23 May
After the Carnival Triumph debacle, the Cruise Lines International Association puts some guarantees in writing on refunds in case of ships’ mechanical failure.
23 May
“Dynamic currency conversion” — paying for an overseas credit-card purchase in your home currency — ends up costing travelers extra.
23 May
An Italian judge has ordered the captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship to stand trial for manslaughter in the vessel's shipwreck off the coast of Tuscany, which killed 32 people.
23 May
If you’ve taken a car to the San Juan Islands in summer, you’ve probably sat and fumed in the long ferry line, especially on weekends. Here are some ways to avoid the crush by going to, and getting around, the bucolic Washington islands car-free for the summer season. (Or for those who n
23 May
Get helpful info, online and offline, with these free apps.
23 May
A judge has ruled that a New Yorker who rented his apartment on a popular traveler site broke the law.
22 May
22 May
Some 1,500 visitors were cleared out of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after a man put a letter on the altar of the 850-year-old monument Tuesday, pulled out a gun and shot himself in the head.
22 May
American Queen Steamboat Company will offer 7-night cruises on Columba, Snake rivers starting again next year.
22 May
A cathedral, stunning El Greco paintings and 2,500 years of tangled history make it a compelling destination, writes European travel specialist Rick Steves.
22 May
The debate over using personal electronic devices during flights has become a seething nest of Angry Birds, with some scientists continuing to fear interference with pilots’ communications/navigation systems.
22 May
Active-duty military and their families get free admission from Memorial Day to Labor Day at museums across the U.S., including many in Washington state.
21 May
An Alaska volcano eruption is prompting regional airlines to cancel flights to nearby communities, including a town that reported traces of fallen ash.
21 May
So, do I still hate cruising? If I were sitting with you in a favorite watering hole over beers, the answer might be easier, though probably not shorter. (Some people tend toward glib in the influence of alcohol; I tend to wax philosophical.) I might do that anyway, but for the record I’m drin
21 May
U.S. carriers have fallen behind their foreign competitors who offer better service, better food and better in-flight amenities.
21 May
Getting away from it all in Arizona, Alaska and beyond on adventure tours.
20 May
Hawaii’s hospitable habitat has long been overrun by opportunistic outsiders, including feral pigs. So upon returning to Hawaii, a writer goes hunting.
21 May
Here are some more of my favorites of the hundreds of photos I shot during my week aboard Star Princess. I’ll make a final blog posting Monday to sum up my thoughts about the cruise — will I do it again? — and respond to some reader questions I didn’t get to. Thanks for all
21 May
‘Gems of Our Washington State Parks’ series profiles a park with history, artifacts and eye-popping scenery in the Columbia River Gorge.
19 May
Always check the fine print on travel packages — and comparison-shop.
19 May
The monthly full-moon party on Ko Phangan draws tens of thousands of tourists, but there’s much more to the Thai island than hard partying — and a new airport may bring far-reaching change.
19 May
20 May
19 May
Here’s a roundup of cruise FAQs, with my answers alongside some of the standard info from Princess: Q: How does Internet work onboard? A: Pretty badly, in my experience. Princess clearly cautions that the ship’s satellite internet is slower than what you’re accustomed to in the cit
19 May
Onboard entertainment varies from cruise to cruise, ranging from Vegas-style shows in a large theater to piano-bar crooners, comedians and all the way down to passenger talent shows. On the booking circuit, this looks to be about the next notch down from tribal casinos, but hey, it’s all inclu