The Best Covid-19 Testing Method for International Travel? There Are Problems
Posted on 08/10/2021, 1:00 PM
If we've learned one thing about Covid-19, it's that not only is the virus constantly mutating, but so are the realities of life during this pandemic era. We've covered the tests needed to return to the United States as per the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) regulations, but some problems with those methods have arisen. Now not all of them are equally easy to use. Some background In January...
What to Do About Canceled Flights in This Summer of Airline Meltdowns
Posted on 08/03/2021, 2:00 PM
When American Airlines went through a rocky period early in June, when it canceled 10% of its flights during a fraught Father's Day weekend, I warned that the company's problems would likely continue and spread to other carriers. My crystal ball turned out to be crystal clear. Not only has Southwest Airlines had major issues with canceling flights this summer, but American has seen rolling cancel...
3 Ways Disney's New Paid FastPass System Is Problematic
Posted on 08/03/2021, 1:00 PM
Update, August 24, 2021: After this story was published, Disney expanded paid FastPass to its theme parks in the United States. For coverage, read Disney Officially Kills FastPass, Will Charge Extra to Use the New "Lightning Lane".Things are changing at Disney. This week, the theme park giant began implementing a new, paid version of FastPass at its two Paris theme parks. If the new system spreads...
New York City's Pro-Vaccine Rules Could Make It the Favored Destination for Many
Posted on 07/30/2021, 1:00 PM
[Updated August 3: New York City will now require proof of vaccine to dine inside a restaurant or go to a gym or stadium. Complete details here.]In the last week or so, New York City's major touristic institutions have put out a clear-as-gin signal that only vaccinated travelers will be welcomed. On Friday, the Broadway League, which governs the mainstream theatrical industry, announced that if au...
Scam Alert: Passport Processing Swindles Are Booming
Posted on 07/28/2021, 6:00 AM
We've been warning you about the immense backlog of passport applications facing the U.S. State Department—up to two million people are now reportedly waiting for processing. It currently takes up to four and a half months to obtain a passport. When government fails, grifters run riot. Americans who are eager to travel abroad are falling prey to a growing army of scammers who promise to expedite...
New Covid Testing Kits Can Be Packed and Used to Reenter the U.S.
Posted on 07/27/2021, 2:00 PM
The United States still requires everyone who enters to produce a negative Covid-19 test result that's no older than 72 hours. The rule applies even if you're vaccinated, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have given no indication of removing the requirement anytime soon. The mandate, in place since January 2021, has thrown a wrinkle into international travel plans, sending U.S....
As Disney World Strips Away Its Perks, What Will Replacing Them Cost You?
Posted on 07/23/2021, 2:00 PM
This week, it was confirmed that Disney Parks will receive a $580 million tax break from the state of Florida to relocate about 2,000 key workers from Southern California, where the brand was born, to the Orlando area. It's hard to overstate the meaning of this shift within the company. It's a fundamental cultural change at Disney. The Imagineers who design the rides and the Disney theme park expe...
Wait, a New Ranking Says the Best U.S. Airline Is . . . United?!
Posted on 07/23/2021, 2:00 PM
Lately, United Airlines has been experiencing something unusual for the Chicago-based company: good publicity. Just this week, United ranked higher than any other U.S. airline on the annual list of the world's top 20 carriers compiled by AirlineRatings.com. Based on an assessment measuring safety, passenger reviews, and tech innovation, Qatar Airways was named the world's best, while last year's ...
This Low-Cost French Airline’s Flights to Paris from NYC Are Très Cheap
Posted on 07/21/2021, 3:00 PM
The Paris-based low-cost airline French Bee, which debuted in 2016, has launched its first route to and from the East Coast of the United States—and the fares are incroyable. (Or, to put it in the King's English, tickets are as cheap as chips.) Operating between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) near New York City and Paris Orly Airport (ORY) just south of the French capital, French Bee's...
Historic Hudson Valley Brickyard Transformed Into Luxury Resort
Posted on 07/20/2021, 7:00 AM
Pillow menus, a social hour with wine in the lobby, goldfish in guest rooms—in the last decade or so there's been an arms race among hotels over which can create the most original amenities. Then when a perk catches on, many other competitors copy it and the cycle starts anew. In the Hudson Valley, I recently encountered a fun and unique addition to this ongoing game of hospitality one-upmanship....
