Laurie Baratti travel tips

United Airlines has reportedly indefinitely postponed the launch of two highly anticipated routes just weeks before their inaugural flights were due to take off. 

Hawaii is at a crossroads concerning the future of short-term vacation rentals, with potential legislation now in play that could reshape the tourism landscape of the islands. Newly proposed legislation could mean that booking stays through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo may cease to be in option in the future. 

Princess Cruises and Brightline, the intercity rail system that connects major destinations in Central and South Florida, just announced a new partnership, which has produced the groundbreaking Rail & Sail program that’s set to revolutionize travel experiences for passengers embarking from ports in the Sunshine State. 

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members who dream of reaching far-flung paradisiacal shores on their next vacation are now in luck.   

MGM Resorts International's sparkling Bellagio Fountain Club is set to make a triumphant return for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024, promising race enthusiasts an unparalleled VIP experience at one of the circuit's most anticipated events.

Southern California’s Disneyland Resort has just released fresh details about the offerings guests can expect to see during the highly anticipated Season of the Force limited-time event, coming April 5 through June 2, 2024. The celebration of all things Star Wars universe will feature new experiences, including attraction overlays, nighttime spectaculars, character encounters, and themed food, beverages and merchandise.

G Adventures, the world's largest privately owned small-group adventure travel company, has just announced the imminent return of last year’s GX Community Tourism Summit in 2024, to be hosted in conjunction with its non-profit partner, Planeterra, in the vibrant destination of India.

One of Playa del Carmen’s most popular stretches of pristine Blue Flag beach has been earmarked as a location for inclusion in an infrastructure scheme that will connect Cozumel to mainland Mexico.

Ever since Season 28 of ‘The Bachelor’ premiered on ABC on January 22, fans have been tuning in each week to find out who will win 28-year-old tennis instructor Joey Graziadei’s heart, as a group of 32 contestants are gradually eliminated until only one remains. But, not all of the show’s romance is derived from the one man and multiple women involved. 

Following last week’s incident, in which a LATAM Airlines suddenly plunged downward in mid-flight, major aircraft manufacturer Boeing is advising airlines to inspect switches on cockpit seats aboard their 787 Dreamliner planes as a precautionary measure. According to AP News, a published report pointed to these switches as the apparent cause of last week’s incident. 

Club Med, the hospitality leader renowned for pioneering the now-popular all-inclusive concept, has just released new data showing that the company has reached a fresh milestone by achieving more than $2 billion in international Business Volume for the first time ever.    

Tristan Armstrong, CEO, Rocky Mountaineer. (Photo Credit: Rocky Mountaineer)

MSC Cruises has just announced the scheduling of a momentous occasion in Miami next year, when it will unveil the latest crown jewel in its fleet, MSC World America, at a glittering naming ceremony on April 9, 2025. 

In recent days, escalated strife in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince has garnered attention from around the world. Given the rampant gang violence and a mass prison break on March 3, the U.S. State Department reiterated its Level 4 Travel Advisory (“Do Not Travel”), while the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince issued a security alert advising all U.S. citizens to depart the country as soon as they could.

Just when you thought you’d seen everything imaginable on Instagram, one woman comes along and defies all expectations. Ever seen a professional musical theatre actor-turned-travel advisor? Well, there’s one out there, alright, and she’s attracting plenty of attention with her cleverly written original lyrics about the world of travel, which she flawlessly sets to the tune of famous songs.

The travel insurance sector is experiencing a meteoric rise, according to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association’s (UStiA) latest market report, which paints a picture of remarkable growth in the sector. According to its analysis, U.S. Total Consumer Spend on Travel Protection surged to $4.27 billion in 2022, marking a staggering 143.9 percent increase from the UStiA’s findings in 2020.

Next month’s total solar eclipse, which will pass directly over a wide swath of North America, is drawing an awful lot of interest from folks who are willing to travel to see it in all its glory. In order to do so, they need to place themselves somewhere along its path of totality—geographic locations from which the sun will appear to be entirely obstructed by the moon’s shadow passing between the Earth and its nearest star.

WHY IT RATES: The introduction of Tauck's new journeys in Colombia and Japan in 2025 will offer travelers unique opportunities to explore two culturally rich destinations with expertly curated itineraries, providing immersive experiences and enriching encounters. — Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse Associate Writer

Holland America Line is setting sail for adventure with the opening of bookings for its 2025-2026 Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises. With a focus on longer voyages and destination immersion, the premium cruise line is set to offer sailings out of five North American homeports on five separate ships for the 2025-2026 season.

Amtrak has expanded its Northeast Regional service to offer more travel choices along the U.S. East Coast. This enhancement includes the introduction of four extra weekday roundtrips and two new weekend roundtrips between New York Penn Station (NYP) and Washington Union Station (WAS), along with a fresh weekday morning departure from Philadelphia’s William H. Gray III 30th Street Station (PHL) to NYP. In addition, one new weekend departure now also connects PHL to Boston South Station (BOS). 

American Airlines has just disclosed that it has submitted orders for 260 new aircraft; namely, 85 Airbus A321neo, 85 Boeing 737 MAX 10 and 90 Embraer E175 model airplanes. As part of its order with major aircraft manufacturer Boeing, American is upgauging 30 existing 737 MAX 8 orders to 737 MAX 10 aircraft, bypassing the embattled 737 MAX 9 entirely.