Honestly, I don’t know why Americans keep stampeding into Paris or the Amalfi Coast like Instagram is handing out free gelato. It’s wild—some of the best Europe travel deals are just sitting there, totally ignored, not even making it onto the Kayak “hot deals” page. The dollar’s up again (shout out to David Landsel at […]

Paid 22 euros for a “short scenic shortcut” tunnel last month—nobody warned me until I was already awkwardly hunched at the ticket kiosk, holding up a line and butchering the local language. Found the warning later, taped to a lamp post, scrawled in angry marker by some local who probably got fleeced even worse. Locals […]

So, you’re stumbling through some airport, groggy, and there’s always that smug traveler in the lounge corner talking about their “secret” upgrade trick. I mean, yeah, everyone pretends these loyalty perks—free upgrades, lounge passes, even those weird pre-booked airport lounges (did 69% of Americans really say they’d pay for that? seriously?)—are some kind of Illuminati […]

It’s 3 a.m. in Madrid, and I’m watching my friend stare at a $45 “foreign transaction” fee on his shiny new platinum travel card. Supposedly “no fees abroad,” right? Sure. The difference between “real” international-fee killers and the usual travel cards is laughably tiny, and banks just sneak in these 1-2% charges on every swipe. […]

Last month, I’m in the terminal, stuck behind some poor soul who suddenly gets yanked aside—crew swarms in, clipboard ready, muttering about “updated medical screening protocols.” Like, what does that even mean? It’s all hush-hush, but you can feel the tension. Cruise lines are getting way more intense about medical checks at boarding—random health screenings, […]

Okay, so, Wi-Fi on cruises. Used to be you’d just grumble about the signal, now it’s the price that makes you want to throw your phone overboard. Carnival’s “Premium Plan” is, what, nearly $28 a day now? Princess’s single-device Wi-Fi—$24.99, up 67%. I’m not even sure I remember my Netflix password, but I guess it […]

Booked a five-star resort last week—felt like a genius for snagging a deal—then, right in the middle of checkout, poof, the cancellation tab just disappeared. Not subtle. Luxury travel sites are quietly yanking back hotel refunds, even for those supposedly “worry-free” top-rated stays. And, look, the American Hotel & Lodging Association says 63% of travelers […]

So, I’m staring at my Qantas account. No idea what just happened—my flight credit lost its expiry date? Qantas yanked the December 31, 2023 expiry from older credits, so now I can supposedly request a refund whenever… unless it’s one of those zombie credits that can’t be used for anything anyway? Alaska Airlines, meanwhile, handed […]

Alright, so here’s the thing: I tried to set up a currency swap at the bank and, wow, it was like I’d asked for the secret recipe to Coca-Cola. Nobody would just answer. “Have you checked with the central bank?” they’d say, as if I had the governor on speed dial. The guy next to […]

Booked what I thought was “comprehensive” vacation insurance last month—ha, joke’s on me. I’m scrolling through the checkout and suddenly, there’s this avalanche of exclusions: pre-existing conditions, “dangerous” activities, work emergencies, all just quietly axed before I even click confirm. I’ve literally watched friends try to file claims, totally convinced they were golden, only to […]

Look, here’s what I don’t get—why does my travel agent always sneak in these “priority welcome” things at hotels I’ve already been to? I mean, I barely remember what I booked, but suddenly there’s a free dinner, or my room’s bigger, or I’m on some after-hours tour that’s “just for you.” New guests are over […]

Every time I’m cramming shoes into my carry-on—yeah, I know, it’s always shoes or some random bottle of after-sun—I stop and think, “Wait, did I actually buy travel insurance?” I’ve got the tickets, the phone charger, maybe three extra pairs of socks, but somehow insurance is always the last thing on my mind. And apparently, […]

Okay, so here’s my ongoing headache: I book this allegedly all-inclusive trip—months in advance, mind you, thinking I’m so clever, locked in at a flat rate. Joke’s on me. Final bill hits and now it’s stacked with “resort fees,” “service surcharges,” and, no lie, an “energy” fee. Energy? For what, the flickering hallway lights? Apparently, […]

So, you know that fantasy where you’re poolside and the drinks just keep coming? Yeah, that’s a myth now. I swear, last time I was at an “all-inclusive,” the mojito tasted like melted ice and sadness. I thought it was just my luck, but nope—turns out resorts everywhere are quietly slashing drink menus and rationing […]

Forget the official check-in time. Early check-in? That’s basically a cosmic dice roll. I’ve seen every trick—loyalty cards, over-the-top grins, gift bags, even a guy with homemade brownies (seriously, don’t eat lobby brownies, people). Getting into your room early isn’t impossible, but the real secrets? They’re all in the tiny, unspoken rituals front desk staff […]

Can you even try to book a weekend away anymore without feeling like someone’s about to scam you? I swear, the “local advice” people drop these days is less about which taco stand won’t give you food poisoning and more about which vacation rental scams are multiplying faster than ants at a picnic. Scammers just […]

Booked a hotel room—$149 a night, right? Then bam, there’s this $55 “cleaning” charge tacked on. For what, a complimentary gold-plated vacuuming? Are they laundering the curtains in unicorn tears? I’ve never figured it out. The wild part is, these chains never mention cleaning fees until you’re knee-deep in the booking process or sometimes hide […]

So, there I was again, trapped in another hotel lobby with that weirdly stale air, desperately trying not to look like a lost child while waiting for Wi-Fi. Debit card in hand, feeling a little too optimistic. Why does check-in always take forever? No clue. But using my debit card? Yeah, instant mistake. Hotels just […]

Still salty about that night I missed a Dallas dinner—flight delayed four hours, zero refund, just a sad pretzel and a headache. Now, airlines have quietly reworked refund rules so unless your domestic flight gets delayed three hours (or international by six), you’re not getting your money back—refunds only kick in at those magic numbers. […]

So, I’m staring at my hotel confirmation and—seriously—where’s the warning? Nobody ever says, “Oh hey, if you skip our prepaid breakfast, you’ll get fleeced at check-in.” But, yeah, I found out the hard way. Skip the breakfast add-on upfront and, boom, you’re paying double or triple for the same sad eggs in the lobby. It’s […]

Okay, so, boarding groups. Why do they always make people so weirdly tense? You ever notice how the minute they start calling zones, everyone’s suddenly on red alert, clutching their backpacks like it’s the last chopper out of Saigon? There’s this running joke that flight attendants have some secret vendetta against one zone. I don’t […]

You ever stand in a hotel lobby, watching someone else glide off with a suite key and a free minibar code while you’re just hoping for clean towels? Happens to me all the time. The trick, apparently, is to ask—quietly, not like you’re storming the Bastille—for complimentary perks right at check-in. I swear, the staff […]

I swear, I can’t even try to book a flight without getting some cryptic “policy update” email that’s just a bunch of legalese buried somewhere between the seat selection and the spam folder. Suddenly, airlines jack up flight change penalties and… did anyone get an alert? Nope. Last week, I was moving a London trip, […]

You know what nobody tells you? That a single, invisible typo on your plane ticket will nuke your entire trip, and you’ll only find out at the exact worst moment—like, sweaty, juggling a toddler, backpack, and a line of people behind you who definitely hate you now. The tiniest name screw-up—middle initial that just shows […]

So, my cousin—dead serious—once tried to get through security in San Juan with a library card. “It’s a U.S. territory, right? How strict can they be?” Spoiler: very. TSA agents don’t care if you’re on vacation or not, and they will absolutely roast you for expired student IDs. But yeah, Puerto Rico and the U.S. […]