Brightline, a private company, hopes to open the first U.S. high-speed rail line in Florida. Michael Kimmelman, the architecture critic of The New York Times, looks at Brightline’s passenger service and the company’s planned high-speed line connecting Los Angeles with Las Vegas. Video by Michael Kimmelman, Gabriel Blanco, Laura Bult, David Jouppi and Laura Salaberry/The New York Times

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Travelers from the U.S., Canada and most European countries who do not require visas to enter the United Kingdom will now need to apply for digital authorization in order to visit or, in some cases, transit through the country. The electronic travel authorization, called ETA and linked to a traveler’s passport, lasts two years. The requirement was introduced in late 2023 for nationals of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and four other Gulf nations and now extends to all visa-exempt travelers visiting the United Kingdom, including those from the EU. The British Home Office said it’s part of a mission to “deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system” that will enhance border security. We explain more about the process to apply at the link in bio. Photo by @sambush_

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​​​​​​​​From its modest Celtic and Roman origins, Budapest has grown into a beautiful Old World metropolis, thanks to its enviable location on the Danube River and a dynamic local population, which currently hovers around 1.7 million. The extremely walkable Hungarian capital is a vibrant, progressive and relatively diverse island in an otherwise rightward-tilting country, making it a popular destination for gourmets, designers, writers and artists, many of whom come here to sample — or help build — one of the best restaurant scenes in Central Europe. New museums, galleries and spruced-up parks counterbalance the city’s classic architecture, thermal baths and other attractions, artfully blending its two halves: reserved, hilly, residential Buda, west of the Danube, and urbane, mostly level Pest, stretching out on the eastern side. Curious about visiting Hungary? Tap the link in our bio for our full list of recommendations. Photos by @stillerakos

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At a time when lounges are more in demand than ever, United travelers who purchase annual memberships can now expect to pay more for less. The airline is reducing amenities and increasing the cost to enter the dozens of United Clubs worldwide, including locations in Tokyo, Chicago and Los Angeles. In an email to customers, it said that the Club membership changes were designed to “keep improving your experience,” noting that new tiers were “tailored to your travel needs.” Read more about how United is introducing a two-tiered membership plan at the link in bio. Photo by Shutterstock.

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Gone are the days when hotel guests traveling with their dogs had to sneak them into their rooms or pack their own chew toys. The welcome mat is out, and many hotels are going all out to please four-legged guests. More vacationers than ever are bringing along their family pets. According to American Pet Products Association 2024 surveys, about nine out of 10 owners say they’ve traveled with their pet in the last year, compared with about eight out of 10 in the 2021-22 study. Some hotels provide custom bedding, and many offer maps of nearby off-leash areas and pet-friendly restaurants. Read more about the vacation spots that offer amenities for your fluffy friends at the link in bio. Illustration by Antoine Doré

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The Houston rodeo is beyond Texas-size. There’s an international wine competition, a championship contest for barbecue and a state-fair-size carnival with roller coasters and Ferris wheels. A guinea pig competition offers awards for best fur coat and a sprawling shopping area sells everything from handmade leather chairs to turquoise jewelry. The evenings are capped off by fireworks, drone shows and concerts in a 72,200-seat stadium; this year’s performers include Reba McEntire, Journey and Post Malone. See more of the world’s largest rodeo and livestock show at the link in bio. Photos by @meridithkohut

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At its altitude, Tarija, Bolivia, has grapes that shouldn’t grow; gastronomy to rival the best in South America but much less known; rocky, punishing terrain supporting robust agriculture. The writer Danielle Pergament visited Bolivia’s wine country — a collection of a half dozen of the best little-known wineries in the world surrounded by vast, untouched wilderness. Throw in a five-star resort and a celebrity wedding, and Tarija could be Tuscany — with a side of magic. Tarija, which is also the name of the city inside the province, isn’t big, but it’s larger than Maryland. It has pumas, alpacas and llamas, plus three kinds of flamingos. See how Pergament explored the South American country’s Tarija region at the link in bio. Photos by @nickballon

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Heathrow Airport in London, one of the busiest travel hubs in the world, was shut down on Friday after a fire disrupted power from a nearby electrical substation. Hundreds of flights were canceled or rerouted, and analysts said the chaos could last days. Read more and follow live updates at the link in bio.

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