Latest Articles on In the News

How the Government Shutdown Could Impact Your Travel Plans

Josh Hallett/Flickr Now in its 20th day, the government shutdown — triggered as a result of President Donald Trump’s determination to secure funding for a border wall — drags on. With no visible progress, services have halted, employees continue to work without pay, and the president and his opposition remain in a stalemate. So, how,…

Carnival Cruise Line to Debut the First-Ever Roller Coaster at Sea

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line With features like go-karts, waterslides, bumper cars, and skydiving simulators, cruise ships are already considered to be theme parks at sea — and now, Carnival Cruise Line is taking that notion literally. The company recently announced that it will be unveiling the first-ever roller coaster at sea on a…

Are Self-Driving Hotel Rooms the Future of Travel?

Photo courtesy of Aprilli Design Studio Imagine taking a road trip and not needing to pull over to refill gas. Or, never forgetting something at the hotel while out sightseeing for the day. How about cutting out airport commutes that involve long security lines, frustrating baggage fees, and unexpected delays? The Autonomous Travel Suite is…

This New Hotel Lets You Book Rooms Based on Your Mood

Photo courtesy Angad Arts Hotel You’ve likely heard of mood rings, but what about mood hotels? The Angad Arts Hotel, which opened in St. Louis, Missouri, in November 2018, lets guests choose a room that best matches their emotions, rather than assigning accommodations at random. Pick a color, any color: green for rejuvenation, yellow for…

This New Passenger Plane Has No Middle Seats

Photo courtesy of Embraer Between lost luggage and delayed departures, bland food and wailing babies, there’s a long list of things to dread about flying. However, Brazilian plane manufacturer Embraer has set out to solve one of those major airline annoyances: middle seats. The new E190-E2 plane, which can accommodate 150 passengers, features a two-by-two…


Notice: Undefined offset: 4 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 92

Notice: Undefined offset: 5 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 92

Notice: Undefined offset: 6 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 92

Notice: Undefined offset: 4 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 98

Notice: Undefined index: pass_through_args in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 158

The Most Dangerous Places to Travel in 2019

Colima, Mexico/Oyster Anxious, risk-averse travelers should plan on vacationing in Norway, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland this year. Why? According to a new map designed for travelers, these countries are some of the safest places on earth — not surprising, given their consistent ranking on lists of the world’s happiest places to live, too. Meanwhile, Afghanistan,…

Introducing the New TripAdvisor: A Social Platform for Travelers

Gone are the days of keeping track of trips — previous and prospective — in email threads. Say goodbye to searching for vacation inspiration, hotel reviews, and restaurant recommendations on multiple platforms. TripAdvisor (Oyster’s parent company) has launched a social stream that puts all your travel needs in one place. Referred to as the world’s…

Ryanair Is Changing Its Carry-On Bag Policy for a Second Time This Year

Jeroen Stroes Aviation Photography/Flickr In January, Ryanair announced a new policy that required non-priority customers to gate check their larger carry-on bags free of charge. Now, Europe’s largest low-cost carrier is shaking up their baggage rules for a second time. On Thursday, the Irish-based airline released a statement that said passengers will have to shell…

Here’s How Hurricane Florence Might Impact Your Travel Plans

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock Hurricane season, which runs from June through November in the Atlantic, has arrived. Among the storms brewing, Hurricane Florence, which is expected to barrel through the southeastern United States by Friday morning, has been high on everyone’s radar. The Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds could bring up to 30…

You Could Be Fined for Snacking on the Street in Florence

Florence, Italy/Oyster Florence, a city that’s known for its food — pizza, pasta, gelato — is prohibiting tourists and locals from pausing and snacking on some of its most popular sidewalks, roads, and doorsteps in the historic center. Effective September 4, the ordinance impacts streets near the Uffizi Galleries and the Palazzo Vecchio, including Via…


Notice: Undefined offset: 4 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 92

Notice: Undefined offset: 5 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 92

Notice: Undefined offset: 6 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 92

Notice: Undefined offset: 4 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 98

Notice: Undefined index: pass_through_args in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 158

Notice: Undefined index: class in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/themes/oyster/template-parts/sidebar/sidebar-ad-sticky.php on line 7

Notice: Undefined offset: 4 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 92

Notice: Undefined offset: 5 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 92

Notice: Undefined offset: 6 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 92

Notice: Undefined offset: 4 in /nas/content/live/stagingstmllc/wp-content/plugins/smartertravel-shared/includes/ads/includes/api.php on line 98