Sample Switzerland’s cities before heading for the hills
January 19, 2010 ·
Swiss cities remind me of the kid at high school who’s great at sports, has perfect hair, the best girlfriend, and the teachers all love him. He’s just too perfect. Sometimes you just want to see him trip or get a pimple. For me — and most travelers — the country’s mountains provide more real [...]
Airlines raise fuel surcharges to Europe
January 13, 2010 ·
Major airlines have raised fuel surcharges on travel to Europe by $20 per roundtrip, and some have added conditions that could cause travelers to pay higher fares. Surcharges to Paris, Frankfurt and most cities on the Continent were raised to $280 per roundtrip and to $242 for London, airline representatives said Tuesday. Tim Smith, a [...]
Winter in Paris: A cool time to go local
January 6, 2010 ·
The City of Light shines year-round, but Paris has a special appeal in winter. Sure, the weather can be cold and rainy (the average high in January is 43 degrees), but if you dress in layers, you’ll keep warm and easily deal with temperature changes as you go from cold streets to heated museums and [...]
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, [...]
‘Amazing Race’ heads for las Vegas finale
December 3, 2009 ·
It takes one hour to fly from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, but why take the easy route when you can squeeze in stops in Asia, the Middle East and Europe along the way? The contestants in this season’s “The Amazing Race” had an itinerary any globe-trotter would envy, except perhaps the couple [...]
Take the long way back
December 2, 2009 ·
Many savvy travelers tunnel their way through Europe’s big cities by subway, popping up from below like gophers on a golf course. True, subways are a cheap and efficient way to get around. But by staying street level on public buses and trams, you get amazing views and the chance to really cozy up to [...]
