Tagged: timing

Passport Processing Is Taking Forever. Here's How to Hurry Things Along.

UPDATE, July 23, 2021: The U.S. State Department has temporarily suspended its online system for booking last-minute appointments for passport centers in order to ensure that the very…

How to Survive the USA's Crazy-Busy National Parks This Summer

America is entering a summer of pent-up travel energy following more than a year of homebound life. And as long as most international countries remain unready to fling open their doors…

The Best Time to See the Great Smoky Mountains’ Magical Firefly Spectacle

For a roughly two-week period each spring, fireflies put on a magical light show at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. After dark, lightning bugs in the…

Almost Fully Assembled, Legoland New York to Open This Summer

Legoland New York Resort, a 150-acre theme park devoted to colorful plastic bricks in the Hudson Valley north of New York City, was supposed to open on July 4, 2020. But like an older…

What’s New at D.C.’s Zoo and 7 Smithsonian Museums, Reopening in May?

Next month, members of the public will get their first chance to see the new panda cub at Washington, D.C.'s National Zoo in all his adorable, bamboo-nibbling glory. The zoo and seven…

How Soon After Receiving the Vaccine Can You Travel?

First published: December 2020. Last updated: April 2, 2021The United States government is not requiring citizens to take the Covid-19 vaccines. In time, though, it's almost certain…

Celebrity's Newest Ship Will Avoid America by Sailing to Greece and Israel

Yet another major cruise ship has been added to the growing lineup of vessels eager to serve American vacationers—but not in the United States. With the U.S. government's Conditional…

Awe-Inspiring Images of Wintry Niagara Falls Amid Ice, Snow, and Rainbows

Niagara Falls is a gobsmacking sight all year round, but winter weather can bring an added wow factor, cloaking the thundering cascades in ice and snow. As you might have noticed,…

Finland Created a Kitchen Made Out of Ice—and It Works

As if a hotel built from more than 20,000 tons of ice and snow weren't impressive enough, the designers and igloo constructors of Lapland Hotels SnowVillage in northern Finland keep…

Eiffel Tower in Paris to Be Painted a New Color for 2024 Olympics

Imagine how strange it would be if San Francisco decided to paint the Golden Gate Bridge lavender. Or if the Great Wall of China was redone in red shellac. A structure just as iconic…

Endless Summer: More Theme Parks Now Staying Open Year-Round

Outside of Florida and Southern California, where the weather allows theme parks to stay open year-round (provided there's no plague on), the standard operating procedure at most parks…

Amazing Photos Let You Explore Sweden’s Icehotel Without Freezing Your Tuchus Off

The 31st iteration of Sweden's Icehotel opened its frosty doors to the public on December 11. The frozen palace is world-famous for being sculpted each winter from ice and snow taken…

Costa Rica Fully Reopens to Tourism—No Test, No Quarantine Required

Starting November 1, all international travelers, including those from anywhere in the United States, are welcome to visit Costa Rica—and neither a quarantine period nor a negative…

Berlin's Long-Delayed Airport Is Finally About to Open—for Real This Time

Germany may still hold its reputation for punctuality and efficiency, but it's no thanks to Berlin Brandenburg Airport. That seemingly endless construction project began in 2006, when…

How to Track Fall Foliage in New York State

[Updated October 14, 2021]Though not as ballyhooed as New England's autumnal displays, the fall foliage in New York State is nothing to shrug at. From late September through…

Limited Sale: 2-for-1 on Roomettes for Socially Distanced Amtrak Travel

Travel with a companion you know is virus-free, and you can go anywhere you want. Amtrak, the USA's national rail carrier, is making it easy and more affordable to get out of the house…

Blaming the Pandemic This Time, L.A.'s Oscars Museum Delays Yet Again

Like some troubled Hollywood epic, the overbudget, much-delayed Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles has had its opening date pushed back again. Originally slated to begin…

Do Not Disturb Until 2021: South Africa Takes Huge Gamble with Tourism

From Caribbean islands to European culture capitals, most destinations with economies that depend to a significant degree on tourism are in a hurry to welcome international visitors…

Airfares Could Spike in the Near Future. Buy Now!

I've spent much of my career trying to predict where airfares are going. Like a fortune-teller consulting tea leaves, I've used the same tools over and over in that effort. For…

Scaffolding to Cover Taj Mahal During Yearlong Restoration

The Taj Mahal in India is undergoing a large-scale restoration that officials say will ultimately leave the marble beauty a brighter shade of white.In the meantime, however, the…

TSA Tries Pre-Screening, Again

Nearly a decade has passed since the American public has given up its soul -- well, taken off its shoes, removed its belts, emptied its pockets, raised its arms, and otherwise danced…

Travel Troubleshooter: A Reservation and a Charge -- But No Room

When Mike Ray checks into a timeshare hotel in Kissimmee, Fla., he's told he has no reservation. He goes to another property, but then finds out that he's been charged for the room…

Volcano Eruption Grounds Cruise Travelers, Disrupts Sailings

If the explosion of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano earlier this month has proven anything, it's that the world has become too reliant on the airplane. I mean, really: Should a…

5 Secrets Travelers Need to Know When Dealing with a Collection Agency

It wasn't John Martellaro's fault. His rental car's registration had expired, so he was pulled over twice and ticketed on his way to the Philadelphia airport. "Clearly, that was…

Pauline Frommer's Spend Less, See More Tips for Getting Money Abroad

If you want to get the most out of your dollar and your trip, Pauline Frommer's Travel Guides are for you. I put a fresh spin on budget travel, showing you how to experience the best…