Listen to today’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silk-logic-travel-daily/id1842162269
Travel Daily Podcast
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Anatolia de Est strălucește iarna ca destinație culturală de top
Tripadvisor’s Winter Travel Index shows winter getaways are surging, and Turkey’s Eastern Anatolia is stepping into the spotlight with culture-rich, cold‑season adventures. From Kars and the UNESCO‑listed medieval city of Ani to the Ishak Paşa Palace in Ağrı and Van’s Akdamar Island Church, the region blends epic landscapes with deep history and standout cuisine. It’s a timely reminder that winter isn’t just for ski runs—it’s prime time for immersive cultural travel.
HIG snaps up cruise tour provider Shore Excursions Group
HIG Capital acquired Florida‑based Shore Excursions Group, which coordinates 4,000+ tours across hundreds of ports via vetted operators and travel agency partners. The move signals continued consolidation around high‑margin ancillary services in cruising. Expect more scale, distribution, and product variety for cruisers as private equity leans into shore‑side experiences.
Passengers report excessive wait times for Bangkok airport immigration queues
Peak season is bringing multi‑hour immigration queues at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, with bottlenecks compounded by heightened scrutiny and the now‑mandatory Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Travelers should build in extra time, keep onward tickets and hotel confirmations handy, and use premium lanes when eligible. Planning ahead can be the difference between a smooth arrival and a missed transfer.
Air India retains best domestic airline title at Travel + Leisure Awards 2025
Air India won Travel + Leisure India & South Asia’s Best Domestic Airline for the second straight year, backed by reader votes. The recognition aligns with an aggressive transformation: 570 new aircraft on order, a $400M retrofit program, and rapid refreshes across narrowbody and widebody fleets into 2026. For flyers, the headline is steady improvements in cabins, consistency, and service.
LOT uruchomi połączenie z Warszawy do Bangkoku
LOT Polish Airlines will launch year‑round nonstop Warsaw–Bangkok service from October 26, 2026, operating five times weekly. The route strengthens LOT’s long‑haul strategy following its San Francisco announcement and fills a notable gap in Poland–Thailand connectivity. It’s a win for leisure and business demand amid growing interest in Southeast Asia.
Gatwick Airport will be hit by rail closures for three weekends at the start of 2026
Network Rail will close key sections of the Brighton Main Line on January 10–11, 17–18, and 24–25, 2026, disrupting links between Purley/East Croydon and Gatwick. Replacement buses and a slower Victoria–Clapham Junction diversion will run, with further closures affecting Brighton/Lewes/Hove–Three Bridges on separate dates. If you’re airport‑bound, budget extra time and check service updates before you go.
Natilus marks India foray with new subsidiary, SpiceJet order for 100 jets
U.S. startup Natilus is entering India with a new subsidiary as SpiceJet signs for 100 HORIZON blended‑wing‑body jets, pending certification. The company is weighing an Indian manufacturing site capable of producing roughly 300 aircraft, touting more interior space and lower fuel and operating costs than legacy narrowbodies. It’s a bold bet on next‑gen design and India’s growing aerospace footprint.
A roundtable discussion with Caribbean and Latin American lodging experts
CALA hospitality saw U.S. visitation cool in 2025 while intra‑regional travel rose, with luxury and all‑inclusive resorts outperforming. Global brands are expanding lifestyle, luxury, and branded residences as travelers seek personalization, wellness, and culturally rooted experiences. Looking to 2026, leaders see cost pressures and volatility—but also opportunity in experiential, sustainable, and asset‑light growth.
