On April 15, 2019, a catastrophic fire destroyed parts of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The 12th-century cathedral’s iconic bell towers survived the blaze, but its spire and roof collapsed, coating the interior in toxic lead dust. Following a more than five-year restoration project, Notre Dame reopened Saturday for two days of invitation-only celebrations. There…
I didn’t set out to book a Virtual Balcony, Royal Caribbean’s twist on an inside cabin. Truly, I didn’t. I simply wanted the least expensive room on my recent weeklong sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas. When I called to book, all of the standard inside cabins were sold out. The next cheapest…
The weeks after Thanksgiving might be the best time of year to travel. Prices are low, the weather is often mild and attractions are uncrowded. Travel expert and TV personality Samantha Brown recently posted a Reel on Instagram stating as much, saying, “The Monday after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of what is known as a…
It has been a remarkable few years of changes in the travel landscape. We saw a dramatic surge in travel demand after the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, and there appears to be no letup in sight. Flights remain full and expensive, with travelers growing increasingly interested in booking trips to international and more remote…
World of Hyatt members can now apply earned or gifted suite upgrade awards and club access award certificates to new bookings online or in the Hyatt app. This adds valuable flexibility for high-tier elite members, who previously needed to call to utilize these benefits. If you want to add one of these certificates next time…
It’s no secret that online shopping portals are an easy way to earn extra rewards. But with so many loyalty programs offering shopping portals, it can be difficult to know which portal has the best earning rate for a particular purchase without checking each portal individually. Luckily, several popular shopping portal aggregators can help. In…
Add Carnival Cruise Line to the list of companies raising prices. Effective immediately, passengers sailing with the brand can expect to pay more for drink packages and Wi-Fi — two of the most popular purchases cruisers make when they sail. The line quietly increased the costs of its Cheers beverage packages. Prices went from $59.95…
Ready or not, the holidays are here, and that means twinkling lights, garlands, hot cocoa, decorated trees, menorahs and — for many people around the world — travel. Are you looking to make a stop somewhere this year that really gets in the holiday spirit? Why not head to a hotel that takes the season…
Recent years have brought us all too many reminders about the importance of knowing your air travel rights as a passenger. From Delta Air Lines’ meltdown in the wake of a global IT outage to Southwest Airlines’ holiday 2022 fiasco, it’s clear that knowing what you should ask for when your flight is delayed or…
Cruise ship casino gambling is a big deal to some cruisers. You know how you often hear people on a cruise ship planning their day around the entertainment, tours and mealtimes? I once eavesdropped on a conversation where a group of six people were planning their entire next day around time in the ship’s casino….