Gold reaches a new milestone as global trade war escalates

Believe it or not, celebrities really are just like the rest of us. Sure, they get to spend their days professionally playing pretend, and they get paid a ton to do it. But when it comes to their downtime, they enjoy all the same things we do, including taking a little vacation. And while you may assume most split their time between major hubs like Los Angeles and New York City, it turns out that celebrities love hidden gems, too.

Tajikistan was a change in plans. My rail tour through Central Asia—Jewels of the Silk Road, offered by Golden Eagle Luxury Trains—was supposed to start in the country next door, closed, elusive Turkmenistan, but at the last minute the Turkmen government declined our group's visa applications. So instead I found myself descending into Dushanbe at 2 a.m. on a flight full of track-suited European teenagers on their way to the World Judo Juniors Championships.

When New York–based interior designer Athena Calderone realized her 50th birthday and 25th wedding anniversary would coincide last year, she knew the double milestone called for a party. So she and her husband, Victor, a DJ and music producer, planned a two-pronged, nine-day trip to Italy. They began with an intimate vow renewal in Umbria and then let the festivities roll in Rome with 50 of their closest friends. “That city holds this rich historic legacy, and I feel like our love does too,” Calderone says. Here she shares the locals-only spots that drove the itinerary and the “opulent and over-the-top” hotel where guests danced till dawn.

Budget airlines are often quick to pull the plug on routes that aren't drawing enough customers to fill planes and make money — and that's certainly the case with Avelo Airlines' latest network cuts. The Houston-based ultra-low-cost carrier on Thursday confirmed that it is trimming three routes from its schedule next month: two that the airline only just started flying late last fall and another that hasn't even launched yet.

Lufthansa's swanky new jets featuring its all-new first-class cabin ­— complete with a suite for two passengers — are finally getting set to touch down in the U.S.

Get ready for more affordable travel options to New Orleans starting this summer.

While numerous excellent new hotels have arrived recently in New York City, there's something extra special about the reimagining of an old classic—particularly when it's a piece of Manhattan history like the Waldorf Astoria. After a massive restoration project, the hotel reopens its doors this spring with revamped Art Deco-style interiors courtesy of designer Pierre-Yves Rochon; a 30,000-square-foot spa; and a two-story brasserie where guests can sip martinis below an opulent chandelier.

Air France unveiled its latest offering today: the new La Première first class product.

It’s no secret that the Lower East Side is one of New York City's most vibrant neighborhoods. For decades, residents and tourists alike have flocked to it to explore its rich history, thriving restaurant scene, and cool independently-owned shops. Over the past decade, another reason to make the trip down to the LES, as us locals call it, has trickled in: a thriving wine scene. It’s become a hub of the natural wine movement not dissimilar to Paris’s 11th Arrondissement. These casual quasi-bar restaurants are fun, don’t take themselves too seriously, and are as good for a quick glass of pet nat and half dozen oysters at the bar as for a coursed out meal. Unlike Paris, where the snack menu tends to stick within the realm of cheese, charcuterie, and crusty bread, in New York the food can take center stage. You’ll find some of the city’s best bites, like an ultra savory umeboshi-infused steak tartare or 7-layer dip topped with caviar and innovative banchan, in these wine bars.

The latest card offering from Wyndham Rewards isn't quite what we're used to seeing from a loyalty program.

This summer, it’s about to get a whole lot easier to visit some of the most popular islands in the US, thanks to Breeze Airways—a budget airline many American travelers may still not be familiar with.

Oceania Cruises is offering an amazing new world cruise itinerary — and this one is currently the cruise industry's longest.