Hidden cameras: What travelers need to know

Dozens of pro-cannabis advocates gathered at Thailand's health ministry on Thursday 16 May to oppose the government’s plan to relist the plant as a narcotic, two years after it was decriminalised.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, May 16. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

It’s the end of an era for a famed Las Vegas hotel.  The Mirage Hotel & Casino will officially close its doors on July 17. The 65-acre property will then undergo an extensive construction and re-open in 2027 as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas.  The Mirage’s transition to become the Hard Rock will visibly change the Las Vegas skyline, as a new 700-foot guitar will be built on the property, in a similar style as the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, FL. «While we pause for the incredible transformation of this iconic property, I'd like to thank all team members at The Mirage for their incredible commitment and helping us provide memorable experiences for our guests,» The Mirage’s President Joe Lupo said in a press release on Wednesday. For travelers looking to stay at the Mirage one last time before it closes, rates vary from $399 to $99 throughout the final months.

Chase cardholders can book Southwest Airlines flights through the Chase Travel portal, and that’s a rarity for leisure travelers.

With things looking up for tourism in The Bahamas, representatives of the country’s Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) are set to build on their success at the 42nd edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace. Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and scheduled for 20 - 23 May 2024 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica, the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event will offer opportunity for The Bahamas to shine as buyers and sellers of tourism products and services from countries across the region convening for business. In 2023, The Bahamas saw record-breaking tourism growth accounting for 9.6 million visitors, up 38% from 2022. While foreign air arrivals rose 17% to record 1.7 million in 2023, cruise arrivals surged 43.5% to record 7.9 million. The country’s 16 islands all enjoyed significant increases, with visits to New Providence, for instance, up 36% in 2023, to Grand Bahama up 44%, and the Out Islands up 40%.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, May 16. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

An around-the-world cruise is often thought of as the pinnacle of a sailing vacation. Some cruisers treat these multi-month journeys as once-in-a-lifetime trips; others are frequent guests, a world cruise but one piece of their annual travel plans. There are also the enduring tales of older travelers who elect for extended world voyages as an unconventional retirement plan. (Though as onboard WiFi becomes more reliable, it's now possible to work remote from many cruise ships, as well.)

As April showers turn into May flowers, it's time for another memorable Memorial Day weekend. This time every year holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans, especially those who eagerly plan and pack for upcoming travel. As the unofficial kick-off to the summer season, this end-of-May vacay is a quintessential American experience. Whether it's a quick getaway or an extended 3-5 day weekend, MDW serves us all as an open door of endless potential for summer fun (and, of course, the outdated societal approval to wear white jeans). In any case, who doesn’t love a long weekend?

Taylor Swift kicked off the European leg of The Eras Tour in Paris on Thursday, May 9, 2024, and the masterful storyteller thrilled fans with the addition of performances from her latest album The Tortured Poets Department. She jokingly called that section of the show Female Rage: The Musical. Most concertgoers already knew and sang along to every word of all the songs she sang from the album although it was recently released on April 19. Such is the power of Swift.

On 6 February 2023, Türkiye suffered one of the most devastating events in its post-war history: a pair of 7.8- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that ravaged the country’s southeastern region, killing more than 50,000 people in 11 provinces. With over 160,000 buildings severely damaged or destroyed, 100,000 people injured and 3 million displaced, the disaster’s effects were felt across the nation and reverberate to this day.

Low-cost Icelandic airline Play wants to make one lucky winner a tourist for a year with the chance to win free flights.

Padua, in northern Italy's Veneto region, is the site of one of the world’s greatest art treasures that should be on every art lover’s bucket list. The Scrovegni Chapel houses the extraordinary 14th-century fresco cycle by Giotto that covers all the walls and ceilings. Despite having such a masterpiece and being a lovely small city, filled with history, culture and culinary delights, Padua is far less touristy than other Italian other art cities like Florence, Rome or nearby Venice. It’s a real hidden gem. And, at just 25 miles from Venice and easy to reach from Marco Polo airport, Padua is an easy day trip or addition to a Venice itinerary.