Articles

Health, Insurance, Security

Article / Air Travel

Before You Fly During the U.S. Shutdown, Check These Websites

The U.S. federal shutdown has lasted more than a month. Workers in the Transportation Security Administration and in the air traffic control system have not been paid, and their…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Tourists Warned of Deadly Tainted Alcohol in Mexico, Japan, Brazil, and Other Travel Hot Spots

Public heath experts are sounding the alarm about a worrisome uptick in poisonings from tainted alcohol in many countries around the world, including several major destinations for…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Need a Motion Sickness Cure? Scientists Say This Type of Music Can Help

You've probably heard that music has charms to soothe a savage breast. But did you know it has charms to soothe an upset stomach?A 2025 scientific study published in the journal…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

What Are the Safest Countries to Visit in 2026?

Smart travelers make safety a top concern no matter where they're headed. But, obviously, some places pose fewer risks than others due to factors such as economic and political…

Article / Miscellaneous

The Unexpected Travel Effects of the Federal Shutdown

No matter how common they have become, U.S. Government shutdowns can be painful, especially for travelers.Already, the action that began on October 1 is affecting everything from…

Article / Air Travel

Can You Opt Out of a Face Scan for International Flight Departures in the U.S.?

This month, a facial recognition system at U.S. airports completed its pilot stage and moved to official implementation. As of September 26, there are 57 major American airports where…

Article / Money and Fees

Holiday Travel Tips: Why You Should Book Early, What Will Be Different in 2025, and More

When the leaves are turning gold, red, and burnt orange, that means just one thing: You’ve missed the best window for booking affordable holiday travel. This year, I'm breaking out the…

Article / Miscellaneous

The TSA Has Banned These Hair Care Products from Checked Luggage

This year, the Transportation Security Administration has made a few important tweaks to security rules at the airport.In February, the TSA clarified that portable chargers and power…

Article / Miscellaneous

Don't Take Stones or Sand from These Tourist Sights—or You'll Unleash a Curse

In August 2025, a Scottish tourist was on a group tour near the Basilica at Pompeii Archaeological Park outside Naples, Italy, when he noticed a few loose stones under his…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Polio is Cropping Up In Countries You'd Never Imagine, the CDC Says. How to Keep Yourself Safe

This month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its global warning about polio, releasing a list of 39 countries where Americans should "practice enhanced precautions." On…

Article / Hotels

Did La Quinta Hotel Really Make Guests Check in by Video Conference?

We know that American business owners are contending with a sudden reduction in low-paid workers, particularly in the hospitality industry, which is being impacted by the ripple…

Article / Money and Fees

Airbnb Scam Warning: AI-Altered Photos Used to Accuse Guest of Causing $16,000 in Damage

Airbnb has had to apologize and issue a refund to a guest after a host allegedly used AI to create fraudulent photos in support of a claim that the guest had caused a whopping $16,000…

Article / Miscellaneous

When Are Passport Stamps Going Away in Europe? Entry/Exit System Start Date Announced

A start date for Europe's much-delayed new system of automated border crossings has been announced. According to the European Union, the bloc's Entry/Exit System (EES) will finally…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Tourists Warned of Scary Brain Parasite in Hawaii: How to Protect Yourself

Medical experts and public health advocates are sounding the alarm about a frightening threat in Hawaii.Caused by tiny roundworm parasites, neuroangiostrongyliasis—known more commonly…

Article / National Parks

Tourists Continue to Make Terrible Decisions Around the Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park

The hot springs at Yellowstone National Park have injured or killed more people than "any other natural feature" there, according to the National Park Service. As you might imagine,…

Article / Beach & Water Sports

Caribbean Islands Without Hurricanes: Where to Avoid Major Storms on Vacation

When it's hurricane season in the Caribbean, the risk may not be bad if you're on the best islands. These Caribbean countries are usually safe.

Article / Air Travel

In Parts of Europe, They're Letting You Fly with Up to 2 Liters of Liquid Now

On July 8, at the moment U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was throwing a fancy press event for the cameras to announce the end of the Transportation Security…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

How to Travel with Wegovy, Zepbound, and Other Weight-Loss Injection Meds

Millions of people use injectable weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro. But the nature of these prescription medications—which have to be stored within a…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Rise in Measles Prompts Popular Caribbean Destination to Require Vaccination to Visit

There has been an update to this story. See the bottom of this post. The United States has logged at least 1,200 measles cases so far in 2025. Although the U.S. had declared the…

Article / Hotels

Travelers Beware! These U.S. Cities Have the Most Bedbugs

Here's a distinction no city's chamber of commerce wants: the Bedbug Capital of America. Even so, the pest control company Terminix has released its annual ranking of the "most…

Article / Air Travel

Your Personal Airline Data Is Secretly Being Sold to U.S. Homeland Security

Perhaps it surprises nobody that in this age of meaningless digital privacy protections, the U.S. government has been secretly buying up data about airline passengers.But that's what…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Does the Trump Travel Ban Mean Americans Can't Visit the Blocked Countries?

As of Monday, the Trump administration's new travel ban has taken effect. Foreign nationals from 12 countries, mostly in the Middle East and Africa, are barred from entering the United…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Kidnappers Are Targeting Dating App Users in This Tourism Hot Spot, U.S. Embassy Warns

U.S. government officials have issued a warning for tourists who use dating apps while on vacation. In a new security alert, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico reports that it has confirmed…

Article / Cruise

This $10 Item Could Keep You from Getting Sick on a Cruise Ship

A purported symbol of luxury that turns out to be a source of contamination may sound like a metaphor for critiquing society. But it's also an actual thing on cruise ships, according…

Article / Air Travel

Standing Airline Seats Are Reportedly Coming in 2026. That News Doesn't Sit Well

When you have covered travel news for 25 years, as I have, you notice that certain stories flare up with the regularity of heartburn. Such it is with standing airline seats, a sizzling…