Visa Delays, AI for Expenses, Dolly Parton and More Travel News

Paris is always a good idea. And now travelers can escape to the French city and more European hotspots for less with a new Icelandair sale that has flights starting at just $349 round trip.

Flying across the world just got more affordable thanks to an Air New Zealand sale that has flights from the United States to Auckland and beyond starting at less than $1,000.

Those who love to be the among first guests to experience a new hotel have one thing going for them—the world keeps opening more. From the Maldives to Milan to Manhattan, here are the top new luxury hotels to check out (and into) this fall.

Low-cost airline Norse Atlantic Airways is making European getaways affordable with one-way trips starting at just $99.

Most popular tourist destinations try to increase the number of visitors every year. But that’s not the case on the glamorous Spanish island of Mallorca. Faced with the prospect of losing their paradise to the growing swell of tourism, local activists have taken an innovative approach to keep its azure waters less crowded—fake warning signs posted on some of Mallorca’s most popular beaches. Seemingly ordinary to passersby, these signs bear disturbing messages in English such as “dangerous jellyfish” or “falling rocks.” While tourists are led to believe they face physical dangers, the messages actually make with bold statements such as: “the problem isn’t a rockfall, it’s mass tourism,” or the satirical note that the beach is “open—except for foreigners and jellyfish.”

Low-cost Icelandic airline Play is celebrating the end of summer with a flight sale to the UK and Europe starting at just $129. 

In our Simple Pleasure series, our writers show you how you can enjoy a fun and easy-going activity in their city without breaking the bank. Here, Austin Bush explains why a stroll through Lisbon is a great (and free) way to understand the city.

Holland America Line’s 2025 European season is open for booking, offering diverse, destination-focused itineraries. With extended cruises, more Iceland sailings, and 62 overnight calls or late departures in leading European cities, travelers are encouraged to immerse in culture and landscapes. Rotterdam reemerges as a homeport, including voyages to Northern Europe and the Baltic.

In our weekend roundup, we delve into the pros and cons of Google’s latest foray into the tours and activities industry, providing insights into how online travel agencies might stand to benefit. We also catch up with IHG’s new CEO Elie Maalouf and his ambitious plans for the brand’s future. From AI’s influence on the travel sector to the latest controversies in short-term rentals, keep reading for a comprehensive look at the most pressing issues in today’s travel landscape.

For this bonus episode of The Skift Travel Podcast, we turn to Dallas where we held our first in-person Skift Aviation Forum earlier this week. To begin the event, we invited American Airlines CEO Robert Isom to have a conversation conversation with Airline Weekly’s Ned Russell about post-pandemic pattern changes and how his airline is preparing for the holiday season ahead.

It’s the classic coin flip of a great beach vacation: Do you prefer to swim in the ocean or a pool? Thankfully, some resorts in Europe or Australia don’t require such a choice because they offer natural swimming pools replenished with fresh seawater. Now the first natural swimming pool has opened in the Caribbean. Wymara Resort + Villas on Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos features a 3,900-square-foot-pool on Sunset Cove. The ocean pool is part of the property’s Villa Beach Club and is accessible for all villa guests and available to all resort guests for a small fee.

Mexico’s largest airport operators will likely see a boost in 2023, propelled by tourist stays at resorts and an increase in nearshoring, or companies moving operations closer to home, analysts said on Tuesday.