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☆ Royal castles to luxury getaways: How to spend King Charles III's coronation weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | Rob Goss | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The king has pledged a more scaled-back affair than that celebrated by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953. Here's CNBC Travel's top picks for how to spend the coronation weekend. Watch the ceremonial processionThe coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6 in a service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Buckingham Palace, London residence of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, is open for tours outside of the coronation weekend. Picnic in the Royal ParksLondon's Royal Parks offer a more low-key way to absorb the royal atmosphere over the coronation weekend.

☆ How to put your best travel foot forward for Earth Day 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

But you don’t have to totally cut out travel or stay super close to home to be a good planetary citizen. You need a city that’s dedicated to getting it right to best enjoy an urban biking vacation. Here, we've curated 30 of our favorite corners, including the Thu Bon River, which flows through central Vietnam. A maze of rivers and caves, the UNESCO World Centre is defined by its craggy limestone facades and jade green water. Bruno De Hogues/Photodisc/Getty Images Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is heaven for spelunkers.

☆ Can’t Afford to Scuba in Aruba? Try This Snorkeling Adventure Closer to Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Caleb Johnson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

STREAMING NOW Snorkel in a freshwater river for a brief encounter with an eel, a lamprey and other colorful fish. MY SNORKELING ADVENTURE began in a parking lot at Mile-0 of the French Broad River, which flows across more than 200 craggy miles in western North Carolina and into eastern Tennessee. It was a sunny day, and Kevin Merrill, who would serve as my guide, asked me to meet him there so he could gauge the conditions and figure out where to start. Over the weekend, heavy rain had fallen across Transylvania County, so the river was running higher than normal. I followed his white Subaru through the town of Rosman, N.C., where Mr. Merrill grew up and later worked at the public high school before starting Oxbow River Snorkeling along with his wife, Christie.

☆ Hate Crowded Cruises? 6 Small-Ship Getaways to Book Instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Eleanor Mcgrath | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

CUTTING EDGE On its route to the North Pole, Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot, a hybrid-electric polar exploration vessel, glides slowly through the ice so passengers can view arctic foxes, whales and walruses. Popular megaships with over 6,000 passengers—and extras like an ice-skating rink, IMAX, crazy waterslides and Broadway-scale theaters—welcome the budget-conscious. “Smaller expeditions are up 43% over 2019,” reported Misty Belles, vice president of global public relations for Virtuoso, a network of 20,000 travel advisers. Sleek vessels now break through Arctic ice floes to access the North Pole, and river cruises let the curious visit multiple towns without enduring turbulent seas. Here, a few examples of what small ship cruises can offer.

☆ A 26-year-old influencer tried working from Mallorca for a month. She realized she can explore during the day and still keep East Coast hours.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Olivia Marcus is over the lack of work-life balance in the US, so she tried working from Spain. Her 9-to-5 on the East Coast is a 3-to-11 gig in Mallorca, giving her all day to explore. While in Mallorca, Marcus continued to work her 9-to-5 job, but on a 3-to-11 schedule. (Mallorca is five hours ahead of the east coast of the United States.) She said working East Coast hours while in Spain was more than doable.

☆ The Hotel Cabanas That Cost More Than Most Rooms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The priciest item on your next hotel bill might not be the room but a posh slice of poolside shade and privacy. Cabanas, those curtained-off retreats with TVs, padded lounge chairs, couches, trendy sunscreen and other perks, are fetching eye-popping prices as the travel boom stokes demand. Vacationers are shelling out for them, hoteliers say, often because they are still splurging on all things travel to make up for getaways put off in recent years.

☆ Spring Break Travel May Break the Bank for Fliers This Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jacob Passy | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The surge in airfare prices reflects how much travel demand has recovered from the pandemic to places like Disney World in Florida. Flying to the most popular destinations for spring getaways is costing travelers significantly more on average than before the pandemic. Warm-weather destinations are among those seeing the largest jump in prices compared with 2019, according to an analysis of U.S. travel agency ticket sales from Airlines Reporting Corp., a company that processes tickets for travel agencies.

☆ No Place Like Rome: Unlock the City’s Old-World Romance at These Historic Hotels
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Tony Perrottet | Photographs Francesco Lastrucci For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Among the most illuminating ways travelers can explore the Eternal City’s kaleidoscopic history is through its illustrious hotels. Each palatial structure is part of the modern city’s fabric but also embodies a specific moment in time. And thanks to the welcoming Roman manner, even non-guests can stop in for a coffee or aperitif while taking in the old-world ambience. A brief sojourn to these grand getaways provides a peek into Rome’s history and allows visitors to sample cultural riches along the way. Mosaics from the exedra, or changing hall, have been preserved, and history buffs can hire the hotel’s archaeologist-guide for insights.

You can earn Marriott points from paid stays, co-branded credit cards, or flexible points transfers. How to earn Marriott pointsEarn points from Marriott Bonvoy hotel staysThere are plenty of different ways to earn Marriott points, but let's start with the simplest: earning points on hotel stays. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 6X Marriott Bonvoy Points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy4X Marriott Bonvoy Points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets2X Marriott Bonvoy Points on all other eligible purchases1,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points with each qualifying stayComplimentary Gold Elite statusA Free Night Award (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points) after making $15,000 in purchases per year.

☆ See before and after photos of an old hotel being transformed into an example of Hilton's new brand for budget travelers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

See before and after photos of an old hotel being transformed into an example of Hilton's new brand for budget travelersThe before and after of Spark by Hilton hotel. Hilton In January, Hilton unveiled Spark by Hilton, a new hotel brand for economy travelers. Hilton In January, Hilton unveiled its 19th brand, Spark by Hilton. Hilton Despite being a budget brand, Spark hotel rooms will still have plenty of amenities like a refrigerator, adjustable desk, and open closet. Hilton Read next Hilton Hotels Business Visual Features More...

☆ 12 things your Airbnb hosts wish they could tell you
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

But dealing with an Airbnb host, as opposed to a hotel concierge, can be tricky. We spoke to Airbnb hosts across the US — here are 12 things they wish they could tell all guests. Insider spoke to multiple Airbnb hosts and asked them what they wished they could tell their guests. First things first: Don't use Airbnb or similar services, like VRBO, if you don't have toMultiple Airbnb hosts told Insider they'd actually prefer leaving Airbnb out of the process altogether. Some hosts simply shouldn't be hosts — don't let that put you off Airbnb"The main reason people should get into this business is to provide exceptional service to guests.

☆ I left Manhattan for LA. It's easier to make friends, my cost of living is lower, and I'm so much happier here.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Daniel Zahler | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

I got the full New York City experienceI lived in Manhattan for 12 years. In 2015, I decided to sublet my West Village pad and spend the winter in Santa Monica. Santa Monica is one of the priciest areas of California, but it's still cheaper than Manhattan. Today I'm paying $3,000 a month for a spacious apartment in the heart of Santa Monica with amazing views of mountains and palm trees. New York City is unrivaled in its energy and diversity and is the major league of cities — truly world-class.

☆ Now is the best time to plan out your PTO for the rest of the year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. workplaces are among the worst for offering the least amount of paid vacation days, and even employees who do have access to PTO are pretty terrible at taking all the time they're given. Plan ahead for big eventsFirst, you'll want to take stock of how many days you actually have. Do you have different buckets to pull from, like vacation days versus personal days, or do you have one PTO bank to account for? Once you have that baseline, think about the big events throughout the year you know you'll want time off for. Then do the same for any big family events, school breaks, graduations, celebrations and other gatherings on your radar.

☆ How Anti-Abortion Activists Bought Access to the Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Katherine Long | Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

In exchange for as little as a few thousand dollars in contributions to the nonprofit, these people received easy access to events where Supreme Court justices would be. Supreme Court Historical society trustee Jay Sekulow, center, represented President Trump during the latter's impeachment trial in 2020. Anti-abortion advocates cheer in front of the Supreme Court after the decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores was announced in 2014. Alito did not respond to a request for comment on his involvement in the Supreme Court Historical Society. Supreme Court justices, though, aren't even required to stay within those weak guardrails because no code of ethics governs justices' behavior.

☆ Only 3 Sedona Airbnb hosts have applied to a program that would pay local landlords $10,000 to rent homes to everyday people instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sedona, Arizona, offered last year to pay short-term-rental hosts up to $10,000 to delist homes. Sedona is just one US town grappling with the question of how short-term rentals should operate in their communities. One Sedona local identified as Kaitlin told Wired's Rosie Bradbury that the rent on her three-bedroom house increased by $800 in just one year, which forced her to move out and live in a friend's caravan. Many of the property owners who reached out in the initial wave of interest, didn't qualify for the program, Boone said. Instead, Boone hopes statewide legislation is passed this year that allows towns to cap their number of short-term rentals.

☆ Shopify had a bumpy 2022, with a stock split, layoffs, and more. These are the biggest stories about the e-commerce company.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

After seeing explosive sales and revenue growth during the earlier days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Canadian e-commerce company saw its business come back down to earth this year. Shopify employees are granted restricted stock units, or RSUs, in addition to their base salaries. MayOn May 2, Shopify announced plans to acquire e-commerce fulfillment startup Deliverr for more than $2 billion. The acquisition was intended to help Shopify merchants offer one and two-day shipping to their customers. On December 15, Shopify announced that it was doubling down on its sustainability efforts by investing $11 million in carbon removal projects.

☆ Behind a Wall Street headhunter's rapid ascent lie accusations of harassment and abuse
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Alex Morrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +38 min

"It was a complete whirlwind, and it felt too good to be true," Morrison told Insider. "Everyone is given a calendar reminder of when they have to submit a review," one former employee told Insider. Durlston told Insider she wasn't a credible source given the acrimonious nature of her departure from Durlston. "Everyone gets pretty loose at these events," a former employee told Insider, noting the availability of alcohol throughout the day. Bahram told Insider this was not a prohibition but merely a suggestion that it would not be an appropriate arrangement.

☆ See insider the creepy nuclear bunker that has been sold at auction as a unique off-grid vacation home
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Cold-War era nuclear bunker built in 1959 has sold at auction in Lincolnshire, England. The bunker was built as part of a civil defense group's nuclear plan and is accessible via a 14-foot ladder. The bunker went on sale with SDL Property Auctions and sold for £31,000, or about $38,092, according to the auctioneers' website. SCL AuctionsThe bunker also comes with a caravan that can be used for an above-ground holiday home, but the buyer plans to replace it, Insider has been told. The former owner said he was selling the unique property because he had not visited it for years and added, "I'd like some cash to go on holiday."

☆ I charge up to $2,000 to rewrite people's résumés. Here's how I turned my HR expertise and side gig into a lucrative career.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Like most kids, I didn't even know résumé writing was a profession. Once you start treating résumé writing seriously, the game changesWhen I first started helping people with their résumés, I saw it as a side business or a hobby. My coaching rates hover around the same hourly rate, depending on whether it's career coaching or executive coaching. Keep your skills and brand sharpWhile résumé writing and its affiliated components comes easy to me now, it wasn't always that way. My long-term goal is to be the best career and executive coach that I can be — and résumé writing will likely always be a part of that mix.

☆ 3 Ski Vacation Ideas That Suit Both Devotees and Dabblers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Donna Bulseco | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +2 min

“A NEW YEAR, a new slope” could be the mantra of Lisa Parilla, whose Bay Area family of four like to try out new ski runs during winter breaks. While dad and the couple’s 11-year-old son ski all day, she and their 13-year-old daughter like to squeeze in shopping, sightseeing and leisurely lunch breaks. Given high travel costs, booking flights, food and comfortable digs for a five-day spree at $10,000 demands creativity and flexibility. Its iconic Corbet’s Couloir run, however, with a terrifying 45-degree pitch, is not for the faint of heart. For this family trip, Ms. Nash suggests Hotel Terra in Teton Village, or a 1-2 bedroom with full kitchen at Teton Mountain Lodge, a ski-in, ski-out option in Mountain Village.

☆ How siblings transformed shipping containers into 2 Airbnb getaways that brought in $10,000 in revenue last month
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Landon and Heather Schlabach run a short-term-rental management firm overseeing 75 properties. Their younger brother, Reece, joined them to flip two shipping containers into secluded retreats. Even Mom is involved — she handles cleaning the two shipping containers between guests. After their initial porch talk, Landon was able to track down a Spartanburg, South Carolina, company that sells shipping containers that come clean and painted with cutouts for windows. The recently opened second container has a small pond and waterfall feature under the home with a chair swing for relaxing evenings.

☆ Japanese Ski Getaways for Powderheads of Every Stripe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Janet O Grady | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

CHERRY-BLOSSOM season in Japan has its devotees, but, as countless ski snobs are bound to tell you, the country’s other prime time is the dead of winter. According to the website SnowJapan, the tiny, mountainous archipelago is packed with some 450 ski areas—almost the same number you’ll find throughout the U.S. The northern island of Hokkaido and the central Nagano prefecture—both former hosts of the Winter Olympics—harbor the majority of ski destinations, which range from small family-owned hills to splashy multi-mountain resorts. What many of these spots have in common is “Japow,” the nickname (abbreviated from “Japan Powder”) for the abundant, feather-light snow that rolls in from Siberia via storms over the Sea of Japan. But their off-slope offerings are also a big draw: soaking in a hot spring, downing a flight of sake, slurping up ramen or a shabu-shabu hot pot.

☆ A Guide to Skiing in Japan: 5 Getaways for Powderheads of Every Stripe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Janet O Grady | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Where Are Americans Traveling This Thanksgiving? A Few Surprises
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Donna Bulseco | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

THE APPETITE to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday has clearly been restored, with more Americans expected to hit the road—and airports—this year than last, possibly surpassing prepandemic levels. But 2022’s T-Day migratory patterns reveal a few changes from years past. According to online flight-search company Skyscanner (from figures obtained Jan.–Oct. ), London is this year’s third most popular destination for Thanksgiving week—outranking Los Angeles and Orlando. Care to trade the conventional gobbler feast for a tasting menu at the acclaimed restaurant Masque?

☆ Here's why it's so hard to find cheap airfare this year — and why 2023 isn't looking much better
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"Holiday flights are going to be expensive once again," said Scott Keyes, founder of flight-deal site Scott's Cheap Flights. "The pricing power has shifted back to the airlines for winter holiday travel." Windfall for airlinesThe three biggest U.S. airlines — Delta , United and American — each reported profits and record revenue for the third quarter. "Demand has not come close to being quenched by a hectic summer travel season," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said on the carrier's quarterly call last week. "When you are opening your Christmas presents, ideally that's when you should be thinking about booking those summer flights," he said.

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