The 8 best Airbnb experiences in Tokyo

By Nomadic Matt — 2025-12-22 | Source

From hands-on sushi-making in an omakase setting to izakaya crawls in Shibuya and Shinjuku, these eight Airbnb Experiences offer rich cultural immersion beyond typical tours. Highlights include a historian-led walking tour, specialty coffee and matcha sessions, a ramen deep-dive, and a street art walk in Harajuku. The takeaway: curated, small-group experiences can unlock local culture in ways big bus tours seldom do.

An actually budget-friendly guide to visiting The White Lotus Thailand

By Rachel Chapman — 2025-12-22 | Source

EF Ultimate Break’s Thailand itinerary lets fans relive Season 3 vibes—from Koh Samui to Koh Pha Ngan’s Full Moon Party—at a fraction of Four Seasons prices, starting around $3,679 for 22 days (excluding airfare). Expect optional add-ons, shared rooms, frequent transit days, and extra out-of-pocket costs for meals and tips. It’s an affordable, social way to set-jet key locations while sampling beaches, night markets, massages, and island hops.

An 11-year Annual Passholder swears by this Disney World hotel

By Lauren Writtenberry — 2025-12-22 | Source

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge wins for its jaw-dropping lobby, savanna views with 30+ species, and standout dining like Boma, Jiko, and Sanaa. The trade-off is transportation—buses only—so travelers who prize quick park access may prefer Wilderness Lodge or Beach Club. If immersive theming and built-in wildlife viewing matter most, this resort is hard to beat.

Spring Kefalonia holiday for a steal

By Caitlin Moore — 2025-12-22 | Source

A DIY escape to Kefalonia clocks in at roughly £65 for flights plus around £172 for a week’s hotel—about £152 per person for two travelers, if prices hold. Book flights and hotel separately, expect fluctuations, and consider a rental car for flexibility. Not ATOL-protected, so travel insurance is a must.

5 travel essentials every last-minute 2025 traveler regrets forgetting

By Srishti Mitra — 2025-12-22 | Source

Compact, problem-solving gear—pocketable binoculars, flexible on-ear ANC headphones, a 7-gram spork, a pressure-brew coffee maker, and a slim EDC utility knife—can dramatically improve spontaneous trips. Each tool punches above its weight in utility and space savings; just remember the knife belongs in checked baggage. Pack small, versatile items to avoid common in-transit frustrations.

Travel venture capital is back, but only for the biggest, safest bets: 3 charts

By Pranavi Agarwal — 2025-12-22T08:04:00-05:00 | Source

Travel VC funding rose to $3.5 billion in 2024, but deal counts plunged as average check sizes more than doubled to $10.1 million. Investors favor later-stage, proven players—especially in property management tech and AI—leaving early-stage founders facing longer cycles and tougher raises. Expect consolidation to continue as capital concentrates in perceived winners.

Pilot challenges OTAs with launch of in-app booking

By Connor Wilson — 2025-12-22T08:00:00Z | Source

Trip-planning app Pilot added direct booking for 3.2 million stays, aiming to centralize discovery, planning, and reservations amid traveler fatigue with big OTAs. The free app ties into Google Travel, offers instant confirmations, and leans on collaboration and simplicity to streamline group planning. It’s another sign of vertical integration in travel tools built for end-to-end journeys.

The ‘pawprint economy’ is booming — and it offers huge opportunities for tourism

By Lori Hoy — 2025-12-22T13:23:00+01:00 | Source

Pet travel is surging, with a projected US$5.9B market by 2034, but guests prioritize practical support—clear policies, green spaces, safety, and trained staff—over gimmicks. UK demand skews domestic due to complex overseas rules, though a UK–EU pet passport return could ease trips. Providers who deliver truly pet-friendly design and transparency can earn loyalty and premium spend.

IHCL signs new Taj hotel in Cairo

By Anumeha Chaturvedi — 2025-12-22T17:30:00+05:30 | Source

IHCL will transform Cairo’s historic Grand Continental into the 300-key Taj Cairo at Opera Square, blending preserved façade elements with modern amenities. The move advances Taj’s gateway-city strategy, while new loyalty tie-ups with Shangri-La Circle and MyMillennium expand reciprocal perks globally. It signals renewed investment in heritage-led, international growth.

Over 16,000 dinosaur tracks discovered at a site in Bolivia

By Sally Christine Reynolds — 2025-12-22T13:24:00+01:00 | Source

Researchers in Bolivia’s Torotoro National Park documented the world’s largest dinosaur track site—over 16,600 late-Cretaceous footprints and swim traces, mostly theropods, aligned along an ancient shoreline. Multiple morphotypes suggest diverse species and offer rare behavioral insights, from group movement to predator–prey dynamics. It’s a spectacular snapshot of an ancient ecosystem preserved in motion.