Travel news: Escape the crowds at these affordable alternatives to hot spots

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In to travel news this week: smart alternatives to the world’s top tourist destinations, the Michelin restaurant that closed because it was too expensive and the plane that reached 14,000 meters after takeoff with missing windows.

Travel technology company Expedia announced its list of “dupes of destination” 2024: places that are smart alternatives to top tourist destinations and are often cheaper and less crowded. They’re all shooting up Expedia’s search rankings too, which means you might want to get there before everyone else.

Here is their top 10: Paris,Greece (dupe for Santorini); Perth,Australia (dupe for Sydney); LiverpoolUK (dupe for London); PalermoSicily (dupe for Lisbon); Curacao (dupe for St. Martin); Quebec CityCanada (dupe for Geneva, Switzerland); MemphisTennessee (dupe for Nashville); Pattaya,Thailand (dupe for Bangkok); TaipeiTaiwan (dupe for Seoul, South Korea); and Sapporo,Japan (dupe for Zermatt, Switzerland).

Me, it’s not all become scandalous darling? As the prices of goods and services spread across the board, the hospitality industry is feeling the pinch – particularly at the higher end of the scale. After the closing announcements from Copenhagen Name and of London The newspaperAnother Michelin-starred European restaurant is closing up shop, with the chef saying CNN’s costs are “spiraling out of control” and fine dining will soon be a “was past”.

In these tight times, Americans who find themselves overwhelmed and without imagination are choosing to move for a better standard of living. Long Island native Julie Balzano has lived in Miami for 30 years, but she just got started a new life in Colombia after her marriage ended and her children grew up. “It’s a very surreal experience, liberating and also scary at the same time,” he told CNN.

A plane took off with the window panes are missing at a London airport last month after the crew failed to inspect the damage before take-off. Passengers noted that the plane was “noisier and colder than they were used to,” but the plane climbed to at least 14,000 feet before turning back.

Air Canada has sorry after passenger Rodney Hodgins, a wheelchair user, made international headlines when he shared his experience of having to he drags himself off a flight when he arrived in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, the flight attendants are burn and abandonthanks to an aviation landscape that has become defined by delays, lost baggage, staffing issues and disruptive passengers.

Indonesia launched Southeast Asia’s first bullet train last month, a $7.3 billion train line which connects two of its largest cities, Jakarta and Bandung.

And in Austria, the state railway ÖBB presented a fleet of 33 night trains which will start next month. There is a new focus on solo travelers, with the luxurious new carriages containing unique pod-like beds as well as standard beds and sleeper cars.

In Britain, however, things are not going so well. England was the birthplace of the railways, in 1825, but almost 200 years later, the country’s train industry is in turmoil. Here’s why.

Tom Stuker has taken over 12,000 flights and flown over 23 million miles, so naturally he’s picked up some tricks along the way. Here are his tips on the the most reliable time to fly.

And if you make it to your destination on time, but your suitcase doesn’t, our partners at CNN Underscore, a CNN-owned product review and advice guide, have the lowdown. the best luggage trackers of 2023.

The borders of the “Russian doll” country are some of the most complex in the world.

It is one of only two counter-enclaves in existence.

National Geographic has revealed its “cool list” of 2024.

It’s a roundup of 30 places and experiences think you should try next year.

They hike America’s longest trails with their five children.

Are we here yet?

South Korea has declared war on bedbugs.

It is the last country to face a wave of outbreaks.