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Where I can get behind AI’s use in travel is seeing what it offers, then tailoring that information based on further research from trustworthy sources.

Here are the buzzwords shaping travel in 2026

From AI planning your next trip to packing your pet and compiling anecdotes from your journey, here are some forecasts for 2026.

November

Amex points worth less. Need to know

Your Amex points are about to devalue. Here’s the smart play

From December 15, booking flights with most airline partners will cost American Express cardholders 50 per cent more. This is what you can do about it.

Mingling at the Art Basel Paris art fair at the Grand Palais in October.

Some cities are built for holidays – but these are made for living

From London to Cairo, what makes a city truly thrive? Forget liveability scores and find one that just feels right.

Watch out schoolies, here come the moolies.

‘It’s a huge market’: Move over schoolies, here come the moolies

The party trip is a rite of passage for school-leavers, but mums keen to wind down and celebrate their own “end of year 12” are fast catching up.

Brenners Park-Hotel and Spa, Baden-Baden.

Reset and go – Europe’s best spa hotels to visit in 2026

Whether you’re in need of a little pampering, an ache-soothing massage or aesthetic “tweakments”, a visit to one of these exceptional new wellness destinations is the go.

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The ATO has flagged changes to the deductibility of some expenses associated with owning and letting a holiday home.

ATO threatens to break ‘golden rule’ for holiday home tax deductions

Claims may be denied if a property is considered to be “mainly” for personal use and not genuinely available for rent, especially during peak periods.

Travellers will board the Vietnam Express from HCMC up the coast to Hanoi, before changing to the new Golden Eagle Silk Road Express for the second leg of this 14-day Asian odyssey.

Forget the tourist hotspots. Here are 10 ways to go deeper into Asia

From Japan by sea to the Stans by horseback, there’s a lot of uncharted territory still to explore in the east.

Visit Miami in May.

Book these holiday-maxing dates before your colleagues do

We understand your time off is precious, so if you have four weeks of annual leave a year, this is what to do with it and how to make it stretch further.

Waimarino Lodge on Lake Wakatipu,

These 5 secluded escapes are just a short flight away

A new top-shelf lodge in New Zealand, an uncharted island in the Pacific and a cruise through paradise. Here are the big moments in travel in Oceania.

Paual Hogan

Tourism Australia turned down Michelin and a $40m chance to grow up

The prestigious guide wanted to elevate our culinary reputation. Instead, the tourism body doubled down on a nostalgic fantasy that belongs in a souvenir shop.

The Luxury dollar goes further in New Zealand in 2025. Pictured here is Blanket Bay Lodge, an ultra-luxury stay.

Aussies cross the ditch to stretch their holiday dollar further

New Zealand is emerging as the “smart money” holiday destination as the Australian dollar scales new peaks against the Kiwi.

October

Travel is about stories – the ones you hear and tell yourself

On your next journey to a place you hold dear, let the stories behind the places work their magic.

Lizard Island is the only Australian resort to claim three Michelin Keys.

35 Australian stays rated in Michelin’s first global hotel guide

The French arbiters of taste have anointed dozens of Australian properties. How many have you been to?

These are the days when you discover the magnificence of ships.

The best part of a cruise? Staying on board

Forget the destination, cruising is all about the journey. Watch the ocean, soak up the sun and enjoy the curious sensation of seeing nothing on the horizon.

Six of the best superyachts for luxury cruising

Get a taste of the billionaire lifestyle without buying a boat.

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Cruising used to be about the buffet. Now it’s about getting buff

The wellness revolution is coming for your cruise. For many passengers, the real destination is now the spa.

Butler service on Silver Spirit.

From butler service to breezily casual, how to find the perfect cruise

Thinking of booking your first journey by sea? Consider this advice from a cruise veteran who’s set sail more than 70 times.

Ennismore executive vice president - Asia Pacific Sylvain Pasdeloup and 25hours Hotel The Olympia general manager Jake Guilfoyle.

Bold 25hours hotel brand reboots Sydney hotspot

London-born hospitality collective Ennismore’s pursuit of the Australian market kicks into gear via a converted theatre at the gritty end of Oxford Street.

Six of the best luxury river cruise ships

River journeys provide easy access to captivating destinations, and culture and indulgence are at their core.

One of the 12 Scorpios Bodrum bungalows.

The hidden Mediterranean getaway to book now

Once a whispered-about haven for A-listers, Bodrum is booming. Yet this emerging hotspot on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast does things a little differently.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/holidays-hq5