Tagged: rome

French Tourism Still Struggling, Extravagant Holiday Offerings at Luxury Hotels, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's tourism boards, ancient ruins, and extravagant hotels.* ONE YEAR AFTER PARIS TERROR ATTACKS, FRENCH TOURISM STILL STRUGGLING…

The Pope's Summer Palace Now Open for Tours

For the first time ever, the centuries-old residence intended as a summer retreat for popes has been opened for public viewing.The Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo, located…

Should the Spanish Steps in Rome Have a Barrier Against Tourists?

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in front of the Spanish Steps in Roman Holiday (photo: Wikimedia Commons)Later this month, the Spanish Steps in Rome will reopen after a…

The World's Busiest Airport, New York City's Cheapest Accommodations, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Here's what's happening in the world of travel this Tuesday morning.* THE WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORT (CNN). For the 18th year in a row, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport…

Fountain Swimmers in Rome, the Airbnb of Boats, and Other Watery News: Today's Travel Briefing

Today's travel news is all about water. Let's dive right in.* ROME CRACKING DOWN ON FOUNTAIN SWIMMERS (Paste magazine). Authorities in Rome have started cracking down on those who…

Rome Cracking Down on Fountain Swimmers

Authorities in Rome have started cracking down on those who engage in a supposedly romantic yet entirely illegal activity: climbing into and splashing around in the city's…

Today's Eurail Pass: A Conversation on What Travelers Need to Know

The Eurail Pass is not new, but it’s still not as well known among first-time travelers to Europe as it should be. The pass, which has a number of different iterations, allows…

Florence With the Experts: A New Program Italy-Bound Travelers Should Know About

Florence (photo by PapaPiper/Flickr)Italia Rail, the company that has been, for the last decade, the largest international vendor of Italian rail tickets, is taking that…

The Vatican Gets More Liberal...With Visitor Hours

I'm assuming we can thank Pope Francis, though this wasn't one of his bigger announcements. But quite quiety, several months ago, the Vatican extended its hours for half the year, on…

International Airfare Wars Make It Much Cheaper to Vacation Abroad This Fall and Winter

I reported roughly a week ago that airfares for the summer took a sharp dip; and that experts were predicting that fall fares would also be low.Sometimes it's sweet to be…

Rome's Colosseum Gets Its Lion Elevator Back

Two thousand years ago, the famous Colosseum was the biggest gathering place in the seat of the Roman Empire. In fact, it was the world's biggest amphitheatre. Over time, much of the…

Savvy New Page-Turners On The Cultural Histories of Both Italy and France Are Must-Buys for Travelers

France and Italy: two countries that are consistently at the top of the most touristed countries list, year after year. But I would bet that a good 80% of those visiting know little…

Food, Travel and Marriage: Two Excellent New Memoirs Explore Journeys on the Silk Road and France

As a woman who was wooed and won by a man who laboured for three days preparing a lasagna — he made the pasta from scratch — I know, in a visceral way, that the connection…

"Mangia! Mangia!" May Soon No Longer Be Italy's Unofficial Slogan. The Changing Face of Italian Cuisine

The Italians are eating very differently today. And so, too, will the visitor when he heads to “The Boot”.That was the surprising revelation when I discussed Italian cuisine…

Italian State-Run Museums Now Free to Everyone Under the Age of 18

My thanks to Frommer's author Donald Strachan (who's currently hard at work on a new Frommer's guidebook) for spotting this one.Until now, non-European Union teens and children…

Foursquare and Twitter for Travelers: How to Stay Safe

Just like many others in digital marketing, Shira Abel took an open approach to her social networking, accepting most friend requests on the location-based service Foursquare…

Family-Friendly Hotel Packages for Labor Day Weekend

Want to squeeze out every last drop of summer? There's still time for one last hurrah. Kid-friendly resorts around the country are rolling out the red carpet with last-minute Labor…

Park of the Week: World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Oahu

The glorious collection of sites (and sights) that constitute the American National Park system evokes all kinds of emotions from visitors: awe at Mother Nature's bounty, thrill for…

3 Ways to Plan a National Park Vacation Online

Where can you turn these days for help in planning a national park vacation? In the old days of just a small handful of years ago the answers to your questions were typically found in…

Baker's Dozen: Top Spots for Food and Wine Lovers

Half the joy of traveling lies in sampling a destination's signature flavors. From Frommer's 500 Places for Food & Wine Lovers, we've gathered this selection of culinary hot…

Booking New York: The Big Apple for Book Lovers

As a confirmed bibliophile, I have long held the view that New York is one of the world's quintessential book cities. Not only are there countless perfect locations to sit and read,…

Traveling for the Holidays? 8 Best International Airports For Shopping

From luxury goods for less to local products fairly priced, these international airports help you both burn time and save it, and give you an excellent opportunity to find that…

More Splash, Less Cash: Getting Your Money's Worth at Indoor Waterpark Resorts

Indoor waterparks are popular with families for very good reasons: They deliver a quick fix of summer fun any time of year, and you probably don't need to get on a plane, blow a week…

Bhutan's Improbable All-Inclusive Mountain Splendor

The Kingdom of Druk Yul, or what we know in the west as Bhutan is a tiny nation located in the Himalayan Mountains and one that remains perhaps the least-touched by western…

Island-Hopping in South Eastern Thailand

The Gulf of Thailand on the south eastern side of the Thai Peninsula is blessed with beautiful tropical islands that offer travelers a combination of superb weather, luxurious…