American State Department Simplifies Travel Warnings
Posted on 12/11/2017, 9:15 AM
Following a long internal review, the United States Department of State is making its travel warnings clearer. Starting in January, its notices on safety situations will be boiled down to one of four categories. Level 1: Exercise normal precautions Level 2: Exercise increased caution Level 3: Reconsider travel Level 4: Do not travelSince the State Department's travel warnings are about advice...
Brazil Just Got a Whole Lot Easier to Visit
Posted on 11/26/2017, 7:00 PM
Hallelujah! Brazil's arms are finally opening wide to tourists.For years, if you wanted to visit the riches of this South American country, you soon found out how difficult it was. You'd have to make an appointment with the nearest Brazilian embassy or consulate, and that could take more than a month. On the big day, you'd travel there and proffer your passport along with photo, an application, and...
Gorgeous Coffee Table Books from Great Museums
Posted on 11/20/2017, 7:00 PM
Revisit—or preview—the collections of the world's best museums through these handsome publications....
Two New Countries Get Dedicated Eurail Passes
Posted on 11/07/2017, 7:00 PM
As of January 1, 2018, two more nations will have one-country Eurail passes available for sale to tourists. Starting then, if you're visiting Turkey or Serbia you can purchase a pass that covers all rail travel in those countries during your vacation. Prices have not been announced. The new passes will not yet be available as part of multicountry passes—so far, they're strictly for unlimited trav...
Free National Park Entry on Nov. 11 & 12, But for Which Parks?
Posted on 11/06/2017, 12:15 PM
This weekend, Nov. 11 and 12, entry to many (but not all) national parks will be free in honor of Veterans Day.The National Park Service has posted a state-by-state list of the free parks at this link.If you love these free days as much as we do, buckle up. The U.S. Government is floating a plan to vastly increase their entry costs. Despite the fact your income taxes go to support these pristine pl...
Airfare is About to Rise. Here's Why
Posted on 11/01/2017, 2:00 PM
American and Southwest airlines have both sent signals that their airfares are about to go up.Why? Simple: They're making more money, so they don't need to put flights on sale as often.The message came in the form of Q3 earnings reports, says the Chicago Tribune, in which major carriers reported a rise in "revenue per mile," which is the monetary metric that all airlines use to judge your business....
Passenger Jets Now Fueled by Food Scraps and Vegetable Oil
Posted on 11/01/2017, 3:00 AM
At the end of 1985's Back to the Future, Doc Brown opens his Delorean and dumps table scraps and beer into a "Mr. Fusion" tank to generate the power to whisk Marty McFly into the year 2015.Now it's 2017, and although personal fusion-powered travel is still in the distant future, the ability to fly passenger planes using food waste is here.In September, JetBlue announced a plan to purchase more than...
One More Airline Adopts Basic Economy Pricing
Posted on 10/31/2017, 5:45 PM
Monkey see, monkey do. The biggest airlines have now instituted new, bare-bones "basic economy" fares that strip passengers of the automatic right to checked bags or seat assignments unless they pay extra charges. Now Sun Country Airlines, a long-running Minneapolis-based airline that covers the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, has jumped on board.Its pricing structure is even more complic...
More Complex Screening Begins for U.S. Passengers
Posted on 10/24/2017, 8:00 PM
You might remember that last spring, several international airlines, mostly from predominantly Muslim countries, were banned from allowing laptops in passenger cabins. That, and the uneven application of the policy across airlines, caused a diplomatic furor, and some carriers even curtailed service to the United States. In response, the U.S. government reversed the requirement but dictated new secu...
Turkey Suspends Visas for Americans
Posted on 10/10/2017, 12:00 PM
A diplomatic spat between the United States and Turkey has spun out of control and resulted in the suspension of tourist visas in both directions. Tensions have been growing between the two countries for the past several years. Among other issues, Turkey has accused the United States of harboring a cleric that it claims helped orchestrate a failed coup, and the United States is angry that Turkey ...
