Articles

Money and Fees

Article / Local Experiences

How Tourists Can Buy Marijuana in California

If you're old enough to buy a beer in California, you're old enough to buy recreational cannabis products. But that doesn't mean it's a free-for-all. Here are the rules for buying pot…

Article / Air Travel

How to File an FAA or Consumer Complaint Against an Airline: A Guide to Directing Your Government Grievances

When is it time to report an airline to the Federal Aviation Administration or other Department of Transportation agency? And more importantly, how do you do it?

Article / Passportable

Unbelievably, American Airlines Takes This Moment to Hike Bag Fees

You run an airline. Your business is facing the most dramatic economic crisis in your lifetime. Just to stay alive, you've had to suspend international capacity by a devastating 60%…

Article / Hotels

12 Rules for Booking and Staying in Hotels Now

The global crisis has changed the way you should approach hotel stays. Learn how to navigate our newly transformed hospitality landscape.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Do Airlines Have to Refund You for a Canceled Flight?

If I cancel a flight because I no longer wish to travel during the outbreak, don't airlines have to refund me for the ticket? I'm getting this question a lot on Twitter and on the…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Beware: The Travel Industry Is Clinging to Your Money

Times are tough. We all know it. A lot of us aren't sure where the money will be coming from in a few months—and among the least sure are the businesses that sell travel. That's why…

Article / Passportable

Government Says Airlines Must Refund Canceled Flights—Eventually

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an "enforcement notice" reminding airlines and the "traveling public" that passengers whose flights are canceled or significantly…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Health Care Abroad is not Free for Americans, Warns Arthur Frommer

A relative of mine who periodically visits friends living in England had a recent premonition about a Christmas trip there. For a reason that she is still unable to fully know, she…

Article / Passportable

Amtrak Launches New Ultralow Fares. Is There a Catch?

Amtrak is trying out its own version of a Basic Economy fare. In air travel, that kind of ticket goes for relatively low prices but comes with a number of restrictions. To name a few…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

It's Literally Illegal for Visitors to Eat in Parts of Italy Now: A Roundup of the New Tourist Laws

Violating these rules probably won’t get you arrested, but stiff fines could dip into your vacation budget.  

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

"Basic Business Class"? Emirates Quietly Shakes Up Airfare Structures

Last summer, with no fanfare whatsoever, Emirates changed the rules of business travel. It took what was a signature product—its well-rated business class service—and decoupled it from…

Article / Passportable

This Twitter Account Tracks the Door Codes to London's Toilets

Every traveler knows the misery of not being able to find a loo. When you're spending hours away from your hotel exploring an unfamiliar town, pit stops can be few and far between. In…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

At JetBlue, a New High in Baggage Fees Brings a New Low for Customers

Which U.S.–based airline charges customers the highest fee for their first checked bag? As of this week, it's JetBlue. The airline hiked its baggage fee by $5—it's now $35. That's the…

Article / Passportable

U.S. National Parks Are Free on MLK, Jr. Day

Savings alert! On Monday, January 20, 2020, all American national parks will be free to enter.It's part of the National Park Service's regular schedule of free days, which are designed…

Article / Passportable

Staying in Amsterdam Will Cost You Extra This Year

An increase in Amsterdam's tourist tax went into effect on January 1. Going forward, visitors who stay in hotels in the Dutch capital will be charged a fee of €3 (US $3.35) per person…

Article / Cruise

Do I Need a Passport to Cruise?

In light of heightened border security, it seems like a given that Americans need a passport to go on a cruise. But is that true?

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Arthur Frommer: The Reaction to Brexit Directly Impacts the Cost of Travel to Britain

You needn’t be a scholar to know that the value of foreign currencies goes up and down depending on the health of a nation’s economy. If things are going badly, the currency drops;…

Article / Slideshows

Purchase History: The Oldest Shops in Paris

Paris is one of the world’s top shopping destinations. The city prides itself on its elegant boutiques dedicated to everything from high fashion to gastronomy. But few French brands…

Article / Passportable

Let This Japanese Inn Livestream Your Stay and You’ll Only Pay $1 a Night

Exhibitionists on a budget have a new lodging option in Japan. The Asahi Ryokan, located in Fukuoka on the subtropical island of Kyushu, is offering one room on the property at a rate…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Arthur Frommer: If Thomas Cook Can Go Belly-Up, Consumers Must Protect Themselves

The recent shutdown of service by the venerable Thomas Cook company in Great Britain, stranding tens of thousands of tour passengers, is a wake-up call for all of us. It means that…

Article / Passportable

Rome's Colosseum Moves to a Timed Ticket System: We Tested It

Seeing the Colosseum in Rome just got easier. And more complicated. In spring of 2019, CoopCulture, the entity that manages visitor access to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the…

Article / Passportable

Get Ready to Pay a Tourist Tax to Visit Cabo San Lucas

Starting on Saturday, November 9, a visit to the Mexican state of Baja California Sur will cost you extra. The home state of popular Pacific Coast resort cities including Cabo San…

Article / Passportable

China Expands Its Free Six-Day Visa to More Tourist Cities

Usually, filling out the paperwork to obtain a visa for China is as elaborate as taking the bar exam, but less fun. Tourists have to answer a long list of sometimes invasive questions…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

New Bill in U.S. Congress Would Squash Hidden Resort Fees. Here's How to Help

A new bill introduced in Congress today will spell the end of hotel resort fees. Maybe. The Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019 would classify the nondisclosure of resort fees…

Article / Passportable

Free Parking in Las Vegas Returns As a Resort Breaks Ranks

For many years, the ability to park for free at most Las Vegas casino-resorts was a beloved perk, and it was one that made visiting the spread-out desert city much more affordable,…