After being foster parents to eight children for two years, Chris and Lindsay Harvey were looking for a change in lifestyle.
27.07.2023 - 18:17 / smartertravel.com / Obama
The new year may be right around the corner, but to foresee what it might have in store for travelers, it’s useful to take a look back. Some 2017 travel industry changes were short-lived—remember the infamous laptop ban that had business travelers in a furor for a few months? But other trends from travel 2017 could have a more lasting effect.
Travel 2017: How Things ChangedBelow are a few key trends that affected travelers in 2017—and could have ripple effects, good and bad, for years to come.
A Record-Breaking Hurricane SeasonThis year marked the first time in recorded history that three Category 4 hurricanes struck the United States. One of them, Hurricane Harvey, set tropical rainfall records as well. Hundreds of people were killed in the U.S., the Caribbean, and even Ireland (where Ophelia was the worst storm in recorded history).
While many affected destinations are already bouncing back, there will likely be lasting damage on some of the hardest-hit Caribbean islands, which could affect where travelers choose to go in 2018 and beyond. Even if next year’s hurricane season proves less active, travelers should learn one key lesson from travel 2017: If you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean or the Gulf Coast between June and November, you should always purchase travel insurance.
Related:Hurricanes and Travel: What Your Options Are When One Hits Earbuds That Translate in Real TimeLate in the year Google rolled out a revolutionary set of earbuds called Pixel Buds that are designed to translate other languages in real time. Reviews of the Pixel Buds have been mixed thus far, due to technical snafus and the limitations of Google Translate, which powers the translation function. (The app struggles with idioms in particular.) But the product gets travelers one step closer to the goal of being able to communicate with anyone, anywhere, in any language, and in real time.
Basic Economy Fares Put the Squeeze on Carry-OnsThis year United and American began selling basic economy fares that, among other restrictions, permit only a small personal item onboard. Traveling with anything other than a backpack or laptop bag? You’ll have to pay to check it.
Delta’s basic economy fares are slightly more generous, but the other two legacy carriers now have offerings that are in line with those of ultra-discount airlines like Spirit and Frontier, which balance out low fares with fees for just about everything. If you’re hoping to avoid being nickeled-and-dimed, you’ll have to be very careful about which fare category you book in 2018 and beyond.
Related:5 Ways to Survive a Flight in Basic Economy Cuba Becomes Less Accessible for AmericansAfter President Obama loosened the restrictions on travel to Cuba in 2016, it
After being foster parents to eight children for two years, Chris and Lindsay Harvey were looking for a change in lifestyle.
Landscapes as green and lovely as everyone says. Literary giants in Dublin; Titanic history in Belfast. A pint and good craic in a traditional pub. The lure of Celtic legends.
Green fields and hills give Ireland its “Emerald Isle” nickname. But with nearly 2,000 miles of coastline, rivers, and lakes, the island nation is also awash in blue. Rounding out all that unspoiled nature are ancient castles, historic villages, and pubs alive with traditional music. Here’s the best way to experience this colorful corner of Europe.
I've had the luxury of sitting underneath glass-dome windows as my Rocky Mountaineer train barreled between Colorado's mountains.
It’s no longer something to keep hidden.
New airline passenger protections have passed for our neighbor to the north, offering increased Canadian air rights for travelers impacted by delays and other air travel inconveniences. But advocates on both sides—the airlines and some consumer groups—are not happy with the new rules.
Britain’s Monarch Airlines failed abruptly last week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at resort destinations without a return flight. The British government is helping those travelers return home, but the airline shutdown raises the question of whether a similar collapse could happen elsewhere.
The Zika virus continues to spread and is drastically affecting countries throughout Central and South America, as well as Mexico. At a press conference today, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that there is now a “public health emergency of international concern” over the clusters of microcephaly in Brazil and the suspected (although not scientifically proven) link to microcephaly and birth defects. It’s important to note that this is not a declaration for the actual Zika virus. WHO also stated that “there should be no restrictions on travel or trade with countries, areas and/or territories with Zika virus transmission.”
When experts name the “best” days to travel, they usually name the days airfares are lowest—which often aren’t optimal for most people once you factor in personal convenience and schedule constraints. There’s typically a reason why these ones are the slower travel days.
Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.
We all know that air travel isn’t great for the environment, but a new study has found that tourism is four times worse for the environment than previously thought. The alarming research conducted by University of Sydney researchers and published in the journal Nature Climate Change found that the tourism industry (including direct sources like flights and indirect sources such as souvenir manufacturing) is responsible for eight percent of global greenhouse emissions, which is four times higher than scientists had previously estimated.
The latest study from J.D. Power proves something you might have already suspected: Air travelers aren’t too happy. The 2019 North America Airport Satisfaction Study found that travelers’ satisfaction with domestic airports plateaued this year amidst widespread delays and crowds. According to the findings, the halt in passenger satisfaction comes after several years of rapid growth.