Articles

Jason Cochran

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Marriott Urges Guests to Tip Housekeepers to Overcome the Shortfall of Inadequate Wages—Say What?

Marriott is placing pre-printed envelopes in 160,000 rooms to encourage guests to express "gratitude" to its workers in the form of cash. The initiative, called The Envelope Please,…

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Eiffel Tower in Paris Unveils New Glass Floor

Paris' Eiffel Tower unveiled its new $37.5 million renovation today, which rehabilitated its somewhat ignored first level by adding shops, places to eat, and a museum that tells the…

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How Much Does an Orlando Vacation Cost? A New Tool Does the Math

One of the most common questions for me as the author of Frommer's Orlando is, "How much does a vacation there cost?"Well, a new online tool helps you figure out how much…

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Hotel Tonight is No Longer Just for Hotels Tonight

The handy and ever-growing booking app Hotel Tonight has officially made its name only somewhat true. From now on, you can book a discounted last-minute hotel room for tonight or you…

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Not Using Your Vacation Costs America Dearly

Ten points for the always excellent CBS News Sunday Morning for recently airing this pithy commentary by its contributor Faith Salie.Salie calculates how much the American…

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Icelandair Makes Viral Video to Remind You About Free Stopovers

Budget travelers have long known about Icelandair's competitive deals on airfare to Europe, but the general public could use the good news. If you're willing to make a pit stop in…

Article / Passportable

Spirit Airlines Gouges for Checked Bags This December

You call this Christmas spirit, Spirit? The much-reviled airline will renew its nasty regulation this December when it charges passengers even more to check a bag—just because it's…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Two More Airlines Start Charging for the First Checked Bag: Will Free Bags Go Extinct?

Sorry, Canada. Your Westjet just decided to start charging standard passengers for the first checked bag. One would think that would give rival Air Canada in an advantageous position…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Would You Believe $60 a Night for a 9-Night Trip on a Princess Ship? Plus Bargains Over the Holidays

We periodically ask our friends at AllThingsCruise.com to tell us about the best bargains in cruises at the moment. Here's what they suggested, where to book them, and what, in…

Article / Passportable

Where was ABC's series 'The Quest' filmed?

ABC's groundbreaking reality competition series The Quest has not been a summer ratings bonanza. In fact, for its final few weeks, the network plans to air episodes back-to-back…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Royal Caribbean's Newest Twist: RFID Bracelets Tracking Every Guest and Making Arrangements Quicker

RFID bracelets are officially the mark of a mass-market vacation. Walt Disney World was the biggest player to introduce its MagicBands earlier this year. MagicBands help guests…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

London's Tourist-Unfriendly Policies Are Flummoxing Visitors on Public Transit—Be Prepared!

Getting out of the London rain? Better not be using cash.London's transit system is in flux, and tourists are getting the worst of it. All spring, the Underground was…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

What to Expect from Hilton's New Room Selection App and How It Will Change Hotels

Okay, travel nerds, here's what I predict will happen soon.Bustling new websites will be devoted to which specific hotel rooms are the best ones to book. Travelers will…

Article / Passportable

New App Finds Last-Minute Airfare Price Drops

Inspired by (actually very inspired by) the last-minute hotel booking app Hotel Tonight, a newcomer called Flight Tonight hopes to help travelers find those instances in which…

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Finally! This Site Shames Hotels with Lousy Wi-Fi

One of the great annoyances of hotel stays today is that although nearly all properties boldly advertise they have Wi-Fi, not all of them prove to be truly high-speed once you check…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Southwest Airlines Boots Family Over a Complaint Tweet About Gate Agent: Businesses Strike Back Over Online Reviews

Last Sunday, a man was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight because, he claims, he left a bad review of a gate agent on Twitter.The man, Duff Watson, was upset because he…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

It's Deal Season! These Cruises Are Less than $100 a night—Plus Some Summer Booking Promotions

The Grand Princess. Credit: Princess CruisesEvery month, we ask our friends at AllThingsCruise.com to tell us about the best bargains in cruises at the moment. Here's what…

Article / Passportable

Explore the Allure of the Seas On Your Computer

The Ice Rink as seen by Street View, complete with creepy blurred facesToday's latest gimmick: Royal Caribbean has invited Google Street View onto its (current) biggest…

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Boston Gives Its Beloved Freedom Trail a Makeover

If you have ever tried to follow Boston's Freedom Trail, one of the great city walking tours in America, you might have had some trouble. At times, the faded paint line—which runs…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

When Travel Vendors Demand Your Home Address, Do You Have to Give it?

How much do they have the right to know about you?Because I travel so much, I use a post office box. It's a simple security trick that I recommend to everyone who…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

These Upcoming Cruises are Selling from $65 a Night

Periodically, we ask our friends at AllThingsCruise.com to fill us in on the best bargains in cruises at the moment. Here's what they suggested, where to book them, and…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Book a Resort Room, Get a Sofabed? How Third-Party Bookings Can Go Wrong And How to Fix Them

Last week, I used a discount hotel app to book a room in Orlando. The property I chose, the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, is a major resort on Walt…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

The Eyes Have It: Observation Wheels Are Going Up Everywhere, But Do You Care Anymore?

The New York Wheel, now in planningWashington has a brand new attraction. The new, 180-foot-tall Capital Wheel just opened in the DC area.If it wanted to corner…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

T-Mobile's Simple Global International Roaming: Should Travelers Switch?

T-Mobile has been working to publicize its new no-contract Simple Choice plans of late, and perhaps with good reason: There are still a fair number of travelers who are not aware…

Article / Passportable

Three American Express Credit Cards Drop Foreign Transaction Fees

For years, most travel experts recommended Capital One for its industry-bucking policy of not charging a foreign transaction fee every time customers made a purchase outside the…