A Round-Up of the Small Improvements That Are Making Traveling More Enjoyable
Posted on 02/16/2014, 5:00 PM
We may travel to see the Grand Canyon, the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal—big experiences all. But sometimes it’s the small touches that can make the difference between a happy vacation and one that feels, well, like a bumpy ride. Here are some new, if small, developments that I'm grateful for: 1) Advanced amenities at hotels: We’ve all come to expect hair dryers, shower caps and sewing ki...
Apps That Get You There: Travel Helpers, Both New and Improved
Posted on 02/16/2014, 4:45 PM
Back in the day, hitting the road would mean hitching up your horse, or filling up the car. Today, making sure your smart phone or tablet is adequately juiced is as crucial a pre-trip step. Especially if you have one of the following apps one your device: Waze: The purgatory of traffic jams is avoided, or at least lessened, by this app, which uses crowd sourcing to warn motorists of bottlenec...
Approaching the Final Stop of the Frommer's Book Tour: Denver! We'll Be At the Oriental Theater on February 18 at 7pm
Posted on 02/14/2014, 3:15 PM
Its been a blast seeing the United States on this recent book tour. But all good things must come to an end and the end for the Frommer's 2014 book tour comes this upcoming Tuesday at 7pm. We're thrilled that BookBar (our host) will be putting our event in the Oriental Theater. But as always, the event will be free to all comers and my father and I hope to meet a lot of avid travelers there. ...
The Plight of the Airport Workers at JFK and LaGuardia is Attracting More and More Attention
Posted on 02/13/2014, 2:30 PM
Recent protest demonstrations at New York's major airports have brought attention to the fact that many persons working at airports in the United States are earning sub-human wages. In the same way that, in the late 1960s, the low wages and poor working conditions of grape pickers in California and Florida led to a nationwide (and ultimately successful) boycott of table grapes (and la...
Sochi Hate: Olympics Attendees' Mockery of Russia's Infrastructure Reveals A Lack of Travel Compassion
Posted on 02/11/2014, 10:00 PM
People have asked me what surprised me the most here in Sochi. It's this. Without question ... it's ... THIS. — Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) You might have seen a flood of social media and TV coverage about how messy many of the Sochi preparations have been. You've seen images: open manhole covers on the street, brown water out of hotel taps, public toilets without dividers....
The Canadian "Loonie" is Dropping Fast, Improving Prospects for U.S. Trips to Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver
Posted on 02/11/2014, 6:30 PM
We've recently been focusing in Frommers.com on the "unfortunate five": Argentina, Turkey, Bali, India and Japan--those nations whose currencies have weakened dramatically against the U.S. dollar and thus created big, new opportunities for U.S. tourists choosing to visit them. But we should have added a sixth: Canada, whose currency known affectionately as the "loonie", has dropped in...
Proof that Norovirus Isn't Unique to Cruise Ships—A Historic Hotel Gets the Bug, Too
Posted on 02/11/2014, 12:00 PM
To all the people who have anxiously attempted to cancel their cruise plans because of the norovirus outbreaks on Royal Caribbean and Princess ships, your fears are unfairly targeting the ships. This week, one of the most celebrated resort hotels in America, the Mohonk Mountain House in New York state, had to shut down and sanitize for a few days after guests brought an outbreak of the virus...
The Frommer's Book Tour Heads South: New Orleans Is the Spot: Tuesday February 11 at 6 PM
Posted on 02/10/2014, 7:15 AM
Sometimes life is good. And it certainly is when you get to spend anytime in New Orleans. But my guess is that even the lucky residents of that beautiful city need a change of landscape every once in a while. So I'm hoping they'll come out to talk travel on Tuesday, February 11 at Garden District Books (2727 Prytania St.). It should be a fun event, at which you'll learn tricks for saving mone...
Some Varied Comments About Recent Travel Issues and Developments May Have a Bearing On Your Next Vacation
Posted on 02/05/2014, 12:15 PM
The stern of Royal Caribbean's megaship Allure of the Seas Probably the most disturbing recent news in travel was the announcement by Royal Caribbean Cruises that their newest ship would have a bumper car rink on its top deck. Yes, bumper cars. Though these were the most startling addition to the elegant vessel, other “improvements” included a basketball court, a roller skating rin...
In Turkey, India, Indonesia (Bali), Argentina and Japan, A Shift in Currency Rates Has Made Travel Conditions far More Favorable for Tourists
Posted on 02/04/2014, 11:00 PM
The domed ceiling at Suleymaniye Camii in Istanbul, Turkey Sad but true, the tourist often benefits from the economic misfortunes of their destination. And although that contradiction may raise moral issues, it remains an undeniable fact that influences the choice of holiday destinations. In Turkey, India, Indonesia (Bali), Argentina and Japan, economic problems have cr...
