Travelers tips

Despite warnings from friends and fellow travelers, we decided to spend a December vacation in Chicago.

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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Last summer, after Delta Air Lines offered me only partial reimbursement for expenses incurred while stranded in Paris for four days due to the Crowdstrike software meltdown, I went straight to the Department of Transportation (DoT) website to file a complaint.

It's no secret that travel can get expensive very quickly. But some destinations are more costly than others, especially if a tourism tax (a daily charge usually applied to hotel bills) is involved. U.K.-based financial comparison site Money recently rounded up five cities that charge the priciest tourism taxes around the world to help travelers make informed decisions about their next vacation.

Family vacations are one of those things I plan yearly that bring excitement and nausea.

A $100,200 check could change someone's life — or be just enough to cover their one-night stay in Venice Simplon-Orient-Express' L'Observatoire suite, debuting in March.

Spain consistently ranks as one of our readers' favorite countries to visit, with evergreen holiday destinations like Mallorca and thriving cultural capitals like Madrid and Barcelona. While the latter may be widely beloved for its youthful nightlife and ancient history, it's also an underrated city for families traveling with kids and teenagers.

By the time my kids, Mila and Joe, were tweens, they’d become pretty savvy travelers. We had traveled as a family all over Mexico and Central America, to French Polynesia, and around Southeast Asia—Joe had even tagged along with me on a work trip to Egypt. But a family trip to Europe? Nope. I had been urged by a few well-traveled friends to save Europe for a time when my children would really appreciate it, when they could enthusiastically spend not just hours but consecutive days wandering museums and historical sites, when their palettes could handle sophisticated flavors, and when 10 p.m. dinners wouldn’t destroy the following day. I’m not sure why I chose to listen to this parenting advice while cavalierly ignoring all sorts of other cautionary tales and whispered warnings, especially since my kids ate everything, had been visiting museums since their toddler days, and frequently stayed up to 1 a.m. But I did, and year after year, kept punting on a family trip to Italy or Greece, countries I knew and loved and couldn’t wait to share with my kids when the time was right.

What ever happened to airport fashion? Take the Beckhams' travel looks of the ‘90s and early 2000s, for one. From which Victoria Beckham became an icon for strutting to far-flung destinations in little Gucci dresses and Posh Spice leathers. These days, you'll often see travelers sporting cozy loungewear sets or a simple pair of leggings and a tee. We want to be comfortable sitting in economy just as much as the next person, but we also want to look put together when we arrive at our destination. The solution to acing that effortless airport style while remaining comfy: jeans! And yes, it is possible to find a pair of denim that's comfortable enough to wear on a long-haul flight.

January brings new beginnings—and new deals—to the travel world. We're seeing the unveiling of new cruise routes, new restaurants, and note-worthy hotel openings—plus an influx of new discounts and promotions across the board. This month the deals spread far and wide, from 60% off group trips to South Africa to discounted rates to the Maldives; there is something out there for every type of traveler. Plus, Wave Season has just started so you can save up to 30% off on tons of cruise deals.

Bad news for Hyatt loyalists hoping to bask in the sun of Mexico's Riviera Maya at the Andaz Mayakoba this year: The popular hotel will close for an extensive renovation in just a few months.

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?

It just got easier to be a VIP at 30,000 feet. Frontier Airlines recently announced new benefits for members of its loyalty program, including a fast-track offer that helps travelers achieve Elite Platinum status with as little as 20,000 points.  The Denver-based carrier described the updates as «major enhancements» for their loyalty members, which will now include free advanced seat upgrades in both Premium seating, and UpFront seating. Frontier recently unveiled a First Class concept, and shared that it would also become available for complimentary upgrades later this year, according to the company’s release. Frequent flyers in the loyalty program will notices upgrades that clear 12 hours in advance of departure for Platinum members, and 4 hours in advance for Gold members.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has confirmed an official deadline for the Real ID requirement, which will soon be mandatory for travelers to navigate airport security within the U.S. 

As an unathletic kid, I dreaded "going skiing" because it really meant slogging through ski school while my parents hit the slopes.

Beyond Machu Picchu, Peru has the thriving capital of Lima, the Sacred Valley’s breathtaking landscapes, and the lush Amazon—so the best time to visit Peru depends on what and how much you want to do. The good news is that Peru is a year-round destination with cultural sites, restaurants, and festive events to appreciate at any time of the year. It’s only natural: The country is home to civilizations with over 5,000 years of history and awe-inspiring archeological wonders, which means it’s brimming with ancient living cultures, stunning sights, top-notch gastronomy, unique nature and wildlife, and plenty of Peruvians to meet and learn from.

Speaking to Virgilio Martínez—undeniably Peru's most lauded chef of the past decade—it's clear that being the brains behind a restaurant repeatedly named the best in the world (his Lima spot, Central) means that every meal offers the potential for inspiration.

Travel in Belgium is severely affected today (13 January) by a nationwide strike.

Last year was a milestone year for Delta Air Lines' portfolio of airport lounges. While the carrier technically only opened one new Sky Club — in late December, no less — it made waves with high-spending travelers by debuting its first-ever business class-only outposts at three of its biggest coastal hubs.

I've spent 140 hours traveling nearly 4,000 miles on overnight trains in the US and Europe.