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Flying to the US from abroad? You'll need to state you haven't been to Congo, CDC says
Beginning Tuesday night, all travelers arriving at United States airports from overseas will face a new requirement.
They’ll need to write and provide a statement saying they’ve not spent time in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the prior 21 days, including for transit or layovers.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and ...Read more
Go away with ... Patrick Wolf
Veteran goth-folk-pop rocker Patrick Wolf released his first EP at the age of 19. Now 43 and finishing up the U.S. leg of his tour, the musician said he still has a few goals for the future. “My childhood dream [was to perform at] the Hollywood Bowl in America and the Royal Albert Hall in England,” said Wolf, who resides in Ramsgate, Kent. �...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Foodie Florence
Sampling Italian cuisine is sightseeing for your palate. The recipe for a successful tour: Start with fresh ingredients, add some talented cooks, mix in a city’s personality marbled with a rich heritage, and sprinkle a happy dining crowd on top. Experiencing Italy's cuisine is a joy, and in the heart of Tuscany, Florence offers a particularly ...Read more
A 3-Hour Delay In Returning A Rental Car Costs Renter $650
George Meyer thought he had a deal for unlimited mileage on his month-long car rental in France. But when he returned the car just three hours late, Europcar slapped him with a bill for $650 in excess distance. Can a small delay really void an "unlimited" contract?
Q: I rented a car through Europcar for a trip to France last summer. I had a ...Read more
Taking the kids: Out of school to travel
Would you or have you taken your kids out of school to travel?
If you would or have, you aren’t alone, according to a new survey from Omio, the multi-modal booking platform that enables you to book flights, trains, buses, and ferries in one place.
Parents appear to prioritize family experiences over missed ...Read more
Go away with ... Andy Koh
For Andy Koh, his October debut album “Taking the Long Way” has been four decades in the making. Though he’d been writing songs and singing since his college days at Harvard University, his music took a back seat to his family and career as a pediatric oncologist. Said Koh, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday and 30th wedding ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Portugal’s Douro Valley: Drink it in
One of Portugal's most endearing slices is the Douro River Valley – the winding, terraced region that produces the country’s beloved port wine. This is Portugal’s version of Germany’s romantic Rhine River Valley. But unlike the Rhine, the Douro was never a strategic military location. So, rather than castles and stony ramparts, visitors ...Read more
Airbnb Promises A Refund For A Noisy Rental, Then Goes Quiet
Tatsuyuki Morishita books a "quiet" Airbnb in Toronto, only to be jolted awake by noise every night. An Airbnb agent promises a refund if he moves out early, but once he hands back the keys, the company tries to close the case without a refund. Can he get Airbnb to honor its word?
Q: I booked an Airbnb rental in Toronto for a stay of more ...Read more
Taking the kids: Fortune cookies, dumplings, and San Francisco history: when local cuisine adds to the experience
Next time you are cracking open fortune cookies at a Chinese restaurant, announce that the ubiquitous cookies aren’t really Chinese at all.
Really. They are actually Japanese in origin, but you won’t find them at a sushi place. The modern version is said to h ave first been made around 1914 by Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese immigrant working ...Read more
Go away with ... Dana Carpenter
BUSAN, South Korea – After Marilyn Monroe married Joe DiMaggio in 1954, the couple went on what would become a working honeymoon. While her husband was busy coaching local baseball teams in Japan, Monroe accepted an invitation to entertain the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea during the Korean War, an experience that she had described as �...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Bone voyage: Exploring Europe's cemeteries and crypts
Every time spooky season approaches, I think back on some of my favorite European cemeteries and crypts. Over the years, I've popped into a lot of burial grounds – some peaceful and scenic, some eerie and evocative – with all revealing compelling stories of the past. While some high-profile places – such as the catacombs in Rome or Père ...Read more
Priceline Cancels Reservation And Leaves Guest With A $360 Bill
Charles Marcus books two rooms at a Hampton Inn through Priceline, but the site cancels his reservation without his permission. When he rebooks the same rooms, the price jumps by $360. Can he get his money back?
Q: I booked two rooms at the Hampton Inn in Islandia, New York, through Priceline.com for a stay over the holidays. The total cost ...Read more
Taking the kids: To Hanoi
I know what celebrities must feel like. “Please, a picture!” the kids beg, jostling to get close to us.
We were in Hanoi outside the Vietnam National Museum of History, where scores of children on field trips, dressed in different color shirts from their schools, were excited to meet us.
Many were ...Read more
Go away with ... Paula Fong
Musician Paula Fong said her multi-racial background has always influenced who she is and the music she creates. “My father is a Chinese immigrant who grew up in Taiwan and Hong Kong,” Fong said. “[He] came to the United States for college where he met and married my mother, a Midwestern Hoosier with family roots in Kentucky. I asked my ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Picnic like a pro in Europe
As a budget traveler, there’s no better experience than a picnic sourced from a local market and then eaten outdoors with a lively square, peaceful park, or rejuvenated harborfront as a backdrop. Picnicking is simply the best way to enjoy Europe’s edible specialties economically. You'll eat better while spending less than half as much as ...Read more
Taking the kids: When the benefits of travel trump the costs
It’s all about priorities. While 75 percent of us believe travel is too expensive, up more than 10 percent from last year, the vast majority of us report vacations are one of the things we most look forward to.
In fact, according to the latest American Travel Sentiment ...Read more
Go away with ... Lily Vakili
Born in Honduras and raised in that Central American country, as well as the United States, Thailand and Puerto Rico, musician Lily Vakili said hearing so many different genres of music set the tone for what she wanted to do with her own music. “Coming from a multicultural background, I grew up accustomed to listening to music from all over,�...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: St. Andrews: Hit the links, books, and beach
Tiny St. Andrews has a huge reputation, known around the world as the birthplace and royal seat of golf. The chance to play on the world’s oldest course – or at least take in the iconic view of its 18th hole – keeps the town perennially popular among golfing pilgrims. But any visitor to Scotland should consider at least a short stop in ...Read more
Taking the kids: Who has collected the biggest leaves?
Who has collected the biggest leaves? The most sticks? The most different colored leaves?
Just remember, if you are out enjoying the fall foliage (or trying to), keep in mind young kids, you may not get very far from the trailhead. Just lean into it, suggests the Appalachian Mountain Club’s James ...Read more
Go away with ... Leenalchi
Founded by Jang Young-gyu (who scored the hit films “Train to Busan” and “The Wailing”), Leenalchi is a unique alternative rock group that conveys its lyrics through the traditional Korean storytelling genre known as pansori. The septet is signed to David Byrne’s Luaka Bop Records and has had their music featured in Apple TV’s “...Read more


























