TravelPulse Podcast: 2024 Holiday Travel Outlook

It's easy to get swept up in the magic — and madness — of the holiday season. Between decorating, gathering gifts and prepping for the new year, there's so much to plan and keep track of at the end of December. And that's just those of us who don't travel for the holidays and have to contend with things like crowded airports and long security lines.

Travelers destined for Hawaii's Big Island this holiday season are running into a roadblock before even boarding the plane thanks to a shortage of rental cars on the island – and price gouging of what remains. The issue made its way to Reddit earlier this week when a topic moderator in a Hawaii forum created a pinned post titled, “PSA: There are virtually no car rentals (including Turo) on Big Island for the next 2 weeks. Read this post for your options.” “There are essentially no more car rentals for Big Island during the Christmas holiday,” the post reads. “All rental agencies show as sold out, and according to recent posts Turo rentals are limited and listed as high as $2500 for a week.” It's worth noting that a representative from Hawaii Tourism Authority disputed this, telling Travel + Leisure that rental car prices are higher, “but cars are available at the major car rental companies at both Hilo and Kona airports, as we expect during high demand periods like the holidays.” However, searches done by Travel + Leisure on Hertz, Enterprise, Sixt, and Avis yielded no availability for pick-up at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) in Kona — the island’s top resort destination for tourists — and just seven options on Turo, with the cheapest option being $274/day during the last two weeks of December. “Travel experts have always recommended booking holiday travel as early as possible to secure the best deals and inventory,” a representative from Turo told T+L. “Turo experiences seasonality, just like other major travel companies, and we frequently remind guests to book a car as soon as possible, especially in popular vacation destinations.” A representative from Enterprise Mobility also confirmed that holiday demand is at an all-time high. “With the busy holiday season upon us, the demand for vehicle rentals at Enterprise Mobility is strong across all three of our rental brands — Enterprise, National, and Alamo — and we expect this to continue through the end of the year.  Hawaii is always a popular destination for holiday travelers – and our current reservations show this year is no different,” the representative said in an e-mailed statement. “From a pricing standpoint, our rates are determined by several supply and demand factors including location, dates of travel, length of rental, availability as well as when the reservation was made.”

With just hours to go before a potential government shutdown in the midst of what is expected to be the busiest travel season on record, the head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warned travelers longer wait times at airports could be ahead.

The best podcasts of 2024 were with us for the long haul. Our editors tuned into episodes when we were stuck in traffic on road trips, in airport lounges waiting out awkward layovers, on routine runs, and during feverish sick days or sleepless jet lag-driven nights. As we head into the new year, we're still coasting on the Golden Age of podcasting, which means there's plenty of shows to catch up on to make the dead time during your travels fly by. Whether you're on a mission to tick horseback riding in Wyoming off your bucket list, or sunbathing on a cruise deck while practicing how to lucid dream, some trips just feel better served with a side of wit or storytelling. Below, we've gathered ten of our favorite shows from the past year to get you started, including hilarious debriefs on hot gossip, long debates on pop culture hot takes, and intimate interviews with A-listers.

As the travel industry prepares for the busy winter holiday period, American Airlines announced that it would offer more than 118,000 flights that will carry an estimated 12.7 million customers between December 18 and January 6.

Elf on the Shelf (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)

On December 10, the U.S. Department of State released new travel advisories to two Central American countries that are frequent cruise stops for American travelers during the winter Caribbean cruise season: Honduras and Costa Rica.

Nestled along Mexico's Pacific coast, Nayarit offers travelers a diverse and enchanting holiday destination that caters to every type of experience. Whether seeking a family getaway, a romantic escape or a trip with friends, this vibrant state promises unforgettable moments that blend natural beauty, cultural richness and relaxation.

Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast! 

The best trips that Condé Nast Traveler editors took this year remind us that the classics are classics for a good reason. Many of us have had the privilege of traveling to some of the most far-flung corners of the earth, but few things can top the simple joys of either traveling with family, returning to beloved cities, and rediscovering our own backyards.

The cost of gas this week has dropped near the lowest price it has been in three years just in time for travelers to head out on holiday road trips.

Starting today, tourists arriving in Spain will have to provide more personal data to authorities.