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Travel + Leisure
a day ago
- Travel + Leisure
I Just Went to Japan With 10 Friends—These 13 Essentials Are Game-changers for Group Trips, From $19
When I told people I was planning a trip to Japan with 10 of my friends, I got many wide-eyed responses. That's understandable: Group travel is anything but easy. It requires a lot of patience, planning, and compromise. However, when a friend and I proposed this trip to our group chat last year, it was met with resounding interest, which is how we ended up planning a vacation across the world with nearly a dozen people. For the most part, we kept our itinerary flexible, which provided space for everyone to choose whatever activities would bring them joy. However, despite our casualness with the schedule, one thing we were stringent about before the trip was luggage efficiency. When I surveyed my friends post-trip, one of the tips we all agreed on was to pack as light as possible and leave room in your suitcase—because, let's face it, you will likely do some shopping when you get to your destination. I'd also suggest sticking to a specific color scheme with your clothes—earthy neutrals are always a good choice—so you can mix and match all the items in your streamlined wardrobe. From comfy sneakers to packing cubes, these are all the essentials I'd recommend bringing with you on a multi-destination trip to make your journeys even more enjoyable. Many people will likely tell you to buy extra luggage on overseas trips so you can bring all your souvenirs home. I don't like having an additional item on my to-do list while on vacation, so I opted for a carry-on suitcase that expands. I swear by the Away Carry-on Flex, which is available in two sizes. I've taken this suitcase all over the world, and it has been so reliable. Even in its compact form, this petite suitcase holds so much—and I love that I can expand it at the end of a trip and even (gasp!) check the bag on my way home if needed. To keep your luggage organized and streamlined, packing cubes are a must. I personally love these from Bagsmart because they're super lightweight, impressively compress your clothes into neat, little packages, and make organizing all your clothes a breeze. I also use these for keeping shoes separated from my clothes, and simply place the perforated side facing down to keep them extra secure. Travel pouches can help keep your essentials (like cords, cosmetics, or documents) organized and easy to grab, whether you're keeping them in your personal item or carry-on. Two of my friends used this particular Amazon trio of pouches on our trip to Japan and gave them rave reviews. I don't know about you, but I find my phone battery drains even faster when I'm on vacation—the combination of using map apps, plus taking ample photos and videos, leaves my phone fighting for its life before the day is through. That's where a portable charger comes in handy, especially if you're out and about all day. A friend of mine and my husband both packed these, and it was a total lifesaver when any of our phone batteries were dipping. I love a good matching set, and I think they come in handy when you're packing for a long trip. On this trip to Japan, I packed the Aritzia Limitless Pant and the matching Regal Vest—and I can't recommend this duo enough. These items are super versatile: I loved pairing the pants with a T-shirt or a white button-down and the vest with jeans or a skirt. More perks of the pants: They are wildly comfortable while still looking polished, and they don't wrinkle easily in your bag. It might seem simple, but well-tailored tees are a packing must for any warm-weather trip. I'm incredibly picky about my T-shirts: They have to be well-made, soft, comfortable, not too tight, and perfectly structured. My current favorite T-shirts, which of course made their way to Japan with me, are the Madewell Cotton Relaxed Oversized Tee and the Aritizia Soft Feels All-time T-shirt. One of my guy friends on the trip also raved about these Relaxed Premium Cotton T-shirts, which he owns in every color. What I love about long skirts is that you can dress them up or down, and they're so lightweight and breezy. This high-waisted option from Amazon has over 1,200 five-star ratings and comes in a whopping 42 different colors and patterns. During this trip, my friends and I walked an average of 25,000 steps a day, so solid walking shoes made all the difference. I packed my Alo Runners, which are quickly becoming some of my favorite travel shoes. These minimalist sneakers look nice enough to wear with jeans or tailored slacks—and since they're designed for running, they're supportive and well-suited for copious daily mileage. On the first day of the trip, I didn't slip my insoles into my sneakers—and it was a huge mistake. My hips were achy, my shins felt sore, and my feet just generally felt like they'd been beaten up. When I wore my insoles the next day, however, I felt like I could have walked all day (and honestly, I did). My favorite insoles are from the brand Superfeet: I prefer the high arch support style, but they're also available in various other options to fit your needs. I truly can't recommend these enough, especially if you plan to do some serious walking on your trip. On the days the temperatures spiked in Japan, it was nice to give my feet a breather by wearing sandals. I packed the Nisola Flatform Sandals, which have a small platform, solid tread on the sole, and awesome arch support, so I felt like I was wearing something sturdy while walking for miles. I also love that these leather sandals appear a bit more polished than a simple slide, so they're versatile and work with virtually any outfit. As an alternative to a backpack, I'm a big fan of nylon sling bags. These tiny packs are incredibly lightweight, surprisingly spacious, and also easy to shove into your carry-on luggage. I brought the FP Movement Bulls Eye Sling Bag, and I was shocked by how well it fit all my essentials, including my digital camera. My husband was such a fan of the bag that he ended up buying a similar style from Uniqlo. It's always smart to have a lightweight rain jacket on hand if the weather takes a turn. I packed this FP Movement Colorblock Jacket, and it worked like a charm (plus, it aligned with my neutral color scheme). While it's not technically a rain jacket, I found this ultra-lightweight windbreaker to be a great barrier to the wet weather, and it barely took up any space in my luggage. Again, people will tell you to buy new luggage or even bring an additional suitcase with you—instead, I'm partial to a backup duffel. I love this one from Mystery Ranch, but this Amazon Basics duffel could also be a more budget-friendly pick at just $18. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
Travel Weekly
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Classic Vacations adds flights and car rentals to advisor booking platform
Classic Vacations said travel advisors can now build itineraries online that include flights and car rentals, in addition to hotels, transfers, tours and travel insurance. Advisors can book first, business, premium economy and economy fares on the upgraded platform, many at negotiated rates. The new car rental feature enables advisors to book in destinations worldwide. Courtesy holds are available for both flights and car rentals. "This is what our advisors have been asking for," said Melissa Krueger, CEO of Classic Vacations. "Advisors want the option to conveniently design and build full itineraries online, supported by the outstanding service and experience Classic is known for in the industry." Adding flights and car rentals to its online platform enables Classic to "take another leap forward in the value we provide to our advisors, who are at the center of all we do," Krueger added.
Condé Nast Traveler
13-05-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
This New AI Tool Turns Instagram Reels Into Trip Itineraries—We Tried It Out
The excitement of booking a vacation can dissipate all too quickly when faced with the arduous task of actually planning the trip. Trying to squeeze in all the must-visit sights, figure out which restaurants or bars to prioritize, and plan any excursions you'd like to do takes some serious organization—so anything that can help take the pressure off is always welcome. Over the past year, various tech companies have experimented with different ways generative AI can be used to plan travel. Now, Expedia has released a new AI-powered tool that can create a travel itinerary from Instagram Reels. In theory, it sounds pretty great; according to Statista, 75% of travelers use social media platforms as a source of travel inspiration, and an American Express study found that 75% of those surveyed were inspired to travel to a specific destination because of social media. So, a tool that will help turn that inspiration into serviceable information would surely be valuable.
Geek Wire
09-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
New Expedia feature uses AI to help travelers plan and book trips based off shared Instagram Reels
Expedia Trip Matching is a new feature that allows Instagram users to share travel-related Reels with Expedia and receive AI-powered travel-planning information back. (Expedia Images) Don't just scroll past those influencers soaking up all the sun at far-off destinations in your Instagram feed. Build an itinerary and book a trip in the same location. That's the premise from Seattle-based travel giant Expedia, which announced the beta release Friday of Expedia Trip Matching, a new feature that uses artificial intelligence to reel travelers in through Instagram Reels. It works when would-be travelers share any publicly available travel-related Reel directly with the official @Expedia account on Instagram. When the video is sent, it initiates an AI-generated response from Expedia with personalized travel recommendations, itineraries and trip-planning resources based on the video. Travelers can review and book directly from that customized itinerary, turning their social media travel daydreaming into real-world booking. Expedia says it's the first online travel agency to integrate real-time, AI-powered travel planning directly into Instagram. 'It's no secret people are getting their news, inspiration and travel ideas from influencers and content creators, with a recent study showing that 80% of millennials rely on social media for travel decisions,' said Jochen Koedijk, chief marketing officer at Expedia Group, in a statement. 'We want to be where consumers get their inspiration, which is through social media.' Trip Matching will be available to U.S. travelers in the upcoming weeks. Expedia shares fell more than 8% after the online travel giant company reported earnings Thursday and said it saw lower-than-expected demand in the U.S. — including a substantial decrease in inbound bookings from Canada.
Hospitality Net
09-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Expedia Launches Industry-First Feature That Turns Instagram Reels into Bookable Travel Itineraries
SEATTLE - Expedia® today announced Expedia® Trip Matching, a first-of-its-kind feature that allows travelers to seamlessly build an itinerary based on an Instagram Reel and then book directly on Expedia. Travelers can share any publicly available travel-related Reel—whether from content creators they follow or trending posts—directly with Expedia and receive customized itineraries, destination ideas, and travel tips based on the video. Powered by AI, this new experience transforms inspiration into real-world travel plans, making it easier than ever to book travel directly from Instagram. It's no secret people are getting their news, inspiration and travel ideas from influencers and content creators, with a recent study showing that 80% of millennials rely on social media for travel decisions.* We want to be where consumers get their inspiration, which is through social media. Now with Expedia® Trip Matching, travelers can seamlessly build an itinerary based on an Instagram Reel and book it directly on Expedia. Jochen Koedijk, Chief Marketing Officer, Expedia Group How Expedia® Trip Matching works: Find inspiration: While scrolling Instagram, a user finds a Reel featuring a destination or experience they love. While scrolling Instagram, a user finds a Reel featuring a destination or experience they love. Share it with Expedia: They tap the share icon on the Reel, search for the @Expedia account, and send the video. They tap the share icon on the Reel, search for the account, and send the video. Receive fast results: Expedia replies with AI-generated, personalized travel recommendations, itineraries, and trip-planning resources based on the video. Expedia replies with AI-generated, personalized travel recommendations, itineraries, and trip-planning resources based on the video. Book when ready: Travelers can review and book directly from the customized itinerary—seamlessly bridging social discovery with real-world booking. Expedia® Trip Matching is now open for beta access by visiting The feature will be available to U.S. travelers in the upcoming weeks. Through the new trip matching feature, Expedia becomes the first OTA to integrate real-time, AI-powered travel planning directly into Instagram. The feature reflects the company's commitment to innovation and meeting the next generation of travelers where they are - inspired, mobile, and social-first. * Source: Klook Pulse study, November 2023 About Expedia Group Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Our organization is made up of three pillars: Expedia Product & Technology, focused on the group's product and technical strategy and offerings; Expedia Brands, housing all our consumer brands; and Expedia for Business, consisting of business-to-business solutions and relationships throughout the travel ecosystem. The Expedia Group family of brands includes Expedia®, Expedia® Partner Solutions, Vrbo®, trivago®, Orbitz®, Travelocity®, Hotwire®, Wotif®, ebookers®, CheapTickets®, Expedia Group™ Media Solutions, and Expedia Cruises™. © 2023 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50
