New Airline Refund Rules Just Went Into Effect: What You’re Owed for Canceled Flights
Posted on 10/28/2024, 5:30 PM
With the busy holiday travel season fast approaching, a new Department of Transportation rule designed to protect U.S. airline passengers has gone fully into effect. As of Monday, Oct. 28, you are automatically entitled to a full refund for a flight that has been canceled or delayed by more than 3 hours for a domestic itinerary or 6 hours for an international one. Announced in the spring and fu...
What You’ll See on the Newly Expanded, More Interactive Tour of the White House
Posted on 10/25/2024, 9:00 AM
While we all stress out over who will move into the White House in January, one of the building's current occupants has unveiled some long-in-the-works upgrades to how visitors experience the historic D.C. residence. This week first lady Jill Biden introduced a new version of the White House public tour that goes to more places than the previous iteration and has more interactive elements designed...
How to Find Out if a Cruise Port Will Be Crowded When You're There
Posted on 10/22/2024, 7:30 AM
Cruise ships keep getting bigger and bigger, but the delicate historic sights of Europe and the Caribbean remain the same size. When locals complain about overtourism, cruise ships are a huge part of that. But there's a way to know in advance how many cruise ships will be in port at the same time. When fully loaded, Royal Caribbean's newest vessels are packed with more than 7,000 passengers, and ...
Flying with a Nut Allergy? You Might Be Freaking Out About the Wrong Thing
Posted on 10/17/2024, 7:00 AM
A team of scientists from the U.K. has released a new study debunking a widespread belief about how nut allergies work on airplanes. The common perception is that air travelers with nut allergies are at significant risk of having a bad reaction from breathing in tiny nut particles transmitted through aircraft ventilation systems as a result of fellow passengers' snacking choices. But the researc...
Coming in 2025: New United Flights to Greenland, Mongolia, Bilbao, and Beyond
Posted on 10/16/2024, 7:00 AM
We may look back at 2024 as the year when overtourism reached a breaking point. In many of the world's most visitor-clogged destinations, local governments enacted new restrictions and fed-up residents staged anti-tourism protests to what seemed an unprecedented degree. A town in Japan put up a big black screen to block people from taking photos of Mount Fuji. Venice, Italy, started charging an ...
Wait Times for U.S. Passports Haven't Been This Short in Years!
Posted on 10/03/2024, 5:30 PM
In the first half of 2021, the United States State Department had an epic backlog of 2 million passport applications. As the Biden Administration began, the wait time for a new passport—18 weeks, or more than 4 months—was so crazy that the U.S. government had to warn that "U.S. citizens who wish to travel overseas this summer and do not currently have a passport may need to make alternate travel pl...
These Travel Apps Gobble Up the Most of Your Phone's Mobile Data
Posted on 10/03/2024, 7:00 AM
Depending on your smartphone's service plan, the expense of data while you're roaming abroad can be one of the ugliest surprises in a travel budget. Forgetting to use the correct setting for even a few minutes while an e-mail or a video loads in an expensive location can cost a vacationer hundreds of dollars in accidentally accrued, high-priced data charges. Over the years, Frommer's has found thi...
These Are the Best Airports in the U.S. in 2024, According to Passengers
Posted on 09/18/2024, 6:15 PM
Nearly two-thirds of North American flyers (60% to be precise) report having "enjoyed spending time in their airport," according to the latest passenger satisfaction survey from J.D. Power. The baffling contentment of those travelers is evidently impervious to record passenger volume, widespread flight delays, and overpriced food and drink at airport stores and restaurants. For what it's worth, ...
When Is United Airlines Getting Free Wi-Fi?
Posted on 09/17/2024, 4:30 PM
It's pretty shocking that even though the internet has been an essential part of our lives for nearly 30 years, the number of U.S. airlines that supply free Wi-Fi to all passengers still stands at a grand total of one. And even that was a long time coming. JetBlue, which began flying in 2000, announced its intention to add free Wi-Fi for customers back in 2013, but it wasn't until early 2017 that t...
The Best National Parks to Visit for Fall Colors This Year? Surprising New Data Shapes This List
Posted on 09/16/2024, 11:45 AM
For hikers and road trippers eager to see vibrant fall colors, many U.S. national parks have impressive displays this time of year. Makes sense—where there are trees, after all, there are usually leaves. Of course, some trees have more potential for color than others, and some parks have more miles of trails to get you closer to more reds, oranges, and yellows. To help narrow things down, the di...
