Passport fees going up July 13

Passport fees are increasing as of July 13. The fee for first-time adult passport applications is increasing $35, from $100 to $135, according to the U.S. Department of State. For minors under age 16, fees will increase from $85 to $105. For passport cards, fees will increase from $45 to $55 for adults and from [...]

Review: Travel sites take off with tools for deals

A lot has changed since I reviewed travel websites four years ago. Now the best ones reflect the new realities of travel, and offer to include luggage fees in fare calculations. That helps because $15 or $25 applied each way can turn a good deal sour. My verdict this time: I found TripAdvisor slightly better [...]

Expedia Exclusive Offer: Get a $50 prepaid MasterCard® card!

Hurry! Right now, Expedia ll give you a $50 prepaid MasterCard® card for gas when you book a 3+ night stay at participating hotels. Your card can be used everywhere debit MasterCard cards are accepted! Book by July 27; travel through August 31, 2010. On the booking confirmation page, remember to provide a shipping address [...]

Airfares not yet back at pre-crisis levels

Average airline fares have risen significantly but have not yet reached levels seen before the global downturn, despite more travelers and greater volumes of freight, industry body IATA said on Wednesday. In its latest financial snapshot, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday that fares still remained 10-15 percent below their pre-recession peak. [...]

Travel deals from Gulf spill spread wider than oil

As more oil from the Gulf of Mexico washes up on surrounding beaches, tourism in many Southeastern states is fading — even in areas far away from the gooey mess. But hotels from Texas to Florida and some airlines like Spirit are eager to drum up business driven away by oil fears — which means [...]

9 easy tips for improving your vacation photos

My shoe boxes of travel photographs bring back memories of the pictures that got away. Mom in Paris in springtime, except the Eiffel Tower is sticking out of her head like a rocket. My friend Russell on the steps of Michelangelo’s Laurentian Library in Florence, not that you can tell because of the low-light blur. [...]

Get $300 in coupons for future travel from Expedia

Offer: Book and stay at a qualifying Expedia Special Rate hotel, and receive an instant coupon for: (a) $100 off a new stand-alone Expedia Special Rate hotel booking of four (4) or more nights, and (b) $200 off a new air + hotel vacation package booking of five (5) or more nights. Just book any [...]