Vacation costs
Indian airlines can’t fly over Pakistan. Here’s how that is affecting flights
Pakistan’s closure of its airspace to Indian airlines Thursday is forcing carriers to alter some routes that link India to Europe, North America, Central Asia and the Middle East. Indian carriers — including Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air and SpiceJet — must now fly longer, and thus costlier, flights on some westbound routes. The detour […]
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Fewer Americans are planning summer vacations. Travel costs aren’t the top reason
Fewer Americans are planning to travel this summer, according to a survey by the consumer finance company Bankrate. Some 46% of respondents said they are planning a summer vacation this year — down from 53% in 2024. Of those who don’t intend to travel, nearly two-thirds (65%) said money was the main reason. However, it’s […]
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More travelers are using ‘buy now, pay later’ plans to pay for trips. Here’s when it may make sense
Kristin Herman said using a “buy now, pay later” service to pay for a last-minute trip to Miami felt like a lifesaver. She said the approval was quick, and there were no upfront costs — but she accidentally skipped a scheduled payment. “One missed reminder turned into fees,” she told CNBC Travel. Rane Teo, however, […]
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How does an island with high prices and few beaches attract tourists? Singapore lays out a plan
Inexpensive hotels and swaying palm trees have long attracted travelers to Southeast Asia, but Singapore is doubling down on a different strategy — focusing on increasing tourism receipts instead of traveler arrivals. Officials on Friday outlined a plan to increase tourism revenue in the city-state from a record-breaking $29.8 million in 2024 to $47 million-$50 […]
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People are selling Singapore Airlines miles online. Here’s what the airline says about that
When Tracy Ren decided to go to the 2024 Summer Olympics, she booked her flight to Paris on Singapore Airlines using miles. But she didn’t earn them — she bought them. Rather than purchasing miles directly from the airline, which sells 1,000 miles for around $40, Ren turned to Carousell, a popular online marketplace in […]
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Singapore is more expensive than regional peers. So it’s using a different playbook to attract visitors
British national Tony Cross first set foot in Singapore in 1992, when the city-state’s main draws were its glitzy malls, the pulsating Zouk nightclub and the renowned Singapore Zoo. Today, shopping has taken a backseat, as prices for goods have climbed alongside commercial rents in a city where space is scarce. And, Singapore’s once-thriving clubbing […]
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Social media chatter about Thailand pops 60% following ‘White Lotus’ premiere
Social media conversations about traveling in Thailand rose 60% after the premiere of the third season of “The White Lotus” on Feb. 16. The data measured social media chatter during the three days before and after the show’s airing, according to social media analytics company Sprout Social. The Emmy-winning HBO series is expected to draw […]
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Chinese travelers cancel Lunar New Year trips to Thailand over safety concerns
Chinese travelers are canceling plans to visit Thailand during the Lunar New Year holiday, as concerns over the kidnapping of actor Wang Xing continue to reverberate through the country. Net booking volume for trips to Thailand fell 15.6% from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20 from the previous week, after news of the rescue of Wang […]
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Japan wants more travelers, but Kyoto signals it’s had enough
ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email Japan attracted a record-breaking 36.9 million travelers in 2024, placing it closer to reaching its goal of 60 million travelers by 2030. However, Kyoto’s new plan to increase overnight accommodation taxes, which for some could rise from $6 to $64 per person […]
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Rome’s Jubilee is expected to attract 32 million people. Here’s why — and how to avoid the crowds
Vatican City is the world’s smallest country by size and population. That’s not stopping an estimated 32 million travelers from visiting this year for Jubilee 2025, a year-long global celebration among those of the Catholic faith. The Jubilee is a time of pilgrimage, prayer, reflection and a renewal of faith, said Jubilee spokesperson Caterina Rigoni. […]
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