"Despacito" Could Be Driving More Interest in Puerto Rico—But Not Visits
Posted on 07/25/2017, 12:00 AM
Chinese officials may want to rethink their recent decision to bar Justin Bieber from performing in their country. Turns out the pop heartthrob could be good for tourism. Just ask Puerto Rico. A Spanglish remix of the hit "Despacito" featuring Bieber and the song's original recording artists, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, debuted on April 17 and quickly rose to the top of the charts and str...
Selfie Sticks Banned in Milan
Posted on 07/24/2017, 12:00 AM
The selfies you take in Milan this summer will have to be kept at arm's length. You certainly can't extend your reach with a selfie stick. Those devices have been officially banned from the historic Italian city as part of a crackdown on "anti-social behavior." Selfie sticks are definitely cumbersome and obtrusive, especially in spots clogged with tourists, which is why they've previously b...
Low-Cost Airlines Crossing the Atlantic Are Now Major Players in Travel
Posted on 07/23/2017, 8:00 PM
Low-cost airlines offering cheap flights to Europe are still going strong—and giving their bigger competitors a run for your money....
Eight Observations About Travel That May Be of Use for Your Next Vacation
Posted on 07/20/2017, 8:00 PM
Quick thoughts on Airbnb, Disneyland, airlines, Cuba, Washington's National Museum of African American History and Culture, and other recent travel developments...
A New Airline "Aimed at Millennials" to Take Flight
Posted on 07/20/2017, 1:00 PM
Air France-KLM Group is launching a new airline, Joon, which will be "aimed at Millennials." In a press release that read like satire, or at best a cry for help—it was headlined "YOUNG AND CONNECTED… DISCOVER JOON!"—Air France-KLM Group and its executives dropped buzzwords marketers use to reach for the 18-to-35 set. The new carrier will offer "a global travel experience," proclaimed one...
Popular Hike to Rio's Christ the Redeemer Closed Following Robberies
Posted on 07/20/2017, 12:00 AM
A popular hiking trail to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro has been closed following a spate of robberies. In just 10 days, 58 people have become victims of the crime on the 2.5-mile path from Parque Lage to Corcovado. So far in 2017, a total of more than 150 hikers have been robbed on the trail, reportedly by men holding knives. One Polish tourist was stabbed earlier t...
An Ignorant Proposed Cut in Amtrak's Budget Would Devastate That Much-Needed Service
Posted on 07/19/2017, 8:00 PM
President Trump wants to reduce Amtrak's budget. Once and for all: What has the right wing got against long-distance rail service?...
For Seniors, August 28 Is the Deadline for Enjoying One of the Great Travel Bargains
Posted on 07/19/2017, 8:00 PM
The price of a lifetime national parks pass for U.S. seniors is about to go WAY up....
WATCH: British Airways's New Star-Studded Safety Video
Posted on 07/19/2017, 12:00 AM
Here's the thing about cutesy airplane safety videos: They're pretty charming the first time you see them, and there's some residual enjoyment to be gained the second or even third time around. But with any viewings after that—especially if they come close together—you're ready to scream, "ENOUGH WITH THE JOKES! JUST TELL ME WHERE THE EXITS ARE!!" So if you fly British Airways a lot, you may ...
Wait Times at Disneyland Keep Going Up
Posted on 07/17/2017, 12:00 AM
Despite rising ticket prices and efforts to fine-tune ride reservation systems, wait times at Disneyland keep going up. An extensive analysis of lines at the Anaheim, California theme park conducted by the Los Angeles Times found that the average wait for the most popular rides in the first six months of the year was 24.4 minutes—a 28% increase over the same period in 2015. The longest av...
