Articles

Arthur Frommer Online

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

New York City Clamps Down on Illegal Airbnb Rentals

The New York City Council approved a bill today requiring hosts using Airbnb and similar online platforms to register with the city before renting out their homes for less than 30…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

The Glitchy Genie+/ Lightning Lane System Arrives at Disneyland

In October, Florida's Walt Disney World rolled out its paid version of the formerly free FastPass system, now called Lightning Lane. The Disney company had delayed expanding the new…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

U.S. Extends Mask Mandate on Planes and Shortens Testing Window for Border Arrivals

Passengers will need to continue masking up on U.S. planes, trains, and buses through at least March 18, 2022, the White House announced today. The country's mask mandate for public…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

On Cruises, the Hated Muster Drill Is Dying Out. We Love What's Replacing It

The most hated fixture of cruising—the mandatory in-person safety presentation before departure—is becoming a nuisance of the past. Everyone who has cruised in the United States knows…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

"In Danger of Capsizing": Rough Seas Continue for Historic Queen Mary Ship

Things continue to look bad for the Queen Mary, the historic British ocean liner turned Southern California tourist attraction turned floating hotel turned rotting hulk. The ship,…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Cirque du Soleil's New "Drawn to Life" Is the Best Show at Walt Disney World

At the end of 2017, French-Canadian entertainment juggernaut Cirque du Soleil closed La Nouba, the family-friendly acrobatics spectacular that played on Walt Disney World resort…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

For Better or Worse, Booze Will Soon Flow Again on All Major U.S. Airlines

United Airlines has resumed selling hard liquor in the economy cabin on flights of at least 301 miles. Like many other carriers, United went dry during the early weeks of the pandemic…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Warning: Time May Be Running Out on Your Covid Flight Credits

Forget free champagne in first class. Starting in spring 2020, the most coveted amenities for air travelers became a flexible cancellation policy and flight credits that could be used…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

What's in the New Infrastructure Bill for Travelers? Lots of Great Stuff We Need

Travel in the United States is about to get a lot more safe, convenient, enjoyable, and—possibly—less expensive. And it's all thanks to the just-passed infrastructure bill. Officially…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Get Yourself to Europe Quick: River Cruises Are Up to 50% Off

Starting on November 8, Americans are going to see a whole lot of something they haven't seen much of in ages: Europeans. That's because November 8 is the day the restrictions on…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

How Much More Expensive Is an Airbnb Than a Hotel Room? New Data

This time last year, I wrote a blog post about a survey that showed that a new winner had emerged in the long-standing battle between the hotel industry and Airbnb. Thanks to social…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Is It Safe to Choose Southwest Airlines This Holiday Season?

On the weekend starting October 8, Southwest Airlines went into an operational meltdown, resulting in a shortage of pilots and flight attendants that, the airline says, necessitated…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

If You Need a Covid Test to Fly, Be Careful—Timing Is Everything

Update: As of December 6, 2021, the United States now requires the test to be taken no longer than one calendar day before travel to the United States begins. In many cases, that will…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Warning! Hertz Still Slapping Erroneous Fees on Innocent Customers, Paper Says

Hertz may have emerged from bankruptcy protection earlier this year, but for customers of the rental car company, warning lights are still flashing. The troubled brand that Vanity Fair…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Marriott Made Hundreds of Millions from Deceptive Fees, Lawsuit Says

Just how lucrative are resort fees for hotels? Newly unsealed court documents from a lawsuit brought by the District of Columbia's attorney general against Marriott International shed…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Will There Ever Be a Subway Train Direct to NYC's LaGuardia Airport?

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's head-scratcher of a plan to bring a public transit train to New York City's LaGuardia Airport has been sent back to the drawing board. The…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Why the U.S. Needs a Vaccine Requirement for Domestic Travel—and Is Unlikely to Get One

Should the United States require people who are traveling within the country to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19? Or, barring that, should passengers at least have to show that…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

When to Buy and When to Fly for the Cheapest Airfare in 2022: New Research

Many annual traditions have been pushed aside by the pandemic, but not one of this writer's favorites: the annual joint report by the Airline Reporting Corporation and Expedia. Why am…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Airlines and Airports Are Fighting Over Runway Fees. Your Airfare Could Soar.

Separate industry groups representing airlines and airports got into a spat this week, and—surprise!—you could end up the loser in the fight. At issue are the charges that airports…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Strategies for Finding Affordable Holiday Car Rentals in 2021

Although we're no longer seeing headlines blaring "Rental Car Apocalypse!", should holiday travelers still be worried about rental car prices? Sadly, yes. Rental cars remain in short…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Finding Affordable Holiday Airfare and Hotels in 2021

The holidays will be tricky this year, and I’m not just talking about potential gift shortages due to global supply chain issues. Travel patterns continue to shift. While there’s still…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Almost Everyone Agrees: American Airlines' New Conditions of Carriage Are Bad for Consumers

A few weeks ago, American Airlines quietly revised its Conditions of Carriage governing what customers can expect for their money. That sounds really boring, but trust us: You're…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

U.S. to Allow Vaccinated Travelers from Abroad—and Tighten Testing for Unvaxxed Americans

The Biden administration is finally easing travel restrictions into the United States. The White House announced on Monday that foreign visitors will be allowed to enter the country…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Walt Disney World’s 50th Birthday Is an Anticlimax—So When Should You Go?

In 2021, Walt Disney World in Florida turns a half-century old. On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney's brother and business partner, Roy, dedicated the East Coast version of California's…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Aloha, Autumn Mandates: Hawaii Restaurants and Hotels Require Vaccine Proof

As in so many states, Hawaii's rate of Covid-19 infection is going in the wrong direction right now. That's why Governor David Ige has asked would-be visitors to stay home. "I…