The Planet D

QR codes are everywhere when we travel now, on restaurant tables, parking meters, hotel signs, airports, train stations, and transit machines. This travel scam known as Quishing or QR code phishing is becoming the fastest growing travel scam warning out there. Most QR codes are legitimate, but scammers are using fake QR code stickers and fake payment pages to catch travellers when they are tired, rushed, or distracted.

Most people know the Sea to Sky Highway as one of Canada’s most beautiful drives. It winds from the edge of Vancouver along Howe Sound, climbs past waterfalls and mountain viewpoints, and continues toward Whistler and Pemberton. Now, it has another reason to be on your road trip list: it has been named one of the best EV road trips in the world. According to a study by iSelect, British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Highway ranked seventh globally among the world’s most EV-friendly road trips.

Most travellers now fly with several battery-powered items: a phone, laptop, tablet, camera, headphones, smartwatch, portable charger or vape. But packing one of them in the wrong bag can cause real problems at the airport. In 2026, aviation safety authorities are warning travellers to pay closer attention to lithium batteries after reports that millions of batteries are still being packed incorrectly.

Airline websites are not necessarily badly designed, even though they often feel that way. In many cases, the booking process is doing exactly what it was designed to do: get you focused on the lowest advertised fare before revealing the cost of everything else. You start with a flight that looks like it costs $400. By the time you add a carry-on bag, choose a seat, and work through the final checkout screens, the total is suddenly $650.

Imagine walking up to customs after a long international flight and being told that a suitcase connected to your name has been flagged. You say, “That’s not my bag.” Then the officer points to the luggage tag and says, “Then why is your name on it?” That is the nightmare behind a luggage scam travelers need to understand in 2026.

We’ll never forget the first time we visited New York City in December. We’d seen it in movies, but standing there, seeing the Rockefeller Center tree all lit up for the first time, with skaters below and festive music in the air… it was pure magic. But December travel isn’t just about snow and Santa. We’ve also spent the holidays escaping to the warmth, trading snow boots for flip-flops.

Let’s get right to the big question: Is Egypt safe to travel? For the traveler that informed and prepared, the answer is yes, and it is an incredibly rewarding destination. We’ve explored the country ourselves multiple times and can tell you that standing before the Pyramids of Giza or wandering through the temples of Luxor is an experience that stays with you forever. But it’s also not a trip to take lightly.

We’ll never forget our trip to Zion National Park one November. After battling the summer crowds on a previous visit, we returned to find the trails almost completely to ourselves. The air was crisp, the autumn colours were still holding on in the lower canyon, and the experience felt so much more personal and raw. That trip reminded us that travelling in the shoulder season is often the best way to really connect with a place.

Looking for the best things to do in Sudbury? This Northern Ontario gem is packed with surprises, think 330 sparkling lakes, a massive regreening transformation, Canada’s most iconic coin, and world-class science attractions that kids and adults will both love. Whether you’re after family-friendly fun, nature escapes, or hands-on experiences you won’t find anywhere else, Sudbury delivers.

When California was on fire, Canada sent water bombers to help. When our country is burning… You sent us a complaint letter. America, we need to talk. Dear United States Congress, Thank you so much for your deeply concerned letter about our wildfires “ruining your summer.” Truly touching. We apologize that our forests, after decades of record heat, drought, and corporate deforestation (some of it by your own timber giants), had the audacity to catch fire and interrupt your BBQs and lake weekends.