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,...

Travel’s endless debate: Cancel or rebook?

By New York Times

December 23, 2020 at 9:50 a.m.

Travel companies have traditionally been able to predict busy and quiet periods. Not so in...

Fred Howard Park near Tarpon Springs is a great place for catching a Gulf Coast sunset, seen on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.

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

By King Features Syndicate

December 22, 2020 at 2:24 p.m.

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

Crowds line Main Street USA, with Cinderella Castle on the horizon, at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Monday, December 21, 2020. Disney's Florida parks are currently operating at 35% capacity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Pictures: Christmas week at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

By Contributed Content

December 22, 2020 at 7:21 p.m.

The "Partners" statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse overlooks the crowds on Main Street...

A traveler make his way through security in Terminal 3 at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (Youngrae Kim / baiduhai)

Once coronavirus travel restrictions end, vaccine hope has folks eager to hit the road. Will 2021 trips be to Europe — or just Michigan?

By Lauren Zumbach

December 24, 2020 at 10:38 a.m.

Last year, Leyla Royale visited Mexico City and London and went paragliding in the Austrian...

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: Bypass airport lines — for a price

By Ed Perkins

December 21, 2020 at 11:22 a.m.

With at least two vaccines approved, and lots more available testing, it looks like you'll...

Dr. Deborah Birx faces criticism after warning Americans to limit holiday travel, then gathering with family at her vacation home

By Associated Press

December 22, 2020 at 4:51 p.m.

As COVID-19 cases skyrocketed before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the...

The receding horizon of travel’s return

By The New York Times

December 20, 2020 at 7:32 a.m.

To work in the travel industry in 2020 is to live in a constant state...

Pictures: Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras

By Contributed Content

June 4, 2021 at 7:51 a.m.

Carnival Cruise Line's new Excel-class cruise ship, Mardi Gras, is 180,000 gross tons, 1,130 feet...

Rick Steves’ Europe: Walking Dubrovnik’s city walls

By Rick Steves

December 17, 2020 at 11:36 a.m.

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

Celebrity Travel: Go away with … Otoja Abit

By Jae-Ha Kim

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

Otoja Abit wrote, directed, produced and starred in the film "A New York Christmas Wedding,"...