Our return to Paris was all but a sure thing. We had our passports. We’d spent weeks brushing up our French in Duolingo. We were even arguing about the best apartments on HomeAway.And then life happened.It wasn’t one thing that sunk our summer plans in Paris. Instead, it was a lot of little things, including some paperwork issues, school schedules and, of course, the funds. In the end, it’s always about money, isn’t it?
Catrina Smith is sure that the $2,231 she paid for her flight upgrade from Prague to Madrid was an Iberia error. After all, an unrestricted business class ticket booked at the last minute costs less than one-third as much — roughly $630. Something is wrong, she says.
The warning signs were there: blurry photos, a long gap between reviews, and a request to wire money. But Elizabeth Long still found the Paris rental impossible to resist. She ended up drawing me into yet another Vrbo problem, this time involving a fake rental and a request for a refund that will be difficult to fulfill.
Hey, can you keep a secret? It’s free museum day. That’s how you save a few bucks while you’re on vacation, and maybe even see another side of your destination.
How safe is Airbnb? Before you answer, consider what happened to Krystal Scott, who rented what she thought was a charming three-bedroom home in Lafayette, La.– until she moved in and discovered some Airbnb safety problems.
After Viator canceled Char Fischer’s walking tour without notice, the company refuses to answer her calls — or issue a refund. What gives?
Eric Hochstein found something unusual on his bill at the Gregory Hotel in New York City recently.No, it wasn’t the mandatory $35-per-day resort fee that covers local and domestic calls, a 24-hour fitness center and coffee and tea. And it wasn’t the $259-per-night room rate, which was below average for Manhattan.
Alan Mileski has a Freedom Mortgage problem that’s making him feel trapped in a maze of bureaucracy and scripted responses. The solution should be so simple, but weeks of trying have left him frustrated. Is there a way out?
You’ve probably read one or two travel stories that advise you to become a vacation contrarian. By zigging when everyone else zags, you can save money and avoid crowds, they claim. But that could be a serious vacation mistake.I know because I’ve taken that advice.
Turn off your cellphone. Downsize your luggage. And remember that your standards aren’t necessarily their standards.Ask the most experienced travelers for their advice, and that’s what they’ll tell you. And who are the world’s most experienced travelers? They are hard-working business travelers, including expatriates and foreign service workers, who live outside the U.S. for weeks, months, even years at a time.
