Articles

Jason Cochran

Article / Passportable

If You Use the Public Phone Chargers at the Airport, the FBI Has a Warning for You

It's awfully easy to run out of mobile phone power when you travel. The travel industry has offloaded lots of activity and paperwork to the smartphone in your pocket: Flight check-in,…

Article / Passportable

Where to Catch the Total Solar Eclipse in North America in April 2024

They don't come along very often. Have you seen one?No, we're not talking about Star Wars sequels that will stand the test of time. We mean a total solar eclipse—one trip to the Dark…

Article / Passportable

Airlines to Cut New York City Flights This Summer to Combat Labor Shortage

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and United Airlines have all signaled they intend to cut flights to New York City this summer as the United States faces an ongoing…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Biden Names Two More National Monuments, Expands Marine Reserve

President Joe Biden has designated two more national monuments that are precious to the history, culture, and natural resources of the United States. Combined, the newly protected…

Article / Passportable

The Queen Mary Lives! Tours and Overnight Stays on the Liner Are Back

For fans of cultural preservation and maritime history, the news is royally good.The world-famous Queen Mary, which has been closed for years, is lowering the gangway for visitors once…

Article / Passportable

Passport Wait Times Go Up Again: Here's Where They Stand Now

The U.S. State Department seems to be having a crisis of sorts—the wait for passport renewals and applications rises by the week.Two weeks ago, we warned you about a processing…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Introducing a New London Guide for a New Era—Now on Sale!

Frommer's first guide to London came out in 1957. This week, a long tradition continues as our newest guidebook on the city is released. Out now in paperback and e-book and on sale at…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Need a Cheap Hotel? This Year, Hostels Have More Private Rooms Than Usual

Hostels, as every nomadic youth knows, are the tentpoles of budget travel, and Covid-19 failed to take them down. The coronavirus did, however, shake up how hostels apportion space—and…

Article / Passportable

New Starlux Airlines to Fly from the U.S. to Asia from $464 Each Way

Americans are about to enjoy the price competition that results when a new challenger enters a market. Starlux Airlines is coming to Los Angeles, and its arrival on the scene should…

Article / Passportable

Brazil Is About to Become More Difficult to Visit Because of a Backward Move

Petty diplomatic squabbling is about to end a travel perk that we barely had time to enjoy. On October 1, 2023, Brazil will bring back mandatory visas for tourists from the United…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Can a Hotel Front Desk or Cruise Hold Onto Your Passport?

The answer, in many places, is yes. Sometimes hotels may legally demand that you hand over your passport when you check in. "In some countries, hotels may be required under local law…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

If You Have Old Traveler's Checks Lying Around, Here's Why You Should Cash Them ASAP

For a long time, the standard advice about traveler's checks has been conditional: You can still buy them, but be prepared for them to be refused at many places. Traveler's checks hail…

Article / Slideshows

Eat Like a Local: The Best Cheap Food in Honolulu, Oahu

Want to impress Hawaiian locals? Tell them you went to one of these places on your own. Waikiki is full of crummy tourist grub and chain restaurants, but don't waste your time on…

Article / Arts and Culture

Where Iconic Designer Bob Mackie Travels for Inspiration

Bob Mackie has been hailed as the greatest costume designer who ever lived. But away from the stage, he travels to unplug and to find inspiring fabrics and works of art. Where does he…

Article / Passportable

The World's Busiest Cruise Port Has Been Dethroned

What cruise port would you say is the busiest in the world? Last Friday, a new winner claimed the heavyweight belt based on 2022 passenger data. It's not New York City. It's not…

Article / Air Travel

Economy Classic vs. Economy Delight: What Virgin Atlantic's Cryptic Seat Categories Mean

What do Virgin Atlantic's economy seat categories mean? Economy Classic or Economy Light or Economy Delight (Delight?!). The booking process is confusing about what you get, but we can…

Article / Slideshows

Universal's Super Nintendo World Changes the Game—In Both Delightful and Tricky Ways

Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood, which opened on February 17, 2023, is the most exquisitely designed section of a theme park in the United States. It's a clear leap…

Article / Passportable

Need a U.S. Passport in 2023? Wait Times Are Rising, so Here's What to Do

If you've been meaning to renew your passport or get a new one, you're not alone. The dysfunction of the past few years has created a backlog of travelers who, because they couldn't go…

Article / Slideshows

The Major Cheap Hotel Chains in Europe That Will Save Your Budget

Every American knows the big, affordable U.S. hotel brands in their own country: Hampton Inn, Best Western, Fairfield Inn, Motel 6, and others. But which brands do you look for when…

Article / Passportable

Pacific Surfliner Train Back on Track in California—with Free Disneyland Shuttle

A welcome update on a story we reported in October: The famed Pacific Surfliner, one of the most popular scenic rail routes in the United States, has reopened provisionally on one of…

Article / Passportable

Hong Kong to Give Away 500,000 Free Airline Tickets for Tourists: How to Enter

Hong Kong, one of the most fascinating and coolest cities on the planet, has had a rough time of things lately.The city, which was largely built by heady colonialism and international…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Should You Decline Prepaid Fuel When You Rent a Car? The Answer, Once and for All

When a rental car agent pressures you into prepurchasing gas, should you do it?

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Las Vegas Casinos Accused of Fixing Prices in 90% of Rooms on the Strip

Here's a budding lawsuit worth keeping your eye on.Casino operators that account for about 90% of the rooms on the Las Vegas Strip—Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International,…

Article / Slideshows

Would You Travel for Disneyland's Disney100 Promotion? A Look at What's On

Disney's U.S. parks are launching a new promotional period, Disney100, which marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of Walt Disney's empire —and you're going to hear a lot about…

Article / Slideshows

The Best Cheap Hotels in London for 2024—Around £100 a Night

If there's one thing we understand at Frommer's, it's that for many travelers, being able to visit places affordably is the only way to visit them at all. In 1957, Frommer's burst upon…