Top 5 Tips to Avoid Holiday Airport Traffic

Beware of Rush Hour

Planning your airport commute starts right when you book your flights. Steer clear of flights that will require you to commute during peak weekday rush hours. Although exact timing varies by city, traffic is typically heaviest in the morning between 6am and 10am and in the afternoon between 3pm and 6pm. If you want to take advantage of the first flight of the day (a smart idea, since earlier flights are less likely to be subject to delays or cancellations), then plan to arrive at the airport before the bulk of morning commuters hit the road.

Book Your Ride Ahead of Time

Calling a rideshare is a great way to avoid parking or the chaos of public transit. Booking your ride in advance to avoid the uncertainty of driver availability is the easiest way to have peace of mind, but how far in advance should you book? A spokesperson at Lyft filled us in: “Usually, scheduling an airport ride the day before is perfectly fine. But around the holidays, scheduling your Lyft 2-3 days out helps with ensuring drivers are on the road and ready to go.”

Have a Back-Up Plan If Taking Public Transit

Public transportation is not immune to running behind schedule. Buses, like cars, are at the mercy of traffic and even train systems that run above ground are subject to weather delays. When using public transit, never plan to take the last available bus or train that will allow you to arrive on time. Leave early enough to have at least a few options should your first route be cancelled or delayed. 

Build in Extra Time for Traffic

Even if you plan your departure perfectly, there is always a chance for traffic. Whether it be an unexpected weather delay or an accident on the road, you’ll want to built in extra buffer time to your commute in case of any unforeseen events.

“From 2024 Thanksgiving data alone, we actually saw that pickup times decreased by one minute year-over-year,” says a spokesperson at Lyft, “That being said, it’s still good to plan for occurrences less in your control, life traffic. We recommend buffering 45 minutes to an hour into your holiday season airport trips this year.”

Choose Your Airport Strategically

Some airports are simply easier to get to than others. If you live in an area with access to multiple airports, shop around before your book your flights. If the fares are comparable, spring for the option with the easier commute to save yourself a huge headache when travel time comes.

The Most Convenient and Efficient Airports for Holiday Travel

If you need help judging where you want to book your departing flight this season, Lyft analyzed the thirty largest airports in the US to reveal the top ten most convenient and most efficient to help you prep for your holiday travel. Lucky travelers that live in range of these airports will have an advantage in the fight against the seasonal airport rush. Is your home airport on the list?

The Most Convenient Airports for Holiday Travel

1. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
2. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) 
3. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
4. Nashville International Airport (BNA)
5. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
6. San Diego International Airport (SAN)
7. LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
8. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
9. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
10. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)

Ratings based on: shortest commute and average Lyft pick up times 

The Most Efficient Airports for Holiday Travel

1. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne Country Airport (DTW)
2. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) 
3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
4. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
5. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
6. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
7. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
8. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
9. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
10. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Ratings based on: TSA wait, percentage of flights on time, and percentage of flights canceled

The post How to Beat the Holiday Airport Rush This Season appeared first on SmarterTravel.

These eight destinations seem pricey at first glance, but this year are more budget-friendly than ever.  Whether it’s thanks to new air routes, favorable exchange rates, or affordable tours, here are the budget travel places you didn’t know you could afford in 2025.

Sicily

Slow down and enjoy a taste of the Italian lifestyle with a surprisingly affordable Sicilian getaway. This island off the southern tip of Italy ranks eighth on Dollar Flight Club’s list of the cheapest destinations to fly to in 2025. Cruise into Catania or Palermo for only $500 roundtrip from East Coast airports or just $630 from the West Coast. Although the current exchange rate favors the euro, the difference it slight—the 1:1.05 (EU:USD)—with most reasonable daily expenses only impacted by a margin of $5 USD. Save even more by traveling during off season, late autumn through late winter, for cheaper rates on hotels and fewer crowds.

New Orleans

As affordable U.S. getaways go, New Orleans itself packs plenty of culture and value—as long as you avoid booking during the city’s big festivals like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. Flights to the Big Easy start at under $150 roundtrip from the East Coast, with fares from Boston and New York as low as $70 and $100 respectively. Flights from the West Coast are comparable, with fares from major airports like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Portland all between $100 and $170 roundtrip. If you are set on experiencing Mardi Gras in the city, budget carrier Spirit is adding four temporary routes to meet the demand of the 2025 season, departing from Columbus (OH), Indianapolis (IN), Memphis (TN), and San Antonio (TX).

China

China seems to be on everyone’s bucket list—as it should be—for its big wonders like the Great Wall and its smaller pleasures like Shanghai street food carts. Flights to China from the West Coast U.S. for around $750 aren’t uncommon, and booking with tour operators can lower the price of a lengthy stay even further, all while letting you get the lay of the land from a seasoned local guide. For example, G Adventures’s China Express Tour will ferry you from from Beijing to Shanghai over eight nights for just $1,199—covering lodging, transportation, and activities for roughly $150 per day. 

Costa Rica

Flights to San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city, can be found for under $300 roundtrip departing from the East Coast U.S., with West Coast prices remaining below $400. San Jose is centrally located, making it the main starting point for travelers looking to visit iconic spots like Tortuguero National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, and Arenal Volcano National Park. Flights to Costa Rica’s other international airport, Liberia, are available from both the East and West Coasts for under $400. This airport lands you in close proximity to Guanacaste Province, home to the laidback surf town of Tamarindo and black sand beach Playa Carbon.

With G Adventures’ Costa Rica Quest, adventure seekers can spend nine days in Costa Rica riding rapids, sampling coffee, and exploring the rainforest, all for an average of around $116 per night.

Iceland

After WOW Air faded from the scene in 2019, Iceland’s new budget carrier PLAY swooped in to fill the void by offering super affordable fares to Reykjavik. Flights to Iceland’s glaciers and hot springs on PLAY air are especially cheap, with prices as low as $70 one-way. While PLAY only operates out of East Coast airports, West Coasters wanting to get in on the deals can book with Icelandair, which offers fares as low as $430 roundtrip. While not as much of a steal as East Coast departures, even Icelandair’s higher fares like L.A. to Reykjavik for $460 round-trip are a deal considering the value. Subscribe to airfare deal sites like our sister site Airfarewatchdog to be notified when fares are cheapest.

Saint Lucia

According to Skyscanner, flights to Saint Lucia’s capital city Castries fell by 25% over the past year. Flights are cheapest January through March of 2025, with one way fares from the East Coast U.S. as low as $127. While flights from the West Coast are more expensive, those with flexible dates can find fares as low as $200 one way. Saint Lucia is a relatively small island—travelers can drive from Vieux Fort at one end to Gros Islet at the other in under two hours. Savvy planners can easily fit in volcanic mud baths in Soufriere ($10 USD), a visit to Pigeon Island National Park ($10 USD), and a quick jaunt to the Pitons with plenty of time to spare to lounge on the island’s free public beaches.

Galapagos

Like many of the world’s most biodiverse places, the Galapagos archipelago islands are protected and allow only trained nature guides to take visitors to experience the wildlife. But seeing plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth doesn’t have to cost a fortune, thanks to Ecuador’s official use of the U.S. dollar and on-sale tour offerings.

Intrepid Travel’s Galapagos Experience is just  $1,500 for a seven-day Galapagos itinerary including accommodations, transport, and nature activities including bird watching, snorkeling, a visit to a volcano, and more. Flights to Quito for under $400 from the East Coast, and around $500 from the West Coast aren’t uncommon. Darwin’s outdoor laboratory packs plenty of value for devoted adventure travelers.

South Africa

Our summer (i.e. the Southern Hemisphere’s winter) is the best time to indulge in a South African escape—and it’s probably more affordable than you’d think. Not only is the weather still mild in winter, but you’ll get a break from all the high-season summer flight prices of the Northern Hemisphere. It’ll still be an investment, but during summer you can easily find South Africa flights from East Coast cities like Boston for as low as $850 round-trip in July and August. In fact, South Africa also snagged a spot on Dollar Flight Club’s cheap flights list for the new year.

South Africa’s exchange rate is also now in Americans’ favor, with luxury hotel prices sitting around the average price of a standard hotel in the States. If a guide-led safari isn’t in your budget after airfare, don’t sweat it: Cape Town also has affordable arts and culture experiences like artisan shops and local wineries, and hiking spots like Table Mountain and Helderberg Nature Reserve.

Fares are accurate as of time of publication.

The post 8 Places You Didn’t Know You Could Afford appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Stay Hydrated (the Right Way)

On a long flight, the dry cabin air can quickly dehydrate you, even if you don’t feel thirsty, so staying hydrated is crucial. If you want to feel better when you disembark, don’t rely on the cups of water the flight attendants pass out—water alone isn’t always enough to maintain optimal hydration levels.

Instead, stash a few packets of electrolyte drink powder in your carry-on to mix into your water and help you rehydrate more efficiently. These drinks contain key minerals such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium that help your body retain fluids more effectively.

Wear a Posture Corrector

When you’re stuck in an economy seat, it’s human nature to slump down or try to contort yourself into any position that will make you a little bit more comfortable. Unfortunately, if you spend hours sitting down while slouched over, you’ll get off the plane with neck, shoulder, and back pain that might linger throughout your trip. We like wearing Forme’s Core V-Neck Long Sleeve shirt on long flights, a comfortable shirt with a built-in posture corrector. 

Forme’s patented posture-correcting technology gently pulls your shoulders back and down, helping to open your diaphragm so you can breathe better and also reduces back, hip, and neck pain. 

Try an In-Flight Meditation or Stretch

On most long-haul flights, you’ll find a “wellness” section alongside the in-flight movies and TV shows. These short programs guide you through relaxing meditations or gentle stretches, offering a great way to improve both your mental and physical well-being during the flight. The exercises are designed to be done in your seat (think shoulder rolls instead of downward dog), so you don’t have to worry about looking strange or disturbing your fellow passengers.

Move Every Few Hours

One of the reasons you feel so cramped and sore after getting off of a long-haul flight is that you haven’t moved from a seated position in hours. Make it a point (yes, even if you’re in an aisle seat) to stand up and walk a short distance every few hours. We don’t recommend doing laps up and down the aisle or stretches in the galley, but even a quick stroll to the bathroom and back can make a big difference. Not only will this help ease muscle stiffness, but it’s also essential for reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition where blood clots can form due to prolonged immobility.

Watch What You Eat and Drink

If you tend to emerge from the plane with a terrible headache or feeling bloated, the culprit might be your in-flight meal. Ultra-processed airplane meals are often packed with salt, which can make dehydration worse and lead to headaches. Too much salt can also contribute to “jet bloat,” which combined with the change in cabin pressure, leaves you feeling uncomfortable and swollen.

Take a Tried and True Sleeping Remedy

31,000 feet in the air is not the time to test a new sleeping pill. However, if there’s a remedy that you’ve taken previously and know works well for you (like melatonin or magnesium), taking it during your flight can help you get some much-needed rest. Getting some shut eye is really the best way to feel better after a long journey.

Wear Compression Socks

Hate stepping off the plane with swollen legs and feet? Try wearing compression socks on your next flight. Swelling in the legs and feet is common during air travel due to a mix of inactivity, cabin pressure, and dehydration. Compression socks gently apply pressure to improve blood flow, helping reduce swelling and potentially lowering the risk of DVT.

The post 7 Tips for Feeling Better on Long Haul Flights appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Here are the best travel gift cards to help fund their next vacation and some other thoughtful ideas. No matter how much they hate stuff, who wouldn’t want a four-course meal prepared by a chef on their next vacation?

Additional reporting by Megan Johnson

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

Airline Gift Cards

If your favorite traveler has a favorite airline, purchase an airline gift card to help them afford their next flight. You can purchase gift cards for major airlines like Delta, Southwest, and American Airlines, or purchase a general airfare gift card through a website like flightcard.com.

Travel Gear Gift Cards

A person’s travel gear needs to match their particular travel style, making gifting gear an often disappointing challenge. Skip the guesswork and get the traveler on your list a gift card to their favorite store and let them pick out the gear they really want. Below are a few options for:

Airbnb Gift Card

For a millennial traveler—or anyone who likes alternative accommodations—grab an Airbnb gift card.

Rideshare Gift Card

Rideshares are a convenient and quick way to get around a new city, and they’re a simple way to save on airport transportation. Any traveler can use an Uber or Lyft travel gift card.

Amtrak Gift Card

You can now purchase Amtrak train fare gift cards, making a weekend destination decision that much easier. Gift cards are available on Amtrak’s website in digital or physical form and at select retailers. They are redeemable online, on the app, and at Amtrak ticket offices.

LoungeBuddy Gift Card

Send your loved one off in style with a VIP airport lounge experience. LoungeBuddy is a platform that lets you book airport lounge access at almost any airport. While LoungeBuddy doesn’t offer traditional gift cards, you can book on behalf of the recipient up to two months in advance. Grab a travel postcard and write down your gifted reservation inside as a homemade alternative.

Eatwith Gift Card

Give an unforgettable meal for their next trip, with an Eatwith gift card. The platform offers dining experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Once you know your destination, you can search for locally-hosted culinary spectacles, like a private chef experience in London or watching a flamenco show with tapas in Chicago.

DNA Kit

DNA and genetic testing kits are one of the hottest gifts to give this year. The results could even inspire the recipient to take a trip of a lifetime to discover more about their heritage and ancestors.

Kindle Unlimited Subscription

Travelers have a lot of downtime on the way to a destination, and many like to fill that time with reading. A Kindle Unlimited subscription gets you access to over one million titles and thousands of audio books for just $10 per month. With this gift, unlimited truly means unlimited.

Intrepid Foundation Global Gift

Donating to a charity on behalf of your recipient is truly a selfless gift. Intrepid Travel’s foundation partners with a variety of organizations to support goals such as reforestation, and expanding access to education. Choose between a one-time or recurring monthly donation.

Game of Thrones Tour

Can’t wait for season two of House of Dragons? Gift your token GOT-lover an experience they won’t forget. Viator offers a variety of tours through filming locations across Europe in countries like Croatia, Ireland, and Spain.

Priority Pass

Know someone who is always complaining about hanging out at the airport, or who is always connecting somewhere with a 2+ hour layover? Gift them Priority Pass, which will give them access to hundreds of airport lounges across the globe. 

TSA PreCheck/Global Entry

This gift is great for someone who flies a lot, and also for someone who doesn’t fly as much, so likely wouldn’t spend the money on it. Gift them TSA PreCheck or Global Entry so they can fly through security. There are no gift cards available, and you’ll have to know some pretty personal information (like social security number/passport number), so it may be hard to fill out for them, but you can always print something out and help them fill out the form later, using your credit card information. You could also use a service like Giftly, giving them an $85 gift card they can use for it. 

National Parks Pass

Know someone who loves the outdoors? A National Parks Pass will give them the gift of National Park entry for an entire year. At only $80, it seems a steal. It will give them access to over 2,000 parks and sites across the country. 

Marriott Gift Card

Everyone can appreciate a hotel stay, and with a Marriott Gift Card, you’ll give the gift of a place to stay all over the world, at a number of price points. 

Cruise Gift Card

Cruises are the hottest vacation trend these days, so a Celebrity or Princess Cruise gift card can help someone make their cruise dream a reality. While an entire cruise may be a LOT for a present, any amount of money can go towards a cruise OR, if they’ve already booked a cruise, they can use it towards  excursions, beverage packages, specialty dining, and more.

A Weekend Away for Two

Want to give a special couple in your life a trip away, but the pressure of choosing the location and accommodation seems too stressful? Tinggly allows you to give them that trip, but let them choose where and when they want to go. Recipients will receive a voucher they can use at hundreds of hotels in over one hundred countries, for a two night stay. 

Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2018. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

The post Travel Gift Cards and Other Last-Minute Gifts for People Who Hate Stuff appeared first on SmarterTravel.

But rest assured: “There’s no such thing as a scary or dangerous airport. Each airport has its own idiosyncrasies,” emphasizes pilot Patrick Smith, author of the Ask the Pilot blog. So buckle your seatbelt, and prepare for an adrenaline-filled ride. We’ve asked a couple of pilots, along with SmarterTravel readers, for their insights and experiences with difficult takeoffs and landings.

Toncontin International Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Getting through the mountains is only one hurdle to overcome for a safe landing in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. During descent, planes need to make a 45-degree bank to effectively reach the 7,000-foot runway located in a valley. Due to the surrounding mountainous terrain, passengers will experience a quick drop in altitude in order for the plane to line up with the runway. Frequent winds complicate matters, as pilots are forced to make several last-second adjustments.

Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar

As if having the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the Bay of Gibraltar to the west of the airport weren’t enough to complicate a landing, the main road to Spain also intersects the runway. You may be thankful if your plane gets diverted to a nearby airport due to weather, though you’ll still have to brave the runway when you walk over it to get from Spain to the British overseas territory. Because of this, traffic must be stopped when planes are using the airport, and pilots must take care when landing to quickly engage the brakes, as the 6,000-foot runway doesn’t leave much room for error.

Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket, Massachusetts

The U.S. Army Air Corps specifically chose Nantucket, or the Grey Lady, as a training base in World War II because of the frequent fog and low ceilings that make navigation a challenge, forcing pilots to rely solely on instruments to fly. “In a matter of minutes, fog can roll in and turn clear, blue skies gray,” says pilot Andrew Sitarz. “Sometimes you can’t see anything until the last second; you break out of the fog, and the plane is landing.” According to Smith, “[Nantucket] has more low-visibility instrument approaches than the average airport.” Nevertheless, both pilots cite parameters, such as minimum visibility and ceiling regulations, that prevent planes from landing in poor conditions.

Paro International Airport, Paro, Bhutan

If you want to visit Bhutan, chances are you’ll have to fly into Paro, the only international airport in the country. “Anywhere where there’s mountainous terrain there’s a challenge,” says Captain Sitarz. And Paro is no exception. Soaring through 16,000-foot Himalayan Mountains with whipping winds gets your adrenaline pumping as you approach the roughly 7,400-foot runway, located in a deep, tree-lined valley. According to the website of Drukair, one of the only two airlines serving Paro, “each flight is a mesmerizing aeronautical feat and offers an exciting descent into the kingdom.” But fear not: Pilots are specially trained to fly into Bhutan, and accessing the airport is entirely dependent on good weather conditions.

Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia

Located on Coonskin Ridge in Charleston, West Virginia, Yeager Airport’s cliff face, at an elevation of 982 feet, can be intimidating, especially when you only have 6,715 feet of runway (the closed secondary runway is a mere 4,750 feet). When we asked our Facebook followers about their scariest airport experiences, Chris Randall noted Yeager, saying, “It’s a flattened mountaintop, so if they overshoot the runway there’s nowhere to go but down.” Of course, a takeoff or landing is the same whether you’re on a mountaintop or on the ground, but for those flying into Yeager for the first time, it can be a nervous landing until you’ve come to a complete stop.

Barra Airport, Barra, Scotland

Touching down without a paved strip may seem like a crash landing for unsuspecting passengers, but in Barra, Scotland, it’s a normal experience. When the airport isn’t in service, the beach is a popular spot for locals to hunt for cockles, but when the wind sock is flying, you’ll do well to observe from afar. On Loganair, the only airline that flies there, passengers can expect to arrive safely on one of the three runways (marked by concrete poles) formed when the tide goes out. As one of the only airports in the world where beach landings still occur, you shouldn’t miss this unique experience.

La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Surrounding mountains, a high altitude, and a steep drop at the end of the runway make flying into La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City a fun ride, even from a pilot’s point of view. According to Smith, “Passengers find [landing here] startling because you weave your way through a series of volcanoes,” including the active Pacaya Volcano that has been a cause of airport closures in the past, before flying low over the city and approaching a runway situated at the edge of a valley. But despite the unusual landing, Smith notes that based on weight and weather, the types of aircraft that can attempt a landing must be guaranteed to stop within a certain amount of time.

LaGuardia Airport, New York City, New York

The main, 7,000-foot runways at New York’s LaGuardia Airport were extended back in 1967 over water. In case gliding over Flushing and Bowery bays isn’t enough of a thrill, pilots have to avoid interfering with flights from two other extremely busy airports nearby: JFK and Newark. Plus, the airport is located a mere eight miles from Midtown Manhattan, sometimes creating the illusion that the plane is skimming rooftops. Smith cites LaGuardia’s shared airspace, climbs, and twists and turns as reasons why it is a more challenging airport. “On one approach to runway 31, the plane makes a steep, continuous low-altitude turn around what was Shea Stadium, now Citi Field, from south to northwest; it’s very low to the ground and a short final approach.”

Wellington International Airport, Wellington, New Zealand

With a single, short, 6,351-foot runway that appears to begin and end in crystal blue waters, it’s easy to see why flying into Wellington may make you uneasy. Plus, as SmarterTravel Twitter follower @trickericke says, “They don’t call it ‘windy Wellington’ for nothing,” noting the strong crosswinds that seem to attack landing planes. Plus, the northern approach descends between hills and over trolley lines.

John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California

Strict noise reduction requirements may not seem scary at first, but if you’re not expecting engine cutbacks during takeoff you might be spooked. According to Jenny Wedge, former public relations manager at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, “Due to its close proximity to nearby communities, JWA has one of the most stringent aircraft access and noise monitoring programs in the United States, if not the world.” Pilots begin their takeoffs at close to full power, then “incline quickly and steeply” before reducing engine power.

“It’s like a space shuttle liftoff,” says Facebook follower Elizabeth Conrad. Smith notes that passengers contact him about this airport all the time, some even claiming the pilots turn off the engines after take off. But although the procedure seems unusual, he says “there’s nothing that the plane does that is not within its capabilities.”

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2010. It has been updated and verified for accuracy.

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However, choosing the wrong group tour company can quickly turn your dream vacation into a disappointment. It’s critical that you select a tour operator that aligns with your travel style and goals. Do you prefer a small, intimate group or a larger, more social setting? Does the price match your expectations—luxury or budget-friendly? Is the itinerary packed with the destinations you’re eager to see?

We’ve done the research for you and rounded up the best group tour companies for 2025, tailored to every type of traveler.

Best Overall Group Travel: Exodus Adventure Travels

With trips on every continent, Exodus Adventure Travels covers anywhere on this planet that you could possibly want to go, from popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast to off-the-beaten-path adventures like Tajikistan. This award-winning group travel company boasts thousands of repeat customers who sign up for trips year after year (97% of past participants would recommend Exodus Adventure Travels to a friend).

These small group tours operate with only 8-16 people per trip and always feature experienced local leaders who can give you a unique insight into your destination. Exodus Adventure Travels caters to any type of travel style, including trips broken down by activity (walking, cycling, multi-adventure, winter, or cultural) and type of traveler (family, age group, etc.). There are curated collections (coastal, “away from it all,” European wilderness, and more) to inspire you, as well as self-guided options for when you want all the benefits of a group tour planner without the actual group. 

Exodus Adventure Travels tours work for almost any budget, with options that range from affordable to premium. 
Top Trip: Explore under-the-radar Europe by foot on Exodus Adventure Travels’ Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia walking tour.

Best Bucket List Group Tours: EF Adventures

In 2024, the renowned tour operator EF World Journeys launched a new brand: EF Adventures. True to its name, this division focuses on adventure travel, offering a variety of biking, hiking, walking, and multi-sport tours across Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands.

EF Adventures makes planning complicated tours easy, taking care of flights, transfers, guides, equipment, optional tour extensions, and more—so all you have to do is show up.

After an action-packed day of outdoor exploration, guests can unwind in luxurious accommodations, ranging from 3-star to 5-star properties, each selected to reflect the unique charm of the destination. Whenever possible, EF Adventures chooses hotels with pools or spas, ensuring travelers have the perfect place to relax and recover.

Want to stay motivated in your fitness goals pre- or post-trip? Join EF Adventures’ Strava Group for some friendly competition.

Top Trip: Connections mean everything on a good tour group, and EF Adventures has the ultimate hookup—the brand’s parent company owns a men’s and women’s pro cycling team. Experience the behind-the-scenes perks on EF Adventures’ Tour de France trip, in which participants will get to ride iconic sections of the Tour de France, experience insider access to the EF Pro Cycling team, and watch the thrilling race finish from a VIP section on the Champs-Élysées.

Best Adventure Group Travel: World Expeditions

World Expeditions has been taking adventurous travelers to remote locations all over the world ever since its first group trek through Nepal in 1975. Today, World Expeditions offers active itineraries on every continent. Intrepid travelers can opt for trips themed around mountaineering, rafting, cycling, hiking, and more. 

World Expeditions aims to leave the communities and places where it operates tours better than it found them. Trips are created using the company’s Thoughtful Travel Charter as a guideline, which emphasizes respect for the environment, sustainability, having a positive impact on local communities, protecting wildlife, and more. 

World Expeditions’ trips are capped at just 16 people to provide a good experience for participants, and there are no single supplements for solo travelers willing to share a room with someone of the same gender. 

Top Trip: Summit Africa’s tallest mountain on a fully-supported trek up Kilimanjaro on World Expeditions’ eight-day trip up the beautiful Lemosho Route. 

Best Budget Group Travel: G Adventures 

G Adventures offers cheap group tours for travelers on a budget, making dream destinations accessible to nearly anyone. (Think: sailing the Galapagos for just $979, crisscrossing India’s Golden Triangle for $594, or spending 8 days in Bali for less than $700.)

G Adventures is one of the best tour companies for solo travelers, as most trips don’t have a single supplement. You can share a room with another G Adventures solo traveler or pay extra for a private space.

G Adventures keeps costs down by opting for cheaper hotels and local meals and making certain activities optional (for an additional fee). Pick your travel style—options range from “basic” to more luxe tours run in partnership with National Geographic. Family tours, local living tours (featuring homestays), and wellness-focused tours are also available. 

Top Trip: G Adventures’ China Express trip is a great way to see the highlights of China if you’re short on both time and budget. 

Best Private Group Travel: Vaya Adventures

Whether your group consists of just two people or involves taking the entire extended family, Vaya Adventures will take all the hassle of planning out of the equation. This private group operator creates personalized trips and itineraries tailored to your preferences while their experts handle all the logistics and bookings. Vaya’s team of experts has spent years living and working in the destinations that they handle, so they have the insider knowledge to make a trip truly special. 

On a Vaya Adventures trip, you won’t find yourself stuck in a soulless chain hotel—accommodations are thoughtfully selected to showcase the local culture and include boutique hotels, eco-lodges, and historic homes. 

Top Trip: Hike the Camino de Santiago Portuguese Way from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela, recovering each night in beautiful boutique hotels or traditional Paradores. 

Best Educational Group Tours: EF Go Ahead Tours

When you really want to learn about a destination, consider a group trip with EF Go Ahead Tours. EF is the world’s largest private education company, and the Go Ahead Tours arm capitalizes on the company’s relationships with local educators, historians, and tour guides to create group trips that take you deep into a destination. 

These small group tours generally cap at 38 travelers and feature unique educational experiences. EF Go Ahead Tour’s special event tours are particularly enticing for a bucket list trip, as they offer behind-the-scenes access to tough-to-plan trips like Oktoberfest in Munich or Cherry Blossom season in Japan. 

Intimidated by solo travel? EF Go Ahead Tours is a great option for solo travelers, since it offers designated trips for solo travelers, where everyone is traveling alone, making it less intimidating.  

Top Trip: Bring the tastes of Italy home with you on EF Go Ahead Tours’ Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany tour (operated in partnership with America’s Test Kitchen), where you’ll learn how to make local dishes. 

Best Responsible Group Travel: Intrepid Travel

Looking for a responsible group travel operator that focuses on bettering the communities and destinations they visit? Intrepid Travel is the world’s largest travel B Corporation, a certification earned by companies demonstrating social and environmental responsibility.

Intrepid Travel’s tours focus on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and sustaining communities. The company’s own charity, The Intrepid Foundation, has donated over 10 million dollars to over 160 community organizations. 

Intrepid Travel’s small group tours attract a wide range of travelers, but they are especially great for younger travelers, as they have a large number of trips designed for people aged 18-35. (Other trips, including family-focused trips, are geared toward any age.)

Top Trip: Experience a foodie trip of a lifetime on Intrepid Travel’s South Korea Real Food Adventure, which includes time in three cities and an overnight temple stay.

Best Polar Group Travel: Chimu Adventures

Whether you’re headed north to the Arctic or south to Antarctica, Chimu Adventures has the perfect polar group trip. Chimu Adventures has some of the most variety for trips to the polar regions, with options to fly, cruise, or a combination of both to get to your destination. For an ultra-unique Antarctica trip, Chimu Adventures offers cruises from Australia or New Zealand (most Antarctica trips depart from Argentina).

Chimu Adventures is one of the cheapest group trips to Antarctica, with rates starting under $6,000.

Top Trip: If you’re pressed for time (or simply don’t have the stomach for the Drake Passage), Chimu Adventures’ Antarctica Fly Cruise will get you to the ends of the earth quickly and smoothly.

Best Group Tours for Solo Travelers: For the Love of Travel

Group tours can be a great way to meet new people, but they can sometimes skew on the older age range. If you’re between 25-39 and a solo traveler looking to meet new people, you’ll adore For the Love of Travel. All participants on the trips are between 25-39, and according to the company, 80 percent are solo travelers—so you’ll make friends fast. Hoping to meet someone who will be more than just a friend on your next trip? Trips include a balanced number of “gal and guy spots” to ensure an even balance of genders within groups (and, of course, non-binary genders are always welcome). 

For the Love of Travel offers weeklong (or longer) international trips as well as shorter weekend trips to closer destinations like Mexico or Costa Rica—perfect for people without a lot of vacation time.Top Trip: Sleep in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights, go sledding with huskies, and warm up in traditional saunas on For the Love of Travel’s Lapland tour.

Best Biking Tours Group Travel: DuVine Cycling

Biking through the rolling hills of Italy or across the mountain roads of Chile sounds like a dream, but the logistics seem daunting (especially if you don’t want to haul all your stuff from point to point.) The solution: DuVine Cycling, a luxury small group tour company specializing in bike trips. 

With trips across Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States, DuVine Cycling is a cyclist’s dream. Choose from all-biking trips or mix things up with a cycle and sail bike tour or a multi-sport adventure—no matter what, everything is included, from luxury boutique accommodations to top-quality name-brand bikes. 

Top Trip: DuVine’s Holland Bike Tour promises “tulips, windmills, beer, and cheese”—what more could you need?

Best Luxury Group Travel: Abercrombie & Kent

Abercrombie & Kent has been delighting discerning travelers since 1962. Today, they take travelers on unforgettable adventures across over 100 countries and all seven continents. Although Abercrombie & Kent’s trips are pricey, they encompass once-in-a-lifetime experiences like private jet tours around the world or luxury chartered cruises.

There are trips designed for solo travelers and families, and the small group journeys max out at around 14-18 guests.

Top Trip: Swim with whale sharks in the Philippines, feed proboscis monkeys in Malaysia, and photograph wild tigers in India on Abercrombie & Kent’s Wildlife & Nature: Around the World by Private Jet trip.

The post The 11 Best Tour Group Travel Tour Companies for 2025 appeared first on SmarterTravel.

While relocating to a foreign country may seem like an impossible fantasy, it’s actually quite achievable with some thoughtful planning and a clear vision. The real challenge often lies in choosing the right destination. 

International Living just released its 2025 Annual Global Retirement Index. This report is designed to help retirees find destinations where their money goes further, offering great value in housing, daily living expenses, and overall quality of life.

The index assesses potential expat destinations across several categories, including healthcare, housing, cost of living, and ease of integration into local communities.

International Living picked Panama as the best place to retire abroad in 2025. “This year’s Index showcases safe, welcoming, good-value places where retirees can live better for less—while enjoying an adventure and finding like-minded community in surrounds that suit them,” says Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor at International Living. “Panama’s incredible affordability, modern infrastructure, and welcoming culture have once again earned it the top spot.”

The Best Places to Retire Abroad 2025

1. Panama
2. Portugal
3. Costa Rica
4. Mexico
5. France
6. Spain
7. Malaysia
8. Greece
9. Italy
10. Thailand

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Cityscapes and Neighborhood Light Displays

Rockefeller Plaza, NYC

Arguably the most famous Christmas tree in the world is at Rockefeller Center in New York, with a display of angels that’s just as iconic. 

Baltimore, Maryland

The “Hampden Maryland Miracle on 34th Street” is a neighborhood where you absolutely have to decorate with Christmas lights: each house on this block in Baltimore is more decorated than the last. 

St Augustine, Florida

Downtown St. Augustine is renowned for its Nights of Lights display, featuring millions of tiny white lights strung along historic Spanish Colonial architecture spanning 20 blocks.

Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

After checking out Rockefeller Center, head to Brooklyn where the neighbors in Dyker Heights string lights on every branch of their trees and fill their yards with hundreds of nutcrackers.

Koziar’s Christmas Village, Pennsylvania

In the town of Bernsville in Pennsylvania, a family began decorating their house and yard in 1948 so much that it became known as the “Christmas House,” and now it’s transformed into the incredibly elaborate Koziar’s Christmas Village.

Clifton Mill, Ohio

More than four million lights decorate the historic Clifton Mill in Clifton, Ohio, which includes a Santa Claus museum and a light show synchronized to music over a covered bridge.

Austin Trail of Lights, Texas

Austin decorates its Zilker Park with more than two million lights for the holidays as part of the Austin Trail of Lights, and the drive-through route is so bright it’s practically visible from outer space.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Drive through Celebration in the Oaks at New Orleans’ City Park and see historic oak trees covered in over a million twinkling lights.

Zoo Light Displays

Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo’s holiday festival Christmas at the Zoo goes back to 1967, and besides twinkling lights, there’s “Santa’s Barn” with reindeer and a chance to meet and greet with penguins.

San Diego Zoo

Often ranked one of the best zoos in the world, the San Diego Zoo’s Jungle Bells holiday display brings in a Twinkle Light Trolley to explore lit-up animal habitats, including a Northern Frontiers Holiday Forest.

Cincinnati Zoo

For Cincinnati Zoo’s PNC Festival of Lights, five million LED lights are strung up around the zoo, along with a light show on Swan Lake and strategically-placed oversize animal lanterns. 

St. Louis Zoo

St. Louis’s historic zoo established in 1910 gets dressed up for the holidays during the St. Louis Zoo’s U.S. Bank Wild Lights festival, featuring animal-themed light displays and a chance to go in the zoo’s Sea Lion Sound Tunnel.

Dallas Zoo 

Drive through a mile-long route of holiday lights at Dallas Zoo Lights, including high-tech projection mapping and a holiday village to explore at the end of the ride.

Botanical Gardens

Descano Gardens

In Los Angeles, take a one-mile walk through Descanso Gardens’ Enchanted Forest of Light display, featuring dramatic lighting in an ancient forest and stained glass creations from sculptor Tom Fruin.

Longwood Gardens

This botanical garden near Philadelphia is one of the most famous in the U.S., and for Longwood Christmas, find half a million twinkling lights, illuminated treehouses, and a colorful fountain display.

ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden 

New Mexico’s largest walk-through light show is the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden’s River of Lights, with more than 800 holiday displays.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Illuminated sculptures light up the night at Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, including a Glowing Grove along the garden’s flower walk. 

The Morton Arboretum  

Each year, 50 acres of tree groves are awash in color during Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum near Chicago, with s’mores stops along the walking route.

Amusement Parks and Pop-Ups

Busch Gardens, Virginia

Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia puts up a whopping 10 million lights during the holidays, making the Christmas Town festivities one of the largest light shows in North America.

Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

Naturally, this amusement park has a sweet theme for its light display: Hersheypark. Christmas Candylane boasts more than five million lights and a Santa display with reindeer.

LuminoCity, NYC and D.C.

LuminoCity, an immersive pop-up light show in Freehold, New Jersey and East Meadow, New York, revolves around larger-than-life illuminated sculptures.

Silver Dollar City, Missouri 

Over six million lights illuminate Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas display In Branson, with a parade every night featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Disney World, Florida

At the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, rides like Jungle Cruise get a holiday makeover during Disney Very Merriest After Hours and there’s a “magical snowfall” to see on Main Street, U.S.A.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post The 23 Best Christmas Light Displays in the U.S. appeared first on SmarterTravel.

However, on certain flights, some airlines will require passengers to “valet check” a bag instead.

What Is Valet Check?

Valet check is sometimes offered on regional flights using smaller planes that have limited overhead bin space. In these planes, the overhead bins are too small to fit standard carry-on-sized rolling suitcases (they’re typically only big enough for backpacks or duffle bags). 

For example, if you’ve booked a flight on American Airlines that is operated by the smaller American Eagle carrier, the airline says, “Regional flights on American Eagle® planes have limited overhead bin space. If your carry-on is larger than the personal item dimensions, you must valet your bag before boarding. We’ll tag and check your bag at the gate for you free of charge. When you arrive, you’ll receive your bag on the jetbridge after exiting the plane.”

Typically, the gate agent will make an announcement before starting the boarding process stating that passengers with rolling carry-on suitcases must valet check their bag. Flyers will have to take a luggage tag to attach to their carry-on and drop off their suitcase in a designated area when boarding the plane. 

After landing, passengers will need to wait on the jetbridge for the valet checked bags to be delivered. 

How Is Valet Check Different Than Gate Checking a Bag?

Valet Checking is a faster and safer way to check a carry-on bag. Typically, passengers will only have to wait a few minutes to receive their bag on the jetbridge, and they will not have to leave the secured area and go to baggage claim (like they would with gate checking) to pick up their luggage. If you have a tight connection to make, you’ll have a better chance of catching your next flight with valet check than you would with a gate-checked bag. 

The post What Is Valet Check and How Is It Different Than Gate Checking a Bag? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Editor’s Note: Fares are accurate at time of publication.

French bee

Launched in 2018, low-cost carrier French bee operates out of four major airports around the US—Miami (MIA), New York (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), and Los Angeles (LAX). Destinations include Paris, Tahiti, and Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean just easy of Madagascar. Guests can book a standard ticket from New York to Paris for as little as $288 roundtrip or can upgrade to Premium Economy for a fraction of the cost of a Premium Economy ticket on traditional carriers. 

About the Fleet: French bee’s fleet is made entirely of Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, which are one of the most fuel-efficient models available and produce four times less noise pollution than the previous generation. 

Who Should Book French bee: Travelers looking to explore Paris or to use France as a homebase for a larger EU trip. Climate-conscious travelers may also appreciate the airline’s Green Pilot Certification—the first airline in the world, alongside its sister company Air Caribe, to receive the status.

Norse Atlantic Airways

If you’re planning a trip to the UK, Norse Atlantic Airways is for you. Launched in 2021 and based in Norway, Norse Atlantic operates flights between the US and the UK, Greece, Norway, Italy, Germany, and France. This long-haul carrier flies out of New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO), Miami (MIA), Los Angeles (LAX) and, as of September of this year, has launched a new route to London Gatwick (LGW) departing from Las Vegas (LAS).

About the Fleet: Norse Atlantic operates their flights with Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which produce 25% lower CO₂ emissions than the previous generation of aircraft.

Who Should Book Norse Atlantic: Travelers looking to get to London on a budget. 

IcelandAir

While not technically transatlantic, IcelandAir offers several flights from the US to Europe connecting through Reykjavik. It operates from eighteen US airports across the country, with service expanding to include Detroit Metropolitan Airport beginning May 18th. With a wide network of US departure airports spanning coast to coast, travelers from anywhere in the country will be able to find an option that works for them. 

About the Fleet: IcelandAir operates its long-haul flights on Boeing 757-200, 767-300 ER, and 737 MAX models. In an effort to increase fuel efficiency and accomodate its expanding flight service, the airline introduced the Airbus A321LR to the fleet beginning December 2024, which will eventually phase out the previous Boeing 757 aircraft.

Who Should Book IcelandAir: Savvy travelers who want to take advantage of the airline’s  “Add a Stopover” offer to explore Iceland.

Condor

Condor is a low-cost carrier based out of Frankfurt, Germany that has been in operation since 1955. The airline flies out of thirteen US airports, including New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Anchorage (ANC), Miami (MIA), Seattle (SEA), San Antonio (SAT), Boston (BOS), Las Vegas (LAS), Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Minneapolis (MSP), Portland (PDX), and Phoenix (PHX). The airline expanded frequency of service as well as added new routes from Miami this past summer to accomodate high travel demand.

About the Fleet: Condor operates its long-haul flights on Airbus A330neo aircraft.

Who Should Book Condor: Travelers flying from the West Coast and Pacific Northwest.

PLAY Air

PLAY Air, founded in 2019 by former WOW Air executives, is another relatively new budget airline on the scene. Operating from just four East Coast airports—Boston (BOS), Washington (IAD), Baltimore/Washington (IAD), and New York (SWF)—PLAY air flies to over thirty destinations across Europe, including France, Spain, Ireland, Greece, and the Czech Republic.

About the Fleet: PLAY Air operates its itineraries on Airbus A320 and A32 aircraft. It is the two-time recipient of the award for Youngest Aircraft Fleet in Europe, with an average aircraft age of below four years.

Who Should Book PLAY Air: East Coasters looking for a quick and easy flight.

Worldwide by easyJet

EasyJet itself does not operate transatlantic flights, but through their Worldwide by easyJet program, travelers can book multi-leg journeys through their many partners, including PLAY Air and Norse Atlantic. Through Worldwide, travelers can book flights from New York, the Los Angeles Area, Chicago, Atlanta, and Orlando to European destinations like Rome, Barcelona, Edinburgh, and more.

About the Fleet: EasyJet has one of the “youngest” airfleets in the world, with the average age of their aircraft being just under 7 years. Flights operate on Airbus A319, Airbus A320CEO, Airbus A320NEO, and Airbus A321NEO. Note that when connecting to a partner airline through the Worldwide initiative, flights will be operated on the partner airline’s fleet.

Who Should Book easyJet: Travelers who want to browse easyJet’s extensive roster of destinations and let the best deal guide their trip.

JetBlue

It may be surprising to see a bigger brand name on this list, but JetBlue does technically fall into the low-cost carrier category. Rivaling traditional major carriers in both reputation and brand recognition, JetBlue flies out of 74 airports across 29 states plus seven airports in Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. They also partner with a wide network of airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and AerLingus, furthering their reach.

Passengers can fly Blue Basic for optimal savings or opt to fly Mint, Jetblue’s business class which offers extra comfortable lie-flat seats with aisle-access and plenty of legroom.

About the Fleet: Jetblue operates flights on a wide range of aircraft, including models that burn less fuel and models that reduce engine noise. Check Jetblue’s list of plane names to find the unique—and often pun-laden— name of your aircraft before departure.

Who Should Book Jetblue: Travelers who want the familiarity of a well-established domestic carrier for their long-haul experience.

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