The death of free hand luggage and Italy's hidden gems – 2018's most read travel stories
It was a year in which Ryanair confused passengers with its complex baggage rules, “overtourism” came to the streets of Amsterdam, Kyoto and Santorini, and drone sightings grounded hundreds of flights to and from Gatwick. But which stories attracted the most interest from Telegraph Travel readers?
The most viewed travel news stories
No more free hand luggage: Everything you need to know about Ryanair's new baggage rules
Thanks, Ryanair. The low-cost carrier called time on free hand luggage in November and our guide to the new regulations was our most viewed news story of 2018. It’s a complex business so you might want to check it before you fly with the budget behemoth.
UK slides again as world's most powerful passports revealed
An annual ranking by Henley & Partners, a citizenship and planning firm, takes into account how many countries can be visited without applying for a visa. Britain tumbled to 11th this year, having been tied for first back in 2015.
Maldives hit by hundreds of holiday cancellations as state of emergency continues
A state of emergency was imposed in the Maldives following political protests in February, prompting hundreds of sunseekers to cancel their holidays. It was lifted in March, although the Foreign Office warns that further protests are possible.
Buy your euros now, says currency expert – the pound is only going in one direction
Ah yes, Brexit. It dominated the 2018 news agenda and travellers were understandably concerned about how far their pounds would stretch on holiday. While sterling’s slump was bad news for most UK travellers, the pound actually rose against several currencies this year, including the Argentinian peso.
The one mistake to avoid if your hand luggage gets relegated to the hold
Spare a thought for one UK holidaymaker who had his cabin bag relegated to the hold back in May – but forgot to retrieve his passport before handing it to airline staff. Cue a long wait at London Stansted’s border control.
China unveils plans for hypersonic jet that can fly anywhere in the world in three hours
Supersonic air travel could be making a comeback in the next decade. But what about hypersonic? That really would be something, offering the chance to fly from London to Sydney in just a few hours. We’ll believe it when we see it.
The most viewed travel inspiration
The 20 destinations you must visit in 2018
Almost 300,000 of you read our guide to the up-and-coming destinations for 2018, featuring the likes of Rwanda, St Helena and South Korea. Our guide for 2019 is coming on January 1.
Secret Italy: 20 hidden gems to discover in 2019
You love Italy, but you don’t love sharing it with everyone and their uncle. Little shock that this feature was well received then.
10 reasons why Cape Verde is the most underrated winter sun destination on Earth
We’re talking accessibility, an intriguing colonial heritage, unique music and an incredible volcanic landscape.
Visit this secret paradise island (before everyone else does)
Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s trendiest destination right now.
Britain’s 25 coolest campsites
Our unfathomably warm summer meant camping in Britain was - for once - an appealing idea.
Everything you need to know about seeing cherry blossom in Japan
They are swooned over during picnics. They are painstakingly painted. They are obsessed over in poems. They are cited as a symbol of the transient nature of life. And they are sprinkled on Starbucks lattes. Welcome to Japan’s pink and modern world of cherry blossoms.
22 reasons why everyone is going to Portugal right now
Portugal is one of Europe’s fastest-growing travel destinations. We highlighted a few good reasons why.
The most viewed aviation geek stories
How far do planes fall during turbulence – and where in the world is it most common?
It is the thing nervous fliers fear most. It’s also the aviation story everyone loved reading this year.
Which airlines fly with the most empty seats?
Ryanair won the passenger load factor world cup – but who came last?
The slow death of the jumbo jet – where are they all now?
We tracked down every 747 still in the sky. And you seemed to be grateful.
The most viewed galleries
We love Greece. That combination of sandy beaches, a slow pace of life, and simple tavernas populated by stray cats is hard to beat. No wonder it welcomed a record 30 million overseas visitors in 2018. Our guide to its best islands was the most viewed gallery of 2018 with a staggering 3.9 million page views.
The best of the UK: 29 things to do this summer
And what a summer it was. A heatwave meant it didn’t rain for two months in some parts of Britain and our guide to the best things to see and do in Britain was understandably popular.
These are the 20 greatest cities to live in
Vienna? Again? Mercer’s 2018 Quality of Living Index was revealed back in March and the Austrian city took the title once again. Where was London? You don’t want to know.