As the travel industry looks back on a wild 2023, the Walt Disney World Resort is looking forward to 2024 with events, openings and tips for the new year.
01.12.2023 - 21:05 / cntraveler.com / Luigi Brugnaro
If a Venetian gondola ride under the Bridge of Sighs or an aperitivo at Harry’s Bar is on your travel list for 2024, you might need to fill out some extra paperwork—and pay some extra money. In an effort to shore up against the ravages of overtourism, Venice will start charging certain tourists an entry fee to access the marvels of the delicate floating city.
As part of the plan for next year, the city recently released its fee schedule for 2024 detailing the days peak-hour visitors can expect to be levied the new tax (which will only apply to tourists who are not spending the night). The goal of the new fee is to encourage visitors to stay longer, reduce overcrowding, and make Venice more hospitable for its permanent residents.
Day-trippers over the age of 14 will have to pay 5 euros (about $5.45) to gain entry, but Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro says the primary purpose of the levy is not to bring in extra money. “Our attempt is to make a more livable city,” Brugnaro said of the policy at a news conference earlier this month, per the AP.
According to the schedule, there are 29 days on which day-trippers will be charged to enter Venice in 2024. Most of them fall on weekends during the high season from April to July, with some weekdays included during April and May. The fee will apply between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., which are considered the city’s busiest hours. Short-term visitors outside of those hours—those coming for the evening or in the early morning—will not have to pay the new tax. Others exempt from the charge include residents, travelers staying in a hotel within Venice (who already pay a similar tax each night), students, workers, and anyone born in Venice.
Day visitors will need to register before arrival, and can begin scheduling their visits on a just-launched page on the city of Venice’s government website, starting on January 16. After paying the 5 euros, the site will generate a QR code that day-trippers will need to show upon arrival in Venice at one of seven entry points.
Day-trippers will be charged to enter Venice in 2024, according to the new schedule.
Although it’s launching in 2024, Venice’s plans to tax day-trippers have long been in the works. The first iteration of the plan was introduced in 2019, but was derailed by the pandemic until recently. In the past, the city has also installed electronic turnstiles to particularly crowd-choked sectors of the city; tourists had to use an app and pay a small fee in order to pass through.
But travel specialists don’t agree that the new 5 euro charge will be an effective deterrent for travelers eager to see the wonders of the UNESCO-listed lagoon city, including the breathtaking Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Square, and the Rialto Bridge. “I’m not
As the travel industry looks back on a wild 2023, the Walt Disney World Resort is looking forward to 2024 with events, openings and tips for the new year.
On a bone-chilling December morning, a thick sea mist shrouds Venice’s towers and palazzi. The alleys are filled with damp, salty air and infrequent hurried footsteps. At this hour, few people are out enjoying the city, but it is a truly magical moment.
Abu Dhabi tends to play second fiddle to Dubai when it comes to luxury and lavish associations, but the emirate is quickly catching up to its neighbor thanks to hotels like the Shangri-La. Situated in the heart of the city of Abu Dhabi, the Shangri-La Hotel offers a blend of contemporary comfort and traditional Arabian charm, making it one of the best places to stay when visiting the city for the first time.
Whether you’re daydreaming about navigating the glittering beehive of Ho Chi Minh City, criss-crossing the chaotic streets of Hanoi, or tanning on the beaches of Da Nang, you’ll eventually encounter the question of what documents you’ll need to travel to Vietnam.
There’s no place quite like Sweden, whether you travel there for Stockholm or all of the gorgeous places outside of Stockholm). It can, however, be pricey. For those in the market for a new car, you can get that plus a free trip to Sweden when you purchase a Volvo. The car brand has a new buying option called the Overseas Delivery Tourist Program, where you can visit Sweden as a perk of buying one of the vehicles. All you have to do is buy a car and pick it up in Gothenburg.
Travelers who live in South Florida rarely take for granted the warm weather and world-class restaurants available in the region, but enjoying that means sometimes it’s easy to forget how close Miami is to some of the most exciting destinations in the world. While people in the rest of America needs extended vacation time to visit countries like Dominica and Ecuador, Miamians can wake up, jump on a direct flight from Miami, and be in a new country in time for dinner (or maybe even lunch). And if someone in Miami gets a hankering to head to Europe, most of the continent is only an overnight flight away.
As the seasons change, there’s no better time to escape the busy city life and take a road trip. The New England region has a rich history, culture, and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for scenic drives. If you’re in the northeastern United States looking for an escape, here’s an extended weekend guide sharing the best places to visit on a road trip through Central and Western Massachusetts, including small towns, historical landmarks, mountainous terrain — all with a stunning backdrop.
Belmond, the luxury company behind the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), made a historic announcement this week that will delight those who love luxury European luxury train travel. The company said that in June 2024, the VSOE will travel to the Italian Riviera for the first time on a three-night experience that links Paris and the Ligurian coastal resort of Portofino. Once in Portofino, guests check into the Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, for two nights.
If you have your eyes set on island-hopping throughout the Lamu Archipelago or venturing on some of the most thrilling wildlife safaris in the New Year, we have good news for you: travel to Kenya is about to get a little bit easier.
Despite sharing a border, Italy and Slovenia are not connected by a direct train. That could be about to change.
What do some of the most iconic pieces of architecture in the world—say, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Dancing House in Prague, and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao—all have in common? Two words: Frank Gehry.
High-speed rail company Brightline is making celebrating the holidays easy this year with $39 sale fares during Christmas and New Year’s.