Why Checking In Bags Is More Expensive

It’s about to get more expensive to visit Ecuador’s popular Galapagos Islands as the country prepares to double entry fees this summer.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, March 14. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Customers may soon feel the impact of the Boeing 737 Max blowout as airlines face uncertainty about their future fleets.

Every year, Hyatt breaks our little hearts when it announces what hotels are changing award categories because it means that some of our favorite properties will cost more World of Hyatt points. (In Hyatt's defense, some properties go down, too.)

Explore Tunis, Tunisia's dynamic capital in North Africa, where cultural fusion thrives. Wander through the fascinating Arab Medina, alongside European-inspired facades. And on the outskirts is the charming seaside town of Sidi Bou Said, another must visit. Tunisian contemporary culture has been in the spotlight recently with a surge in art spaces, particularly in Tunis and its surroundings. Also inspiring to see are the internationally acclaimed films by female directors, including Under the Fig Trees by Erige Sehiri and this year’s Oscar-nominated Four Daughters by Kaouther Ben Hania.

If Balinese paradise makes you think of beautiful beaches or holistic retreats inspired by “Eat, Pray, Love,” you would be right. But, there’s more to it than that now, following a global pandemic that up-ended the way people travel and what they are looking for in a destination (or even new place to live either full-time or for a few months). Staying in places longer, visiting more than one resort in a given destination, switching to healthier diets and spending more time with locals are all top trends.

Spring is associated with new beginnings and warmer weather. Meaning: it’s also an opportune time to gather outdoors to celebrate—namely, with outdoor festivals. Washington, D.C. has the National Cherry Blossom Festival, while Austin hosts SXSW. As for San Antonio, America’s seventh-largest city? It’s home to Fiesta.

As part of its spring budget announcements, the United Kingdom's government has revealed plans to increase the Air Passenger Duty (APD) for passengers flying in premium cabins.

Nearly 50 million vehicles on U.S. roads have unrepaired safety recalls – that’s about one of 5 vehicles. It’s a serious issue, as many recalls involve defective parts that can pose life-threatening risks to drivers and passengers, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), a nonprofit advocacy group.

Delta has become the third major airline over the past two weeks to raise its checked-bag fees.

It will be easier to get to Lisbon this summer as TAP Air Portugal adds 10 more weekly flights to the popular city from North America. 

The obituary for the Tripadvisor Plus subscription plan, which offered hotel and experiences discounts in exchange for a $99 annual fee, was all but written more than two years ago.