Tagged: travel

Last-Minute Travel Deal: Three Nights in Hawaii from $459 With Air

Dying for a Hawaii vacation? This week's Smart Deal comes from Pleasant Holidays (tel. 800/742-9244; www.pleasantholidays.com) and starts from just $459 for three nights and airfare.…

How Bad Companies Turn Customers Into Critics: It's in the Fine Print

As a lawyer, Sam Wyrick is no stranger to fine print. So when Spirit Airlines canceled his flight during its recent strike, he did what any respectable attorney would do: He read…

The Gulf of Mexico Needs Tourists to Swim Against the Tide

No one wants to be called a tragedy tourist. Not Van Badham, a London-based playwright who spends her vacations visiting such places as Ground Zero in New York and Nazi concentration…

The Best Museums of Bremerhaven, Germany

If you like seaports, you will love Bremerhaven's new Havenwelten, which means Harbor Worlds. In a small area, you'll find Klimahaus, the German Emigration Center, the German Maritime…

Park of the Week: Ice Age National Scenic Trail

If, like me, you don't know much about the Ice Age -- such as that it was a mere 15,000 years ago -- you might enjoy a learning experience on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which…

Fly Safe, Fly Smart: When Kids Fly Alone

Kids fly. Alone. In a nation of far-flung families, kids frequently shuttle between Mom, Dad, and the grandparents. Unfortunately, parents can't always accompany them. But kids can…

Travel Troubleshooter: A Canceled Disney Vacation, a Missing Refund

After Terry Thompson's daughter runs away from home, she cancels her Disney World vacation. But her travel insurance company refuses to refund $588 in airline tickets. Can't Disney…

How to Protect Yourself Against Travel 'Phishing' Scams

A stolen bag. Lost cash. A missing passport.It had all the hallmarks of a trip from hell. And the e-mail, which ostensibly came from a reader I had corresponded with back in 2008,…

Lessons Learned From Your Worst Travel Gaffes

Forgetting to read the fine print. Not packing a change of clothes. Confusing a.m. and p.m.In a previous column, I asked you to tell me about your worst travel mistakes. Did you…

Greenland: A World of Icebergs and Food

When worrying about global warming, Greenland is where the world looks for icebergs. As many already know, the icebergs here and the nearby glacier are melting far too fast. To say…

8 Foolproof Ways to Save on a Summer Vacation

For families contemplating how to take an affordable summer vacation this year, the economy still poses some major hurdles. In a TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com) family travel survey…

10 Tips for Better Family Road Trips

Summer is on its way, which means that families are gearing up for road trips. WeJustGotBack.com readers share 10 easy ways to smooth out the journey and banish backseat boredom. Tip…

New York's Fire Island Is For Birders and Sunbathers Alike

As one of New York City's most popular summer playgrounds, Fire Island National Seashore is easy enough to reach. But once you're there, it can be fairly difficult to get around,…

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…

Too Good to Be True? Four Times You Should Just Say 'No' to a Deal

If you found a bargain airfare, you'd book it, right? But what if you knew the price was a mistake? Would you still do it?In an era of too-good-to-be-true prices, gimmicky…

7 Places to Eat: Santa Fe's New, New Southwest Cuisine

Remember all the foodie buzz Santa Fe generated in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when creative southwestern cuisine was the Next Big Thing? Well, things have finally simmered down,…

10 Must-Have Items When Packing for Family Vacations

When you're packing for a family vacation, what won't you leave home without? The readers of WeJustGotBack.com recommend 10 items that can make your trip that much easier. Tip #1:…

Family Getaways in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas & the Bahamas

Spring has sprung, so naturally there are money-saving deals popping up all over the Caribbean. Here's a trio of family-friendly packages that deliver hefty savings for a quick island…

Hotels Try to Kick the Smoking Habit

After President Obama's negative comments about Sin City and his subsequent mea culpa ("I love Vegas -- always have!"), I realize that this might not be the most prudent way to start…

When in Rome, Watch Your Driving

Of all the recurring complaints I get from readers, the one they find by far most vexing has nothing to do with excessive fees, surprise surcharges or surly employees. It's about…

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…