Help! I’d Like to Ride the Train. Is it Safe?
Our columnist finds that rail companies, both regional systems and Amtrak, are undertaking major coronavirus efforts. But they can’t thoroughly disinfect every seat in every train at every station. Dear Tripped Up, I’ve been hesitant to take…
One Way to Avoid Other Guests? Book the Entire Hotel
For those who aren’t deterred by a bill in the thousands, if not tens of thousands, buyouts of entire hotels or resorts offer the amenities and services of a hotel and the privacy and control of a…
The Deal Not Taken
During one frantic week, incredible travel offers emerged, only to evaporate as soon as the reality of taking advantage of them during a pandemic was weighed. For a budget traveler, it was the best of times, and…
The New Long Weekend
Does a Saturday-to-Monday weekend mean savings and fewer crowds? We tested the model in four cities. For most people, long weekends usually run from Friday to Sunday, a surge that often means higher travel costs. But what…
For the Best Travel Deals, Get Into the Black Friday Spirit!
The post-Thanksgiving sales frenzy isn’t just for gift-shopping. Travelers can find significant discounts on hotel stays, tours and even cruises. Black Friday, the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, is best known for doorbuster deals and irresistible…
Money-Saving Secrets From Ski Bums
To get nitty-gritty, budget-saving tips, we turned to ski-town locals and winter fanatics for advice. Downhill skiing is rarely cheap. The booking site Hipmunk found the median price for two people over two nights in a popular…
Christmas (on the Cheap) in January
Looking for seasonal cheer without inflated prices? Then take your holiday spirit on the road — after Christmas. It’s the season of lights, holiday markets and caroling. And it’s also a time of crowds and inflated hotel…
In the Cruise World, This Isn’t Winter. It’s Wave Season.
During the annual deal-making ritual, cruise-goers can snap up savings that generally aren’t available the rest of the year. Most people in the Northern Hemisphere call the three-month period between January and March “winter.” But in the…
A Traveler’s Guide to the Best Bets in Las Vegas
Take the bus, look for daytime performances, eat tacos and splurge on museums that immerse you in Vegas lore. I have spent a lot of money in Las Vegas, and I don’t gamble much. I’ve paid $250…
Your Next Vacation, Paid For With Points
All those points you’ve been saving have a purpose: a stay at a fabulous resort in the Caribbean or another warm-weather destination. No sooner did the Times Square Ball drop than I embarked upon my own New…
Who Needs a Caribbean Yacht When You Can Take the Ferry?
In the British Virgin Islands, get cheap maritime thrills and rub shoulders with locals on one of the region’s most convenient ferry systems. Orion was shining brightly in the dark sky above Anegada in the British Virgin…
Join the Club, Save Some Money
Safari deals at Costco; discount lift tickets at Sam’s Club. Add AARP and AAA into the mix of memberships that offer savings on travel. When Ashlee Laird, 32, a high school adviser in Houston, was planning her…