Articles

Pauline Frommer

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

What Travelers Need to Know About American Airlines' Service Meltdown

We've been warning for weeks that the return to travel this summer would be bumpy. But I don't think any of us could have predicted just how ugly things could get this week. Over the…

Article / Passportable

This European Country Now Denies Entry to Americans From 10 States

Malta wants its American visitors back—but only some of them. In a telling move, one that shows just how closely the rest of the world is watching the United States' fractured approach…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Royal Caribbean Will Charge Unvaccinated Cruisers More And Bar Them From Some Activities

Update, July 1: What follows now applies to Celebrity Cruises as well as its sister line Royal Caribbean. Celebrity has announced that for sailings from Florida, passengers who fail to…

Article / Passportable

Southwest Airlines' 50th Birthday Sale Is Big—and Won't Last Long

For Southwest Airlines, it's been a week of good news and bad news so far. On Monday, technical issues led to the grounding of flights nationwide. Then, a separate computer network…

Article / Passportable

Christo's Team Will Wrap Paris' Arc de Triomphe This Autumn

Not even death could stop Christo from creating new works of colossal public art. The famed artist passed away in May 2020 with two massive and ambitious projects still left…

Article / Passportable

Curacao To Give One Night Free After Every Three Booked—We Think

Last week, headlines trumpeted the news that hotels on Curaçao are giving visitors a big incentive to visit: four nights for the price of three. The deal, the equivalent of 25% off the…

Article / Passportable

Amtrak Nearly Halves the Price of Its USA Rail Pass for Summer Vacationers

And it's time for another impressive sale from Amtrak. Over the last six months, the national railway has rolled out one discount after another, but this one should be particularly…

Article / Passportable

How to Get Free Flights on United Airlines Just by Getting Vaccinated

Beyond protection from a horrific virus that has killed nearly 4 million people worldwide (incentive in and of itself, one would think), vaccination will now provide a potent perk for…

Article / Slideshows

Northern Michigan's Lakes and Rivers: Five Top Ways To Get on the Water

When you vacation in Northern Michigan, if you don't spend at least some of your time floating—well, you're missing out. This is, after all, a region defined by its waters. The state…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Wanna Go to Sicily? The Italian Island Will Help Pay for Your Vacation

In April 2020, I told you about a plan Sicily hatched to restart its tourism industry. The government announced it had set aside millions of euros to pay 50% of visitors' airfares and…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Thanks to Plummeting Hotel Costs, This Could be New York's Most Affordable Summer in Years

Hotel rates and Broadway show tickets have long been the two most expensive parts of most visitors' trips to New York City. But on Wednesday, May 19, some of those expenses were…

Article / Slideshows

What to Know About Little Island—NYC's Pleasantly Psychedelic Floating Park

New York City may be known as a metropolis of steel, glass, and asphalt, but the city's green spaces have been as influential as the skyscrapers. Central Park is a UNESCO World…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Travel Prices Will Rise Sharply in the Coming Weeks, Warns a New Report

I've always said that one of my main jobs as a travel writer is to make really stupid mistakes so I can warn my readers about what not to do. Glory be, I made one such mistake in early…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Masks Are Coming Off but Not on Public Transportation—with One Exception

Science has spoken! Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that Covid-19 vaccines have been so effective that fully vaccinated Americans can return to…

Article / Passportable

New Flights—and Cheaper Airfares—from the U.S. to Italy Coming This Summer

In April 2013, the way Americans planned Italian vacations underwent a seismic shift. That was when the Emirates airline announced plans to start flying from New York City to Milan.…

Article / Passportable

Rome Is Adding a New Stage Inside the Colosseum for Gladiator's-Eye Views

It's hard to imagine Italy getting any more magnifico than it already is for visitors. But the nation has been impressively proactive about improving access to its ancient wonders…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

With the Return of Travel Comes the Return of Robocall Travel Scams

If the pandemic had one silver lining, it was that, from March through August, the number of robocalls of all sorts dropped precipitously. Like everyone else, the employees of the call…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Australia Will Stay Closed to Travel Until 2022

In a surprise move, Australia Finance Minister Simon Birmingham told The Australian today that the country would likely not reopen its borders until well into 2022. The previous target…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Will a Gasoline Shortage Kill Summer Road Trips? Advice From An Expert

Toilet paper shortages? That's so 2020. This year, sources have been warning about an issue that chills the blood quickly: not enough fuel at gas stations. "It's been a bit of a…

Article / Passportable

Follow These Tips to Cut Down on Long Wait Times with Airline Phone Reps

Travel is returning, but the road back to normal will be a bumpy one. I have already told you about rental car shortages and airlines canceling flights that don't sell enough…

Article / Passportable

Why Uber May Be the Best Way to Rent Cars This Summer

Last week Uber announced it was expanding its reach in yet another industry. The tech giant, known for its ride-hailing and delivery services, has partnered with the major rental car…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Masks Will Be Required on Planes, Trains, and Buses Into September

Masks aren't going away anytime soon, at least not on public transportation in the United States. The Transportation Security Administration has extended its mask mandate through…

Article / Passportable

Another U.S. Airline to Charge for Checking Your Oversize Carry-On at the Gate

There's a moment in most movie westerns when the hero walks into town and everybody on the street slowly turns to give him a beady stare. I had that experience when I flew Ryanair in…

Article / Passportable

Which Countries Are the Best—and Worst—for Digital Nomads?

When the pandemic turned all of our lives upside down, a bunch of people opted to rotate the wheel another 180 degrees and move somewhere new. Suddenly able to work remotely, they were…

Article / Car Rentals

Can't Find an Affordable Rental Car? Try These Alternatives You May Not Have Thought Of

When mainstream rental car companies don't come through, you might have to get creative. These other ideas for rented wheels could save you money.