America to London in the summer of 2025, which will make it easier than ever for travelers to fly across the pond.  The carrier will increase the volume of flights by 28 extra flights per week, bringing the total from North America to London to over 400. British Airways offers 26 direct routes from different United States cities to London.

Dianna and Michael Norton both dreamed of visiting the U.K. She's an English history buff fascinated by things like the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, and Michael had always wanted to see Stonehenge. But Michael's leg swelling prevented them from flying more than six hours at a time — a serious hurdle when most transatlantic flights start at around seven hours.