Camping is Back. Here’s Why.

Written by Contributing Author @ modhop.com

Even before the coronavirus pandemic hit, we were living through strange times. Politics were out of control. There were forest fires, floods, and typhoons that seemed to augur the world’s end. And our obsession with smartphones was reaching new heights.    None of those things, however, put the dampers on […]

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Hyatt’s New Loyalty Program Debuts on March 1

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

On March 1, Hyatt’s Gold Passport program will become World of Hyatt. Whether the change amounts to the introduction of a wholly new program or just a revamp of the existing program is more a matter of semantics than of substance. However how choose to look at it, though, the program is changing. And, according […]

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Free Coach Meals Coming to (Some) Delta Flights

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

Free meals in coach? Holy throwback! After a months’-long trial, widely reported, Delta will begin serving complimentary coach-class meals, beginning on March 1, on its flights between New York and both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Then, on April 24, the service will be expanded to include select coast-to-coast flights to and from Seattle, New […]

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No Dumb Questions? Travel Agents Beg to Differ

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

Where travel is concerned, it’s become a do-it-yourself world. Do your own research. Make your own travel plans. Make your own bookings. Print out your own boarding pass. Check yourself in. Consumers, in other words, have had to become their own travel agents, a job for which they have neither the training nor the interest. […]

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Earn an Extra 500 Hilton Points for Mobile Bookings

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

Hilton’s newest systemwide promotion, for stays between February 1 and April 30, is 2,000 bonus points per stay. That’s better than no bonus at all, but it’s not a game-changer for most. This week, that bonus effectively improves by 25 percent, for travelers willing and able to book their stays using Hilton’s mobile app. Offer […]

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Limited Time: Triple Delta Miles for Airbnb Stays

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

When Delta added Airbnb to its SkyMiles program as an earning partner in November of 2016, it was a clear sign that Airbnb had come of age. The home-sharing service was no longer a novelty; it had earned a durable place in the travel landscape, alongside the likes of Hilton and Marriott. This week, Delta […]

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6 Cruise Scams You Should Never Fall for

Written by Ed Perkins @ SmarterTravel

Those slick TV ads can make a cruise look like the “dream come true” experience of a lifetime. And a cruise can, in fact, be a wonderful experience. But sometimes that experience morphs from dream to disaster. A cruise is both a means of transportation and a destination resort with its own cruise passport requirements. […]

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Recap: The Week’s Biggest Travel Stories and Best Deals

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. New Spirit Carry-On Restrictions: A […]

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Tax Avoiders Could Lose Their Passports

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

Not everyone believes that taxes are as inevitable as death. In addition to the I-won’t-pay crowd, there’s the I-can’t-pay contingent, and the I-forgot-to-pay group. Whatever their reasons, they’re all considered delinquent taxpayers by the IRS. And that delinquency can now jeopardize their ability to fly. The rather obscure Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, FAST for […]

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Poll: Most Americans Don’t Support Trump’s Travel Ban

Written by Shannon McMahon @ SmarterTravel

You probably saw (or experienced) the airport protests and delays this weekend following President Donald Trump’s executive order to ban nationals traveling to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority nations. But what do the American people think of the new travel measure? Turns out less than a third of Americans approve, according to a non-reader Skift […]

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How to Travel Like a Celebrity

Written by Ashley Rossi @ SmarterTravel

With awards season in full swing, celebrities are traveling to prestigious events, film festivals, and after-parties in style. Here are 10 tips on how to travel like a celebrity, plus a look at some of their favorite travel products and services. Tips on How to Travel Like a Celebrity More from SmarterTravel: 7 Luxe Hotels […]

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New Spirit Carry-On Restrictions – a Race To The Bottom

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

Spirit, the airline everyone love to hate, is tightening up its rules on carry-on bags, which were already among the industry’s most restrictive. As has become standard practice in the industry, Spirit charges extra for checked bags. Where Spirit differs from most other airlines is in also charging fees to carry one’s own bag on […]

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10 Best Things to Do in Aruba

Written by Shannon McMahon @ SmarterTravel

The tiny Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba sees 1.2 million visitors per year—and not just for the beachfront resorts. Travelers from the U.S. and beyond know Aruba for its bright blue waters and white sand, but there’s also rugged outdoor adventure and colorful Caribbean culture to break up your beach lounging. Here are ten of […]

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Trump Blames Travel-Ban Chaos on Delta, Protesters

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

In a move that elicited disapproval and dismay from Democrats, Republicans, and leaders of many other countries, newly elected President Donald Trump on Friday issued an executive order that barred refugees, visa holders, and permanent U.S. residents from seven predominately Muslim countries from reentering the U.S. Chaos ensued, as travelers, airlines, and airports were caught […]

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U.S. Pilots Ask Trump to Deny Norwegian Air’s Expansion

Written by Carl Unger @ SmarterTravel

Pilots from Southwest and American Airlines are rallied at the White House today in the hopes of blocking Norwegian Air’s planned expansion in the U.S., reports the Dallas Business Journal. The unions contend Norwegian will “hire less expensive Asian flight crews instead of Americans and will use an Irish subsidiary to circumvent labor and safety regulations.” […]

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11 Budget Travel Lies You Should Stop Believing Right Now

Written by Shannon McMahon @ SmarterTravel

There are plenty of helpful hacks that will let you see the world for less. But some budget travel rules are simply myths touted by businesses that benefit from them. Others are created by well-meaning travelers who mistook an exception for the norm. Here are 11 budget travel lies you should be wary of. Myths […]

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Feds Call Out United on Latest IT Meltdown

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

As if air travel weren’t stressful enough in this era of long lines, cramped seating, and overstuffed planes, computer outages have added the prospect of delayed or cancelled flights to the list of flyers’ worries. It’s a legitimate concern, and a growing one. On July 20, a computer meltdown at Southwest resulted in more than […]

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SnapTravel Review: Can This On-Demand Hotel Deals Engine Really Save You Money?

Written by Shannon McMahon @ SmarterTravel

If you like the idea of using a travel agent to ensure you’re getting the best hotel deal, but hate the idea of contacting one and waiting for their search to end, SnapTravel may be the site you’ve been waiting for. It’s a half-bot, half-human hotel booking service that can secure some of the lowest […]

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Recap: The Week’s Biggest Travel Stories and Best Deals

Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel

Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. Apple Has a Fix for […]

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10 Best Things to Do in Palm Beach, Florida

Written by Shannon McMahon @ SmarterTravel

Situated between bustling Miami and theme park-saturated Orlando, the seaside arts community of Palm Beach, Florida, is more suited for cultural relaxation. You might know Palm Beach  as home to Donald Trump’s opulent Mar-a-Lago estate, but sprawling Palm Beach County also boasts a dynamic art scene, history, beaches, and culture that allow it to compete […]

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