Travel Guides, Tips & Hotel Deals

Destination guides, hotel tips, and ways to keep more cash in your pocket when you travel.

Paris cityscape with Eiffel Tower in soft afternoon light

Why European Hotels Cost Less in May and September Than July

Hotel pricing in Europe tells a story most travelers misread. The assumption is that summer is one big peak. Actually it's three. Late May. The full month of July through mid-August. And early September. The first and third are 25-30% cheaper than the middle, and they're the months we'd book if we were planning a European trip in 2026. We track hotel rates across major European cities every week as part of running Best. The pattern shows up in almost every city on the continent. Here's what's h

May 3, 2026 · 6 min read

Norwegian fjord village with houses and mountains in summer

Destinations

8 Coolcation Destinations for Summer 2026 (and What Hotels Cost)

Search interest in "coolcation" jumped 3,500% since early 2024. The reason is obvious if you tried to walk through Rome last August. We've watched hotel demand shift north every summer since 2023, and the data this year is telling. Norway's summer hotel bookings are up 72%. Iceland and Greenland are sold out months ahead. Even the Scottish Highlands have a waiting list. So we put together a list of eight coolcation destinations that actually deliver on the promise. Average summer temperatures b

May 3, 2026 · 8 min read

Colorful buildings cascading down steep cliffs above the turquoise Amalfi Coast sea

Destination Guide

The Amalfi Coast in 2026: What to Know Before You Book

The Amalfi Coast is as beautiful as advertised and more expensive, crowded, and logistically complex than most travel content admits. Here's how to plan it properly — right base, right timing, right approach to getting around.

Apr 30, 2026 · 6 min read

Bangkok city skyline at dusk with illuminated towers and the Chao Phraya River

Destination Guide

Bangkok for First-Timers: A Practical Guide to the City That Converts Skeptics

Bangkok is the most-visited city in the world most years. Here's how to navigate it for the first time — which neighborhoods to stay in, how to get around, what to eat, and when to go.

Apr 30, 2026 · 6 min read

Yellow tram running through narrow cobblestone streets of Lisbon Portugal

Destination Guide

Lisbon in 2026: What the City Actually Looks Like When You Go Past the Guidebook

Lisbon has been written about endlessly. This guide skips what you already know and covers neighborhoods, real costs, what most visitors miss, and when to go for the best combination of weather and value.

Apr 30, 2026 · 6 min read

Modern hotel lobby check-in desk and reception area

Travel News

Google Now Tracks Hotel Prices. Here's What Travelers Should Know.

Google launched individual hotel price tracking on April 17. Here's how it works, when it actually helps, and how to use it alongside cashback booking for the lowest effective rate.

Apr 30, 2026 · 5 min read

Turquoise waters and coral reefs of Okinawa Japan

Destination Guide

Okinawa for First-Timers: Japan's Island That Plays by Its Own Rules

Okinawa sits closer to Taiwan than Tokyo, has its own cuisine and culture, and some of the best diving in Asia. Here's what first-timers actually need to know.

Apr 30, 2026 · 6 min read

Quebec City aerial view with the Chateau Frontenac castle and St Lawrence River in summer

Destination Guide

Quebec City in Summer: The North American Trip That Feels Like Europe

National Geographic named Quebec City one of the world's top destinations for 2026. Chase Travel's booking data shows it's among the fastest-growing summer destinations for American travelers this year. Both are unusual recognitions for a city that's been sitting 90 minutes north of Montreal for centuries, looking like someone lifted a French medieval town and placed it on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Most Americans have been to Paris or dream of going. Quebec City is not Paris. But it'

Apr 29, 2026 · 6 min read

Helsinki Finland summer skyline with the cathedral dome above the harbor waterfront

Destination Guide

Helsinki in Summer: What Makes This Scandinavian City Worth the Flight

Helsinki appeared on Chase Travel's fastest-growing summer destinations list for 2026. It sits alongside Quebec City and Tokyo on a list of places that American travelers are booking at a significantly higher rate than prior years. Most people who travel to Scandinavia still default to Stockholm or Copenhagen. That's understandable. Helsinki sits further north, the weather reputation is mixed, and it doesn't have the same brand recognition. But Helsinki in summer is a genuinely different city f

Apr 29, 2026 · 6 min read

Person using a smartphone app to search and book hotels using AI travel planning tools

Travel News

How AI Is Changing the Way People Book Hotels

78% of travelers now say they've booked a hotel primarily based on an AI recommendation. That number, from a 2026 research report by TakeUp AI, reflects something that's been building for two or three years and is now clearly past the tipping point. The way people research and book hotels has shifted faster than most of the hotel industry was prepared for. OTAs (online travel agencies like Booking.com and Expedia) overtook search engines as the primary starting point for hotel research in 2026,

Apr 29, 2026 · 5 min read

Cancun Hotel Zone aerial view with turquoise Caribbean water and white sand beaches

Destination Guide

Where to Stay in Cancun: A 2026 Neighborhood Guide

Cancun has topped Tripadvisor's most popular summer destinations list for the third consecutive year. More people are booking it than ever, which also means more people are running into the same problem: the Hotel Zone is a 22-kilometer strip of resorts stretching along a sandbar, and choosing the wrong section can mean a very different trip than expected. This guide breaks down the actual differences between the main areas, gives you real price ranges for 2026, and helps you pick the right bas

Apr 29, 2026 · 5 min read

Alicante Spain coastline with the city skyline and Mediterranean sea on a summer day

Destination Guide

Alicante in 2026: Europe's Fastest-Rising Summer Destination

Tripadvisor's Summer 2026 Traveller Index put Alicante at the top of its European trending destinations list. Most American travelers have never considered it. Most European travelers have been sleeping on it too, routing instead to Barcelona or Mallorca without realizing there's a city on the Costa Blanca that offers the same sun and seafood at a fraction of the price. Alicante sits roughly halfway between Valencia and Murcia, on a bay that faces southeast and catches afternoon light in a way

Apr 29, 2026 · 5 min read