Articles

Health, Insurance, Security

Article / Passportable

A Luxury Island Retreat Where Only Women Are Welcome

We told you women-only travel was going to be a big deal in 2018.To wit: In September, a private island off the coast of Finland will begin welcoming guests—and dudes need not…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Is It Safe to Vacation in Cape Town Once the Water Runs Out?

We have never been here before. A major world city is about to run out of fresh water.  On April 12, the drought-stricken city of Cape Town, on the southwestern tip of Africa, hits Day…

Article / Passportable

San Francisco Airport Can Now Send Emergency Texts to Passengers

San Francisco International Airport has become the first in the nation to receive approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to send emergency text messages directly to any…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

U.S. State Department Travel Advisories: Where to Find Them, How to Read Them

In 2018, the U.S. State Department revamped its travel warnings to make them easier to understand. Here's how to find them and how to use them to plan a safe trip overseas.

Article / Air Travel

New York City's Airport Dentist Looks Back on 30 Years in the "Smile High Club"

Did you know there are dental offices at New York City's LaGuardia and JFK Airports? Dr. Robert Trager has been tending to the smiles of airport personnel and passengers for three…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Arthur Frommer: For No Real Reason, Feds Attack the Legality of Cannabis Tourism

Because the current U.S. Attorney General is a fierce opponent of marijuana, we can expect a massive legal attack against travel to the states—mainly California and Colorado—that…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Want a Cannabis Vacation? Now There's a Whole Town for That

One day after California, America's most populous state, made recreational cannabis consumption legal, the Los Angeles Times reported on an entire town where getting stoned is the…

Article / Slideshows

Frommer's Gift Guide: Great Stuff for Travel

Let us break it to you: They don't want yet another inflatable airline pillow. They never even used the last one. No, if you've got a travel lover in your life, they want one of these…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

If You Crave a Caribbean Vacation, Many Areas Escaped Storm Damage: A List

This coming winter, many thousands of Americans will agonize over whether they can enjoy tropical vacations in the Caribbean of the sort they once knew. Should they even bother to…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

If Morality Won’t Persuade U.S. to End Gun Violence, How About Economic Damage?

Because this blog is about travel, not politics, I am prevented from discussing the issues of gun control raised by the recent shooting in Las Vegas. But I very definitely am entitled…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

A Tragic Backpacker Death Teaches an Important Travel Lesson

What happened to Kit Mallinson was the nightmare every parent has when they send their child away on a trip.Last December, the 18-year-old backpacker from Dorset, England, boarded a…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Not All of the Caribbean was Devastated by Irma: Don't Neglect the Rest

Our hearts go out to those island nations that suffered so badly from recent storms—St. Martin, the Virgin Islands, Barbuda, among them. But by assuming that all such islands were…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

A Major Battle is About to Erupt Over Marijuana Tourism

Last year, California, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts joined five other states in legalizing the recreational use and sale of marijuana. The action taken by California is…

Article / Beach & Water Sports

After the Storms: What You Need to Know If You Have Booked Travel to Impacted Regions

Harvey's and Irma's effects will be felt for months to come. What the airlines, cruise lines, hotel companies, and other travel industry entities are—and aren't—doing to…

Article / Passportable

Rental Car Rates Could Zoom Sky-High Thanks to Lobbyists

Today, the American Car Rental Association (ACRA), a lobbying group for the car rental industry, is wrapping up its annual Washington, D.C. "Legislative Conference," during which it…

Article / Food and Drink

A New Warning About Cocktails at Some Mexican All-Inclusive Resorts

Toxic alcohol is a rising problem at some unethical resorts in Mexico. Here's what you should know—and how to tell if you've had sub-par booze.

Article / Miscellaneous

Brain Parasites in Hawaii and United's PR Woes: Today's Travel Briefing

Travel news from all over

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Travel Troubleshooter: Charged an Extra $400 for a Vacation I Can't Take

An illness forces a traveler to cancel her trip to Costa Rica. Was the retreat center right to charge her a cancellation fee that wasn't disclosed at the time of booking?

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 / 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 / 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 / Health, Insurance, Security

Travel Troubleshooter: Insurance Doesn't Cover My Trip Cancellation

Is it ever a good idea to buy flight insurance through the airline's site? This traveler learns this lesson the hard way after her vacation is canceled and rescheduled.

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Costa Concordia Sinking Leaves Other Cruise-Ship Passengers Alarmed -- and Out of Luck

Passengers who are nervous about sailing will find that most cruise lines aren't issuing penalty-free refunds.

Article / Air Travel

10 Survival Tips for Holiday Travel

Whether you're jetting off on a beach vacation or heading home for the holidays, use these 10 foolproof strategies to battle the crowds and make your flight more bearable.

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Best Smartphone Apps for Offline Use

Wi-Fi hotspots in airports and cafes may seem ubiquitous, but when you're traveling it's often tough to find a place to get online. Here are six apps that get you what you need, no…