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The Most Trusted Travel-Review Sites

Hundreds of online platforms post traveler reviews, but only a handful police recommendations for fake or promotional content. Which ones should you rely on when planning a trip? Our expert weighs in.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Any number of concerns are on our radar as we plan our next trip, from serious issues like how destinations are working to mitigate tourists’ environmental impact to inconveniences like months-long passport wait times. In this column, our travel expert addresses your questions about how to navigate the world. 

There are so many online review platforms out there—Google, Tripadvisor, Yelp. When I’m planning a trip and looking into hotels and activities, which one should I trust the most? —After Good Advice

Online, everyone has an opinion. Even seasoned travelers can find themselves easily led down the rabbit hole of online review platforms and come out overwhelmed.

A friend of mine was recently considering vacationing in Hawaii and interested in the Hana-Maui Resort. Five-star reviews on Tripadvisor tout the property as a 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winner, with comments highlighting it as “Exceptional” and a “Bungalow in Paradise,” though others cautioned, “Not Quite as Expected” and “Don’t Stay Here.”

When she looked further into the critiques, she discovered that the negative reviews complained of the lack of air-conditioning and TVs in rooms (who goes to Maui to watch TV?) and of wind and rain during their stays—the latter something no hotel could remedy. Knowing I live part-time on Maui, she reached out to see if I had any first-hand intel. The handful of negative comments on varying review sites gave her pause.

I believe nothing compares to word-of-mouth recommendations, particularly from someone who knows you and your travel tastes. My friend relayed that she and her husband were planning to use points to stay at a trio of Hyatt properties on Maui—in addition to the Hana-Maui Resort, they’d booked the Andaz in Wailea, and Hyatt Regency near Lahaina, both tony, amenity-laden areas on the south and west coasts, respectively.

The town of Hana, on the eastern side of the island, is the exact opposite: remote, undeveloped, sleepy. I knew my friend and her husband preferred the ocean to hiking, and they loved restaurants and nightlife. While I thought the Hana-Maui Resort was heaven, I knew they’d be bored to death and said as much.

“We’re not perfect, but we are constantly working to stay one step ahead of the fraudsters,” says Brian Hoyt, a spokesperson at Tripadvisor.

Trust plays a huge role in our travel decisions. When a friend who shares your tastes posts rave reviews about a hotel or restaurant on their Facebook page, you’re more likely to check it out. When we don’t have personal recommendations to go off, we tend to turn to review sites to see what others thought of it.

Online reviews can be a great tool for anyone planning trips, as well as for businesses looking to drum up interest from prospective adventure seekers. But how do you know which reviews and which platforms to trust?

Where to Find Reliable Reviews

For starters: no one site can (or should) be considered the only option. Because users are providing the information, the sites can inadvertently post misinformation, says Nick Ewen, director of content at The Points Guy, a travel-resource site that reaches over seven million people each month. It’s best to use multiple sites, as casting a wide net allows for a wide variety of perspectives.

Based on my interviews with dozens of travelers and industry veterans, including agents, hotel owners, and tour operators, Google, Tripadvisor, Trustpilot, and Yelp have the most reliable user-generated content. These companies have policies in place to ensure the trustworthiness of the reviews that appear and allow users to dispute content or to click icons within the post to flag suspicions, such as a review that’s promotional or not based on a genuine experience.

Tripadvisor , the world’s largest travel-guidance platform with more than one billion total reviews, has an investigations team of experts specializing in network forensics and fraud detection to help spot suspicious reviews. Shady posts often include review boosting, where a business owner asks someone connected to their company to sing their praises; review vandalism, in which someone tries to slander a business with negative reviews; or review optimization, which occurs when companies are paid to falsify reviews on a business’s behalf.

“We’re not perfect, but we are constantly working to stay one step ahead of the fraudsters,” says Brian Hoyt, a spokesperson at Tripadvisor. Last year, 1.3 million reviews were identified as fake and removed from the platform, and 72 percent were caught before being posted, he says.

Yelp also maintains a team of moderators who keep a hawkish eye out for companies that might be engaging in compensated or incentivized review behavior, which is strictly prohibited. In 2022, Yelp closed more than 77,400 user accounts for violating such policies. Both Google and Trustpilot, too, use software to automatically screen for fake reviews or promotional content.

Tips for Navigating Travel-Review Platforms

Even when you feel solid about a site, it doesn’t mean you’re immune to the barrage of opinions, good and bad. Here’s how to filter what you’re finding.

1. Consider When the Content Was Posted

The more recent the review, the more relevant an experience might be, but older reviews can paint a picture of more consistent experiences had by travelers over time. If reviews suddenly go from positive to less than glowing, consider whether the hotel, restaurant, or tour operator might be under new ownership. If someone is complaining about limited things to do at a resort while visiting in the off-season, that won’t apply if you’re planning to visit during peak periods, says Ewen. And remember: post-pandemic, the service industry continues to lack sufficient personnel; as a result, you might see more negative reviews than positive ones on this front.

2. Read Beyond the Stars

Everyone has different travel preferences, so take time to read the actual review closely, whether it’s a five- or one-star rating, says Ewen. “Someone might give an all-inclusive resort a one-star review because they were traveling for their honeymoon and couldn’t stand all of the families,” he says. “That’s hardly a negative if you’re traveling with your kids.”

3. Look for Consistency

Gather insight across review platforms to look for trends. If a hotel boasts high marks on multiple sites, chances are the reviews are accurate and it’s great. If it has mixed ratings, however, you may want to reconsider. Similarly, when looking at tour operators that run trips in multiple destinations, make sure you’re seeing positive reviews in all of those places but specifically where you’re headed. If, for example, its experiences in California are five-star but those in Utah and Colorado have been rated as mediocre, you might want to do more research or even call the outfitter and enquire about the inconsistency.

4. Use Search Filters to Save Time

As noted, first make sure you’re sorting remarks by most recent. Then use any other filters to zero in on things like the time of year you’re visiting (Tripadvisor has this functionality), specific mentions of amenities (Google has this), or even specific keywords you want to search, such as surfing or hiking (both Tripadvisor and Google offer this), recommends Ewen. With restaurants and hotels, he typically starts a search with Google, as it provides both the location and star rating together.

5. Take Bad Reviews with a Grain of Salt

You can’t please everyone. When I looked for comments about Yellowstone National Park, one of America’s most visited destinations, on Google Reviews visitors lamented, “There was no service and no way to update my Instagram” and “They don’t even let you touch the geysers, and there’s only black and grizzly bears no panda.” Before you write off an experience because of some bad reviews, take the time to actually read the criticism and decide whether it’s warranted. If there’s one bad review but 20 great ones, likely someone had a bad day.

It’s also worth noting whether anyone from the company responded to a negative post. “A bad review is a great opportunity to showcase your true colors,” says Melanie Fisher, an Oregon-based travel agent who also rents a property on Airbnb. “As the business owner, how you respond is very important. If you come across as rude and condescending, you are just confirming the bad review was deserving. Instead, if you respond, explaining how you couldn’t meet the customer’s needs—unsafe, unrealistic, never agreed upon, natural disaster—and you did everything in your power to make it right, others will understand more about you and your business—and in most cases respect the business more.”

Go Beyond the Reviews for Information

Tripadvisor’s forums and journalist-reported travel stories , on topics like family-friendly Greek islands and epic road trips in Ireland, can offer helpful vacation tips and trip inspiration. And take a gander at traveler- or diner-submitted photos. Yelp’s Ask the Community feature allows users to post queries for Yelpers to weigh in on, like how much time you should budget for a visit to New York City’s Museum of Natural History (at minimum four hours).

When looking for activities, Ewen’s first stop is often the website of the local tourism board. “While these marketing organizations have a vested interest in promoting the destination, they also have no incentive to send you on a bad tour, because that’s a loss for the destination itself,” he says. “Virtually every tour or activity I have booked in this way has been positive.”

Magazines, both print and digital (like Outside ), are another great source to legitimize any opinions you read on user-generated review sites. Additionally, the social-media feed of a company can provide insight. Have travelers left positive comments on a hotel or tour operator’s Instagram or Facebook feed? Has that company made an effort to interact with customers? Finally, if you’re mid-trip and still looking for recommendations, chat up the locals. I’ve discovered some of my most memorable meals and hikes based on tips from a bartender.

Have a question of your own? Drop us a line at [email protected] .  

Outside correspondent Jen Murphy is one of the most well-traveled people we know, and we’ve long relied on her expert advice about awesome adventures and how to get there in a sane way.

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Review: World Traveller

Reviewed by Stefanie Waldek

What is the line?  Atlas Ocean Voyages

Name of ship?  World Traveller

Passenger occupancy?  196

Itinerary?  Antarctica

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?

Having launched in 2021, Atlas Ocean Voyages is still building its identity and its audience. While its initial plan was to challenge the likes of Crystal, Silversea, and Seabourn in terms of ultra-luxury, the cruise line has pared down to a more relaxed luxury experience—one that includes expedition travel to remote polar destinations and relaxing voyages to traditional cruising ports. All cruises are all-inclusive, from alcoholic beverages to excursions to gratuities.

Tell us about the ship in general

Making its debut in November 2022,  World Traveller  is the second ship in Atlas Ocean Voyages' growing fleet, and I sailed on her inaugural voyage to Antarctica. She's a small expedition vessel with a maximum passenger count of 196, though the count is scaled back in the polar regions for a more exclusive experience. But  World Traveller is not a rugged research vessel from days of yore—from an interior design perspective, the ship takes a classic yacht-like style, from wood-paneled walls to nautical stripes. Atlas brands the ship's inspiration as  la dolce vita , but I certainly felt a sense of New England in there, too. Of course, this is still a cruise ship, and that means cruise amenities like an al fresco pool and hot tubs, as well as a spa (L'Occitane branded).  Overall, the atmosphere was more casual than I anticipated, though the service and amenities put the ship in the luxury category.

Who is onboard?

Because Atlas is a new cruise line, it doesn't yet have a deeply established audience. My sailing on  World Traveller had quite the mixed crowd: young groups of friends, solo travelers of all ages, older couples, and even families, though there were no young children. Despite the cruise line being just a year old, there was one couple onboard that had already taken two other Atlas sailings—Atlas certainly seems to be doing something right.

Describe the cabins

I stayed in a Veranda Stateroom, the third-tier category overall and the first with a balcony. At 270 square feet, the cabin is cozy for two, but that's not uncommon in standard cabins on expedition ships. I did appreciate the separation of the sleeping area and a small living area with a desk and two side chairs. While I found storage space to be lacking overall, the bathroom was quite spacious, and its standout feature was the shower with its rain head and body jets, plus the L'Occitane products. As you move up the categories, you end up at multi-room suites with butler service. One unusual critique is that I found the bedding to be so satiny that I felt as if I were slipping around the bed as we rolled back and forth on the Drake Passage!

Tell us about the crew

Despite my sailing being the inaugural Antarctica voyage—there were just two short preview sailings beforehand—I found the crew to be a well-oiled machine, and very friendly to boot. The expedition staff comprised a combination of Antarctic veterans and novices, the latter with guiding and naturalist expertise in other parts of the world. Even those without Antarctic experience were well-educated on the continent, from its wildlife to its environment to its geopolitical history.

What food and drink options are available on board?

All meals are served in the Lisboa restaurant, with buffet breakfasts (with some menu options), buffet lunches, and a combination of à la carte and buffet dinners, each night with a different international theme. Ever-changing hot stations at lunch and dinner buffets included stir fry, pasta, and carving stations. Most memorable to me was Thanksgiving dinner, served as a buffet with all the classic menu items, from carved turkey to cranberry sauce to mashed potatoes. There's also 24-hour room service, as well as an early morning–to-dinner grab-and-go café that serves light fare, including yogurt pots, homemade granola bars, salads, and paninis, as well as pressed juices and coffee drinks—this is especially welcome when you're craving a light snack between meal times, particularly after long excursions. And finally, there's always an afternoon tea with a full range of finger sandwiches and sweets.

As for the bars, the multi-page cocktail menu found at both the Dome observation lounge and the main Atlas Lounge is robust for a small expedition ship—my favorite drink was the Americano in Bologna, made from Campari, sweet vermouth, amarena syrup, and soda water. The wine selection was largely Portuguese on my sailing, and I would've appreciated a bit more variety—such as wines from Argentina, where we embarked. Perhaps because this was an inaugural sailing and the ship had sailed to Argentina from Portugal (Atlas' parent company, Mystic Cruises, has a Portuguese owner), there wasn't yet time for a new delivery of local wines.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?  

The L'Occitane-branded spa is small, with just two treatment rooms, a sauna, and a lounge, but the services are excellent. After a stellar first massage, I booked a second.

Activities and entertainment

As with many expedition cruises, the activities on World Traveller largely revolve around the expedition staff's lectures, which I found extremely engaging on my voyage. But Atlas changes things up with evening entertainment, alternating between documentaries (including one made by our expedition leader, Jonathan Zaccaria, of his time at the French Antarctic station Dumont d'Urville) and musical performances by cruise director Michael Shapiro, special guest Asijah Pickett, and the ship's pianist and opera singer Chase Chandler.

How was the experience for families?

There were no children on my sailing, but Atlas did not advertise any kid-friendly programming in pre-voyage materials or onboard. The cruise line set its minimum age to eight years old on polar cruises, but given the sometimes dangerous conditions in Antarctica, I'd personally suggest bringing older children only.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

World Traveller really is a world traveler, splitting her time between the polar regions and warmer destinations, such as the Mediterranean. I sailed to Antarctica on a nine-night sailing—a bit shorter of a voyage than is typical for Antarctica, though  World Traveller also does longer trips. Excursions are typical for Antarctica with landings, Zodiac cruises, water sports, and the polar plunge, and I felt that the expedition staff handled them expertly. We typically got off the ship in two locations per day when the weather allowed, though some bad conditions had us forgo landings in favor of Zodiac cruises. In classic expedition style, the itinerary is not published in advance, as everything depends on local conditions, which can change every few minutes. Instead, guests are briefed each evening—cocktails in hand—with the intended plan for the next day. Of course, those plans can change at any time, so flexibility is essential.

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

This yacht-inspired ship is a balanced blend of expedition and traditional cruising. Keep an eye out for sales as the new cruise line casts a wide net to develop its audience.

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Tour Travel World has a rating of 4.2 stars from 71 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Reviewers satisfied with Tour Travel World most frequently mention good number, and great experience. Tour Travel World ranks 73rd among Tours sites.

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TourTravelWorld.com is world's largest travel portal since 2004, providing inspirational World travel Guide, Tour Packages, Hotel deals, Travel agents and much more. Tourtravelworld serves as a foremost destination for all the traveling-lovers. Information and details for hot tourist destinations across the world are available here. Tourtravelworld is the only place to know all about the hottest beaches, thrilling adventurous destinations, peaceful religious places, high hilly destinations.

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I have a secret to avoiding jet lag when flying across the Atlantic.

While most flights from the East Coast of the U.S. to London depart in the evening and arrive in the United Kingdom the following morning, there are a handful of daytime flights that depart in the morning and land in the evening of the same day. And I cannot recommend them enough .

These flights are commonly under six hours in length, so too short for a good night's sleep regardless of the cabin. But by taking a daytime flight I can easily stay awake for the fairly short trip, sleep in a real bed in London at a normal bedtime hour when I get there and wake up the following morning with no jet lag.

When British Airways recently announced a new daytime service to Heathrow Airport (LHR) from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), it became a prime opportunity for me to revisit the airline's premium economy service on my preferred schedule and see what the product was like these days. Here's how the experience went.

Related: Why I don't think premium economy is worth the ticket price

British Airways operates two to three daily services from Newark to London depending on the time of year. While at least one service departs in the evening, the new daytime flight departs Newark at 7:55 a.m. daily, arriving in London at a civilized 7:45 p.m. It is scheduled at seven hours in length, though the flight is usually at least one hour faster than this because of the tailwinds.

Round-trip cash fares in British Airways World Traveller Plus (the formal name for its premium economy product) on this route start at $2,076 during the quieter winter months, about three times the price of World Traveller (economy) for the same dates.

One-way fares start from $940 in World Traveller Plus, or $586 in World Traveller, though you can expect to pay almost twice this much on busy summer dates.

There was good award availability for this new flight, so my ticket was booked using 26,000 Avios and $298 in taxes, fees and those pesky British Airways fuel surcharges for a one-way flight on an off-peak date. The fees, taxes and surcharges were paid with The Platinum Card® from American Express , which earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on purchases made directly with airlines (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), picking up an additional 1,490 Membership Rewards points, worth $29.80 by TPG's current valuations .

You can earn enough Avios required to book this flight round-trip with a single welcome bonus. The British Airways Visa Signature Card earns 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. There's also a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S. when booking through a dedicated site, up to $600 per calendar year in statement credits for those frustrating award flight fees year, and the ability to earn a Travel Together ticket after you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year. Cardmembers will receive a $100 statement credit per reward flight booking in economy (World Traveller) or premium economy (World Traveller Plus), or an up $200 statement credit for all other reward flight bookings in business (Club World) and First.

British Airways has the frustrating policy of charging for seat selection in all cabins except First. Prices for my flight to London ranged from $60 for a center seat in the back rows up to $95 for a window seat in the front few rows of the cabin. Executive Club and Oneworld elite members, fortunately, can select their seats free of charge at the time of booking. So, with my Oneworld Sapphire status, I opted for a window seat in Row 18 at no charge.

Ground experience

I regularly fly out of New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) , but this was only my second time at Newark and my first time at Terminal B, which was quiet as the sun rose for my early departure to London.

Terminal B had check-in areas spread over three different levels which, as a new visitor, I found very confusing. It took me quite some time from Level 3, where my Uber dropped me off, to find the British Airways check-in desks, which were relegated to a back corner next to luggage belts down on Level 1 with LOT Polish Airlines and Icelandair.

Oddly, there was no separate queue for World Traveller Plus passengers, as the signage directed them to use the regular World Traveller economy lane. However, there were dedicated World Traveller Plus desks, but no World Traveller desks. With the low ceilings, basement-like atmosphere and odd setup, it was not a glamorous start to my journey.

I was helped quickly as there were few other passengers around. World Traveller Plus passengers receive two 50-pound checked bags though I avoid checking in my luggage wherever possible.

Given British Airways' impressive check-in setup at JFK Terminal 7 , I think I'd choose JFK for my next departure from New York on the airline.

Security was very quick and I was through in minutes. British Airways' Newark flights operate from the B50-B58 gates pier, where the airline also operates its own lounge (immediately after security and up one flight of stairs). Lounge access is not included with a World Traveller Plus premium economy ticket, so instead, I wandered through the compact but pleasant terminal. I especially liked the huge dome where the gates were located as the sun rose on another New York morning.

There was plenty of seating around my gate area and a relaxed atmosphere.

Two boarding lanes were set up with groups 1 to 3 able to use the right lane, and groups 4 to 9 using the left lane. World Traveller Plus passengers were assigned to Group 3.

Boarding commenced slightly later than the scheduled time, around 30 minutes before departure, with groups 1 and 2 invited to board together, and after that was my Group 3. The flight departed slightly late but still managed to arrive around an hour early, as usual, because of the strong tailwinds.

Cabin and seat

The British Airways 777-200 aircraft that flew me to London had 235 seats in four classes of service. Behind First and Club Suites , there were 40 World Traveller Plus premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration across five rows. The cabin felt small and intimate, a key selling point of this cabin class compared with the large economy cabin behind me. The navy blue seats with herringbone fabric were smart both in appearance and their ability to hide stains and spills.

The seats were 18 1/2-inches wide, which was not overly generous given this was only 1 inch wider than the economy seats in the cabin behind, though I enjoyed slightly more elbow room thanks to the double armrest in between my seat and the one next to me. Legroom was 38 inches (normal for premium economy these days) and there was a comfortable fold-down footrest, though unfortunately, British Airways opted not to install leg rests on the premium economy seats.

The seat reclined a generous 8 inches. This is both a blessing and a curse: If you want to sleep, it's great to have your seat go back as far as possible, but it also means the passenger in front of you can recline a long way into your personal space.

The recline function was operated by a single button on the center console. Be aware that if you have a personal electronic device like a laptop open on your tray table, the seat in front can recline quickly and without notice, potentially damaging your device. You may wish to ask the passenger in front to give you a heads-up if you want to ensure any devices remain safe.

I liked how well cushioned the headrest was. The sides could be adjusted slightly in and out to cradle your head, and the entire headrest could move up and down and remain in place.

Storage was sorely lacking around the seat — beyond a large literature pocket in the seatback in front of me, there was nowhere else to place personal items. The bi-fold tray table, which stowed away in the center console, was large enough for my 13-inch Macbook, but you should forget about trying to work or watch anything on a laptop when the passenger in front has reclined their seat all the way.

Individual universal charging points were provided at each seat (with two in the center console I shared with my seat neighbor). There were also those odd audio-visual plugs I've never seen anyone use on an aircraft.

While the seat was not especially wide, and the lack of leg rest was a shame, it was still a comfortable and fairly well-designed seat.

Amenities and inflight entertainment

Awaiting me on my seat was an (unwrapped) fleecy pillow and blanket, an amenity kit and a pair of plastic-wrapped headphones. Both the pillow and blanket were a good size and soft to the touch, despite initially looking a little disheveled on the seat.

The headphones were terrific and a real highlight of the flight, as they were comfortable, well cushioned and high quality, even though they did not have active noise-canceling functionality.

A basic amenity kit is an industry standard in international premium economy, and British Airways' version contained an eye mask, sleep socks, a toothbrush with a tiny toothpaste, a pen and Scaramouche + Fandango lip balm. The "washbag" pouch the items were housed in was made from recycled plastic bottles but looked far more stylish than the crumpled, recycled washbag Virgin Atlantic provides its premium economy passengers .

The 10.6-inch seatback entertainment screen could be tilted up and down at an angle, which was handy when the passenger in front was reclined. It was both touchscreen-operated and could be navigated with the dated remote control housed in the center console. There were 44 new-release movies available, including "Ambulance," "Marry Me" and "Lost City." Among the 24 television series box sets, I enjoyed a few episodes of the latest season of "Britain's Got Talent." Two USB charging points were provided under the screen for each passenger.

Wi-Fi was offered on my flight to London with three different packages available, from 4.99 pounds (about $6) for one hour up to 14.99 pounds (about $17) for the full flight, and limited to one device. The Wi-Fi speeds were the fastest I have ever registered on an aircraft — an astonishing 60Mbps download with a reasonable 4.03Mbps upload. This allowed me to be both very productive throughout the flight and also refresh the BBC news homepage regularly as this flight took place the day Queen Elizabeth II passed away, so I wanted to keep up with events.

Related: In pictures: The queen's life in travel

There were, unfortunately, no dedicated bathrooms for World Traveller Plus passengers, so we shared the two immediately behind our cabin with the World Traveller economy cabin. These bathrooms were standard in size and amenities but were kept clean and as the flight was not full (a perk I've found on my daytime flights across the Atlantic), there was rarely a wait to use them.

Food and beverage

Drinks were offered during boarding with a choice of sparkling wine, orange juice or water. I chose orange juice, which was served in glassware. No bottled water was waiting at my seat.

Flight attendants served the main meal of breakfast shortly after takeoff with a smaller second meal before landing. Breakfast consisted of fruit yogurt and fresh fruit with a choice of three entrees: scrambled eggs with sausage, bacon, mushrooms and tomato; cheese and chervil omelet; or apple pancakes with strawberry compote and vanilla anglaise.

In a vague attempt at a healthier option than sausage and bacon, I asked for the omelet. I was also offered a fresh croissant and my choice of beverage. I again selected orange juice.

A neatly arranged tray packed full of items was handed to me. The range of colors of my meal was visually appealing, though it was, in reality, just a neatly presented economy-class breakfast served on china with metal cutlery.

I've eaten countless airplane breakfasts like this over my decades of travel and it all tasted ... fine. The main dish was piping hot, though it was a little bland so I needed the salt and pepper sachets.

The crew passed through the cabin again to offer tea or coffee after the meal. I chose a coffee to keep me awake right through to London and I was surprised to see the hot drinks served in a takeaway paper cup. Given that the other drinks throughout the flight were served in proper glassware, I wish British Airways provided ceramic cups for these hot drinks.

About 75 minutes before arrival, the trolleys appeared again. The only choices were sandwiches with either chicken and cheese, or just plain cheese. They were served with a packet of sour-cream-and-chive baked pretzels and a choice of drink from the bar. I decided to raise a glass to the (now late) Queen Elizabeth II with a very British gin and tonic. British Airways serves Aviation Gin, which I like for both the name and the taste.

The small sandwich tasted fine and was stuffed with plenty of chicken — I just wish it had been larger. The second meal service on daytime flights this length tends to be too small for me, no matter the airline, and I was still hungry when we landed in London.

The crew members on my flight to London were all upbeat, welcoming and friendly. I found the service to be slightly more formal than in Virgin Atlantic's premium economy cabin, with the British Airways crew referring to me as "sir" with every interaction. There were no lapses in the service throughout the flight.

What I will remember most about this flight was that, 90 minutes before landing, I refreshed the BBC news homepage to learn that Buckingham Place had just announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II. I noticed a few shocked faces around the cabin as those passengers who had connected to the Wi-Fi during the flight learned the momentous news.

As the crew members wheeled the trolleys into the cabin around 15 minutes later for the second meal service, it appeared they had not been advised of the news by the captain as they were as chipper and full of smiles as ever despite some truly glum passenger faces in the cabin.

I was curious to see if and how the pilot might announce the news before we landed in London. It was definitely one of those "where were you when you heard the news" moments in world history, especially for anyone living in the U.K. (the death of Princess Diana and the tragedies of Sept. 11 being others I vividly remember). As we began our descent into Heathrow the pilot advised passengers of the queen's passing over the loudspeaker in a solemn, respectful and very British way.

As an avid traveler living in London, it felt oddly fitting to learn this news on a British Airways flight.

Overall impression

This was a solid premium economy experience on British Airways. The check-in area at Newark needs some work, and for that reason alone I would probably choose to fly from JFK next time. But other than that, it was fairly smooth sailing for the rest of my day across the Atlantic. I still prefer these daytime flights, and woke up at a normal time in my own bed the following morning without jet lag.

British Airways' World Traveller Plus seat provides decent comfort and legroom along with its deep recline and clever headrest. The Wi-Fi download speeds were the fastest I've experienced on a flight, making for a productive workday. The first meal was filling, if not refined, though the second meal was too small, as I have encountered on most flights between New York and London. The headphones, blanket and pillow were all more suited to business class than economy, which was a treat.

Having recently flown Virgin Atlantic's Premium on the same daytime route , I found British Airways to be slightly better mainly because of the superior seat recline, amenities, food quality and consistent service.

I still believe premium economy is overpriced for what you actually get, especially for cash fares two or three times the cost of economy. However, if you are choosing premium economy, British Airways is a smart choice.

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WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review: Is it Worth The Cost?

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Since 1998, WorldTrips has provided medical insurance and trip protection to travelers from the U.S. and around the world in addition to coverage for international students. The company also provides coverage for various tour groups, missionary work and student exchange programs. The insurance policies are underwritten by Tokio Marine HCC, a Houston-based insurance company.

Whether you’re a U.S. resident looking for comprehensive travel insurance plans or a student looking for a medical-only policy, WorldTrips insurance has coverage options.

What kind of plans does WorldTrips provide?

If you’re a U.S. resident, WorldTrips offers four single-trip comprehensive travel insurance plans: Atlas Cruiser, Atlas Journey Economy, Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier. Here's a quick overview of the coverage offered by each plan.

Atlas Cruiser: This plan comes with 100% trip cancellation , 100% trip interruption , $25,000 medical expenses, $100,000 medical evacuation and $1,500 baggage loss coverage (up to $500 per item). This plan also offers optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage for up to 75% of the total trip cost (as long as you purchase it within 21 days of your initial trip payment and more than 48 hours before your trip begins).

Atlas Journey Economy: This budget plan covers 100% trip cancellation, 100% trip interruption, $10,000 medical expenses , $250,000 medical evacuation and $1,000 baggage loss (up to $250 per item).

Atlas Journey Preferred: This mid-range plan offers coverage for 100% trip cancellation, 150% trip interruption, $100,000 medical expenses, $1 million medical evacuation and $1,500 baggage loss (up to $500 per item). You can add Cancel For Any Reason coverage for 50% or 75% of the total trip cost.

Atlas Journey Premier: The priciest plan also provides the most coverage, including 100% trip cancellation, 150% trip interruption, $150,000 medical expenses (primary coverage), $1 million medical evacuation and $2,000 baggage loss (up to $500 per item). You have the option to add Cancel For Any Reason coverage for 50% or 75% of the total trip cost.

Non-U.S. residents and international students have access to medical-only policies. Annual plans aren’t available for U.S. residents.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies

WorldTrips travel insurance cost and coverage

WorldTrips offers several comprehensive single-trip plans that include basic trip protections and medical coverage. The cost varies based on coverage limits.

WorldTrips single-trip plan cost

Here's a comparison of the cost of WorldTrips insurance plans for a 10-day trip that costs $2,000 for a 35-year-old traveler from California. In our example, the destination isn’t specified, and the trip doesn’t include a cruise.

The Atlas Journey Premier plan comes in at $126, the most expensive option. The Atlas Cruiser plan has a similar cost of $120. The Preferred and Economy plans, which cost $103 and $79, respectively, are a bit cheaper, but come with lower coverage limits.

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

Which WorldTrips travel insurance plan is for me?

The kind of coverage you’re seeking for your upcoming travels is going to affect your plan selection. Here are a few situations which might influence your decision:

If you’ve made nonrefundable deposits for your trip: If you’re going on a safari to Kenya or on a cruise to Antarctica and you’ve prepaid nonrefundable expenses, you probably want to go with plans that offer more coverage, such as Atlas Journey Preferred or Atlas Journey Premier.

If you need to add on Cancel for Any Reason coverage: For single-trip insurance plans, go with either Atlas Cruiser, Atlas Journey Preferred or Atlas Journey Premier because they offer this optional upgrade.

If travel insurance is mandatory and you hold a premium travel rewards credit card : If a tour operator requires you purchase travel insurance but you hold a credit card that already provides some trip protections, you can probably get away with the least expensive Atlas Journey Economy policy.

» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?

How to get a quote from WorldTrips

To get an online quote, go to the WorldTrips home page and select whether you’re a U.S. resident, a non-U.S. resident or an international student. If you’re a U.S. resident, click on that box, then fill out the form to price your plan.

Make sure to provide your state of residence, total trip cost, departure and return dates, traveler’s age and initial trip payment date. If you’re going on a cruise, be sure to check the box. Once the form is complete, select “View my plans” and compare the plan types.

What isn’t covered by WorldTrips insurance?

As with any travel insurance policy, there are some exclusions to coverage. Here’s a sampling of things WorldTrips doesn’t cover:

Intentional self-inflicted injuries, including suicide.

War, invasion or acts of foreign enemies.

Speed or endurance competitions as well as athletic stunts.

Piloting or learning how to pilot an aircraft.

Being engaged in illegal activities.

Medical tourism.

Traveling against a physician’s advice.

Operating a motor vehicle without a license.

» Learn more: How much is travel insurance in 2023?

Is WorldTrips travel insurance worth it?

WorldTrips insurance offers multiple plans for U.S. travelers looking for trip insurance and medical coverage abroad as well as non-U.S. travelers and students looking for medical coverage in case of an unexpected injury or illness.

If you travel once or twice per year, WorldTrips offers several comprehensive single-trip policy options that are worth checking out. However, if you need an annual plan, you'll want to look elsewhere.

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The 15 Biggest Travel Scams, and How to Avoid Them

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You know that old saying “there’s a sucker born every minute”? Don’t be one of them. Stay ahead of these surprisingly effective travel scams to keep your vacation plans from falling apart. The schemes below may be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to travel cons, but preparing yourself for these common swindles is a good place to start.

Vacation Clubs

Wholesale travel clubs claim that you’ll have access to incredibly cheap vacations if you join. However, once you pay the joining fees, you find that the deals offered aren’t any better than what you can find for yourself online—for free. Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott , whose book Scammed lays out a helpful roadmap for being a responsible and effective shopper in a world of corporate swindles, has told SmarterTravel: “I’ve never come across a legitimate travel club. My advice is to run, don’t walk.”

Elliott advises that anyone considering joining a travel club do research with a very critical eye beforehand. Simply doing an internet search for the name of the travel company plus “travel scam” will usually reveal a host of problems experienced by other members. Also check the Better Business Bureau for complaints about the specific service before you buy.

Timeshare Sales

Ed Perkins, a longtime contributing editor at SmarterTravel, calls the up-front fees for selling your timeshare the biggest travel scam out there.

“Scammers promise to get you out from under, saying they have buyers, but all they really do is take a fee, upward of $400, and do nothing,” says Perkins.

Never pay up front to have someone help you sell your timeshare. If you want out, go to a licensed company and check them out with the Better Business Bureau before listing with them. If you’re having trouble getting out of your timeshare , work with a rental company and rent it out to recoup some of the money until you can sell.

Vacation Certificates

Ed Perkins also warns against prepaid vacation certificates: “Travel scams promise really great prices but deliver nothing. The idea here is to get the up-front money, then keep stalling: ‘Sorry, these dates are sold out; try again soon.’ They delay until people just quit trying.” Or the company charges huge additional fees to redeem the certificates, and the trip is considerably less luxurious than promised. Before prepaying for a vacation package, be sure to research fees and blackout dates, as well as the company’s reputation.

“Travel-Agent” Card Mills

Ah, the life of travel agents. Cheap hotels and airfares are thrown at their feet once they pull out their travel-agent ID cards, right? Wrong. Don’t believe the hype from outfits that promise to issue you a travel-agent ID that provides access to discounts. Scammers charge hundreds of dollars for these cards, but victims who shell out will quickly find that no place will accept the fakes, and they never see any discounts. The only way to avoid this travel scam is to not buy a travel-agent card if you’re not a travel agent—there’s really no legal way to get around it.

Car-Rental Collision Damage Waivers

Rick Steves calls the car-rental collision damage waivers (CDW) a “collision damage waiver racket” for a reason. When you rent a car, the company often pressures you to buy a CDW supplement, which will prevent you from having to pay a high insurance deductible if the car is damaged. (The deductible can be thousands of dollars before insurance kicks in.)

But most major credit cards already include deductible collision coverage for free , so check your credit-card terms and pay for the rental car with your credit card. Then you’ll be covered without having to shell out extra cash for phony insurance. Most credit-card collision coverage is secondary, meaning you have to claim from your regular insurance first. If you don’t want a claim on your insurance, you can buy third-party primary collision coverage from the booking agency for about $10-$11 a day. Or, if it’s pricey, you can instead buy coverage from an independent outlet; sites like Bonzah.com offer rental coverage from $7.99 per day. That’s about one-third of what the rental companies charge.

“You Won a Free Trip!”

If you’ve ever dropped your business card in a “win a free trip” drawing at a restaurant or signed up to win at a fair, you may have gotten a phone call, letter, or email claiming you’ve won a free vacation. These days, the hustle is often via robocall. Be wary—many of these “prizes” are actually booby traps in which you’ll have to pay hefty fees to claim the vacation or give your credit card number to “verify your eligibility,” resulting in identity theft. After a recent lull in monitoring these robocalls, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is again cracking down on them. If you’re scammed, get the names of resorts and airlines included in the prize and call them independently to verify the trip. Never give credit card information to someone who cold-calls you, and be sure to get details of the prize in writing before accepting.

Fake International Driving Permits

The FTC also warns against fake International Driving Permits (IDPs) . Some countries require tourists to have an IDP in addition to a U.S. driver’s license. However, there are only two American associations that are legally authorized to issue IDPs—the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). Fraudulent companies sell fake IDPs over the Internet, but you’ll pay hundreds of dollars for a permit only to face legal problems for using the imposter IDs in another country.

The Bait and Switch

The hotel you’re thinking of booking is suspiciously cheap, but the property’s website makes it look beautiful and centrally located. When you arrive, the hotel is run-down, missing amenities, and in a deserted part of town—and it won’t refund your money. Avoid this travel scam by using websites like Oyster (one of SmarterTravel’s sister sites) and TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent site) to read real customer reviews and see honest photos of the property.

“Grandparent” Travel Scams

Even if you’re not currently traveling, you can still be the victim of a travel scam: The State Department warns that scammers will call an older relative or friend of someone who’s away on vacation and pretend to be the traveler in desperate need of help. The scammer usually poses as the traveler or a foreign government official and directs the victim to wire a large sum of money, citing an array of things: They have been robbed and need money to return to the United States, or they have run into legal trouble and need bail money. Sometimes the scammer will even pretend to be someone from the U.S. embassy calling on behalf of the relative for money. Never wire money in response to a suspicious phone call; instead contact the State Department to ask if the situation is legitimate, or call your relative directly. If you encounter this scam, the FBI advises you report it to local authorities or a state consumer protection agency. You can also file a complaint with the FCC .

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) offers the following advice to prevent “grandparent” travel scams:

Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mothers’ maiden names, passwords, or other identifying information in response to suspicious calls or to callers demanding immediate action. Scammers can spoof the caller ID of their number to make it appear to be from a trusted source. If a caller claiming to represent a company or a government agency asks for personal information, hang up and verify the authenticity of the request by contacting the company or agency yourself, using information found on its official website or through other means such as the phone book. If a caller claims to represent a company with which you have an account—such as a utility or a bank—hang up and check the contact information on a recent bill or statement, then call the company back yourself.

Rental Property Scam

Rule of thumb: Never go to Craigslist (or anything similar) for a rental home. Scammers will place an ad and ask the victim to wire money to secure the vacation rental—and then disappear. Or they’ll have you send money to them rather than to the actual property owner. Avoid the rental scam risk by going through a reputable vacation rental site with protections and insurance guarantees such as Airbnb , HomeAway , or SmarterTravel’s sister site FlipKey , all of which will protect your money from fraudsters.

Bogus Travel Agents

Don’t trust a tour operator or packager you don’t know of or can’t find reviews of easily online—especially with a big payment. An even more worrisome version of these travel scams in the U.S. is fake versions of websites: You search for a hotel or tour and get through to what looks like a legitimate website from a known company. But it isn’t: It’s a copy-cat version run by a scamster who paid a lot of money for a good search engine position. At best, after you make a payment, the hotel will honor your reservation—but probably at a higher price than you should have paid. At worst, you get nothing.

Take a close look at the website’s URL. Unsure if it’s right? Do a new search to find the company’s homepage and compare it to the first half of the link—any rogue characters, numbers, or symbols might mean it’s a fake. You should also never pay for a service via wire transfer, or any other irreversible money-transfer system.

Currency Short-Changing

A longstanding travel scam relies on tourists’ unfamiliarity with a foreign currency. This can take various forms: counterfeit bills, miscounting change, mixing smaller bills into what should be a pile of larger notes, etc. Get to know the bills of any country you visit, and limit the amount of foreign currency you exchange and have with you at any time. Get your foreign currency from an ATM, and put all your big-ticket purchases on a credit card.

Counterfeit Event Tickets

These days, high-tech forging can make almost any piece of paper or cardboard look authentic. Don’t buy a high-priced ticket (or even a low-priced one) to a sold-out event from someone on the street or via an unfamiliar website. You might be turned away at the gate. Buy from an authorized source—the box office or an online dealer that’s a verified reseller.

Fake Tour Guides

Have you ever been walking in a tourist-frequented area and had someone approach you offering to be your guide? Of course, you would have no idea in this situation whether this person has any useful knowledge of the city, but you may be coaxed into a nearby store that they claim offers the “best” prices on local specialties.

Pre-arrange a guide through an official tourism office or a local travel agency so you can compare prices and know what you’re getting. I once arranged the best local guide I ever had through an American Express agency. A university history professor showed us the fantastic National Museum of Damascus in Syria.

Credit Card Fraud

One of many potential credit card fraud risks is the familiar “verification call” gambit. In this travel scam, within a few hours of checking into a hotel, you get a call from someone claiming to be at the front desk to “verify” the details of the card you used. Of course, that caller is a scammer with no connection to the hotel who just wants to get your card data. In this and any other situations, be highly suspicious of anyone who calls you asking for credit or debit card information, no matter how plausible the excuse may seem. Tell the caller you’ll be right down to settle the problem, and instead call a known number, like the hotel’s direct line, to settle whatever account is involved.

More from SmarterTravel:

• How to Avoid Counterfeit Money While Traveling
• 6 Cruise Scams You Should Never Fall For
• Europe Travel Scams to Watch Out For

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2012. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Caroline Morse Teel and Ed Perkins contributed to this story.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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British Airways World Traveller Plus Review: Is it Worth It?

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 19/03/2024

In 2017 I flew premium economy with Qantas Sydney to Hong Kong return. It was a fantastic experience.

In fact, it was so good it made me question if I could really justify the extra amount to fly business class if it wasn’t an Australia – Europe/US flight.

So when was looking at flying from London to New York – and then Los Angeles to London return – I thought I would give British Airways World Traveller Plus a shot. Which I did back in 2018 and I recently flew with British Airways World Traveller Plus post-Covid in 2022.

I’m going to kick off with an update from 2022 when I flew from Portland to London Heathrow with British Airways in premium economy. My older review involved flying out of London Heathrow so it has quite a bit of information on checking in at Heathrow etc.

⇒ Click here for Prices and Deals on British Airways

British Airways World Traveller Plus 2022 update

After a long break flying with British Airways in World Traveller Plus I signed up again to try them out in July of 2022. I was flying from London to Washington DC, and then home to London out of Portland. I received an offer that was too good to refuse to upgrade to business class on the flight from Heathrow to Washington DC. This review update covers the Portland to London Heathrow leg in premium economy.

I somehow managed to end up on British Airways’s first (not sure if this is the first ever flight but it was certainly the first for a while) direct flight out of Portland to Heathrow. Everyone was in a great mood and there was even cake and sandwiches at the boarding gate for everyone!

As such, we had a very nice new 787 that I believe was a Dreamliner. Few things make me happier than realizing that I am on a relatively new plane as it always means a huge improvement in the premium economy experience.

When I mentioned to the crew that Virgin Atlantic offers its premium economy passengers prosecco the attendant even went and got me a glass of champagne from business class! As I said, all were in a joyous mood.

To be honest, not a lot has changed since the last time I flew World Traveller Plus with British Airways. The 787 I was on had only three rows of premium economy seats. I quite liked this as it normally means faster service and I feel more of a sense of space when the area is smaller. The seat layout was 2-3-2.

I had booked in my window seat when I booked the flight as I always do on overnight flights (I find it worth it to pay a bit extra at booking to achieve this).

One thing that has improved is the quality of the headphones in premium economy which are now noise cancelling. Also, the quality of the food on offer has improved. I enjoyed a very nice steak.

The Dreamliner 787 also has new touch-operated window screens and better cabin pressurization. If you are able to choose your flight and can see the different planes available, I suggest checking to find the Dreamliner 787 option for world traveller plus as it is definitely a step above premium economy on some of BA’s other planes.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review (2017): Online Check-In

Unfortunately, things with British Airways World Traveler plus did not get off to a good start. Two days before my flight I went on to the British Airways app and was able to reserve one of the aisles British Airways Premium Economy seats – great.

The next day, when I went to actually check in online I was told that my passport number was wrong and that I wasn’t able to check in.

I then had issues with my uber so only arrived at the airport 90 minutes before my British Airways flight.

British Airways Premium Economy: Bag Drop and issues arise

I went and used the check-in machine for my premium economy British Airways flight and my seat had changed to a window – which was good news for me. Then I went to the desk for bag drop.

When the attendant is on the phone for some time when all you do is drop your bag, it is not a good sign. I was told by the attendant that I had been “sneaky” taking the window seat.

I was quite annoyed by this and asked how could I be sneaky when the app had done this for me. I was then told that they had overbooked business class and that seat had been meant for someone who was being downgraded to premium economy on British Airways – which meant they now wanted to move me to British Airways economy class.

I was so annoyed. It really makes me furious when airlines do this. Or should I say when British Airways do this as they are the only airline that has tried to bump me from flights several times due to overbooking.

In what other industry would an organization take your money ahead of time and then when you turned up to experience that service be told that you couldn’t as they had overbooked – and that apparently this was fine?

It is a major problem as a solo traveler as we are at the top of the list when it comes to who gets bumped first when it comes to air travel.

A British Airways staff member once told me that the safest people were those also flying with British Airways from a connecting airport eg Manchester to London and then on to say NY, followed by groups, followed by families and then by couples.

Only the male solo traveler is worse off than the female solo traveler. My annoyance was greater as I had injured my ankle in Nepal earlier that year and absolutely could not have sat in an economy seat for several hours without problems.

Luckily I had a letter from my doctor with me (I had it in case my ankle got worse and I needed medical treatment) so I was able to produce this and say I had to stay in British Air premium economy.

I ended up in British Airways Economy Plus but not without quite a bit of undue stress and frustration. This experience alone has been enough to really put me off flying with British Airways.

I do find it outrageous that you can be potentially bumped like this – and that the staff always seem to act like this is of no consequence and why are you getting upset? OK rant over!

British Airways Premium Economy Review: Getting to the Gate

Anyway, the flight was then at Gate A10 at Terminal 5, which means a very long bus trip. I thought we were driving to New York.

BA World Traveller Plus also means no lounge access and no priority seating.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review: The plane and the seats

The British Airways World Traveller Plus 777 plane was a little old and compared to Qantas it felt a lot less spacious. The seat layout was 4 in the middle and 2 on each side.

I was on the side thank goodness. I would have been very unhappy to have paid for premium economy and to have had one of the extreme middle seats.

I often wonder who ends up in these seats – are they the people that don’t make sure they do early online check-in? Or maybe they are more tolerant than me.

BA World Traveller Plus Review: In-flight amenities

British Airways Premium Economy 747 has good quality headphones which were nice. The British Airways premium economy product also does have a very good in-flight entertainment system.

The British Airways Premium Economy in-flight amenity kit was not bad – socks, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and a pen. Great idea to have a pen as everyone needs one on a flight.

There is a lot of legroom and the seats are comfortable on the British Airways 787 Premium Economy flight. I was also pleased to see that there were 2 USB ports in the seat ahead and then 2 power points between the seats.

The food was a big positive for this World Traveller plus review 777 writer. It did feel like an upgrade from economy. We were also offered a lovely glass of sparkling wine before take-off.

Premium Economy British Airways Review: Some Positives

One of my favourite features of British Airways premium economy 777 is that they have a very useful brochure which explains all the features and benefits of the world traveler plus seat – this is such a good idea.

Every premium economy and business class seat is different and you don’t want to miss out when good features can be used.

There was also a good-sized storage locker next to the window which was handy – another reason trying to get the window seat is one of my top tips.

World Traveller vs World Traveller Plus

In March 2018 British Airways made major upgrades to its World Traveller and British Airways Premium Economy 777 cabins at Gatwick on their Boeing 777s.

Both cabins have had their entertainment screens increased by 50% in size. I’m looking forward to checking out the new six-way headrest.

Interestingly these new planes will feature a considerable increase in the number of World Traveller Plus seats – coming from a reduction in Club World. Premium Economy is on the rise.

So what about the rest of the fleet? World Traveller Plus is a major improvement on World Traveller, which doesn’t offer the best seats. Also, there are few opportunities to upgrade within World Traveller – apart from the exit rows.

If you have a long flight or an overnight flight I think the upgrade cost is absolutely worth it.

Upgrading to British Airways Club World

Theoretically, being in BA World Traveller Plus means it is easier/more likely that you can be upgraded to Club World. BA does offer paid opportunities for upgrades but not all the time – and not necessarily at the best prices.

The best way to check if this is an option for your flight is to visit the Manage My Booking page. The price generally varies between 400 and 700 GBPs.

For frequent flyers, Avios points are a good option for upgrading – or combining Avios points with payment. It is not normally the best use of Avios to upgrade (they tend to be their most effective for less-visited longer trips in economy class in my experience) but it is a good option.

Finally, if you are a frequent flyer and flying World Traveller Plus there is a greater opportunity for an upgrade. This will most likely happen when World Traveller Plus has been booked out and business class has seats.

British Airways Premium Economy: The Verdict

Overall, the seat itself is the key difference between world traveller and world traveller plus on British Airways.

On Qantas and other airlines, there does feel like there is more of a difference between the two cabins – particularly when it comes to service.

I was flying with British Airways when they were having extensive problems as an airline so it could not have been fun to be working for them at that time.

However, I am paying the extra and in my view, I do expect a slightly better service. I would hesitate to take British Airways Premium Economy again – mostly driven by nearly being downgraded to economy.

I don’t want to have to worry about this when I am headed to Heathrow. I, of course, would fly with them if there was a good enough deal, but they have certainly moved down my list after this experience.

Here is BA’s full rundown on their premium economy offer and The Telegraph’s Comparisons of Premium Economy Offers including British Airways Premium Economy Reviews

⇒ Prices and Deals on British Airways

British Airways World Traveller Plus Frequently Asked Questions

What class is world traveller plus on ba.

World traveller plus on British Airways is premium economy. This is a class between economy and business class.

Do you get lounge access with British Airways World Traveller Plus?

No, you do not get lounge access with a British Airways World Traveller Plus ticket.

Does World Traveller Plus on British Airways get priority boarding?

Yes, World Traveller Plus travelers on British Airways get priority boarding and check-in.

Does World Traveller Plus on British Airways get to use the fast track queue for security?

No, World Traveller Plus customers on British Airways do not get to use the fast track queue for security.

How wide are the World Traveller Plus British Airways seats?

The seats in British Airways World Traveller Plus generally have a 38 inch pitch and are 18.5 inches wide. The seats are 1 inch wider than economy and the pitch is 7 inches greater than economy.

Booking Flights:

I use Skyscanner for all my flights – from economy through to business – click here to Check out SkyScanner 

Boutique Hotels in London

Artist Residence is located in Pimlico which is fabulously central. It is in a gorgeous 5 store regency building and has a cute bar.

⇒ Read reviews on TripAdvisor ⇒ Book Now

The Portobello Hotel is located in one of London’s best known and cutest neighbourhoods Notting Hill. This is also the hotel where Kate Moss and Johnny Depp filled up the bath with champagne.

The hotel is located on a quiet street but is a great location.

The Great Northern Hotel is ridiculously close to Kings Cross and St Pancras stations which is incredibly convenient. The hotel dates back to 1854 but has had a major refurb so it feels fresh and modern.

The Hoxton hotel is in the heart of East London in Shoreditch and is a perfect base for exploration. The rooms aren’t huge but the location makes up for it – as does the great value for London with rooms starting at £99 a night.

Who Paid for What in this British Airways World Traveller Plus Post

I covered the cost of my flights on British Airways Premium Economy. This post on British Airways world traveller plus contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and end up making a purchase on that website I will receive a small commission. I wanted to make sure you were aware of this.

READ NEXT: American Airlines PREMIUM ECONOMY REVIEW

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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

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Journeying John

Sunday 5th of March 2023

Glad your food was ok and an upgrade but I have to reportthe reverse, bith in and oit of India, there was no choice and what was actually served was worse than mkat carriers economy meals. As for BA's IT systems and contempt for customers who habe paid for a service they don't recieve. Your experience is far from unique and I wonder if you would ever have got any form of compensation had you not had the ankle injury. BA or the UK brand of IAG are #BestAvoided today.

Amanda OBrien

Wednesday 15th of March 2023

I doubt it on the compensation front John! Luckily BA seems to be getting better but I am still nervous about being kicked off flights when I am travelling solo

Jean-Pierre

Tuesday 21st of February 2023

Interesting you had problems with entering your passport information when checking-in. This has happened twice to me using the BA website. The two occasions have been years apart so BA have not fixed their website.

I eventually found a telephone number to call for website support and after about 40 minutes the agent was able to get my passport info to take. It was very frustrating, especially after paying for the upgrade to World Traveler Plus, the taking more money part of their website works very well.

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World Expeditions Reviews: What Travellers Say

We are honoured to bring together the people who like to tread lightly down the paths less travelled. Our community of responsible and adventurous travellers has grown quite a bit since we took our first steps on a small group tour in the Himalaya 40 years ago.

It is with gratitude that we share some of our traveller’s tales from their experience with us. This feedback has helped us to shape and innovate our program over the decades. We are humbled by the number of positive traveller reviews we receive and how frequently our clients choose to travel with us again year after year. According to our welcome home survey, 84% are likely to travel with us again in the future and 90% of travellers are likely to recommend us to a friend. Furthermore, 84% consider their holiday good value and 74% feel that their trip contributed positively to the local people and environment.

World Expeditions Reviews  - Traveller Feedback

Thank you to our travellers for choosing to explore the world’s most incredible destinations with us. It has been a treat to be part of your experience, seeing the world from a different perspective and discovering some of the most enchanting places on our planet together. We will always strive to inspire and enable curious travellers to discover and explore this beautiful world while following our philosophy to ‘take only photographs and leave only footprints’.

Peru & Inca Trail Tour Reviews

Just back from Peru - 10 of the days spent on the most gorgeous trail through a section of the Andes, walking into the Sacred Valley, Cachora, Santa Rosa, crossing several rivers - Apurimac, Rio Tinto, then ascending to the breath-taking ruins at Choquequirao , camping on Inca Terraces at Pinchaunuyoc, climbing the San Juan and Yanama Passes, celebrating my birthday with a view of Machu Picchu from Llaqtapata Lodge complete with cake by Chef Juan and finally descending in pouring rain and walking all the way through the valley into Aguas Calientes with Machu Picchu soaring above us. A trek to be remembered forever - thank you Javier and Monica and your team for sharing the wonders of your beautiful country with us. The sacred sites are breathtaking and wondrous. Your people are warm and generous and oh, those mountains and glaciers will live in my heart forever. Muchas gracias, amigos and thank you for looking after all us chiccas salvages! And wild we did look as we ended our trek...

- Tammy Webber, Inca Rivers Trek

I would like to thank World Expeditions for a 1st class experience.  The guides, porters and other staff made this a trip to remember. We travelled with like minded people who all got on well.  The food and accommodation was great.  I would recommend this trek to anyone looking for some adventure and wanting to talk in the local culture at the same time.  A wonderful trip that I would do again in a heartbeat.  Perhaps a little more training for the climb on day 2 would be in order for me!

- Catherine Scott, Classic Inca Trail

From day one we were treated like royalties, the hotels in Lima, Cusco, Yucay and Aguas Calientes were in great locations, friendly staff and warm rooms.  The attention of the guides and the chauffeurs was exceptional.  Being a private adventure we could freely pick their brains and improvise on venues, which was brilliant. A gradual build-up in altitude, even reaching 4,200m, no problems whatsoever.  A lifelong dream came through the day we did the 1 day Inca trek. A bit steep in the beginning, but pacing ourselves, it was great. Steps easy to manage, flora amazing, scenery breathtaking and to be blessed with blue skies as we walked through the Sun Gate - and there it was, Machu Picchu!  Champagne corks popping around us! Sharing the moment with brimming faces around us. Then the Inca site with all the intricate stonework, The Temple of the Sun with its curved walls and the endless terraces.  Truly blessed to have gained an insight into this culture.  Just do it!

- Unni Porthill, Peru Adventure (Private itinerary)

This was a superbly well organised and enjoyable trip. It was well balanced and the guides were great. The centre piece was the Inca Trail trek, and while tough, our group was fun and our guide was encouraging, sympathetic, informative and made it really enjoyable. Accommodation and food throughout the trip was very good and I am sure I will stay in touch with my new companions for many years.

- David Goodman, Best of Peru

Nepal & Everest Base Camp Tour Reviews

A family of four, we took part in the World Expeditions trek to Everest Base Camp from 12 December 2016 to Christmas Day, climbing to an altitude of 5364m. We wouldn’t have made Base Camp without the support of the wonderful crew and our tour leader Samde Sherpa.

We are left with so many images. The rainbow fluttering of the many prayer flags, glorious and free against the deep blue winter sky with the huge icy mountains beyond: white for the year, blue for the cosmos, yellow for the earth, green for water and red for fire. As the prayer flags fluttered, sending up their devotions to the Bodhisattva - OM MANI PADME HUM – we were earthbound taking one dusty step in front of the other, following Samde’s mantra, “bistari, bistari” - “slowly slowly” - take time to acclimatise!

The final walk to Everest Base Camp at 5360 was tough, physically and mentally, but so worth it!

We have carried home with us not only the magnificence of the mountains, but inspiration at the strength of our sherpas and porters, images of the hairy warm of the yaks, the huge golden eagles soaring the steep forest edges and pine bluff below us, and the clouds of red billed magpies circled and spun in the rising thermals.

- Carol Hayes, Everest Base Camp & Kala Pattar

A physical and mentally challenging journey through some of Nepal most remote and isolated regions. The scenery changes as you ascend and the remote villages, the people and high passes are exceptional. If you like a challenge and a well managed expedition this is for you!

- Justin Stone, Annapurna, Nar & Tilicho Lake

A stunning part of the world and this was my 4 th trip with World Expeditions who never disappoint!

- Susan Bosch, Annapurna Trek

A truly awesome trek, thanks to our leader Tikendra, the guides, the porters & kitchen staff - they were all truly amazing. They all helped to make this a very memorable experience. We visited some truly amazing places & met some wonderful people. The whole trek was very professionally run, with a friendly & relaxing atmosphere. The accommodation was great and the food was excellent, and there was always plenty of it. At 58 I found the going a little hard at times, but the support from the staff was outstanding, always there with me, encouraging & assisting me whenever I needed. I will definitely be going back to Nepal, and will definitely going with World Expeditions.

- David Fernie, Everest Base Camp & Kala Pattar

Another wonderful trip with WE! This is the third trip of theirs I have been on and likely not the last. I know I can rely on the good standards of guides, food and accommodation. Our accommodation along the trek was always well placed and comfortable, but still it never felt like we were isolated from the local people or the ruggedness of the terrain. Our guide, Subal, carefully monitored each individual's progress and was immediately on hand when illness or injury occurred. It was very reassuring to have him with us. And the views!! This trek takes in everything there is to see in the Everest region for the experienced trekker, it won't disappoint.

- Michael Coleman, Everest High Passes

Before booking this trip I had expected to find some faults but from start to finish my trip was extremely professional and just completely life changing. I honestly could not fault World Expeditions. The safety of myself and my team members was of paramount importance and this was reflected every day. I highly recommend the company to anyone!

Not only have I ticked an adventure off my bucket list, I have also made a group of lifelong friends in both my team members and leaders. Just a fantastic experience, it really was!

- Matthew Bailey, Everest High Passes

Fantastic trip off the main tourist trails. We walked at a comfortable pace to minimise the effects of altitude. Very high standards of hygiene maintained throughout the trip. Super friendly staff whose main aim was to make our trip enjoyable. Well done to World Expeditions.

- Gail Andersson, Complete Annapurna

I can't speak highly enough for Tikendra and our porters and sherpa guides throughout our Himalayan Trek! I went into this trip with an open mind and they blew my expectations away. Everyone was so friendly and the team functioned very smoothly like a well oiled machine. Tikendra, our guide, was very knowledgeable, the meals were terrific, beds were comfortable, down jackets and sleeping bags were warm. Almost everyone on our trip came down with illness but each of us was treated appropriately and we were all able to make it to Base Camp and back again. I would highly recommend this trip with WE to anyone considering it!

- Adrian Tabares, Everest Base Camp & Kala Pattar

Kilimanjaro Tour Reviews

A trip to Kilimanjaro is well worth the adventure with World Expeditions as you can be sure you will be well looked after in every aspect.  I would have no hesitation in trekking with World Expeditions anywhere in the world, knowing I would be safe, well fed and watered, and in very good hands.  The local African support team of guides, cooks and porters are also a credit to their country - such happy, delightful, energetic, colourful folk, never to be forgotten.

- Jenny Rickards, Kilimanjaro – Rongai Route

Twin Peaks. The trip exceeding all my expectations.  My travel companions, guides and local support were all great people, and soon like long time friends.  The World Expeditions planning, experience and connections provided a great value, I could not have put the adventure together on my own.  Thank you for your help in the amazing experience!

- Jim Faulkner, Twin Peaks

Highly recommend the Lemosho Trek on Mt Kilimanjaro. Each day was different, from forest on the first day, to the walking across the open planes of the Shira Plateau, and looking down onto the clouds from our campsite. I'll never forget turning a corner on the second day and suddenly seeing Mt Kilimanjaro for the first time. The guides were brilliant and couldn't have done more to help us (all 14 of us) to the summit.

- Susan Power, Kilimanjaro – Lemosho Route

Our trip to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro was an amazing experience. It was physically challenging at times - our guides and porters looked after us so well. They were so positive and encouraging and knowledgeable and made all the difference. Thank you Henry, Alpha and Bertram and all your team for making our journey so special and successful.

- Michael Coman, Kilimanjaro, private itinerary

Africa Safari Tour Reviews

A great trip for seeing African wildlife as it goes to locations where they are found in large numbers - they were impossible to miss! We had a great time and a great trip with a like minded and similarly aged group. The tented accommodation meant we were able to camp within the parks making the animals just that little bit closer - we could hear them in the night which added to the African atmosphere. Loved every minute and would do the same again.

- Kim Whitbread, Southern Africa Explorer

As always, World Expeditions did a great job showing me off the beaten track in Africa. Kembo, our guide, was awesome. Always polite, patient and very knowledgeable. I would travel with World Ex again in a heartbeat.

- Nimmity Zappert, Namibia to Victoria Falls Explorer

If you're looking for an adventure, then the South African Explorer is for you.  The balance between camping and comfort was excellent.  Dinner under the stars, the tenting experience, but without having to worry about pitching and cooking is excellent.  The guides are wonderful, knowledgeable and excellent at their jobs.  The food was fantastic and with two of us being vegetarian, we were catered for with no issues.  We covered a lot of kms, but knew always what the day entailed.  We saw lots and lots of animals and in their natural environment - which made missing the odd one or two along the way perfectly fine - nature is unpredictable. There was a good age balance on this trip so we were lucky - from 20 to 72.

- Philippa Bennett, South Africa Explorer

This Botswana walking safari way exceeded our expectations. The guides were fantastic, the food amazing and the locations, perfect. Botswana has an exceptional level of responsible tourism and it shows.

- Rosalynd Hollinshead , Botswana Walking Safari

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar & Vietnam Cycle Tour Reviews

We have just returned from the most fantastic cycling holiday from Ho Chi Minh to Angkor Wat. Our guides, Chao in Vietnam and Vannak in Cambodia, were absolutely fantastic and couldn't do enough for us. All the support staff were wonderful too. We were a group of five friends travelling together. The food was delicious and plentiful and the places we visited amazing. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone.

- Judith Miller, Ho Chi Minh to Angkor Way Cycle

Have just completed Along the Mekong Cycle trip, and it was certainly up to the same standard of the five other World Expeditions cycle trips I have done in last 6 years. Cycling about 50km each day was on flat roads but often very hot and some roads were quite rough so i agree moderate is the correct description. The home stay in a remote Cambodian village was a highlight. We ate nearly all lunches and evening meals in local cafes and the food was fantastic and the beer cheap and cold. I can highly recommend trip for reasonably experienced cyclists.

- Gregory Packer, Along the Mekong River by Bike

I have been travelling with WE since 2003 mainly biking trips. At nearly 70 I feel I am getting close to the end of the more physical trips. Along the Mekong by Bike had a very suitable grading and the majority of the trip on the bike was on undulating roads. A trip for all types of riders and we'll worth doing.

- Campbell Weekes, Along the Mekong River by Bike

If you are looking for a physical challenge with a magical backdrop some wonderful history and a whole lot of smiling welcoming people then this trip is for you......every day and every landscape is completely different.  It's not the sleepy locked country of its reputation, after only being open to tourism for such a short time Myanmar is already miles ahead of some other Asian destinations but without the hassle and pressure this can sometimes bring.  World Expeditions takes you where others don't allowing some of the mystery to remain.  Definitely worth the journey!

- Meika Gale, Bike Hike and Kayak Myanmar

This is a broad based trip. Not only do you get excellent cycling through rural and urban landscapes you have an opportunity to learn some of the dramatic history of this country. The food was delicious; the hotels more than adequate; the guide well informed, interesting and interested; the landscape and program diverse.  We made new friends and had lots of laughs. We'd use World Expeditions again.

- Cathy Fouchard, Vietnam by Bike

This trip exceeded all expectations. We experienced so many unique places and were immersed in the culture from start to finish. Food was amazing and all diets catered for. Exercise was graded - the support truck and comfortable bus were always ready for anyone needing a break. Our guide and crew were helpful, encouraging and such lovely people. Wow! Thank you for providing this amazing experience. Family and friends have been inspired to visit Vietnam by my great photos.

- Jennifer Redden, Vietnam by Bike

Japan Tour Reviews

Alena, our guide, made the trip extra special.  She shared her passion for Japan, this included the history, food, countryside, people as well as the religions and the spiritual side.  It was a wonderful trip covering walking in the mountains and the countryside as well as the busy hectic cities.   With Alena’s guidance even mastering the subway in Osaka and Tokyo was easy.

- Julie Gow, Backroads of Japan

Backroads of Japan is a perfectly titled name for this trip. We were truly in remote areas with no other westerners in sight. The food was incredible in every location and our guide, Akemi was always helpful, knowledgeable and went out of her way to give us all a great experience.

- Anita Wilkin, Backroads of Japan

We had an absolutely wonderful experience while participating in The Back Roads of Japan holiday. My expectations were very open prior to commencing the trip. We were gradually guided back through the history of Japan in this region. The autumn colours were sensational. Our accommodation in the cities was well located while the accommodation provided in rural areas was unique. Our tour leader was very able and as the trip progressed we all had insights into each other's personalities. I would recommend this trip to anyone interested in discovering a little about this country and its beautiful forested areas.

- Robynne Mullard, Backroads of Japan

Larapinta Trail Tour Reviews

As a solo first time walker I would definitely recommend this walk to anyone interested in exploring Aboriginal culture in awe- inspiring surroundings. The tour was so well orchestrated, with highlights every day.  Ben, Jen and Rick, (our guides) were exceptional in catering for all our needs. Exceeded all my expectations. Thank you.

- Susan Bradley, Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort

I can't speak highly enough of our guides Harriet and Josh and couldn't be happier with World Expeditions.  We were totally and thoroughly looked after.  Both guides were professional and informative with loads of knowledge plus a willingness to help if needed. The meals they cooked us were so well prepared and delicious, it was hard to imagine they were prepared in a camp oven in the outback. The tracks, walks and climbing was difficult at times but we were always rewarded with spectacular views, the Australian outback landscape holds nothing back! It was loads of fun climbing and hiking our way up and around the peaks of the west MacDonnell Ranges. We couldn't have asked for a better experience! Thanks so much to our guides and World Expeditions for making out trip so memorable.

Louse Toohey, Larapinta End to End

I have trekked in Nepal and the Inca Trail and found Larapinta tough but spectacular. The trail is not well defined, some parts are rocky, others steep with loose shale, and then there are sand or boulder hopping river beds. Swam in chilly gorges and rivers. Amazing views from ridges. Fantastic camp sites, sleeping in swags under the stars. Great food served usually by camp fires.  Our guides Angela and Peter were leaders, guides, medics, chefs, drivers and so much more. Nothing was too much trouble. Food was fantastic, they dressed our cuts and blisters and we enjoy​ed each other's company. Our group of 6 got on well and fit enough to keep to a similar pace. A trip that will never be forgotten. I dream of sleeping bags and stars and wake to wonder what my LCD alarm clock can be.

Susie Anderson, Larapinta End to End

Nepal Mountaineering Expedition Reviews

A wonderfully rewarding and challenging trip!  I found it ideal for an initial foray into the world of mountaineering.  This was my third trip with WE, and once again the Sherpas, porters and kitchen staff were their usual wonderful selves, providing really outstanding professional support and service, much of it above my expectations at times.  But do train well for this one - it will test you, for sure!

- David Coorey, Mera and Island Peak via Amphu Labsta

This trek exceeded all expectations and was challenging on many levels both physically and mentally. It's a long trip, but the route took us in a loop away from the busy EBC track and into areas of complete isolation which constantly took your breath away (literally). We did meet some other smaller groups, but it's interesting to note that none of them reached their objectives - because they didn't have the outstanding support we were provided with by Tsering Lama and his team of climbing Sherpas, porters and cooks.

Aside from the amazing food and logistical stuff, their technical expertise ensured that we climbed the mountains and passes with confidence and safety.

This trek was much more difficult than the Everest High Passes trip I did last year, but totally amazing thanks to the efforts of all involved at World Ex and the fantastic group of new mates that shared this "once in a lifetime" experience!

- Glenn Jones, Mera & Island Peak via Amphu Labsta

The trip really captured the spirit of adventure & provided an excellent opportunity to climb significant Himalayan peaks that people really visit. Moreover the staff had excellent skills & knowledge making the trip fun & exciting as well as memorable.

Warren Townsden, Cholatse and Api Himal with Soren Kruse Ledet

World Expeditions continues to deliver 5/5 in the Himalaya. Our summit success can be attributed to the incredible combined talents of the expedition leader, climbing sherpas, kitchen crew and porters. All I had to do was put one foot in front of the other.

- Edith Jankowski, Cholatse and Api Himal with Soren Kruse Ledet

Have you had a good experience with us? We'd love to hear from you! Please share your experience in the comments below. To find more travel reviews from our travellers, go to the trip page you are researching and you will find the tour reviews about halfway down the page if reviews have been provided.

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Comments ( 3 )

We are writing to thank World Expeditions for the many great experiences we have had over the past twenty years, starting at the age of sixty. We have been on eight amazing trips ,including trekking adventures to the Inca Trail , Patagonia, Japan & Sikkim/ Kanchenjunga, and active trips on the Silk Road, India, Central America & Cuba , & Mongolia & the Trans-Siberian. We have thoroughly enjoyed every trip, thanks to the excellent planning & organisation, and the wonderful guides who inspired and cared for us every step of the way. Sadly, health issues (& COVID) have now called a halt to our adventures, but we have many wonderful memories to sustain us in the future!

Thank you so much Judy and John for the lovely words and heartwarming feedback. What an amazing line-up of adventures over the years! We are so glad to have excelled your expectations time and time again and to have helped create unforgettable memories for you both over the years. Continue to stay safe and we hope to have you travel with us again sometime. Cheers, World Expeditions Team

I recently enjoyed a trip to Israel & Jordan. I believe that we were one of the first groups to take this tour. The tour, in what we saw and what we experienced was amazing, and is easily one of the best I have done. What made it so good were the tour guides in both countries - friendly, accommodating & hugely knowledgeable in countries so steeped in thousands of years of history. In a short time, they became our friends as well as our guides. The whole trip covered so much that I needed the many photos I took to remember everything. Two highlights - The walk behind Petra to the 'Monastery', and Jerusalem.

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World Nomads   Reviews

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Reviews 3.4.

2,542 total

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Easy to understand and know what to do

We haven't had a claim so only have experience with purchasing. Everything is clear and easy to compare with other companies. It offers what we need and when I've had a question, customer support has been very knowledgeable and quick to respond. I like that I get emails with reminders of how to contact them in an emergency before we leave on our trip so I can bookmark it for quick reference.

Date of experience : June 02, 2024

Reply from World Nomads

Hi Y - thanks so much for the 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 review! Hope you have an amazing trip. Safe travels - Belle ✈️ World Nomads

I wouldn't recommend World Nomads

I wouldn't recommend World Nomads. I had an accident abroad on holiday, ended up breaking both my feet, and ended up in a wheelchair for 8 weeks, with protective boots, then crutches, and only just starting to walk after 4 months. I was out of work for 3 months. I am an athletic person, and I am still not able to jog yet. The breaks in my feet took over 4 months to heal. World Nomads rejected my claim to cover me for the personal accident. I had to book new flights to fly back home, no compensation, and there was no help or assistance at all throughout the experience. I will make a complaint to have my claim reconsidered as I am suffering long-term pain.

Date of experience : December 08, 2023

Hi Hannah! I'm very sorry to hear about your experience 😥 I have forwarded your feedback onto the correct team to contact you. Safe travels - Leah ✈️ World Nomads

No discounts available?

This is my second time purchasing from World Nomads. I had troubles logging into my account and could not use the 7% discount for repeat customers. When I wrote customer service and asked about it, I was told "Unfortunately, due to financial service laws, we are not able to provide discounts of the plans for residents of the US." What the heck!!!!

Date of experience : May 30, 2024

Hi Charlotte! Sorry to hear about your experience 😥 I have requested more information so that we can look into this further. Safe travels - Leah ✈️ World Nomads

I’ve used World Nomads many times as…

I’ve used World Nomads many times as it’s very convenient to arrange your travel needs, a nice experience to begin my vacation.

Date of experience : June 04, 2024

Hi Mark! Thank you for the 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review! We are thrilled to hear that you loved your experience with us. Your kind words mean a lot to our team! Safe travels - Lucy ✈️ World Nomads

Easy and understandable as well as…

Easy and understandable as well as economical. This fits our needs very well. We haven’t had a claim so can’t speak to that aspect.

Hi Matt! Thank you for the 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐review! We are so glad you had a positive experience Worldnomads. Your support is invaluable to us. Looking forward to seeing you again soon! Safe travels - Lucy ✈️ World Nomads

Good experience

Clear directions, fair price and fast results. I often use World Nomads for my travel insurance. Good to work with.

Date of experience : June 03, 2024

Hi Becky - thanks so much for the five star review 🤩 we really appreciate your comments. Safe travels - Belle ✈️ World Nomads

Loyal Repeat Customer Gets Run-Around

A Word Nomads repeat customer for many years, I finally had a claim--a small one involving trip interruption. The website says they process claims in 15 days, which is misleading. As far as I can tell, "process" means that's when an adjuster finally looks at your claim. Assuming it is approved, in "up to17 business days" supposedly payment will be made. At 7 weeks, and much emailing, calling, calls dropping, calls getting passed to different departments, and listening to Muzak, I am informed that I am "in process." Courtesy, both mine and theirs, does not seem to help. I am just glad this claim is not one involving an emergency or large hospital bill.

Date of experience : May 17, 2024

Hi Leigh, we're sorry to hear you had delay's with your claim. I have sent you a request for more information about your policy, so I can chase this up with the correct claims team. Leah ✈️ World Nomads

I think this company is a scam!

I think this company is a scam! I’m disgusted by their customer service and lack of ability to give me my compensation mentioned I will receive in the policy cover. They will reply to your emails with stupid questions that you had just answered and make you do so much work to try get compensation from the airline instead of them. I have been paying for their travel insurance for the past 16 years every time I travel and this is the first claim I’ve requested and they have not been any help to receive my compensation. Complete waste of money!!!

Date of experience : May 21, 2024

Hi Stephanie. We're sorry to hear you had a negative experience. Thank you for being a loyal customer of World nomads, Stephanie. I have sent you a request for more information about your policy, so I can look into further for you. Lucy ✈️ World Nomads

18 months later and they still haven't paid

I went to the emergency room in the US in November 2022 with my insurance card through World Nomads only to find out a few months later that they did not pay the hospital/emergency doctor! Took an entire year to get a majority of the medical bills properly paid. It is May 2024 now and turns out they STILL haven't paid a final portion of the medical bills. I spent hours on the phone and sent dozens of emails (no exaggeration) and every claims agent has no idea of the protocol and says something comepletely different. Truly an awful, stressful, needlessly tiring experience.

Date of experience : May 15, 2024

Hi Kathy, we're sorry to hear you had trouble with your claim. We don't want our nomads to feel this way. I have sent you a request for more information about your policy, so I can chase this up with the correct claims team. Belle ✈️ World Nomads

Change travel dates

I had to change my travel dates and the team ar world nomads customer service were awesome helping me doing this!

Date of experience : May 23, 2024

Hi Linda, Thank you for the amazing 5 ⭐ review! We really love to hear when our Nomads are happy 😍! Safe travels - Ayden ✈️ World Nomads

Lucky escape - feels like a scam

I feel like I've dodged a bullet in cancelling my plan after seeing my Certificate of Insurance, and reading the terms of the policy, and just how many eventualities they will not cover. I initially felt uneasy after it wasn't clearly stated on my certificate what my chosen excess was (.. because I wasn't given an option!) and things didn't seem transparent enough for me to feel confident in the even of making a claim. I bought my policy on the mobile browser, which is sadly lacking in some crucial pre-purchase formalities such as excess amount, sports/ activities you might do on your trip. These things were not mentioned at all. They were very quick to take my money after giving a quote, and then a lot of the information never materialised. Furthermore, when it came to canceling my policy, the desktop version of my account suddenly seemed to have some problems loading and it took several attempts to cancel. I was then immediately kicked out of my account with no way to sign in again. I'm still awaiting an email acknowledging my cancellation or confirming my refund. This is not how an established, professional and safe company operate; they're underwritten by Axa, I'm inclined to just take my money there.

Hi Emma! We're sorry to hear you had a negative experience . Our goal is always to provide excellent customer service, so we're disappointed that we didn't meet your expectations. I have sent you a request for more information about your policy, so I can look into it further . Lucy ✈️ World Nomads

Trip cancellation

World Nomads and Trip Mate made the process of submitting the necessary paperwork needed for my claim easy enough for someone with limited computer knowledge could do. Their review and response time was just a couple of days which surprised me it was so quick. It certainly made the process satisfying after the anguish of having to cancel my dream vacation.

Date of experience : April 20, 2024

Hi Gale - thank so much for the 5 star review 🤩 we're sorry to hear you had to cancel your dream trip, but we hope to travel with you again some day. Belle ✈️ World Nomads

50% increase….…

I received a quote for my upcoming trip. A couple of weeks heater I was reminded to purchase. When I clicked on buy now, the rate was an additional 50%.

Date of experience : May 20, 2024

Hi Gabriel! Sorry to hear about your quote 😥 please send an email to [email protected] with your travel details so that we can look into it. Safe travels - Lucy ✈️ World Nomads

Incapable insurance company in many ways

Once a claim is made they are incapable of replying and helping you resolve the issue. In December 2023-January 2024, I went on a trip where my bag got lost on the way there and I was left without any of my stuff. I made a claim as soon as I got home and it took them months to reply. Then they took weeks to reply to my emails and when they finally said they would send the money for the claim, they didn't and removed my claim and email so I could no longer email them. Since it's now May 2024 and I haven't received anything I thought I would give them a call and NOTHING! I was on hold twice for 30 minutes to be hung up on as soon as it sounded like someone picked up the call. This is completely unacceptable and disgraceful to any of their customers.

Date of experience : May 13, 2024

Hi Laura, 😢 We're very sorry to hear of your claim experience and would like to help! I have requested further information so we can take a closer look at your case and escalate this to the respective team - Ayden ✈️ World Nomads

I forgot to buy travel insurance before…

I forgot to buy travel insurance before I started my trip World Nomads had a short wait period but I was able to get covered. That is a big relief. I think their plan is perfect for those of us that are on the go.

Date of experience : May 19, 2024

Hi Rob, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are thrilled to hear that you loved your experience with us. Safe travels - Babita ✈️ World Nomads

We were of course super bummed when my…

We were of course super bummed when my husband was injured just over a week before our big Morocco/Southern Euro trip. I had no idea how insurance would pan out, but was so thankful that Trip Mate and World Nomads were so obliging and pretty expedient! It was about six weeks between filing the claim and getting our checks. When we rebook our trip, I will definitely go through this company again.

Date of experience : April 26, 2024

Hi Michelle - we're so sorry to hear about your husband's injury 🤕 but we're glad we were able to help! We hope we get to travel with you again in the future. Belle ✈️ World Nomads

The young lady l dealt with, Lauren, was fantastic. My problem was resolved upon her reply to my email. No back and forth, no nonsense. Perfect.

Date of experience : May 27, 2024

Hi Terence, Thank you for the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review! When our customers are happy, we are happy! We look forward to travelling with you again! Leah ✈️ World Nomads

During my trip to thailand I got sick…

During my trip to thailand I got sick and got Covid-19, stayed in hospital BH hospital in huahin. 5 days of treatment and medical care, Trip made was very supportive and helpful during my illness. And covered my expenses after I filed the claim and presented all the necessary documents.

Date of experience : March 21, 2024

Hi Gilles! I am sorry to hear that you were unwell on your recent trip to Thailand, I hope you have made a full recovery. We appreciate your feedback and are delighted to know you enjoyed our Service. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we look forward to serving you again soon. Thank you again for the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐review! 😀 Lucy ✈️ World Nomads

Simply the best!

I've been using World Nomads for almost ten years now and have never been disappointed. Easy to take a policy out, (love the microdonations option), extend and claim if required. I would recommend World Nomads in a heartbeat to any international traveller looking for travel insurance. I have suggested that World Nomads introduce an online chat facility for claims and an App at the earliest.

Date of experience : May 10, 2024

Hi Tuhin! Thanks so much for the 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 review! Safe travels - Belle ✈️ World Nomads

Unable to log in to my account for over 2 months.

Getting claims paid out is good; it takes a bit of time, though. However, I can't log in to my account with the password reset option. World Nomads needs to update its website. Customer service is unresponsive when it comes to helping me log in.

Date of experience : April 29, 2024

Hi Vincent, It's great to hear that you were happy with your claim outcome! Let's help you fix your login issue. I have sent a request for more information in order to help you get access to your account again. Safe travels - Leah ✈️ World Nomads Hi Vincent, Thank you for providing your details. I have sent an email with instructions on how to fix your member account so you are able to login and view your policy online! Safe travels - Leah ✈️ World Nomads

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Around the World Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

Our 27 most popular around the world trips. compare tour itineraries from 17 tour companies. 105 reviews. 5/5 avg rating., popular around the world tours.

Discover our popular around the world tours, each crafted with unique themes, diverse price ranges, varying durations, and different physical levels. Search several options and choose the tour package that aligns seamlessly with your vision of the perfect trip around the world.

Discover the Baltics

• Discover three Baltic states in 12 days
• Visit stunning national parks, castles and museums
• Explore the magnificent Trakai Castle
• Citizen Science departures available on this trip

Budapest to Prague Adventure

• Discover the four distinctive capital cities of Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague
• Enjoy a wine tasting in the charming town of Mikulov
• Walk through the castle park known as 'the garden of Europe' at Chateau Lednice

Balkans Rail Adventure

• Visit seven countries of Former Yugoslavia in just 16 days
• Experience a variety of scenic rail journeys
• Discover contrasting landscapes and cities in this lesser visited region

The Grand Epic of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel

• Discover the mysterious pyramids, Great Sphinx, and Kings Valley
• Cruise leisurely along the Nile from Aswan to Luxor
• View the Promised Land from Mt. Nebo and the Mosaic Map of the Holy Land
• Trace the footsteps of Jesus and explore the old and new cities of Jerusalem

Get Social: Europe Express 2024-25

• Berlin highlights drive
• Walking tour of Prague with Trip Leader
• Vienna highlights drive
• Orientation walk in Venice with Trip Leader
• Orientation walk in Paris with Trip Leader

London to Istanbul Rail Adventure

• An iconic rail journey across Europe to the gateway of Asia
• Discover rural Serbia, from local wine producers to narrow gauge railway routes
• Take a boat trip on Europe's largest wetlands in Croatia and explore the waterways of Venice

Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Hotel/Lodge

• Visit Cape Town, the most exciting city in Africa
• Discover the mountainous dunes of Sossusvlei
• See the fantastic wildlife of Etosha National Park
• Visit the Okavango Panhandle and Chobe National Park
• Marvel at the mighty Victoria Falls

Imperial Escape

• Budapest: Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, panoramic view from Fishermen’s Bastion, visit Heroe’s Square
• Vienna: Guided sightseeing, visit Heldenplatz and St. Stephen’s Cathedral
• Prague: Guided sightseeing, Astronomical Clock, visit the Hradčany Castle grounds; farewell dinner at a local restaurant
• On this guided vacation of Central Europe, experience the rich history and most popular destinations without the crowds—and even better—without the high-season prices
• This Central Europe escorted tour is a magnificent journey through the former Habsburg Empire offering romantic castles, churches, villas and modern architecture, vineyards, breweries, first-class shopping, art, and culinary delights

All Around the World , expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about Around the World

Small Group Around the World Tours

Peru, Chile, Argentina & Brazil in 20 days - Machu Picchu, Iguazu & Capital Cities - Superior

• Santiago de Chile
• Barrio La Boca
• Buenos Aires
• Iguazu Falls, Argentinian side

Indochina in 35 days - 5 Country Southeast Asian Discovery - Superior

• Kuala Lumpur

South American Odyssey with Amazon & Peru

• Rio de janeiro : Cable-car ride up Sugar Loaf Mountain and Sugar Loaf cocktail party; sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit Corcovado Mountain and the cathedral; Churrascaria dinner
• Iguassu falls : Sightseeing with a Local Guide on both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides of Iguassu National Park; Ecological Jungle Train
• Buenos aires : Walking tour; visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and Recoleta Cemetery; empanada cooking class; Tango lesson & show; visit a local estancia
• Bariloche: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; chairlift to Cerro Campanario; Andes lake crossing
• Puerto montt : Sightseeing tour

Best Around the World Tours by Duration

World tours usually span from shorter escapes to extended journeys lasting a few months. Explore our tailored selection of around the world tours by duration, ensuring an efficient and fulfilling use of your precious time away.

Tours, Cruises & Private Trips

Best Around the World Tours by Price

Experience the world without compromising your budget with our selection of around the world tours by price to cater to every financial spectrum. Choose the tour package that perfectly aligns with your budgetary preferences for an unforgettable trip around the world.

Top Around the World Attractions

• Meeting locals from several different countries and discovering wonderful similarities and differences
• Seeing whales breach from the balcony of your cruise stateroom and diving and snorkeling in vibrant coral reefs like the Great Barrier reef
• Enjoying local cuisines, exploring street food markets, and taking cooking classes to learn how to make traditional national dishes
• Wandering around many archaeological ruins and historical sites like Machu Picchu , pyramids of Giza , and the historical city of Petra
• Discovering unique cultures and taking part in traditional festivals or ceremonies like Holi or Día de Muertos 
• Hiking among different landscapes, encountering majestic wildlife on African Safaris , and taking memorable pictures
• Making lifelong friends from around the world
• Indulging in luxury around the world trips featuring traditional Japanese ryokan, floating hotels in the Maldives, or ice hotels in Sweden for a unique experience.
• Visiting all the most famous locations during a single trip with custom-planned tours around the world — No need to pick and choose!

Around the World Tours & Travel

Around the World Attractions & Landmarks Guide

World travel is truly one of the most unforgettable experiences. As you visit multiple countries and continents, you gain a deep understanding of hundreds of cultures and forge wonderful connections with people around the world.

A small ship or 'expedition' cruise is one of the most popular modes of travel for a trip around the world. Many young people opt for overland tours to see the world because of budget and the community style. They usually use a few different modes of travel like trains or buses or join small group tours to individual destinations. 

You can also design a custom round-the-world trip to suit your preferences for price, duration, accommodation, and more. Choose the countries you wish to visit and super-personalize your world tour for the activities you enjoy. 

Luxury Around the World Trips

Imagine waking up in lavish four or five-star accommodations, imbibed with unmatched comfort and elegance. Think boutique lodges nestled in scenic landscapes to high-end homestays steeped in local charm!

That's the essence of our exclusively curated around-the-world luxury tours. Choose one of our private guided world tours to explore iconic landmarks, access hidden gems, and indulge in gastronomic experiences redefining culinary pleasure. 

Raise the bar for your travel experience—personalize your world trip and enjoy unparalleled service at every stop tailored to your preferences. 

How Long Should You Go For?

A round-the-world trip typically takes longer than a week or two. Your world tour should not be much shorter than one month. 

With one month to go around the world, you'll probably stick to one broad region. Long trips are a great way to really learn the nuances and extensiveness of human and geological history and how pronounced they can be in a relatively small area. You'll also gain a unique insight into fascinating cultural similarities and differences.

Most trips around the world are a bit longer than one month, typically between two and four months. The number of countries and continents you'll visit on your world tour can vary quite a bit, mainly based on how you get from place to place and the length of excursion allotted for by the itinerary.

How Much Does a Trip Around the World Cost?

One of the benefits of traveling on a package tour around the world is the cost-cutting aspect. Typically, some of your meals will be covered, along with a good amount of transportation and almost all accommodations (this is an excellent reason to book a small ship cruise).

In addition, your tour will have many activities planned to explore the culture and history of each destination, as well as enjoy the natural beauty with hikes and other exciting outdoor ventures. These activities are not always included in the price, which can be a good thing as it allows you to join as many or as few activities as you'd like, depending on your preferences. 

Typically, airfare to and from the start city and ending city to your final destination is not included in the tour price, but after that, you can expect to save a lot in expenses.

Note that you'll be around the same group of people for a very extended period, and your ability to be flexible in each destination will be limited. If you want to stay longer or shorter, this isn't typically an option.

Planning a Trip Around the World on Your Own

Traveling around the world on your own is an entirely different ball game. Transportation and accommodation are usually challenging to budget around. Budget hotels can help; however, finding a good deal can be tiresome. Travel agents can help, but this typically comes with a premium.

Certain airlines offer special round-the-world tickets, which could be an excellent way to book an independent trip around the world if you have miles to cash in. Otherwise, you're a bit stuck with the one-way ticket route. Try booking smaller airlines and shorter flights to keep costs manageable.

Choosing your destination and activities also requires a ton of research. You could spend a hefty amount of time trying to plan this yourself.

How To Pack for a Trip Around the World?

Ironically, you will be better off packing less than more for a longer journey. As you'll be on the move, you want a lighter suitcase and backpack to deal with. It's both more comfortable to move and far easier to store.

That's one significant benefit of traveling by cruise when you go around the world: the luxury of only unpacking once and being able to do laundry on board. You can lock your stateroom, so there's no worry about theft as you roam the boat and enjoy your shore excursions.

• Winter vs Summer Weather:    Since your tour around the world is likely to cross hemisphere lines more than once, you may experience warm highs and icy lows during your trip — bring clothing that can layer easily. 
• Shoes:    Footwear can easily become a packing challenge since it can take up a lot of space in suitcases. Choose shoes according to the planned activities and terrains. Pack a versatile selection: a pair for relaxation, one for hiking, another for city strolls, and one for a more refined option. 
• Dress Like a Local:    The beauty of a trip around the world is the opportunity to visit many far-flung places with diverse cultures and ways of life. You may encounter many different cultures, some with specific dress expectations. For example, in most Middle Eastern countries, expect to dress modestly—cover shoulders and legs and keep a scarf handy for covering your head. A similar dressing is also a good rule for touring many religious establishments.

Trip Reviews

Brilliant trip.

This is a well designed trip giving an excellent overview of all three Baltic states. This not only included the capital cities but other towns and much countrysid...

Great holiday

Really interesting trip made extra special by our guide Melia, whose knowledge was incredible. We were really lucky with the weather and had a really good group o...

Travels in the Baltics

A bit of a whirlwind tour although the three Baltic States relatively small, green and flat. I knew virtually nothing about them before I went but learned a lot ...

Explore and discover the Baltics

I enjoyed discovering an area of Europe I knew little about. Visiting many areas of all 3 countries. Guide well organized and itinerary good. Only problems were T...

Three small countries with a lot of character

The Baltic countries are interesting and the old towns are charming. They have suffered a lot under various foreign rulers and are proud of their independence. The...

See all Around the World reviews

Around the World Tours FAQ

1. Does Travelstride have all the tour operators?

2. How does the Member Savings program save me money?

3. Can I trust the tour operator and trip reviews on Travelstride?

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Readers Rank This Central Coast California Resort Among the Best in the World — Take a Look Inside

San Ysidro Ranch is one of the most luxurious all-inclusive hotels we've ever seen.

Mariah Tyler is Travel + Leisure's associate visuals director. She is a photographer and writer who covers Texas, Mexico, desert and city destinations, and design-forward hotels. She also commissions photo essays that highlight diverse voices in travel and unique cultural experiences.

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Activities and amenities, accessibility and sustainability, how to get the most value out of your stay.

Courtesy of Mariah Tyler

The evergreen trees towered above as our rental car made its way up the hills, serpentining around the charmingly narrow streets of Santa Barbara into Montecito, California.

Soon, we slowly rolled into the entrance of the ultra-enchanting 550-acre San Ysidro Ranch for our much-needed two-night minimoon. After an intense nine months of wedding planning, the unexpected loss of our beloved dog, and then hosting 70 of our closest friends and family for our wedding, we were desperate for a long exhale in the form of a romantic and relaxing getaway.

The sight of the fuchsia bougainvillea naturally shaped into an undefined heart over the doorway of the Hacienda made for a charming backdrop as attentive staff members simultaneously unloaded the luggage and asked for our drink preference with an effortless grace — we had clearly just arrived at the very place we imagined we needed to be for our total reset.

For years, San Ysidro Ranch has ranked #1 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and there is no denying its rightful place in the annual reader-voted list. Whether a result of the alluring natural beauty of California mingling with abundant and colorful plant life combined with the ranch's long history, there is an immediate sense of uniqueness and an almost sacred feeling of the land that is unlike any resort I'd ever been to.

The earliest settlers of the land date back to Franciscan monks in the late 18th century, while The Old Adobe building on the property — now a preserved dining space — was built in 1825, and Mission Padres farmed the land until 1864. In 1883, the ranch became home to the Johnston Fruit Company at San Ysidro Citrus Ranch, where more than 400,000 citrus fruits were grown and harvested. By 1893, the Hacienda opened as a small hotel, kicking off its legacy as a retreat for Hollywood stars like Lucille Ball, Audrey Hepburn, and Bing Crosby, as well as notable dignitaries like Winston Churchill and the Kennedy family.

The storied ranch continues to be a celebrity-loved hideaway in the hills, and there’s no doubt why — it’s simply a breathtaking, comforting, and private escape. Whimsical touches throughout, like hand-drawn notecards, the hand-painted wooden crows that top each cottage gate, and porcelain pigs perched on shelves in the cottages, all serve as small hidden reminders to have a childlike sense of wonder and an ode to the current owner, Ty Warner. (Yes, that guy.)

Soon after an informative and unfussy check-in, we were escorted to the Churchill cottage, where we would instantly feel at home. Each of the 38 secluded cottages is meticulously tucked behind rustic wooden fences with delightfully kitschy signs. Our cottage was among the most exquisitely executed, with its own 4,000-square-foot English rose garden. Named for Winston Churchill, who spent time at San Ysidro Ranch to write, the cottage today is built to inspire writers with an extensive library collection and a few choice nooks to curl into and put pen to paper.

The garden, designed by Oprah’s master rosarian, Dan Bifano, greets guests as they open the gate, and may look familiar to some — this is where Megan Markle was photographed for her Variety magazine feature . Inside, the double French doors open to illuminated shelves overpouring with books, and the glow of the dual-sided fireplace does everything to encourage guests never to leave.

Here’s everything you need to know about San Ysidro Ranch.

San Ysidro Ranch

• The endless natural beauty of well-manicured citrus groves and rose gardens is truly something to get lost in.
• San Ysidro Ranch’s intimate private cottages are designed to offer individualized traditional spaces with global influences, each a world of its own to escape. More than just a room, the cottages allow guests to have dinner and wine by the fireplace or fresh organic breakfast on a private patio overlooking the gardens.
• The ranch's historical significance to Central California agriculture, legendary statesmen, and Hollywood heroes is one-of-a-kind.
• At Stonehouse Restaurant, the service and food quality exceed expectations — and don't ignore the extensive wine cellar.

The sprawling property in the hills has 38 unique bungalow-style cottages offering ultimate privacy for every guest. Cottage interior design varies within each as a result of the owner’s hand selection of personally sourced vintage furnishings and decor accent pieces from his world travels, making each hideaway feel like a world in and of itself. Every cottage features statement-making four-poster canopy beds and clawfoot soaking tubs alongside a fireplace.

Among the cottages are private gardens with oversized sunken spas and outdoor showers for soaking away stress and woes, where the spirit gets drenched in light and flora. Because San Ysidro Ranch is committed to intimate privacy, there are small nooks for outdoor or indoor dining, which comes inclusive at no additional cost.

Peter Malinowski/Courtesy of San Ysidro Ranch

While guests may choose to dine at their guest cottage exclusively, the award-winning onsite restaurant, Stonehouse, is one not to miss. Known for its romantic and rustic atmosphere and contemporary American cuisine rooted in the organic seasonality of the Central California coast, the restaurant is also home to a coveted and highly lauded wine cellar with a collection of more than 14,000 bottles. As part of the Ranch's Secret Cellar experience, up to 14 guests can be seated among the world's most exclusive bottles of wine.

While Stonehouse and the cellar offer a traditional fine-dining atmosphere against ocean views, the property’s latest outpost is below at Plow & Angel. As it goes with speakeasies, Plow & Angel is inspired by the Prohibition era and offers indulgent and fun cocktails in a jazz-filled room with bold prints and intimate seating.

The original, lovingly restored Art Deco pool sits among the gardens and is surrounded by vibrant orange umbrellas and timeless lounge areas. A few steps away — an unexpected fun twist — is a mini-golf course where you'll find the holes more difficult than you might initially think.

The ranch is also home to more than 17 miles of hiking trails, which will lead you along a creek to hot springs and waterfalls, among other places. For the adventurous guest, the concierge has a slew of experiences on hand to arrange — mountain or beach horseback riding, Channel Islands sailing trips, anta Ynez Valley wine tastings, or exquisite golf excursions to Montecito Country Club’s Jack Nicklaus-designed course or the oceanside Sandpiper. The experiential offerings here are as boundless as your imagination.

San Ysidro Ranch's on-site spa is quaint in the sense that it is small and almost underwhelming until you see the illustrative storybook hand-painted birds on the pale robin’s egg blue walls and alluringly intimate private treatment rooms.

The Yon-Ka Paris skincare and infused essential oils (made with ingredients sourced from the ranch’s many gardens) elevate any treatment. The couples-focused Romance package includes an aromatic bath with Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, followed by a complete body exfoliation from an exclusive and custom selection of scrubs and oils. The in-room steam shower is the perfect starting point for a relaxing massage. After two hours, you will float away from the spa, thanks to the truly sublime service.

San Ysidro Ranch's Terrace Cottage is ADA-compliant.

The resort-wide initiatives for sustainability can be seen through the on-site use of the chef’s garden, local farmers, and single-source purveyors. San Ysidro Ranch is committed to its multi-approach recycling programs (from soap, linens, and Nespresso pods) and eliminating single-use plastics on the property.

San Ysidro Ranch is nestled in the hills of Montecito near Santa Barbara, California. The closest airports in proximity to the resort property are Oxnard and Santa Barbara, and it sits a scenic 95-mile drive from Los Angeles International Airport.

Nightly rates start at $2,495 and range up to $10,000, but all rates are inclusive of meals and cottage-side parking.

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Why Uniworld is the best in the world for river cruises

The cruise line our discerning, nay f ussy, travel editor can't fault

Offering an exceptional travel experience, even beyond cruise holidays , Uniworld's offering left us in awe after we experienced the cruise line for the first time on a seven-night Venetian cruise on its stunning ship, S.S. La Venezia ( try it with TV's James Martin later this year ).

We're not the only ones to be blown away by the company, either. The boutique cruise line has dozens of awards and accolades under its belt, including the Best River Cruise Line award in the prestigious Telegraph Travel Awards and a top three spot in Travel & Leisure's World’s Best Awards .

There's simply nothing else like it, perhaps because it is a cruise line founded by a five-star boutique hotel brand, which believes 'no request is too large and no detail is too small.' Everything from the service to the food is delivered to impress and once you take to the water with Uniworld , you are unlikely to ever look back.

To give us the most authentic feel for the river cruise line, which attracts only the few in search of extraordinary holidays, we explored the ship from top to bottom (including going below deck in the most luxurious way possible) and spent a week hearing first-hand what guests from, Kent to Australia, thought of the company before we felt confident to declare Uniworld as the world's best river cruise line .

With a high returning guest rate (it's not unheard of to be sailing with guests who are on their seventh or even their 50th Uniworld cruise) and staff who are proud to say "we don't consider ourselves to have any competitors," this is the bucket list cruise line you'll want to tick off again and again.

Read on for our honest review of why Uniworld is the best river cruise line in the world…

The style and decor

Stepping onto a Uniworld ship is like entering a boutique hotel - but better. The style is as elegant and refined as it gets, with the finest details and luxury wherever you turn. Uniworld's small ships take inspiration from their destinations, complementing their surroundings while maintaining the sophistication of the brand. Modelled after sister company Red Carnation Hotels, which has the likes of Rubens at the Palace in London and The Oyster Box in South Africa among its collection, the ships are essentially luxury hotels on water.

You won't hear loud announcements and the high staff-to-guest ratio means you're not just a number - they'll remember your name. You can expect the finest decor, with bespoke fabric, original works of art and beautiful antiques. On La Venezia, which you can experience with Good Housekeeping , the fabrics are by Venetian maker Fortuny and the chandeliers and mirrors made from Murano glass.

The suites throughout Uniworld ships have marble bathrooms, and in every room or suite an incredibly comfortable Savoir bed awaits for restful nights on the water.

The destinations

While we're almost certain we could enjoy a Uniworld cruise, wherever it's heading, the river cruise specialist does its utmost to bring travellers the most gorgeous locations to explore in style. Want to visit Venice and its islands ? Uniworld will take you to discover the highlights and see the islands many tourists haven't heard of. Fancy experiencing a Nile cruise ? You can tick off the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings and the sounds and sights of Cairo while enjoying the luxuries of Uniworld.

Or, maybe you have a far-flung cruise in mind? Uniworld's Mekong River cruise in Cambodia and Vietnam takes you to ancient temples and gives you the chance to meet local villagers, while sleeping in five-star surroundings on stunning ship, Mekong Jewel.

The cruise line's Bordeaux , Danube and Douro itineraries are other fantastic itineraries guests keep returning for.

We can't praise Uniworld's staff enough and neither can other guests. Guest Deb, from Pennsylvania, who has been on six Uniworld cruises, told us: "Every staff member makes you feel special. They really want to make your experience wonderful." Meanwhile, Joanne, from New Jersey, said: "The staff get to know you quickly and intuit what you want and need. They bring you something before even you know you want it. I don't think you get the same attention at a hotel."

With a 1 to 2.4 staff-to-guest ratio, it's clear that service is a high priority for Uniworld, but as Joanne added, "they're helpful but not in your face."

Wendy, from Warwickshire, told us how she would frequently help herself to the orange water available for guests at the bar and one time made a passing comment to the bar staff about how much she enjoyed the drink. By the end of the day, she found a carafe of orange water in her suite.

Another guest, Charlotte, from New Hampshire, described the staff like a "relative who knows you, knows your likes and your dislikes," saying that it makes the cruise "special."

The incredible excursions

While life on board the ship is a joy, stepping off a Uniworld cruise will leave you with fabulous memories you can't miss. Uniworld cruises are packed with carefully-curated included and optional excursions, which include after-hours tours of popular attractions (the perfect way to skip the queues), walking tours that provide a look at local life, and the privilege of meeting working people in their workshops.

During our cruise, we had an outstanding after-hours visit of Basilica di San Marco, one of Venice's most popular sites, where we had the cathedral to ourselves and were able to bask in the tranquility and beauty of this world-famous attraction after the crowds had left.

One solo guest, who wished to enjoy Uniworld's excursions at her own pace, told us that she had booked the same cruise twice, back-to-back, so she could spread out her days and ensure she didn't miss out on anything.

The butler service

While you'll be treated to a personalised experience regardless of the cabin you book, suite guests on Uniworld cruises have the benefit of their very own butler who will take this service to another level. Working to the motto that 'no request is too large, no detail is too small,' the suite butlers, trained to the standards required by Buckingham Palace, do everything they can to make you feel important.

Whether you would like a special dinner organised just for you and your loved one, or a private sabering ceremony (a champagne sabering ceremony by the ship's butler at the start of a sailing is a Uniworld tradition), your wish is their command.

While we didn't have any extravagant requests for butler Marko during our time on La Venezia, we knew he was at our service for anything we needed, whether it was a cup of tea brought to our room, or help unpacking our suitcase.

The behind-the-scenes dinner

If you've always wanted to see what life is like below deck, Uniworld has the most luxurious way to do it. Its Progressive Dinners (extra charge, with a maximum of 10 passengers) take you to the bridge to find out about life as a captain, from the captain himself. The dinners are usually a surprise so stop reading now if you'd prefer no spoilers...

They might take you into the kitchen to see how the ship's elaborate meals are meticulously prepared. A look inside the steaming hot engine could be part of the tour, as well as a chat with the laundry staff and a peek at the staff room. The best part is tucking into a different dish along the way, culminating with your main meal in the ship's private dining room, all while meeting the wonderful people who make the cruise holiday perfect.

The thoughtful touches

Whether its sustainability, guest safety or satisfying your hunger, Uniworld goes above and beyond. You'll find compostable slippers and a gifted water bottle for each guest to stay hydrated while caring for the environment. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are elaborate enough, with a varied selection and locally sourced ingredients used to create delicious feasts, but if you find yourself feeling peckish in between, the Panini Bar has pastries and fruit you can help yourself to and panini that are made to order.

Another observation we made was the care and attention of the tour managers on the excursions. During our after-hours tour of Basilica di San Marco, the tour manager stood at the entrance of the crypt, with its low ceiling, and warned each and every guest to watch their head as they made their way down the stairs.

Back on the ship, the housekeeping team are nicknamed 'fairies' for being in and out of the rooms without a peep. Then there's the River Heritage Club that rewards your loyalty with complimentary laundry, cocktail parties and savings on your next trip.

It's truly all inclusive

On a Uniworld cruise, you can rest assured that everything is included. Premium drinks are part of the package at any time of day and there's an extensive programme of activities throughout the cruise without needing to put your hand in your pocket. Gratuities are included so you don't have to bring extra cash for crew and tour managers), either.

On board entertainment can be enjoyed at no extra cost and Uniworld goes the extra mile to offer an all-inclusive experience that doesn't compromise on quality. The food and drink is excellent, and when it comes to the sightseeing, each group has its own guide for a more intimate tour experience.

Of course, there are ways to upgrade your experience if you wish, with dinners, premium excursions and pre- or post-cruise land extensions available.

You can combine your sailing with amazing land stays

As experts in luxurious holidays, Uniworld knows exactly how to make your cruise extra-special and has some amazing river cruises with five-star land or rail options. For example, in India you could enjoy seven nights on the Ganges Voyager II, as well as nights in the Golden Triangle staying in Oberoi Hotels.

Or you could sail the Mekong River for seven nights, before exploring the cities of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Siem Reap while staying in top hotels.

FIND OUT MORE

Or you can pair a Venice sailing with a luxury Golden Eagle Danube Express journey through the Alps or a two-night hotel stay in Milan with private access to Da Vinci's Last Supper. There are various ways to extend your trip and experience a cruise and land holiday.

You really can't fault it

After many conversations with other guests, we failed to find a reason not to love Uniworld. Not only do the staff think of everything a guest could possibly need before they've thought of it themselves, but they continue to look for ways to improve.

We received a feedback form on day two of the cruise (naturally, we struggled to provide anything negative) but one of our new friends told us that she mentioned that she would have liked some Greek yoghurt and additional healthy options at the breakfast buffet. The next morning and every morning for the rest of the cruise, there was Greek yoghurt and a large selection of fruit at the table.

Good Housekeeping has partnered with Uniworld to bring you a selection of cruises exclusive to our readers, including the Ganges and India's Golden Triangle , and Venice with after-hours sightseeing .

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Expect the cost of your airfare to continue to rise, an aviation trade group and industry heads warn

FILE - A Boeing 777X plane takes off at the Farnborough Air Show fair in Farnborough, England, on July 18, 2022. The cost of your next flight is likely to go up. That’s the word from the International Air Transport Association, which held its annual meeting Monday June 3, 2024 in Dubai, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The cost of your next flight is likely to go up.

That’s the word from the International Air Transport Association, which held its annual meeting Monday in Dubai, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates.

While carriers recover from the groundings worldwide from the coronavirus pandemic, industry leaders told journalists that there are several costs likely to push those ticket prices ever higher.

Part of that comes from worldwide inflation, an ongoing problem since the pandemic started. Jet fuel costs, roughly a third of all airline expenses, remain high. Meanwhile, a global push for the aviation industry to decarbonize has more carriers fighting for the little amount of so-called sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, available in the market.

“The airlines will continue to do everything they can to keep costs in control as much as possible for the benefit of consumers,” said Willie Walsh, the director-general of the the International Air Transport Association, an industry-trade group. “But I think it’s unrealistic to expect that airlines can continue to absorb all of the costs. ... It’s not something we like to do, but it’s something we have to do.”

Also pressuring the industry is a pandemic hangover in aircraft production as well, they say. Carriers now keep older planes that burn more fuel flying longer. There also aren’t enough new aircraft to expand routes and increase supply to bring down overall prices.

That warning comes as the IATA estimates globally, airline revenue will reach nearly $1 trillion in 2024, a record high. There will be 4.96 billion travelers on airplanes this year, with total expenses for carriers reaching $936 billion — another record high.

But industry profits also are expected to be nearly $60 billion this year.

In particular, Emirates, a main driver for Dubai’s economy, saw record profits of $4.7 billion in 2023 off revenues of $33 billion.

The Emirates’ results track with those for its base, Dubai International Airport . The world’s busiest airport for international travelers had 86.9 million passengers last year, surpassing numbers for 2019 just before the coronavirus pandemic grounded global aviation.

The airport now plans to move to the city-state’s second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert reaches in the next 10 years in a project worth nearly $35 billion .

Tim Clark, the airline’s president, obliquely acknowledged that Monday by saying that he didn’t want people to “get boxes of tissues out and play the violins” when warning that the industry’s profit margins sit in the low single digits. However, he contended that as airlines have grown larger and carriers consolidated, cost savings have quietly been passed onto consumers now able to book flights across the world.

“It is quite amazing that ticket prices are where they are today,” Clark said. “I think the value-for-money proposition that the consumers have had the benefit from for many decades is something that is one of those hidden bits of the narrative.”

Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the CEO of RwandAir, also highlighted the taxes and fees imposed on carriers by the countries they operate in. She specifically cited those paid by carriers flying out of African nations as “already ridiculous.”