Articles

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Airlines Make You Miserable to Maximize Profits, And It's Unfair to the Crew

On U.S. Airways, boarding announcements are like a comedy sketch. Gone are the days when getting on a plane was a simple matter of passengers who need extra time, then first class,…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Giant New Roller-Coasters Have Been Added to the Nation's Theme Parks, In Addition to a Spectacular Penguin Exhibit at Sea World in Orlando, Florida

On yesterday's broadcast of The Travel Show (wor710.com, noon to 2, Eastern Time), the nation's foremost expert on U.S. theme parks--Robert Niles--was asked to name the most…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Holiday Inn Pays Guests to Stay at its Properties..Sort Of

Holiday Inn will be giving a minimum of $25 in gift cards for either gasoline, train discounts or air discounts to those who stay for two-nights between now and June 30th. Stay 3…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

The Bad News About Flights That Arrive Early

Did your latest flight arrive early? Mine did and that's not necessarily a good thing. As a recent analysis in USAToday showed, airlines are padding their flight times to improve…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Americans Were Recently Made Aware of How Much We Spend on Air Transportation As Compared With How Little We Spend on Rail Transportation

During the recent week when the dreaded Sequester caused flights to be delayed all over the nation, resuting in grave inconvenience to millions, we learned that the purpose of…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

It's Florida Drive Out Season! One-Way Rentals for $10/Day, No Strings Attached

It's one of the best-kept secrets in vacationing: the annual Florida Drive Out.This is the time of year when the big rental car companies need to rebalance the distribution of…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Supporting Boston: Why We Should All Return to this Spectacular City

London. Madrid. New York City. Mumbai. Bali. Washington, DC.Just a short list of the great world destinations that have been hit by devastating terrorist attacks in the last…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

It's Going to Be A Bumpy Ride: The Effect of Global Climate Change on Airplane Turbulence

Here's an odd, and disturbing, bit of news. Scientists are predicting that as carbon dioxide levels rise, so will air turbulence for transatlantic flights. The bumpiness will…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Recordings of the Broadcast ("The Travel Show") that Pauline and I Present Every Sunday, Can be Heard at www.WOR710.com--And They're Without Commercials

Because of problems too complex to discuss (and we're hoping to overcome them soon), podcasts (recordings) of "The Travel Show" with Arthur and Pauline Frommer (dad and daughter)…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

United Jacks its Change fee to $200. What's the Real Cost?

Is the $200 change fee coming? No, it's already here.United is the first airline to jack up the fee it charges to passengers who need to amend their domestic travel plans. Now…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

You Can Use a Starbucks Card Abroad Without Fees

Starbucks junkies may blow the equivalent of a MacBook Pro a year on those pricey morning cappuccinos, but if they're travelers, there may be one tiny benefit to the…

Article / Air Travel

That's Ridiculous! A Fond Farewell to the Jerks that Make Travel Intolerable

It's all I really want to say in my final 'That's Ridiculous!' column. Don't. Be. A. Jerk.

Article / Air Travel

Travel Troubleshooter: A Long, Bumpy Ride to Denied-Boarding Compensation

After being denied boarding on an overbooked flight, this passenger dug into federal regulations to reveal that passenger rights are never a sure thing.

Article / Hotels

That's Ridiculous! Hotel Guests That Want It All and the Hotels That Pander to Them

The email I received from a guest at a budget motel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., made me want to throw up my hands and shout. Problem is, I can't figure out who is being more ridiculous…

Article / Air Travel

Travel Troubleshooter: Want Better Airline Service? Power Up Your Smartphone

New Internet-based technologies that some travel companies are embracing promise an almost instant response. If you carry a smartphone, these tools can lead to a better experience --…

Article / Air Travel

That's Ridiculous! The Irrational Passengers Irrational Airlines Carry

The problem with air travel, both from a passenger and an airline perspective, is that we've disengaged our brains almost completely from the process.

Article / Hotels

Travel Troubleshooter: Are Hidden Hotel Fees About to Check Out?

In a surprise move, the Federal Trade Commission recently warned 22 hotel operators that their online reservation sites may violate the law by displaying a 'deceptively low' estimate…

Article / Hotels

Restore the Jersey Shore, One Night at a Time

If your love of the beach is not bound by season or temperature, the Jersey shore has its charms off season -- especially for those who seek some respite from holiday madness,…

Article / Cruise

That's Ridiculous! Cruise Lines and the Passengers They Carry

The cruise industry is the proverbial ship of fools, whether you're buying or selling.

Article / Air Travel

Travel Troubleshooter: Is Your Credit Card Safe at Cruising Altitude?

This passenger's problem raises two bigger questions for air travelers who want to buy something on board: Is it safe? And is there a way to protect your card?

Article / Air Travel

'Tis the Season for Fabulous Family Vacation Freebies

Cheap is good, but free is better -- especially when it comes to family vacation deals. Here are seven freebies to help you plan an affordable winter getaway with the kids.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

That's Ridiculous! Car Rental Absurdities I'd Change If I Could

I'm offended by the car rental industry's business model, and you should be, too.

Article / Miscellaneous

Passports with Purpose: Send Your Money on a Trip to Help Those in Need

Want to send your money somewhere really useful? A mere $10 to Passports with Purpose can help provide clean water in Haiti.

Article / Air Travel

Travel Troubleshooter: After the Storm, Who has Your Refund?

The recent superstorm and series of nor'easters that slammed into the East Coast grounded tens of thousands of travelers. Fortunately, most travel companies waived their usual rules,…

Article / Air Travel

That's Ridiculous! Bad Holiday Travel Advice and the Bad Pundits Who Give It

I'm done with offering the same dry travel advice every year at about this time. Finished!