Articles

Pauline Frommer

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

How Much More Expensive Is an Airbnb Than a Hotel Room? New Data

This time last year, I wrote a blog post about a survey that showed that a new winner had emerged in the long-standing battle between the hotel industry and Airbnb. Thanks to social…

Article / Passportable

JetBlue's Current Flash Sale Is Impressive—But Has Big Limitations

OK, I'm writing this blog post quickly since this sale ends soon—at midnight on Friday, October 29, to be precise. But if you can get your fall/winter plans in order by that time, you…

Article / Passportable

In New York City, You Can Climb Up the Exterior of a 1,200-Foot Skyscraper

The cityscape of New York is a breathtaking sight. But to see it from the most elevated spots, Manhattan's five observation decks will charge you around $40 a pop. Consequently, most…

Article / Passportable

Pauline Frommer: Atlanta Is One of the Best Places in the USA for a Weekend Getaway

In National Geographic’s latest 3-inch-thick coffee table book, 1000 Perfect Weekends: Great Getaways Around the Globe, the city of Atlanta doesn’t appear once. Not once. I know…

Article / Passportable

Hawaii Welcomes Tourists Back Starting in November

The state of Hawaii will open once again to nonessential travelers. That may be an odd statement considering it never technically closed. But on August 23, Governor David Ige made a…

Article / Passportable

Princess Cruises Expands Onboard Gambling—To the Entire Ship

According to the North American Foundation for Gambling Addiction Help, 2.6% of adult Americans, or about 10 million people, struggle with a gambling addiction. For them, a Princess…

Article / Slideshows

Getting the Most Out of a Visit to NYC's New SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Observation Deck

Novelist Edith Wharton once wrote, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” In the case of New York City’s newest observation deck,…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

When to Buy and When to Fly for the Cheapest Airfare in 2022: New Research

Many annual traditions have been pushed aside by the pandemic, but not one of this writer's favorites: the annual joint report by the Airline Reporting Corporation and Expedia. Why am…

Article / Passportable

New York City Puts Hotels, Shows, and Museums on Sale for October

Fall is normally New York City's most busy and expensive season, with hundreds of thousands of travelers descending on the city for business meetings, Broadway show weekends, the…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Strategies for Finding Affordable Holiday Car Rentals in 2021

Although we're no longer seeing headlines blaring "Rental Car Apocalypse!", should holiday travelers still be worried about rental car prices? Sadly, yes. Rental cars remain in short…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Finding Affordable Holiday Airfare and Hotels in 2021

The holidays will be tricky this year, and I’m not just talking about potential gift shortages due to global supply chain issues. Travel patterns continue to shift. While there’s still…

Article / Passportable

All-Inclusive Resort Chains Sandals and Beaches Set New Standard for Covid Guarantees

Sandals Resorts International is redefining the term "all-inclusive" to fit the needs of pandemic-era travelers. The vacation company operates beachfront properties under the Beaches…

Article / Passportable

North America Is Getting an All-Inclusive Ski Resort from Club Med

The year was 1950. Belgian water polo champion Gérard Blitz got a hold of a bunch of army surplus tents left over from the recently concluded World War II and decided to start a…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Aloha, Autumn Mandates: Hawaii Restaurants and Hotels Require Vaccine Proof

As in so many states, Hawaii's rate of Covid-19 infection is going in the wrong direction right now. That's why Governor David Ige has asked would-be visitors to stay home. "I…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Confusion Plagues Las Vegas: A Few Feet Apart, Different Vaccine Requirements

Picture this: You walk into a Las Vegas casino and although you’re asked to don a mask (the state has a mask mandate for most public indoor spaces), no other questions are asked. But…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

New CDC Warning: Avoid Cruising If You're Pregnant, Older, a Smoker, Overweight, and More

Last Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed its guidance to reflect growing concern about the advisability of cruising. Previously, the CDC's…

Article / Passportable

Italy's Venice Plans to Charge An Entry Fee and Cap Visitors

Of the world's premier travel destinations, Venice may be the one most transformed by this pandemic. The Italian cabinet banned cruise ships in July, sparking headlines worldwide.…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Weird Weather Could Shift Fall Foliage in New England in 2021

As we round the midpoint of August, it's time to look ahead to the autumn travel season, and for many, that means leaf peeping in New England. It's a classic fall escape, and one…

Article / Passportable

National Museum Day Is Back This September: Free Entry for One Glorious Day

What's better than spending a relaxing Saturday afternoon at a museum? Spending a relaxing Saturday afternoon at a museum—and not spending a dime on the experience. Thanks to the…

Article / Passportable

The USA's Newest Low-Cost Airline, Avelo, Announces East Coast Routes

Avelo Airlines, the newbie carrier with the soul of a soda (its tagline: "Refreshingly Smooth Travel") and nicely fizzy pricing structures, has decided to make New Haven, Connecticut,…

Article / Passportable

New Orleans to Require Proof of Vaccination for Restaurants, Casinos, More

With infections surging and Louisiana vaccination rates lagging, the mayor of New Orleans decided to move quickly to shore up public health protections, announcing on Friday that all…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

The Best Covid-19 Testing Method for International Travel? There Are Problems

If we've learned one thing about Covid-19, it's that not only is the virus constantly mutating, but so are the realities of life during this pandemic era. We've covered the tests…

Article / Passportable

New Analysis Shows Most Popular Cocktails in All 50 U.S. States (and Across the World)

Americans drank a lot at the height of the pandemic. That's no secret. But what kinds of drinks shifted dramatically, with hard liquor sales growing far more than beer or wine sales,…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

What to Do About Canceled Flights in This Summer of Airline Meltdowns

When American Airlines went through a rocky period early in June, when it canceled 10% of its flights during a fraught Father's Day weekend, I warned that the company's problems would…

Article / Outdoor & Adventure

Where to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower in the U.S.

The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks in mid-August in the Northern Hemishere. Here's how to see the show in the United States.