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• Hi New York City - Hostel $56+
• West Side Ymca $112+
• Central Park West Hostel $163+
• Radio Hotel $172+
• Pod 51 $181+
• The Washington by LuxUrban, Trademark Collection by Wyndham $191+
• OYO Times Square $191+
• Pod Times Square $191+
• Pod 39 $196+
• The Gallivant Times Square $197+
• The Manhattan At Times Square $202+
• Paramount Times Square $206+
• DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown $213+
• YOTEL New York $218+
• The New Yorker A Wyndham Hotel $220+
• Flight Miami - Newark (MIA - EWR) $51+
• Flight Chicago - New York (ORD - LGA) $53+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Newark (FLL - EWR) $63+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - New York (FLL - LGA) $76+
• Flight Miami - New York (MIA - LGA) $80+
• Flight Orlando - New York (MCO - LGA) $89+
• Flight Orlando - Newark (MCO - EWR) $90+
• Flight Dallas - New York (DFW - LGA) $93+
• Flight Chicago - New York (ORD - JFK) $127+
• Flight Dallas - Newark (DFW - EWR) $127+
• Flight Chicago - Newark (ORD - EWR) $130+
• Flight Los Angeles - New York (LAX - LGA) $155+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - New York (FLL - JFK) $166+
• Flight Miami - New York (MIA - JFK) $167+
• Flight Los Angeles - Newark (LAX - EWR) $171+
• Monumental Movieland Hotel $49+
• Grand Hotel Kissimmee At Celebration $54+
• Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Orlando Resort & Suites Intl Drive $66+
• Flight Atlanta - Orlando (ATL - MCO) $35+
• Flight Philadelphia - Orlando (PHL - MCO) $53+
• Flight Minneapolis - Orlando (MSP - MCO) $60+
• Book A Bed Hostels $25+
• Generator London $37+
• Ramada London North M1 $65+
• Corbigoe Hotel $71+
• Flight New York - London (JFK - LGW) $371+
• Flight New Windsor - London (SWF - STN) $374+
• Flight Boston - London (BOS - LGW) $438+
• Flight New York - London (JFK - LHR) $450+

Fort Lauderdale

• Red Carpet Inn Airport Fort Lauderdale $65+
• HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof Fort Lauderdale $67+
• Days Inn by Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport Cruise Port $69+
• Flight Atlanta - Fort Lauderdale (ATL - FLL) $35+
• Flight Raleigh - Fort Lauderdale (RDU - FLL) $41+
• Flight Philadelphia - Fort Lauderdale (PHL - FLL) $47+
• Green Tortoise Hostel Seattle $60+
• Travelodge by Wyndham Seattle By The Space Needle $126+
• Coast Gateway Hotel $138+
• Flight Ontario - Seattle (ONT - SEA) $43+
• Flight Denver - Seattle (DEN - SEA) $61+
• Flight Phoenix - Seattle (PHX - SEA) $100+
• Fabhotel Royal Residency Lakdikapul $18+
• Katriya Hotel & Towers $26+
• The Altruist Business Hotel Hitech $33+
• Flight Chicago - Hyderabad (ORD - HYD) $494+
• Flight New York - New Delhi (JFK - DEL) $506+
• Flight New York - Mumbai (JFK - BOM) $508+
• Best Western Sapporo Odori Koen $29+
• Smile Hotel Premium Sapporo Susukino $31+
• Comfort Hotel Sapporo Susukino $34+
• Flight Los Angeles - Tokyo (LAX - NRT) $631+
• Flight San Francisco - Tokyo (SFO - NRT) $656+
• Flight Los Angeles - Tokyo (LAX - HND) $738+
• Royal Grove Waikiki $116+
• Kuhio Banyan Club $121+
• Pacific Marina Inn $134+
• Flight Los Angeles - Honolulu (LAX - HNL) $217+
• Flight Oakland - Honolulu (OAK - HNL) $237+
• Flight Ontario - Honolulu (ONT - HNL) $248+
• Super 8 by Wyndham Dallas Love Field Airport $53+
• Dallas Love Field Inn $56+
• Wyndham Garden Dallas North $63+
• Flight Minneapolis - Dallas (MSP - DFW) $57+
• Flight Atlanta - Dallas (ATL - DFW) $59+
• Flight Chicago - Dallas (ORD - DFW) $65+
• OYO Hotel And Casino Las Vegas $27+
• The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower $33+
• Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino $41+
• Four Queens Hotel and Casino $43+
• Flight Los Angeles - Las Vegas (LAX - LAS) $24+
• Flight Burbank - Las Vegas (BUR - LAS) $27+
• Flight Dallas - Las Vegas (DFW - LAS) $51+
• Flight Oakland - Las Vegas (OAK - LAS) $53+
• Freehand Chicago $40+
• Chicago Getaway Hostel $54+
• Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago $106+
• Flight Atlanta - Chicago (ATL - ORD) $45+
• Flight Orlando - Chicago (MCO - ORD) $54+
• Flight Atlanta - Chicago (ATL - MDW) $57+

San Francisco

• Hi San Francisco Downtown Hostel $47+
• The Mosser $74+
• BEI San Francisco, Trademark Collection By Wyndham $124+
• Flight Ontario - San Francisco (ONT - SFO) $43+
• Flight San Diego - San Francisco (SAN - SFO) $46+
• Flight Los Angeles - San Francisco (LAX - SFO) $65+

Washington, D.C.

• Generator Hotel Washington DC $62+
• Days Inn by Wyndham Washington DC/Connecticut Avenue $118+
• Georgetown Residences by LuxUrban, Trademark Coll by Wyndham $150+
• Citizenm Washington DC Noma $160+
• Hyatt Place Washington DC/US Capitol $163+
• Hotel Harrington $164+
• Motto by Hilton Washington DC City Center $171+
• Beacon Hotel & Corporate Quarters $171+
• Arc Hotel Washington DC, Georgetown $175+
• Morrison Clark Historic Inn $182+
• Citizenm Washington Dc Capitol $185+
• The Churchill Hotel Near Embassy Row $186+
• Flight Atlanta - Baltimore (ATL - BWI) $50+
• Flight Boston - Baltimore (BOS - BWI) $57+
• Flight Dallas - Baltimore (DFW - BWI) $78+
• Flight Houston - Baltimore (HOU - BWI) $78+
• Flight Houston - Baltimore (IAH - BWI) $78+
• Flight Chicago - Baltimore (ORD - BWI) $96+
• Flight Los Angeles - Baltimore (LAX - BWI) $121+
• Flight Boston - Washington, D.C. (BOS - DCA) $123+
• Flight Boston - Washington, D.C. (BOS - IAD) $129+
• Flight Minneapolis - Washington, D.C. (MSP - DCA) $129+
• Flight Dallas - Washington, D.C. (DFW - DCA) $138+
• Flight San Francisco - Washington, D.C. (SFO - DCA) $153+
• Hotel Boutique Casa Mallorca $68+
• Suites Malecon Cancun $69+
• Avani Cancún Airport Hotel $81+
• Flight Dallas - Cancún (DFW - CUN) $172+
• Flight Houston - Cancún (HOU - CUN) $180+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Cancún (FLL - CUN) $181+

United States

• Flight Newark - Miami (EWR - MIA) $56+
• Flight Newark - Fort Lauderdale (EWR - FLL) $68+
• Kauai Palms Hotel $189+
• Tip Top Motel $194+
• Kauai Beach Villas $236+
• Flight Los Angeles - Hawaii (LAX - USHI) $213+
• Flight San Francisco - Hawaii (SFO - USHI) $257+
• Flight San Jose - Hawaii (SJC - USHI) $260+
• Super 8 by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle $89+
• California Suites Hotel $95+
• Best Western Seven Seas $105+
• Flight Denver - San Diego (DEN - SAN) $43+
• Flight San Francisco - San Diego (SFO - SAN) $46+
• Flight San Jose - San Diego (SJC - SAN) $57+
• Shared Living Not A Hotel $40+
• Super 8 by Wyndham Phoenix West $54+
• Rodeway Inn Phoenix North I-17 $56+
• Flight Dallas - Phoenix (DFW - PHX) $47+
• Flight Ontario - Phoenix (ONT - PHX) $48+
• Flight Los Angeles - Phoenix (LAX - PHX) $57+

Los Angeles

• Boutique Hostel $34+
• Freehand Los Angeles $40+
• City Center Hotel $104+
• Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport $108+
• Rotex Western Inn $108+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX $113+
• USC Hotel $130+
• Flight San Francisco - Los Angeles (SFO - LAX) $48+
• Flight Oakland - Los Angeles (OAK - LAX) $58+
• Flight Dallas - Los Angeles (DFW - LAX) $75+
• Flight Houston - Los Angeles (HOU - LAX) $81+
• Flight Houston - Los Angeles (IAH - LAX) $81+
• Flight Denver - Los Angeles (DEN - LAX) $88+
• Flight Chicago - Los Angeles (ORD - LAX) $96+
• Selina Gold Dust $59+
• La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Miami Airport North $76+
• Motel 6 Miami. Fl $78+
• Miami Gardens Inn & Suites $80+
• Days Inn by Wyndham Miami International Airport $91+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Miami Airport East $92+
• Holiday Inn Miami West - Airport Area $108+
• The Palms Inn & Suites Miami, Kendall, Fl $108+
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Miami-Kendall $110+
• Radisson Red Miami Airport $113+
• Courtyard by Marriott Miami West/FL Turnpike $116+
• Flight Baltimore - Miami (BWI - MIA) $43+
• Flight Philadelphia - Miami (PHL - MIA) $47+
• Flight Atlanta - Miami (ATL - MIA) $50+
• Flight Newark - Miami (EWR - MIA) $50+
• Flight Chicago - Miami (ORD - MIA) $59+
• Flight Raleigh - Miami (RDU - MIA) $59+
• Flight Dallas - Miami (DFW - MIA) $69+
• Flight Cleveland - Miami (CLE - MIA) $71+
• Flight Chicago - Miami (MDW - MIA) $72+
• Flight Houston - Miami (HOU - MIA) $75+
• Flight Houston - Miami (IAH - MIA) $75+
• Hometowne Studios by Red Roof Denver - Glendale/Cherry Creek $59+
• Super 8 by Wyndham Denver Stapleton $81+
• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Denver Airport $97+
• Baymont by Wyndham Denver International Airport $99+
• Quality Inn & Suites Denver International Airport $103+
• Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Denver International Airport $103+
• Hyatt Place Pena Station Denver Airport $104+
• Flight Minneapolis - Denver (MSP - DEN) $38+
• Flight Chicago - Denver (ORD - DEN) $50+
• Flight Ontario - Denver (ONT - DEN) $70+
• Flight Seattle - Denver (SEA - DEN) $70+
• Flight Los Angeles - Denver (LAX - DEN) $71+
• Flight Detroit - Denver (DTW - DEN) $74+
• Flight San Francisco - Denver (SFO - DEN) $80+
• Hi Boston - Hostel $65+
• Found Hotel Boston Common $99+
• Ramada by Wyndham Boston $162+
• Flight Philadelphia - Boston (PHL - BOS) $48+
• Flight Baltimore - Boston (BWI - BOS) $57+
• Flight Chicago - Boston (ORD - BOS) $74+
• Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Atlanta Airport $63+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Atlanta Airport North $98+
• Sonesta Select Atlanta Cumberland Galleria $100+
• Flight Houston - Atlanta (HOU - ATL) $35+
• Flight Houston - Atlanta (IAH - ATL) $35+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Atlanta (FLL - ATL) $39+
• Generator Madrid $32+
• C&h Aravaca Garden $40+
• Toc Hostel And Suites Madrid $46+
• Flight New York - London (JFK - LGW) $326+
• Flight Newark - Barcelona (EWR - BCN) $349+
• Flight New York - Madrid (JFK - MAD) $391+
• Rodeway Inn Fairgrounds-Casino $64+
• Tampa Inn - Near Busch Gardens $68+
• Econo Lodge Airport at RJ Stadium $69+
• Flight Baltimore - Florida (BWI - USFL) $43+
• Flight Philadelphia - Florida (PHL - USFL) $47+
• Flight Newark - Florida (EWR - USFL) $50+
• Flight Atlanta - Tampa (ATL - TPA) $38+
• Flight Philadelphia - Tampa (PHL - TPA) $42+
• Flight Raleigh - Tampa (RDU - TPA) $58+

New Orleans

• Ramada by Wyndham New Orleans $69+
• Wyndham Garden Hotel Baronne Plaza $94+
• Maison Saint Charles by Hotel RL $100+
• Flight Atlanta - New Orleans (ATL - MSY) $56+
• Flight Dallas - New Orleans (DFW - MSY) $60+
• Flight Chicago - New Orleans (ORD - MSY) $69+

Frequently asked questions about KAYAK

How do i find travel deals on kayak.

Simply use one of our travel search engines to scan for prices gathered from hundreds of travel sites. KAYAK’s search results pages have loads of filter options to help you find deals, discover exactly what you’re looking for and make booking seamless. Plus, there’s no extra fee from KAYAK.

How can I use KAYAK to manage my travel bookings?

KAYAK Trips creates a travel itinerary for you that will give you flight status alerts, can be shared with friends and more. Simply forward your booking confirmations to [email protected] or use the KAYAK app and sync your email account to keep all your travel plans organized in one app, even if you didn’t book with KAYAK. You can share your holiday plans with friends and family and also check out your travel stats for past vacations, like how far you’ve traveled, your most popular cities and how many times you’ve traveled around the world. Even if you don’t have signal, don’t worry, as you can access Trips to check out your itineraries whilst on the road. Your data is safe and secure with us and you won’t have to re-enter credit card info when booking future trips. If you want to make changes or cancel bookings, then you should contact the travel provider, which is provided on the booking confirmation.

What makes KAYAK a great travel app?

On the KAYAK app for iOS and Android you’ll find all the great travel offers found on the website and much more. There are special mobile rates and app only deals that allow you to save even more money. Plus, you can get notifications straight to your phone letting you know when prices for your next trip have dropped. But the KAYAK app is much more than just a travel app. Use the Trips function to manage your travel itinerary and get up to date status alerts on flights, check-in changes and to store your boarding pass. Even if you’re in the middle of nowhere on your travels, you can still access your travel notes via Trips, as no internet connection is required.

What are KAYAK Price Alerts?

Instead of manually checking back in on the price of your next flight or stay, let KAYAK do the hard work for you with KAYAK Price Alerts. Once you’ve saved your search, our data will determine how the price will rise or fluctuate over the coming days. You’ll then get a push notification letting you know when’s the perfect time to book.

Search cheap flights with KAYAK. Search for the cheapest airline tickets for all the top airlines around the world and the top international flight routes . KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find cheap airfare and book a flight that suits you best. Since KAYAK searches many plane ticket sites at once, you can find cheap tickets from cheap airlines and for trains and buses quickly.

KAYAK also helps you find the right hotels for your needs.

21 Travel Experiences You Must Have Once (And Only Once)

Lifestyle Editor, HuffPost

A few epic places on this Earth deserve a permanent, recurring role on your lifetime to-do list. Then there are overhyped places you should never, ever waste your time on in the first place.

Finally, there's a hybrid of the two: a "one and done" travel experience so epic and so awesome and so life-altering, it really only needs to be completed once. After that, you're either too high on adrenaline or too full of food or too sick of tourists to EVER do it again.

Allow us to show you what we mean.

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This app has many travel features and information, but its primary purpose is for searching and booking flights, hotels, cars. Kayak can book travel services such as Travelocity, Expedia, Hertz, Avis and others directly, allowing you to create a complete itinerary of the best deals online all under one app. To get the best prices […]

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11 One-and-done Travel Dresses Under $50 That Will Make Any Mom Feel Comfortable and Stylish

These unfussy frocks make travel dressing fast, effortless, and mega stylish.

Alesandra Dubin is an LA-based lifestyle writer and editor. As a veteran digital journalist, she's covered travel, food, parenting, and more for over 15 years. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, and countless other online and print outlets. An avid traveler, she often trots the globe with her husband and their twins. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @alicedubin. Alesandra holds a master's degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley.

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Travel + Leisure / Tyler Roeland

The key to successful packing is a pared-down wardrobe with pieces that are easy to care for, easy to wear, and go with just about everything in your suitcase. As parents, our suitcase space is already maxed out, so finding one-and-done outfits that take up less space than multiple pieces, is always a plus. 

From shirt dresses to maxis, our list of the best includes pieces for all seasons, made for layering, and for dressing up or down as circumstances require. There’s even a couple dresses that make breastfeeding on the go a breeze on this list. Best of all? They’re all under $50 — so you can fill your suitcase for your next trip without breaking the bank.

Linen Button-Front Dress

This ethically made belted linen dress is so chic and versatile with a midi length and a button front. It’s a great year-round option in an array of climates because the fabrication is breathable and regulates heat. The buttons make it breastfeeding-friendly and it’s made from 100-percent European flax, which requires less resources to grow and is a more sustainable option. Huge bonus: It has pockets to stash all your essentials (or your kids’ many collected “treasures”) for travel. 

To buy: quince.com , $50

Amazon Essentials Waisted Maxi Dress

This affordable dress comes in 19 colors and patterns — so it wouldn’t hurt to pick up a couple in, say, versatile black plus notice-me yellow or flirty floral. The stretchy empire waist makes this dress last from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond. And the flattering draping allows it to transition in a cinch from day to night.

To buy: amazon.com , $26 (originally $27)

Organic Cotton Weekend T-Shirt Dress

This lightweight T-shirt dress from a Meghan Markle-approved brand is as classic as they come — it goes from the beach to the street in a snap. It has a soft, lived-in look and feel — a vibe like a favorite vintage T-shirt — and a relaxed fit throughout. It also has a front chest pocket for functionality and style. And it’s made of 100-percent organic cotton. It’s easy to dress up or dress down and most importantly, to toss in the washing machine.

To buy: everlane.com , $50

Striped Wrap Mini

This ribbed maxi is versatile, comfortable — and totally practical. The rayon and spandex construction is machine washable. The dress has a babydoll silhouette, hitting above the knee, and offers bra coverage, and the V-neck wrap style is nursing friendly. Plus, the navy and white striped look has a nautical — even downright French — vibe.

To buy: maurices.com , $30

Zora Maternity Maternity and Nursing Maxi

This dress goes everywhere you do on your journeys — from pregnancy through postpartum and nursing and beyond. It’s super lightweight with a cut-out scoop neck for easy breastfeeding on the go. Side slits help ventilate the maxi length, and the viscose and polyester fabric wicks moisture away. 

To buy: nordstrom.com , $50

Rolled Mini T-Shirt Dress

An easy knit T-shirt dress goes literally anywhere — from a long-haul flight to a beach day to a night out, paired with wedge sandals and chunky jewelry. This ultra budget-friendly version has a classic crew neck, short cap sleeves, and rolled trim done in 100-percent cotton. Choose from versatile black, brown, or light olive, or better yet, get all three because… well, kids.

To buy: Forever 21 , $25

Merokeety Short-Sleeve Belted Dress

This cute, go-everywhere dress in rayon and polyester is machine washable and no-fuss with a bit of stretch. The lightweight sheath has a crew neck and tie belted waist breezy enough even for the beach, but dresses up nicely, too. And it has side pockets to boot. It’s perfect for chasing kids around while still feeling put together.

To buy: amazon.com , $30 (originally $40)

Waist-defined Twist-Front Shirt Dress

This budget-friendly dress looks so pulled together for all kinds of travel purposes — from business meetings to sightseeing in style. It has a spread collar with a five-button front, and a twist-front detailing that gives it an elevated look. It has a relaxed fit and is available in a size-inclusive range up to 4XL. It’s also machine washable in rayon, nylon, and linen. 

To buy: oldnavy.gap.com , $50 

Denim Belted Shirt Dress

A denim dress goes with just about everything — and holds up ruggedly against real-world wear, with minimal wrinkling and easy care (it’s machine washable). This shirt dress has a regular fit and tie waist. Wear it with trainers for a day of strolling around town, or dress it up with wedges or booties. It layers like a dream, too.

To buy: asos.com , $50

Billow-Tiered Maxi Dress

This super breezy, lightweight dress has a long A-line silhouette and is made of 100-percent cotton, so it’s guaranteed to move and breathe easily when you’re traveling in warm, sticky climates — and it’s on MAJOR sale. It even has pockets to seal the deal. Note that this dress runs large; consider sizing down when you shop.

To buy: everlane.com , $38 (originally $128)

Lightspun V-Neck Midi Dress

This midi dress made of super-soft gauze is easy dressing at its finest. It has a V-neckline and an open back for visual interest (plus a bit of skin in contrast to the otherwise full-coverage frock). It’s machine washable and pleated all around. Basic black makes it a perfect match for, well, everything in your suitcase.

To buy: madewell.com , $40 (originally $128)

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Our Family Travel Adventures

 Hi! My name is Sarah, I am a school based clinical social worker, wife, and mom of one who enjoys traveling with my family of three.  My husband Chris is a Certified Facilities Manager and our son Nathaniel (Nathan) is now 9.  While we did not set out to have just one child it just kinda worked out that way.  So we are making the best of the life we were given by keeping busy with family travel adventures.  I thought I'd share some of our trips in the hopes that others may learn from our hits and avoid our misses. Thanks for stopping by, looking forward to hearing from you! 

Happy Travels,

Our Travel Style and What to Expect From My Blog

We love to meld child friendly activities with adult enjoyed fun. Obviously as your child gets older this gets easier.  My blog will let you know where we stayed, what we ate and what we did in each destination (links provided).  It will end with what we would do if we returned to that location and give you tips and tricks for traveling with a child at various ages.  Come enjoy our family travel adventures!

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of one and done in English

One and done.

• (every) now and then/again idiom
• ever and anon
• it's not every day (that)... idiom
• like ships that pass in the night idiom
• once-in-a-lifetime

Word of the Day

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relating to the scientific study of animals, especially their structure

Dead ringers and peas in pods (Talking about similarities, Part 2)

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These Americans bought abandoned homes in Italy for as little as $1 and spent thousands renovating: Was it worth it?

Picture this: A house with extensive mold, water damage, termites and a collapsed roof in a tiny town where you don't speak the language. Not exactly a prime real estate opportunity, right?

For Rubia Daniels, though, the dilapidated building in Sicily also served as an exciting chance to build the home of her dreams — and it cost her almost nothing to get started.

Daniels, 50, of Berkeley, Calif., is one of hundreds of people who've taken advantage of an offer that made news around the world: a home in Italy for 1 euro. 

In the late 2010s, towns around Italy started going viral for selling off crumbling properties for 1 euro, or roughly $1.05. The goal? To attract foreign investors to buy up the houses, rehab them and get dwindling population numbers back up.

Of course, there was a catch. In some towns, the 1-euro purchase was symbolic and just the start of more expenses down the line. In others, bids start at 1 euro but can go much higher.

There was also a big stipulation: Once buyers got their properties, they had to complete their renovations within a certain timeframe, usually three years. Costs could easily climb into the tens of thousands of euros. 

Each town handles its own 1-euro program, so we don't know exactly how many homes have been sold across Italy since the concept took off. But experts estimate the campaigns have brought in thousands of visitors who've bought cheap houses across the country.

How much does it really cost to buy and renovate a 1-euro home in Italy? And is taking on a major housing project across the world worth the money and the stress? CNBC Make It went to Sicily to talk to people who've gone through the process to find out.

Transforming an historic town, 1 euro at a time

The 1-euro campaign was first proposed in 2008 by TV personality Vittorio Sgarbi , then the mayor of Salemi in southern Sicily, where homes were destroyed in a 1968 earthquake.

The idea has since spread to dozens of municipalities across the country.

One of the most well-known towns with a 1-euro scheme is Mussomeli, a roughly 2-hour drive south of Sicily's capital city of Palermo. In Mussomeli, more than 100 homes have been sold for 1 euro, as well as roughly 200 so-called premium houses, which start around 5,000 euros and require fewer repairs.

Toti Nigrelli, Mussomeli's deputy mayor who oversees the program, credits the town's success to a user-friendly website that lays out exactly how interested homebuyers can schedule a tour and get started. Tens of thousands of requests came in "immediately" after the site launched in 2017, he says. The town made its first 1-euro sale to a Belgian visitor within two weeks.

Daniels is one of a handful of American homeowners there.

She first learned about the program from her husband, who'd read about it online. Daniels, an avid traveler who works in construction, was hooked. She booked her hotel and flight out to Sicily to see if the opportunity was too good to be true.

Days into her trip in spring 2019, Daniels called her husband. They were now the proud owners of not one or two but three separate 1-euro properties in Mussomeli, she told him.

Because she works in construction, Daniels says she didn't just see endless amounts of work in front of her. Instead, she visualized the final result of three dream projects: a vacation home, a restaurant and a wellness center.

Once Daniels landed on her properties, she got a rundown of what the dream would actually cost. The houses were sold for 1 euro each but also incurred a 500-euro realtors fee and 2,800-euro deed. That added up to a total of 3,301 euros, or roughly $3,500, for each building. 

She felt up to the challenge. Daniels went home to pack her tools and returned that summer with her husband, brother-in-law and five suitcases full of renovation supplies.

So far, she's focused on fixing up her vacation home and initially estimated renovations to cost $20,000. Those renovation plans include a new kitchen, marble finishes, restored stone walls and a fireplace in the bathroom. Years later, she's spent $35,000 and hopes to stay under $40,000. It's a lot of work, but the process still feels as exciting as it did on day one, she says.

Daniels is building the house of her dreams, "which I wouldn't be able to do back in California because the cost would be much higher," she says. Daniels plans to visit her Mussomeli home for vacations and split her time between California and Sicily in retirement. 

Daniels is such a fan of the 1-euro initiative that she's encouraged friends and family to take the leap. On one recent visit to Mussomeli, Daniels brought along two fellow Californians, Alfredo Ramirez and his mother, Elena, to tour the houses.

Alfredo, 35, was struck by the price difference: The amount of space he could get for 16,000 euros in Mussomeli might run him over $330,000 in Petaluma, Calif., where he lives and works in customer service.

'4 million moments of frustration,' but no regrets

About an hour's drive from Mussomeli is the town of Sambuca di Sicilia. In 2019, it went viral for auctioning off old homes with bids starting at 1 euro. 

There, Meredith Tabbone, 44, of Chicago, bought and renovated a 1-euro house of her own.

At the time, Tabbone was looking into getting dual citizenship in Italy, where part of her family was from before they immigrated to the U.S.

A friend told her about the Sicilian home project. "I thought it was too good to be true," Tabbone says, "but I checked when I saw the name Sambuca and took a look, and it was the same village that my great-grandfather came from in 1902 to the United States."

On one of the final days of the auction, Tabbone placed her bid of 5,555 euros for a property, sight unseen.

"A lot of people warned me that it could be a scam [and that] I could end up losing a lot of money," she recalls. In May, she got the email that her bid won. She paid what she owed, plus some taxes and fees, bringing the home sale up to 5,900 euros, or roughly $6,200.

From the moment that I sent in the bid and checked my email every day and found out that I won, all the way through this process, there have been 4 million moments of frustration, exhaustion, contemplation of how to move forward. Meredith Tabbone 1-euro homeowner from Chicago

Tabbone flew to see her new home for the first time in June 2019. She then bought the building next door through a private sale with the owner for 22,000 euros, or just over $23,000. 

The additional purchase meant more space to build her dream vacation home. It also meant much higher renovation costs. What started as a 40,000-euro budget to renovate 620 square feet grew to 140,000 euros to cover 2,700 square feet.

Over the next four years, Tabbone visited Sambuca for weeks at a time to oversee a local crew for the extensive overhaul: They knocked down walls to join the properties; leveled the flooring across 18 small rooms; reinforced the structure against earthquakes; added two large terraces; and opened up the kitchen, dining and living rooms. 

All in, she spent about 425,000 euros on renovations, or roughly $446,000.

"From the moment that I sent in the bid and checked my email every day and found out that I won, all the way through this process, there have been 4 million moments of frustration, exhaustion, contemplation of how to move forward," Tabbone says.

That being said, "I never felt like this wasn't the right place for me to be, and that this wasn't the right project for me to work on or community to live in," she says. "I've learned so much about my family, which has been really special for me because my father passed away when I was a senior in high school."

When unexpected challenges derail the plan

Not all renovation plans work out. That was the case for Danny McCubbin, 59, who's originally from Australia and was living in London when he heard about Mussomeli's 1-euro program.

In spring 2019, he made his first visit and toured 28 houses before buying his property.

His vision was different from most: McCubbin wasn't looking for a home to live in, but rather a space to launch a food-rescue charity, building upon his 17 years working on food-based campaigns for Jamie Oliver in London. He was inspired by his observation that lots of elderly people and families were not getting fresh food in Mussomeli.

The pandemic delayed his plans to rehab a 1-euro house for the project. The home experienced extensive water damage while he was stuck in London for 10 months. By the time he returned, his 15,000-euro quote for renovations doubled.

He decided to sell his house back to the real estate agency for 1 euro and found a different space to rent in the town square. His charity, The Good Kitchen, now operates from the space next door, where rent and utilities run 400 euros a month.

McCubbin says he doesn't regret a thing: He's grateful the scheme helped him establish his Italian residency and brought him to Mussomeli. 

Locals are glad he stayed, too: Each week, volunteers at The Good Kitchen work to rescue surplus food from nearby markets and deliver grocery packages to local families in need. They also host a weekly lunch for community members.

"My dream is that one day we will be able to provide jobs, especially for young people in the town," he says.

A flood of foreign capital, jobs, tourism and newcomers

Mussomeli's 1-euro campaign has already had a positive impact by bringing more foreign investment, tourism and jobs, says Nigrelli, the town's deputy mayor.

Mussomeli had roughly 16,000 residents in the 1950s, he explains, but populations declined through the '80s as young people left for university and better career opportunities in northern Italy. Today, roughly 9,900 people remain in town. 

Like many small towns in Sicily, Mussomeli doesn't have a major university. As a result, many jobs that stay in town are concentrated in construction, agriculture and the trades. The compounding effect has left the region with a large youth unemployment problem: Roughly 32% of young Sicilians from age 15 to 29 are unemployed — one of the highest rates in Italy.

Even when young people return to Mussomeli, they can find the small town limiting. Federica Prezioso, 37, moved away to study in Palermo, Milan and London. She returned to work as a teacher and raise children, but says it's hard to see her friends move away over time.

She's in favor of schemes like the 1-euro home program. Large-scale renovations mean more jobs for carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other construction workers. The project even brought a wave of Argentinian doctors who moved there and resolved a shortage of health-care workers.

Even if prospective homebuyers or curious tourists don't settle on a property to purchase, the increase in foot traffic has led to a boost for local restaurants, hotels and retail stores. Mussomeli's tourism sector increased by 3,000% within the first year of launching the 1-euro home program, according to Nigrelli.

In the last seven years, Mussomeli has sold off nearly all of its 1-euro homes, another marker of success. Roughly a dozen houses are left, says Natalie Milazzo, a local real estate agent. 

Meanwhile, there are over 100 premium houses currently on the market, Milazzo says. Many of them are being sold by families who've moved away or inherited multiple properties and see an influx of interested foreigners as an opportunity to make a profit.

With more foreign home investors and visitors come higher real estate costs. As the demand for previously worthless homes has increased, Nigrelli says, the price of homes for sale and for rent have risen by up to 100%.

This could become a problem for incoming homebuyers purchasing old properties and renting places to stay during renovations. On the other hand, Nigrelli estimates roughly 90% of Mussomeli residents already own their homes, so rising real estate prices have a smaller immediate impact on locals.

Looking ahead: 'The respect of the old town is the most important thing'

In 2021, a group of young professionals in Cammarata, Sicily, started a nonprofit called StreetTo, which works with the city to advertise 1-euro and cheap houses to foreigners. So far, the program has attracted a handful of young people and couples who move to the town to work remotely, says volunteer Martina Giracello, 31.

Houses that aren't being sold for 1 euro range between 5,000 to 25,000 euros, or $5,250 to $26,250. StreetTo volunteers say they list houses at a sustainable pace to avoid gentrification and out-of-control housing prices.

"The respect of the old town is the most important thing," Giracello says.

Gianluca Militello, 38, says volunteering with StreetTo is one of the main ways young people like him can improve their futures in Cammarata: "We want to be surrounded by people who can bring something to our own lives."

"It's also personal," he adds.

Back in Mussomeli, Nigrelli says local officials across Sicily have asked him for guidance to bring 1-euro programs to their town. One recent partnership: Getting a campaign up and running in Caltanissetta , an hour's drive east.

Daniels and Tabbone, the American homebuyers in Mussomeli and Sambuca, say their 1-euro journeys have been worth it.

Their small Sicilian towns offer a low cost of living. A nice meal out might be 10 euros or less, while a round-trip flight within Europe or to Africa might run you just 45 euros, Tabbone says.

Another big draw: the Sicilian approach to leisure, including a daily lunch and nap break from noon to 4 p.m. when most of the town shuts down.

Tabbone, who runs her own business as a financial advisor, says the slower pace of life abroad makes her want to "have the focus of my life be about just personal fulfillment in general," rather than work.

A mentality that prioritizes leisure and socializing makes for a lower-stress life, Daniels says. "People here, they consume a lot of alcohol, nicotine, carbs, and they live longer than most places," she points out. "I believe it's because the level of stress is so low and [the fact that] the community is so active that that gives them longevity."

Daniels feels strongly that historic renovation programs are beneficial in part because they're sustainable. Around the world, "we have destroyed so much of the environment building things instead of using what exists," she says.

Tabbone is glad to have the chance to connect with her family history and considers the Sambuca project a "huge success" for bringing attention to the village. 

She's wary of fielding questions from foreigners like herself who want to buy an old home and turn it into an investment property. "I'm very grateful that I do not know anybody doing that, because I do not want this to be a village of Airbnbs," she says.

Tabbone says she will never sell her Sambuca home despite getting many offers. "I have a cousin, [and] I've already told her she can use the house if I pass away before her. After that, it's going to be donated to the village."

"A lot of people refer to this as a revival of this town," Tabbone adds. "I like to think of it more as a renaissance."

Conversions from euros to USD were done using the OANDA conversion rate of 1 euro to 1.05 USD on Oct 18, 2023. All amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Want to land your dream job in 2024?  Take  CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview  to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay.

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Road Trips: How to Plan an Accessible Getaway

By Syren Nagakyrie

Planning an accessible road trip is getting a little easier for people with disabilities. There are more resources created by and for the disability community, and the tourism industry is starting to recognize the value of accessible travel. As a disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent person, I take road trips every year and have learned some tips and tricks along the way.

Renting a vehicle

Most major car companies offer adaptive driving devices for their vehicles at no additional cost. Enterprise , for example, offers hand controls, left foot accelerators, pedal extenders and spinner knobs to facilitate steering. Budget can provide hand controls, spinner knobs, a panoramic mirror, swivel seats and transfer boards. Be prepared to request adaptive devices at least three business days in advance.

For a wheelchair-accessible van with a ramp or a lift, rent from a mobility company like BraunAbility , one of the largest builders of wheelchair-accessible vans in the country, with rentals at many locations. MobilityWorks , an accessible-vehicle and adaptive-equipment dealer, has rental locations in 34 states. AccessibleGO , which offers a one-stop shop for adapted rental cars and wheelchair-accessible vans, has agreements with 100 wheelchair van rental locations nationwide; request a quote on their website. For accessibleGO’s rental cars, you can request hand controls and a spinner knob at checkout.

Route planning

You can use Google Maps, Waze and MapQuest for initial accessibility research using photos and street view. Google Maps provides directions for some wheelchair-accessible pedestrian and transit routes.

Sites such as Roadtrippers and Furkot can plot an entire itinerary. While these websites are not disability specific, they are invaluable tools. (Roadtrippers does have a wheelchair-accessible check box in the search function.) You can filter by types of destinations such as national parks or museums, and search for hotels and campgrounds. Furkot allows you to input how long you want to drive each day, whether you want to travel on Interstate highways or take more scenic roads. The app will determine the best route and length of time between stops, and suggest where to stay overnight.

Finding lodging

While hotels and other accommodations are required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, many hotels do not meet all accessibility needs. Most of the booking sites list hotels with accessible rooms for those with mobility, hearing and vision needs, but this information is not always verified. Do additional research on review sites and look for photos. Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton and Fairmont hotels offer allergy-friendly and scent-free rooms in some locations. Call the hotel to verify accessibility and to make sure a specific room is reserved for you.

Vacation rentals are typically not required to be A.D.A. compliant, but some do provide accessibility information. Airbnb recently rolled out an adapted category with accessibility search features and homes that have been scanned for accessibility. Review photos and contact the host for more information. Some hosts will make accommodations, such as changing the cleaning supplies or shifting furniture, but document your request using the in-app messaging system so that customer service can help if you run into issues.

Wheel the World is an accessible travel agency offering bookings at over 3,000 verified accessible hotels in the United States. The hotels have been reviewed in person by trained assessors; only those that meet the criteria are listed. Sign up as a disabled traveler or a companion and complete a personal profile that includes options for a variety of disabilities and accessibility needs. The site will provide listings that match your profile with partial, adequate and outstanding match options.

Food and medication

There are a variety of options to keep food or medication cold while traveling. Electric coolers can plug into your vehicle’s 12-volt outlet, but pay attention to the type of cooling mechanism — the less expensive versions are usually thermoelectric and will cool only to about 30 degrees below ambient temperature (if it is 70 degrees in the car, it will cool to 40 degrees). Compressor coolers are more expensive but maintain normal refrigerated temperatures.

Many hotels provide mini-refrigerators. When you know you will be stopping somewhere with a fridge almost every night, layer large ice packs and supplies in a cooler, then top them with another insulating layer like a cooling bag. This keeps everything cold for a couple of days at a time.

It’s also a good idea to travel with a single-burner cooktop — electric to use inside, or propane to use at rest areas and campgrounds — and a camp mess kit so that you can safely cook meals.

Some of the best apps to find food, restaurants and grocery stores that accommodate dietary needs are Fig for allergy-specific options, Happy Cow for vegan-friendly options and Find Me Gluten Free for celiac-safe spots. Add your favorite options to the route-planning app so that you know where to stop.

Finding activities

In addition to the apps mentioned in the route-planning section, state and local tourism organizations are good sources for accessible destinations.

National parks and monuments, which are required to meet federal accessibility guidelines, typically have visitor centers and recreation sites with accessible features. Each park website has information, as well as programs and services within the park. While accessibility varies, you can usually find information on wheelchair-accessible trails and campsites, tactile and audio features, assistive listening devices, and American Sign Language interpreters.

At state parks, accessibility features may not be consistent, but you can usually find some information on each park’s website.

Apps like AllTrails list wheelchair-friendly trails across the country, but the information may not be verified, so contact the park or land manager for verification. Among the parks with notable accessible trails are Redwood National and State Parks, North Cascades National Park, Badlands National Park, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park .

Syren Nagakyrie, the founder of the nonprofit Disabled Hikers and the author of “The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon” and “The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Northern California,” among other guidebooks, leads group hikes and conducts assessments throughout the United States.

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Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

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Biden says the US is rushing weaponry to…

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Madeline soto: stephan sterns charged with first-degree murder, biden says the us is rushing weaponry to ukraine as he signs a $95 billion war aid measure into law.

By AAMER MADHANI and SEUNG MIN KIM (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he was immediately rushing badly needed weaponry to Ukraine as he signed into law a $95 billion war aid measure that also included assistance for Israel, Taiwan and other global hotspots.

The announcement marked an end to the long, painful battle with Republicans in Congress over urgently needed assistance for Ukraine, with Biden promising that U.S. weapons shipment would begin making the way into Ukraine “in the next few hours.”

“We rose to the moment, we came together, and we got it done,” Biden said a White House event to announce the bill signing. “Now we need to move fast, and we are.”

But significant damage has been done to the Biden administration’s effort to help Ukraine repel Russia’s invasion during the funding impasse that dates back to August, when the Democratic president made his first emergency spending request for Ukraine aid. Even with a burst of new weapons and ammunition, it’s unlikely Ukraine will immediately recover after months of setbacks.

Biden immediately approved sending Ukraine $1 billion in military assistance , the first tranche from about $61 billion allocated for Ukraine. The package includes air defense capabilities, artillery rounds, armored vehicles and other weapons to shore up Ukrainian forces who have seen morale sink as Russian President Vladimir Putin has racked up win after win.

Meanwhile, Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States , bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials confirmed Wednesday. The U.S. is providing more of the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, in the new military aid package , according to one official who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Still, longer term, it remains uncertain if Ukraine — after months of losses and sustaining massive damage to its infrastructure — can make enough progress to sustain American political support before burning through the latest influx of money.

“It’s not going in the Ukrainians’ favor in the Donbas, certainly not elsewhere in the country,” said White House national security spokesman John Kirby, referring to the eastern industrial heartland where Ukraine has suffered setbacks. “Mr. Putin thinks he can play for time. So we’ve got to try to make up some of that time.”

Tucked into the measure is a provision that gives TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, nine months to sell it or face a nationwide prohibition in the United States. The Biden administration and a bipartisan group of lawmakers have called the social media site a growing national security concern, which ByteDance denies.

The bill also includes about $26 billion in aid for Israel and a surge of about $1 billion in humanitarian relief for Palestinians in Gaza suffering as the Israel-Hamas war continues. Biden said Israel must ensure the humanitarian aid for Palestinians in bill reaches Gaza “without delay.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed a vote on the supplemental aid package for months as members of his party’s far right wing, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, threatened to move to oust him if he allowed a vote to send more assistance to Ukraine. Those threats persist.

Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 presidential GOP nominee, has complained that European allies have not done enough for Ukraine. While he stopped short of endorsing the supplemental funding package, his tone has shifted in recent days, acknowledging that Ukraine’s survival is important to the United States.

Indeed, many European leaders have long been nervous that a second Trump presidency would mean decreased U.S. support for Ukraine and for the NATO military alliance. The European anxiety was heightened in February when Trump in a campaign speech warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to countries that don’t meet defense spending goals if he returns to the White House.

It was a key moment in the debate over Ukraine spending. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg quickly called out Trump for putting “American and European soldiers at increased risk.” But in reality, the White House maneuvering to win additional funding for Ukraine started months earlier.

Biden, the day after returning from a whirlwind trip to Tel Aviv following Hamas militants’ stunning Oct. 7 attack on Israel, used a rare prime-time address to make his pitch for the supplemental funding.

At the time, the House was in chaos because the Republican majority had been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who had been ousted weeks earlier at the urging of restive legislators on the right.

Far-right Republicans have adamantly opposed sending more money for Ukraine, with the war appearing to have no end in sight. Biden in August requested more than $20 billion to keep aid flowing into Ukraine, but the money was stripped out of a must-pass spending bill .

By late October, Republicans finally settled on Johnson, a low-profile Louisiana Republican whose thinking on Ukraine was opaque, to serve as the next speaker. Biden during his congratulatory call with Johnson urged him to quickly pass Ukraine aid and began a monthslong, largely behind-the-scenes effort to bring the matter to a vote.

In private conversations with Johnson, Biden and White House officials leaned into the stakes for Europe if Ukraine were to fall to Russia. On explicit orders from Biden, White House officials also avoided directly attacking Johnson over the stalled aid.

Biden praised Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., saying in the end they “stepped up and did the right thing.”

“History will remember this moment,” he said.

At frustrating moments during the negotiations, Biden urged his aides to “just keep talking, keep working,” according to a senior administration official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal discussions.

So they did. In a daily meeting convened by White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, the president’s top aides would brainstorm possible ways to better make the case about Ukraine’s dire situation in the absence of aid.

The White House also sought to accommodate Johnson and his various asks. For instance, administration officials at the speaker’s request briefed Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., two conservatives who were persistent antagonists of Johnson.

In public, the administration deployed a strategy of downgrading intelligence that demonstrated Russia’s efforts to tighten its ties with U.S. adversaries China, North Korea and Iran to fortify Moscow’s defense industrial complex and get around U.S. and European sanctions.

The $61 billion can help triage Ukrainian forces, but Kyiv will need much more for a fight that could last years, military experts say.

Realistic goals for the months ahead for Ukraine — and its allies — include avoiding the loss of major cities, slowing Russia’s momentum and getting to Kyiv additional weaponry that could help them go on the offensive in 2025, said Bradley Bowman, a defense strategy and policy analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington.

“I think Ukrainian success is not guaranteed,” Bowman said, “but Russian success is if we stop supporting Ukraine.”

Biden lamented that the package did not include money to bolster U.S. border security. The White House had proposed including in the package provisions it said would have helped stem the tide of migrants and asylum seekers coming to the U.S. Republicans, however, rejected the proposal at the urging of Trump, who did not want to give Biden the win on an issue that’s been an albatross for the Democratic administration.

Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor, Haleluya Hadero, Mary Clare Jalonick and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

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Money latest: TSB announces big increases to mortgage rates - as 'market thrown into turmoil'

TSB has followed other major lenders in hiking mortgage rates. First-time buyer, mover and remortgage rates are going up by as much as 0.45%. Read this plus all the latest consumer and personal finance news below - and leave your thoughts in the box.

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MPs have voted in favour of the government's Renters' Reform Bill - despite it including an indefinite delay to the end of no-fault evictions.

A debate on the legislation ran throughout Wednesday afternoon, including around a new clause from the government which would hold off outlawing Section 21s until a review of the courts system had taken place.

But despite outrage from charities, campaigners and opposition parties around the measure, it got the backing of the majority of MPs - and the bill passed its final stage in the Commons shortly after 6.30pm.

A Section 21 notice is the legal mechanism allowing landlords to evict tenants without providing a reason, which creates uncertainty for those who rent their homes.

The government first promised to ban the notices five years ago, back when Theresa May was still in Number 10.

But it has faced numerous delays amid threats of rebellion from Tory backbenchers - some of them landlords - who said they feared ending Section 21s would see the courts overwhelmed with more complex eviction cases.

Ministers agreed to amend the bill to ensure no ban was enacted until a probe into the courts had been held.

But the clause offers no timeline - leaving no clear date for when Section 21s will actually be scrapped.

Read more here... 

By Daniel Binns , business reporter

Ryanair is suing air traffic control body Nats over last summer's flight chaos when more than 700,000 passengers were hit by cancellations and delays.

The low-cost carrier's chief executive Michael O'Leary said his company had been forced to pay out around £15m in compensation following the  widespread disruption  around the August Bank Holiday Monday.

An investigation into the meltdown found it was caused by a  National Air Traffic Services (Nats) technical glitch .

Around 300,000 people suffered cancellations, while approximately 95,000 endured delays of over three hours, and at least a further 300,000 were hit by shorter delays.

Airlines lost a total of £100m in refunds, rebookings, hotel rooms and refreshments.

Mr O'Leary told Sky's  Business Live with Ian King : "When things go wrong in the airline industry, we have to compensate our passengers and we want to recover those costs directly from Nats."

A spokeswoman for Nats told Sky News: "Our legal team is reviewing the claim and will respond as required."

Yesterday we reported on a Which? survey ranking Virgin Media as having the worst overall customer service among broadband providers...

Virgin Media hit back - saying the annual survey used a sample size of 0.01% of its customer base, and on average 95% of customer complaints were resolved during a customer's first initial call.

And they told the Money blog improvements were being made to customer service...

"We are investing and making changes across our business to deliver tangible customer service improvements and ensure all customers receive the best possible service," the company said.

"For example, we're multi-skilling our teams and rolling out new IT platforms that make it easier for customers to get support and have issues resolved the first time they get in touch." 

Our comments section has been bombarded with people saying they are Virgin Media customers and sharing their experiences - all but two were negative.

Here's a selection...

Virgin Media broadband keeps dropping down in speed, sometimes it drops out all day. Phoning them makes no difference. We will change supplier when our contract is up. Alan Francis

I completely agree. I've had a year of unbelievably bad service relating to the installation of broadband in our new house. It's impossible to communicate with Virgin Media without severe trauma. Everything goes through one number into an automated system that simply doesn't work. Frank

Been with Virgin Media for 13 years and they have really dropped in customer service, they don't value loyalty and all their call handlers seem to be working from home. If there is a problem they transfer you to somebody else who you have to explain your issue to again. Plumby

We moved from Virgin Media for our broadband/TV a few years ago for precisely that reason - very poor customer service. Carol Bell

I left Virgin this week too. New customers get a good price whilst existing customers see prices triple. Non-UK call centre that just pass you around when anything goes wrong. Just cancelling took an hour on the phone. Glad there are new fibre providers in my area. Digger

Current Virgin Media customer and it gives me anxiety knowing I have to call them as it takes too long to get anyone on the call or they have disconnected me, or they say they cannot help and transfer me to another department and then drop the call. LisaJ

A reader calling themselves GH was more positive, saying: "I have just renewed with Virgin Media, great customer service."

And Wells85 said: "I am a Virgin customer and have been for the last nearly seven years and I think their broadband service is top notch and their customer service."

There are only a few weeks left until all cats in England need to be microchipped.

From 10 June, every moggie must have a chip and be registered on a database by the time they are 20 weeks old.

The numbered device, which shows up whenever an animal is scanned, is placed under the skin, usually around the shoulder area.

It is likely to cost £20-£30 and will be used to identify your cat if it gets lost.

Owners who miss the deadline could be fined up to £500.

There are also fears that pet insurance may be affected - if, for example, your cat is stolen and you make a claim.

There are more than nine million pet cats in England, and up to 2.3 million are unchipped, the environment department said.

Your feline's microchip "must be fitted by a trained professional", the government website says.

Vets, local councils, rescue and rehoming centres may all be able to help.

Owners are asked to keep the chip information up to date - for example, if they move house.

There are various databases that meet government standards on which to register the chip, including Animal Data, Animal Tracker and Lost Paws.

TSB has followed other major lenders in hiking mortgage rates this week - and theirs are pretty big.

First-time buyer, mover and remortgage rates are going up by as much as 0.45%.

Shared ownership/equity products will rise by up to 0.75%.

The lender is also withdrawing some tracker mortgages - and all house purchase and remortgage products (two and five-year fixed) without a fee.

It follows upward moves from NatWest, Barclays, Accord, Leeds Building Society and HSBC on Monday, and Coventry last week.

They are responding to swap rates - which dictate how much it costs to lend money - rising on the back of higher than expected US inflation data, and concerns this could delay interest rate cuts there. 

US trends often materialise elsewhere - though many economists are still expecting a base rate cut from 5.25% to 5% in the UK in June.

Ken James, director at Contractor Mortgage Services, told Newspage: "As lenders scramble for safety, the mortgage landscape appears increasingly grim. 

"With swap rates on the rise, lenders are transparent about their need for profit margins, prompting them to hike up their rates accordingly. 

"The significant uptick in rates for shared ownership mortgages suggests that TSB is distancing itself from this sector, leaving aspiring homeowners with even fewer options. 

"While TSB may be the latest target of criticism, they are not alone in seeking refuge in lifeboats, as more lenders follow suit.

"The mortgage market is once again thrown into turmoil, echoing past upheavals."

Holiday price increases may be starting to ease heading into the summer as competition heats up across the sector, Jet2 says.

Trips booked for this summer have seen "a modest increase" in cost compared with last year, the tour operator says - but prices have recently become "more competitive, particularly for April and May departures".

Russ Mould, an analyst at AJ Bell, said: "This could be a sign that the pricing power enjoyed by the sector, with people prepared to pay whatever it takes to get their week in the sun, is starting to ease."

People visiting Venice for day trips will have to pay a tourist tax from tomorrow.

The €5 charge is being implemented in part to tackle overtourism in the picturesque Italian city.

It won't be in place every day - the first charging period lasts from 25 April to 5 May. 

It will then come back into play on May 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26, June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30, and July 6, 7, 13 and 14 - between 8.30am and 4pm.

Some UK banks have potential loopholes in their security systems which leave customers at risk from online scammers, according to consumer champion Which?

The group looked at the apps and websites of 13 current account providers with assistance from experts.

Despite all using multi-layered security to try and prevent security breaches, some still fell below the expected standard.

Which? gave TSB a score of 54% for its mobile app security and 67% for online security - the lowest and second-lowest scores respectively.

The Co-operative Bank placed last for online security, with a score of 61%.

A lucky EuroMillions player in the UK has just one week left to claim their £1m prize.

The punter, who bought the ticket in Northumberland, won the cash in the UK Millionaire Maker draw on 3 November 2023.

Ten UK players were made millionaires that night - but one is still yet to come forward and collect their prize.

If the money is not claimed by 1 May, 180 days from the draw date, it will be put towards funding National Lottery projects across the country.

Andy Carter, senior winners' advisor at The National Lottery, said: "While there is still time, there is still hope - we've received valid claims on major National Lottery unclaimed prizes right up to the very last minute before - but time is running out fast. 

"Our appeal is simple, take five minutes out of your day to dig out and check your EuroMillions tickets. Those five minutes could be the most profitable five minutes of your life!"

The Northumberland player is not the only one missing out on a life-changing sum of money - four more major prizes remain unclaimed with just weeks to go.

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

The index, of the 100 most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange, hit a record closing high of 8,023 points on Monday. It then went one better on Tuesday, when it closed at 8,044. And now it has achieved an all-time intraday (during the day) high of 8,090 this morning - and looks to be on course for another closing record this afternoon.

The score, up around 0.5% this morning, is based on a calculation of the total value of the shares on the index.

The figures will help boost investors and London markets after a disappointing few years, commentators have said.

However, as Sky's business presenter Ian King pointed out yesterday , the gains are modest in comparison with other stock markets around the world.

The highs are also the result of a fall in the value of the pound, rather than the UK's improving economic outlook. Currently, £1 buys $1.24 US or €1.16, a slight improvement on the five-month lows seen earlier this week.

One of the best-performing companies on the FTSE 100 this morning is British firm Reckitt Benckiser. It makes health, hygiene and nutrition products - including well-known brands such as Cillit Bang, Durex and Nurofen.

Shares in the Slough-based company have leapt more than 5% following the publication of its first-quarter results, which showed it beat like-for-like sales estimates despite price rises.

In contrast, shares in Lloyds Banking Group slipped 2% in early trading after the lender reported that pre-tax profits for the first three months of the year fell by 28% . However,  it has since made a modest recovery.

Section 21 notices allow landlords to evict tenants with two months' notice after their fixed-term contract ends. They don't have to give a reason - hence the "no fault" eviction label.

The Renters (Reform) Bill, which is set for its final stages in the  Commons today, includes a promise to ban them - but now Michael Gove, the housing secretary, has refused to recommit to his pledge to act before a general election.

Compounding this, the Renters Reform Coalition says several rounds of "damaging concessions" have "fundamentally weakened" a bill which will maintain a "central power imbalance" in favour of landlords.

Labour has suggested the no-fault eviction ban is "collapsing under the weight of vested interests".

Research from Sky News has found more than 100 MPs have earned over £10,000 a year as landlords over the course of this parliament.

A total of 83 Tories have declared they received the sizeable rental payments since the last election in December 2019, along with 18 Labour MPs, four Liberal Democrats and one member of the SNP.

Read that story here ...

Housing Secretary Michael Gove told the BBC he "hopes" the bill will become law ahead of the general election, but it was up to the House of Lords "to decide the rate of progress that we can make".

He said: "If opposition parties are supportive - and I believe that while they have some quibbles, they are supportive of the essential principle that we're bringing forward - then we can have Section 21 ended before the general election. That's the aim."

Research by YouGov, commissioned by homelessness charity Shelter, showed 943,000 tenants had been served Section 21 notices since April 2019.

Consumer champion Jane Hawkes, also known as  Lady Janey , has explained when Britons should use holiday booking and comparison websites - and the circumstances when it's advisable to book directly.

Jane tends to book her UK-based trips directly through the accommodation provider , because you can...

• Get lower rates as the host saves money on any online commission and agent fees;
• Negotiate additional benefits such as upgrades, late/early check-in and free add-ons;
• Take advantage of last-minute availability bookings with discount prices;
• Have one port of call for changes/cancellations/refunds;
• Avoid third party processing fees;
• Accrue loyalty points. 

Jane says she does this herself when booking one of her "go-to" self-catering holiday cottages in Wales, and benefits from reduced rates as a returning guest. 

"We have built a relationship with our hosts over the years and we appreciate being able to contact them directly to discuss bookings," she says. 

If you're booking a holiday cottage, she recommends choosing the letting agency carefully as many online platforms are simply affiliate or listing sites for other companies. 

"If you make a booking using an affiliate or listing site things can get confused and complicated if things go wrong. Always ask who takes responsibility if there is a problem and check the terms and conditions of contracts carefully," Jane says. 

What about trips abroad? 

Conversely, Jane doesn't recommend booking directly for trips abroad as "you will have far less financial protection should one of the elements go wrong". 

You'll have more protection when something goes wrong if you book a package holiday with a reputable travel agent, she says, so your holiday is covered under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements 2018. 

It is also advisable to pay by credit card for additional Section 75 protection or debit card for chargeback. 

"They are also a direct port of call for help when you need it, unlike third party online booking sites."

If she is just booking a flight , Jane says she will use comparison sites to compare prices but then book directly with the airline . 

"Third party booking platforms may be able to offer cheaper flights due to bulk-buy discounts from the airlines. However, the discount might not be worth it should any issues arise," she says. 

Jane explains that if there are cancellations or changes to bookings, additional fees may be applicable for both the airline and the third party. 

"Refund or compensation requests for cancelled or delayed flights tend to be more difficult when a third party is involved," she says. 

Plus, contacting third parties to discuss a claim can prove a challenge as many companies offer customer service support online only, she says. 

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• Pop Culture

‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’ Is the Best Version of Conan

The comedian’s new travel show proves he’s at his best away from the rigid confines of late night

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After hundreds of episodes of Hot Ones , there’s little a guest can do to shake up the reliable formula of thoughtful questions combined with increasingly spicy chicken wings. But Conan O’Brien isn’t just any guest. Conan is someone who arrives with “Dr. Arroyo,” his personal physician, who, when asked where he went to medical school, answers “1998”; he deposits the remains of each wing into his jacket pocket; seemingly unfazed by the heat, he chugs hot sauces like they’re in tiny liquor bottles from a hotel minibar; he rubs the drumsticks on his hands, mouth, and, yes, nipples. Even as Conan’s pale complexion begins to resemble a ripe tomato, he remains committed to the bit, raising his body temperature by two degrees in a state of delirium. (According to Dr. Arroyo, of course.) Behold, the comedy GOAT:

Aside from being one of the funniest people on the planet, Conan seems to operate at the peak of his powers when surrounded by chaos. He was, for a time, our longest-tenured late-night host: He had a career on the airwaves that spanned nearly three decades, not unlike his icon, Johnny Carson. But while Conan could do the usual late-night beats in his sleep—the opening monologue, the celebrity interviews—he was never better than when things went completely off the rails. Consider: Conan used his last week as the short-lived host of The Tonight Show to waste NBC’s money on bringing a Kentucky Derby–winning horse to set; trolled his interns and staff in remote segments; introduced the world to his associate producer Jordan Schlansky, who gamely played a pretentious foil ; found an actual Tinder date with Dave Franco.

But some of Conan’s best work has been when he’s left the rigid confines of late night altogether. In 2015 Conan began a spinoff travel series, Conan Without Borders , in which he explored other countries armed with little more than his self-deprecating wit. “[Travel shows are] completely outside the realm of anything I do,” he explained to The New York Times in 2019. “They can be frightening because they take away a lot of control. I’m out there, I don’t often know what I’m going to encounter.” More often than not, it’s led to comedy gold. For instance, while he was taking a Japanese etiquette lesson, Conan’s instructor said that he wasn’t her type. The reason: “Face.”

Face . You could never script something so casually brutal; therein lies the magic. Most important, Conan never mocks other cultures to induce laughs—instead, he makes himself the butt of the joke, leaning into the bit of an ignorant tourist. But what truly elevated Conan Without Borders was how he could deftly weave in educational components and approach dark periods of a country’s history with genuine sensitivity. (Conan’s visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial with his longtime assistant, Sona Movsesian, is among the most emotionally resonant moments of his career.) Thankfully, even though Conan has bowed out of the late-night scene, he’s doubling down on the travelogues.

On Thursday—Conan’s birthday, no less—Max released Conan O’Brien Must Go , a four-part series that takes him to Norway, Argentina, Thailand, and Ireland. These destinations were inspired by his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend , which, in addition to celebrity interviews, features conversations with fans from around the globe. (The fans frequently invite Conan to come visit their neck of the woods; few would ever imagine he’d take them up on the offer.) While Conan O’Brien Must Go doesn’t rely on celebrity cameos, every episode opens with Werner Herzog voice-over narration about the grandeur of Mother Earth and how, to fully appreciate its natural wonders, we must sometimes “defile it.” Rest assured, Conan the Defiler is more than up to the task.

What separates Conan O’Brien Must Go from his first travel show is the incorporation of those fans, including a Norwegian fish farmer, an Irish medical student, and an Argentine painter. The fans understandably react to Conan showing up at their front door with a mixture of shock and glee, but before they even get a chance to compose themselves, he playfully roasts their respective living situations. Nobody gets it worse than Jarle, a young Norwegian rapper who still sleeps with soccer-themed bedsheets from childhood and has bread so stale it lands with an audible thud when Conan drops it. “I’ll wipe the floor with you,” Conan tells Jarle, “which actually might be a good idea, because I think you’d pick up a lot of lint.”

The Ringer ’s Streaming Guide

There’s a lot of TV out there. We want to help: Every week, we’ll tell you the best and most urgent shows to stream so you can stay on top of the ever-expanding heap of Peak TV.

But while it’s enjoyable in its own right to see Conan surprise fans, Conan O’Brien Must Go is never better than when he throws all caution to the wind mingling with the locals. One standout bit in Argentina involves a soccer team that invites Conan to its stadium, where he proceeds to take the sport’s reputation for theatrical diving to another level, with fake blood spurting out of his mouth. Argentina is also where Conan reunites with his archnemesis, Schlansky, who repeatedly corrects him on the proper pronunciation of tango over dinner. (Schlansky insists he’s right, even when the chefs disagree with him.) And while some comedians might have second thoughts if nobody seems entertained by their shenanigans, Conan always doubles down—if only for his own amusement. (The Argentine gauchos did not enjoy his singing talents.)

Despite all the silliness that’s part of the Conan experience, Conan O’Brien Must Go also manages to have moments of real profundity. For one, Conan uses the Ireland episode to explore his own heritage, culminating with a visit to the patch of rural farmland that belonged to his ancestors. It puts everything into perspective: His forebears fled the Irish famine for America, and their descendant returned with a camera crew and decades of fame and success under his belt. Truly, what are the odds? But what really tugs at the heartstrings is a brief video from the Norwegian fish farmer Kai, who explains how Conan’s visit to his small town completely changed his life. It’s genuinely heartwarming stuff, proving that comedy can achieve more than just laughs when it’s approached with curiosity and empathy.

It’s been three years since Conan last graced our screens, and his absence really underlined that he’s one of one. You can’t imagine anyone else showing up to a foreign country and reacting to situations on the fly without everything falling apart at the seams. But as Conan proved time and again during his late-night tenure, that’s where great comedy can be found: among the people, whether it’s in the streets of Harlem or a Civil War reenactment . Conan’s late-night career went through many phases , all of them worthy, but in retrospect, it feels like the format was holding him back. Conan O’Brien Must Go isn’t just a hilarious return to form: It’s one of the best things he’s ever done. Let’s hope the show’s Season 2 renewal will be a matter of when, not if. With Conan at the helm, there are so many more countries worth exploring—and defiling.

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Protect Your Trip »

How much does a cruise cost in 2024.

Use this guide to learn more about cruise pricing and how to figure out the total cost of a cruise.

How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

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With the rising cost of everything, cruise fares – some even as low as $27 per person per night based on double occupancy – seem like an incredible bargain. And they certainly can be, but the fares you see advertised online often don't include extras like taxes, fees, port expenses, gratuities, shore excursions, specialty dining, alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, room service fees and more.

Cruise pricing can be confusing with so many variables. Unless you're sailing with a smaller luxury line that is all-inclusive , your bill on the day of disembarkation may be unexpected or even shocking. Small things like buying bottled water or renting noodles for floating in the ocean at a cruise line's private island can add up quickly. To help you plan better for a cruise vacation , U.S. News has broken down some of the costs and add-ons you need to take into consideration before booking your next getaway on the high seas.

Find your perfect cruise

How much does a one-week cruise cost?

A cruise can cost anywhere from about $109 per person in an interior cabin for a four-night Bahamas cruise up to $101,199 per person for an entry-level suite on a 168-night world cruise – and anywhere in between. Cruise fares vary based on itinerary, number of nights, cabin type, amenities and cruise line. Here are a few examples of base cruise cost ranges on larger cruise lines for various regions:

• A seven-night Caribbean cruise in November ranges from approximately $270 to $2,600 per person.
• A seven-night Alaska cruise in May ranges from approximately $250 to $1,700 per person.
• A seven-night Mediterranean cruise in June ranges from approximately $620 to $2,300 per person.
• A seven-night Mexico cruise on the Pacific Coast in January ranges from approximately $470 to $700 per person.
• A seven-night Canada and New England cruise in October ranges from approximately $490 to $1,100 per person.

What's included in the base fare with a larger cruise line?

Mass market cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean International , Norwegian Cruise Line , MSC Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line – and more upscale lines like Celebrity Cruises , Holland America Line , Cunard Line , Disney Cruise Line and Princess Cruises – advertise "starting from" base fares, which are for inside cabins. These are the least expensive staterooms on the ship, and they do not have windows. Staying in these accommodations still gives you access to all the complimentary dining venues and several types of nonalcoholic beverages (such as nonbottled water, iced tea, juices, hot coffee and tea), as well as the ship's pools, gym facilities, kids clubs and onboard entertainment.

If you want a room with a view – or a larger stateroom – consider booking an ocean view room with a window, or a cabin with a balcony or veranda. With these rooms, you'll have access to all the ship's included amenities and typically more spacious accommodations for the week. Of course, this option will come at a higher price point.

No matter which room category you choose, port expenses, taxes and fees are not included in the base fares, and they're automatically added to the cost of your cruise. The amount of these charges will depend on the length of your cruise and where you're sailing. Gratuities for the staff and crew are also additional.

Ready to plan a cruise? Find the best value sailings on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

What if you want more amenities and perks?

For more perks, you can splurge on a suite or a higher room category. With Celebrity's Concierge Class, for example, you'll be treated to amenities such as a welcome lunch, a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, personalized concierge service, an exclusive destination seminar, pillow selection upon request, laundry service and more.

With Disney Cruise Line's Concierge Staterooms and Suites, guests have a dedicated concierge agent offering personalized assistance for pre-arrival planning for port adventures, dining reservations, other onboard activities and special requests. You'll also get priority check-in and boarding, a private welcome reception, free Basic Surf Wi-Fi, access to a private lounge with complimentary food and beverages (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) served throughout the day, and other perks.

You may opt to stay within an exclusive area of the ship, such as the MSC Yacht Club, The Haven by Norwegian or Celebrity's The Retreat. These high-end private retreats offer a mostly all-inclusive experience with additional features, while still including access to all the entertainment, dining venues and more on board. The accommodations can cost hundreds more dollars per day, but you'll have an experience similar to sailing on a small luxury vessel.

For example, the MSC Yacht Club offers an intimate all-inclusive space within its larger ships. The private area is accessible with a key card and features luxurious suites, a dedicated concierge, 24-hour butler service, a private restaurant and lounge, a secluded pool deck, priority reservations for specialty dining, VIP seating for entertainment, and other amenities. There are also additional dining and snack options throughout the day at the pool and lounge.

You'll find similar amenities in Norwegian's and Celebrity's private retreats, including priority boarding and disembarkation, exclusive sun deck areas, and priority access when boarding tenders for going ashore.

Guests of MSC's Yacht Club receive the line's Premium Extra Beverage Package, which covers premium liquors, fine wines and Champagne in the Yacht Club and at most other venues on the ship. Accommodations in The Retreat on Celebrity also include premium beverages throughout the ship. If you're staying in The Haven by Norwegian, a beverage package is not covered in the pricing, but Norwegian frequently advertises its "Free at Sea" package, which includes free unlimited bar, free specialty dining, complimentary Wi-Fi, discounts on excursions and other perks.

What factors determine pricing?

Base pricing and the additional components vary greatly among the cruise lines, so you'll need to determine what your budget is for the trip – and what you can and can't live without when it comes to accommodations and amenities. Travelers may also find that one cruise line has a deal or promotion with reduced pricing that covers airfare, specialty dining, a beverage package, free Wi-Fi or other perks in the advertised rate (such as the Norwegian package mentioned above), while another line isn't running any specials for a similar itinerary.

Voyages on older cruise ships tend to be less expensive, so if you're on a tight budget, consider a ship with fewer bells and whistles. If you're sailing on a short itinerary in the Bahamas and plan to lounge by the pool or on the beach all day, you may not be concerned about having high-tech onboard amenities, martini bars and several specialty restaurants.

Save the money to splurge on more expensive fares when you're planning to sail on longer voyages on larger and newer ships . You'll want several days at sea to enjoy the onboard amenities on some vessels, such as a three-level racetrack and a 10-story-tall slide on Norwegian Viva . It would take a full week (or more) to explore all the entertainment options aboard Royal Caribbean International's newest ship, Icon of the Seas – or all the new entertainment offerings and attractions on Princess Cruises' latest addition to its fleet: Sun Princess.

Another significant factor to consider is the time of year you want to travel. Better deals are available in the offseason, but the offseason varies depending on what part of the world you're traveling to. For example, May is a great time to find a deal in the Caribbean. The offseason – or shoulder season – in that market typically runs from May to November. However, keep in mind this period overlaps with hurricane season .

You also may be able to find last-minute deals in many other destinations if you're flexible. Working with a travel agent is an excellent way to learn of last-minute specials and cruise deals that offer add-ons like beverage packages, specialty dining inclusions, shore excursions and other perks. You can also check out the online specials that change frequently.

Solo travelers may pay more

If you're traveling alone, you may also need to factor in a single supplement, which can add up to as much as 100% of the cruise fare. To save money, bring a friend so you can access the lower double occupancy fare or consider lines that feature rooms for solo travelers; select Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity ships offer solo staterooms, as do other cruise lines. Check out our guide to the best solo cruises with no supplement fare .

These smaller accommodations – typically ranging from around 100 to more than 200 square feet in size – are priced and designed for solo travelers. Key card access to Norwegian's Studio Lounge is included with the line's solo cabins and offers a place to relax and mix and mingle with other cruisers. Other lines that offer solo cabins include Holland America, MSC, Cunard and Virgin Voyages . While the price may not be as inexpensive as the double occupancy fare when traveling with someone else, these accommodations offer some savings over a typical solo fare.

Some lines often feature special deals on select sailings where the single supplement is waived or reduced. A knowledgeable travel agent specializing in cruises can assist in finding the best offers for solo travelers.

'Kids cruise free' promotions can help families save

If you're traveling with kids, many cruise lines – such as Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney and Princess – offer "kids sail free" promotions periodically throughout the year. You can also find discounted fares for children on select sailings.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has fares as low as $999 for children 17 and younger on a variety of select voyages. Regent's regular fares typically start at around $3,600 per person for a seven-night cruise, so this is a significant savings. This fare also includes unlimited complimentary shore excursions and all the benefits and perks of sailing with an all-inclusive luxury cruise line. Regent even has a current promotion where kids sail free on a selection of seven- to 20-night itineraries in Europe and the U.K.

Food and beverages are another expense to consider

Once you determine your total cruise fare with the taxes, fees, port charges and gratuities, you'll need to budget for the additional expenses you'll have on the ship – and these extras can add up quickly. Meals at specialty dining venues, alcoholic drinks and other beverages may not be covered in the basic cruise fare. You'll also have to pay for room service on many ships.

You can purchase specialty dining, beverage and Wi-Fi packages before or during your cruise. These packages offer savings over purchasing everything individually – and it's best to buy them once you book your cruise, as they're typically cheaper to purchase before you board the ship.

For an example of the savings with a food package, Royal Caribbean offers up to a 40% discount with a dining package. This package includes reduced pricing for children ages 6 to 12, while kids 5 and younger eat for free. The cruise line's unlimited dining package also offers discounts on bottles of wine.

In addition to specialty dining venues that charge a flat fee – usually between $30 and $50 – there are also restaurants that charge as much as $135 or more for dinner, such as the adult venues on Disney Cruise Line's ships. Other restaurants feature a la carte menus with sushi, bar food and even steakhouses that price out individual courses. Some of these venues may not include gratuities, so that's another add-on. If you decide to dine at any of these spots – and they're not included in your package – you'll have to budget for them in the total cruise price.

Enticing dessert items in the gelato and ice cream shops on some ships also come with a price, including Coco's and Dolce Gelato on Norwegian or MSC's Venchi Gelati and Chocolate.

There are endless options when considering beverage packages, too, so you need choose what fits best with your interests and budget. Some of the package options are only for nonalcoholic drinks like fountain sodas, sparkling waters and coffees, while premium or deluxe beverage packages cover beer, wine and cocktails, so they are more expensive.

Depending on the cruise line, most premium packages will usually cover drinks up to $15, but many craft cocktails on cruise ships can be quite expensive, costing much more, especially if you request a specific brand for the liquor. If you have the premium package and want to splurge on the fancy beverage, you'll have to pay the difference.

It's important to know that there are a few select venues and bars on some ships that do not accept a beverage package, so you'll have to pay extra for drinks at those places. For example, MSC's ships have several signature venues that do not accept drink packages, such as Hola! Tacos & Cantina, Lavazza coffee shops and Venchi 1878.

Norwegian offers a package that covers top-shelf beverages and select bottles of wine and Champagne, Starbucks coffee, bottled water, soda, specialty drinks and other beverages. You'll need to budget around $138 per person per day for this option – and an additional 20% gratuity. This type of package can add up to quite a bit of money on a seven-day cruise or longer. For more information, consult our guide on the drink package options for major cruise lines .

Bundle pricing

For additional savings, look into bundle pricing that includes specialty dining, Wi-Fi, photos and more. Purchasing them together may be more cost-effective. For example, Holland America offers the "Have It All" package, which encompasses a $100 shore excursion credit, the Signature Beverage Package (including the service charge), one evening of specialty dining and the Surf Wi-Fi package for a six- to nine-day cruise. If you're sailing for 10 to 20 days or even longer, the benefits increase. The line estimates savings of 50% when you purchase this bundle.

While these packages may not always work out in your favor, you'll at least know what your dining, imbibing, excursions, Wi-Fi and even additional activities on the cruise will cost.

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Additional costs on a cruise ship

Cruisers will also incur additional fees from excursions, fitness classes, spa treatments, access to thermal spa rooms, babysitting services, ship tours, wine tastings, cocktail demonstrations, cooking classes, laundry services, and some entertainment venues and activities on the ship. Examples include Norwegian's racetrack, Viva Speedway; high-tech attractions like the Robotron thrill ride and the XD cinema on MSC Seascape ; and Carnival's first roller coaster at sea, BOLT.

See some of the more popular added costs you'll want to consider below.

Wi-Fi access

If you need Wi-Fi during the cruise, that's another cost to factor into the total price. Here are two examples of pricing for internet plans for two cruise lines.

Carnival offers three options for Wi-Fi, using Starlink. The basic Social Wi-Fi Plan gives you access to certain social media channels like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and more, starting at about $15 per person per day. The cost increases to roughly $20 per person per day with the Value Wi-Fi Plan. This option gives you access to your email and to sites for weather, news, finance and more. It does not support Skype or music and video streaming services like Spotify and Netflix during your cruise.

The last option, Carnival's Premium Wi-Fi Plan, starts at around $19 per person per day and offers speeds up to three times faster than the Value plan. With this plan you can make Zoom calls and use Skype. For all three of these plans, you can save 15% off the total price if you book in advance of your trip.

Celebrity also uses Starlink. The line's "All Included" fare includes basic internet and a classic drink package, which the line says can save you potentially hundreds of dollars. If you don't book that fare, Wi-Fi plans range from around $20 per day for basic service to premium Wi-Fi at $35 per day.

• Shore excursions

If you're traveling to far-flung or new destinations, you'll want to book shore excursions. Cruise lines recommend that you book excursions directly with them rather than hiring an independent tour company or operator, but it can be more expensive to book tours through the cruise line.

However, if you experienced a delay on an independent tour and couldn't get back to the ship on time, there's a chance you could get left behind if you're not on a ship-sponsored tour. If you decide to go with a private tour guide, be sure to book an excursion that will allow you to arrive back at the ship with plenty of time to spare before the vessel departs for the next destination. Most tour operators in busy cruise ports work with the cruise ship schedules all the time, so you should be fine with a reputable independent guide.

Some trips last an entire day or are once-in-a-lifetime adventures like dog-sledding on a glacier in Alaska or taking a helicopter ride over the active volcanoes and waterfalls in Iceland. These types of excursions can be costly, ranging anywhere from hundreds to even thousands of dollars. If these types of experiences are not in your budget, look for historic walking or panoramic driving tours. These activities are shorter in duration and typically the least expensive tours available on the cruise. Many of these types of tours will cost less than $100. And, of course, there are always other options available that range between the lower and higher price range of excursions.

If your ship is docked directly in the town or city, then you'll be able to explore off the ship on your own for free. Some cruise lines also offer complimentary shuttle buses into town or a round-trip ride for a nominal fee if it's not within walking distance of the ship. That's another less expensive option for you to sightsee, shop or grab lunch in town.

Transportation

Transportation is another expense that's often overlooked in the total cost of a cruise. Consider if you'll be driving or flying to the cruise port. If you're driving, you'll have to pay for gas and parking at the port – and maybe a hotel the night before the cruise, depending on when you arrive and when your ship is scheduled to set sail. Don't forget the meals or beverages you'll purchase on the way.

If you're flying to the port, especially on a long-distance flight, it's best to come in a day early. In that case, you'll also have to pay for a hotel, transfers from the airport to the hotel and then a transfer (private hire, Uber or cab) to the ship's terminal. There will also be meals to budget for while you're in town before the cruise and a ride back to the airport after the cruise.

Souvenirs or forgotten items

Don't forget to account for purchases on the ship. Items that you forgot to bring from home will be more expensive on board. It's also easy to run up the bill when buying souvenirs for yourself or the kids. It's a good idea to periodically check your bill online or with guest services to see the current balance. You can keep a running tab of what you've billed to your stateroom – and also make sure that the charges are correct.

Cruise pricing checklist

To sum it up, here's a checklist of major items that will help you to compare costs across cruise lines and tally up the total cost of a cruise:

• Base cruise price
• Taxes, fees, gratuities and port expenses
• Specialty dining
• Food and beverage packages
• Optional activities (such as spa treatments or extra-fee entertainment on the ship)
• Miscellaneous expenses (such as meals and beverages ashore)
• Air or ground travel to the port
• Hotel prior to embarking

If you don't want to budget for all the individual expenses related to a cruise – and you don't need the over-the-top entertainment of a larger cruise ship – consider booking a mostly all-inclusive or fully all-inclusive cruise with a luxury cruise line . These cruise lines include almost everything in your cruise fare.

Mostly all-inclusive cruises

One option for a mostly all-inclusive cruise is Viking Ocean Cruises . The line's 12 all-veranda ocean-going vessels accommodate between 930 to 998 guests based on double occupancy – and all of Viking's ships feature the same categories of staterooms and suites, dining, lounges, and entertainment venues across the fleet. The ships offer an immersive cultural curriculum on board with regional dishes, destination performances and enrichment lectures.

Viking's fares include veranda accommodations, port taxes and fees, free Wi-Fi, access to the spa and fitness center, 24-hour room service, ground transportation (if you book airfare with Viking), and one complimentary excursion in each port. You'll also have alternative dining options at no extra charge, plus free beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board the ship. Specialty coffees, teas and bottled water are available 24 hours a day at no extra charge.

If you like to have an aperitif before your evening meal or an after-dinner cocktail, those beverages will be at an additional cost. You'll also need to budget for any optional shore excursions that are not included in the fare.

Keep in mind that Viking is an adults-only cruise line , so children younger than 18 are not permitted.

All-inclusive cruises

Regent Seven Seas, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line boast all-inclusive luxury experiences with shipwide amenities such as ocean-facing suites, butlers, premium spirits, fully stocked in-suite bars, no tipping and complimentary dining at world-class restaurants.

Additional perks with Regent Seven Seas include complimentary unlimited shore excursions, free two- or three-night land programs, a free one-night hotel stay before the cruise departure, transfers from the airport to the ship, and business class or economy airfare (depending on the destination).

Silversea offers door-to-door arrangements where everything is handled by the cruise line. You can also opt for a port-to-port all-inclusive rate if you prefer to make your own travel arrangements. If you're on one of the cruise line's expedition cruises, fares will include a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay. All door-to-door and port-to-port Silversea fares cover a selection of complimentary shore excursions in each port.

If you're interested in an even smaller ship – and are sailing to the Caribbean or Mediterranean – SeaDream Yacht Club features an intimate luxury experience on its two 56-stateroom yachts. The fares include top-notch cuisine, an open bar, gratuities, complimentary daily yoga, access to water sports and movies under the stars.

How much does a luxury cruise cost for two?

If you want to go on a mostly adults-only luxury ship, what can you expect to pay for two people? This will depend on the ship, where you want to sail and for how long – and what amenities are included in the fare.

For a seven-night cruise in the Caribbean in December 2024 round-trip from Miami with Regent Seven Seas, an all-inclusive cruise fare with suite accommodations starts at $7,398 ($3,699 per person). There are additional perks and savings available, depending on the level of accommodations you book and if you combine this cruise with another voyage. You can also check with a travel agent specializing in cruises to see if they have access to other promotions.

For a Silversea cruise in December 2025 that sails round-trip from Bridgetown, Barbados, the all-inclusive port-to-port cruise fare starts at $9,800 for two people ($4,900 per person) in suite accommodations. Contact a travel agent before booking to see if they can offer upgrades or additional amenities.

While the price tag may seem high, compare the total cost with the base fare on a larger cruise ship and then add in all the extras.

See the top cruises on  GoToSea .

The bottom line

The average cost of a cruise is all over the map – and there are many variables to consider. Hiring a cruise specialist to navigate the rough waters may be your best option. Cruise specialists are also privy to special deals and incentives that you may not be able to access on your own. Travel agents can also advise you of promotions that may include free specialty dining, beverage packages, complimentary Wi-Fi, shore excursions, discounts on solo and family travel, and more. This approach will save you the hassle of searching online or calling the individual cruise companies to check on what specials are available.

If you'd rather have one price with everything included so there's little room for surprises at the end of the trip, consider a mostly or fully all-inclusive cruise fare. If you don't need waterslides for the kids, big Broadway shows and high-tech entertainment, a cruise on a small luxury line may suit you well.

When doing the math and comparing the costs, you might be surprised how similar in price cruising with a larger mass market cruise line and a smaller luxury line can be. In the end, your decision will come down to your personal preferences and what you value most for your cruise vacation.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed to destinations around the globe on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels and traditional masted sailing ships. Cruising is one of her favorite ways to travel and she hopes to book an extended cruise to see the rest of the world someday soon. She covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Cruise
• How Much Does an Alaska Cruise Cost?
• Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival: Which Is Right for You?
• The Top Cruise Insurance Plans
• Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

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