Travel

My first stop when I need to book a flight is Google Flights, which aggregates flight options and pricing in one place. However, Google Flights only displays paid rates, not award rates. So, to determine whether to book an award flight or a cash rate, I usually also need to open up airline websites to search for comparable award flights or start a search with an award travel tool like Point.me or Roame.travel. On Jan. 18, a new web browser extension for Google Flights named Points Path exited its beta phase and became publicly available. This Points Path extension displays award rates next to paid rates for flights sold by select airlines when you use a desktop version of Google Flights. The extension also recommends when to use points and miles and when to book a paid rate. So, let's take a closer look at the Points Path extension, including what it is, how to install it and how to use it. What is Points Path? Points Path is a free web browser extension that shows award rates next...

Inspiration The best tour operators in the world: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards These reliable travel fixers all have years of experience and a vast knowledge of destinations at their fingertips, with accomplished all-rounders alongside more focused experts for spa, ski and specific locations By Condé Nast Traveller 3 October 2023 It's been a challenging few years for tour operators but the names below are in it for the long haul (as well as the short and medium), honing itineraries and managing expectations. So who prepared your travel documents this year? Red Savannah and Black Tomato scored highest for first-hand knowledge, and Exodus Adventure Travels and Abercrombie & Kent for on-the-ground support. But when it came to all-round endeavour, Scott Dunn and The Turquoise Holiday Company were leaders of the pack. Both report a surge of interest in Asia, as well as multi-generational travel, solo adventures to Namibia, Bhutan and Mexico...

Major advertising push looks to demystify metasearch for travelers in Canada and Australia. In 'Ultimate Travel Hack,' viewers are introduced to four new characters, including the 'Travel Magician,' an 'Analog Travel Agent,' a quirky 'Deal Collecting Couple' and a 'Private Travel Hacker' for the wealthy and well-traveled. It's the brand's first global 360° marketing campaign and was created in-house, hoping to capture the travel company's playful sensibilities and humor. Advertisement Skyscanner's executive creative director Andre Le Masurier explained: "We are the OG travel hacker. We've always put the traveler first in everything we do since day one and this year marks our 20th anniversary, so we wanted to create something special. This campaign is us staking our claim to that title while showcasing the best tools, tips and travel hacks that made us famous. "Exploring, planning and booking trav...

While it may not be Black Friday, Travel Tuesday, or Cyber Monday, there are still tons of travel deals to take advantage of this winter. From cruises to hotels, you can find plenty of discounts on all of your favorite travel brands to help you pull together that last-minute winter escape or plan a far-flung summer vacation. Whether you're looking to flee the icy winter cold or trying to schedule a ski trip, these deals will help you save big. Take an island vacation to Bermuda's gorgeous sandy shores with major deals from the Bermuda Tourism Authority. If you're looking to sail the high seas, you can secure great travel incentives through Celebrity Cruises to Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, or book an Alaska trip with Hurtigruten Expeditions. Take a quick weekend vacay and save 25 percent off or more on hotels through Expedia and Hotels.com. And if you prefer to schedule a tour where you don't have to do any of the planning yourself, Trafalgar has got your back with s...

Dreaming of getting away but don't know where to start? Let these six AI companions help you find the perfect trip. Roam Around Topping the list is Roamaround.io, a ChatGPT trip planner which launched in February by former Googler Shie Gabbai. Upon prompting, it provides playful daily itineraries complete with photos and links to TripAdvisor's Viator site for tours. With a bit of whimsy, its search engine looks for unique points of interest like "laughter-filled theme park escapades" and "tongue-in-cheek theatre experiences." I asked it to plan three perfect days in Tokyo for June and it suggested several off-the-beaten path options along with popular picks including a morning hike of Mount Fuji via the Yoshida Trail, an afternoon visit to the Ghibli Museum to explore the anime films of Hayao Miyazaki, and the Shimokitazawa rave scene by night. Other recommendations included a boat ride on Lake Okutama and strolls around Odawara Castle, Little Pr...