Amtrak Introduces a Bidding System for Upgrades
Posted on 02/24/2021, 12:00 PM
In many ways, high-end train travel in the United States mirrors high-end plane travel. Amtrak doesn't have seats that convert into lie-flat beds in first and business class. But those categories do come with a lot of perks that recall expensive air travel, such as food and beverages, special lounges at stations, and more legroom than in coach (amenities vary by route). On trains, reserved seatin...
The Most Popular Dog Breeds in the World—Mapped
Posted on 02/22/2021, 11:00 AM
When I travel with my friend Rachel, which I do every other year or so, we come back with as many photos of dogs as we do pictures of monuments. Rachel, you see, is canine crazy, and very outgoing, so she tends to engage with dog owners everywhere—and we end up learning about how the dog lifestyle differs around the world. I don't mind at all. It's a marvelous way to meet both pets and people, and...
U.S. Airlines and CDC to Begin Contact-Tracing Passengers
Posted on 02/19/2021, 12:00 PM
Last week, the internet was abuzz with rumors that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was about to introduce a testing requirement on domestic airline traffic. The scuttlebutt was that the federal health agency would require proof of a negative test in order to board any flight in the United States. That didn't happen. The airlines reportedly pushed back, but common sense may have come into pl...
Bar Tab: Map Shows the Cost of Beer Around the World
Posted on 02/18/2021, 1:00 PM
“Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!” That toast and its airtight logic come from Martin Luther, father of the Protestant Reformation. (He was German, so his love of beer shouldn't come as a shock.) Like Luther's faith, fondness for brewskis has spread all over the globe, making a pint a pretty...
Virgin Voyages Is Giving Away 1,000 Free Cruises
Posted on 02/16/2021, 7:00 AM
Before Covid hit—back in the Pleistocene era—huge excitement was building over the impending debut of the Virgin Group's first cruise ship, the Scarlet Lady, which promised to be a ship like no other. Onboard features include a tattoo parlor, "experimental" eateries, daily yoga on the sundeck, and other touches meant to convey that this is truly a contemporary vessel and brand. But then came the ...
Airline Waives Mask Rule for Passengers in First and Business Class
Posted on 02/15/2021, 7:00 AM
First class and business class flyers getting special perks is not news. But it's a shocking development when airlines decide to bend science in an effort to attract big spenders. That's what Hong Kong–based carrier Cathay Pacific is doing. According to Executive Traveller magazine, the airline circulated an internal memo advising that when passengers are lying flat—as in the fully reclining seats...
Flash Sale: Two-For-One Tickets On Amtrak For Travel Through August
Posted on 02/12/2021, 7:00 AM
How does Amtrak celebrate Valentine's Day? Nope, it isn't painting train carriages bright pink or handing out chocolates on the Acela. Instead, the rail service is doing something even more doting by throwing what it calls the "Amtrak Loves You Sale," which will give passengers who book by February 16 the gift of BOGO tickets on travel from February 22 through August 27, 2021. The offer is availa...
Eiffel Tower in Paris to Be Painted a New Color for 2024 Olympics
Posted on 02/11/2021, 10:00 AM
Imagine how strange it would be if San Francisco decided to paint the Golden Gate Bridge lavender. Or if the Great Wall of China was redone in red shellac. A structure just as iconic is getting a new color, and although the makeover won't be as jarring as those scenarios, the change may take some getting used to. The landmark in question? The Eiffel Tower in Paris, which is going gold. Of course, ...
Try 10 Classic American Foods in the Places They Were Invented
Posted on 02/11/2021, 7:00 AM
Where the burger, the brownie, the ice cream cone, and other all-American eats were dreamed up...
Listen to Live Radio from Around the World with This Melodious Website
Posted on 02/09/2021, 7:00 AM
There's no replacing travel when it comes to expanding your horizons. But after nearly a year at home, I'm finding small ways to make my world feel larger—it's kind of like being on a strict diet and rediscovering how sweet common fruits can taste. One of those tiny treats: listening to radio from around the globe. A website called Radio Garden makes that easy to do. Go to the site and you'll...
