Trip tips

Venice will start implementing its long-planned fee for day visitors starting in April 2024.

I hate using public restrooms. I dislike the sounds, the smells, and the sensations. When I'm exiting the bathroom stall, I hate the awkward shuffle I have to do when I'm pulling the door towards me, while at the same time, trying to avoid touching the rim of the toilet with the back of my legs. But the worst part for me about using a public restroom is people overhearing me.

With Thanksgiving in the rearview, today is one of the most magical days of the year for Black Friday deals on everything from flights to hotel stays and even AirPods. It's also the start of the most magical time of year at Disney parks, and if you love saving money as much as you love visiting Disney World or Disneyland, today is your day to shine.

There's been a lot of hype about artificial-intelligence chatbot ChatGPT and how it can make tasks easier — and I wondered if that usefulness could extend to planning trips.

This past June, my wife and I, along with two of our children, flew from our home in India to the eastern United States to see family and visit Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. The trip included three domestic flights over five days on Frontier Airlines: Philadelphia to Orlando, Orlando to Atlanta, and Atlanta back to Philadelphia. The total cost for four people on three flights was an affordable $939.75, including a $99.99 “Discount Den” membership on Frontier. (We also spent $1,269.52 on tickets at Universal.) But our first flight was delayed and eventually canceled, and Frontier’s staff told us the next available flight was three or four days later — too close to our return flight to India. We were given a QR code at the Philadelphia airport to file for a refund, which we did for all three flights. But all we got was an email with a credit worth $339.92 and good for three months, plus four additional messages with a $100 voucher for each of us. Since Frontier does not operate in India, the credit and vouchers are useless. I fought Frontier through my Discover card, but lost. (Meanwhile, Universal reimbursed us in full.) Can you help?

In the week leading up to my two-week van trip, I slowly started collecting everything I wanted to pack.

Clustered on the east coast of Scotland are seven tidal pools. These seawater swimming holes are the perfect harnessing of nature, and show how communities have found ways to immerse themselves in their environment for generations. St Monans, for example, sits where the North Sea beats ferociously against the cliffs and much of the coastline is inaccessible—this rectangular body of water, however, offers a safe swim. Traveling between these tidal pools on a road trip is about so much more though. It's an adventure connecting witch folklore, dolphin spotting, forest bathing, rock ‘n’ roll legends, fly fishing, and the most delicious smoked haddock soup you’ve ever eaten.

In a significant rebound fueled by heightened summer travel demand, China’s Trip.com Group posted a net revenue of RMB 13.7 billion ($1.9 billion) in the third quarter, marking a 99% increase over 2022 and 31% increase from 2019 levels.

Home to many of the world's greatest works of art, architecture and gastronomy, Italy elates, inspires and moves like no other. 

You can visit his twinkly grotto 365 days a year at the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, just five miles south of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland — and a 3.5-hour direct flight from the UK. The resort runs an Elf Academy, welcoming ‘little helpers’ and offering reindeer-driven sleigh rides. It’s also home to Santa Park, which features an ice-sculpture gallery and elfin workshops making gingerbread. If you want to venture out of town, there’s husky sledding and aurora-chasing.

When you're heading to Atlanta for a concert, basketball game or another event, you'll probably want to book one of the best hotels near State Farm Arena to make it easy to get to and from the event.

Earlier this year, I went on a trip around India. Before returning home to the UK, I took a detour to Bali, Indonesia.

Is there anything better than jetting off to Paris, Nice, or Milan? Yes, yes there is. Jetting off to Paris, Nice, or Milan in business class. For a limited time (and just in time for gift-giving season, cough cough), French airline La Compagnie is offering airfares as low as $2,000 round-trip for its all-business flights to those three cities in France and Italy.

Now’s the time to book a European getaway for 2024. Or sooner! And one airline is offering a steal of a sale for round trip premium seating.

There are the typical Black Friday travel deals and discounts and then there is a showstopping new offer from Air Tahiti Nui, the flagship carrier of French Polynesia. In honor of 25 years of service, Air Tahiti Nu has developed a new multi-flight pass, for $1,525, which includes round-trip tickets to four international destinations to be used over the course of a year.

On my first day in Iceland, I paid 2,690 ISK, or about $20, for a piece of avocado toast at the Blue Lagoon.

I propped open my apartment door and lugged in about eight bags.

Before we met him, we expected that Matthew Goode would have a certain refined British humor, and it turns out we were right. His success with hit series like Downtown Abbey and The Crown, blockbusters like The King’s Man and Leap Year, and cult films like Match Point and Stoker has not affected the actor’s open and affable attitude. Now he adds another credit to his list as he stars alongside Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button in Hackett's new autumn-winter 2023 campaign.

Japan is one of the most popular destinations in the world, a place where travelers can gaze upon the breathtaking beauty of cherry blossoms, explore some of the world’s most beautiful temples and shrines, and enjoy the electric nightlife of its neon-soaked cities. It’s also a foodie haven, with international favorites from ramen to sushi to tempura to delight travelers. Travel advisors who want to book a trip to Japan can take advantage of Goway’s expert knowledge and wide range of travel products to plan a dream vacation for their clients. Learn more on Goway’s website. 

AnneMarie McCarthy, Lonely Planet's destination editor for France, recently traveled to Normandy for an autumnal foodie tour that was packed with farm-to-table treats and cozy accommodations. Here, she shares some tips and insights for anyone planning a similar trip. 

It's about 70 degrees in Pennington, New Jersey, a warm afternoon for October, as we trek from the tomato tunnel to a sprawling rice field. We're on the Blue Moon Acres farm, about 50 miles southwest of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and 75 miles from LaGuardia Airport (LGA).