Author - The Durango Herald

When you leave a tip – whether you want to or not

David Mitroff’s favorite restaurants in New York and San Francisco now quietly add an 18 percent tip to his final bill – before he even has a chance to consider a gratuity. Automa...

DATE: Dec 3, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

While flying, keep a handle on your suitcase with a luggage tag

Hey, you – you with the nondescript black suitcase! Don’t let your luggage leave your home tagless. It could be making a one-way trip. Luggage tags set your property apart from th...

DATE: Nov 26, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

In time for the holidays, a seasonal primer on luggage etiquette

It’s the season of the squeeze. That should require absolutely no explanation, but just in case: Picture thousands of stressed-out holiday travelers in airport terminals, train st...

DATE: Nov 19, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

Extra fees increase airline revenue – and consumers’ ire

A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report revealed that domestic air carriers collected $7.1 billion in revenue from checked-bag and changed-reservations fees last year. The extr...

DATE: Nov 12, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

When is the best time to book your vacation?

When’s the right time to book your next vacation? At the peak of travel-planning season, that’s a common question. This is the time of year when everything from holiday trips to ...

DATE: Nov 5, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

How to tell if you have a qualified travel agent

Yarisa Smith knows she has a good travel agent. “He’s made cruises and European trips special,” says Smith, a manufacturer’s representative from Dallas. “His itineraries and atten...

DATE: Oct 29, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

How climate change is affecting travel – and what you can do about it

When Kimberly Button drove her RV to Glacier National Park in Montana this summer, she expected relief from her muggy hometown of Orlando, Florida. “We assumed that we’d have mild temperatur...

DATE: Oct 22, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

If hotel alarm clocks tick you off, you’re not alone

Mention alarm clocks to a frequent hotel guest, and you’ll probably get an earful. Those ever-present digital clock radios frequently evoke feelings of confusion, frustration and even rage. ...

DATE: Oct 15, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

Got a complaint about the travel industry? It’s got a complaint about you

“I’m weary of those entitled passengers who are continuously whining and complaining,” says Lisa Thomas, a veteran flight attendant based in Denver. “I feel like telling them, ‘Take some res...

DATE: Oct 8, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

Can legislation eliminate unjust travel fees?

Imagine a world where your cruise line or airline pays you if it fails to keep its schedule, you aren’t penalized for a canceled reservation if your hotel is able to resell the room and tick...

DATE: Oct 1, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

There’s a window in my shower – and other hotel design flaws

When Marc Burdiss stepped into the shower at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, he was shocked by the clear view of the bedroom through a glass window. “Weird,” he tho...

DATE: Sep 24, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

How to survive a marathon airline flight

Surviving long-haul flights wasn’t Akshay Nanavati’s top concern as a Marine. Nanavati, who served as a communication liaison in Iraq, worried more about what would happen after the 15-hour ...

DATE: Sep 17, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter