Tagged: japan

A Severe Drop in the Value of the Japanese Currency Has Made That Country a Highly Desirable Low-Cost Destination for American Travelers

Several weeks ago, when the value of the Japanese Yen plummeted to a rate of 100 to the U.S. dollar, people in the travel industry awoke to the emergence of a new…

Against All the Warnings of Radioactive Dangers, Americans Are Traveling to Japan in Unprecedented Numbers

American tourism to Japan is again booming.  In the month of June just past, nearly 90,000 Americans visited the great cities of Japan (especially Tokyo and Kyoto), more than ever…

Legal Marijuana in Jamaica and Free Wi-Fi in Japan

Getting wifi in Japan and legal marijuana in Jamaica: most would assume these would be slam dunks for tourists.But despite reputations to the contrary, it's near impossible for…

In Turkey, India, Indonesia (Bali), Argentina and Japan, A Shift in Currency Rates Has Made Travel Conditions far More Favorable for Tourists

The domed ceiling at Suleymaniye Camii in Istanbul, TurkeySad but true, the tourist often benefits from the economic misfortunes of their destination.  And although…

It's Only by a Yen or Two, But the Trend Seems Clear: Japan's Currency and Costs are Getting Cheaper by the Day

No sooner did the Yen decline to a rate of 100 to the U.S. dollar, than within a short while it fell to 101.  And yesterday it dropped to 102 plus a fraction.  With a rate…

With the Japanese Yen Now Selling at an Astonishing Rate of 101 to the U.S. Dollar, Japan Has Once Again Become a Moderately-Priced Travel Destination

Yesterday was the Big Day, the time when the Japanese unit of currency--the Yen--crashed through a  longtime psychological barrier and begun trading at just a nano less than…

Ask the Family Travel Expert: How Do I Book Cheap Flights Over the Holidays?

Q: Help! I've been searching for affordable plane tickets for my family of four so that we can visit my parents in Boston for Thanksgiving. I've been shocked at how much it is going…

Travel Troubleshooter: No Refund for My Package Vacation

Paul Cantrell's mother-in-law is trying to get a refund for a Priceline vacation package. She's been promised all of her money back, but the company is balking. Is there anything she…

11 Affordable Options for Opera Lovers in NYC

If you're an opera lover, evenings at the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera are already on your itinerary. But there are several small opera companies in New York City…

6 Basic Survival Tips for Safely Getting In and Out of the Wild

In mid-October a hiker died at Channel Islands National Park, possibly of heat exhaustion. Late in the month another went missing on Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park. These were…

10 Questions To Ask Your Travel Insurance Provider

Travel insurance is a tricky, slippery world. "I don't know how people without insurance backgrounds figure out insurance," said Steve Dasseos, president of TripInsuranceStore.com…

The Real Local Cuisine of Washington, D.C.: Ethiopian Food

A recent USA Today article guestimated that 200,000 Ethiopian émigrés live in the Washington, D.C. area, making it the largest Ethiopian community in the world, outside of Africa.…

Why You Should Visit Ski Country This Summer

Ski resorts in summer might just be the best vacation value going in this summer of great vacation values. Ski instructors around the country whisper that they came to the mountains…

Taking the Kids to Kansas City, Missouri

The kids don't know what to do first.Should they make a puzzle, cutting the pieces on the old-fashioned puzzle machine? Create art with melted crayons in the "glow in the dark"…

San Diego: A Nightlife Scene for Everyone

After the sun goes down, San Diego's titillating venues heat up. Whether you're out to lock lips, savor sips, or move your hips, this is the place to do it. Hit up any of the many…

3 Ways to Tour the World in a Glass

For many, taking in postcard-worthy views with a beverage in hand is the quintessential way to kick back. Whether you prefer pinotage or rally around rum, sublime selections can be…

The Able Traveler: Presidential Libraries Offer First-Rate Access

Between Inauguration and President's Day, the oval office takes center stage in the U.S. It provides the perfect opportunity to talk about an often overlooked cultural attraction --…

Olympics Then and Now: Munich, Germany, Summer Olympic Games 1972

The Games of the XX Olympiad, held in Munich in 1972, marked the return of these international games to Germany for the first time since Berlin in 1936, which was overshadowed by…

Inside China: The Country's Culinary Map

Chinese food is the best in the world, as far as I am concerned, and I mean in all its varieties. And consuming China means taking part of the food, equally with the art, architecture…

Park of the Week: Biscayne's Easy Escapes

Just a few miles from downtown Miami, Biscayne National Park is one of America's most accessible playgrounds, a place where you can boat, snorkel, camp, watch wildlife, and explore a…

Key West: Conch Fritters, Margaritas & Characters

I like Key West because it is replete with characters, and often weird juxtapositions of these people, usually when you least expect it. I lived there for five years in the 1990s,…

5 Excellent Reasons to Take the Family to a National Park

There's something special about the awe in a 5-year-old's eyes when they see for the first time the Old Faithful Geyser in full eruption, spitting thousands of gallons of steaming hot…

Slope Specs: Sugarloaf, A New England Giant Crowned in White

Sugarloaf (tel. 800/THE-LOAF or 207/237-2000; www.sugarloaf.com) is a formidable freestanding mountain and, at 4,327 feet, Maine's second highest. Its lofty summit is high enough for…

5 Weekend Roadtrips for Music Lovers

It's not unusual for travelers to create a vacation based on activities that tickle their fancy. From wine tasting, to golfing, to spa-oriented trips, they run the gamut. But what if…

What's New: An Online Update for Frommer's Guatemala

Here's what's new in Guatemala since the publication of Frommer's Guatemala, 1st Edition. Planning Your Trip As of February 2007, the exchange rate was one U.S. dollar to 7.72…