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"Fenomenal con Joao, son 3 horas super amenas, llenas de historia, cultura, gastronomía. Muy simpático y te ayudan con sugerencias y lo q necesites saber. Recomiendo mucho estos Tours, se pasan volando a pesar de la lluvia."

"Hice el tour con Aitor, muy agradable a la hora de contar la historia de Sevilla. Comenzar a conocer Sevilla con Pancho tours es una buena opción! En Cadiz también lo hice y la verdad de 10. Visitado el febrero de 2017 "

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Book the best tours in Seville and discover the most emblematic places of this beautiful city.

Book our tours in Madrid and discover the heart of the Spanish capital and its amazing history.

With our tours in Cordoba you will get to know a piece of paradise in Andalusia full of unique sensations.

The best tours in Granada and the Alhambra are waiting for you. Come and enjoy them with us and you won't regret it.

Book with us the tours in Malaga and explore with all your senses the beautiful Costa del Sol.

Enjoy our tours in Cadiz and see the charm of the oldest city in Europe.

Book tours in Jerez and enjoy the best gastronomy, the centre of the City of Wine, horses and motorcycling.

Discover the most cosmopolitan city in Spain with us! Book activities and tours in Barcelona in Spanish. Enjoy Barcelona with local expert guides.

Book your tours in Toledo with us and you will discover Moorish, Jewish and Christian monuments.

Enjoy with Pancho Tours in Cadaqués to get to know this small fishing village full of charm.

Enjoy our tours in Girona, a city full of history told by Romans, Arabs and know the corners of Dalí.

The best tours in Valencia for many reasons, discover them and enjoy booking the best of this city!

Enjoy tours in Porto, a perfect city full of culture and known for its vibrant nightlife.

Book tours in Lisbon, see the Belém Tower in the Alfama district and discover a unique gastronomy.

We have the best tours in Bilbao, without queuing up, discovering spectacular places on foot or by bike.

San Sebastian

Avoid the crowds with our tours in San Sebastian and enjoy the parks and gardens of this wonderful city.

We have tours in Almeria and experiences to enjoy the most wonderful places of this Andalusian city.

With our free tours in Alicante you will discover this beautiful city on the Costa Blanca.

Our nature experiences will take you to discover the best places in the province of Seville, Cadiz and Malaga...

Unforgettable Experiences

Tour inside the Royal Alcazar + Cathedral & Giralda

Combo tour to Cathedral and Royal Alcazar with Fast Track!

Follow the example of the people from Malaga and spend an afternoon between tapas bars on this 3-hour tour!

With our Private Tour of the Alhambra, which includes tickets to the monument, you will enjoy one of the architectural and artistic wonders of the Andalusian period, touring the Alhambra exclusively with a private guide just for you and your companions.

1 hour tour approx with expert guide to Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, an astonishing monument unique of its kind.

Visit the Royal Palace of Madrid with preferential access and Official Guide, a journey through the history of Spain!

The panchitos

Local guides for travellers.

Javier - Pancho Malaga

Hello! My name is Javier, I'm an authentic citizen of Malaga. I'm really in love with my land. Andalusia is a paradise to discover. My passion is the Mediterranean Sea, so that's why I feel like a fish in the sea here, people and show like nobody Malaga.

Cristina - Pancho Madrid

My name is Cristina. I'm an expert of the Middle Age history and the history of the city and its streets. I know Madrid as nobody. I love to travel!

Diogo - Pancho Lisbon

My name is Diogo. I´m the biggest Lisbon lover, proud of the city that I always lived. I love to share my passion for the city with all the visitors. I´m happy if after the tours I can still join some guests and show some of my favourites places.

Jorge - Pancho Cadiz

Hi everybody! My name is Jorge, I was born in Córdoba but I raised in the lovely city of Cadiz since 6 months (Still a baby). Cádiz still impresses me by its history, people. You must visit it with me! I´m waiting for you every day!

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After Travel Meltdowns, Amtrak and N.J. Transit Offer Plan to Fix Mess

Officials of the two transit agencies met in an impromptu meeting on Thursday called by New Jersey’s governor, Philip D. Murphy.

By Patrick McGeehan

Amid a torrent of criticism about the recent spate of chaotic commutes, officials of Amtrak and New Jersey Transit laid out a plan on Thursday to identify and fix the problems plaguing their operations.

The two railroads, which share the tracks of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor from Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan to Trenton, N.J., pledged to scrutinize their infrastructure and equipment to investigate why they have performed so poorly in the last several weeks. The detailed plan came on the heels of an impromptu meeting on Thursday called by New Jersey’s governor, Philip D. Murphy.

Mr. Murphy, a Democrat who promised to fix New Jersey Transit’s operations if it killed him , said the series of disruptions had been “unacceptable.” Kevin Corbett, the chief executive of the transit agency, and Amtrak’s chairman, Tony Coscia, agreed.

“Our absolute commitment is to get stuff fixed,” Mr. Murphy said at the round-table meeting, held at his office in Newark.

The officials have not yet reached consensus on what is causing all the delays and suspensions of service to and from Penn Station in Manhattan, the nation’s busiest transit hub.

Most of the breakdowns have occurred in the most heavily traveled segment of the Northeast corridor, between New York and Newark. Some have clearly been caused by failures of Amtrak’s antiquated infrastructure. But others have involved New Jersey Transit trains’ getting caught up in the overhead electrical wires that provide power to them.

The two railroads had what Mr. Murphy called a “dysfunctional relationship” and a history of pointing fingers at each other. But they are now vowing to share the blame and root out their shortcomings in a cooperative spirit.

Their joint investigation will include checking the overhead wires more frequently and inspecting the mechanical arms that extend from the roofs of trains to contact those wires. They said New Jersey Transit would install high-resolution cameras to inspect those arms, known as pantographs, on its trains.

At the meeting, Mr. Coscia said that commuters and travelers should expect the railroads to be reliable. “We will fix these problems” and get to “a place where operations are much better than they have been,” Mr. Coscia said.

The summit came a month after Mr. Murphy sent an angry letter to Mr. Coscia and two days after New Jersey’s congressional delegation wrote to Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, calling for an investigation into the recent breakdowns. The letter said the disruptions were “seriously undermining the quality of life for New Jerseyans and their families.”

One of those Congress members, Representative Frank Pallone Jr., a Democrat, has called on Amtrak to replace all the overhead electrical wires and signals along the corridor between New Brunswick and Penn Station.

Representative Mikie Sherrill, another Democrat from New Jersey, called on Thursday for New Jersey Transit to “pause and re-evaluate” a 15 percent fare increase that is scheduled to take effect July 1. Mr. Murphy, who controls the agency’s board of directors, said at the meeting that he would leave that decision to the board.

The train commute along the Northeast Corridor is a major political issue in the state because New Jersey Transit carries tens of thousands of daily commuters in and out of New York City. The agency runs many more trains along the tracks than Amtrak does, so any disruption of service there affects more of its customers, especially during rush hours.

On Monday evening, service was briefly suspended while Amtrak workers inspected the power lines in a tunnel under the East River in New York City. A New Jersey Transit train crew had reported that the lines were sparking, causing fears that they had been damaged.

The cause turned out to be chunks of concrete breaking loose from the ceiling of the tunnel, Mr. Corbett said. Service was restored but not before many commuters had their trips home disrupted.

That suspension came on the heels of other major rush-hour delays at Penn Station in the past month. Last Thursday, one of the hottest days of this year, an afternoon power failure left thousands of commuters stuck at Penn Station and on trains that had no air-conditioning. Last Friday morning, a disabled train caused delays of as much as an hour in and out of Penn Station.

Earlier that week, New Jersey Transit service into and out of Penn Station was suspended for about an hour and all Amtrak trains passing through the station were delayed because of overhead wire issues and a disabled commuter train on the tracks, train officials said.

Patrick McGeehan is a Times reporter who covers the economy of New York City and its airports and other transportation hubs. More about Patrick McGeehan

Around the New York Region

A look at life, culture, politics and more in new york, new jersey and connecticut..

N.Y.P.D. Disciplinary Cases: New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban has often relied on an obscure authority to intervene when officers are accused of serious wrongdoing , often handing out little to no punishment.

Tensions Over Gaza: The war has wracked American public life. But within New York’s L.G.B.T.Q. community, it has touched off some especially raw conflicts .

A Golden Age of Weird Vehicles: From standup scooters to electric unicycles to homemade contraptions of all sorts, New Yorkers have more ways to get around than ever before .

New Jersey’s Tipping Point?: As corruption and racketeering cases rock New Jersey, a state notorious for political scandal may be headed for change .

Subway Quiz: The New York City subway is arguably the most famous transit network in America. How well do you know it ?

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TSA checkpoints at Newark Liberty International Airport now equipped with new state-of-the-art 3-D checkpoint scanners to improve explosives detection in time for summer travel season

NEWARK, N.J. – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is prepared for the highest passenger volumes the agency has seen at airport security checkpoints nationwide during this summer’s travel season, which runs through Labor Day, and that includes individuals who are planning to fly out of Newark Liberty International Airport.

Since mid-May, TSA has seen multiple days break into the top 10 busiest days in the agency’s 22-year history. Typically, TSA had been screening approximately 2.5 million people per day nationwide, however since last month, the number of people screened has increased by several hundred thousand per day, with TSA officers screening more than 3 million individuals at checkpoints for the very first time.

“Here at Newark we already have seen a notable increase in checkpoint volume,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey. “We have been in close coordination with our airport, airline and travel partners, and we are more than ready to handle this summer’s increased travel volumes as we head into the July 4th holiday travel period,” he said.

“Knowing that travel volume will be high is why it is vital to give yourself plenty of time to park or return a rental car, check in with your airline to check bags and prepare for the security checkpoint. If you find yourself in a checkpoint line, travelers can save time by removing items from their pockets and placing them in a carry-on bag, instead of putting items directly into bins at the conveyor belt. My advice is to get into the airport two hours prior to your scheduled departure time.”

TSA is has installed eleven new computed tomography (CT) scanners in Terminal B in time for the summer travel season. These new state-of-the-art advanced CT scanners provide 3-D imaging that provide for TSA officers to enhance explosives detection capabilities for screening carry-on items.

“TSA is committed to getting the best technology to enhance security and improve the screening experience,” Carter said.  “Our officers’ use of CT technology substantially improves our threat detection capability at the checkpoint. The CT technology applies advanced algorithms for the detection of explosives, including liquid explosives and other threat items.”  

The system applies sophisticated algorithms for the detection of explosives by creating a 3-D image that can be viewed and rotated 360 degrees on three axes for thorough visual image analysis by a transportation security officer. This new technology creates such a clear image of a bag’s contents that the system can automatically detect explosives, including liquids, by shooting hundreds of images with an X-ray camera spinning around the conveyor belt to provide TSA officers with the three-dimensional views of the contents of a carry-on bag.

It takes a few extra seconds for the TSA officer to view the image and rotate it to get a better understanding of its contents, however in most instances, rotating the image allows the TSA officer to identify an item inside the bag and clear it without a need to open it for inspection. Checkpoint CT technology results in fewer bag checks. However, if a bag requires further screening, a TSA officer will inspect it to ensure that a threat item is not contained inside.

As an added passenger convenience, with the use of these new CT units, travelers may now leave their laptops and other electronic devices in their carry-on bags along with their small 3-1-1 liquids .

Since traveler volume will be high this summer, it is even more important for travelers to come to the airport prepared to go through the security screening process. Passengers need to make sure that there are no prohibited items among their carry-on items. Prohibited items will result in a need for TSA officers to open and inspect a bag to determine what triggered the alarm. This process takes a few minutes and will slow down someone’s trip through the checkpoint.

When packing, it is recommended to start to pack with an empty bag, so that travelers are well aware of the contents of their bags. Prior to packing that empty bag, individuals can check TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” tool to know what is prohibited. Individuals who are heading to the beach, may wonder how to pack their sunscreen. Any liquids, sunscreen containers and alcohol over 3.4 ounces must be packed in a checked bag. Liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes are allowed in carry-on bags as long as each item is 3.4 ounces or less and placed in one quart-sized bag . Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes.

It is important for individuals who own firearms to remember that they are prohibited to pass through security checkpoints, even if a passenger has a concealed carry permit or is in a constitutional carry jurisdiction. Passengers may travel with a firearm, but it must be secured in the passenger’s checked baggage; packed unloaded; locked in a hard-sided case; and declared to the airline when checking in at the airline ticket counter. If a passenger brings a firearm to the security checkpoint on their person or in their carry-on luggage, TSA will contact local law enforcement to safely unload and take possession of the firearm. Law enforcement may also arrest or cite the passenger, depending on local law. TSA may impose a civil penalty up to $15,000 when weapons are intercepted, and passengers will lose TSA PreCheck® eligibility.

TSA PreCheck® members should make sure that their known traveler number (KTN) is in their airline  reservation. It is essential that airline reservations have the passenger’s correct KTN, full name and date of birth so they can receive the program’s benefits. Those who fly with multiple airlines should ensure their KTN is updated in each of their airline profiles every time they travel. TSA PreCheck passengers are low-risk travelers who do not need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, food, laptops and light jackets at the TSA checkpoint. TSA’s wait time standards for TSA PreCheck lanes are under 10 minutes and less than 30 minutes for standard lanes. Travelers may visit https://www.tsa.gov/precheck for more information about enrolling or renewing in TSA PreCheck and to find enrollment locations and pricing information for all TSA PreCheck enrollment providers.

“It is also important to remember that our TSA officers are working throughout the summer, including the upcoming July 4th holiday, so respect TSA and other frontline airport and airline employees,” Carter said. “Our officers along with all frontline airport and airline employees and local law enforcement, are working together to ensure safe and secure travel. Consider offering them a kind word of thanks.” 

TSA also reminds travelers that starting on May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or driver’s license to fly within the U.S., make sure you have a REAL ID or another acceptable form of ID. If you are not sure if you have a REAL ID, check with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission .  For questions on acceptable IDs, visit TSA’s web site. “Put REAL ID on your summer to do list,” Carter recommended.

Travelers can contact TSA with questions may contact TSA by sending a text directly to 275-872 (“AskTSA”) on any mobile device or over social media by sending a message to @AskTSA on X or Facebook Messenger. An automated virtual assistant is available 24/7 to answer commonly asked questions, and AskTSA staff are available 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET for more complicated questions. Travelers may also reach the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673. An automated service is available 24/7.

TSA encourages all passengers to remain vigilant. If You See Something. Say Something®.

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

Travel Agents Are Back—Do You Need One?

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Travel agents have gone slowly out of style since the early 2000s.

On one hand, it’s about our perception of what ‘real’ travel is. Reality travel shows like Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Passport to Europe popularized the idea of getting off the tourist track and into unknown lands .

On the other hand, it’s also about saving money. Most people believe that planning trips themselves can help them save big on flights, hotels, and more. This focus on savings has been important, especially considering more young travelers and students have hit the road over the last twenty years.

Pre-COVID, travel agencies seemed like vestiges of a long-last past.

Now, however, dozens of travel publications are reporting on the rise in bookings through travel agencies.

Gone are the days of getting into the nitty-gritty of researching, planning, and implementing complex trips—at least, for some travelers.

If you’ve taken a step back from travel agencies over the last decade or so, you aren’t alone. But why not take another look at whether handing over the reins to a trained professional might be right for you?

Here are the five surest signs that you would benefit from working with a travel agent to plan your next vacation.

Reason #1: You Have Funds, Not Time

Travelers know: t takes a lot of time and energy to plan a multi-leg trip. The farther from home, the higher the stakes. The more destinations on that trip, the more complex the demands.

In other words, planning a truly memorable trip is basically a part-time job.

Actually, it is a job—a full-time one that many people have trained for years to excel in. If you have the funds to put together a great trip but simply lack the energy and spare time, then pass it off to an expert. It’s that easy.

Reason #2: Your Trip is for Rejuvenation

If you’re traveling to drop off the map and relax, then don’t waste your precious time and energy planning.

Once again, it makes more sense to hand over the reins to an agent who will craft a calming trip for you. One that doesn’t include any short airline connections or murky questions about travel insurance.

When an agent plans your trip, all you need to do is show up with the necessary equipment for a great trip. Depending on how in-depth their planning is, you might not need to lift a finger at all—just follow directions when someone points you onward to a hotel room, restaurant, or tour.

Reason #3: You Have Specific Themes or Needs in Mind

Travel agents regularly use their experience and connections to create tailored vacations.

Like the name ‘agent’ suggests, they tend to have a lot of contacts in the travel world. Even if they don’t have direct experience creating the trip of your dreams, they have the resources to make it a reality.

Many travel agencies offer some type of specialized focus. These cover themes like ancestral tours that explore family trees or tours that focus on history, such as visiting WWI sites.

On the other hand, specialized travel agencies can also focus on client needs, including tours geared toward autistic travelers and tours designed for disabled travelers.

Reason #4: You Know Jack About the Destination

The less you know about a place, the more help you’ll need when planning a vacation.

While most travelers look forward to exploring a new culture and lifestyle, these obstacles can be difficult for travelers to navigate. From language barriers to what it means to be ‘on time’, it helps to have a basic understanding of your destination.

If that’s a little too hefty for you to manage, then let a travel agent do the heavy lifting.

Not only do they have experience planning trips to just about anywhere, but they also have a strong understanding of what types of concerns visitors usually have. Both will set you up for success.

Reason #5: You Want Accountability

One of the greatest risks of planning a trip is knowing what to do when things go wrong . There’s rarely a straightforward solution, as each problem is born from unique circumstances.

Every traveler has felt the sinking doom of running into one of these problems on the road.

Travel agents might not be omnipotent, but they’re usually the first resource when it comes to things going wrong.

If the hiccup was their fault, they’ll take immediate accountability to rectify the issue. Even if the obstacle you face isn’t their fault, they’ll still probably have a few spare ideas to help you solve your problem.

Tay Belgeri is a content writer with global experience. She writes for brands like Santander Bank, PokerStars, DraftKings, and OddsChecker. Her affiliate posts have appeared on AP News, Ranker, Notion, OK! Magazine, and other major sites. She writes about a variety of cultural topics (from sports to high fashion) but specializes in travel. Originally from Missouri, she now lives in Spain. In a few years, she will have spent more time outside the US than inside it. Career highlights: • Selected to present research by the National Council of Undergraduate Research (2014) • Acquired grants for New York City’s first Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration (2015) • Joined OddsChecker’s US Launch team (2020) • Shortlisted for the Foreword INDIES (2021, 2023)

I quit teaching to become a luxury-travel advisor. Since making the transition, I've learned a lot and grown professionally.

• Kaylee Stith left teaching to join The Travel Mechanic as a travel agent last year.
• Stith leveraged her organizational skills from teaching for her new role in travel advising.
• This article is part of " Trends to Bet Your Career On ," a series about trending professional opportunities.

Kaylee Stith is a travel agent at The Travel Mechanic , a luxury-travel agency in North Carolina. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stith, who left her full-time teaching job to become a luxury-travel agent last year. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Before I started travel advising, I worked as a middle-school special-education teacher in North Carolina.

I stumbled upon the travel-agent industry. I was following someone on Instagram who recently started her own Disney-specific travel agency. I love Disney, and when she announced that she was hiring an agent, I thought that would be a fun part-time job. I applied and made it through the first round. I didn't get hired, but I couldn't stop thinking about becoming a travel advisor.

After that, I started exploring on my own. I listened to podcasts about the industry and learned more from the American Society of Travel Advisors.

One day I was listening to " Trade Secrets ," a travel-agent podcast, when they interviewed Lauren Doyle, the president and owner of The Travel Mechanic, an agency based where I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I filled out the form for prospective agents and interviewed, and I was offered a position on the team. I signed a contract on April 1, 2023, and left my full-time teaching role in June 2023.

Skills I transferred from my teaching career

Some of my skills transferred from teaching, like being organized and helping people. Because I came from a special-education setting, I was often the liaison between students and their teachers. Being a travel advisor is similar because you're connecting with your clients and interfacing with them.

But the transition was also a challenge, because I forgot what it feels like not to know what you're doing.

My dad is a commercial airline pilot, and I've been traveling my whole life and planning my own trips for a long time. I assumed I'd naturally slide into this role and automatically know how to do everything. But there's a lot to learn.

There were very practical things I had to learn, like how to use the customer-relationship-management system we put client information into, how to take payments, and how to make sure clients are signing off on the right terms and conditions — a lot of that was new to me.

How I make money as an advisor

I offer a complimentary consultation and discuss options with the client to ensure we're both a good fit. Then I charge a flat-rate planning fee. Some agents have a base amount, and depending on how complicated the trip is or how many people are going, they might charge more. Once the client pays the fee, I put their itinerary together.

I also make a commission on things like hotels and tour packages. Some suppliers will pay a decent commission; if you work on the higher end, you make a bigger commission. Commissions are usually paid out after the client has finished the trip.

Because I work with The Travel Mechanic, I get some leads, but I have to find most of them on my own. So a big part of this job is telling everyone I'm a travel agent. I'll mention it in conversations with people I meet because it's travel, it's fun, and people enjoy talking about that.

My clients have so far been in my circles. I've worked with several people from my church, friend groups, and family. Sometimes it's good to start with the people near you.

Have a niche when you're starting out

It's good to have a niche to present yourself as an expert in when starting out. My niches are Hawaii and the UK because they're what I know and love. My family loves Hawaii, and I've visited regularly since I was 9. I've also been to England many times. I studied abroad in college and lived in Bath for four months as a student.

The locations are similar in some ways because they're higher-ticket bucket-list destinations. They're also great destinations for first-time travelers who want to adventure out on a bigger trip but go somewhere that feels familiar.

Hawaii is still far away, but the driving and currency are familiar. Though England is also pretty far away, the language and culture are not that different from the US. Those are my two favorite destinations, and I do some Disney trips on the side.

Advice for prospective travel agents

Many people think this job is fun and relatively easy to get into. You don't need specific training, but it can be hard to get going. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

If you want to get into travel advising, I recommend starting part time or having another source of income before you get established and move to full time.

Also, do a lot of research. This will help you see if you're a good fit for the industry and find an agency you feel aligned with that will support you. If you're unsure where to start, visit Host Agency Reviews to research agencies near you.

While it's possible to go at it alone, starting with an agency is easier. Your commissions with an agency may be a bit lower, but an agency will offer advice and assist you when you're starting out with leads.

Lessons I've learned so far

I attended the annual Ensemble travel-agent conference in Las Vegas last year. I met with suppliers, tour operators, destination-management companies, and other agents. Everyone was welcoming and encouraging, which was a pleasant surprise. Because I'm an independent contractor, it'd be easy to think I'm competing with other people, but that isn't the case; there are enough clients to go around.

Also, I learned that it's OK that I'm not the perfect fit for everyone. I can be a perfectionist, but it's impossible to always get everything right. I had a potential client who contacted me about a honeymoon, and I felt like it was a great conversation, but she never got back to me. I couldn't stop thinking what did I do wrong? But I can't be the best fit for everyone. It's been a tough lesson, but I've learned and grown so much this past year.

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Nearly 71 Million People Expected to Travel over July 4th Week

This year’s extended independence day forecast exceeds pre-pandemic numbers, sets new record.

WASHINGTON, DC (June 20, 2024) – AAA projects 70.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday travel period*. For the first time, AAA looked at the entire July 4 th week, plus the Saturday before and the Sunday after the holiday. This year’s projected number of travelers for that time period is a 5% increase compared to 2023 and an 8% increase over 2019.

“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We anticipate this July 4 th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.”   

AAA projects a record 60.6 million people will travel by car over Independence Day week – that’s an additional 2.8 million travelers compared to last year. This year’s number also surpasses 2019 when 55.3 million people traveled by car over July 4 th week. AAA car rental partner Hertz says Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are the cities displaying the highest rental demand during the holiday week. The busiest pick-up days are projected to be Friday, June 28, Saturday, June 29, and Wednesday, July 3.   

Gas prices are lower than last year when the national average was $3.53. Pump prices will likely continue going down leading up to Independence Day.  At that point, they will likely level off and remain relatively stable until after Labor Day, similar to last year.  An important caveat is hurricane season – underway now – which could affect gas prices should a storm negatively impact Gulf Coast oil production and refining centers.  

The number of air travelers is also expected to set a new record. AAA projects 5.74 million people will fly to their July 4 th destinations. That’s an increase of nearly 7% compared to last year and a 12% increase over 2019. AAA booking data shows domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this Independence Day week compared to last year, and the average price for a domestic roundtrip ticket is $800. Airports will be packed throughout the week. AAA recommends arriving 2 hours early, reserving parking ahead of time, and traveling with carry-on luggage versus checked bags to save time and money.   

More than 4.6 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. This category is seeing an increase of 9% compared to last year, but this year’s number is shy of 2019’s figure of 4.79 million. Cruising continues its remarkable post-pandemic comeback. This time of year, Alaska cruises are in high demand, making Seattle and Anchorage top domestic destinations. Cruise travelers are also finding deals this summer. With new ships coming onto the market – and going for a premium – some cruise lines have been offering targeted discounts to fill older inventory for remaining cabins.  

Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro 

INRIX , a provider of transportation data and insights, says the worst times to travel by car before and on July 4 th are between 2pm and 7pm. Drivers should hit the road in the morning, and travelers returning on Monday, July 8 th should avoid rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon.  

“Drivers in large metro areas can expect the worst traffic delays on Wednesday, July 3 rd , as they leave town, and Sunday, July 7th, as they return,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “R oad trips over the holiday week could take up to 67% longer than normal. Travelers should monitor 511 services, local news stations, and traffic apps for up-to-the-minute road conditions.”  

Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located.   

For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT.  

Source: INRIX  

  Top Destinations 

This July 4 th week, travelers are cooling off in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska – and by the ocean! Seattle, Vancouver, and Anchorage are top destinations because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Beaches in South Florida, Honolulu, Punta Cana, and Barcelona are in high demand. Historical sites in European cities like London, Rome, Dublin, Paris, and Athens are also popular. The top 10 domestic and international destinations below are based on AAA booking data.  

Family Road Trip Checklist    

With road trips expected to set a new record this July 4 th week, AAA teamed up with Chicco to share safety tips for families with young children.  

• Check car seat fit. Before you hit the road, check your child’s weight and height to ensure they’re in the right seat and mode of use – especially when it comes to transitioning from rear to forward-facing. Children should remain rear-facing as long as possible for better protection of their head, neck, and spine in the event of a crash. If you are unsure which car seat is best for your child, Chicco offers a car seat comparison guide.    
• Double check car seat installation. Even if your car seat is already installed in the car, it’s worth checking everything is safe and secure. An easy at-home way to do this is with the “inch test.” Simply grab the seat at the car seat belt path and pull side to side and front to back. If it moves more than one inch in any direction, uninstall and start over until a secure fit is achieved. For any questions, utilize the car seat manual, QR codes, or online resources like those offered by Chicco.    
• Secure loose items in the car. Take time to organize and clean up your car before hitting the road. Storage organizers that secure to the back of the driver and passenger seats are simple solutions to make sure everything has a spot, especially loose items that can become projectiles in case of a sudden stop.  
• Be prepared for the unexpected. Pack an emergency kit with first-aid supplies, water, snacks, blankets, jumper cables, and flares. Make sure your phone is fully charged – and keep a charger in the car – to call AAA or request roadside assistance digitally if your battery dies, you lock yourself out, or you need a tow.   
• Map your route. Families with young children should plan for frequent and longer stops along the way. Map out your route ahead of time with AAA TripTik and browse hotels, restaurants, and other activities along the way on AAA Trip Canvas.  
• Bring entertainment. Make sure to place toys and books within reach to keep children entertained. If your kids use tablets or other electronics, make sure the devices are fully charged and pre-downloaded before leaving home. Another fun way to get the whole family excited for the road trip is to create a family playlist of everyone’s favorite songs!   

Holiday Forecast Methodology   

Travel Forecast    

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.   

Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/Monitor SM . The PERFORMANCE/Monitor SM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.  

The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of May 27, 2024.   

Because AAA forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.  

*Independence Day Holiday Travel Period   

For this forecast, the Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as the nine-day period from Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 7. Historically, the Independence Day holiday period included only one weekend. This is the first year the Independence Day holiday travel period is a longer timeframe with two weekends included.  

About AAA    

Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of 64 million members across North America, including 57 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA has to offer or to become a member, visit AAA.com.   

About S&P Global   S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges, and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow today. For more information, visit  www.spglobal.com .   

About DKSA    

DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding over 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.   

About INRIX     

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses, and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.   

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Disused travel agent's shop to be converted after change of use plan approved

A former travel agent’s shop is to become a restaurant after planners gave permission for a change of use.

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The now vacant Co-op store on Stourbridge High Street has been given the go-ahead by Dudley Council planners to convert into an eatery serving food both on the premises and to take away.

Seating for around 58 diners will be provided on the ground and first floor and the new shop is expected to create two full-time and four part-time jobs.

A statement supporting the application said: “In relation to competition within this use class, it is understood from the applicant that although there are a handful of other takeaway and restaurants, such as JD Wetherspoon, the high street is not oversaturated.

“The business is looking to serve food such as burgers, pizzas, hot dogs, fish and chips, amongst other hot foods.”

The application was approved subject to conditions including that the restaurant would not open before 11.30am and close by 11pm on Mondays to Saturdays.

On Sundays and bank holidays the restaurant will be able to open between 4pm and 10pm.

During a consultation process the council received no objections to the scheme and officers concluded there were good transport links and public parking provision close to the store so there was no need for off-street parking at the location.

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Egypt cracks down on tourism companies after haj deaths

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‘they saved their whole lives for this’: american woman’s heartbreak as parents die on hajj.

Saida Wurie said it was her parents’ lifelong dream to participate in Hajj, the religious pilgrimage that brings Muslims from around the world to Saudi Arabia each year.

They’d spent $23,000 on an all-inclusive travel package through a tour company registered in the state of Maryland.

“They saved their whole lives for this,” she told CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield.

But what was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime turned tragic this week, when Wurie learned that her mother Isatu Tejan Wurie, 65, and father Alieu Dausy Wurie, 71, were among the hundreds of pilgrims who have died during the extreme temperatures that have gripped the Persian Gulf country. More than 500 have been confirmed dead while there are fears that number is well above a thousand.

The Wuries were American citizens from Bowie, Maryland. Mrs. Wurie had recently retired as a head nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Prince George’s County, her daughter told CNN.

Speaking to CNN’s Whitfield on Saturday, Wurie said she had been in close contact with her parents while they were in Saudi Arabia via a family group chat. It was in that chat, she said, that she learned that the tour company did not provide the proper transportation or credentials needed to participate in the pilgrimage. The group her parents were traveling with, which included up to 100 fellow pilgrims, lacked sufficient food and supplies for the five-to-six-day journey that is a pillar of Islam, she said.

Wurie believes her parents were not “properly prepared” for the trip by the tour operator and “did not receive what they paid for” from the company. CNN has reached out to the tour company for comment.

She last heard from her parents on Saturday, June 15, when her mother messaged that they had already been waiting for transportation for hours to take them to Mount Arafat. She believes they were located in Mina at the time. The couple ultimately opted to walk instead and sent a message to their daughter after they had been walking for over two hours.

The couple then joined fellow pilgrims and others in their tour group on Mount Arafat, where they were gathering to pray and reflect on the holy site. A man on their tour group contacted Saida Wurie to say that her parents had gone missing on Mount Arafat, after her father said that he could not continue on the journey and stopped for a break along the way. The man had continued to the top of Mount Arafat but could not find the couple upon his descent.

Wurie received death notifications from the US Consulate in Jeddah, which had obtained them from the Saudi Interior Ministry, saying her parents had died of “natural causes” on June 15. She was later advised by someone at the US Embassy that heat stroke would be considered a natural cause.

The Consulate General’s Office told her that her parents had already been buried, but have been unable to tell her exactly where.

Now, Saida and her brothers are doing everything they can to get answers and find their parents’ burial place.

“We did ask the Saudi government to hold the bodies in order for us to travel to Saudi Arabia to at least give them the proper burial with [their] children being present and to be able to identify the bodies,” she told Whitfield. “Unfortunately, they have already been buried.”

Related article ‘Not enough medics’ to help pilgrims with heat, Hajj witnesses tell CNN as toll mounts

⁠She would like American diplomats to meet her and her siblings on the ground when they arrive to assist them in finding where their parents are buried and collecting their belongings, since she does not know Arabic and is not familiar with the area. As of Saturday, diplomats have not committed to meeting them in person in Saudi Arabia, she said.

The US State Department confirmed there had been “deaths of multiple US citizens in Saudi Arabia,” but declined to comment on any specifics around the Wurie family.

Extreme heat has been named as a main factor behind the hundreds of deaths and injuries reported this year during the Hajj. Mecca, the holy city that is central for Hajj pilgrims, saw temperatures soar to a record-setting 125 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday.

High temperatures for this year’s gathering had been expected, with the Saudi army deploying more than 1,600 personnel with medical units and 30 rapid response teams specifically for heatstroke. Another 5,000 health and first aid volunteers were also on duty.

But CNN has spoken to other Hajj pilgrims who said the preparations weren’t enough, with one describing seeing fellow worshipers lose consciousness and walking past bodies covered in white cloths.

The exact death toll remains unclear and is expected to rise, as countries around the world have been independently announcing the deaths of their nationals.

Concern over improper tour groups has also grown. Egypt announced it was revoking the licenses of 16 travel agencies that organize Hajj trips on Saturday, according to the state-run news agency Ahram Online.

This isn’t the first time hundreds of pilgrims have died while traveling for the Hajj, which this year attracted more than 1.8 million people.  In 2015 more than 700 people were killed  during a stampede in the Saudi Arabian city of Mina, just outside of Mecca. In 2006, 363 people were killed during a stampede at the site where pilgrims gathered to participate in the ‘stoning of the devil’ ritual in Mina. Last year, more than 200 people died.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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