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Trends & Hacks

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Polio is Cropping Up In Countries You'd Never Imagine, the CDC Says. How to Keep Yourself Safe

This month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its global warning about polio, releasing a list of 39 countries where Americans should "practice enhanced precautions." On…

Article / Hotels

Did La Quinta Hotel Really Make Guests Check in by Video Conference?

We know that American business owners are contending with a sudden reduction in low-paid workers, particularly in the hospitality industry, which is being impacted by the ripple…

Article / Timing Your Trip

Summer Heat Stops Travel Cold in Europe: Should We Go in Other Seasons Now?

On July 29, passengers waiting to fly to the United States on Delta Air Lines Flight 297 from Athens, Greece, were told the plane couldn't take off as scheduled. As temperatures closed…

Article / Miscellaneous

Trump's Policies Are Making Travel More Expensive and Less Convenient

The United States travel industry is in a period of contraction, and that's bad news for travelers—and all Americans.Anger over President Donald Trump’s stated intentions to acquire…

Article / Money and Fees

Airbnb Scam Warning: AI-Altered Photos Used to Accuse Guest of Causing $16,000 in Damage

Airbnb has had to apologize and issue a refund to a guest after a host allegedly used AI to create fraudulent photos in support of a claim that the guest had caused a whopping $16,000…

Article / Miscellaneous

One of the World's Most Scenic Countries to Start Charging Entry Fees at Natural Wonders

New Zealand plans to charge entry fees to foreign visitors at four of the country's most popular natural attractions, the government has announced. The new policy, revealed over the…

Article / Passportable

The World’s Deepest Underground Hotel, 1,375 Feet Below the Surface

Talk about going down for a nap.A lodging located inside a former Victorian-era slate mine in North Wales is billed as the world's deepest overnight accommodation.Aptly named Deep…

Article / Miscellaneous

When Are Passport Stamps Going Away in Europe? Entry/Exit System Start Date Announced

A start date for Europe's much-delayed new system of automated border crossings has been announced. According to the European Union, the bloc's Entry/Exit System (EES) will finally…

Article / Cruise

10 Ways to Cut the Cost of an Expedition Cruise

Fancy taking Viking’s 13-day Antarctic Explorer on the line’s newest ship, Octanis? That will be $15,000, please. Even sailings to more “affordable” expedition cruise destinations…

Article / Air Travel

Frontier Airlines Sells You Passenger Rights That Europeans Get for Free

On Wednesday, no-frills carrier Frontier Airlines unveiled its latest optional fee, dubbed Disruption Assistance for Any Reason. If customers buy the add-on at the time of ticketing,…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Need to Get an International Driver's License? It Just Got Easier

U.S. travelers planning to get behind the wheel while overseas have a convenient new option for obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP). Previously, you had to apply either in…

Article / Miscellaneous

JetBlue's New Partnership with United, Rubberstamped This Week by the Department of Transportation, Is Bad News for Flyers

The United States' domestic airlines would rather team up than compete against each other. Whether it's called an alliance, a collaboration, a codeshare partnership, or an out-and-out…

Article / National Parks

These Spectacular National Park Photos Remind Us Why Public Lands Are Worth Preserving

Drastic funding and staffing cuts recently affecting the National Park Service suggest that some folks, particularly those currently running the U.S. government, could use a reminder…

Article / Miscellaneous

Men Accused of Surveilling Cruise Ships in Mediterranean for Suspicious Reasons

On June 22, a 26-year-old man was arrested near a NATO base in Souda Bay on the popular vacation island of Crete, Greece. He had booked a hotel room overlooking the port and paid in…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Tourists Warned of Scary Brain Parasite in Hawaii: How to Protect Yourself

Medical experts and public health advocates are sounding the alarm about a frightening threat in Hawaii.Caused by tiny roundworm parasites, neuroangiostrongyliasis—known more commonly…

Article / Cruise

New and Upcoming River Cruises in Europe, the US, India, and Beyond

Heidi Sarna is the co-founder of QuirkyCruise.com, a guide to small-ship cruising.Among the many reasons river cruises entice travelers: close-up scenery, calm waters, and the…

Article / Arts and Culture

2025's UNESCO World Heritage Sites List: Fairy-Tale Castles, Lost Cities, and Natural Wonders

A onetime hub for real-life pirates of the Caribbean and the real-life inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland are among the places newly inscribed as UNESCO World…

Article / Air Travel

Southwest Airlines Announces Date Open Seating Ends—So There'll Be No Special Reason to Fly It

We know you've heard this greatest hit from an American corporation many times before: A product is being made much worse because you allegedly demanded it.Southwest Airlines, which…

Article / Cruise

First Look at Oceania Allura: A Fresh Spin on Familiar Flavors

In mid-July, Oceania Cruises’ Allura said arrivederci for the first time to its birthplace in Genoa, Italy, and sailed around the coast of the boot-shaped peninsula to get to…

Article / Arts and Culture

Taylor Swift's Rhode Island: Where You Might See the Pop Star at Her Favorite Vacation Spot

If the music thing doesn't work out, Taylor Swift should consider offering her storytelling services to the organizations that put together tours of historical homes. Take it from…

Article / Money and Fees

Europe Is Tripling the Cost of Its Entry Fee Before It's Even Implemented

The cost travelers will eventually have to pay for a digital permit to enter the European Union has gone up—even though the system hasn't been launched yet. Foreigners applying for the…

Article / National Parks

Tourists Continue to Make Terrible Decisions Around the Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park

The hot springs at Yellowstone National Park have injured or killed more people than "any other natural feature" there, according to the National Park Service. As you might imagine,…

Article / Beach & Water Sports

Caribbean Islands Without Hurricanes: Where to Avoid Major Storms on Vacation

When it's hurricane season in the Caribbean, the risk may not be bad if you're on the best islands. These Caribbean countries are usually safe.

Article / National Parks

Grand Canyon Wildfire: How It Happened, What's Destroyed, and What Travelers Should Know

Nearly a hundred years ago, the Union Pacific Railroad commissioned architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood to design a resort hotel at its depot on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

More European Cities Are Throwing in Free Public Transit for Visitors: Here's Where

Here's a lesson that some destinations we could name might stand to learn.When you make tourists feel welcome, everybody wins.Guided by that principle, the city of Salzburg, Austria,…