Laurie Baratti travel tips

The U.S. State Department has just issued a fresh travel advisory for those eyeing a trip to the popular archipelagic nations of The Maldives. The advisory level was today elevated from “Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions” to “Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution”. 

Royal Caribbean has just formally named its newest floating vacation experience, Utopia of the Seas, in an official naming ceremony that took place on July 15 at Port Canaveral in Orlando, Florida. 

In a promising economic development, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report shows a notable reduction in inflation overall, with travel-related costs leading the way. For the second consecutive month, the travel sector has experienced a more significant price drop than the overall economy.

Fiji Airways is making dream vacations to the idyllic island nation of Fiji more affordable this summer with its latest flash sale. Travelers can now book roundtrip flights from the United States to this South Pacific gem for as low as $709. 

The United States has reaffirmed its warning against travel to Lebanon due to the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, as concerns intensify about the conflict escalating into a full-scale war.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has just expanded its TSA PreCheck program to include four new global airlines: Aer Lingus, Air New Zealand, Ethiopian Airlines and Saudia. With this addition, nearly 100 airlines now participate in the expedited screening program, offering more travelers a faster and more efficient airport security experience.

Multiple unions that represent workers at Parisian airports today jointly announced plans to strike on July 17, just days before the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics are set to commence, due to a dispute over staff bonus payments and working conditions.

With Swifties still jet-setting to catch Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour wherever they can and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games just around the corner, it’s clear that Americans are continuing to hit the road to attend some of the year’s most sought-after ticketed events. 

In a significant move to enhance connectivity, American Airlines has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch daily nonstop flights between San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA). This development follows the 2024 FAA reauthorization bill, which allocated five new roundtrip flights to DCA.  

Perhaps it was the Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club members who didn’t even know they’d booked a President’s Cruise who seemed to enjoy it the most.

In recognition of the vital role travel advisors play in luxury travel planning, the premier global villa rental company, Rental Escapes, is excited to announce the extension of its bonus commission offer. Originally rolled out for Travel Advisor Appreciation Month in May, this lucrative offer of up to $5,000 in bonus commissions will now be available through June 30, 2024.  

Spirit Airlines has just announced that it is eliminating flight change and cancellation fees, effective immediately, addressing a common frustration among air travelers. This new policy arrives mere days after fellow low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines made a similar announcement, signaling an overall shift in strategy among budget airlines.  

The latest addition to Marriott International’s illustrious Luxury Collection brand, Almare, A Luxury Collection Adult All-Inclusive Resort, Isla Mujeres will soon become the hospitality giant’s first all-inclusive luxury resort in Mexico. What’s more, the Cancun-adjacent resort is now accepting reservations for stays starting November 15, 2024, perfectly timed for the holiday season.

Icelandic budget carrier Play is observing Memorial Day with a special flash sale, which offers travelers the chance to book one-way flights to Europe for as low as $99. This promotion, which ends at 12:00 a.m. ET on May 27, covers travel dates from August through December 2024. It also extends to some of the Continent’s most sought-after destinations, including such as France, England, Iceland, Ireland, Germany, Greece and others.

Hundreds of vacationers sailing aboard a P&O Cruises ship have fallen ill with suspected norovirus. Suffering from what’s been referred to a “vomiting bug”, reports indicate that over 150 guests are currently in isolation on board the MV Ventura, which departed from Southampton, England on May 11 for a 14-night voyage around the Canary Islands, with stops in Spain and Portugal.

In 2024, an increase in travel has prompted a significant rise in the demand for security advisory and extraction protection services, according to the Global Rescue Spring 2024 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. 

Leading luxury small-ship cruise line Aqua Expeditions has just unveiled its new, cutting-edge website, complete with a dedicated portal tailored specifically for travel advisors. With its redesign and features architecture informed by extensive user experience studies, the revamped website is both visually captivating and intuitively navigable.

The celebrated small-ship cruise line specializing in Destination Immersion, Azamara Cruises, is ushering in a brand-new era as Dondra Ritzenthaler steps into her role as Chief Executive Officer. 

Royal Caribbean International has undergone a significant change within its Entertainment division, as Nick Weir, the head of Entertainment, bids farewell after a decade-long tenure with the company.

Southwest Airlines is introducing new enhancements to its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, offering members greater flexibility and value when it comes to booking flights and hotels. 

(Courtesy of The Travel Corporation)