26 travel things we’re thankful for this year

With the year’s end right around the corner, this is as good a time as any to take another look at what we’re most thankful for. Of course, our families, friends and health will rank high on the list, but travel has its place up there too. Here are 26 travel things we’re thankful for this year. Let us know what you’re grateful for by commenting below.

RELATED: 9 easy countries to escape to if your candidate lost

1) Hotels with complimentary receptions Read: Free cocktails! Mixing and mingling where you’re staying is a nice way to feel welcome. Embassy Suites by Hilton holds a complimentary evening reception with free apps and a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. At most locations, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham holds social hours, Kimpton has a nightly wine hour and Affinia Hotel Collection’s Social Sips reception brings guests out to their common areas.

2) Better airport dining options We’re noticing more famous local joints are spreading their wings and opening mini outposts in airport terminals. Pick up a burger and fry combo from Shake Shack at JFK’s Terminal 4. At O’Hare’s Terminals 1, 3 and 5, Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless serves up regionally-inspired Mexican specialties. Meanwhile at Miami International, Cafe Versailles is dishing out its famed Cuban fare in Terminals D, E and F.

3) When you learn a cool new foreign word with no English equivalent Here are some of our favorites: The Portuguese saudade is a state of longing for something or someone absent. In Norwegian, forelsket expresses the euphoria that occurs when first falling in love. Yet is it bad to be amused by the German Schadenfreude, which means pleasure derived from others’ misfortunes?

4) Attractions with free or pay-as-you-wish admission There are a number of public institutions where you can get cultured at little or no cost. For example, it’s free to visit all the Smithsonians in Washington, D.C.; the Getty Center and Getty Villa in Los Angeles; and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Get in free on Friday evenings at NYC’s Museum of Modern Art and pay what you wish on Wednesday nightsat the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Plus, be sure to sign up for Museum Day Live!, a Smithsonian Magazine program offering ticketed access to participating institutions nationwide.

5) More and more city bike rental programs Get a different perspective on two wheels with bike sharing programs. New York City’s Citi Bike has 500 stations across Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Jersey City. The windy city of Chicago has its wheels with Divvy, the D.C. area rolls along with Capital Bikeshare and Philadelphia is feeling the brotherly bike love with Indego.

6) Hotels with free Wi-Fi The thought of getting nickel and dimed to go online can make any guest cringe, so we appreciate those who include Internet access as part of our stay. In 2015, Hyatt decided to offer basic Wi-Fi in rooms and social spaces to guests at no cost. La Quinta Inns & Suites offers high-speed connectivity, while Intercontinental Hotel Group’s IHG Rewards Club members can get connected at no charge.

7) Free breakfast Embassy Suites’ Made-to-Order Breakfast program serves up both healthy and hearty fare, and cooked-on-the-spot omelets. Also, Country Inns & Suites’ “Be Our Guest Breakfast” offers quite the spread, with morning favorites like waffles, French toast, eggs, oatmeal and yogurt. And hotels understand that sometimes we don’t have time to linger, so some are packing our brekkie to go, like Hampton Inn’s “On the Run” Breakfast Bags.

8) The increase in massage/spa services offered at airports Flying can be tiring, so we appreciate getting a little primping in while we wait, and airports are complying. XpresSpa has more than 50 terminal locations, including New York, California, Pennsylvania, D.C. and Florida. Be Relax is both global and stateside such as at Logan, Detroit, Baltimore, and San Diego. Or perhaps get a paint touchup at Seattle-Tacoma’s Butter London Nail Salon or give your locks some luster at MSP’s Aveda Experience Center.

9) Extra legroom Airplane seats are feeling tighter nowadays, though some carriers are giving some pitch back through “premium economy.” The roomier seats such as the upcoming Delta Premium, available on select international flights next year, cost extra but are worth it for the taller set. JetBlue is leggy, too, claiming to offer the most legroom in coach, at 32”-33” on its Airbus A320s. Virgin America has a seat pitch of 32” in its main cabin, so that’s another fine option.

10) Tasty—and free—in-flight snacks With hot meal service all but gone, we really appreciate free tasty in-flight treats. Among our favorites: Those perfect little Biscoff cookies on Delta, which go well with our coffee; Hawaiian Airlines gets crunchy with Pau Hana Snack Mix and crispy with selections like Kona Furikake Chips. And, speaking of spuds, Terra Blues potato chips on JetBlue are appropriately fitting.

11) Flight attendant uniforms with flair We’re grateful for all that these men and women do for us—and admire how fabulous they look while they do it. Recently, American Airlines unveiled a stylish new wardrobe for all of its crewmembers, featuring a slate gray, cobalt and crisp white color scheme. Earlier in 2016, Alitalia came out with chic ensembles, made from Italian fabrics and with a design seemingly reflecting the Golden Age of Flight.

12) TSA Precheck and Global Entry Breeze through those notoriously long security and immigration lines? Yes, please. Insider tip: TSA Precheck comes as a free perk with Orbitz Rewards Platinum member status.

13) Pet-friendly hotels We love properties like KimptonHotel Monaco Alexandriafor its Doggie Happy Hour, and The Benjamin in New York with its goodDOG canine program that includes toys, hygiene products, and a pet mini bar with treats and non-alcoholic Bowser Beer.

14) Resourceful travel apps We especially like Expensify (for logging expenses), Splitwise (for divvying up costs), and the new Google Trips (the search engine’s latest app that works as a travel guide).

15) More locally-guided specialty tours Dining, biking, architecture, sightseeing… You name it, there’s a tour tailored to your interests. Heading to New York City? Foodies can get a flavor for Brooklyn’s eateries or breweries with Urban Adventures or join A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour to sample some pies. If you’re feeling theatrical, go on Walks of NewYork’s Disney on Broadway Tour.

16)Unexpected free alcohol on flights In most cases, major U.S. carriers don’t charge for beer and wine when en route out of the country. Yet we have to thank Virgin Atlantic for offering a range of free drinks on all domestic and international flights; don’t miss their well-curated wine list. We’d also like to raise a glass to Air France for offering champagne, even to those of us back in economy.

17) Good noise-cancelling headphones No need to be bothered by that chatty couple sitting behind you on the plane. Headphones have come a long way. Depending on your budget, consider brands like Panasonic ErgoFit In-Ear, Skullcandy Uproar Wireless or Bose QuietComfort.

18) When your bag’s the first one off the carousel Easy pick up and walk out.

19) Currency exchange rates in your favor The dollar’s relatively strong right now, so both Canada and Mexico are appealing vacation options. Meanwhile, Brexit fallout has weakened the British pound, making the UK attractive, as well. It also might be a good time to see Australia before 2017 sets in.

20) Being able to disconnect from the world Or for as long as we can resist glancing at our phone.

21) Discovering fancy (and free) hotel toiletries Here are some you’ll definitely want to pack, just to name a few: W Hotels carry Bliss, Renaissance Hotels have Aveda, and Four Seasons Hotels are stocked with L’Occitane. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts feature Le Labo’s Rose 31, an exclusive line with a signature scent.

22) More accessible electrical outlets In our device-driven world, the struggle for finding an easily accessible plug can be real. Luckily, airports are picking up on this plight by installing more charging stations at terminal gates. In the summer of 2016, Denver International Airport was reported to have added almost 10,000 ports throughout its three concourses. Hotel rooms are also plugging up, with outlets being installed as close as your nightstand.

23) A carry-on bag that can hold everything – but still fits in the overhead bin Consider the Tumi International Slim Carry-On; Biaggi Contempo Four-Wheel Spinner Collapsible; or the Eagle Creek Morphus 22. All great choices.

24) Flexible dining on cruise ships This trend is giving passengers more flexibility on when they’ll eat dinner, and offers a change of seating depending on what’s available. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle Dining has no fixed times or pre-assigned seating. Royal Caribbean’s My Time Dining reflects its name with flexibility on eating in the ship’s Main Dining Room, and Carnival’s got Your Choice Dining.

25) Making a connecting flight with time to spare Looking for things to do with all that extra time? Airports are increasingly offering fun programs and amenities. If feeling uptight at LAX, find some doggy TLC through their Pets Unstressing Passengers program. When waiting it out at Vancouver International, get mesmerized by marine life at the Vancouver Aquarium’s satellite exhibits. For more ideas, click here.

26) The faces of loved ones when you arrive home. Happiness is seeing someone happy to see you—whether that’s one of your two- or four-legged admirers!

Tagged: Cruise