go visit reviews

GettingOut Visits 4+

Video visits on the go‪‬, telmate, llc, designed for iphone.

#62 in Social Networking
1.9 • 355 Ratings

iPhone Screenshots

Description.

*Currently available at select facilities.* What if you could visit your loved one from your mobile device anytime, anywhere? Now you can! With our FREE GettingOut Visits app, keeping in touch with loved ones is easier and more flexible than ever. Plus with our new Visit Now feature, there's no scheduling needed. You can video visit on the spot – and you will only be charged for the actual visit time you use. With the GettingOut Visits app, it’s easy to visit anytime, anywhere from your mobile device! WHY USE GETTING OUT VISIT APP? • IT’S A VIDEO CALL: Remote video visits are an easy, instant way to connect with your incarcerated friend or loved one. This service will allow you to make a video call to an inmate, just like Skype or FaceTime. You’ll use your home computer or an iOS device, the inmate will use a wireless tablet. • NO SCHEDULING NEEDED: See your loved one, quicker than ever and video visit when it’s convenient for you without scheduling. The Visit Now feature lets your visit begin in minutes. If the inmate’s not available, you’ll be notified and can schedule a visit later. • NO UPFRONT COSTS: There are no upfront costs, you will only be charged for the actual duration of the visit. • NO CONNECTION FEES: There are no connection fees, you will only be charged for the actual duration of the visit. • NO PENALTIES: There are no penalties, you will only be charged for the actual duration of the visit. • NO MINIMUM/MAXIMUM COSTS: There are no minimum/maximum costs, you will only be charged for the actual duration of the visit. • MORE FLEXIBILITY: You can visit remotely, when it’s convenient for you and your busy life. • LESS CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE: With the Visit Now feature you don't need to schedule visits, so no penalties for missed visits. You'll spend less time with customer service and more time visiting.

Version 3.2

Cosmetic updates, missing dSYM , update Firebase and other libraries.

Ratings and Reviews

355 Ratings

Too many issues

The app is not great I can’t even do a video visit with my love one my understanding is the inmate has to initiate the video visit and when he sends a request he is sending it to a email that I am not using to use the app. He talked with the gtl rep there in the prison and he’s being told that I have 3 accounts with connect network and I need to call in and ask them to merge my accounts this sounds crazy! What’s the problem with just using the email that I set up the app that’s the only that matters! I’m frustrated he’s frustrated that we can’t even do a video visit!

READ THIS FOR HELP

Have you tried to make a payment? Does it keep glitching whenever you try to make a payment? OK well I have some information here. The way you’re able to successfully make a payment/deposit to get FaceTime calls from an inmate is doing it on a computer an actual like laptop. When you go to the getting out website, do not login. hit the option to “continue as guest”… Now answer all of the questions and it’ll actually go to the payment option and it will successfully let you put in your billing information etc. and submit a deposit. I’ve read all of the reviews and I had not been able to be successful in making a payment using their app, but if you go to the “getting out” website on an actual laptop, computer and continue as guest, it’s like if you’re setting up a whole other account but you’re not. You’re continuing as guest and you’ve already registered and verified your phone number- do the family and friends option to make a deposit and you’ll be able to successfully make a deposit payment… Hope it works! another thing too is you actually never get the app to open up the FaceTime calls. It uses the Safari or Internet browser on your phone.

Very unreliable and complicated

This is one of the worst apps I’ve ever used. I almost never leave app reviews but I have to speak up on this one. You have to make deposits to be able to communicate, and when you go to the deposit screen, it won’t allow you to make a deposit. It flashes out of the screen both on the app and on the website. It’s like they’re actively trying to disconnect inmates from their loved ones. I’m not sure how this works from the inside or who teaches people how to use it. It is NOT intuitive. Complicated to figure out how to get from place to place within the app. Separate apps for messaging versus phone and video. For somebody who is in jail for the first time, I have no idea how they know where to start with this. As a family member on the outside with somebody on the inside for the first time, it’s very discouraging. It’s almost criminal that jail systems allow this to be the only communication method with people incarcerated.

App Privacy

The developer, Telmate, LLC , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

Contact Info
Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, French, Spanish

Developer Website
App Support
Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

Three Types of Video Visits

At Facility

These visits are when you go to your facility and sit at a video visit station in the lobby. Your loved one or friend will be on a video visit station in their pod.

From Computer

At select facilities families and friends can have video visits from their own personal computers in the comfort of their own homes. You will need the following equipment to do a video visit from home:

A computer.
A webcam and a microphone, or a computer with these components built in (most laptops have these built in).
An internet browser. Internet browsers Safari 4 and higher, or Firefox 7 and higher, are strongly recommended. Using other browsers may not load the page appropriately in order to begin your visit. We are not responsible for technical problems or issues that may arise from using an unsupported browser.
For the best visit experience you should use headphones, but they are not required.
High speed internet (DSL or Cable) connection (dial up and satellite are not supported).

From Android Device

Video visits go mobile with our Visit Now Android app. At select facilities families and friends can have video visits from their own Android devices.

How to Schedule a Visit

Free video visit policy.

Free visits are a benefit for the inmate and are credited to the inmate’s account. Therefore the inmate is the only one who can book a free visit . This allows the inmate at your facility full control of whom they want to use their free visit with. There are also advanced scheduling rules that control the timeframe that a free visit can be booked. These rules vary by facility. If an inmate books a visit outside this timeframe, they will not be allowed to use a free visit.

Book the visit with their Friends & Family.
Suggest a visit with their Friends & Family. The Friends & Family must have no prepaid funds on their account at the time they confirm the suggested time. The inmate’s free visit will then be deducted.
Confirm a suggested visit from their friends and family. The Friends & Family must have no prepaid funds on their account at the time the inmate confirms the visit. The inmate’s free visit will then be deducted from their free visit allowance.

The only way Friends & Family can use a free visit is by suggesting a visit with the inmate. If the inmate has a free visit available and there are no prepaid funds on the Friends & Family account at the time the inmate confirms, the free visit will be deducted from inmate’s account.

What Services Are Available At My Facility?

Select your facility below, available services:.

Phone & Voicemail
Video Visit at Facility
Video Visit from Home

Photo Sharing
Tablets Your inmate has access to tablets. Make a deposit to their account so they have more ways to be productive, and you have more ways to stay connected.
Verification Required

What is Telmate Verified?

If you are asked to be Telmate Verified it means your facility requires verification of your identity prior to acceptance of inmates' calls. The purpose of verification is to ensure inmates are not connecting with inappropriate people on the outside. The verification process is simple and can be completed before or after creating an account.

To be verified, you can make a deposit , schedule a visit or download and complete the Telmate Verified form .

Did you know…

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, inmates who

maintain strong relationships

with friends and family, greatly reduce their risk of recidivism.

Terms of Use governing use of GettingOut services state that all services are intended to be used by persons over the age of 18.

To continue, please enter your date of birth to confirm you are over the age of 18.

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Where to Watch

Watch The Visit with a subscription on Max, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

The Visit provides horror fans with a satisfying blend of thrills and laughs -- and also signals a welcome return to form for writer-director M. Night Shyamalan.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

M. Night Shyamalan

Olivia DeJonge

Ed Oxenbould

Deanna Dunagan

Peter McRobbie

Kathryn Hahn

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors.

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M. Night Shyamalan had his heyday almost 20 years ago. He leapt out of the gate with such confidence he became a champion instantly. And then...something went awry. He became embarrassingly self-serious, his films drowning in pretension and strained allegories. His famous twists felt like a director attempting to re-create the triumph of " The Sixth Sense ," where the twist of the film was so successfully withheld from audiences that people went back to see the film again and again. But now, here comes " The Visit ," a film so purely entertaining that you almost forget how scary it is. With all its terror, "The Visit" is an extremely funny film.

There are too many horror cliches to even list ("gotcha" scares, dark basements, frightened children, mysterious sounds at night, no cellphone reception), but the main cliche is that it is a "found footage" film, a style already wrung dry. But Shyamalan injects adrenaline into it, as well as a frank admission that, yes, it is a cliche, and yes, it is absurd that one would keep filming in moments of such terror, but he uses the main strength of found footage: we are trapped by the perspective of the person holding the camera. Withhold visual information, lull the audience into safety, then turn the camera, and OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT?

"The Visit" starts quietly, with Mom ( Kathryn Hahn ) talking to the camera about running away from home when she was 19: her parents disapproved of her boyfriend. She had two kids with this man who recently left them all for someone new. Mom has a brave demeanor, and funny, too, referring to her kids as "brats" but with mama-bear affection. Her parents cut ties with her, but now they have reached out from their snowy isolated farm and want to know their grandchildren. Mom packs the two kids off on a train for a visit.

Shyamalan breaks up the found footage with still shots of snowy ranks of trees, blazing sunsets, sunrise falling on a stack of logs. There are gigantic blood-red chapter markers: "TUESDAY MORNING", etc. These choices launch us into the overblown operatic horror style while commenting on it at the same time. It ratchets up the dread.

Becca ( Olivia DeJonge ) and Tyler ( Ed Oxenbould ) want to make a film about their mother's lost childhood home, a place they know well from all of her stories. Becca has done her homework about film-making, and instructs her younger brother about "frames" and "mise-en-scène." Tyler, an appealing gregarious kid, keeps stealing the camera to film the inside of his mouth and his improvised raps. Becca sternly reminds him to focus.

The kids are happy to meet their grandparents. They are worried about the effect their grandparents' rejection had on their mother (similar to Cole's worry about his mother's unfinished business with her own parent in "The Sixth Sense"). Becca uses a fairy-tale word to explain what she wants their film to do — it will be an "elixir" to bring home to Mom.

Nana ( Deanna Dunagan ), at first glance, is a Grandma out of a storybook, with a grey bun, an apron, and muffins coming out of the oven every hour. Pop Pop ( Peter McRobbie ) is a taciturn farmer who reminds the kids constantly that he and Nana are "old."

But almost immediately, things get crazy. What is Pop Pop doing out in the barn all the time? Why does Nana ask Becca to clean the oven, insisting that she crawl all the way in ? What are those weird sounds at night from outside their bedroom door? They have a couple of Skype calls with Mom, and she reassures them their grandparents are "weird" but they're also old, and old people are sometimes cranky, sometimes paranoid.

As the weirdness intensifies, Becca and Tyler's film evolves from an origin-story documentary to a mystery-solving investigation. They sneak the camera into the barn, underneath the house, they place it on a cabinet in the living room overnight, hoping to get a glimpse of what happens downstairs after they go to bed. What they see is more than they (and we) bargained for.

Dunagan and McRobbie play their roles with a melodramatic relish, entering into the fairy-tale world of the film. And the kids are great, funny and distinct. Tyler informs his sister that he wants to stop swearing so much, and instead will say the names of female pop singers. The joke is one that never gets old. He falls, and screams, "Sarah McLachlan!" When terrified, he whispers to himself, " Katy Perry ... " Tyler, filming his sister, asks her why she never looks in the mirror. "Your sweater is on backwards." As he grills her, he zooms in on her, keeping her face off-center, blurry grey-trunked trees filling most of the screen. The blur is the mystery around them. Cinematographer Maryse Alberti creates the illusion that the film is being made by kids, but also avoids the nauseating hand-held stuff that dogs the found-footage style.

When the twist comes, and you knew it was coming because Shyamalan is the director, it legitimately shocks. Maybe not as much as "The Sixth Sense" twist, but it is damn close. (The audience I saw it with gasped and some people screamed in terror.) There are references to " Halloween ", "Psycho" (Nana in a rocking chair seen from behind), and, of course, " Paranormal Activity "; the kids have seen a lot of movies, understand the tropes and try to recreate them themselves.

"The Visit" represents Shyamalan cutting loose, lightening up, reveling in the improvisational behavior of the kids, their jokes, their bickering, their closeness. Horror is very close to comedy. Screams of terror often dissolve into hysterical laughter, and he uses that emotional dovetail, its tension and catharsis, in almost every scene. The film is ridiculous on so many levels, the story playing out like the most monstrous version of Hansel & Gretel imaginable, and in that context, "ridiculous" is the highest possible praise.

Sheila O'Malley

Sheila O'Malley received a BFA in Theatre from the University of Rhode Island and a Master's in Acting from the Actors Studio MFA Program. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Film Credits

The Visit (2015)

Rated PG-13 disturbing thematic material including terror, violence and some nudity, and for brief language

Kathryn Hahn as Mother

Ed Oxenbould as Tyler Jamison

Benjamin Kanes as Dad

Peter McRobbie as Pop-Pop

Olivia DeJonge as Rebecca Jamison

Deanna Dunagan as Nana

M. Night Shyamalan

Cinematography

Maryse Alberti
Luke Franco Ciarrocch

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Scubapro Go Travel Fins Review [A PADI Instructor’s Test]

Scubapro Go fins ooze quality – not only are they the perfect travel fins but they also made it onto my overall top scuba fins list .

Scubapro have rectified any worries I had about them trying to please too many divers in one design.

Read on to find out whether these fins are ideal for you, and how Go Travel fins compare to the Go Sport fins.

You can also find the Go fin on Amazon .

Perfect to pack as travel fins
Lightweight
Power-transfer & effortless glide
Great option for wide feet due to the versatility
Not too flexible

Table of Contents

Specs/Technical Info

Open heel foot pocket
2.6lbs - fairly lightweight
Paddle blade design
20.5 inch length
Built for maximum comfort
Very flexible
Easy to wear without socks or boots

Unboxing the Scubapro Go

Upon unboxing the famous Scubapro Go Travel fins, the first thing I noticed was the quality build.

These fins are deceivingly lightweight, as you’d expect for a fin aimed at traveling divers. But when you see these scuba fins they look robust and well-made yet they only weigh 2.6lbs.

Created for barefoot use, they’re super-comfortable – thanks to the sturdy adjustable bungee strap, the robust frame running down the side and the soft rubber design that sits on your feet.

Click here to check the prices of the Scubapro Go Travel Fins on Amazon

Performance

Extremely comfortable.

I do think that these barefoot diver fins are some of the comfiest pieces of gear you’ll buy at this price.

Easy to get on and off again, there’s plenty to like in terms of the ergonomic fitting ( Ergo3 foot pocket). Again, what really impresses me all the more is the foot pocket design and the venting within the fin.

Manoeuvring in the dive feels very free and comfy, though some pro divers might think there’s probably more precise fins out there beyond the Scubapro Go. I can tell you for a fact they’re right – but has a fin ever felt this good on foot? Yes – there are comfier fins out there, but there’s not many that match this level of comfort, and especially not when it comes to travel fins at this price.

Durable to the Last

The clue’s in the name – they are Scubapro’s Go Travel fins. They are not only designed to fit in your luggage, but also to endure all kinds of travelling around.

The Scubapro Go travel fins are built in monprene (which promises heavy-duty use) . This means that you’re guaranteed to get little wear and tear from this equipment.

I probably wouldn’t recommend bending the Go travel fins to the point where they’ll break, but if you’ve ever had problems with scuba diving fins just not lasting the distance, you’ll find monprene makes a lot of difference.

Despite being light and compact, they remain strong and sturdy for all of the adventures ahead.

Ease of Adjustment

As well as being really compact, a good sign that you’re buying a good piece of diving equipment lies in the flexibility.

The bungee heel strap available on the Go travel fins lets you easily transform the product to your own particular fit , with such little issue. I’ve been able to easily adjust the Go fins to help harness more power and speed too, meaning that it’s not always going to be about whether or not they feel good on your feet.

I can’t stand struggling to put fins on before a dive! But these were so quick and easy and the bungee strap is super smooth to pull over your heels. They passed my fins test!

As you start to use these Scubapro fins regularly, you are going to want to find your own perfect fit. I think the Go travel fins are particularly good for beginners and those new to scuba diving simply because the product is so easy to adjust and tweak. The last thing you’re going to need is a rigid pair of fins you can’t customise.

Other Scuba Fins That You May Like

Check out some of the other scuba fins that I’ve reviewed.

Atomic Aquatics Split Fins
Tusa Hyflex Switch Fins
Apeks RK3 Fins
Aqualung Express Fins
Oceanic Vipers Fins
Mares X Stream Fins
Mares Avanti Quattro Plus Fins
Cressi Ara Fins

Scubapro Go Fin Bungee straps

Looking for bungee strap replacements for the Scubapro Go Travel fins? You can purchase new straps at Amazon here .

Attention to Detail

You can see that Scubapro have left no stone unturned, these fins make for the perfect travel companion – and here’s a few reasons why:

Easy to replace bungee straps
They have a clip that allow you to clip both fins together
Robust in design

Are There Other Scubapro Fins?

Scubapro are a reputable brand that have led the dive industry for over 50 years.

Find other Scubapro fins below:

Scubapro Jet Fin
Scubapro Seawing
Scubapro Go Sport

Scubapro Go Travel vs Scubapro Go Sport

Scubapro Go have two different types of GO models – the Travel fin and the Sport fin.

As their name suggests, one is tilted towards the favour of travelling, providing a more compact and robust design whereas the sport option gives you more power and flexibility in different conditions.

Despite the Go Travel being aimed for those that want to add to their luggage, they’re not the lighter version of the two options. But they are narrower and easier to fit into your suitcase. The Go Travel fins aren’t made for cold temperatures with no option to fit a boot in.

Scubapro Go Fins Size Chart

This Scubapro open heel fin product is probably one of your best picks if you just want a quick, comfy travel fin to slide in and out of.

They should give you plenty of use over time thanks to the amazing durability, with the focus on comfort. Once you’ve used the Go fins for even a short time, you’ll probably find them really ease to adjust as you please.

However, while they are light and comfortable, I wouldn’t choose these fins for challenging dives where precision and power is required, they aren’t always the best in stronger currents.

If you’re just getting started in the water and are looking for a small dive investment – even if it’s scuba diving equipment that makes life easier for you – I’d recommend these foot friendly products to most divers.

If you’re new to diving, the Scubapro Go travel fins package is going to be one of your best picks to introduce you to the water. Many divers swear by Scubapro Go fins, and I can’t really blame them. Scubapro have provided us with a great value for money product which I really enjoyed having the chance to review this brilliant piece of equipment!

If you’d like to know more, do always take the time to look at what other divers have to say in review, too. Why not make the Go travel fins your first big dive purchase?

Reasons to Buy

Really light to carry – but durable at the same time
Great for beginner swimming
Different adjustments available
Barefoot fit – no need for any extra footwear
Very affordable – a great investment
Will take all kinds of rough and tumble on the move

Reasons to Avoid

Not the easiest to manouvre with if you’re an experienced diver
Not great for many tough dives or strong currents

Thank you for reading. I started KatyJaneDives.com to share my passion for diving. I am an environmental educator, scientist and now an MSDT diver.

This platform has been made to create, connect and share my knowledge in the world of diving.

AS SEEN in DiveIn, Columbia & Women In Ocean Science

Mares Puck Pro Review [A PADI Instructor’s Test]

Hollis m1 frameless mask review [a padi instructor’s test], leave a comment cancel reply.

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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?

Someone uses a city review on their phone to determine the best restaurant and hotel

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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Gotogate Reviews

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Reviews 3.1.

132,795 total

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Always use Go To Gate

Always use Go To Gate, not the cheapest but my experience is if there offering the ticket it's there, and once paid confirmation is in your inbox within seconds. These are international flights, (Philippines to London via third country short lay over) Clarification: The following experience was not with Go To Gate but actually booking.com flights. I have used other sites and waited days only to have to chase a refund due to no ticket. Never again, go to gate my first stop now.

Date of experience : May 24, 2024

Reply from Gotogate

Hello, As you have failed to provide us with a valid booking code in the private section of the review, we are unable to locate your booking in our system and see what truly happened. Best regards, Gotogate team

Satisfying Service

Because they gave enough time to complete the transaction, they did not me rush and I have enough time to complete my details, without losing the ticket offer. Honest and Excellent service. I'm very happy with my ticket purchase.

Date of experience : May 26, 2024

Its one of the best website. NO SCAM

There are so many reviews negative about this website. But their is nothing to worry about. It's a very good portal offering cheapest prices across all the platforms and it's the best one if you are sure of your plans.

Gulcin Kirmizitas

Gulcin Kirmizitas U32127344 Experience date: 31/08/2026 I wrote my name wrong in airplane ticket so i sent my informations to you. it will be Gülçin Kirmizitas.

Third time lucky!

Your site is easy to access and use; the language is clear, concise and unambiguous; the prices are keen. BUT it took three tries to pay for my flight - the first two were aborted because the system would not accept my cvv code. On the third attempt, payment was accepted without the cvv code.

Date of experience : May 20, 2024

Hello John D'Arcy, As you have failed to provide us with a valid booking code in the private section of the review, we are unable to locate your booking in our system and see what truly happened. Best regards, Gotogate

A very painful experience

A very painful experience, with cost of ticket going up all the time - payments for everything! What a horrible experience Order No. 1014-827-069

Hello Ms Doyle, As you have failed to provide us with a valid booking code in the private section of the review, we are unable to locate your booking in our system and see what truly happened. Best regards, Gotogate team

Experience good service

They answer the phone swiftly, very helpful and respectful call handlers. There is always someone to talk although it took some time to resolve my issues and received 2 different information but i followed it up daily and had it resolved (change/correction of name).

Date of experience : May 22, 2024

Booked before the trip with just 4…

Booked before the trip with just 4 hours. Didn’t get the ticket right away but what was great is that customer service was available 7 am on weekend that helped a lot. And got the ticket and everything was great

Date of experience : May 18, 2024

Competitive price and easy-to-use…

Competitive price and easy-to-use booking. Easy to ignore all the extras that we didn't want!

Hello, We are happy to hear about the positive experiences of our clients! Thank you so much! Best regards, Gotogate team

very good company to book flights very…

very good company to book flights very good price too very recommended

Date of experience : May 25, 2024

I booked tickets

I booked tickets, after receiving the tickets details and information, every time I try to log-in, the website giving me error. its really frustrating as you are flying in next few hours. rather book direct with airlines than these 3rd party websites.

Hello usman ijaz, As you have failed to provide us with a valid booking code in the private section of the review, we are unable to locate your booking in our system and see what truly happened. Best regards, Gotogate Team

Worst company and the worst…

Worst company and the worst experiences. Flight change 6 times, finally additional expenses for this. The biggest stress because they didn't issue a ticket. 6 hours before departure they said cancel flights, or if we want to fly extra 150 £ The return flight is even worse - we called a lot of time, and they ignoring,ignoring. Finally, 4 hours before the flight, we got the ticket from the airport, but not from them. Never ever gotogate !

Date of experience : April 07, 2024

Hello Jolanta, As you have failed to provide us with a valid booking code in the private section of the review, we are unable to locate your booking in our system and see what truly happened. Best regards, Gotogate

Was trying look for best schedule fly…

Was trying look for best schedule fly and cheapest, because we travel alot to visit our family in Mexico

Date of experience : May 17, 2024

Flight cancel and no-one told us

How would you like to "go to gate" and find out your flight has been cancelled for 5 months because the airline doesn't fly to your destination anymore. Obviously we didn't receive any information about it and of course the go to gate website was in maintenance all the time we were trying to check in our flight.

Hello Mathilde Holder, As you have failed to provide us with a valid booking code in the private section of the review, we are unable to locate your booking in our system and see what truly happened. Best regards, Gotogate team

Constant changing prices when I was…

Constant changing prices when I was trying to book. Extortionate costs for luggage. And just as I was finalising payment you added £30 to my flight cost due to ‘demand’ not sure how you can quote a price and then add £30 at the last minute. Won’t use again as feel I have been blackmailed into paying extra or lose my holiday.

Date of experience : May 23, 2024

Hello Claire, Our aim is to offer as low total price as possible. Please note that the prices you can see on our website originate from the international booking system where they are uploaded by the airline companies. In case a minor price change occurs by the airline, you will be notified about this and will be able to see the final price before proceeding with the payment. Best regards, Gotogate

Avoid it at any cost - scammers

Wizzair flights to Istanbul - got asked £70 additional payment. When I asked the reason being been told is because my tickets that I bought 2 months ago not issued. Have been ping-ponged between Wizz Air and Goto Gate. Don’t buy from them thinking you will save money. They’ll try and rip you off!

Hello Mustafa Ozyurt, As you have failed to provide us with a valid booking code in the private section of the review, we are unable to locate your booking in our system and see what truly happened. Best regards, Gotogate team

Feels like a scam

Feels like a scam. The website hardly ever works and they deliberately hide customer support information to make it as hard as possible to resolve your issue. We couldn't view details of the flights we paid >500 GBP for because the website wouldn't 'verify our email address'. Therefore have to hope that once we get to the airport we'll be able to manage it all with the airline themselves. Infuriating experience.

Hello Celso, We would like to thank you for your feedback. It is important to us, as we can keep improving our website. Best regards, Gotogate team

This Gotogate is hell they have not…

This Gotogate is hell they have not refund me it’s been 6 month and more every time I call them they didn’t get refund from airlines but I got mail from airlines company they have refunded . First and last time I bought ticket from this

Date of experience : December 26, 2023

Hello Raj Bidari, As you have failed to provide us with a valid booking code in the private section of the review, we are unable to locate your booking in our system and see what truly happened. Best regards, Gotogate team

Longest refund, ongoing....

Not sure how long a refund should take, especially when the airline cancels the flights, but I guess it's expected from gotogate to take over 8 months to complete. I've added to reference code. It seems "as if" gotogate isn't interested in completing the refund despite of multiple calls to their center, and they won't supply me with the booking information so I can directly contact the specific airline, as specified I should do on gotogate's website. All in all, still 0/10

Date of experience : October 22, 2023

Very smooth and easy process for online…

Very smooth and easy process for online purchase.

EF Go Ahead Tours Review 2024: Are their guided tours worth it?

EF Go Ahead Tours is a world-leading guided tour company offering a comprehensive travel package with local guides and authentic travel experiences. You've likely heard of them before, but are they really worth it? What do they offer, and how do they stack up to other guided tours?

Guided tours are a great way to travel, make new friends, and enjoy new experiences without the hassle of planning the logistics of the trip.

While guided tour companies boast of convenience, they tend to fall short when it comes to flexibility and customization. Hence, many travelers resort to planning their trips by themselves using helpful apps like Pilot .

But, if you still prefer a guided tour with some level of flexibility, EF Go Ahead Tours is definitely a choice to consider.

EF Go Ahead Tours is one of the world's largest tour companies that host small group tours with unique, authentic experiences. A great benefit of joining an EF Go Ahead Tour is that they allow travelers the benefits of hosting a free private tour with larger groups.

However, are the experiences they're offering for you? What are the pros and cons? Here's our review of EF Go Ahead Tours!

What is EF Go Ahead Tours?

EF Go Ahead Tours is a brand under the EF Tours group that offers both guided and fully customizable tours to destinations worldwide. It caters to young and older travelers, admitting anyone from age six and above (under-age travelers accompanied by adults). The number of travelers in each group is capped at 14-38, and small group tours only admit 10-22 people.

EF Go Ahead Tours aims to provide you with meaningful tours with flexibility and personalization. It also promotes responsible travel by supporting local communities and adopting sustainable practices.

EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app helps you easily manage your bookings and view tour details. It is available for both Android and iOS devices.

What does EF Go Ahead Tours offer?

Tour directors and local guides: A tour director is assigned for each group to be in charge of all logistics of the trip. They will accompany you throughout, sharing insider knowledge and background information about places you visit.
Accommodation: 3-4 star hotels that provide comfortable amenities while being located in close proximity to the city.
Meals: Breakfast and some other meals are included in the pricing. Primarily, they focus on local food and beverage specialties. They will arrange meals meeting your dietary requirements if necessary.
Transportation: Transport between airport and hotels and other transportation required during the trip are included in the package. While flights are not included, you can get EF Go Ahead Tours to arrange them for you at an additional cost.

How does EF Go Ahead Tours work?

You can browse for tours by Destination or Travel Styles on the website. Travel styles are further categorized as Trip Type, Interests, Seasonal and Special Events , and With Your Own Group .

For example, all the related tours will appear if we pick Adventure Tours under travel styles. You can filter the results further by destination, dates, duration, price, and travel style.

Check out its details, trip highlights, prices, reviews, etc. There's a list of FAQs below related to the trip and other similar tours for you to compare and choose from.

What destinations does EF Go Ahead Tours cover?

EF Go Ahead Tours covers many of the popular destinations worldwide. Here's a list of where EF Go Ahead Tours covers:

Europe: Ireland, Italy, Greece, Iceland, England, France, and Germany
The Americas: United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, and Belize
Africa & Middle East: Egypt, Kenya, Israel, South Africa, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates
Australia & Asia: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, India, and Thailand

Group food and wine tours EF go ahead tours.

Benefits of EF Go Ahead Tours

Worry-free guarantee

If you cancel the booking within 60 days from the reservation date, you are entitled to a full refund. EF Go Ahead Tours also allows you to change the date of tour or destination up until your final payment day. It helps you book with confidence knowing there's ample time to make changes.

In addition to covering many destinations worldwide, the tour company also offers a diverse range of tours. Group trips for solo travelers provide ample privacy while facilitating socialization. In addition, there are cruise tours, rail tours, food & wine tours, battlefield tours, winter tours, and many more!

Fewer people

The worrisome factor about large group tours is they can seem too crowded and noisy to have a quality experience. There's also less opportunity to get to know other travelers better. In this case, small group tours offer a more intimate travel experience. Guides can give individual attention and advice easily. Overall, it makes the trip more enjoyable and memorable.

Flexibility

If you like to travel with friends but don't have the liberty to plan, get EF Go Ahead Tours to plan one for you. You can explain your requirements and get a whole new itinerary done or choose one they offer. Invite your friends and/or family, choose your travel dates, and enjoy. There's also the option of organizing faith-based tours!

Drawbacks of EF Go Ahead Tours

Increase the number of tours

While there's a variety of tours, different trip options under each category are quite limited compared to other guided tour companies like G Adventures or Contiki . For example, there's only one tour option for India. They can also add more countries to their list of destinations.

Improve refund and cancellation issues

Customers had faced refund and cancellation issues for scheduled or booked tours during the pandemic. There were complaints of EF Go Ahead Tours not refunding the money as per its cancellation policy. But, it's a common problem that many tour companies dealt with their customers following the Covid outbreak. We hope they are resolved now.

EF Go Ahead Tours vs. EF Ultimate Break

The most significant similarity between EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break is that they are managed by EF Education First Tours. This means that you'll most likely be getting a similar refund, cancellation, and customer service policies between the two tours.

EF Go Ahead Tours identifies itself as the 'older sibling' of EF Ultimate Break. Ultimate Break Tours is geared towards college students and folks aged 18-29, while Go Ahead Tours admits anyone 6 and above. So, the tours offered also tend to be different from each other.

EF Go Ahead Tours has a wide variety of tours catering to all age ranges. It also provides both private and group tours. EF Ultimate Break only offers group tours and are tailored to suit youth's preferences.

Read our review of EF Ultimate Break to learn more!

Is EF Go Ahead Tours worth it?

Yes! We came across great GoAheadTours reviews online about the unique and immersive experience EF Go Ahead Tours offers. Go Ahead tours are a great way to travel if you prefer to join a guided tour.

Like Flash Pack , it's an excellent choice for older travelers looking for trips that involve activities beyond partying and drinking. Overall, the tours are ideal for anyone, really.

Our Rating: 4.5/5

Variety of tours
Smaller groups
A limited number of tours
Refund and cancellation issues

Plan your own adventure!

Guided tours are great, but being able to plan your trip is even better! You get to choose your own stay, tailor your travel itinerary, and maximize your time so that none gets wasted.

Traditionally, planning a trip requires lots of coordination and effort, especially when traveling with friends. Let Pilot solve that problem and help you easily plan your next adventure!

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

Satisfy your wanderlust

Get Pilot. The travel planner that takes fun and convenience to a whole other level. Try it out yourself.

Related Travel Guides

Contiki Tours Europe: No regrets... except? [Latest Review]

Is EF Ultimate Break Legit & Worth It? A Full Review [2024]

Flash Pack in-depth review: A worthy group travel company?

ToursByLocals Review: Can You Trust Their Tour guides? [2024]

Trafalgar Tours Review [2024]: Are they worth it?

Viator Tours Review [2024]: Are Their Tours Any Good?

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Start Your Summer Travel Planning With AI: Do's and Don'ts

The summer of AI travel is nearly upon us. You can let artificial intelligence do some of the legwork for you.

Rilee Smith loves a good book.

And so when the travel blogger visits a new city, she typically checks out the local library.

Now, after taking a class on ChatGPT , she's able to personalize trips like never before.

By telling the generative AI tool she wanted a travel guide to Boston to be focused on libraries, museums and bookstores, even the restaurants it suggested — like the Map Room Lounge at the Boston Public Library — had a bookish theme.

"It puts everything through that lens, which allows you to narrow in and get a tip that is so tailor-made to you in a way that you don't get if you just do general research on the internet," Smith said.

For the first time ever, we're approaching a summer in which these bespoke trips could be the norm thanks to widespread availability of generative AI tools like ChatGPT , Claude , Copilot and Gemini . (For more on generative AI tools, along with all the latest AI news, tips and explainers, see CNET's AI Atlas guide.)

While just 6% of us used gen AI to make trip plans in 2023 , nearly 40% are interested in trying it out in 2024, according to data from travel site Expedia .

Since the technology first burst onto the scene in November 2022 in the form of ChatGPT, gen AI tools have helped expand our creative horizons by writing poetry in an instant, bringing the visuals we have inside our heads to life in a matter of seconds and translating languages in real time. As we increasingly ask gen AI to do more for us, it's no wonder travel planning, which often includes at least some dull research, is emerging as another use case.

Gen AI is helpful for coming up with travel ideas, narrowing down destinations, sketching out plans and staying within budget. It can also save a lot of time spent in researching flights, hotels and restaurants. But even though gen AI can be a tremendous digital travel agent, it's best used primarily as a starting point given limitations like its training data — unless it integrates results from the open internet, it only knows so much up to a certain point in time — and its propensity for hallucinations , or to simply make things up.

How do I use AI to plan a trip?

In addition to mainstream gen AI tools, travel platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, Kayak, Tripadvisor and CNET's sister site Guide.com have their own AI-powered bots accessible via apps and/or microsites that pull in data like pricing and reviews from their databases to help you plan your trip.

"It's so early, and these tools … there's a new one every couple of days, and I think one has to be a bit experimental there and see what works for your own use case," said Matthias Keller, chief scientist at Kayak.

If you're curious about using gen AI to make summer travel plans, you've come to the right place. What follows is a list of do's and don'ts when it comes to tapping into the power of gen AI.

You should use AI to…

Quickly gather information.

While traditional search can require multiple queries to source information about an upcoming trip, generative AI allows users to ask for everything all at once.

So, for example, if you're traveling to a city in a country you've never visited before, you can ask all of your questions about transportation, currency and language. You can even do it for multiple places at once.

"It's really great at just getting tons of information for you in one portal," Smith said.

Google's new search experience, AI Overviews , taps into Gemini's multistep reasoning to do more advanced research on your behalf. Google teased a trip-planning component at Google's I/O developer event last week. It's expected to be available later this year.

A screenshot of an exchange with Expedia's AI travel assistant, Romie.

Narrow down options

If you don't have a specific destination in mind, generative AI is useful to help figure out where to go.

By telling a chatbot, "I want to go somewhere warm," and/or, "I want to go sit on a beach," it can provide inspiration and then help you narrow down options based on factors like budget, dates and availability.

"From an inspiration, ideation perspective, I think these trip planners [like Booking.com's AI Trip Planner] are really, really good," said Ben Harrell, managing director of the US at Booking.com.

It's also helpful in narrowing down options if you're having trouble deciding between multiple locations.

A related tip: Perhaps like human interaction itself, the more you put into a conversation with a chatbot, the more you'll get out of it. And when it comes to vacation-related queries, details matter. So once you've chosen a location, you should share details about yourself and your travel companions, as well as what you want to do — and any other preferences like nonstop flights or vegetarian meals.

"The quality of the result is naturally going to be very different if you say, 'I want to go to South America,' versus saying, 'I want to go to Brazil. I want to go into the jungle. I'm really into high-end dining' and all that," Keller noted.

Build itineraries

Make the most of your time away by asking generative AI to build your itinerary. You can ask to include specific sites, as well as for suggestions. Once again, the more detailed you are, the better the results are likely to be. Tools like Tripadvisor's AI Trip Builder ask travelers for their destination, dates, companions and potential activities to generate day-by-day itineraries that can be edited and saved.

Google suggests a query like, "plan me a three-day trip to Philadelphia that's all about history," to provide suggestions for attractions and dining, as well as potential flights and hotels.

Personalize your trip

Arguably one of the best uses for generative AI in travel is personalization. And if there is something you're passionate about, like art or food, or if you're simply looking for family-friendly travel tips, gen AI is a great tool.

Let's say you're planning a trip to Spain and want to see the work of architect Antoni Gaudi.

"You could say, 'I have a day in Barcelona. My priorities are seeing as much as of Gaudi's architecture as possible and eating some delicious tapas. Please design a full-day itinerary based on those two priorities,'" Smith said.

You can also ask gen AI to assume the role of an art historian who specializes in Gaudi when pulling together plans.

"It gives you a different lens than just, 'Here's some things that you should go and do,'" Smith added.

Supplement your own knowledge of a place

Even if you're returning to a familiar destination, gen AI can help you discover new sites and maybe even some hidden gems.

When Harrell returned to Amsterdam with his family, he asked an AI tool for suggestions.

"It proposed really almost all the things that I had planned to do and a couple of others as well," he said. "And I went, 'Oh, that's actually a really good idea. I'd forgotten about that or didn't know about that.'"

If you're traveling on a budget, gen AI tools are useful for combing through listings to find the best deals for your trip.

They can also suggest alternate destinations with better prices or different travel dates if you have your heart set on a particular place.

Figure out the best time to go

If your dates are flexible, gen AI tools can help you figure out the best time to travel. That includes both when it's cheapest to go to a specific destination, as well as simply the optimal time to visit, which can pull in details like weather and special events, like, say, the best time to see cherry blossoms in Japan.

Streamline reading reviews

With gen AI, you don't have to read a bunch of individual reviews. Instead, tools like Tripadvisor's will summarize hotel reviews in terms of location, atmosphere and room quality.

Make custom GPTs

More tech-savvy travelers (and subscribers to ChatGPT Plus) can even make their own custom GPTs . These apps allow anyone to create a tailored version of the chatbot for a specific purpose.

In the ChatGPT app store , you can access GPTs from the likes of Kayak and tap into all of its travel data as you make your plans. (Google recently announced its own version of this personalizable chatbot experience called Gems , which will roll out over the coming months.)

"I started using that from the get-go to really see what it could do and it's really pretty amazing," Smith said.

So, for example, if you wanted to go to Europe on a budget in June, it will suggest options based on your parameters.

You can also plug in your itinerary details to your custom GPT, including flight and hotel confirmations and then use it like "a little travel agent in your pocket," Smith said.

So, for example, you could ask, "Based on the hotel I'm staying at tonight, what are four Italian restaurants nearby that are worth checking out? Or what time do I have to check out of my hotel on Thursday?'" she added.

But gen AI isn't perfect.

You should not use AI as...

Your only source of information.

While gen AI is a great resource for coming up with ideas and saving time, you should never use gen AI alone.

Before you even book your trip, double-check all-important details with verified sources. (Chatbot functionality is typically limited to inspiration and research, so you'll still likely have to book your own flights, hotels and rental cars.)

"I wouldn't have taken the full list of activities that the AI trip planner recommended to me and just said, 'OK, that's exactly what I'm going to do. Great,'" Harrell said.

Instead, you still have to invest some time in research to ensure its suggestions are valid and to avoid any potential disappointments.

In a study of AI-generated itineraries, SEO firm SEO Travel found 24% recommended going to at least one restaurant or attraction that was no longer open. The study found gen AI also recommended fictional places , as well as pricey hotels and restaurants that are generally out of reach for most travelers.

"I think the risk with AI trip planner tools is they are all still very new and growing and progressing sort of like GPS in the very early days," Harrell said. "It behooves us to check and verify and make sure we're comfortable and we're getting the right experience that we expect."

A source of up-to-date information

You must also never rely on gen AI for up-to-date information or information about the future. That's because of those aforementioned knowledge cutoffs, which means models' training data includes information only up to a certain point in time.

OpenAI's latest model, GPT-4o , was trained on data that's relevant up to October 2023 . GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo were trained up to December 2023. Google Gemini's knowledge cutoff is " early 2023 ." Perplexity AI, a gen AI chatbot built on ChatGPT-3.5, connects to the internet to pull and cite information from sites like Reddit and X, which CNET's Imad Kahn says gives it an advantage over some competitors. (OpenAI recently announced its own partnership with Reddit to pull in real-time data from the platform.)

"I still don't think that ChatGPT is going to know when the next Taylor Swift concert is," Keller said. "All this information is just not there. And so you may get some information back, but it may then be a hallucination."

That's also true for opening hours for restaurants and attractions and holiday closures.

SEO Travel found over half (52%) of AI-generated itineraries suggested visiting an attraction or restaurant outside of its operating hours, such as the Museo del Prado at 9:30 a.m. (it opens at 10 a.m.) and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at 8:30 p.m. (it closes at 7 p.m.).

"It doesn't have that real-time access to information in the way that Google [search] does," Smith said. "So I will use it to find places, but my tip would always be to check those dates and opening hours against the actual travel time of your trip."

Another weakness: weather and maps. It's best to use alternate sources for these details as well.

Gen AI tools aren't up to date about safety and security either because in part they aren't aware of current events. And so you can ask about overall safety considerations in a given location, but you should double-check with other reliable sources.

Now if only AI could do the actual traveling part for us so we could enjoy our vacations that much sooner — and with even less stress.

Editors' note: CNET used an AI engine to help create several dozen stories, which are labeled accordingly. The note you're reading is attached to articles that deal substantively with the topic of AI but are created entirely by our expert editors and writers. For more, see our AI policy .

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Macron begins the first state visit to Germany by a French president in 24 years

President Emmanuel Macron has started the first state visit to Germany by a French head of state in 24 years

BERLIN -- President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday started the first state visit to Germany by a French head of state in 24 years, a three-day trip meant to underline the strong ties between the European Union's traditional leading powers ahead of European Parliament election s in which far-right parties in both countries hope for gains.

The visit was originally meant to take place last July but was postponed at the last minute due to rioting in France following the killing of a 17-year-old by police.

While Macron is a frequent visitor to Germany as Paris and Berlin try to coordinate their positions on EU and foreign policy, this is the first state visit with full pomp since Jacques Chirac came in 2000. Macron and his wife, Brigitte, are being hosted by Germany’s largely ceremonial president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

It is “proof of the depth of the friendship between France and Germany” that Macron is visiting as Germany celebrates the 75th anniversary of its post-World War II constitution and before it marks the 35th anniversary in November of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Steinmeier said.

Steinmeier is holding a state banquet for Macron at his Bellevue palace in Berlin on Sunday evening before the two presidents travel on Monday to the eastern city of Dresden, where Macron will make a speech, and on Tuesday to Muenster in western Germany. The state visit will be followed later Tuesday by a meeting between Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and ministers from both countries at a government guest house outside Berlin.

Germany and France, which have the EU's biggest economies, have long been viewed as the motor of European integration, though there have often been differences in policy and emphasis between the two neighbors on a range of matters.

That was evident earlier this year in different positions on whether Western countries should rule out sending ground troops to Ukraine. Both nations are strong backers of Kyiv.

Macron on Sunday said there has frequently been talk of problems in Franco-German relations over the decades, but “France and Germany together have accomplished extraordinary things — they have been at the heart of this Europe.” He contrasted that with the countries' history of war against each other until 1945.

He renewed a warning that Europe could “die” if it fails to build its own robust defense as Russia's war in Ukraine rages on, or if it fails to undertake major trade and economic reforms to compete with China and the U.S.

Ahead of the European Parliament elections next month, Macron said that “fear of a changing world” is feeding a rise of the far-right in Europe.

“When we let these fears transform into anger, that feeds extremes,” he said, advocating “respect" in listening to people's worries and greater “efficiency” in dealing with their problems.

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Chicago’s Best Irish Pubs Looking for the best Irish pubs in Chicago to enjoy the perfect Guinness and Irish whiskey? Our windy city has plenty of places to enjoy Irish drinks and traditional fish and chips. Here is the list of Chicago’s best Irish pubs to enjoy Irish drinks and eats while hanging out with friends or to celebrate St. …

We are about to complete one year since Chicago had first lockdown last year in March due to pandemic. Lakefront is Chicagoan’s favorite playground that was closed down due to pandemic including many indoor pools and lakefront trail. Last year late June lakefront trail was reopened for public and lifted restriction on lakefront parking. Good news, Chicago Park District announced …

This year, weather has been really good for biking even in winter until now in January. Well, weather really doesn’t bother Chicagoans, but still regardless of snow or cold weather we always see brave Chicago locals, riding a bike on side walk throughout the city. Especially due to COVID-19, this winter people are trying to avoid buses, trains and rideshares …

The Best Restaurants in Wicker Park and Bucktown Neighborhood There are plenty of dining options available in Wicker Park and Bucktown. Being next to each other, both neighborhoods offers all kinds of restaurants that fits your taste buds for the day. Out of all, I have come up with the best restaurants in Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhood. As a …

Willis Tower is located in a vibrant area of Chicago known for its stunning architecture and popular theater scene. The neighborhood is home to 292 hotels and other accommodations, so you can find something that works for your stay. Willis Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower, is one of the top attractions in Chicago. Willis Tower is world famous for …

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'If' movie review: Ryan Reynolds' imaginary friend fantasy might go over your kids' heads

Even with likable youngsters, a vast array of cartoonish characters, various pratfalls and shenanigans, and Ryan Reynolds in non- Deadpool mode, the family comedy “IF” isn’t really a "kids movie" – at least not in a conventional sense.

There’s a refreshing whiff of whimsy and playful originality to writer/director John Krasinski’s bighearted fantasy (★★½ out of four; rated PG; in theaters Friday), which centers on a young girl who discovers a secret world of imaginary friends (aka IFs). What it can’t find is the common thread of universal appeal. Yeah, children are geared to like any movie with a cheery unicorn, superhero dog, flaming marshmallow with melting eye and assorted furry monsters. But “IF” features heady themes of parental loss and reconnecting with one’s youth, plus boasts a showstopping dance set to Tina Turner , and that all leans fairly adult. Mash those together and the result is akin to a live-action Pixar movie without the nuanced execution.

Twelve-year-old Bea (Cailey Fleming) doesn’t really think of herself as a kid anymore. Her mom died of a terminal illness, and now her dad (Krasinski) is going into the hospital for surgery to fix his “broken heart,” so she’s staying with her grandma (Fiona Shaw) in New York City.

When poking around her new environment, Bea learns she has the ability to see imaginary friends. And she’s not the only one: Bea meets charmingly crusty upstairs neighbor Cal (Reynolds) as well as his IF pals, like spritely Blossom (voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and overly sensitive purple furry monster named Blue (Steve Carell). They run a sort of matchmaking agency to connect forgotten IFs whose kids have outgrown them with new children in need of their companionship, and Bea volunteers to help out.

'Welcome to Wrexham': Ryan Reynolds talks triumph, joy and loss of new season

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Bea is introduced to an IF retirement community located under a Coney Island carousel with a bevy of oddball personalities in the very kid-friendly middle section of the movie. “IF” low-key has the most starry supporting cast of any movie this summer because of all the A-listers voicing imaginary friends, an impressive list that includes Emily Blunt and Sam Rockwell as the aforementioned unicorn and superdog, Matt Damon as a helpful sunflower, George Clooney as a spaceman, Amy Schumer as a gummy bear and Bradley Cooper as an ice cube in a glass. (It's no talking raccoon, but it works.)

One of the movie's most poignant roles is a wise bear played by Louis Gossett Jr. in one of his final roles. Rather than just being a cameo, he’s nicely central to a key emotional scene.

While the best family flicks win over kids of all ages, “IF” is a film for grown-ups in PG dressing. The movie is amusing but safe in its humor, the overt earnestness overshadows some great bits of subversive silliness, and the thoughtful larger narrative, which reveals itself by the end to be much more than a story about a girl befriending a bunch of make-believe misfits, will go over some little ones’ heads. Tweens and teens, though, will likely engage with or feel seen by Bea’s character arc, struggling to move into a new phase of life while being tied to her younger years – not to mention worrying about her dad, who tries to make light of his medical situation for Bea.

Reynolds does his part enchanting all ages in this tale of two movies: He’s always got that irascible “fun uncle” vibe for kids, and he strikes a fun chemistry opposite Fleming that belies the serious stuff “IF” digs into frequently. But unless your child is into old movies, they probably won’t get why “Harvey” is playing in the background in a scene. And when “IF” reaches its cathartic finale, some kiddos might be wondering why their parents are sniffling and tearing up – if they're still paying attention and not off playing with their own imaginary friend by then.

Review: The Big Bus Tour in New York City

I absolutely loved the Big Bus Tour in New York City. It’s the best way to go sightseeing in an open-top, hop-on hop-off, top-rated tour and explore the best New York attractions !

If this is your first-time visiting New York and you want to see all the top landmarks, this double-decker tour bus will take you there.

The Big Bus Tour in New York

You may be wondering if a hop-on hop-off bus is worth it. Absolutely, yes!

If you consider the time and money spent on transportation costs, waiting for buses, navigating the subway (which can be confusing for visitors), and getting from one point of interest to another, it is worth every dollar!

I had a great visit to New York City on Big Bus Tour. My goal was to show the city to some friends from Italy who were visiting the US for the first time.

Since we only had about two days to spend together, the hop-on hop-off was undoubtedly the best decision.

From our experience, we’ll answer commonly asked questions about the Hop-on Hop-off bus while visiting New York City.

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Why take the big bus tour in new york.

While seeing New York from the open-top deck of the double-decker bus, the city unfolded block by block with panoramic views from every angle.

As we traveled through the streets, the sights were unobstructed and new visual backdrops were revealed.

The towering skyscrapers and colorful billboards filled the air with excitement and as the cityscape continued to change, it gave a grand feeling to the experience.

I especially enjoyed being able to relax from the upper deck of the bus while taking in the energy of city scenes.

Because I also live in a large city, the rhythm felt familiar from the elevated vantage point .

Car horns were honking, crowds traversed through the streets and there was an endless hum of activity.

Best of all, the tour gave me the chance to interact with other travelers who were seeing New York while waiting for the tour to began.

We struck up conversations and exchanged stories, insights, and recommendations during our stay in New York.

How Much is the Big Bus Tour in New York

The regular price of an adult and child ticket is $60.00 and $50.00, respectively. However, you can use the link below for discounted fares.

Get discounts for the Big Bus Tour NYC here .

How Long is the Big Bus Tour in New York

The round-trip New York City Big Bus Tour takes about two hours from start to finish.

The bus is the perfect solution for visitors worldwide because they offer pre-recorded audio narratives and translations in five languages — French, German, Spanish, Italian, and English.

Are There Toilets on the Big Bus

No. Unlike charter buses, you won’t travel long between stops. So the best thing to do is exit at a stop, find a public restroom, see an attraction, if desired, and then catch the next bus.

If you are not sure where to find one, ask a Big Bus guide on the street. The driver may also have some suggestions.

Charter buses come equipped with a bathroom because travel is expected to be for a much longer period.

How Does the Big Bus Tour Work in New York City

The tour offers three options for purchase — 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day.

When you decide the number of days of your tour and purchase your ticket, the clock starts when your ticket is scanned while boarding the bus for the first time.

The ticket is good for 24, 48, or 72 hours. So, if you have a 1-day ticket and board the bus at 11:00 AM on Monday, it can still be used until 11:00 AM on Tuesday.

We found a ton of touring options for sightseeing in New York.

Aside from the extended period, the 2 and 3-day tickets also offer discounted bike rentals.

The buses run every 20 minutes on average. However, the first stop at the M&M store can be a long wait during peak season.

You can exit or board at any of the designated stops as much as you want.

The only exclusion is the one-loop tour Night Tour which is a panoramic non-stop tour.

Where to Catch the Big Bus Tour in New York City

During the tour, the buses only stop at designated stops.

Your ticket is good for as long as the buses operate during the day and it may be used on both the red and blue routes.

When you board, make sure you get a hop-on hop-off New York bus route map!

Big Bus NYC Red Route

The red route sightseeing tour covers lower Manhattan and you’ll see many landmarks like St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Wall Street, the Chrysler Building, and General Grant’s Tomb.

You can catch a tour at any one of the following bus stops and you can get your tickets in advance of boarding.

1 – M&M’s World – 7th Ave & W 48th St (Outside M&M World & Majestic Deli)

2 – Times Square East – W 42nd St & Broadway (at Knickerbocker Hotel)

3 – Empire State Building / Korea Town – 5th Ave & W 32nd St (at CVS Pharmacy)

4 – Flatiron District – 5th Ave & W 23rd St (at Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop)

5 – SoHo – Broadway and Spring Street (at Nike Store)

6 – Chinatown / Little Italy – 100 Lafayette Street (near the corner at Walker St)

7 – Brooklyn Bridge – Park Row & Beekman St (across from 33 Park Row)

8 – Wall Street / Charging Bull – Broadway & Wall St (Southwest corner near Rector St)

9 – Statue of Liberty / Battery Park – State St and Bridge St (at Subway Entrance)

10 – Circle Line Sightseeing – 12th Ave & 40th St (opposite Pier 81)

11 – Times Square North – 7th Ave & W 50th St (at Majestic Deli)

Big Bus NYC Blue Route

The blue route covers upper Manhattan, and half of the ride is mostly views of Central Park. You can switch to the blue route at red stop #2.

We recommend changing routes at stop #11 (the Majestic Deli) where you can take a break and have a nice lunch.

12 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art – 5th Ave & E 83rd St (near 83rd St)

13 – Central Park Zoo – 5th Ave & E 66th St (opposite 845 5th Ave)

14 – Columbus Circle – Central Park & Columbus Circle (SW corner of Central Park)

Tips and Things to Know Before You Go

The bus has two levels, the upper level offers panoramic views of the city but be careful of overhanging traffic lights and trees. Don’t stand while the bus is in motion.

After you find a seat, check the audio to confirm it is working.
Snacks are allowed. Bring a frozen bottle of water and protein bites to keep you energized.
When on the upper deck, cover up with sunscreen to protect your skin on hot sunny days.
If you are a family of 3 or more, take seats across from one another so you’ll have views and photos from both sides of the bus.

Tourists were lined up at stop #1 at least an hour before departure and the line extended the entire block and rounded the corner.

We decided to see other points of interest and returned around 11:00 AM.

The wait to board the bus was about 20 minutes. It was a relaxing ride and there we saw so much!

By the time we reached stop #9, we were pumped and ready to exit the bus so that we could explore the city! And you probably will be too.

Here’s the secret sauce that really made the experience memorable. Exit at stop #9 and take a FREE ferry to Staten Island.

To see the Statue of Liberty, stand on the left side of the boat. When returning, stand on the right side.

Traveling on a budget? Read my review of the Westside YMCA Hotel !

Final Thoughts About the Big Bus Tour in New York City

Overall, the tour was a pleasant way to see New York city and when you are on the upper deck, you hardly notice the traffic.

Some other advantages of seeing the city by bus include:

Avoiding parking hassles. I mean, who actually drives in New York?!
Photo opportunities. With the open-top or large windows, you have excellent photo opportunities as you pass by iconic landmarks and cityscapes.
Comprehensive sightseeing of major landmarks and attractions within two hours.
You can get local recommendations from the guides who operate the bus.

I usually opt for a hop-on hop-off bus when I am short on time or to get my bearings in the city before deciding what to do.

Either way, when you take the tour bus, it doesn’t appear impossible to take a bite out of the Big Apple.

Happy Travels!

What's the minimum number of days for a long-term Airbnb?
How much is the discount?
Do you still have to pay fees?
Can you visit before you book?
Do you have to pay upfront?
What if you need to cancel?
Book a long-term Airbnb

Long-term Airbnb rentals: What to know about discounts, fees, and cancellation policies

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Many Airbnbs offer discounted rates for monthlong and weeklong stays.
Airbnb also has a separate search portal specifically for sublets .
We break down key info on booking long-term Airbnbs, including fee and cancellation policies.

If you're thinking about relocating your home office, you're not alone. According to Airbnb , more travelers are now searching the platform for stays longer than 28 days, and as of 2020, over 80 percent of hosts are now offering long-term stay options.

On Airbnb, hosts are free to set stay limits and minimums, as well as discount options for anyone booking their listing for weeks or even months at a time. Not only does the discount incentivize someone looking for a longer stay to choose a particular listing, but it also means that the hosts will have a lower turnover rate, which often translates into less work for them .

While long-term Airbnb listings will show up in a standard search, you can also more easily find them by going directly through the website's sublet hub . This will bring up only listings where hosts have agreed to allow stays of a month or longer, but be aware that not every long-term stay is discounted.

Renting an Airbnb for a longer stay has numerous benefits. First, it can be cheaper than a typical lease and is adjustable to your travel plans. For example, if you're arriving somewhere on March 18 and leaving on April 28, you can often still enjoy a discounted stay without needing to pay for any unused days. On top of that, hosts must prove that their listing is really livable for a long-term stay, which means all long-term Airbnb listings come equipped with a full kitchen, strong WiFi, and essentials like bed linens and soap at a minimum.

You'll also enjoy the benefit of knowing that every listing must adhere to Airbnb's Enhanced Cleaning . Airbnb introduced its Enhanced Cleaning policy in 2020, and you can rest easy knowing that hosts are cleaning and sanitizing the space between visitors. Not to mention, booking a long-term Airbnb is an easy way to earn travel points on your credit card .

Overall, booking your next sublet through Airbnb can be a great deal, but there are a few things you should know ahead of time.

What's the minimum number of days needed to book a long-term Airbnb?

Long-term Airbnb discounts start at bookings of 28 days or more. You don't have to book for the first of the month, but the days do have to be continuous, so if someone's already booked a weekend in between your desired dates, it won't work. It is entirely up to the host to decide whether they will offer their listing for longer stays and they can set the minimum stay for 30 or 31 days if they are specifically targeting long-stay visitors.

Airbnb hosts also have the option of setting weekly or monthly discounts and the percentage of that discount is entirely up to them. Airbnb recommends that hosts offer a discount equal to their expected vacancy , so discounts can vary wildly. When browsing Airbnb with your dates selected, you will be able to tell which listings offer discounts because of the strikethrough in the price. When you click through to the listing, you'll be able to see the percentage discount displayed in the price summary.

How much is the discount for a long-term Airbnb?

Discounts can vary immensely. For example, this studio apartment in Seattle offers a 10% discount while in New York City, this Brooklyn studio is 52% off, and discounts can go even higher than that. Just look at this four-bedroom home in Bellville, Kansas , which normally goes for $85 per night but is offering a 71% discount if you book for the month. Of course, it's always possible that a host could be inflating the price to attract bookers with a big discount number, so you'll have to do your due diligence to determine if the listing is really worth what they're saying.

Do you still have to pay fees on a long-term Airbnb rental?

The discounted rate does not apply to any extra fees, including the service fee, which can be higher depending on how long you book your stay. Occupancy taxes may apply depending on the state and these will also increase depending on how many days you book. If there is a cleaning fee, this should be similar to what you'd pay for a short-term rental, but the host may increase the cost if they are exclusively listing for long-term stays.

Can you visit an Airbnb sublet before you book?

While booking a sublet through Airbnb has its benefits beyond the discount (like not having to pay a security deposit or worry about utility bills), it's also not a traditional rental situation. Unlike an apartment that you might see in-person before making a decision, you often are not able to see a particular listing before you decide to book.

Airbnb encourages users to ask the hosts questions about the listing through their private messaging system and complete their booking before meeting in-person. You could always try asking your host if you could visit in person before you commit, but they don't have to comply.

Do you have to pay for a long-term Airbnb rental upfront?

Unlike many short-term stays, you don't have to pay for your whole stay upfront if you are staying for multiple months. After you've booked your reservation, you'll pay for the first month as a down payment. Then, after you check-in, you'll then be charged monthly throughout your stay. The price is locked in when you book, so you don't have to worry about rates going up halfway through your reservation.

What if you need to cancel your long-term Airbnb?

Cancellation policies depend on the individual host. An Airbnb host can opt to allow cancellations up to a month before your visit or 48 hours after you book, so be sure to pay attention to the cancellation policy when booking. This doesn't give you much wiggle room to change your mind and if you do cancel outside of that short window, you will still have to pay for the first 30 days of your reservation and the service fee.

If you check-in and decide to cancel after your trip has begun, you will not be refunded for the next 30 days after your cancellation. If you have extenuating circumstances that fall under Airbnb's Major Disruptive Events Policy , it may be possible to appeal for a full refund. If you are not confident in your travel plans, booking an Airbnb for a month or longer can be risky.

Are there any legalities to take into account?

Because of varying tenant laws, your host may ask you to sign a contract before confirming your reservation. If this is the case, the host will be required to disclose this information to you before confirming your booking. If your host asks you to sign a contract after the fact, it's within your right to decline and to ask them to cancel your reservation without a cancellation penalty.

Local legislation regarding how hotels and long-term apartments should be run vary widely and Airbnb hosts in different cities may need a different level of commitment from guests before the stay is confirmed. Because your host will be required to disclose this to you before you commit to the booking, make sure you take ample time to review the document and seek counsel or find another booking if something doesn't seem right. Airbnb recommends that guests review the contract within 48 hours after booking, so be sure you are prepared when you book.

Book a long-term Airbnb here

Axel Springer, Insider Inc.'s parent company, is an investor in Airbnb.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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Bark Air, a new airline for dogs, set to take its first flight

By Megan Cerullo

Updated on: May 23, 2024 / 10:57 AM EDT / MoneyWatch

Bark Air, a new airline that puts dogs before their human companions, will take its first flight Thursday. Its sold-out maiden voyage will depart New York for Los Angeles at 4:00 p.m. EST.

Bark, a pet company founded in 2011 that sells dog food and other products, announced the new aviation experience for canines in April. It's the second air travel service to market itself as catering to pets before human passengers, recognizing how stressful and uncomfortable commercial air travel can be for animals . United Kingdom-based public charter operator K9 jets also lets passengers' pets travel next to them in the aircraft cabin, versus in crates in commercial aircraft cargo holds.

"We are excited to take the insights we've learned over the years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs – from the ground to the skies," Bark co-founder and CEO Matt Meeker said in April. "We believe this initiative will elevate awareness of our brand's mission and values, introduce more dog lovers to the Bark family, and help enrich the lives of dogs and their people around the world."

The first flight from New York to Los Angeles Thursday is sold out, according to Bark's booking website. The company said it launched the air travel experience to make long-distance travel more comfortable for dogs that don't fit under the seats in front of passengers on commercial aircraft.

"Too often, dogs are denied travel, confined to a duffle bag, or endure the stress of flying in cargo," the company said in announcing the flights in April.

Bark Air says it will offer "white paw service" to its canine customers — who'll even get to socialize with other dogs in what the company calls a "dog-centric" cabin configuration. Like first-class human passengers, dogs on board will be offered treats, noise-canceling ear muffs, a beverage of their choice and other surprises, the company said.

Initially, the service will fly between the New York City metro area and Los Angeles, as well as from New York to London. More routes will be added soon, the company said.

Bark Air will operate as a public charter service, flying on spacious Gulfstream G5 jets. It does not own or operate any aircraft. Each dog ticket comes with a pass for one human. Families may also purchase additional passes. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted aboard. There are no size or breed restrictions for dogs.

The service doesn't come cheap. A one-way flight from New York to Los Angeles in June costs $6,000 for one dog and one human. A New York to London ticket costs $8,000.

Meeker acknowledged the service's high cost in a May letter, but said he expects prices to come down as demand climbs.

"This is cost-prohibitive for most families, but less expensive than most options today. And this is also how most innovative products and services began," he said. "Televisions, telephones, VCRs and DVD players, to automobiles, train and boat travel, and, yes, even human air travel — all of these started with very high prices until demand was proven and the costs could be brought lower by serving the masses."

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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