Travel

Airfares rose almost everywhere in the U.S. this year, according to the latest government ticket data. In each of the 50 busiest metro areas, the average domestic fare was higher from April to June 2026 than in the same months a year earlier. Detroit rose the most, nearly 25%, followed by Las Vegas at 24%.

According to Vrbo data, in 2027 travelers may be trading beach trips for “heartland hideouts” — college towns, burgeoning foodie cities and lakeside escapes where the local culture makes up for the lack of ocean views. The trend is highlighted in Unpack ’27, the annual travel trends report from Vrbo, and is based on vacation rental

Every great hike starts long before the trailhead. It starts with questions about terrain, temperature and whether that jacket will actually keep you dry. Many gear questions are based on the destination. A shoe that’s perfect in Arizona can be the wrong call in the Italian Alps, and a jacket that handles a Norwegian drizzle

New federal per diem rates for work travel took effect Oct. 1, 2026, and some cities stretch them a long way. In Aurora, Colorado, 96% of hotel rates shown in Engine searches fit under the new lodging cap. In Arlington, Texas, the cap covers a 4-star hotel. Per diem is the daily amount the federal

Fall is supposed to be when the weather cools down. This year, that cooldown has been slow to arrive. Summer 2026 was the hottest on record for the contiguous U.S., averaging 74.4 F, or 3 F above the 20th-century average. September didn’t bring much relief, either. Dozens of cities had their hottest first half of

If you’ve flown over the past few months, you’re likely all too familiar with the fact that flying in 2026 costs a lot more than it did a year ago. Since the start of the war in Iran, global oil prices have surged, and airfares have risen by an average of 23%. Holiday travel certainly won’t

Family vacations create memories that last a lifetime — the first time your kids see the ocean, the campfire stories under the stars or laughter during a road trip sing-along. But when you’re budgeting for a family, that dream getaway often feels out of reach. Rising costs for flights, hotels and daily expenses make even

Planning a vacation isn’t anywhere near as fun as grabbing your passport and going away, so the concept of outsourcing the hard graft to AI bots like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude may sound ideal. This shortlist from Bodog highlights some of AI’s most spectacular fails, and it might just inspire you to stick to the

October is the most expensive month of the year in eight of the 50 largest U.S. hotel markets, more than any other month outside of summer. Albuquerque hits its peak when the Balloon Fiesta comes to town. Austin gets there during Austin City Limits and the Formula 1 race. New Orleans, Las Vegas and Boston

If you found yourself stuck at an airport or stranded overnight this summer, you’re not alone. So far, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the worst years for flight cancellations in recent years. This summer, the number of canceled flights on U.S. carriers surged by about 15% over last year, according to data

For decades, modern travel has largely been a race against the clock. Airlines have promised faster connections, highways have shortened distances, and even vacation itineraries comprising just a few days have packed in as many destinations as possible. But now, a different kind of travel—one that invites travelers to slow down—is gaining steam. Train travel