Travel News: Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2018, New York City’s LGBTQ Pride Events, and a New App for Campers

From the top trip-inspiring trends dominating U.S. travel this summer to the ultimate budget lodging for families and pets in the Rockies, to a brand-new piece of footwear some of you may want to add to your repertoire, this week’s latest news is kicking summer 2018 into high gear. TOP TRENDS FOR SUMMER TRAVEL Our friends at Red Roof Inn (redroof.com) have crunched some data to share some surprising trends for summer 2018 travel - in some cases, these findings have us re-thinking some last-minute vacation ideas: More than 90 percent of Americans will travel by car for their summer vacation, clocking more than 500 miles round-trip. Budget Travel has celebrated the great American road trip for more than two decades, so we can’t say we’re shocked by this stat. Are you ready to hit the road?While “beach” may be the first vacation image that springs to mind when we say “summer,” data from AAA suggests that more Americans are headed to cities for vacation - can’t argue with the museums, theaters, parkland, and chic shopping they’ll find there.More than 50 percent of U.S. travelers are headed to national parks, and around 40 percent are headed to theme parks. Of course, there are plenty of cool destinations (California and Florida spring to mind), where you can easily do both.We may have to redefined the “dog days of summer.” Turns out 40 percent of U.S. travelers will bring their dogs along with them on vacation this year.Travelers prize authentic experiences and “living like a local” more than the conventional hotel or resort experience. Budget Travel’s “Locals Know Best” series can certainly help you get the most authenticity out of your trip.AMERICA’S ULTIMATE YMCA Singing and dancing to the Village People’s classic ‘70s hit is optional, but the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO, may be the ultimate YMCA in the U.S. USA Today named it the “Best Family Resort in America,” and the property borders gorgeous Rocky Mountain National Park on three sides, meaning you can bunk down in affordable style (lodge rooms from $99, two-to-three-bedroom cabins from $113), spend your days among the aspens, bighorns, and picture-perfect trails of the park and enjoy the unplugged vacation every family needs right now. VIRGIN ATLANTIC SAYS ‘SOCK IT TO ME’ Here’s one you don’t hear every day: Virgin Atlantic has partnered with Happy Socks to provide fun, specially designed socks in Virgin’s distinctive red and purple depicting images that celebrate passengers’ love of travel. For those of us in the cheap seats, the socks will be available for purchase via Virgin’s Retail Therapy onboard and online platforms, while passengers in the cushier sections will receive them as part of a complimentary amenity kit. We’d love to hear from travelers who opt to kick their summer travel into high gear wearing Virgin’s bespoke socks:)

From NYC to Kilauea, from Chicago to Hogwarts (really!), we’re getting travel news and deals that will rock your summer. Where will you go next? CITYPASS GOES MOBILE CityPASS is already one of the most convenient and affordable ways to explore big cities, including the newest destinations to join the CityPASS family, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Toronto, and Denver. Now the discount-coupon powerhouse is moving into another kind of new territory: mobile devices, which are expected to account for more than half of all digital ticket sales for events and transportation in 2018. The new CityPASS mobile ticket option lets you access discounts directly from your smartphone and simply scan the mobile CityPass from your phone at the point of entry. We want to know: Have you tried CityPASS? How did it help you save on vacation? HAWAII IS SAFE DESPITE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS Hawaii Governor David Ige has a simple message for globetrotters: “Travel is safe to the Hawaiian islands.” Sure, we’ve been watching the incredible footage of the Kilauea volcano’s lava flows, fissures, and ash plumes, and we’ve wondered, “Hmmm. Is now the right time for a visit?” Governor Ige says, “We have a skilled contingent of scientists, geologists, metorologists, and health experts whose work is being support around the clock by emergency officials and law enforcement… with the purpose of keeping the public safe and informed.” Hawaii tourism officials also assure travelers that the volcanic activity is having no impact on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kauai, and that travel to and within the islands is unimpeded by Kilauea. However, most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is currently closed. ‘THE NIGHTTIME LIGHTS AT HOGWARTS CASTLE’ RETURNS TO UNIVERSAL In addition to the usual fun (interactive wands, thrilling rides, sweet frosty Butterbeer), the Wizarding World of Harry Potter immersive land at Universal Studios Hollywood is bringing back “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle” on June 24. As the sun goes down at Hogsmeade Village, the land’s central square, the four houses of Hogwarts (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin), will be showcased in a state-of-the-art light display and extravaganza of special effects accompanied by new musical arrangements by Academy award-winning composer John Williams presented in a surround-sound environment.

From the dizzying heights of San Francisco’s hills to the streets of London, Paris, and other European cities, from this year’s Memorial Day festivities to the Swiss countryside, this week’s travel news delivers a bunch of deals you’ll want to pounce on. LAST-MINUTE MEMORIAL DAY DEALS UNDER $400 Got no plans for Memorial Day Weekend? No problem. Our friends at Skyscanner are delivering a range of fun, easy, and affordable last-minute U.S. flight deals under $400 for the weekend of Friday May 25 through Monday May 28. Here are some of our favorites: Boston to Orlando, where you’ll beat the summer crowds at popular theme parks like Disney and Universal.Chicago to San Antonio, in time to raise a glass to the Texas city’s 300th birthday and the range of celebratory events happening there all spring and summer.Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., where you can participate in annual Memorial Day commemorative events, soak up art, culture, and history at the free museums, and party like a boss in cool neighborhoods like Adams-Morgan and Dupont Circle.EUROPEAN SUMMER SAVINGS We’re all about helping travelers “see more for less,” and Rail Europe’s summer savings may inspire you to start packing your bag. The company, the largest distributor of European train tickets, passes, and tours in North America, has a range of offers for Europe’s classic destinations and journeys. Save up to 65 percent on rail travel from France to Switzerland, whether you’re traveling from Paris to one of Switzerland’s beautiful cities (including Zurich, Geneva, and Basel) or between the south of France (Marseille, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence) to Switzerland; bargain fares are available for travel from July 2 through August 29. Save up to 30 percent on the extraordinary 2-hour-and-15-minute Chunnel ride between London and Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, and, now, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, including comfy seats and complimentary light meals; bargain fares must be booked by June 18 for travel between July 16 and November 11. SAN FRANCISCO’S NORTH BEACH FESTIVAL It’s hard not to have a good time in San Francisco. It’s even harder not to have a good time in San Francisco’s “Little Italy” neighborhood of North Beach, where you can take your pick of bustling eateries serving up authentic Italian cuisine, desserts, and coffee; echoes of SF’s bohemian heritage like City Lights bookstore; and pinch-me views of the San Francisco Bay, Coit Tower, and the skyline of nearby downtown. The 65th annual free North Beach Festival celebrates all of this and more on the weekend of June 16 and 17, with 125 arts and crafts booths, food, two stages offering live entertainment (including circus arts), poetry readings, chalk art for kids, and the neighborhood’s legendary “blessing of the animals” ceremony at the Vallejo Street shrine of the city’s namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi. Insider tips from a former local, Budget Travel editor in chief Robert Firpo-Cappiello: “Take public transportation (a MUNI streetcar or bus into North Beach; or BART light rail to the Powell Street station, then a cable car up the hill), and stop and say hello to our friends at the decidedly European San Remo Hotel, on Mason Street.”

From the capitals of Europe to the sands of Maui, and a stop at America’s biggest port for Memorial Day, we’re keeping an eye on some of the most trip-inspiring travel news yet. SOUTHWEST WILL START FLYING TO HAWAII Hawaii is near the top of most travelers’ to-do list. But long flights and high airfares can get in the way. That’s why we’re psyched to learn that Southwest, with its reputation for low fares and exceptional customer service, is going to start flying to Hawaii. The airline announced that it will initiate flights to Hawaii from four cities in California: San Jose, Oakland, San Diego, and Sacramento. Details remain to be determined, including certification for Southwest’s planes to make the trans-Pacific flights and, most importantly for Budget Travelers, when flights to Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island will begin and what the fares will look like. Given recent trends in Hawaii flights from other carriers and Southwest’s reasonable and transparent pricing to other U.S. destinations, we expect to see round-trip flights from California to Hawaii from around $400, but at this point that’s just our best educated guess. THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES COMMEMORATES MEMORIAL DAY The Port of Los Angeles and the city of San Pedro, CA, America’s largest port, are getting Memorial Day right, with events that appropriately honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country while at the same time acknowledging all there is to celebrate about this exceptional coastal community. On Monday May 28, the USS Iowa, a former WWII battleship that is now a vibrant naval museum anchored at the Port of Los Angeles (pacificbattleship.com), will hold ceremonies featuring Los Angeles dignitaries, veterans, and other VIPs to commemorate the day of remembrance as well as a host of family-friendly activities. Festivities will include the first-ever San Pedro Fish Market shrimp-eating championship, a performance by the San Pedro ballet, face-painting, and BBQ and beverages provided by San Pedro Brewing, including a special IPA named “Battleship. It’s a great opportunity to get to know the San Pedro waterfront, one of California’s most promising travel destinations. FREE EUROPEAN TRAIN RIDES FOR TEENS The DiscoverEU project, launched by the European Union, wants to give up to 30,000 18-year-old Europeans free train rides across the Continent this year via Interrail. With an ultimate goal of expanding the program over the next seven years to facilitate travel for 200,000 teens, the European Union sees this initiative as an opportunity for cultural interchange as a popular coming-of-age ritual among its young citizens. While U.S. teens will not be included in DiscoverEU, we can’t help wondering if something similar could work right here at home?