El Niño travel tips

What are the world’s most expensive cities to live? Singapore and Zurich, Switzerland have tied to secure the top spot, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey.

Athens authorities were forced to shut down the Acropolis this week as temperatures exceeded 40C in much of central and southern Greece.

If you've ever taken a westbound flight, you may have noticed the flight time was shorter coming home than on the way there. For example, a direct flight from New York to Los Angeles takes about six hours and four minutes. However, you shave about an hour off the flight time on the return flight, which clocks in at just five hours and eight minutes.

Spring skiing brings out the best in downhill enthusiasts. Warmer weather, plenty of sunshine and a festive atmosphere that often includes sloppy slaloms and mountain scavenger hunts all make for a very enjoyable time on the slopes.

The 2023-24 ski season is off to a rocky start in much of the U.S., despite an El Nino weather pattern having promised another snowy winter.

Northern Europe was plunged into a deep freeze last week, with temperatures plummeting to almost -43C in parts of Sweden.

China - grappling with one of its coldest Decembers on record - will likely have to brace for another round of scorching heat and an increase in extreme weather next year due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, a senior climate expert said. This year has seen China lurch from some of its hottest temperatures logged since 1850 to a harsh cold snap that froze many parts of the country for close to a fortnight earlier this month.

It’s now cheaper and more convenient to hit the slopes this ski season at a popular Colorado resort.  Amtrak announced the return of the Amtrak Winter Park Express, which provides seasonal service between Denver's Union Station (DEN) and the based of Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, Colorado. «This 'ski train' is another example of Amtrak's commitment to enhancing the travel experience for riders across the country, bringing travelers to exciting destinations safety, affordably, and sustainably,» Eliot Hamlisch, Amtrak's CMO, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. Ski enthusiasts looking to utilize the special route will have a choice of 40 round trips this ski season. The train will operate every weekend (on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) from Jan. 12, 2024 through March 31, 2024. There will be special routes on holidays such as service on Jan. 15, 2024 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and Feb. 19, 2024 (Presidents’ Day). The train will also operate on two Thursdays: March 14, 2024, and March 21, 2024. (Travelers should visit amtrak.com for the most current schedule and updates.) A one-way trip, which takes approximately two hours, departs Denver at 7:00 am and leaves Winter Park Resort at 4:30 pm local time. This means skiers can maximize their time on the slopes. Families can save money as children aged two to 12 are eligible for 50 percent off tickets. There are additional discounts for senior citizens and members of the military.  Passengers also have the opportunity to carry on their skis, and the trains have special storage areas on board. 

With an El Nino weather pattern extending its hold on a longer dry season, and as the holiday period approaches, Christmas Island is gearing up for an extraordinary natural phenomenon – the annual red crab migration in time for Christmas. Last year the migration occurred in October, however in 2023 this captivating event is anticipated to create a mesmerising red spectacle, perfectly in time with the festive spirit of Christmas this December.

As cooler October evenings set in, avid skiers' and snowboarders' minds become occupied with thoughts of the upcoming ski season.

Skiers and riders, it’s time to start plotting out your 2023/24 season.

A wildfire that sprung up in the Pyrenees region yesterday hit towns on the French and Spanish border causing mass evacuations.

The summer heat wave may soon become a fall heat wave, according to a new report.  Temperatures in the 90s could extend into the first few weeks of September for New York and Philadelphia, while Chicago could see the same high temperatures throughout the whole month, according to the AccuWeather 2023 US fall forecast. The forecast points to an early El Niño as a reason the temperatures will stay warmer, longer.