The Israel-Hamas war is affecting travel across the Middle East and beyond. International arrivals to the region grew in the fourth quarter of 2023 — mainly owing to an increase in visitors to Saudi Arabia — to a level that matched 2019 numbers, according to the travel data company ForwardKeys. But it’s a far cry … Read more
Social media posts by Maldivian officials may cost the country millions in tourism revenue, as calls by Indian travelers to boycott the island nation intensify. “We are seeing a 40% drop in bookings over the last two days,” Ankit Chaturvedi, vice president and global head of marketing at the India-based travel software company Rategain, … Read more
A post-pandemic surge in international travelers, coupled with weak exchange rates, may have indirectly ended one of Japan’s most beloved travel deals: the Japan Rail Pass. Prices for the JR Pass, as it’s known, increased roughly 65%-75%, in October 2023. But there are still rail deals to be found — especially for those going beyond … Read more
When Ricardo Schmitz’s brother was visiting him in Vilnius, Lithuania, the pair went for a wintertime walk at midnight — something he said they would never do back home in Brazil. “My brother hadn’t seen snow since he was a kid, so he was super excited. We walked from midnight to 3 a.m.,” Schmitz … Read more
Americans spent notably more money during the holiday shopping season as the U.S. economy powered through high inflation and interest rates. Retail sales in the U.S. excluding autos rose 3.1 percent from last year, according to data released by Mastercard SpendingPulse Tuesday. “This holiday season, the consumer showed up, spending in a deliberate manner,” Michelle … Read more
I knew something was amiss when the taxi meter read 10.50 euros as we pulled away from the Roma Termini train station. While negotiating the evening rush hour traffic and typing into a translation app on his cell phone, the cab driver suggested the starting fare included a surcharge for all rides from Rome’s main … Read more
As much as big, hearty meals are part of the holidays for many, so are leftovers. One specialist is advising Canadians to take precautions to ensure food poisoning doesn’t spoil your post-holiday cheer — especially following a slew of foodborne illnesses recorded this year. Reports of salmonella outbreaks in connection with cantaloupes sold in at … Read more
Few names exude “quiet luxury” like the ultra-luxe Aman Resorts. Its hotels bear its moniker: from Amanoi in Vietnam, to Aman Sveti Stefan in Montenegro and the hotel that started it all — Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand. Fans of the brands — known as ‘Aman Junkies’ — are accustomed to paying its top-dollar rates, which … Read more
Sweet treats and alcoholic drinks are adjacent to holiday cheer and though they make us feel jolly, our gut has a very different experience. Still, you can enjoy the holidays, and avoid unwanted issues like bloating and constipation, by eating certain foods that shore up your gut health, according to Daryl Gioffre, celebrity nutritionist and … Read more
As Canadians enjoy the festivities in the next few weeks, some of the country’s seniors may be going through the holidays alone. While loneliness needs to be combatted at every part of the year, experts say the holiday season can be particularly challenging. Toronto-area senior Hyman Blajchman, 86, is facing another holiday alone in his … Read more
