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Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Tired of My Gripes About Cruises? I Have a Few More--But Also Some Positive Suggestions

It may well be that America's infatuation with the ocean cruise is beginning to wane a bit.  Recent studies show a fair amount of worry about the safety of cruising.  People are…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

There's Been a "Sea Change" in the Character of Ocean Cruises, and the Only Remedy Seems an Increase in What You Spend for a Cruise

Cruises are no longer what they used to be.  They are today so different as to make you consider several all-but-astonishing recent developments, as follows:…

Article / Passportable

Now We Are Free: Paris Says “Merci” on Anniversary of Liberation

August 19, 1944 began the “Battle for Paris” that culminated in the City of Light being liberated from occupation when the final German troops left on August 25th.This 70th…

Article / Passportable

Where in the World is Godzilla? Hint: It's Not Tokyo

The web is abuzz with talk of the remake of the Toho classic film, Godzilla, premiering around the country in May.  Advance word is the remix (this time with Bryan Cranston) is as…

Article / Passportable

Three American Express Credit Cards Drop Foreign Transaction Fees

For years, most travel experts recommended Capital One for its industry-bucking policy of not charging a foreign transaction fee every time customers made a purchase outside the…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Here are Recent Travel Questions that Mirror the Concerns of American Vacationers--and Our Answers to Them

Although the questions we receive from readers deal with their own specific travel concerns, they should be of value to others.  So here are a recent batch:Q.…

Article / Passportable

Salem Still Bewitches: What to See In MA's Historic Town

If you’ve been watching TV trailers you may have seen the promos for the new WGN America series Salem.  Taking a page from the popular show American Horror: Coven, which was…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

"Mangia! Mangia!" May Soon No Longer Be Italy's Unofficial Slogan. The Changing Face of Italian Cuisine

The Italians are eating very differently today. And so, too, will the visitor when he heads to “The Boot”.That was the surprising revelation when I discussed Italian cuisine…

Article / Passportable

Free National Park entry April 19 and 20

The National Park Service and its supporting charity, the National Park Foundation, are once again throwing the gates open to the United States' national parks. The weekend of April…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

In the Wake of Economic Recovery, and a More Recent Brutal Winter Up North, the Resorts of Florida Have Enjoyed Remarkable Prosperity and Growth by Leaps and Bounds

The remarkable growth of coastal resort towns in Florida is a big travel development.  Twelve years go, when I last visited the town of Delray Beach between Fort Lauderdale…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Here's a Number of Varied Developments in Travel That May Affect Your Next Vacation; Consider Them Well

You're stuck at an airport because of a delayed or cancelled flight, and you urgently need assistance from the airline in question.  But there's a line of eighty other…

Article / Passportable

Hot Type to Go: Is the Print Travel Magazine Dying? Two Editors See Open Horizons

The future of the physical, non-virtual travel magazine is on travelers’ talking lists lately.  The recent shake-ups at Condé Nast Traveler and its subsequent high profile…

Article / Passportable

A Tip on Digital Safety for Travelers: Always Look for the "S" in http. Here's Why

Identity theft is a growing problem, especially for travelers. That’s because criminals tend to congregate in hotel lobbies, cafes and other areas with free wifi, because they know…

Article / Passportable

Game On: As the HBO Series Returns, Travelers are Being Lured to Game of Thrones Destinations

They’re back.  Jaime Lannister and his twisted sister Cersei, Tyrion the wise, Joffrey the awful, the Mother of Dragons and the whole crew (minus some key family members that were…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Another Batch of Hot Cruise Deals for Less than $100 a Day

Periodically, we ask our friends at AllThingsCruise.com to fill us in on the best bargains in cruises at the moment. Here's what they suggested, where to book them, and what, in the…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

All Throughout the Year, And Not Simply in Winter, Americans Enjoy the Varied Plesures of Some Seven Caribbean Islands--We'll Name Them--Among Others

Though spring, summer and early fall are decidedly "off-season" in the Caribbean, it's surprising to note how many Americans vacation there year-around.  The biggest…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Though Many May Disagree, I Have Strong Opinions as to Where It is Currently Safe to Travel

IstanbulIs it safe?  That's the question posed to their travel counsellors by countless Americans, as they ponder the choice of a destination.  And there's no simple…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Airport and Airplane Etiquette: An Interview with "Mister Manners" Himself

In the hopes of restoring some decorum to air travel I decided to interview “Mister Manners”, Thomas Farley. Farley is the author of “Modern Manners: The Thinking Person’s Guide…

Article / Passportable

Divergent’s Wrecked Version of the Windy City Lures “Set-Jetters” To Chicago

Chicago has always been an iconic city in American movies.  From ‘30s gangster films to John Hughes’ feel good teen flicks like Home Alone and Risky Business in the 1980s,…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Travelers Buying a SIM Card Abroad Faced with Web Censorship They Cannot Reverse

Travelers who purchase SIM cards for lower-cost mobile phone rates in the United Kingdom are finding their ability to surf the Web freely has been curtailed.All the big mobile…

Article / Passportable

Power Outlets Coming to An Airport Near You Thanks to a New Initiative From United Airlines

The hunt for power outlets at the airport is about to get easier, at least for the passengers of United Airlines (the second largest carrier in the US). Last week it announced…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Jogging While on Vacation Just Got Easier Thanks To Two Helpful Websites

The spring before last, I headed to France and to a series of hotels that didn't have usable gyms. So though I have a love hate relationship with running---sometimes I love it, more…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Four Summer Learning Vacations in the United States and Great Britain are Almost Guaranteed to Provide a Memorable and Decently Priced Experience

Because they usually sell out down to the last classroom seat, late April is regarded as the last time for deciding whether to attend one of four major learning vacations in America…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Our Lack of Adequate Rail Transportation in America is Condemning Us Not Simply to Discomfort and Inconvenient Travel, But to Slow Economic Growth

This is how they do it in Europe. In America, passenger trains are one step above freight.We are facing a grave transportation crisis in America.  All across the…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Some Miscellany of Travel: From Student Discounts to Mountain Resorts to Mexican Towns Attracting American Retirees

Although the change hasn't yet been officially announced, we have definite word that the well-known STA (Student Travel Association) will be raising the age limit for their services…