Articles

Jason Cochran

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

The First Cruise Line Safety Plan Is Out: Acid Fogs and No Buffets

In April, the Centers for Disease Control extended a ban on large cruise ships calling on U.S. ports that is slated to expire in July. When the agency did that, it sent a strong…

Article / Air Travel

Air-Hotel Packages Are Poised to Make a Comeback for Cheap International Vacations

Air-hotel packages have been around for years—but in an economic downtown, these affordable vacation discount deals will be more valuable than ever.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Frontier Airlines Is Now Checking Temperatures—Will It Matter Much?

Nearly a month ago, Frontier Airlines announced that it would be the first U.S. airline to screen passengers for high temperatures. Several weeks have gone by, but on June 1, the…

Article / Passportable

Walt Disney World Parks Plan to Return July 11 with New Rules

Walt Disney World near Orlando has presented its reopening plan to local authorities, revealing an intention to reopen in stages beginning Saturday, July 11. The gradual process begins…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Japan Wants to Pay for Part of Domestic Travel To Boost Tourism

Hiroshi Tabata, chief of the Japanese Tourism Agency, announced in a press conference his intention to help revive visitation to his country by discounting vacations there. Tokyo's…

Article / Passportable

The UK Announces New Entry Requirements, And They're Tough

The United Kingdom has announced the first stage of its coronavirus reopening plan—and critics are saying it's no better than staying closed. As of June 8, all arrivals will be…

Article / Passportable

Universal Orlando's Theme Parks Reopen June 5 with Strict New Rules

Universal Orlando Resort is bringing Harry Potter back. The resort's post-coronavirus operating plan received government approval this week, so Universal's two theme parks, Universal…

Article / Passportable

St. Lucia's Reopening Plan Might Predict the Future of Caribbean Vacations

To date, the mountainous Caribbean paradise of St. Lucia has recorded just 18 Covid-19 cases. Everyone has recovered, and the island wants to get back to business. The problem for this…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

If Americans Want to Travel Again, They'll Fight for On-Demand Testing

Countries around the world are making plans for welcoming international tourists again. Austria: Tourists must quarantine for two weeks—unless they can show recent proof of a negative…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Despite What They Say, Airlines Are Not Enforcing Mask Use

This spring, news about U.S. airlines has followed a familiar pattern. First, the airlines trumpet a new safety measure that the news media repeats, generating a round of praise. Then…

Article / Passportable

Iceland to Reopen June 15 Using Testing and Tracing

Update, June 30: Iceland has updated its policy to conform to recommendations by the European Union. Americans are no longer welcomed. For complete information, see our feature about…

Article / Passportable

In Vienna, Pay An Extra $200 to Get Out of Quarantine

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…

Article / Passportable

Marriott Offers 20% Off a Future Stay if You Buy a Gift Card Now

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…

Article / Passportable

Princess, Holland America Cancel 2020 Summer Season—Why Not Carnival?

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…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Enough Is Enough: Let American Cruise Workers Go Home

In March, the U.S. Coast Guard helped more than 265,000 passengers leave cruise ships and get home. Crew members, however, were forced to remain aboard. About 80,000 crew members are…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Better Buy a Watch: Your Travel Future Will Be Timed

Travel is still shut down, but the coronavirus has already changed it. New social distancing measures have forced attractions around the world to look at entrance procedures anew.…

Article / Passportable

The First Disney Park to Reopen Returns May 11 with Special Rules

One of the first Disney theme parks to close, Shanghai Disneyland, ceased operations in January. It is now scheduled to reopen on May 11, and its operational changes will inform how…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Under Fire from Congress, Carnival Floats Plan to Restart Cruises This Summer

Carnival Cruise Line has announced a phased plan to begin sailing that would mean a return to cruising by August 1. The principal points of the plan as stated in the company's news…

Article / Passportable

Huntington Beach's Tourism Office Issues Statement on Beach Protests

When does tourism to a place endanger the people who live nearby? On Friday, civil disobedience flared up around that question on the sands of Huntington Beach, California. The…

Article / Local Experiences

How Tourists Can Buy Marijuana in California

If you're old enough to buy a beer in California, you're old enough to buy recreational cannabis products. But that doesn't mean it's a free-for-all. Here are the rules for buying pot…

Article / Passportable

Face Masks Finally Compulsory on All Major U.S. Airlines

It has been a slow, drawn-out week of public shaming and political pressure for the major U.S. airlines, but on Thursday, the social campaign culminated in a new rule, adopted en…

Article / Local Experiences

How Tourists Can Buy Marijuana in Colorado

Hey, it's perfectly legal. Colorado doesn't require a medical reason to purchase pot—and tourists can partake as well. But there are still rules. Here's what you need to know to…

Article / Road Trips

6 Strategies for Road-Tripping in a Pandemic

Yes, driving trips are still possible, but the road rules are a little different for now.

Article / Passportable

Changing Course, JetBlue Now Requires Masks; Delta and American to Offer Them

On Monday, JetBlue finally became the first U.S. airline to insist all passengers wear face masks during flights. The new rule takes effect on Monday, May 4. Canada led the way—Air…

Article / Passportable

Rent a Car for a One-Way Road Trip for $20 a Day with No Drop-Off Fees

Every spring, the major rental car companies need to spread their cars from warm-weather cities, where vacationers tend to go in the winter, to locations across the country where the…