Travel Dispatch: The Click That Cost $11,000 and Other Travel Pitfalls

April 11, 2026

The UNESCO-listed Old Town in Hoi An, Vietnam. Linh Pham for The New York Times

Dear Travel Fan,

News in the travel world slowed down a bit this week, with wait times for security back in the normal range (though we dug into the question of whether the T.S.A. will be ready for the demands of the summer and the World Cup soccer tournament). We took advantage of that to showcase some really special projects:

We sent the writer Andy Isaacson on a tour organized by a company called Traveleyes, which pairs sighted travelers with visually impaired ones to explore destinations all over the world. On this trip, they explored India, and Andy captured what it was like in words, photos and sound.
Sarah Lyall flew in Air France’s La Première class from Paris to New York, in what she describes as a “nonstop parade of luxury.” While the more than six-foot-long bed and multiple windows were nice, she discovered that for many wealthy travelers, the real appeal is the lack of other people.
And Seth Kugel, our Tripped Up columnist, took a look at three of the most common pitfalls encountered by readers, including companies that mislead travelers into thinking they are dealing directly with airlines and hotels, and then charge them exorbitant fees, and hackers who break into rewards accounts. He’s got helpful advice on how to avoid all three.

There’s more: Our 36 Hours column traveled to Hoi An, Vietnam, an ancient town by Vietnam’s central coast, where you can explore the historic Old Town by day and drift down a river in a lantern-lit boat at night. And we explored the outdoor offerings in Tucson, the Arizona city where shortly after landing at the airport, you can be hiking or horseback riding in the desert.

And because there’s always a bit of news, we have the latest on airlines raising the fees to check bags, a response to the rising cost of jet fuel caused by the war with Iran.

Wishing you safe and happy travels,
Amy Virshup

OPEN UP YOUR WORLD

A man in a cowboy hat atop a horse pauses before a trail leading through scrubby desert flora. Right next to him is a tall saguaro cactus and in the distance are rugged, rocky formations.

Frugal Traveler

Tucson: A City for Outdoor Lovers

Owls, oases and the Milky Way reward adventure seekers in and around this Arizona city in the Sonoran Desert.

By Elaine Glusac and Nate Abbott

I an illustration, a woman sits on an airplane looking out window. She is surrounded by flowers, butterflies and peacocks rendered in gold and orange.

Sija Hong

No Lines, No ‘Regular’ People: Flying Ultra-Luxury From Paris

A writer reports from inside the premium bubble, where there’s no such thing as too much, petty annoyances are nonexistent and the real world never intrudes.

By Sarah Lyall

A blind man holds a white cane against the ground in front of him while he walks across a stone-tiled area, with a large stone building — adorned with decorative elements — behind him.

Andy Isaacson

Sites Unseen: What Travel Is Like for Those Who Can’t See

A writer joined a 10-day journey through northern India — on a tour designed for the visually impaired. Here’s what he learned.

Linh Pham for The New York Times

36 Hours

36 Hours in Hoi An, Vietnam

Find timeworn architecture, tea ceremonies, modern dining and a world-class circus beneath a bamboo dome on Vietnam’s central coast.

By Kit Humphrey and Linh Pham

THE CHANGING WORLD OF TRAVEL

An illustration shows a golden hotel key ring hanging from fishing line with a fishing hook hidden behind a fob with the number 104 etched on it.

Paolo Beghini

The Click That Cost $11,000 and Other Travel Pitfalls

Shady hotel booking sites, misleading customer service numbers and hacked airline loyalty accounts have snared travelers. Here’s how to avoid getting scammed.

By Seth Kugel

Passengers go through security checks in a brightly lit section of an airport with a wall of windows. Security agents in blue shirts sit at kiosks waiting for passengers.

Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

Is the T.S.A. Ordeal Really Over?

Security lines are shorter, but the shutdown continues and pay is unresolved. With the World Cup around the corner, T.S.A. agents are tempering their expectations.

By Ceylan Yeğinsu

A white airplane with 'DELTA' text on its side is on a wet, icy airport tarmac. A blue ground tug pulls cargo carts in the foreground.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Think Airfares Are High? Brace Yourself for Bag Fees and Fuel Surcharges.

American and Canadian airlines, squeezed by surging fuel costs from the war in Iran, are adding “sticky” new bag fees and surcharges, on top of higher fares.

By Christine Chung

Feedback, thoughts, tips? Email the Travel desk at travel@nytimes.com.

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