The Blue Lagoon in Iceland is one of the country’s most popular destinations. Nearly 1.2 million people came to swim in its milky blue waters in 2017, a Blue Lagoon representative told Business Insider. But these disappointing photos show that the Blue Lagoon is not always as idyllic and photogenic as it seems. Visit Business …
Tag Archives: tourism news
Credit card face-off: Bank of America Premium Rewards vs. the Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are two of the best rewards credit cards with annual fees at the $95 level. Both cards offer valuable sign-up bonuses and rewards with on all your spending, as well as travel protections and waived foreign transaction fees. If you …
I always use Uber when I travel, but it’s been banned in Vancouver. Here’s how I survived getting around a foreign city without the ridesharing app.
Vancouver City, British Columbia, has had a ban on ride-share services like Uber and Lyft for more than five years, according to the Vancouver Sun. Though the government has been taking steps toward lifting that ban — starting in the fall of 2019 ride-share services were allowed to apply for permission to operate — when …
The 10 best family-friendly hotels near Disneyland in Anaheim, CA
The Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California is one of the most popular destinations in the state, with over 18 million visitors per year. Visiting the park is often a multi-day event, requiring an overnight stay in Anaheim. Many hotels in the area cater to Disney guests and promote proximity to the Disneyland parks and …
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Inside Swarovski Crystal Worlds, a dreamlike attraction nestled among the Austrian mountains that features a carousel made of 15 million Swarovski crystals
Swarovski Crystal Worlds opened in 1995 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the brand of the same name. The dreamlike tourist attraction features crystal art installations, including an ice passage, a crystal tree codesigned by Alexander McQueen, and a “Crystal Cloud” made with 800,000 hand-mounted crystals. Earlier this year, the attraction added a carousel …
I stayed at a $3,400-a-night private island resort in the Maldives that’s beloved by celebs like Naomi Campbell, and it blew me away — take a look inside
In January, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island by Hurawalhi was voted 2019’s best new luxury hotel by the team at Luxury Travel Intelligence. I recently spent four days and three nights at Kudadoo, and it didn’t take long to see how it got that title. All 15 villa residences at Kudadoo are overwater, and, as I …
One of the 7 wonders of the world is a 10,000-year-old city hidden in the desert — and in real life, it’s more incredible than you can imagine
The ancient city of Petra in Jordan became one of the 7 New Wonders of the World when it was chosen in 2007 by a vote of 100 million people. The city’s carved rose-red sandstone rock facades, tombs, and temples became known around the world with its appearance in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade …
4 ways a ‘miles millionaire’ maximized the Chase Sapphire Preferred to book a business-class flight and more in her first year with the card
I’ve earned over a million points and miles, and I have more than a dozen rewards card to maximize my spending and enjoy travel benefits — while paying off my balances in full each month, of course. One of my favorite cards is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, thanks to the valuable Ultimate Rewards points …
Greta Thunberg’s refusal to take any flights since 2015 has spawned a whole ‘train-bragging’ movement, and it’s ushered in a new era for luxury travelers around the world
Inspired by climate activist Greta Thunberg‘s eco-conscious travel, two Swedish terms have become 2019’s buzzwords: flygskam (flight-shaming) and tagskryt (train-bragging). “Bragging” about reducing carbon footprints through train travel has led to an uptick in rail investments across Europe, especially overnight commuter services. Train-bragging sentiment has fueled the resurgence of luxury train travel. Beyond being an …
Hilton’s LondonHouse Chicago has quickly emerged as a top booking for affordable prices, a central location, well-appointed rooms, and great views
One of the original Chicago landmarks surrounding the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now called DuSable Bridge) in the heart of the city, LondonHouse Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton has been meticulously restored with a contemporary feel. Most rooms feature stunning views of the Chicago River, only rivaled by those observed from the four-star hotel’s rooftop, a …
2 reasons why the Capital One Venture has become one of my favorite cards for travel rewards
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card has recently gone from a middle-of-the-road rewards card to a top-tier option for earning miles for travel. Benefits like up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit help offset the $95 annual fee, which is waived the first year. The card offers 2 miles per dollar, …
The American Express Gold Card promises lucrative rewards and benefits on all food purchases — we review whether they’re as good as Amex claims
If you spend a lot on dining out and at US supermarkets, the American Express® Gold Card has the perfect bonus categories for you. It offers 4x points at restaurants worldwide, plus 4x points on the first $25,000 you spend each year at US supermarkets (then 1x). When you combine the credit card’s welcome bonus, …
A couple that travels the world for a living uses 3 credit card perks to make their trips cheaper and easier
Alesha Bradford and Jarryd Salem run the adventure travel blog NOMADasaurus. They’re based in Australia, but they’re on the road for a good part of the year, whether leading tours of Kyrgyzstan or spending the winter in Canada. Collecting points and miles and signing up for rewards credit cards has changed the way they travel, …
I spent a night at the newly renovated Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas and didn’t miss the Strip at all
has been around for a while, but after a massive $690 million property-wide overhaul, it feels brand new. Redesigned rooms are sophisticated and luxuriously appointed. With standard rooms starting under $50, it’s worth venturing off the Las Vegas Strip to take advantage of such an excellent price. I stayed in an upgraded Executive King Suite …
The newly reopened Sahara Las Vegas boasts renovated rooms and easy access to the Strip and Convention Center — here’s what under $50 per night buys you
The Las Vegas hotel formerly known as SLS has reopened, rebranded as the Sahara Las Vegas, a new iteration of the Las Vegas icon from the ’50s. Located just off the Las Vegas Strip at the north end, the four-star Sahara is incredibly convenient to the Las Vegas Convention Center, making it one of the …
The 15 luxury real-estate markets around the world that are growing the fastest
Global real-estate consultancy Knight Frank released its list of the fastest-growing luxury real-estate markets around the world. Topping the list was Moscow, Russia, which saw an 11.1% jump in prime real-estate prices over the past year. No US cities appear until much farther down the ranking, which researchers noted might be due to the tense …
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Delta flight attendants say their uniforms are making them lose their hair, break out in hives, and cough uncontrollably (DAL)
Delta flight attendants say that they’ve experienced a variety of health problems in the past 18 months, problems they suspect have been caused by toxic chemicals in their new uniforms. They also say that the airline has failed to address the issues consistently or adequately. Employees at other airlines, including Alaska and American, have had …
The 8 best credit cards for American Airlines flyers, from a no-annual-fee option to premium perks
These are the best credit cards for American Airlines flyers: Best for occasional American flyers: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Best for earning miles: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® Best for budget travelers: American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card Best for lounge access: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Best for elite status: …
21 things you should do the next time you book a hotel if you want to score the best deals
Staying at a nice hotel doesn’t have to break the bank. Business Insider spoke to experts to find out simple strategies you can use to find the best hotel prices for your next trip. The tips include booking at newly opened hotels, checking in near the end of the day, and bundling your flight and …
I spent one night in a swanky hotel-apartment hybrid rented out by Sonder, the $1 billion startup disrupting the hospitality industry. Here are 6 ways it was radically different from a typical Airbnb stay.
Sonder is a $1 billion hospitality company that claims to combine the best parts of hotels and private home stays. The company, which has 9,000 rental apartments in cities such as New York, Washington DC, San Diego, Austin, Miami, New Orleans, and London, has been compared to Airbnb. But unlike Airbnb, which is mainly made …
My Chase credit card points just saved me $4,000 on airfare, and made a holiday trip to Cabo San Lucas possible
It can be impossible to book saver-level award travel over the holidays, but certain points are better than others for doing so. Transferable credit card points lend travelers an extra layer of flexibility when it comes to redeeming for award flights and nights. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most useful rewards points …
The best hotel bars in the US, according to Forbes travel experts
Forbes releases worldwide critic-curated travel recommendations every year, from best destinations to restaurants and even hotel bars. This year, of the 44 hotel bars Forbes Travel Guide included in its worldwide roundup, only 10 were in the United States. Those 10 bars were all located inside luxury hotels and most were noted for having a …
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Japan is developing 50 luxury hotels to cash in on the 40 million visitors it expects next year, and it signals that the country’s hotel boom is finally hitting its stride
The number of visitors to Japan has increased significantly in the past few years and is expected to reach 40 million in 2020, the Economist reported. The upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games have placed Japan in the spotlight as a major travel destination. Earlier this month, Japan announced that it would invest in opening 50 …
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa might be Disneyland’s most expensive hotel, but it poses the best value for Disney fans
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is, without a doubt, the highest-end hotel serving the Disney theme park. Hotel guests enjoy exclusive perks such as a private entrance to Disney California Adventure and early entrance. The hotel is expensive, much more so than other area options, with standard rooms starting at $431 per night. But …
The richest ZIP code in the US is turning 100. Here’s what the ritzy private island off the coast of Miami used to look like and what it looks like now.
Fisher Island, a private, man-made island off the coast of Miami, is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary. Members-only Fisher Island is known for being the richest ZIP code in the US, where the average income of residents is $2.2 million and the median home value is roughly $2.7 million. The island, although founded in 1919, …
The Ace Hotel Chicago speaks to the modern traveler who values design, personality, and an accessible price point
Once the site of an Italian-American cheese factory, the hip Ace Hotel Chicago is fittingly located in consistently-cool West Loop, which is one of Chicago’s top neighborhoods for award-winning restaurants. Opened in 2017, the ninth Ace Hotel in the US shows off a signature minimal yet modern style, while incorporating Chicago’s famous prairie-style architecture and …
The best travel rewards credit cards, from the Chase Sapphire Reserve to the Capital One Venture card
Here are the best travel rewards credit cards available now: Best overall: Chase Sapphire Reserve Best for beginners: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Best for easy redemptions: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card Best for luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express Best for dining rewards and benefits: American Express® Gold Card Best card with …