Articles

Jason Cochran

Article / Slideshows

Walt Disney World's First 50 Years—Through the Lens of Orlando's Newspaper

Nowadays, Florida's Walt Disney World —the most popular theme park destination on the planet—cultivates its global image through heavyweight marketing, synergistic sister brands, and a…

Article / Passportable

Apple Users in 8 States Can Soon Use Their Phones as ID at Airports

A lot of Apple customers will soon be able to leave their IDs in their bags when going through airport security. Earlier this month, the company announced that eight U.S. states have…

Article / Passportable

Chile Reopens for Tourism—with Lots of Red Tape

Chile, like many countries, declared itself off-limits to international tourism about a year and a half ago. Starting October 1, the South American country is finally putting itself…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Walt Disney World’s 50th Birthday Is an Anticlimax—So When Should You Go?

In 2021, Walt Disney World in Florida turns a half-century old. On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney's brother and business partner, Roy, dedicated the East Coast version of California's…

Article / Passportable

Unvaccinated Americans May No Longer Freely Enter France

Global options for the unvaccinated continue to shrink. France has tightened restrictions for visitors from America who have not been fully vaccinated. Last Thursday, the country moved…

Article / Slideshows

Westwood Village, L.A.'s Secret Cemetery of Superstars and Legendary Epitaphs

First-time visitors to Los Angeles expect celebrity sightings at every turn, but in reality, there's only one place where you're positively guaranteed to get close to Hollywood's…

Article / Passportable

No Vaccine, No Kangaroos: Australia's Main Airline Will Only Serve the Jabbed

In November 2020, as word of the upcoming Covid-19 vaccines hit the streets, the head of Australia's most important airline had already made a controversial decision. "For…

Article / Passportable

Three More European Countries Move to Restrict American Travel

Following the European Union's recommendation that the flow of travel from the United States should be curtailed again, more nations have joined Italy in placing new restrictions on…

Article / Passportable

Hawaii Nails Tourist For Saying She Took the "Maderna" Vaccine

When we warned you that Hawaii isn't messing around with jokers who try to pass off fake Covid-19 vaccination cards, apparently not everyone heard us. Last weekend, Chloe Mrozak, a…

Article / Passportable

Vancouver's Stanley Park Now Closes Early Due to Coyote Attacks

Well, fellow humans, we had a good run. From murder hornets to wild weather, nature is taking back the wheel. Vancouver's giant Stanley Park, one of the world's most splendid urban…

Article / Passportable

G Adventures Restricts Many Tours to the Vaccinated, Helps Guides Get Jabs

Responding to what it calls a high demand for escorted tours that are restricted to vaccinated travelers and guides, the influential small-group tour company G Adventures, which runs…

Article / Passportable

Hawaii Governor to Tourists: Stay Away from Us Right Now

In a news conference Monday, Hawaii Gov. David Ige delivered a nearly unprecedented message for an American governor: Do not visit us. "I encourage everyone to restrict and curtail…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Now Some European Countries Won't Accept Vaccination Older Than 270 Days

Depending on when they received their vaccination shots, international travelers may find it harder to enter two European countries this fall. Austria and Croatia have each introduced…

Article / Theme Park

Disney Officially Kills FastPass, Will Charge Extra to Use the New "Lightning Lane"

As part of a huge shake-up of its systems and pricing, Disney launches tech that will monetize access to shorter lines.

Article / Passportable

With Covid Still Uncontained, U.S. Extends Airline Mask Mandate

The United States' Transportation Security Administration has decided to extend its mask requirement for all passengers on airplanes, trains, buses, subways, ferries, and within…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Ending Daily Hotel Room Cleaning Will "Cost Women of Color Billions," Group Warns

Largely overlooked in the nonstop circus of summer news headlines, a crucial workers' organization warned in June that the hotel industry's trend of scaling back daily housekeeping…

Article / Passportable

This New Expedition Cruise Explores the Islands of Lesser-Touristed West Africa

Hurtigruten, the long-running ship operator that cut its teeth on coastal Norwegian service before fanning out to expedition cruising worldwide, has just announced an upcoming cruise…

Article / Money and Fees

If Your Bank Freezes Your Card, Here's How to Get Money from It Anyway

When a bank puts a fraud hold on an account, it can be a nightmare for travelers. But there's a way to withdraw cash despite a frozen card.

Article / Passportable

The Prices for Disney's New Star Wars Hotel Are Out of This World

Disney’s groundbreaking Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel sounds like the coolest idea in hotels since pillows. Starting next spring, the new luxury hotel, which was recently…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

3 Ways Disney's New Paid FastPass System Is Problematic

Update, August 24, 2021: After this story was published, Disney expanded paid FastPass to its theme parks in the United States. For coverage, read Disney Officially Kills FastPass,…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Scam Alert: Passport Processing Swindles Are Booming

We've been warning you about the immense backlog of passport applications facing the U.S. State Department—up to two million people are now reportedly waiting for processing. It…

Article / Passportable

Delta Air Lines Battles Call Wait Times by Easing Basic Economy Rules

If you've had to call an airline's customer service number in 2021, then you already know: Wait times are extreme. In fact, you might still be on hold right now. For a lot of messy…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

New Covid Testing Kits Can Be Packed and Used to Reenter the U.S.

The United States still requires everyone who enters to produce a negative Covid-19 test result that's no older than 72 hours. The rule applies even if you're vaccinated, and the…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

How Americans Can Obtain Proof of Vaccination for Travel

Your vaccination card might not be enough. Here's how to make sure you have the documentation you'll need to travel freely in other countries.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

As Disney World Strips Away Its Perks, What Will Replacing Them Cost You?

This week, it was confirmed that Disney Parks will receive a $580 million tax break from the state of Florida to relocate about 2,000 key workers from Southern California, where the…