It comes as no surprise that Europe has been around for almost ever. And, ancient Europe - crumbly castles and all - are still in place for us to marvel, gasp and dream about. Medieval times—most often called the Middle Ages—refers to a period of about 1000 years between the fall of the Roman Empire and the…
The Thinking Traveller
The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a lot of changes to the air travel industry. Some of the better changes—like the removal of most change fees—are ones we hope will stick around after the pandemic. One change we expect to be more temporary, however, is the increased availability of cheap last-minute flights. Before the pandemic,…
If you're of "a certain age" you may remember Lawrence Welk, who was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted the television program The Lawrence Welk Show from 1951 to 1982. His style came to be known to his large audience of radio, television, and live-performance fans (and critics) as "champagne music." But, as is often the…
We all want to save money when we travel, and one of the most unwanted costs is when we over-pack our luggage. But four travelers teamed up to make lemonade out of lemons–actually orange juice out of oranges–after being faced with exorbitantly higher baggage fees to transport their oranges home. 30 minutes later, they had…
Please welcome our latest partner, One Day University.
One Day University is an education company that brings the best professors from across the nation to present entertaining, inspiring versions of their best lectures to lifelong learners.
Their entire library of 400 fascinating classes is available to members, with new talks streaming live every day.
Every…
Some airlines and airports now offer rapid COVID-19 testing to accommodate travelers required to show a negative test at their destination. But what happens if a traveler tests positive before a trip? Travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, breaks down three things travelers need to know about COVID-19 testing and travel insurance. Things are changing on…
Don’t get me wrong – yes, I’m a professor at Yale University, but I’m no genius. When I first mentioned to our four grown children that I was going to teach a new course on genius, they thought that was the funniest thing they’d ever heard. ‘You, you’re no genius! You’re a plodder.’ And they…
The travel industry can be alluring, and that can include those who are actually part of it. Exotic locales, streaking through the skies at 600 mph or more - enticing! But just because you're in the business, it doesn't give you carte blanche - or Blanche, herself, in this case. A listener on an Airlines…
Some successful people are really grounded. Others have their head in the clouds. But some get the mix just right. Uber co-founder Garrett Camp is behind a new scheduled flight service (Aero) from private airport terminals in the same vein as JSX, Aero. It will operate LA (Van Nuys) to Aspen February 4 through April…
Our friends World Nomads know a thing or two about travelling all over the world. Their main activity is travel insurance, and their products are very good indeed. But, here they show another side - 24 recipes from around the world to tempt your taste buds. With recipes from Morocco, Jamaica, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka,…
In an ongoing effort to better service American travelers, our partner Qatar Airways continues to rebuild and expand their network. With the addition of San Francisco in December of last year, and Seattle this January 29th, 2021, you can now connect from the USA to Doha and beyond, better than ever. The new services offer…
One of the wonderful things about Europe is that it is so easy to get around. Planes, trains and automobiles are all at your fingertips. And you may be shocked at how inexpensive it can be. Having lived there, we rather like EasyJet. Based on the UK, the airline flies to hundreds of locations, with…
Our partner Scott's Cheap Flights knows a lot about travel: they have been providing stellar deals since 2009. So, they have as much at stake with Covid-19 as anyone. "This post highlights some of their research on what to expect when it comes to vaccines, in particular. Last week I wrote to you about what…
2020 was a year like no other. The first whispers of the coronavirus were heard in the US in mid-January. By March, travel all but came to a halt. By March, travel all but came to a halt. While the pandemic is certainly not over, the development of several vaccines means that we could return…
Driving in Rome, you say? Me, you say? Are you in the process of planning a trip to Italy? Wondering what's the best time to visit Rome? There's a lot that goes into perfecting the vacation of a lifetime, but don't panic because our partner, Auto Europe is here to help. With over 60 years…
Welcome to the land where ancient castles guard misty lochs and wild deer roam heather-flecked hillsides. If you want to experience the Scotland of your dreams, it’s definitely here. Travel from the buzzing cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow to the off-the-beaten-track beauty of the Highlands and islands, untouched by time. You can stretch your legs…
For time eternal, the world has always experienced disagreements and the resultant strife and sadness that often is the byproduct. So it's good to see when efforts are made to put the arguments aside and work together to make the world a better place. As we often proclaim here, travel is one way to rise…
Our partner OMIO has developed a new Open Travel Index, a handy way to determine if and when you can travel point-ot-point. You can stay updated on the latest travel regulations for your destination based on your current location including border status, quarantine restrictions and testing requirements, as well as find out what safety measures…
If you can’t come to the arts, let the arts come to you with our selection of free virtual museum collections. With the promising news of a COVID vaccine, we need to take care of our mental health more than ever, especially if we want to prepare for our collective comeback to post-pandemic life. Experts…
The most famous wine region in North America, Napa Valley produces wines that rival those from the Old World’s most revered regions—but that’s not all it has going for it. This 30-mile stretch of Northern California has also proven to be one of the most beautiful to visit, with year-round sunshine and pleasing temps. Notoriety…