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Taking the Kids: Chasing away the Grinch this holiday season
Feeling overwhelmed?
We all are at this time of year when there Is so much to do and not enough time before the holidays.
Take a deep breath and get away – whether for a day, a weekend or longer – before the Grinch takes up permanent residence.
You don’t have to go over budget. Many families, especially with older and adult kids, ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Kim Suhyun
Kim Suhyun’s bestselling book “I Decided to Live as Me” (Penguin Life) reminds readers about the importance of self-care and self-love. The Seoul-based writer said that reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations piqued reader interest. And she also credits BTS member, Jungkook, for spiking interest in her book after the pop star was spotted...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: London shines bright in winter
London dazzles year-round, so consider visiting in winter, when the city dresses up to the nines and bursts with festivities. Despite the season's drearier weather and shorter days, London's museums, theaters, and pubs always offer a warm, cozy welcome. And come January, tourist crowds are at a minimum, and airfare and hotel rates are generally ...Read more
I Closed My Bank Account. Now Airbnb Won't Send Me My Refund
Bart Colen's host cancels his rental at the last minute, and Airbnb promises to send him a refund. But months later, the money is still missing. The reason? Colen closed his bank account.
Q: I made a reservation on Airbnb last year for a three-month trip to France this winter. My host canceled at the last minute, and Airbnb agreed to refund ...Read more
Taking the Kids: Do you know your rights?
What a nightmare! Three times we boarded different JetBlue planes at JFK and then deplaned. Instead of being on the beach by mid- afternoon, we were still stuck in airport limbo late into the evening.
The first two times there were mechanical issues; the third time, we were told the crew couldn’t fly because they had been on duty for too many...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Eloise Mumford
Eloise Mumford (“50 Shades of Grey,” “The Right Stuff,” “Standing Up, Falling Down”) is based out of Los Angeles, but the actress said most of her year is spent filming on location in other cities. “Between filming and traveling, I mostly just go home to water my plants and check on my avocado tree,” said Mumford, who will next ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: High culture on the cheap in Vienna
Vienna is a city with a rich culture and a vivid history that can be impressively rewarding to the well-prepared traveler. As I walked out of my hotel on a Sunday morning, I decided to skip the sights and immerse myself in Vienna’s wealth of cultural offerings – none of which break the bank.
I kicked off my day with Mass at the Hofburg ...Read more
Travel Troubleshooter: Our Air France Credit Expired. How Do We Get Our $23,577 Back?
Air France owes Gilda Souza $23,577 after the airline canceled her flights during the pandemic. Souza then mistakenly allowed her ticket credit to expire. Can she get a refund?
Q: In late 2018, I booked three flights on Air France for a trip in 2019 through American Express. I had to cancel the flights and received a one-year ticket ...Read more
The secrets to packing light, from a globe-trotting Broadway actor
Actor Jay Armstrong Johnson, 37, made his Broadway debut in the Tony-winning 2009 revival of "Hair" and has been a fixture of New York Theater ever since, appearing in musicals including Phantom of the Opera and On the Town. He regularly performs in concerts across the city and country; he was also a recurring cast member of the Priyanka Chopra-...Read more
Taking the Kids: Visiting Reykjavik, Iceland
They won’t win any parents of the year contest.
The famous puffins of Iceland fly away and leave their little chicks to fend for themselves when they are just six weeks old, explains Mariana Veloso, a marine biologist with a master’s degree, who is our guide on a 90-minute Elding Puffin Watching tour to ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Diana Panton
On her latest album “soft winds and roses,” two-time Juno winner Diana Panton offers her interpretation of classic songs like the Beatles’ “Here, There and Everywhere,” Elton John’s “Your Song” and Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.” Showcasing her beautiful, evocative vocals, the artist said her Scottish father’s record ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Turkey has plenty to explore beyond Istanbul
Turkey is changing fast. And it's modernizing fast. For a recent vacation, I hit the road in Turkey, with romantic memories (from my backpacker days) of horse-drawn carriages and villages with economies powered by hay, dung, and ducks. While that rustic old world is tougher to find, the deep traditions and warm hospitality of the region are as ...Read more
Travel Troubleshooter: All-Inclusive Hotel Accidentally Overcharges Guest By $2,500
The Miraval Berkshires, an all-inclusive resort in Lenox, Massachusetts, overcharges Dalia Hamzeh by $2,500. Now it is refusing to answer her emails. How can she get her money back?
Q: I booked a weekend trip for early September last year to the Miraval Berkshires, an all-inclusive resort in Lenox, Massachusetts. It was my best friend's ...Read more
Taking the Kids: The presidential election is a great teaching moment
If only it were that easy.
The 15th Amendment to the U.S Constitution reads,“ The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” It ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Devin Kawaoka
From playing a doctor on “Chicago Med” to starring opposite Harrison Ford and Michael Urie in the Apple TV+ series “Shrinking,” Devin Kawaoka is in his element bringing diverse characters to life. He’s particularly fond of Charlie, the fictional character he portrays in “Shrinking.” “Charlie is the kindest, most level-headed, ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Finding medieval charm in Germany’s Erfurt
Long ago I gave up looking for an untouristy, half-timbered medieval German town, but a few years back, I stumbled upon it in the sleepy town of Erfurt.
The capital of the German region of Thuringia, Erfurt has history swinging from its eaves. It's most notable as the place where Martin Luther studied and became a monk, and (by translating the ...Read more
Taking the Kids: Jackson Hole, the gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone
Can art protect wildlife? Actually, it has, we learned at the unique National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Thomas Moran’s paintings of mountains, canyons and geysers helped convince Congress to establish Yellowstone as America’s first national park in 1872. Jackson Hole is the ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Sung J. Woo
For Sung J. Woo (“Everything Asian,” “Love Love,” “Skin Deep”), favorite locations often make appearances in his books. His upcoming novel “Lines” – which deftly weaves a story of love, loss and forgotten possibilities – is set in suburban New Jersey, downtown Manhattan, Waimea (Hawaii), Portland and Breitenbush (Oregon). “...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Châteaux day trips from Paris are a royal treat
I always feel like a king when I get to explore the splendid châteaux near Paris. A highlight of one memorable trip was climbing under centuries-old exposed timbers through the attic of Vaux-le-Vicomte before popping out on the rooftop to a view of the spectacular garden.
There are several sumptuous palaces studding the region around Paris. ...Read more
Taking the Kids: Leaf Peeping 21st-Century-Style
Ready to get out of the car? Leaf peeping through the windshield is so 20 th c entury, not to mention boring. Why not zipline above the fall foliage, bike amid the changing leaves, see the foliage from a train – or a vineyard, perhaps, time- traveling back in history.
These days, there are more active ways to enjoy changing leaves. The ...Read more