Flying Blue stopovers: Extend your trip and book an additional flight at no extra cost

Have you ever fantasized about quitting your job and moving to a place where it’s so affordable that you don’t need to work? Or perhaps you just want to move out of the U.S. to live out your dream life overseas.

Ever had a hard time deciding where to go on vacation? Now, you don’t need to worry. A new breed of travel companies is revolutionizing vacation planning with secret trips. The concept: They do all the planning and booking for you, and add an element of excitement by keeping the destination a secret until the last minute.

More than ever, I've been skipping the airport lounge and heading straight to the gate.

Vibrant orange and black wings fill the skies above coastal California each winter as thousands of western monarchs take flight. But these iconic butterflies are disappearing. A new trail brings attention to their decline and invites travelers to help protect them. 

Although it has been years since I’ve traveled in mesmerizing Tokyo, my memories are as vivid as though they had been sparked yesterday—pleasures aswirl in unique flavors and noises, creativity and ingenuity. So when luxury publisher Assouline released the new book Tokyo Chic, I dove into its 312 lush-paper-stock pages, with more than 200 photographs and illustrations, which are bound in an outsize (10-by-13-inches, 6.4-pound) format—a hefty hardcover wrapped in silk. The brainchild of Andrea Fazzari, whose deft imagery and words are love letters to the inimitable capital, Tokyo Chic showcases a massively enthralling—yet strikingly intimate—city. Currently based in Tokyo, Fazzari is a James Beard Award-winning photographer, author and restaurant maven with notable backgrounds in fashion and film. Born in New York City, she has lived in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain and Thailand—and speaks four languages. What a sophisticated guide to have at your armchair traveler’s fingertips! Indeed, this coffee table tome would make a treasured holiday gift for those who have already vacationed in Japan or simply dream of doing so.

Hop a plane across several time zones, and you may end up with what scientists call circadian dysrhythmia (aka jet lag). It’s a temporary sleep disorder where your body’s internal clock isn’t in sync with the time cues in your destination—daylight, dark of night, mealtimes.

Tripla, which provides a booking engine to hotels in Japan and Southeast Asia, has acquired a hotel tech company in Taiwan.

Iceland’s Blue Lagoon reopened over the weekend for the first time since closing over volcanic activity last month.

The other day, I was helping a friend book a JetBlue flight.

Blue Lagoon Iceland will reopen its geothermal spa and some restaurants to guests on December 17, it said in an statement Friday.

Once upon a time, you could only visit Saudi on a pilgrimage or a business sponsorship visa. But a few years ago, the country opened its doors to tourists from more than 60 countries, including the United States, by offering an eVisa. The eVisa is part of Saudi Vision 2030, the country’s plan to diversify its economy and emerge as a hub for tourism and entertainment — and there’s never been a better time to visit. With a blend of indulgent luxury and authentic charm, Saudi is rich in cultural experiences, breathtaking landscapes, extravagant accommodations, and futuristic visions.

In some parts of Europe, high prices and Christmas markets go hand in hand. But in others, this year’s soaring costs have come as a shock.