Articles

Money and Fees

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Airlines Still Cashless Even Though Many Passengers Don’t Own Credit Cards

Delta Air Lines has announced that as of March 16, flight attendants will be equipped to accept contactless payments for in-flight purchases such as earbuds and food. Customers will be…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

MGM Resorts in Legal Hot Water Over Resort Fee "Lies"

If you have traveled or shopped for travel in the past few months, you've probably noticed a vexing trend: Many hotels in the United States have drastically curtailed amenities because…

Article / Passportable

If You Have This Credit Card, You Can Visit Museums for Free on Select Weekends

One out of every three museums in the United States could disappear because of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to research released last summer by the American Alliance of…

Article / Passportable

Refund Woes Fueled a Record Number of Complaints from Air Travelers in 2020

The U.S. federal government received a record number of complaints from airline passengers in 2020. In all, 102,550 complaints were filed with the Department of Transportation,…

Article / Passportable

Here Are the Countries with the Least and Most Expensive Plane and Train Travel

Thailand has the world's most affordable domestic transportation prices overall while Denmark has the most expensive, according to a newly released analysis of plane, train, and bus…

Article / Hotels

5 Tips to Remember When You Pay for a Hotel Room

Hidden fees, complex cancellation policies, and incidental deposits are just some of the surprises that may show up on your hotel bill at checkout. Follow these five steps to avoid…

Article / Passportable

Bar Tab: Map Shows the Cost of Beer Around the World

“Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!” That toast and its airtight logic come…

Article / Passportable

JetBlue Forbids Free Carry-Ons for Basic Fares, Drops Change Fees Elsewhere

JetBlue is adding an irksome catch to its cheapest category of plane tickets. Any customer who books a basic economy fare—dubbed "Blue Basic" by JetBlue—for travel after July 20 will…

Article / Passportable

Airline Waives Mask Rule for Passengers in First and Business Class

First class and business class flyers getting special perks is not news. But it's a shocking development when airlines decide to bend science in an effort to attract big…

Article / Passportable

Four Men Eat Crate of Oranges at Chinese Airport to Avoid Excess Baggage Fee

How far would you go to get out of paying an extra fee at the airport? Whatever your answer, we're guessing it doesn't involve gobbling up nearly 70 pounds of produce in less than 30…

Article / Passportable

Southwest Airlines Celebrating Its 50th Birthday with $50 Fares

At my 50th birthday party, a friend noted that this would likely be the last big celebration of my life—until my funeral. Yes, that came from a friend. But not all birthday wishes have…

Article / Passportable

Are You a Morbid Millionaire? Lizzie Borden's House-Turned-B&B Is for Sale

As if we didn't already know the real estate market can be murder, the house-turned-inn where one of the most notorious double homicides in U.S. history took place is now for…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

A New Government Rule Might Have Just Killed Involuntary Airline Bumping for Good

Midnight regulations are actions taken during the lame-duck period of a presidential administration. They tend to be controversial moves, especially if one party is taking over the…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Disney World Guts Guest Benefits at Its Hotels: Why Would You Stay Now?

From a value standpoint, it's already a highly debatable decision to stay within the borders of Walt Disney World at a Disney-owned hotel. Those properties easily cost at least twice…

Article / Passportable

Jaw-Dropping Prices on Autumn Airfare to Europe on Sale This Week

On January 11, 2021, a total of 708,177 passengers were screened by TSA agents at U.S. airports. A year ago on the same day, the number was 1,992,453. And that 65% drop is spawning…

Article / Cruise

Grab a Perk-Heavy Alaska Cruise at a Serious Discount Right Now—It's Fully Refundable

If you have ever wanted to cruise Alaska, this head-turning deal is packed with benefits for the price—and you can even change your mind and get your money back later.

Article / Passportable

American Airlines Launches New Daily Deals—And The First One Is Fantastic

American Airlines is kicking off the new year by launching new daily promotions, and while I don't know what the future deals will be, the first one could truly be called a…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

What You Need to Know About Credit Cards and Rental Car Insurance (It's All Changing)

A number of cards are no longer offering rental car insurance. Here's how to find out whether you're covered—before you hit the rental counter.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Royal Caribbean to Rescue Travel Planners with No-Interest Loans: A Good Thing?

For centuries in England, when you chose to go to a pub, you were also often choosing the brewery that supplied it. Many pubs were associated with only one maker of ales. And when our…

Article / Miscellaneous

6 Ways to Dream a Vacation Now, but Pay Over Time or Take It Later

News about vaccines is making people wish we could be traveling again. Vendors are already helping customers make future plans—and spread the costs over time.

Article / Passportable

Half Off Colorado Ski Vacations Just Announced

Skiing is innately socially distanced. After all, it's done in the open air—and this year, ski resorts around the United States are creating new protocols, such as limits on the…

Article / Passportable

A Charge for the Overhead Bin? One Airline Is Doing It

Hard times make us do things we'd never normally do, like make best friends with a volleyball, sell our hair and belt "I Dreamed a Dream," or get into sourdough baking. For easyJet,…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

When Is the Best Day of the Week to Buy Airfare and Fly in 2021? A New Study Reveals All

This year, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be a measly single block long, Christmas markets around the world are largely canceled, and far fewer people will gather at grandma's…

Article / Passportable

TikTokker's Carry-On "Hack" Gets Him Banned from Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines has reportedly banned a TikTok user from flights for two years because of a carry-on luggage tip the man posted. In an 18-second clip titled "Spirit carry on hack" that…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

For Flyers Who Want Vacant Middle Seats, Only One Airline Will Qualify Now

For Americans who would rather fly with an empty seat beside them, there is only one choice now. One by one, all the other airlines have peeled away from their commitment to leave…