New York (CNN) 鈥� The on the Las Vegas Strip, and its instantly recognizable volcano, is soon shutting down after more than three decades in business.

The 3,000-room resort will cease operations on July 17 as it undergoes a three-year renovation that wipes away any markings of the Mirage and its tropical theme.

Opened in 1989 by casino mogul Steve Wynn, the Mirage ushered in a era of luxe resorts for the Strip and was the first resort to have a sidewalk attraction with its volcano, prompting the Bellagio and Venetian to imitate the Mirage with its dancing fountains and canals, respectively.

鈥淲e look forward to the beginning of an exciting journey into a new era as Hard Rock Las Vegas will ignite the Strip with entertainment, innovation and world-class hospitality,鈥� the Mirage said on its , which has been flooded with memories in the comments.

In addition to the volcano, the Mirage was also home to other quintessential Las Vegas features like the Siegfried and Roy鈥檚 white tigers show and a Cirque du Soleil show set to Beatles music.

The resort will reopen in 2027 as Hard Rock Las Vegas, with a soaring 700-foot-tall hotel tower in the shape of a guitar, , with the volcano being destroyed to make space for new rooms.

MGM Resorts bought the Mirage from Wynn in 2000 and for more than $1 billion to Hard Rock International. It鈥檚 the second time Hard Rock will have a presence in Las Vegas, with the brand previously owning the off the Strip.

More than 3,000 Mirage employees will be laid off beginning in July. The Hard Rock said it will pay more than $80 million in severance. The Culinary Workers Union, which represents about half of the Mirage鈥檚 employees, said in a that affected workers will get $2,000 for each year of employment with the option of returning when the hotel reopens.

Mirage guests that have reservations beyond July 14 will be cancelled and refunds issued. As for casino chips, they also need to be used by that date at the Mirage but can be redeemed at neighboring Treasure Island for another 120 days following the resort鈥檚 closing.

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Mystical vibes wafted through the serene, dense, lore-loaded forest of towering cedar, cypress and camphor trees. A sign at the hallowed 鈥渕ilk rock鈥� noted a wolf somehow dripped milk from the stone to save a warlord鈥檚 newborn son until the infant鈥檚 parents finished their divine journey. Knee-high, eroded Jizo statues that resembled children 鈥� often cloaked in red bibs 鈥� peppered the trail to ward off evil and safeguard wayfarers like me.

The Kumano Kodo is one of only two UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage routes (the other being Spain鈥檚 famed Camino de Santiago) and evolved from nature worship; deities lived in the bamboo groves, gurgling brooks, cascading waterfalls, and evergreen trees. I can personally attest to their auras.聽 By the 15th century, so many聽 sandal-clad commoners clogged the long arduous trail in search of holy rejuvenation, it became known as the 鈥減ilgrimage of ants.鈥� The ultimate destinations in this Land of Gods have always been three eminent Grand Shrines, where I dutifully purified myself with water from a dragon spout, did sacred bell-ringing rites, asked for the world to become sane, and bought coveted good-health amulet pouches for family and friends.

Moving on, in a different region of Japan, I time-traveled (in my hiking boots) along another historic path, the centuries-old Nakasendo trail once used for commerce and still flecked with authentic post towns that look like Hollywood movie sets. Feudal barons, samurai, merchants and princesses regularly took this route in the Japanese Alps to get between political hubs Kyoto and Tokyo.

These two off-the-beaten-track walks headlined 鈥淛apan Hiking Highlights,鈥� an enthralling 11-day small-group trip run by tour operator Oku Japan (). Our trail treks each averaged over three hours, and with added roving, I tallied between six and 10 miles a day. Stop me from whining about the blister on my baby toe, because our cadre of 11 adventurers included a hardy Vermont couple in their 80s, both retired surgeons, who blew by me on their trekking poles. Besides mythical keen-eyed crow Yatagarasu, an enthusiastic Oku Japan guide briskly led our pack.

Throughout our April voyage, heavenly cherry blossoms bloomed and snowed pale-pink petals upon us. And we weren鈥檛 always sweaty and carrying backpacks while our luggage was forwarded every three days. Our tour launched in Kyoto, where we enjoyed a nine-course Japanese-style lunch with Sayumi, a gracious, white-powder-faced 20-year-old apprentice geisha (maiko) who slowly performed a solemn 400-year-old dance and filled us in on her venerated profession via a translator, between stifling dainty giggles with her hand.

Geishas are upper-class entertainers and genteel Sayumi already is an accomplished musician, singer, calligrapher, and tea ceremony host. (Also, she鈥檚 never had a mobile phone and her favorite foods are pizza and McDonald鈥檚.) 聽We concluded our trip in Tokyo among the neon marquees, bustling crowds and infamous Asahi beer headquarters adorned with a massive flame-like sculpture that locals dub the 鈥済olden turd.鈥�

On the road, we stayed at ryokans, traditional inns that immersed us in Japan鈥檚 fascinating culture and warm, genuine hospitality. From the moment we dumped our shoes at the foyer, all 11 of us received cotton yukata kimonos and slippers to wear around, including to the ryokan鈥檚 fresh-cooked dinners doubling as culinary works of art.聽 Yukata kimonos had to be crossed left over right before tying, because the opposite is how the Japanese dress the dead. I slept on the floor on a futon atop tatami mats (you can only tread on those barefoot or in socks) and put on special slippers designated for the toilet area.

Ryokans are also celebrated for their hot spring onsens, which are large communal mineral baths segregated for men and women. Westerners might find the strict onsen etiquette a bit uncomfortable聽 鈥斅� first you sit naked among others on a diminutive stool and clean yourself with either buckets of water and soap or a hand-held spray. Next, you can use the scant eight-inch-wide 鈥渕odesty towel鈥� to cover yourself while you join, in my case, other female au naturel bathers but the towel then must be placed upon your head. Swimsuits are forbidden. Trust me, the meditative soaking did wonders for my quads.

Communing on the Kumano Kodo

After a three-hour train ride from Kyoto followed by a 40-minute bus jaunt聽 and a tasty bento box, we arrived at the Takijiri trailhead of the classic imperial Nakahechi route, one of several pathways of the Kumano Kodo.

I didn鈥檛 worry about the poisonous mamushi snakes, the giant stinging 鈥渕urder聽 hornets,鈥� or the jumbo venomous mukade centipedes because Kumano鈥檚 almighty聽 mountain god was by my side. Although he obviously didn鈥檛 believe in switchbacks. Within seconds, I understood why the inaugural 2.8 miles are the most challenging; during that mere distance, we climbed nearly 1,400 feet straight up the Kii Mountains with some descents in between.The terrain was uneven with haphazard rock stairs, moss-coated cobblestone steps, and exposed tree roots twisting through the ground.

鈥淵ou are sitting where an emperor sat,鈥� my guide Maru said, as I plopped on a random boulder.

We rarely saw other hikers; nightingales gloriously sang, piercing the silence. It took us about three hours to complete the 2.8 miles, before ending for the night. And then, I was聽 Zen.

Over the next two days, we clomped along other segments, Buddhist and Shinto elements always cheering us on. We humbly shuffled under sacred wood torii gates festooned with shide, the zig-zagging folded white papers that represent purity and protection. Smaller oji sub-shrines, guarded by lion-dog statues, dappled the trail. So did the Jizo stone figures, heralded for watching over children and travelers and memorializing pilgrims who died walking the Kumano. One Jizo was cracked down the middle; a sign encouraged travelers to slip coins into the crevice 鈥渁nd pray for relief from their backaches.鈥�

My legs ferried me past terraced rice paddies, two goats chomping hay at a farmstead, and a woodworker鈥檚 shed of chiseled lucky owls. Eventually we reached the sprawling complex of Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of the three esteemed Shinto shrines of the Kumano and dedicated to the sun goddess and other deities. The ritual at all the shrines starts with purifying yourself at an ablution basin by washing your hands with a ladle and rinsing your mouth. Then you can approach the worship hall鈥檚 exterior, put coins in an offering tray, ring a thick roped bell to alert the gods, deeply bow twice, clap hands twice, and bow once more.

In the nearby village, toddler sons bedecked in colorful Heian period costumes sat atop the shoulders of their parading fathers; the boys, anointed by the gods, were only allowed to touch the ground after a festival鈥檚 upcoming ceremony.

Our final day on the Kumano, we paid homage at the second must-visit shrine, Hatayama Taisha, and hopscotched by train and bus to conquer our pilgrimage鈥檚 finale on foot. We walked until reaching the 800-year-old 鈥渉usband and wife鈥� cedar trees, so-named because their roots intertwine below. From there we climbed up the Daimon-zaka, an ancient cobblestone staircase leading to both the mecca third Grand Shrine, Nachi Taisha, and a dazzling view of the iconic Buddhist Seiganto-ji Temple pagoda, glowing a vibrant good-fortune orangish-red. The three-storied pagoda theatrically rose in front of Japan鈥檚 tallest uninterrupted waterfall, home to a Shinto deity who bestows longevity. Definitely a power spot. Like the pilgrims a millennium ago, I too felt enormously enlightened and grateful to have trekked through Japan鈥檚 鈥渟piritual heartland.鈥�

Nomads on the Nakasendo

To frighten furry sojourners, I clanged another one of the large, brass 鈥渂ear bells鈥欌�櫬� posted along the remote, mountainous Nakasendo trail. The toothy carnivores must鈥檝e hid centuries ago when teenage Princess Kazunomiya, en route to marry a shogun, was carted through here in a man-held palanquin accompanied by countless porters and horses toting her luggage.

Far from the Kumano, we were entrenched in the Edo period (1603-1868), when the Nakasendo Way flourished as a 330-mile trade route and main highway between Kyoto and Tokyo. We鈥檇 do an abbreviated version: first a train and walk to get to our Nakasendo starting point, then for the next two days a hike in the beautiful, forested Kiso Valley to well-preserved post towns enchantingly lined with old wooden latticed buildings and landmark water wheels. The hamlets had sprung up to provide lodging and meals for weary samurai warriors, merchants, feudal lords and other travelers. Basically, we entered a time capsule 鈥� only I slurped the best black sesame ice cream cone at one cafe.

Between towns, I relished the calming forest. On one isolated stretch, a beaming, elderly man named Owaki-san invited us into his garden (鈥渘othing special,鈥� read his handwritten English sign), which was a quirky hodgepodge of wild plants, ceramic animals, porcelain dishes and carved human figures. Elsewhere, we stumbled upon a 300-year-old tea house and rest stop where a kimono-clad male volunteer poured us complimentary green tea.

We rambled by yellow daffodils and purple irises, countryside shrines, and Jizo Buddhas accessorized with red knit caps to keep them warm. There was a tree stump that a Tengu goblin had sat upon, and an RIP stone memorial honoring black cattle who died hauling cargo over these hazardous hillsides. A 鈥渂aby-bearing鈥� horse chestnut tree assured wanna-be mothers they would become pregnant by drinking tea from its bark.

Our trek winded through the quiet, inhabited post towns of Magome and Tsumago before we traveled by train again for our last test, the exerting uphill hike over the Torii Pass. No prob. Finally we strode into Narai, once the wealthiest of what had been 69 post towns along the popular route. Nowadays, artisans still sell speciality handmade wood combs called orokugushi; brushing your hair with one supposedly eliminates headaches. (Apparently, samurai wielded them to primp their topknots.) Many porches displayed tanuki statues, hoping the jolly sake-clutching raccoon dogs brought prosperity.聽 At night, I stepped outside our guesthouse in my yukata kimono, but no one was on the dark street 鈥� except for maybe the princess鈥檚 ghost.

For folks planning July Fourth vacations, prepare for crowds. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a record number of passengers in 2023, and those records are likely to be broken in 2024. In fact, in the first two months of 2024, travel volumes were roughly 6% higher than the same period in 2023, according to the TSA.

With the expected big crowds in mind, are some days better for air travel than others?

In 2024, July Fourth falls on a Thursday, which puts a wrench in predicting travel crowds. Will folks take the Friday after off to enjoy the long weekend? Or will they decide their vacation time is best used for another holiday?

Here鈥檚 some guidance around booking July Fourth weekend air travel in 2024, how you might be able to avoid the crowds 鈥� and potentially .

The best and worst days to fly July Fourth weekend

Are airports busy on July Fourth? NerdWallet analyzed TSA data showing the number of passengers screened at its U.S. checkpoints over the past three years, homing in on the seven days before and after July Fourth, to find the busiest days to fly.

The worst days to fly: To avoid crowds, don鈥檛 fly the Friday before July Fourth. In each of the past three years, the Friday before July Fourth was the busiest travel day before the Fourth of July weekend.

For post-holiday travel, the Sunday after ranks as the busiest day to fly.

The best days to fly: Typically, July Fourth is the least busy day to fly. On July Fourth of last year, airport crowds averaged just 70% of what they were relative to the busiest travel day, which was the Friday before July Fourth (June 30, 2023).

But if you鈥檇 rather spend July Fourth celebrating 鈥� and not in an airport 鈥� turn to Tuesday. The Tuesdays before and after the holiday rank among the least busy days to fly during July Fourth week.

The rankings of for July Fourth follow year-round travel patterns. No matter when you鈥檙e traveling, Fridays are, on average, the busiest day to fly, and Tuesdays are, on average, the least busy days to fly.

How this year鈥檚 Thursday holiday might impact long weekends

July Fourth falls on a Thursday, so people intending to travel for the holiday will likely take the next day, Friday, off and make it a long weekend. But given how few people are willing to travel on Independence Day, when will people actually fly?

The last time July Fourth fell on a Thursday was in 2019. Here鈥檚 a look at travel crowds by day in 2019, ranked from most to least crowded:

1. Sunday after, July 7 (most crowded).
2. Monday after, July 8.
3. Friday before, June 28.
4. Thursday before, June 27.
5. Sunday before, June 30.
6. Thursday after, July 11.
7. Wednesday before, July 3.
8. Wednesday after, July 10.
9. Tuesday after, July 9.
10. Monday before, July 1.
11. Saturday before, June 29.
12. Tuesday before, July 2.
13. Saturday after, July 6.
14. Friday after, July 5.
15. Thursday, July Fourth (least crowded).

In 2019, the July Fourth holiday was the least busy day to fly. Meanwhile, July 5, the day after the holiday, wasn鈥檛 busy either. That bucks the usual trend of Friday being the busiest travel day of the week. When it comes to July Fourth weekend travel, most people are already set in their locations by Friday.

But there鈥檚 one day that people are definitely crowding airports, and that鈥檚 the Sunday after July Fourth. Flying this day will cost you, too. According to travel booking app Hopper鈥檚 2024 Travel Booking Hacks report, Sunday is the most expensive day to fly in the U.S., with airfares averaging 15% more than midweek departures.

The smarter, cheaper Fourth of July travel itinerary in 2024

Following typical July Fourth holiday travel patterns could mean costs in terms of airfare and time spent waiting in line at the airport. Deviate from that schedule to find lighter crowds and perhaps better July Fourth flight deals, too. Try these travel days instead:

Fly on July Fourth

If you don鈥檛 mind traveling on the holiday, you鈥檙e looking at the single emptiest air travel day of the period analyzed.

Do one better by flying early on the holiday. Hopper鈥檚 spring 2023 Flight Disruption Outlook found that flights that depart from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. are half as likely to be as flights with scheduled departure times after 9 a.m.

Plus, a morning flight improves your odds of catching the fireworks at your final destination.

Embrace Saturday travel

Rather than rush out from work on the Friday afternoon before the holiday to jump on a flight, relax at home that evening and depart Saturday morning before instead. Simply shifting your trip by one day could likely result in going from one of the busiest to lightest travel days of the July Fourth travel period.

The same goes for returning home. While it can be tempting to extend your trip as long as possible before you have to get back to work on Monday, skip the Sunday flight and fly home on Saturday instead. Bonus: You鈥檒l have a day at home to rest and recover before the new workweek. How responsible of you.

Fly on July 5

Though Friday is typically one of the most expensive days to fly year-round, that鈥檚 unlikely to be the case this particular week.

So another option is to fly home on July 5. This allows you to still spend the holiday in your destination of choice. By returning on Friday, you鈥檒l still have the full weekend at home to take a vacation from your vacation before Monday.

The article originally appeared on .

Heaps of delicious food and dancing usually translate to a luau in Hawaii, but on the Big Island, it can also mean the Paniolo Sunset BBQ dinner in the rolling green pastures of Waimea. The weekly dinner and dancing event at Kahua Ranch is inspired by the Hawaiian Islands鈥� long history of cattle ranching, which reaches all the way back to King Kamehameha I.

In an entertaining account from Big Island country singer Dave Toland, cattle arrived in the Hawaiian Islands as a gift from British explorer Captain George Vancouver to the king in the late 1700s. That one bull and six cows grew to become a major industry out of Hawaii, which is historically better known for its sugar cane plantations.

鈥楶aniolo鈥� refers to cowboys in Hawaiian, and according to Toland, the word came from the interaction between Mexican vaqueros who arrived to assist the burgeoning industry and Hawaiians who did not yet know how to wrangle cattle.

鈥淲hen them vaqueros came over here, they were called Espanols, and they spoke what they call Espanol,鈥� Toland said. 鈥淲ell, they couldn鈥檛 speak a word of Hawaiian. And them Hawaiian folks, they couldn鈥檛 speak one word of Espanol. And the problem is that in the Hawaiian alphabet, there ain鈥檛 no S. So when the Hawaiians tried to pronounce Espanol, it came out paniolo.鈥�

I heard the brief history lesson over the flames of a fire pit, not far from an overlook with expansive views of rolling green hills stretching all the way to the ocean. The views can deliver spectacular sunsets thanks to Hawaii microclimates that can bring cream puff clouds over the horizon and, occasionally, a rainbow over the hills.

Dinner, eaten at communal tables, is a tightly curated menu of delicious offerings 鈥� prime rib, barbecue chicken, asparagus, potatoes, baked beans, sweet rolls and salad. Dessert recently included thick brownie slabs and macadamia nut pie. Alcohol is served at a cash bar, while water, canned sodas and fruit juices, coffee, and hot chocolate are free.

Multiple trips to the food table are encouraged, but given the large oval plates and heaping servings given on the first round, another trip may not be necessary. All that food can be worked off with some line dancing to live music, a game of horseshoes or cornhole, or attempting to learn how to rope a steer. Attendees can also brand a piece of wood as a souvenir, grab a freshly made s鈥檓ore, or take advantage of the 2,000-foot elevation to view the stars聽 鈥� if they鈥檙e lucky, an astronomer might be on hand with a powerful telescope.

The three-hour dinner is priced at $85 per adult and $42.50 per child over 5 years old. For comparison, admission to a luau on the Big Island starts at $130+ per person.

Most of the year, the occurs weekly on Wednesdays, but Monday nights are added during the summer tourist season. Reservations must be made in advance online.

With the next total solar eclipse taking place on Aug. 12, 2026, in Europe, Princess Cruises is offering astrotourism lovers a chance to cruise and view it in northern Spain.

The cruise line鈥檚 2026 solar eclipse cruise is a 14-day Mediterranean cruise onboard the Sky Princess, which departs Southampton on Aug. 8, 2026. It goes on sale May 23, 2024, with rates starting at $2,199 per person. The cruise will feature eclipse glasses, viewing opportunities, astronomy lectures, themed treats and drinks and more.

The voyage departs from Southampton and visits seven ports in Europe, including Cherbourg in France; Bilbao, Cartagena and La Coru帽a in Spain; Lisbon in Portugal and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar on Spain鈥檚 southern coast.

The cruise line offered two ways to view the April 2024 total solar eclipse in North America, onboard the Emerald Princess and Discovery Princess, both of which were incredibly popular.

“The best way to see a total solar eclipse is via cruise ship, and our guests who recently experienced this rare occurrence on Discovery Princess and Emerald Princess were simply blown away,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “We make it easy for guests to come aboard, relax and meet other eclipse enthusiasts. It’s truly a special opportunity.”

“Our recent solar eclipse cruises were completely sold out so interested guests should book this Sky Princess cruise as soon as it opens on May 23. It truly will be an experience to remember,” Padgett added.

__________

漏2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at聽. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

LONDON 鈥� Thousands of ride-or-die Taylor Swift fans who missed out on her U.S. concert tour last year or didn鈥檛 want to buy exorbitantly priced tickets to see her again found an out-of-the-way solution: Fly to Europe.

The pop star is scheduled to kick off the 18-city Europe leg of her record-setting Eras Tour in Paris on Thursday, and planeloads of Swifties plan to follow Miss Americana across the pond in the coming weeks. The arena where Swift is appearing said Americans bought 20% of the tickets for her four sold-out shows. Stockholm, the tour鈥檚 next stop, expects about 10,000 concertgoers from the U.S.

A concert might sound like an odd raison d鈥檈tre for visiting a foreign country, especially when fans can watch the Eras Tour from home via the documentary now streaming on Disney+. Yet online travel company Expedia says continent-hopping by Swift鈥檚 devotees is part of a larger trend it dubbed 鈥渢our tourism鈥� while observing a pattern that emerged during Beyonc茅鈥檚 Renaissance world tour.

Some North American fans who plan to fly overseas for the Eras Tour said they justified the expense after noticing that tighter restrictions on ticket fees and resales in Europe made seeing Swift perform abroad no more costly 鈥� and potentially cheaper 鈥� than catching her closer to home.

鈥淭hey said, 鈥榃ait a minute, I can either spend $1,500 to go see my favorite artist in Miami, or I can take that $1,500 and buy a concert ticket, a round-trip plane ticket, and three nights in a hotel room,鈥欌�� said Melanie Fish, an Expedia spokesperson and travel expert.

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That was the experience of Jennifer Warren, 43, who lives in St. Catharines, a city in the Niagara region of Ontario. She and her 11-year-old son love Swift but had no luck scoring what she considered as decently priced tickets in the U.S. Undeterred, Warren and her husband decided to plan a European vacation around wherever she managed to get seats. It turned out to be Hamburg, Germany.

鈥淵ou get out, you get to see the world, and you get to see your favorite artist or performer at the same time, so there are a lot of wins to it,鈥� said Warren, who works as the director of research and innovation for a mutual insurance company.

The three VIP tickets she secured close to the stage 鈥� 鈥淚 would call it brute-force dumb luck鈥� 鈥� cost 600 euros ($646) each. Swift subsequently announced six November tour dates in Toronto, within driving distance of Warren鈥檚 home. 鈥淎bsolute nose-bleed seats鈥� already are going for 3,000 Canadian dollars ($2,194) on secondary resale sites like Viagogo, Warren said.

TOUR TOURISM: IS IT REALLY A THING?

Travel and entertainment analysts have spoken of a pent-up consumer demand for 鈥渆xperiences鈥� over material objects since the coronavirus pandemic. Some think the willingness of music lovers to broaden their fandom horizons is part of the same mass cultural correction.

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鈥淚t does seem like it鈥檚 more than a structural shift, maybe a personality transformation we all went through,鈥� said Natalia Lechmanova, the chief Europe economist for the Mastercard Economics Institute.

As Swift hopscotches across Europe, Lechmanova expects restaurants and hotels to see the same boost that Mastercard observed within a 2陆-mile radius of concert venues in the U.S. cities she visited in 2023. The U.S. dollar鈥檚 strong value against the euro may also increase retail spending on apparel, memorabilia, beauty products and supplies for the friendship bracelets fans exchange as part of the Eras Tour experience, the economist said.

Former college roommates Lizzy Hale, 34, who lives in Los Angeles, and Mitch Goulding, 33, who lives in Austin, Texas, already had tickets to see the Eras Tour in L.A. last summer when they decided to try to get ones for Paris, London or Edinburgh, Scotland. They saw a Europe concert trip as a makeup for travel plans they had in May 2020 to celebrate Goulding鈥檚 birthday but had to cancel due to the pandemic.

Goulding managed to secure VIP tickets for one of Swift鈥檚 three Stockholm shows. He, Hale and two other friends scheduled a 10-day trip that also includes time in Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

鈥淎s people who enjoy traveling and enjoy music, if you can find an opportunity to combine the two, it鈥檚 really special,鈥� Hale said.

FOR STOCKHOLM, 120,000 SWIFTIES CAN鈥橳 BE WRONG

In Stockholm, 120,000 out-of-towners from 130 countries 鈥� among them 10,000 from the U.S. 鈥� are expected to swarm Sweden鈥檚 capital this month, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Chief Economist Carl Bergqvist said. Stockholm is the only Scandinavian city on Swift鈥檚 tour, and airlines added extra flights from nearby Denmark, Finland and Norway to bring people to the May 17-19 shows, he said.

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The city鈥檚 40,000 hotel rooms are sold out even though prices skyrocketed for the tour dates, Bergqvist said. Concert visitors are expected to pump around 500 million Swedish kroner, or over $46 million, into the local economy over the course of their stays, an estimate that does not include what they paid for Swift tickets or to get to Sweden, he said.

Houston resident Caroline Matlock, 29, is making friendship bracelets and trying to learn a few words of Swedish as she prepares to see the 3陆-hour show in Stockholm. Also on the itinerary: visiting the Scandinavian cities of Oslo and Gothenburg.

The concert is the last night of the trip and Matlock looks forward to interacting with Swifties from other countries: 鈥淎mericans tend to have a very obsessive culture, especially Taylor Swift-related, so I鈥檓 curious if the crowd will be more toned-down.鈥�

WILL TOUR TOURISM ENDURE AFTER ERAS?

It remains to be seen if the music tourism trend has legs as long and strong as Swift鈥檚 and Beyonc茅鈥檚, and if it will carry over to Billie Eilish, Usher and other artists with world tours scheduled next year. Expedia鈥檚 Fish thinks other big-name artists in Europe this summer will prove that booking a foreign trip around a concert is catching on.

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Kat Morga, a travel consultant based in Nashville, isn鈥檛 so sure. Morga saw Swift perform in Nashville last year and helped two clients with school-aged children book European family vacations this summer that include seeing Swift in concert. But she thinks the difficulty of navigating ticket purchases through language barriers, currency conversions, international banking regulations and the risk of cancellations will limit the appeal of regular gig getaways.

鈥淚 think this is an anomaly,鈥� Morga said. 鈥淧eople aren鈥檛 typically going to build their $20,000 huge family vacation only because Taylor Swift is there. She鈥檚 the one-off. She鈥檚 special.鈥�

Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel, whose company operates Booking.com, priceline.com, agoda.com, Kayak and OpenTable, is even less enthusiastic about concert tours as a tourism instigator. The Swift Effect causes a 鈥渓ittle blip鈥� when the superstar goes to smaller destinations, but for the worldwide travel industry, 鈥渙ne star touring around does not make a difference,鈥� he said.

AP journalists Colleen Barry in Milan, Chisato Tanaka in Stockholm, Anne D鈥橧nnocenzio in New York, David Koenig in Dallas, Thomas Adamson in Paris and Brian Melley in London contributed reporting.

Hannah Johnson first went to Walt Disney World with her mother while still in college. After a brief break because of COVID, the Ringgold, Ga., resident has resumed their trips together as an annual event.

鈥淚 decided (the annual trip) was going to be what I did for her,鈥� Johnson said, 鈥渒ind of as a payback for all the things she did for me. I could just see how happy she was and how much it meant.鈥�

According to Meghan Hayes, an independent travel adviser, adults taking trips with their parents is a growing trend.

鈥淭his trend specifically is growing because less people are deciding to have children, or they鈥檙e deciding to have children later on,鈥� Hayes told Yahoo Life, 鈥渂ut they鈥檙e still ready to go on bucket list-style trips and want to include their family in these trips.鈥�

Hayes said adult children traveling with their parents has grown to be nearly 25% of her business, up from about 5% to 10% before the pandemic.

Yahoo Life talked to people who said they believe it鈥檚 important to travel with their parents, and how they think it benefits them.

鈥淢y mom loves the Germany pavilion (at EPCOT) so we spend like an hour there,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭hen at Magic Kingdom, we go to Casey鈥檚 Corner (a quick-service hot dog restaurant inside the park), then sit and people watch. We like to do the PeopleMover (a tram-style attraction that gives park guests a tour of the Tomorrowland area) and more chill things, because (my mom) is not a huge thrill person.鈥�

How do these trips help her mom?

鈥淢y mom has anxiety, so just learning how to navigate and deal with a crowd and not just freak out and shut down is a huge deal,鈥� she said.

Megan duBois, who wrote the Yahoo Life article, said she takes a few trips each year with her parents, who are in their late 50s and early 60s.

The author and her mother, 63, recently traveled to Machu Picchu. Although the older woman needed a little help reaching the top, she nevertheless made it to the spot overlooking the ruins.

鈥�(M)y mom and I sat together and I leaned over to tell her how proud I was of her and that she can still do anything that she sets her mind to, even if it鈥檚 scary,鈥� duBois wrote.

For Carly Caramanna, traveling with her mother is a way to connect. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting,鈥� she told Yahoo Life, 鈥渂ecause instead of visiting each other鈥檚 homes, we explore new destinations.鈥�

The pair head to a domestic destination every other month, with a European trip each winter. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like payback in the best kind of way,鈥� she said.

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漏2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at聽. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Let鈥檚 be honest: When it comes to travel, most of us worry about our budget 鈥� a lot. Some travelers find it hard to trust travel agents or advisers because they worry about being charged for using their services.

However, not all travel advisers have fees 鈥� though it is a growing trend to charge them.

TravelPulse took a deep dive into why and how travel agents charge for their travel planning services, and why some choose to keep their travel planning services free for travelers.

Are travel agents free?

The question is more complicated than you might at first think.

Traditionally, travel advisers are paid a commission by their suppliers. So if you go on a cruise, the cruise line will pay the travel adviser you use for booking your trip.

Commissions are usually a standard commission rate decided by the cruise line (such as 20% of the cost of the cruise), though this can range depending on, for example, whether your travel adviser is affiliated with a host agency that can provide higher commissions for the suppliers they use most frequently due to business partnerships (though often the host agencies take a portion of a travel adviser鈥檚 commission, which can further complicate things). This is the case for cruise lines, tour operators, hotels and resorts and even vacation packagers.

Commissions were once the standard way that travel advisers made money: not by charging customers, but by earning money from the suppliers they used.

Tammy Levent, president of Elite Travel Management, explains why her agency has never charged fees: 鈥淎t Elite Travel, after thriving in the travel industry for over 30 years, we have built a solid reputation based on trust and exceptional service. We understand the competitive nature of today鈥檚 travel market, especially with the rise of online booking platforms

鈥淚ntroducing a service fee could discourage potential clients from booking with us,鈥� Levent explained. 鈥淲e aim to remove any barriers that might prevent someone from experiencing our superior service and competitive rates. We are confident that once clients experience Elite Travel’s offerings, they will see the value we provide. Furthermore, during our initial interactions, we communicated to our clients that we operate on a commission basis. We’d like to ask that they contact us with serious booking intentions or wait until they are ready to book, ensuring a commitment to the quality and earnestness of our services.鈥�

Why more travel agents are charging fees

Let鈥檚 be real: there鈥檚 a cost-of-living crisis happening in cities and countries across the globe, and that鈥檚 led a lot of people in different industries to change their business strategies.

The same is happening among travel advisers, and a new trend has begun: charging fees for certain travel planning services. Of the 26 travel advisers who shared their expertise for this article, 17 of them charged some type of travel planning service fee, though their fee structures vary.

So what are some specific reasons that travel advisers are beginning to charge fees for their services? Let’s take a closer look.

One of the biggest reasons travel advisers choose to charge fees for their travel planning services is to weed out any clients who might not be serious clients in the long run. Travel advisers can spend hours quoting and pricing trips for travelers, yet those same travelers might just book directly or choose to plan the trip themselves, therefore taking away the opportunity for their adviser to generate income from those hours. That’s only one example of one of the frustrations of a travel adviser.

More complicated bookings like FIT trips, group travel, destination weddings, or meetings can also take hours to plan, yet most travel advisers aren鈥檛 paid by the hour. That means they鈥檙e relying on the promise of a commission only after their clients have left on their trip.

Another reason should be easy to understand: sometimes commissions just aren鈥檛 enough. Imagine a travel adviser only earns $200 in commission from a FIT booking that took 16 hours to plan, book and execute. Divided by the number of hours spent planning the trip, the travel adviser鈥檚 take-home pay is only $12.5 per hour.

While this is a creative example, it can demonstrate that sometimes, the amount of time spent planning travel for others doesn鈥檛 actually pay when it comes down to the amount of commission the adviser will earn, leading some to introduce travel planning fees, fees for booking airfare (another segment that pays relatively limited or no commission) and more.

JoAnne Weeks, Vacation Division Director at Acendas Travel, was one of the travel advisers who started out not charging fees, but found them useful and even necessary after the pandemic ended.

鈥淚 am the first to admit that I pushed back on fees for a long time,鈥� said Weeks. 鈥淓specially for cruises, but I came to realize, I was giving away my 28 years of cruise expertise to my clients for free. People would request information, I take my time to research, put together a custom quote for lines they hadn’t even heard of, only for them to take my information I gifted them and book it themselves. We grew tired of being used. You’re required to pay to consult a lawyer, a plumber’s service call, heck even the person cutting your hair. We are worth it.鈥�

Weeks said that the revenge travel trend of the post-pandemic travel era led to many travelers asking for information, but leaving without booking with Acendas Travel, leaving her to implement a fee structure in 2021. Fees for her agency include a cruise concierge fee, FIT fee, flat air service fees and more, all adjusted according to how long each takes to plan.

Nick Pena, Luxury Travel Designer at Cruise Planners, is a travel adviser who charges clients fees for ticketing airfare, changing their itineraries and cancellations.

鈥淐harging fees helps weed out the clients I don鈥檛 want and keep the ones that value the work that I do,鈥� Pena explained. 鈥淗aving a fee structure allows the adviser to have a more stable income, guaranteeing my time is paid for whether they do the trip or not. Even simple tasks like ticketing airline tickets get a fee of $25. No one else works for free. Why should I?

鈥淭he imposition of a professional fee is a testament to my value,鈥� he continued. 鈥淚 offer a life-saving lighthouse amidst overwhelming travel options, constantly changing regulations, and unforeseen circumstances that can arise even in the most meticulously planned trips. My fees ensure that I remain by the client鈥檚 side.鈥�

Why book with a travel agent?

Travel agents don鈥檛 always charge fees, though they increasingly are doing so. So why, then, would any traveler choose to book a trip with a travel adviser?

Well, it鈥檚 all about expertise. Travel advisers are experts at planning travel, and sometimes that鈥檚 exactly what you need. While you could book something online without ever talking to a human being, that human connection is often what people need, especially when things go wrong on trips or when you鈥檙e looking to book something completely unique.

Madeline Steuber Johnson, co-owner of Steuber Travel Group, explains her agency鈥檚 outlook: 鈥淲e have multiple calls getting to know our clients; we often spend a lot of time designing an entire itinerary before it even gets to a DMC. We hand-pick the hotels and we push back in the quoting process with our partners, asking follow-up questions and making alternative suggestions so that we really deliver something highly personalized. That, in itself, requires investing a huge amount of time into our education and destination knowledge as well. We are not in the business of acting as a middleman or woman, forwarding generic itineraries provided by companies doing this on a mass market scale.

鈥淎s you can see, our business model isn’t profitable if we do not charge for our time given the sheer amount of time we enjoy investing into our clients,鈥� continued Steuber. 鈥淥ther industries charge for their time, and I have felt from the founding of our company that the travel industry is behind when it comes to fees. Interior designers are a great example: they charge for their time designing and they do not let the commission percentage they can make on a sofa dictate how hard they work for a client. We don’t want to compromise our deliverables or change our process to favor quantity over quality so we can make more money. So with that, we feel confident in the value we bring for the fee we charge!鈥�

In the end, it鈥檚 up to you

While travel advisers are increasingly starting to charge some form of travel planning fee for their services, not all of them are doing so. Travelers can take note and make sure to find the best fit for them, their travel needs and their budget. Yet the benefit of using a travel adviser of any kind can鈥檛 be stated enough: They are much-needed support in an often overwhelming planning period, and they can save travelers hours of planning.

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漏2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at聽. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Four Americans are charged with possession of ammunition offenses in the tropical Atlantic getaway of Turks and Caicos,听聽from the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.

Carrying firearms in Turks and Caicos is prohibited, according to the TCI Government. Bringing firearms or ammunition, including stray bullets, into the British Overseas Territory without prior permission from police is 鈥渟trictly forbidden.鈥�

Individuals who violate the law face a minimum聽, according to an April advisory from the US Embassy in the Bahamas. A post on X from the island government said judges do have discretion to lower the minimum when there are 鈥渆xceptional circumstances.鈥�

One of the individuals, Ryan Watson, was聽arrested at the Howard Hamilton International Airport on the island of Providenciales on April 12,听according to聽.

Watson and his wife, Valerie, were detained upon departure of Turks and Caicos where they had been celebrating several of their friends鈥� 40th聽birthdays, according to a聽聽set up to help the family with expenses.

Airport security found four rounds of ammunition 鈥渦nknowingly left in a duffel bag from a deer hunting trip,鈥� the post said.

Valerie Watson was released of charges and allowed to return to Oklahoma, an April 23 update from the fundraising page shows. The page does not give a reason for her release.

The TCI government has declined to comment further on the Americans arrested.

After posting a $15,000 bail, Watson was released from jail on April 24 but was forced to surrender his passport and remain on the archipelago, TCI police say. His next court hearing is set for June 7.

The ammunition聽was 鈥渘ot noticed by TSA when leaving America,鈥� the GoFundMe post said. 鈥淣ow, they are facing a legal system that is unfamiliar, daunting, and expensive.鈥�

In a statement to CNN, the TSA confirmed Wednesday that four rounds of ammunition were not detected in a traveler鈥檚 bag during a security screening at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City,听from which Watson was traveling.

鈥淭SA聽takes its security mission very seriously,鈥� a TSA spokesperson said. 鈥淭SA is here to protect our transportation security systems, and an oversight occurred that the agency is addressing internally.鈥�

The agency added that it is working on perfecting systems that detect prohibited items to ensure seamless and safe travel.

Another man visiting Turks and Caicos from Pennsylvania is set to appear before a TCI court Friday on similar charges, according to聽.

Detained in February

Bryan Hagerich was detained while trying to fly home from a vacation in February.

Similar to Watson, Hagerich has said that he did not know he had ammunition in one of his bags, according to CNN affiliate WPXI. His wife, Ashley, called it an honest mistake.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a bag my husband has used numerous times on hunting trips, and going to hunting camp, and it was just leftover in a secure pouch and it was just forgotten about,鈥� Ashley told WPXI. 鈥淭he crime just doesn鈥檛 fit the sentencing and the repercussions of this.鈥�

Hagerich pleaded guilty to carrying 20 rifle rounds, according to the TCI Government.

CNN has reached out to the Watson and Hagerich families for more information on their cases and is attempting to reach attorneys for both men.

Two additional Americans 鈥� a 31-year-old from Virginia and a 72-year-old from Texas 鈥� are also facing lengthy prison sentences for possessing ammunition, according to the TCI Government.

鈥淭ravellers are strongly advised to search their luggage before they travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands to ensure they do not bring in forbidden items inadvertently,鈥� the TCI Government post said.聽鈥淭he Transportation Security Administration screening in the United States may not identify ammunition in a traveller鈥檚 baggage.鈥�

Airline passengers are also encouraged to research local laws when traveling internationally and to start packing for trips with an empty bag, the TSA said.

Know before you go to Turks and Caicos

Prospective tourists considering a trip to Turks and Caicos do have and the US State Department about the British Overseas Territory鈥檚 weapons and ammunition laws 鈥� if you know where to find them online.

There is also more detailed information on the department鈥檚聽聽under the header of 鈥淟ocal Laws & Special Circumstances.鈥� Travelers can find out critical information from the State Department聽.

CNN鈥檚 Michael Rios, Tanika Gray and Forrest Brown contributed to this report.

PHILADELPHIA 鈥� There鈥檚 one thing everyone dreads when making their way to the airport: a long security line. Luckily, there are workarounds to expedite the process and get you to your gate in time for a preboarding treat.

Whether you鈥檙e jetting off to visit the Philly-themed bar in Tokyo or heading home after adventures abroad, programs like Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and CLEAR PLUS can help travelers members move through the line faster.

While each offer similar privileges, the three programs often get conflated together. Understanding what each program provides and how to apply can help you select the right program for your traveling needs.

Here鈥檚 everything you need to know about Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and CLEAR Plus.

What is TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck is an expedited screening program of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration that allows travelers to keep their shoes and light outerwear jacket on, as well as small travel-sized liquids and electronics in carry-on bags. About 99% of folks wait in the TSA PreCheck checkpoint lane for 10 minutes or less, according to TSA regional spokesperson Lisa Farbstein.

How to get TSA PreCheck?

痴颈蝉颈迟听聽to enroll for the service online. Select an enrollment provider that fits your needs in a location near you. Make an appointment to complete the process in-person, which includes fingerprinting,听聽and photo capture, and payment. Be sure to bring an original or certified copy of identity/citizenship status for the application process. Once enrolled, you鈥檒l receive a 鈥渒nown traveler number鈥� (KTN).

How much is TSA PreCheck?

Fees vary depending on TSA-selected enrollment partners. Choose a provider based on cost,听, and additional benefits. TSA lists provider like聽聽at $85 and聽聽at $78 (these are one-time fees for the five years the service is active). It鈥檚 important to start on the TSA site, Farbstein advises, because third party vendors charge more money. 鈥淒on鈥檛 pay anyone in advance 鈥� only pay when you have your in-person enrollment or you are getting ripped off.鈥�

How long does it take to get TSA PreCheck?

Accepted travelers typically wait about a week to get their KTN after their appointment. You鈥檒l need the KTN to enter when purchasing a ticket or to give your travel adviser for your frequent flyer profile.

Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?

The KTN you receive when enrolled in the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry program can also be used for TSA PreCheck benefits.

How long does TSA PreCheck last?

TSA PreCheck is good for five years.

Does TSA PreCheck work for international flights?

You鈥檒l find the TSA PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass when you arrive at the travel document checking station at the TSA checkpoint. It is not valid when flying from another country into the U.S.

How to add TSA PreCheck when booking?

Enter your KTN into the online field when purchasing an airline ticket or give it to your travel adviser for your frequent flyer profile.

How to renew TSA PreCheck?

After five years, renew online or in-person with your selected enrollment provider. Telos charges $70 online and in-person, and IDEMIA asks for $70 online and $78 in-person.

What is Global Entry?

Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program, allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arriving on U.S. soil. Members enter the country at Global Entry lanes where processing technology advances them with photo verification of membership. Once the photo has been captured, instructions pop up on the screen for members to proceed to a CBP officer to complete the process. With Global Entry, you鈥檒l skip processing lines and paperwork, have access to expedited entry benefits in other countries and reduced wait times, and will be TSA PreCheck eligible.

鈥淥ne thing that applicants should understand about CBP鈥檚 Global Entry program is that this is a contract based on trust,鈥� said Steve Sapp, public affairs officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 鈥淢embers agree to comply with all U.S. laws, including truthfully declaring all items they are bringing back to the United States to a CBP officer, and in return, CBP grants them expedited arrivals privileges.鈥�

How to apply for Global Entry?

If your are聽聽for Global Entry, create a聽account 鈥� all ages must have their own profile. Log in and complete the application with a $100 non-refundable one-time fee for five-year membership (even if an application is denied). CBP will review your completed application and if conditionally approved you鈥檒l be instructed to schedule an interview at a聽. Note: Global Entry is member-specific and cannot be extended to others in your traveling party.

What to bring to your Global Entry interview?

All applicants must undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment. According to Sapp, demand for the Global Entry interview is 鈥渆xtraordinarily high due to the incredible popularity鈥� for this Trusted Traveler program.

Bring a valid passport and a second form of identification (driver鈥檚 license or ID card) to the interview. If you are a permanent resident, you must have a machine readable permanent resident card.

If you are unable to schedule an interview before traveling, there is an option for conditionally approved members upon arrival to the U.S. with聽聽at participating airports. You must have a valid passport, proof of residency including driver鈥檚 license or rental payment statement (this is not required for minors), and a permanent resident card (if applicable).

How long does Global Entry last?

Global Entry membership is good for five years.

How long does it take to process a Global Entry application?

Processing time varies but applicants may receive a conditional approval or a denial within a few weeks to a few months. Sapp recommends checking your Trusted Traveler portal for status updates.

How to renew Global Entry?

You will be eligible for renewal one year prior to program expiration. Submit a renewal application before your membership expires to continue to using benefits up to 24 months after the expiration date.

Log in to your TTP account. Select renew on your Global Entry program membership section and declare your citizenship. Choose the program you wish to renew 鈥� you can also select to renew another eligible program. Acknowledge the program requirements and follow the guidelines to update all the application information on the final review page. Confirm, save, and certify the application. And pay the nonrefundable fees for application processing.

What is CLEAR Plus?

CLEAR Plus, a paid airport membership, uses facial, iris and fingerprint biometrics. Members get a quick identity verification experience at the airport when they step up to a CLEAR pod and verify their identity with eye or fingerprint scans 鈥� no government issued photo I.D. needed. CLEAR was founded by the TSA to meet baseline security and privacy controls, and is certified as a Department of Homeland Security Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology.

How much is CLEAR Plus?

CLEAR Plus is $189 a year. If prospective members have certain credit card rewards with airlines like United Airlines or Delta Airlines, they often receive discounts for membership enrollment. Additionally, military service members and government employees are eligible for CLEAR Plus at a discounted rate. 痴颈蝉颈迟听聽to sign up with your government I.D.

What is the difference between CLEAR Plus, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry?

You don鈥檛 need all three programs, but many members enjoy CLEAR Plus with both government services, said Ricardo Quinto, senior director of public affairs and communications at CLEAR.

CLEAR, co-founded by Caryn Seidman-Becker and Ken Cornick, is a paid membership program for expedited identity verification at the airport. TSA PreCheck is a U.S. government program for low-risk travelers to move through TSA with convenience. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) expedited clearance program for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the U.S.

Do you need TSA PreCheck or Global Entry for CLEAR Plus?

CLEAR Plus members do not need TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to reap the benefits of CLEAR. Quinto said members often find CLEAR Plus and TSA PreCheck complement each other for a quick route through the airport.

漏2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer. 痴颈蝉颈迟听. Distributed by聽