Articles

Health, Insurance, Security

Article / Passportable

TSA Confirms Real ID Will Be Mandatory to Fly Starting May 7, 2025

This post was originally published in December 2022 and contains updated information.The deadline for all Americans to be using Real I.D., the strengthened identification format that…

Article / Air Travel

Where is Everybody? "Humanless” Customer Service is Dominating Travel. Can We Be Heard as Consumers?

Companies have been eliminating customer assistance and denying consumers help with increasing frequency, and now the problem is nearly ubiquitous. Why isn't this a national…

Article / Passportable

Hurricane Season Forecast: 2024 Could Get Most Storms Ever

This post, originally published April 22, has been updated with new information.The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is going to be a rough one, according to weather forecasters. For…

Article / Local Experiences

The USA's Legal Recreational Weed States in 2024

24 states and counting . . . 

Article / Outdoor & Adventure

How to Avoid Ticks While Hiking, Camping, or Otherwise Enjoying the Outdoors

Tick talk: tips for avoiding ticks in the outdoors, what to check after you come back inside, and how to remove a tick if you find one

Article / Beach & Water Sports

Taking Sand from the Beach as a Souvenir? That'll Be a €3000 Fine

The next time you're at a beach you love, fight the urge to celebrate the place by taking some of it with you. A single selfish tourist taking a small vial of sand would barely seem to…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

The 10 Safest Countries in Africa to Visit in 2024

These 10 African countries have earned the safest rating from the U.S. State Department.

Article / Road Trips

Why Your Phone's Navigation App May Be Useless for Driving Outside Your Home Country

You cannot rely on your smartphone from home to give you quick turn-by-turn driving directions in another country. Here's why, and here's how to get around it.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Car Rentals in Europe: Travelers Have to Watch Out for These Pitfalls

If you don't live in Europe, your assumptions about renting a car there may be wrong. Watch out for these classic mistakes when you rent a vehicle in Europe.

Article / Air Travel

10 Surprising Things That Could Trigger a Bag Search at the Airport

If you pack any of these items, don't be surprised if airport security agents ask to open your luggage for closer inspection.

Article / Air Travel

DOT’s New Airline Refund Rules are a Godsend for Travelers

The Department of Transportation announced meaningful new rules last week. They couldn’t have come soon enough.

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

What Are the Safest Countries to Visit in South America Right Now?

Amid alarming headlines, these are South America's safest travel destinations.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Sad News for Reckless Idiots: Hawaii’s “Stairway to Heaven” To Be Demolished

Hawaii's visually striking yet very illegal-to-climb Haiku Stairs will finally be taken down, following years of futile efforts by local officials to persuade tourists to leave the…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

“Risk of Outbreaks High”: Tourists Warned of Deadly Disease Spread by Mosquitoes

So far this year, several countries in South America—including tourism heavy hitters like Colombia and Peru—have reported cases of yellow fever, a potentially deadly virus that's…

Article / Passportable

Have Tea with Naughty Sheep at Cameron House in Scotland’s Countryside

Over the years, Frommer's has covered a menagerie of animal-accompanied wellness experiences (usually yoga), involving goats, golden retrievers, reindeer, and chickens, to name a…

Article / Air Travel

How to Fix Boeing, By an Industry Expert

Critics of Boeing blame its troubles on its multi-racial hiring practices. But the real source of its problems affects the safety of every air traveler in the USA.

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Can Visitors to Germany Use Cannabis Now That Recreational Use is Legal There?

In 2024, Germany legalized the use of marijuana products for recreational use. Does that mean tourists can buy or use cannabis in Germany now?

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Can I Cruise with Just a Driver's License?

Is a driver's license enough ID to take a cruise? The answer is mixed.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

U.S. Passport Wait Times Are Back Under Control. How Long Will It Take Now?

A year ago, as the U.S. government continued to climb out of the bureaucratic hole that Covid-19 and staffing woes had dug, the wait time for a new passport was as long as 13…

Article / Air Travel

The U.S. Hasn't Fully Tested Airline Evacuations in Years. Experts are Alarmed.

Even though nearly everything about flying has changed since the rules were set, the FAA has blocked evacuation testing that reflects actual conditions.

Article / Air Travel

How to Sleep on a Long Plane Flight: 24 Tips to Try

Over the years, I have developed some tricks for sleeping on airplanes—long flights, short flights, or any trip on which you need to get some shuteye.

Article / Hotels

Are Hotel Room Safes Safe? The Surprising Truth Behind Online Fears

In-room safes lock, but do they stay locked when we leave the hotel? Recent viral videos on TikTok have travelers worried about theft, but is there cause to be?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Countries That Drive on the Left Side of the Road: The Complete List

All the countries and territories in Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific where you'll need to drive on the left side of the road

Article / Passportable

Planning a European Road Trip? The Safest and Most Dangerous Countries for Driving

The ease and affordability of train travel in Europe make a strong case for riding the rails to get around the continent as a tourist rather than renting a car. Plus, trains are better…

Article / Food and Drink

What Is the Legal Drinking Age in Mexico? Liquor Laws Tourists Should Know

Get to know Mexico's alcohol consumption laws—including the legal drinking age and bans on where you can drink—before you visit.