Matt Berna travel tips

Surveys indicate that 60% of Americans are planning to travel for a vacation or getaway during the 2023 fall season, with 71% of fall travelers planning on traveling more frequently this season than they did last season, according to Vacasa, a vacation rental management and real estate company. And, for a majority of those opting into fall getaways, budget-friendly travel is still a top priority. For example, road trips are the preferred method of transportation as airfares continue to soar and flight changes/cancellations have people weary and causing many travelers to lose days of their coveted vacation time and funds.

Millennial and Gen Z travelers are over tourist traps.

Tour operators are adjusting their operations amid Japan’s tourism boom during the popular cherry blossom season.

The push to ban TikTok in the U.S. has again gained momentum – a move that would have enormous consequences for the travel industry. TikTok is one of the most popular marketing channels in the world.

As the crisis in Gaza deepens, efforts to evacuate tourists from Israel have been heightened. On Monday, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship assisted in evacuating US nationals from Israel to Cyprus; meanwhile, US government charter flights continue operating out of Ben Gurion Airport (located near Tel Aviv and Jerusalem) to take American tourists home.

Tour operators have quickly pulled tours and travelers out of Israel after a surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas was followed by Israel's declaration of war. One operator called it the "9/11 of Israel."

As a traveler who prefers the off-season for its more affordable prices and fewer visitors, I try not to fly in July and August, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. I wait until fall when rates for flights and hotels normally plunge and crowds shrink.

Intrepid Travel, one of the world’s largest tour operators with a reputation for responsible tourism, has cleaned up its wildlife tours offering, maintaining its animal welfare policy standards.

A shift in family holiday experiences and longer booking windows for tours are just some patterns shaping the upcoming peak summer season.

Travelers hardly use the souvenirs they purchase at destinations, for the most part. They would derive longer lasting value from their souvenirs if delivery costs didn’t limit their purchase options and hamper the creativity of souvenir businesses.

Some tourism groups that advocate on behalf of marginalized communities are expressing concern about the NAACP’s recent travel advisory that aims to discourage travel to Florida.

American tourists are driving the UK’s recovery more than any other region, according to VisitBritain. More Americans are traveling to the UK and they are spending more than they did in 2019.

San Francisco’s downtown issues are holding back the city’s tourism recovery. 

Venice has long been teetering in a delicate state, suffering the impact of over-tourism exacerbated by the effects of climate change. While the Italian city has desperately been installing measures to curb its list of growing issues, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is not satisfied with its progress, recommending that the city and its lagoon be put on its World Heritage in Danger list of sites that are “threatened by serious and specific dangers.”