J.D. Power just released its Annual North America Airport Satisfaction Study to find the best and worst airports to fly through. The study surveyed passengers on seven factors:

1. Ease of travel through the airport
2. Level of trust with the airport
3. Terminal facilities 
4. Airport staff
5. Departure airport experience
6. Food, beverage, and retail
7. Arrival airport experience

For the survey, airports were broken down into three categories: Mega airports (33 million or more passengers per year), large airports (10 to 32.9 million passengers per year), and medium airports (4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year. 

Next time you fly, consider avoiding these airports, ranked the lowest for customer satisfaction. 

“The common issue with low-ranking airports are older terminal facilities that were not designed to handle the number of passengers they currently service,” Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power, told SmarterTravel. “Many airports that perform poorly in the J. D. Power study have physical structures that are in need of overhaul or updating… and many of those airports are either in the midst of construction projects or have massive plans that are about to begin. “

The Worst Mega Airports

1. Newark Liberty International Airport
2. Toronto Pearson International Airport 
3. O’Hare International Airport
4. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
5. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

The Worst Large Airports

1. Philadelphia International Airport
2. Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
3. St. Louis Lambert International Airport
4. Honolulu International Airport
5. Chicago Midway International Airport

The Worst Medium Airports

1. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
2. Pittsburgh International Airport
3. Hollywood Burbank Airport
4. Albuquerque International Sunport
5. Eppley Airfield

If you do have to fly through one of the worst airports, Taylor recommends leaving extra time. “Traveling by air is one of the few times that persons face a strict deadline and that creates stress.  Overcrowded terminals that force parkers to use lots that are farther from the terminal, have longer-than-expected wait times at TSA and have a lack of gate area space put further stress on travelers.”

For an easier trip, plan your travels to take you through one of these top-rated airports, which scored highly for passenger satisfaction. 

The Best Mega Airports

1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
4. John F. Kennedy International Airport
5. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

The Best Large Airports

1. John Wayne Airport, Orange County
2. Tampa International Airport
3. Kansas City International Airport
4. Dallas Love Field
5. Nashville International Airport

The Best Medium Airports

1. Indianapolis International Airport
2. Jacksonville International Airport
3. Southwest Florida International Airport
4. Orlando International Airport
5. Ontario International Airport

The post The Best and Worst Airports in North America appeared first on SmarterTravel.

If your flight is delayed due to weather at your departure or arrival airport, trying to get on a new flight likely won’t work, especially if a ground stop has been issued (meaning no flights are allowed to take off or land at an airport.) However, if the bad weather is at your connecting airport, you may be able to swap to a flight routing through a different location with better weather.  

If your flight is delayed due to a mechanical issue with an aircraft, crew shortage, or delay of incoming aircraft, you may want to try to swap to a different flight if you can. 

The compensation rules around delayed flights hinge on the reason for the delay. If a flight is delayed or canceled due to a “controllable issue,” an airline is generally required to compensate passengers by providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, or even refunds. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), “A controllable flight cancellation or delay is essentially a delay or cancellation caused by the airline. Examples include maintenance or crew problems; cabin cleaning; baggage loading; and fueling.”

Delays due to bad weather or unexpected mechanical issues are generally considered to be out of an airline’s control and, therefore, do not require reimbursement. 

To see what your airline is required to provide in the event of a controllable cancellation or delay, visit the DOT’s Airline Cancellation and Delays Dashboard.

How to Find Out the Reason for a Flight Delay

If you’re already at the airport when the delay is announced, a gate agent will usually be able to tell you why your flight is running late. Here are some other good ways to find out the reason for a flight delay.

Check Airport Alerts

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has a webpage that shows “active airport events” like ground delays, ground stops, and delays in real-time.

This site will also show how long delays are likely to last along with other helpful information, including:

• The timeframe a ground stop/delay is issued for
• The probability a ground stop/delay would be extended
• What departure airports the ground stop/delay is relevant for
• The average length of delay

Track the Inbound Flight

If your flight is scheduled to take off at 3 pm and the aircraft is still on the ground in another city at 2:30 pm, it’s unlikely your flight will depart on time. Find out where your plane is by checking your flight on FlightAware. This site has an option for “track inbound plane” that will show you where your aircraft is coming from and the status of that flight. 

Check With the Airline

Although most airlines won’t show an explanation for a delayed flight on their website, some will offer the reason for the delay in their app. Calling the airline’s customer service number can also help you find out why your flight is delayed.

The post Why Is My Flight Delayed? How to Find Out the Reason for Your Delayed Flight appeared first on SmarterTravel.

About 10,000 hotel workers walked off of their jobs over the weekend, one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, due to unresolved contract negotiations. Members of the UNITE HERE union are asking for “higher wages, fair staffing and workloads, and the reversal of COVID-era cuts.” Many workers live paycheck to paycheck, and their pay does not cover the cost of living. 

Workers in nine cities and twenty-six hotels are currently on strike, and the possibility of more strikes looms large if no resolution is found. The cities with current strikes are Boston, Greenwich, Honolulu, Kauai, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Baltimore, and Seattle. The list of hotels with striking workers can be found here and will be updated live as more hotels join and as the strikes end. UNITE HERE represents workers from Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels. 

Many hotel workers are struggling during a time when hotels posted record-high daily rates and revenue, yet many hotels remain understaffed. 

If you’re nervous about an upcoming trip or are currently staying at a hotel impacted by the strikes, we’ve got answers to common questions you may have.

What If There Is a Strike at the Hotel Where I am Staying? 

As travelers, this is a legitimate concern. As difficult as it may be, you should never cross a picket line, so if you are staying at an affected hotel, ask for a refund and rebook at a different hotel. FairHotel.org allows you to search for your hotel to see if a strike may impact it. 

If rebooking is impossible for some reason (there is no other hotel in the area, and all other hotels are sold out), ask management to determine how the strike will impact housekeeping, room service, and amenities. 
Be kind and considerate to those workers still working, as their workload is likely much higher than what it typically is. If you have to cross the picket line, talk to those striking, and show your support for them. Remember: they aren’t protesting you, they are protesting management.

I Have a Future Booking At A Hotel That is Currently Striking

If you are booked for a stay at a hotel with workers who are currently striking, what you do depends heavily on when your trip is. If your trip is within the next week, try to find another hotel in the area that is not part of the strike. If it is well into the future, keep an eye on the news, and as you get closer to your vacation, if the hotels are still striking, rebook it elsewhere. 

What Hotels Are Impacted by the Strike?

As mentioned above, UNITE HERE represents workers from Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels. While it is only a handful of their hotels that are currently impacted by the strike, consider booking at a different hotel if you have an upcoming stay at one of those hotels, just to be safe. 

Alternate Hotels Due to The Strike

Here are some alternate hotels to book in each city that is impacted by the strike: 

Boston – Encore Boston Harbor

Greenwich – Delamar Greenwich Harbor

Honolulu – Ala Moana Hotel

Kauai – OUTRIGGER Kauaʻi Beach Resort & Spa

San Francisco – Chancellor Hotel

San Diego – Hotel Del Coronado

San Jose – Four Points by Sheraton San Jose Downtown

Baltimore – Horseshoe Casino Baltimore

Seattle – Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel by APA

Check out UNITE HERE’s guide for further tips on what to do during a strike, including what to do if you are invited to a wedding at a hotel with striking workers. 

The post How Your Trip May Be Impacted By the Hotel Worker Strike appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Cyberattacks on American airports are not a new phenomenon. Major hubs like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta have all fallen victim in the past, and such incidents are likely to continue, potentially causing significant travel disruptions.

The tips that I learned from my experience could help you if you’re flying out of an airport that’s been hit by a cyberattack.

Check Social Media for Updates

There was minimal news coverage of what was happening at the airport, and I found the most accurate and up-to-date information on SeaTac’s X (Twitter) account.

If you hear about a cyber attack, check the official social media accounts for the airport and your airline to find out what’s happening. 

If you’re not at the airport yet and want to know how chaotic it is, searching for hashtags related to the incident can show you real-time videos and stories from travelers already there that will help you know what to expect.

Monitor Your Flight Status

About an hour after being notified that my flight was delayed, I got another email letting me know that my flight was back to its originally scheduled time. You should monitor your flight status closely and plan to be at the airport for your original departure time in case anything changes. 

I flew out on the first day of the cyber attack, when 165 flights were delayed and six were canceled. My flight was delayed about an hour, but the delay was never announced again. When computer systems are down, there can be lags in notifying passengers about departure time changes. 

Allow Extra Time at the Airport

During a cyber attack, computer systems will be down, and passengers and luggage will have to be checked in manually. Even TSA screening may have to be done manually in some cases (in my case, I was able to go through TSA PreCheck as normal), which can take a significant amount of extra time. 

Check Into Your Flight Online

Fortunately, I had already checked in online and saved my boarding pass before the cyber attack struck. Check-in lines at the airport were extremely long for people who did not check-in online, so avoid doing this if you can.

Print your ticket at home (or save your mobile boarding pass to your phone) as you won’t be able to print your pass at an airport kiosk. 

Do Not Check a Bag

Avoid checking a bag at all costs during a cyber attack, as your luggage is very likely to be delayed or lost. A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines told the Seattle Times that staff was manually sorting over 7,000 checked bags at Sea-Tac because a “majority” of checked bags did not make it onto their flights during the cyber attack. 

Download Your Airline’s App

Although the departure and arrival screens were working in the main terminal at SeaTac, the screens were completely black in the terminal I flew out of. 

The televisions over the gates did not show what flight was departing from that gate, and there was no departure board to check flight status or gate. I had to check my airline’s app to find out what gate I was flying out of.

Listen for Information

My departure gate changed about 30 minutes before my flight boarded, and there was only one hard-to-hear announcement about the change. Without screens displaying information, this would have been really easy to miss, and flyers who didn’t hear it, may have missed their flight waiting at the wrong gate. 

The gate change was never reflected in the airline’s app—the only reason I realized my gate had changed was because the airline crew at my gate all got up and left for another gate. Pay attention to all announcements, and be sure to confirm with airline staff that you’re at the correct gate.

Don’t Swap Seats Once Onboard

My flight had to be boarded manually—instead of scanning our boarding passes, the gate agent visually inspected each one before radioing the flight crew which seat number was boarding. After everyone was on the plane, the flight attendants came down the aisle to verify that the correct passengers were in each seat—anyone who swapped seats ended up delaying the process even further.

The post It Happened to Me: What You Need to Know if There’s a Cyberattack at the Airport appeared first on SmarterTravel.

While Europe offers a wealth of unforgettable experiences, it also presents unique challenges for the unprepared traveler. From sweltering hotel rooms to unexpected closures and transportation hiccups, seemingly small oversights can snowball into major disruptions. Don’t let these common mistakes ruin your European vacation.

Booking a Hotel Without Air Conditioning in Summer

When you’re booking a hotel in the United States, you take for granted that it will have basic amenities, such as air conditioning. However, many older hotels in Europe don’t have air conditioning—which can be a huge problem as summers get hotter and heatwaves are a more common experience. 

After spending a day walking around in hot and humid weather, the last thing you’ll want to do is return to a stuffy, unairconditioned room to try to sleep. When choosing a hotel to book in Europe, make sure to filter your search by properties with air conditioning to ensure a comfortable stay. 

Getting Pickpocketed

Like in any major city, pickpocketing is always a risk when you travel to Europe. Pickpockets tend to target tourists in crowded areas and popular attractions, so follow these tips to avoid becoming a victim:

• Don’t carry around your passport
• Don’t carry a lot of cash
• Keep your money hidden in multiple locations
• Leave valuables in your hotel room
• Be aware of your belongings in crowds and on public transportation
• Don’t flash valuables such as cameras or smartphones

Not Buying Tickets to Popular Attractions in Advance

Planning on visiting bucket list sites like the Colosseum, Louvre Museum, or Basilica de la Sagrada Familia? So is everyone else. It’s best to plan in advance and buy tickets ahead of time for popular attractions in Europe, as many of them do sell out during peak season.

Even if tickets are still available, reserving in advance will generally let you skip the long lines that come with buying a walk-up entry. 

Forgetting to Carry Coins for Bathrooms

Public bathrooms in Europe can be tough to find, and when you do finally locate one, you’ll likely have to pay a small fee to enter. Many bathrooms are accessible via a turnstile, where you’ll need to insert coins to pass through, so it’s a good idea to carry a variety of small coins with you, as there’s usually not anyone stationed at the bathrooms to make change. 

If there is a bathroom attendant in a free public bathroom, you’re usually expected to leave a tip, so again, having a few coins can come in handy.

Remember to bring toilet paper or tissues with you as well, as it’s not always guaranteed that they will be available in public bathrooms. 

Not Reserving Seats on Trains

Just because you have a ticket on a European train doesn’t mean that you have a seat. Many train lines, including ones on the Eurail, allow travelers to make seat reservations to secure a spot to sit. If you don’t have a reservation, you could be left standing in the aisle for a long trip. 

Relying on Taxis

Public transportation in most major European cities is first-class and will get you to where you need to go significantly cheaper (and faster) than taking a taxi. Before traveling, download maps of the local public transportation system and compare prices for buying multi-day passes to see if it’s worth it. 

By taking public transportation, you’ll save time and money and experience the city more like a local would. 

Not Bringing the Right Clothes

Although European summers can be brutally hot, you’ll want to pack more than shorts and tank tops for your travel wardrobe. Most cathedrals and historic religious sites have strict dress codes that require shoulders and knees to be covered. Pack lightweight shirts or coverups that you can keep in your bag to be prepared. 

Additionally, don’t make the mistake of packing only stylish footwear or new shoes that you haven’t broken in yet—you’ll usually end up walking far more in Europe than you would in other destinations (those streets are just so charming), and comfortable shoes are key. 

Mixing up Airports

Many European cities have multiple airports, so booking a connecting flight that departs from the wrong airport can be an easy (but trip-ruining) mistake. For example, in London, six major airports serve the city. 

If you plan on flying into London on one airline and then booking a connecting flight onwards on a budget airline on a separate ticket, it’s quite likely that you could arrive at Heathrow and then have your next flight out of Stansted, which is more than an hour’s drive away.

Carefully check your airport codes before committing to any flight, and consider transportation costs and travel time into the city when deciding which airport to fly to.

The post 8 Mistakes That Could Ruin Your European Vacation appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Unfortunately, these tiny plastic bottles are wasteful and have a significant environmental impact. New York State has just passed a bill banning small “hospitality care” bottles beginning on January 1, 2025. Hotels in the state will only be allowed to provide toiletries in bottles that are 12 ounces or larger. Any properties found in violation will be charged $250 for the first offense and $500 for each additional transgression. 

The law will initially only apply to hotels with more than 50 rooms, and smaller hotels will have to comply with the new rules beginning January 1, 2026.

Currently, California is the only other state with a similar ban in place. Washington state has passed similar legislation set to take effect in 2027.

Most hotels will likely transition to offering refillable, full-size toiletry bottles. However, these larger containers may raise concerns about hygiene and potential tampering by other guests.

We recommend investing in a set of travel-sized bottles that you can refill with your own toiletries in between trips. Although it takes away the fun of trying new products on the road, it means you’re guaranteed to have products you know work for your hair and skin and prevents you from being caught off-guard when the in-room products are not refilled. These refillable bottles from Matador are our favorite, as they are a flat design that saves space in your toiletries kit. 

The post New York State Bans Travel Size Toiletries in Hotels appeared first on SmarterTravel.

These metrics are broken down into five broad categories:

• Stability
• Healthcare
• Culture and environment
• Education
• Infrastructure

For the third consecutive year, Vienna, Austria, has claimed the title of the world’s most livable city. The Austrian capital excelled with perfect scores in stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. It’s only downfall? A lack of major sporting events which costs it points in the entertainment category. 

Overall, Western Europe is the best region in the world for livability, with four cities ranking in the top ten. 

The Most Livable Cities in the World

1. Vienna, Austria
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Melbourne, Australia
5. Calgary, Canada (tied with Geneva)
6. Geneva, Switzerland (tie)
7. Sydney, Australia (tied with Vancouver)
8. Vancouver, Canada (tie)
9. Osaka, Japan (tied with Aukland)
10. Auckland, New Zealand (tie)

Honolulu, Hawaii, stands out as the top choice for those seeking the highest quality of life within the United States. Ranking 23rd globally, it’s the highest-rated American city on the livability index. 

Even if you’re not planning a permanent relocation, this list can help you plan your next vacation destination. “Travelers can use the livability index to help them select destinations for city breaks, taking into account factors such as the availability of cultural activities, relative safety and security, and access to healthcare, as well as the quality of local infrastructure and transport,” says Ana Nicholls, Industry Director at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The World’s Worst Cities to Live in

At the other end of the spectrum, these cities were deemed the worst destinations to live in, mainly due to a lack of stability and poor healthcare. 

1. Caracas, Venezuela
2. Kyiv, Ukraine
3. Port Moresby, PNG
4. Harare, Zimbabwe
5. Dhaka, Bangladesh
6. Karachi, Pakistan
7. Lagos, Nigeria
8. Algiers, Algeria
9. Tripoli, Libya
10. Damascus, Syria

Wondering why cities in the United States didn’t crack the top ten best cities to live in? “US cities face a few well-established structural problems that affect their scores in our index, compared with developed countries in Western Europe and Australasia (as well as Canada),” Nicholls told SmarterTravel. “They tend to score lower on stability owing to a greater incidence of social unrest, while weak gun-control laws mean that crime is often violent and fatal and undermines social cohesion.”

If you’ve ever enjoyed the high-speed trains in Japan or the well-run subways in Europe, you’ll understand why American cities fall short. Cities in the US “underperform on infrastructure, owing to gaps in public transport and other public facilities,” says Nicholls. “However, they do score extremely well, on average, in terms of education.” 

The post The 10 Best Cities to Live in appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Amazon has partnered with Southwest Airlines to offer Amazon Prime members an exclusive discount during the summer 2024 Prime Days event. From July 16 through July 17, Prime members can save up to 30% on base fares at Southwest.com using the discount code PRIME.

Click here to see full details of the sale, along with Amazon’s best Prime Day travel deals.

Some sample fares include:

• Los Angeles LAX to New York LGA $236 RT
• New York LGA to Chicago MDW $120 RT
• New York LGA to Orlando MCO $124 RT
• Boston BOS to Baltimore BWI $155 RT
• Chicago MDW to Orlando MCO $144 RT

The discount is valid for travel within the continental U.S. from August 6 through December 18 and August 13 through December 17 for travel to/from international destinations, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Some blackout dates apply.

Southwest is the first airline to partner with Amazon for Prime Day and other travel companies, offering discounts on cruises, tours, rental cars, and more.

Since 2015, Prime Day has been offering deals to Amazon Prime members. Thousands of deals are available, many perfect for travelers. This year, Prime Day runs July 16-17, 2024.

The post Save 30% on Southwest Airlines for Prime Day appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Burlington is the perfect summer weekend destination, located just a 3.5-hour drive from Boston and an easy train ride away from New York City. Follow our itinerary to have the perfect trip to The Queen City. 

Where to Stay

When it comes to choosing a hotel in Burlington, location is paramount, and the property with the best spot is undoubtedly the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain. (Note: This hotel is currently undergoing renovations and will soon rebrand as the Hotel Champlain.) Occupying a prime lakefront location, this hotel is just steps away from Lake Champlain’s beautiful waterfront and merely two blocks from Church Street Marketplace, the heart of downtown Burlington. Staying here puts you within easy walking distance of the town’s best restaurants and shops.

I stayed in a King Premium Lake View room, which I highly recommend. Situated on the sixth and seventh floors of the hotel, this room type features large picture windows with panoramic views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains beyond. Open the curtains as soon as you wake up and soak in the scenery while you sip coffee—there’s no better way to start your day in Burlington.

Friday

Check into the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain. Once you’re settled in, walk down to the 

Lake Champlain Sailing Center and rent a kayak so you can get out on the water. Paddle down to Lone Rock and admire the sweeping views of the city and mountains.

After returning your kayak, toast your arrival to Burlington with a drink at Foam Brewers, one of the city’s best craft brewers. Enjoy a beer on the outdoor patio, and hopefully catch some live music. 

Walk back to the hotel and enjoy the sunset over the lake from your room. 

Landing a table at Hen of the Wood takes planning—reservations open 60 days in advance, and weekends fill up fast. But trust me, the effort is worth it and this celebrated restaurant lives up to the hype. Their ever-changing menu showcases local ingredients in a way that will transform your perspective on vegetables. My personal favorites were asparagus lightly fired in a wood stove and a honey sorbet that was pure sunshine on the palate.

Saturday

Sleep in and head to the Burlington Farmer’s Market, open from 9 am to 2 pm on summer Saturdays. This is your one-stop shop to sample local delicacies and buy souvenirs. There are plenty of stands to choose from for breakfast—I recommend the fried egg tostada from Cha Cha Garna. 

Just across the street from the Farmer’s Market, is Speeder & Earl’s, my favorite coffee shop in Burlington. Stop in for some house-roasted coffee and pick up some beans to take home with you. Once you’re adequately caffeinated, take advantage of the Hilton’s free bike rentals for guests and pick up some wheels (plus a to-go lunch from the hotel’s cafe, Lily May’s, to toss in your bike basket for later) and get ready to ride the Island Line Rail Trail. 

This 14-mile car-free pathway runs along the shores of Lake Champlain, and you can hop on it just outside the hotel’s front door. This tree-lined path eventually turns into a causeway, where you’ll be surrounded by water on both sides as you cycle along, making it one of the most beautiful rail trails in the country. The path abruptly stops toward the end of the causeway, where there is a 200-foot gap that allows boats to pass through. Wait here for the volunteer-run Local Motion Bike Ferry, which will carry you and your bike across. The ferry is free, but donations of $10 for the round trip are suggested. The journey across the gap takes less than five minutes but be prepared to wait in line on busy weekend days, as the ferry can only hold around 20 people and bikes.

Disembark on South Hero and ride your bike along the quiet roads to Two Heroes Brewery, a laid-back spot for a refreshment break. On your trip back to the ferry, be sure to stop at Allenholm Farm, where you can cool off with Vermont’s classic summer treat, the maple creemee. This unique treat isn’t quite soft serve, nor is it hard ice cream—it occupies a delightful middle ground. With less milk fat and more air than ice cream, the creemee offers an ultra-creamy yet light indulgence. There are a variety of flavors available, but the quintessential Vermont experience is the maple creemee.

Cycle back to downtown Burlington, and stop at one of the beaches along the bike path for a refreshing dip in Lake Champlain. 

Tonight, enjoy dinner at Frankie’s, Burlington’s best new restaurant. Expect to find this stylish hotspot packed on weekend nights—it’s a favorite with locals who flock here for the intimate atmosphere, innovative cocktails, and seasonally-inspired menu. Dishes here are crafted based on what’s fresh and in-season from nearby farms. Since the menu changes daily, you might not be able to have my favorites (radishes with radish top pesto and cured egg yolk and pasta with pistachios and fresh vegetables), but you’re sure to find something equally delicious. The cocktails are equally tasty and fresh—I loved my refreshing drink made with lemon, mint, and ginger.

Sunday

Place a mobile order for a breakfast sandwich and coffee from August First Bakery (lines in store are crazy on weekends) and take your meal to-go to the Lake Champlain Waterfront Park to enjoy on a bench overlooking the water. 

Bid goodbye to Burlington and drive about 45 minutes southeast to Camel’s Hump State Park. Here, you’ll find Camel’s Hump, one of the most beautiful hikes in Vermont’s lush Green Mountains—this peak is so distinctive that it’s featured on the US Vermont Quarter. Follow the Burrows Trail to the Long Trail for a 2.4-mile moderate hike to the summit, where you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Lake Champlain in the distance. 

Downloadable Burlington, Vermont Weekend Itinerary

Reference all our Burlington recommendations on-the-go with this handy downloadable itinerary.

Editor’s Note: The writer of this story was hosted by Burlington, Vermont, during her visit to the city. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post The Ultimate Burlington, Vermont Weekend Guide appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Introducing the Next-Generation Westin Heavenly Bed

The Westin Heavenly Bed is about to get even better, as the hotel brand is rolling out a new and improved version across its more than 240 hotels worldwide. The next-generation Heavenly Bed boasts upgrades like a temperature-regulating gel-infused memory foam mattress, hypoallergenic bedding, and a duvet insert designed to keep hot sleepers cool throughout the night.

“Understanding the devoted fanbase the legacy bed has garnered over the years; our goal was to listen and carefully review every aspect of the guest and associate experience, ensuring each update was both intentional and impactful,” Brian Povinelli, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Marketing and Brand, Marriott International, said regarding the new design. “We are confident that it will exceed the expectations of both loyal and future Westin guests across the globe and again raise the bar for the comfort of our guests.” 

As a Westin Heavenly Bed devotee myself, I was curious if the new sleep system was really any better—and if it would feel as luxurious at home.The Westin Store, Westin’s online store, allows travelers to recreate the Heavenly Bed experience at home, selling every aspect of the bed for delivery. I tested the Westin Hotel Sheet Set, which includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, two white pillowcases, and two border pillowcases; along with the Hotel Duvet Cover. 

The Westin Hotel Sheet Set

My favorite thing about sleeping in a luxury hotel bed is how crisp and cool the sheets feel, even on the hottest days. The Westin Hotel Sheet Set delivers this same experience at home. The 310-thread count sateen weave, made from a blend of lyocell and cotton, is incredibly soft and breathable. This blend also features eco-friendly credentials, as the lyocell is derived from eucalyptus and other botanical fibers.

The fitted sheet has extra deep pockets, which means it stayed in place on my pillowtop mattress and didn’t pop off as some cheaper sheets do. I also loved the sateen weave finish, which resisted wrinkling and made my bed look instantly elegant. 

The Westin Hotel Duvet Cover

The Westin Hotel Duvet Cover has a stylish new design. A subtle organic pattern jacquard stitched into the fabric enhances the all-white look. Even after accidentally abandoning the duvet cover in the dryer for a few hours, it emerged wrinkle-free, thanks to the cotton/microfilament fabric blend. 

The duvet cover also helped me sleep cooler at night, even though I wasn’t using a Westin duvet insert.

Overall, I found the new Westin Heavenly Bed to be an improvement over the beloved former iteration—and that the bedding is just as luxe at home as it is in the hotel.

The post How to Recreate the Westin Heavenly Bed at Home appeared first on SmarterTravel.