Tagged: russia

The World's Safest and Most Dangerous Countries in 2026

The state of global peace in 2026 is pretty grim, according to an annual report. And according to your own eyes if you've followed the news lately. Each year, the Institute for…

The Arctic's Most Remote Cruise Destination Gets Less Remote

Polar expedition cruises—the industry term for active voyages in remote, icy waters—are a big trend at sea right now. They appeal to contemporary travelers' taste for unique…

Though the Timid Tourist is Frightened by a Number of Adverse Travel Conditions, the Value of the U.S. Dollar is Not One of Them. The Dollar is Today Unusually Strong

Perhaps the biggest travel news of the current season is that the U.S. currency remains unusually strong against virtually every other currency. When you travel abroad in the coming…

Checked Luggage Fees, Carry-On Luggage You Can Ride, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Here's what's happening today in the world of travel.* RUSSIA'S HARASSMENT OF AMERICAN VISITORS (Washington Post). Russia's recent treatment of Americans should make anyone considering…

Russia's Harassment of American Visitors

Russia's recent treatment of Americans should make anyone considering visiting that country give the idea a second thought.Shortly before Secretary of State John Kerry landed in…

Aeroflot: It's Not Just for Crashes Anymore

Aeroflot, the flag carrier of the Russian Federation, has a dreadful reputation for being unsafe. And it deserves it: The Aircraft Crashes Record Office, a non-government…

A Primer for European River Cruising

If you watched Downton Abbey, you likely were tempted to try river cruising. The scintillating ads for Viking River Cruises, which ran before each show, effectively put this type of…

Asked to Recommend a Batch of "New Destinations" for 2016, I Like to List Locations that Aren't Really "New" but Simply Under-Visited

Travel writers are often asked to name a few "new destinations" for vacationers who like to travel differently.  And dutifully, they respond by naming places of which you've…

India Eases Its Visa Rules, While Russia May Be Closing Its Doors to Many Visitors

As per usual the news out of Russia is puzzling. Instead of easing restrictions on travelers and thus helping their sanction-damaged economy, the Russian government may be making…

Though Many May Disagree, I Have Strong Opinions as to Where It is Currently Safe to Travel

IstanbulIs it safe?  That's the question posed to their travel counsellors by countless Americans, as they ponder the choice of a destination.  And there's no simple…

Sochi Hate: Olympics Attendees' Mockery of Russia's Infrastructure Reveals A Lack of Travel Compassion

People have asked me what surprised me the most here in Sochi. It's this. Without question ... it's ... THIS. — Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski)You might have seen a…

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…

3 Summer Steals in the Sunshine State

As temperatures zoom upward in the Sunshine State, hotel rates come down. That makes Florida a great place to snag a steal for a summer family getaway. Here are three fabulous deals…

Fly Away to London with Peter Pan

This summer is a exciting one for the young at heart visiting London, especially those who count themselves fans of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, the much-loved 1906 tale of the boy who…

Visiting Abu Simbel, UNESCO's Mighty Save

There are still plenty of careless people who despise the United Nations, often "because it doesn't do anything." Aside from saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of children…

Park of the Week: Sequoia National Park

Almost equidistant from Los Angeles and San Francisco (each about five hours by car), Sequoia National Park is closely linked to Kings Canyon National Park, on its northern border,…

Eco-tourism and Adventure in Brunei

Next year Brunei Darussalam will celebrate 25 years as an independent country, but in essence this kingdom of unexpected treasures has been in existence for centuries. Part of the…

Recession-Buster Destination: A Long Summer Weekend in Boston

When my family heard Greyhound was operating a new upscale bus service (free WiFi, comfortable seats, advance reservations) for $1 between major cities in the northeast, we decided…

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,…

Vancouver Counts the Days Until the Olympics

On a big clock in the courtyard of the Vancouver Art Gallery, locals are busy counting the days -- as well as the minutes and seconds -- until the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics…