Tagged: health

Vacation Rental Phishing Scams Catch More Travelers

Shauna Kattler thought she'd found the ideal rental home in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, for her Christmas vacation: a two-bedroom penthouse condominium with a hot tub and an impossibly…

Survival Tips for Plane Crashes & Other Accidents

Remember that amazing story about a guy who sawed off his arm when he couldn't lift the boulder that had trapped him in a desert canyon? Or the hikers, skydivers, airplane crash…

Oslo Travel After the Attacks: Where to Go, What to See

Tourism in Norway was at its height in mid-July when a bomb went off in central Oslo and a gunman opened fire a Labour Party summer camp on nearby Utøya island.The bomb demolished a…

Headed to Europe This Summer? It's Going to Be a Riot

If you're looking for a little adventure this summer -- a strike, a riot or maybe even a revolution -- skip the Middle East and head to Europe. Traditionally quiet and predictable…

That's Ridiculous! The ATM Sucked My Money Back

When Robert Hillestad tried to withdraw £200 from an automatic teller machine in London last April, he got a bait-and-switch. Almost literally. "While waiting for the machine to reel…

Ski Runs & Free Hugs at Alberta's Castle Mountain Resort

I'd never gotten a hug from a liftie until I encountered Marie Cameron at Castle Mountain Resort (tel. 888/754-8667; www.skicastle.ca) in far southwestern Alberta. Cameron, a.k.a.…

Travel Troubleshooter: I Thought Car Rental Insurance Was Optional

Brian Perez-Daple rents a car in Mexico through Hotwire. But his car rental company insists he needs to buy extra insurance, which he doesn't. Is there any way to get his money…

Travel Troubleshooter: Who's Gonna Pay These Overdraft Fees?

When a Hampton Inn hotel charges Alia Naffouj twice for the same room, there are two surprise overdraft fees on Naffouj's credit card. Hampton is dragging its feet on a refund. Is…

They Canceled My Hotel Room (And I Can't Get It Back)

Ben Weiss calls Priceline to extend his hotel stay by a day, but a representative misunderstands him and cancels his entire reservation. Now he can't get it back. Did Priceline break…

Fly Safe, Fly Smart: When Kids Fly Alone

Kids fly. Alone. In a nation of far-flung families, kids frequently shuttle between Mom, Dad, and the grandparents. Unfortunately, parents can't always accompany them. But kids can…

Cell Phones on Planes: Time to Rethink the Policy?

How do you know that the rules restricting electronics on planes are impractical? When you see a crewmember openly texting at 36,000 feet.That's what Peter Zapalo says he saw on a…

Greenland: A World of Icebergs and Food

When worrying about global warming, Greenland is where the world looks for icebergs. As many already know, the icebergs here and the nearby glacier are melting far too fast. To say…

Mark Twain Slept Here: Heidelberg, Germany

For many of us, Mark Twain is the literary Holy Grail. We follow in his footsteps in the vain hope that his wit and way with words will miraculously rub off on us. We visit his…

Travel Troubleshooter: Wait! I Never Bought Flight Insurance

Angie Zimmerman calls United Airlines to fix a seat assignment and ends up with a mysterious $35 fee. The airline says it's for insurance, but she insists she never bought the policy.…

When in Rome, Watch Your Driving

Of all the recurring complaints I get from readers, the one they find by far most vexing has nothing to do with excessive fees, surprise surcharges or surly employees. It's about…

Travel Troubleshooter: A Canceled Flight, a Missing Refund

When Sarah Paynter's honeymoon flight is delayed by two days, she buys a ticket on another carrier with the promise of a refund from her first airline. But now that the honeymoon is…

On the Trail of "The Lost Symbol" in Washington, D.C.

Dan Brown's blockbuster success with The Da Vinci Code and its ensuing, inevitable film adaptation inspired a sort of literary tourism, geared toward enthusiasts who wanted to follow…

Travel Troubleshooter: Where's My Travel Insurance Check?

It's been a year since Anita Isaia's cruise, but the insurance claim she made through a company that offered traveler "protection" is apparently lost at sea. Will she ever get her…

Our Own Worst Enemy: 5 Types of Travelers That Are Killing Tourism

Are tourists destroying tourism?The ones Bob Menconi saw on the lido deck of the Celebrity Solstice were -- one heaping plateful at a time.At the megaship's all-you-can-eat…

3 Things Travelers Will Lose -- and Gain -- in This Recession

Kiss those little bottles of lotion goodbye.But don't despair. You stand to gain better things, thanks to the ailing economy. That includes free Wi-Fi in more places, better…

Women on a Mission: How to Indulge Your Sense of Adventure

The specific promotions described in this article have now passed, but it remains online so that the resources named will be of future use to travelers.We've long extolled the…

What to Expect from a Nile River Cruise

A Nile cruise is one of those journeys you feel it imperative to take, at least once in a lifetime. Easy to say, but how to choose among the some 240 riverboats said to ply these…

Travel Troubleshooter: Is My Insurance Claim Lost in Translation?

Suzanne Baxter's husband falls ill on a trip to China, forcing the couple to file a claim on their travel insurance policy. Three months later, there's no sign of the money and the…

6 Secrets for Getting a Travel Company to See Things Your Way

I admit, I have an unfair advantage.When I ask a travel company to reconsider its decision to deny a refund or impose a surcharge, my e-mail signature pretty much says it all: If…

Travel Troubleshooter: Insurance is Extra on This "Hot" Mexican Car

Tom Gainor pays for a rental car through Hotwire.com (www.hotwire.com), but when he gets to the car rental counter in Mexico, an agent strong-arms him into buying insurance that…