New York City's Pro-Vaccine Rules Could Make It the Favored Destination for Many
Posted on 07/30/2021, 1:00 PM
[Updated August 3: New York City will now require proof of vaccine to dine inside a restaurant or go to a gym or stadium. Complete details here.]In the last week or so, New York City's major touristic institutions have put out a clear-as-gin signal that only vaccinated travelers will be welcomed. On Friday, the Broadway League, which governs the mainstream theatrical industry, announced that if au...
Historic Hudson Valley Brickyard Transformed Into Luxury Resort
Posted on 07/20/2021, 7:00 AM
Pillow menus, a social hour with wine in the lobby, goldfish in guest rooms—in the last decade or so there's been an arms race among hotels over which can create the most original amenities. Then when a perk catches on, many other competitors copy it and the cycle starts anew. In the Hudson Valley, I recently encountered a fun and unique addition to this ongoing game of hospitality one-upmanship....
Malta Refuses to Accept American Proof of Vaccination, And America Could Fix That
Posted on 07/16/2021, 1:00 PM
Update, July 18: It looks like Malta has changed regulations again and now will be allowing Americans to show CDC cards as proof of vaccination—at least for now. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a message sent to us by the government of Malta.Updated August 2: Malta will be asking would-be visitors to download the Verifly app for proof of vaccination. Few nations on earth have embodied the be...
Cruising Is Getting More and More Expensive for Unvaccinated Passengers
Posted on 07/13/2021, 1:00 PM
Carnival Cruise Line has become the latest major cruise company to announce that passengers who are unvaccinated or do not want to reveal their vaccination status will have to purchase extra insurance and pay for onboard Covid testing when cruising from Florida ports. Voyages from other ports are for vaccinated passengers only. Carnival is allowing unvaccinated passengers from Florida because loca...
Biden's Executive Order Will Make Flying Cheaper and Less Stressful
Posted on 07/09/2021, 6:00 PM
Fa la la la la! It's Christmas in July for American travelers. President Joe Biden's just-issued Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy is a massive document that goes after monopolistic practices in U.S. industries ranging from agriculture to telecommunications to hearing aids. But it contains many gifts for travelers, too. "Capitalism without competition isn't capitali...
Is It Wise to Book Group Tours at This Time? Our Advice
Posted on 07/06/2021, 11:00 AM
Even in the best of times, group tours are tremendously complicated travel products. A tour company not only has to create an appealing itinerary. It must also arrange for all accommodations for the group, provide in-country transportation, pre-reserve and buy admissions to touristic sites, and hire one or more expert guides. Sometimes the company also contracts with local restaurants and hotels ...
WORLD MAP: Where Is a Cup of Coffee Most Expensive? And Who Drinks it More?
Posted on 07/02/2021, 12:00 PM
A personal finance site called Savings Spot has been staring at coffee grounds to get some answers about the cost of living in different nations around the world. The model is like The Economist's long-running Big Mac Index, but with the jitters: By knowing the cost of a cup of coffee in a country's capital, one can extrapolate the costs of other basics. Savings Spot picked five cafés in the capi...
A Taxi and Uber Shortage Is Making Airport Transfers Hard: Here's What to Do
Posted on 06/30/2021, 2:00 AM
In many American cities this summer, the line for taxis is making the TSA queue look short by comparison. The wait for rideshare services like Uber and Lyft isn't much better—and their prices are soaring. Just how bad is the shortage? In New York City, the number of taxis in operation has been slashed by more than 50%, according to the New York Times. The Las Vegas Sun reports rates for Ubers fr...
Find International Travel Restrictions in One Click with This Online Tool
Posted on 06/28/2021, 7:00 AM
Keeping up with changing travel regulations has become a game of Whack-a-Mole in 2021. Fortunately, there's an online tool that can help considerably (no mallets required). Travel tech company Sherpa (we have no affiliation, we're just fans) is making finding current travel restrictions quick and easy for anybody heading overseas. Go to the Sherpa website and enter your basic travel info—country...
What Travelers Need to Know About American Airlines' Service Meltdown
Posted on 06/22/2021, 2:00 AM
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 weekend, American Airlines abruptly canceled hundreds of flights. Some passengers only found out at the moment they tried to check in for their trips. Even more shocking: On Sunday, the airline announced that becaus...
