The Sharing Economy is Changing Travel


If you&#39;re planning a trip, you have more options than ever on how to book it and where to stay. The travel industry was rocked by the arrival of the internet all those years ago, forever changing the way people book travel arrangements. And now the industry is in the middle of another big change, thanks to technology and social media: sharing platforms that allow consumers to share, swap, trade or rent assets like apartments, houses, condos and cars are changing the way people book and experience travel. All of these things are helping the sharing economy to grow, with new players popping up continuously.

Do You Need To Update To a REAL ID?


In a little over a year, your regular driver&#39;s license will not cut it anymore when traveling. The Transportation Security Administration has been warning citizens for years now that anyone boarding a domestic flight will need a Real ID-compliant license. But what is that. 
Homeland Security&#39;s website states: &quot;Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission&#39;s recommendation that the Federal Government &ldquo;set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver&#39;s licenses.&rdquo; The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver&#39;s licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.

Wellness Tourism on the Rise


A new year is approaching and for many of us, that means it is time for some New Year&#39;s resolutions. Some common resolutions are to save money, eat better, quit smoking, lose weight, exercise more and travel more. To indulge in good food and spirits, while spending time with family and friends. 
Wellness tourism interweaves a healthy lifestyle into travel experiences, so if you make resolutions to exercise and travel more, you can now easily stick to both.

Ritz-Carlton Splashing Into Cruise Industry


The Ritz-Carlton, a luxury hotel brand known for impeccable service and accommodations, is bravely diving into the world of cruising. But unlike traditional cruise ships, which hold thousands of passengers, Ritz-Carlton is aiming smaller by building three high-end yachts that hold less than 300 passengers. These smaller yachts will have a more intimate feel and offer the industry&#39;s highest guest to service ratio with roughly one crew member per guest. 
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Image By NoRud [CC BY-SA 4.0&nbsp; (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
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Not a Single US Airline Picks Up Skytrax Award


If you want an award-winning flight experience with a US carrier, you may be out of luck. The Skytrax World Airline Awards for 2018 have been announced and the coveted Top 10 included not a single US airline. Singapore Airlines took the top award, voted as best overall airline for 2018. Qatar Airways

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Deals

New Airline Closes Gap Between Commercial and Private Flights


What if you could fly first class for less. 
You&#39;re boarding a flight and you&#39;re forced to walk through first class, feeling a bit envious of all the extra amenities. 
A new airline, Aura, addresses the desire for luxury and affordability with an innovative concept that targets frequent travelers. The luxury planes feature 21 &quot;first class&quot; seats, which resemble first class seating on commercial flights with more legroom, gourmet meals, and WiFi, and 8 &quot;wave class&quot; seats, which mimic private-jet travel.

Why You Won't Be Seeing "Smart Luggage" Anymore


Smart luggage seems like a really smart idea, right. Josh Udashkin certainly thought so and so he launched a smart luggage company called Raden. All of these functional features relied on a built-in battery. The new restriction essentially shuttered Raden&#39;s doors, along with another smart luggage company, Bluesmart.

More Americans Playing it Safe With Travel Insurance


Whether you&#39;re traveling for the upcoming holidays or planning a big vacation, it&#39;s always smart to consider travel insurance. And it seems like more and more people are choosing to play it safe. According to the US Travel Insurance Association, Americans spent close to $3 billion on travel insurance in 2016. You can find answers and advice to questions like:

What is travel insurance.

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