Luxury travel tips

While American Express would be loathe to admit it, the purveyor of upscale rewards cards is losing traction with the well-heeled high-frequency travelers the company once considered its exclusive reserve.

Think overnight train trips in your own cabin cost a fortune? Not with Amtrak’s latest flash sale. Book an Amtrak roomette for one and get the companion ticket free if you buy by June 26. The deal is valid for travel this August 20 through February 15, 2019, with only a single blackout date: November 25, 2018.

Beer lovers, rejoice. Arthur Guinness is Airbnb’s newest host, and you could spend the night at his beloved brewery this spring.

Sir Richard Branson’s latest trending project isn’t galactic space travel, it’s hotels. The 66-year old mogul has dabbled in the hospitality industry before with his Virgin Limited Edition business, but now he’s bringing the Virgin brand stateside with a handful of Virgin Hotel properties. The first of these is Virgin Hotels Chicago, which I was able to experience in person on a recent trip to Chicago.

I’m old enough to remember when Las Vegas was as much about cheap as it was about sin. The sin itself might cost you, but everything else was a bargain. Cheap room rates. Cheap all-you-can-eat prime rib buffets. Free cocktails. Penny slots. And free parking.

For years now, hipsters have created their own modern trends by drawing inspiration from things that are classically Mexican. Consider woven blankets, huarache sandals, and of course the national fruit of both Mexico and hipsterdom— avocados.

“Irma was a bad woman.”

There’s never been a better summer for travel. This year’s summer travel trends favor a personalized approach to vacation and bring once-in-a-lifetime moments into sharp focus. Here are the top summer travel trends to look out for in 2019.

Virgin Galactic has officially achieved its first space flight. The private tourism company founded by Richard Branson achieved an altitude of 51.4 miles on a test flight this week with astronauts on board, surpassing the 50-mile mark the U.S. government recognizes as the official boundary of outer space .

When it comes to deciding where to go on vacation, cruising can be a very divisive topic. Often the reasons why people love cruises (the never-ending buffets, the organized activities, the family-friendly options) are the same reasons non-cruisers avoid them. But with the announcement of Virgin Voyages, a new adults-only cruise line from Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, cruising is about to change.

Many of the world’s best wine regions are popular vacation spots in their own right: California, France, South Africa, and New Zealand. But there are still some undiscovered, award-winning wine regions with hidden treasures like “floating” vineyards and castle wineries—and fewer tipsy tourists.

Although frequent flyer point programs usually get more attention, hotel loyalty program benefits are an important element of hotel choice among lots of travelers. And if you’re not sure which program is “best,” the folks at WalletHub have calculated ratings for all the major hotel chain programs.

If you’re not already familiar with Priority Pass, you might want to be for its ability to get you out of the crowded airport terminal and into an airport lounge. Priority Pass is a membership program that provides access to more than a thousand airport lounges around the world, for an annual fee.

J.D. Power’s annual list of the best hotel chains in the world based on its North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index finds that overall satisfaction with hotel chains is on the rise, with one key area of improvement across brands. The study highlights the best hotel chains for every type of trip, from economical and short stays to luxury and extended stay.

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Lost City of Petra hides coyly behind Southern Jordan’s pink sandstone cliffs. The rock-cut ruins of the lost Nabatean Kingdom feature Corinthian pillars, Hellenistic urns, and, in the case of the Treasury, classical relief sculptures fit for a king. The contrast between the jagged desert cliffs and the grand edifices that adorn them is as jarring as a crop circle perfectly etched into a field of corn.

Hypersonic flights from New York to London in two hours? Maybe in your lifetime, but only if you’re super-rich.

With less than two weeks until the final season of Game of Thrones premieres, excitement has been ramping up, and so has HBO’s marketing campaign. So far, HBO has hidden Iron Thrones in real-world locations, partnered with brands to sell limited-edition snacks, and now Westeros has invaded the Las Vegas Strip.

Choosing a destination can be a difficult decision when you’re looking to maximize your travel budget. By choosing a destination with a favorable exchange rate and strong U.S. dollar, you can make the most of every penny spent in 2019.

If you want to stay at the best hotel in the United States, head to the French Quarter Inn in Charleston, South Carolina. And if you’re looking for the best bargain hotel stay in the world, it’s in a small town in northern Spain. That’s according to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, which just shared the best hotel ratings for multiple categories heading into 2019.

At the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, something is abuzz. Fairmont hotels might be synonymous with luxury, but at this one, travelers can take one of the best free tours in Vancouver—a beekeeping demonstration.

These days, the post-security departure areas of most big international airports look more like shopping malls than transit hubs. Often, you can’t avoid a long trek past a meandering duty-free shopping area before you get to your departure gate.