Articles

Zac Thompson

Article / Passportable

Rock Climbing Cliffs at Zion National Park Closed to Protect Nesting Falcons

Rock climbers will have fewer options in the American West this spring.More than a dozen cliff climbing routes in Utah's Zion National Park were temporarily closed this week in an…

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Rock Climbing Cliffs Closed at Zion National Park, U.S. Airports with Best and Worst On-Time Performance, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Travel news from all over

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Faulting Trump Slump, New York Now Expects Fewer Tourists This Year

An estimated 300,000 fewer international visitors than initially expected will travel to New York this year, according to NYC & Company, the city's official tourism marketing…

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India Is Getting an Underwater Bullet Train

A few years from now, a high-speed bullet train will be zipping along the rails in India—and here's the really cool part: It will go underwater.Part of India's efforts to…

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Amid Conflict, New Trump International Hotel and Tower Opening in Vancouver

A new Trump International Hotel and Tower is opening in Vancouver, and many in this proudly diverse and progressive British Columbia city aren't exactly what you'd call thrilled.…

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New Trump Hotel and Tower in Vancouver, Trump Slump in New York, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Travel news from all over

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Safety Harness for Buckling Up Dogs on Car Trips

Your mental picture of a dog in a car likely involves a canine head sticking out of a passenger window—jowls flapping, tongue lolling, and drool flying.But in the event of a…

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Tourists Can Take Martial Arts Classes from Local Police in Japan

A novel activity will soon be on offer for English-speaking tourists in Japan: They can take a martial arts class led by local police officers.Starting in March, hourlong…

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Toll Proposed for San Francisco's Crooked Lombard Street

A San Francisco city supervisor has proposed a toll for cars traveling on the city's famously crooked Lombard Street in order to ease the 600-foot thoroughfare's overwhelming…

Article / Miscellaneous

Toll Proposed for San Francisco's Famous Crooked Street, Police-Led Martial Arts Classes in Japan, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Travel news from all over

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WATCH: At Ancient Roman Site, Virtual Reality Transports Visitors Back in Time

Virtual reality is often presented as a way of going to cool or made-up places without actually leaving the sofa, museum, or shopping mall kiosk where you don the VR headset.But…

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White House Tours to Resume in March

The White House will soon be open for tours again.First lady Melania Trump announced in a statement that the tours will resume on March 7. They've been on hold since her husband…

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Why You Should Renew Your Passport ASAP

Getting a new or renewed passport could take longer than normal this year.U.S. government officials are anticipating a higher volume of renewals in 2017 because a whole bunch of…

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Bulletproof Wall Soon to Surround Base of Eiffel Tower

A wall is being put up around the base of the Eiffel Tower, Paris officials have announced.The "aesthetic perimeter," as it's being euphemistically called, will be made of…

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Trump's Travel Ban Appears to Have Caused Drop in Flight Bookings to U.S.

President Donald Trump wanted to ban travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries, but it looks like his executive order to that effect dissuaded international travelers from a whole…

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NYC Airbnb Hosts Fined for Illegal Rentals

Two New York City Airbnb hosts have been slapped with fines for listing illegal short-term rentals—making them the city's first individuals punished under a law signed last fall by…

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Win a Stay in a Castle Worthy of "Beauty and the Beast," Courtesy of HomeAway

(photo courtesy of HomeAway)For those of you longing for more than this provincial life, a la Belle from Beauty and the Beast, vacation-rental site HomeAway is dispensing some…

Article / Miscellaneous

Win a "Beauty and the Beast" Castle Stay, NYC Fines Airbnb Hosts, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Travel news from all over

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Trump's Regulation Orders Have Stalled FAA Safety Notices

Even if you think the federal government should stay out of most things, you're probably glad somebody's keeping an eye on airplane safety.Too bad the guy in the White House is…

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The New World's Longest Flight

If aviation were an endurance sport, there'd be a new reigning champ.As of this week, the longest flight in the world is now operated by Qatar Airways, whose new 9,032-mile…

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Best Hotels in North America Rankings

The best hotels in North America have been named in U.S. News & World Report's seventh annual rankings.Taking top honors: Chicago's posh the Langham, which opened in 2013 in…

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Two New Reasons to Join TSA PreCheck

There are several good reasons for enrolling in the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program.If accepted, you get to take advantage of an expedited screening…

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Best Days in 2017 to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan

Spring will get here before you know it—and in Japan, that season means cherry blossoms decorating the country in shades of pink and white.Travelers who'd like to see those…

Article / Miscellaneous

When to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan, Best Hotels in North America, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Travel news from all over

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Small Colorado Ski Resort Offers $700 Lift Ticket

Long overshadowed by bigger, glitzier Colorado ski resorts like Aspen Snowmass and Vail, the small, usually understated Sunlight Mountain in Glenwood Springs is making a bid for…