Editor’s note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get the latest news on aviation, food and drink, accommodation and other travel developments.
In this week’s travel news: a gelato ban in Italy, runaway horses in central London, the orange fog that hit Athens and – if you’re still brave enough – the best dates and times to book summer flights.
When should you book summer trips?
According to travel company Expedia, mid- to late August is the best time for Americans to fly this summer. It’s expected to be less busy during this time, and Expedia says travelers can save up to $265 on round-trip tickets compared to the last week of June, when average prices peak.
It’s recommended to book summer flights 21 to 60 days in advance – last year, travelers who booked in this window were able to save around 15% on domestic and international travel.
Travelers who departed on a Monday for international flights or a Tuesday for domestic flights benefited from similar savings compared to those who opted for the more popular Thursday and Friday departures.
It can be a mistake to book too early or too late. Travelers paid 15% more than average when they booked more than 90 days for international trips or less than a week for domestic trips.
The week leading up to July 4th, which falls on a Thursday this year, is expected to be the busiest time to fly. Expedia also found that flights scheduled after 3 p.m. are 50% more likely to be canceled, so it might be worth booking early.
News from Europe
It was an eventful week in Europe’s capitals and tourist magnets. There were spectacular scenes in Athens and other parts of Greece as an orange haze moved north from the Sahara. Helsinki, meanwhile, was brought to a standstill by almost twenty inches of snow as Finland was hit by “unusual April weather”.
Five runaway horses ran through central London and crashed into vehicles after escaping a military exercise near Buckingham Palace. Two of the animals were in “serious condition,” it said on Thursday.
There were protests in Venice because Venice was the first city in the world to charge day-trippers an entrance fee. The controversial pilot project runs until mid-July.
And finally, the blades of Paris’ famous Moulin Rouge windmill fell off, damaging the building’s facade. The incident occurred overnight and fortunately no injuries were reported.
Food and Drink
If you visit Mexico City’s bohemian neighborhood of Colonia Juárez and are lucky enough to spot a mysterious black door marked “13,” you’ll find yourself in the newly crowned “Best Bar in North America,” according to 50 Best. Behind this unassuming entrance, Handshake Speakeasy serves top-notch cocktails to anyone who can find them.
Over in London, laid-back Bethnal Green cocktail bar Satan’s Whiskers was named ‘Best Bar in the UK’ at the Class Bar Awards this month. But there was a lot of excitement at The Black Dog pub in south London this week after the pub’s name was mentioned in a Taylor Swift song.
Swift sings about an ex who left his cell phone’s location settings on after a breakup and watched him go to the bar. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product review and recommendation guide owned by CNN, have put together this guide to the best wearable tech for on-the-go use.
From London to Lagos in a small car
Talk about a long drive home. Londoner Pelumi Nubi spent two months driving alone in a small Peugeot 107 from the British capital to Lagos, Nigeria, her birthplace. After traveling through 17 countries, she said: “It was an incredible adventure full of beautiful surprises.”
In case you missed it
A pilot proposed to his flight attendant in front of the passengers.
Love was in the air.
An Italian city wants to impose a curfew on ice cream and pizza.
Do not feed after midnight.
An American landmark is getting a $100 million makeover.
For millions of immigrants it was the gateway to the USA.
This classic British sweet could soon be disappearing.
Here’s why.
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account at CNN.com