Entering New Zealand is about to get more expensive. Starting next month, the country is set to nearly triple its tourism tax amid surging tourism, the government announced Tuesday. Beginning Oct. 1, tourists entering New Zealand from most countries, including the U.S., will have to pay a hiked International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of…

Southwest’s Companion Pass, which allows you to bring a friend for nearly free (you have to pay the taxes and fees) on unlimited flights, is one of the most valuable assets in the world of points and miles. It typically takes a lot of Southwest flights and/or credit card spending to nab one of these…

Americans and other tourists visiting Sri Lanka will no longer need to apply for a visa beginning Tuesday, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Today, the Cabinet authorized the President to implement visa-free access for 38 nationalities with immediate effect, adopting Singapore’s streamlined ‘one-chop’ approach,” Ali Sabry, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on…

More than 70,000 people traveled over the holiday weekend to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, about 100 miles from Reno, to occupy Black Rock City, the temporary town created to host Burning Man, the annual eccentric and offbeat camping event filled with art, music, creative endeavors and all manner of curious activities. This year’s Burning Man…

There are few places in the world as mesmerizing and magical as the ancient Japanese city of Kyoto, home to thousands of temples, shrines and monuments. Visiting the city that served as the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years feels like stepping back in time, though Japan’s present-day, ultramodern lifestyle is still very…

Even if you travel on many different airlines, it makes sense to focus on just one loyalty program in each of the Big Three airline alliances: OneWorld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam. By focusing on one program per alliance, you can earn rewards faster by funneling everything into one program, as your points and miles won’t be…

As a loyal Clear user for the past three years, I will continue paying for it for as long as it exists. It saves me time and stress when passing through Transportation Security Administration security. Though I’ve never doubted the expedited security program’s worth, the implementation of random ID checks undoubtedly questions its core tenet….

You might think that with all the cruise ships out there with the potential to hold thousands of passengers, you have all the time in the world to book a cruise. However, some sailings can sell out a year or more before the ship even leaves the pier. That’s especially true of unique itineraries or…