Travel

A United Airlines jet gets towed past an American Airlines maintenance hangar at O'Hare International Airport, April 14, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

American and United are in stalemate at O’Hare, but rivalry keeps growing

By Shun Graves

October 22, 2026 at 5:17 p.m.

With the rivalry at an imposed stalemate, both airlines turned to making underhanded barbs against...

The Chicago skyline backdrops the Chicago Jazz Festival at Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion on Sept. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Conde Nast Traveler readers name Chicago ‘Best Big City’ for 10th year in a row

By Robert Channick

October 6, 2026 at 3:25 p.m.

Conde Nast Traveler received nearly 800,000 votes for this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards, which cover...

Olivia Estrada, the on board manager, carries plates of food to the dome car for guests aboard a Patrick Henry Creative Promotions private rail car as it travels from Chicago, Illinois, to St. Louis, Missouri, on May 19, 2026. Private train cars may seem like a relic of the past, but for some rail fans, nothing beats having — or renting — your own sleeper car. (Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times)

The quiet allure of private rail

By The New York Times News Service Syndicate

October 2, 2026 at 6:15 p.m.

Private rail cars traveled 429,000 miles on Amtrak in fiscal year 2025, according to the...

A United Airlines plane takes off from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on Oct. 4, 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)

United Airlines, in competition with American over market share, announces new flights out of O’Hare

By Talia Soglin

January 27, 2026 at 2:29 p.m.

United and American Airlines are doubling down on flights out of O’Hare International Airport, which...

People walk on an ice covered beach along the shore of Lake Michigan, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Almost 12,000 flights canceled as major winter storm bears down across much of the US

By Thomas Peipert

January 24, 2026 at 3:23 p.m.

Almost 12,000 flights across the U.S. set to take off over the weekend were canceled...

People stand in line, right, as workers, left, help residents obtain REAL ID cards at the Illinois Secretary of State supercenter, 191 N. Clark St., Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Chicago. More than 1,100 residents used the service on Jan. 17, and numbers for Jan. 24 and 31 were likely to be similar, according to officials on-site. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Illinois ramping up REAL ID campaign before TSA’s $45 fines begin Feb. 1

By Jack O'Connor

January 24, 2026 at 2:31 p.m.

Illinois offices will be open the next two Saturdays in downtown Chicago to help residents...

The painted ceiling of King João’s Library at Portugal’s University of Coimbra is an example of the Baroque illusion technique called trompe l’oeil. (Dominic Arizonia Bonuccelli, Rick Steves’ Europe)

Rick Steves’ Europe: Thought-provoking sights at Europe’s great universities

By Rick Steves

January 20, 2026 at 5:17 p.m.

When touring any city, it’s fun to drop in on the local university. And in...

The baseball field at the Old Joliet Prison Historic Site in Joliet on Jan. 12, 2026, where the Joliet Slammers will play the “Big House Ballgame" exhibition against the Gateway Grizzlies on April 30, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Baseball returns to Old Joliet Prison as part of Route 66 celebration

By Alicia Fabbre

January 18, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Joliet is one of six communities nationwide — and the only one in Illinois —...

Hydra has no real roads, no cars, and no bicycles — so things are transported by donkeys. (Addie Mannan, Rick Steves’ Europe)

Rick Steves’ Europe: Car-free and care-free on Hydra

By Rick Steves

January 20, 2026 at 5:20 p.m.

The island of Hydra – less than two hours south of Athens by ferry –...

Zermatt is often socked in by clouds — but if you’re lucky to be there on a clear day, you’ll see the Matterhorn peeking out above the chalet rooftops and surrounding hills. (Rick Steves’ Europe)

Rick Steves’ Europe: Falling in love with the Matterhorn

By Rick Steves

January 6, 2026 at 2:00 a.m.

I have a confession: I'm in love with the Matterhorn. There's just something about this...

Passengers wait at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 3, 2026, as all flights were canceled following U.S. military action in Venezuela. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty-AFP)

Caribbean travel resumes after disruptions from US military operation in Venezuela

By Laura Turbay

January 5, 2026 at 4:01 p.m.

Major airlines reopened flights across the Caribbean region after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said...

Smoke rises from Fort Tiuna, the main military garrison in Caracas, Venezuela, after multiple explosions were heard and aircraft swept through the area, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Nicolás Maduro’s capture disrupts Caribbean holiday travel

By Matt O'Brien

January 4, 2026 at 9:14 a.m.

The U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him out of...

Paris and Brooklyn Garcia look out on the Illinois River from Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby on Dec. 19, 2025. (Troy Stolt/for the baiduhai)

Starved Rock, Illinois’ most popular state park, to get $18M trail upgrades in new year

By Dan Petrella

January 2, 2026 at 6:03 p.m.

The new year will bring long-overdue upgrades at Illinois’ most popular state park, and one...