Mia Taylor travel tips

Amtrak has begun using self-check in technology on a limited number of its Acela trains in the Northeast.The new process, which is accessed through the Amtrak app, allows passengers to validate their train tickets once onboard the train, The Points Guy reported.Using the app, a button displays that says “Check In” on trips where the new self check-in process is available for use.After selecting the “Check In” button on the Amtrak app, passengers will be required to scan a barcode located above their train seat in order to complete the new process.When the train’s conductor passes through a train car, they will be able to tell which passengers have already checked in and validated tickets on their own.The self check-in process became available on select Acela trains in the Northeast in December, per The Points Guy. Slowly it has expanded to additional Acela trains as well. An Amtrak spokesperson told The Points Guy that the new self check-in is being used on: "more — but not all — of our Acela trains.”

Los Angeles, California — The United States has “serious problems” when it comes to international inbound travel that must be resolved if the country is to regain its competitive edge.That’s the assessment of the U.S. Travel Association and its leader Geoff Freeman, the organization’s president and CEO.Freeman delivered his sober take on the problems plaguing inbound travel to the United States during a press conference today in Los Angeles, California where a travel industry convention is taking place.“The United States remains the world’s most desired nation to visit, but at the end of 2019 we had 79 million visitors internationally and in 2023 we had 67 million international visitors," Freeman told the media gathered for the IPW 2024 convention. “That’s only 84 percent of pre-pandemic levels.”“When you look at travel as an export - before the pandemic we had a 12 billion [person] travel trade surplus. At end of last year we had about a 50 billion [person] travel trade deficit,” Freeman added.There's a handful of challenges that the United States currently faces when it comes to attracting international visitors and significantly ramping up inbound numbers, said Freeman. And some of those challenges are within the country’s ability to fix, while others are not.There’s not much that can be done, for instance, about the strength of the U.S. dollar, which makes this country very expensive to visit from many other parts of the world. Similarly, there’s not much U.S. officials can do about the current prohibitions surrounding flights over Russian airspace, which pose a major obstacle for airlines coming to this country from China.However, visa wait times continue to be a significant roadblock for international visitors — and that’s an issue U.S. officials can — and should — be able to fix, Freeman said.“On the visa side, I checked this morning — if you're a Columbian and want to come to the U.S. the wait times are over 600 days to get an interview at a U.S. consulate,” said Freeman. “If you’re in Mexico, the wait times are over 800 days.”By contrast, for visitors from India the wait timeline for visa interviews has recently been reduced to a somewhat more reasonable 150 to 200 days. Similarly, wait times for those visiting from Brazil have been reduced drastically — from what was once 500 days down to just 21 days, according to the U.S. Travel Association.“It shows us that it can be done. When the State Department uses their ingenuity and gets creative and puts resources in the right places, this problem can be solved,” explained Freeman. “But it’s been going on for far too long. It needs to be solved now.”

Amid the fanfare of a press conference about the growth of inbound United States tourism, Brand USA Today officially introduced its new president and CEO and bid goodbye to its longtime leader after a dozen years of service.Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, welcomed Fred Dixon into the DMO’s top role. Dixon is the current president and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions.He will take over in July for Chris Thompson, who announced his retirement from the role last year. Thompson held the role of Brand USA president and CEO from 2012 until 2024.

Hard Rock International, Seminole Gaming, Royal Caribbean International, and Celebrity Cruises are joining forces in a global partnership deal that will let travelers take advantage of perks and discounts across all four of the powerhouse brands.As part of the massive deal, millions of customers who are members of each brands’ loyalty and casino rewards programs will now have access to “reciprocal benefits.” The loyalty programs include Unity by Hard Rock, Royal Caribbean’s Club Royale, and Celebrity Cruises’ Blue Chip Club. Moving forward, members of all of the programs will earn reciprocal benefits anytime they play, stay, dine, or shop at participating Hard Rock locations or sail on any Royal Caribbean or Celebrity ships.“We see this as a marriage made in heaven,” Jeff Hook, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Seminole Hard Rock Support Services, told TravelPulse during a recent interview."If you’re customer of Hard Rock, now you don’t just have benefits with Hard Rock, you also have benefits with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. And conversely if you're a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity member, you now have benefits with Hard Rock.”

As industry insiders, it goes without saying that travel advisors have the scoop on all things travel-related. That includes the hotels and resorts that are truly worth their steep price-tag.And if we’re being honest, what globetrotter likes splurging on a hotel only to be disappointed? There’s nothing worse than discovering upon check-in that a property you were eagerly anticipating is not exactly worth what you paid for it. With that in mind, we decided to reach out some of the industry’s top advisors to gather their insider’s opinion on hotels that are worth every penny…and then some. So be sure to bookmark this page for your next vacation, because here are the hotels that you can feel comfortable splashing a little cash on.

Brought to Japan as a six month old baby from Thailand, the elephant Miyako has spent 50 years living in cramped, solitary confinement at the Utsunomiya Zoo about one hour outside of Tokyo.Unlike elephants in the wild who live in extended family groups and wander for miles on a daily basis, Miyako spends her days standing listlessly on a small concrete platform amid her own feces. And when she’s not exhibited on that platform for zoo visitors, Miyako is locked in small, dark indoor space.

Calling all Royal Caribbean fans: There’s a new beach club experience in the works.The world’s largest cruise line has announced the expansion of its destination lineup with the forthcoming Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico, which is slated to open 2026.“We are delighted to build on our longstanding partnership with the local community and government to continue bringing our guests to Mexico,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “The expansion of our destination offerings aligns with the growing global demand for the ultimate vacation experiences and enables our guests to connect with the beauty of local cultures and people in the places they visit.”The beach club will be located along the western coast of the island, according to a Royal Caribbean press release. The news follows Royal Caribbean’s previous big reveal that Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas will open in 2025.

Your next hotel room stay may not be as secure as you hope it is.A group of security researchers who were invited to a Las Vegas hotel to identify digital security vulnerabilities discovered a technique that would enable intruders to open “millions of hotel rooms worldwide in seconds, with just two taps,” according to a new report from Wired.The team of security researchers, who spoke with Wired, have dubbed the hotel room keycard hacking technique “Unsaflok.”It is based on what Wired describes as “a collection of security vulnerabilities that would allow a hacker to almost instantly open several models of Saflok-brand RFID-based keycard locks sold by the Swiss lock maker Dormakaba.”More than 3 million hotel room doors around the globe, throughout 13,000 properties in 131 countries, use these types of Saflok systems, per Wired.Hackers are able to exploit weaknesses in keycard's encryption and underlying RFID system, the article goes on to explain.

February air ticket sales totaled a record $8.9 billion in February for U.S. travel agencies, a figure that is 6 percent higher the same time last year.This February’s staggering air ticket sales also represent the second straight month that agency sales hit such highs, according to Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC).“Americans continue to prioritize domestic travel in the early part of the year, with year-over-year trips to U.S. destinations outpacing those of international trips,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC, said in a statement. “Airlines are seeing robust demand from both corporate and leisure travelers, signaling the continued health and anticipated growth in air travel for 2024.”February ancillary sales increased 34 percent year over year to $29 million, while ancillary transactions increased 47 percent to 476,633 over the same period.The ticket sales results are based on monthly sales data ending February 29, 2024, according to ARC.The information was gathered from 10,367 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations, satellite ticket printing offices and online travel agencies. The results, however, do not include sales of tickets purchased directly from airlines.Additional highlights from the latest ARC report include:

With measles making a global comeback - cases increased 79 percent in 2023 - the CDC is issuing new guidelines for those planning to travel abroad.“Many international destinations are reporting increased numbers of cases of measles,” says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, adding: “The majority of measles cases imported into the United States occur in unvaccinated U.S. residents who become infected during international travel.”In particular, the CDC website says Americans who intend to visit other countries should consult with a doctor six weeks prior if there’s any question about whether they’ve had the measles vaccine. Travelers are at risk of contracting measles if they've not been fully vaccinated two weeks ahead of traveling abroad, says the agency's travel advisory.“All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.In another notable update, Russia and Malaysia have been added to the CDC’s map of 46 countries that are experiencing a significant uptick in measles cases. Some of the additional countries where health officials have reported large measles outbreaks include Afghanistan, Armenia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. To view the full list of countries experiencing a significant measles outbreak, visit the CDC website.And if you do travel abroad and develop any of the following symptoms, the CDC recommends seeking medical care:

As part of its Nonstop to Net Zero effort, Southwest Airlines is signing on to a project that's been dubbed the Hawaii Seaglider Initiative.A new mode of transportation designed to combine the speed of an aircraft with the “relatively lower cost of a boat to reduce the time and cost” of transporting travelers, seagliders are all-electric, zero-emission vessels. They operate exclusively over water and can move at up to 180 miles-per-hour, which dramatically reduces travel time. Seagliders function by floating on their hull before transitioning to “wave-tolerant underwater hydrofoils” and then take flight at ultra-low altitudes about 30- to 60-feet above the surface of the water. The vessels are being designed by Rhode Island based manufacturer REGENT.The Hawaii Seaglider Initiative (HSI) was first announced in January and includes a broad coalition of partners. Some of the high-profile corporate and community partners supporting the effort include AES Hawaiʻi, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii Building & Constructions Trades Council, Hawaiʻi Lodging and Tourism Association, Japan Airlines, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Mokulele Airlines, Molokaʻi Chamber of Commerce, Polynesian Adventure, and United Airlines.

After a spate of high-profile airline industry incidents, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has issued a memo addressing safety concerns.In the memo Kirby said safety is the airline’s top priority, according to a report from The Points Guy.The airline CEO also discussed United’s own safety incidents, including acknowledging the airline has had “a number” of such incidents."While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus," Kirby wrote, per The Points Guy. "Our team is reviewing the details of each case to understand what happened and using those insights to inform our safety training and procedures across all employee groups.”The memo from the CEO also indicates that United is working on rolling out a variety of new safety measures. Though Kirby also explained that the new safety upgrades were in the works before United’s recent spate of safety episodes. Some of the new measures the airline will be implementing include an extra day of training for pilots and new curriculum for maintenance technicians."I'm confident that we'll learn the right lessons from these recent incidents and continue to run an operation that puts safety first and makes our employees and customers proud," Kirby added.Kirby’s memo comes on the heels of a rocky few months for the airline industry as a whole. The most significant of which was the January 5 incident involving a Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max flight during which a door plug blew off after take-off and the plane was required to make an emergency landing.A handful of passengers who were on that Alaska Airlines flight have since filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Boeing, alleging negligence on the part of the plane manufacturer.As for United Airlines, one of its flights involving a 737 Max rolled off the runway at George W. Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston recently. Part of the plane’s landing gear collapsed as a result. That United incident followed a tire falling from a Boeing 777-200 plane (also flown by United) one day earlier.

American Airlines is introducing a new fleet of planes at its New York hub.The carrier will add the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to a report from The Points Guy. The publication identified the airline’s plans through Cirium schedules, and subsequently confirmed the news with an airline spokespersonThe new 285-seat plans will be serving American’s New York to New Delhi route beginning October 27. The new plan will replace Boeing 777-300ER aircraft currently flying between New York and New Delhi.American Airlines plans to add several Dreamliners to its New York-based fleet in conjunction with expanding the number of pilots it has operating from New York.“This weekend, American Airlines adjusted the aircraft type operating between New York (JFK) and New Delhi (DEL) starting in October. We will continue to offer daily nonstop service on this route as we optimize our network and fleet,” an airline spokesperson told The Points Guy in a statement.About 30 Dreamliners will be added to American Airline’s stable of planes over the coming years, according to The Points Guy. The first Dreamliner anticipated to come online later this year. The planes contain 51 Flagship Business suites, 32 premium economy seats, 18 Main Cabin Extra economy seats and 143 standard economy seats.

Travel chaos is on the horizon for Germany as airport and rail workers there have announced a new round of walk-outs.

A trio of passengers who were onboard the Alaska Airlines flight that lost a door plug after take-off are suing plane manufacturer Boeing for negligence.The $1 billion lawsuit was filed on February 20 in Multnomah County, Oregon, according to a press release issued by the passenger’s lawyers. The plaintiffs are Kyle Rinker, Amanda Strickland, and Kevin Kwok.Rinker, Strickland, and Kwok are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages from Boeing, which manufactures the 737 MAX 9 jet that was involved in the incident."As a direct result of the frightful, death-threatening failure of the Boeing aircraft, Mr. Kwok, Mr.

Walt Disney World is making it even more appealing to book a vacation at the Orlando park in 2025.The entertainment giant just announced that Disney Resort hotel guests visiting next year can enjoy free admission to one of its popular water parks – Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach – on check-in day as part of a stay.The free day at the water parks, which feature lazy rivers, wave pools, and interactive play areas, will only be made available to guests staying at properties within the Disney Resorts Collection.“With this water park benefit, it’s easy to unwind on the day you arrive. Get ready to zip down thrilling water slides, relax on sandy beaches, float along a lazy river... and let your cares drift away,” states the Disney website announcement.Additional details about the new water park benefit will be made available by Disney later this year. Details will also be provided to guests who have booked a stay at a Disney Collection property in advance of arrival at the park.But Disney has confirmed that the water park benefit is exclusive to registered guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel with check-in dates between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.  Additionally, all guests must be on the room reservation.And to be clear, the water park benefit is only available on the day of check-in at a resort property.Walt Disney World resort stays and theme park tickets for 2025 are available for purchase starting tomorrow (February 27, 2024).

In what may be a last ditch effort, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines have filed an appeals court brief asking that the merger between the two airlines be allowed to proceed.The brief, filed today with the Boston 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, asks that the court overturn a recent judge’s ruling that stopped the proposed $3.8 billion, according to Reuters. In the brief, the airlines argued that the merger was improperly blocked and pointed out that the same judge who ruled against the airlines joining forces also recognized that such a merger would: ”improve competition, and thus reduce prices, for the vast majority of consumers."

Update: February 13, 2024, at 9:10 a.m. ET

Two decades ago, travel inspiration and information often came from the pages of a Fodor’s guidebook or flipping through a glossy travel magazine.Those were far simpler days in the travel industry.Today, social media and Instagram in particular (not to mention the ubiquitous Instagram travel influencers) exert a profound influence over nearly every element of the travel industry and every step of the travel planning process. From the consumer perspective, social media not only guides and inspires decisions about where to go and what to do, but even influences how to dress while on vacation. It’s hard to ignore or deny the global domination IG has managed to exert over consumer travel.As for travel businesses and brands, being on Instagram and working with influencers has become an integral part of reaching audiences. But before Instagram, of course, there was Facebook. And February 2024 marks the twentieth anniversary of what was arguably the first wave of social media’s influence on the travel industry. Created by then Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg to offer a free way to keep in touch with college friends, Facebook quickly grew into a behemoth. And while the user base has shifted to a different and perhaps older demographic in recent years, the platform still has a staggering 3 billion monthly users.The content on Facebook has also evolved significantly since the platform was first brought to life in 2004. Today, it emphasizes ad revenue and data collection, rather than simply helping users connect with friends for free, as was Facebook’s initial value proposition.Those changes, however, are just a small part of Facebook’s evolution story. Over the course of 20 years, Facebook has also profoundly influenced the travel industry, impacting both consumer behavior and the way industry players reach and communicate with their target audiences. “It has definitely changed the landscape,” Erin Whitlock Brown, social media manager for Valor Hospitality Partners, tells TravelPulse. “I don’t think anyone from any industry realized that Facebook would have the impact it has had. Twenty years ago many businesses weren’t even sure they wanted to include Facebook in their marketing plans. Now it’s a key market.”In recognition of Facebook's two-decade anniversary, TravelPulse reached out to travel industry insiders and business owners to discuss the platform’s early days and its evolution into a force to be reckoned with.

The nine-year tax-free status enjoyed by many cruise lines with private islands in the Bahamas is about to end.The changes are slated to take effect on March 1 and are aimed at leveling the playing field, according to a report in The Tribune.The publication broke the news based on a Bahamas Department of Inland Revenue document it had obtained and later confirmed with local officials.Under the plans outlined in the document, in just a few weeks the tax treatment for goods and services provided to the millions of tourists who visit private islands in the Bahamas maintained by cruise ships will change. Moving forward, transactions on the island will be taxed the standard local rate of 10 percent.

Lufthansa has been forced to scrap hundreds of flights amid a 27-hour labor strike at five airports across Germany.