Ever since I learned to make origami paper cranes as a way to cheer an ill friend, I've been using them as language and cultural bridges on my journeys. They've accompanied tips for waiters and housekeepers, helped turn tired scowls into smiles and been major hits among local kids who moments earlier had been clamboring for candy or money.
Now, here's some uplifting travel news: Just in time for this week's Asia-Pacific economic summit, underwear maker Triumph Japan is launching a "Welcome to Japan! Bra" that's inspired by a tour guide's uniform and can greet visitors in English, Chinese and Korean.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your knife sharpeners: The Sanderling Resort & Spa, an upscale beachfront resort on North Carolina's Outer Banks, is targeting carnivorous foodies with "Meet Your Meat," a series of monthly workshops that promise to teach a shrink-wrap generation the art of artisanal butchering.
Indonesia's erupting Mount Merapi volcano is likely to shorten President Obama's already abbreviated homecoming - and is clouding the island nation's hopes for a photo op tourism boost from today's twice-delayed visit.
When my husband and I decided to celebrate a recent milestone anniversary with frequent flier miles, I was frustrated by the long and tedious research but pleased with the outcome: two business class tickets to Santiago on LAN Chile, a oneworld alliance member that gets high marks for in-flight service.
Overseas travelers who bristle at credit card fees of 1%-3% on foreign transactions have another option for avoiding them. Effective this month, the British Airways Visa Signature Card from Chase is waiving its 3% charge on purchases made abroad, joining a handful of other bank-issued cards such as Capital One that don't charge the fees.Most credit card issuers tack on fees for transactions outside the U.S., even on purchases made in dollars, says Greg McBride of Bankrate.com. As banks look for n ...
Republicans, you've just trounced the opposition in this week's mid-term elections. Where are you heading next? A guess: The Mad Tea Party ride at Disney World, not Disneyland.Assuming politics play a role in vacation choices - though as nonpartisan observers, we hope they don't - here are our picks for destination winners and losers based on Tuesday's mandate for change:
Don't look for "bud and breakfasts" in the Golden State anytime soon. A ballot proposition to legalize recreational marijuana went up in smoke Tuesday, tamping down the hopes of entrepreneurs who hoped to turn California into Amsterdam West.
If you're still procrastinating about whether to fly over the river and through the woods for Turkey Day, be prepared to pay more - and have more company.
