The Travel Troubleshooter https://www.durangoherald.com/section/the-travel-troubleshooter/feed/ Stay informed with the latest breaking news, local stories, sports, business, weather, and community events from Durango, Southwest Colorado, and the Four Corners region. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:48:44 -0600 en-us 30 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/how-to-do-your-laundry-while-traveling/ Recycling means that you’re out of clean clothes while you’re on the road and that you’ll either have to do the laundry or wear the same thing again. And maybe again. Your choices for doing laundry while traveling aren’t always... Sat, 25 Jul 2020 04:35:04 -0600 AB35B408-34D8-2481-E053-0100007F89D5 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/what-americans-need-to-know-about-the-eu-travel-ban/ Hoekman, a retired dentist from Brooklyn, Michigan, owns a rental property in Friedenweiler, in the southern Black Forest. “I wanted to visit in August or September since I have things to do on the house,” he says. “I don’t suppose... Sat, 18 Jul 2020 04:36:51 -0600 AAA9A21A-1529-35FA-E053-0100007F7232 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/can-airlines-make-passengers-wear-masks/ It didn’t happen. A crew member didn’t even seem to notice that they were unmasked, he says. “At no time did they wear their masks while talking to the flight attendant, nor did she remind them to put on their... Wed, 08 Jul 2020 21:08:07 -0600 A9F35515-38EE-19FD-E053-0100007F899C https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/social-distancing-doesnt-work-on-crowded-planes/ “The plane was packed, with nearly every row seated,” said Wilkov, a brand marketing consultant who lives in New York. There was no way to maintain distance. Finding adequate personal space on a flight – especially in economy class –... Sat, 27 Jun 2020 03:40:58 -0600 A90204B7-2EC1-45DA-E053-0100007F7BCA https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/would-be-vacationers-approach-summer-travel-cautiously/ Annie Gofus, a Washington, D.C., travel agent who founded the site Wunderbird, isn’t going anywhere. She’s worried not just for her own safety, but also for that of her customers. “I’m afraid of a client falling ill while traveling, or... Sat, 20 Jun 2020 04:37:39 -0600 A8759AD6-68AB-2413-E053-0100007FBB10 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/too-sick-to-fly-should-airlines-offer-refunds-to-infectious-passengers/ Airline policies are unfairly rigid when it comes to infectious diseases. Unless you bought a fully refundable ticket, carriers will charge a change fee and any applicable fare differential if you decide that you’re too sick to fly. And if... Tue, 09 Jun 2020 05:00:14 -0600 A7974D06-6CD6-078B-E053-0100007FA387 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/what-to-do-when-disaster-strikes-on-vacation/ “After 9/11, all flights were canceled, and the airport in Barcelona was filled with stranded travelers,” said Gray, who owns and manages vacation rentals in Asheville, North Carolina. “During that sudden global shutdown, banks immediately closed, leaving many of us... Sat, 23 May 2020 03:46:22 -0600 A6421E79-4FF3-0DF1-E053-0100007FA027 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/is-it-possible-to-plan-a-safe-vacation-during-the-pandemic/ For Smiler, a retired veterinarian, Maui checks a lot of boxes for safety. Hawaii is a domestic destination, and it has reliable air connections and relatively few coronavirus cases. But when Smiler talks about “safe,” he’s not talking just about... Sat, 16 May 2020 03:11:51 -0600 A5B5363E-4557-6402-E053-0100007F6ABA https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/how-to-protect-your-next-trip-against-a-pandemic/ Travelers are looking for ways to protect their next trip from another wave of the pandemic. One of them is Baron Hanson, who takes frequent trips between Washington, D.C., and Palm Beach, Florida. “We’re traveling by car,” says Hanson, a... Thu, 07 May 2020 19:30:00 -0600 A528C5AC-6A34-449B-E053-0100007FF687 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/travel-destinations-stay-visible-during-pandemic/ They’re using everything from bingo to live webcams to keep you engaged. And they’re renovating and reaching out to prospective visitors during the pandemic as they prepare for your return. But it may take more than that. The World Tourism... Sat, 02 May 2020 03:51:27 -0600 A49C759A-4D4A-1AF2-E053-0100007F5751 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/still-no-vacation-refund-it-might-be-time-to-play-the-card/ Asking a bank to force a merchant to return your money is typically a last resort. But that’s where we are now. Some travel companies have quietly changed their refund rules in the past few weeks, demanding that consumers accept... Sat, 25 Apr 2020 04:23:53 -0600 A40F941D-9CBF-782A-E053-0100007F282B https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/confusing-coronavirus-refund-policies-frustrate-travelers/ They include airlines that are openly defying the government’s refund rules, tour operators pocketing hefty cancellation fees and cruise lines demanding three months or more to refund the price of a ticket. The travel industry is desperate. If companies make... Tue, 14 Apr 2020 03:27:16 -0600 A3307068-FF37-5BB0-E053-0100007F88EC https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/how-to-tell-if-your-travel-company-is-going-out-of-business/ As travelers cautiously look ahead to their next trip, worried about the financial future of their chosen airline, cruise line or hotel, they’re smart to recall the lessons of past business cessations. Eddie Morgan won’t forget Amoma, the Geneva-based online... Sat, 04 Apr 2020 03:21:14 -0600 A26926EA-5628-033B-E053-0100007F9428 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/how-to-get-a-refund-if-you-wont-rebook-the-trip/ But should you cancel? Most travel companies now offer incentives to reschedule. Princess Cruises, for instance, is throwing in a generous cruise credit if you rebook your vacation. That’s not the only reason to hold on to your travel plans.... Sat, 28 Mar 2020 03:47:21 -0600 A1DBE50D-53D5-5E3B-E053-0100007F300C https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/planning-your-summer-vacation-amid-coronavirus-fears/ Many need to make a final payment on a tour or cruise and are wondering: Should I go – or not? It’s a feeling I know all too well. I’m writing this on a train from Barcelona to Marseille, France,... Sat, 21 Mar 2020 05:29:17 -0600 A14F28DA-65D8-322F-E053-0100007F3C7D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/should-you-upload-your-id-before-you-travel/ “This seems like an outrageous and unwise request,” Schoen says. “We’d be happy to show our government ID to our host or even mail a paper copy. But we don’t want it online.” Schoen, a poet from Alexandria, Virginia, makes... Fri, 13 Mar 2020 22:42:24 -0600 A0C25A6A-5145-0D28-E053-0100007FBB00 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/are-city-passes-worth-it-heres-how-to-tell/ But the card was less useful than I’d hoped. São Jorge Castle and some other key attractions weren’t part of the program, although the card qualified me for an admission discount. And the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology was... Fri, 06 Mar 2020 20:51:04 -0700 A03A80C9-4431-6B71-E053-0100007FAB33 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/strategies-for-vegans-to-eat-well-on-their-next-vacation/ Plant-based diets are growing in popularity, but most tourist destinations still cater to the comfort-food crowd. There are large parts of the country – indeed, the world – without vegan restaurants. What’s someone on an all-veggie diet to do? Colette... Fri, 28 Feb 2020 21:14:51 -0700 9FA9AABA-6E83-394E-E053-0100007F4E79 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/why-travelers-dont-value-their-time-and-what-it-means-for-your-next-vacation/ “I have taken longer flights and endured longer stopovers when I’ve had the time,” he says. “When I don’t have the time, I’ll pay the higher fees and go with the shorter wait and better use of my time. I... Sat, 22 Feb 2020 03:03:06 -0700 9F1CD021-45AE-0ADE-E053-0100007F721A https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/how-to-get-a-travel-company-to-respond-to-your-complaint/ People like John Dignam want to know. He recently tried to redeem two “free” flight vouchers on Spirit Airlines. He and his daughter had received them when they volunteered to give up their seats on a flight from San Francisco... Sat, 15 Feb 2020 05:55:52 -0700 9E904713-9850-6333-E053-0100007F1A7C https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/credit-card-benefits-for-travelers-are-vanishing-what-can-you-do/ Among the biggest recent cuts: Discover deleted several key benefits for travelers, including purchase protection, auto rental insurance and flight accident insurance.Chase cut its lost-luggage protection, travel accident insurance, and trip-cancellation and trip-interruption coverage from some of its cards.Citi eliminated... Mon, 10 Feb 2020 17:51:45 -0700 9E42D4A5-6D07-6F8C-E053-0100007FBFD4 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/facial-recognition-technology-stokes-privacy-concerns/ “I didn’t show any form of picture ID, yet the machine that took the picture was able to recognize my face and issue the corresponding ticket with my information,” says Gassó, a scientist for a federal agency in Silver Spring,... Fri, 31 Jan 2020 22:20:15 -0700 9D77BEDD-8F89-0B4B-E053-0100007F223D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/should-you-take-the-train-heres-how-to-decide/ On another level, it doesn’t make any sense at all. Round-trip tickets for my family of four on the Pacific Surfliner cost $248, and the trip takes about an hour longer than driving (assuming the train is on time). As... Sat, 25 Jan 2020 12:03:16 -0700 9CE93D29-048C-596D-E053-0100007F7018 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/dont-let-airlines-bully-you-with-their-bad-seats/ “It was the worst flight experience I’ve ever had,” says Conway, who manages a digital marketing agency on Camano Island, Washington. “I was seated in a bulkhead seat that not only didn’t recline, but was also kitty-corner to a restroom.... Sat, 18 Jan 2020 10:03:07 -0700 9C5CB510-5933-31B5-E053-0100007F8B5D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/do-you-need-medical-evacuation-coverage-for-your-next-trip/ The wave hit the vessel as Natanzon, a software engineer from Hallandale Beach, Florida, was descending a flight of stairs on the lower deck. He lost his grip on the handrail and tumbled down the stairway, fracturing his lower leg.... Sat, 11 Jan 2020 04:50:58 -0700 9BD01478-C7CB-027E-E053-0100007FDC92 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/the-best-advice-and-apps-for-driving-in-bad-weather/ “Road surfaces can change quickly between dry, snow-packed and icy – all of which require a different approach to steering and stopping,” says Leslie Kasperowicz, a Minneapolis driver who edits CarInsurance.org, a car insurance website. The trick, pros like Kasperowicz... Sun, 22 Dec 2019 12:03:27 -0700 9A295455-D1F3-0794-E053-0100007FB00D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/a-closer-look-can-expose-a-travel-deal-too-good-to-be-true/ Greenberg, who owns an insurance agency in Scottsdale, Arizona, was going to fly to Puerto Rico to take a Christmas cruise to the Caribbean. But high-season airfares were running more than $1,000 per person round trip. Spirit, which bills itself... Fri, 20 Dec 2019 07:01:00 -0700 9AB69404-BADB-2BF1-E053-0100007F1B83 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/as-passenger-dissatisfaction-soars-airline-fines-hit-a-historic-low/ Federal regulators insist they’re just doing their job and that the numbers represent an ebb in airline violations. But consumer advocates say it’s nothing short of a dereliction of duty. The Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the Transportation Department, which... Thu, 12 Dec 2019 23:44:51 -0700 998916C9-C95D-1A96-E053-0100007FA23C https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/there-are-ways-to-make-your-trips-eco-friendlier/ “The short answer is yes, it is possible to reduce your carbon footprint when you travel,” says Jennifer Coffman, associate executive director at James Madison University’s Center for Global Engagement. “The longer answer is yes with lots of qualifiers. Travel... Sat, 07 Dec 2019 15:03:08 -0700 990FBAEF-319F-2C70-E053-0100007F1B28 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/blinded-by-the-price-how-to-avoid-making-travel-deal-mistakes/ “It is not just about the dollars saved,” says Michal Strahilevitz, an associate professor of marketing at St. Mary’s College of California. “It’s the thrill of the deal.” A bargain’s siren song can lure even the most clearheaded traveler, warns... Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12:03:33 -0700 98831327-A519-79FE-E053-0100007F2F66