Brick-and-mortar travel agents were among the first casualties of the internet age. But considering the stress involved in finding the right seat for the best price, the old ways of arranging a trip now seem simple. With its new app, Virgin America aims to make booking flights as easy as it once was.

Travellers are turning away from tourist traps and opting to find more authentic experiences in local cultures, with the wealth of information posted by social media users on holiday serving as an invaluable resource. How can countries and companies use these channels to their advantage?

For Amsterdam’s five million annual visitors, getting around the city can be tricky. But with more bikes than people, rental service Yellow Bike is hoping Amsterdam’s cyclists can share some local knowledge – and their mode of transport – with a tourist by inviting them to hitch a ride.

In 2011, Murad Osmann posted an Instagram shot of his girlfriend leading his hand through a door in Barcelona. That photo led to a project that has brought them millions of followers, a book deal, and a TV show. But how exactly did a few holiday pics launch such an influential travel brand?