Travel Dispatch: Hitting the Road on Route 66

August 1, 2026

A first-person point of view shows a motorcycle's handlebars, gloves wrapped around them. Ahead, the road is slick, and it's just rained; among the clouds, there's a rainbow in the distance.

This year, Route 66 — the iconic, 2,448-mile road stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica — celebrates its 100th birthday. Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times

Dear Travel Fan,

Route 66, which turns 100 this year, was one of our 52 Places to Go for 2026 and this week we check it off our list. This spring, Stephen Hiltner, Times Travel’s deputy editor, rode his motorcycle the length of the “Mother Road,” from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif. Along the way he encountered all kinds of weather, many fellow road trippers and the sights and characters that make the highway a special place — you can follow along in photographs and videos.

Pizza al taglio — rectangles sold by weight — is a classic Roman snack. But lately, some of the city’s most cutting-edge pizzaiolos have been rethinking it, using all kinds of inventive toppings and long-fermented doughs. We took a tour.

This week our Tripped Up column helps a reader who took up Air India on an offer to compensate him for a flight gone awry, only to not be able to collect.

I was recently in Helsinki, and I found myself captivated by the city’s beautiful Art Nouveau architecture. This week we take a look at the Finnish capital’s streetscape and one of its most influential architects, Eliel Saarinen. If you, like me, are an architecture buff, you might want to check into one of the hotels in this week’s roundup of new lodgings in historical buildings, including a former U.S. post office.

Canal cities like Venice and Amsterdam are rightly popular, but if you’re looking for less-crowded alternatives, we’ve got a list, from Haarlem, a short train ride away from Amsterdam, to Ghent, Belgium, which you could pair with our recent 36 Hours guide to Bruges.

This week’s 36 Hours visits the Greek island of Sifnos, known for its picturesque villages, celebrated cuisine and hiking trails.

The Trump administration will be releasing more passports with the president’s image on them, the State Department announced on Thursday, saying that 30,000 people had inquired about getting the commemorative passports. They will be available in August and September at in-person events in 19 states.

And if you’ve been thinking about keeping a travel journal to capture your experiences, but haven’t known where to start, we can help.

Finally, we’d like to hear from you about your recent travel experiences. Have you ever gone on a trip and split the cost with friends? How did that go? And if you’ve been traveling in Europe this summer, or plan to, have you been impacted by the heat and fires? Tell us what happened.

Wishing you safe and happy travels,
Amy Virshup

OPEN UP YOUR WORLD

An ornate stone building facade shows an arched entrance flanked by storefronts. Carved text reads “POHJOLA” and “KULLERVO,” and there is a mannequin in a window.

Beguiled by the Dreamy Streetscapes of Helsinki

A writer goes in search of the architect Eliel Saarinen, whose Art Nouveau-inspired designs helped shape early-1900s Finland as well as midcentury America.

By Michael H. Hodges and Vesa Laitinen

An imposing building is seen from above, in the early evening. A large, lit, arched entrance has two rounded, tower-like extensions on either side. Beyond the building, other old reddish buildings can be seen. In the distance, there is a mountainous horizon beneath the last red-orange light of sunset.

Hoshino Resorts

At 5 New Hotels, Glimpses of the Past

From a restored warehouse in Seattle to a former prison in Nara, Japan, these accommodations offer intriguing surroundings with modern comforts.

By Stephanie Rosenbloom

Stout, square whitewashed buildings with blue, green, and red doors are staggered onto a hillside overlooking clear aquamarine water. Small boats float along the shoreline; a row of shops and cafes is just visible off the beach.

Maria Mavropoulou for The New York Times

36 Hours

36 Hours on Sifnos, Greece

Coastal trails, whitewashed monasteries and thrilling new takes on traditional Greek cuisine make this uncrowded island worth the trip.

By Niki Kitsantonis and Maria Mavropoulou

A savory rectangular pizza slice on a wooden board, topped with colorful yellow peppers, red tomatoes, black olives and fresh green basil.

In Rome, It’s a Pizza Renaissance

Pizza al taglio, the traditional Roman snack sold by weight, has been given an upgrade, with toppings like wine-braised meatballs and cumin-scented lamb. Here, the best places to grab a slice.

By Anya von Bremzen and Gianni Cipriano

A canal flows between multi-story, timber-framed buildings with white walls. People walk on a bridge in the distance, reflected in the water.

Clara Tuma for The New York Times

Beyond Amsterdam and Venice: 6 Delightful European Canal Cities

From culture in Hamburg to sweet confections in Aveiro, the charms of these places are revealed as you drift down uncrowded waterways.

By Noëlle de Leeuw

Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times

2 Wheels, 14 Days, 2,448 Miles: A Motorcycle Tour of Route 66

To mark the road’s 100th anniversary, a Times journalist rode the length of it to see what’s become of America’s most storied highway.

By Stephen Hiltner

THE CHANGING WORLD OF TRAVEL

A colorful illustration of a person standing inside the doorway of a crowded subway train car, looking down in concentration at a travel journal, covered in stickers, that they’re holding in one hand. In their other hand is a pen.

Philip Lindeman

Travel 101

How to Keep a Travel Journal

A travel journal can be a great way to evoke specific details and memories from a trip. Here are some tips on how to lower the barrier to entry and to stay organized.

By Jenna Schnuer

Costas Metaxakis/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Was Your Trip to Europe Affected by Heat or Wildfires? Tell Us About It.

Have you had to cancel, reschedule or replan a trip to France, Spain or elsewhere because of raging fires or stifling heat? If so, we want to hear from you.

By The New York Times

An illustration shows a traveler wearing a white shirt, tan pants and a yellow backpack trying to touch a model airplane hanging just out of reach from a string on a long brown pole. There is a gray rolling suitcase on the ground next to the traveler.

Matt Blease

Tripped Up

Help! I Took Air India’s Rebooking Advice, and It Cost Me $2,000.

After a cancellation and long delays, the airline offered to cover the cost of a flight on another carrier. Then it refused to make good on that promise.

By Seth Kugel

Three women stand together under a pink sun umbrella looking at a cellphone. They’re on a set of stone steps.

Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto, via Getty Images

Were You Stuck Footing the Bill on a Group Trip? Tell Us About It.

Traveling with friends can be tricky. We’re curious how you manage financial friction — and how you make sure your besties settle up.

By Ryley Ober

Feedback, thoughts, tips? Email the Travel desk at travel@nytimes.com.

Make a friend’s day: Forward this email.

Did you get this from a friend? Sign up for the Travel Dispatch here. You can always find our latest stories here.

We have more newsletters you might like!

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Travel Dispatch from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Travel Dispatch, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings.

Subscribe to The Times Get The New York Times app

Connect with us on: