Travel
The Travel Troubleshooter
Buyer beware: Don’t get burned by flash sales
“We were told that it was a ‘flash’ sale and that day was the last to book,” he said. “We were told the cruise must be paid in full that…
Travel
Airlines are expecting more travelers to fly this summer
Between June 1 and Aug. 31, about 2.28 million people are expected to fly daily on U.S. carriers.Associated Press file photo About 210 million passengers – or 2.28 million a…
Local News
More commuting by bike, especially here
Cycling to work increases in U.S.; La Plata County outpaces Colorado
Letter from Korla
After a serene getaway, early morning panic at hotel
I had a week off of work and decided to travel north to the Tianshan Mountains. I had heard stories of a high mountain lake where you could camp out…
Travel
Resurrecting a steam giant
At 132-feet long, 1.2 million pounds, Big Boy an engineering marvel
Travel
Museum honoring Sept. 11 victims to open May 21
The opening will come after a May 15 ceremony and a six-day dedication period during which the museum will be open around the clock for Sept. 11 family members, rescue…
The Travel Troubleshooter
When I went on vacation, my Wi-Fi left me
And it works – except when it doesn’t. This is one of those times when it doesn’t. I’m sitting outside someone’s apartment in Unterkirnach, a village in Germany’s Black Forest,…
Travel
Crocodile close calls can’t stop Nile walk
British man navigates numerous dangers during 4,250-mile African trek
Travel
Is it safe to go in the water this summer?
“I came down with a major ear infection on my third day there, which required immediate medical attention,” remembers Siegfried, a loan officer from Alexandria. His fever peaked at 102…
More Hands on Deck
Swimming with whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez
I have seen dorado, dolphins, flying fish, giant grey and sperm whales, manta rays hopping out of the water sunning themselves and a plethora of other curious marine life. Of…
Letter from Korla
A firsthand look at racial divisions inside China
That being said, there are things about China that make me glad I grew up in America. Pollution is horrendous – in many cities you barely see the sun, and…
Travel
Vegas wheel spins to record
Van Kim, an airline call center employee from Phoenix, declared the experience “unanimously awesome.” Kim stood in line for six hours to be in the first gondola to complete the…
The Travel Troubleshooter
What to do when your hotel closes for renovations
Q: I recently booked a vacation package in Cozumel, Mexico, through Priceline. I called the hotel’s customer service line to ask a question, at which point I was informed that…
Travel
In Calif. wine country, follow an olive oil trail
Olive oil flavors can be sample at the Olive Press tasting room in Napa, Calif. Olive oil production in the U.S. is steadily growing. The domestic industry, with mostly high-end…
More Hands on Deck
Boat repairs require a journey of their own
Here’s my routine of late: I wake up, I eat, I fix something, I feel good, then something else breaks and I spend the next three days working out a…
The Travel Troubleshooter
Are e-checks a safe way to pay for travel?
An e-check is an electronic debit to your checking account, and it’s billed as a quick, convenient way to pay for your vacation that is “as easy as providing your…
Nation & World
Carry-on crackdown: United enforces limit
United Airlines recently installed new bag-sizers at airports and emailed its frequent fliers, reminding them of their carry-on size rules. Airlines long have had rules limiting carry-on bag sizes, but…
Letter from Korla
Skiing on a patch of snow in China’s desert
As far as ski resorts go, Long Zhi Shan, or Dragon Mountain, is not your typical one: there are no chairlifts; the ski instructors wear jeans; there are only two…
Travel
Vacation cooking requires planning
A group renting a vacation home used this cooking chart to work out a meal schedule and make sure everyone’s dietary preferences were considered.Beth J. Harpaz/Associated Press There are obvious…