Hey, what’s this disposition fee from Hyundai?
When Kim DeBiase ends her lease for a Hyundai Sonata, the dealership demands a $400 payment for a disposition fee. And that puts her in a bad disposition. Does she really have to fork over the money?
Christopher Elliott
Rudeness runs rampant for travelers. Is it your fault?
It was a random thought at the end of a recent column about unfriendly TSA agents. “I wonder if the rude agent is a reflection of an even ruder traveler,” mused David Kazarian, a pharmacist from Tampa.
It started a debate with a real purpose.
What’s ahead for hotel guests in 2018?
When it comes to fees and surcharges, hotel guests are wondering: What’s next?
Mandatory “resort fees” mushroomed last year, even as hotels added new charges for all kinds of things, including cancellations and late checkouts. With pressure to squeeze even more profit from customers, you don’t have to be an industry insider to see where this is going.
Insider secrets for canceling your travel insurance policy
Yes, your travel insurance policy can be canceled.
Maybe no one bothered to tell you. Maybe your travel insurance company and your travel agent want you to think your money’s gone. But maybe, just maybe, it isn’t.
Powder Mountain, Snowbasin stir memories of Olympics past — and a few thrills
Maybe you’ve never heard of Snowbasin or Powder Mountain, two ski resorts a short drive east of Ogden, Utah.
But what about the Winter Olympics (you know, the ones that just started in PyeongChang)? You’ve heard of them, right? Back in 2002, Snowbasin hosted the downhill, super-G, and combined events for the Salt Lake City games.
Help! My trip insurance company won’t pay to bring my husband’s body home
After Talor Min’s husband dies during a trip to Malaysia, she files a claim with her travel insurance companies for the repatriation of his remains. One year later, she’s still trying to get her money back.
Home Depot installed the wrong carpet on my stairs. How do I get a refund?
After Home Depot installs the wrong carpet on Monica Krupinski’s stairs, she asks for a refund or a fix. But is she entitled to either? And if so, how does she get it?
Target won’t return my gift card credit. Their decision is “final.” Can you help?
Denny Eaplin loses $184 in Target gift card credit when someone else redeems it in a different state. The company won’t return the money. Is there any hope for him?
Road trippers should take an extra-long test drive in 2018
If you’re looking for a new car, here’s a little advice from your fellow travelers: Take your time. I mean, really take your time. Test drive the vehicle a few extra miles, or hundreds of miles, to make sure the designers didn’t take the day off when they signed off.
I’m not being cute. Some of today’s cars are so thoughtlessly designed that they leave travelers cramped and annoyed. If you’re planning to take a lengthy road trip this spring or summer, you don’t want to be stuck in one of these uncomfortable cars.
Alternative forms of insurance you need to know about now
Think you need travel insurance? Think again.
You might require something else — either a specialized insurance product that protects only one aspect of your trip, or something that isn’t insurance at all.
Call it “alt” insurance.
No, we’re not about to get political. Alt insurance is real and it can protect you regardless of ideological leanings. Sometimes, it isn’t insurance at all, but a different form of protection.