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The 2024 WOW List: 95 Top Local Fixers in Countries Worldwide

The WOW List is a collection of exceptionally knowledgeable and well-connected trip planners around the world. They have been rigorously road-tested, based on my decades of experience as a travel journalist and based on the latest trip reviews from travelers who used my WOW approach to ensure an extraordinary trip. In 2023 they quickly found solutions to the travel complications and disruption that arose: They rerouted travelers away from wildfires and floods, kept them cool and comfy amid extreme heat, helped them bypass unprecedented tourist crowds and lines, restored whole days of sightseeing missed because of flight cancellations, and lessened the impact of hotels’ sky-high prices, understaffing, and skimpflation. We know they did this because of your trip reviews . We continue to monitor trips and update The WOW List in real time.

HOW TO GET A WOW TRIP 1. Find the right local fixer for your needs below. 2. Click their CONTACT button and share the details of your dream trip via my questionnaire. 3. Done! The local expert will reach out to you directly and quickly.

START WITH MY QUESTIONNAIRE • That’s how you get VIP treatment and these WOW benefits . • It’s how the WOW Lister knows that I sent you and that you will be reviewing your trip. Your trip reviews determine who remains on The WOW List. • It’s the only way I can advise you and monitor your trip from the most important moment—the conception and initial design. • It’s the only way your trip will count toward a WOW Moment .

WOW TRIP COSTS AND STYLE What these local fixers do is custom-tailor a private itinerary exactly to your trip goals and travel style, get you special access to iconic sights, and mastermind all the trip logistics so that you don’t have to. Trips start at about $10K to $15K, depending on your destination and timing.

FOR MORE GUIDANCE Not sure where to travel or who is the best fit for your specific trip needs and goals? Click to Get a Personalized Trip Recommendation.

Africa Asia Australia and Pacific Canada Caribbean, Central America, Mexico Cruises and Yacht Charters Europe Middle East South America USA

Egypt Jim Berkeley, Destinations & Adventures International

Read Jim’s Insider’s Guide to Egypt .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jim Read Trip Reviews

Morocco Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui and Radia Tehitahe, Experience Morocco

Read Hicham and Radia’s Insider’s Guide to the Sahara Desert .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Hicham and Radia Read Trip Reviews

Morocco Michael Diamond, Cobblestone Private Travel

Read Michael’s Insider’s Guide to Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains, Morocco .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Michael Read Trip Reviews

Safaris: Southern and Central Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius Cherri Briggs, Explore, Inc.

Read Cherri’s Insider’s Guides to Namibia Adventures , Zimbabwe , Zambia ,  and Madagascar .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Cherri Read Trip Reviews

Safaris: East Africa and South Africa Dan Saperstein, Hippo Creek Safaris

Read Dan’s Insider’s Guides to South Africa Safaris   and East Africa Safaris .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Dan Read Trip Reviews

Safaris: Southern and East Africa Julian Harrison, Premier Tours

Read Julian’s Insider’s Guides to Botswana’s Small Safari Camps   and Cape Town and South Africa’s Winelands .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Julian Read Trip Reviews

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Bali and Indonesia Diane Embree, Michael’s Travel Centre/Bali Barong Tours

Read Diane’s Insider’s Guide to Bali .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Diane Read Trip Reviews

Central Asia, the Silk Road, and Uzbekistan Zulya Rajabova, Silk Road Treasure Tours

Read Zulya’s Insider’s Guide to Uzbekistan .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Zulya Read Trip Reviews

China: Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan Mei Zhang, WildChina

Read Mei’s Insider’s Guides to Beijing , Yunnan Province , and China’s Big Cities and Small Villages .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Mei Read Trip Reviews

India, Bhutan, Nepal Sanjay Saxena, Nomadic Expeditions

Read Sanjay’s Insider’s Guides to Agra and the Taj Mahal , Delhi , and Secrets of India .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Sanjay Read Trip Reviews

India Bertie and Victoria Dyer, India Beat

Read Bertie and Victoria’s Insider’s Guides to Rajasthan   and Mumbai .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Bertie and Victoria Read Trip Reviews

Japan Japanese society relies heavily on personal connections to unlock doors. Japan is also bracingly expensive, with many of the loveliest ryokans and guest houses costing upwards of $1,000 per night (although that does include an extravagant dinner). And because the number of savvy guides with exceptional access is limited, they can command high fees. If you are seeking the right bespoke trip-planning specialist who can deliver the best that Japan has to offer, we can point you toward your smartest options.

Japan Andrea Oschetti, Blueflower

Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Andrea Read Trip Reviews

Japan Scott Gilman, JapanQuest Journeys

Read Scott’s Insider’s Guide to Classic Japan .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Scott Read Trip Reviews

The Maldives and the Seychelles Justin Parkinson, Linara Travel

Read Justin’s Insider’s Guides to the Maldives   and the Seychelles .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Justin Read Trip Reviews

Mongolia Jalsa Urubshurow, Nomadic Expeditions

Read Jalsa’s Insider’s Guide to Mongolia .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jalsa Read Trip Reviews

Sri Lanka Miguel Cunat, Sri Lanka in Style

Read Miguel’s Insider’s Guide to Sri Lanka .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Miguel Read Trip Reviews

Southeast Asia: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos Sandy Ferguson and Ethan Crowley, Asia Desk

Read Sandy and Ethan’s Insider’s Guides to Thailand , Vietnam , Southeast Asia , Bangkok , and Laos .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Sandy and Ethan Read Trip Reviews

Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam Daniel Fraser, Smiling Albino

Read Daniel’s Insider’s Guide to Thailand Like You’ve Never Seen It .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Daniel Read Trip Reviews

Australia and Pacific

Australia Stuart Rigg, Southern Crossings

Read Stuart’s Insider’s Guides to Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Stuart Read Trip Reviews

French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea) and the Cook Islands Kleon Howe, The Art of Travel

Read Kleon’s Insider’s Guide to Bora Bora, Tahiti and French Polynesia .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Kleon Read Trip Reviews

New Zealand Jean-Michel Jefferson, Ahipara

Read Jean-Michel’s Insider’s Guides to Active New Zealand and Queenstown .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jean-Michel Read Trip Reviews

New Zealand and Australia Sarah Farag, Southern Crossings

Read Sarah’s Insider’s Guide to New Zealand and Australia .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Sarah Read Trip Reviews

Atlantic Canada: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island Jill Curran, Maxxim Vacations

Read Jill’s Insider’s Guide to Newfoundland and Labrador . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jill Read Trip Reviews

French Canada: Quebec Centuries of history, majestic megafauna, indigenous culture, pristine landscapes, and a strong dose of France, all within a short flight (or even a drive) of many U.S. locales: This is Quebec. Browse Montreal’s street art with an internationally acclaimed artist, hop on a seaplane for a picnic on a remote beach, get VIP access to observe whales and black bears in the wild. Click on the button below and we’ll connect you with a side of Canada you’ve never seen before.

Pacific Northwest: British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies Sheri Doyle, Pacific Northwest Journeys

Read Sheri’s Insider’s Guides to Seattle , San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula , and California Coast .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Sheri Read Trip Reviews

Western Canada: British Columbia, Canadian Rockies, Northwest Territories, Yukon Marc Telio, Entrée Canada

Read Marc’s Insider’s Guide to British Colombia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Marc Read Trip Reviews

Caribbean, Central America, Mexico

Bahamas and Caribbean Yacht Charters Picture sparkling seas, the waves lapping at your boat, a captain who knows every secret snorkeling spot, toes-in-the-sand beach bars where you can stop for a drink, fabulously fresh seafood—prepared by your private chef—to enjoy at night…. All that can be yours when you charter your own vessel. But of the hundreds that are based in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, which to choose? And how do you know that its crew can make the magic happen, and that its water toys are up to snuff? We know yacht-charter experts who spend a good portion of every year inspecting boats and their crews to find the very best. Tell us what you have in mind, and we can match you to the right specialist for your specific needs.

Belize Patricia Johnson and Rachael Wilson, Absolute Belize

Read Patricia and Rachael’s Belize Insider’s Guide: Azure Waters, Green Jungle . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Patricia and Rachael Read Trip Reviews

Cabo Julie Byrd, CaboVillas.com

Read Julie’s Insider’s Guides to Los Cabos Villa Vacations   and Los Cabos Beach Vacations .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Julie Read Trip Reviews

Caribbean Islands and Dive Vacations Meg Austin

Read Meg’s Insider’s Guide to the Scuba Diving in the Caribbean and Bahamas . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Meg Read Trip Reviews

Costa Rica Irene Edwards, GreenSpot

Read Irene’s Insider’s Guide to Costa Rica Luxury Eco-Travel . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Irene Read Trip Reviews

Costa Rica Priscilla Jimenez, Costa Rica Expeditions

Read Priscilla’s Insider’s Guide to Costa Rica Adventure . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Priscilla Read Trip Reviews

Yes, you can still travel to Cuba. Legally and privately. The Cuba experts we know have worked in the country for years and are well connected to artists, musicians, historians, TV personalities, and the best privately-owned boutique B&Bs, casas particulares , and paladares . They can have you learning the secrets of a perfect mojito from a local bartender, enjoying a night out at a pop-up jazz club, bird-watching on a day trip into the countryside, and strolling Havana with a former architect or journalist (who now earns more as a private guide).

Mexico Zachary Rabinor, Journey Mexico

Read Zachary’s Insider’s Guides to Puerto Vallarta , Mexico City ,  and the Riviera Maya .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Zachary Read Trip Reviews

Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua Pierre Gedeon, Costa Adventures

Read Pierre’s Insider’s Guide to Nicaragua . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Pierre Read Trip Reviews

Cruises and Yacht Charters

European Barge Cruises Ellen Sack and Caroline Klein, Barge Lady Cruises

Read Ellen and Caroline’s Insider’s Guide to France’s Waterways .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Ellen Read Trip Reviews

European Rivers and Luxury Cruises Worldwide Tom Baker, Cruise Center

Read Tom’s Insider’s Guides to Alaska Cruises and Mediterranean Cruises .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Tom Read Trip Reviews

Expedition Voyages Ashton Palmer, ExpeditionTrips

Read Ashton’s Insider’s Guides to Antarctica Cruises , Arctic Cruises , and Small-Ship Alaska Cruises .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Ashton Read Trip Reviews

Luxury Cruises Worldwide Mary Jean Tully, Cruise Professionals by Tully Luxury Travel

Read Mary Jean’s Insider’s Guides to Asia Cruises and Africa Cruises .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Mary Jean Read Trip Reviews

Yacht Charters Picture sparkling seas, the waves lapping at your boat, a captain who knows every hidden cove, quaint villages to explore by day, fabulously fresh seafood—prepared by your private chef—to enjoy at night…. All that can be yours when you charter your own vessel. Maybe it’s a sailboat on the Dalmatian Coast, a catamaran in Tahiti, a bareboat charter in the Caribbean, or a mega-yacht on the Great Barrier Reef. But of the thousands out there, which craft and crew to choose? We know yacht-charter experts who spend a good portion of every year inspecting boats and their crews to find the very best. Tell us what you have in mind, and we can match you to the right travel specialist for your specific needs.

Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland Gwen Kozlowski, Exeter International

Read Gwen’s Insider’s Guides to Austria , Hungary ,  and the Czech Republic . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Gwen Read Trip Reviews

Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg Tom Stinglhamber, Brilliant Ideas

Read Tom’s Insider’s Guide to Belgium . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Croatia (plus Bosnia, Montenegro, Slovenia) Ala Osmond, Exeter International

Read Ala’s Insider’s Guide to Croatia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Ala Read Trip Reviews

Croatia Jay Ternavan, JayWay Travel

Contact Jay Read Trip Reviews

England and the British Isles Travelers bound for the United Kingdom and Ireland seek a broad array of experiences for which there is a broad array of sources. Do you need a castle in the countryside for a 50th birthday party or a manor home for a family reunion near the university where your kid is in college? A week of hiking in the Cotswolds or meeting the most interesting local characters in the hidden pockets of Ireland? The more specific you can be about your trip goals, the better we can direct you to the right fixer for your needs.

England, Ireland, Scotland Jonathan Epstein, Celebrated Experiences

Read Jonathan’s Insider’s Guides to Killarney and County Kerry, Ireland ,  Scotland , and the Cotswolds . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jonathan Read Trip Reviews

England, France, and Italy Jennifer Virgilio, Queen of Clubs

Read Jennifer’s Insider’s Guide to Paris with Perks . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jennifer Read England Trip Reviews

Read France Trip Reviews Read Italy Trip Reviews

France Philip Haslett, French Promise

Read Philip’s Insider’s Guide to Provence and the French Riviera . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Philip Read Trip Reviews

France Michael Eloy and Alex Zglinski, Trufflepig

Read Michael and Alex’s Insider’s Guides to Paris for Food Lovers  and Burgundy . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Michael and Alex Read Trip Reviews

Germany and beyond (Austria, the Netherlands, Scandinavia) Claudia Schwenger, Trufflepig

Read Claudia’s Insider’s Guide to Bavaria, Germany . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Claudia Read Trip Reviews

Greece Certain Greek islands, especially those visited by cruise ships, can be a mosh pit in high season, and the logistics of getting between islands can be surprisingly complicated. The right expert can steer you to the most reliable ferry operators, ensure there’s a taxi to pick you up at the pier, even arrange for private boat rides to secret islands. There are hundreds of Greek islands to choose from, of course—each with its own unique character—and the right expert can design an itinerary with just the right combo of ancient history, modern culture, near-empty beaches, sleepy villages, pulsating nightlife, or whatever it is that you want most. Tell us via the button below, and we’ll help as best we can.

Greece Jacoline Vinke, Trufflepig

Contact Jacoline Read Trip Reviews

Greece Mina Agnos, Travelive

Read Mina’s Insider’s Guide to the Ionian Islands . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Mina Read Trip Reviews

Iceland Iceland has awesome landscapes and unusual adventure activities, from volcano diving to geothermal-pool hopping. But it is surprisingly expensive, and soaring tourism has caused demand—for accommodations, activities, all-terrain vehicles, glacier adventure guides, etc.—to outpace supply, driving prices even higher. What’s more, the country’s tourism infrastructure is geared to mass-market group tours. For the right local fixer to deliver a private, custom-tailored itinerary with unique experiences, click on the “Ask Wendy” button below.

Iceland Chris Gordon, Icepedition

Read Chris’s Insider’s Guide to Iceland Adventures . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Chris Read Trip Reviews

Iceland, Denmark, and the Faroe Islands Mads Tange Christensen, Nordic Star

Read Mads’s Insider’s Guide to Off-the-Beaten-Path Iceland . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Mads Read Trip Reviews

Ireland Travelers bound for Ireland seek a broad array of experiences for which there is a broad array of sources. Do you want to hike the trails of Killarney National Park, stroll through Galway with a local musician, meet artisans and farmers in the countryside, overnight in an 800-year-old castle, or rent a Georgian manor home for a family reunion? The more specific you can be about your trip goals, the better we can direct you to the right fixer for your needs.

Italy   Andrea Grisdale, IC Bellagio

Italy   Luisa Grigoletto, Trufflepig

Contact Luisa Read Trip Reviews

Italy, France, England  Jennifer Virgilio, Queen of Clubs

Contact Jennifer Read Italy Trip Reviews

Read France Trip Reviews Read England Trip Reviews

Italy and Switzerland Brian Dore and Maria Gabriella Landers, CIU Travel

Read Brian and Maria’s Insider’s Guides to Venice , Florence , Umbria , and Tuscany .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Brian and Maria Read Trip Reviews

Italy: The Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera  Anna Merulla and Emanuela Raggio, BeautifuLiguria

Read Anna and Emanuela’s Insider’s Guide to The Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Anna and Emanuela Read Trip Reviews

Italy: Puglia Antonello Losito and Alison Pike, Southern Visions Travel

Read Antonello and Alison’s Insider’s Guide to Puglia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Antonello and Alison Read Trip Reviews

Italy: Sicily and the Aeolian Islands only Marcello Baglioni and Matteo Rota, Agave Travel Creative

Read Marcello and Matteo’s Insider’s Guide to Sicily . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Marcello and Matteo Read Trip Reviews

Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and beyond in Eastern Europe Greg Tepper, Exeter International

Contact Greg Read Trip Reviews

Malta Jason and Damon Camilleri Allan, Exclusively Malta

Read Jason and Damon’s Insider’s Guide to Malta . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jason and Damon Read Trip Reviews

Norway Torunn Tronsvang, Up Norway

Read Torunn’s Insider’s Guide to Wild Norway .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Torunn Read Trip Reviews

Norway and Scandinavia Jan Sortland, Norwegian Adventures

Read Jan’s Insider’s Guide to Norway . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jan Read Trip Reviews

Portugal and Spain Gonçalo Correia, Tours for You

Read Gonçalo’s Insider Secrets of Portugal . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Gonçalo Read Trip Reviews

Romania Raluca Spiac, Beyond Dracula

Read Raluca’s Insider’s Guide to Romania . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Raluca Read Trip Reviews

Spain and Portugal Pablo Calvo

Read Pablo and Gonçalo’s Insider’s Guides to Spain’s Basque Country   and Portugal .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Pablo and Gonçalo Read Trip Reviews

Spain and Portugal Virginia Irurita, Made for Spain and Portugal

Read Virginia’s Insider’s Guides to Madrid , Barcelona , Andalusia , and The Algarve, Portugal .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Virginia Read Trip Reviews

Spain: Andalusia and Southern Spain Iván Ricoy, Genuine Andalusia

Read Iván’s Insider’s Guide to Southern Spain . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Iván Read Trip Reviews

Sweden, Finland, and Scandinavia Leigh Landis, Exeter International

Contact Leigh Read Trip Reviews

Switzerland and Road Trips Through the Alps Nina Müller, Cosa Travel

Read Nina ‘s Insider’s Guide to the Secrets of Switzerland . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Nina Read Trip Reviews

Turkey Karen Fedorko Sefer, Sea Song Tours

Read Karen’s Insider’s Guides to Istanbul   and Turkey’s Aegean Coast .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Karen Read Trip Reviews

Turkey Earl Starkey, Sophisticated-Travel

Read Earl’s Insider’s Guides to Istanbul   and Cappadocia .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Earl Read Trip Reviews

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the Arabian Peninsula Nick Rhodes, Arabian Lux

Contact Nick Read Trip Reviews

Egypt and Jordan Jim Berkeley, Destinations & Adventures International

Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and beyond, incl. Central Asia Jonny Bealby and Dan Waters, Wild Frontiers

Read Jonny and Dan’s Insider’s Guide to Oman .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jonny and Dan Read Trip Reviews

Israel Joe Yudin and Jonathan Rose, Touring Israel

Read Joe and Jonathan’s Insider’s Guides to Jerusalem   and Israel .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Joe and Jonathan Read Trip Reviews

Morocco (see Africa, above)

Turkey (see Europe, above)

Argentina, Chile, Patagonia, Uruguay Maita Barrenechea, Mai10

Read Maita’s Insider’s Guides to Buenos Aires   and Argentina’s Wine Country .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Maita Read Trip Reviews

Argentina, Chile, Patagonia, Peru, Ecuador, and beyond Tom Damon, Southwind Adventures

Read Tom’s Insider’s Guides to Patagonia   and Machu Picchu .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and beyond Paul Irvine, Dehouche Travel

Read Paul’s Insider’s Guides to Rio de Janeiro   and Trancoso .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Paul Read Trip Reviews

Chile, Argentina, Patagonia Jordan Harvey, Knowmad Adventures

Read Jordan’s Insider’s Guide to Chile .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jordan Read Trip Reviews

  Colombia Boris Seckovic, Amakuna

Read Boris’s Insider’s Guide to Bogotá, Colombia .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Boris Read Trip Reviews

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Peru Allie Almario, Premier Tours

Read Allie’s Insider’s Guides to Quito and the Northern Andes   and the Galapagos Islands .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Allie Read Trip Reviews

Peru and Bolivia Marisol Mosquera, Aracari

Read Marisol’s Insider’s Guides to Secrets of Peru , Bolivia: The Salt Flats Are Just the Beginning   and Peru for Food Lovers .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Marisol Read Trip Reviews

Alaska Judith Root, Entrée Alaska

Read Judith’s Insider’s Guide to Alaska .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Judith Read Trip Reviews

American West and National Parks Melissa Ladvala, West Bench Adventures

Contact Melissa Read Trip Reviews

California and Hawaii Jay and Dani Johnson, Coastline Travel Advisors

Read Jay and Dani’s Insider’s Guides to Maui , Oahu , and the Big Island .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Jay and Dani Read Trip Reviews

California and the Pacific Northwest Sheri Doyle, Pacific Northwest Journeys

Read Sheri’s Insider’s Guides to Seattle ,  the San Juan Islands and Olympic Peninsula , and the Perfect California Coast Road Trip .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Disney and Orlando Michelle Allen, Travel Magic

Read Michelle’s Insider’s Guide to Disney World, Orlando .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

Contact Michelle Read Trip Reviews

Ski Vacations in the U.S. Rockies  Meg Austin

Read Meg’s Insider’s Guide to Skiing the Rocky Mountains .  Check Wendy’s pricing tip .

* While these Trusted Travel Experts are road-tested and well-respected, and I have known them for years, I don’t make any representation as to their financial stability or the suitability of their arrangements. I am connecting travelers with trip planners, and can help during the travel-planning process, but I cannot be held responsible or accept any liability for what happens after that. As always, to protect yourself, pay with a credit card and buy third-party travel insurance .

Get a Personalized Trip Recommendation

For a travel solution tailored to your trip goals and preferences, click this green box.

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Tips for Getting Expert Help When Planning Your Next Trip

T he Points & Miles Backpacker is a weekly column appearing every Monday. TPG Contributor Brian Biros , who has backpacked the globe for the past 15 years, discusses how to fund this adventurous, budgeted and increasingly popular form of travel with points and miles. He'll also explore all things backpacking-related. Read his story here and his high-level approach here .

Sure, you can always crack open a guidebook or load up your favorite travel website . But sometimes, what you really need is customized travel advice tailored to your specific trip and personal needs.

And knowing who (and how) to ask can greatly increase your odds of getting a helpful response — or any response at all.

Of course, you're asking for someone else's time when soliciting tips and advice, so you should make the effort to find answers on your own first. But if you get stuck, follow these guidelines to get the advice you need.

Research First

Many travel questions have already been answered (and you can probably find the information you need somewhere on The Points Guy ).

Even as a TPG writer, for example, I still learn plenty from our existing content. So if I'd like to find the best way to book Emirates first class with points , I search with the key words from my question: "How to book Emirates first class with points." You can even begin your search with "site: thepointsguy.com" to tell Google to only search your favorite source for trip planning and travel inspiration, of course.

If it's not important enough for you to spend your own time researching, you probably shouldn't ask for someone else's help. Make sure it's a serious inquiry before you enlist an expert.

Ask the Right Person

You probably already know who you consider to be a travel authority, whether it's a host of a travel podcast or a high school friend with a great Instagram account.

Generally speaking, though, you're more likely to get a response from someone you know personally. This is in no way a universal rule. Some travel personalities do a great job of engaging their audience (The Points Guy himself, Brian Kelly, even launched a hotline to help answer reader questions).

But if you send a request that goes unanswered, try to consider how many questions that person probably receives.

So if you're planning a trip to Barcelona , you may have more success asking a family friend who studied abroad there. In-person conversations can work better than messages, too. Not only can you ask specific questions about your trip, but a person who knows you will have a better idea of what type of experiences to recommend.

Crowdsource for Answers

Asking questions in public message boards or on social media works very well because other travelers can see what has already been recommended, comment on other recommendations and maybe even learn something themselves.

The TPG Lounge on Facebook, for example, has 63,000 fellow points enthusiasts ready with advice. You can also search within the group first for your answer.

You can also reach out to several individuals, but don't spam every traveler you know or follow. If someone is an authority on a destination or subject, ask him or her. I could tell you where to find the best caipirinha in Rio De Janeiro (it's Caipirinha de Barril by Coelho in Lapa and Santa Teresa, for the record), but I can't speak authoritatively on which Champagne you should order in Singapore Suites.

Introduce Yourself

If you're reaching out to someone you don't know, start out with a brief introduction. There is a reason you picked this person for advice. Love his or her website, blog, column, Instagram? Let them know. Don't write a novel: just a quick intro explaining who you are and why you came to them. Everyone likes to hear when their work resonates. Also, describe the steps you've already taken to try to find the answer so they know you're serious.

Be Specific

"I want to go on a trip. Where should I go?"

It's straight to the archive folder with an email like that. In order to solicit serious (and helpful) travel advice, you should be able to describe at least a few key parameters, such as the destination, your budget, your favorite activities and the type of trip you're planning.

If I respond to that message recommending a backpacking route through the Balkans, and I hear this person was really hoping for a quick weekend beach getaway, I've wasted my time.

But Not Too Specific

"I have 252,000 Amex points, and I want to fly business class from Los Angeles to London for a wedding in July. Can you help me out?"

This isn't asking for travel advice. This is asking for a travel agent. There are paid services that will help you book award travel, but asking someone to research a specific travel itinerary requires a huge time commitment (and, often, financial compensation).

It may not be too much to ask from a points-savvy friend , or anyone you'd feel comfortable asking for a favor. But if you wouldn't ask this person to help you move into your new apartment, you probably shouldn't expect them to book your family's points trip to Europe.

Instead, you want your question to explain the criteria of the trip and makes a specific, reasonable ask. For example:

"I want to go to an island with a good, cheap backpacker vibe that's no more than a few hours from the US. Bonus points for diving spots. Any places I should look into?"

In just a few minutes, I can point them in the direction of a few spots that will fit the bill.

Ask Again Politely

If you don't get a response, understand that the person you've reached out to probably gets lots of requests.

Long before I wrote for TPG , I was the resident travel adviser for my family members, friends and neighbors. Adding in the additional requests I now get from readers and followers, I can't get to them all. Also, I like to travel. So if you send me an email while I'm off the grid for a week at an ecolodge in the Solomon Islands , there's a good possibility I'll miss it. But if you try again a month later, I may be connected and able to respond.

I tell people I may not get to every email or question, but if you ask me twice, I will respond. I'd like to get to them all the first time, but if you care enough to ask again, I know it's not a fleeting question.

Report Back After

Often I have message exchanges with someone preparing a trip only to never hear from that person again. Inspiring travel gets me excited — I want to know how everything went! If I need to update my recommendations, that is helpful, too. Did my favorite dive bar turn into an upscale sushi restaurant? That's something I should know before my next visit. And if you have some favorites you found, pass those along.

I f you're looking to back that pack up and get some guidance, send your questions to [email protected] !

Feature photo by Paula May on Unsplash

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You asked: Do I need a passport for my cruise?

By The Way Concierge digs into the (surprisingly) complicated rules for travel by sea.

Traveling has always come with complications. Our By The Way Concierge column will take your travel dilemmas to the experts to help you navigate the unexpected. Want to see your question answered? Submit it here .

We’re going on a very short cruise from California to Mexico this spring. Do we need passports for our kids, even if we don’t get off the ship? — Ben, Springfield, Va.

There’s a difference between what you need and what is a good idea to have.

Let’s begin with the first: On most cruise lines and for most itineraries, a voyage that starts and ends at the same U.S. port and stays in the Western Hemisphere will not require any American citizen — child or adult — to have a passport.

These are called closed-loop cruises, and they only need proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection . For people under 16, a birth certificate will suffice. Popular cruise lines including Carnival , Royal Caribbean and Norwegian detail their requirements and any exceptions online.

A sailing that leaves from one U.S. port and ends at another — or starts in the United States and ends at a foreign destination — would not be classified as a closed-loop cruise. Everyone, including kids, would need a passport in that case.

There are some caveats, warns Teresa Tennant, senior vice president of the travel planning company Cruise Specialists . Some cruise companies, including Holland America Line and Princess Cruises , say that all members of a party must have a passport if minors are traveling with only one adult.

Some other cruise lines, such as the luxury Regent Seven Seas Cruises, require a passport for all sailings.

“It’s important to always check with the cruise line, because they can set their own rules that are actually above and beyond,” Tennant said.

Customs and Border Protection also urges travelers to check with their cruise company, travel agent and destination to confirm what’s required to enter foreign countries on an itinerary.

Whether or not you are required to have a passport, cruise lines and experts say it’s smart to have one before setting sail. The task isn’t quite as onerous as it used to be, now that wait times have returned to pre-pandemic norms of six to eight weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for the expedited process.

Cruise lines say they strongly recommend that passengers opt for the passport over other forms of identification.

“A passport is the hassle-free, gold standard for traveling between countries,” Royal Caribbean says on its website. “Boarding and disembarking through customs with a passport is usually faster than other types of ID documents.”

The U.S. State Department says travelers might need their passport “in the event of an unexpected medical evacuation or if the ship docks at an alternate port.” Travelers would also need their passports if they showed up late in a foreign port and the ship left without them — which has happened to some U.S. passengers recently.

“You should bring your passport even if your cruise says you won’t need it,” the State Department says on its information page for cruise ship passengers.

Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of the news and review site Cruise Critic , said in an email that it would be much more difficult to get home without a passport if someone had to leave the ship.

“In such a case, you might have to rely on help from a U.S. embassy or consulate to return, which can take time,” she said.

Have a travel dilemma for By The Way Concierge? Send it to us here .

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

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Tips to travel Iceland on a budget, plus travel expert-approved gear

Where to get local deals, take a dip in a hot spring and more.

Need some summer vacation ideas that won't break the bank? "Good Morning America" is off to Iceland and packing expert tips to help create the perfect travel bucket list on a budget.

From free dips in hot springs to the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall, ABC News' Ashan Singh explored the Nordic island nation and shared the top ways to enjoy every stop of the trip without overspending.

"Iceland is a tremendous deal from the Boston area in particular -- flights are only about five hours in each direction -- you could take just a long weekend there and still get an action-packed trip," Eric Rosen director of travel content for The Points Guy, told "GMA."

TPG has seen deals for as low as $400 and for travelers who don't care where they're seated on the plane, some fares drop as low as $230.

When it comes to hotels, Rosen offered another simple tip, spend now on credit cards from brands like Hilton or Marriott that, once the spending threshold is reached, offer large bonus points.

"Hilton cards for instance, offer anywhere from 130 to 180,000 points typically as part of their bonus," he said. "And that's going to be good enough for two maybe even three nights at some of these hotels in Reykjavik. And that could be your whole trip right there."

Iceland activities on a budget

Get a taste of the city's culture with the Reykjavík City Card, which gives visitors access to multiple museums, art galleries, pools and even bus transportation for free.

Enjoy going home with a fashionable souvenir? Local knits are quintessentially Iceland, but with handmade sweaters priced up to $500, Singh sought out second hand store, Extraloppan to score a sweater as low as $50.

Rent a car. Singh found deals for as low as $86 a day.

Save on a more extravagant meal by finding a deal through the Dineout Iceland app, which for a small fee offers discounts all over the land of fire and ice.

Looking for a cheap and quick local bite? Try a roadside hot dog for just $4.

Visit the free National Parks and take in sights like waterfalls and geysers, but Singh suggests skipping the Blue Lagoon, which can cost $350 for a family of four, instead opt for taking a dip in a local, free hot spring.

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Expert recommended travel gear

REI Co-op Trailmade Pants - Men's

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Michael Josh Large Outdoor Picnic Blanket

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Trailmade Rain Jacket - Men's

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EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter One International Wall Charger AC Plug Adaptor with 5.6A Smart Power and 3.0A USB Type-C for USA EU UK AUS (TA-105, Grey)

Action Camera 4K 20MP Sport Camera 40M Waterproof Underwater Camera Volg Video Camera WIFI Wide Angle Helmet Camera EIS Stabilization Dual Microphone

Anker Nano Power Bank with Built-in Foldable USB-C Connector

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• The First MICHELIN Key Hotels: All the Keys in Spain

The MICHELIN Guide announces top honors for Spanish hotels in 2024.

Spain Barcelona MICHELIN Keys Madrid Hotels

On April 29, 2024, the MICHELIN Guide revealed the brand new One, Two, and Three Key distinctions for the most outstanding hotels in Spain. This announcement comes four years into a comprehensive refresh of our hotel selection. The MICHELIN Guide now includes over 5,000 hotels across the world, and not a single one is simply a room for the night. These are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveler, each vetted and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting. Which brings us back to the Keys. The culmination of countless hours of evaluation by our team of experts, the Key hotels below represent the highlights of our broader selection. Like the MICHELIN Stars for restaurants, the MICHELIN Keys are our most outstanding hotels. In total, the 2024 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection in Spain includes five Three Key hotels, 12 Two Key hotels, and 80 One Key hotels. Want to know more about the MICHELIN Key? Here’s everything you need to know . Or, head below to see all the Keys.

How To Look Through the List

Jump straight to the list or take a deeper dive into select key hotels..

Look inside the Sentinel Suite of Mallorca's 2-Key fortress hotel. See what makes this 1-Key hotel among the best designed in the country. Or take a look at all of Spain's 3-Key hotels, in photos. Subscribe to our newsletter for more like this.

Highlights of the Spain 2024 Key Hotel List

Remarkable Personality in the Balearic Islands

Between Mallorca, Minorca, and Ibiza, the Balearic Islands display some of greatest variety in Key hotel winners across any region in the country. Mallorca, in particular, finds a bevy of options: from the small and historic ( Son Brull Hotel & Spa , Hotel Can Ferrereta , Nobis Hotel Palma ) to the stylish hotspots ( Es Princep and La Residencia ). One jewel on the island that defies typical categorization: Cap Rocat, an ancient fortress expertly remade , where the top suites occupy former cannon dugouts. On Minorca, check out Key hotels like Torralbenc , a tasteful, intimate, high-end hotel built from the bones of an old farm; or, in the capital of Mahón, look at Cristine Bedfor — one of the most creative, high-concept design hotels in our collection. Also read: Every Three Key Hotel in Paris

Radical and Renewed Design

In Madrid, you’ll find Key hotels largely in historic 19th or 20th century facades. Places like Santo Mauro , in a former Duke’s 1895 neoclassical mansion, or the Ritz , a Belle Époque palace that dates back to King Alfonso XIII. These are remarkable, and mainstays of our Spanish collection — but we’re ecstatic too to celebrate grand departures from such a style. The pinnacle: Hotel Marques de Riscal , a state-of-the-art Frank Gehry building complete with titanium “hair” (Gehry’s words) swooping above its vineyards. See too the ultra-modern glass boxes at Vivood Landscape Hotel outside Alicante.

Key Hotels with MICHELIN Star restaurants

The Key hotel distinction and the MICHELIN Star for restaurants are decided independently of one another, but it so happens that several hotels in Spain sport both. Among them: Akelarre in San Sebastián (restaurant: Akelarre ), Atrio Restaurante Hotel in Cáceres (restaurant: Atrio ), and Pepe Vieria Restaurant Hotel in Poio (restaurant: Pepe Vieira ). Not unrelated, we see too a strong crop of winery hotels. Places like Terra Dominicata (a 12th century monastery with its own vintage) and Torre del Marques (an 18th century tower with views of the olive groves) are two of our most fascinating. Also read: The 5 Room Inn with 3 Keys and 3 Stars

Click below to jump to each distinction: 

The three key hotels.

Cáceres:  Atrio Restaurante Hotel Escaladei: Terra Dominicata - Hotel & Winery Madrid: Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid Sardoncillo:  Torre del Marqués Hotel Spa & Winery Teruel:  Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine

New York by The MICHELIN Guide – expert insights on where to dine, stay and explore

The two key hotels.

A Coruña: Casa Beatnik Hotel Barcelona: Mandarin Oriental Barcelona Cala Blava: Cap Rocat Deià-Mallorca:  La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, Mallorca Madrid:  Four Seasons Hotel Madrid Madrid:  Rosewood Villa Magna Marbella:  Marbella Club Hotel Palma de Mallorca: Hotel Can Cera Poio:  Pepe Vieira Restaurant & Hotel San Sebastián:  Akelarre Santanyí:  Hotel Can Ferrereta Torrent:  Mas de Torrent Hotel & Spa  

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Title: From First-Gen Grad to African Studies Expert: How Lahra Smith Became a Georgetown Professor

In “Behind the CV,” we explore professors’ deepest passions, what makes them tick and how they got to where they are in academia.

Lahra Smith grew up thinking she’d travel the world as a foreign correspondent for a major daily newspaper. 

Born and raised in rural New Hampshire, the closest Smith got to foreign travel was when she visited neighboring Canada. But travel was always on her mind, a dream she wanted to one day make a reality.

So when the opportunity came up to study abroad in Zimbabwe as a first-generation college student, Smith seized her chance and fell in love with the African continent.

“[Zimbabwe] made me feel like the world is this big place, and I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to think about it. I wanted to learn more about it,” she said. 

Over the next few years, Smith graduated from college and worked a short stint in Africa with the U.S. Agency for International Development before pursuing her doctorate in political science at UCLA and landing at Georgetown.

Today, Smith is working her dream job as an associate professor with a joint appointment in the School of Foreign Service and College of Arts & Sciences. She is also the director of the African Studies Program . On the side, she helps students facing similar challenges she faced as a first-generation college student, serving as a mentor for underserved students in the Georgetown Scholars Program and Community Scholars Program .

Get to know Smith, how she discovered her passion for African studies and what it means for her to be a first-generation college graduate in the latest Behind the CV.

Behind the CV: Lahra Smith on Travel, African Studies and Being a First-Gen Grad

A lifelong yearning to travel: I come from rural New Hampshire, and I come from a family that did not travel very far, so the idea of travel is very important to me. I don’t really know where it came from except that I felt there was a bigger world than New Hampshire. I was very much shaped by the Cold War and learning about the Soviet Union and wanting to understand more about those kinds of global relationships and rivalries.

The class that changed my life: I went into college thinking I wanted to be a foreign correspondent, so I thought I wanted to do journalism as a major. What changed my life was one professor. I took an anthropology class that just kind of rocked my world. I loved anthropology, and then I ended up going into political science, and it just forever shaped how I think about the world. 

My first time leaving North America: I was the first person in my family to have a passport, and the first place I went to was Zimbabwe [when I studied abroad.] Zimbabwe in 1995 was a really dynamic and hopeful place. It was only 15 years after Zimbabwe had gotten independence from white minority rule. Living in Zimbabwe with young people who had both been through this difficult period but also were incredibly hopeful about the future was exciting. It made me feel like the world is this big place, and I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to think about it. I wanted to learn more about it. 

How Kenyans made me a political scientist: I like to say I credit Kenyans for turning me into a political scientist because I lived and worked in Kenya after my undergrad, and it was during a very politically exciting time in Kenya. Many Kenyans love to talk about and engage in politics with passion. Right after undergrad, I was hired to work on a presidential initiative called the Greater Horn of Africa Initiative [in USAID]. We were working on thinking about the intersections of conflict and development aid differently in the Horn of Africa. 

I love doing research because: I love that I can see a question out there in the world, and then I can pursue it. I can try to answer that question and contribute to the world of knowledge. I enjoyed working for an agency like USAID, but I realized I was the sort of person who needed to be in charge of my own research agenda.

My pitch to students to study Africa: It is a continent that is taking off and has all the markers of the things that made other parts of the world take off such as a youthful population and a creative, energized and hopeful population. It’s part of why there’s so much migration. Most of that migration is people moving within the continent rather than off of the continent because they see a lot of opportunity within Africa. I think it’s a continent that is really on the rise and in the next 50 years African countries will be the place to be and the place to know.

How I got to Georgetown: I finished my dissertation, and I was lucky enough to only spend a year in between [finishing my dissertation and landing a position at Georgetown.] In many ways, this is kind of the dream job for me. I was trained in African studies, and I was hired into the African Studies Program. Now I have a joint position in the Department of Government and African Studies. It’s the dream position for me because I get to be both focused on African studies as an interdisciplinary space thinking about a region of the world, but I’m also in the Government Department, and I get to work with students who are thinking about the discipline of political science. This is the end of my 18th year. I’ve been here for a while, and it’s been amazing. 

What it means to me to be a first-generation college graduate: I feel so indebted to the people who helped me get here. Certainly to my family — I have seven brothers and sisters — as well as my new family with my husband and children, but also to the mentors I’ve had. I’ve been lucky enough to have amazing faculty who believed in me but were also passionate about what they did. That’s what I try to bring to my teaching is this sense that what we’re doing is something incredibly valuable.

How I support first-generation college students: I like my students to know on the first day [of class] that I am a first-gen grad because I think especially at Georgetown, there’s a kind of perception among our students that [their professors] all went to the Ivys. I went to all public universities for all of my education, and I got an amazing education and am super privileged to be at Georgetown, but here I am. The world is different in 2024 than it was in 1995, but in some ways it’s also similar, and I at least want to tell students how I did it and how I want to support them. 

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10 Airport Layover Hacks You Need to Know

Posted: April 28, 2024 | Last updated: April 28, 2024

As much as we all love a direct flight, layovers are sometimes inevitable. In some cases, you might barely have enough time to get out of your seat and make it to the next terminal before takeoff. But if you've got more than a few minutes to spare between your flights, you might find yourself in a traveler's limbo that can make your journey feel even longer. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can make the best of your downtime before you make it to your final destination. Read on for the airport layover hacks you need to know, according to travel experts.

RELATED: Delta Flight Attendant Reveals Sneaky Way Airlines Trick You Into Missing Your Flight .

1. Check for WiFi availability ahead of time.

We're attached to our devices, so having some time to kill in an airport makes having a solid internet connection especially important. That's why it's essential to know if you'll be able to connect when you get there.

"Find out in advance if the airport has free WiFi," says Becca Siegel , co-owner of Half Half Travel blog. "While this seems like something obvious, the truth is that some airports in some parts of the world have WiFi that can only be accessed with a national phone number. I've been there, and it's been rough!"

This can be especially problematic if you're traveling abroad and run the risk of using all of your allotted international data before you even arrive at your destination. "If you know that WiFi may be iffy, bring things to pass the time like pre-downloaded movies, audiobooks, playlists, or old-fashioned books and magazines," Siegel suggests.

2. Pamper yourself.

At best, you may expect to be bored during any kind of long airport stint. But with time to kill, it's a perfect excuse to treat yourself to a bit of self care.

"If you have a lengthy layover at a large airport like Atlanta Hartsfield or JFK, make the most of your time!" says Cheryl Nelson , travel preparedness expert and founder/owner of Prepare With Cher . "Desperately need a refresh manicure or pedicure? I recently got a pedicure in JFK Terminal 4 on my way to a warmer climate. I didn't have time to get a pedicure before leaving for my trip, so I was thankful for this opportunity."

RELATED: 10 Essential Tips for Packing Light .

3. Locate an outlet right away.

Having your devices at hand becomes even more critical when you're flying. After all, besides being a source of entertainment and information, they're often your boarding pass . If you still have another leg of travel ahead of you, it's crucial you find a place to plug in.

"Whether finishing a report for work or playing games on your phone, you'll want a power outlet or charging station," says Becky Hart , content marketing strategist at Seven Corners Travel Insurance . "They tend to be in short supply at airports, so if you have a long layover, find an outlet and get a full charge sooner rather than later."

4. Try to get into a lounge.

An airport terminal can be a hectic place to spend even a little bit of time. That's why experts say your first move should be to make your way to a lounge.

"They not only provide food but also have a selection of complimentary drinks," says Nelson. "Some lounges even have showers and more comfortable places to rest or take a nap."

And access might not be as limited as you think. "Even if you're not a member of a rewards program or rewards credit card and don't fly first-class, you can still buy a lounge day pass at most airports," says Mercedes Zach , a travel expert with ASAP Tickets . "That way, you get all the amenities that are well worth the average price of $40 to $50."

If you want to plan ahead, you can find which lounges offer day access by checking the airport's website or using an app like LoungeBuddy . Ultimately, it could make your downtime feel a lot more like "me" time.

RELATED: 7 Clothing Items to Never Wear Through Airport Security, Experts Say .

5. Use other quiet spaces to relax

There are plenty of options for escaping a crowded terminal that don't require any payment to enter or use.

"Even if you don't have lounge access, you can take a calming break from the airport commotion by searching for quiet spaces," Erica Forest , founder and CEO of Trip Scholars , tells Best Life . "Many international airports offer meditation rooms, yoga spaces, sensory rooms, and chapels that are open to both religious and non-religious travelers."

6. Don't stray too far from your gate.

Terminals can fill up with people as boarding times near for multiple gates. Nelson says it can be relaxing to move a little bit further from the action when your area gets too busy—but not too far.

"If you're waiting at your gate and don't want to be in a sea of people, walk to another nearby quieter gate and find a seat there while you wait," she says. "As long as you can still hear announcements from your gate agent, you're good to go."

7. Use it for last-minute trip planning.

No matter how prepared you are, the time leading up to leaving for a trip goes by quickly. That's why Forest says the downtime during your layover can be one of the best ways to learn a little more about your destinations and firm up some more of your itinerary for when you get there.

RELATED: Travel Expert Reveals the Sneaky Reason Airlines Make You Check Your Carry-On .

8. Bring some food, drinks, and basic supplies along.

It's no secret that food and drink cost a lot more in an airport than on the street. That's why having a little something on hand to tide you over is a good idea.

"You can save a lot of money by bringing your own snacks for the journey," Nelson suggests. "Instead of going to the food court for meals, pack your lunch in your backpack and enjoy that while you wait."

And it might not just come down to a matter of choice. Depending on when your next flight is, there may not be easy access to meals or a place to lie down.

"I always travel with my own stash of snacks and deck of cards in case airport lounges or restaurants are closed during my layover—which can happen if you're traveling overnight," Pamela Holt , travel expert and host of Me, Myself, and the World tells Best Life . "In this case, I also recommend packing a layover sleep kit that includes a silk sleep mask, ear plugs, compression socks, a small travel blanket, a toothbrush, and an extra pair of underwear."

9. Get out of the airport for a bit.

Stuck with a  really long layover? Experts say you can use the opportunity to get in a quick bonus visit before your next flight by getting out of the airport for a bit.

"Even if it's not a location that has been on your bucket list, you might be surprised by what it actually offers," says Zach. "You can leave your luggage at the airport or the nearest train station storage facilities and take the quickest public transportation to get to the city."

She adds that some larger airports will sometimes even offer an organized group tour of the city that departs directly from the airport itself.

"Research the options to save you time spent figuring out public transportation systems and directions to major sites," says Zach. "Just be sure to get back to the airport on time for your next flight."

However, it's essential that you've done the research ahead of time when traveling abroad. "If you're planning on leaving the airport grounds during a five- or more-hour layover, make sure to check with that country's visa restrictions and rules," suggests Lauren Gumport , vice president of communications at Faye Travel Insurance . "You can find out this information by talking to a representative from your airline or heading to an information desk at the airport.

10. Look for a cheap hotel.

Most airports have at least a few hotels nearby, which often serve as convenient lodging for business travelers with early flights and for stranded passengers. But they can also be very helpful if you need more relaxation than a lounge can offer.

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460 Years Ago, Shakespeare Was Born Here. Or Somewhere.

Every year, millions flock to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, to visit the house known as Shakespeare’s Birthplace. But was he really born there? A whole industry depends on it.

By Elizabeth Winkler

Sometime in the late 18th century, a sign appeared outside a shambly butcher’s hut in the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon: “The Immortal Shakspeare was born in this house,” it announced, using a then common spelling of his name. Devotees began making pilgrimages — dropping to their knees, weeping, singing odes: “Untouched and sacred be thy shrine, Avonian Willy, bard Divine!”

A tradesman grew rich selling carvings from a local mulberry tree, like pieces of the true cross. Some skeptics suspected that the sign was part of a scheme to bring visitors to Stratford; others wondered if it had been hung by the property’s occupant. A local antiquarian criticized the whole scene as “a design to extort pecuniary gratuities from the credulous and unwary.”

Pilgrims flocked to the house, and it became a site so hallowed that one visitor warned that the veneration of Shakespeare threatened to eclipse that of God:

Yet steals a sigh, as reason weighs/ The fame to Shakespeare given,/ That thousands, worshippers of him,/ Forget to worship Heaven!

About 250 years after its break from the Catholic Church, England had its own Bethlehem and manger.

The problem: No one really knows where Shakespeare was born.

Mock Tudors and magic wands

Stratford-upon-Avon lies two hours northwest of London in the Midlands, more or less the heart of England. Today, it is one of Britain’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing up to three million visitors a year. The Birthplace is its main attraction, followed by the cottage reputed to be the place where Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife, grew up.

Stratford exudes Elizabethan kitsch, with souvenir shops and half-timbered buildings. ​​In the 19th century, the Victorians tried to make Stratford look more “authentic,” which has left it teeming with mock Tudors.

It’s a town whose economy and identity revolve around Shakespearean fervor, which peaks every year on April 23, the date celebrated as Shakespeare’s birthday. It is also, conveniently, St. George’s Day , honoring the patron saint of England.

On my first visit in June 2021, I passed the Hathaway Tea Rooms and a cafe called the Food of Love, a cutesy name taken from “Twelfth Night” (“If music be the food of love, play on”). Confusingly, there were also several Harry Potter-themed shops. Stratford and Hogwarts, quills and wands, poems and spells . Then again, maybe the conflation was apt: Wasn’t Shakespeare a sort of boy wizard, magically endowed with inexplicable powers?

On Henley Street, I arrived at the Birthplace, a half-timbered house yellowed with age. Today, it looks like a single detached building, but it was originally a row of tenements. John Shakespeare bought one tenement on the street in 1556, though he also bought property on nearby Greenhill Street, which could just as easily have been the site of his son’s birth. He bought the property thought to be the Birthplace in 1575, 11 years after his son was born.

Those who believe in the Birthplace point to a record from 1552 showing that a John Shakespeare was fined for keeping a dung heap somewhere on Henley Street. It doesn’t specify the location, but that dung heap has fueled a theory that he must have been living there at the time of his son’s birth, perhaps as a renter.

Similarly, the claim for the authenticity of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage rests on a record that a John Hathaway leased the 90-acre farm on which the building stood 13 years before Anne was born in about 1556. The cottage may well be linked to the Hathaways, but there is no proof that Anne actually grew up in it, just as there is none that Shakespeare was born in the house on Henley Street.

Together, these traditions have sustained Stratford’s tourist industry, worth about $315 million in 2019, before the pandemic. But they have not convinced many skeptics over the years.

“Stratford permits — indeed encourages — one of the biggest frauds in England to rage unchecked,” the journalist Bernard Levin railed in The Daily Mail in 1965. “I mean those two monumental frauds, ‘Shakespeare’’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.”

It didn’t help that hucksters have found ways to make the story profitable. In the early 19th century, a tenant of the Birthplace named Mrs. Hornby ran a lucrative hustle showing and selling Shakespeare’s “relics” to gullible visitors. The relics were eventually exposed in an 1848 article in Bentley’s Miscellany , which observed that four different chairs, each purporting to be “Shakespeare’s chair,” had been sold over the years, each made by a well-known local craftsman.

I entered through the Shakespeare Centre, a strange museum that acts as an antechamber to the Birthplace. There were no books owned by Shakespeare or letters in Shakespeare’s hand, because none are known to exist. Instead, a glass case displayed eight Shakespeare busts dating from 1844 to 2000. Another case featured a Shakespeare beer mug (1933), Shakespeare playing cards (1974) and a Shakespeare action figure made in China (2003).

Inside the Birthplace, I went from room to room with the other visitors. Guides regaled us with tales of Shakespeare’s childhood — how he played and ate and dreamed in these rooms. Of course, his childhood is actually a yawning blank: From his baptism in 1564 to his marriage in 1582, there are no records of him. In one room, a table displayed books, quills and ink, indicating a family of learning — but his parents signed documents with a mark, like many illiterate people in Tudor England.

The other visitors murmured to one another in reverent museum whispers and nodded at the guides. I thought of how, in the late 19th century, a Birthplace custodian named Joseph Skipsey resigned his post after a few months, explaining that “not a single one of the many so-called relics on exhibition could be proved to be Shakspere’s” and that “the Birthplace itself is a matter of grave doubt.”

The power of popular faith

Efforts to preserve the property as the official Birthplace began in 1847, when it was put up for sale. In response to fears that P.T. Barnum was going to buy it and make it part of a show, a committee was formed to “save” the house for the nation, and the group began to solicit donations.

Not everyone was convinced. “The extraordinary sensation caused by the purchase of this shabby sausage-shop deserves a prominent place amongst popular delusions,” declared the 1848 Bentley’s Miscellany article . A writer for another British periodical mocked the gullibility of a nation pouring forth funds to buy a “rubbishing mass of lath and plaster in which the Poet was no more born than was the Man in the Moon himself.”

But the belief had already become an article of faith, strengthened by its own repetition. The Birthplace was a better shrine for the very absence of evidence — for the faith it required of its visitors — the publisher Charles Knight wrote at the time. That same year, the committee secured the Birthplace at auction for 3,000 pounds, worth about $323,000 today .

The “shabby sausage-shop” made an uninspiring temple. So the adjoining premises were demolished, walls moved, floorboards replaced, new doorways and staircases created. Its new stewards transformed it into the large, comfortable home of a prosperous Elizabethan family, leaving the cellar as “the only portion which remains as it was,” as the scholar Sidney Lee wrote in 1901. What emerged was less a Tudor dwelling than a Victorian imagination of one.

The committee became the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust , the group that still runs the site, and maintains its authenticity. “We know that, to the best of our current understanding, the building includes the surviving fabric of a property that is traditionally and intimately associated with Shakespeare and his family,” said a spokesman for the trust.

The trust went on to acquire more properties, including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, a thatched farmhouse where visitors are invited to “relive Shakespeare’s love story.”

A temple to baby Shakespeare

“This is the room where we believe William Shakespeare was born in April 1564,” read a sign in the Birthroom. Next to the bed stood a cradle laid out with blankets and a tiny pillow, encouraging visitors to imagine the baby genius mewling by his parents’ side. For the Victorians, the Birthroom offered the mystical possibility of contact with the poet. Visitors recorded melodramatic accounts of what they felt on entering the room: They burst into tears. They fell down. They kissed the floor. Those desiring a more extended communion spent the night.

Others were unimpressed. “If I were to allude to Stratford, it would not be in connection with the fact that Shakespeare came into the world there,” wrote the novelist Henry James after visiting. “It would be rather to speak of a delightful old house near the Avon which struck me as the ideal home for a Shakespearean scholar.”

But the fantasy is resilient. In a 2023 PBS documentary, “ Making Shakespeare: The First Folio ,” the scholar Michael Dobson, director of the Shakespeare Institute, stood in the Birthplace, gushing over “the very room in which Shakespeare was born.”

I shuffled around the cradle with the other visitors, unsure of what to do. Were we supposed to genuflect? Kiss it? After an appropriate amount of staring, we moved on.

To exit, I had to pass through the gift shop, where any lingering sense of piety dissipated in a tidal wave of consumerism. Visitors were loading up on Shakespeare T-shirts, breakfast teas and tea towels. Shakespeare rubber ducks and windup toys. Shakespeare Christmas ornaments, baby onesies, tote bags and luxury chocolates. Belief is good business.

When I returned to Stratford last February, little had changed since my first visit. The Shakespeare Centre was now showing modern artists’ interpretations of the poet, including a Surrealist painting of a masked figure that suggested the mystery surrounding him. The trinket stands were still hawking their modern versions of those 18th-century mulberry tree carvings. Faith in the traditions is bound up with desire — the need to believe.

Where was “the Immortal Shakspeare” really born? Stories are usually more seductive than the truth.

Sheelagh McNeill contributed research.

Elizabeth Winkler is a journalist, a critic and the author of “ Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies: How Doubting the Bard Became the Biggest Taboo in Literature .”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .