Articles

Local Experiences

Article / Slideshows

Cool Columbus: What to Do in the Midwest's Hippest City

“Don’t call it a hidden gem,” one resident of Columbus, Ohio , warned us when she found out we were poking around town for this story. She shouldn’t have worried—not because the city…

Article / Hotels

Stay for Free Around the World, Just for Playing with Animals: The Petsitting Sites

These websites can help hook you up with a free place to stay in exchange for taking care of pets. But which one is the best one for you?

Article / Passportable

A Movie Studio’s Former Headquarters Is the Coolest New Hotel in Town

A historic, copper-topped building that once housed the Australian headquarters of Paramount Pictures has been turned into a boutique hotel in one of the hippest parts of Sydney.The…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Talking with Frances Mayes About Her Latest Book, 'See You in the Piazza'

Frances Mayes, author of the memoir Under the Tuscan Sun, is to Tuscan travel what ketchup is to Russian dressing.  For tens of thousands of vacationers, her tale—both the book that…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Muslim History Tour Tells Untold Chapter of New York City's Past—and Present

The gym where I work out (when I’m feeling up to it and can’t find anything good on Netflix) is housed in a building that stands where there used to be a mosque founded by Yemeni…

Article / Slideshows

The Prettiest French Seaside Towns for the Perfect Vacation

France is known the world over for its picturesque villages and towns. While they can be found all over the country, there’s something extra magical about the ones located on the sea.…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

This Website Gets You Free Room and Board in Many Countries, Says Arthur Frommer

When I first learned that a granddaughter of mine was planning to spend three months in Japan earning her room and board through work performed as a volunteer, I was concerned and…

Article / Slideshows

The Most Eye-Popping Art Nouveau Cafes in Paris

There are scores of attractive restaurants in Paris , a city that values beauty more than most others, but few places to eat can outrank the beauty of the Art Nouveau cafes created…

Article / Money and Fees

Tipping in Costa Rica: A Gratuities Guide for Hotels, Restaurants, and Tours

Some tips on tipping to follow while checking out Costa Rica's cities, beaches, and jungles

Article / Slideshows

Volunteering for a Day While on Vacation: Eight Ways to Find Opportunities

Volunteering is good for the heart and soul—and your travel karma. Weaving some service into your vacation time not only benefits the communities you serve, but the act of volunteering…

Article / Passportable

Amsterdam Bans Tours of Red-Light District

As much as it's known for picturesque canals and paintings by Dutch masters on display at the Rijksmuseum and elsewhere, Amsterdam has also gained a reputation as a haven for legal…

Article / Local Experiences

Amish Sotheby's: What to Expect at a Mud Sale in Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Each spring, Amish and other residents of rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, gather for festive fundraisers with farm auctions, baked goods, and a chance to meet the locals. Here's…

Article / Slideshows

In Japan, I Was Transformed Into a Geisha. You Can Do It, Too

Geisha have fascinated the world with their ethereal blend of beauty and mystique. That porcelain-white face. Those ruby-red lips. The colorful kimono. The jet-black hair. Although the…

Article / Money and Fees

Tipping in Portugal: A Gratuities Guide for Hotels, Restaurants, and Taxis

What to tip waiters, taxi drivers, tour guides, and hotel staff in Lisbon, Porto, and other locations in Portugal

Article / Money and Fees

Tipping in China: When You Can—and When You Shouldn't

Gratuities aren't standard in China. Here's when to tip waiters, hotel staff, and tour guides—and when to keep the change. 

Article / Slideshows

Never Again: Important Museums and Memorials to Human Rights Disasters

The museums and memorials that chronicle the saddest chapters of the 20th century serve at least three essential functions: to tell the truth about what happened, to remember those who…

Article / Passportable

Superbloom! In California, Flowergeddon Approaches

Superbloom may sound like the name of a '90s rock band to you, but in Borrego Springs, California, it means millions of rare wildflowers carpeting thousands of acres of desert. And…

Article / Family & Kids

The Best European Cities with Kid-Friendly Day Trips

The best European family trips tend to start with urban stays that can segue into out-of-town sojourns once children tire of museums and city touring. Fortunately, most of Europe’s…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Don’t Overlook The Literary Life of Dublin, Writes Arthur Frommer

In forecasts of the most popular travel destinations for 2019, Ireland almost always appears. Americans are apparently eager to roam the roadways of rural Ireland and its quaint…

Article / Passportable

In Nevada, a School for Stolen Native American Kids Will Be a Museum

Starting in the late 19th century, the U.S. government forced tens of thousands of Native American children to leave home and attend boarding schools with the goal of assimilating…

Article / Passportable

Finally! After Years of Waiting, TWA Hotel at JFK Opens Reservations

Booking a room at the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport is off to a lovely start. On Valentine’s Day, Thursday, Feb. 14, at noon, reservations open for stays beginning May 15, 2019. The grand…

Article / Passportable

You Can Throw Your Own Parade in New Orleans! Here's How

You don’t have to be the king of a Mardi Gras club to throw your own parade and march through the streets of New Orleans. But if you do, you’ll certainly feel like one. While it's a…

Article / Money and Fees

Tipping in the U.K.: A Gratuities Guide for Taxis, Hotels, and Restaurants

Some pointers on tipping waiters, taxi drivers, and hotel staff in England, Scotland, and Wales—without overdoing it

Article / Slideshows

Pints with a Past: Must-See Historic Bars Across the United States

More than one bar lays claim to being the oldest in the United States. But we’re not here to settle the matter, mostly because that would involve hairsplitting, nitpicky decisions…

Article / Money and Fees

Tipping in Japan? Not So Much a Thing

Why Japan doesn't go for gratuities—but why you still might have to pay extra fees for meals and accommodations