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This post was originally published on this site American Express is bringing the Centurion Lounge to Japan with the opening of its long-awaited outpost at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND). The 7,500-square-foot space opens this week and is in Terminal 3 near Gate 114. Highlights of the new lounge include a Japanese-inspired design and a comprehensive selection of local food-and-beverage options. When to go: These are the best times to buy an international flight AMERICAN EXPRESS Amex is teaming up with chef Satoshi Ogino, known for managing several Michelin-starred restaurants, including his own Akasaka Ogino, to design the food experience in the lounge. Amex says that travelers can expect Japanese favorites, including sushi and ramen, and a buffet will offer both local and Western cuisine. The bar will offer wines and cocktails, as well as a selection of Japanese beers, sake and shochu. AMERICAN EXPRESS Better yet, there will even be a dedicated sweets bar where you’ll find an assortment of teas and traditional Japanese wagashi sweets. Aside from the big investment in the dining experience, the lounge itself looks like it’ll be a beautiful space to relax in. The design is inspired by Japanese culture, and you’ll find pops of

This post was originally published on this site The Dragon Bravo wildfire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park forced the evacuation and closure of a portion of the park this past weekend. Only the North Rim — not to be confused with the more frequented South Rim of the park — will remain closed for the remainder of the 2025 season. There are also hiking trail closures in effect for the North Kaibab Trail, the South Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch due to a release of chlorine gas related to the fire that destroyed the North Rim Water Treatment Facility. Thankfully, there have been no reported injuries or fatalities due to the fire, but many structures at the North Rim — including the visitor center, the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and cabins — were lost to the fire. This closure will also affect hikers who may have a permit for the popular rim-to-rim hike while the North Rim closure is in effect. Here’s a guide on what to do if you have a trip planned to the Grand Canyon in the near future. The North Rim vs. the South Rim BECKY BLAINE/THE POINTS GUY Grand Canyon National

This post was originally published on this site Southwest Airlines is expanding in the Caribbean, with plans to serve its first new destination in nearly half a decade. The Dallas-based carrier on Monday announced it will launch nonstop service to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The new flights will begin in early 2026. When to go: These are the best times to buy an international flight For Southwest, gaining access to the U.S. Virgin Islands is an especially noteworthy destination. Beyond a new island and territory, it’s the airline’s first new destination in several years. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI with Bluebeard’s Castle The last new pin on the carrier’s proverbial map came in late 2021, when it added Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) in upstate New York during the COVID-19 pandemic, when domestic travel led the way. Recent years have seen Southwest make cutbacks to its route map, including exiting Syracuse itself. That’s set to change. 3 new Southwest cities coming soon Southwest said Monday that it plans to announce a total of three all-new cities — St. Thomas, plus two more that the carrier has not yet revealed. While the remaining two will no doubt be

This post was originally published on this site Through its partnership with American Express, Delta Air Lines offers one of the most comprehensive airline credit card portfolios on the market, which includes entry-level, mid-tier and premium cards (as well as business card versions of most). If you decide that now is the time to apply, your next question will likely be: How do you choose which Delta credit card is right for you? The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a great choice for anyone seeking a card with solid benefits for a reasonable annual fee. However, more frequent Delta flyers should do some math to determine whether the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card could offer better travel benefits for its price. Let’s do a deep dive and compare these two Delta cards so you can decide based on our analysis and your needs. Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex comparison Benefit Delta Gold Delta Platinum Welcome offer Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends July 16. Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.