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Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
5 best summer travel apps to help you have the perfect vacation
Summer travel is upon us, and so is the stress of planning and executing the perfect trip. While delays and mishaps are always possible, you can hit the road prepared thanks to help from mobile apps. Making sure your phone is equipped with everything from travel planners to route mappers, you can ensure that your vacation runs smoothly from the moment you start booking your travel to the time when you finally return home. To start, there are a few general types of apps you'll want to download, the details of which will vary based on your specific travel plans. If you're flying, it makes sense to install the app of your airline of choice so that you can easily check your flight status, access your boarding pass, track your luggage, and connect with customer service. With the app for your preferred hotel chain, you can manage your stay, redeem rewards, request amenities, and even unlock your room in some cases. If you have a vacation rental, through an outfit such as Airbnb or VRBO, be sure you have the app for access to your booking details and easy communication with hosts. You should also have a ride hailing app — such as Uber or Lyft — that provides service at your destination, and if you're driving, research which apps are used for paid street parking (ParkMobile, for example) so you don't have to spend time downloading and entering your payment details once you arrive. DoorDash or GrubHub can be useful for perusing and comparing menus in advance for food allergies and dietary restrictions. But beyond those basics, a few other apps can come in handy whenever you hit the road or take to the skies. Here are five other travel apps you should have on your phone now. Wanderlog is an all-in-one travel planner for everything from creating an itinerary to tracking expenses. Start building your trip with the basics — where and when — then invite travel companions if you're planning a trip with other people. Other Wanderlog tools let you add reservation details, explore restaurants and attractions, make a packing list, and create a budget. The app's basics are free, while a Pro subscription ($39.99/year) includes extras like live flight updates, route optimization, offline access, and syncing with Google Maps and Gmail to automatically pull in reservation details from confirmation emails. If you're road tripping, you can map your route and add roadside attractions and pit stops in Wanderlog. Speaking of which, Roadtrippers is another popular route planner that shows you interesting stops along your way, but the Android app has enough negative reviews to where I would suggest just using the sites web-based tools or turning to Wanderlog as my mobile trip planner. Download Wanderlog: Android, iOS Skyscanner is a search engine for flights, hotels, and car rentals that prioritizes good deals, so you can browse or search cheap options or set up alerts for price drops on your desired itinerary. This can be useful whether you're planning in advance or need a last-minute reservation mid-trip. Note that unlike online travel agencies (OTAs) — which generally allow you to book within their app — Skyscanner redirects you to the airline, hotel, or rental agency to complete your reservation. While this is an extra step up front, it avoids potential pitfalls of OTAs, like confusing booking and cancellation policies and generally worse customer service if something goes awry. Download Skyscanner: Android, iOS If you find yourself asking, 'Where is the nearest…' in the middle of a road trip, iExit is likely to have an answer. The app uses your device's location to display upcoming interstate exits and their amenities, from the basics like hotels, restaurants, and gas stations to banks, auto shops, grocery stores, and tourist attractions. You can view fuel prices and lodging rates and get distances and directions to destinations listed. Use iExit to help you decide when and where to stop without having to search for a specific location or scroll around a map. Download iExit: Android, iOS CityMapper is a journey planner that helps you navigate public transportation in major metro areas around the world — handy if your next trip to the big city doesn't include a rental car. Y With CityMapper, you can get real-time arrival, departure, and location data for buses, trains, subways as well as turn-by-turn directions with options for walking, bikeshare, and scooter rental. The app will also notify you of upcoming turns and stops, track service alerts, and calculate travel time so you can select the best route to your destination. Download CityMapper: Android, iOS If you don't know the language at your destination or are traveling to a region where multiple languages are spoken, add Google Translate to your device to facilitate communication. The app can translate from typed text, photos, or real-time bilingual conversations as well as instant camera feedback — pointed at signs, for example — and text inside other apps. To get started, choose your primary language and select the language to translate to from the more than 100 available in the app dropdown. Check Translate offline to download for offline use. (Not all languages have this feature.) Download Google Translate: Android, iOS
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
If passed, bill would impact South Carolina's short-term rental process
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – If you've ever used a short-term rental company like Airbnb or VRBO — you might want to continue reading, because a bill in the South Carolina State House may change the way the companies operate. The bill, which passed in the state house, could change how taxes on short-term rentals are collected. The legislation is concerning to some property management companies. Currently, when booking through a short-term rental platform, the service collects accommodations and sales taxes to then send to the state. If ratified, renters would after paying taxes directly to a property manager. David Bergmann works for with Bluefield Realty Group, a Greenville-based short-term rental compony; he said the change would be bad for business. 'This would leave our business in a spot where we may not be here a year from now,' he said. The bill's sponsor, Representative Lee Hewitt (R – Georgetown) admitted the bill has been controversial, because it deals with tax money that goes to counties and cities. 'The cities and the county said, 'because these are rentals and commercial residential type properties, it demands more services from us, so we need to collect more taxes from them,' so if it is a house, which is what it is now being used as — it should be taxed like a house,' Hewitt said. Airbnb called the bill unnecessary because the marketplace platforms currently collect and send accommodation taxes on behalf of property management companies. '[It] create[s] substantial complications by creating three separate regimes for collecting local taxes, something no other state requires,' a company statement reads. For Bergmann, it's all about power and control. He said lawmakers want to see the industry revert back to what it was 20 years ago. 'But the way that the industry has moved is towards third party intermediary, who protects the consumers,' he continued. 'The legacy property managers and those that represent them would like to introduce bills that would take us back to the old way of doing things.' Airbnb added that the bill would create privacy concerns for guests, because it would require accommodation intermediaries to provide confidential consumer information — including credit card numbers — to hosts. If the bill is passed by the Senate in 2026 and signed by Governor Henry McMaster, it will become law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
09-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Expedia cites lower demand for US travel for weaker-than-expected revenue
Expedia Group said Friday that reduced travel demand in the United States led to its weaker-than-expected revenue in the first quarter. Expedia, which owns the lodging reservation platforms and VRBO as well as an eponymous online travel agency, was the latest American company to report slowing business with both international visitors and domestic travelers.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bride Worries She's Been Scammed Out of $8,000 After Wedding Venue Cancels Her Booking 3 Weeks Before Ceremony
Bride-to-be Chelsea Kolman is worried she's been scammed after paying $8,000 before a company canceled her wedding venue reservation just three weeks before her big day "As time got closer we would message her and it would be two or three weeks before she'd respond," Kolman, of Versailles, Kentucky, told NBC-affiliated station WLEX's LEX 18 of attempting to contact the host Kolman booked The Farm, LLC through the vacation rentals booking platform VRBO, but received her cancellation email from the venue. In a statement to PEOPLE, The Farm, LLC stated that Kolman has received "information on refund or rebooking options" A bride-to-be had to search for a last-minute wedding venue after reportedly having her booking canceled just a few weeks before her special day. Chelsea Kolman, of Versailles, Ky., is worried that she's been scammed after allegedly paying The Farm, LLC $8,000 outside of VRBO, which was the vacation rentals booking platform she used. Kolman told local NBC-affiliate station WLEX's LEX 18 that, "As time got closer we would message her and it would be two or three weeks before she'd respond," regarding her attempts to contact the host. The bride-to-be claimed her booking was canceled by the company on April 17, just 21 days before she was set to tie the knot, the outlet noted. Getty A stock photo of a bride holding a bouquet of flowers A stock photo of a bride holding a bouquet of flowers Related: Woman Charged with Scamming 70 Brides by Offering Wedding Dress Dry Cleaning Services, Then Selling Gowns on Social Media According to a Honeyfund website created ahead of Kolman's wedding to her fiancé Eric, the couple said they had to change the venue "due to unforeseen circumstances." The wedding date is listed as Saturday, May 10. Kolman was reportedly told by the host to contact VRBO for a refund, per LEX 18. She said she'd received an email saying their reservation had been canceled by the booking platform, but claimed the message actually came from The Farm, LLC. When she reached out to VRBO, Kolman — who said she'd seen a mix of reviews after doing a bit of research into the host — was told the booking still existed, the outlet reported. "It really is like a Russian roulette sort of thing," Kolman said of seeing both positive and negative reviews, per LEX 18. "It's just enough to make you believe it's not too good to be true, it's a real thing." "I'm kind of encouraging people to beware, and you shouldn't have a thought in your head like this could be a scam, but now I'm telling people you gotta look out because it happens," she added to the outlet. Related: Bride Unable to Get $10,000 Deposit Back After Her Wedding Vendor Was Allegedly Put in Medically Induced Coma Per the Better Business Bureau website, The Farm, LLC has a rating of "F," due to alleged failure to respond to multiple complaints filed against the business and two complaints that were allegedly not resolved. The site pointed out that in January 2024, the company "filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal Bankruptcy Act." "This permits the business to continue to operate with court supervision while developing a plan of reorganization," the site reported. The Farm, LLC's website states it is currently being improved, and the company encourages anyone interested in their venues to visit their "VRBO listings" in the meantime. The business still appears to have multiple venues in Kentucky and one in Tennessee, per the site. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. WTVD previously confirmed The Farm, LLC had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reporting in May 2024 that multiple couples had been affected after planning their wedding at The Champion Estate at the Triangle in Durham County, North Carolina. It appears that the property is no longer managed by The Farm, LLC, per the listings on the business' website. PEOPLE reached out to The Farm, LLC for comment on the situation, to which the team stated: "The Farm LLC is a hospitality company committed to ensuring our guests have an extraordinary experience. Whether it's a family reunion, a wedding, or a simple staycation –we want every guest to feel taken care of, but when they aren't – we're here to make it right. A recent convergence of events involving company restructuring, booking vendors, and market dynamics led to some guest cancellations." "Guests affected to date have been notified of any changes in itinerary and they have received information on refund or rebooking options," the venue continued. "Guests who have not yet executed on those options, including the guest highlighted in your story, are still welcome to do so at their earliest convenience. We encourage any guest with questions about any future booking to contact us using the methods provided in the notification to them or by emailing reservations@ VRBO and Kolman did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Read the original article on People
Winnipeg Free Press
28-04-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Report urges city to accept federal funding for short-term rental rules enforcement
A year after the city imposed a licensing regime for short-term rental units, such as those listed on Airbnb and VRBO, new federal funding is poised to help crack down on anyone breaking the rules. A new report seeks city council approval to accept a grant of just under $770,000 over the next two years, which would boost enforcement of the units the city began licensing on April 1, 2024. But some neighbours of such properties say enforcement is falling short, so far. Craig, who asked that his last name not be used, said city rules haven't solved issues in his downtown building, where about one-quarter of all units are short-term rentals. 'Our quality of life is adversely impacted on a regular basis by these units,' he said. While wild parties are the most common problem, others include include domestic violence, hallway fights and at least one case of human trafficking, said Craig. 'There (are) people who are afraid to leave.… You don't want to leave your suite when there's people causing issues in the hallway. You're kind of trapped,' he said. The city's rules allow owners to operate one short-term rental unit, which must be their primary residence. However, permanent residents of Winnipeg, and corporations wholly owned by Winnipeggers, are permitted to rent out one primary residence and up to three short-term rental units they don't live at via a grandfather clause, as long as they owned the properties before Feb. 23, 2023. Craig said that means incidents can pile up at units with off-site owners and city bylaw officers often can't immediately respond. 'The bylaw needs to be enforceable to actually mean anything,' he said. Downtown resident Mike Diehl agreed. 'We (typically) don't know where the owners live, exactly, or how far away they are when something needs to be addressed. This is ghost hotel style,' said Diehl. 'You kind of wish there would be some… upper limit (in terms) of the number of short-term rentals that can exist in a building.' He welcomed the city's plan to add enforcement but said condo boards also need more power to prevent short-term rental operators from buying housing units. According to the city report, the federal government believes cracking down on non-compliant short-term rentals could help boost the country's supply of long-term housing. Coun. Vivian Santos, chairwoman of council's community services committee, said she hasn't personally received complaints about short-term rentals since city licensing took effect, though other councillors have. 'I think the enforcement part would really help. I know there have been complaints about some illicit, illegal activity,' said Santos (Point Douglas). The city plans to use the funding to identify any gaps in its bylaws, ramp up enforcement and better use technology to monitor the industry. Steps would include: adding an enforcement and policy analyst, a licensing enforcement inspector and an information technology programmer analyst; using new technology to detect bookings for unlicensed properties; and creating a new scheduling system to streamline inspections. 'I think it would be very helpful for the community bylaw enforcement team to have some temporary additional help,' said Santos. In Winnipeg, there are 679 active short-term rental licences in effect, while two licences have been removed for breaking the rules and 64 complaints have been made through 311 since licensing began, said city spokeswoman Pam McKenzie, in an email. The city's licensing program also imposed an accommodation tax on short-term rentals, which is currently set at six per cent. A full city report on short-term rentals is expected in June, said Santos. A spokeswoman for the short-term rental industry said she hopes more enforcement can help crack down on what she believes to be a small portion of operators breaking city rules. 'It only benefits us if the bad hosts are weeded out. The quicker, the better in my opinion,' said Melanie Mitchell, president of the Manitoba Association of Short Term Rental Owners. Mitchell said the industry provides jobs and needed accommodations. And while the federal government blames short-term rentals for taking up scarce housing units, Mitchell believes they have little impact on the overall supply. 'You could put them all out of business in one day and still have a huge housing supply issue in Winnipeg,' she said. Mitchell said it would be unfair for the city to rescind its decision to allow some existing short-term rentals to continue operating even though owners don't live on site. 'People made their business decisions based on being grandfathered (in), so that should be the end of that discussion. And the grandfathering criteria was so strict that cut out probably half of the short-term rentals in Winnipeg already,' she said. Council is expected to vote next month on accepting the federal enforcement funding and the proposed plan to spend it. X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne PursagaReporter Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne. Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. 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