Car insurance confusion
Q: We rented a car through Hertz on a trip to Europe last summer. When my mother made the reservation, she paid the base charges in advance but refused any additional insurance, since her credit card took care of her insurance coverage.
When we picked up the car in Bordeaux, France, we were asked if [...]
Best rate? No guarantee
Q: I was looking for a room rate on a one-night stay at the Niagara Falls Knights Inn in Ontario, Canada. I went to the hotel Web site and saw a button with a “manager’s special” with a good price, so I booked the room.
Then I started to wonder about the best-rate guarantee that [...]
Miles can vanish into thin air
It took a decade for Michael Sommer to earn more than two million frequent-flier miles on United Airlines. It took a single dispute over a ticket refund for him to lose his elite status, dozens of flight coupons and every last mile he had collected.
Lugging the large-scale purchase home
I’ve found that business travel offers me the opportunity to do a little shopping. You know, a nice golf shirt or a spiffy pair of running shorts. But on a recent trip, I went overboard.
For years, I’ve enjoyed tinkering with cars and an occasional boat. After dealing with people all day in my weight-management seminars, [...]
Getting off the security watchlist
Having your name added to the Transportation Security Administration’s watch list, a register of airline passengers the government wants to screen more rigorously, is easy.
Promises, promises
Q: I recently flew from Memphis to Vail, Colo., via Dallas on American Airlines. Because of weather problems, our flight to Dallas was delayed by more than two hours. Our pilot assured us that all Dallas flights were delayed and our connection would still be available.
But my connecting flight was already gone when I [...]
R&R for the troops
Shades of Green, an exclusive Florida resort, caters to military personnel. Reporter Christopher Elliott talks with soldiers who are vacationing after completing recent tours of duty.
Full hotel, half a room
Q: I booked a hotel room through Hotwire.com. But when I arrived at the property, they had sold out all of their regular rooms. I was offered a “parlor” room, which was basically the living room part of a suite. It had a dining table, sitting chairs a TV and a bathroom, but no bed. [...]
Fire your travel agent
Q: My husband bought airline tickets from Chicago to Puerto Vallarta on Continental Airlines through his travel agent, who is an old friend. But my ticket was issued with my husband’s surname, even though I did not change my name when I got married 18 years ago.
When I notified the agent of the error, [...]