What are World of Hyatt’s Find experiences — and are they worth it?

Love ’em or hate ’em, the busiest airports in the world are where many of our holidays begin and end.

Air travel is off to a smooth start this long weekend, but that's likely to change — first from snow in the Northeast then in the Deep South thanks to a second winter storm, this one a potential whopper now brewing off the Texas coast.

Amtrak is celebrating a special milestone with big savings for passengers.  The train service's Downeaster line, which operates five times a day from Brunswick, Maine to Boston, Massachusetts, recently achieved ten million riders on the line. In recognition of the achievement, Amtrak is offering special $30 round-trip fares on the line when travelers enter the promotional code V232during the booking process.  “This is our best deal of the year and marks our biggest ridership achievement," Amtrak shares about the promotion.

Southwest Airlines’ planned expansion to Europe is quickly becoming a reality.  The Dallas, TX-based carrier recently shared with Travel + Leisure that it has officially signed a joint commercial agreement with Icelandair to begin flights between the two airlines starting in February 2025. The inaugural Icelandair flights will take off from Baltimore, MD (BWI) airport to Reykjavik, Iceland, although a specific launch day within February has not been disclosed.  Once in Iceland, travelers can connect to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, Paris, Prague, and other destinations throughout Europe within Icelandair’s route network.

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.

Southwest Airlines will launch its first international airline partnership next month, and expand its short list of international "gateways" to Denver and Nashville, the airline announced.

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. 

When my taxi rolled up to Aleenta Phuket Phang Nga Resort & Spa, a luxurious beach hideaway north of Phuket—and far from Thailand's overcrowded beach towns like Patong—I was a shell of a human, on the verge of burnout. My body was teetering toward a full system shutdown; my gut was a mess. My under-eye bags could double as carry-ons.

According to the United Nations, global tourism is expected to have surpassed prepandemic levels in 2024. In fact, last year saw the 10 busiest air travel days of all time. And considering that the International Air Transport Association is forecasting a nearly 5 percent increase in departures in 2025, air travel is only going to become more crowded and congested.

It’s odd enough to find yourself traveling by helicopter from one Caribbean island to another for lunch, even if your destination is Nobu Barbuda, an outpost of the famous restaurant plunked down on a semi-deserted beach. It’s odd in a different way to arrive and spot the 81-year-old actor Robert De Niro dressed in a pair of shorts and a tiny bucket hat, waiting for you at a table in the back.

Hawaiian Airlines is the latest U.S. carrier to announce a network of premium-class-only lounges, starting with a location at its main Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) hub.

Jan 12, 2025 • 8 min read