Articles

Trends & Hacks

Article / LGBTQ

"They’re Shrinking Our World": Trans Travel Freedoms Are Under Threat. Can Anything Be Done?

What’s it like to be a transgender American right now? “We’re scared, quite frankly,” Dr. Devon Ojeda, senior national organizer with Advocates for Trans Equality, tells…

Article / Hotels

Leaving Airbnb: How to Find a Safe, High-Quality Vacation Rental on Your Own

Even giants can fall if they grow too big. The problems with Airbnb are legion, and not getting much better.Many travelers want to find a new method for finding vacation rentals.…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Rocky Mountaineer's U.S. Scenic Rail Train Gets Easier, Cheaper, and a New Name

A well-received scenic rail service through the red-rock canyons of the American west will expand its service options in 2026, making it easier to use.In 2021, the Rocky Mountaineer,…

Article / Money and Fees

The Cheapest Countries to Travel to–and the Most Expensive

Amid growing fears of an economic recession, you might be looking for ways to tighten your travel budget. One fairly obvious way to do that: Pick a destination where your costs on the…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

When Does ETIAS Start in Europe? New Entry Requirement and Fee Delayed Again

New entry requirements for traveling to Europe have been postponed again.The European Union eventually plans to roll out two related—but different—systems that will affect…

Article / Beach & Water Sports

On This Beach, Nudity Is Mandatory

Beaches that allow nude sunbathing are often described as "clothing-optional," but clothing is not an option on the nude beaches of Rostock, Germany (the city's Warnemünde Strand is…

Article / National Parks

Which National Park Facilities Are Closed Because of Trump's Actions? How to Find Out

As you prepare to pay your federal income tax again this year, take special note of how much less you're getting from your government for your money now.The National Park Service (NPS)…

Article / Air Travel

Southwest Is Changing Its Bag Policy. You Won't Like It.

Southwest Airlines is doing away with the one policy that made the carrier stand out from the competition. Starting May 28, the airline will no longer allow every passenger two free…

Article / National Parks

The U.S. National Parks Bring In Much More Money Than They Take from Federal Funding

To my mind, the U.S. National Park System (NPS) is invaluable. Its 85 million acres span all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and every U.S. territory. In these parks are…

Article / National Parks

Full List of 34 Targeted National Park Leases: "Parks Being Dismantled Before Our Eyes"

The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate the National Park Service leases of at least 34 buildings that function as visitor centers, law enforcement offices, museums,…

Article / Air Travel

U.S. Aviation Safety is Under Fire

About the author: William J. McGee is the Senior Fellow for Aviation & Travel at American Economic Liberties Project. An FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, he spent seven years in…

Article / Packing & Luggage

When Stuff Gets Left Behind at the TSA, the U.S. Government Sells It on This Site

Every travel blog and morning TV show seems to have unpacked every last detail about Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama. The store where your luggage might wind up for sale if…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Could This TikTok User Really Get Fined $500 for Bringing a Banana Into the U.S.?

The banana is indisputably the funniest fruit, owing to its shape, color, and connections to pratfalls and monkeys (the funniest primate). But a banana-related misadventure recounted…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Scam Warning! This "Unpaid" Tolls Con Targets Road Trippers

Have you gotten any urgent text messages on your phone lately letting you know that you owe money for unpaid highway tolls? Well, there's good news and there's bad news. The good: You…

Article / Theme Park

Disney Is Poised to Solve its Lightning Lane Disaster—But at What Cost?

We don't have to tell you that just about everything in the life of an American consumer seems to be degrading in quality, from useless AI chatbots replacing the assistance of live…

Article / Air Travel

Cheap Flights from USA to Europe This Spring, Starting at $389 Round-Trip

Americans hoping to book an affordable spring getaway in Europe still have airfare options, thanks to Aer Lingus. Ireland's flagship carrier has rolled out a fresh batch of discounted…

Article / Hotels

Florence Bans Key Lockboxes in Its Effort to Drive Out Vacation Rentals

As vacation rental properties continue to hollow out traditional neighborhoods, European cities have found themselves in a battle for their futures.One European destination determined…

Article / Miscellaneous

Meet Pauline Frommer in Washington, DC, March 29–30

Pauline Frommer's next live appearances at the Washington, DC, Travel & Adventure Show (promo code for free tickets inside!)

Article / Slideshows

Where to Shop in Paris: The City's Most Beautiful Boutiques and Cafes

As impressive as the museums and monuments of Paris are, the smaller establishments—bakeries, bookstores, boutiques, bars, and brasseries—are just as likely to put you under the city's…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

What Documents Do I Need for REAL ID?

Update: Since publication of this post, REAL ID requirements went into place.The oft-postponed REAL ID deadline is almost here—only 17 years or so behind schedule. Passed by Congress…

Article / Hotels

Here's Why More and More People are Done with Airbnb—It's Quite a List

"The 'Airbnb effect' is crumbling," warned TheStreet.com in 2023, as evidence mounted that homeowners had seen collapses of as much as 47% in key U.S. vacation markets following the…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Get a Global Entry Interview Appointment Faster: These Services Find Availability

Americans who travel internationally on a regular basis have come to love Global Entry. It's the government-run program, active since 2008, that allows preapproved members to skip the…

Article / LGBTQ

The State Department's LGBTQ+ Travel Info Is Inadequate. Here's Where to Turn Instead.

The United States government has made several moves in recent weeks affecting LGBTQ+ citizens, with trans folks thrown into an especially precarious situation. On the same day he took…

Article / Slideshows

8 Small Towns in Alaska You Have to Visit—and How to Get There

There's no escaping the wildness of Alaska—even in the state’s biggest cities, you might encounter a moose or spot the northern lights dancing overhead.But those sorts of…

Article / Money and Fees

Uber Changed Its Settings to Charge Travelers Extra Fees: Here's How to Undo It

When Americans pay for something in other countries and they're asked if they would rather charge their accounts in the local currency or in U.S. dollars, only one correct choice will…