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• World's Best

Our Readers' Favorite Tour Operators in 2022

These are the companies Travel + Leisure readers trust to provide them with travel expertise and memorable experiences.

Note: If you’re looking for our most recent recommendations, check out the 2023 list of our favorite tour operators .

When it comes to an itinerary, Travel + Leisure readers want more than a string of photo opportunities — and the right tour operator makes all the difference in creating a trip of a lifetime versus one that simply checks off a list of sights. This year, our readers were especially drawn to companies that utilize local expertise and experience to thoughtfully design trips that will entertain as well as inspire.

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey , T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated tour operators and safari outfitters based on their staff and guides, itineraries and destinations, activities, accommodations, food, and overall value.

The top picks were noted for their deep knowledge of destinations and guides who "go the extra mile." One reader who has been traveling for more than five decades said a trip with Classic Journeys (No. 2) was the "very best" they had experienced. Others noted attention to pandemic safety details, while one who went to Norway was charmed by a "wonderful surprise dinner in Bergen out on the water that was fantastic."

Tour operators that seamlessly navigated the logistics of a trip also came out on top. Quasar Expeditions (No. 9) was noted "for really planning out every detail" so that "all you have to do is show up and have a great time." Meanwhile, of TCS World Travel (No. 10), a guest said: "You never lift a finger and just spend your time actually exploring the destination." They even added that they "learned so much" along the way.

Among the five companies on this year's list that weren't on last year's were two women-only tour operators that cater to travelers of all ages. AdventureWomen (No. 14) has multiday tours designed by women from Bhutan to Yellowstone National Park, while Explorer Chick (No. 15) has everything from day trips — like glassblowing in Baltimore and cave rappelling in St. Louis — to full itineraries in Machu Picchu and the Galápagos. One reader said her Everest Base Camp trip with AdventureWomen was filled with "like-minded women" who "bonded so well," while another said she felt it was a "safe tour group for women."

No matter which tour they chose, readers were most taken by the people they met along the way, as one said of Trek Travel (No. 13): "By the end of the trip, a group of strangers felt like longtime friends." Find out which other companies round out the list of the best tour operators below.

1. DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.

A tour with DuVine goes far beyond just riding a bike — it's a way to really see the character of a destination. Case in point: even those who say they're not necessarily cycling fans have been converted. That's part of what helped the tour operator — which runs trips in Europe, the U.S., Latin America, and Africa — skyrocket from No. 14 last year to this year's top spot. Its "top-notch biking equipment" and "challenging but doable itineraries" didn't hurt either. One reader was especially taken by a guide picking figs off of a local tree in Puglia for an extra energy boost during a tough climb, as well as another guide singing to the group after dinner. As another reader put it simply: "They exceed your expectations."

Score: 99.12

More information: duvine.com

2. Classic Journeys

Score: 99.04

More information: classicjourneys.com

3. Artisans of Leisure

Score: 98.38

More information: artisansofleisure.com

4. (tie) Black Tomato

Score: 98.33

More information: blacktomato.com

4. (tie) GeoEx

More information: geoex.com

4. (tie) Wilderness Travel

More information: wildernesstravel.com

7. Inside Japan Tours

Score: 98.14

More information: insidejapantours.com

8. Kensington Tours

Score: 98.03

More information: kensingtontours.com

9. Quasar Expeditions

Score: 97.84

More information: quasarex.com

10. TCS World Travel

Score: 97.78

More information: tcsworldtravel.com

11. Butterfield & Robinson

Score: 97.33

More information: butterfield.com

Score: 96.95

More information: tauck.com

13. Trek Travel

Score: 96.90

More information: trektravel.com

14. AdventureWomen

Score: 96.11

More information: adventurewomen.com

15. Explorer Chick

Score: 95.87

More information: explorerchick.com

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New management of bankrupt Vantage Travel to reimburse customers who had trips canceled 100% in travel credits

Jilted customers will receive full credit on future trips.

Brian Kelly on international travel surge: This year is all about Europe

‘The Points Guy’ Brian Kelly discusses the uptick in international travel and shares tips for travelers to save on vacation plans.

Jilted customers of Vantage Travel , the luxury cruise line that went bankrupt in June and canceled trips worth thousands of dollars, will receive 100% reimbursement to put toward future travel thanks to new buyer Pacific Travel.

According to details of an agreement outlined in federal bankruptcy court Wednesday, customers will have until Nov. 30, 2028, to book travel with the new company, and caps will be imposed for how much value can be applied to individual services.

A cruise ship is seen off Port Douglas in Cairns, Australia, in 2012. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images, File / Getty Images)

Oceangoing travel credits will be capped at 50% of the trip's cost, while credits toward river cruises and land travel, like safaris, will be capped at 20%. Credits can be applied toward either a deposit or later payment but cannot be used toward airfare, according to the agreement.

AIRLINES SEEK TO EXTEND CUTS TO FLIGHTS IN NEW YORK-AREA AIRPORTS AMID STAFFING SHORTAGE

Credits are also transferrable to friends or family and be spread across multiple trips .

The embattled Boston-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June. (Vantage Cruise Lines / Fox News)

The news comes after Boston, Massachusetts-based Vantage Travel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy June 29, had agreed to be acquired by United Travel Pte. Ltd., an affiliate of Nordic Hamburg and Heritage Expeditions. Last week, however, Pacific Travel of Aurora Expeditions in Australia, placed a $2 million bid to assume Vantage's assets, WFXT Boston 25 reported .

In the bankruptcy filing, Vantage admitted that customers lost $108 million for trips they had paid for, but never got to take.

AIRBNB IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO BENEFIT FROM AI: CEO BRIAN CHESKY

"Vantage has sought customary relief from the court to preserve the status quo pending completion of the sale," the company wrote in a statement. "Vantage has sought approval to complete the sale promptly, subject to any higher and better offers that may be submitted through the court-supervised sale process."

Vantage Travel has been under fire for months after hundreds of consumers complained about a lack of refunds for canceled or postponed trips. (iStock / iStock)

Boston 25 reported that the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office said it received more than 1,120 consumer complaints against Vantage since Jan. 1, 2020. 

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The customers complained that they did not receive any refund after their luxury cruise was unexpectedly canceled.

Vantage Travel did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

A final ruling on the purchase will take place Monday.

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W.H.O. Declares Global Emergency Over New Mpox Outbreak

The epidemic is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the virus has now appeared in a dozen other African countries.

• Share full article

By Apoorva Mandavilli

The rapid spread of mpox, formerly called monkeypox, in African countries constitutes a global health emergency, the World Health Organization declared on Wednesday.

This is the second time in three years that the W.H.O. has designated an mpox epidemic as a global emergency. It previously did so in July 2022. That outbreak went on to affect nearly 100,000 people , primarily gay and bisexual men, in 116 countries, and killed about 200 people.

The threat this time is deadlier. Since the beginning of this year, the Democratic Republic of Congo alone has reported 15,600 mpox cases and 537 deaths. Those most at risk include women and children under 15.

“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern D.R.C., its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O.’s director general.

The outbreak has spread through 13 countries in Africa, including a few that had never reported mpox cases before. On Tuesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a “public health emergency of continental security,” the first time the organization has taken that step since the African Union granted it the power to do so last year.

“It’s in the interests of the countries, of the continent and of the world to get our arms around this and stop transmission as soon as we can,” said Dr. Nicole Lurie, the executive director for preparedness and response at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a nonprofit that finances vaccine development.

Facing the threat of global spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged clinicians and the public in the United States to be alert for the virus.

The W.H.O.’s designation of a “public health emergency of international concern” is intended to prompt member countries to begin preparing for the virus’s appearance and to share vaccines, treatments and other key resources with poorer nations.

“We need concerted international action to stem this recent, novel outbreak,” said Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist at Yale University who served on the W.H.O.’s mpox committee in 2022.

The outbreak that year stayed mostly within tight sexual networks, among gay and bisexual men. A combination of behavioral changes and vaccination tamped down the spread.

In the United States, for example, the toll dropped to about 1,700 cases last year from more than 30,000 in 2022.

The version of mpox that has been circulating in Congo has always been more virulent, and currently has a death rate of about 3 percent, compared with 0.2 percent in the 2022 outbreak. The infection can produce fever, respiratory symptoms, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes, as well as a rash on the hands, feet, chest, mouth or genitals.

Until recently, it spread mainly through consumption of contaminated meat or close contact with infected animals and people. Most of the deaths have been in children, who in this region of Africa are already beset by malnutrition and infectious diseases like cholera, measles and polio.

Should the outbreak spread globally, children in developed countries are likely to be less vulnerable to severe illness, experts have said.

Last year, for the first time, scientists discovered sexual transmission of this version of mpox, with cases split about equally among young men and women. According to genetic analyses , sometime around September, the virus gained mutations that enabled it to spread more readily among people. It has done so partly through heterosexual prostitution .

This viral type has not surfaced outside Africa. Over all, there have been more than 17,500 presumed and confirmed mpox cases in 13 countries, according to Africa C.D.C . Most of the cases and deaths have occurred in Congo.

Given the rapid spread, the declaration of a global health emergency was justified, said Anne Rimoin, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who served on the 2022 mpox panel.

“I think we learned a great deal about the speed with which this virus can spread,” she said.

Amid rising numbers, Congo has approved two mpox vaccines , a Japanese product called LC16 and Jynneos, the vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic that was used in 2022 in the United States and Europe. But Congo has yet to institute an immunization plan.

On Aug. 9, the W.H.O. invited vaccine manufacturers to apply for an emergency use listing , a prerequisite for international groups such as Gavi, a global vaccine alliance, to purchase and distribute the shots in low-income nations.

Bavarian Nordic has donated 15,000 doses of Jynneos to be distributed in African countries. But that is a tiny fraction of the 10 million doses needed to control the outbreak, according to Africa C.D.C.

“The challenge is that these vaccines are not sufficient,” even if countries try to protect only the people at highest risk, said Dr. Dimie Ogoina, a Nigerian scientist and chair of the W.H.O.’s mpox emergency committee.

LC16 was used in Japanese children in the 1970s. Clinical trials funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations are now evaluating whether Jynneos can protect children and people who have already been exposed to the virus , Dr. Lurie said.

The organization is also supporting the development of a new mRNA vaccine made by BioNTech that would protect against mpox and related viruses, such as smallpox.

“This outbreak has been smoldering for quite a long time, and we continually have missed opportunities to shut it down,” Dr. Lurie said. “I’m really glad that everybody is now paying attention and focusing their efforts on this.”

Apoorva Mandavilli is a reporter focused on science and global health. She was a part of the team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the pandemic. More about Apoorva Mandavilli

Travel’s Fastest Growing U.S. Small Businesses Offer a Glimpse Into These Emerging Trends

Sean O'Neill, Skift

August 19th, 2021 at 2:00 AM EDT

The pandemic catapulted a few niche innovations into widespread use, benefiting a few fast-moving travel businesses. Lists come and go, but pay attention to the underlying trends that will last after the crisis passes.

Though the pandemic has hammered much of the travel sector, a handful of fast-growth companies powered through somewhat undiminished. Apart from the worst lockdowns, 16 U.S. private companies in travel emerged in good enough financial health to be counted as among the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America .

The track record of these travel businesses reflects broader trends that undergird the entire sector’s phased recovery. The pandemic in many ways re-prioritized what people want from travel suppliers. Some interests and behaviors that used to be specialized transformed into more widely popular options. Vacation rentals, outdoor travel, and experiences are some of the categories to benefit.

The list from Inc. assessed companies by their revenue growth between 2017 and 2020. Like every list, it isn’t perfect. This one suspiciously neglects startups, such as recreational vehicle marketplace Outdoorsy and outdoor adventure booking service Hipcamp , which seem to be growing rapidly.

“Many venture backed companies refuse to disclose precise revenue numbers and that means they don’t appear on the Inc list,” said Nadav Gur, a principal at Vanguard Enterprises , a consultancy for startups, and executive chairman of ridehail aggregator Obi .

But directionally speaking, the companies on the list reveal broader patterns worth tracking.

Alternative Accommodations Is the Big Winner

The top-performer in the travel and hospitality sector is Frontdesk , named the 136th fastest-growing private company on the list. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based startup runs short-term rentals with hotel-like amenities. It also sells operational software, called Flex , to property managers.

“It’s an honor to be on the list, but it’s even more of an honor just to survive Covid,” said Kyle Weatherly, co-founder and CEO at Frontdesk, which operates more than 700 fully managed suites in 160 buildings across 35 U.S. cities.

“From a revenue perspective and consumer behavior perspective, we’re back to pre-Covid levels,” Weatherly said. “We’re on track to be profitable next year.”

Another fast-growing company in the alternative accommodations space also is a startup taking a branded approach. Yet AvantStay , a Los Angeles-based business, has a twist in that it specializes in short-term rentals for groups.

Frontdesk and AvantStay belong to the largest cohort of the fast-growing companies in travel, namely ones that professionally manage alternative accommodations. This lodging category has drawn consumers in large numbers during the pandemic.

The list of fast-growth property managers includes Del Mar Vacations , which rents 200 Cape Cod properties, RealJoy , which rents 800 vacation homes in Florida, Vacation Rentals of Breckenridge , which rents Colorado homes, Teeming , a full-service property manager in Florida, Sandbridge Blue , which rents beach houses in Virginia, and Nomadess , which rents luxury properties in California and Colorado.

More Working From Home Means More Travel

One key pandemic trend has been an interest in the outdoors. Gaining from that was Under Canvas , an outdoor destination hospitality experience company providing “safari-style accommodations.”

Ready to pounce on the trend in companies reuniting workers and managing distributed workforces is Team Housing Solutions . It’s a fast-growth company based in Texas that provides corporate lodging solutions, including full-service corporate housing and discounted hotel options for teams of all sizes.

Both businesses are riding the tailwinds of a bigger displacement that may turn out to be an enduring feature.

“The biggest outcome from the pandemic might be a lastingly higher number of people who keep an option to work remotely part or all of the time,” said Gur of Vanguard Enterprises. “Unless you have to send kids to school or are tied to a dialysis machine, you can have more mobility more often.”

“This trend will have momentum even after the pandemic fades and will benefit the travel industry broadly, but especially players in the recreational vehicle, camping, and vacation rental spaces,” Gur said.

Surprises and Experiences

One of the surprise names on the fast-growth company list is World Amenities , which makes guest room amenities that are vegan, cruelty-free, environmentally friendly, recyclable, and biodegradable. The underlying trend from this challenger to Sysco there speaks for itself.

A demand for experiences by travelers also played into the hands of AOA , a creator of immersive design and production of themed rides and attractions, live shows, and interactive exhibits. If you want something creative for your museum or attraction park, you might turn to this Florida-based consultancy and vendor.

The fastest growing company in the tours, activities, and experiences sector has been City Brew Tours , a nationwide franchise that provides local brewery tours.

A Bet on Travel Tech Investment

Some parts of the travel industry are going through a similar digital transformation as other sectors, such as e-commerce and retail, went through after the financial crisis a decade ago.

Vendors and consultants aim to help travel companies adapt to the new realities.

A case in point is Jacaruso Enterprises , which is a Texas-based company that provides remote hotel sales support and training for owners and management companies of small to medium size hotels.

Playing to that tech-outsourcing trend, too, is StayMarquis , which provides marketing, booking, concierge and management services for vacation rentals.

The subscription model is a trend much discussed in the past year, and one example of a fast-growth company making use of it is Vacation VIP , an Orlando-based digital marketing agency focusing on providing qualified prospects to timeshare resort developers.

For this review, we picked 16 companies as fitting a classical definition of “travel,” and we left out adjacent services, such as private jet aviation.

Yet we see that some companies that made the Inc 5,000 list impact the travel sector without being formally part of it. The most notable company like that is DataArt , a software engineering firm, because of the broader trend in outsourced tech spending that it represents.

“We expect the travel sector to approach 15 percent of our company’s revenue by the end of 2021,” said Greg Abbott, DataArt’s head of travel, transportation, and hospitality. “Travel companies are leveraging automation and custom technology solutions to solve for many of the operational challenges born from the pandemic.”

When sectors face a revenue crunch or a new cycle for technological investment, companies typically turn to outsourced vendors for help. Many analysts expect the travel sector to turn to tech experts in the coming year.

DataArt, which has 5,000 workers, had a growth rate of 80 percent in the three years through 2020. Its travel practice has served more than 100 travel brands, including Priceline, Apple Leisure Group, Inspirato, and Best Day Travel.

Beyond Silicon Valley

One subtle trend that the list of fast-growing companies reveals is that the 16 travel companies aren’t based in the traditional startup headquarters of either Silicon Valley or New York. Not only are more people working remotely, but more and more entrepreneurs are founding companies outside of the best-known entrepreneurial hubs. While Inc’s list seems to overlook some venture-backed companies, it nevertheless reveals a geographically diverse landscape.

Small business is having a moment. In 2020, the U.S. Census received a record number of new business applications, with nearly 4.5 million enterprises forming, which was 51 percent higher than the 2010-19 annual average. Many of the companies are sole proprietorships that may fade with time. But several of these businesses will eventually need to travel to grow their companies, boosting the broader industry.

These companies may be more resilient even after the foam blows out of equity markets.

“As a Midwest-based company, we didn’t have access to as much investor capital,” Weatherly of Frontdesk said. “That reality forced us to be very capital efficient, growing almost entirely out of revenues.”

Founded in 2017, his startup reported 3,012 percent growth in the past three years. Yet earlier this month it only raised a $7 million venture round.

“Whatever the opposite of fake it until you make it is, that’s what we’ve had to do,” Weatherly said. “We didn’t have piles of investor cash.”

The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

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Tags: coronavirus recovery , small businesses , startups

Photo credit: A short-term rental apartment with hotel-style amenities bookable in Columbus, Ohio, from Frontdesk, a startup based in Milwaukee. It's the fastest-growing of more than a dozen U.S. private companies in travel, according to Inc. magazine. Frontdesk

St. Petersburg   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Getty Images |

Why Go To St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg stands at the geographic and cultural borders of the west and east. While the city's appearance was influenced by the intricate and ordered architecture of Western Europe, it is still infused with a vibrant and persevering Russian spirit. St. Petersburg largely owes its dualistic nature to its founder, Peter the Great, an unabashed lover of all things European. In the early 1700s, Peter commissioned the city's streets and architecture to resemble his favorite western cities.

And the results of the czar's great experiment? A grand European-style city, replete with long boulevards, narrow canals and grand public squares. It's also an epicenter of distinctly Russian culture, as the place where literature and music greats like Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev all found their voice. Moscow might be known for its luxury and decadence, but St. Petersburg offers compromise between the expensive tastes of Russia's capital and the often-overrated (and just plain crowded) cities of Western Europe.

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Best of St. Petersburg

Best hotels in st. petersburg.

• # 1 in Grand Hotel Europe
• # 2 in Hotel Astoria, a Rocco Forte Hotel
• # 3 in SO/ Saint Petersburg

Best Things to Do in St. Petersburg

• # 1 in Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace
• # 2 in Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
• # 3 in St. Isaac's Cathedral

St. Petersburg Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit St. Petersburg is from mid-June to September. Although it's expensive, St. Petersburg's near 24 hours of sunshine and White Nights celebrations during the summer months are not to be missed. Summers are generally cool but pleasant, with low temperatures dropping to the 50s and highs hovering around 70 degrees, so be sure to pack accordingly. Traveling to St. Petersburg in the winter is rare; days are short, and temperatures will dip well below freezing into the teens.

Weather in St. Petersburg

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

• Bring your Russian dictionary English is widely spoken in major hotels and restaurants, but you'll find very few English speakers outside the tourist districts. You'll hear Russian and see Cyrillic almost exclusively, so it's best to be familiar with the alphabet before your trip.
• Carry change for restrooms While St. Petersburg once had reputation for inadequate, ill-equipped public restrooms, the city has improved its facilities. However, use of restrooms in some public spaces, such as parks and shopping malls, may require a small payment (around 30 rubles or 50 cents).
• Breathe easy Thanks to legislation passed in 2013, bars, restaurants and public transportation are now nonsmoking spaces, making secondhand smoke less of an issue for visitors. However, public sidewalks are another story.

How to Save Money in St. Petersburg

• Invest in a St. Petersburg Card With the St. Petersburg Card , you'll enjoy free admission to more than 80 museums and tours, including the Peter and Paul Fortress , Peterhof and the Russian Museum , among others. Plus, you can use the card to pay your fare on public transportation. St. Petersburg Cards can be purchased in two-, three-, five- or seven-day increments.
• Book early Making your hotel reservations up to a year in advance – especially if you intend to visit during June's White Nights celebration – can save your wallet some pain.
• Protect your pockets As in many large cities, pickpockets are prevalent in St. Petersburg. Keep a close eye on your belongings in crowded areas, such as Nevsky Prospekt and the metro.

Culture & Customs

English is spoken in major hotels and restaurants, but you'll find mostly Russian speakers in the more local areas like the market or small inns. Some helpful Russian greetings include the informal "hello" ( priv-EYET ), the formal "hello" ( ZDRA-stvooy-te ), the informal "goodbye" ( pah-KAH ), and the formal "goodbye" ( Dah svih-DA-nee-ye ). Saying "thank you" ( Spa-SEE-ba) is always nice as well.

The ruble is the official currency of Russia. One U.S. dollar is equivalent to about 64 rubles. Plan to check the current exchange rate before your trip. While you might want cash for some purposes (purchasing metro tokens, for instance), you'll find that most restaurants, stores and hotels accept credit cards. Currency exchanges in airports generally offer less favorable rates than banks. ATMs are common in Russian cities, so your debit card might work (though you should check with your bank before you go regarding fees and exchange rates).

Tipping for service is common practice in Russia, and tips of around 15% are typical.

What to Eat

While it's true that visitors can still find classic Russian culinary staples like borscht, stroganoff, cabbage stew and caviar on menus around the city, travelers will also enjoy more contemporary dishes as well. And fortunately for visitors, food prices are more reasonable in St. Petersburg compared to Moscow .

You'll find hundreds of culinary hot spots in St. Petersburg, especially along Nevsky Prospekt, ranging from luxurious eateries to sprawling, local markets. If you're looking for an affordable snack on the go, try a Russian crepe, or blini. This Russian pancake is usually stuffed with butter, caviar or other fillings and is a treat for the adventurous foodie. You'll find it at street vendors around the city. To acquaint yourself with local produce, meats and cheeses, pay a visit to the Kuznechnyy Rynok (Kuznechny Market) a favorite among tourists for its honey vendors and plentiful souvenirs.

If you're craving a classic Russian meal, consider Literary Café on Nevsky Prospekt, which once played host to the likes of Pushkin and Dostoyevsky. For a more modern take on Russian fare, head to Hamlet + Jacks for dishes like Baltic herring and Siberian venison. And for Georgian cuisine, Phali Hinkali is a top spot thanks to its hearty dishes. If you're celebrating a special occasion, or just want to treat yourself to a memorable meal, critics and travelers suggest making a reservation at Palkin , which is known for its elegant dining room and fusion of Russian and French cuisines. Other well-reviewed eateries include Probka (Italian), Bekitzer (Israeli) and Etnos Café (Georgian).

St. Petersburg has a mixed reputation when it comes to safety, but most agree that it has improved from the chaotic time immediately following the fall of the Soviet Union. Discrimination against ethnic groups, specifically individuals of Asian or African descent, is still reportedly an issue in Russia, as is discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. Government officials warn against traveling alone at night to avoid violent confrontations.

In October 2019, the U.S. State Department issued an advisory urging increased caution in Russia because of possible terrorism and arbitrary enforcement of laws. However, these mainly applied to specific areas (such as the North Caucasus for terrorism and occupied portion of Ukraine for abuses by authorities). With respect to St. Petersburg specifically, the State Department noted possible delays in services for U.S. citizens because of reductions in diplomatic personnel. According to the State Department, you can be detained by Russian police for not having your passport with you (police in Russia do not need to show probable cause to stop, question or detain you). Plan to carry your passport with you at all times. Visit the State Department's website for more information.

When walking around, you'll also want to be very careful when crossing roads, as drivers don't always yield to pedestrians here. Use crosswalks and only cross when vehicles have come to a complete stop. Several travel sources advise tourists not to drink the tap water in St. Petersburg due to the antiquated pipes and high metal levels in the tap water. To avoid illness, only drink filtered or bottled water.

Getting Around St. Petersburg

The best way to get around St. Petersburg is by public transportation; otherwise, you can walk around Nevsky Prospekt, the main thoroughfare. There's an extensive bus and metro system with lines that run throughout the center and into the city's outskirts. The tram or trolley is best for short journeys through downtown. For trips to the suburbs, try the metro system. Rental cars are available at the Pulkovo Airport (LED), but acquiring the proper driving documents can be a hassle. Taxis are also a prevalent (though, at times, unsafe) way to move around.

From the airport, a taxi can cost anywhere from 600 to 1500 rubles (or about $9.50 to $24), depending on your destination. Taxi Pulkovo is the preferred company; you'll see Taxi Pulkovo stands in the arrivals area of the airport. However, several recent travelers have been overcharged for taxi trips between the airport and the city. Many recommended relying on smartphone apps instead to ensure a fair price.

Entry & Exit Requirements

Acquiring a visa to travel in Russia is a bit more complicated and expensive than visiting other countries. Every foreign traveler entering Russia must have a Russian-based sponsor (like a hotel, tour company, university or relative). In addition to a valid U.S. passport, you must also obtain a travel visa from a Russian embassy or consulate prior to arriving in Russia. If you plan to stay in Russia for more than seven days, you have to register your visa and migration card (the white paper document given by the border police on first entry to Russia) with the Federal Migration Service. Tourists visas start at $160 per person. You can apply for a visa up to 90 days before your intended visa start date. For more information on entry and exit requirements, visit the U.S. State Department  website .

St. Petersburg is built around a network of rivers and canals, with many of the city's top attractions located on the banks of the water.

Explore More of St. Petersburg

Things To Do

Best hotels.

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15 biggest travel companies in the world: when will they recover their 2020 losses.

In this article we will list the 15 biggest travel companies in the world . Click to skip ahead and see the 5 Biggest Travel Companies in the World .

Traveling is not only a form of enjoyment, it is also good for your health. Whether a person decides to spend the summer, winter or simply a short weekend break in a foreign country, travel always has a positive effect on the mind and body of a person. Everyone who hears the word travel first thinks of a break from everyday obligations, getting up early and city noise. But a vacation is much more than just a walk down the main street of an unknown city or a visit to a museum. Every time we travel somewhere, we enrich our experiences and learn things that cannot be read in a tourist guide, because a visit to a new city and a new country brings with it getting to know people, their way of life and customs, culinary specialties and all other things that make a nation special and different. Social interaction in an unknown city contributes to relaxation, and acquaintances with new people or locals often turn into friendships, especially nowadays when maintaining contact through social networks is easier than ever.

Travel also has a good effect on the human body and gives excellent results in treating stress and depression, helping to restore energy. The key to happiness has always been hidden in experiences, not in material things. Travel is food for the soul. People love to see and enjoy beautiful things and places. For many, it is enough to go to places they have already visited or to take a short break somewhere in the vicinity. This provides a respite from current preoccupations and gives strength to move on.

You are able to see places that you thought did not exist, learn something about their history, maybe learn a word of a foreign language. Every new place and experience enriches your lives. Today, many things are available online, but learning from the locals the history, how they live, what are the customs, culture and other specifics of a place can allow you to gain new views of the world. Traveling can also be seen as a challenge for several reasons, starting with not knowing the language, eating unfamiliar food and losing the everyday comfort that everyone is used to. Each trip is a new experience by which we break established habits. By overcoming them, we become stronger, more resourceful and more satisfied with ourselves. If you enjoy traveling you might want to consider checking out the 10 Best Places to Visit in USA in February .

Those first experiences in life are always remembered. That first time is always somehow special. Full of uncertainty, thinking about how it will be, where it will be, will everything go according to plan, do we have a plan at all? Because of the excitement caused by adrenaline, we feel alive, and that is why a little extra adrenaline is not a bad idea. Traveling always awakens in us that feeling of the first time. Going to the still unknown, an undiscovered place that we may already know a lot about from various literature or we have heard from others or we know almost nothing about, but we want to see how it is there. There is nothing more beautiful than packing and going in an unknown direction, where a new adventure awaits us! As Mark Twain said - travel is fatal to prejudice, inhumanity and limited perceptions. You may regularly watch the news and what is happening in the world on TV, but only when you go there, on the spot, can you really understand what the problem of that country is, or what is really beautiful there. First-hand experiences are irreplaceable.

It may sound counterintuitive but travel industry managed to grow almost continuously until the coronavirus pandemic. The number of international tourist arrivals worldwide stood at 600 million in 1999, increased to 800 million by 2009, and has been steadily climbing to 1.2 billion through 2019. We don't have the precise figures for 2020, but it is expected to fall below the 400 million level in 2020 because of the pandemic. US residents cut down their domestic travel by 70% this summer and international travel by 90% for the same reason. Some analysts are so pessimistic that they don't expect air travel demand to recoup its losses until 2024. We actually disagree. We believe air travel will come back with a vengeance in 2022 because of pent-up demand. That's probably why travel stocks like Booking Holdings (BKNG) trade near their 52-week highs.

Precisely because everyone loves adventure and travel, travel companies always have a lot of work, so here is a list of 15 biggest travel companies in the world!

15. Omega World Travel

Through more than 45 years Omega World Travel has established a superb record of providing comprehensive domestic and international travel management services to organizations of all types. Omega is one of the largest business travel management companies in the U.S., with $1,47 billion in sales. It has 530 employees. President and CEO of the company is Gloria Bohan. She launched Omega World Travel in 1972 as a small-town storefront travel agency. Today, Omega is the top woman-owned business in the U.S. This company offers comprehensive service configurations to corporations and governments, including technology tools and other travel services and it owns Cruise.com, an online cruise seller, and TravTech, a wholly owned technology company.

Pixabay/Public Domain

Frosch ranks 14th in our list of the biggest travel companies in the world. Frosch was founded in 1972. In 1977, Richard Leibman acquired sole ownership of the agency from the Frosch family. In 1998, Richard was joined by his son, Bryan who today serves as the company’s President & CEO. In 2004, Lara Leibman joined the company as Executive Vice President. The company has $2,25 billion in sales and 1180 employees. Frosch owns Frosch Rewards & Incentives, Frosch Global Conferences & Events and Frosch Student Travel.

Pixabay/ Public Domain

13. Travel and Transport

Travel and Transport, Inc. was founded in 1946. It is headquartered in Nebraska, US. Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the company is Kevin M. O’Malley, President and Chief Operating Officer is Timothy J. Fleming and Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer is Michael P. Kubasik. The company has sales of $3,53 billion and 1737 employees.

12. AAA Travel

AAA Travel ranks 12th in our list of the biggest travel companies in the world. Whether it's a family vacation or cruise, a romantic getaway, or a business trip, AAA can get you there in style, with great member savings. You'll get hotel discounts, discount car rentals, and vacation packages that meet your needs and budget. President and CEO is Marshall L. Doney. They have sales of $4,13 billion and 4655 employees.

11. Fareportal

Fareportal ranks 11th in our list of the biggest travel companies in the world. Fareportal is company founded in 2002. With their strong knowledge and experience in the air travel booking vertical, including corporate travel management and automation of wholesale distribution of complex international airfares, today they operate in North America, Europe, and Asia. CEO and Founder of the company is Sam S. Jain. Fareportal has sales of $4,95 billion and 3899 employees. CO-CEO of the company is Werner Kunz-Cho and CFO of the company is Kenneth West.

10. Corporate Travel Management North America

Corporate Travel Management North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Corporate Travel Management Ltd. It offers direct sales to corporate customers and consumers, including business travel, leisure travel, loyalty point redemption and meeting and event services. Brand portfolio includes Corporate Travel Management (CTM), Event Travel Management, Air Fulfillment Services, Allure Travel by CTM, CTM Loyalty Solutions and MTravel, which is CTM's hosted, commissioned agent program. It has sales of $5 billion and 725 employees. CEO is Chris Thelen and CFO is Anne Rudd.

06photo/Shutterstock.com

9. Direct Travel

Direct Travel ranks 9th in our list of the biggest travel companies in the world. Direct Travel is one of the most respected companies in North America and around the world, providing corporate travel, meetings and events, and leisure services. The company was founded in 1980. It is led by industry visionary Ed Adams and CFO of the company is John Coffman. It has sales of $5,4 billion and 2000 employees.

8. American Express Travel ( NYSE: AXP )

The company was founded by Henry Wells, William G. Fargo and John Warren Butterfield on March 28, 1850 and is headquartered in New York. It engages in the provision of charge and credit card products, and travel-related services. President of the American Express Travel is Audrey Hendley. It has sales of $6,27 billion and 5000 employees. Chief Executive Officer is Stephen J. Squeri.

7. Travel Leaders Group

Travel Leaders Group ranks 7th in our list of the biggest travel companies in the world. Travel Leaders Group is a multi-unit travel industry company headquartered in New York City that has more than 7,000 company-owned, franchised and affiliated travel agency locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico and other countries. It was founded in 1996. Chairman of the company is Michael Batt, Chief Executive Officer is Ninan Chacko. The company has sales of $7,12 billion and 4000 employees.

6. Flight Centre Travel Group

Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) is a large retail travel agency in Australia. It was founded in 1982 by Graham Turner and Geoff Harris, and is headquartered in Brisbane. FCTG operates under multiple names in Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, Hong Kong, India, China, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and Mexico, and licenses its name in a further 80 countries. Executives of the company in US are: President - Dean Smith, CFO - Peter Stone. The company has sales of $16 billion and 20600 employees.

Please continue reading and see the 5 biggest travel companies in the world .

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