Finland's flagship carrier, Finnair, will expand in the United States next summer, launching its largest-ever schedule from the U.S. to Finland.
08.10.2024 - 06:51 / lonelyplanet.com
Oct 7, 2024 • 10 min read
Sri Lanka is a small island that packs a punch. In a short trip, you can explore ancient cities, relax on palm-fringed beaches, hike through the lush and misty hill country and dine on endless rice and curry.
Even getting around Sri Lanka can be part of the adventure, with its famous trains turning transport into a sightseeing journey. While self-driving in Sri Lanka is not recommended, hiring a private car with a driver is easy to arrange and relatively affordable, making a road trip a simple way to explore this island nation.
Our 7- and 8-day itineraries highlight various parts of the country, but extend your stays in various stops or even combine multiple routes to build the 2- or even 3-week itinerary of your dreams.
Allow at least 7 days
Distance: 250km (155 miles)
With eight UNESCO-listed sites, four former capitals and a liberal scattering of atmospheric monastic ruins, rock citadels, gigantic stupas and astonishing Buddhist art, the central plains are the place to explore Sri Lanka's spectacular past and its rich Buddhist cultural heritage. Amateur archaeologists and fans of lost cities are in for a treat.
The sprawling archaeological site of Anuradhapura and its sacred Bodhi Tree, holy stupas and archaeological museums can be seen in a long day, but it's better with two. If you're short on time, visit just Abhayagiri.
Detour: A half-day trip takes you to Mihintale, 13km (8 miles) outside town, to join pilgrims at the spot where Buddhism first took root in Sri Lanka.
Next stop: Drive 1 hour from Anuradhapura to Ritigala.
As you travel from Anuradhapura and towards Polonnaruwa, make a stop at the ruined forest monastery of Ritigala. In an hour you can explore the stone stairways, platforms and meditation halls half-hidden between dripping tree roots. The site is 8km (5 miles) off the main road, so it's easiest if you have your own transport, though you can often find a tuk tuk at the road junction.
Next stop: Drive 90 minutes from Ritigala to Polonnaruwa.
More ancient city ruins await at Polonnaruwa, the millennia-old former capital. You can see the main ticketed collection of monasteries, Buddha statues, stupas and royal palaces in half a day (early morning is best) but there are other minor sights to fill a long day. Don't miss the far northern group of sights and give the interesting archaeological museum an hour.
Next stop: Drive 90 minutes from Polonnaruwa to Sigirya.
Sigiriya, meaning "lion's rock", is a must-see for its spectacular location and enigmatic history. Some travelers are content to see it from afar from Pidurangala (thus saving the US$30 entry fee) but it's worth visiting both rocks; Sigiriya at dawn and Pidurangala at sunset. In the afternoon take a 4WD
Finland's flagship carrier, Finnair, will expand in the United States next summer, launching its largest-ever schedule from the U.S. to Finland.
Oct 17, 2024 • 5 min read
An upgraded travel experience just got cheaper. Delta Air Lines recently released hundreds of flight deals in their premium cabins, such as Delta Comfort+ and Delta One for travel throughout the fall and winter. Many of the tickets are priced under $1,000, and travelers can also redeem miles from Delta's SkyMiles program for seats at a discounted rate as well. Some of the lowest-priced flight deals to Europe include New York-JFK to London-Heathrow for only $703 round-trip in Comfort+, or 59,000 Miles, valid on travel from January 7, 2025 through March 6, 2025.
Amtrak currently operates 39 routes, with trains criss-crossing the country to service 500 destinations in 46 states. Starting November 10, 2024, however, the number of Amtrak routes will go down one notch to reach a total of 38. Amtrak is cancelling two routes and launching a brand new one between Chicago and Miami called The Floridian.
My dad is from a small town in Massachusetts and has never been much for travel, but his eyes lit up like a child’s when I told him I was headed to Stuttgart, the capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg in the Swabian region of southwestern Germany. A lifelong car buff, pop knew Stuttgart as the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Driving me to the airport, he gushed about the legendary car museums in his coarse Boston accent: “Christalmighty, Johnny Boy, you’ll see the most gawgeous Muhcedes and Pawsches evah made!” I could only imagine otherwise-polite Germans shuddering at his pronunciation of their cherished automobile brands (but I kept that to myself).
In a move that has aviation circles buzzing, United Airlines announced its biggest international expansion ever, with eight new international cities added for 2025. The new routes span multiple continents and include destinations that are especially difficult to access, such as Senegal, Greenland, Taiwan, and Mongolia.
American Airlines is making a slew of changes to its domestic network.
Paris, Rome and Madrid might be what comes to mind when planning a summer vacation. But what about a trip to the capital of Mongolia?
United Airlines just announced its largest-ever international route expansion for summer 2025—including increased flights to tourist-favorite countries like Spain, Italy, and France and brand new routes to lesser-visited destinations like Mongolia, Greenland, and Senegal.
United Airlines is making bold route decisions as it continues to expand its giant international presence.
Travelers searching for America's safest cities may want to head to New England this holiday season.
Airbus is about to kick-start a new era of long-haul travel.