I live in New York. But I also have flats in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and I keep a condo in Miami, a chateau in Switzerland and a pied-a-terre in every Paris arrondissement. You see, I'm a house swapper.
Andy Daniel thought he had found a terrific airfare from San Francisco to Miami for Christmas. Instead, he found a terrific disappointment.
I wasn't sure my sister would ever forgive me that Thanksgiving.
President Bush aims to help combat the holiday travel crunch at airports with the announcement of steps new and old to reduce air traffic congestion and long flight delays.
"Voluntourism is not about martyrdom," says Christopher Hill, CEO of Hands Up Holidays, a London-based company that arranges high-end excursions that incorporate volunteering. "It's about making a difference, even if you're staying at a luxury hotel."
The troubled economy has hit the travel industry hard this year as strapped consumers postpone trips or vacation closer to home. For those still hoping to get away while keeping an eye on their wallets, hotel rewards programs are increasingly popular and flexible.
Steve Azadian's 25th anniversary cruise is already booked using his Marriott award points. But now the hotel won't let him take his vacation because it isn't renewing its agreement with Carnival. Can it do that? The rules say, "yes," but Azadian thinks Marriott is wrong. Who's right?
Ivy Peltz is like many people who go on tours or cruises alone: She doesn't like to room with strangers, but she also hates paying a single supplement -- the fee many travel companies levy on singles who want their own two-person room.
It's not too soon to start thinking about traveling next year. In 2009, a series of new rules and regulations kick in that could affect your vacation. Ignore them, and you might find yourself delayed or denied access to your destination.
Worried about how Fido will fare while you're away? Do some research to minimize the stress of leaving your pet in someone else's care.
I live in New York. But I also have flats in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and I keep a condo in Miami, a chateau in Switzerland and a pied-a-terre in every Paris arrondissement. You see, I'm a house swapper.
Andy Daniel thought he had found a terrific airfare from San Francisco to Miami for Christmas. Instead, he found a terrific disappointment.
I wasn't sure my sister would ever forgive me that Thanksgiving.
President Bush aims to help combat the holiday travel crunch at airports with the announcement of steps new and old to reduce air traffic congestion and long flight delays.
"Voluntourism is not about martyrdom," says Christopher Hill, CEO of Hands Up Holidays, a London-based company that arranges high-end excursions that incorporate volunteering. "It's about making a difference, even if you're staying at a luxury hotel."
The troubled economy has hit the travel industry hard this year as strapped consumers postpone trips or vacation closer to home. For those still hoping to get away while keeping an eye on their wallets, hotel rewards programs are increasingly popular and flexible.
Steve Azadian's 25th anniversary cruise is already booked using his Marriott award points. But now the hotel won't let him take his vacation because it isn't renewing its agreement with Carnival. Can it do that? The rules say, "yes," but Azadian thinks Marriott is wrong. Who's right?
Ivy Peltz is like many people who go on tours or cruises alone: She doesn't like to room with strangers, but she also hates paying a single supplement -- the fee many travel companies levy on singles who want their own two-person room.
It's not too soon to start thinking about traveling next year. In 2009, a series of new rules and regulations kick in that could affect your vacation. Ignore them, and you might find yourself delayed or denied access to your destination.
Worried about how Fido will fare while you're away? Do some research to minimize the stress of leaving your pet in someone else's care.
There's probably no better way of pinching your vacation pennies than sleeping on a friend's sofa or camping out. But you don't have to rough it to afford your next getaway.
How can you prepare for next trip? Here, Travel + Leisure offers its checklist of eight simple -- yet easily forgotten -- steps to take before departure.
A more unified Europe has made it simpler to go from one country into another. Driving on the continent, however, remains a challenge because of inconsistent traffic laws and road signs. We asked representatives of several rental-car companies about little-known rules and conventions that visitors should know before hitting the road in Europe.
As Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas, travelers may be wondering how this storm and the rest of the season's brutal weather will affect their travel plans.
Here's your reward for taking a staycation this summer.
Everyone knows that airlines make it difficult to redeem frequent-flier miles for free travel. Yet you may not know that they're making it expensive, too.
Ilene Coffey's room at an Orlando hotel comes with an unexpected surprise: a $50 fee for a "short stay." When she protests, her hotel and online travel agency tell her she must pay. What's worse, she can't back out -- if she does, her credit card will be charged for the stay. Is there a way out of this mess?
Something is wrong with Lynn Seehafer's SUV, which she valet parked at a Disney World hotel. She thinks it's been taken for a joyride. But has it? And to what extent is Disney responsible for the vehicle?
Anita Fancon and her husband want to fly from Tucson, Arizona, to Bordeaux, France in business class. They have the miles they need, and they've already cashed them in. But do they have the seats? American Airlines says they do, except on the flight from Dallas to London. Is there anything Fancon can do to secure the seats she's already paid 180,000 miles for?
There are so many free and cheap things to do in Washington that the biggest challenge is carving out enough time to take advantage of them.
Wherever 6-year-old Lennon Gunn goes -- even to Germany to visit his dad -- he's got his wooden-handled spatula in hand.
Chan Hoe Yip booked rooms in Bakersfield, California, and Williams, Arizona, through the Days Inn Web site. Then again, maybe he didn't. The reservation ends up being two nights in Bakersfield and none in Williams, and now Yip is being told there's no refund for the extra night. Is Yip the victim of a bad Web site?
Four-year-old Grace Layman, decked out in full frilly flower girl regalia, excitedly led her smiling surprise guest to the separate kids' party she was hosting at her dad's wedding reception. Mickey Mouse wowed everyone -- grown-ups too.
Taking a deep breath just doesn't work anymore. Not this summer.
Jan Venegas buys tickets to Hawaii with her Capital One "No Hassle" miles. But when her airline goes out of business, her credit card company refuses to return the hard-earned awards. Is Venegas stuck with a worthless ticket?
Susan Null books two business-class tickets on British Airways using her Alaska Airlines frequent flier miles. But when she checks her reservation, she finds nothing. Alaska Airlines says her booking has "slipped through the cracks." Can they retrieve it in time for her trip?
David Goldstein's checked luggage is misplaced on a flight to Salt Lake City after he misses a connection. He spends $10 on socks and toiletries after Frontier Airlines promises it will cover his incidental expenses. But now the carrier is balking at a refund. What's going on?
Wilma Smith was vacationing with her grandchildren in Orlando when she met a maid on a mission. When she returned from one of the theme parks one afternoon, she found the door to her room at the Days Inn propped wide open.
The foolproof way to gain entry to an airport lounge is to buy a first- or business-class ticket. But traveling coach doesn't mean you can't have the same access.
No one knows better than the police which tricks criminals are using to prey on unsuspecting tourists.
It's been two years since Niel Bratteli bought a roundtrip plane ticket from Dallas to Boston for his son. The airline, ATA, stopped flying from Boston to Dallas and his online travel agency, Travelocity, promised Bratteli a refund. But countless calls and e-mails later, there's no sign of the money. What's wrong?
Flying with a baby or toddler can have its fair share of turbulence. From finding a place to change diapers to keeping your child quiet to dealing with eye-rolling passengers, parents have their work cut out for them on a plane.
Five years is too long between vacations. Just ask Amy and Matt Wilcher.
Flying with a baby or toddler can have its fair share of turbulence. From finding a place to change diapers to keeping your child quiet to dealing with eye-rolling passengers, parents have their work cut out for them on a plane.
Shortly after its opening in 2006, I decided to visit the Lodge at Woodloch, a destination spa deep in the Poconos. Upon my arrival from New York, I discovered the property had no cellular service, so I made several calls home from my room phone, expecting to fork over little more than a dollar. Imagine my surprise when my hotel bill revealed a $7.38 charge for each time I picked up the receiver, despite having never actually reached anyone.
With a fever that soared to a mind-numbing 103 degrees and a chest rattling with acute bronchitis, Kathryn Clover's co-worker was in no shape to fly from Buenos Aires to Miami recently. But she boarded the plane anyway.
Lower-priced hotels have long been the realm of Muzak-filled lobbies outfitted with worse-for-wear furniture and industrial carpeting. But the genre has entered a new era. A wine bar? A sleek lounge area? Free Wi-Fi?
It's time to think of the inside of your carry-on suitcase as real estate: Make the most of what you've got, keep it functional and make neatness count.
It had been at least 24 hours since we had seen other humans, and the trail seemed to be ours alone -- gleaming granite slabs, scrabbly switchbacks, glorious glimpses of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, and jagged Sierra spires under cloudless skies.
The last thing any traveler wants is to lose a wallet, whether it's misplaced or taken by a pickpocket, in the middle of a vacation.
As far as mistakes go, the one Janet Gordon recently made didn't seem like a big deal. She booked an airline ticket from Toronto to London under the name "Jan."
If you've never vacationed in a recreational vehicle, your first reaction might be "I can't afford to rent an RV" or "They're too large to maneuver."
Disgruntled airline passengers are nothing new, and the latest snapshot of the U.S. airline industry indicates plenty of cause for frustration.
Myron Sigal and his wife can't make their return flight from Venice to Philadelphia after she is injured on a Mediterranean cruise. US Airways promises him a voucher for the unused portion, but months later, there's no sign of it. Is the money lost?
A cottage in the English countryside or a flat in Paris, a deluxe Caribbean villa or a house with a pool in Orlando, San Diego, Canada, Colorado, New York City or San Francisco. Take your pick for summer vacation. Price is no concern. It won't cost you a penny -- Really.
Q: I'm heading to Europe this summer, and I want to bring my cell phone, but international roaming looks expensive. How do I keep costs down?
You're sitting in a hip Tokyo cafe, having a fish cake and sake. Your server has been especially attentive, so when the check arrives, you think nothing of pulling out some extra yen and leaving a healthy 20 percent tip. But suddenly things go horribly wrong: the server turns wide-eyed, becomes agitated, and walks away. What happened?!
When Allison Fagerness' flight to Rome is canceled, she's forced to call off her vacation and return home. Her online travel agent, Expedia, promises a refund, but her airline, Alitalia, won't pay. What should she do?
The latest round of American Airlines flight cancellations has left tens of thousands of passengers searching for alternative ways to get to their destinations, but airlines are not required to compensate passengers for canceled flights.
Scoring bargain accommodations in Rome can be as tricky as deciphering ancient ruins. But you're in luck: We've done the homework and unearthed nine charming, affordable hotels.
You'll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags, "Every year I pack heavier." The measure of a good traveler is how light he or she travels. You can't travel heavy, happy and cheap. Pick two.
Douglas Hawkins and his wife reserve a Budget rental car in Naples, Italy, but when they arrive at the car rental counter, the company downgrades his car and almost doubles its rate. Six months later, Budget hasn't refunded the money Hawkins says it owes him. What now?
Let's assume, for a moment, that you can't stop 2008 from becoming the Year of the Fee.
Cameron Etezadi and his girlfriend are on their way from Seattle to Casablanca, Morocco, when their flight is delayed in London by weather. British Airways agrees to refund the couple's money, but one year later, there's no sign of a check. Is the airline pocketing their fare, or is something else going on?
Cruise Industry officials note that half of the projected 12.8 million cruisers this year have never cruised before. That includes many families. Here are some tips for kids cruising for the first time from the veteran junior cruisers I talked to:
Your cruise ship may not be seaworthy. Your airline isn't responsible for your checked luggage and if something's stolen from your room, good luck getting the hotel to cover your losses.
A couple of years ago, online travel-booking sites such as Expedia and Travelocity began issuing service-related manifestos -- the idea being that you could contact them with problems before or during your trip, much like you would a travel agent. But read further, and you'll discover that these are promises to provide good customer service, and aren't built to protect you from the fees and penalties you may incur due to last-minute cancellations.
A recent stay at a Comfort Inn in Vancouver does not impress Richard Simms. His room is filthy, the shower runs lukewarm and the coffee maker is busted. But when he tries to invoke the hotel chain's "100 percent Satisfaction Guarantee" Simms is offered an apology -- but nothing else. Is he out of luck?
Rule 240 is the most misunderstood rule in the airline business.
Hard as it may be for anyone under 30 to imagine, there was a time when people used to shoot eight-millimeter films while on vacation and then show them to friends and family gathered around a projector in the living room. Nowadays, capturing video is far easier (whether you use a video camera, a digital still camera with video capability or even a cell phone), as is the sharing: YouTube has proved that millions of folks have learned to upload video to a computer and instantly e-mail a link to family and friends.
Whether you're looking for the next airfare finder or trip-planning tool, here are seven sites we love.
Vicky Fligel's ticket from Chicago to Acapulco is canceled, but no one can tell her why. The only thing her airline, Mexicana, is certain of is that she has to buy a new, more expensive ticket. Mexicana gives her a refund on the canceled ticket, but shouldn't the carrier honor its first price?
Confused about whether you should book your hotel room with a credit or debit card? Or how much cash to exchange when you arrive overseas? While there are no steadfast rules about what types of currency to bring on your trip, travel and money experts do have recommendations on your best bets and what to avoid as you hit the road.
For years, I've persuaded my family that it's my very important job that causes me to put off booking trips. But the real problem is twofold: I'm often convinced that if I plan too far ahead, something better will come along; and I'm as addicted as an online gambler to last-minute offers.
For years, I've persuaded my family that it's my very important job that causes me to put off booking trips. But the real problem is twofold: I'm often convinced that if I plan too far ahead, something better will come along; and I'm as addicted as an online gambler to last-minute offers.
Orla Buckley was less than a week into her study abroad program in Spain when things went sour.
Kathleen Anderson was the only woman in business class on a recent Northwest Airlines flight from Dusseldorf, Germany, to Chicago. And it cost her.
With airports from New York to Sydney getting upgrades, Travel + Leisure picks our favorite restaurants, bars, lounges, shops and spas.
With so many options at the car rental counter, it may be tempting to buy whatever insurance protection is available to safeguard your trip. But many travelers don't realize they're more than likely duplicating coverage they already have.
If you've seen one tourism brochure that refers to itself as a "year-round" destination, you've probably seen them all.
Avoid the mile-long lines at the Times Square TKTS booth by buying discounted Broadway tickets using one of these eight approaches.
One of the most desirable travel images can be the trickiest to get right. Follow these step-by-step tips for capturing sunsets that will live up to the moment you remember.
Sally Savona books a vacation at Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, where she's promised a 25,000-mile bonus. But the loyalty points fail to show up in her account, despite repeated calls to the hotel. It's been months since her visit. How can she get Marriott to make good?
Even with Hurricane Dean taking aim at Cancun, Mexico, last August, Miguel Guillen wasn't worried. After all, he had insured his vacation.
A stone cottage overlooking the Italian countryside ... an old farmhouse in the hills of Provence ... a beachfront estate in the Caribbean; Renting a vacation house with character has undeniable appeal. In the past year, the number of people renting villas around the world has increased by more than 20 percent, according to a handful of industry experts, with bookings in more affordable countries such as Spain and Portugal nearly doubling.
Just when I was getting used to the idea that a euro should cost $1.20, our dollar plummets 20 percent, and now a euro costs $1.50. Don't expect our dollar to recover anytime soon because, frankly, we're not as rich as we think we are.
My first experience with an all-inclusive resort was a decade ago during a freezing February in New York City. I was easy prey for this promise: a startlingly low price for a trip to Cancún, which included airfare, four nights in a double room and meals at any of three "exciting, international" restaurants.
Is your airline telling the truth about the weather?
Half of Julie Liening's airline seat is missing. An extra-large passenger is sitting in it, forcing her to lean into the aisle or sit on the passenger's lap. Not a comfortable way to fly, nor, for that matter a safe way to fly. But when she asks her airline for compensation, she's turned down. What's next?
You probably already know about Spring Break, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.
Roz Weiss' vacation to Puerto Rico is put on ice, thanks to JetBlue's operational meltdown last winter. Months later, the airline has refunded the tickets, but the hotel is holding onto her money. Should it let go?)
What is "Super CDW" -- and why is it on Rick Murai's credit card bill after he rents a car from Alamo in Madrid? The car rental company's Web site is less than clear about the fee, and Murai's credit card company refuses to get involved. Is he stuck with the bill?
You gotta hate that guy. The guy sitting next to you on the plane, at the pool or the chairlift who can't stop bragging about the fantastic vacation deal he snared that saved his family big bucks.
A Days Inn property offers a Roman Catholic priest a tax refund. No, that's not the opening line of a joke -- unless playing phone tag and hearing excuses is funny to you. It isn't to Father William Mary Morgenstern, who is just trying to get his $42 back from the hotel. But is anyone listening to him?
This is the prime season for one of nature's great displays, but you might have to travel a ways to see it. The aurora borealis, aka the Northern Lights, is best seen at northern latitudes, and that means you'll have to pack your warm winter clothing -- after you check out a few Web sites to survey the possibilities in Alaska and Canada.
Because no one knows a city as well as the locals do, Budget Travel magazine asked a trio of insiders to give their opinions of three recent guidebooks about Rome.
| Most Viewed | Most Emailed | Top Searches |
| Most Viewed | Most Emailed | Top Searches |
