TOKYO — If you are dreaming of cherry-blossom season in Tokyo, Gaudí architecture in Barcelona or a summer cruise along Norway’s fjords, be prepared to earmark a larger slice of your travel budget for local taxes and fees.
LONDON — A late-October update from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has placed eight additional nations under formal methanol-poisoning advisories, widening a global safety map that already covered parts of Southeast Asia, Central America and the Pacific.
ATHENS, Greece — From the whitewashed rooftops of Santorini to the buzzing streets of Athens, Greece continues to cast a spell on American sightseers. A new nationwide poll commissioned by cruise and tour operator Scenic Group positions the Mediterranean nation as the No. 3 dream destination for United States travelers, reinforcing Greece’s reputation as a must-see stop on the modern bucket list.
SEOUL, South Korea — Travelers flying through Seoul will soon have a new middle-ground option between cramped economy cabins and big-ticket business seats.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Room rates may finally be tilting in favor of bargain-hunters across the United States, even as hotel occupancy abroad reaches its highest point of the year. The mixed message for globetrotting guests emerges from the latest industry pulse check, according to a press release by STR, the hospitality analytics arm of CoStar Group.
TOKYO — Frequent flyers bound for, from or through Tokyo’s Haneda Airport now have a fresh place to recharge: American Express has unveiled a full-service Centurion Lounge inside the busy international hub, according to a press release by American Express.
KOBE, Japan — Travelers bound for Japan’s lesser-visited heartlands will soon find familiar green-and-white signage greeting them outside two revamped properties, according to a press release by IHG Hotels & Resorts. The global hospitality group has signed an agreement with local owner FET SYSTEM INC.
The main exhibition pavilion at the ongoing World Expo in Japan has welcomed more than 1 million guests since opening, according to a press release by the Expo Management Committee. The sprawling complex—dubbed “Japan Expo Hall” by many attendees—reached the milestone well ahead of projections, underscoring how strongly travelers continue to gravitate toward large-scale, in-person cultural events after several years of pandemic-related uncertainty.
Mitsui Garden Hotel Yokohama Minatomirai Premier has opened early reservations for its 2025 Fireworks Stay Deals, a bundle designed around the Minatomirai Smart Festival—one of Japan’s most anticipated pyrotechnic shows—according to a press release by Mitsui Garden.
Japan is exploring a two-tier pricing system that could see tourists pay more than locals at restaurants, attractions and other venues, according to Express.
