Arhaq

Rental-Car Shortages Across the US in Hot Travel Destinations

Arhaq 48 mins ago
  • A “perfect storm” has created a car-rental shortage across the US, an expert said.
  • Prices have risen to $700 per day in some markets, becoming more expensive than airfare and hotels.
  • If you want to avoid these high prices, plan ahead.
  • See more stories on Insider’s business page.

A rental-car shortage is pummeling the US and may only get worse as travel increases.

Vaccinations and easing travel restrictions have been pushing more people to travel again. Airline and hotel costs are still lower than they were before the pandemic, Nerdwallet recently reported. But if you’re planning a last-minute vacation

… Read More

International travel: Many Americans postponing vacations

Arhaq 2 hours ago

Like many Americans, the Griffiths, who are in their mid-70s and from St. Simons Island, Ga., are discovering that the newfound optimism that vaccine progress would speedily reopen the world to air and cruise travel appears to be, well, a little too optimistic. U.S. vaccinations are proceeding apace, but emerging variants, infection numbers and vaccination rates vary by country and region. On March 31, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a third national lockdown.

Griffith, however, is not giving up hope. “I think this trip is still possible for summer,” he said. “And I’m confident that international

… Read More

This vacation hotspot is offering vaccinations to visitors

Arhaq 4 hours ago

(CNN) — It was one of the first countries to fully reopen to travelers, and now Maldives is striving to be ahead of the game when it comes to vaccine tourism.

Officials for the Indian Ocean destination have announced plans to offer vaccinations to tourists on arrival in a bid to lure more visitors over.

Abdulla Mausoom, the country’s minister for tourism, has confirmed that the Maldives is developing a “3V tourism” scheme, which would allow tourists to “Visit, Vaccinate and Vacation.”

According to Mausoom, the country plans to offer two doses of the vaccine to visitors, which means those

… Read More

Gauging the Prospects for International Travel

Arhaq 6 hours ago

If 2020 was the summer of the pandemic-enforced road trip, many people seem to be hoping that 2021 will be the summer they can travel overseas. But that’s a big “if.” Roadblocks abound, among them, the rise of variant cases in popular destinations like Europe and confusion about the role that vaccine “passports” will play as people begin crossing borders. The recent pause on Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine adds a new wrinkle.

Still, there is reason for optimism. The number of vaccine doses administered each day in the United States has tripled in the last few months, and President

… Read More

What are the most overrated places to travel? Travel writers share all

Arhaq 8 hours ago

So-called bucket list destinations come with big expectations — and often big crowds too.

While overtourism can ruin many a holiday destination, it’s not the only reason vacations miss the mark. Here, travel writers who contribute to CNBC’s Global Traveler share the worst disappointments of their professional careers.

Stonehenge, UK

“Although I may have my passport taken away for saying this as an Englishman, I found Stonehenge decidedly underwhelming.

“It didn’t help that at the time I was a university student working as a tour guide, so [I] had to convince 45 Americans on our bus that they were about

… Read More

Airline executives cast doubt with borders still closed

Arhaq 10 hours ago

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A330neo or A330-900 aircraft with neo engine option of the European plane manufacturer, as seen on final approach for landing at Amsterdam Schiphol AMS EHAM International airport after a transatlantic long haul flight.

Nicolas Economou | NurPhoto | Getty Images

Hoping to take a European vacation this summer? You may be out of luck.

Borders in much of Europe have been closed to most U.S. citizens and vice versa for more than a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Airline executives on Thursday said they didn’t expect them to open in time for the peak

… Read More

COVID test required upon arrival

Arhaq 12 hours ago

Travelers visiting Maui, the second-most-popular vacation destination in Hawaii after Oahu, will soon have to take a second COVID-19 test to bypass the state’s mandatory quarantine.

The test, which will be free and conducted upon arrival at the airport, will begin as soon as the end of April, Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said at a news conference Wednesday.

“The post-arrival test will allow Maui County to determine if current safeguards are effective in preventing the introduction of new COVID cases, especially as new variants are being identified on the US mainland and around the world,” he said.

Travelers will be

… Read More

Las Vegas hotels hiring hundreds as travel confidence returns

Arhaq 13 hours ago

Las Vegas hotels hiring hundreds as tourists return

As more people get vaccinated against COVID-19, many are starting to feel safe enough to start traveling again. The Las Vegas Strip is already seeing that demand and hotels are needing to hire more staff, and fast.

This time last year, all hotels were forced to shut down, turning the “city that never sleeps” into a sleepy ghost town. 

“Everything you’re seeing around here right now was completely empty,” said Randy Goldberg, vice president of talent acquisition strategy at MGM Resorts International. “As the pandemic kicked off, the properties were closed for

… Read More

Oregon Insight: PDX air travel soars to highest level of the pandemic, airlines add more destinations

Arhaq 16 hours ago

Here is The Oregonian’s weekly look at the numbers behind the state’s economy. View past installments here.

Oregonians are flying again.

Nearly 775,000 people traveled through Portland International Airport in March, more than twice as many as did in February. While still well below normal travel patterns, the March passenger count was by far the highest in the year since the pandemic began.

The airport forecasts travel will be up again in April, to 813,000 passengers, and a number of airlines are expanding service — restoring flights to Europe and a number of domestic destinations.

There are several possible

… Read More

Startup Inspirato Said in Talks to Merge With Thayer SPAC

Arhaq 17 hours ago

Inspirato CEO and co-founder Brent Handler, center right, at Inspirato offices in Denver, Colorado, in 2016.

Photographer: Aron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/Getty Images

Photographer: Aron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/Getty Images

Inspirato, a startup specializing in luxury travel, is in talks to go public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company in a deal valued at more than $1 billion, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The Denver-based company is discussing a deal with Thayer Ventures Acquisition Corp., said the people, who asked not be identified because the matter is private. Terms could change and it’s possible talks could

… Read More