A year ago today, I took off from Glasgow airport, destination New York JFK. It was a fabulous flight aboard an Airbus A380 – the first commercial departure for Global Airlines, the SuperJumbo start-up. After four days of roaming around the coastlines and chateaux of Long Island, I spent a final night at the hotel occupying the former TWA terminal at JFK. It is possibly the most expensive airport lodging in America, but also the most engrossing – with an onsite museum to the glamorous days of aviation. Global Airlines. which vows to “take passengers back to the golden age of travel”, had a busy couple of weeks last May with round trips from both Glasgow and Manchester to New York. Since then, the carrier has gone quiet; I hope for more news soon.
There are plenty of other ways to reach America this summer – and fares are falling fast. Demand from international visitors during and after the 2026 World Cup is dwindling. For months, I have tracked air fares and hotel rates for the festival of football and also for normal tourists who simply want to enjoy the wonders of the US in the coming summer. As a reminder, the tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026, mainly in America but with some games in Mexico and Canada. Both England and Scotland have qualified. Collectively their games are in Dallas, Boston, New York and Miami. Take an "open-jaw" itinerary outbound on 16 June from London to Dallas in time for the first England game, returning from New York on 28 June, the day after their last group match: the American Airlines fare this morning is £823, cheaper than a normal summer.
Travellers who have no interest in the football tournament can benefit from soft demand during and after the World Cup. Flying from London to Los Angeles on 11 June, the day the first game is played in Mexico, and returning on 30 June, return fares of just £503 are readily available outbound on a combination of American Airlines and British Airways. As airlines survey the wide open spaces in their transatlantic seat plans, that price has fallen by six per cent this week alone. Normally June fares to southern California on nonstop flights with quality airlines would be at least 50 per cent higher.
Hotel rates are dropping too. The American Hotel & Lodging Association says “visa barriers and broader geopolitical concerns are significantly suppressing international demand”. A double room at the Holiday Inn Express in midtown Manhattan on the night of England’s final group game has dropped 14 per cent in the past two weeks. The price is still a whopping $513 (£377), but I predict it will fall as hoteliers cut rates to whatever the market will bear. During the Paris Olympics two summers ago, I booked late and found a good hotel room at way below normal peak summer prices. No need to blink yet: play a waiting game.
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Brighton Belle? Royal Scot?
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Cruise bargains too good to be true
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Taxing times at English hotels
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Holiday park coming to North Yorkshire village?
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Virus keeps cruise passengers on board
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Harriet Brewis finds that a bit of rain is not enough to dampen the charms of this part of Italy.
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The top picks for culture, great food and intriguing neighbourhoods in 2026.
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Near the seaside town of Whitby, Joanna Whitehead finds the perfect place to reboot at Saltmoore hotel.
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The perils of “self-connection”
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“Push, push, push, push, push!” Not a childbirth event, but words of encouragement from an Italian passport official at Milan Malpensa airport yesterday as he tried to take my fingerprints. Like many British travellers this summer, I have provided my fingerprints for the EU entry-exit system multiple times – along with a facial biometric. The rules for the digital borders scheme stipulate that after you have been through the process once, you should enter and exit the Schengen area with a single biometric – usually the face – checked.
Knowing the rules, I booked two discrete flights: a “self-connect” trip from Gatwick to Milan and onwards to Yerevan in Armenia. “Self-connection” might sound like a higher state of awareness; in the aviation world, it means potential peril. Unlike the get-you-there guarantee that network airlines provide with through tickets, you take a risk when booking two flights separately: if the first one is cancelled or heavily delayed and you miss the second departure, bad luck.
The first flight touched down early in Milan. The gap between arrival and departure was over three hours. What could possibly go wrong? Well, at the EES registration kiosks, the machine did not like the cut of my digits. I was dispatched to the “All Passports” queue for a manual check. Terminal 2 at Milan’s biggest airport yesterday lunchtime had exactly one officer on duty to check non-EU citizens. Wearing a stylish Heineken lanyard, he diligently took each arrival’s biometrics – coaxing us to push as hard as possible on a small glass screen streaked with residue from the last planeload of passengers. I got through in less than an hour, but many people did not.
The next hurdle: find the stop for the shuttle bus to Terminal 1, from where my onward flight was departing. The timetable promised buses every 15 minutes. One turned up after half-an-hour. As a self-connector, you get double everything. After leaving the first flight, I was regarded as a “new” passenger and subject to a fresh security search. Then, having checked into the Schengen area an hour earlier, I lined up to check out. This time the process took about 40 minutes. I made the onward departure. But I shall hold off future “self-connects” within the Schengen area until the system is sorted.
As I heard from Port of Dover boss Doug Bannister this week, teething problems with the entry-exit system could cause problems when schools break up for half-term a week today. At the UK's main ferry port, tens of millions of pounds have gone on installing the necessary infrastructure for motorists to register. But French IT problems mean it cannot yet be used. Let us hope a solution is found before next Friday's getaway. Ferry bookings are up, partly because of rumours of an aviation fuel shortage – which thankfully appear unfounded.
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DISCOVER ANDALUCIA WITH JET2HOLIDAYS
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Discover Andalucia’s finest features for less…
Stretching along the Mediterranean coastline, Andalucia’s blessed with sun-kissed shores and charming resorts – and you can experience it for less, with £100pp off all Jet2holidays!
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Have the recent stories about viruses spreading on cruise ships put you off the prospect of a sea voyage?
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This week, I want to know if the recent stories about viruses spreading on cruise ships put you off the prospect of a sea voyage. Are you planning to travel on a cruise this summer? Or are virus concerns keeping you firmly on land? Vote by selecting the buttons above.
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In last week’s poll, readers delivered a decisive verdict on the best northern seaside spots for a day on the sand – with 72 per cent backing the north east coast over western rivals. From Scarborough to Tyneside, readers clearly favoured classic east coast beaches over western favourites like Blackpool and Southport.
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Competition time on the West Coast Main Line
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A new Anglo-Scottish express train between London and Stirling in central Scotland will bring competition to the line that connects London Euston with northwest England. The “open-access” operator, Lumo, will run between the Scottish city and the English capital from 25 May. With stops at Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes Central en route to London, the new service competes with Avanti West Coast.
The biggest savings are on peak-hour departures from Euston for travellers who do not book in advance. During the afternoon rush hour from Mondays to Thursdays, Avanti West Coast charges £148 one way from London to Crewe. The corresponding Lumo fare is £46. Significantly lower fares are available on both operators if you book well ahead.
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The foreign ministry in Rome said last night that five Italians have died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives. News of the tragedy emerged after the UK Foreign Office issued stronger travel advice for the Maldives. At least nine British tourists have drowned on holiday in the Indian Ocean archipelago since 2021, usually involving rip currents dragging them out to sea. The FCDO says: “Make yourself aware of local swimming conditions on arrival at the resort. Only swim in well-supervised areas, areas designated as safe for tourists, or where lifeguards are available. Pay attention to warning signs or flags and avoid swimming in areas with strong currents, high waves or dangerous underwater conditions. If something does not feel right, get out of the water at the earliest opportunity.” Scuba divers are warned that access to emergency care is limited: “Many resort islands are more than an hour away from the nearest hyperbaric chamber. Make sure you understand how your dive operator would get you to one of the three chambers in the islands.”
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When it comes to holidaying, a reliable suitcase is an essential. That’s why I’ve reviewed the 11 best check-in suitcases for your next getaway, so you can travel knowing your belongings are in safe hands.
Over the past two years, I’ve visited 16 countries, including far-flung destinations such as Zambia, Peru and Japan, so having a spacious, durable suitcase that could withstand multiple flight changes was essential.
If you’re jetting off on a shorter break, this £10 Ryanair-friendly cabin bag is a great budget option. For something more premium, this Samsonite backpack is ideal for your laptop and travel essentials while still meeting Ryanair’s strict baggage rules. If you’re flying with easyJet, this £40 M&S underseat case with wheels fits the airline’s requirements.
Of course, the journey itself can be just as important as the destination, and a few carefully chosen travel accessories can make flying far more comfortable. These noise-cancelling Marshall headphones offer excellent sound quality, long battery life and a compact foldaway design. Travel socks can help improve circulation and reduce leg fatigue, while this cleverly designed travel pillow makes it easier to rest – even in the dreaded middle seat.
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Take out an Independent Premium subscription and get a travel bonus, joining the elite whose questions go straight to the top of my in-tray and get answered each week in our special Premium Ask Me Anything newsletter.
Join now with our introductory offer: just £1 for 6 months
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Dreaming of setting sail? Celebrity Cruises’ summer sale is now on. For a limited time, enjoy at least 60% off your second guest’s fare plus up to £500 in instant savings.
Departing from Southampton, choose from a range of exciting itineraries including the Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands, Mediterranean and more. Learn more.
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Enjoy an enchanting stay at Peckforton Castle in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, with the choice of dining credit or a 9-course tasting menu.
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Lose yourself in the natural wonders Norway - this package tour from Exoticca includes flights, accommodation, transfers and activities.
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Set in a historic building, The George Hotel offers stylish interiors and a convenient location near key attractions.
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During half term, my sons, aged 12 and eight, are travelling to Europe in the care of other adults: one to Greece with a friend’s family, the other to Spain with his uncle. To prove they have parental permission, I have heard I may need a notarised letter costing £250 for each of them. Can you advise?
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This summer tens of thousands of young people will travel abroad with people who are not their parents: typically other family members or families of friends. Much of the time, the frontier experience will be straightforward. Border officials are well used to such situations, and are experts at assessing travellers’ behaviour to confirm all is well. But sometimes they will enquire about the difference in last names, and so it is wise to prepare a letter in advance.
There is no EU-wide policy; each nation decides its own rules. A few countries have specific requirements. Croatia requires a notarised statement of parental consent. Portugal goes one step further, demanding a copy of their parent or guardian’s passport as well. But for Greece and Spain, a straightforward letter of authorisation from a parent is sufficient. It should include the names, passport numbers and expiry dates for the child and the accompanying adult; the relationship between them; the itinerary; and contact details for one or both parents. No need for it to be notarised. Just in case an officer decides to call, make sure you are contactable at the times your sons will be crossing borders .
For round trips from the UK, travellers encounter three border checks. There are no Border Force formalities outbound from the UK. But there will be Schengen area frontier checks arriving in, and departing from, the foreign country and coming back to the UK.
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Dr John Mason, eclipse chaser extraordinaire, has essential advice for the astronomical event of 2026. On 12 August, a total solar eclipse will sweep down from Greenland to the northern half of Spain. Dr Mason's chosen location is on high ground outside Burgos in northern Spain. If the clouds stay away, the eclipse will be followed by a view of the Perseid meteor shower at its peak. Hear more on The Independent’s daily travel podcast.
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