How to shorten the airport screening line
Waiting in lengthy security lines isn’t a great way to start a long-awaited vacation. But you can use the faster lanes if you belong to one of the expedited screening programs, which could essentially be free to join with the right credit card. The primary federal programs for air travel, TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry, cost $85 or $100 per traveler, respectively. That fee covers you... READ MORE
Montana: vanishing glaciers and grizzlies
I had a lot of expectations heading to Montana last summer. I expected to check off my bucket-list dream of driving Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road. I expected to be ready should I meet any bears because I’d brought “bear bells” to repel them. And I was sure I’d love the local meat pies called “pasties.” Wrong on all counts. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is... READ MORE
Enjoying the simple pleasures of Jamaica
One meal that my wife Fyllis and I will long remember was a five-course “surprise” dinner served in a lovely candle-lit outdoor setting. The other was a simple vegetarian lunch at a ramshackle lean-to perched precariously on a steep mountainside. It’s not often that two repasts encapsulate much that a destination has to offer visitors, but Jamaica is such a place. The Chef’s... READ MORE
If bumped off a flight, make it worthwhile
Allison Preiss became a hero to airline passengers this spring when she scored a $10,000 travel voucher for losing her seat on an oversold flight. Negotiating skill mixed with a bit of luck helped Preiss land the elusive payoff. There are two situations that passengers might find themselves in, and their rights — and bargaining power — vary greatly between them. In the first, an... READ MORE
Save on airfare, lodging and more in London
The sun-kissed scenes from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s storybook wedding at Windsor may have put you in the mood to visit the Old Country. But what if you’re just looking to feel like a prince (or princess), not spend like one? Here are a few tips on enjoying London on a budget. (Just don’t count on the sunshine that blessed the royal wedding in a place where, on average,... READ MORE
Be on the lookout for nine travel scams
Travel scams will again be plentiful this summer, say the folks at Experian. Fraud increased by 16 percent in 2017, and there’s no reason to expect that trend will reverse any time soon. Experian released its list of six scams, but the list involves some double-counting, and it also does not cover all the possibilities. So here’s my list of nine to watch out for. Free vacation or... READ MORE
Expect more scrutiny now from the TSA
If you’re flying this summer, get to the airport early. The Transportation Security Administration is beefing up security measures, and that could lead to longer lines. In addition to requiring you to remove laptops, tablets and e-readers from your carry-ons, TSA officers may also ask you to take out books, food and other items that obstruct their view during screening. To bypass... READ MORE
Exploring the Grand Canyon’s grandeur
As I stared at the multi-colored layers of the yawning abyss stretching across the horizon for miles, I was immobilized by this geologic layer cake a billion years in the making. It was a pinch-me moment. I first saw a picture-postcard image of the Grand Canyon in the third grade. Then, I could never imagine seeing it for real. But here I was standing 7,000 feet above sea level on the... READ MORE
How to avoid airline, hotel and other fees
You hear a lot about travel fees these days — especially airline fees, more especially fees for “something you used to get free,” and most especially fees that are theoretically optional but in reality are mandatory. A recent survey by MileCards listed fees that travelers hate most. Fortunately, you can avoid many of the worst fees, at least some of the time, at little or no cost.... READ MORE
