Fallout between Maldives and India ‘absolutely’ benefiting Sri Lanka

Calls for Indian travelers to boycott the Maldives is “absolutely” helping Sri Lanka’s travel industry, the country’s Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said Thursday. “The Maldives issue is … helping us,” Fernando told CNBC, referencing a social media row in January that resulted in a sharp drop in Indian visitors to the Maldives this year. India … Read more

All-inclusive resorts add services to attract more luxury travelers

All-inclusive hotels are making a big play for luxury travelers. In the wake of the pandemic, demand for all-inclusive resorts skyrocketed, according to a report by JLL Research Hotels & Hospitality. Travelers — suddenly and en masse — wanted vacations that were stress-free and easy to plan, ideally with a wellness component, according to the … Read more

Some Covid purchasers are selling

Some pandemic-era yacht owners are headed back for dry land. The pandemic spurred a “massive spike” in yacht sales, said Richard Allen, chief operating officer of the Hong Kong-based yachting company Simpson Marine. “We’ve seen a lot of those people, that had their boats for two years, sort of now wanting to travel,” he told … Read more

Unclaimed Baggage sells items in lost luggage at steep discounts

Live snakes, a mounted ram head, a Halloween card signed by Richard Nixon. Those are some of the most fascinating items found in lost luggage in 2023, according to a new report by Unclaimed Baggage, a store that buys lost items from airlines, sight unseen. The company also found a 13-foot vaulting pole, gruesome props … Read more

Maharajas’ Express to Palace on Wheels

Luxury trains in India date back to its colonial era, when opulent carriages transported dignitaries, officials and royalty. More trains were built in the 19th century for the country’s maharajas and other ruling elites and their families. Following India’s independence in 1947, privy purses — or governmental payments to these rulers — ended. Without the … Read more

The top travel tips for introverts, as recommended by introverts

The thought of round-the-clock “togetherness” — with friends, family or strangers bound together in a tour group — can be overwhelming to the estimated 57% of people who lean toward introversion. Solo travel can suit introverts, who tend to re-energize by time spent alone. But even as its popularity increases, most trips are taken with … Read more

What to know about traveling in Japan? 7 tips from frequent travelers

Japan has long captivated travelers. But many of its most famous qualities — from the cuisine to the country’s nationwide culture of civility — can initially be befuddling for outsiders too. To help travelers bridge the cultural gap, CNBC Travel asked frequent visitors for their single best piece of advice when visiting Japan. 1. Speak … Read more

Virgin Voyages launches month-long trip

Virgin Voyages is targeting a new type of traveler: remote workers. In March, the Miami-based cruise line owned by Sir Richard Branson introduced a month-long cruise called the “Scarlet Summer Season Pass.” It’s essentially four week-long cruises packaged together to appeal to remote workers who want to spend a month at sea in southern Europe. … Read more

What are the best restaurants in Asia? Here the top 50 for 2024

Tokyo’s Sézanne is the newly crowned winner of “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024” list. The two Michelin-starred neo-classical French restaurant, located on the 7th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, climbed from No. 2 on the 2023 list to secure the top spot. Japan had nine restaurants make this year’s list, as … Read more

Where and how the wealthy travel is changing

Heli-skiing on virgin snow in Antarctica for a cool $2.2 million. A polar bear safari in an “off-limits” area of Norway’s Svalbard for $300,000. How about tracking snow leopards in the Himalayas with renowned explorers for $100,000?  Big-ticket travel experiences like those are indicative of the “quiet luxury” trend which began in the world of … Read more