Articles

Trends & Hacks

Article / Packing & Luggage

Packing Tips: 4 Things to Take (or Leave Behind) When You Travel

For all the travelers who have succumbed to buying cheesy souvenirs, here are some packing guidelines on what to keep and and what to skip. How many sombreros or berets do you really…

Article / Cruise

A Review of NCL's Norwegian Epic: A Flawed Giant with Va-Va-Voom

Can the Norwegian Epic live up to all the hype? From the dining options to the bathroom design that's a colossal mistake, writer Matt Hannafin susses out all the details in this ship…

Article / Hotels

Travel Troubleshooter: I Didn't Wake Up Happy at My Hotel

A traveler thinks she books two nonsmoking rooms through Hotels.com, but winds up with two smoky rooms that make her family feel ill. Should this online travel agency have guaranteed…

Article / Air Travel

Passenger Rights: Why It Pays to Know EU 261

If you're flying to Europe, know your rights as a passenger. EU 261 is Europe's equivalent of Rule 240, which compensates you in the event of denied boarding.

Article / Money and Fees

They Canceled My Hotel Room (And I Can't Get It Back)

A traveler's Priceline reservation is mistakenly canceled when he calls to add an extra night. Here's what you should do if you're ever in a similar situation.

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Fly Safe, Fly Smart: When Kids Fly Alone

Sending an unaccompanied minor on a flight can be anxiety-inducing for everyone involved. Streamline the trip by following these simple steps and knowing what to pack for your child.

Article / Hotels

Affordable Lodging: A Café-Turned-Hostel in Taxco, Mexico

Mexico is full of budget-friendly destinations, but this could be one of the cheapest: A popular café in Taxco has added a hostel, which is free if you spend a certain amount in the…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

6 Bad Car Rental Rules and How to Steer Clear of Them

The price of renting a car can quickly add up once you add in all the extra fees. Here are six simple ways to help keep your rental costs under control.

Article / Cruise

Ask the Cruise Experts: 600 Ships and Counting

With so many cruise lines to choose from, how can you pick just one? Get some advice from these four cruise experts, who have collectively sailed on more than 600(!) ships.

Article / Air Travel

How Much Does an Airline Ticket Really Cost?

Once you add the price of a checked bag, a confirmed seat reservation, and a day-old turkey sandwich, you'll pay more than you expected.

Article / Cruise

7 Cruise Policies That Hurt Cruisers

Whether it's asking you to pay extra for fine dining, or dumb laws that prevent you from boarding your vessel, you won't fail to find something absurd about traveling by sea.

Article / Cruise

How to Choose a Lesbian or Gay-Friendly Cruise

You want to cruise, but you want something more than an occasional 'Friends of Dorothy' gathering. Here's how you can be yourself -- solo, with your sweetheart, or your kids.

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

How to Protect Yourself Against Travel 'Phishing' Scams

Desperate pleas from traveling friends in need are just the latest kind of online scams that can sap your bank accounts and leave you in need. Here's what to look out for.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: Full Fare For Two Flat Tires?

Our readers' trip is ruined when their van spends the entire vacation in a repair shop. Now their car rental company wants to charge them for the rental, plus the damage.

Article / Money and Fees

What You Can Do About New Hotel Fees

Just when you thought airlines were the only ones to charge extra for amenities that used to be free, some hotels are adding fees for everything from fresh towels to TVs. The next time…

Article / Cruise

Top 9 Reasons to Cruise

If you're trying to decide between a land-based trip or a cruise, these nine reasons may help tip the balance. From the dining rituals to the Old World charm of some ships, cruising…

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: But I Asked Them to Hold My Ticket

A traveler calls an online travel agency to hold a reservation, but the agent on the phone misunderstands and books the ticket anyway. Is this reluctant traveler out of luck?

Article / Hotels

9 Tips for Finding a Reliable Vacation Rental

Renting a reliable vacation home isn't easy, so we asked experts to identify the biggest challenges when renting a home. Here's what they said.

Article / Air Travel

Are the TSA's 3-1-1 Liquid Rules Still Enforced?

The Transportation Security Administration's unpopular restrictions on liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on luggage -- better known as the 3-1-1 rule -- are history. Well, probably.

Article / Air Travel

How to Travel With Pets: Why Leaving them at Home May Be Better

If you're thinking of flying with your pet, I have one word of advice: Don't. Traveling by plane with pets is not only expensive, it's fraught with danger for your dog or cat.

Article / Air Travel

Confessions of a Frequent-Flier Program Skeptic

There's a steep and hidden price to be paid when you collect miles. The game can easily turn into an obsession that disables your common sense and compels you to make irrational…

Article / Miscellaneous

Cell Phones on Planes: Time to Rethink the Policy?

Restricting the use of in-flight electronics can seem ineffective, especially if you've ever seen a flight attendant texting at 36,000 feet. Are cell-phone bans on planes due for an…

Article / Cruise

How to Lose Weight on a Cruise

Is it possible to lose weight on a cruise? Celebrity trainers, including Jillian Michaels and Richard Simmons, are betting on it with themed cruises, plus we outline six easy ways to…

Article / Cruise

Cruise Lines' Private Islands: Who Offers What in the Caribbean and Bahamas

Here's a list of all private islands, peninsulas, or beaches operated by the cruise lines and offered as a port of call on many of their Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.

Article / Cruise

I've Fallen and I Can't Get a Refund for My Cruise

When our reader falls and breaks bones just before a Carnival cruise, the company offers him a 50% cruise credit. But he thinks he deserves a re-do. Who's right?