Long travel tips

Like so many travelers, my family spent the first couple of years of the pandemic dreaming of visiting a place that was very far away and had become very, very inaccessible to visitors. In our case, it was South Korea, where my wife was born. We'd last visited in 2015, when our daughter was learning to walk and our son, as I've often joked since, was with us but we didn't know it yet. We promised the family there that we'd be back within five years, but COVID-19 intervened.

Orlando prepares for an enchanting holiday season as the destination’s theme parks, attractions and hotels dazzle visitors with nearly 60 days of festive fun. From all-new theme park events featuring Hollywood glam and heart-warming character dining experiences to shimmering light spectaculars and reimagined live performances, visitors can enjoy the most wonderful time of the year with a full lineup of holiday happenings to celebrate the season.  “November marks the start of a joyful holiday season in Orlando, featuring new experiences and cherished signature events that capture the magic of the destination and create treasured holiday memories with the entire family,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando.

Whether flying across the world, road-tripping down the coast, or embarking on a bucket-list train ride, a cozy travel blanket is a must-have for any and all upcoming trips. What’s more, the best travel blankets are designed to keep you warm and comfy while on the go—and there are dozens of options to choose from. To determine which one is best for you, consider your individual needs. For example, if you’re going camping or spending lots of time outdoors, look for one made with durable stain- and water-resistant materials like polyester. Other options—such as super-soft cashmere, breathable cotton, and ultra-warm fleece—abound.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, November 1. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

In our A Total Trip series, writers document what they spent on a recent getaway. In this edition, writer Conall Molloy, shows us what he spent on a culturally-rich weekend in Florence.

I'm an American who's been living in Paris since 2022, and I recently took a 3 1/2-hour, high-speed train from Paris to Amsterdam. 

This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Vincent McNally, a retired FBI special agent who worked as a security officer on Holland America Line cruise ships from 2005 to 2011. His words have been edited for length and clarity.

Draped in heather, studded with boulders and capped by jutting peaks, the mountainous landscape feels unimaginably ancient. Already laced with pathways, this elemental region of North Wales can now be experienced on a multi-day cycling adventure thanks to a new route from Cycling UK, the charity responsible for developing other long-distance trails such as King Alfred’s Way and the West Kernow Way. 

Choice Hotels dropped a bombshell earlier this week when it went public with a hostile takeover bid for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Clearly Choice likes the deal while Wyndham thinks it can do better on its own (or with someone else).

If you travel regularly you’ve probably learnt to spot the difference between a frequent flier and a rookie—the most obvious tell-tale sign being a bulky travel pillow, typically carried by an inexperienced flier, hanging from a backpack or being worn (wrongly) around the back of their neck before they even get on the plane. Many of us are guilty of buying one of these beanbag worms from the airport duty-free shop, only to realize that they’re more trouble than they’re actually worth.

Some 400 years ago, Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi — whose family would produce two popes, more than a dozen cardinals, and a smattering of statesmen — bought what became known as the Villa Aurora from Italy's Orsini family. A sprawling estate on the outskirts of Rome, it included an art collection that drew admirers from across Europe and, most notably, Caravaggio's only ceiling mural.

The Jonas Brothers have become certified jetsetting superstars, traipsing around the globe, whether it’s for performances of their current three-continent The Tour or quality vacation time with their families. But there’s one type of travel that's closest to their hearts: road trips. 

Starting next year, visitors to Walt Disney World will be able to «hop» from park to park with no time restrictions.

Is Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky hinting at long-term rentals when he said to expect what could be “the biggest update to Airbnb ever?” 

Long-haul travel has been in high demand since pandemic restrictions lifted, and United Airlines is betting that even as "revenge travel" calms down, the global trend is here to stay.

It’s getting easier to renew a passport this fall as processing times have significantly decreased.

If you’ve ever flown a long-haul flight, you’ve probably heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—blood clots, typically in the calves, that have been associated with flying. These clots can travel to the lungs and cause life-threatening blockages known as pulmonary embolisms.

Since last summer, I've spent over one hundred hours crisscrossing the globe on a variety of different international airlines.

Time is ticking for lawmakers in Congress to strike a budget deal and avoid a government shutdown, although chances of coming to an agreement in time are looking increasingly bleak. If a shutdown does happen on October 1 at 12:01 a.m., all non-essential government functions would cease, and the air travel system would be stretched to its limit, with air traffic controllers and TSA officers essentially working without pay.

Picking a seat for a long-haul flight is daunting.

For most travelers from the United States, going to Europe is a relatively smooth experience, without the need to apply for visas or pay steep fees for short visits.