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Trends & Hacks

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Lessons Learned From Your Worst Travel Gaffes

We've all made travel mistakes, but here are some stories that should make you feel better: booking a flight at the wrong time, overpaying for a rental car, and getting separated from…

Article / Air Travel

Travel Troubleshooter: Help! My Refund is Missing in Action

A traveler closes her bank account before receiving a refund from the airline. What are her options, and how can you avoid landing in a similar situation?

Article / Hotels

Hotels Connect the Dots Between Guests and Online Reviews

Image-conscious properties are connecting the dots between reviews on such popular travel sites as TripAdvisor or Yelp, and your personal information, such as your loyalty program…

Article / Air Travel

Maiden Voyages: What You Can Learn From a First-Time Air Traveler

Flying has become such an unbelievably humiliating experience, it's no wonder there are still people out there who haven't flown. Can these 'never-evers' teach you anything? I think so.

Article / Air Travel

Saying "No" to the TSA's Full-Body Scans May Come at a Price

Have second thoughts about those full-body scanners being used at airports by the Transportation Security Administration? Then the agency charged with protecting the nation's…

Article / Air Travel

Fly Safe, Fly Smart: Airline Worst-Case Scenarios

What do you do when a volcano or some other accident or act of nature brings your trip to a halt? Here are 6 ways to prepare for and manage airline worst-case scenarios.

Article / Cruise

Top 9 Ports for Nature Lovers

Feeling restless? Pick a cruise that stops in one of these ports, where the shore excursions and tours can get you close to monkeys, penguins, or nurse sharks.

Article / Cruise

10 Under-the-Radar Home Ports

It's becoming more convenient to board ships from places like New York City and Seattle. Before booking your next cruise, here are 10 other ports that you may not have considered.…

Article / Air Travel

Travel Troubleshooter: Two Change Fees on One Ticket, and Zero Help

A traveler contacts British Airways to change her plane ticket just as her sister calls from Spain with the same request. Charged twice in different currencies, is this traveler out of…

Article / Air Travel

Flight Check: Los Angeles to Honolulu on American

What to expect from American Airlines on one of the most popular routes from the U.S. west coast to Hawaii.

Article / Money and Fees

Oops! I Didn't Mean to Buy Insurance

A traveler books tickets through Orbitz but then discovers a $24 charge for unwanted travel insurance. Learn how to avoid these pre-checked boxes and sneaky fees.

Article / Air Travel

What's Next For Airlines, Paying by the Pound?

Now that one airline has announced plans to begin charging for carry-on bags this summer -- that's right, carry-on bags -- the question everyone seems to be asking is: What's next?

Article / Miscellaneous

Forget Your Travel Agent: Four Trips You Should Book Yourself

Travel agents are pros when it comes to handling complicated trips like honeymoons and round-the-world jaunts, but here are four cases where you may be better off booking the vacation…

Article / Miscellaneous

Travel Troubleshooter: I Had to Pay Twice For My Flights to Mexico

A booking snafu with an online travel agency forces this traveler to shell out nearly $1,000 for two one-way tickets. Here's how to avoid being charged twice if you'll be traveling on…

Article / Air Travel

The Lies Pet Owners Tell When Traveling

Instead of paying extra 'pet fees' to hotels or airlines, owners are spiriting their animal companions into their bags or under blankets in the hope of saving a few bucks.

Article / Air Travel

No Airline Cookie Conspiracy? What About This Trail of Crumbs?

Do airlines and online travel agencies surreptitiously use computer 'cookies' to track your activity on their sites and then raise prices when it appears that you're interested in a…

Article / Air Travel

Fly Safe, Fly Smart: Secrets of Airline Seating

Your seat is where you spend your flight, and travelers have strong feelings about those uncomfortable frames of fabric and metal. Here's how to get the most out of your personal space.

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Volcano Eruption Grounds Cruise Travelers, Disrupts Sailings

With the volcanic activity in Iceland interrupting thousands of vacations, the delays and inconvenience continues to reverberate far beyond northern Europe and far beyond air travel.

Article / Hotels

Travel Troubleshooter: Who's Charging $257 For a Room I Won't Use?

Our reader cancels her hotel room she booked with an online agency, then she can't figure out who's charging her a cancellation fee. Is she stuck with it?

Article / Miscellaneous

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

What separates a frugal traveler from a thief? When it comes to finding deals, bargain hunters can face ethical dilemmas. Follow these rules to help keep you traveling with a clear…

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Wait! I Never Bought Flight Insurance

A traveler calls her airline to fix a seat assignment and ends up with a $35 charge for flight insurance that she never bought. What was the fee really for, and what can you learn from…

Article / Air Travel

Flight Check: Los Angeles to Zurich on Swiss

Johnny Jet checks in to see if you can really take off and land like clockwork with Switzerland's national carrier.

Article / Miscellaneous

The Honest Guest's Guide to Free Hotel Amenities

Is it stealing if you check out of your hotel with a stash of travel-size toiletries tucked in your suitcase? What about a bathrobe? Here are five simple rules to follow if you're not…

Article / Air Travel

How Unbundling Fees Make Airlines a Bundle of Cash

Lately, the industry has been busy unbundling services that traditionally came with a seat, such as baggage checking, seat reservations, and even the ability to pay by credit card.

Article / Hotels

Travel Troubleshooter: I Cancelled in Time, So Where's My Deposit?

Our traveler's tour operator promises to refund her deposit if she cancels with more than 45 days' notice. But when she does, the company balks. How can you avoid this situation?