Tagged: politics

What to Do About TSA Delays Caused by Government Shutdown

The U.S. government's partial shutdown, now in its fourth smash week, has started to have a negative impact on airport security lines. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)…

Arthur Frommer: Should Americans Boycott Nations Intent on One-Party Rule?

The governments of Hungary and Poland continue to destroy the democratic nature of their institutions. So do Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (where an American…

Police Destroy Semi-Submerged Sculpture Park in the Maldives

Police officers wielding saws, pickaxes, and ropes have destroyed the world's first semi-submerged sculpture park. Located in the Maldives, Coralarium—which Frommer's covered this…

Arthur Frommer: National Parks Devotees Can Utter a (Brief) Sigh of Relief

In the early months of the Trump administration, it was widely rumored that the new head of the Department of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, would propose a doubling of the entrance fees to…

Arthur Frommer: Recent Tax Cuts Will Force Reductions in Travel Services

Some commentators have rejoiced over the recent reduction in federal taxes enjoyed by American corporations and the wealthy. Fewer of those pundits have pointed out that those…

The Trump Slump Claims Another Victim: Students Coming to Study at U.S. Colleges

In earlier blogs, I discussed the recent sharp decline in foreign tourism coming to vacation in the United States—far more than a few million fewer visitors compared to previous…

Hotel for Liberals Coming to Washington, D.C.

Well-to-do liberal travelers with lodging preferences that are more detailed than "anywhere but a Trump hotel" now have a brand aimed squarely at securing their business. In 2018,…

U.S. Government Makes It Harder for Americans to Visit Cuba

Travel to Cuba gets tougher for Americans this week.New rules released by the Trump Administration ban most independent travel to the island, requiring visitors from the U.S. to rely…

NAACP Issues Stunning Warning Against Travel to Missouri

The NAACP has announced it is advising all African Americans to avoid travel to and through the entire state of Missouri. Its reason? The dubious safety of African Americans traveling…

Foreign Students Are Now Among the Groups Reducing Plans to Visit the U.S. in Reaction to Trump's Hostility

The world of travel is troubled by travel-related policies of the Trump administration. It is nearly impossible nowadays to read a major trade publication for travel agents and the…

Trump's Travel Ban Appears to Have Caused Drop in Flight Bookings to U.S.

President Donald Trump wanted to ban travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries, but it looks like his executive order to that effect dissuaded international travelers from a whole…

Win a "Beauty and the Beast" Castle Stay, NYC Fines Airbnb Hosts, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's airports, castles, and illegal short-term rentals. * TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED DROP IN FLIGHT BOOKINGS TO…

In Final Days in Office, Obama Designates Five New National Monuments

On Thursday, during Barack Obama's last full week in office, the president did for the (probably) last time something he's done more than anybody else who's occupied the White House:…

Will He or Won't He? Trump Has Not Withdrawn His Threat to Forbid Travel to Cuba

December 14, 2016In perhaps the biggest current travel news, Cuba has authorized six large and medium-sized American cruise ships to operate multiple cruises to Havana, Cienfuegos,…

Trump Still Threatening to Reverse Obama's Cuba Policy

President-elect Donald Trump continues to threaten that he'll undo President Barack Obama's 2014 deal to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba.Following the…

Trump Threatens Cuba Reversal, Japan Plans Hot-Tub Roller Coaster, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's airlines, cruise ships, and theme parks.* TRUMP STILL THREATENING TO REVERSE OBAMA'S CUBA POLICY (CNBC)President-elect…

An Angry Airbnb, Cattle-Car Airfares, Trump's Impact on Travel, and Colombia's Truce: Four Major New Developments in Travel

As we approach a new year, a battle rages between Airbnb and the cities of New York, San Francisco, Barcelona, and Berlin, all of which have passed legislation designed to reduce the…

Melania Trump's Native Country, Slovenia, Anticipates New Interest After Election

The small Central European nation of Slovenia could be an unexpected beneficiary of the 2016 presidential election.It's the native country of Melania Trump, who will be the first…

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Travel Deals, Airbnb Adds Experiences, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Happy Black Friday, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's travel sites, tourism bureaus, and vacation rentals. Let's start with some deals. * BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY…

Trump Tower a Delicate Matter for Chicago Tour Guides

You can add Chicago tour guides to the list of people made miserable by the 2016 presidential election.The city’s popular architecture cruises drift past a number of pioneering…

Trump Tower Vexes Chicago Tour Guides, More Business Travelers Use Uber, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Well, folks, we finally made it to Election Day 2016. Don't forget to vote! If you aren't sure whether you're registered (and in some states you can still do that today) or don't know…

Hotels Offering Election-Themed Packages

Believe it or not, only two weeks remain in the long national nightmare that is the 2016 presidential election.Several hotels across the country are offering special packages to…

Wow Air Adds More Flights to Iceland, Hotels Add Election-Themed Packages, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's hotels, airlines, and nature preserves.* WOW-WORTHY AIRFARES TO ICELAND (Breaking Travel News)Looks like the American…

Is the Trump Campaign Hurting Trump Hotels?

Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington, DC (photo: thisisbossi/Flickr) In Washington, DC, a luxury hotel is set to open today in the Old Post Office Pavilion, following a $200 million…

Where NOT to Go This Month and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Here's what's happening today in the world of travel.* WHY YOU SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM CLEVELAND AND PHILLY THIS MONTH (New York Times). Cleveland and Philadelphia are both historic and…