Each year millions of travelers arrive at airports around the world hoping to grab their luggage and quickly begin enjoying they vacations or starting their business meetings. Also each year, millions of bags go missing at airports everywhere, and unfortunately for travelers whose luggage is lost, this means an interrupted itinerary and additional travel stress. Though travelers cannot necessarily stop their luggage from being lost across international airport systems, new technology allows savvy travelers to track their luggage. Apple has recently unveiled a new feature allowing users to share their AirTag location with third parties, including airlines. This will be…
Author: Lauren Mulvey
Lauren Mulvey
Lauren Mulvey is a freelance writer based in upstate New York who specializes in regional travel, culture, and sustainability across the Hudson Valley and beyond.
As major neighborhoods in L.A. continue to lose homes, businesses, and community resources to raging fires, Airbnb and other short-term and vacation rental platforms are offering free accommodations for those who have lost their homes. Airbnb and competitor vacation home company Pacaso are using their vast database of rental properties to match available rentals with displaced families and individuals. Airbnb is executing the assistance through a partnership with 211 LA, a 24-hour hotline for individuals and families in need of aid in health, human, and social services, including housing crises. They are offering services to residents who have lost their…
Tourist hotspot Florence, Italy has implemented additional measures to limit mass tourism. The latest developments in the city’s campaign against mass tourism include the banning of lock boxes most commonly utilized by residents renting out their properties on short-term rental platforms, and a heaven-sent ban on tour guide loudspeakers. The lock boxes, which allow tourists easy access to short-term rentals without the middleman have been subject to vandalism recently, being taped closed with red Xs by locals, according to CNN. These sentiments have been echoed in various hotspot destinations. Many cities are fed up with short term rentals driving up…
Global efforts to combat mass tourism spill into Mexico as the country’s government imposes a $42 immigration fee per passenger on cruise ships docking in the country. All cruise ship passengers docking in Mexico will now be subject to paying this fee whether they disembark or stay onboard, according to the Associated Press. According to the Mexican Association of Naval Agents (AMANAC) this fee and an additional $5 per passenger fee imposed by local states makes Mexican destinations some of the most expensive in the world to visit. The association urged the Mexican government to reconsider this new fee warning…
There’s a recipe for an excellent trip abroad: combine friends, food, a bit of history, a taste of culture, and you’ll be cooking up a memorable visit in any part of the world. The internet is thoroughly saturated with travel recommendations and content, and it can be difficult to sort through the muck. Sure you can log into the old reliables, Expedia, Kayak or TripAdvisor to plan your trip, but don’t you want something a little more…personal? Something tailored to you and the experience you’re dying to have? You’re in luck! There are plenty of emerging apps that can help…
Discover some of our favorite restaurants in Toronto, Canada. From charming neighborhoods to downtown hotspots, these culinary wonders will tantalize your taste buds. A veteran travel writer once told me to never compare cities or destinations. “From San Francisco to Shanghai, it’s the Paris of this, the Paris of that,” she said. “There is only one Paris. Describe a place on its own merits.” Rules are meant to be broken, though, and in Toronto’s case, it carries its long-time association with New York City. “Like NYC, Toronto is this incredible weave of urban villages that form a connected, cohesive whole,”…
Elevate your travel experience with these six best-kept secret hotels. From unexpected encounters to exceptional accommodations, make memories that last. THE CHATWAL LODGE (Sullivan Catskills, New York) The Chatwal New York City, opened in 1905 in the heart of Manhattan, is iconic, graced by the likes of Cecil B. DeMille and Charlie Chaplin. But the legendary hotel has a secret sister property opened in the Sullivan Catskills in 2023. Just about a two hour drive from Manhattan, the newest Chatwal is situated in the lower Hudson Valley near Bethel Woods (where Woodstock took place) is a 100-acre, self-enclosed sanctuary deep…
Where will your travels take you in 2025? Will you return to the same destinations you know and love, or perhaps dip your toes into some new cultures and explore unknown cities? The choice is yours, and there’s a perfect destination for every traveler in 2025. So pack your bags and start exploring! WINTER Chiang Mai, Thailand For travelers from the northern hemisphere who would rather escape the cold than grin and bear it, Chiang Mai, Thailand is guaranteed to be balmy and beautiful. Thailand was in fact just named Travel and Leisure’s destination of the year for 2025. Chiang…
Beginning January 8, 2025 U.S. and other world travelers will need to obtain Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) ahead of traveling to the U.K. The U.K. is moving to fully digitize its borders by the end of 2025, according to Conde Nast Traveler. This means any visitors who are visiting or passing through airports in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, who aren’t citizens must obtain an ETA or eVisa. The news of this shift follows various delays of the implementation of the U.K.’s new ETA application portal. Now, travelers can apply for the U.K. ETA via mobile app or web…
Passport is always up to date with the hottest new publications from LGBTQ+ authors on love, life and adventure. Grab one of these thrilling narratives, biographies, or guides at your favorite bookstore and pack them in your carry-on for your next flight. If Lil Nas X shot a bit of his DNA into a pop music version of 23andMe, the results would unquestionably trace back to Little Richard, whose first hit song’s original lyrics, replaced with nonsense syllables on the record, were “Tutti Frutti, good booty/If it don’t fit, don’t force it /You can grease it, make it easy…” British…
Around the world Christmas is celebrated with unique traditions and events, and some of the most enchanting holiday markets might be in your own neighborhood. Here are some curated picks making lists across the web for the best places to shop for gifts around the globe. 1. Union Square – New York, New York New York is home to some of the most beautiful holiday displays, and many people come from near and far to witness its holiday glamor. The Christmas market in Union Square has been named one of the best holiday markets in the U.S. Located in Union…
If you are looking to spend the holidays in a LGBTQ-friendly destination, Key West, Florida offers a plethora of exciting things to do and experience. Festivities kick off on Wednesday, Nov. 27 with a sunset illumination of the Harbor Walk of Lights at the Key West Historic Seaport. This Christmas display is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit and is a great way to spend an evening with family and friends ahead of Thanksgiving. Events continue throughout the Keys into December. Highlights include the Holiday Party Trolly on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Grab tickets for you and your…
Now more than ever, LGBTQ+ travelers want to feel safe. Whether these travelers are seeking a bit of escapism, a home away from home, or a relaxing place to spend their time with family and friends, feeling secure in these spaces makes a world of difference. LGBTQ+ travelers already have a lot on their mind when choosing a place to visit. Recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, local sentiments toward queer couples, and general physical safety are common themes. So looking over hotlists for safe travel is key in planning. There are many lists from different organizations around the world, boasting the world’s…
Whether you want to surprise your partner with vacation tickets under the Christmas tree, or you’re getting a jump on a Valentine’s getaway, now’s the time to start planning; the winter months are among Palm Springs’ most popular. Book a stay at one of the Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels: Over 75 boutique properties, each with a focus on guest service in an intimate setting with no more than 50 rooms. From clothing-optional men’s resorts to luxury accommodations stylishly designed to reflect the city’s Mid-Century Modern and Spanish architectural traditions, you’ll find an option that perfectly suits your tastes. Discover…
When I arrive at the airport, I pass a billboard of lifestyle diva Martha Stewart hoisting a half-drunk glass of wine. She is wearing her trademark Mona Lisa smirk and looking slightly flush. I wonder if my own experience at the Bedford (3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, Tel: 702-946-4361. Caesars.com/paris-las-vegas), Stewart’s new Paris Las Vegas restaurant, will replicate her performative giddiness. The Bedford is delightfully tucked away in a nondescript corridor where the cacophonic clang of the slot machine is noticeably absent. Here, the endive stalks on the salad I order are splayed in meticulous petal fashion and dusted with little…
Cities around the world, however beautiful and exciting, all contribute their share to the world’s carbon emissions. However, eco-conscious travelers can tailor their itineraries to visit destinations that are taking action to increase sustainability and combat the climate crisis. Eco-conscious travelers are being more discerning when making choices on where to spend their vacations, and these locations are making the list for being some of the top sustainable destinations. The Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index is an organization that encourages destinations around the world to become more eco-friendly. Their mission supports Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) all around the world “whether…
Pack your bags for the Key West Film Festival, Nov. 13-17, 2024! The official 2024 lineup will include films from directors including Pedro Almodovar, Barry Jenkins, Billy Corben, Michael Gracey, Gia Coppola and others. As is tradition for the festival, the Opening and Closing Night films are curated by two of the top film critics in the country. Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter will host a discussion with Stepanie Zacharek of Time accompanying the Opening Night screening of THE FIRE INSIDE, the inspiring story of two time Olympic women’s boxing gold medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields and her fight for…
As new technologies sweep in and replace old practices, the way we travel is becoming more high-tech and, hopefully, less complicated. However, the European Union’s plans to establish a new digital entry and exit system to replace passport stamps has yet again been delayed. Though this new system was originally slated to take effect next month, according to Travel and Leisure, a delay in implementation was sparked by claims from Germany, France, and the Netherlands that their technology was no yet up to date. The Entry/Exit System being referred to as EES will use a high-tech scanning process that calls…
You’ll notice a quiet, peaceful calm when you visit New York’s Sullivan Catskills this time of year. Just 90 miles from Manhattan, it’s a wonderful place to restore body and soul, prepare for the busy holiday season, and settle into winter. Come in early November and fuel your body with Catskill-icious goodness. Restaurant Week runs through November 11, so you can still enjoy dining specials. It’s an excellent opportunity to sample the flavors of inventive and James Beard-nominated restaurants. Enjoy farm-fresh 3-course lunches and dinners from $29.95-$44.95 at Blue Fox Motel, Cellaio, Kenoza Hall, Lotus, Roscoe Mountain Club, Seminary Hill…
It’s no surprise that a new study from Australia’s Edith Cowan University found that travel is a solid defense against premature aging. This interdisciplinary study has applied the theory of entropy to tourism, finding that while negative travel experiences may contribute to an increase in entropy and decrease in overall health, positive experiences may ease the progression of entropy, enhancing overall health. According to PhD candidate Ms. Fangli Hu “aging, as a process, is irreversible. While it can’t be stopped, it can be slowed down.” Hu notes that “exposure to novel environments, engagement in physical activities and social interaction, and…