Disney's Galactic Starcruiser, the Luxury Star Wars–Themed Hotel, to Close
Posted on 05/18/2023, 4:45 PM
Walt Disney World in Florida has announced that its infamous Galactic Starcruiser hotel will close its doors at the end of September, just 18 months after opening. The troubles with the Star Wars–themed hotel, a two-night, meal-inclusive experience that catered to role-playing guests, date to long before a certain power-craving Florida governor picked a fight with Disney. From the moment the Sta...
This Summer, Some of Amtrak's Best Scenic Routes Are Finally Back
Posted on 05/11/2023, 3:30 PM
In good news for travelers, two Amtrak routes that have long been popular with vacationers are finally returning to service after years of closure. • The Adirondack, which connects New York City with Montréal, had been silent since the pandemic necessitated the route's closure. Although the border between Canada and the U.S. reopened in 2021, it somehow took until early April of 2023 for this Amtr...
Disney World to Make Big Changes—But Will They Make Visiting More Pleasant?
Posted on 05/09/2023, 3:45 PM
Bob Chapek, the unpopular former CEO of the Walt Disney Company, had the misfortune of presiding over the entertainment giant throughout the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Under his command and in the name of safety and survival, the company's American theme parks added a series of roundly despised regulations and policy changes that made planning a tough vacation even tougher.At Frommer's we cata...
2023 Will See the Best Whitewater Rafting in Years in California
Posted on 04/18/2023, 11:00 AM
Sierra South Mountain Sports, which has operated whitewater rafting tours since 1985 in Kern County, California, used to be able to take visitors out onto the rivers each summer season until Labor Day. Last year, the outfitter had to close up shop in mid-August due to a lack of water. Two years ago, business ran dry in July. But in 2023, the floodgates will reopen after years of drought. Accordi...
Near Los Angeles, Visit the Ranches of Classic Movie Stars, from McCrea to Stanwyck
Posted on 04/15/2023, 12:00 PM
Classic movie actors built ranches to escape the pressures of Hollywood, and a few of the properties still survive in Southern California....
If You Use the Public Phone Chargers at the Airport, the FBI Has a Warning for You
Posted on 04/11/2023, 9:45 AM
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, fee collection, boarding passes, and arranging the ride to the airport are often handled on passengers' devices, leaving us with depleted batteries for the flight. Once passengers board, many airlines continue drain...
Where to Catch the Total Solar Eclipse in North America in April 2024
Posted on 04/10/2023, 10:45 AM
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 Side that's worth planning for.There will only be six total solar eclipses on Earth between now and the end of the decade, but only one of the eclipses will be visible over the continental United States. That event com...
Airlines to Cut New York City Flights This Summer to Combat Labor Shortage
Posted on 04/04/2023, 11:00 AM
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 shortage of air traffic controllers. As the peak summer travel season approaches, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) convened a meeting last week with the major carriers to figure out ways to minimize the impact of ...
The Queen Mary Lives! Tours and Overnight Stays on the Liner Are Back
Posted on 03/29/2023, 6:30 PM
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 again.The boundary-breaking ship was first launched in 1936, served tourists and soldiers alike with speed and valor, and was towed for good to Long Beach, California, when its service ended in 1969. There, it has se...
Biden Names Two More National Monuments, Expands Marine Reserve
Posted on 03/29/2023, 7:15 AM
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 areas account for 514,000 acres of public lands. The first area to be classified as a new national monument is Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, which spans 506,814 acres in the southern tip of Nevada. The name choice is ...
