Travel guides

Travel guides

City guides, best-time-to-fly advice, and getting-around tips to plan your trip before you compare fares.

A Valley Metro light rail train approaching a station in downtown Phoenix

Phoenix: Should You Rent a Car or Rely on Public Transit?

Whether to rent a car in Phoenix or rely on the light rail, the free PHX Sky Train, ride-hail and robotaxis: how the Valley is laid out, how Valley Metro works, what driving in the heat and the monsoon is really like, when a car pays off for Scottsdale, Sedona and the Grand Canyon, and a decision table by trip type.

The view from the lawn seats at Scottsdale Stadium during spring training

Best Time to Fly to Phoenix: Seasons, Weather & Prices

Month-by-month guide to flying to Phoenix: mild winters, spring training and the Phoenix Open that drive peak prices, the summer heat and monsoon that bring the lowest resort rates, heat safety, and how to get downtown from Sky Harbor.

The downtown Phoenix skyline with desert mountains behind

Things to Do in Phoenix: A First-Timer’s Guide

A first-timer’s guide to Phoenix: the Desert Botanical Garden and Papago Park, the Heard and the Musical Instrument Museum, sunrise hikes on Camelback and South Mountain, Roosevelt Row, Scottsdale and Tempe, spring training, Sonoran food, summer heat safety, day trips to Sedona and the Grand Canyon, and two sample itineraries.

A city bus in the Cancun Hotel Zone

Cancun: Should You Rent a Car or Rely on Public Transit?

Whether to rent a car in Cancun or rely on the Hotel Zone buses, taxis, ADO coaches, colectivos, ferries and the Tren Maya: how the area is laid out, what driving is really like (Mexican insurance, topes, gas stations, the 180D toll road), when a car is worth it for the ruins and cenotes, and a decision table by trip type.

An aerial view of the Cancun Hotel Zone beach and turquoise water

Best Time to Fly to Cancun: Seasons, Weather & Prices

Month-by-month guide to flying to Cancun: the dry winter high season, spring break and Easter peaks, hurricane season and sargassum, the cheapest and busiest windows, and how to get from CUN to the Hotel Zone.

Aerial view of the Cancun Hotel Zone between the Caribbean and the Nichupté lagoon

Things to Do in Cancun: A First-Timer’s Guide

A first-timer’s guide to Cancun: the Hotel Zone beaches and Boulevard Kukulcán, downtown and its markets, Isla Mujeres, the reef and the underwater museum, the Museo Maya, Yucatecan food, the big dates and the sports, day trips to Chichén Itzá, Tulum and the cenotes, and two sample itineraries.

A Metromover car on its elevated track in downtown Miami

Miami: Should You Rent a Car or Rely on Public Transit?

Whether to rent a car in Miami or rely on Metrorail, the free Metromover, trolleys and ride-hail: how the city and Miami Beach are laid out, how fares work, what driving and parking are really like (tolls, valet, causeways, summer storms), when a car is worth it for the Everglades and the Keys, and a decision table by trip type.

A colorful lifeguard tower on South Beach in Miami Beach

Best Time to Fly to Miami: Seasons, Weather & Prices

Month-by-month guide to flying to Miami: the dry winter high season, the hot and stormy summer, hurricane season, Art Basel, spring break, Ultra and the Grand Prix that drive fares, the cheapest windows, and how to get into the city from MIA.

The Miami skyline rising above Biscayne Bay

Things to Do in Miami: A First-Timer’s Guide

A first-timer’s guide to Miami: South Beach and the Art Deco District, Wynwood and the Design District, Biscayne Bay and Key Biscayne, Little Havana, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, the museums, Art Basel and the big events, the Heat and the Dolphins, Cuban food and stone crabs, day trips to the Everglades and the Keys, and two sample itineraries.

A Canada Line SkyTrain at a station in Vancouver

Vancouver: Should You Rent a Car or Rely on Public Transit?

Whether to rent a car in Vancouver or rely on SkyTrain, buses, the SeaBus and the ferries: how the city is laid out, how transit and fares work, what driving and parking downtown really cost, when a car is worth it for Whistler and the Sea to Sky, and a decision table by trip type.

Cherry blossoms lining a Vancouver street in spring

Best Time to Fly to Vancouver: Seasons, Weather & Prices

Month-by-month guide to flying to Vancouver: weather, the rainy and dry seasons, cheapest and busiest fare windows, the events and cruise weekends that spike prices, and YVR vs. Abbotsford.

The downtown Vancouver skyline and harbour with the North Shore mountains behind

Things to Do in Vancouver: A First-Timer’s Guide

A first-timer’s guide to Vancouver: Stanley Park and the Seawall, Granville Island, Gastown, the North Shore mountains, the beaches, the neighbourhoods worth a half-day, food, sports, day trips to Whistler and Victoria, and two sample itineraries.

A Line A metro train arriving at Flaminio station in Rome

Rome: Car Rental or Public Transit?

Whether to rent a car in Rome or rely on the metro, buses, trams, taxis and trains: how the city is laid out, how ATAC tickets and contactless fares work, what driving here is really like (the ZTL cameras, parking colours, tolls and the International Driving Permit), when a car is worth it for Tuscany and the countryside, and a decision table by trip type.

St Peter's Square in Vatican City seen from the dome of St Peter's Basilica

Best Time to Fly to Rome: Seasons, Weather & Prices

Month-by-month guide to flying to Rome: mild wet winters and hot summers, the Easter, spring and autumn peaks that drive fares, the cheapest windows in January, February and November, and how to get into the city from Fiumicino or Ciampino.

The Colosseum in Rome seen from the outside

Things to Do in Rome: A First-Timer’s Guide

A first-timer’s guide to Rome: the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine, the Pantheon and the Baroque piazzas, the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s, Trastevere, Monti and Testaccio, the Borghese Gallery, the four Roman pastas, the Appian Way, day trips by train, and two sample itineraries.

A Los Angeles Metro A Line train and Metrolink trains at Union Station

Los Angeles: Should You Rent a Car or Rely on Public Transit?

Whether to rent a car in Los Angeles or rely on Metro, buses and ride-hail: how the city is laid out, how Metro Rail, TAP and fare capping work, what freeway driving and parking are really like, when a car is worth it for Malibu, Disneyland and day trips, and a decision table by trip type.

Venice Beach on a sunny day in Los Angeles

Best Time to Fly to Los Angeles: Seasons, Weather & Prices

Month-by-month guide to flying to Los Angeles: May Gray and June Gloom, the Santa Ana winds, the summer, holiday and festival peaks that drive fares, the cheapest windows, and which of the region’s five airports to fly into.

The downtown Los Angeles skyline with the San Gabriel Mountains behind

Things to Do in Los Angeles: A First-Timer’s Guide

A first-timer’s guide to Los Angeles: Hollywood and Griffith Observatory, downtown’s Broad and Grand Central Market, Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu, the Getty and LACMA, the neighborhoods worth a half-day, Dodgers and Lakers, tacos and Koreatown, day trips to Joshua Tree and San Diego, and two sample itineraries.

A red TTC streetcar on a downtown Toronto street

Toronto: Should You Rent a Car or Rely on Public Transit?

Whether to rent a car in Toronto or rely on the TTC, UP Express and GO Transit: how the city is laid out, how transit and fares work, what driving and parking downtown really cost, and a decision table by trip type.

Cherry blossoms in full bloom at High Park, Toronto, in spring

Best Time to Fly to Toronto: Seasons, Weather & Prices

Month-by-month guide to flying to Toronto: weather, cheapest and busiest fare seasons, the events that spike prices, and Pearson vs. Billy Bishop.

Toronto skyline and CN Tower at sunset seen from the Toronto Islands

Things to Do in Toronto: A First-Timer’s Guide

A first-timer’s guide to Toronto: the CN Tower, the Toronto Islands, St. Lawrence Market, the ROM and AGO, the neighbourhoods worth a half-day, food, sports, day trips and two sample itineraries.

An A train at the 42nd Street station in Midtown Manhattan

New York: Should You Rent a Car or Rely on Public Transit?

Whether to rent a car in New York or rely on the subway, buses, trains and ferries: how the city is laid out, how OMNY fares and the weekly fare cap work, what driving and parking really cost (congestion pricing, tolls, garages), when a car is worth it for day trips, and a decision table by trip type.

Bow Bridge in Central Park surrounded by fall color

Best Time to Fly to New York: Seasons, Weather & Prices

Month-by-month guide to flying to New York: four real seasons, the holiday, fall and summer peaks that drive fares and hotel rates, the cheap winter window, the events to book around, and how to choose between JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.

The Midtown Manhattan skyline with the Empire State Building

Things to Do in New York: A First-Timer’s Guide

A first-timer’s guide to New York: the Empire State Building, Grand Central and Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and the High Line, the best neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, the Met, Broadway, sports, food, day trips by train and two sample itineraries.