Articles

Trends & Hacks

Article / Hotels

That's Ridiculous: The Mystery of Resort Energy Fees Deepens

After travelers voiced their outrage about a resort that appeared to charge energy fees, we dig deeper into this case of missing e-mails, damaged online reputations, and timeshare…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

How Safe is a Cruise? Even After New Law, It's Hard to Say

Murky crime statistics aboard cruise ships mean that travelers may not have access to the best safety information before planning cruise vacations.

Article / Hotels

Travel Troubleshooter: A Dog Bite & a $2,305 Hotel Bill

A traveler is unable to travel after severely injuring her hand. But the bigger problem is that she accidentally booked a month's stay at a hotel, which is now holding her to the…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Travel Insurance Claims Can Hinge on the Tiniest Details

Is travel insurance tricky for a reason? Here's how the fine print tripped up these travelers' insurance claims, and how you can avoid repeating their mistakes.

Article / Air Travel

That's Ridiculous: When Dead Airlines Rise, Where's My Refund?

Under current laws, bankrupt airlines that go belly up and then are revived as 'new' airlines may not have to refund money to passengers. Is that fair or foul?

Article / Air Travel

Six Nights in Dublin & Belfast, from $1,299 With Air

Visit Dublin and Belfast this fall, and you'll save about $400 per person on this six-night package with airfare.

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Travel Troubleshooter: Beware the Fine Print in Travel Insurance

Two travelers didn't buy insurance on the full cost of their Italy dream vacation. Will they lose more than $10,000 because they didn't read the fine print?

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

6 Ways to Learn a Foreign Language Fast

Here's a series of both online and offline tools that you can use to learn a foreign language and make your next trip abroad better.

Article / Hotels

That's Ridiculous! Socked With a $450 Resort Fee

A nightly resort fee adds up for a traveler who books a Las Vegas hotel for almost a month. Should this mandatory fee be bundled into the room rate?

Article / Air Travel

Three Nights in Puerto Rico, from $399 With Air

Travel to Puerto Rico this summer, and you'll save nearly $200 per person with this three-night package.

Article / Air Travel

Want an Airline to Change? Then Speak With a Million Voices

Airlines will sometimes reverse unpopular policies if boycotts and petitions make enough waves, but airline regulators still have a long way to go when it comes to fixing bad service.

Article / Cruise

Travel Troubleshooter: Insurance Didn't Cover My Cruise

A traveler didn't just lose her husband -- she has also lost an insurance claim due to her late husband's pre-existing condition. Will she be stuck paying for a cruise that they never…

Article / Hotels

That's Ridiculous! Are Hotel "Energy" Fees About to Make a Comeback?

Hidden fees can be a nasty surprise for vacationing travelers, especially if the fees are mandatory and cover basic services such as utilities.

Article / Air Travel

Barcelona & Ibiza, from $957 With Air

Experience the art, architecture, and great food of Barcelona, followed by the warm seaside in Ibiza -- and save more than $270 per person.

Article / Air Travel

US Airways-American Merger: Good or Bad News for Travelers?

Do airline mergers mean fewer choices for travelers -- and higher fares? Airline experts weigh in on how a potential US Airways-American Airlines merger could affect passengers.

Article / Air Travel

Travel Troubleshooter: Hey, What Happened to My Points?

A traveler's hard-earned points are missing after a stalled transfer between frequent-flier programs. Will he be able to recover those missing points?

Article / Air Travel

That's Ridiculous! Travel Companies and Their Restrictive Contracts

Can't be bothered to read the fine print? It's just as well, since many contracts by airlines, car rental companies, cruise lines, and hotels appear to penalize the traveler.

Article / Air Travel

Four Nights in the Dominican Republic, from $579 With Air

An all-inclusive beach vacation in the Dominican Republic is within your reach. Save nearly $300 per person with this four-night package.

Article / Air Travel

A Chaotic Computer Switch in United-Continental Merger

What lessons can be learned from the merger of United and Continental's reservations systems? For starters, it's never a bad idea to have a printout of your itinerary with the…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: Insurance Wasn't Required -- How About a Refund?

If a rental agent insisted that insurance is required to rent a car, would you cave in and buy it? That's what some travelers suggest is happening in tourist locations like Orlando and…

Article / Air Travel

That's Ridiculous! Are Airlines Moving Their Loyalty Program Goalposts?

Think you finally earned enough frequent-flier miles for a free plane ticket? Think again. Airlines are piling on extra fees to redeem miles for tickets and upgrades.

Article / Air Travel

Six Nights in Turkey, from $1,999 With Air

Travel to Turkey this spring and save nearly $300 per person with this affordable package, which includes airfare and six nights' hotel.

Article / Air Travel

TSA Screening Programs: Is It Too Easy to Lose the TSA's Trust?

Government programs that offer expedited security screening for travelers can become a bureaucratic black hole if you lose the required clearance status.

Article / Cruise

How to Handle Common Cruise Fiascoes: Lost Luggage, Missed Flights & More

Don't let lost luggage or changed itineraries ruin your cruise vacation. Follow these strategies to handle minor mishaps on cruises.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: Hey, That's Not My Chipped Windshield!

Can a rental company get away with charging you a month later for a damaged windshield? This traveler finds out the hard way.