An extra night at the Hyatt
There’s no room at the Hyatt for Arlis Miller, who wants to stay an extra night in Chicago when weather makes it impossible to travel home. But later, the hotel presents its guest with a bill for the extra night, anyway. What’s going on — and does Miller still have to pay?
Pirates of the Caribbean?
Apparently, it’s not just a summer blockbuster. If you’re sailing on select cruise lines, you may find that it’s the unofficial theme of your vacation.
Flying the liberal skies
People think that flying on a private jet lets you avoid all of the hassles of commercial air travel: long delays, difficult passengers and problems with security. But that’s not always true.
Marriott’s boarding passes
Question: what does a hotel do with all of those unused telephone banks, now that everyone has a cell phone? If you’re smart, you repurpose some of that surplus space.
A summer troubleshooter
Summer could be a bummer. Travelers will face record crowds in airports and hotels, not to mention at rental-car counters. Procrastinators will find soaring fares and short supply. Here are some of the potential vacation unpleasantries that await — with advice on how to minimize your pain.
What to do
The Kansas Underground Salt Museum (working mine plus salt history) won’t open this summer after all. November is now the goal. But wipe away those salty tears of disappointment. Plenty of new summer thrills await.
Summer for procrastinators
Face it: Everyone has made vacation plans but you. The Travel Industry Association of America predicts Americans will take 325.6 million domestic leisure trips this summer (and a possible record 13 million-plus are off to Europe). Fortunately, we live on a big planet. Check out a special summer troubleshooter and these tips on what to do.
Southwest’s about-face
Southwest Airlines is a step closer to abandoning its “open seating” policy, according to several recent reports. Good news for consumers? Maybe. Good news for Southwest? Maybe not.
A downgraded SUV
When Chip Joseph rents a full-size SUV for his Costa Rican vacation, it’s not just for show. He needs the room for himself and four other companions. But when he gets to the car rental counter, the only SUVs are the compact ones. Joseph has to rent another car at nearly twice the price. Is Travelocity responsible for the mix-up?
Hitting the Krounchasana
When people ask me where I live I say, “United Airlines.”
It’s no joke. I’m always flying somewhere to attend a conference or hold a yoga workshop. Besides, being on an aircraft — one of the most stressful and noisy environments imaginable — gives me an opportunity to practice what I preach.
Normally, I focus on deep-breathing [...]
A new airline delay law?
Should airlines be required by law to tell their passengers about any flight delays? New York Sen. Chuck Schumer thinks so, and has introduced a bill that would require them to do just that.
Blogging off?
This morning I’m sharing some of my insights about travel and blogging at a conference sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America and the Society of American Travel Writers. I guess they figured someone who has published a Web journal for the last decade (please don’t call it a blog — I hate to be pigeonholed) might have a few things to say on the subject.
Fear of a blogging planet
If the thought that everyone around you is writing a blog — maybe even one that mentions you — is keeping you up at night, imagine how unglued big companies and big media are coming at the Internet’s Next Big Thing.
Regulate this!
What a strange coincidence. Within a few minutes of each other I received two emails — one from a senator tipping me off to a new GAO report that basically says airline deregulation worked. And the other from a well-known loyalty program expert complaining that the best fare he could find to Europe in economy class was $12,000.
Honeymoon washed out
Andrea Hindman’s honeymoon cruise is sunk when Hurricane Frances strikes. To make up for it, Carnival offers a partial refund and half off another sailing. But then another storm hits — and her cruise line reneges on the discount offer. Is the honeymoon over?