Why Alaska Airlines' New Subscription Service May Not Save You Money
Posted on 02/17/2022, 2:45 PM
Like much of the traveling world, I'm a big fan of Alaska Airlines. The mid-sized carrier consistently ranks in the top five or in the number-one spot for customer satisfaction and on-time arrivals and departures. It's doing a lot right. So I was excited when the airline announced that it will start a new subscription service for frequent travelers starting at just $49 per month. Problem is, the...
Low-Cost Canadian Carrier Swoop Adds Service to 5 More U.S. Airports
Posted on 02/15/2022, 9:30 AM
Update, June 12, 2023: Swoop will cease operations and integrate into WestJet's fleet as of October 28, 2023. OK, budgeteers, time to open up the calculator app. Another à la carte airline is expanding its footprint in the United States—and that means you'll need to add up a bunch of extra fees to figure out the true cost of your ticket. Play it the right way, though, and you could save money. Th...
Koalas Are Now Endangered. Where You Can Still See Them—and How to Help
Posted on 02/14/2022, 5:30 PM
Koalas, an iconic Australian species right up there with kangaroos and Hemsworths, are in danger of going extinct, according to Australia's government. On Friday, Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley officially designated koalas as endangered in their natural habitat in the country's eastern regions of New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory. Previously, the animals...
A Wonderful Reason to Vacation at Dollywood This Year
Posted on 02/14/2022, 12:30 PM
Country music icon Dolly Parton has a long history of good works, not the least of which was donating $1 million to help speed the research and development of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine. The latest angelic act associated with the singer's name? Starting February 24, Dollywood will pay for employees at Dollywood can have their college tuition funded by their employer. The company that operates th...
In Honor of Valentine's Day: Jump on Amtrak's BOGO Spring-and-Summer Sale
Posted on 02/11/2022, 4:45 PM
What's sweeter than chocolate but more appreciated than thorny roses? Taking your sweetheart on a trip, of course. The United States' national railroad is trying to make that type of Valentine's Day gift more affordable with its current buy-one-get-one-free sale. The discount is pegged to Valentine's Day, but you get two extra days to get your gift in: Travel must be booked by the end of Februar...
Once-Private California Wilderness Newly Open to Hikers and Skiers
Posted on 02/10/2022, 1:00 PM
A rugged expanse of California wilderness north of Lake Tahoe has opened to the public for the first time in nearly a century. Previously private property, the wild terrain near Donner Summit high in the northern Sierra Nevada range encompasses an alpine lake, a 1,000-foot-high cliff, and forests of red fir and Jeffrey pine. In 2020, several preservation groups—the Truckee Donner Land Trust, th...
Which World Cities Have the Latest Closing Times? Someone Did the Research for Night Owls
Posted on 02/10/2022, 12:00 AM
My mother spent most of her life in the Australian time zone—from her apartment in New York City. She usually rose an hour or two before the sun set and only hit the sack while most of her neighbors were breakfasting. When I was in high school, no matter how late I got home, she would be up and waiting, which may be why I never got into any real trouble in my teen years. (That was both a curse and...
After Two Years, (Most of) Australia Will Welcome (Most) Tourists Again!
Posted on 02/07/2022, 3:00 PM
After two agonizing years in southerly isolation, Australia will finally open its borders to tourists. Covid-19 infections remain an issue Down Under, but because so many Australians have been vaccinated (about 93% of citizens over the age of 12) and the Omicron variant is hitting differently than prior, deadlier versions of the virus, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison decided it was time fo...
NYC Rom-Com Tour Visits Filming Locations of Classic Manhattan Love Stories
Posted on 02/07/2022, 10:00 AM
New York City is unquestionably one of filmdom's great rom-com capitals. Think of all those cinematic strolls through Central Park, rendezvous at the top of the Empire State Building, tête-à-têtes in adorable, overpriced cafés—and that's just in Nora Ephron's work alone. Sleepless in Seattle (speaking of Ephron) has another city on the other side of the country right there in the title, but guess...
Another Idyllic Caribbean Island Gets Nonstop Daily Flights from the USA for the First Time
Posted on 02/04/2022, 1:30 PM
Earlier this week, we shared the news that the peaceful Caribbean island of Anguilla will soon be served by daily nonstop commercial flights from the United States for the first time. But that lovely island will have some competition in the previously-hard-to-get-to-but-so-wonderful-to-visit islands category. The other place that will now be much easier to discover is Dominica. Once again, the ...
