Articles

Zac Thompson

Article / Slideshows

Franconia: Germany's Land of Wine, Wurst, Wagner, and WW2 History

Technically, the region of Franconia in south-central Germany has been part of Bavaria for about 200 years. Locals haven’t quite warmed up to the idea just yet, though. They’ll tell…

Article / Passportable

Dachshund Museum Opens in Germany

A museum containing more than 4,500 pieces of dachshund memorabilia—toys, artwork, ceramic figurines, photos, and more—has opened in the city of Passau in Germany's Bavarian…

Article / Passportable

What Fresh Hell Is This? Standing Airplane Seats

Just when you thought the aviation industry couldn't possibly find a way to cram more people onto an airplane—short of stashing passengers in the cargo hold or overhead compartment…

Article / Passportable

Renowned Ocean Liner Reborn as Floating Hotel in Dubai

The retired Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner, which the Cunard Line operated from 1969 to 2008, has been transformed into a floating hotel in Dubai.Docked at the city's Port Rashid for a…

Article / Passportable

Coming in May: UFO Fests in Oregon and New York State

The search for signs of intelligent life in the universe hasn't turned up much so far. Even here on earth intelligent life can seem awfully hard to come by. But judging from the many…

Article / Air Travel

Biased Metrics? Concerns Over Privacy and Race in Airport Face Scans

The Department of Homeland Security plans to scan the face of each passenger leaving the United States, citizens included. Should we be worried—and is the technology fair?

Article / Passportable

D.C.’s African American Museum Tests a Change to Its Admissions Policy

The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. is trying out a new admissions practice this month.Each Wednesday in April, visitors can simply walk up…

Article / Passportable

Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas Getting a Virgin Hotels Makeover

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is entering Virgin territory. The hotel—located just off the Strip on Paradise Road—has been acquired by the growing Virgin Hotels chain,…

Article / Passportable

TSA to Make You Remove Snacks from Your Carry-On—Except When It Won't

The next time you go through airport security, you could be asked to remove all food from your carry-on luggage, along with all the other stuff that gets removed—your shoes, your…

Article / Passportable

National Comedy Museum Opening This Summer in New York State

Baseball players have Cooperstown. Rock stars have their own hall of fame in Cleveland. Even androids, when they're not dreaming of electric sheep, can visualize themselves getting…

Article / Passportable

Singapore Airport Named World's Best for Sixth Consecutive Year

In its well-regarded annual ranking of the world's best airports, Skytrax has named Singapore Changi Airport number one for the sixth time in a row. Relying on millions of customer…

Article / Passportable

Hotel on Skis Debuts in Finland for Northern Lights Viewing

A novel way of experiencing the Northern Lights has come to Finland. The new Aurora Wilderness Camp, located near the village of Kilpisjärvi, is comprised of three mobile cabins that…

Article / Passportable

Play the Casanova at New Museum in Venice

Giacomo Casanova belongs to the rare class of historical figures whose names became common nouns. Traitorous World War II-era Norwegian leader Vidkun Quisling and France's lecherous…

Article / Passportable

Makeup Mogul Bobbi Brown Opening Her Own Hotel in New Jersey

Makeup designer and skincare expert Bobbi Brown is going from fashionable boutiques to her own fashionable boutique hotel. Known for creating a popular line of understated cosmetics…

Article / Passportable

New Club Med Openings: Sicily, the Great Wall, and More

Club Med has embarked on an ambitious expansion project.The pioneer in all-inclusive resorts plans to add 15 new properties to its worldwide roster by the end of 2020, opening five…

Article / Passportable

"Millennial" River Cruise Brand No Longer Restricted to Millennials

U by Uniworld, a new river cruise brand originally restricted to passengers aged 18 to 40—then 21 to 45—has now dropped upper age limits altogether.When the brand's pair of sleek,…

Article / Passportable

Booking.com Introduces New Program for Unusual Stays

Unconventional accommodations like treehouses, yurts, and barns have proven popular on vacation rental sites such as Airbnb and HomeAway. For the increasing number of travelers seeking…

Article / Passportable

Most Visited U.S. National Parks and Monuments in 2017

The National Park Service (NPS) has released its visitor numbers for 2017. A total of 330,882,751 people spent time at American national parks, monuments, and other sites deemed worthy…

Article / Passportable

American Airlines Adding Basic Economy Fares to Transatlantic Flights

Starting in April, American Airlines is selling bare-bones "basic economy" tickets on some flights to Europe. The move seems an obvious effort to compete with low-cost transatlantic…

Article / Slideshows

The Notorious B 'n' B: Infamous Historic Buildings That Are Now Hotels

You can’t blame a building for whatever shady, salacious, or downright gruesome dealings go down there. So why let a little mayhem scratch places off travel itineraries? The opposite…

Article / Passportable

Carnival Announces New Cruises to Cuba

Carnival Cruise Line is significantly increasing its sailings to Cuba. In 2019, the company will schedule 17 new cruises to the island aboard the recently renovated Carnival…

Article / Passportable

Huge New Atlantis Resort Opens in China

The world now has three Atlantis resorts to overwhelm visitors with an ocean's worth of watery amenities and maximalist architecture. Joining sister properties in the Bahamas and Dubai…

Article / Passportable

New Looks for Two of London's Most Important Art Museums

Fans of art and architecture already have a lot to keep them busy during stays in London—and with free admission at most of the top cultural institutions, the city's treasures are easy…

Article / Passportable

Paris' Grand Palais Getting a Grand Makeover

The Grand Palais in Paris is getting its largest refurbishment since opening for the Exposition Universelle in 1900, when the mammoth hall on the Champs-Élysées was used to show off…

Article / Passportable

After 50 Years, Jesus' Baptism Site May Fully Reopen to Tourists

The section of the Jordan River traditionally designated as Jesus Christ's baptism site, where the Man from Galilee kicked off his mission to bring peace to the world, is currently…