Where to eat in Kyoto, the former Japanese capital mixing tradition and innovation

So much of travel marketing focuses on the transactional, with tons of airtime and budget given to selling hotels and other classic travel products. Yet a mammoth survey of 18,000 travelers underscores how experiences are rising in importance.

Airport lounges, often synonymous with respite from the bustling terminals, do not typically top the list of exciting travel experiences. Yet, the American Express Centurion Lounge Network, now commemorating its 10th anniversary, has successfully infused a sense of adventure and exclusivity into this oft-overlooked aspect of travel. Through a decade of meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to providing premium experiences, these lounges have transformed mundane waiting times into opportunities for discovery and indulgence. How? Well, there are several hidden gems sprinkled throughout the various lounges that you've likely never noticed or known about before. Here are a few.

United Airlines is tweaking its long-haul network with two notable changes.

Train journeys are one of the most nostalgic ways to travel, and they become even more romantic in the winter months. Scenic routes become even more majestic when it’s cold outside, transforming into winter wonderlands decked out in white. There’s nothing as comforting as watching flakes of snow fall while cuddled up inside your own luxe sleeper cabin as the train sweeps past frozen rivers, frosty mountains, and picturesque villages.

For more than 25 years, Alberto Avila has been making careteros, or paper maché masks, perpetuating a tradition of Indigenous communities in Ecuador. Typically worn by tribal leaders, the masks are used widely in local festivities. As Avila explains, each mask is intended to reflect “what’s inside” its creator—his first took the form of a devil, a character he identified with at the time, but he’s tranquil, nowadays, and has made more playful versions lately.

A watch was assembled for the first time at an altitude of over 30,000 ft, thanks to a unique collaboration between Geneva Tourism and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS). A groundbreaking collaboration between Geneva Tourism, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), and SWISS has emerged to celebrate Swiss quality and craftsmanship. At a cruising altitude of 30,000 ft, a watch was meticulously assembled during an unexpected watchmaking workshop on SWISS airline’s Geneva to New York flight, showcasing the precision, craftsmanship, and watchmaking expertise of Geneva. The assembly was carried out by a flight crew member, accompanied by an independent master watchmaker. This unique and unprecedented watch will be unveiled alongside the 84 watches from the official pre-selection of the GPHG traveling exhibition in New York, where standing it will stand as a testament to Swiss excellence. Adrien Genier, Director of Geneva Tourism and member of the GPHG Foundation Board, who was attending the flight, explained the project’s genesis: “As the capital of fine watchmaking, Geneva shines the light on the entire industry worldwide. This one-of-a-kind precision endeavor allows us to take this craftsmanship on a journey.” Romain Vetter, SWISS Director for Western Switzerland, added, “Assembling a watch at 30,000 ft altitude is a fusion of two sectors that represent Swiss quality and reliability. SWISS is thrilled to enable this high-flying assembly.”

This fall, cruise lines are preparing for a big boost to their offerings and route maps. If you’re planning travel for 2024, these cruise lines have new options just for you. Now that the pandemic is in the rearview mirror, cruise companies are launching new ships, new itineraries and new amenities.

Monsters might be fictional characters in books and movies, but these ominous, otherworldly creatures are often linked with real-life places.

A summer getaway to Alaska just got easier.   Alaska Airlines is launching the longest flight in their network, a direct from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Anchorage, Alaska. The seasonal flight will be the only direct route from the New York hub to Anchorage, and will begin daily operations on June 13, 2024.  Due to the 3,386 mile distance of the route, the flight will be operated on a new Boeing 737-800, which can accommodate the longer flight time, according to a statement from the airline. In addition to the flight to New York, Alaska Airlines also announced the launch of a new nonstop from Anchorage to San Diego starting on May 18, 2024. This service will operate weekly, utilizing a Boeing 737 aircraft.  «During our peak summer days, we'll have a robust flight schedule of 63 departures a day from Anchorage,» Alaska Airlines Regional Vice President Marilyn Romano said in the release.

As air travel millions of Americans made their way back to the skies — in what may have been a few years — a new report shares how airfare for flights out of certain airports were impacted from last year to this year,

Even with traffic on the 405, it probably would have taken at most three hours for Victoria Pardo Uzitas to drive from her home in San Diego to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to see a performance of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Instead, she and her teenage daughter crossed the border to Tijuana, flew to Mexico City, enjoyed classic tacos al pastor and churros, saw a Frida Kahlo masterpiece at the Museo de Arte Moderno, and yes, saw Taylor Swift.

I’m an East Coast woman through and through – yet despite my loyalties, I’m not one to shy away from the Pacific side of the USA.