Travel

We started our month-long stay in Lagos in Portugal with a walking tour of the city with Brodie Shreeve of Vagabundo Travel. Brodie is originally from Australia, but has been in Portugal for 18 years.

One of our favorite parts of his informative and entertaining tour was his lesson on how to learn 1,000 words of Portuguese in just two minutes. One word of caution – be careful how you say the word bread in Portuguese as it is pronounced similarly to another word that is something you do not want to order at a restaurant.

Enjoy our video of Brodie.

– Chris Schroder, The Travel 100

During our cruise down the Mosel River with Emerald Waterways, I was astonished to see the grape vines growing on steep hills along the banks of the river. I learned that this area has the steepest vineyards in the world and produces some of Germany’s best wines. They have been harvesting grapes on these hills for years – their winemaking tradition dates back to the Romans in the second century.

During the cruise we visited a vineyard, and our host stumped everyone with this question: What country has the highest per capita wine consumption in the world?

Find the answer here.

– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief, The Travel 100

I always use the deadbolt on my hotel room, but what if that’s not an option? I recently stayed in a lovely historical hotel but the only lock on my door was a pushbutton on the doorknob like I had in my childhood home. A hard push on the door would have opened it easily. I did not feel too safe.

I bought these compact, lightweight door stoppers with an alarm with three sound levels. These are also perfect for hotels or vacation homes that are on the water to alert you if small children try to go outside unsupervised.

– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief, The Travel 100

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products or places we love or think readers will enjoy.

Walking a mile can be easy. Walking a mile with a suitcase or if you are on crutches or in a wheelchair? That’s not always so easy, especially if you encounter sets of stairs.

Google Maps has a way for you to avoid stairs when walking. Open the app and put in your location and select the walking option. Then click on the three dots on the top right and select “Options” at the bottom. Under trip options, select “wheelchair accessible,” which allows you to avoid stairs and prefer elevators.

You can also use this option to navigate public transportation.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

No matter what you think of Gary on “White Lotus,” you’ve got to admit his home in season 3 is a stunner. Known as Samujana Villa Jacinta and located in Koh Samui, Thailand, the home has four bedrooms and five bathrooms. Additional features include a rooftop terrace, infinity pool and private gym. And now you can rent it on Airbnb.

Your stay comes with daily breakfast and housekeeping, a welcome drink, dedicated attendant and private airport transfers. Add-on services include a private chef, spa services, babysitting and driving.

Rates vary but you can book in June for $1982 a night.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

We’ve never needed an entire suitcase just for wine, but love this two-bottle travel case from VinGardeValise, originators of the wine suitcase. No more wrapping our pajamas around a wine bottle and hoping we don’t arrive with a dripping suitcase full of wine-soaked clothes.

The travel case is made of a semi-hard shell case with an inner cushion and a handle for carrying. It’s available on Amazon for $39.95.

If you are traveling with more than two bottles or are heading to a wine country with purchasing your favorites in mind, VinGardeValise also has cases for 5, 8 and 12 bottles.

– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief, The Travel 100

This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products or places we love or think readers will enjoy.

While there is an easy way to pack a hat in your suitcase, sometimes you need to carry it and may not want to walk through the airport wearing your floppy beach hat in winter.

Klipsta makes a hat clip with one end that fastens to the handle of a suitcase, car headrest, stroller or chair and the other with a strong magnet that can hold your hat in place. Klipsta hat clips come in 12 colors for $24.95.

Other Klipsta products include Bag Hooks that clip to a table to hold your handbag, and SPEX Glasses Clips for securing eyeglasses.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products or places we love or think readers will enjoy.

1. Expiration date. People have had their trips ruined because they didn’t know about the six-month rule. Many countries require your passport to have six months validity past your dates of travel. Other countries, including many in Europe, require three.

2. Damage. If your passport is torn or has water damage, especially on the personal date page, it may be declared invalid.

3. If you have enough blank pages left. Some countries require two blank pages for entry and exit stamps, while others require four blank pages for visas.

Be sure to check the requirements of every country where you plan to visit.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

Putting an Airtag in your luggage can help track your bag. But thousands of passengers have been frustrated when they lost their luggage and could tell the airlines exactly where their bag was using Share My Location and it didn’t help.

Now, several airlines have announced they will work with customers with iPhones and Airtags to find their luggage using a link generated in the Find My app.

United, Air Canada and Aer Lingus are already supporting Share My Location with close to 20 more coming on board soon. These include Delta, KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Qantas.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

Over the years airline seats seem to be getting smaller. What if you could get more legroom without paying for an upgrade?

A TikTok boarding hack called “Check-in Chicken” really works, but it is a gamble. You have to wait until the last minute to check in, when only the best seats are available, forcing the airline’s hand.

According to Travel Republic experts, “Many airlines release the final seating chart as boarding time approaches. Using the airline’s app or website, you can often see which seats are still available and closer to an empty row.” Just don’t wait too long.

– Vikki Locke, C2 Communications, The SWFL 100

Your flight got cancelled and you want your money back. It used to be every airline had a different standard for what kinds of flights warranted a refund and passengers had to jump through several hoops to get refunded.

Thanks to the DOT, those days are over. Passengers will receive automatic refunds within seven business days under several circumstances.

Plus, you will be refunded if your luggage doesn’t show up and is not delivered within 12 hours for a domestic flight or 15-30 for international and if you paid for Wi-Fi, a seat selection or inflight entertainment you didn’t receive.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

There’s a lot to love about the collection of totes, wallets, backpacks, crossbody bags and accessories from Arden Cove. The company was founded by Karin and Carmin Yuen, two sisters in San Francisco.

Made of vegan leather, the items in the collection are water-resistant, slash-resistant and come with loads of interior pockets to keep your smaller items accessible and organized. Other anti-theft features include RFID-blocking and locking clasps.

The best thing, however, is how pretty they are. Available in a variety of styles and colors, the bags are ones you’ll use every day, not just when you’re on the road.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

I know there’s a way to take public transportation from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan, but I’ve never wanted to figure it out and deal with my luggage on subways and buses.

Now I’ll be able to save money on that portion of my next trip to New York City. Uber now has a shuttle from LaGuardia to three locations: Port Authority Terminal, Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station.

You can book the shuttle up to seven days in advance, or even as late as five minutes before departure. One personal item and a suitcase up to 50 pounds is allowed.

– Jan Schroder, The Travel 100

Autumn has just arrived and if you are thinking of traveling over the holidays, it’s time to book your trip now if you want to save.

The best day to reserve you flight is on a Tuesday, according to studies. Domestic travel, book 1-3 months in advance. International, think 2-8 months.

And if you need a car rental, check out car membership sites like AAA, frequent flyer programs or opt for a vehicle with manual transmission. Knowing how to drive a stick can save you money. And be flexible.

Learn about more travel hacks here for a stress-free travel season.

– Vikki Locke, C2 Communications, The SWFL 100

I thought it was strange when I couldn’t check in online for my flight from Calgary to Atlanta. At the airport I got my boarding pass and saw the dreaded four letters – SSSS.

Those letters stand for Secondary Security Screening Selection and means I was randomly chosen for extra levels of security. Agents took everything, including my phone and passport, and went through every item in my suitcase, handling all of my toiletry items. The process took an extra 30 minutes.

Fortunately, I had plenty of time and made my flight. Just another reason to get to the airport early.

– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief, The Travel 100

You don’t want to know the items flight attendants have found in seat pockets. What you should know is to never use them. Here are two safer options:

• The Airplane Pocket from Amazon slips over your tray table for a clean eating and working surface. It has four expandable pockets to store your phone, water and other small items. It folds up and is machine washable.

• If you have a sling bag, take it with you and loop it around the tray table. Away has a great sling bag; to get a $20 off code, email Jan with The Travel 100.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products or places we love or think readers will enjoy.

I’ve made all the packing mistakes – forgetting necessary items (underwear five times, taking way too much, packing the wrong clothes for the weather). Colorado in the summer can be cold, y’all!

But I’ve improved my skills and packed for six weeks in a carry-on. My secret power is using compression packing cubes. The discovery that my hard-sided suitcase held more than my soft-sided ones helped as well and it’s the only suitcase I use now.

I don’t strictly adhere to the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method, but it’s a good guide. And I just remember less stuff = more fun on the trip.

Read all the tips and see the products in our story.

– Jan Schroder, The Travel 100

This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products or places we love or think readers will enjoy.

There’s a new beta release of an online passport renewal system to test the system prior to a full launch of the updated system.

There are limitations, however. They are only accepting a limited number of applications each day and it takes just as much processing time as if you apply by mail.

To us, the biggest limitation is that you can’t be traveling internationally within eight weeks from the day you submit your application as your current passport is then cancelled. We’re hoping they get all the kinks worked out soon to lessen the stress of renewing a passport.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

Take a one-of-a-kind ride on the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad this summer. You’ll travel back in time to 1880 as you hop on a famous train that’ll take you to see the mountain splendor of Colorado where cars cannot reach.

Summer is one of the best times to hop on board. Throughout the summer, you can take the Cascade Canyon Express, a five-hour trip through the Rocky Mountains and along the Animas River, or the Scenic Round-Trip Silverton Train, which provides you with just as stunning views and a two-hour stop in the historic mining town of Silverton.

– Jacqueline Gualtieri, The Colorado 100

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was once again named the busiest airport in the world. In 2023 it served 104.6 million travelers, an increase of 11.7% in traffic from the year before.

All Clear Travel Insurance analyzed 1,800 airports and named John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City as the most luxurious. Features that helped it achieve that ranking include its 22 lounges and 16 luxury stores.

And the smallest airport? The winner of that category is in Glendive, Montana, at Dawson Community Airport. Cape Air operates two daily flights to Billings Logan International Airport on its two runways.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

Sit back, relax and travel 240 miles in just 90 minutes. That’ll be the reality for people commuting between Houston and Dallas when the Texas High-Speed Train is completed.

The 400-passenger all-electric trains will run on dedicated lines, depart every 30 minutes and are capable of traveling more than 200 mph.

The North Texas passenger station will be in the Cedars neighborhood of Dallas south of downtown and the Houston station will be near the interchange of US 290 and 610 in northwest Houston. Both stations will include restaurants and retail.

The project is expected to break ground this summer.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

If you have ever happily skipped long lines at customs with Global Entry, you know it’s worth the cost of membership. That price is just about to increase, however.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that as of Oct. 1, the fee will increase from $100 to $120 for a five-year membership.

However, with the price hike comes good news for families. Children under 18 still have to go through an approval process to qualify for Global Entry; however, if their parent or legal guardian is a member, there is no longer an additional fee for the child.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

Lucky for jet setters, AI provides ultra personalization when it comes to creating custom travel experiences. The general consensus is that, with time, it will only get better.

Use ChatGPT to glean recommendations tailored to your needs and interests – from themed restaurants and kid-friendly activities to best neighborhood bodegas and microbreweries.

Rely on AI to assist hotel staff in knowing your preferences – from the type of room and duration of your stay to favorite local shops and evening destinations.

Embrace facial recognition for everything from boarding a plane sans passport to checking into a hotel without having to provide identification.

– Hannah Van Sickle, The Arizona 100

Airlines rake in close to $7 billion annually from checked luggage fees. And they are poised to increase that revenue by raising fees. American announced it was raising its fee to $35 if paid online and $40 at the airport, an increase from $30. Other airlines are expected to raise theirs as well.

The first way to avoid the fee is the obvious one: Don’t check a bag. I’ve turned into a carry-on only girl from fear of lost luggage and take my Away carryon everywhere.

The second is to use a credit card that gives you a free checked bag.

– Jan Schroder, The Travel 100

Southwest unveiled a new interior design that includes noticeably thinner seats, claiming they provide “ultimate comfort while maximizing seat width and overall support.”

The seats are made by RECARO, known for designing seats for motorsports and gaming. While the upgrades have several skeptical flyers flocking to book flights on other airlines, we’re willing to give them a chance.

We love Southwest and our expectations for comfort while flying are exceeding low anyway.

Plus, we are excited about the new device holder that will allow us to watch our iPad while enjoying a beverage and a snack at the same time.

– Staff report, The Travel 100

Whether your family’s team Felix or Fido, traveling with a four-legged friend requires equal parts patience and planning. No matter your mode of transport, keep these things in mind when preparing for your next pet-inclusive vacation:

• Ensure your pet’s vaccines are up-to-date and get a health certificate that indicates as much.

• Pack the essentials, including extra food, treats and prescription medications in case of unexpected delays.

• Practice getting your pet acclimated to how (and where) they will be traveling.

Remember: A little planning can go a long way toward ensuring the trip is calm and enjoyable – for all of you.

– Hannah Van Sickle, The Arizona 100

Imagine staying in a home in Amsterdam, Dublin, Madrid or Rome for a small fee. That’s the business model of Kindred, a new home exchange platform that has more than 10,000 homes in 50 cities.

While there is no membership fee, all members must be verified and accept guests in their own home. You will meet potential guests over video before approving them.

You can book five nights before you have to host and receive credits every time you host. There is a cleaning fee that varies by home and a service fee of no more than $35 a night.

– Staff report, The Travel 100