International tips

The hotel that ushered in the era of the megaresort on the Las Vegas Strip is about to go dark.

This winter could be a lot warmer for some travelers, thanks to American Airlines. The carrier this week announced plans to expand its footprint in the Caribbean and Latin America with eight new routes and additional service on popular flight paths to warmer-weather coastal destinations.

It's been a good week for business-class deal hunters. We saw incredible Air France Flying Blue business-class award space earlier this week and then stumbled upon first-class flights to Hawaii as low as 40,000 each way.

The Metropolitan Oakland International Airport is no longer. Instead, the Bay Area airport has officially changed its name to the “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport," sparking controversy in the process.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers frequent travelers several ways to add elements of luxury to their travel plans. From flight discounts to hotel elite status and a comprehensive airport lounge access benefit, the Amex Business Platinum Card delivers unparalleled travel perks that you can only find with a premium travel rewards card.

Skift reported recently that Saudi’s Vision 2030 is too expensive for tourists: If it eventually wants 70 million international visitors, it’s going to need more supply of hotels that don’t cost thousands of dollars a day. 

In September 2022, I booked a 17-day Arabian Sea cruise through Vantage Travel Services to celebrate my 80th birthday with my wife. The cruise was to set sail in October 2023. I used my credit card to leave a $2,000 deposit and paid the remaining $17,905 shortly afterward by bank transfer. I also bought the Worldwide Trip Protector plan from Travel Insured International (for $1,954), in part because it covered financial default and bankruptcy of cruise lines. Vantage then canceled the cruise and offered me an alternative date I could not make; I also declined their offer of credit and asked for a refund, which they agreed to. But no refund ever came, and they stopped answering the phone. My credit card returned the $2,000, and I filed an insurance claim for $17,905. It was denied, as was my first appeal. Then Vantage filed for bankruptcy, and my second appeal was denied too. The reasons given by the insurer were outrageous. They cited a vague parenthetical phrase in the policy’s bankruptcy clause, claiming I wasn’t covered because I purchased the cruise directly from the cruise line (rather than, say, through a travel adviser). Then they said my policy lapsed when I canceled the trip. But I did not cancel; Vantage did. I also filed a complaint with the New York State Department of Financial Services, which was rejected. Can you help?

It would be incorrect to describe Iceland's Play Airlines as a startup anymore. Launched in 2021 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the airline is on the cusp of its third summer under the leadership of a new CEO.

When you travel, it's obviously important to be able to pay for whatever it is you need whenever you need it. Sometimes, that's going to be with the right credit card. Other times, especially in certain countries, you'll find yourself in a cash-only situation.

Emirates is already in the midst of a massive makeover of its fleet. Now, the Dubai-based carrier is planning to give even more of its long-haul jets a cabin face-lift — one that will ultimately bring its state-of-the-art premium economy seats to more cities.

It's official: Oakland, California's airport has changed its name.

Ever dreamed of spending a night in Paris’ Musée D’Orsay? Or parking yourself among the race cars in the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy? Or how about drifting off to sleep among clouds in the house from Up? Those are just a few of the fantastical locations recently revealed in Airbnb’s Icons collection for summer 2024. Airbnb says it will offer more dreamy locations on a regular basis—mostly for free—and more than 4,000 “golden tickets” will be awarded to guests this year.

JetBlue is doubling down on Puerto Rico, slashing service from New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), scaling back its winter Europe offerings, and deploying more of its Mint-equipped jets throughout North America.

Is hunting elephants the best way to save the species? That’s a question once again being raised in the conservation community after a recent ruling by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that will make it more difficult to import legally harvested elephant ivory. Many scientists, however, are questioning the move as antithetical to the stated goal of bolstering elephant conservation across Africa.

One of Marriott's newest and most affordable brands is slated to grow in one of the world's most-visited countries.

Qatar Airways has long been known for having a top-notch inflight experience, especially if you’re sitting up front in the airline’s Qsuites business class. The Doha-based carrier is consistently ranked as one of the best international airlines in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. Add in a newly renovated Hamad International Airport—recently awarded the title of best airport in the world—and you have the makings for a solid travel day.

Hard Rock International's new loyalty program has a star-studded kickoff to its global rollout.

Delta Air Lines will return to Amsterdam with daily flights from Tampa this fall, allowing Floridians the chance to satisfy their cravings for stroopwafels and Gouda cheese.

I'm a big fan of Mobile Passport Control and have been a loyal user for many years. It's my entry expediting program of choice when I return to the U.S. from overseas and want to avoid long lines at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

British Airways Executive Club recently introduced a tempting new offer to reduce the price of any BA-operated flight to just 1 British pound (about $1.25) by using Avios, but here's why it is not a good deal.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live and work in space?