Articles

Zac Thompson

Article / Passportable

Matterhorn and Eiffel Tower Lit with Messages of Hope and Gratitude

Two of Europe's most iconic sights are being illuminated each evening with words and symbols of encouragement amid the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. In Zermatt, Switzerland, projections…

Article / Passportable

Visit Kentucky Horse Farms with New Virtual Tours

The Kentucky Derby, usually held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, has been postponed to September 5 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But you can keep…

Article / Passportable

Spring Breaker Who Vowed to Party Despite COVID-19: I Was Wrong

Remember that die-hard spring breaker who went viral on the internet last week for saying he wouldn't mind going viral in a literal sense for the noble cause of partying? "If I get…

Article / Arts and Culture

Binge Listen! We Love These Travel Podcasts on Nature, Food, Culture, and More

Travel without leaving home with these podcasts on cuisine, adventure, theme parks, museums, and language. 

Article / Slideshows

Virtual World Tour: Lots of Livestreams to Watch When You Can't Travel

When you’re stuck at home and can’t travel because you don’t have room in your budget or you don’t have enough vacation days or, say, you’re under quarantine as part of a global health…

Article / Passportable

North America's Largest Outdoor Adventure Course Coming to Chicago Suburbs

A huge new outdoor adventure park is scheduled to open this summer in the Chicago suburbs. Set on 300 wooded acres in the town of Lemont (located about 30 miles southwest of the city's…

Article / Passportable

The Best View in Dublin Just Got Better (And You Get Free Beer)

The Guinness Storehouse, Dublin's seven-story shrine to its beloved dry stout, has just unveiled the results of a €20-million ($23 million) renovation of the Gravity Bar on the…

Article / Passportable

New River Cruise Ship from AmaWaterways Coming to the Nile

The 25th ship from river cruise line AmaWaterways will set sail on the Nile next year. Dubbed the AmaDahlia, the brand-new vessel will transport passengers on an 11-day "Secrets of…

Article / Slideshows

What to Do in the Bronx: 3 Itineraries for NYC's Boogie Down Borough

Each May, a tongue-in-cheek organization called the Great and Glorious Grand Army of The Bronx stages a mock-annexation of Manhattan’s northernmost neighborhood, Marble Hill. Wearing…

Article / Passportable

Amtrak Launches New Ultralow Fares. Is There a Catch?

Amtrak is trying out its own version of a Basic Economy fare. In air travel, that kind of ticket goes for relatively low prices but comes with a number of restrictions. To name a few…

Article / Passportable

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Reopens Walk-Through Lava Tube

After nearly two years, one of the most popular attractions at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island has reopened to the public. Nahuku-Thurston Lava Tube, a walk-through…

Article / Passportable

In Pompeii, An Ancient Brothel Reopens for Visitors

In the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, three residences that had been closed for years due to safety concerns are once again open to the public. The Italian Ministry of Cultural…

Article / Passportable

Which U.S. Airline Is on Time the Most?

Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time record of any U.S. carrier in 2019, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Of all the flights operated by…

Article / Passportable

Another European Airline Goes Kaput: Arrivederci, Air Italy

Air Italy is shutting down and going into liquidation, the Milan-based carrier announced this week. According to a statement on the airline's website, "all Air Italy flights will be…

Article / Passportable

Trainers Will Stop Riding Dolphins at SeaWorld

SeaWorld shows featuring trainers riding or standing on dolphins are now a thing of the past. In a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, SeaWorld Entertainment…

Article / Passportable

Trump Suspends Global Entry Enrollment for New York State

As of Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has blocked residents of New York State from enrolling in Global Entry and other programs that allow for expedited…

Article / Passportable

End of an Era: The Oldest Harrah's Casino Is Closing

Harrah's Reno has occupied its downtown spot in that Nevada city since 1937, when founder William F. Harrah opened his first bingo parlor. The place eventually expanded into a hotel…

Article / Passportable

Rome Bans Souvenir Stands Next to Iconic Sites

Tourists in the market for a Pope Francis bobblehead may have a tougher time finding that souvenir on the streets of Rome this year. The city has banned stalls selling mugs, magnets,…

Article / Passportable

Carnival Cruise Line Bans "Offensive" Clothing Aboard Ships

Passengers on cruises used to wear tuxedos and evening gowns. Now one cruise company has determined that standards have slipped so far that it had to issue an explicit ban on…

Article / Passportable

Love Chocolate? Check Out Slovenia’s New Chocolate-Obsessed Lodge

A new retreat in Slovenia will put to the test any chocolate lovers who refuse to believe there can be too much of a good thing. Located near vineyards and the red-roofed city of…

Article / Passportable

Staying in Amsterdam Will Cost You Extra This Year

An increase in Amsterdam's tourist tax went into effect on January 1. Going forward, visitors who stay in hotels in the Dutch capital will be charged a fee of €3 (US $3.35) per person…

Article / Passportable

Washington, D.C., Gets a Hotel Celebrating Women

August of 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution's 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. A new hotel in Washington, D.C., might…

Article / Passportable

In India, a 14th-Century Fort Becomes a Luxury Resort

A 14th-century fort-and-palace complex in northern India will soon begin welcoming guests as a luxury resort. Fort Barwara, built more than 700 years ago by the Chauhan rulers of…

Article / Passportable

New Service Lets You Rent Designer Fashions While Staying at W Hotels

A dedication to fashion can get in the way of packing light for vacation—after all, you've gotta have bags to carry all those outfits.Fortunately, a new partnership between W Hotels…

Article / Passportable

Airline Opens Restaurant to Sell Plane Food on Land

Have you ever dug into an airplane meal of gray salad and gelatinous chicken and thought, Why oh why can't I enjoy this cuisine on land?If not, you probably don't spend much time…