Travel

You Don’t Have to Go Crackers Going to Costa Rica

Eric Green

When we arrived at Costa Rica’s international airport, it was apparent that it had become truly international. It was much bigger, speedier to go through security and customs, and far easier to claim your baggage. Previously, the airport couldn’t seem to handle the large number of travelers passing through its gates. Now, with even bigger crowds, it was a breeze.

12 Destinations You Absolutely Must Visit in 2024

Christopher Elliot

If you can get to Kyoto in April, you should. The cherry trees bloom in mid-March and usually reach their peak in early April. But even if you miss Sakura season, you really need to see this place. The former Japanese capital is filled with ancient temples and shrines. This is also the place to go to learn how to make sushi.

Toronto Makes Its Mark as a Burgeoning Wellness Destination

Barbara Noe Kennedy

Mention Toronto, and the first thing that pops into your head probably won’t be wellness, given everything else the city has going for it, including the striking CN Tower, fanatical sports teams, and modern cityscape vibe. But everywhere you go in this bustling metropolis on Lake Ontario, there’s an emphasis on being well.

Survival Strategies for Long Airport Delays

Christopher Elliot

The trick to surviving a long delay is having everything you need with you. If there's a long delay, your airline may not be able to access your checked bag. Shannon Wilburn has a short list of things she always packs in her overnight bag. It includes all of her toiletries and prescription medications as well as her headset and computer.

Deirdre Gartner Takes on Her Beloved New York City in New Book

Barbara Noe Kennedy

Special features highlight various aspects of New York, including coffeeshops, independent bookstores, and East Village shops. There are also fun facts sprinkled throughout—did you know you’ll find a handwritten poem by Emily Dickenson and George Washington’s recipe for beer at the New York Public Library?

Extreme Weather Ahead: Your El Nino Travel Survival Guide

Christopher Elliot

There's only one way to avoid extreme winter weather and still travel -- and that is to select your destination carefully to steer clear of the worst of it. Head south to avoid severe blizzards. Or travel to Asia or Europe to escape the worst effects of this climate pattern.

Revenge Travel Was Sweet, but Travelers Should Exercise Caution

Christopher Elliot

So where's everyone going in the post-revenge travel era? I asked Peter Strebel.He says some areas are seeing strong post-revenge interest from travelers, including Florida's Space Coast, Charlotte, Austin, and Washington, D.C. But the economy perks up, Americans could spend like there's no tomorrow and head overseas. If not, we'll always have Orlando.

The Summer of Bad Tourists

Christopher Elliot

My son sat next to the world's worst tourist on a flight from Sydney to Denpasar, Indonesia. His seatmate nursed a bottle of sizzurp -- a potent mix of codeine and Sprite -- and the man twitched uncontrollably for the seven-hour flight to Bali. When the intoxicated tourist disembarked on the conservative Hindu island, he collapsed on the terminal floor. The last time I saw him, customs officials were trying in vain to revive him from an opiate-induced stupor.

Is the Travel Industry Taking Self-Service Too Far?

Christopher Elliot

Annette Johnson thinks the travel industry is taking self-service too far. She's watched airlines drop their phone support and add fees for airport check-ins that use a human agent. Some air carriers are even tearing out their kiosks and prodding passengers into using a phone app at the airport. "It feels like you're being punished if you need a little help," says Johnson, a travel advisor.

You Can't Get Much Farther Than Western Australia

Christopher Elliot

You can also tour Kings Park with and hear ancient stories about what Australia was like before colonization. The park, which overlooks Perth, was once a sacred site where women came to give birth. European settlement changed Western Australia permanently, but the memory of a quieter place that was in harmony with nature lives on in the stories told by the aboriginal guides.

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