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Money and Fees

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Travel Troubleshooter: A Married Name, A Singular Headache

When our newly married flyer puts the wrong name on her airline ticket the carrier demands $400 to get it right. Is that right?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Pick Up the Phone, Pay Twice the Price

Our reader runs into a snag when he tries to buy an airline ticket online for his mother. So he calls the online agency and is sold a ticket that costs twice the online rate. Do rates…

Article / Money and Fees

Pauline Frommer's Spend Less, See More Tips for Not Getting Bumped

In this series of monthly tips, you'll find some terrific tips to help you make the most of every trip. This time around, find out how you can avoid getting bumped, or at least make…

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Travel Troubleshooter: Hey, Where's My Ride?

Our reader's vacation package includes land transfers, but when she lands in Kingston there's no one to pick her up. What does the tour operator owe her?

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Why High Gas Prices Could Cut Your Vacation Costs

Too bad gas prices are falling. Soaring fuel costs can potentially save us real money on our next vacation -- if not in the short term, then down the road.

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: We're Out of Cars, And You're Out of Luck

When our reader arrives at the National Car Rental counter in Guadalajara, Mexico, he's told they're out of cars. Shouldn't the rental company have tried to find him another car?

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Travel Writing 101: Electronic Publishing

It's possible to be a travel writer and not get involved with electronic publishing, but it's tough going, and it wouldn't be a good idea for someone starting out now.

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Travel Troubleshooter: Two Bills, One Room, and Zero Options

Our reader prepays for his hotel room through Hotwire.com and then gets double billed. Now nobody seems to care about fixing the error. Is our reader out of options?

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3 Biggest Mistakes Business Travelers Make

These so-called 'road warriors' aren't necessarily as smart as they look. If they were, then why would they spend half their lives on the road?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: A Bill, But No Reservation

Our reader uses Orbitz to reserve a hotel room, but when he tries to reconfirm, he's told there's no reservation. He makes a new one, then gets billed for two. Is there any hope for a…

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Mad at the Airlines? 4 Ways to Get Even

So how do you exact revenge on the worst offenders of the fee-happy, rule-breaking, terribly run airline industry? Here are your options.

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: One Frozen Screen, Two Sets of Tickets

When our reader's computer freezes while booking tickets with Expedia, a company rep says to book them again -- then charges him for both transactions. Shouldn't Expedia offer a refund?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: A Surprise Fee for My Hotel Room

Our reader's hotel comes with an unexpected surprise: a $50 charge for a 'short stay.' When she protests, her hotel and online travel agency tell her she must pay. Is there a way out…

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7 Ways to Experience China on the Cheap

With that favorable exchange rate and the boom in American-style budget hotels and restaurants, it's now possible to vacation in China in a dignified and highly affordable manner.

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Pauline Frommer's Spend Less, See More Tips for Renting a Car

8 things you need to know to get a better car with fewer hassles on your next vacation.

Article / Money and Fees

Frequent Criers: Are Elite Fliers Ruining Air Travel?

The last thing I want to do is start a class war at 36,000 feet, but enough is enough. Passengers who think they deserve preferential treatment are ruining it for the rest of us.

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Travel Troubleshooter: Hassled Over My 'No Hassle' Miles

Our reader buys tickets with her Capital One miles. But when her airline goes out of business, her credit card company refuses to return the awards. Is she stuck with a worthless…

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Solo Suckers: 4 Ways the Travel Industry Shafts Singles

Flying solo? Prepare to pay up. The travel industry makes life uncomfortable for solo travelers in countless ways that, if they aren't discriminatory, are at the very least awkward.

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Travel Troubleshooter: Oh No! My Tickets Fell Through the Cracks

Our reader books two airline tickets using frequent flier miles. But when she checks her reservation, she finds nothing. Can the airline retrieve it in time for her trip?

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Top 10 Reasons Staycations Are a Lousy Idea

We know gas price are high. We know that food prices are high. But vacationing at home is an oxymoron and does a real disservice to the benefits you receive by getting the heck out of…

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Travel Troubleshooter: Incidentally, Where's My $10

Because of a missed connection, our reader has to spring for socks and toiletries. After a promise to cover the cost, Frontier balks at a refund. What's going on?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: They Didn't Leave the Light On

Our reader is offered a free room-night certificate as compensation for a bad stay at a Motel 6. But when she tries to redeem it, she's told it's no good. How do you get the hotel to…

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Travel Troubleshooter: Help! My Leg is Missing

When our flyer discovers part of her flight from Calgary to Rome is missing, British Airways claims 'extraordinary circumstances' and refuses to compensate her. Is she really out of…

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Travel Troubleshooter: What Didn't Happen in Vegas

When the resort our reader is supposed to stay says its never heard of her, she's sent to a different hotel that's out in the boondocks. What is she owed for the reservations snafu?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: A Canceled Flight, But No Refund

Travelocity promised our flyer a refund when the airline stopped flying. But after countless calls and e-mails, there's still no sign of the money.