Travel

The Chicago skyline backdrops the Chicago Jazz Festival at Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion on Sept. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Conde Nast Traveler readers name Chicago ‘Best Big City’ for 10th year in a row

By Robert Channick

October 6, 2026 at 3:25 p.m.

Conde Nast Traveler received nearly 800,000 votes for this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards, which cover...

Olivia Estrada, the on board manager, carries plates of food to the dome car for guests aboard a Patrick Henry Creative Promotions private rail car as it travels from Chicago, Illinois, to St. Louis, Missouri, on May 19, 2026. Private train cars may seem like a relic of the past, but for some rail fans, nothing beats having — or renting — your own sleeper car. (Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times)

The quiet allure of private rail

By The New York Times News Service Syndicate

October 2, 2026 at 6:15 p.m.

Private rail cars traveled 429,000 miles on Amtrak in fiscal year 2025, according to the...

Cary Sabados shops for chocolate at Hotel Chocolat in Lakeview on Feb. 12, 2026. This Lakeview location, opened last April, was the first Chicago store. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Chicago-based Hotel Chocolat going nationwide with airport concessions, grocery stores and new retail markets

By Robert Channick

September 23, 2026 at 12:37 p.m.

This fall, Hotel Chocolat will pop up at 49 airports, hit the shelves at Wegmans,...

Owner canceled my Vrbo rental. Why can’t I get a refund? Travel Troubleshooter investigates.

By King Features Syndicate

December 27, 2020 at 7:52 p.m.

When his vacation rental gets canceled during the pandemic, he expects a full refund. Instead,...

HALLSTATT, AUSTRIA | With its colorful 16th-century houses and stunning surroundings, Hallstatt, Austria, is the ultimate charming Alpine village. This lake town is one of the oldest inhabited settlements in Europe, so its Old World charm is wholly authentic.

These 40 mountain towns dazzle in the winter

By Active Times

December 15, 2020 at 1:36 p.m.

A sprinkle of snow makes some places magical.

WAIT FOR A SPORTING EVENTS | <a href="https://www.theactivetimes.com/extreme-weather-pro-sports-athletes"target="_blank">Pro athletes have endured a lot</a> for the sake of the game, however this global health pandemic has upended the spring and summer sporting season. Currently, Major League Baseball has not announced a ticket refund policy, and the league intends to play as many games as possible when the season begins. The NHL and NBA have both been similarly mum on refund policies as they navigate the possibility of a season with empty stands and stadiums.

Ed Perkins on Travel: Last-minute holiday gifts for travelers, 2020

By Ed Perkins

December 17, 2020 at 11:35 a.m.

Time to think about last-minute holiday gifts for travelers on your list — and to...

A view of the Norwegian Encore cruise ship during its inaugural sailing from PortMiami, which took place from Nov. 21-24, 2019.

Superspreader cruises may give Biden presidency an early COVID-19 test

By Bloomberg News

December 15, 2020 at 9:46 a.m.

The Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten Group was ready to show the world that ships could...

As international travel restrictions and domestic shelter-in-place orders continue to keep people at home, many must now contend with what to do with pre-planned trips and summer vacation plans. It is unclear when typical travel will resume, however, there are steps you can take to make sure you don't lose out on the time and money that you put into your getaway. Here's what you need to know about cancellations, losing a reservation and other travel logistics issues bound to crop up in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Help! How can I help my toddler wear a mask on a plane?

By The New York Times

December 14, 2020 at 9:53 a.m.

Dear Tripped Up, At some point this winter, my wife and I are hoping to...

Istanbul is locking down. But not if you’re a tourist.

By The New York Times

December 14, 2020 at 9:49 a.m.

Across Europe, a strict new set of lockdown measures has emptied the streets of cities...

Istanbul is locking down. But not if you’re a tourist.

By New York Times

December 14, 2020 at 9:40 a.m.

Foreign tourists are exempt from a strict curfew order, meaning that they were free to...

Rick Steves’ Europe: ro: Denmark’s ship-in-a-bottle island

By Rick Steves

December 10, 2020 at 11:28 a.m.

As we've had to postpone our travels because of the pandemic, I believe a weekly...

Celebrity Travel: Go away with … Sarah Brightman

By Jae-Ha Kim

December 10, 2020 at 11:27 a.m.

Sarah Brightman's world tour was canceled earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. But...

How to rent an entire inn or B&B for the holidays

By Chris Jones

December 12, 2020 at 2:56 p.m.

Airports and middle seats sound stressful. Crowded hotel lobbies are fraught with COVID-19 anxieties. And...