Articles

Money and Fees

Article / Miscellaneous

Trump's Policies Are Making Travel More Expensive and Less Convenient

The United States travel industry is in a period of contraction, and that's bad news for travelers—and all Americans.Anger over President Donald Trump’s stated intentions to acquire…

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

One of the World's Most Scenic Countries to Start Charging Entry Fees at Natural Wonders

New Zealand plans to charge entry fees to foreign visitors at four of the country's most popular natural attractions, the government has announced. The new policy, revealed over the…

Article / Cruise

10 Ways to Cut the Cost of an Expedition Cruise

Fancy taking Viking’s 13-day Antarctic Explorer on the line’s newest ship, Octanis? That will be $15,000, please. Even sailings to more “affordable” expedition cruise destinations…

Article / Air Travel

Frontier Airlines Sells You Passenger Rights That Europeans Get for Free

On Wednesday, no-frills carrier Frontier Airlines unveiled its latest optional fee, dubbed Disruption Assistance for Any Reason. If customers buy the add-on at the time of ticketing,…

Article / Air Travel

Southwest Airlines Announces Date Open Seating Ends—So There'll Be No Special Reason to Fly It

We know you've heard this greatest hit from an American corporation many times before: A product is being made much worse because you allegedly demanded it.Southwest Airlines, which…

Article / Money and Fees

Europe Is Tripling the Cost of Its Entry Fee Before It's Even Implemented

The cost travelers will eventually have to pay for a digital permit to enter the European Union has gone up—even though the system hasn't been launched yet. Foreigners applying for the…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

More European Cities Are Throwing in Free Public Transit for Visitors: Here's Where

Here's a lesson that some destinations we could name might stand to learn.When you make tourists feel welcome, everybody wins.Guided by that principle, the city of Salzburg, Austria,…

Article / Packing & Luggage

Travel Scam Warning: Don't Throw Away Your Bag Tags at the Airport

If you're the type of traveler who fails to remove airline luggage tags until the next time you need to catch a flight, never let anyone accuse you of being neglectful. Turns out…

Article / Air Travel

Warning: Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access via Credit Cards Is Increasingly Futile

Access at more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide is granted through the Priority Pass program for people with some of the most popular credit cards in travel. Those cards include…

Article / Timing Your Trip

Pauline Frommer’s Tips for Affordable, Last-Minute Summer Travel, As Seen on ‘LIVE with Kelly and Mark’

It’s July, and your vacation plans are still unmade? Never fear, Frommer’s is here—Pauline Frommer in this case. I was tasked by Live with Kelly and Mark to come up with the top tips…

Article / Miscellaneous

New Executive Order Demands National Park Price Hikes for International Tourists

On the day before Independence Day, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to make international visitors pay more to visit America's national parks. In a confusing new…

Article / Air Travel

Air Passengers Have Fewer Rights in the U.S. Than in These Other Countries

Perhaps the most annoying of all airline fees is the extra charge for a carry-on bag, which several U.S. airlines, including United, can charge. But there's good news from the European…

Article / Cruise

Mexico's Tax on Cruisers, Soon to Be $21, Has Taken Effect: Is It Really a Big Deal?

Late last year, incoming U.S. President Donald Trump wasn't even in the White House yet when he threatened Mexico with a new 25% tariff. When he did that, Mexico slapped back fast. The…

Article / Beach & Water Sports

All-Inclusive Resorts Don't Include Everything! Expect These Expenses, Too

Be an early bird when it comes to excursions.We’re not just talking about booking them the moment you arrive, either. Excursions booked at the resort are generally more expensive, so…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Hertz Is Using AI Scanners to Charge for Rental Car Damage That Human Eyes Miss

Hertz is not a company known for mastering technology. After all, it was just a few years ago that dozens of former customers accused the car rental agency of ordering them to be…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Driving to NYC's JFK Airport Is About to Get Terrible. Take the AirTrain for Half Off Instead.

A record-setting 18.3 million passengers are expected to go through New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) this summer. On top of that, the airport's massive $19…

Article / Hotels

As Las Vegas Tourism Craters, Resort Fees Are Waived at Some Hotels

Las Vegas is hurting. Tourism numbers are nosediving, and the operators of casino-hotels are scrambling. In April, the city reported a drop of 180,000 visitors compared to the same…

Article / Miscellaneous

New Federal Junk Fee Rules Are in Effect: What to Look for, How to Report Violations

All right, savvy shoppers. It's been a month since the new federal rules about fee disclosures have kicked in. Are you seeing a difference in your online shopping?It's not often that…

Article / Air Travel

Silver Airways Shuts Down, Cancels All Flights—What Customers Should Know

Florida-based carrier Silver Airways has abruptly ceased operations, the company announced today. As of June 11, all Silver flights are canceled and customers will need to make other…

Article / Air Travel

The Big Three Airlines Are Misleading Travelers So They Can Rig the System

We have two airline industries in America. There are larger carriers, led by the Big Three oligopoly of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. And then we have…

Article / Air Travel

U.S. Airlines Caught Charging Solo Passengers More

There are lots of ways that the travel industry punishes you for traveling solo, including higher cruise fares and higher group tour prices. But those upcharges are usually based on…

Article / Money and Fees

AI-Driven Surge Pricing Comes to Airfares and Hotel Rates

It’s bad enough when you need an Uber just as the ball game is ending across town, and a $24 ride jumps to $68.But now that $549 airline ticket to London can leap to $849 just as…

Article / Air Travel

Air Travelers Who Stand Up Immediately After Landing Now Face Fines in This Country

We’ll concede that one of the most difficult times to remain patient during air travel is in that seemingly interminable stretch between when the plane lands and when you can get up…

Article / Money and Fees

The Cheapest Cities in Europe to Visit in 2025—and the Most Expensive

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Travelers hunting for bargains in Europe will have the best luck looking eastward. That sage advice is borne out by the latest City Costs…