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Oct 12, 2026
Top Stories
✈️ Avianca LifeMiles Can Unlock Cheaper Business-Class Travel
The right frequent-flyer program can make premium flights more accessible. Avianca LifeMiles is worth knowing if you collect credit card points and want more ways to book international travel.
Avianca’s LifeMiles program lets members redeem miles for flights on Avianca and eligible partner airlines, including carriers in the Star Alliance network. Its biggest appeal is the opportunity to book certain flights with competitive mileage prices while avoiding carrier-imposed fuel surcharges.
That can make a meaningful difference when booking business-class travel, where cash fares can be expensive.
🎒 Traveling Alone in 2026? These Destinations Deserve a Closer Look
Solo travel offers freedom and flexibility, but choosing where to go involves more than comparing flight prices and hotel reviews. Access to medical care, personal safety, reliable infrastructure and local support can all affect the experience.
A 2026 analysis by travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth evaluated countries using a 10-point risk index that combined safety, healthcare, peace, natural-disaster exposure and internet access.
The study identified these countries as its highest-risk destinations for solo travelers:
Venezuela — 9.74
Peru — 8.87
Gabon — 8.51
Colombia — 8.38
Bolivia — 8.37
🛂 Should You Renew Your U.S. Passport Before the 2028 Redesign?
A new U.S. passport design is expected to arrive in 2028, and it could influence when some Americans choose to renew. The proposed booklet features expanded historical artwork, a larger gold national seal and a portrait of President Donald Trump shown in a preview of the design.
The important caveat: The State Department has not confirmed that Trump’s portrait will appear in the final standard version. The agency also hasn’t announced when the current design will be phased out.
What could change?
The planned “Flight of the Eagle” passport is expected to feature:
• A new historical design: Illustrations spanning American history, including the nation’s founding and space exploration.
• A larger gold seal: A more prominent Great Seal on the cover.
• An animated eagle effect: Artwork designed to appear as though an eagle is flying when the pages are flipped quickly.
• A standardized booklet: One 38-page format rather than multiple page-count options.
The new passport is also expected to arrive in a presentation box instead of the traditional envelope.
📖 The Vacation Trend for People Who’d Rather Read Than Sightsee
Not every vacation needs a packed itinerary. For travelers who find happiness in a good book, a growing travel trend offers a different kind of escape: the reading retreat.
Think of it as a wellness getaway built around literature rather than workouts or meditation. The goal is to slow down, enjoy uninterrupted reading time and discover a destination without feeling pressured to fill every hour.
What happens on a reading retreat?
Depending on the trip, the experience can include:
• Dedicated reading time: Spend hours with a book without work notifications or everyday distractions.
• Bookstore adventures: Explore independent bookstores, browse local literary favorites and discover your next read.
• Literary conversations: Join informal book discussions and connect with other readers without the pressure of traditional networking.
• Book-inspired experiences: Enjoy meals, excursions or activities connected to literature and the destination.
Some retreats are organized group trips with planned activities, while others are solo escapes to a cabin, countryside inn or quiet coastal town.
✈️ Why Getting to the Airport Early Is Becoming Part of the Trip
For many travelers, getting to the airport early used to mean one thing: avoiding a missed flight. Now, some passengers are arriving early because they actually want to spend time at the airport.
A new survey of 1,000 Americans found that more than half had intentionally arrived with extra time to eat, shop, visit a lounge or enjoy airport amenities.
Airports are becoming part of the experience
Airports have invested heavily in making time before a flight more enjoyable, from upgraded lounges to restaurants, shopping and entertainment.
That matters as airlines continue adding fees and introducing more restrictive fare options. For some travelers, the airport is becoming a place where they can get more value from the time they already have to spend there.
Airport lounges are also reaching a broader audience through premium credit cards and travel rewards programs. The downside is that increased access has also contributed to crowded lounges and longer lines.
😥When Alone Time Stops Helping and Starts Hurting
Solitude can help you recharge. But when quiet time becomes a habit of avoiding people, it may be time to reconnect.
Spending time alone can be healthy. It gives people room to rest, reflect and recover from daily stress. But self-care can cross into isolation when it starts replacing the relationships and activities that make life meaningful.
A survey by self-care app RiseGuide found that more than half of Gen Z and Millennial respondents had gone over a day without speaking to another person, while 27% had gone more than a week without connecting with others.
Mental health professionals say the important distinction is how solitude affects you. Feeling refreshed after time alone is different from feeling lonely while avoiding contact.
Fall’s best destinations are waiting
Mountain air, city lights or somewhere new? There's still time to make your fall plans take flight with Alaska Airlines. With hundreds of destinations, you can celebrate autumn to the fullest. See the fall foliage in Boston, sip cider in Seattle, or swap your flannel for a swimsuit and head to Hawai‘i.
With nonstop routes to over 100 cities across North America and beyond, getting to your fall destination is easier than ever. Whether you're chasing changing leaves or year-round sunshine, Alaska’s growing network means more ways to reach where autumn is calling.
Fares at great prices, so it's easier than ever to say ‘yes’ to a getaway before the season's gone.
Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.
| Until next Time..
Travel smarter, Explore more. ✈️
Written by the ONE 55 Editorial Team
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Our content is researched using a combination of official sources, reputable publications, and AI-assisted tools to help gather and summarize information. While we strive for accuracy, details such as prices, promotions, benefits, and policies can change without notice. Always verify important information directly with the official airline, hotel, credit card issuer, government agency, or other relevant provider before making travel or financial decisions.
