A recent viral post from a Marriott employee on Reddit issued a dire warning to travelers: Stop using Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). The poster claimed there is zero benefit to using sites like Expedia or Booking.com, alleging they hide fees, offer worse service, and mark you as a second-class citizen the moment you check in. […]
The “Book Direct” Myth: Why Hotels Want You to Pay More for Less Read More »
When traveling, we have all hoped to bring a souvenir that reminds us of our trip and the fun we had on it. If we have kids, then you have to bring them something. I have typically bought something for the airport for them. They love pretty much anything. But the key question is what
Stop Buying Bad Souvenirs: The Best Things to Buy When You Travel Read More »
Hotel fees have officially jumped the shark. Even after federal rules forced hotels to show fees upfront, Marriott has found a brand-new way to squeeze guests—this time at a Kansas City Airport Fairfield. Meet the latest invention: the Destination Marketing Fee. Yes, you’re now being charged so the hotel can advertise… to you. Thanks to
Have Marriott’s Fees Gone Too Far? The new “Marketing Fee” Read More »
I saw an article on how airlines choose their snacks and I had a whole bunch of thoughts. I never thought that they did it on a whim but I expected some harder data to decide. My favorite snacks are the traditional pretzels and the cookies. Unfortunately, salted pretzels are nowhere to be found. I
Why Do Airlines Decide What Snacks to Serve and How Can We Get More Pretzels? Read More »
Hotel Tip of the Day. It’s a tiny, almost subconscious act that savvy travelers know by heart, yet it goes unnoticed by many. You check into your hotel room, drop your bags, and head to the bathroom. There, perched neatly on the soap dish, is a fresh, pristine bar of soap. And the first thing
Hotel Soap Hack: Always Use a Washcloth! Read More »
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy’s announcement of the new civility campaign, The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You, is a response to a real and troubling problem: the surge in unruly passenger behavior. Citing a 400% increase in in-flight outbursts since 2019, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is clearly trying to address a
Can a Civility Campaign Fix Air Travel? (Spoiler: Not Really) Read More »
One of the major concerns that travelers have is the airline they are flying will lose their bags in transit. With this loss or even sustained delay, it creates a major headache for the traveler, whether they are on a business or leisure trip. My luggage was delayed a few times during my travels. Most
Airline Baggage Claims: Your Guide to Compensation Limits & Rights Read More »
The 2025 Thanksgiving holiday travel period is set to shatter records, according to the latest forecast from AAA. A staggering 81.8 million people are projected to journey at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday, November 25, and Monday, December 1. This figure represents an increase of 1.6 million travelers compared to the previous year,
Thanksgiving Travel 2025: Prepare for Crowds as 82 Million Americans Hit the Road Read More »
Review: The MyTSA App – A Traveler’s Imperfect Companion for Security Line Intel Few things cause more anxiety in air travel than the TSA Security Line especially with the impact of the Government Shut Down. I just flew to California and was concerned about the TSA wait times. I decided to see if there were
The MyTSA App is a Great Concept with Mediocre Execution Read More »
As the government shutdown continues, I am starting to worry about its impact on air travel especially since I have a trip coming up in a week. Government shutdowns in the U.S. can have a significant and often escalating impact on air travel, even though air traffic control (ATC) and TSA are considered essential services
