Seth here — writing to you to gripe this time, rather than the other way around. The Tripped Up column helps travelers with problems they encounter (and sometimes even wrangles refunds), but no matter how much great advice I give, readers keep making the same mistakes! It’s almost as if you prioritize your families, jobs and health over memorizing my suggestions.
So instead of using my last column of the year to get one specific traveler out of a jam, I’ve decided to rehash the crucial lessons I’ve learned — and hopefully help a few travelers along the way.
Based on nearly 2,000 reader submissions (so far) in 2023, here are my top six guidelines for minimizing travel trouble in 2024.
I get so many complaints about huge O.T.A.’s like Expedia and Booking.com that I’ll have to spin the wheel to find someone to help. OK, let’s take John of New Port Richey, Fla. Last February, he found a British Airways flight for four passengers from Tampa, Fla., to Venice, Italy, on Priceline. He tried to book twice, with different credit cards, but both times was told his purchase was unsuccessful.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
The next time you fly to the United Kingdom, you might be able to leave your passport safely tucked away in your bag. The nation’s airports will reportedly begin testing new facial recognition technology at “eGates” for arriving passengers, which would replace border control's standard physical passport check.
Orlando, the Theme Park Capital of the World and No. 1 Travel Destination in the U.S., continues to embrace new and returning visitors in 2024 with more than two dozen new experiences. The destination — where winter doesn’t exist — is brimming with new possibilities for dream vacations, from movie-inspired attractions and a launch coaster with snowmobile-style cars to a cabaret-style music venue tucked inside a stunning performing arts center and a luxury beach-like resort with an 8-acre crystal lagoon.
Paris to Venice. Barcelona to Amsterdam. Brussels to Bratislava, Slovakia. European cities could see a flurry of new rail connections in the next few years, as governments and private investors respond to climate concerns and strive to keep up with strong demand for cross-border passenger rail traffic.
PBS has long been home to the best armchair travel series on television. If you’re looking for a quick escape or some inspiration on where to go in 2024, you’d be wise to watch a new episode or two from these four acclaimed travel series.
The conclave’s agenda featured engaging panel discussions, keynote presentations, and interactive sessions covering a spectrum of topics, including talent acquisition, employee engagement, leadership development, and the impact of technology on HR practices within the travel industry.
The survey compared hotel rates across 40 European destinations for December 31, with prices at all hotels with a central location and rated three stars or more in each destination recorded.
Travel is a journey that connects people, which is what makes it so exciting. But after experiencing massive crippling crowds at popular overtouristed destinations this year–consider Italy, for example–where good behavior was in short supply, global travelers have become increasingly aware of the negative impact tourism can have on local communities.