Tagged: travel

Accidental Tourist? Tips for Maximizing Happy Coincidences, and Avoiding the Bad Ones

Accidents happen when you travel. The bad accidents -- the fender-benders, the missed airline connections the unfortunate food-borne illnesses -- are the ones that come to mind first,…

Free Nights at Florida Hotels: Spring Savings in the Sunshine State

Whoever said "nothing in life is free" never looked for a hotel deal in Florida. Just in time for spring break, a handful of properties in the Sunshine State are giving away at least…

Grand Canyon, Great Price: Save up to 50% With a Spring Package Deal

Springtime is always a fabulous time for families to visit the Grand Canyon, thanks to the winning combination of fewer crowds, comfortable weather, and affordable rates. This year,…

When Travel Companies Sue Their Customers

When a young woman named Carissa knocked at my door on a recent Saturday evening and introduced herself as a process server, I knew things were about to get interesting. And when I…

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Couples

So many couples marry or honeymoon at Walt Disney World that a department was created to tend to their needs. Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons offers a range of wedding…

North American Ski Report: Seasonal Specials and Anniversary Celebrations

Seasonlong Specials at Whitefish Mountain Resort Montana's Whitefish Mountain Resort (tel. 877/SKI-FISH; www.skiwhitefish.com) has released a flurry of special offers that all seem to…

Ask the Family Travel Expert: Disney World, Done Dirt Cheap

Question: Hello! We are a family of five with three kids (ages 8, 5, and 2). We have never been to Disney World and would like to plan a trip. Money is very, very tight and we are…

7 Trips You Should Never Book Online

Carolyn Fletcher's honeymoon started heading south the moment she and her husband landed in Cancún. No one was there to pick up the newlyweds. It took an hour for her to convince a…

The Able Traveler: Romantic Retreats for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers

From opulent mansions to quiet country cottages, romantic retreats come in all shapes and sizes. In truth, there's something to suit just about every taste and need, including…

5 Common Travel Mistakes -- and How to Fix Them

Waiting. That's the worst mistake a traveler can make these days.It's what Femi Adenuga did after buying tickets for his parents to fly from Lagos to Pittsburgh through…

Post-Holiday Travel Bargains Abound, But Are They Worth It?

Everything you've heard about Dead Week may be dead wrong. Dead Week, for those of you who aren't dyed-in-the-wool bargain hunters, takes place the first week of every year. After the…

Deal or No Deal?: 3 Special Offers Where You Need to Do the Math

There's an excellent reason why a list of recession travel rules should begin with the old chestnut: Always do the math. Unless you take the time to test-book and compare actual…

Holiday Getaways With Kids: Happenings Across the United States

It's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas, as resorts around the country are already preparing for the busy holiday season. With most children around the country enjoying…

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…

8 New York City Attractions Made Just for Kids

While children will enjoy most New York City's attractions, there are a handful of museums, zoos, and aquariums especially geared to the tastes of the Sponge Bob set. Central Park…

5 Tips to Avoiding a Customer Service Nightmare

Ask Bonnie Friedman about her worst customer service experience, and she won't hesitate to tell you about the time she checked in for her flight from Venice to Frankfurt.An agent…

Will A Passenger's Bill of Rights Ever Fly?

Airfarewatchdog (www.airfarewatchdog.com) wonders how many potential airline customers are refusing to fly until they can be assured that they won't be trapped in a cramped airplane…

Family Reunion Planning: 10 Signs of a Great Location

Remember when a family reunion meant gathering at Grandma's over a stuffed turkey or a grill filled with burgers and hot dogs? Problem was, poor Grandma inevitably got stuck doing…

Slope Specs: Glacial Challenges at Early Season Favorite Les Diablerets

Les Diablerets (pronounced lay dee-AH-blur-ay) is part of a ski region that includes the linked villages of Villars and Gryon in Switzerland. Of the three, which are skiable on a…

Getting Up-Close and Personal with Animals at Zoos and Aquariums in the Fall

Who are we kidding? An African Safari isn't in the cards this year. Neither is a trip to an exotic island where your gang can snorkel with every variety of tropical fish.So, do the…

Affordable Villas & Bungalows in Exotic Locations

I have always been a strong advocate of private villa accommodation and wherever possible I try to track down one to stay in rather than settling for a basic hotel room. A villa can…

Travel Troubleshooter: No Refund for Canceled Vegas Vacation

Ethel Schweitzer's husband falls ill before a trip to Las Vegas, and the couple cancels their vacation. Now US Airways wants to keep their money. Why can't it offer them a…

3 Stops Along British Columbia's Wine Trail

Who could guess? For only C$18.99, you can buy a bottle of wine that the Canadian prime minister served President Obama on a state visit in February, and in the same marvelous town…

Spooky, Tasty & Furry: 5 Fall Festivals for Families

Nothing says a fall family getaway like a visit to working farm, a harvest festival, or a pre-Halloween haunted house or pumpkin patch. There are literally dozens of day trips or…

How to Avoid Orlando's Theme Park Money Pit

Eventually, most families with young children succumb to an Orlando vacation and for me, this summer was it. Even with all the forward planning, reservations, and online research, I…