Updated Articles and Resources

By Nancy Parode, About.com Guide

Scam Detector: Smartphone App for Travelers and Consumers Created: Sunday, May 19, 2013 Updated: Sunday, May 19, 2013
Scam Detector is a free smartphone app that helps you recognize and avoid over 600 different scams, ranging from travel scams to housing and property scams. Scam Detector has a companion website t...
Pet Birds and Air Travel: What You Need to Know Created: Friday, May 17, 2013 Updated: Friday, May 17, 2013
Bird owners may wonder whether they can travel by air with their feathered friends. Find out which US airlines accept birds in the airplane cabin or in the baggage hold.
How Long Are the Seat Belts on My Airplane? Created: Sunday, April 11, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 16, 2013
All airline passengers must wear seat belts when directed to do so by the flight crew. But just how long is that airline seat belt? What happens if it is too short? Learn about your airline's se...
Rail Travel and Senior Rail Discounts in Central and South America Created: Thursday, March 08, 2012 Updated: Saturday, May 11, 2013
The state of rail travel in Central and South America varies from country to country. A few countries have well-developed passenger train service, others offer limited rail service and still other...
What to Expect at the Lifeboat Drill Created: Monday, February 13, 2012 Updated: Saturday, May 11, 2013
Many cruise passengers dread the lifeboat drill, thinking they will spend hours standing in hot sun wearing uncomfortable life jackets. This may happen, of course, but if all cruise passengers und...
How Do I File a Travel Complaint? Created: Monday, October 25, 2010 Updated: Saturday, May 11, 2013
To file your travel complaint, begin with your travel provider. Find out how to contact your travel supplier to file a complaint.
Human Safaris – Educational or Exploitative? Created: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 Updated: Friday, May 10, 2013
A "human safari" is an organized tour that takes visitors to a place where they can see "locals" or "natives," often tribal people, in their indigenous settings. Do human safaris cross the line be...
Learn to Ride a Bicycle in an Adult Cycling Class Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
If you have always wanted to take a bicycle tour or ride a bike trail, but do not know how to ride a bicycle, you are not alone. Adult cycling classes are both extremely popular and widely availab...
Travel Meals – What Will You Eat on Your Overseas Vacation? Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Some travelers sign up for tour groups because they worry about finding affordable, edible food in other countries. We'll help you put those worries aside and plan picnics and travel meals that me...
Avian Influenza A (H7N9) and Overseas Travel Created: Monday, April 29, 2013 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
In April 2013, China announced that H7N9 avian influenza A, a disease formerly confined to birds, had spread to humans. Find out how this strain of avian flu might affect your travels and learn wh...
When Should You Travel With a Tour Group? Created: Monday, April 29, 2013 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Tour groups offer travelers a way to experience the world, meet new people and learn about local history and culture. Even if you normally plan your own trips, there are times when tour groups real...
Let Google Maps Help You Plan Your Next Trip Created: Saturday, April 27, 2013 Updated: Saturday, April 27, 2013
Google Maps is far more than a direction-finding tool. It is also a vacation-planning tool. You can use Google Maps to learn about your hotel's surroundings, check traffic conditions, look at hiki...
Profile of Generations Touring Company Created: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Generations Touring Company focuses on providing good-value, memory-making travel experiences to intergenerational family groups.
Pet Airways, an Airline For Animals Only Created: Saturday, August 01, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Pet Airways, the pet-only airline that began service in July 2009, will fly your furry friends in comfort. Find out about Pet Airways' fares, services and schedule.
Should You Bring Your Own Bed Linens on Your Next Trip? Created: Monday, April 15, 2013 Updated: Monday, April 15, 2013
Bringing bed linens from home to your hotel or cruise ship isn't necessarily paranoid behavior. There are several good reasons to pack bed linens in your luggage. Find out when and how to bring be...
Explore Cape Ann's Maritime Heritage in Historic Gloucester Created: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Gloucester, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest working seaports in the United States. For centuries, Gloucester fishermen have plied their trade here on Cape Ann. Visitors to Gloucester can explo...
Budget Boston, Massachusetts, for Senior Travelers Created: Friday, April 05, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Boston, Massachusetts, attracts visitors interested in history, visual arts, sports, science and music. While Boston's hotels command big-city prices, your trip to the Cradle of Liberty can still b...
Go Back to School to Travel Created: Friday, June 24, 2011 Updated: Thursday, April 04, 2013
If you have always wanted to travel, but don't want to put an itinerary together yourself, consider going back to school for your next vacation. Community colleges and universities all over North ...
How Can I Find Out Whether I Will Be Safe in Another Country? Created: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 Updated: Thursday, April 04, 2013
If you're planning a trip abroad, it's always a good idea to find out about local conditions and international travel safety problems before you leave home. The U.S. Department of State, Canada's ...
Should I Rent or Buy a GSM Cell Phone for My International Trip? Created: Sunday, September 06, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 01, 2013
Will your cell phone work in another country? If you're from the U.S., it may not. You'll need to rent or buy a GSM cell phone if you want to call the States while you're on an international vaca...
Palm Springs Travel for Seniors Created: Saturday, February 07, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 01, 2013
Palm Springs, California, is a perfect place to relax away from the bustle and traffic of Los Angeles. Palm Springs offers everything from golf to gambling, but you can also hang out by the pool o...
Profile of the New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts Created: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Updated: Thursday, March 28, 2013
The New England Aquarium attracts visitors from the Boston area and from around the world. While the Aquarium's penguins are probably its most popular residents, sea turtles, seals, colorful fish ...
Downtown Hotels or Suburban Hotels – Which Should You Choose? Created: Monday, March 25, 2013 Updated: Monday, March 25, 2013
When deciding between staying near downtown attractions and restaurants and choosing a suburban hotel, you are normally selecting time or money. Toss in a rental car, and things get slightly more ...
Travel Insurance and Named Winter Storms Created: Saturday, March 23, 2013 Updated: Saturday, March 23, 2013
Now that The Weather Channel is naming major winter storms, the travel insurance industry is beginning to treat these storms as they do hurricanes. Find out what types of travel insurance you migh...
Budget Virginia Beach for Senior Travelers Created: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 Updated: Saturday, March 23, 2013
Virginia Beach is a popular family summer vacation spot, but this year-round destination has plenty to offer senior travelers. Best of all, hotels near the Oceanfront typically slash their rates d...
Visit Myanmar, Formerly Known as Burma Created: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Mysterious Myanmar, formerly called Burma, which was ruled by a military junta for many years, is quickly becoming a hot tourist destination. Myanmar's unspoiled landscapes, rich Buddhist heritage...
Can United States Citizens Travel to Cuba? Created: Sunday, March 17, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
For many years, United States citizens were not allowed to spend money in Cuba, making travel to the island nation legally impossible. Under President Obama, regulations were changed to permit US c...
Public Restroom Safety and Health Tips Created: Monday, March 11, 2013 Updated: Monday, March 11, 2013
Public restrooms offer convenience when you're on the road, but they aren't always completely safe or clean. Learn about the safety and health risks of public toilets and find out how you can prot...
Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico? Created: Saturday, December 06, 2008 Updated: Friday, March 08, 2013
Many travelers wonder whether it is safe to travel in Mexico. Find out about the latest U.S. State Department Mexico travel alerts and about security information for travel to Mexico.
Travel Planning Resolutions Created: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 Updated: Friday, March 08, 2013
Nearly every trip requires paperwork, research, or both. There are things you can do now to reduce your workload as your departure date approaches.
Applying for Your U.S. Passport Created: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Updated: Friday, March 08, 2013
If you plan to visit another country, you'll need to get a passport. Here's how to apply for your U. S. passport.
Air Travel With Portable Oxygen Concentrators Created: Sunday, November 22, 2009 Updated: Thursday, March 07, 2013
If you need supplemental medical oxygen, traveling by air requires advance planning. You will need to use an FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrator (POC) during your flight. We'll explain whic...