Smarter, cheaper, happier travel
This week on 'Try This,' host Cristina Quinn sits down with Washington Post travel reporter Natalie Compton, who shares her best tips for navigating it all without losing your patience (or your luggage).
Natalie breaks down exactly when and how to book flights for the best deals and why compression bags and eye masks might be your secret weapons.
Plus, smart advice about visas, passport renewals, travel safety and how to get through customs quickly — no Global Entry required.
Whether you're planning an international getaway or a local beach vacation, this episode will help you travel better, spend smarter and stay cool (literally and figuratively) this summer.
Subscribe to The Washington Post or connect your subscription in Apple Podcasts.
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Miami Herald
7 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Heading to Key West but don't want to drive? Spirit starting FLL flights
Long-time low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is adding a destination to paradise as it continues the journey to remake itself. The Broward-based airline known for bright yellow planes will offer year-round flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Key West International Airport for the first time. On Nov. 6, Spirit will launch four weekly flights, on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Daily flights will begin on Dec. 18. Fares start at $79 one-way for trips booked by Nov. 19. Tickets are now available on the airline's website. Spirit is betting on a route that brings together two of the Sunshine State's most popular locales. Fort Lauderdale boasts popular beaches, a renovated pier, growing airport, booming port and influx of youth. The Florida Keys continue to see sky-high demand from tourists all over the world. While Miami — the city and its hotels — was shut out of the 2025 World's Best issue of Travel + Leisure, the Florida Keys ranked eighth among best islands in the continental United States. 'Spirit Airlines entering the Key West market this November is fantastic news for our passengers near and far,' Richard Strickland, executive director of airports at Key West International Airport, said in a statement. 'We welcome this addition to our selection of carriers and greatly anticipate access to Spirit's expansive network of destinations.' Key West will be the eighth destination in Florida that Spirit serves. Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, Tampa and West Palm Beach are the others, along with Fort Lauderdale. The $79 one-way fares are subject to a 21-day advance purchase, valid for booking July 22 through Nov. 19, 2025, and travel from Nov. 6 through Dec. 17, 2025, the airline said. Blackout dates are Nov. 20 to Dec. 2, 2025. The Key West service comes after Spirit announced in July new direct flights between FLL and Macon, Georgia. The airline will have two flights a week beginning Oct. 16, starting at $49.99 one way. Macon is home to the Allman Brothers and Luther Williams Field, the baseball stadium used in '42,' the film about Jackie Robinson's life. A new Spirit Airlines? Beyond tourist attractions, the new flights will also give travelers an early glimpse of the new, slightly more upscale Spirit. In June, the airline started installing a section of seats — seven rows near the front — that have four additional inches of legroom, a total to 32 inches. The majority of its fleet is expected to have this feature by the end of July and all planes will in 2026. Spirit is also getting rid of its middle seats in the premium section. Flights in July are the first ones that offer the new perks. The moves come as Spirit is looking to carve out a market segment in a competitive market following several tough years. It's now taking on the bigger players with its premium offerings. In April, a new president and CEO, Dave Davis, took over. He replaced longtime President and CEO Ted Christie, who resigned April 7 after successfully leading the company through restructuring. On Feb. 20, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved the carrier's plan to continue operating as a business, and cleared bankruptcy shortly after. Davis came from Sun Country Airlines, where he was president and chief financial officer and a member of its board of directors since December 2019. He was credited with helping make it one of the most profitable airlines in the U.S., outperforming Spirit and Frontier. Can new cabin names help? Travelers to Key West will also get a chance to try out Spirit's new cabin names that debuted in June: Spirit First (formerly Go Big) ▪ Big front seat/extra legroom ▪ Carry-on and first checked bag free ▪ No change or cancel fees ▪ Priority check-in and boarding ▪ Reserved overhead bin space ▪ Complimentary snacks and drinks ▪ Wi-Fi Premium Economy (formerly Go Comfy) ▪ Extra legroom ▪ No middle seat ▪ One carry-on bag free ▪ No change or cancel fees ▪ Priority boarding ▪ Reserved overhead bin space Value (formerly Go) ▪ One carry-on bag free ▪ Seat selection costs extra ▪ Checked bags purchased separately
New York Times
8 minutes ago
- New York Times
6 Beaches in Europe That Take the Sizzle Out of Summer Vacation
Another summer of blistering temperatures across Europe has tourists and locals alike looking for creative ways to beat the heat. When temperatures soar, the Acropolis and the top of the Eiffel Tower may sometimes shut down, but the beaches are open and in their prime. You can dance all night on the sand in Albania, windsurf in Sardinia or hike on a giant French dune. Or you can savor the long days of Arctic sunlight in Norway. Here are six of our favorite beaches across the continent. Albania Dhermi Beach The Albanian Riviera has emerged as an alternative to the crowded coastlines of Croatia and Greece, partly because of beaches like Dhermi. Just shy of a mile long, with lounge chairs available for rent and secluded rocky coves dotting the beach's south end, Dhermi is also a major destination for partygoers: The area hosts several big music festivals during the summer. Kayaking and snorkeling are popular activities, and the wreckage of a Soviet-era fighter jet a few hundred feet off the shore of nearby Drymades Beach is a special attraction for scuba divers. Hiking trails and olive groves in the area provide panoramic views of the ocean, and the Ceraunian Mountains, which rise to the east, are picturesque both from the beach and on the drive in along the switchbacks of the coastal highway. Croatia Golden Horn Beach Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
8 minutes ago
- New York Times
Savoring Country Pleasures at 5 New Getaways
While sandy beaches are a hallmark of summer, there's something irresistible about sultry days in the countryside, hiking in the shade of leafy trees and paddling down rivers. And at these five new properties it's easy to savor such pleasures without having to travel far from the city. Whether you want to luxuriate in a suite in the Finger Lakes, camp amid mountains in the Berkshires or gather around a fire pit near Joshua Tree National Park, refined design and starry nights await at these convenient getaways. Massachusetts Huttopia Berkshires An eco-tourism brand founded in Lyon, France, in 1999, Huttopia creates properties meant to appeal to outdoor adventurers. Its newest U.S. escape, Huttopia Berkshires, which opened this month, is no different. Spread across 123 acres in Hancock, Mass., the resort is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Boston, in an area rife with lakes and hiking and biking trails. Choose from 45 wood-and-canvas tents available seasonally, and 11 year-round tiny houses (with more accommodations in the works). The Bonaventure tents, for up to two guests, are the camp's basic offering, with queen beds, electricity, a cooler, cookware and shared bath houses. For more room (up to five guests), privacy and amenities, try the Trappeur tents, which have two bedroom areas, a bathroom, mini-fridge, sink, wood stove, terrace, barbecue and fire pit. If you love the outdoors but don't necessarily love sleeping in a tent, the Sierra Tiny Houses accommodate up to five guests and have wood stoves, kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor lounge areas. Cool off in a swimming pool with mountain views and meet fellow campers at a community fire pit by the main lodge. Stop at the camp's Café-Bistro for pizzas, salads, croissants, crepes, smoothies, wine and local craft beers. Go for a drive and catch a concert at Tanglewood, in Lenox, and visit museums, including the Norman Rockwell Museum, in Stockbridge; Mass MoCA, in North Adams; and the Clark Art Institute, in Williamstown. Prices from $93 a night (for the Bonaventure tents). Stockton, N.J. The Stockton Inn Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
