house of travel voucher

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Products
• Gift Guides

The 49 Best Gift Cards for Travel Lovers

We’ve rounded up the best gift cards for any travel lover on your shopping list.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

The benefits of travel are impossible to wrap up neatly with a bow. You just can’t put a price tag on an impossibly beautiful view , the experience touching down on a new continent , or that life-changing conversation with a local who lives oceans away . That said, a travel-related gift card is probably the closest you’ll get to giving the actual gift of travel to your loved ones (without booking their flights or hotels for them, anyway!).

You’ll want to make sure to select a gift card you know they will be able to put to use. If your loved ones always fly Delta, for example, you won’t want to select a gift card from a different airline. If they’re planning a backpacking trip through South America in the near future, they’ll benefit much more from a Columbia gift card, where they can stock up on camping and hiking gear, versus one from a luxe hotel chain.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best gift cards for jetsetters, from cruise lines and airlines to the top luggage and accessory brands.

Southwest Airlines Gift Card

Southwest Airlines

Southwest is known for offering booking flexibility with no hidden costs, and the airline consistently ranks on our World's Best domestic airlines list. If you've got a friend or family member who's looking to plan their dream trip, you'll be their new favorite person with this pick.

Delta eGift Card

Delta’s SkyMiles offers one of the best rewards programs in the business — which is why there are so many frequent flyers who swear by the airline. The Delta eGift Card is particularly practical as you can purchase one to instantly email to your favorite traveler, making it an exceptional ultra-last-minute gift.

Hotels.com Gift Card

Expedia's hotel arm, Hotels.com, is one of the best places to score hotel bookings and packages for less. The site is always offering savings at some of the top spots around the world, whether you book for now or later. You'll effectively be gifting a discount and taking care of the bill, too.

Airbnb Gift Card

 Amazon

There’s something about checking into an Airbnb that can feel a lot cozier for certain travelers, especially if they’re planning a long-term trip to a new city. The gift of an Airbnb gift card will give them the leeway to select their own unique apartment or home anywhere in the world while still cutting down the overall cost of their trip.

Princess Cruise Lines Gift Card

Princess Cruise Lines

Princess Cruise Lines sails to 380 cruise destinations across more than 100 countries — and all seven continents — which makes this an excellent option for the traveler on your list who has been planning a bucket list cruise for ages. Gift cards are available for as little as $50 and as much as $500 (but you can always purchase a custom amount).

Holland America Gift Card

Holland America

Holland America Line was founded nearly 150 years ago in 1873, and has continued to be one of the most trusted cruise lines on the sea. The premium ships are smaller than most cruise lines which will give them a much more intimate experience; the average guest also tends to be a bit older which makes this option great for travel fiends who prefer a more laid-back experience at sea.

Amtrak Gift Card

Shopping for a travel lover who prefers riding the rails to boarding flights? Amtrak gift cards are available from $25 to $250 and will allow them to book a train journey anywhere in the United States, and select destinations in Canada. We also love that this option can be emailed directly to the recipient at a scheduled date and time.

Starbucks Gift Card

We know, we know. Part of the thrill of travel is experiencing the local customs and culinary offerings — and that includes coffee culture. But sometimes we just need that venti iced caramel macchiato to shake off the jet lag. The only thing you’ll want to keep in mind is that Starbucks cards don’t work in every country, so giftees won’t be able to use an U.S card in most places in Europe or Asia, for example, but Ireland, Australia, and the U.K. should be fine.

Nordstrom Gift Card

Not exactly sure when or where your favorite traveler is planning their next escape? No worries since a Nordstrom gift card offers infinite possibilities. Whether they need a new suitcase or carry-on duffel bag, or they’re looking to invest in a few new swimsuits for a winter getaway, there are thousands of practical (and pretty) items available both in-store and online.

Foot Locker Gift Card

Foot Locker

It doesn’t matter if they’re planning a backpacking trip around Southeast Asia or they’ve booked a weeklong vineyard-hopping experience in France, it always pays to have a comfortable pair of walking shoes. A gift card to Foot Locker will allow travelers to choose the stylish and practical sneakers, sandals, or boots that best suit their specific needs and preferences. (This option also offers email delivery for those ultra-last-minute shoppers.)

Uber Gift Card

Navigating a new city can be stressful, especially when you first touch down at the airport after a long-haul flight. Thankfully, Uber is now available in many parts of the world and even has designated airport pick-up zones, making a gift certificate not only a smart idea but one that will help you rest easy, knowing your loved one can make it from point A to point B safely.

Amazon Gift Card

When you think of traveling, your first instinct might not be to shop online, but it’s easy to get all sorts of before-they-go essentials here from packing cubes to portable chargers and suitcases under $100 . If your pal is already subscribed to Amazon Prime, a gift card to this marketplace will help them keep their bags stocked even quicker.

Apple Gift Card

Have a digitally nomadic friend who you constantly have to locate via Instagram? They've mastered the skill of booking a flight at the drop of a hat and finding the cheapest last-minute hotel deal, but they could always use a little insurance for their most valuable asset: their technology. With an Apple gift card, they'll be able to buy accessories they need or enjoy a little discount if their laptop or iPhone bites the dust on the road.

Air Canada Gift Card

Looking to find the right gift for your travel-loving pal up north? Air Canada gift cards are a great option for anyone who regularly travels between the U.S. and Canada, as well as Canadians who travel internationally as the airline currently serves more than 220 destinations worldwide on six continents.

Zappos Gift Card

For trips where much of the sightseeing will take place on foot, a gift card to Zappos will help your friend find the most comfortable shoes for these upcoming plans. Whether they’re in the market for winter boots for a mountain escape or sandals for an upcoming beach vacation, there’s something to suit every kind of traveler.

CheapOair Gift Card

Whether they’re planning a trip in the next few months or they’re still saving for a dream European vacation, you can still give the gift of adventure with a CheapoAir gift card, since they never expire. CheapOair will allow your loved one to search for the least expensive routes and flight paths and start planning their dream trip, whenever that might be.

Columbia Gift Card

After months of training, your sister is finally setting out to hike the Appalachian Trail all by her bad self. Express your support and encouragement with a gift card to Columbia, one of the leading trusted brands in outdoor wear. Depending on how generous you're feeling, you can outfit her with a tent, an insulated jacket, a backpack, and much more.

Fluent City Gift Card

Fluent City

If being able to speak another language comfortably has always been a goal for your mom as she plans her dream trip to Rome, consider giving the gift of the spoken word. Right now, Fluent City offers both private and group language lessons online. Even if it's a while before she puts her Italian skills to the test, she'll be more than prepared for when she finally arrives.

Away Gift Card

We’ve been big fans of Away luggage for their functional designs, gorgeous colors, and affordable price points ever since the brand’s inception back in 2015. Digital gift cards can be used in-store or online, and you can load the card up to $1,000 (to outfit your loved one with a full set of suitcases and travel accessories).

REI Gift Card

If your travel-loving buddy is more of a backpacker and camper and less of the luxury hotel type, a gift card to REI will be right up their alley. The multi-purpose store stocks everything they could possibly need for their next adventure in the great outdoors, from camping gear and weatherproof apparel to snacks appropriate for trekking in the bush.

Sephora Gift Card

Stocking up on travel-sized skin care and cosmetics is easy at Sephora, with hundreds of well-loved beauty brands offering miniature products to fit in a carry-on without going over the liquid limit. We especially love that Sephora allows you to customize a gift card with your own images or sayings. Let those creative juices flow!

Audible Gift Card

Book-loving travelers know the struggle of wanting to pack enough paperbacks to last the entire trip but also not wanting to run the risk of overweight baggage fees. A gift card for Audible will allow them to download as many books as they want to listen to right on a smartphone instead.

MaidPro Gift Certificate

Nobody likes coming back to a messy house after a long trip, but sometimes there’s just not enough time to tidy up, pack, and make it to the airport in time. A gift certificate to MaidPro will allow travelers to pre-schedule a professional cleaner to come, so all they’ll have to do is unpack and relax in an already tidy home.

Spafinder Gift Card

You might not know the details of your loved ones’ next five-star vacation, but a gift card to SpaFinder lets you give them a little dose of luxury whenever that may be. These gift cards are universal and can be redeemed at thousands of spas across the United States, and all over the world, so you can pretty much guarantee they’ll be able to find an eligible establishment in their future travels.

Marriott International Gift Card

If they’re all about racking in those Bonvoy points, you’ll want to consider a gift certificate to Marriott International. The digital gift cards are universal, which means gift recipients can put them toward their next stay anywhere in the world as long as it falls under the Marriott umbrella (think Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Westin, and more).

Fairmont Gift Card

A Fairmont gift card pretty much guarantees a luxurious experience. Whether your jetsetting friend uses it to check into one of the hundreds of historic properties around the world (like the Grand Railway Hotels across Canada, for example), or to enjoy a three-course meal, you know it’ll be put to very good use.

Hilton Gift Card

Whether your pal is a road-trip warrior, luxury enthusiast, or budget-conscious adventurer, a gift card to Hilton will suit them just fine. There is a vast network of brands at all price points — from the budget-friendly Hilton Garden Inn to the five-star Waldorf Astoria. The best part? Hilton gift cards don’t expire so they won’t have to rush to plan their next trip.

If there’s a cruise lover on your shopping list, Holland America gift cards can be used to book sailings worldwide and also for onboard purchases to make the journey even better. Whether your friend is looking to cruise Caribbean, European, or Australian waters, this gift card is the best way to start the trip.

Tortuga Gift Card

With Tortuga’s home try-on program, the adventurer in your life can select the perfect travel backpack for their trip and body needs. Tortuga products also offer a worldwide warranty, so this gift card may just be the most reliable gift you give this holiday season.

Most of us have enjoyed the convenience of summoning a Lyft to get us where we need to go. A Lyft gift card can not only be used for a comfortable ride, but for Lyft scooters and bikes as well. The gift amount will be credited to your friend’s Lyft account so they can use it however, and whenever, they want.

Best Western Travel Card

Best Western

Best Western Hotels and Resorts can be found in more than 100 countries and territories. Gifting the Best Western Travel Card means Rewards points can still be earned on all booked stays, and there’s no expiration date either.

White Duck Outdoors Gift Card

White Duck Outdoors

White Duck Outdoors is known for their easy-to-use and long-lasting camping gear. From durable glamping tents to duffel bags, your adventurous friend can choose just what they need to make their next trip a comfortable outdoor adventure with this gift.

CruiseDirect Gift Card

CruiseDirect

If you know a cruise aficionado looking for their next adventure, a CruiseDirect gift card lets them choose from over a dozen cruise lines to book their next dream getaway. This is perfect for those with flexible travel plans, or anyone new to the cruising world.

Briggs & Riley Gift Card

Briggs & Riley

What traveler doesn’t need a reliable bag? With a Briggs & Riley gift card, your jetsetter can choose between dozens of styles to suit their needs. Whether they’re in the market for a new carry-on duffel, hardside luggage, or even laptop backpack, gift card holders get a great selection of gear, all coming with an unconditional lifetime guarantee.

Chaco Gift Card

Chaco 

You probably don’t know your friend's shoe size off the top of your head. Instead of guessing, give them a Chaco gift card so they can shop for the best size, shape, and style for their outdoor needs. Physical Chaco gift cards can be shipped or sent electronically for ease and immediate use.

Hawaiian Airlines Gift Card

With over 35 destinations to choose from and no expiration date, Hawaiian Airlines’ gift cards will help your traveler start planning a dream vacation. Whether they’re interested in island hopping through Hawaii or exploring the South Pacific, giving this card means they will still earn miles on flights purchased as a present from you.

Calpak Digital Gift Card

Calpak Digital 

Calpak luggage and bags are the durable, high-end gift any traveler would love to receive this holiday season. Even better? Sending a Calpak gift card, so they can choose the design that’s best for them. From the sturdy Kaya Laptop Backpack we love to helpful packing cubes, there’s plenty to shop.

Four Seasons Gift Card

Four Seasons

If you’re unsure when shopping for your favorite luxury lover, look no further than the Four Seasons gift card. It’s redeemable for overnight stays, plus dining, spa treatments, and other experiences at Four Seasons locations worldwide. Cards can also be purchased in one of four currencies to avoid exchange rate fees.

Carnival eGift Card

Does your best friend have a Carnival cruise booked this year? Make their trip even better by giving them a Carnival gift card. Not only can it be used once onboard for gifts, drinks, and excursions to make an experience even better, it can be used to book their next cruise as well.

Monos Gift Card

Give your adventurer exactly what they want by letting them pick out what they need for an upcoming trip from lightweight luggage to comfortable clothes. The Monos gift card never expires and can be used on top of sales and discount codes, too.

Barnes & Noble eGift Card

Who doesn’t love the planning stages of an upcoming trip? Give the gift of in-flight entertainment with a gift card to Barnes & Noble. Whether your pal is looking for travel guides, magazines, or novels, they’ll find thousands of options in stores and online to get them excited to take off.

Alaska Airlines Gift Certificate

Alaska Airlines

With dozens of destinations to choose from, an Alaska Airlines gift certificate suits loved ones traveling throughout the United States and beyond. These gift certificates can be used not only on Alaska Airlines flights, but also Horizon Air or SkyWest flights operated by Alaska Airlines. They never expire and can be delivered directly to your friend’s email or printed and mailed.

Nomatic Gift Card

From accessories for everyday travel around town to bags for extended trips, Nomatic has something to offer everyone. The Nomatic gift card is not only a nice pick for your on-the-go friend this season, all products are also covered by a lifetime warranty, too.

OneTravel Gift Card

With the OneTravel gift card, your friend can book a flight to their dream destination across the globe. The best part is, you choose when the treat is sent to your loved-one’s email, which means you can buy now and still keep the surprise for later!

Virgin Experience Gifts Gift Card

Virgin Experience Gifts

With a Virgin Experience Gifts gift card, travelers can select an experience — from helicopter tours to murder mystery dinners — based on their location. With hundreds of excursions to choose from in dozens of cities, any adventurer can find something fun and unique to enjoy.

Athleta Gift Card

The Athleta gift card is perfect for any active woman on your list as the brand’s sizes range from XXS to 3X. Athleta gear runs on the sportier, more casual side which means styles like their comfy travel pants work both in the air and on a hike, too.

Cabela's Gift Cards

For the outdoor-loving travelers on your list, Cabela’s has everything for your favorite camper and boater. Their gift cards can be redeemed online and instore for both Cabela’s and BassPro Shops giving your friend even more options.

Celebrity Cruises E-gift Card

With over 300 cruise ports to choose from, your friend has plenty of trip options when receiving a Celebrity Cruises gift card. Treat them to an upscale cruise experience with $50, $100, $250, and $500 denominations to suit your gifting needs.

Arlo Skye Online Gift Cards

Arlo Skye is known for their beautiful and durable luggage — and we all know someone who’s obsessed with traveling in style. This season, give your trendy traveler a gift card to Arlo Skye to help them live out their dreamiest fantasies with a new bag in tow.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this article, Kaitlyn McInnis and Taylor Fox used their experience as travel writers and former lifestyle editors to curate the best options to suit most needs.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.

Hot springs and skiing: WIN a House of Travel voucher for the ultimate winter experience - Entries now closed

• Sponsored by - 100% Pure New Zealand

As the cooler weather begins to settle over Aotearoa, it's the perfect time to plan your own wonderful winter holiday! 

From soaking in a hot tub to sledding, skiing or making snow angels, there's so many experiences to discover across the country's winter hotspots.

Tell us why you deserve the chance to explore New Zealand this winter and go in the draw to win one of four $3,250 House of Travel vouchers! Competition entries close midnight July 17.

This competition has now closed.

By entering into this promotion, you agree to all of these terms and conditions .

For more inspiration on how to plan your own wonderful winter adventures, visit  https://www.newzealand.com/nz/  

Having trouble viewing the form? App users click here .

This article was created for 100% Pure New Zealand .

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Housing choice voucher (Section 8)

Learn if you are eligible for a Section 8 housing choice voucher to pay rent for private housing. Find your public housing agency to apply.

What are housing choice vouchers?

Housing choice vouchers are for families with low incomes, seniors, and people with disabilities.

You can use the vouchers for privately owned single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. Housing choice vouchers can pay for all or part of the rent.

Find out if you are eligible for a housing choice voucher

Eligibility for a housing choice voucher is based on:

• Your total annual gross income
• Your family's size

Housing choice vouchers are limited to U.S. citizens and non-citizens who have eligible immigration status.

Find and contact your local public housing agency to learn more about your eligibility for a housing choice voucher.

Learn more about housing choice vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

How to apply for a housing choice voucher

Your public housing agency can help you apply for a voucher and check the status of an application. Wait lists and long waiting periods for vouchers are common since HUD and the local housing agencies have limited resources. A public housing agency may temporarily close its waiting list when it has more families on the list than it can help.

Find your local public housing agency

Find more government programs that can help during tough financial times.

Facing financial hardship

LAST UPDATED: December 21, 2023

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser .

• Moscow Tours

Our 20 Best Moscow Tours of 2022

Join us on an unforgettable tour to Moscow, the capital of Russia. Imagine visiting Red Square, St. Basil’s the Kremlin and more. Moscow is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities and one of Russia’s most historical. All of our tours to Moscow are fully customizable and can be adjusted to fit any budget. Our most popular tours are listed below. Please click on the tour details to learn more or contact us for more information about our Moscow tours using the form at the side of the page. You can also schedule a call with one of our Russian travel specialists to learn more.

Classic Moscow

This is our most popular Moscow tour that includes all the most prominent sights. You will become acquainted with ancient Russia in the Kremlin, admire Russian art in the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to street musicians as you stroll along the Old Arbat street, and learn about Soviet times on the Moscow Metro tour.

Accommodation

PRIVATE TOUR

A Week in Moscow

This tour is a perfect choice for those who wish to get to know Moscow in depth. One of the highlights of this package is the KGB history tour which gives an interesting perspective on the Cold War. You will also have time for exploring the city on your own or doing extra sightseeing.

Weekend in Moscow

This tour is a great way to get acquainted with the capital of Russia if you are short of time. You will see all the main attractions of the city, the most important of which is the Kremlin - the heart of Russia. The tour starts on Friday and can be combined with a business trip.

Group Tour Moscow Break by Intourist

Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

Kolomenskoye Tour with transport

The history of Kolomenskoye stretches back for centuries. In 1380, Dmitri Donskoi’s army passed through Kolomenskoye on their way to the Kulikovo battlefield, and it was...

Tours by car

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Armory Tour

The Kremlin is truly a fascinating structure, at the same time it is an ancient tower, the city’s former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury...

Walking tours

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals, Armory, Diamond Fund Tour

Old Arbat walking tour

You will be told of the street’s interesting history and view the street’s artisan culture. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase souvenirs from the...

Tour to Sergiev Posad with transport

Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra)...

Tour to Kuskovo with transport

The Kuskovo Estate often called the Moscow Versailles due to its perfectly preserved French park, is an example of an 18th century, luxurious Moscow summer residence. Its history...

Tour to Tsaritsyno with transport

The Tsaritsyno Estate is located in the southern part of Moscow. The estate was constructed for Catherine the Great by the Russian architects Bazhenov and Kazakov in a romantic...

Moscow Metro and Old Arbat Tour

The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union’s achievements for both the Russians...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion and vodka tasting)

Vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture. We invite you to visit the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of long-gone...

Mikhail Bulgakov Apartment Museum

This apartment museum located close to Patriarch Ponds became the prototype of the "bad apartment" described in the novel "The Master and Margarita." Currently the museum's...

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Diamond Fund Tour

The State Museum of Lev Tolstoy Tour

Take this opportunity to learn more about the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. During the visit to the museum you will see part of a vast collection of exhibits connected to Tolstoy...

Novodevichy Convent Tour with transport

Tour of the Novodevichy Monastery. Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince VasiliIoanovich, the original convent was enclosed by fortified walls and contained 12 towers. The structure...

City Tour with Visit to St. Basils & Red Sq. with transport

Panoramic City Tour. This Moscow tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with many of the city’s major highlights. Our professional guide will...

City Tour of Moscow

Head to the heart of Moscow with a professional guide on a 4-hour private walk through the city center. See Tverskaya and Old Arbat streets, Theatre Square with the world-famous...

Moscow Metro walking tour

Kremlin, Red Square and Cathedrals Tour

KGB Tour with transport

This is a very interesting and insightful tour. You will visit places connected with Stalin’s terror - a time of great repression and fear. You will be shown monuments to...

Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

The tour begins with a drive or walk down Tverskaya Street – a Soviet masterpiece. In the years of Soviet power, Tverskaya began to undergo a transformation: it was widened...

Tretyakov State Gallery Tour

This world-famous gallery contains masterpieces of Russian art beginning in the 10th century up until today. You will view exquisite Russian icons and paintings from the 18th and...

Jewish Heritage of Moscow Tour

This tour offers a detailed look into the history and present-day life of the Jewish community of Moscow. On the tour, you will visit sites connected with the cultural and religious...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion only)

Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

Tours to Moscow

Our Moscow tours are land only meaning that you arrange your own air travel to Russia and our expert staff meets you at the airport and handles everything else from there. Our online Airline Ticket booking system offers some of the most competitive rates to Russia available on the web so if you need tickets, please visit our Russian air ticket center . Rest assured that you will be taken great care of on one of our Moscow tours. Express to Russia has a fully staffed office in Moscow that will help to make your visit fun, informative and unforgettable. Please remember that of all these tours are private and can be adjusted to your taste. You can add, replace or skip some sights; you can add more days to the package or cut the tour short. Our specialists will be glad to help you create the tour of your dreams!

Moscow, a City Like No Other

Moscow is Russia’s largest city with a population of between 12 and 13 million. It is also Europe’s largest city and when you visit Moscow, you can feel it. The layout and architecture of the city is eclectic, ranging from crooked, ancient streets and alleyways to wide, bustling boulevards, from medieval churches to Stalin skyscrapers and to modern, glass buildings towering over everything and of course in the center of it all is the Kremlin and the magnificent Red Square. Moscow is also home to a fantastic, efficient and very beautiful metro system – each station having its own special design. In fact, Express to Russia’s Moscow metro tours and excursions are some of our most popular attractions that we offer. On our Moscow tours, you will see this and more.

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

Moscow has a long and interesting history and has been the capital of Russia in many of its different iterations – capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow , the Russian Empire and of course the Soviet Union (who could ever forget the Soviet Union?). Moscow, was founded in the 12th century by Prince Yuri Dolgaruki (Yuri of the long arms – he really did have long arms!). From that time on, it was home to the Russian Tsars until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1703. The city has survived invasions and sieges from the Mongols, the Tartars, the Poles, Lithuanians and Napoleon but has always persevered. Our Moscow tours will enlighten you on this great history and give you insights into Muscovites and their unique culture. Our Moscow tours show you what the city is like today but also brings to life the past. Moscow never seems to sleep and is bursting with energy. A Moscow tour with Express to Russia is truly the best way of getting to know Russia’s largest and most vibrant city.

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

Any time of year is fine depending on what you plan to do. Summertime is pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring the city and its vibrant atmosphere, but Moscow will be much busier and accommodation is more expensive. Winter can be quite cold but beautiful nonetheless, and this is unproblematic if you intend to spend most of your trip in museums and galleries. There are also various festivals and events organised throughout the year. For more information about the best time to visit, read our guide

How many days are enough in Moscow?

If you plan your itinerary strategically and aren’t averse to a packed schedule, you can cover Moscow’s main sights over a long weekend. Most popular attractions are in the city centre, and the Moscow Metro allows you to cover much ground in a small amount of time. Ensure that your accommodation is fairly central and book tickets in advance, so that you can make the most of your days. For an informative and well-organised day out, check out our Moscow day tours with options to suit all interests.

Do they speak English in Moscow?

As Russia’s capital city, tourists are well accommodated in Moscow. There should be English-speaking staff in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and attractions in tourist hotspots, and there are also English-speaking tourist police. Transport services have English translations on their maps and English announcements via intercom; alternatively, order taxis from the Yandex Taxi app (Russian Uber), though it’s unlikely that your taxi driver will speak English. If you get stuck and cannot communicate, it’s fine to use Google Translate.

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

It is no less safe to travel to Moscow than to any European city if you exercise common sense and look after your belongings. As with every city some regions can be more unsavoury than others, but no tourist attractions are located there. The traffic in Moscow is notorious, so exercise caution when crossing roads. Do not take unlicensed taxis; book in advance or take public transport, which is widespread and perfectly safe. If you encounter any problems, look for the special tourist police who can help you. For more information, read our guide about staying safe in Russia .

Our travel brands include

Express to Russia

Join us on Facebook

We invite you to become a fan of our company on Facebook and read Russian news and travel stories. To become a fan, click here .

Join our own Russian Travel, Culture and Literature Club on Facebook. The club was created to be a place for everyone with an interest in Russia to get to know each other and share experiences, stories, pictures and advice. To join our club, please follow this link .

We use cookies to improve your experience on our Website, and to facilitate providing you with services available through our Website. To opt out of non-essential cookies, please click here . By continuing to use our Website, you accept our use of cookies, the terms of our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service . I agree

• Store & Consultant Finder

• Destinations
• Store & Consultant Finder

Store and Consultant Finder

• Find your preferred store
• Find your consultant

Find by location

House of travel stores.

• Bay of Plenty
• Christchurch
• Hawke's Bay/Gisborne
• Nelson/Marlborough
• North Canterbury
• Otago/Southland
• Taranaki/Manawatu
• Wellington/Wairarapa

Welcome to our new store & consultant pages. If you have are having any issues or have feedback please email us.

Explore the world with the help of our travel experts.

Or search by name, find your house of travel consultant.

• Coach Touring
• Couples Travel
• Hiking Walking
• Train Journeys
• Disney Holidays
• Small Ship Cruising
• Family Travel
• Expedition Cruising
• Group Travel
• Ocean Cruising
• Luxury Travel
• River Cruising
• Solo Travel
• 18yr-30 Something Travel

Jump to navigation

Give the gift of travel!

Flight Centre Gift Cards can be used on airfares, accommodation, tours, cruises or anything else available at Flight Centre. You can load them with any amount from $25 and are valid for 3 years from the last transaction date. Plus, our Gift Cards can be used at any Flight Centre store nationwide!

Contact us about getting a Flight Centre Gift Card today! Find your nearest store or call us on 0800 24 35 44

Gift cards make it easy to give the gift of travel.

• Give the gift of travel without specifying destination, timing or expense
• Ensure your gift is unique, special and something the recipient really wants
• Receive an attractive and easy to look after gift card with a choice of free greeting card to accompany it
• Easily mail or deliver your gift - perfect for friends and family who live out of town
• Choose any denomination to gift from $25 to $4,000
• Choose any time (up until the card expiry date) to use their gift card – so they can take advantage of Flight Centre specials and promotions
• Use the card to purchase international or domestic travel, accommodation or activities
• Use up the balance of the gift card at their own pace. If they book a trip and have money remaining on the card, they can use it to book something else at a later date. They won’t need to be issued with another voucher
• Redeem the card from any of Flight Centre’s stores nationwide

PLEASE NOTE: A Travel Expert Service Fee will apply at the time of booking.

• STORE & CONSULTANT FINDER
• My Wishlist

Register / Login

• Sign up for emails
• Cheap Flights
• Destinations
• Storefinder

Latest deals to

Central & South America

Cook Islands

Egypt & Morroco

North America

Pacific Islands

Last Minute Cruise Deals

Ski Holidays

All on sale

As Advertised

Australia city stays, pacific hidden paradise.

Going Solo?

Fiji All Inclusive

Queensland is calling.

Small Group European Adventures with Intrepid Travel

Europe 2024 on sale

Tropical North Queensland Winter Breaks

Europe 2024 Cruise Holidays!

Cruise holidays – amazing value!

Drive the Dream in Western Australia

South Australia & Adelaide

Disney Magic at Sea New 2024 Season!

Experience the South, USA

Europe in Style

Oceania Cruises

Online Brochures

Travel Articles

Inspire Magazine

Discover a Different Australia

Holidays@Home

Make Travel Matter Journeys

Face2Face Video Appointments

New Zealand

South Pacific

Asia flights

UK & Europe

USA & Canada

South America

South Africa & Middle East

Business Class flights

Book online.

Special needs or children (2-15yrs) travelling alone?

Stopover or Multi-city? Please fill in this enquiry form .

Explore our latest deals

View all deals, all inclusive phuket family holidays.

Introducing our free video consultant service. Share your plans and dreams, and together we'll make holidays even better!

SIGN UP FOR HOUSE OF TRAVEL EMAILS

• HOT exclusive travel deals • Travel inspiration & experiences • HOT in-store events • Travel information and news

WHY HOUSE OF TRAVEL?

Kiwi Owned & Operated

Creating better holidays & supporting local for 30+ years..

ASB True Rewards.

Redeem your asb true rewards for travel..

Interest Free Travel.

Pay by gem visa/gem creditline  , laybuy , q card  & more..

Your travel info at your fingertips.

Download the app to manage your booking and itinerary ..

* Satisfaction rating based on 12 month period 01 April 19 – 31 March 20

Start planning your holidays.

Sign up for house of travel emails, find your nearest store.

Moscow’s best free city tour

I love Moscow – this charming metropolis, its people, its history and its unique cityscape. I would like to share my passion for this city with you. It is my job to show you the most exciting corners of this fascinating metropolis. That’s why, as a travel specialist and your private tour guide Moscow in Russia, I organize a guided free city tour Moscow – so that everyone, regardless of their budget, would be able to enjoy the insider’s view of Moscow.

You get to see what only Moscow residents know and what other tourist guides keep from you. I am a licensed travel specialist in Russia and would like you to enjoy all facets of the capital of the largest country in the world, without demanding any money from you. I’ll show you the city on my free Moscow walking tour for 1.5-hours on foot.

Everything you need to know:

• My tours take place daily by arrangement, I am the only English-speaking licensed tourist guide Moscow, who offers a free city tour.
• My 1.5-hour free tours Moscow do not cost you a cent, I also offer other great paid tours as well.
• I am an experienced local, I make the tours informative, but at the same time relaxed and not off the plane.

Free Tours Moscow – Daily

My free tours Moscow city starts on Slavonic Square (Kitay-Gorod Metro Station), passes the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral, which was built by Ivan the Terrible on the south side of Red Square in the 16th century and where the tsars were once crowned. Then it goes across the Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the luxury department store GUM and with a view of the Kremlin towards the historical museum. Of course, you will also learn more about the stories that once happened behind the thick walls of the Kremlin – from the Tsars and Napoleon to Stalin. Then we continue through the idyllic Alexander Garden.

An advance booking is required!

Practical information:

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price: Free Language: English

«First acquaintance with Moscow» – a 2.5-hour city tour in the center of Moscow

This Moscow city tour starts on the Theater Square, past Lubyanka Square and the KGB-building, then through Kitay Gorod district and Varvarka Street, past the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then it goes across Zarjadje Park, over Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the GUM-department store and towards the Historical Museum. We walk through the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2.5 hours Price: 17 $ Students and children: 6 $ Language: English

A 3.5-hour car/bus tour of Moscow.

This is the best tour of Moscow city as all the important sights are visited. I am your Moscow city guide who will walk you through the city explaining the charming history of the city. This tour begins with picking you up from the hotel. 3 breaks are offered for photographing.

First, we will visit the most famous riverside streets and bridges in the center of the city with the most beautiful views of the Kremlin and the Moskva River (e.g. the Kremlin embankment and the Great Stone Bridge).

The first photo break is made at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. We then pass by the district with numerous museums, Prechistinka Street and the district with numerous medical areas.

We again stop at the Novodevichy Convent, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the other bank of the Moskva River to click pictures.

Then we visit “Sparrow Hills” where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city of Moscow from the observation deck. Then there are the skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Kutuzov avenue, the New Arbat, Tverskaya Street, the world-famous Bolshoi Theater, the KGB building and Varvarka Street. Here there are ample spots to click pictures.

We then drive past the Kremlin again and finally reach Red Square. We take a short tour of Red Square and say goodbye in the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 3.5 hours Price for a group: 170-200 $ (depending on the number of travelers) Language: English

Metro tour – daily

Palaces for ordinary people – that was what Stalin promised to the people when the construction of the Moscow Metro began between the World Wars. The communist dictator hadn’t promised too much. No other underground system in the world can boast such spectacular architecture – chandeliers, decorations, stucco, paintings on the walls – each station is individually designed. No wonder that Moscow residents love their metro. I will guide you through the bustle of one of the busiest subways in the world and show you the most beautiful stations Moscow city has.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: Metro tickets / the guided tour

Tour of Communist Moscow – every day

After the Communist October Revolution in 1918, Moscow became the capital of the Soviet Empire and was the center of socialist orbit for more than 70 years. This left its mark on Moscow, even if the USSR disintegrated more than a quarter of a century ago. The city streets are full of remnants of the communist regime and the Cold War. This is a walking tour where I will show you the most exciting places in Soviet Moscow: from the notorious KGB headquarters, also known as Lubyanka to the Karl Marx Monument to small hidden remains from the time of hammer and sickle. You will also learn about Stalin’s Great Terror political campaign and the system of the GULAG and how the USSR, the communist Russian republic, became modern Russia.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour

Alternative Moscow Tour – daily

Explore the unseen Moscow with your Moscow private guide and discover a range of sights during this alternative walking tour.  Away from the main tourist spots (in the central district of Kitay-Gorod), just a short walk from Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, you suddenly find yourself in one of the trendiest districts of Moscow. This place not only has trendy cafes and green squares, but here you can see the most beautiful spray works (according to Albrecht Dürer), hangout-places of the youth and hipsters, as well as learn what Moscow looked like in the 19th century. Here you will also learn exciting and even bloody stories about famous gangsters, eccentric business people and legends like the wandering preacher Rasputin, who is known in Russia either as the “holy devil” or the mad monk. To learn a little more about Moscow’s culture, this is the tour for you. On my alternative tour, you will get to know Moscow away from the tourist hotspots. This tour is of 2 hours duration and you will experience the following on the tour:

• St. John’s Hill, a quiet oasis right in the center, where time has stopped as it did in pre-Communist times
• Khokhlovka Art Center, where Russian hipsters and street artists hang out
• Samoskvorechye District where you can see beautiful streets and hear stories from old Moscow

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour / tram ticket

Kremlin tour – daily (closed on Thursday)

With its 20 towers and high walls, the Kremlin rises imposingly over Red Square. This world-famous fortress with its area of ​​28 hectares is home to over 800 years of Russian history. Described as the eighth wonder of the world, this historic fortress complex is the principal symbol of Russia that sits on the banks of the Moscow River. Today the Kremlin still harbors numerous secrets and has palaces and cathedrals, surrounded by Kremlin Wall. The current wall was constructed between the 15 th  and 16 th  centuries, but the original wall was made of wood around the year 1147. The Kremlin Wall became an important symbol of Moscow’s importance in the Russian Empire. This top tourist destination attracts millions of people every year and there are various sights to see. With my Kremlin tour, you will see the oldest square in the city in the heart of the Kremlin, the once largest cannon in the world and the scene of numerous dramas – from Ivan the Terrible and Napoleon to Stalin. You cannot miss this unique experience.

An advance booking and prepayment for tickets are required.

Time: by arrangement, daily (closed on Thursday) Duration: 2 hours Price on request Students and children: on request Language: English Included in the price: Kremlin tickets / the guided tour

Moscow pub crawl – Friday / Saturday

Experience the real nightlife of Moscow with my Moscow Pub Crawl and enjoy 4 pubs/bars plus 4 welcome shot drinks. Move from one bar to another and get to know travelers from around the world as well as the locals. Play fun adventure games and contests in addition to getting perks in the bars. Between the bars, move from one place to another on foot. The routes are organized as such that you will walk no more than 10 minutes between the bars. Visit the most exciting events, parties, concerts, and dance in the bars. Moscow Pub Crawl is a tour that you will never forget.

This tour runs every Friday and Saturday evening at 8 PM and you need to bring along your passport or an ID card, comfortable shoes, and wear smart casual clothes.

An advance booking and a small prepayment are required!

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 4 hours Price on request Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour, 4 shot drinks

1.5-hour boat trip on the Moskva River.

Taking a boat tour in Moscow on the Moskva River is a very pleasant experience. It allows you to know the city from a totally different perspective and admire the beautiful bridges. In this 1.5-hour river trip, you will sail past many beautiful sites in Moscow, so you can take the best photos to commemorate this day. The ship makes several stops on the way. The trip starts from the Ustinskiy Bridge near Sarjadje Park and ends at the Kiev train station.

On this Boat Trip, you can see sights such as: the former Imperial Education House, Sarjadje Park, the “flowing”, “floating” bridge, the most beautiful view of the Kremlin, the Great Stone Bridge, the legendary House on the Quay, the Christ the Savior Cathedral , the monument to Peter the Great on the ship, the central sports arena Luzhniki, the Sparrow Hills, 240 meters high Lomonosov University, the numerous architecturally spectacular skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Novodevichy Convent, the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price on request Language: English

A military tour – riding on tanks in Stupino (Moscow region)

Russian Military is one of the largest military forces in the world formed in 1992. With my Military Tour experience what it likes to be in the Russian military, shooting guns, ride the Tank T-34 and various models of German tanks from the Second World War, as well as armored personnel carriers and vehicles. You will also shoot from the AK-47 and another combat weapon.

The tour will begin with your private tour guide Moscow in a Soviet army van accompanied with some tasty snacks and tea for a tasty start. Upon arriving, you will have to put on the army safety clothing and climb the Russian armored vehicles. The tour will take you on the noisy, smoky tank, driving through mud roads. All participants will get the chance to drive the tank which is coordinated by the Russian military.

Time: by arrangement, daily Price on request Language: English

Alexander Popov

Welcome to Russia! My name is Alexander, I was born in Moscow and I'm a passionate tour guide. I want to share my passion for Russia and my hometown with you. On my website you will find useful information to make your individual trip to Russia as interesting as possible.

Gorky Park and Sparrow Hills: Green Lungs, place to relax and meet

The travel voucher for the russia visa, you will also like, everything you need to know about russia: included..., traveling‌ ‌in‌ ‌russia‌ ‌–‌ ‌how‌ ‌safe‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌..., choosing the best guide for a free and..., how do i exchange money in moscow, eating out in moscow, the best time to travel to russia, how do i get from moscow airports to..., the best taxi services in moscow, moscow’s top 13 – the main attractions of..., with sim card purchase in russia: use whatsapp,..., leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

@2019-2020 - Moscow Voyager. Alexander Popov

We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to use our site you accept our cookie policy. Accept Read More

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Explore sell to government
• Ways you can sell to government
• How to access contract opportunities
• Conduct market research
• Register your business
• Certify as a small business
• Become a schedule holder
• Market your business
• Research active solicitations
• Respond to a solicitation
• What to expect during the award process
• Comply with contractual requirements
• Handle contract modifications
• Monitor past performance evaluations
• Explore real estate
• 3D-4D building information modeling
• Art in architecture | Fine arts
• Computer-aided design standards
• Commissioning
• Design excellence
• Engineering
• Project management information system
• Spatial data management
• Facilities operations
• Smart buildings
• Tenant services
• Utility services
• Water quality management
• Explore historic buildings
• Heritage tourism
• Historic preservation policy, tools and resources
• Historic building stewardship
• Videos, pictures, posters and more
• NEPA implementation
• Courthouse program
• Land ports of entry
• Prospectus library
• Regional buildings
• Renting property
• Visiting public buildings
• Real property disposal
• Reimbursable services (RWA)
• Rental policy and procedures
• Site selection and relocation
• For businesses seeking opportunities
• For federal customers
• For workers in federal buildings
• Explore policy and regulations
• Acquisition management policy
• Aviation management policy
• Information technology policy
• Real property management policy
• Relocation management policy
• Travel management policy
• Vehicle management policy
• Federal acquisition regulations
• Federal management regulations
• Federal travel regulations
• GSA acquisition manual
• Managing the federal rulemaking process
• Explore small business
• Explore business models
• Research the federal market
• Forecast of contracting opportunities
• Events and contacts
• Explore travel
• Per diem rates
• Transportation (airfare rates, POV rates, etc.)
• State tax exemption
• Travel charge card
• Conferences and meetings
• E-gov travel service (ETS)
• Travel category schedule
• Federal travel regulation
• Travel policy
• Explore technology
• Cloud computing services
• Cybersecurity products and services
• Data center services
• Hardware products and services
• Professional IT services
• Software products and services
• Telecommunications and network services
• Work with small businesses
• Governmentwide acquisition contracts
• MAS information technology
• Software purchase agreements
• Cybersecurity
• Digital strategy
• Emerging citizen technology
• Federal identity, credentials, and access management
• Mobile government
• Technology modernization fund
• Explore about us
• Annual reports
• Mission and strategic goals
• Role in presidential transitions
• Get an internship
• Launch your career
• Elevate your professional career
• Discover special hiring paths
• Events and training
• Agency blog
• Congressional testimony
• GSA does that podcast
• News releases
• Leadership directory
• Staff directory
• Office of the administrator
• Federal Acquisition Service
• Public Buildings Service
• Staff offices
• Board of Contract Appeals
• Office of Inspector General
• Region 1 | New England
• Region 2 | Northeast and Caribbean
• Region 3 | Mid-Atlantic
• Region 4 | Southeast Sunbelt
• Region 5 | Great Lakes
• Region 6 | Heartland
• Region 7 | Greater Southwest
• Region 8 | Rocky Mountain
• Region 9 | Pacific Rim
• Region 10 | Northwest/Arctic
• Region 11 | National Capital Region
• Per Diem Lookup

City Pair Program (CPP)

The OMB-designated Best-in-Class City Pair Program procures and manages discounted air passenger transportation services for federal government travelers. At its inception in 1980 this service covered only 11 markets, and now covers over 13,000 markets. Today, CPP offers four different contract fares.

Fare finder

• Search for contract fares

Note: All fares are listed one-way and are valid in either direction. Disclaimer - taxes and fees may apply to the final price

Taxes and fees may apply to the final price

Your agency’s authorized travel management system will show the final price, excluding baggage fees. Commercial baggage fees can be found on the Airline information page.

Domestic fares include all existing Federal, State, and local taxes, as well as airport maintenance fees and other administrative fees. Domestic fares do not include fees such as passenger facility charges, segment fees, and passenger security service fees.

International

International fares do not include taxes and fees, but include fuel surcharge fees.

Note for international fares: City codes, such as Washington (WAS), are used for international routes.

Federal travelers should use their authorized travel management system when booking airfare.

• E-Gov Travel Service for civilian agencies.
• Defense Travel System for the Department of Defense.

If these services are not fully implemented, travelers should use these links:

• Travel Management Center for civilian agencies.
• Defense Travel Management Office for the Department of Defense.

Contract Awards CSV

Download the FY24 City Pair Contract Awards [CSV - 1 MB] to have them available offline. The file updates after 11:59 pm Eastern Time on standard business days. Previous fiscal year contract awards can be found on the Fiscal documents and information page . To read more about the contract award highlights, please see our Award highlights .

Instructions for the FY24 CSV file

All fares are listed one-way and are valid in either direction. In the CSV file, Origin and Destination are in alphabetical order regardless of travel direction. The Origin is the airport code (domestic travel) or city code (international travel) that comes first alphabetically and the Destination is the airport or city code that comes second alphabetically.

For example, you are traveling from Washington, DC to London, England. You know the city codes are WAS and LON respectively. The city code LON comes first alphabetically and WAS comes second alphabetically. To find the contract fares, you filter:

City Pair Program benefits and info

CPP offers government travelers extra features and flexibility when planning official travel, in addition to maintaining deep program discounts. These include:

• Fully refundable tickets.
• No advance purchase required.
• No change fees or cancelation penalties.
• Stable prices which enables accurate travel budgeting.
• No blackout dates.
• Fares priced on one-way routes, permitting agencies to plan multiple destinations.

CPP is a mandatory use, government-wide program, designated as a Best-In-Class procurement by OMB. The program delivers best value airfares, and ensures federal agencies effectively and efficiently meet their mission.

CPP saves the federal government time and money by maintaining one government-wide air program. At the acquisition level CPP delivers data analysis, compliance, and uses strategic sourcing to optimize its service.

PER DIEM LOOK-UP

1 choose a location.

Error, The Per Diem API is not responding. Please try again later.

No results could be found for the location you've entered.

Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Possessions are set by the Department of Defense .

Rates for foreign countries are set by the State Department .

2 Choose a date

Rates are available between 10/1/2021 and 09/30/2024.

The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.

Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.

Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."

Per diem localities with county definitions shall include "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."

When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

Money blog: Heathrow announces six new routes; three UK tourist attractions introducing 'surge pricing'

Six new routes will be available from Heathrow this summer, to Abu Dhabi, Kos, Izmir, Bangalore, Barcelona and Paris-Orly. Read this and more in the Money blog - your place for consumer and personal finance news. Leave a comment on the stories we're covering, or a Money Problem, below.

Monday 25 March 2024 21:39, UK

• 3% interest rate to return next year, respected economists predict
• Heathrow announces six new routes
• Legoland, Sea Life and Madame Tussauds introducing 'surge pricing'
• Free childcare about to be extended - here's all the support on offer to parents of young children
• Ofgem considering price cap overhaul
• Money Problem : My boss makes me use annual leave for sick days - is this legal?
• ISA deadline approaching - here's what you need to know

Ask a question or make a comment

The British government is no longer the controlling shareholder in NatWest bank , reducing its stake in the lender to below 30%.

NatWest received several multibillion-pound bailouts at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, resulting in the government being left with an 84% stake in what was then known as RBS Group.

The government had been slowly selling down its stake but it accelerated the process in recent months.

Read the full story here ...

People who drive SUVs could have to pay higher parking charges in Oxford under plans drawn up by some city councillors.

The motion has been put forward by the city's Green Party.

It follows a new policy in Paris that saw parking charges triple for SUV drivers. 

The Green Party's plan would have to be approved by the Labour-controlled council.

Apple, Meta and Google's parent company are being investigated by the European Union under new laws designed to clamp down on the market power of the world's tech giants.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into force at the beginning of March and aims to tackle "gatekeeping" behaviour among tech giants.

If the companies are found guilty of non-compliance, they face fines of up to 10% of their global turnover.

Under the new rules, companies are expected to allow app developers to steer users to products outside their own platforms for no extra charge.

Also, platforms that rank search results must treat all listings fairly and in a way that does not discriminate against services offered by third parties.

The number of under-30s with millionaire salaries has grown to a record high of 830, while more than 15,000 young people earn over £150,000, analysis by accountancy firm Lubbock Fine shows.

Before the pandemic, 650 under-30s had earned at least £1m and 13,400 earned more than £150,000.

Among the highest paid young people in the UK are pop star Dua Lipa, Manchester City star Erling Haaland and actress Millie Bobby Brown.

Lubbock Fine said the rise in £1m-plus earners is being driven by higher pay packages for sports, media and music stars, while the rise in those on more than £150,000 is thanks to higher salaries in the technology and financial services industries.

The average salary for a Premier League footballer is £3.6m a year, with Erling Haaland, 23, the highest earner under 30. 

The star earns £19.5m a year, or £375,000 a week, according to Spotrac. 

Chelsea and England star Raheem Sterling, 29, is on £16.9m, while Jack Grealish, 28, and Marcus Rashford, 26, both earn £15.6m. 

In music, pop star Dua Lipa, 28, is thought to be the richest under 30 with a wealth of more than £75m. 

The highest-paid young British actor is Millie Bobby Brown, known for her starring roles in Stranger Things and Enola Holmes.

She is said to have accumulated a net worth of £20m.

But while football and music and acting is a route to fame and fortune, in cash terms it is dwarfed by tech. According to the Sunday Times Rich List, the wealthiest under-30 in the UK is the 28-year-old builder of the video conferencing app Hopin, Johnny Boufarhat (£1.7bn).

Wealthiest under-30s

• Johnny Boufarhat, founder of Hopin - £1.714bn
• Christian Owens, founder of Paddle - £101m
• Dua Lipa, pop star - £75m
• Raheem Sterling, footballer - £61m
• Charlie Morgan, co-founder of Au Vodka - £55m
• Niall Horan, pop star - £54m
• Harry Kane, footballer - £51m
• Daniel Knight, director of Kinetic Games - £50m

Visitors to the popular tourist attractions will pay more at peak times under new plans from owner Merlin Entertainments. 

Surge pricing - which means prices fluctuate depending on demand - will be introduced at the company's top 20 global attractions by the end of this year. 

Scott O'Neil, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said people would expect to pay more in peak season, for example a Saturday in August, than on a "rainy Tuesday in March".

He told Business Live With Ian King : "One thing I love about dynamic pricing is that it offers an opportunity in the peak times to make sure the queues are down and the guest experience is high. 

"The other part that I really appreciate about dynamic pricing is that in off-peak times, it allows families that might not otherwise have an opportunity to go."

The theme park operator will use machine learning to monitor supply and demand.

Surge pricing is frequently used by hotels and airlines, but the model is being increasingly adopted by entertainment facilities. 

Merlin revealed today it had delivered record revenues of £2.1bn in 2023, up 8% year on year. 

However, visitor numbers have still not returned to pre-pandemic levels. 

Roughly 62.1 million people visited its 141 global attractions last year, down from the 67 million recorded in 2019.

A leading buy-to-let lender has cut rates across its range.

The Mortgage Works announcement includes a headline 3.99% deal fixed for five years.

The industry has reacted positively, with Darryl Dhoffer from The Mortgage Expert telling Newspage: "Buy-to-let mortgages have been dropping for some time now. 

"Who would have thought that a headline buy-to-let rate of 3.99% would be cheaper than a standard residential mortgage rate? 

"Fair play to The Mortgage Works. Let's hope big brother, Nationwide, wake up and start reducing residential interest rates."

Three lesser-noted developments at the Bank of England last week have prompted a forecast that 3% interest rates will return next year.

Economists at the respected insight firm Capital Economics have been analysing voting patterns and interviews given by Bank rate setters - and "as a result we have become a bit more confident in our forecasts that interest rates will be cut from 5.25% in June and to 3.00% next year".

Paul Dales, the firm's chief UK economist, explained: "First, for the first time since September 2021, none of the nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted to raise rates.

"Second, the minutes to the meeting included a new line that said 'policy could remain restrictive even if Bank Rate were to be reduced'. This may sound innocuous, but at every meeting since interest rates rose to their peak of 5.25% last August, the MPC has said that policy would remain 'restrictive for sufficiently long'. 

"Pointing out that a rate cut is not inconsistent with that guidance implies that the MPC wanted to make it clear it would not necessarily need to remove that guidance before it cuts rates."

Thirdly, Dales has picked out comments by governor Andrew Bailey, who told the FT last Thursday afternoon that market forecasts for cuts this year were "not unreasonable".

Dales said: "Subsequent comments that 'all our meetings are in play; we take a fresh decision every time' imply that the MPC will be actively considering rate cuts at the coming meetings."

Markets are expecting three cuts, from 5.25% to 4.5%, this year, starting in June.

There is a 20% chance, according to markets, a first cut could come in May, when inflation data for the previous month is expected to show a big drop in inflation due to an April cut to the energy price cap.

By Daniel Dunford , senior data journalist

British people aren't the only ones to moan about the state and price of housing in their country, but we do have the best justification to do so.

Finland is the only country in the OECDi that spends more on housing than British workers as a proportion of total spending.

And after you adjust for quality, in terms of size, age and proximity to jobs, the UK has higher housing costs than any other developed economy, research by living-standards thinktank the Resolution Foundation shows.

These charts illustrate the key findings...

Leeds Building Society has just announced cuts of up to 0.25% on selected fixed-rate deals.

Relative newcomer to the market Gen H is also reducing rates by up to 0.2%.

Industry insiders say lenders are responding to falling swap rates (these reflect market expectations for future interest rates) and positive noises from Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey last week.

Despite the Bank holding its base rate at 5.25%, Mr Bailey said market expectations of cuts this year (they currently think there will be up to three, starting in summer) were "reasonable".

Michael Haupt, owner of Tomorrow Mortgages, told the industry news provider Newspage, in quotes supplied to the Money blog: "It's great news that Leeds have announced a number of rate cuts this morning. 

"Hopefully this is the start of things to come and the general narrative around mortgage rates will become more positive.

"Though we didn't get a rate cut last week, we got very clear signs from the Bank of England that one is coming soon."

Ying Tan, CEO at Habito, added: "Great to see Leeds being the first mover, off the back of positive inflation news last week. They might be the first but they certainly won't be the last as swap rates have fallen since Andrew Bailey's comments that base rate cuts are on their way."

According to Moneyfacts, the average two-year fixed residential mortgage rate today is 5.82%. The average five-year is 5.40%.

These are just averages - and many buyers or re-mortgagers will be able to secure something in the 4-5% range.

Regulator Ofgem has announced it is considering the future of its price cap.

The options on the table including a "more dynamic" limit, as well as "time-of-use dependent unit rates to encourage consumer flexibility".

The price cap was introduced in January 2019 to prevent people on variable tariffs being ripped off. Initially it changed a couple of times each year - but since 2022 it has been updated every three months.

This change was down to the Ukraine war helping drive up global energy prices - and the cap wasn't keeping up.

The flaws in the system were illustrated last winter when the cap went so high (£4,279) that the government intervened with its energy price guarantee, which capped average bills at £2,500 initially and then £3,000.

The current price cap is about to go down, so between 1 April and 30 June it will be £1,690 per year for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by direct debit.

The cap doesn't represent a maximum bill. Instead it creates an average bill by limiting how much you pay per unit of gas and electricity, as well as setting a maximum daily standing charge (which all households must pay to stay connected to the grid). 

Ofgem says it needs to adapt the system, as more households are switching onto "time-of-use" rates, which makes the universal cap "unsuitable for everyone".

Tim Jarvis, Ofgem's director general of retail and markets, said: "While the price cap played an important role in protecting consumers from the loyalty penalty that existed before its introduction, the energy market is changing as we move to net zero, and we recognise the systems we have in place may need to change too."

Six new airline routes will be available from Heathrow Airport this summer. 

More connections are being added to Abu Dhabi, Kos, Izmir, Bangalore, Barcelona and Paris-Orly.

The new routes are being offered by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling.

Here at the details on each... 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

British Airways will begin offering flights to Abu Dhabi from 20 April, adding to the one million passengers who visited from Heathrow last year.

Travellers will be able to check out the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (one of the world's largest), experience desert safaris and engage in one of the main attractions here - shopping. 

Kos, Greece 

This route is returning for the first time since 2022, courtesy of British Airways. 

From 18 May, holidaymakers can book to see golden beaches and ancient ruins, while enjoying authentic Greek cuisine. 

Izmir, Turkey

For those wanting to explore the Aegean coast, British Airways is now offering flights from Heathrow to Izmir from 18 May. 

The Turkish city combines rich history with busy bazaars - and it's not far from the ancient city of Ephesus, ever popular with tourists. 

Bangalore, India

From 31 March, Virgin Atlantic is opening a route from Heathrow to Bangalore. 

The vibrant city is known as the "Silicon Valley of India", and is also known for being particularly vegan-friendly. 

Barcelona, Spain 

More flights are being offered to Barcelona from 7 April with Vueling. 

Passengers can enjoy a mix of city break and beach break - wandering the historic streets of the Gothic Quarter and exploring the Gaudi architecture before soaking up the sun on Barceloneta Beach. 

Paris-Orly, France

Vueling will also offer flights to Paris-Orly from Heathrow from 7 April - in time for the Olympics in the French capital this summer. 

This is the first time Heathrow has served the route to Paris-Orly since 2017. 

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free