The Limits of the Family Vacation
A family vacation can seem like the solution to all of life's tensions: You'll spend time together, bond, and experience a new place. But travel isn't a panacea. As Kim Brooks wrote last year about her own halting attempts at taking a successful trip with her kids: 'Gradually, lounging among my own dashed hopes, I began to understand that no family vacation was going to change who I was.' Today's newsletter explores how family trips have changed, and how to make the most of your time with loved ones without expecting too much.
On Family Vacations
On Failing the Family Vacation
By Kim Brooks
How I got dumped, went on a cruise, and embraced radical self-acceptance
Read the article.
The New Family Vacation
By Michael Waters
More and more Americans are traveling with multiple generations—and, perhaps, learning who their relatives really are.
Read the article.
Plan Ahead. Don't Post.
By Arthur C. Brooks
And seven other rules for a happy vacation
Read the article.
Still Curious?
Summer vacation is moving indoors: Extreme heat is changing summer for kids as we know it.
The rise and fall of the family-vacation road trip: The golden age of family road-tripping was a distinctly American phenomenon.
Other Diversions
P.S.
I recently asked readers to share a photo of something that sparks their sense of awe in the world. Ellen Walker, 69, shared this photo taken on Loch Linnhe in western Scotland in 2019. 'We were visiting friends who live south of Glasgow and with whom we take annual biking trips,' Ellen writes. 'It had rained much of the time we were exploring the west coast (as it will do in Scotland!) but I began to see the infinite varieties of grey as spectacularly beautiful. When the sun tried to peek through the clouds I snapped this photo and was so pleased to be able to capture the richness of the scene. It no longer seemed gloomy. I was in awe.'
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Los Angeles Times
29 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Trump plays golf in Scotland while protesters take to the streets and decry his visit
EDINBURGH, Scotland — President Trump played golf Saturday at his course on Scotland's coast while protesters around the country took to the streets to decry his visit and accuse United Kingdom leaders of pandering to the unpopular American president. Trump and his son Eric played with the U.S. ambassador to Britain, Warren Stephens, near Turnberry, a historic course that the Trump family's company took over in 2014. Security was tight, and protesters kept at a distance were unseen by the group during Trump's round. He was dressed in black with a white 'USA' cap and was spotted driving a golf cart. The president appeared to play an opening nine holes, stop for lunch, then head out for nine more. By the middle of the afternoon, plainclothes security officials began leaving, suggesting Trump was done for the day. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the cobblestone and tree-lined street in front of the U.S. Consulate about 100 miles away in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. Speakers told the crowd that Trump was not welcome and criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for striking a recent trade deal to avoid stiff U.S. tariffs on goods imported from the U.K. Protests were planned in other cities as environmental activists, opponents of Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and pro-Ukraine groups loosely formed a 'Stop Trump Coalition.' Anita Bhadani, an organizer, said the protests were 'kind of like a carnival of resistance.' June Osbourne, 52, a photographer and photo historian from Edinburgh, wore a red cloak and white hood, recalling 'The Handmaid's Tale.' Osbourne held up a picture of Trump with 'Resist' stamped over his face. 'I think there are far too many countries that are feeling the pressure of Trump and that they feel that they have to accept him, and we should not accept him here,' Osbourne said. The dual U.S.-British citizen said the Republican president was 'the worst thing that has happened to the world, the U.S., in decades.' Trump's late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, and the president has suggested he feels at home in the country. But the protesters did their best to change that. 'I don't think I could just stand by and not do anything,' said Amy White, 15, of Edinburgh, who attended with her parents. She held a cardboard sign that said, 'We don't negotiate with fascists.' 'So many people here loathe him,' she said. 'We're not divided. We're not divided by religion, or race or political allegiance, we're just here together because we hate him.' Other demonstrators held signs of pictures with Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, as the fervor over files in the late child abuser's case has created a political crisis for the president. In the view of Mark Gorman, 63, of Edinburgh, 'The vast majority of Scots have this sort of feeling about Trump that, even though he has Scottish roots, he's a disgrace.' Gorman, who works in advertising, said he came out 'because I have deep disdain for Donald Trump and everything that he stands for.' A Scottish newspaper, the National, greeted Trump's arrival with a banner headline in its Friday edition that read, 'Convicted U.S. felon to arrive in Scotland.' Saturday's protests were not nearly as large as the throngs that demonstrated across Scotland when Trump played at Turnberry during his first term in 2018. But, as bagpipes played, people chanted, 'Trump out!' and raised dozens of homemade signs with such messages as 'No red carpet for dictators,' 'We don't want you here' and 'Stop Trump. Migrants welcome.' One dog had a sign attached that said 'No treats for tyrants.' Some on the far right took to social media to call for gatherings supporting Trump in places such as Glasgow. Trump also plans to talk trade with Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president. But golf is a major focus. The family will also visit another Trump course near Aberdeen in northeastern Scotland, before returning to Washington on Tuesday. The Trumps will cut the ribbon and play a new, second course in that area, which officially opens to the public next month. Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who is also set to meet with Trump during the visit, announced that public money will go to staging the 2025 Nexo Championship, previously known previously as the Scottish Championship, at Trump's first course near Aberdeen next month. 'The Scottish government recognizes the importance and benefits of golf and golf events, including boosting tourism and our economy,' Swinney said. At a protest Saturday in Aberdeen, Scottish Parliament member Maggie Chapman told the crowd of hundreds: 'We stand in solidarity, not only against Trump but against everything he and his politics stand for.' The president has long lobbied for Turnberry to host the British Open, which it has not done since he took over ownership. In a social media post Saturday, Trump quoted the retired golfer Gary Player as saying Turnberry was among the 'Top Five Greatest Golf Courses' he had played in as a professional. The president, in the post, misspelled the city where his golf course is. Weissert writes for the Associated Press.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend
This summer, millions of Americans are planning trips — and a growing number are using buy now, pay later services to help cover the cost. These short-term installment loans, offered by companies like Klarna and Affirm, are being used to pay for flights, hotels, cruises, and even event tickets. According to a NerdWallet survey, 18% of summer travelers planned to use BNPL this year. Klarna reported a 50% year-over-year jump in travel bookings, and Affirm (AFRM:NASDAQ) said its travel-related volume rose 38% in late 2024, topping $1 billion. While BNPL may seem appealing — especially when it comes with no upfront costs or interest — experts caution that it's not always a smart choice. Don't Miss: Be part of the breakthrough that could replace plastic as we know it— $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. It's Not Just Luxury Travel Anymore BNPL was once associated with high-end purchases, but that's changing. Andrew Lokenauth, founder of told CNBC that many of his clients now use BNPL to pay for basic travel, such as visiting family or attending weddings. "It's not just luxury vacations anymore," he said. "I've worked with over 100 clients drowning in BNPL travel debt, and it's not pretty." BNPL loans typically have zero flexibility — miss a payment, and you might face late fees or damage to your credit score. Even Affirm, which doesn't charge late fees, began reporting pay-over-time products to credit bureaus this year. Trending: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — The Debt Can Outlast the Trip The biggest risk with BNPL travel financing is that the fun may end, but the debt lingers. NerdWallet found that 30% of travelers who used credit cards for summer travel in 2024 still haven't paid off their balances. The average credit card interest rate, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is over 22%. BNPL doesn't charge interest in many cases, but it can still lead to overextension. A recent Consumer Finance Protection Bureau report found that 63% of BNPL borrowers had more than one loan at a time — also known as "loan stacking" — at some point in 2021 and 2022. Disney vacation planner Jackie Steele said he's seen more clients use BNPL to pay for Disney trips, sometimes to make last-minute travel happen or to upgrade their experience. "I always caution people — especially younger adults or families on tight budgets — to look beyond the monthly breakdown," he told Caution and Have a Backup Plan Some travelers say BNPL made their trips possible. One traveler told CNBC she used it to book a last-minute trip to Miami, calling it a "lifesaver." But when she missed one payment reminder, she was hit with extra fees. Some experts say that BNPL can work if used wisely. Fiserv Head of Embedded Finance Sunil Sachdev told CNBC that the service has matured in recent years and, so far, hasn't resulted in widespread defaults. Still, Lokenauth doesn't sugarcoat it: "If you can't pay for a vacation outright, you probably shouldn't take it." Smart Alternatives for Summer Travel Before reaching for BNPL, consider alternatives. According to NerdWallet, 91% of travelers are already looking for ways to save — such as using credit card points or choosing budget hotels. "Travel rewards aren't fine wine — they don't get better with age," NerdWallet spokesperson Sally French says. "In fact, with airlines and hotels constantly tweaking their loyalty programs to a level that's usually not in your favor, your points could be worth less next summer than they are right now." No matter your destination this summer, planning ahead — and paying responsibly — can help you avoid turning your dream vacation into a long-term debt burden. Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Atlantic
4 hours ago
- Atlantic
The Pleasures of Reading Outside
This is an edition of The Wonder Reader, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a set of stories to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Sign up here to get it every Saturday morning. 'Reading has been unfairly maligned as an indoor activity for far too long,' Bekah Waalkes wrote this past spring. 'As a child, when nice weather came around, I was told to put down my book and go play outside.' But why can't reading a book be a form of outdoor play? Reading outside can also be a practice in sustained attention, Waalkes writes: The act of focus can actually sharpen 'one's perception of the trees, the soil, the friends chattering at the next table in the beer garden.' Today's newsletter offers a guide to reading outdoors—how to make the most of it, and which books to take with you on your adventure. Six Books You'll Want to Read Outdoors By Bekah Waalkes Reading has been unfairly maligned as an indoor activity for far too long. Read the article. 24 Books to Get Lost in This Summer By The Atlantic Culture Desk The Atlantic 's writers and editors have chosen fiction and nonfiction to match all sorts of moods. Read the article. The One Book Everyone Should Read By The Atlantic Culture Desk The Atlantic 's staffers on the books they share—again and again Read the article. Still Curious? Other Diversions P.S. I recently asked readers to share a photo of something that sparked their sense of awe in the world. 'I had awakened early on this morning in July 2016 and tiptoed out of the hikers' dorms at Rifugio Lagazuoi, which is perched at 9,000 feet in the Italian Dolomites,' Tim Tumlin, 74, in Darien, Illinois, writes. 'As I hoped, the silent overwhelming beauty made the climb the day before more than worthwhile.' I'll continue to feature your responses in the coming weeks.
