French hotels polish up their star ratings
December 28, 2009 ·
France, the world’s top tourism destination, is polishing up its hotel star ratings and introducing a new luxury five-star category to help travellers know what to expect. The new rating criteria will apply to 18,000 hotels across France, many of which are showing off stars awarded under the previous ranking system that dates back to [...]
Top tips for smart shopping in Europe
December 24, 2009 ·
Shopping in Europe can be fun, but not if you let it overwhelm your trip. I like to shop smart, spending my time — and money — efficiently. Based on three decades of travel, here are my top tips for shopping in Europe. Shop in countries where your dollar goes farther. Shop in Turkey, Morocco, [...]
The decade in travel: Technology and terrorism
December 14, 2009 ·
Remember getting through an airport without removing your shoes, dumping your water bottle or showing ID? Remember when buying plane tickets by phone was faster than using a clunky Web site with a dial-up connection? Remember when you needed a guidebook to plan a vacation, and when you had to phone ahead to get directions? [...]
Advice for celebrating Christmas on a ski trip
December 7, 2009 ·
There’s a new Web site for skiers, and it offers a lot more than deals. SkiResorts.com also has features on all aspects of the ski experience. Readers can check out profiles of resorts like Loon, N.H., or learn nicknames for various types of snow, from fluffy champagne powder to that heavy sticky stuff also known [...]
10 ski resorts with diversions for the rest of us
December 7, 2009 ·
Skiers want nothing but to be on the slopes this time of year. But what if they bring friends or family along who don’t ski? Shermans Travel — a publisher of travel deals and destination advice, has come up with a list of 10 of the best ski resorts in the world for nonskiers, from [...]
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is ‘Christmas City,’ plus a casino
December 7, 2009 ·
Visitors looking to get into the holiday spirit have long traveled to Bethlehem, a lovely little city in eastern Pennsylvania founded by Moravians on Christmas Eve, 1741. With its well-preserved Moravian architecture, a popular seasonal bazaar called Christkindlmarkt, an impeccably decorated downtown, and a host of Christmas-themed events between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, Bethlehem [...]
Serene Bonaire: Diver’s Paradise — with flamingos
December 7, 2009 ·
On a slow ascent to the surface of the water from 60 feet down, the divemaster spots something thrilling along the reef and extends her hand with all five fingers wiggling excitedly. It’s a signal that can only mean one thing: Octopus! Scuttling around coral, the octopus quickly scrunches up into an eight-armed torpedo and [...]
