Gelato in hand, you're strolling down a street in Italy, when suddenly, an attractive woman starts arguing with a street vendor. A crowd gathers as he accuses her of shoplifting. To prove her innocence, she starts to strip.
Gelato in hand, you're strolling down a street in Italy, when suddenly, an attractive woman starts arguing with a street vendor. A crowd gathers as he accuses her of shoplifting. To prove her innocence, she starts to strip.
The most embarrassing moment of my life? That's easy.
Look out for cancellation penalties. Beware of energy surcharges. And watch for facilities fees.
Visiting a new town is like having a conversation. Places ask questions of you just as searchingly as you question them. And, as in any conversation, it helps to listen with an open mind, so you can be led somewhere unexpected. The more you leave assumptions at home, I've found, the better you can hear whatever it is that a destination is trying to say to you.
The following five sites have proven the most consistently useful for the editors of Budget Travel, who do thousands of searches a year.
These days, it's not unheard of for hotels to charge $15 for a mini-bar diet Coke, $40 for access to the gym, or $45 for rush laundry service. (Alas, these are actual fees on T+L editors' receipts.) But there's good news ahead: the extra charges are expected to decrease by six percent this year as hotels and resorts compete to attract guests.
The round-trip airfare from Brussels to New York on the European online travel site eDreams was 337 Euros -- until Alisa Schlossberg clicked on the "buy" button. Then it jumped to 592 Euros, creating an eNightmare.
I stole a laundry bag from the Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires. It was made of thick ivory linen, embroidered with the words "dry cleaning" in cerulean blue, and looked like something that I could have found at an antique textiles show. But that wasn't the case.
Fumiko Seguchi did everything by the book on her recent flight to Tokyo. She confirmed her departure 24 hours in advance. She secured a seat assignment. And she arrived more than two hours before departure.
How would you respond if you were checking into your hotel on an international vacation and your friend yelled, "Hey, what room are you in?"
After her crowning in January, Katie Stam, Miss America 2009, went from beauty queen to traveling machine -- within minutes. "The moment they put that crown on my head I started work...literally," she told CNN.
Short on cash, people are offering to paint houses and balance books in exchange for a free room or flight. Here's how three creative travelers pulled it off.
Four of the most trusted sites in the business have devised new tricks to help you find the killer deals -- with a little help from your fellow travelers.
With my mantra being "pack light," I used to be against packing electronics of any kind. But now, I bring my laptop, iPod, digital camera and mobile phone to Europe. With hotels retiring their fax machines in favor of email, mobile phones getting cheaper and easier to buy, and Wi-Fi hotspots popping up everywhere, it's never been simpler to get connected.
Jack Taras and his friends thought they would be checking in at the Occidental Grand Hotel on the Dominican Republic's postcard-perfect Eastern shore for spring break. But when Taras, a 19-year-old sophomore from Providence College, arrived at the resort, he was greeted with the hotel industry's latest trick: he was walked down.
When Los Angeles therapist Kirby Tepper was looking for ways to make extra cash last year, a friend suggested he build a guesthouse on his property. After decking the place out with a new kitchen and a flat-screen TV, he listed it on the Web site homeaway.com for $200 a night, a rate comparable to area hotels.
A more unified Europe has made it simpler to go from one country into another. Driving on the continent, however, remains a challenge because of inconsistent traffic laws and road signs. We asked representatives of several rental-car companies about little-known rules and conventions that visitors should know before hitting the road in Europe.
With these handy tools, you can update the folks back home without ever having to slow down.
For many travelers, duty-free is a luxurious enigma wrapped up in discounted Swiss chocolate and soaked in tax-free vodka. Duty-free goods are mostly sold inside international airport terminals, ferry stations, cruise ports, and border stops.
How can you prepare for next trip? Here, Travel + Leisure offers its checklist of eight simple -- yet easily forgotten -- steps to take before departure.
Over the past few years, airlines have been creating new ways for you to get award tickets and with good reason: co-branded credit cards that allow you to accumulate miles are profitable for many carriers.
George Fredrickson never suspected the travel insurance he bought for his transatlantic cruise last year was fake.
Last summer, at Las Vegas' McCarran airport, I stood behind a frustrated Delta passenger whose delayed flight had caused him to miss a connection. He was indignantly invoking Rule 240, insisting that Delta had to put him on a flight with another carrier, which elicited a chuckle from the agent.
Had a problem with your last trip? Fire up your PC and post something online.
It's been almost a year since American Airlines started charging passengers for their first checked bag, a move that every other legacy airline quickly followed. It's taken almost that long for the luggage industry to catch up to that unfortunate new reality.
If you tirelessly rack up frequent-flier miles only to encounter snags when you try to redeem them, it's time you discovered the increasingly generous world of hotel reward programs. Short on both business and leisure travelers of late, hotel chains are doing whatever it takes to fill their beds.
Everyone knows traveling can be stressful, but having a smartphone along can make the trek a little more enjoyable.
Richard Deitsch struggled through several days of denial before facing the fact that he was thousands of miles from home and he had no idea where his passport was.
There's probably no better way of pinching your vacation pennies than sleeping on a friend's sofa or camping out. But you don't have to rough it to afford your next getaway.
You'll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags, "Every year I pack heavier." The measure of a good traveler is how light he or she travels. You can't travel heavy, happy and cheap. Pick two.
For pro-surfers like nine-time world champion Kelly Slater, flying from continent to continent looking for the perfect wave seems like a freewheeling lifestyle, but for amateurs, it requires careful planning.
What would you expect to pay for accommodations in a palatial, elegantly decorated suite in one of London's most famously posh neighborhoods?
Whether you call the practice à la carte pricing or nickel-and-diming passengers, the fees most airlines now charge for everything from food and drinks to checked bags aren't going away. With far fewer people flying because of the economy -- especially business travelers -- many carriers are counting on this revenue more than ever.
For many travelers, duty-free is a luxurious enigma wrapped up in discounted Swiss chocolate and soaked in tax-free vodka. Duty-free goods are mostly sold inside international airport terminals, ferry stations, cruise ports and border stops.
Dreaming of an around-the-world trip? Budget Travel asked eight nomads for long-term travel tips and tricks.
Marilyn Parver never wanted to become a YouTube star. Neither did Iesha Walker.
Thanks to a vibrant design culture and growing tourism industry, Spain now has some of the best boutique hotels on the continent -- including a recent wave of hotel chains that's making chic accommodations affordable.
The fluctuations in the economy may change a lot of things, but one thing that remains the same is the desire to explore new places and experience new cultures.
We're traveling down an uncertain road next year. Buckle up.
Savvy skiers, listen up: This could just be your year to find great deals at some of America's best ski resorts.
I'm done. I'm done with cooking and cleaning for family guests, with giving presents I'm not even sure anyone wants.
At a London restaurant three years ago, Olivia Giovetti, a Los Angeles writer with a severe allergy to hazelnuts, asked if the crepes on the menu were made with Nutella. The waiter assured her it was chocolate -- but he was wrong.
Dancing the tango in Argentina takes more than just a command of the steps and some semblance of rhythm. You also need to understand the subtle signals that regulate life in a milonga, or tango hall, where tradition still holds great sway. With one misstep, you may kiss finding a partner good-bye.
As a rule, most travel agents are well-trained, competent professionals who work hard for you.
Southwest Airlines is the top air carrier in the United States. No, wait; it's American Airlines. Hang on -- make that Virgin America.
I live in New York. But I also have flats in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and I keep a condo in Miami, a chateau in Switzerland and a pied-a-terre in every Paris arrondissement. You see, I'm a house swapper.
Andy Daniel thought he had found a terrific airfare from San Francisco to Miami for Christmas. Instead, he found a terrific disappointment.
I wasn't sure my sister would ever forgive me that Thanksgiving.
"Voluntourism is not about martyrdom," says Christopher Hill, CEO of Hands Up Holidays, a London-based company that arranges high-end excursions that incorporate volunteering. "It's about making a difference, even if you're staying at a luxury hotel."
Steve Azadian's 25th anniversary cruise is already booked using his Marriott award points. But now the hotel won't let him take his vacation because it isn't renewing its agreement with Carnival. Can it do that? The rules say, "yes," but Azadian thinks Marriott is wrong. Who's right?
Ivy Peltz is like many people who go on tours or cruises alone: She doesn't like to room with strangers, but she also hates paying a single supplement -- the fee many travel companies levy on singles who want their own two-person room.
It's not too soon to start thinking about traveling next year. In 2009, a series of new rules and regulations kick in that could affect your vacation. Ignore them, and you might find yourself delayed or denied access to your destination.
As Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas, travelers may be wondering how this storm and the rest of the season's brutal weather will affect their travel plans.
Here's your reward for taking a staycation this summer.
Everyone knows that airlines make it difficult to redeem frequent-flier miles for free travel. Yet you may not know that they're making it expensive, too.
Ilene Coffey's room at an Orlando hotel comes with an unexpected surprise: a $50 fee for a "short stay." When she protests, her hotel and online travel agency tell her she must pay. What's worse, she can't back out -- if she does, her credit card will be charged for the stay. Is there a way out of this mess?
Something is wrong with Lynn Seehafer's SUV, which she valet parked at a Disney World hotel. She thinks it's been taken for a joyride. But has it? And to what extent is Disney responsible for the vehicle?
Anita Fancon and her husband want to fly from Tucson, Arizona, to Bordeaux, France in business class. They have the miles they need, and they've already cashed them in. But do they have the seats? American Airlines says they do, except on the flight from Dallas to London. Is there anything Fancon can do to secure the seats she's already paid 180,000 miles for?
The airlines don't want you to read this.
Wherever 6-year-old Lennon Gunn goes -- even to Germany to visit his dad -- he's got his wooden-handled spatula in hand.
Chan Hoe Yip booked rooms in Bakersfield, California, and Williams, Arizona, through the Days Inn Web site. Then again, maybe he didn't. The reservation ends up being two nights in Bakersfield and none in Williams, and now Yip is being told there's no refund for the extra night. Is Yip the victim of a bad Web site?
Oh, the terrible things we come home to from vacation.
Four-year-old Grace Layman, decked out in full frilly flower girl regalia, excitedly led her smiling surprise guest to the separate kids' party she was hosting at her dad's wedding reception. Mickey Mouse wowed everyone -- grown-ups too.
Taking a deep breath just doesn't work anymore. Not this summer.
Jan Venegas buys tickets to Hawaii with her Capital One "No Hassle" miles. But when her airline goes out of business, her credit card company refuses to return the hard-earned awards. Is Venegas stuck with a worthless ticket?
Susan Null books two business-class tickets on British Airways using her Alaska Airlines frequent flier miles. But when she checks her reservation, she finds nothing. Alaska Airlines says her booking has "slipped through the cracks." Can they retrieve it in time for her trip?
David Goldstein's checked luggage is misplaced on a flight to Salt Lake City after he misses a connection. He spends $10 on socks and toiletries after Frontier Airlines promises it will cover his incidental expenses. But now the carrier is balking at a refund. What's going on?
Wilma Smith was vacationing with her grandchildren in Orlando when she met a maid on a mission. When she returned from one of the theme parks one afternoon, she found the door to her room at the Days Inn propped wide open.
Talk about adding insult to injury.
The foolproof way to gain entry to an airport lounge is to buy a first- or business-class ticket. But traveling coach doesn't mean you can't have the same access.
No one knows better than the police which tricks criminals are using to prey on unsuspecting tourists.
What's the fastest way to board a plane?
It's been two years since Niel Bratteli bought a roundtrip plane ticket from Dallas to Boston for his son. The airline, ATA, stopped flying from Boston to Dallas and his online travel agency, Travelocity, promised Bratteli a refund. But countless calls and e-mails later, there's no sign of the money. What's wrong?
Flying with a baby or toddler can have its fair share of turbulence. From finding a place to change diapers to keeping your child quiet to dealing with eye-rolling passengers, parents have their work cut out for them on a plane.
Flying with a baby or toddler can have its fair share of turbulence. From finding a place to change diapers to keeping your child quiet to dealing with eye-rolling passengers, parents have their work cut out for them on a plane.
Shortly after its opening in 2006, I decided to visit the Lodge at Woodloch, a destination spa deep in the Poconos. Upon my arrival from New York, I discovered the property had no cellular service, so I made several calls home from my room phone, expecting to fork over little more than a dollar. Imagine my surprise when my hotel bill revealed a $7.38 charge for each time I picked up the receiver, despite having never actually reached anyone.
With a fever that soared to a mind-numbing 103 degrees and a chest rattling with acute bronchitis, Kathryn Clover's co-worker was in no shape to fly from Buenos Aires to Miami recently. But she boarded the plane anyway.
Lower-priced hotels have long been the realm of Muzak-filled lobbies outfitted with worse-for-wear furniture and industrial carpeting. But the genre has entered a new era. A wine bar? A sleek lounge area? Free Wi-Fi?
Who needs a travel agent anymore?
As far as mistakes go, the one Janet Gordon recently made didn't seem like a big deal. She booked an airline ticket from Toronto to London under the name "Jan."
Disgruntled airline passengers are nothing new, and the latest snapshot of the U.S. airline industry indicates plenty of cause for frustration.
Myron Sigal and his wife can't make their return flight from Venice to Philadelphia after she is injured on a Mediterranean cruise. US Airways promises him a voucher for the unused portion, but months later, there's no sign of it. Is the money lost?
Book an airline ticket, save the planet.
A cottage in the English countryside or a flat in Paris, a deluxe Caribbean villa or a house with a pool in Orlando, San Diego, Canada, Colorado, New York City or San Francisco. Take your pick for summer vacation. Price is no concern. It won't cost you a penny -- Really.
When Allison Fagerness' flight to Rome is canceled, she's forced to call off her vacation and return home. Her online travel agent, Expedia, promises a refund, but her airline, Alitalia, won't pay. What should she do?
Scoring bargain accommodations in Rome can be as tricky as deciphering ancient ruins. But you're in luck: We've done the homework and unearthed nine charming, affordable hotels.
Douglas Hawkins and his wife reserve a Budget rental car in Naples, Italy, but when they arrive at the car rental counter, the company downgrades his car and almost doubles its rate. Six months later, Budget hasn't refunded the money Hawkins says it owes him. What now?
No matter who wins, you lose.
Let's assume, for a moment, that you can't stop 2008 from becoming the Year of the Fee.
Cruise Industry officials note that half of the projected 12.8 million cruisers this year have never cruised before. That includes many families. Here are some tips for kids cruising for the first time from the veteran junior cruisers I talked to:
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