Category Archives: Blog

by Rick Steves, June 5, 2025 Jane Austen turns 250 this year, and to mark this milestone England is rolling out the Regency red carpet for throngs of ardent Austen fans. If your 2025 travel plans include Britain — Bath, in particular — you might encounter larger-than-usual crowds at Austen hotspots, with some visitors sure […]

The first direct flight to southern Italy’s city of Bari departed New York’s JFK International Airport departed June 3 at 5 pm. The flight, operated by Neos, Italy’s second-largest airline, began a weekly service scheduled to continue into the fall. According to the airline, some 10 million Americans trace their roots to the Italian region […]

My Booking Rewards (MBR) has unveiled My Oceania Rewards, a specialist program aiming to drive growth within the Pacific Ocean region. Designed to heighten awareness of this area of the world, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia within the U.S. and Canadian travel trade network, this online portal will offer regular opportunities […]

Hyatt Hotels has announced the opening of Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa, an adults-only, all-inclusive resort located on St. Lucia’s northwestern coast. The opening of this resort marks the first Secrets Resorts & Spas branded property, further strengthening Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection’s brand presence in the destination following the opening of Zoëtry Marigot Bay St. […]

CIE Tours has introduced new “Walking & Hiking” tours in Ireland for 2026. The two new small-group adventures blend active exploration and sightseeing with immersive cultural connections, guiding guests through communities along the northern coast and a southern route from Cork to Kerry. The new 2026 tours will operate from May through September and are […]

JetBlue and United Airlines have announced “Blue Sky,” a new collaboration that gives customers of both airlines even more options to find flights that fit their plans, as well as new opportunities to earn and use MileagePlus miles and TrueBlue points across both airlines. Blue Sky includes the following components, with some starting as early […]

Hyatt Hotels has announced Unscripted by Hyatt, the newest brand in its Essentials portfolio. Positioned in the upscale segment, the Unscripted by Hyatt brand fills a key white space in Hyatt’s portfolio and is designed to unlock growth through adaptive reuse and conversion-friendly opportunities. With over 40 hotels globally in active discussions to join the […]

Celebrity Cruises is investing more than $250 million to modernize its Solstice Series ships, starting with Celebrity Solstice. For 2026, guests can look forward to eight new experiences, including four new-to-sea spaces and many redesigned favorites. Bow-to-stern innovations include “reinvented” outdoor escapes with enhanced views, new restaurants and entertainment, and new stateroom categories and ship-wide […]

Hyatt Hotels has announced the opening of Zélia Halkidiki, an adults-only resort. As the first Destination by Hyatt-branded property in Greece, the opening reflects the growth momentum of the brand in one of Europe’s most sought-after destinations. Located in the region of northern Greece, known for its crystal-clear waters, pine-fringed beaches and laid-back atmosphere, Zélia […]

There have been just 10 canceled or delayed flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport Tuesday morning. (Another 16 flights that were scheduled to fly into Newark have been canceled or delayed.) That, according to FllightAware, accounts for just 1 percent of all outbound flights (and 2 percent of all inbound flights)—a stark improvement over […]