Brexit and American Travel
Posted on 06/27/2016, 8:15 AM
What does Britain's vote to leave the European Union mean for American travelers? Cheaper prices throughout Britain (at least for now). Amid the uncertainty following the vote, the British pound has taken a dive, resulting in the lowest exchange rate against the dollar in about 30 years. As Frommer's editorial director Pauline Frommer puts it, "That will mean that our dollars will go further fo...
Scotland Gets Tourism Boost from TV Show
Posted on 06/23/2016, 7:15 PM
Tourism in Scotland has grown for the fourth year in a row, and experts think the Starz TV drama Outlander—based on Diana Gabaldon's series of novels about a 20th-century British woman who travels in time to the 18th-century Scottish Highlands—has something to do with the increase. The Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions credits the lush period romance for boosting interest in sites such...
Walking-on-Water Artwork Hugely Popular in Italy
Posted on 06/23/2016, 6:45 PM
The latest large-scale installation by conceptual artist Christo is a 2-mile long walkway covered in saffron-colored fabric and connecting two islands in Northern Italy's Lake Iseo to each other and the mainland. Called "The Floating Piers," it's designed to make you feel like you're walking on water. Attracted by this prospect as well as the fact that the temporary installation is free to the ...
Disney Opens Frozen Ride at Epcot
Posted on 06/23/2016, 6:15 PM
Do you want to build a snowman? You might want to hug one after standing in the hot Florida sun to get into Walt Disney World's new Frozen ride, which opened this week in Epcot and became an immediate hit. Based on the 2013 animated film, the ride features the sort of sophisticated animatronics, high-tech audiovisual effects, and gentle thrills familiar from Disney kiddie rides featuring belove...
Zika's Effect on Caribbean Travel
Posted on 06/23/2016, 8:00 AM
In January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned pregnant women to avoid traveling to certain Latin American and Caribbean countries affected by an outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can cause fetal brain damage and other problems. In April, the warning expanded to include 20 more Caribbean locales. Have concerns over the virus slowed down the Caribbean's busiest ...
Universal Releases Water Park Details
Posted on 06/22/2016, 7:15 PM
Universal Orlando has released some details about its new water park, Volcano Bay, which the company promises will be up and running by June 1, 2017. The park will feature 18 attractions, including a wave pool with sandy beaches, a winding river with special light and water effects, a raft ride with saucer-shaped curves, and a centerpiece faux volcano featuring a slide with a 70-degree, 125-foo...
TSA PreCheck Delays
Posted on 06/22/2016, 7:15 PM
The Transportation Security Administration reports that the number of travelers signing up for its PreCheck program—which allows you to move through airport security faster and without removing your shoes and taking electronics out of your luggage—has more than tripled in the last few months, surging to an average of 16,000 applicants a day in May. The result? You guessed it: long delays in p...
LGBT Travel After Orlando
Posted on 06/22/2016, 8:45 AM
In the wake of the Orlando shooting, which took place at a gay bar and appears to have been motivated by homophobia, the New York Times spoke with several leaders in LGBT tourism to see what effect the massacre is having on the willingness of gay, lesbian, and transgender people to travel this summer. What they found: a mixture of nervousness and resilience. The consensus seems to be that while ...
Southwest Unveils New, Wider Seats
Posted on 06/22/2016, 8:15 AM
You might find a little more legroom on Southwest Airlines flights by the end of the year. The carrier has announced that it's installing what the company calls the "widest economy 737 seat" available on 28 of its 737-800 planes as part of a redesign of cabin interiors. Upholstered in blue composition leather, the slimline seats feature adjustable headrests and reconfigured seat-back pockets, to...
United's Plan to Boost Revenue: Slimmer Seats, More Chances to Upgrade
Posted on 06/22/2016, 8:15 AM
United Airlines, which has been struggling since a merger with Continental in 2010, outlined yesterday its plan for boosting revenue. The big news for price-sensitive travelers: by the end of the year, the airline will introduce "basic economy" entry-level fares, similar to a program Delta offers (American Airlines is expected to add basic economy fares soon, too). United hasn't yet explained w...
