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Booking Holdings introduced Lola, an AI assistant that books hotels, restaurants, events and entire trips using real-time availability and pricing across partners including OpenTable, KAYAK, Priceline, Agoda and FareHarbor. The app is free to use, but a Plus tier ($5/month) and VIP tier ($25/month), each requiring a 12-month commitment, unlock discounts, priority access and concierge perks.
Opera has added travel eSIM functionality directly into its Android browser, letting users buy, install, and manage data plans without a separate app. The eSIM covers the whole device, works in 47 destinations, supports 5G where available, and offers 3GB, 5GB, or 10GB plans valid for 30 days after activation. Users in 11 launch markets can also claim 3GB of free data for three days without entering payment details.
China has expanded its overseas travel restrictions on top AI and chip professionals to now include their spouses and children, according to people familiar with the matter. These relatives must now obtain approval from Beijing before traveling abroad, even for short trips, extending curbs previously applied only to executives and researchers at firms like Alibaba and DeepSeek since earlier this year.
A reviewer compared Quince's expandable carry-on and large checked bag to Away's Flex line and found nearly identical materials, dimensions, and features including spinner wheels, combination locks, and lifetime warranties. Quince's bundle costs $270 combined, versus Away's separate prices of $325 and $425, and Quince also offers a 365-day return window.
WIRED released an updated holiday gift guide for fathers, expanding it to 34 recommendations with 27 new additions since the last version. The list spans categories like travel gadgets, headphones, apparel and fitness gear, including items such as Anker's Nano Power Bank and Apple's second-generation AirTag. The guide's author, a WIRED reviewer, says the picks are based on hands-on testing and personal gifting experience.
Paramount's Star Trek: Strange New Worlds wrapped up its fourth season with an episode centered on a time-related twist, offering glimpses of the show's future direction. The finale caps a season for the prequel series set aboard the USS Enterprise before the original Star Trek timeline.
A writer describes a personal hobby of exploring random locations on Google Street View, including comparing current and historical captures of the same spots. In one example, a Nissan 350Z appears parked on the same narrow Tokyo street in every Street View capture dating back to 2009, based on the writer's review of Google's archived imagery.
An Entrepreneur contributor describes visiting Yamagata, Japan for a niche sake-brewing workshop instead of typical tourist spots, citing a 2026 American Express survey that found 79% of millennial and Gen Z travelers now prioritize hands-on local experiences over famous landmarks. The writer, a CEO with experience traveling to 33 countries, draws parallels between avoiding crowded tourist destinations and pursuing underexplored business opportunities rather than obvious, saturated markets.
An Entrepreneur contributor outlines 11 personal strategies for continuing to run a business while on the road, drawing on experience managing companies from multiple countries. A central tactic involves deploying AI agents to handle repetitive administrative work and monitor workflows so the owner doesn't need constant check-ins, citing a EverMind finding that many UK and Ireland executives save three to 10 hours weekly using such tools.
Priority Pass, the airport lounge membership program, announced plans to broaden its benefits over the next year, including more fast-track security lanes at airports, additional partner lounges, and personalized recommendations powered by artificial intelligence. The changes aim to extend the program's value beyond simply granting lounge access before flights.
A traveler returning from a trip through France, Spain and Portugal reports that Dynamic Currency Conversion, the practice of letting merchants bill purchases in a tourist's home currency instead of the local one, has become harder to avoid. Many payment terminals now default to charging in dollars automatically, often without a clear prompt asking the customer to choose, making it easy to unknowingly accept a worse exchange rate.
A quarter century after the September 11 attacks, air travel remains defined by security measures introduced in their aftermath, even as some newer screening technologies now let passengers move through checkpoints with fewer restrictions. The anniversary prompts a look back at how flying was transformed almost overnight and how those changes persist today.