travel company worth

Today's news
Reviews and deals
Climate change
2024 election
Fall allergies
Health news
Mental health
Sexual health
Family health
So mini ways
Unapologetically
Buying guides

Entertainment

How to Watch
My Portfolio
Latest News
Stock Market
Premium News
Biden Economy
EV Deep Dive
Stocks: Most Actives
Stocks: Gainers
Stocks: Losers
Trending Tickers
World Indices
US Treasury Bonds
Top Mutual Funds
Highest Open Interest
Highest Implied Volatility
Stock Comparison
Advanced Charts
Currency Converter
Basic Materials
Communication Services
Consumer Cyclical
Consumer Defensive
Financial Services
Industrials
Real Estate
Mutual Funds
Credit cards
Balance Transfer Cards
Cash-back Cards
Rewards Cards
Travel Cards
Personal Loans
Student Loans
Car Insurance
Morning Brief
Market Domination
Market Domination Overtime
Opening Bid
Stocks in Translation
Lead This Way
Good Buy or Goodbye?
Fantasy football
Pro Pick 'Em
College Pick 'Em
Fantasy baseball
Fantasy hockey
Fantasy basketball
Download the app
Daily fantasy
Scores and schedules
GameChannel
World Baseball Classic
Premier League
CONCACAF League
Champions League
Motorsports
Horse racing
Newsletters

New on Yahoo

Privacy Dashboard

Yahoo Finance

Top 20 most valuable travel companies in the world.

In this article, we will discuss the top 20 most valuable travel companies in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global leisure travel market, and go directly to see the Top 5 Most Valuable Travel Companies in the World .

After being severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, global travel and tourism continued its recovery in 2023. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) most recent statistics show that between January and September 2023, approximately 975 million international tourists traveled. Compared to the same period in 2022, this is a noteworthy 38% growth. Additionally, during this time, worldwide tourism recovered to 87% of pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, according to a report by the Brainy Insights the global leisure travel market was valued at $1.2 trillion in 2022. The market is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.8% from 2023 to 2032, reaching a value of $8.6 trillion at the conclusion of the predicted period. The main drivers of this expansion are the growing number of tourists travelling abroad and the rising standards of living of the general public. The rapid integration of big data analytics, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence in travel and tourism is another factor driving the sector. However, the report points out that the leisure travel market can be significantly impacted by geopolitical unrest.

In terms of market share by age group segment in 2022, the 22–31 years segment was in the lead with a share of almost 32%. The report also mentions that, with a 38.7% market revenue share in 2022, Asia Pacific emerged as the largest global leisure travel market. The expansion of the market is anticipated to be driven by the increasing disposable income in the region, particularly in China and India.

Building up on this, according to a global survey by Hilton and Ipsos of over 10,000 travelers from nine countries, the number one reason to travel in 2024 for most of the respondents was to rest and recharge with an emphasis on sleep. The survey also found that 64% of global travelers intend to prioritize leisure travel in 2024 by cutting back on other personal expenses.

On the other hand, travelers are focusing primarily on dining experiences while they budget for 2024, per Hilton. Exploration and adventure ranked second in importance among travelers (47%) after dining experiences, with Millennials and Gen Zers devoting a bigger percentage of their budget than other generations for these experiences.

Don’t Miss: Top 15 Luxury Travel Agencies in the World and 12 Best Travel Stocks to Buy Right Now

The survey further revealed that an astounding 80% of global travelers think it's essential to be able to plan their entire trip online, with 76% appreciating travel apps that reduce the friction and stress of travel. Additionally, it also highlighted that there has been a significant shift in the way individuals do business since the pandemic. Consequently, new trends like blended leisure have emerged, and over one-third of Gen Z and Millennial business travelers plan to extend their trips in order to take advantage of free time before or after work.

Having said that, today we will be taking at a look the top most valuable travel companies in the world which include Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG ), Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB ), and Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR ) among others.

Our Methodology

For the purpose of this article, we started by compiling a thorough list of all travel companies in the world which come from a variety of sectors, including airlines, hotels, cruises, resorts & casinos and online travel agencies. We then narrowed it down to only include companies with a significant market share and geographical reach. This was achieved by carrying out an extensive analysis of numerous industry papers, financial reports, journals, and news articles.

Top 20 most valuable travel companies in the world have been ranked in ascending order of their market capitalization based on data from Yahoo Finance as of February 21, 2024.

Please note that companies like The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) have not been included because of their engagement in various industries.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years ( see the details here ). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

20. MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM )

Market Capitalization: $13.83 billion

MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM), founded in 1986 and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, owns and operates casino, hotel, and entertainment resorts in the United States and Macau. On February 13, MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.06 and a revenue of $4.38 billion, outperforming Wall Street estimates by $0.35 and $240 million, respectively.

Moreover, with a market capitalization of $13.83 billion as of February 21, it ranks among the most valuable travel companies in the world on our list.

19. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: UAL )

Market Capitalization: $14.25 billion

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL), based in Chicago, Illinois, provides air transportation services to more than 210 destinations in the U.S. and more than 120 destinations internationally.

As of the end of Q4 2023, 43 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database owned stakes in United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL), compared with 34 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is more than $858 million.

18. InterGlobe Aviation Limited

Market Capitalization: $14.36 billion

InterGlobe Aviation Limited, among the top travel companies in the world on our list, is an India-based company that is engaged in the airline business. It has a market cap of $14.36 billion as of February 21.

17. Singapore Airlines Limited

Market Capitalization: $14.77 billion

Singapore Airlines Limited, together with subsidiaries, provides passenger and cargo air transportation services under airline brands such as Singapore Airlines and Scoot. The company has operations in Europe, the Americas, West Asia, Africa, North Asia, Southeast Asia, and Southwest Pacific.

16. Air China

Market Capitalization: $15.02 billion

Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China and one of the "Big Three" mainland Chinese airlines, was founded in 1988. It is also a member of the Star Alliance, the biggest alliance of airlines in the world. The company had a total of 902 aircrafts as of June 30, 2023.

As of February 21, it has a market cap of $15.02 billion and is one of the most valuable travel companies in the world.

15. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE: IHG )

Market Capitalization: $17.53 billion

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG), with operations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Greater China, owns, manages, leases, and franchises hotels and resorts. Based in the United Kingdom, the company operates hotels under various brand names such as Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, Voco, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar, EVEN Hotels, Garner, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Resort, avid, Atwell suites, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

14. Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE )

Market Capitalization: $18.53 billion

Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE), founded in 1996, is a travel technology company. The company generated $2.89 billion in revenues in the fourth quarter of 2023, which beat analysts’ estimates by $10 million.

13. Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE: CCL )

Market Capitalization: $19.28 billion

Based in Miami, Florida, Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL) is a multinational cruise company that operates a fleet of cruise ships and offers various vacation and travel experiences to passengers. As of February 21, it has a market cap of $19.28 billion and is one of the top travel companies in the world .

Moreover, hedge funds like the company. The number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owning stakes in Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL) grew to 41 in Q4 2023, from 33 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of more than $1.48 billion.

12. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV )

Market Capitalization: $20.20 billion

Founded in 1967, Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) is a passenger airline company offering scheduled air transportation services within the United States and in nearby international regions. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share on January 31, which was consistent with its previous dividend.

11. Galaxy Entertainment Group

Market Capitalization: $25.22 billion

Galaxy Entertainment Group, incorporated in 1987 and based in Hong Kong, is an investment holding company, which engages in the management of casino games and provision of hospitality and related services. It has a market cap of $25.22 billion as of February 21.

10. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL )

Market Capitalization: $26.11 billion

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), based in Atlanta, Georgia, offers more than 4,000 flights per day between more than 275 destinations on six continents. It is one of the biggest travel companies in the world .

The company generated $14.22 billion in revenues in the fourth quarter of 2023, which beat analysts’ estimates by $420 million.

Insider Monkey’s database of Q4 2023 indicated that 53 hedge funds owned stakes in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), which remained the same as in the previous quarter. The total value of these stakes is over $1.56 billion.

9. Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ: TCOM )

Market Capitalization: $27.03 billion

Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM), with over 45,100 employees and over 400 million members, is a travel service provider offering accommodation reservations, transportation ticketing, package tours, and corporate travel management. It was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China. The stock has returned 15.08% to investors on a year-to-date basis as of February 21.

In addition, Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) ranks among the largest travel companies in the world on our list.

8. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL )

Market Capitalization: $29.52 billion

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL), based in Miami, Florida, is a cruise operator that operates three famous cruise brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. As of February 21, it boasts a market capitalization of $29.52 billion.

As per Insider Monkey’s database of Q4 2023, 54 hedge funds held stakes in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL), up from 41 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a collective value of approximately $2.4 billion.

7. Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ: RYAAY )

Market Capitalization: $31.54 billion

Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY), parent company of Ryanair, Ryanair UK, Buzz, Lauda and Malta Air, is an Irish company that provides airline services. It connects over 240 destinations in over 40 countries. With a market capitalization of $31.54 billion as of February 21, it is among the top 10 most valuable travel companies in the world on our list.

In its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter, Oakmark International Fund stated the following regarding Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY):

“Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ:RYAAY) (Ireland), a European ultra-low-cost airline, was the top contributor to the Fund’s performance this quarter. Ryanair released strong results for the first half of fiscal-year 2024 and was accompanied by an even stronger outlook, in our view. The company’s revenue grew 30% year over year, and average fares increased by 24% to EUR 58, driven by record demand and constrained capacity at European peers. Total passengers flown expanded 11% year over year to 105.4 million, and management is on track to maintain its target of 183.5 million passengers for 2024, depending on Boeing’s ability to meet its delivery commitments. Management is expecting full-year 2024 net income to be between EUR 1.85-2.05 billion ahead of the EUR 1.82 billion consensus estimate. The company’s strong free cash flow levels and balance sheet allowed Ryanair to reinstate a EUR 400 million dividend (35 cents per share). We spoke with CEO Michael O’Leary about additional uses for its excess capital and were happy to hear about an incremental EUR 1.5 billion return to shareholders starting in 2025. We continue to be optimistic about Ryanair’s future.”

6. Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS )

Market Capitalization: $39.98 billion

Founded in 1988, Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) owns, develops, and operates various integrated resort properties primarily in the United States, Macau, and Singapore.

Hedge funds like the company. Insider Monkey’s database of Q4 2023 indicated that 48 hedge funds owned stakes in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS), compared with 45 in the preceding quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is nearly $2.5 billion.

Click to continue reading and see Top 5 Most Valuable Travel Companies in the World .

The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies for 2023

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

For those truly epic, once-in-a-lifetime destinations, you want to leave your itinerary to the experts. Whether your dream is to see the Big Five on an African Safari, trek tall mountains, explore European cities, or something even wilder, a group tour is the easiest way to do it.

However, picking the wrong group tour company is the quickest way to ruin your trip. Make sure you choose a tour company that aligns with your goals and travel styles. Do you want an intimate group tour or do you prefer to make lots of new friends in a big group? Does the price line up with what you like (luxury vs. budget)? Is the itinerary going to all the places you want to see?

We’ve done the research and found the very best group travel tour companies for 2023 for every type of traveler.

Best Overall Group Travel: Exodus Travels

Images of nature around the mountains and lakes of Slovenia as seen on the Exodus Travels' Lakes and Mountains of Slovenia walking tour

With trips on every continent, Exodus Travels covers anywhere on this planet that you could possibly want to go, from popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast to well 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 Travels to a friend).

These small group tours operate with only around 12-16 people, and always feature experienced local leaders who can give you a unique insight into your destination. Exodus Travels caters to any type of travel style, including trips broken down by type of activity (think walking, cycling, multi-adventure, winter, or cultural) as well as type of traveler (family, age group, etc.). There are curated collections (coastal, “away from it all”, European wilderness, and trips of a lifetime) 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. Looking for that special safari? Exodus Travels just partners with the African Wildlife Foundation to create carefully curated luxury adventures that go above and beyond the standard safari.

Exodus 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 Travels’ Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia walking tour .

A Taste of the Sweet Life in Slovenia

Best Adventure Group Travel: World Expeditions

Groups of hikers walking and camping around the mountains of Kilimanjaro with 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 communities and places where they operate tours better than they 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

People visiting famous sites around China with the G Adventures' China Express group travel tour

For travelers on a budget, G Adventures offers cheap group tours that make dream destinations accessible to nearly anyone. (Think: sailing the Galapagos for just $1,124 , criss-crossing India’s Golden Triangle for $559 , or spending 8 days in Bali for less than $800.)

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

G Adventures keeps costs down by opting for cheaper hotels and local meals, and making certain activities optional (for an additional cost). 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.

8 Trending Destinations to Visit in 2023

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. For a bucket list trip, EF Go Ahead Tour’s special event tours are particularly enticing, 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

Shots from around Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and accommodations provided by Intrepid Travel's Premium Uganda & Rwanda trip

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 for companies doing good.

Intrepid Travel’s tours focus on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and sustaining communities. The company has its own charity, The Intrepid Foundation , which has donated over 7 million dollars to over 130 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 18-29 . (Other trips, including family-focused trips, are geared toward any age.)

Top Trip: Experience unforgettable wildlife encounters on Intrepid Travel’s Premium Uganda & Rwanda trip which includes time with the mountain gorillas of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

The 10 Best Sites to Book a Cruise

Best Private Group Travel: Kensington Tours

Aerial shots of various islands and coastlines around the Croatia and Dalmation Islands and shot of sailboat belonging to Kensington Tours

Whether your group consists of just two people or involves taking the entire extended family, Kensington Tours 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.

Plans are entirely flexible, and can even be changed while on the trip on a whim. Need some inspiration? Browse Kensington Tours’ travel ideas , to get some ideas for your next adventure.

Top Trip: Sail around the stunning shores of Croatia and the Dalmation Islands on a private luxury catamaran on Kensington Tours’ fully customizable tour .

Best Polar Group Travel: Chimu Adventures

Shots of the interior and exterior of the Ocean Adventurer ship and shots of nature around Antarctica as seen on the Chimu Adventures' Antarctica Fly Cruise

Whether you’re headed north to the Artic or south to Antarctica, Chimu Adventures has the perfect polar group trip for you. Chimu Adventures has some of the most variety for polar trips, 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 departing from Australia or New Zealand (most Antarctica trips depart from Argentina). Can’t stay long? Book one of Chimu Adventures’ scenic flights to Antarctica , which fly as far as the south pole in one spectacular 16-hour day.

Chimu Adventures is one of the cheapest group trips to Antarctica, with rates starting under $5,000.

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.

Program These Numbers Into Your Phones Before Traveling Internationally

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

Collage of images from the For the Love of Travel Lapland Tour

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 love 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 weekender trips to nearby destinations like Mexico or Denver—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 , already booking dates for 2024.

Best Biking Tours Group Travel: DuVine Cycling

Collage of shots from DuVine's Holland Bike Tour

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 own stuff from point-to-point). Enter: DuVine Cycling , a luxury small group tour company that specializes 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

Collage of images from the different cities involved in the Abercrombie & Kent Wildlife Safari: Around the World by Private Jet trip

Abercrombie & Kent has been delighting discerning travelers since 1962. Today, they take travelers on unforgettable adventures across over 100 different 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 Safari: Around the World by Private Jet trip , already booking dates into 2024.

Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

For independent explorers who don’t want to miss out on these amazing destinations, book your hotel stay for a great rate with SmarterTravel Hotels .

You Might Also Like:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

Spain: 8-Nt Madrid, Seville, Granada, Valencia...

Luxe, 12-Night Spain, France, Monaco &...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati

Trending on SmarterTravel

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality ›

Leisure Travel

Industry-specific and extensively researched technical data (partially from exclusive partnerships). A paid subscription is required for full access.

Leading travel companies worldwide 2022, by sales

Travel agencies worldwide

Travel management, leading travel companies worldwide in 2022, by gross sales (in billion u.s. dollars).

Immediate access to 1m+ statistics
Incl. source references
Download as PNG, PDF, XLS, PPT

Additional Information

Show sources information Show publisher information Use Ask Statista Research Service

CAPI interview, questionnaire

¹ Booking Holdings and Expedia Group did not take part in the survey provided by the source. Data came from the groups' public financial reports. ² Estimate. Figures refer to global gross sales of travel products. The source only included companies generating at least 100 million U.S. dollars in travel sales, with a minimum of 15 percent of the sales volume in the United States. The companies also had to be the agent of record on the transaction from a supplier's perspective.

Statistics on " Travel companies "

Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
Key information on the global travel agency industry January 2024
Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022
Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2012-2022
Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023
Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024
Total visits to travel and tourism website booking.com worldwide 2021-2024
Total visits to travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide 2020-2024
ACSI - U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites as of 2024
Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023
Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps in the U.S. 2023
Leading travel apps in the U.S. 2022, by market share
Leading travel apps in Europe 2022, by market share
U.S. travel agency industry market size 2012-2022
U.S. tour operator industry market size 2012-2022
Revenue of TUI AG worldwide 2004-2023
Leading travel agents ranked by number of outlets in the UK 2024
Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the UK 2024, by passengers licensed
Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the UK 2008-2023
Worldwide cruise company market share 2022
Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023
Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023
Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand
Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2023

Other statistics that may interest you Travel companies

Industry overview

Premium Statistic Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024
Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
Premium Statistic Key information on the global travel agency industry January 2024
Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
Premium Statistic Leading travel companies worldwide 2022, by sales
Premium Statistic Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022

Online travel agencies (OTAs)

Premium Statistic Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
Premium Statistic Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
Premium Statistic Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
Basic Statistic Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023
Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
Premium Statistic Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2012-2022
Premium Statistic Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Travel websites and apps

Premium Statistic Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024
Premium Statistic Total visits to travel and tourism website booking.com worldwide 2021-2024
Premium Statistic Total visits to travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide 2020-2024
Premium Statistic ACSI - U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites as of 2024
Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023
Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps in the U.S. 2023
Premium Statistic Leading travel apps in the U.S. 2022, by market share
Premium Statistic Leading travel apps in Europe 2022, by market share

Travel agencies and tour operators

Premium Statistic U.S. travel agency industry market size 2012-2022
Premium Statistic U.S. tour operator industry market size 2012-2022
Premium Statistic Revenue of TUI AG worldwide 2004-2023
Premium Statistic Leading travel agents ranked by number of outlets in the UK 2024
Premium Statistic Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the UK 2024, by passengers licensed
Premium Statistic Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the UK 2008-2023

Cruise companies

Premium Statistic Worldwide cruise company market share 2022
Premium Statistic Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023
Premium Statistic Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023
Premium Statistic Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
Premium Statistic TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand
Premium Statistic Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2023

Further related statistics

Premium Statistic Sales performance of corporate agencies in the U.S. in 2014 vs. 2013, by segment
Premium Statistic Revenue of traditional travel agents in the U.S. in 2012, by product type
Premium Statistic Average annual sales per fulltime frontline travel agent 2014, by agency type
Premium Statistic Sales performance in travel agencies in the U.S. in 2014 compared to 2013, by segment
Premium Statistic Decrease in sales of traditional travel agents in the U.S. from 2008 to 2012
Premium Statistic U.S. travel agencies share of sales by travel segment 2014, by agency type
Premium Statistic Sales performance of U.S. independent travel agents in 2014 vs. 2013, by segment
Basic Statistic Home-based travel agents reporting a decrease in sales in the U.S. from 2008 to 2017
Basic Statistic Travel agents change in sales in the U.S. 2008-2017
Premium Statistic Sales performance of retail leisure agencies in the U.S. in 2014 vs. 2013, by segment
Premium Statistic Change in total sales of traditional travel agents in the U.S. in H1 2013 vs. 2012
Premium Statistic Change in total sales of home-based travel agents in the U.S. in H1 2013 vs. 2012
Basic Statistic Travel agents reporting a decrease in sales in the U.S. from 2008 to 2017
Basic Statistic Revenue distribution of home-based travel agents in the U.S. in 2013, by product type
Premium Statistic Tuniu's gross profit 2014-2022
Premium Statistic Travel agents and tour operators: number of employees in Croatia 2010-2016
Premium Statistic Brazil: favorite channels to look for travel options 2020, by service type
Premium Statistic Industry revenue of “other reservation service and related activities“ in Poland 2012-2025

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

Sales performance of corporate agencies in the U.S. in 2014 vs. 2013, by segment
Revenue of traditional travel agents in the U.S. in 2012, by product type
Average annual sales per fulltime frontline travel agent 2014, by agency type
Sales performance in travel agencies in the U.S. in 2014 compared to 2013, by segment
Decrease in sales of traditional travel agents in the U.S. from 2008 to 2012
U.S. travel agencies share of sales by travel segment 2014, by agency type
Sales performance of U.S. independent travel agents in 2014 vs. 2013, by segment
Home-based travel agents reporting a decrease in sales in the U.S. from 2008 to 2017
Travel agents change in sales in the U.S. 2008-2017
Sales performance of retail leisure agencies in the U.S. in 2014 vs. 2013, by segment
Change in total sales of traditional travel agents in the U.S. in H1 2013 vs. 2012
Change in total sales of home-based travel agents in the U.S. in H1 2013 vs. 2012
Travel agents reporting a decrease in sales in the U.S. from 2008 to 2017
Revenue distribution of home-based travel agents in the U.S. in 2013, by product type
Tuniu's gross profit 2014-2022
Travel agents and tour operators: number of employees in Croatia 2010-2016
Brazil: favorite channels to look for travel options 2020, by service type
Industry revenue of “other reservation service and related activities“ in Poland 2012-2025

10 Largest 2021 Travel Acquisitions Ripple Across Industry

Dennis Schaal , Skift

December 27th, 2021 at 2:30 AM EST

Big names drove many of the top 10 travel mergers of the year. But among the largest deals, aircraft lessors, rail manufacturers and an online travel agency used the pandemic to scoop up infrastructure and technology to shore up their positions.

Dennis Schaal

Pandemic opportunities fueled much of the mergers-and-acquisitions activity in travel this year, as buyers pounced on favorable valuations and sectors set for strong recoveries.

Among the top 10 deals were three that involved infrastructure or services for planes and trains, and the dealmakers were companies that your average traveler never heard of.

The biggest such deal saw Dublin-based AerCap, already the largest aircraft lessor in the world, acquiring a U.S.-based rival, GE Capital Aviation Services , for $30.7 billion in November. That deal, which saw GE grabbing $23 million in cash and a 46 percent stake in the merged companies in a bet on an aviation recovery, was roughly five times larger than the number two acquisition of the year.

In that second-biggest acquisition, France-headquartered Alstom bought UK-based Bombardier Transportation, a rail car manufacturer, in a $6.2 billion (euro 5.5 billion) deal that closed in January 2021.

lnterestingly, both sellers General Electric in the AerCap deal, and Bombardier, then-parent of Bombardier Transportation, in the transaction with Alstom, viewed the transactions as enabling them to return to their core businesses, an energy equipment and services provider for GE, and business jets for Bombardier.

The third infrastructure-services deal was the 10th biggest travel-related acquisition with Siemens Mobility acquiring rail software maker Squills for $650 million.

See the chart below to view the top 10 deals.

Hotels and real estate were in play as Blackstone and Starwood Capital executed the third largest travel-related acquisition of the year and took control of Extended Stay America for $6 billion. One might characterize Extended Stay America as a merger and acquisition football — When the deal closed in June, it was the third time Blackstone has been owner of Extended Stay America.

In another major hotel deal, the fifth largest travel acquisition of the year, Hyatt bought Apple Leisure Group for $2.7 billion in November, extending Chicago-based Hyatt’s reach further into Europe and the all-inclusive sector.

The fourth largest deal of the year had Certares, Knighthead and Apollo winning an auction to lead U.S.-based Hertz out of bankruptcy in a roughly $4.7 billion deal.

The sixth-largest travel acquistion announced or closed in 2021 was the only Asia entry with Tata Group intending to take Air India private for $2.4 billion.

It wasn’t a particularly active mergers and acquisitions year for online travel agencies, but one, Booking Holdings, announced late in the year two billion-dollar-plus acquisitions, Swedish flight-tech provider Etraveli Group for $1.8 billion (seventh-largest deal) and hotel wholesaler and distributor Getaroom for $1.2 billion (eighth largest).

Expedia Group was a seller. The online travel agency sold its once-rising star Egencia , the corporate travel agency, to American Express Global Business Travel for a 14 percent stake in the world’s largest travel management company, worth about $750 million, and a long-term hotel distribution deal. That was the ninth-largest travel acquisition of the year.

We didn’t consider special-purpose acquisition company deals in our top 10 because they are transactions executed by shell companies with no operations. If we had included them, then Altimeter Capital Growth 1’s merger with Singapore’s Grab, the ride sharing and food delivery superapp, would have been in the mix in a $4 billion transaction.

Travel’s 10 Biggest Merger and Acquisition Deals of 2021

Source: Skift, financial filings

The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: Blackstone Group , booking holdings , corporate travel , expedia , extended stay america , grab , hotels , hyatt , online travel agencies

Photo credit: Pictured is an AerCap a320neo. The aircraft lessor participated in the largest travel acquisition of 2021.

Billionaires and A-listers pay me to plan their luxury vacations. For $150,000 a year, I get them into the best restaurants and hotels in the world.

Jaclyn Sienna India, 42, founded the ultra-luxury travel company Sienna Charles.
She didn't come from money but plans vacations for people worth at least $100 million.
Her job involves personally scouting destinations and specializing in quiet luxury hospitality.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jaclyn Sienna India, the founder of the luxury travel concierge Sienna Charles . The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I came from an extremely poor background , but I always had a vision.

I attended university for art history. I was a typical college kid, but at that time, I started working at a five-star French luxury restaurant , Le Bec-Fin, as a server. I didn't know how much that restaurant would impact my life.

The clients coming in came from wealthy backgrounds . I saw people spend $10,000 on dinner. They were super dressed up, covered in jewels, and coming in with Rolls-Royces to dine on the best food and drink the best wine.

I became enamored with studying people with ultra-high net worths. I wanted to take that elegance, knowledge, and personal service I learned in the restaurant and bring it to travel.

Faking it until I made it

I started my own travel concierge, Sienna Charles, 16 years ago. I definitely faked it until I made it, but I believed in it.

You could start a business for $99. But what you do with that after is when you start to grow as an entrepreneur . I opened my business, but it's not like the phone rang.

At that time, I was writing to Gotham Magazine and Manhattan Magazine, telling them that I was the most exclusive travel company in the world.

My husband thought I was the dumbest person in the world because we would get calls from people saying, "Oh, I saw your article. I'd love to go to Disney," or, "We're going to New Jersey for the weekend." And I was like, "Oh, I'm sorry, we're so busy, we're really sold out this season with high-net-worth people."

But I had no clients. My husband would say, "You're an idiot. Take the trip." And my response was, "No. I either work for the wealthy or I don't."

It took me three years to get a client. After booking my first billionaire client, I put the $30,000 profit toward my personal travel.

Most people would think I was an idiot at that time because I didn't have the money. In retrospect, it was about understanding the product.

I took it just as seriously from the beginning as I do today.

My dream was to create, for lack of a better term, a one-stop shop because the industry was so segmented. If you wanted to go on an African safari , you would call Abercrombie and Kent . If you wanted to go to Paris, you would call this person. You would call a broker if you wanted to go on a yacht. If you wanted to get a plane, you would call somebody else.

I wanted to be that one point of contact all the time for that wealthy person.

My clients are billionaires and A-listers with type-A personalities

Clients typically come to us. Their average net worth generally starts at $100 million. Annual membership fees range between $75,000 and $150,000, depending on the services clients require. On the lower end, that includes travel and dining services at home and while traveling. The higher-paying members get access to that plus lifestyle services.

But all members get access to our team 24/7 and my personal black book. We work with less than 100 families. We're handling their dining while they're at their multiple homes and booking their trips. We're an extension of them and their team.

When they reach out and want to become a member, there's an interview and then an onboarding preference call where we get to know them and build out their profile. We ask questions like: What are you comfortable spending nightly at a hotel? Do you prefer contemporary hotels or a more classical style? What are your favorite dining times? Are you OK with tasting menus? What type of guide do you like? We collect all that, and then as the travel and lifestyle requests come in, we use those preferences to help clients with anything and everything throughout the year.

We're learning about them constantly and using information to improve every experience. Some people want calendar invites, others want the mobile app, and others only want to email.

I specialize in quiet luxury travel

In terms of the trips, we do the simple to the sublime.

Clients could live in Los Angeles and not have an apartment in New York City and maybe want to go there for three nights and stay at a great hotel — that trip could be $10,000 a night in a hotel. So, we do those regular trips and trips that cost well into the millions, like going to Africa with helicopters and private jets.

Before it had a name, we definitely had been practicing quiet luxury travel and hospitality.

Almost all the clients we have don't want to be seen. They've reached a level in their success where they don't need to prove it to people by taking pictures of their pasta at Carbone.

The people in Capri in July are one set of people, and the people on a small island on their own yacht in Sicily are another group. That's the people we cater to.

You can read 1,000 travel magazines, and people say, "This new hotel is incredible." I don't think it's incredible until I go there and see what I think of it.

So many times, I'd been excited about a popular new hotel or destination and was disappointed.

However, the beauty of hospitality projects, whether a hotel or restaurant, is that they always have an opportunity to improve because they learn from their mistakes.

But being on a list just means that everyone who follows lists will go there. I've become a real filter for our members to ensure they only visit phenomenal places that live up to expectations.

I rarely travel for leisure

I'll take a vacation very rarely. It'll be when I know everything is all set, like after Christmas to January 15th, when everybody's on mental break.

Everything else is work. Every week, I'm generally in two places.

I'm on the computer answering the team all day and night. I work 40 to 50 hours, sometimes 60 hours a week. When I travel in Europe, before the team gets on, my calendar is filled with site inspections, meetings with clients, or meetings with new vendors.

I have a very type-A personality. I'm focused on living and breathing by my calendar and having every minute dedicated to the company's growth.

I use my own service. I don't think many owners try their own service or know how everything flows.

We often get asked to sell our company. I don't want to sell my company; I'm still learning. It's something that drives me every day.

It's like polishing a diamond. Every day, I become a better business person and a better leader to handle the challenges of running a 20-person team that is committing to the most difficult people in the world, in the most difficult time in history, to deliver phenomenal customer service every minute of the day.

Watch: Marriott International's Tina Edmundson tells Insider that the travel mindset has changed since the pandemic

Main content

Secrets of the Travel Company that Serves the World's Wealthiest

March 23, 2022

Nathan Foy is founder and CEO of Fortis , a luxury travel company that provides over 25,000 private, secure trips in 114 countries every year. With a clientele worth over half a trillion dollars, and offices in the US and Hong Kong, if there’s anyone who knows the travel habits and requirements of the billionaires, it’s Nathan .

We sat down with Nathan recently and asked him about some of the travel tips, and incredible stories he’s accumulated over his 20 years in the billionaire travel business.

How did you get into the luxury travel business?

I quite literally, failed into it. Fortis began as a prepaid taxicab card for college students, pre-9/11. We built a network of taxi companies up and down the east coast and were selling to parents of incoming students in the fall of 2001. Then 9/11 happened and we had to change or go under. We started selling taxis to private aviation and they responded they wanted chauffeured cars. In early 2002, we pivoted to high end clients and haven’t looked back.

What does Fortis do that is different from other high-end transportation companies?

Fortis combines concierge service for chauffeurs and security with a risk-based approach to security. The result is that high achievers accomplish more when they travel with us.

What are three travel tips you have for luxury travelers?

Use a travel alias. Even if you think you’re low profile, the internet has a way of unmasking you. We have a horde of teenage girls tracking a principal in the Caribbean, and he wasn’t high profile. He then took our recommendation.

Favorite your best service providers and make sure they’re around for when you come back to your favorite destinations. At Fortis, our clients can favorite their best chauffeurs and we’ll remember them. Otherwise, tip them more and make sure they’re there for you when you return. This is how your favorite spots become an extension of home.

Always have satellite communications through either a phone or text device like a Bivy stick. You won’t have to worry about cell coverage and privacy and you can only talk when you like.

Where’s your favorite place to visit?

Tuscany. I love the food, the people, and the landscape.

Tell us one of your most outrageous client experiences.

We had a client who wanted us to help him publicly fire an Indian executive in the lobby of the hotel in which our client was staying. Everything about this was wrong - India is an honor culture and public shows of dismissal are dangerous, especially when you stay behind for days in the same location. Fortunately, we counseled him to do it privately and leave town right away and he took our advice.

What do you never leave home without?

My vanishing-point fountain pen. It helps my ideas flow and it’s a pretty sharp object if protection is needed.

What is something your clients never leave home without?

Their mobile phone.

What is the most outlandish or exotic request you’ve ever had from a client and were you able to provide it?

We had a client request a custom armored SUV in New York with a safe installed in the back. We were in the process of coordinating it when other events in his life got in the way.

What’s the most dangerous trip one of your drivers has undertaken?

We served a media mogul in India during riots in Mumbai. We provided executive protection, translation, and coordination with police to avoid the hot zones. She had a productive trip, even though at first, she was skeptical that protection was needed. When she returned, she called the agent a “lifesaver”.

What is the biggest misconception the general public has about providing a service to the billionaires?

That it’s about showy, fawning service. It’s about discreetly serving them to help them achieve more by maximizing their time.

Describe the kinds of training your drivers must complete before they can work for you?

We work with chauffeurs rather than drivers. A driver is someone who takes you from A to B. A chauffeur helps you accomplish more with your day. Most chauffeurs are recommended by a trusted service provider. Then they are mystery ridden by someone we trust. Then they may start doing rides, with training coming through our Partner conferences where we instruct them on the Fortis brand and how to lead clients to higher service. The broad outline of how they are trained is in What Rich Clients Want: (But Won’t Tell You) , my book released last September.

Sign-up for Our Email Newsletter

Find a luxury hotel & book with exclusive perks.

Luxury Partners

Villa Lala — Romantic Boutique Hotel in Puerto Vallarta

Cabo Platinum - Cabo San Lucas Luxury Villas, Yachts & Concierge Services

Villa Firenze - Costa Rica Luxury Villa Rental

JUP - Personal Service for Buying and Selling Real Estate in Jupiter, Florida

Polaris Slingshot - A three-wheeled sensation that re-ignites your love for driving

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa - Rancho Santa Fe, California - One of the West’s most sought-after five star resorts

Tuscan Dream - Immerse Yourself in the Tuscan Villa Vacation Experience

Grand Hotel Portovenere - Cinque Terre - Discover this beautiful region of Italy!

Dude Ranchers Association - An all-inclusive vacation experience like no other

El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel - Santa Barbara, California - Experience timeless Californian glamor.

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa - Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii - Beachfront Resort

Culture, Spirituality, and Wellness in Japan's Tochigi Prefecture

Blue Waters Resort & Spa - Antigua - A hidden gem nestled in a private bay on Antigua's northwestern coast with sunset views

A.M.A Selections - Luxury Villa Rentals throughout Europe

Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun, Mexico - Adults Only, All Inclusive

Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort - Porto Ercole, Tuscany, Italy

Porto Zante Villas & Spa - Zakynthos, Greece - The leading villa resort in Europe

Search Travel Market Report

Packaged Travel
Hotels & Resorts
Destinations
Retail Strategies
Niche & Luxury
Training & Resources
Brian Israel
Briana Bonfiglio
Dan McCarthy
Dori Saltzman
Jennifer Arango
Kelly Fontenelle
Keri-Anne Slevin
Louis Intreglia
Sarah Milner
Tom McCarthy

How Much Is Your Agency Worth?

As sales of travel agencies heat up , especially among corporate-focused agencies, buyers and sellers both have to grapple with the same question: How much is the company worth? Most businesses, travel agencies included, are valued based on some multiple of sales, said Bob Sweeney, president and CEO of the agency broker Innovative Travel Acquisitions. A formula There are no hard and fast rules on pricing, he explained, but the more profitable an agency, the higher the multiple. For instance: • An agency that generates up to $150,000 in free cash flow each year will likely sell for 2.5 to three time earnings. • An agency that generates between $150,000 and $500,000 in free cash flow each year will likely sell for 4.5 times earnings. • An agency that generates between $500,000 and $1 million in free cash flow each year will likely sell for about 5.5 times earnings. Running the numbers At Directravel, where Ed Adams has been heading up a consolidation drive for several years, target companies are evaluated using a standard accounting measure – earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, or EBITDA. The typical purchase price is around five times EBITDA, according to Adams. There is always room for adjustments based on specific situations such as less productive family members on the payroll or particularly valuable accounts tied to specific agents. Adams started consolidating companies for Silver Oak Partners, under the Directravel banner, in 2011. He had a list of potential targets and enough capital to amass companies with between $25 million and $30 million in EBITDA, he told Travel Market Report at that time. Better times With earnings soft, many potential sellers decided to hold on to their companies and hope for better times. Now that earnings are on the rise, EBITDA is up, and those would-be sellers are coming back into the market. “We are paying a multiple of EBITDA, so we don’t have a problem with business improving. If EBITDA is up, that’s fine with us,” Adams said. While leisure and commercial travel sales both took a beating during the recession, business travel has come back sooner and stronger. That has put business agency owners in a stronger bargaining position than leisure agency owners. What to sell? The terms of an agency acquisition are as varied as the parties involved. The simplest deal may be an outright purchase of 100% of agency assets and the old owner walks away. But business deals are seldom simple. “It all depends on what the seller is looking to accomplish and what their timeline is,” Sweeney said. “If the seller is in his 70s, it might make sense to sell everything and walk away. But some other arrangement might be more appropriate for an owner in his 50s.” Buyers also have their preferences, Sweeney continued. Frosch typically buys 51% and keeps the current owner in charge. World Travel Partners usually buys 80%. Directravel typically buys 100%. And all three can be flexible if the right agency is on the table. “There are a number of players who are buying 51% interest and keeping the owner fully engaged,” Adams said. “We’d be willing to entertain that as well if an owner wanted to keep some skin in the game.” Happening all the time Acquisitions are a familiar part of the agency landscape. Travel agencies, particularly commercial agencies, change hands in good times and in bad. “Acquisitions happen all the time,” said long-time industry consultant Mark Miller in Atlanta. “Most of them just aren’t publicized because buyers and sellers are privately held firms and have no reason to talk about their financial affairs. “More times than not, when there is a shift in the market that impacts traditional revenue streams, it impacts business owners and business ownership,” Miller said. “Companies are in acquisition mode to expand their operations and apply what have been very successful methods to new geographic areas.”

Best Online Travel Agencies

Booking.com is our top choice for making your trip arrangements

Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES.

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

Planning a trip can be easier through an online travel agency than if you handle each aspect of the planning separately. You can book hotels, air travel, rental cars, and more through a single site, and booking everything together sometimes results in discounts. By inputting a destination, a range of dates, and other preferences, you will see a list of options for each aspect of travel.

The best online travel agencies offer options from the largest number of airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and more. Look for sites that offer discounts for combining reservations for different aspects of your trip. For example, the best sites will have lower rates if you book both plane tickets and a hotel through their services. The best sites also provide reviews from customers who actually have booked through the service. These are our top picks.

Best Overall: Booking.com
Best Budget: Skyscanner
Best Price Predictor: Hopper
Most Innovative: Kiwi.com
Best for Eco-Conscious: Kind Traveler
Best for Social Impact: I Like Local
Best for Design-Forward Homestays: Plum Guide
Our Top Picks
Booking.com

Kind Traveler

I Like Local

See More (4)

Final Verdict

Frequently asked questions, methodology, best overall : booking.com.

Booking.com

This industry leader offers one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms on the Internet.

Lots of options to choose from

Interface is easy to use

Numerous filters to customize your search

Tricky to tell whether changes/cancellations can be made with Booking.com or the vendor directly

Booking.com was founded in 1996 and has grown into an industry leader that stands out for being one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms out there. From one website, you can compare and book accommodations, flights (including one-way and multi-city flights), sightseeing activities, and even airport taxis. The website lists more than 28 million accommodation options, from hotels, hostels, and B&Bs to vacation homes and luxury resorts—you can browse more choices per destination on Booking.com than other online travel agencies. The website also performs well on cost and typically returns lower-than-average prices for flights and hotels.

Booking.com's interface is also easy to use. On the home page, search for a hotel by entering your chosen destination and dates. Then, use the extensive list of filters—such as price range and distance from the city center—to narrow the results down and find the best fit. You can also search for a specific hotel, or seek inspiration by clicking through options grouped by destination or property type or by topic such as the country’s best Michelin-starred hotel restaurants or the top cities for vegan travelers. The flights, car rental, and other tabs are just as intuitive.

Best Budget : Skyscanner

Skyscanner

You can compare prices across airlines, hotels, and car rentals.

Simple interface

Option to toggle searches between specific dates or by monthly calendars

Search Everywhere button is great for spontaneous planners

Extra clicks are required to make a final purchase

Must read fine print for changes/cancellations—may need to deal directly with the vendor

Ads on the sidebar can be distracting

Find deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals with an aggregator site like Skyscanner , which uses a metasearch engine to compare prices from all online travel agencies and the airline, hotel, or car rental company in question. Run searches with fixed dates, opt to compare airfare prices month to month, or click “Cheapest Month.” Searches also include options for nearby airports or non-stop flights only. With hotel searches, you can choose to select only from properties with free cancellation, a cleanliness rating of 4.5/5 or higher, or 3- or 4-starred hotels only. Car rental searches include an option to select “return car to different location.”

Once you’ve found the best rate, click on the link to be redirected to the third-party site to make your booking. Feeling spontaneous? The Search Everywhere button on the homepage offers a list of the cheapest flight deals for destinations both locally and across the world—just plug in your departure airport first.

Best Price Predictor : Hopper

The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting when flights and hotel rates will be cheapest.

Color-coded system makes it easy to determine cheapest days to buy

App is easy to use

Option to track flights and receive alerts when the best time to buy arises

Some have mentioned the app functions better as a research tool than a booking tool

Unclear whether Hopper will price match if you find a cheaper flight elsewhere

Hopper is a travel app available on iOS and Android that aims to help travelers save on airfare by usng historical data and their own algorithm to predict when flights will be cheapest. Just type in where and when you’d like to fly and Hopper will present you with a color-coded pricing calendar indicating how much tickets are likely to cost. (Green is the least expensive, then yellow, orange, and red for most expensive.) Hopper will also recommend you either buy now or wait, or you can choose to watch a trip and receive notifications on the best time to buy. In addition, the app has expanded to offer hotel and car rental price predictions, too.

Some newer features since the app’s inception in 2009 include an option to freeze a price for a limited time—for an extra fee—as well as exclusive app-only discounts. Hopper is free to download, and you can choose to book directly through the app, though some users mentioned they use Hopper as more of a research tool before booking directly with the airline or hotel. The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting flight rates up to a year ahead.

Most Innovative : Kiwi.com

This metasearch engine scours the web to piece together the ideal itinerary using planes, trains, buses, and more.

Creative itineraries get you where you need to go, especially if you’ve got a multi-stop trip

Kiwi Guarantee offers rebooking or cancellation protections

Nomad option appeals to travelers with a lot of flexibility

Creative itineraries mean you may not fly out of the same airport you flew into

Kiwi Guarantee has an additional fee

Charges all-in-one fee for booking flights, trains, buses (though you can always purchase a la carte)

Travelers planning multi-city destinations and seeking a bargain, as well as those looking to take planes, trains, and automobiles to get there, might consider Kiwi . Kiwi is a metasearch engine that scours and pieces together itineraries from various airlines (even if they don’t have a codeshare agreement), considers multiple airports (even if your arrival airport is different from departure), and offers booking options, whether you’re looking at very specific dates or more general ones (up to 60 nights).

Some will find the ability to make multiple bookings for a particular trip more convenient than going at it manually several different times, though note that you must opt into the Kiwi Guarantee program to access rebooking and refund protections should your reservation change or be canceled. Kiwi’s Nomad option allows you to plug in a bunch of destinations you’d like to visit and the length of your intended stay, and the website will churn out the most affordable itineraries for review.

Best for Eco-Conscious : Kind Traveler

A give-and-get business model means booking accommodations with exclusive perks, a donation to environmental organizations, and more.

All participating hotels include a local give-back component

Exclusive savings and perks

Participating hotels are located in some of the most beautiful places in the world

Inventory is much smaller compared to other booking platforms

Some of the amenities mentioned are based on availability only

In 2022, Kind Traveler (an online trave agency focused on hotel bookings) announced an increase in environmentally and socially conscious hotels, charity donations, voluntourism opportunities, and additional perks like waived resort fees or a welcome amenity.

Unlock exclusive hotel rates and perks from participating Kind Traveler hotels with a minimum $10/night minimum donation to a local charity. For example, stay at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and receive up to $33 off the nightly rate and perks such as a food and beverage credit and an Earth Lab or Alchemy Bar workshop when you make a donation to Manta Trust. The organization funds coastal research to protect the island nation’s large yet fragile population of reef mantas.

Select from more than 140 participating hotels from the Hawaiian Islands to Bozeman, Montana, and the Maldives. Charities include wildlife, human rights, arts, education, and environmental preservation organizations.

Best for Social Impact : I Like Local

Choose from a host of travel experiences with the peace of mind that 100 percent of the cost goes directly to local partners.

Social impact mission woven into organization’s business model

Immersive experiences led by local guides

Range of experiences offered

May not be best fit for those seeking upscale, luxury experiences and stays

Can’t sort experiences by a list of countries (though an interactive map is available)

No experiences outside of Africa and Asia

For an online travel agency with a booking platform designed to route dollars spent directly to the communities travelers intend to visit, consider I Like Local . Visit the website to browse a host of travel experiences in countries including Indonesia, Kenya, and Cambodia. Experiences include homestays and farmstays as well as wellness and culturally oriented experiences—from cooking and cycling tours to weaving classes.

To search for an experience, select from drop-down items like travel dates and experience categories, or view a global map and click on a country to view experiences that way.

The platform got its start in 2014 and has grown to 4,000 local hosts across nearly 20 countries. As a social impact organization, 100 percent of each booking fee goes to local hosts. To date, 16,000 travelers have booked with I Like Local.

Best for Design-Forward Homestays : Plum Guide

Browse and book seriously vetted, design-forward vacation homes.

Highly curated inventory of vacation rentals across the world

Design-forward

Thorough vetting process

Does not publish guest reviews

Other platforms have homes available across more destinations

When it comes to booking a vacation home, serviced apartment, or condo, travelers are spoiled for choice. Plum Guide is an online travel agency that specializes in accommodations—though not just any home makes its directory. The company claims that each potential home listed on its site must jump through 150 hoops to be included, from internet speed and mattress and pillow quality to the showers’ water pressure and the home’s proximity to dining, shopping, and attractions.

Search by a featured collection on the website such as “ pet-friendly homes ” or “one-of-a-kind homes in Palm Springs.” Scroll to the bottom of its homepage to view its top destinations, as well as a list of all destinations where Plum Guide homes are available, including Barbados, Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, the U.S., and Turkey. Note: From the top right-hand corner of the site, use the dropdown menu to select currency of choice.

As long as you know what you value most out of your travel experience—such as affordability, social impact, or luxe accommodations—there’s an online travel agency to help plan your next trip. Be sure to read the fine print, as some agencies are third-party websites and not direct vendors. If you're not sure where to start, Booking.com is your best bet for a smooth user experience and hard-to-beat offers on flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements.

What Is the Biggest Travel Agency?

Our choice for best overall, Booking.com, is known as an industry leader with listings for all major hotels, airlines, car rental companies, and more. It boasts more choices for accommodations per destination than any other site, and we found its interface to be user-friendly.

Are Online Travel Agencies Worth It?

This depends on your needs and priorities. The best online travel agencies certainly can save time by booking everything all at once. However, if you're someone who is good at haggling and enjoys the details of planning a trip, you might be able to find better deals by reaching out to hotels or other destinations and speaking to someone personally.

Is It Cheaper to Book Online Than With a Travel Agent?

Not always. A travel agent you know and trust should have the experience and connections to find deals that can match or surpass what you'll find online. Additionally, if something goes wrong, travel agents provide you with an actual person you can use as an advocate to correct the problem . But if you don't have access to a good travel agent, online sites still provide plenty of ways to streamline planning and save money .

We considered dozens of online travel agencies and narrowed down the options based on user experience, volume and quality of inventory, unique offerings and specials, and customer reviews. We also assessed travel companies’ environmentally and socially conscious policies.

Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

Best Hotel Booking Sites

Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Solo Travelers

The Best Budget Hotels in Miami Beach of 2024

Best Dreams Resorts

Best Budget Manhattan Hotels

Best Walt Disney World Resort Hotels in Orlando

The 9 Best All-Inclusive Family Resorts in Mexico in 2024

Best Las Vegas Hotels for Couples

Best Online Sites for Booking Cheap or Discounted Airline Tickets

Best London Budget Hotels

Best Car Rental Companies of 2024

The Best Oceanfront Virginia Beach Hotels

Best Budget Disney World Hotels

Best Hawaii All-Inclusive Hotels

Best Disneyland Hotels

Saving Money on Your Summer Vacation

Twitter / X
Readers' Choice
Food & Drink
Arts & Culture
Travel Guides

USA TODAY 10Best

10 travel memberships that are worth the money

November 11, 2021 // By Leila Najafi

By Leila Najafi November 11, 2021

We live in a subscription-obsessed world and there’s a subscription for everything you can imagine, from razors to clothing and even hot sauces. Travel memberships are on the rise, providing new ways to ease some of the stress that comes with traveling these days and help make the journey more seamless.

Whether you’re willing to pay a premium for exclusive travel experiences that provide a little more privacy or you're more budget-conscious and want to find the best travel deals, there’s a membership for every type of traveler. Here are 10 travel memberships that are worth considering.

Wheels Up offers private jet charter memberships so travelers can access a fleet of aircrafts, including a King Air 350i, an 8-passenger Citation Excel/XLS, and one of the fastest aircrafts, the Citation X. Wheels Up uses a dynamic pricing model offering competitive rates, so members can book flights on-demand with the flexibility to pay as they go.

Advertisement Advertisement

Additional m embership benefits include invites to signature events, President’s Circle status with Hertz, a complimentary trial of Inspirato Club subscription for 12 months (Core members only), certain perks at select Waldorf Astoria hotels across North America, a partnership with Delta SkyMiles, dedicated partnership rates with Porsche and more.

Membership cost: Three membership options are available – Connect, Core and Business. The Connect membership requires a one-time initiation fee of $2,995 and annual dues of $2,495 which begin on year two. The Core membership has an initiation fee of $17,500 and annual dues of $8,500 which begin on year two. The Business membership requires an initiation fee of $29,500 and $14,500 for subsequent years and includes up to six lead passengers.

Getting through airport security lines can be a drag, especially during holiday weekends and a pandemic that has increased the demand for more seclusion when traveling. PS (formerly known as Private Suite) is designed for first and business class travelers who are seeking privacy and convenience, allowing them to bypass LAX altogether.

Travelers check into a private terminal where they can relax in a fully-stocked luxury private suite that includes complimentary in-suite meals catered by h.wood Group , as well as additional services upon request such as in-suite massages, manicures and detailing services for personal cars. PS also provides a designated on-site TSA and Customs agent for expedited screening.

Upon boarding, travelers are transported across the tarmac directly to their aircraft in a BMW 7 Series sedan. Earlier this year, the Salon at PS launched, which features a new full-service lounge at the terminal for travelers who want the same benefits of PS but seek a more social experience.

Membership cost: Annual membership costs $4,500, which gives members access to a preferred rate of $3,250 for a one-way Suite experience for up to four travelers. The Salon is available to members and non-members for $695 per use per person.

Inspirato is a subscription-based luxury travel service that gives members exclusive access to over 150,000 luxury vacation homes and resorts around the world that are staffed by Inspirato. There are two membership types: Inspirato Club and Inspirato Pass. The former gives you access to the luxury residences and hotels around the world, on-site concierge and daily housekeeping with additional benefits such as late check-in and check-out, room upgrades, spa credits and more. However, members also pay nightly room rates.

With the Inspirato Pass, you automatically get the benefits of Inspirato Club plus nightly rates are already factored into the price of membership, so you can book as many vacations as possible in one month with one active reservation at a time. There is also no long-term commitment, so you can cancel the membership at any time.

Membership cost: Inspirato Club membership is $600/month plus a $600 enrollment fee and you pay nightly rates as you go. Inspirato Pass is a flat rate of $2,500/month which includes all hotel stays.

Scott’s Cheap Flights

A membership to Scott’s Cheap Flights includes flight deals and “Mistake Fares” accidentally published by airlines sent straight to your inbox. The team scours the internet for the lowest published airfare rates to popular destinations and shares them with members.

Subscribers can also track deals from a specific airport close to home or destinations of interest. A membership to Scott’s Cheap Flights is best for travelers who have flexibility on the destination and dates and are willing to fly based on low airfare rates. Flight deals don’t last long so you’ll have to act fast.

Membership cost: There are three membership tiers including Limited which is free, Premium costs $49/year and Elite $199/year.

PRIOR was started by a former travel editor who saw a gap in the market for travelers wanting a more immersive experience during their vacation. A team of experienced travel editors and local tastemakers on the ground design itineraries for curious travelers.

A PRIOR WORLD membership includes access to curated destination guides, unique local experiences in cities around the world, pre-planned group trips led by experts and for an additional fee, the team can create a custom itinerary based on your interests.

If you're a frequent traveler, PRIOR BESPOKE might be the membership better suited for you. For a flat fee per year, members get unlimited trip planning by their expert team of travel editors and membership managers.

Membership cost: PRIOR WORLD membership costs $249 per annum. PRIOR BESPOKE is $5,000 per annum.

Priority Pass

Airport terminals may have come a long way in the last decade, but killing time for a three-hour layover in a crowded airport isn’t exactly on anyone’s list of things to do, especially on vacation. Trade the busy terminals for private lounge access with Priority Pass and enjoy guaranteed Wi-Fi and snacks.

Members of Priority Pass receive access to over 1,300 airport lounges globally, including several airline lounges such as Virgin Atlantic, Air France and Turkish Airlines. Several credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express offer free Priority Pass memberships as part of their member benefits.

Membership cost: Choose from three membership tiers which start at $99/year for the Standard membership plus $32 per visit and go up to $429/year for the Prestige membership which includes unlimited lounge visits.

TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry are services that allow travelers to expedite the security screening process upon departure and arrival. With CLEAR Plus, enrolled members get escorted to the front of the security line once they’ve been verified using facial recognition or fingerprint scans, so they no longer have to verify identification at security. However, for expedited clearance through security screenings, TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry are still required.

CLEAR uses biometric identifiers to create a unique ID assigned to each member that is used for verification at stations across airports, stadiums and other major venues nationwide.

Membership cost: A CLEAR Plus membership is $179 per year. American Express Platinum Card Members receive a $179 statement credit and United MileagePlus members receive a discounted membership rate.

Well Traveled

Well Traveled is a members-only social and booking platform that allows members to connect with friends to find and share travel recommendations. The community-driven platform is intended to make travel planning easier by allowing you to follow people in your network that you trust, in addition to other like-minded travelers who share similar budgets and travel preferences.

Members can also take advantage of the personalized booking service that includes perks like exclusive rates, room upgrades, food & beverage credits, complimentary breakfast and more. Currently, membership is invite-only but you can also apply to be considered.

Membership cost: $150 per year.

Travel + Leisure Club

Travel + Leisure Club is a new travel subscription service offered by Travel + Leisure Group. Members can pay a monthly fee for access to preferred pricing on curated itineraries and an average of 25% savings on hotels, resorts, car rentals and activities that are listed on Travel + Leisure GO, the online travel booking site. Plus, members get a subscription to the glossy print magazine.

Members also get access to a personal concierge that can assist with travel planning, scoring tickets to sold-out events, making dinner reservations and more.

Membership cost: Travel + Leisure Club is currently offering an introductory rate of $9.95/month.

Exclusive Resorts

Lake Tahoe Northstar Mountainside Treehouse

Designed for families who value privacy, Exclusive Resorts is a small community of members (only 150 new members accepted each year) that get access to over 350 luxury residences around the world including the Amalfi Coast, Barcelona, Deer Valley, Kaua’i, Los Cabos, St. Barts and more.

Guests enjoy a more personalized experience with a dedicated on-site team who can assist with pre-trip planning details such as stocking the fridge with your favorite snacks, booking a massage or private chef, and housekeeping services.

Membership cost: There is a one-time, non-refundable initiation fee of $150,000 for a 10-year membership. Annual dues are $1,395/night and members travel 15-30 nights per year.

About Leila Najafi

Leila Najafi is a luxury travel writer based in LA who is a member of more subscription services than she'd like to admit.

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

THE JOURNAL

Travel Advisor Resources

Is Being a Travel Agent Worth It? Fora Discusses the Pros & Cons

The Modern Travel Agency

Fora Travel

https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/is-being-a-travel-agent-worth-it

Fora Advisor Gaya Vinay

Is being a travel agent worth it? We’re breaking down all the pros and cons of being a travel agent.

First, what does a travel agent do exactly?

Fora Advisor Fallon Alexandria

What does a travel agent do ? Travel agents — or travel advisors, they're different words for the same role — earn money by selling and booking trips for clients. Travel agents can book hotels, cruise lines, itineraries, travel experiences, rental cars, travel insurance and more. (Learn about some types of bookings you can make for clients as an advisor .)

We’re biased, but we think it’s one of the best jobs in the travel industry .

Do people still use travel agents to book their travel? What’s the demand like?

Many people don’t realize that travel agents even exist still — much less that it’s a booming part of the travel industry! In 2023, it was an $865.5 billion industry, and it’s expected to grow to $905.89 billion in 2024 .

Here’s a quick history lesson: the first recorded travel agency was launched in 1841 by Thomas Cook . There have been a few advancements since then (hello, modern technology), but the general concept remains relatively the same: agents plan and book trips.

Rapid adoption of the internet in the 90s and online travel agencies (sites that you can book your travel online) gained popularity. But the services provided by online booking sites lack the personal connection that an actual person can provide. At Fora, we’re spearheading the emergence of the modern travel advisor, bringing personalized service back to trip planning. Read more about the benefits of booking with a travel advisor .

How do travel agents make money?

Fora Advisor Rabia Malik

Travel agents make money by booking trips. It is mostly a commission-based industry (meaning that hotels and other travel partners will pay you when you book with them), but advisors also earn money from planning and service fees. Learn more about how travel agents get paid .

How do you become a travel agent?

If you have a passion for travel and connecting with others, becoming a travel agent could be the perfect career option for you. You can spend your days researching and planning travel, helping your clients to make extra-special memories from their vacations.

Our guide on how to become a travel agent offers an in-depth breakdown of the process. But the short version is that you’ll want to find a host agency (an umbrella organization like Fora that gives you the tools you need as a travel advisor) and then participate in comprehensive training to learn the ins and outs of the role. From there, you’ll work to build your book of business as a travel advisor over time.

Is being a travel agent worth it? Breaking down the pros

Fora Advisor Kerry Boyd

Is being a travel agent worth it? We certainly believe so, but we don’t expect you to take that at face value. Here are all of the pros of becoming a travel advisor.

Pro: It’s a flexible career

You can work as a travel advisor part-time or full-time. It’s also a career that you can build up over time, which means that you can start part-time and then transition into a full-time role once you have established your clientele base.

“As an avid traveler who felt trapped in the rigid schedule of a traditional healthcare worker, Fora gives me the opportunity to grow my passion for travel in to a business at my own pace while still working full-time and eventually make the leap to travel advising full-time when I'm ready,” Fora Advisor Alexandra Vigilante Chamberlin said. “I think the most valuable thing about working with Fora is that I probably would not have gotten started down this path without you!"

As an independenct contractor, you’ll be your own boss. You can work as much as you want, and when you want.

"I needed an agency that could offer me the flexibility to balance my responsibilities, including being a mom and juggling another work gig,” Fora Advisor Timadge Berkhadley said. “Choosing Fora as my host agency was an easy decision. Fora's approach allowed me to seamlessly manage my other responsibilities while still booking dream vacations for my clients."

Another one of the perks of becoming a travel agent online is that you never have to commit to an office space (unless you want to, of course). As a travel advisor, you can work from anywhere.

Read more: Here's Why Being a Fora Advisor is One of the Best Part-Time Jobs for Moms & Dads

Pro: You don’t need prior experience to get started

Many (but not all) host agencies offer training when you join their network as a travel advisor, which allows you to learn what you need about the role as you build your career in the space.

At Fora, we offer comprehensive travel agent certification as well as ongoing educational opportunities. Our travel agent training covers everything from booking basics to how to market your travel business like a pro , including how to market to your own network as well as build your business through social media. It is offered online so you can learn at your own pace.

Pro: You can build a career doing something you love

Working as a travel advisor is a fun and rewarding career in many ways. Working as a travel advisor can be a great pathway for you to build a career in travel on your terms. It is also an opportunity to transform a passion for travel and connections into your full-time role.

From a monetary perspective, you might be wondering: do you make good money as a travel agent? The amount of how much do travel agents make varies widely from advisor to advisor. Put simply: you get in what you put in. Typically, those who concentrate on high-end travel or specific niches tend to generate greater earnings than their counterparts who cater to budget-friendly travel options. Learn more about how travel agents get paid .

Pro: You can choose your niche (or skip one entirely)

The ability to control your business also means you get to control what type of travel you sell. And there are so many different travel agent jobs and niches.

Want to make reservations at glamorous hotels in Dubai for discerning travelers? Perhaps becoming a luxury travel agent is in your wheelhouse. Want to help your clients enjoy the magic of Disney or Universal Studios? How about helping your clients embark on voyages on the high seas to scenic, tropical destinations? The options are endless and entirely up to you.

(Learn how to become a Disney travel agent or how to become a cruise travel agent — or both.)

Pro: You get to work in an exciting field that makes people happy

For many, being a travel agent is worth it simply because you’re helping clients plan memorable vacations.

Whether you’re sharing the best places to visit in Spain for first timers , the most gorgeous Bahamas resorts , the top hotels in Downtown NYC … As a Fora Advisor, you’re planning trips to amazing destinations, helping to create some of your clients’ fondest memories.

Pro: You get to meet other travel experts

Fora Advisors participate in a workshop at Live Forum 2022, our annual conference

We always say that travel people are the best people. When you work as a travel agent, you’re constantly meeting other industry professionals. This means you’re forging connections with local hotels and partners, as well as meeting fellow travel advisors.

At Fora, we pride ourselves on our very welcoming community. You’ll be able to connect with fellow Fora Advisors online (learn about our community app ) as well as in-person through conferences, familiarization trips and more.

"I love that I can essentially run my own travel business while also working with so many talented and helpful people,” Fora Advisor Jennifer Lopez said. “As I tell my clients, no one is an expert on all travel destinations. One of the biggest benefits for my clients of my being a Fora Advisor is that I can tap into the knowledge and expertise of the Fora Advisor network to help me plan the perfect vacation for my clients."

Pro: Startup costs are minimal (at Fora, anyway)

Just about any independent business is going to have startup costs: equipment, office space, licenses…you get the idea. To become a Fora Advisor , these pricing costs are minimal, though. Our membership fee costs $49 monthly or $299 annually. We set you up with everything you need to run a successful travel advisor business with a one-stop shop solution. Plus, our advisors typically make back their membership fee within their first month.

What is the downside of being a travel agent? The cons

No job is without its cons, but we bet you'll still think being a travel agent is worth it after checking out the cons below.

Con: There are startup costs to consider

We get it. Startup costs are a bummer. It can be hard to spend money on a business as you are just getting started. But we’re willing to bet you’ll find that it’s worth the investment to be your own boss. It’s worth noting that Fora’s membership costs are approachable (we have a flat-rate, $49/month subscription fee – or $299 annually) that gives you everything you need to start your business as a travel advisor.

Con: There’s a learning curve

Fora's Head of Travel Operations Leslie Overton leads a workshop at Live Forum 2023

When you’re just getting started as a travel advisor, there’s a lot to learn. There’s a whole side to the travel industry that you might never have heard of (for example, understanding industry lingo like what a DMC is).

But as you book, you’ll gain confidence (and also speed). Over time, working as a travel advisor will become second nature.

"I had never booked travel before so the certification trainings from Fora were invaluable,” Fora Advisor Timadge Berkhadley said. “It gave me the jumpstart and confidence I needed to dive right in and to begin booking. The destination trainings were particularly helpful, as they gave me insights into countries I hadn't visited before, thus expanding my understanding of various destinations."

We’re here to support you every step of the way on your journey to become a successful travel agent.

Con: Sometimes clients can be high-maintenance

We’re just going to say it: Sometimes clients can be extra (we love them, though!). You will have to be patient as a travel advisor, and prioritize extending the white-glove service. Travel planning is a customer-facing role, after all, and many clients expect a degree of attentiveness and professionalism.

The good news is that most clients simply want to work with a friendly advisor who takes their needs and goals seriously. Likewise, a good portion of travel planning is simply listening . Over time, you’ll find that confidence comes naturally.

( How do travel agents get clients , anyway? Our guide tells all.)

Con: Most travel agents earn income from commissions & planning fees (i.e., there’s no base pay)

It’s worth considering financial implications of becoming a travel advisor before you dive in so that you can decide if it’s right for you. As an independent travel agent , is that you’re forgoing a traditional salary. This is the trade-off for being your own boss and setting your own schedule. On the flip side, this also means your earning potential is unlimited.

A good travel advisor is an excellent salesperson and knows how to transform this “con” into a “pro” and build a lucrative career as a travel advisor.

Con: Some travel agents are always on-call (including during holidays)

Your clients will often expect you to be available in case something goes awry — even if they’re on the other side of the world, in a completely different time zone. And since so many people travel during holidays, you may find yourself busy during your own celebrations. As with any trip, life happens, and you’ll have to navigate cancellations and some mishaps along the way. We offer plenty of training and support to help you navigate difficult situations if something does go sideways. Read a few of our tips in our guide on four things advisors can do when there’s a travel snafu .

Con: Your own travel might turn into work trips

More than a few of us have taken detours on our vacations so that we can check out a hotel property that’s on our bucket list. As travel advisors, we love our jobs, and we admit it can be hard to separate business from pleasure. This isn’t necessarily a con, though, and many travel advisors love this aspect of the business.

Overall: is being a travel agent worth it? We think so!

Fora Advisors attending a partner talk at Live Forum 2022

Being a travel agent is worth it many times over. It’s a career path where you get to set your own schedule, make people happy, live out your passion for travel and make a fantastic living. It does take effort and commitment, but the work is fun and rewarding in so many ways. If that sounds like a dream, apply to become a travel advisor .

"I had never booked travel for anyone other than myself before joining the Fora community. I had never even worked with a travel advisor until the year before joining Fora,” Fora Advisor Alexandra Vigilante Chamberlin said. “I had been dreaming about a career pivot for a while but always felt stuck on how to make it happen. It never occurred to me that travel advising could be my calling until I stumbled across Fora. And I’m so glad I did.”

Are you ready to become an independent travel agent?

We have everything you need to get started as an independent travel agent. From training to tech, community and more, Fora is a one-stop shop to build your business as a travel advisor. Learn more and become a Fora Advisor today.

We also have more resources on becoming a travel advisor:

How Much Do Travel Agents Make Per Booking?

Why Group Bookings Are Great: Tips from an Expert

Room Blocks 101: Mastering the Art of Group Bookings

Book a Cruise With a Virgin Voyages Travel Agent

6 Jobs Where You Travel: From Au Pairs to Travel Advisors

How to Start a Travel Agency (& Why It’s Not Your Best Option)

Are you the go-to person for travel tips?

Transform your passion for travel into your dream job. We'll set you up with everything you need to succeed as a travel advisor. From training to top-notch tech, marketing assets, community, commission tracking & payments (and more), we've got you.

Our Passion

Our purpose.

Passion For Travel

inherent Passion
Travel Styles
Destinations

Travel Inspiration

Immersive Experiences
Arrived Magazine

Specialized Travel

Group Travel

Spreading our passion and love of travel

To take your breath away

TTC Sustainability

impactful Purpose
How We Tread Right
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences
Sustainability Awards
TreadRight Foundation

Learn how we Make Travel Matter

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER EXPERIENCES

Travel that makes a difference

Our Culture

Our Offices
incredible People
TTC I.D.E.A.

Our Heritage

Stanley Tollman

Learn about what makes our team unique

Discover your career path in travel

SIGHTSEEING

Tailor-made, sustainability.

TTC SUSTAINABILITY

Our passion, our purpose, passion for travel, travel inspiration, specialized travel.

Group-Travel
Our DMC’s

OUR CULTURE

Our heritage.

Thoughts from our Chairman
MTM Experiences

Forbes: Meet The Biggest Travel Company You’ve Never Heard Of

by Arnelle Kendall | 10 14, 2016 | TTC

Oct 14, 2016 | TTC

by Arnelle Kendall

Read the full article on Forbes.com written by Doug Gollan

When we think of the big players in the travel industry, the first names we go to are probably the likes of Marriott or Hilton, American or United Airlines, or perhaps Hertz and Avis. Behind the scenes, we can probably envision CFOs getting ready for quarterly earnings calls, outside consultants advising on how to improve corporate efficiency, and teams of marketers engaging advertising agencies and research companies to stay on top of the latest trends. Their feedback leads to collaborations with designers du jour and celebrity chefs who match the psychographic profile of the target customers.

Here’s another story.

Every year in January, the mother of the CEO starts working on holiday gifts for the next year. She begins with her list of every present that was given from previous holidays. Some go back several decades reflecting longstanding employees. Fortunately, perhaps, her involvement is limited to the hotel group and river cruises, so her list includes only 4,000 of the over 10,000 people the group’s 30 companies employ.

With a history that can be traced to a small hotel outside Cape Town in South Africa from the early 1900s, its fourth generation is now onboard, and the company operates on all seven continents, with over 40 offices. It serves over two million customers per year. It generates annual revenues of about $2 billion, says its chief executive Brett Tollman, with about half from its tour operator business, and the rest split between its river cruises and luxury hotel portfolio.

The fact that you may never have heard of The Travel Corporation doesn’t particularly bother Tollman, who is one of nine family members deeply active in the business. Even its Red Carnation hotels may be better known by their individual names such as Ashford Castle in Ireland (below), Hotel D’Angleterre in Geneva, The Chesterfield in Palm Beach, The Twelve Apostles in Cape Town, Bushmans Kloof in South Africa’s Cederberg Mountains, and its six hotels in London, including The Milestone and 41 Hotel.

Its tour brands such as Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, African Travel, Brendan Vacations, and Luxury Gold, its newest, may not be particularly well known to the general public, as most sales come via travel agents. As Tollman tells it, his preference is to focus money on supporting the trade and putting it back into the product instead of consumer marketing.

One area TTC has been particularly aggressive is giving back. Tollman says much the philanthropic focus is to make sure money goes back into the communities where it takes guests, from rural India to Africa and Latin America. A new initiative with Toronto-based social enterprise ME to WE (pictured below) enables customers to engage in “purposeful” travel. That group donates 50 percent of profits to projects such as building schools (over 100 have been built), making sure clean water projects are sustainable (40 percent fail in the first three years because there is not after support), with the other 50 percent going to social enterprise. In fact, while TTC tour brands will promote the ME to WE programs to their customers, it doesn’t receive any revenue or profits, and while one can combine TTC tours with ME to WE programs, they can also take them separately. “It’s completely altruistic,” says Tollman, noting that the dark side of the travel industry is the perception and sometimes reality that little of the money spent by vacationers stays in the places they visit.

TTC also funds The TreadRight Foundation through company revenues. In eight years its 40 projects have impacted over 30 countries, including protecting over 130 bush art paintings in South Africa, conservation of reefs in the Caribbean, stopping elephant abuse in India, providing clean water in Cambodia, and connecting rural artisans in Greece to global markets, creating sustainable employment.

The do good approach is one of TTC’s core beliefs and is on display even when the CEO is not around. During a trade show media meet-and-greet in Las Vegas in August while cruise lines, hotel groups, other tour companies and travel suppliers used their time to talk about new ships and upcoming hotel openings, the president of TTC’s African Travel brand used his five minutes to spread the word on how tourists could help in the fight against poachers by engaging in safe social media.

While Tollman says TTC is debt free, he isn’t against looking at acquisitions. He points out that the company’s growth beyond its hotel roots began in the 1940s when his father acquired tour operator Trafalgar. Earlier this year the company decided that it will expand its hotel footprint with management contracts, not just the current ownership model. Last decade it jumped into the fast growing river cruise market, buying Uniworld, a mid-market entry, and in the past five years it has repositioned it into the luxury segment, rebranding it Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection.

It may not surprise you that staterooms and public areas aren’t designed by trendy designers. That task falls to Brett’s mother Bea of the aforementioned holiday gifts and his sister Toni. It then may not surprise you that like rooms in its hotels, no two cabins are the same, the pair making each stateroom a “piece unique.” To further define its offering, the company borrows heavily from its hotels, particularly when it comes to culinary. While competitors’ fleets are often similar in style, the Uniworld vessels, says the CEO are each unique in interior design, meant to represent the regions they are cruising, much like its hotels are closely aligned to the local aesthetic. Its newest ship, Joie De Vivre, coming in 2017, will cruise the Seine and there will be an outdoor, rooftop dance floor and movie cinema.

One of the travel industry’s largest privately held companies, the TTC story is not just blue skies and clear sailing. Tollman points out that terrorism attacks in Europe have pushed down demand. He sees travel agents as a key conduit to calm the nerves of antsy consumers who are put off by scare headlines. “There’s no reason not to go to France right now. The lines are short, the value has never been stronger,” he says. And while Uniworld only brings on one new ship every two years, the market is now suffering from oversupply, and then of course, what is the future of escorted motor coach tours? Will newer generations really want to explore destinations on an, “If its Tuesday, it must be Belgium basis?”

Tollman says, from 2001 through 2010, volume on its escorted programs fell by 50 percent with many customers moving to ocean and river cruises, however, he believes there are now growth opportunities. He says the focus is now adapting the traditional approach of being in the lobby by the crack of dawn to later starts in the morning, more free time, and private access that travelers who don’t have a millionaire’s budget would not normally be able to arrange. He points to after hour museum visits, avoiding the crowds, visiting a family farm in Sorrento, then joining the owners to help cook dinner in the kitchen, while enjoying views of the Bay of Naples. Because of TTC’s buying power, consumers also save money.

Tollman thinks the idea of traveling with a group adds to the immersive experience customers today want more and more. He says for consumers who really want to learn about the places they are seeing, having an expert local guide with you 24 hours a day provides insights and insider views independent travelers miss out on unless they can afford the expense of private cars and such. Even at the higher end, Tollman believes there is room for the bus. Luxury Gold by Insight Vacations is described as “the art of touring in style.” All meals are at Michelin and notable restaurants with offerings from Europe to Asia.

The website Reluctant Entertainer traveled on an Italy itinerary and the writer pointed to features such as before opening access to the Vatican Museum. In addition to top restaurants, they group stayed in hotels “with marble bathrooms,” and the blogger talked about how nice it was to have a guide “we could ask anything. There were no dumb questions.” For those that believe motorcoach tours mean second rate hotels, it was an eye opener.

Beyond TTC, Tollman is bullish on the travel industry. He serves as vice chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council, a group of 100 CEOs from a variety of travel companies that provides the industry a unified voice in speaking to governments. He points out the industry supports over 270 million jobs, and notes that while high end luxury goods and fashion are facing strong headwinds, travel, perhaps due in part of social media, is increasingly becoming a badge of honor, with more and more consumers eschewing jewelry and handbags or new shoes so they can see the world.

While the future may not be a given for TTC, Tollman says he is intent on making sure he and his executives understand what customers want. Since assuming the group’s leadership in 2010, he says he followed former GAP boss Mickey Drexler’s advice, and now several times a year joins his tour groups, mingling with customers and experiencing the product first hand. His brand executives each do the same.

Tollman notes that successfully transitioning a privately held family business from one generation to the next is no easy task, and while at 51 he expects to be in charge for the foreseeable future, with his brother’s children engaged, it is now time to start keeping an eye out for who the next leader will be.

Of course, it’s the small touches that might help get TTC into the 22nd Century. Coming into the Milestone on a dreary, cold London afternoon, there is a roaring fire, and in the area next to the front desk is a table with a crystal flask of brandy welcoming the visitor to pour their own glass, sit down and relax. “When you are with us, it’s like you are family. You are visiting our home,” says his sister Toni. In this case, it’s not just marketing spin developed by an ad agency trying to create a story.

This website uses cookies. We use cookies to analyse our traffic, enhance our website’s functionality and performance and better experience for our users. If you require more information please view our cookie policy .

Explore our archive for expert insights, guides, and discussions.

Sort Results By Relevance Date

Joby Aircraft air taxi hovering over the ground

Flying Cars Are Getting Closer to Reality

By sean captain.

Air Taxis May First Take Off in United Arab Emirates

luxury interior in the modern business jet and sunlight at the window/sky and clouds through the porthole

Understanding Peak Day Restrictions for Private Flyers

By doug gollan.

How to Plan, and Not Plan, a Relaxing 5 Days in Paris

By eva crouse.

Three Celebrated Scotch Distilleries Gain New Life

By gabrielle doré.

Miami’s Fusion of Luxury, Art, and Innovation

By kirsten cluthe.

EDSEA2023 1105 184554 1138 ALIVECOVERAGE 720h

Rock the Boat on Concert-packed Ocean Cruises

10 Best Private Clubs of 2024

'Omar' by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels

The Art of Charleston

By richard bradley.

How Primary Service Areas Affect Private Jet Fees

Sailing Luxury Catamarans in the British Virgin Islands

By jonathan russo.

How Antarctic Cruises Fund Nature Research

By amanda ogle.

Embraer 505 Phenom 300 Light Business Jet on runway with door open

The Best Private Jet Cards and Membership Programs

Your choice of jet plan depends on how far you fly, how soon, the size plane you need, and your flexibility on dates and times.

Smiling,Businessman,Holding,Cup,And,Looking,At,Window,In,Private

How to Pick the Right Private Jet Pricing Plan

Whether called jet cards, memberships, clubs, or programs, the real choice is between fixed or capped hourly rates or dynamically priced flight plans.

From opera to dance to theater to painting, popular music and more, this small Southern city is enjoying an artistic renaissance that’s attracting global attention.

Hawaii’s Sensei Resort Restores Body & Spirit

The Sensei Lanai Four Seasons has built a custom program that blends high tech, high touch, and deep work for the ultimate rest and recharge escape.

Newsletter Subscriptions

" * " indicates required fields

Business & Finance

Partner Content

Communities

Leading advisors.

Women & Worth

Magazine & Digital Edition

Newsletters

Leading Advisors Directory

Worth Advisor Programs

Become a Leading Advisor

Contributors

Partnerships

Reprints & Permissions

Start typing and press enter to search

Travel company trolls Mavericks with Cancun billboard outside of Crypto.com Arena

The billboard is a riff on a popular nba slogan, by max molski • published 6 hours ago • updated 6 hours ago.

The Dallas Mavericks are competing against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA playoffs , but a travel company reminded them of a pretty good consolation prize if they suffer an early postseason exit.

Skyscanner, a global travel comparison app, used prominent ad space outside of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles to troll the Mavericks ahead of Wednesday night's Game 5. The sign reads "Dallas to Cancun," referencing a meme in the NBA community about players going on vacation after they are eliminated from the playoffs.

Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Van Exel created the much-memed rallying cry "One, two, three ... Cancun!" in 1998 with his team on the verge of getting swept by the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference finals. Instead of breaking a pregame huddle with "One, two, three ... Lakers," Van Exel went off-script and provided an enduring phrase.

Get DFW local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters .

The Lakers went on to lose Game 4 at home in what turned out to be his final game in purple and gold, as he was traded to the Denver Nuggets in the ensuing offseason. A Los Angeles Times report came out soon after saying that star center Shaquille O'Neal went to Lakers management and got a vow from team executive Jerry West that Van Exel would be gone with the implication that the "Cancun" remark was a key factor.

O'Neal has since kept "One, two, three ... Cancun!" going on TNT's "Inside the NBA." This past week, fellow analyst Charles Barkley riffed on the phrase following the New Orleans Pelicans' blowout Game 3 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, suggesting the team go to Galveston, Texas, instead of the Mexican vacation destination.

Chuck’s had it with the Pelicans 💀 pic.twitter.com/hko6mQY8kN — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 27, 2024

Sports Connection

Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.

Who is Bob Baffert and will he have a horse race in the 2024 Derby?

When will the 2024 NFL schedule be released?

"We’ve always thought the Cancun meme was super fun. So what better way to bring some attention to Skyscanner than to have some fun with a giant billboard outside one of the NBA’s most famous arenas celebrating travel and cheap flights to Cancun," Andre Le Masurier, Skyscanner's global head of brand, said. "Win or lose, Mexico’s always a great spot to recharge the batteries."

Before any Mavericks or Clippers players get on a flight for vacation, the two teams will fly back to Dallas for Game 6 on Friday. That potential elimination game will tip-off at 8:30 p.m. CT.

Should the Mavericks and Clippers split the next two contests, Game 7 will be played at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. The winner of the series will make their next stop in Oklahoma City for the start of a second-round series against the top-seeded Thunder.

This article tagged under:

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

R&K Insider

Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel, what they eat, where they stay. Free to sign up.

A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

Is the Amex Business Platinum worth the annual fee?

"This card has an annual fee of nearly $700" tends to cause many people to drop their jaws. The general reaction — from most people — is that there's simply no way paying a high premium annual fee is worth it.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees ), yet the card claims to offer more than double that in annual credits and perks.

Does that mean you should add the Amex Business Platinum Card to your wallet? It depends.

Here's a look at what you get from the Amex Business Platinum Card each year so you can decide whether or not this credit card is a good fit for you.

Related: Full review of the American Express Business Platinum Card

Welcome bonus

For a limited time, new applicants can earn an elevated 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. According to TPG's latest valuations , American Express Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents apiece, making this bonus worth $3,000.

Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value

Lounge access

Those who hold the Amex Business Platinum (as well as The Platinum Card® from American Express ) have access to a wide range of lounges. They include:

American Express Centurion lounges
Delta Sky Club lounges (when flying on a same-day Delta flight; limited to 10 annual visits from Feb. 1, 2025)
Priority Pass Select lounges (but not Priority Pass restaurants )
Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner
Airspace lounges
Plaza Premium lounges
Lufthansa lounges (varying access depending on what airline and cabin you're flying)
Other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges

You can consult the Global Lounge Collection website's search function to find lounges accessible on your next trip.

Related: Guide to lounge access with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum

When visiting these lounges, you can enjoy benefits like complimentary snacks, food, drinks (sometimes including free alcohol) and free Wi-Fi. Certain lounges will have better benefits, such as full meals, showers, children's play areas and more.

Hotel elite status

Cardmembers can register for automatic elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy . This benefit provides Gold status in both programs.

Hilton Gold status is a very valuable hotel status that provides benefits like bonus points on paid stays, complimentary bottled water, a fifth night free on award stays, room upgrades (though not to suites) and free continental breakfast or food and beverage credits. You should also receive a welcome gift at check-in, typically a snack or bonus points.

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status is very valuable as well and provides benefits like late checkout, room upgrades (though not to suites), bonus points on paid stays, enhanced internet and a welcome gift of bonus points at check-in.

Car rental elite status

Cardmembers can enroll for complimentary elite status with Avis Preferred Plus , Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle and National Emerald Club Executive . Enrollment in advance is required for these benefits.

Rental car elite status provides benefits like car upgrades, a free second driver and my favorite benefit: skipping the line and going straight to your car at the start of your rental. One of the best benefits of car rental elite status in any program is the ability to status match with other rental car programs , helping you gain status in numerous programs simultaneously.

Related: Here's everything you need to know about rental car elite status

Pay with Points rebate

When paying with points for a flight through Amex Travel , Business Platinum cardmembers can get 35% of their points back. This applies to two types of bookings: flights in any cabin with your preselected preferred airline or flights with any airline if the reservation is for business class or first class.

Cardmembers can enjoy up to one million points refunded through this benefit every year. Achieving this maximum rebate would require spending 2,857,143 points within a calendar year using the Pay with Points feature to book qualifying flights.

Related: Why I love the Amex Business Platinum's Pay With Points perk

Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection

Amex Business Platinum and Amex Platinum cardmembers can book stays with Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection (THC).

FHR stays include benefits like daily breakfast for two, late checkout, complimentary Wi-Fi and room upgrades (if available at check-in). Each stay will also include a unique property amenity worth $100, typically coming in the form of dining credits or spa credits.

THC stays include room upgrades (if available at check-in) and a $100 property credit (with bookings of two consecutive nights or more) to spend on qualifying dining, spa and resort activities.

Related: A comparison of luxury hotel programs from credit card issuers: Amex, Chase and Capital One

Bonus points for airfare and hotels

Business Platinum cardmembers can earn 5 points per dollar on airfare and prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel . This earning rate includes bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection , as well.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement

Cardmembers can receive statement credits to reimburse their application fees for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85). This benefit is available every four years for Global Entry or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck.

Related: Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which is better?

These programs allow approved travelers to move through airport security checkpoints faster, using PreCheck lanes at designated airports . Global Entry users have an additional benefit: being able to use designated lanes when entering the U.S. to move through passport control faster.

Annual Clear Plus membership rebate

Clear Plus is not a government security program but also helps approved users speed through security checkpoints at airports and select stadiums using biometrics.

Business Platinum cardmembers can receive reimbursement in statement credits of up to $189 per year for Clear Plus membership fees. No advance enrollment is required for this benefit; pay with your Business Platinum card to automatically receive a statement credit (subject to auto-renewal).

Related: 7 ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear

Up to $200 in annual airline credits

Traveling can sometimes come with costly fees that show up in the form of paying for checked bags or upgrading to a better seat on your flight.

Business Platinum cardmembers can choose one of the following airlines as their preferred airline: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines. Choosing a preferred airline in advance is required before using this benefit, which can cover change and cancellation fees, seat selection fees, upgrade fees, checked bag fees and more.

I use this $200 annual credit on United and stock up on Travelbank credit, which essentially takes $200 off the cost of my ticket.

Related: How to use the Amex Platinum $200 airline fee credit

Annual spending credits

Business Platinum cardmembers can take advantage of lots of credits: up to $150 per year with Adobe, up to $120 per year on cellphone plans, up to $360 per year with Indeed and up to $400 per year with Dell .

The Adobe credits apply to prepaid business plans for Creative Cloud for teams or Acrobat Pro DC with e-sign for teams. The wireless services benefit is available as up to $10 per month in statement credits for wireless phone service plans paid for with your Business Platinum card. You can receive up to $90 of statement credits per quarter with Indeed. The Dell benefit provides up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually.

Enrollment is required in advance for some of these benefits. Maximizing these benefits provides $1,030 in statement credits each year. The Adobe, Dell and Indeed credits will end Dec. 31, 2024.

Related: 9 things to do when you get the Amex Business Platinum Card

Other cardmember perks

Cardmembers can take advantage of several other benefits.

The first is that the Amex Business Platinum has no preset spending limit. Whereas traditional cards come with a predetermined limit of how much you can spend on your card, cards like the Business Platinum and Platinum Card from Amex don't have these preset limits.

Instead, how much you can spend on the card changes; your payment history, banking relationship, creditworthiness and other factors determine this. This can be a great feature for businesses that spend a lot on their cards and can then pay it off quickly.

Speaking of paying bills quickly, the Business Platinum card is designed for cardmembers to pay the entire bill in full each month. If you aren't able to pay the full amount, you may be able to carry a balance on some purchases by enrolling in the Pay Over Time feature.

Not all purchases will be eligible for Pay Over Time, and not paying your entire balance in full each month will likely result in paying interest . You also may be able to earn bonus points through offers to enroll in Pay Over Time — and you can earn those bonus points for enrolling even if you never carry a balance.

Paying your monthly cellphone bill with your Business Platinum card will also provide cellphone protection to cover your phone against loss or damage. There is a maximum of $800 liability per claim, and each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. There's also a limit of two claims per eligible account in a 12-month period.

Covered phones are restricted to cellphone lines listed on a mobile phone plan paid with the eligible card during the most recent billing period.* Combining this benefit with the monthly wireless credits covered above is a great way to invoke insurance benefits plus a discount on your monthly cellphone bill.

* Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Related: Your complete guide to shopping protections on American Express cards

Another benefit available to cardmembers is preferred access , which can mean tickets to exclusive events, going to the front of the line for ticket sales on other events and even getting access to hard-to-find dining reservations with Resy .

When making purchases, cardmembers will earn American Express Membership Rewards points , which TPG values at 2 cents per point. Cardmembers will earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel .

Additionally, cardmembers earn 1.5 points per dollar on purchases of $5,000 or more or purchases in the following categories within the U.S.: construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software and cloud system providers and shipping providers.

Earning 1.5 points per dollar is limited to $2 million of purchases, then 1 point per dollar. All other purchases also earn 1 point per dollar.

Bottom line

There are numerous benefits included with the Amex Business Platinum card. Some are annual credits and others offer statement credits monthly or quarterly. Other benefits don't have a tangible price tag, and how you value those benefits will vary from one person to another.

Suppose you can use benefits like lounge access, statement credits and other travel perks. In that case, you'll easily be able to offset or overcome the Business Platinum card's annual fee each year — making it "worth it" in your situation. However, for those who struggle to use the card's credits or have many of its benefits through other credits in their wallets, it may be difficult to justify paying the $695 annual fee.

Apply here: The Business Platinum Card from American Express

For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, please click here .

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

American Express Amex Centurion Lounge LGA

United Arab Emirates
Switzerland
The Netherlands
Puerto Rico
United States
New Zealand
➨ Choose from World Map
Budget Travel
Family Travel
Getting Around
Visas & Passports
Work with Us

Browsing Category

Czech Republic
Saint Martin
Uncategorized

Moscow Travel Guide: Best Things to Do + More [2023]

· everything to know about visiting moscow, including the best things to do and how to get around. ·.

the red st basils church in moscow on a white winters day

Moscow is Russia’s vibrant capital city, and it also happens to be the largest city in all of Europe. The city’s long and infamous history makes it one of the most unique places we have ever visited.

The architecture ranges from centuries-old palaces to uniform, gray concrete buildings. The people range from cold and private to warm and welcoming. Moscow is a city is strong juxtapositions, and we learned a lot during our time there.

This post will break down all you need to know about visiting Moscow, including the best things to do, how to get there, how to get around, and more.

man and woman standing in front of main church in moscow

The Best Things to Do in Moscow

1. explore the red square.

The Red Square is the heart of Moscow. Most of the city’s top attractions can be found here, including just about everything on this list. The Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum are all located here, and the State Historical Museum and GUM are not far from here, either.

The Red Square is a common home for parades, protests, and seasonal celebrations. There are massive Christmas celebrations here, with food vendors and carnival rides set up in numbers.

red orthodox church in moscow russia red square on a winter day

2. Check Out the Ziferblat

The Ziferblat is a café in Moscow that is unlike any café we have ever been to. While most cafes charge you for your drinks and food, the Ziferblat charges you for your time.

Upon arrival, you are given a clock. When you leave, the barista calculates how much time you spent in the café and charges you accordingly. This concept was created to help visitors to be more intentional with their time, and the cafe itself is incredibly charming.

For a detailed look at everything you need to know before you visit, make sure you read my post about visiting the Ziferblat Cafe in Moscow .

3. Marvel at St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil’s Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style. The church is of the Russian Orthodox faith, and the inside is just as wondrous as the outside.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the edge of the Red Square, making it incredibly convenient to visit. Entrance for non-worshippers costs 800 rubles, and tickets can be bought at the church

woman in winter jacket standing in front of St Basils Russian Orthodox in moscow on a winter day

4. Explore the Kremlin

The Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe, and it is the site of most of Russia’s government affairs. In addition to government buildings, the Kremlin Complex is filled with courtyards, towers, and museums that are open to the public. If you have the time, you could spend a couple of days fully exploring all that there is to see in the Kremlin.

selfie of man and woman pointing to the Kremlin in Moscow

5. Walk Through Lenin’s Mausoleum

Vladimir Lenin is one of the most important figures in Russian history, and his body is located perfectly embalmed in a mausoleum in the Red Square. The Mausoleum is open to the public to visit, and as long as you are willing to go through a few security checks, it is easily one of the best things to do in Moscow. Its convenient location in the Red Square makes it a can’t miss attraction.

There is absolutely no photography allowed inside the Mausoleum. Do not test this rule.

red exterior of lenins mausoleum in moscow russia

6. Wander Along Arbat Street

The Arbat is a very popular street in Moscow that is lined with stores, cafes, and other touristy attractions. It is one of the oldest streets in the city, dating back to the 1400s. This street is both quaint and trendy, and there are many walking tours that introduce tourists to the neighborhood’s wonders and highlights.

man in sinter jacket standing in arbat street moscow at night with glistening white lights strung from the buildings

7. Catch a Show at the Bolshoi Theatre

As a lover of the arts, it is hard to think of Moscow and not think of ballet. Russia has always been a top dog in the world of fine arts, and Bolshoi Theater is one of the best places to catch a performance. We were lucky enough to attend an Opera here, and it is a venue that you don’t want to miss out on if you enjoy opera, ballet, or orchestral performances.

8. Visit the State Historical Museum

The State Historical Museum is one of the most respected museums in Moscow. Despite its name, it is not really focused on the history of Russia as a nation. Rather, it contains a collection of artifacts from all throughout Russia’s history.

The museum’s collection is very broad in nature. It houses some items from indigenous tribes that used to occupy the region, pieces collected by the Romanov family, and more.

9. Wander Around GUM

GUM is an absolutely massive mall within walking distance of the Red Square. It isn’t just the size that draws visitors here; it’s the sense of luxury. The mall is so beautiful inside, much like the metro stations.

While visiting a mall might not sound like it belongs on a bucket list, this mall does. You will not want to miss out on visiting GUM while in Moscow.

people walking inside GUM mall in russia with christmas lights

10. Admire the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

While St. Basil’s Cathedral is the most iconic church in Moscow, it isn’t the only one. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is absolutely stunning, with massive golden domes. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world, and it is the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.

It is located just about a mile from the Red Square, just south of the Kremlin Complex. You can walk to it from the Red Square in about 20 minutes.

How to Get to Moscow

Flying to moscow.

Moscow has three major international airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO) , Domodedovo (DMO) , and Vnukovo (VKO) . All three of them are directly connected to downtown Moscow by the Aeroexpress trains, which leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. By Aeroexpress train, you can expect to get to the city center in 25-45 minutes depending on the airport that you fly into.

Sheremetyevo is the biggest and busiest of the three airports, and it is the one you are most likely to fly into – especially if you are coming from outside of Europe or the Caucus region. We flew into Sheremetyevo on a direct flight from New York City.

I usually provide backup airport options, because flying right into the city isn’t always the cheapest way to get where you’re going. Unfortunately, when it comes to Moscow, don’t really have a choice other than to fly right into Moscow. It is a very remote city, and it is usually the cheapest place to fly into in Russia as a whole.

Since Sheremetyevo is so busy, you will probably find a great flight option anyway. I wrote in my post about finding cheap flights that using hub airports will lead to more affordable airfare, and the same logic applies here. Even though Russia’s national airline, Aeroflot, is no longer a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Moscow is still a major hub connecting passengers from all over the world.

READ OUR CHEAT SHEET

Train or Bus to Moscow

Trains and buses are one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. However, they’re of very little use when you’re trying to get to Moscow.

Moscow is hundreds of miles from the nearest major cities. The only major European city that can even be reached within 8 hours on the ground is St. Petersburg, and even the Baltic capitals of Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn are over 12 hours away.

If you want to get to Moscow, the best option is almost always to fly. While the train routes to Moscow are scenic, they simply take forever.

How to Get Around Moscow

METRO | TROLLEYS | TRAMS | BUSES

Moscow has one of the most memorable metro systems in the world. Its metro lines are very deep underground, and the stations are absolutely stunning. Each station has its own unique style, but all of them contain escalators that seem to go on forever.

turned-on chandelier on ceiling of moscow metro

The system was built in an effort to showcase the power of the Soviet Union and its bright future. The plans were a form of propaganda, but they resulted in what is still one of the most visually appealing subway systems on earth.

Moscow’s metro system isn’t just pretty. It is also very useful and accessible. The system has 17 lines that connect the city and its surrounding area.

But wait; there’s more!

The Moscow metro system is also incredibly affordable, with each ride costing less than a dollar. The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow, as it is almost impossible to beat the connection times and the low cost to ride.

Tickets can be bought at electronic, English-speaking kiosks in stations, or directly from ticket counters at certain larger stations. There are also day passes available, which are a very solid option if you plan on riding the metro several times per day.

The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow.

In addition to the metro system, Moscow also has a network of buses, trams, and trolleys. This system is nowhere near as convenient or well-connected as the metro, though, and is likely of little use to you during your trip. There is no Uber in Moscow, but a similar app named Yandex is available if you need a ride in a pinch.

How Many Days Do You Need in Moscow?

Moscow is the biggest city in all of Europe, and it is absolutely loaded with things to do. You could spend weeks in Moscow and still find new things to do. Of course, most travelers don’t have that kind of time to spend in one place!

I recommend spending no less than three full days in Moscow, and ideally closer to five or seven.

Moscow is very spread out, and it can take some time to get from one major point to another. There are also so many places that are nice to just sit back and relax, which is hard to do when you’re in a hurry trying to cram activities into just a few days.

If you only have a week to visit Russia, I’d advise spending all of the time in one city. If you decide to split your time between Moscow and St. Petersburg, I recommend not trying to squeeze in any day trips beyond those two cities.

When Is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Moscow?

There are two different ways to approach this question. Personally, I think the best time to visit Moscow is around Christmas and New Year’s Day. While the weather will be absolutely freezing, Moscow is a surreal winter wonderland in December and January.

We were in Moscow right before Christmas. While it was very cold, you can always bundle up. Exploring the Christmas markets and pop-up ice skating rinks throughout Moscow is one of my favorite memories from anywhere I’ve traveled, and I dream of going back to do it again.

If you aren’t fond of the cold, Moscow is beautiful in the summer. It tends to get pretty cold in the shoulder seasons, so if you want warm weather, you should plan to visit in the summer. Moscow actually gets pretty warm in July and August, and there are a bunch of fantastic places to soak up the sun within the city.

The best time to visit Moscow is either around Christmas or from late May to August.

group of people walking in moscow red square at night with christmas lights everywhere

Is Moscow Safe to Visit?

While Moscow is a truly wonderful city, there’s no denying that visiting Russia comes with risks. As the country is run by an infamous communist dictator, concerns about visiting are valid. While we didn’t experience any sort of threat or negative treatment during our time in Moscow, we visited in a peaceful time.

In our experience, Russia doesn’t seem to detain normal Americans or Westerners to use as pawns. As a regular person, as long as you don’t commit any crimes, there is a slim chance you will run into any issues. However, Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

To make matters worse, Russia has a bad reputation for gang violence. While the Russian mafia has very little interest in normal Western tourists, they won’t hesitate to pick a fight with anyone who ventures into their sphere of influence. If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

Finally, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, things are all very different. Russia is currently at war, and there are battles raging within 8 hours of Moscow. While it is still relatively safe to visit, that could change at any time as the war with Ukraine continues.

Is Moscow Worth Visiting?

Without a doubt, Moscow is worth visiting. It is one of the most unique major cities we have ever visited, and we hope to make it back one day. The Russian Orthodox churches are stunning, the city’s history is unlike any other, and the food is to die for.

While many visitors prefer St. Petersburg to Moscow, I think Moscow deserves a lot of hype of its own. Moscow is the beating heart of Russian culture and history, and it’s a place I highly recommend checking out if you have the chance.

woman in head scarf hugging bronze statue of angry bear

That’s all we have for you about Moscow! I hope this post was helpful as you plan your trip to Russia’s capital.

Have you been to Moscow? Or is this your first time visiting? Comment below if you have anything to add to our travel guide!

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.

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

Meet The Author - Greg

How Much Does a Trip to Egypt Cost: Budget Breakdown

March 10, 2024

Best Time to Visit the India Gate in Delhi [2024]

March 1, 2024

white ceramic mug surrounded by used tissues on white table beside black eyeglasses

Flying with a Sinus Infection: Tips to Avoid Pain

February 20, 2024

mother and father with baby strapped to chest on a hike in the rocky mountains under clear blue sky

11 Best Things to Do in Breckenridge Besides Skiing

February 12, 2024

swimsuit model in white and blue bikini on Mexico beach with clear blue water

10 Best Beaches in Mexico for Families (We Lived Here)

February 3, 2024

Share full article

Supported by

Automatic Refunds and No More Hidden Fees: D.O.T. Sets New Rules for Airlines

The Transportation Department issued new requirements on refunds when flights are canceled or delayed and on revealing “junk” fees before booking. Here’s what passengers can expect.

A blue airport screen showing extensive cancellations and delays is shown in close up with a man standing in front of it.

By Christine Chung

The Transportation Department on Wednesday announced new rules taking aim at two of the most difficult and annoying issues in air travel: obtaining refunds and encountering surprise fees late in the booking process.

“Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them — without having to ask,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement, adding that the changes would not only save passengers “time and money,” but also prevent headaches.

The department’s new rules, Mr. Buttigieg said, will hold airlines to clear and consistent standards when they cancel, delay or substantially change flights, and require automatic refunds to be issued within weeks. They will also require them to reveal all fees before a ticket is purchased.

Airlines for America , a trade group representing the country’s largest air carriers, said in a statement that its airlines “abide by and frequently exceed” D.O.T. consumer protection regulations.

Passenger advocates welcomed the new steps.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, the chief executive of AirHelp, a Berlin-based company that assists passengers with airline claims, called it a “massive step forward and huge improvement in consumer rights and protection” that brings the United States closer to global standards in passenger rights.

Here’s what we know about the D.O.T.’s new rules, which will begin to go into effect in October.

There’s now one definition for a “significant” delay.

Until now, airlines have been allowed to set their own definition for a “significant” delay and compensation has varied by carrier . Now, according to the D.O.T., there will be one standard: when departure or arrival is delayed by three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights.

Passengers will get prompt refunds for cancellations or significant changes for flights and delayed bags, for any reason.

When things go wrong, getting compensation from an airline has often required establishing a cumbersome paper trail or spending untold hours on the phone. Under the new rules, refunds will be automatic, without passengers having to request them. Refunds will be made in full, excepting the value of any transportation already used. Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in the original form of payment, whether by cash, credit card or airline miles. Refunds are due within seven days for credit card purchases and within 20 days for other payments.

Passengers with other flight disruptions, such as being downgraded to a lower service class, are also entitled to refunds.

The list of significant changes for which passengers can get their money back also includes: departure or arrival from an airport different from the one booked; connections at different airports or flights on planes that are less accessible to a person with a disability; an increase in the number of scheduled connections. Also, passengers who pay for services like Wi-Fi or seat selection that are then unavailable will be refunded any fees.

Airlines must give travel vouchers or credits to ticketed passengers unable to fly because of government restrictions or a doctor’s orders.

The vouchers or credits will be transferable and can be used for at least five years after the date they were issued.

Fees for checked baggage and modifying a reservation must be disclosed upfront.

Airlines and ticket agents are now required to display any extra fees for things like checking bags or seat selection clearly and individually before a ticket purchase. They will also need to outline the airline’s policies on baggage, cancellations and changing flights before a customer purchases a ticket.

The rules, which apply to all flights on domestic airlines and flights to and from the United States operated by foreign airlines, have varying start dates.

For example, automatic refunds must be instituted by the airlines within six months. But carriers have a year before they’re required to issue travel vouchers and credits for passengers advised by a medical professional not to fly.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel. More about Christine Chung

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places: Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai: Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto: The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland: The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas: Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

19 Unique And Fabulous Experiences In Moscow

Destinations

Thinking of visiting Russia? When visiting such a famous city, one must, of course, visit the iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists. Once you’ve seen the sights that are on most travelers’ lists, it’s time to branch out and visit some of the lesser-known sites, and there are some fascinating places to see and things to do.

I know this list is long, but I just couldn’t help myself. You probably won’t have the time to see them all. But that’s okay. Just scroll through the list and choose what sounds the most interesting to you. Where possible, make sure to book in advance, as things can get crowded, especially during high season.

Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia

1. The Red Square, Kremlin, And Surroundings

Red Square (Krasnya Ploshad) is the heart and soul of Russia, and where much of the country’s history has unfolded. This is the most famous landmark in Moscow and indeed the whole country, it’s an absolute must-do! The square is always full of people and has a rather festive atmosphere!

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

This is the famous church with the rainbow-colored, onion-domed roof. The cathedral was commissioned in the 1500s by Ivan the Terrible and according to legend, the Tsar thought it was so beautiful, that he ordered that the architect’s eyes be cut out afterward, so he could never build anything more beautiful! He wasn’t called Ivan the Terrible for no reason!

Lenin’s Mausoleum

The “love-it-or-hate-it” of tourist attractions in Russia. A glass sarcophagus containing the embalmed body of Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. It may seem a bit bizarre to display the mummy of a person, but it has been there for almost half a century and the 2.5 million visitors who come each year, clearly feel the queuing and thorough body search are worth it, to be in Lenin’s presence.

Pro Tip: no photos and no loud talking are allowed inside the Mausoleum.

Eternal Flame

There is an Eternal Flame in honor of an unknown soldier on the left side of Red Square. The hourly changing of the guards is worth seeing.

The Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. You can see it from the outside, or you can take an excursion to one of the museums located inside. This is the biggest active fortress in Europe, and holds a week’s worth of attractions! Once behind the 7,332-feet of walls, there are five squares, four cathedrals, 20 towers, various museums, and the world’s largest bell and cannon to see. Worth a special mention is the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of the famous Faberge Eggs.

Pro Tip: You can only go inside the Kremlin if you are part of a tourist group.

Interior of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscos

2. Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre translates to “The Big Theatre” in Russian, and the building is home to both the Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera — among the oldest and most famous ballet and opera companies in the world.

Pro Tip: It’s hard to get an inexpensive ticket, so if you’re reading well in advance of going to Moscow then try buying tickets on the official website . Last-minute tickets cost around $250 per person. If this is out of your budget, about an hour before a performance, you can try buying a ticket at the entrance from a reseller. Most can speak enough English to negotiate the price.

Tour the Bolshoi Theatre: You can take a group guided tour of the Bolshoi Theatre which focuses on the history and architecture of the theatre and behind the scenes. There’s an English language tour that lasts 2 hours and costs around $300 for a group of up to six.

GUM, a popular department store in Moscow

3. Luxury Shopping At GUM And TSUM

Russia’s main department store, GUM, has a stunning interior that is home to over 100 high-end boutiques, selling a variety of brands: from luxurious Dior to the more affordable Zara. Even if shopping is not on your Moscow to-do list GUM is still worth a visit; the glass-roofed arcade faces Red Square and offers a variety of classy eateries. TSUM, one of the biggest luxury malls in town, is right behind the Bolshoi and GUM. It’s an imposing building with lots of history, and worth a visit just for its design and its glass roof.

4. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This is one of Russia’s most visited cathedrals and is a newer addition to the gorgeous array of Muscovite cathedrals, but don’t let its young age fool you. After perestroika, in the early 90s, the revived Russian Orthodox Church was given permission to build a cathedral on this site. It did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church. The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes, gold, gorgeous paintings, and decor!

The cathedral is located just a few hundred feet away from the Kremlin and was the site of the infamous Pussy Riot protest against Putin back in 2012.

Pro Tip: Bring a shawl to cover your hair as is the local custom.

5. Gorky Park

Moscow’s premier green space, Gorky Park (Park Gor’kogo) is the city’s biggest and most famous park. There is entertainment on offer here for every taste, from outdoor dancing sessions to yoga classes, volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, and bike and boat rental in summer. In winter, half the park turns into a huge ice skating rink. Gorky Park is also home to an open-air movie theater and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. There is also Muzeon Art Park, a dynamic contemporary space with a unique collection of 700 sculptures. It is located right in front of Gorky Park.

6. Sparrow Hills Park

If you take a walk from Gorky Park, along the Moscow River embankment, you’ll end up in the city’s other legendary park, Sparrow Hills. Although the park doesn’t offer as many activities as its hip neighbor, it has a great panoramic view of the city

Pro Tip: You can take a free walking tour to all of the above attractions with an English-speaking guide.

7. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow, and see all the famous landmarks, but from a different angle, is from the Moscow River. Take a river cruise. Avoid the tourist crowds. There are little nameless old boats that do the cruise, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience take the Radisson Blu cruise and enjoy the sights with some good food and a glass of wine.

8. Metro Hopping

Inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow Metro system is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the world. Started in Stalinist times, each station is a work of art in its own right. I’d recommend touring the stations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This way, you’ll be able to properly see it without the crowds. Ideally, I’d recommend taking a tour with a knowledgeable guide with GuruWalk, who will tell you stories of forgotten stations and how the history of the country is interconnected with the metro development. If going by yourself, then I definitely recommend checking out: Mayakovskaya, Ploschad Revolutsii, Kievskaya, Kropotkinskaya, Kurskaya, and Novoslobodskaya stations.

Visit the free Moscow Metro Museum: For real train enthusiasts, located in the southern vestibule of Sportivnaya station is a small free museum. Here you can take a peek into the driver’s cabin, see a collection of metro tokens from different cities, and see different models of a turnstile, traffic lights, escalator, and more.

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings and the one with the best view is the main building of the Moscow State University. Although this is a little outside the city center, the view is more than worth it.

10. Izmailovsky Market

Mostly known for the city’s largest flea market, the district of Izmaylovo is home to a maze of shops where you can get just about anything, from artisan crafts to traditional fur hats, handcrafted jewelry, fascinating Soviet memorabilia, and antiquities. It’s also one of Moscow’s largest green spaces. There are often no price tags, so be prepared to haggle a bit. Head to one of the market cafes for a warming mulled wine before continuing your shopping spree.

The History of Vodka Museum is found here, and the museum’s restaurant is the perfect place to sample various brands of the national drink.

Once you’ve covered the more touristy spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer, and the places below will also be full of locals! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend the spots below!

11. Moscow City

With a completely different vibe, Moscow City (also referred to as Moscow International Business Center) is like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressive tall glass buildings. Here is where you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, like Ruski Restaurant, the highest restaurant both in Moscow City and in Europe. Moscow City is great for crowd-free shopping and the best panoramic views of the city.

12. Tretyakov Gallery

Tretyakov Gallery started as the private collection of the Tretyakov brothers, who were 19th-century philanthropists. They gave their private collection to the government after their deaths. If there is just one museum you visit in Moscow, I recommend this one!

Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve, former residence of Catherine the Great

13. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno was a residence of Catherine the Great more than two centuries ago. It became derelict during the Soviet era but has now been fully renovated. With its opulently decorated buildings, gardens, meadows, and forests, Tsaritsyno Park is the perfect place for a green respite in Moscow.

14. Kolomenskoye

A 10-minute metro ride from the city center is Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve, where you can get an idea of what Russia looked like 200 years ago. You’ll find ancient churches (one dating back to the 16th century), the oldest garden in Moscow, and the wonderful fairytale wooden palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great.

15. Ostankino TV Tower

Built in 1967, Ostankino TV Tower was the tallest free-standing construction in the world at the time, it’s still the 8th tallest building in the world and the highest in Europe. It’s also the best observation deck, with a glass floor and 360-degree views. The speedy elevators take you 1,105 feet in next to no time.

Pro Tip: You need to book in advance; entrance is based on specific ticket times and the capacity is limited and only a certain number of tourists are allowed per day. Don’t forget your passport, you’ll need it to get through security.

The floating bridge of Zaryadye Park in Moscow

16. Zaryadye Park

Zaryadye is a newly opened, landscaped urban park so new you won’t find it in a lot of tour guides. The park is near Red Square and is divided into four climatic zones: forest, steppe, tundra, and floodplains, depicting the variety of climatic zones in Russia.

These last three suggestions are a little quirky, but all are really worth checking out.

17. Museum Of Soviet Arcade Games

Release your inner child playing on 66 arcade machines from the Soviet era! What a great way to spend a couple of hours when tired of visiting museums and palaces. The staff speaks excellent English and are happy to explain how the games work.

18. Moscow Rooftop Tour

Take a 1-hour private Moscow rooftop tour with an experienced roofer. I can just about guarantee none of your friends will be able to say they’ve done it! For your comfort, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Take your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities out there!

19. Sanduny Banya

This classical Russian bathhouse opened its doors in 1808 and is famous for combining traditional Russian banya services with luxurious interiors and service. If you enjoy spas and saunas, then you should experience a Russian bathhouse at least once in your life! Go with an open mind and hire a specialist to steam you as it’s meant to be done — by being beaten repeatedly with a besom (a leafy branch)! This is said to improve circulation, but is best done by a professional!

So there you have my list of things to do in Moscow. I could have gone on and on and on, but I didn’t want to try your patience! There are so many things to do in this vibrant city that you’ll definitely need to allocate several days for exploring.

Here are some other reasons to visit Moscow and Russia:

7 Reasons To Put Moscow On Your Travel Bucket List
Russia 30 Years (And 30 Pounds) Ago
Massive Mysterious Craters Appearing Again In Siberia

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and guide, traveler, yoga teacher, trail runner, and mother of two. When she is not climbing or traveling she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.

Election 2024
Entertainment
Newsletters
Photography
Personal Finance
AP Investigations
AP Buyline Personal Finance
AP Buyline Shopping
Press Releases
Israel-Hamas War
Russia-Ukraine War
Global elections
Asia Pacific
Latin America
Middle East
Election Results
Delegate Tracker
AP & Elections
Auto Racing
2024 Paris Olympic Games
Movie reviews
Book reviews
Personal finance
Financial Markets
Business Highlights
Financial wellness
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media

Dubai plans to move its busy international airport to a $35 billion new facility within 10 years

This artist’s rendering provided by the government of Dubai shows plans for Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, will move its operations to the city-state’s second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert reaches “within the next 10 years” in a project worth nearly $35 billion, its ruler said Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Dubai government via AP)

This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central on Friday, April 26, 2024. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, will move its operations to the city-state’s second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert reaches “within the next 10 years” in a project worth nearly $35 billion, its ruler said Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Copy Link copied

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, will move its operations to the city-state’s second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert reaches “within the next 10 years” in a project worth nearly $35 billion, its ruler said Sunday.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s announcement marks the latest chapter in the rebound of its long-haul carrier Emirates after the coronavirus pandemic grounded international travel. Plans have been on the books for years to move the operations of the airport known as DXB to Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central which had also been delayed by the repercussions of the sheikhdom’s 2009 economic crisis.

“We are building a new project for future generations, ensuring continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turn,” Sheikh Mohammed said in an online statement. “Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub and its new global center.”

The announcement included computer-rendered images of curving, white terminal reminiscent of the traditional Bedouin tents of the Arabian Peninsula. The airport will include five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, the announcement said. The airport now has just two runways, like Dubai International Airport.

CORRECTS DATE - Paul Griffiths, the CEO of Dubai Airports, talks to the Associated Press in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. The number of passengers flying through Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, surged last year beyond its total for 2019 — just before the coronavirus pandemic grounded global aviation. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

The financial health of the carrier Emirates has served as a barometer for the aviation industry worldwide and the wider economic health of this city-state. Dubai and the airline rebounded quickly from the pandemic by pushing forward with tourism even as some countries more slowly came out of their pandemic crouch.

The number of passengers flying through DXB surged last year beyond its total for 2019 with 86.9 million passengers. Its 2019 annual traffic was 86.3 million passengers. The airport had 89.1 million passengers in 2018 — its busiest-ever year before the pandemic, while 66 million passengers passed through in 2022.

Earlier in February, Dubai announced its best-ever tourism numbers, saying it hosted 17.15 million international overnight visitors in 2023. Average hotel occupancy stood at around 77%. Its boom-and-bust real estate market remains on a hot streak , nearing all-time high valuations.

But as those passenger numbers skyrocketed, it again put new pressure on the capacity of DXB, which remains constrained on all sides by residential neighborhoods and two major highways.

Al Maktoum International Airport, some 45 kilometers (28 miles) away from DXB, opened in 2010 with one terminal. It served as a parking lot for Emirates’ double-decker Airbus A380s and other aircraft during the pandemic and slowly has come back to life with cargo and private flights in the time since. It also hosts the biennial Dubai Air Show and has a vast, empty desert in which to expand.

The announcement by Sheikh Mohammed noted Dubai’s plans to expand further south. Already, its nearby Expo 2020 site has been offering homes for buyers.

“As we build an entire city around the airport in Dubai South, demand for housing for a million people will follow,” Dubai’s ruler said. “It will host the world’s leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors.”

However, financial pressures have halted the move in the past. Dubai’s 2009 financial crisis, brought on by the Great Recession, forced Abu Dhabi to provide the city-state with a $20 billion bailout.

Meanwhile, the city-state is still trying to recover after the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in the UAE , which disrupted flights and commerce for days.

Trump awarded 36 million more Trump Media…

Uncategorized

Trump awarded 36 million more trump media shares worth $1.6 billion after hitting price benchmarks.

FILE – Pedestrians walk past the Nasdaq building as the stock price of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. is displayed on screens, March 26, 2024, in New York. A Delaware judge on Tuesday, April 30, granted a request by attorneys for Donald Trump and Trump Media & Technology Group, parent company of his Truth Social platform, to slow down a lawsuit filed by two cofounders of the company. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Former President Donald Trump talks to reporters as leaves the courtroom following the day’s proceedings in his trial at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has secured an additional $1.6 billion worth of shares in Trump Media, according to a regulatory filing this week.

Based on the company’s stock hitting certain price benchmarks, Trump was awarded an additional 36 million shares in the company that owns his social media platform Truth Social . That brings his total ownership to more than 114 million shares, which based on Wednesday’s closing stock price, are worth about $5.2 billion.

For now, the value of those shares is considered “paper wealth.” Trump is prohibited from selling any shares for six months after Trump Media went public without securing a waiver from the company’s board.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, now owns close to two-thirds of the company’s outstanding shares.

Trump Media & Technology Group shares have surged in the past couple of weeks and closed Tuesday at $49.93. Trump only needed the stock to be above $17.50 each for 20 consecutive trading days to secure the new shares.

The stock on Wednesday tumbled 9.6%, closing at $45.13.

Trump Media got its place on the Nasdaq after merging with a company called Digital World Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. These type of mergers offer young companies quicker and easier routes to getting their shares trading publicly.

On March 26, the first day of trading after Trump Media closed the merger with Digital World Acquisition, shares in the newly combined company reached nearly $80 each in intraday trading before closing at $57.99.

Less than a week after that flashy stock market debut, Trump Media disclosed that it lost nearly $58.2 million last year, sending its stock tumbling more than 21%. The 2023 losses marked a stark decline compared with the profit of $50.5 million that the company reported for 2022, according to a regulatory filing.

In the subsequent weeks, the company’s stock tumbled to around $22 each before rebounding in mid-April.

Truth Social launched in February 2022 , one year after Trump was banned from major social platforms including Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He’s since been reinstated to both but has stuck with Truth Social.

More in Uncategorized

By ERIK VERDUZCO and ZEKE MILLER (Associated Press) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — President Joe Biden is expected to travel to North Carolina on Thursday to meet with the family members of four officers killed earlier this week in the deadliest attack on U.S. law enforcement since 2016. The president is scheduled to visit Wilmington across […]

Biden to travel to North Carolina to meet with families of officers killed in deadly shooting

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said police shot and killed a student outside a middle school after receiving report of someone with a weapon. He said no one else was hurt and the student didn't get inside the building. Kaul spoke Wednesday evening at the first law enforcement briefing on an incident that sent children fleeing amid gunshots earlier in the day. Authorities in Mount Horeb had previously said an active shooter who never got inside was “neutralized” outside the district’s middle school building Wednesday. Kaul said that while police used deadly force, he didn't say how many officers fired weapons or whether they were met with gunfire.

Police killed student outside Wisconsin school after reports of someone with a weapon, official says

By TOM MURPHY (AP Health Writer) The Change Healthcare cyberattack that disrupted health care systems nationwide earlier this year started when hackers entered a server that lacked a basic form of security: multifactor authentication. UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty said Wednesday in a U.S. Senate hearing that his company, which owns Change Healthcare, is still trying […]

Change Healthcare cyberattack was due to a lack of multifactor authentication, UnitedHealth CEO says

The bungled rollout of a new federal student aid form has left millions of students in limbo and some wondering if their college dreams will survive. By May 1, students across the U.S. usually know where they’re headed to college in the fall. But this year, most don't even have financial aid offers yet after delays and glitches in the launch of the new FAFSA form. Many students still have not been able to complete the form, which the government and colleges use to determine scholarships and loans. Projected college enrollments are down at levels that could be catastrophic for small colleges.

Experts fear ‘catastrophic’ college declines thanks to botched FAFSA rollout

IMAGES

Top 10 Travel Companies in the World by Sales in 2020
10 Best Business Travel Management Companies
Is Travel Insurance Worth It?
481+ Creative Travel Company Names
30 Travel Logo Examples To Inspire Your Brand's Journey
Infographic: Why a Life of Travel is Worth the Price

VIDEO

The company worth crores was built because of thieves #business #marketing #entrepreneur #startup
Company Worth More Than $6 Billion 🤯 #anshumanjoshi #business
Luxury travel & Global business
By selling tea this founder Built a company worth ₹ 700 crore #shorts #ytshorts #startup #sherytube
Title Company Worth Doing Business With 100%
Valuing a Food Manufacturing Company in Alaska

COMMENTS

Meet The Biggest Travel Company You've Never Heard Of
The Travel Corporation encompasses 30 brands, serves over 2 million customers a year, operates worldwide and generates annual revenues of $2 billion.
20 Largest Travel Companies In The World
Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) is a multinational travel service company that ranks among the top 10 on our list of the largest travel companies in the world. It owns and operates several ...
Top 20 Most Valuable Travel Companies in the World
Moreover, with a market capitalization of $13.83 billion as of February 21, it ranks among the on our list. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL), based in Chicago, Illinois, provides air ...
The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies for 2023
G Adventures. For travelers on a budget, G Adventures offers cheap group tours that make dream destinations accessible to nearly anyone. (Think: sailing the Galapagos for just $1,124, criss ...
Leading travel companies by sales worldwide 2022
Published by Statista Research Department , Jul 25, 2023. In 2022, Booking Holdings, whose brands include Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, and Kayak, was the travel company with the highest gross ...
10 Largest 2021 Travel Acquisitions Ripple Across Industry
Travel's 10 Biggest Merger and Acquisition Deals of 2021. 1. AerCap. 2. Alstom. 3. Blackstone/Starwood Capital.
Expedia Group
Expedia Group, Inc. is an online travel company, which engages in the provision of travel products and services to leisure and corporate travellers. ... Former NBA All-Star, DeMar DeRozan, has ...
I rarely travel for leisure
Jaclyn Sienna India, 42, founded the ultra-luxury travel company Sienna Charles. She didn't come from money but plans vacations for people worth at least $100 million. Her job involves personally ...
Secrets of the Travel Company that Serves the World's Wealthiest
March 23, 2022. Nathan Foy is founder and CEO of Fortis, a luxury travel company that provides over 25,000 private, secure trips in 114 countries every year. With a clientele worth over half a trillion dollars, and offices in the US and Hong Kong, if there's anyone who knows the travel habits and requirements of the billionaires, it's Nathan .
How Much Is Your Agency Worth?
For instance: • An agency that generates up to $150,000 in free cash flow each year will likely sell for 2.5 to three time earnings. • An agency that generates between $150,000 and $500,000 in ...
Best Online Travel Agencies
Find deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals with an aggregator site like Skyscanner, which uses a metasearch engine to compare prices from all online travel agencies and the airline, hotel, or car rental company in question.Run searches with fixed dates, opt to compare airfare prices month to month, or click "Cheapest Month."
10 travel memberships that are worth the money
Membership cost: Three membership options are available - Connect, Core and Business. The Connect membership requires a one-time initiation fee of $2,995 and annual dues of $2,495 which begin on year two. The Core membership has an initiation fee of $17,500 and annual dues of $8,500 which begin on year two. The Business membership requires an ...
11 Best Travel Insurance Companies Of April 2024
Travel Insurance Expert. Updated: Apr 17, 2024, 5:23pm. Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations ...
How much is your travel agency really worth?
If you, as a TRO reader, are considering selling your agency (or are just curious), ITA will offer an opinion of value for $200.00. Innovative Travel Acquisitions, Inc. president Bob Sweeney and staff have completed 514 acquisitions of tour and travel related businesses since their inception in 1991. He is a proud member of ASTA,IBBA, NTA and ...
Viking Founder Torstein Hagen's Wealth Set to Rise After Cruise
Almost three decades on, his Viking Holdings Ltd. is among the world's biggest luxury cruise operators, and Hagen's fortune will surpass $5 billion as the company completes its initial public ...
The Travel Corporation
Tour operator. Owner. Tollman family [1] Number of employees. 10,000 [1] Website. ttc .com. The Travel Corporation is an international, privately owned hotel and travel company based in Cypress, California [1] and Bermuda. [3] Its businesses including Contiki, Uniworld and Red Carnation Hotels hosted two million travellers in 2019.
Is Being a Travel Agent Worth It? Fora Discusses the Pros & Cons
Many people don't realize that travel agents even exist still — much less that it's a booming part of the travel industry! In 2023, it was an $865.5 billion industry, and it's expected to grow to $905.89 billion in 2024.. Here's a quick history lesson: the first recorded travel agency was launched in 1841 by Thomas Cook.There have been a few advancements since then (hello, modern ...
Forbes: Meet The Biggest Travel Company You've Never Heard Of
Its newest ship, Joie De Vivre, coming in 2017, will cruise the Seine and there will be an outdoor, rooftop dance floor and movie cinema. One of the travel industry's largest privately held companies, the TTC story is not just blue skies and clear sailing. Tollman points out that terrorism attacks in Europe have pushed down demand.
Executive Flights on Corporate Jets Worth Millions More Than Reported
Disney said it spent almost $800,000 for Bob Iger to use company aircraft for personal trips in the last fiscal year. Taking similar trips at his own expense would have cost the chief executive ...
Travel
Travel . Explore our archive for expert insights, guides, and discussions. ... Techonomy: Weekly insights and event updates on business & technology. Yes. Women & Worth: Inspiration and advice for female leaders, founders and investors. Women & Worth: ...
Travel company trolls Mavericks with Cancun billboard in Los Angeles
A travel company had jokes for the Mavericks with a prominent billboard in Los Angeles ahead of Wednesday night's Game 5 against the Clippers.
21 Things to Know Before You Go to Moscow
1: Off-kilter genius at Delicatessen: Brain pâté with kefir butter and young radishes served mezze-style, and the caviar and tartare pizza. Head for Food City. You might think that calling Food City (Фуд Сити), an agriculture depot on the outskirts of Moscow, a "city" would be some kind of hyperbole. It is not.
10 Best Russia Tour Operators 2024 [Unbiased & With Reviews]
Continue reading to explore the top 10 highly rated tour companies in Russia and their best travel packages. Get Free Quotes From 10 Best Russia Tour Operators. Providers. Reviews. Volgograd Sputnik Travel Company. Trip Advisor - 326 reviews. Flotilla Radisson Royal. Trip Advisor - 1,127 reviews. ExploRussia.
Is the Amex Business Platinum worth the annual fee?
Business Platinum cardmembers can earn 5 points per dollar on airfare and prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel. This earning rate includes bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts and The ...
Is Travel Insurance Worth It?
Typically, the cost of travel insurance is 5% to 6% of your trip cost, according to Forbes Advisor's analysis. The average travel insurance cost is $228 for a $5,000 trip, and the range of rates ...
Moscow Travel Guide: Best Things to Do + More [2023]
3. Marvel at St. Basil's Cathedral. St. Basil's Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil's Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style.
What to Know About the New Rules on Airline Refunds and 'Junk' Fees
Passenger advocates welcomed the new steps. Tomasz Pawliszyn, the chief executive of AirHelp, a Berlin-based company that assists passengers with airline claims, called it a "massive step ...
19 Unique And Fabulous Experiences In Moscow
5. Gorky Park. Moscow's premier green space, Gorky Park (Park Gor'kogo) is the city's biggest and most famous park. There is entertainment on offer here for every taste, from outdoor dancing sessions to yoga classes, volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, and bike and boat rental in summer.
Dubai plans to move its international airport to a $35 billion new
3 of 3 | . This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central on Friday, April 26, 2024. Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, will move its operations to the city-state's second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert reaches "within the next 10 years" in a project worth nearly $35 billion ...
Trump awarded 36 million more Trump Media shares worth $1.6 billion
Former President Donald Trump has secured another $1.6 billion worth of shares in Trump Media. That's according to a regulatory filing this week. Based on the company's stock hitting certain ...