More than 40 million Americans visited Europe last year, checking out amazing cities, fascinating history, cultural icons and dazzling landscapes. In 2024, the number of US travelers visiting Europe surged, with 40.2 million Americans flying to the continent. As travelers increasingly seek out unique destinations, certain European countries have seen a rise in popularity, with Western and Central Europe emerging as key favorites. Here’s the top 10, according to Travel and Tour World: United Kingdom I’ve been lucky enough to visit all of them, and they’re terrific. England is, of course, home to London, which is one of the great Read more
Scotland
Cue the sad violin: it’s about time to bid summer adieu. The folks at KAYAK say that you can still leave town for Labour Day Weekend for $429 or less. So here are some ideas. First up: KAYAK’s Trendiest Searches. Folks are eyeing these destinations more than usual this Labour Day weekend. Orlando, Florida (59% more popular this year, with great food and fun neighborhoods to explore, such as Mills 50) Fort Lauderdale, Florida (33% more popular this year, and another fab food city with great beaches ) Edinburgh, Scotland (27% more popular this year, and one of the world’s Read more
There’s no denying it: this summer is absolutely sizzling. If the only things getting you through the season are chafe sticks and ice in every liquid (even soup), it might be time for a coolcation – or a trip to somewhere temperate. The folks at KAYAK have rounded up our cheapest flights to chiller-than-average cities. So you can dial the temperature down from a boil to a simmer. 1. San Francisco, California ($539) Highest average temperature: 18°C 2. Seattle, Washington ($539) Highest average temperature: 23°C 3. Reykjavík, Iceland ($860) Highest average temperature: 11°C 4. Lima, Peru ($925) Highest average temperature: 18°C 5. Dublin, Ireland ($965) Highest average temperature: 18°C 6. Edinburgh, Scotland ($1089) Read more
Record-Breaking International Visits to Scotland Last Year + Lost Airline Bag Incidents Down Sharply
New figures show that Scotland experienced a record-breaking influx of international visitors in 2023, welcoming 3.9 million tourists, marking a 15% increase from 2019. The 2023 International Passenger Survey by the Office of National Statistics showed a significant 23% increase from 2022, which saw 3.2 million visitors, and the previous record was set in 2018 with 3.7 million visitors. Notably, Scotland was the only UK nation to surpass its 2019 international tourism levels. North American and European visits rose by 16% and 19%, respectively, while visits from other countries, including Australia and China, surged by 53% compared to 2022. The Read more
Call it revenge travel. Call it bucket-list travel. Call it what you like, but the folks at South Africa Tourism are pleased to see more Canadians heading their way. Representatives from South Africa’s New York City tourism office jetted north of the border this week to talk with the travel media about the amazing variety of things to see and do in a country that offers a truly unique travel experience. They also presented some unusual video footage, including amusing bits from South Africa TV host Trevor Noah and action shots of rhinos mating on a grassy South African Read more
