Why You Shouldn't Freak Out Over the U.S. Adding 116 Countries to the "Do Not Travel" List
Posted on 04/22/2021, 1:00 PM
Early this week, the U.S. State Department, as it often does, updated its list of travel advisories—and the resulting headlines sparked some consternation. On the surface, headlines like "U.S. State Department says it will boost ‘Do Not Travel’ advisories to 80% of the world" might throw your heart into your throat. At first glance, it seems as if the entire planet is shutting back down before you...
What to Expect at the Newly Built Resorts World Las Vegas, Opening in June
Posted on 04/21/2021, 2:00 PM
The ginormous Resorts World Las Vegas has set an official opening date. The 3,500-room, $4.3-billion behemoth will begin accepting guests on June 24. The property is situated within walking distance of the Las Vegas Convention Center toward the northern end of Las Vegas Boulevard, on land formerly occupied by the Stardust. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, that bygone resort (located j...
Will TripAdvisor's New Subscription Service Alter Its Hotel Search Results?
Posted on 04/21/2021, 5:00 AM
There’s a term in marketing known as the “Ikea Effect.” It comes from a study that showed that when customers had to invest time and effort into a product—such as building an Ikea bookshelf—they put a greater value on it. You build it, you love it, goes the idea. A corollary effect can be seen on the websites that gather and display user reviews for hotels, restaurants, and other travel products. ...
The Gentrification of Nature—and What to Do About It
Posted on 04/19/2021, 3:00 PM
America’s wide-open spaces should be open to all. But more and more, the great outdoors are becoming a playground for the rich. Mind you, nature has long had a luxury market hawking exorbitant arctic cruises, palatial glamping tents, and mountain bikes priced like they’re midsize sedans. But with access to overseas adventures still limited due to the pandemic, wealthy Americans have set their s...
Hawaii Set to Make Entry Easy for Vaccinated Visitors This Summer
Posted on 04/12/2021, 12:00 PM
As tortured and as controversial as Covid-19 safety measures have been across some parts of the United States, the rules for Hawaii have been even more intense—by necessity. From the very start of the pandemic, the stakes for Hawaii were higher than for other parts of the U.S. With no ability to transport patients easily across state lines to other hospitals, officials in Hawaii knew that in orde...
Yosemite, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks to Require Reservations This Summer
Posted on 04/09/2021, 2:00 PM
Even in the great outdoors, social distancing can be a challenge—especially in peak vacation season. To keep national park visitors safer, rangers at Yosemite National Park (pictured) in California, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and Glacier National Park in Montana have all announced that they'll be requiring advance reservations for summer visitors. Each park, though, will handle cro...
Airlines Bring Back Fees, But Not for Every Passenger
Posted on 04/07/2021, 1:00 PM
Strange as it may feel to find anything about 2020 that could possibly qualify as the Good Old Days, the global crisis did yield a few positives. When demand for commercial flights plummeted and customers needed to reschedule their plans, all the major carriers obliged—in some cases, after public coercion—by eliminating their change fees so travelers could cancel or delay their flights without pen...
Norwegian's Fully Vaccinated Return to Cruising Sets Up Tough Choices for Families
Posted on 04/06/2021, 2:00 PM
This summer, the cruise line that vacationers pick will say a lot about their vaccination status. We've already heard announcements of impending summer returns by Royal Caribbean (to Israel, Bermuda, and the United Kingdom), Crystal (to the Bahamas and Greece), and Celebrity (to St. Maarten in the Caribbean). In all of those cases, everyone over the age of 18 will be required to show proof of vac...
Venice Bans Cruise Ships from City Center, but the Detour Plan Has Flaws
Posted on 04/02/2021, 1:00 PM
Italy took a step this week that environmental activists, cultural preservationists, and many fed-up Venice residents have been pushing for years. The government blocked cruise ships from entering Venice's fragile lagoon. In a decree issued by the Italian cabinet, large cruise ships as well as freighters have been forbidden from passing close to the historic city center and must dock somewhere els...
Vaccinated People May Travel, Says the CDC
Posted on 04/02/2021, 6:00 AM
It's the news Americans have been waiting to hear for more than a year. Fully vaccinated people are cleared to travel domestically, according to updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC's official definition of "fully vaccinated" is two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose vaccine series such as those made by Pfizer and Moderna, or two weeks after a ...
