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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amsterdam being booked up by Canadians in June: Skyscanner trending travel destination
A European summer is very much on the horizon for Canadians and in June, Amsterdam has proven to be a particularly popular travel destination. Information provided to Yahoo Canada from Skyscanner revealed that there has been a 73 per cent increase in flight bookings from Canadian cities to the destination over the last month. According to the 2025 Skyscanner Travel Trends report, 34 per cent of Canadian travellers seeking out immersive art experiences are specifically attracted to the shared, communal aspect of those moments. And Amsterdam is a great destination for those travellers. Search for your next vacation on Skyscanner For art lovers specifically, June is the perfect time to travel to Amsterdam. The Holland Festival takes place in June, the Netherlands' oldest and largest performing arts festival, and the sculpture exhibition ArtZuid is also taking place, transforming areas of the city into an open-air museum. "Amsterdam's commitment to accessible art is evident in venues like the Stedelijk Museum, which offers cutting-edge modern art exhibitions, and the city's numerous independent galleries and street art installations," Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner's travel trends and destinations expert highlighted. Using Skyscanner search data, roundtrip flights from Toronto to Amsterdam in June can currently be found for as low as $513. Flights from Vancouver to Amsterdam start at $695, or $620 from Montreal. Check Skyscanner for up-to-date, live pricing for all flights. Search for your next vacation on Skyscanner If you want to travel like a local in Amsterdam, it's time to get on a bike. "Renting a bike is one of the best ways to see the city. The canal belt is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and riding through it at your own pace gives you a real feel for the rhythm of Amsterdam life," Lindsay said. "Stop along the way for coffee at a canal-side café, or pack a picnic and relax in Vondelpark like the locals do." For visitors looking for the best neighbourhood for a stroll, the Jordaan District is the place to go. "The Jordaan is full of independent galleries, boutiques, and cozy brown cafés," Lindsay highlighted. "It's the kind of neighbourhood where you can wander with no real plan and still stumble on something great." "If you're there on a Saturday, don't miss the Noordermarkt — part flea market, part foodie haven, and all charm." If you want to take advantage of the beautiful summer weather, the Rijksmuseum Garden is a great stop. "Even if you've already visited the Rijksmuseum, the summer gardens are worth a separate trip," Lindsay stated. "They're beautifully maintained and often feature outdoor sculptures or installations." "It's free to enter, and it's a peaceful break in the middle of Museumplein — ideal for art lovers and sun seekers alike." The Hoxton, Amsterdam is located in the heart of the city, in the same neighbourhood as some of the city's best restaurants and stores. The hotel's restaurant Lotti's has a focus on seasonal Dutch ingredients with its "modern European restaurant" cuisine. Located between two historical canals, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam has an interesting history, from a 15th-century convent to the City Hall of Amsterdam. The rooms feature contemporary French designs, with the property having specifically family-friendly accommodations and experiences. The hotel also has a spa with an indoor pool. Have a particularly luxurious experience at The Dylan, Amsterdam, located in the "9-streets" area on the Keizersgracht canal. It's also home to the two Michelin star awarded Restaurant Vinkeles, in addition to Bar Brasserie OCCO, which has its infamous "High Wine" experience, a play on High Tea. Each room style is unique, and includes one inspired by the Loxura butterfly, to an authentic Amsterdam-style loft. Skyscanner has a number of features to make sure you save as much as possible on your vacation. Take advantage of the "Saved" feature. Start by browsing all the travel deals and when you see something you like, you can save it for later. Step 1: Find your flights and hotel. Step 2: Select the heart icon next to your top picks to save them for later. Make sure you're logged into your Skyscanner account. Pro tip: Download the Skyscanner app to create separate Saved lists for all the different trips you're planning. If flight costs are getting you down, there are a few things Canadian travellers can do to ensure they're getting the best deal possible for their next vacation, both on the Skyscanner platform specifically and when looking for flights more generally. Beat the crowds: For flights that are filling up fast, you'll want to make sure you're looking at the monthly view on travel search sites like Skyscanner to see the best possible option available for flight dates. Set up alerts: Prices are always changing, so if you're hoping to travel to a specific destination, or on specific dates, set up a price alert so you can be quick if a deal comes up. Skyscanner specifically has a price alerts system for any cost changes. Consider "Everywhere": If you're hoping for a new adventure, or a little rest and relaxation, but you don't have a specific destination in mind, the "Everywhere" search on Skyscanner may be your new best friend to discover the most affordable vacation destination possible. Flexible dates: There may be certain times where you need to travel for specific dates, but the best deals are really revealed when you open yourself up to some flexibility. Even changing your travel dates by a day, or a week, can result in significant savings.
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘I am owed €530 by Aer Lingus since early April. I can't afford that'
A reader called Emer ended up booking not one but two flights for herself and her family to the same destination at the same time through no fault of her own and has struggled for weeks to have the problem resolved. 'On Thursday, April 3rd I attempted to amend an Aer Lingus flight booking online,' her mail begins. 'This was a flight for four people and I was amending the flight for us to fly a couple of days later than originally planned.' The cost to amend the booking came in at €430 but, she writes, the transaction would not go through due to an error on the Aer Lingus website. She sent us a screengrab of the error message she was getting. She authorised the payment with her bank several times but the Aer Lingus page kept stalling and no email came through to confirm that the modification had been successful. READ MORE 'I rang Aer Lingus customer service [and] after a long wait I spoke to a member of their team who confirmed it had not gone through, and then charged me €530 to amend the booking as it cost more to do it over the phone.' She did point out that the only reason she was making the booking over the phone was because of an issue with the Aer Lingus website but the representative said their hands were tied and there was nothing they could do. She paid the fee and was less than impressed a day later when she saw two separate Aer Lingus transactions appear on her credit card – one for €430 and another one for €530. She realised that – contrary to what she had been told by the Aer Lingus employee the online transaction had been processed as well as the phone transaction. 'I have spoken to customer care on the phone four times and have been promised a refund of €530, the double-charged amount. They said I could expect it in five days. I also have two complaints with Aer Lingus, both in early April, which I have quoted numerous times on the phone to customer care. The average wait time on the phone is 40 minutes so I can't afford to ring daily as I work full-time. I've also tried their WhatsApp service but the bot said to contact customer service. 'So I am owed €530 by Aer Lingus since early April. I can't afford to have that amount outstanding on my credit card and I can't understand this lack of action on their side for their clear and obvious, and on record, error. I have also contacted the IAA, but honestly feel like I'm losing my mind.' Her frustration is entirely understandable and when we contacted the airline it was quick to hold its hands up. 'Aer Lingus sincerely regrets that this customer experienced difficulties when attempting to modify their flights online,' a spokeswoman said. 'While our website's 'Manage Trip' function typically allows customers to make changes seamlessly online, we acknowledge that, in this instance, they were unable to do so and were inadvertently charged twice in error. We have processed the full refund for the duplicate charge and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.'
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Paying Aer Lingus on the double and struggling to get a refund
A reader called Emer ended up booking not one but two flights for herself and her family to the same destination at the same time through no fault of her own and has struggled for weeks to have the problem resolved. 'On Thursday, April 3rd I attempted to amend an Aer Lingus flight booking online,' her mail begins. 'This was a flight for four people and I was amending the flight for us to fly a couple of days later than originally planned.' The cost to amend the booking came in at €430 but, she writes, the transaction would not go through due to an error on the Aer Lingus website. She sent us a screengrab of the error message she was getting. She authorised the payment with her bank several times but the Aer Lingus page kept stalling and no email came through to confirm that the modification had been successful. READ MORE 'I rang Aer Lingus customer service [and] after a long wait I spoke to a member of their team who confirmed it had not gone through, and then charged me €530 to amend the booking as it cost more to do it over the phone.' She did point out that the only reason she was making the booking over the phone was because of an issue with the Aer Lingus website but the representative said their hands were tied and there was nothing they could do. She paid the fee and was less than impressed a day later when she saw two separate Aer Lingus transactions appear on her credit card – one for €430 and another one for €530. She realised that – contrary to what she had been told by the Aer Lingus employee the online transaction had been processed as well as the phone transaction. 'I have spoken to customer care on the phone four times and have been promised a refund of €530, the double-charged amount. They said I could expect it in five days. I also have two complaints with Aer Lingus, both in early April, which I have quoted numerous times on the phone to customer care. The average wait time on the phone is 40 minutes so I can't afford to ring daily as I work full-time. I've also tried their WhatsApp service but the bot said to contact customer service. 'So I am owed €530 by Aer Lingus since early April. I can't afford to have that amount outstanding on my credit card and I can't understand this lack of action on their side for their clear and obvious, and on record, error. I have also contacted the IAA, but honestly feel like I'm losing my mind.' Her frustration is entirely understandable and when we contacted the airline it was quick to hold its hands up. 'Aer Lingus sincerely regrets that this customer experienced difficulties when attempting to modify their flights online,' a spokeswoman said. 'While our website's 'Manage Trip' function typically allows customers to make changes seamlessly online, we acknowledge that, in this instance, they were unable to do so and were inadvertently charged twice in error. We have processed the full refund for the duplicate charge and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.'
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Bombshell study reveals the travel companies still ignoring new rules on dodgy add-on costs - and how they could be breaking the law
We all know how frustrating shopping for flights and holidays online can sometimes be. You're reeled in by a very low price – and then end up with a much bigger figure by the time you get to the check-out, thanks to extra admin and booking fees. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act – a new law that came into force in April – was meant to stamp out those pesky add-on costs. But, in a new investigation, Which? has found that many well-known travel brands, including Megabus, Wowcher and loveholidays, are potentially breaking the law by ignoring or at least dragging their feet on the new rules. In the most extreme cases, travellers could find themselves paying hundreds of pounds more than the upfront price. When looking at booking a hotel resort using comparison sites Kayak and Trivago, Which? found a huge variation in prices between the cheapest and most expensive hotel deals, including at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas. The experts at Which? found a week's stay in July was just £371 on loveholiday, while and both said the price is closer to £700. Loveholidays claimed its price 'includes hotel fees and local tourist tax'. When Which? contacted loveholidays, it admitted the price did not include the full hotel fees that and took into account. Instead, there was a staggering £257 extra to pay when you checked out. Excalibur, like most hotels in Las Vegas and many other hotels in the US and the Caribbean, has what it calls a 'resort fee' – a mandatory charge for services you may or may not use. This allows it to advertise a price that you pay in advance, and another hefty sum when you leave. This is legal - although heavily criticised even in the US - but websites aimed at the UK market are required to tell customers about these fees from the start, under the new DMCC Act. Which? claim that after the consumer champion contacted loveholidays in February, it tweaked the listing very slightly, removing the claim that its price includes hotel fees and adding the caveat 'depending on your hotel's policy, you may also be asked to pay additional hotel fees'. Which? also claims that loveholidays said it will ensure it is compliant with new laws before they come into effect but when the consumer champion checked in May, it claims this had not happened. It adds: 'Unlike many of its rivals, it still did not show the resort fee for the Excalibur.' Loveholidays' listing now says: 'Your hotel may charge additional fees, which must be paid there,' but does not reveal that these unavoidable fees could add hundreds of pounds to the cost of your stay. When Which? contacted loveholidays again, the holiday site apparently didn't give a statement but did suggest it was looking into showing resort fees in its prices. Until it does, Which? says it believes the company is breaking the law. Experts at Which? add: 'Some other less well-known sites are also failing to include resort fees but most of the big ones - including Expedia, and do include them.' Which? found a similar problem when it looked at holiday deals on discount website Wowcher. A week's summer holiday to Malta, which initially appeared to cost £1,278 had a £9.99 'administration fee' at the point of checkout. In February, Wowcher told Which? it was reviewing how its admin fees were implemented and would make sure it continued to comply with any applicable law. However, in May Wowcher was still applying the £9.99 admin fee, according to Which? Meanwhile, when Which? looked at budget coach company Megabus, it also found issues. The experts initially found a one-way ticket from London to Birmingham for a bargain £5.99 on the Megabus website, only to be hit with an extra £1.50 booking fee at checkout – putting the price up by 25 per cent to £7.49. Megabus told Which? in February that it would comply with any new regulation. However, when Which? checked again in May for a journey on the website,it claims a £1.50 booking fee still appeared just before payment. The experts at Which? add: 'The fee is not mentioned anywhere earlier in the purchasing process on the site. 'On the National Express website there is a disclaimer that headline prices exclude a £1.50 booking fee. This is clearer than Megabus.' Megabus told Which? that it's 'committed to offering transparent and affordable travel' and it would update its prices to ensure the booking fees are clearly shown at the start of the booking process by the end of May 2025. The DMCC Act means the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can issue fines of up to £300,000 or 10 per cent of worldwide turnover (whichever is higher) without having to go to court. Trading Standards can also enforce the rules. In the first 12 months of its enforcement the CMA has said that it will prioritise clear infringements of the law and practices that are particularly harmful to consumers. This includes 'fees that are hidden until late in the buying process,' among other issues. Which? believes that travel brands are still using these dodgy add-on fees to squeeze more money out of customers, which would be against the law. Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: 'Sneaky fees and add-ons can significantly change the final price people pay for holidays and the difference between the advertised price and the final total can reach hundreds of pounds in the worst cases. 'We've uncovered examples of brands ignoring new rules that are there to protect customers from being hit with unexpected fees and we believe they could be breaking the law.' In response to Which?'s study, Megabus said: 'We are committed to offering transparent and affordable travel for our customers. 'We are currently making updates to our website - due to be completed by the end of this month - to ensure that all fees, including our £1.50 booking fee, are clearly highlighted at the start of the booking process. 'We fully support efforts to improve transparency in pricing across the travel industry and will continue to ensure our practices align with the latest regulations.' Wowcher added: 'Wowcher has implemented various changes to its website to ensure compliance with the DMCC Act. 'This has included providing an estimate of its variable admin fee within its pricing 'splat' which appears clearly and prominently on our deal pages prior to the customer reaching checkout. 'Our intention is to ensure that our website is clear and transparent for customers, allowing them to make purchase decisions with confidence on the Wowcher platform.'
CNET
18-05-2025
- CNET
Booking a Flight Soon? This Google Flights Data Will Tell You the Cheapest Time to Buy
Google Flights has the data on the best time to book your flight without breaking the a vacation is stressful and it can get pricey fast, especially if you're traveling during high-traffic intervals like Memorial Day weekend. The good news is our CNET experts have compiled and explored a ton of travel tips on how to find affordable flights and properly prepare like a travel pro. This exploration includes reviewing key Google Flights data to help you make smarter decisions when reviewing airfare. Google Flights has released a robust travel report after aggregating four years of airfare data and trends to provide US travelers with an overarching guide on finding the cheapest flights and the best times to book them. I have reviewed this report thoroughly and highlighted the most important take-aways below to help you find a flight in your budget and let you relax while traveling instead of stressing about money. For more key travel tips, explore these travel essentials you need for every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also review CNET's roundup of the best headphones for travel. What days are the cheapest to fly? CNET If you're planning to book a flight, you're likely trying to find the most budget-friendly option. According to Google Flights, the cheapest flights are available when flying on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tuesday being the cheapest day, according to the historical flight data. Flying early- to midweek can save travelers 13% to 20% on airfare compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday the most expensive day to fly. Do layovers on flights save you money? It may come as no surprise that flights with layovers are cheaper than nonstop flights but you may not realize just how significant those savings can be. The Google Flight data shows that travelers can save 25% by booking a flight with a layover instead of a nonstop flight. Which day of the week is the cheapest for booking flights? There are certainly cheaper days to fly, there aren't really cheaper days to book. "There's not much benefit to buying your tickets on a certain day of the week," according to the Google report. Google Flights does state that Tuesdays are typically the cheapest day of the week to book, according to the data, but Tuesday bookings are only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, Sunday. Is it cheaper to book flights far in advance? To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it's better to book your travel far in advance, especially if you need to fly on a specific day or time. There are some patterns you can analyze to decide whether it's better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations and dates of travel. For domestic flights, the prices are generally at their lowest between 21 and 52 days before your trip -- with 38 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average. For international flights, the prices are generally lowest between 50 and 101 days before your trip, but it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. According to Google, "Average prices don't meaningfully drop anytime before departure but they usually do start to rise within 50 days of the flight itself" for international travel from the US. Never miss out on the cheapest airfare again./Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET When is the best time to book a flight in every season? Here's what Google says about the best times to book holiday flights and vacation trips to certain popular destinations. Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 33 to 59 days in advance, with 44 days before departure being the cheapest time to book on average. Summer break: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are usually available 13 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure being the cheapest day on average to book. Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday are usually available 26 to 59 days in advance, with 45 days out being the cheapest -- meaning it's best to book Thanksgiving flights in early October. Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights over the winter holidays are usually available 36 to 72 days in advance, with 58 days out being the cheapest. It's best to book Christmas or holiday travel in the latter half of October. When is the best time to book a flight to Europe? International flights to Europe from the US are usually cheaper 50 or more days before departure, with 94 days out being the cheapest day to book on average. As with all international travel, it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. When is the best time to book a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean? International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the one exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. That's because flights are generally at their lowest between 26 and 68 days in advance, with 44 days out being the cheapest. For more, check out CNET's picks for the best travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore the 12 travel essentials you always need to pack and the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
