FTC in the U.S. passes law about "junk fees." This new law prohibits bait-and-switch pricing that hides fees at hotels and in live-event ticketing. It's about time, right? But bear in mind that this doesn't prohibit fees, just the hiding of them. Free city tours...
New UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Travelers from the U.S., Canada, and Australia will have to apply online for an ETA to enter the UK starting January 8, 2025. It can take up to 72 hours to process, so you need to apply in advance with your passport...
There are a number of travel hazards that you may not be aware of, so follow these guidelines to be safe during your holiday vacation: Social media hazard. If you have holiday travel plans, DO NOT announce them on social media or blogs, where other people, not just...
Bullet hits Southwest plane. A Southwest Airlines plane was struck by a bullet on November 15th at Dallas Love Field airport. The plane returned to the gate and was taken out of service, and there were no injuries. Spirit Airlines bankruptcy. Spirit has filed for...
Hotel rooms inspired by Wicked. New York Hilton Midtown hotel is collaborating with Universal Pictures to create a one-of-a-kind suite inspired by the Broadway show and upcoming movie, Wicked. Canned air? In Lake Como, they're selling cans of the local air for people...
Notre Dame reopening in Paris. After the devastating fire in 2019, the famous Notre Dame cathedral in Paris will reopen December 8, 2024! Notre Dame in Paris. Photo by Melanie Votaw. Las Vegas Sphere news. You might have heard about The Sphere in Las Vegas. Well,...
Italy and Switzerland to redraw borders. Melting glaciers in the Alps are the reason for this change near Zermatt, Switzerland and involves a 330-foot-long segment. Delta Partnership with Incheon Airport in South Korea. Currently, Delta Airlines' Asian hub is Tokyo's...
Donate to help those affected by Hurricane Helene. Our hearts go out to all of those who experienced loss of life or property damage from Hurricane Helene. This link will take you to the American Red Cross North Carolina, where the flooding damage was especially...
Unfortunately, bedbugs are a reality these days, and it can be very difficult to get rid of them. But don't panic! I even got them in my apartment (presumably from a package that was delivered, as I hadn't traveled recently), and spraying did kill them because we...
AIRLINE NEWS American Airlines news: Did you know that flight attendants aren't paid for their time during boarding? I was shocked to learn this. But American Airlines flight attendants just signed a new contract that will get them paid for this time. Delta Airlines...
New international air routes: There are new routes internationally from the U.S.: Newark to Marrakech on United; Dallas to Brisbane on American; Portland, Oregon to Amsterdam on KLM; Minneapolis to St. Maarten on Delta; Providence to San Juan on JetBlue; Dallas to...
I just discovered a new service called Bounce that has a luggage storage network around the world. They work with local businesses that are willing to hold your bags for a set period of time. The business hours vary, but you can check that information on the website...
Dispute with a travel-related company? Whenever you have a problem with a travel-related company that you're struggling to resolve, check out the contact information for executives in Christopher Elliott's handy list. Don't waste more time - go right to the top!...
AIRLINE AND FLIGHT NEWS United Airlines news: United is adding live radar maps to its phone app to help passengers track weather delays. Sounds good to me! Emotional support llamas? That's right! PDX airport in Portland has 'em. Take a look:...
TRAVEL NEWS JetBlue news. Starting September 6, 2024, JetBlue will allow a free carry-on bag to those flying via Blue Basic fare. Good! It's ridiculous to have to pay more for a carry-on. Lufthansa Airlines news. Starting in 2025, the airline will charge an extra fee...
Don't rely on AI to create your itinerary! A recent study found that AI itineraries are ridden with errors. They'll recommend visiting places when they aren't open or places that are permanently closed. Some of them even recommend places that never existed. Plus, they...
I have struggled with motion sickness my whole life, and sometimes, I can be miserable on a boat, even while others think the water is nice and smooth. So over the years, I have found that a triple threat strategy works well for me: Meclizine. Sorry, Dramamine, but...
Hello, all you current and to-be dads, and welcome to our very first LuxuryWeb Magazine Father’s Day Gift Guide. We have a few suggestions that you might want to pass along to spouses and children who want to celebrate your special day with that extra-special gift....
I have been plagued with severe ear pain and popping on airplanes for many years, so I've found a few tricks that work well for me. Hopefully, they'll work for you, too. I'm sure you already know about chewing gum or sucking on candy. It's the swallowing action that...
Americans arrested: Five Americans have been arrested recently in Turks and Caicos in separate incidents because they've left firearm ammunition in their luggage, purportedly by accident. The sentence for such an offense can be as much as 12 years. One of the American...
Mona Lisa News: The Louvre in Paris is considering moving the Mona Lisa to a larger room in the basement to make it easier for the crowds to get a good look. Train between Spain and Morocco? Fingers crossed this happens! They might build a tunnel under the Strait of...
“It is a new social and cultural reality in Spain” according to the Spanish Culture Ministry. This Friday, Spain scrapped their “Annual Bullfighting Award,” prompting a backlash from national conservatives against the abolition of the centuries-old tradition that is...
Automatic airline refunds!: The Department of Transportation in the U.S. is instituting new rules that require airlines to give automatic refunds if a domestic flight is delayed by three hours or more or an international flight is delayed by six hours or more. The...
May is the month when flowering trees are in bloom. The air is permeated with fragrance, and the sounds of coughing and sneezing can be heard throughout the land. This Mother’s Day, we are more than ever before suffering from the effects of climate change and are...
Balmoral Castle News! According to The Royal Butler, King Charles has decided to allow the public to visit the interior of Balmoral Castle for the first time. It's located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and will cost more than $100 to visit both the castle and the...
Southwest Airlines is planning to start its first red-eye flights within the next couple of years. Istanbul Airport has been named the best airport in the world for the fourth time in a row. United Airlines now allows you to combine your MileagePlus miles together...
After the fire in 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen on December 8, 2024. Galapagos Islands entry fees are increasing as of August 1, 2024. They haven't increased these fees since 1998, so I think they're entitled to double them. They will go from $100...
Don't use Google to look for airline phone numbers! It turns out scammers are putting bogus numbers on Google and posing as airlines. When you need a number, ALWAYS go to the official website of the airline! What's the "911"? Whenever you travel to a new country, be...
Air travel safety record is good! This may come as a surprise, but the International Air Transport Association report on plane safety in 2023 says the number of accidents last year was the lowest in a decade - one accident for every 1.26 million flights. Strap in, and...
TSA PreCheck News. Up to now, kids age 12 and younger could go through the TSA PreCheck line with their parents. Now, kids up to age 18 can go through the line with their parents. This is great news for families! TSA PreCheck Scams. There are bogus websites claiming...
Before traveling to Japan, I highly recommend that you do considerable research. Otherwise, you’ll waste a lot of time trying to figure things out. I did a lot of research, but there were still moments when I found myself confused. I can’t imagine the amount of time I...
Tourist levy in Bali. On February 14, 2024, Bali, Indonesia started imposing a tourist levy on all foreign visitors. It's 150,000 Indonesian Rupiah, but that's only about $10 USD. They recommend that you pay for it before you...
Those Boeing 737 MAX 7 planes again. Boeing actually asked the FAA to allow them to deliver the 737s again despite problems on test flights. It took criticism for them to withdraw the request. I don't know about you, but this doesn't instill a lot of confidence in...
CAUTIONARY TALES! Are you ready to get back on a Boeing 737 Max 9? Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are going to resume service soon on the Boeing aircraft that recently lost a door. If this makes you nervous, check what kind of aircraft your next flight will be...
Romania and Bulgaria are joining the Schengen Area at the end of March 2024. This means we can travel between these and other Schengen countries without passport checks. The Maldives are experiencing an increase in tourism, so if you’re looking for a...
Is it too much to ask for our airplane doors to stay ON while in flight? I assume you heard about the Alaska Airlines accident in which a Boeing Model 737-9 MAX aircraft lost a passenger door. The Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. is now investigating, and...
I confess to having bought a cute sock puppet from Pets.com. That’s all I ever bought from them - perhaps one of the reasons why the company eventually went bankrupt. Pets.com raised $82.5 million in a February 2000 IPO and filed for bankruptcy nine months later. The...
Check out the latest travel news from around the world: Venice, Italy is set to limit tour groups to 25 people as of June 1st. That's about half the number of passengers on an average tour bus. The city will also ban loudspeakers. China Tourism - According to the...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have mobile apps that can help you stay safe when traveling, especially when in developing countries. TravWell is a fully customizable to do and packing list, along with emergency service phone...
Travelling around the world in search of the perfect meal, I realized that etiquette regarding food is considerably different from one culture to another. For instance, most of us were raised with the idea that finishing your plate is respectful. But, in places like...
This is my story of my TWO DAYS OF CONDOR, i.e. Condor Airlines - not to be confused with the well known 1975 movie, Three Days of the Condor.Coming and going from Europe in 2021, as well as in 2022, during the height of the Pandemic, actually makes this review the...