A Blow to Broadway: Shows Won't Reopen Until September 6
Posted on 05/12/2020, 3:00 AM
The show must go on—except when there's a global health crisis. The Broadway League, the trade association for the theatrical industry, announced that the lights in New York City's Theater District would stay dimmed for a few more months. All Broadway performances will be canceled until September 6—at least. Ticket holders should get an email before May 18 with instructions on how to get refunds....
Marriott Offers 20% Off a Future Stay if You Buy a Gift Card Now
Posted on 05/11/2020, 1:00 PM
With their cash flow negative, hotels are getting creative about ways to put some funds in the coffers until this storm has passed. We told you about "hotel bonds," which some properties are selling. With those, if you pay a certain amount now—say, $100—then later on, when you're ready to start traveling again, you can cash in the bond's value plus interest. That way, your investment of $100 now c...
United Airlines Revokes Promise to Keep Middle Seats Empty
Posted on 05/11/2020, 11:00 AM
Many news outlets reported that several airlines, United included, had announced they would keep the middle seat empty to help passengers practice social distancing. United Airlines took that step on April 22, saying that the restriction would remain in effect until the end of May. But here it is May 11, and having gotten that good publicity, United is already going back on its promise. This wee...
In Vienna, Pay An Extra $200 to Get Out of Quarantine
Posted on 05/11/2020, 10:00 AM
If you're lucky enough to be able to fly to Vienna right now—flights from the United States and other places with bad Covid-19 outbreaks have been canceled—you're still asked to quarantine when you get there. All visitors arriving to the Austrian capital must enter a two-week, self-supported quarantine unless they can show officials a negative test result for the coronavirus. And the test result m...
America's Favorite Destination Restaurants Are Being Saved by Cross-Country Delivery
Posted on 05/11/2020, 2:00 AM
We all have our madeleines, don't we? I'm talking about the spongy little cookie that Marcel Proust turned into shorthand for any food that triggers memories. In his novel Remembrance of Things Past, the narrator dips a madeleine into a cup of tea and is immediately thrust into the past—a memory journey that lasts seven massive volumes. Food is such a potent link that a business was created to se...
Our Weekly Travel Podcasts: The Future of Cruising and Far-Flung Adventures
Posted on 05/10/2020, 11:00 PM
Each week, Frommer's brings you two fresh podcasts stuffed with travel tips, news, and inspiration. Recordings are made from our weekly call-in show on WABC in New York and our nationally syndicated radio program. Listen anytime at Frommers.com/podcast. Cruise news is the primary subject of our first show this week. Cohosts Pauline Frommer and Jason Cochran consider Carnival Cruise Line's...
Delta Cuts a Slew of Smaller Airports From Its Schedule
Posted on 05/08/2020, 4:45 PM
I used to have a roster of travel tips that I could pull out when the occasion demanded. One was always this: When you can, use smaller airports, where security lines will be a breeze and airfares will likely be lower. But as the airlines do their darndest to stay upright, wee airports are an early casualty. Today it was announced that Delta Air Lines is suspending all upcoming flights to nearly ...
Princess, Holland America Cancel 2020 Summer Season—Why Not Carnival?
Posted on 05/07/2020, 12:00 PM
Princess Cruises and Holland America Line have announced they will not run ships for the summer season. In August, Princess will operate only one ship, Majestic Princess, on quick sailings out of Taiwan. Otherwise, nine other ships will remain off the scene until September, and those will avoid the East Coast of America and the Caribbean. Both lines canceled all departures in Europe, Alaska, and ...
After Backlash, Frontier Airlines Drops Social Distancing Fee
Posted on 05/07/2020, 5:00 AM
Frontier Airlines has abandoned plans to charge passengers extra to fly next to empty middle seats on flights, according to news reports. The move was made following widespread (and well-deserved) criticism of the fee from social media users, media commentators—including Frommer's—and even members of Congress. The $39 empty-seat charge, which was set to go into effect on May 8 and last through ...
Adorable Canine Instagrammer Has NYC’s Top Tourist Sites to Himself
Posted on 05/06/2020, 9:00 AM
By now, you've probably seen plenty of eerie photos showing normally crowded tourist sites looking desolate amid the pandemic lockdown. You know what makes them look less desolate? Parking a deadpan yellow lab in the foreground. In New York, that cityscape-brightening service is being provided by an Instagram account started by Craig Karpel and starring his dog, Farley. View th...
