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December 21, 2024 
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| Skiers outside a mountaintop inn known as a rifugio in Corvara, Italy, part of the Dolomites. Susan Wright for The New York Times |
Dear Travel Fan,
Here we are on the cusp of the holidays and another big weekend for travel, with the T.S.A. expecting to screen nearly 40 million people from Dec. 19 to Jan. 2, up more than 6 percent from last year. A possible government shutdown could disrupt plans. To help, we put together an explainer on what the fallout could be.
Recently I told cold weather fans that we’d soon have something for them, and this was our week to embrace winter: We took you to Juneau, Alaska, to ski, skate, hike and more. We went on a cross-border ski trip between Idaho and British Columbia, and on a hunt for sauna nirvana on the shores of Lake Superior. We suggested five ways to enjoy Yellowstone in the winter, and let you in on one of skiing’s big secrets — that it can be cheaper to hit the slopes in Europe than it is in the United States. Keeping with the wintry theme, our 36 Hours column visited Innsbruck, Austria.
We also offered a lot of service this week, explaining the new rules for how airlines deal with travelers with mobility issues from the Department of Transportation, and those from the Federal Trade Commission about fee transparency for hotels, short-term rentals and tickets to live events. And we provided tips on how to protect yourself from drinks that might be tainted with methanol when traveling abroad.
We also took a look back at the spots on our 52 Places list that our reporters and photographers visited in the past year.
Our colleagues on the special projects team have been doing a series on the Harlem Renaissance, and in collaboration with them we took a look at the Copenhagen life of Nella Larsen, the writer most famous for her novel “Passing.” Larsen’s father was Danish, and she spent years as a young woman in Copenhagen, where part of her first novel, “Quicksand,” is set. The writer Ethelene Whitmire followed in the footsteps of Larsen and Helga Crane, her lead character.
If you’re celebrating the holidays this coming week, I hope they are joyous and that your journeys are safe and fulfilling.
Amy Virshup
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OPEN UP YOUR WORLD |
 | | Clara Tuma for The New York Times |
Skiing’s Budget Secret: It Can Be Cheaper in EuropeWe do the math on a winter vacation in the Alps or Dolomites, where lift tickets and lodging are often a fraction of what you’d pay at a U.S. resort. By Amy Tara Koch |
 | | Clara Tuma for The New York Times |
36 Hours 36 Hours in Innsbruck, AustriaFuturistic architecture rubs shoulders with centuries-old opera houses in this picture-perfect Austrian ski town. By A.J. Goldmann |
 | | Ruth Fremson/The New York Times |
Two Mountains, Two Countries, a Cross- Border Skiing AdventureOn a ‘two-nation ski vacation,’ a writer samples Idaho’s Schweitzer and Red Mountain, in British Columbia, two less-crowded resorts with miles of terrain to explore. By Cindy Hirschfeld |
 | | Jenn Ackerman for The New York Times |
In Search of Sauna Nirvana Around Lake SuperiorOn a 750-mile road trip through the heart of sauna culture in the United States, a writer searches for the perfect combination of steam, heat and cold. By Stephanie Pearson |
 | | Alyn Wallace |
Oh, the Places We Went!This year, of the 52 destinations on our annual list, our writers and photographers touched down in 11 to capture their essence. Here’s what they found. By Amy Virshup |
 | | Jacob W. Frank/National Park Service |
Yellowstone in Winter: 5 Ways to Enjoy the Quiet SeasonForget the summer crowds, exploring wide-open landscapes by ski, snowmobile or snowshoe, and revel in a solitude that few park visitors ever get to experience. By Ruffin Prevost |
 | | Christopher Miller for The New York Times |
Frugal Traveler Alaska in Winter: Reveling in a Playground of Ice and SnowJuneau, a popular cruise port in summer, becomes a deal-seeker’s base for skiing, skating, hiking and glacier-gazing in winter. By Elaine Glusac |
 | | Cécile Smetana for The New York Times |
Footsteps Looking for the Restless Soul of Nella Larsen in CopenhagenThe celebrated Harlem Renaissance author was inspired by her experiences as a mixed-race teenager and young adult in the Danish capital, a time that informed her 1928 novel, “Quicksand.” By Ethelene Whitmire |
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THE CHANGING WORLD OF TRAVEL |
 | | Halfpoint/Shutterstock |
New Protections for Travelers Flying With Wheelchairs Are Coming SoonThe Transportation Department has expanded the rights of airline passengers with mobility disabilities. The first changes will go into effect next month. By Christine Chung |
 | | Anupam Nath/Associated Press |
Tainted Drinks: How to Protect Yourself While TravelingDeaths and hospitalizations of travelers in Laos and Fiji after they consumed drinks containing alcohol raised concerns about possible methanol poisoning. Here are signs you can look out for. By Sophie Stuber |
 | | George Rose/Getty Images |
Hidden ‘Junk’ Fees Must Be Disclosed, F.T.C. Rule SaysHotels, short-term rentals and event ticket-sellers must advertise the full price of their offerings under the rule, which is supposed to go into effect in the coming year. Here’s what to know. By Julia Carmel |
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