Articles

Trends & Hacks

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Can You Really Fly with a Gun in the USA? Or Bring a Toy Gun on an Airplane? We Hate to Tell You...

In the first 9 months of 2024, the Transportation Security Administration intercepted more than 5,000 firearms at airport security checkpoints across the United States, the federal…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

iPhone's Satellite Feature Can Help Travelers with No Power or Signal

Did you know Apple has a system that lets travelers send emergency texts via satellite even if there's no cell phone signal? Knowing how to use this tech could save your life.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Is "Skiplagging" Illegal? And Does the Controversial Airfare Hack Even Save Money?

The controversial airfare trick known as "skiplagging" will soon go on trial in federal court. The purportedly money-saving hack involves booking a flight with a connection, but then…

Article / Slideshows

America's Scariest Haunted Hotels: Even More Inns for Supernatural Sightings

What do bank robbers, butchers, ballroom dancers, a schoolmarm, prostitutes and a lumberjack have in common? They're some of the long-dead characters who famously haunt hotels across…

Article / Slideshows

America's Top 10 Haunted Hotels, Part One

As the air turns crisp and fall gets into full swing, consider spending a night or two at one of these haunted hotels and inns in Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Austin, and more.…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Discounts for Disney Due to Softer Bookings: See the Current Sales

Everyone knows a Disney parks vacation costs a lot. Disney was once a byword for whimsy and quality, but it seems like in our era, "expensive" has replaced "magic" as the single…

Article / Passportable

Wait Times for U.S. Passports Haven't Been This Short in Years!

In the first half of 2021, the United States State Department had an epic backlog of 2 million passport applications. As the Biden Administration began, the wait time for a new…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Online U.S. Passport Renewal is Now Fully Available! Here's All You'll Need

After a two-year period of beta testing, digital passport renewal is now a full reality for American travelers. Here's how it works and how long it takes.

Article / Passportable

These Travel Apps Gobble Up the Most of Your Phone's Mobile Data

Depending on your smartphone's service plan, the expense of data while you're roaming abroad can be one of the ugliest surprises in a travel budget. Forgetting to use the correct…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

When to Start a Renewal of a U.S. Passport

Mail-in processing of passport renewal takes as long as three months, so it's crucial to know how soon you can apply to renew. The good news: A new digital renewal process is on…

Article / Slideshows

How to Bike Normandy’s D-Day Beaches: A Car-Free Side Trip from Paris

Beyond their historical significance, Normandy’s D-Day beaches are quite simply beautiful. The stark and ever-changing light on the vast water creates a palette of colors that makes…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Exclusive: TSA Chief Reveals Huge Changes for Faster Airport Security—And Some Are Already in Place

With no fanfare, and with little public comment, one of the most dreaded aspects of air travel got faster, less intrusive, and far more pleasant. I’m talking about airport security,…

Article / Slideshows

Alaska by Ferry: See Incredible Places for a Fraction of What Cruises Cost

I honestly don't know what made me open my eyes. Traveling aboard one of Alaska ’s state ferries from Juneau to Petersburg, I'd dozed off in the outdoor solarium—enjoying the mix of…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Will Southwest Keep Checked Luggage Free? We Finally Have an Answer

Every budget-minded air passenger in the United States already knows that longtime no-frills kingpin Southwest Airlines is in bad trouble. The list of woes is daunting: Repeated…

Article / Air Travel

Oakland Airport's Name Change is Causing "Traveler Confusion" in San Francisco

The city of San Francisco says a recent name change at Oakland's OAK is unlawful, disorienting, and is tricking passengers into going to the wrong airport

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Oakland Airport's Name Change is Causing "Traveler Confusion" in San Francisco

If you wanted to fly to the San Francisco area's Oakland airport, which airport code would you use during booking?If you said SFO, short for San Francisco Oakland, you'd be flying to…

Article / Air Travel

Airline Miles Programs Are Essentially Pyramid Schemes Now

They started out well. But here are 5 key ways airline loyalty points schemes are screwing you now.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Don’t Have TSA PreCheck? In Boston, There’s a $3 Trick to Skipping Airport Lines

A blessing and a curse for travelers to and from Boston is that the city’s international airport is pretty much smack-dab in the middle of the action. Buttressed against the Atlantic…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Unplugged! Royal Caribbean Bans a Popular Item That Many Cruisers Pack

Royal Caribbean has revised its list of forbidden items to ban a useful travel tool that many cruisers pack as an essential item. Even though the change "was not communicated to…

Article / Cruise

The First-Time Cruiser's Packing List: 20 Things Your Cabin Won't Have

What do you need to bring on a cruise? The items on this checklist—unless you want to buy them at inflated prices later.

Article / Slideshows

15+ Amazing Travel Tricks Your iPhone Can Already Do for Free: Flight Status, Translation, Conversion, Measuring Bags, More

If you have been traveling with an iPhone for a while, you might assume you already know all the things it can do for you. But for the past few years, Apple has been quietly adding new…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

What Hotel Workers Wish You Knew About Being a Good Guest in These Times

Everyone who has stayed at a hotel since Covid-19 knows that something is off. You're not losing your mind. Room rates have gone way up. Business is way up, yet housekeeping services…

Article / Passportable

These Are the Best Airports in the U.S. in 2024, According to Passengers

Nearly two-thirds of North American flyers (60% to be precise) report having "enjoyed spending time in their airport," according to the latest passenger satisfaction survey from J.D.…

Article / Passportable

When Is United Airlines Getting Free Wi-Fi?

It's pretty shocking that even though the internet has been an essential part of our lives for nearly 30 years, the number of U.S. airlines that supply free Wi-Fi to all passengers…

Article / Slideshows

What to Do in Provincetown: A 1-Day Side Trip from Boston

Windswept sand dunes and a windswept Cher impersonator riding a stand-up scooter down Commercial Street—those are basically the twin poles of any getaway in Provincetown, Massachusetts…