The Latest on Los Angeles Travel — From Airline Waivers, to Rideshares Discounts, and More

It was a hot afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City. I was sitting on the edge of the hotel bed, scrolling through Instagram, about to go ham on a piping hot bowl of phở when I got a buzz. A text from my then-husband flashing six words nobody wants to read: "I think we need to talk."

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There are currently more than 100,000 people in Los Angeles who have been displaced by the ongoing wildfires. As Travel + Leisure shares hotels and vacation rentals with significantly reduced rates for Angelenos who are evacuating or have lost their homes, the question becomes: How much will insurance actually cover for short- or long-term hotel stays? Put another way, how significant do hotel discounts need to be in order to not cost displaced Angelenos money out of their own pockets?

Alaska – The Great Land. The 49th state has long been on the travel lists for many travelers, and it's not difficult to understand why. Whether they come seeking the awesome majesty of Alaska's glacier fields, the stupefying array of wildlife ranging from humpback whales to bears, moose, and everything in between, fascinating Indigenous culture or simply the never-ending vistas of pristine wilderness, Alaska has something to intrigue even the most jaded of travelers. 

Words can barely do justice to the devastation that has unfolded across Los Angeles this week amid the raging wildfires that have erupted everywhere from Pacific Palisades to Pasadena.Entire neighborhoods have been wiped off the map and residents have lost a lifetime of treasures.At last count, the death toll from the unprecedented four-day fire event stood at 10 and more than 9,000 structures have been destroyed or damaged.The Biden Administration has swiftly responded to the climate change-driven crisis. The president visited California on Wednesday and later vowed that the federal government will cover 100 percent of the disaster assistance costs for California for the next 180 days.“I told the governor and local officials, spare no expense to contain these fires,” Biden said. “We’re doing literally everything we can at the federal level.”The president has sent 400 additional federal firefighters to the state and more than 30 firefighting helicopters and planes. Canada is also providing firefighting aircraft.While all of these measures and promises have brought comfort to California, Biden only has 11 more days in office. And President-elect Donald Trump has taken the opposite tact, roundly criticizing California officials for the fires and  spreading misinformation and falsehoods that have since been debunked.In addition to the Biden Administration, the travel industry has provided an outpouring of assistance and support for Los Angeles and its impacted residents.Local organizations such as the Hotel Association of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board are pitching in, as are international, national, and regional tourism industry operators including Airbnb, Delta Airlines, Internova, and Signature. Here’s a closer look at what’s unfolding.

According to the United Nations, global tourism is expected to have surpassed prepandemic levels in 2024. In fact, last year saw the 10 busiest air travel days of all time. And considering that the International Air Transport Association is forecasting a nearly 5 percent increase in departures in 2025, air travel is only going to become more crowded and congested.

Wildfires in Los Angeles County continued to burn on Monday, January 13, 2025, as firefighters worked to contain portions of the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires, at 14% and 33% containment as of Monday morning. A total of 24 people were reported dead on Sunday evening.

The Los Angeles wildfires have collectively destroyed more than 12,000 buildings and homes and scorched over 40,000 acres as of Monday, January 13.

If «travel more» is on your 2025 resolution list, then first, let us say we're thrilled for you. The world is a beautiful place, and we can't wait for you to see and do it all. And if you're nervous to get out there and visit new places, that's OK too. In fact, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has a few ideas for destinations that will totally put your fears at ease. 

The rampant wildfires consuming vast swathes of Los Angeles have forced around 180,000 people to evacuate. 

Winter Storm Cora has continued to move east, resulting in hundreds of flight disruptions at major hubs.

As of Thursday, January 9, the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have prompted evacuation orders for at least 130,000 residents and have burned more than 2,000 buildings and homes. If you've been displaced by the Los Angeles fires, you may be eligible for free housing through Airbnb.