I had time to kill before my Amtrak ride from New York to Washington. Rather than wait in the hot, dungeon-like Penn Station, I prefer to hang out at The Pennsy, the hip food court next door on Pennsylvania Plaza. There’s a nice bar, the food is great, and the bathrooms are actually usable (unlike…
TripScout: This App Should Be Your City Guide
A recent business trip to South America left me with two unexpectedly open days in Buenos Aires. I welcomed the free time but was overwhelmed by the abundance of places to see and things to do in only 48 hours. Should I visit art museums? Waste away an afternoon in a cafe or wander the…
A Great Nighttime NYC Activity for Kids: Visiting the Empire State Building
Without a doubt, the most eye-popping view of New York City is from the Empire State Building’s dizzying yet thrilling 86th and 102nd floor observatories. But ascending to the observatories can be a test of patience for school groups when the lines to buy tickets, go through security and ride one of the gilded elevators…
The World is Their Home, Literally
Elia Locardi met his wife Naomi when they were teens in the Florida Keys. Today the Locardis have no home. They’re perpetual nomads, traipsing around the globe taking photos and videos, writing about their experiences and leading tours. This March will mark the fifth consecutive year the 30-something couple has been on the road. They’re…
The Mythology of the Amazon
The extreme silence, the brightness of the midday sun, humidity, and lack of breeze along this great river can hypnotize you, and beguile you, with its magical powers. In this feature for AAA’s EnCompass magazine, I take you into the mythical world of the Peruvian Amazon. Pink river dolphins undulated through the still waters of…
Where to Travel in 2017
A January tradition among travel experts and publications is to present their lists of the best destinations for the new year. We love knowing what’s hot and what’s not, but there’s often no rhyme or reason to the selections in many of these lists. And some are so long that they don’t help you decide…
12 New Years Travel Resolutions
Writer and film producer Patricia Steffy rose early one morning last week in Playa Ocotal, Costa Rica, to walk among the trees and look for monkeys. But instead of searching the trees or watching the sun rise or listening to the surf crash on the beach, she thought about her flight home. What time should…
My 5 Best Airport Hacks
Thanks to my perfectionist ways, I tend to do pretty well in airports. I arrive early, wear slip-on shoes that are easy to get on and off at security, organize my carry-on items well and constantly check the departure board for changes related to my flight. But in the same way some travelers are always…
Q&A: Why You Must Go on Vacation
It’s summer. The majority of European workers are likely on vacation while American workers are toiling away at the office, warehouse or other workplace. This isn’t necessarily because Europeans get more time off on average than their American counterparts (although they do). Poll after poll shows that around half of all Americans don’t use all…
Trust Me: Don’t Sleep Here
I arrived in Granada, Spain, during the height of tourist season and without a room reservation. After lugging my bag from hostel to hostel for four hours, I finally found a place with availability. The only room left was a converted closet with a micro-bed. A single lightbulb dangled from the ceiling. To provide air,…
EU Postpones Decision about Visas for Americans
The European Commission has delayed making a decision about whether to halt the program that allows American and Canadian tourists to go to Europe without visas. The commission originally said it would decide in mid-July about whether to suspend the Schengen visa waiver program for citizens of the United States, Canada and Brunei. But the…
Take ‘Strol’ for a Stroll
During his first visit to Rome, Serguei Sofinski and his wife explored the city on foot after conducting extensive guidebook and app research and charting what he thought was the most interesting route. But inevitably, an attractive side street or tucked-away fountain not listed in any guidebook would draw their attention. “When you travel, you…
