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Rick Steves’ Europe: Barcelona’s best day trips: Monasteries, beaches and Dalí sights
It’s hard to top Barcelona, Spain’s most cosmopolitan and fun city. But if you want a break from the crowds, several day trips from Barcelona are tempting scene-changers: the mountaintop monastery of Montserrat, the Salvador Dalí museum at Figueres, and the seaside towns of Cadaqués and Sitges.
For almost a thousand years, Benedictine ...Read more
For Rachel Bilson, almost any destination will do. Here are her travel hacks
Rachel Bilson says her travel philosophy is to just say yes. The O.C. actor and co-host of the Broad Ideas podcast says she’s a person who will travel anywhere, carry-on in hand, if invited to see a new destination.
In October she said yes to a trip to Marrakech with her stylist, Nicole Chavez. They went to an event hosted by Fashion Trust ...Read more
Taking the kids: Holiday gifts for your favorite travelers
Would you rather get a gift or be gifted an experience?
According to a recent American Express Amex Trendex report on shopping for the holiday season, consumers want to give something special, like a shared fun experience. Roughly one in three said they plan to gift their significant other or their children an experience. ( AAA projects 119.3 ...Read more
Taking the Kids: Holiday Gifts for your favorite travelers
Would you rather get a gift or be gifted an experience? According to a recent American Express Amex Trendex report on shopping for the holiday season, consumers want to give something special, like a shared fun experience. Roughly one in three said they plan to gift their significant other or their children an experience. ( AAA projects 119.3 ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Meghan Quinn
In her latest novel “ How My Neighbor Stole Christmas,” bestselling author Meghan Quinn sets up a holiday romance that takes place in fictional Kringletown. “Kringletown is not really based off of any town,” said Quinn, 38. “I wrote a book called ‘The Romantic Pact’ that takes place in Germany. The couple travels down the Romantic ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: The Titanic and the Troubles - Exploring Belfast’s past
A visit to the Emerald Isle is not complete without including Northern Ireland. The most important single stop is its capital, Belfast, perhaps best known for the sectarian strife that took place here during the era of the “Troubles,” and as the birthplace of the Titanic. While these two claims to fame aren’t uplifting, this ...Read more
Taking the Kids: Holiday smarts, whether you are joining the family or getting away
I get the appeal. You don’t want to be a guest (who wants to sleep on the lumpy sofa bed again?) Nor do you want to host (too many loads of laundry, too many meals to prepare).
That doesn’t mean you necessarily want to get away from your family. Multigenerational family travel grew by more than 35 percent during the first half of this year,...Read more
How the way we get around has changed since the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic had a major disruptive effect on daily life that continues to shape our behavior in many ways. One way to measure that is to look at the changes to the way people travel.
The total miles traveled by all vehicles in the U.S. dropped 18% “overnight” when the pandemic hit, which resulted in a roughly 50% reduction in ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Ruben Studdard
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, and raised in Birmingham, Alabama – where he currently resides – Ruben Studdard won the second season of “American Idol” when he was just 21 years old. Now 46, the Grammy-nominated recording artist – who’s also known for his critically-acclaimed portrayal of Fats Waller in the musical revue “Ain’t ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Nice is a laid-back Italian vibes on the French Riviera
A hundred years ago, bigwigs from London to Moscow began flocking south to the French Riviera and the sun-drenched city of Nice. They came to socialize, gamble, and escape the dreary weather at home, and ended up creating Europe’s first tourist boom. Today, this classy resort town is a popular fun-in-the-sun destination that caters to everyone...Read more
Taking the Kids: Having some fun in the snow
About this time each year, I can’t wait to get out on a bluebird day and ski down a perfectly groomed trail. But it’s going to be a while. Multiple knee surgeries have kept me off the slopes for more than two years (no, it wasn’t a ski injury!) My physical therapist asked me what goals I have after my most recent surgery this past month, ...Read more
Michigan Gov. Whitmer on pace to spend about 25% of this year outside the state
LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan's top elected official, spent about one in every four days outside the state's borders over the first nine months of the year, according to data released by her office and an analysis by The Detroit News.
Multiple former state leaders said the rate of trips totaling at least eight weeks ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Hualālai Chung
Born and raised in Oahu, Hualālai Chung has a pivotal role in the new animated film, “Moana 2.” “Moni is everyone's best friend [and] is the most fun-loving, whimsical, warm-hearted person you will ever meet,” the Hawaiian actor said. “He is completely infatuated with the stories and legends of the Pacific, always wanting to follow in...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: One great day in Madrid
I'm standing on a tiny balcony overlooking the Times Square of all of Spain – Madrid's Puerta del Sol. Within a 10-minute walk I can visit one of the greatest palaces in Europe – Madrid’s Royal Palace, the ultimate town square – Plaza Mayor, or my favorite collection of paintings under any single roof in Europe – the Prado Museum.
...Read more
California lawmakers jet to Maui, Asia to discuss energy, transportation
This is the season for California lawmakers to travel across the globe, some to lush beachside resorts with schmoozing lobbyists, at no cost of their own.
A hand-selected group of elected officials spent the last few weeks traveling — gratis — to Hawaii, Vietnam and Taiwan to discuss big-picture policy ideas.
But these trips continue to be...Read more
Taking the Kids: Get ready to snare a deal on Travel Tuesday
Ready?
Just like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Travel Tuesday promises some of the best travel deals of the year.
According to Skyscanner, the Travel deals day became a post-Thanksgiving tradition as consumers shifted toward experiential spending rather than material gifts. Skyscanner notes that most ...Read more
Delta plans sharper focus on premium travelers, selling extra services
NEW YORK — Delta Air Lines is doubling down on its focus on premium travelers and courting customers who are willing to pay for extra services.
The growing wealth of high-income travelers is driving demand for more premium services, according to Delta.
The Atlanta-based airline during a media briefing Tuesday and during its annual Investor ...Read more
How to make holiday air travel as smooth as possible
The holiday season is fast approaching. Many already have their tickets in hand, or are starting to look for flights. Many people who travel during the holidays are once or twice-a-year air travelers, typically less experienced with the system and airport security than frequent business travelers. This means they may not be as familiar with ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Wonho
After Wonho completed his 18-month mandatory military duty in South Korea this past September, the pop star had intended on taking some time off before making his “comeback” – K-pop parlance for releasing new music. But when the opportunity came up to be a part of the iHeart Jingle Ball lineup – which includes a Dec. 9 concert at the ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Finding peace among the crowds in Mykonos
I'll never forget literally “jumping ship” in Mykonos: enjoying a glass of ouzo in a tiny taverna while watching my mighty cruise ship sail away and taking with it the 3,000 tourists that had inundated that charming port just an hour before. It seemed the locals were satisfied that they’d made their money for the day, they’d pushed away ...Read more