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Sixt Promises A Reimbursement For Tires, But Where's The Money?
When Ray Cook damages two tires on his Sixt rental car, the company promises to cover the expense of replacing them. But months later, he's still waiting for his money.
Q: I rented a car from Sixt in Texas recently. While driving in Big Bend National Park, I got two flat tires and had to replace them. Sixt told me they would reimburse me $385...Read more
After detainee release, US warns Americans: Don't travel to Venezuela
The U.S. State Department has urged Americans not to travel to Venezuela following the release of detained citizens, warning that travelers face the risk of being wrongfully held for extended periods.
The warning was posted Tuesday on the State Department’s social media accounts, four days after President Donald Trump’s administration ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Lessons learned over decades that still apply
The Wisconsin homeowner couldn’t have been nicer. Yes, he loved young children, he said, (mine were one and three at the time). Yes, there was plenty of space for them to run around. And his house was only a couple hours from where we lived in Chicago. It was October 1987.
I was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune then, and the travel editor ...Read more

Celebrity Travel: Go away with Catch The Young
For westerners, K-pop has become the umbrella term for any artist performing songs in Korean (and usually dancing along). But South Korea has a long history of pop and rock artists who don’t adhere to that stereotype. Catch The Young is the latest band to showcase their musical dexterity as much as their singing. They punctuate this point on ...Read more

Rick Steves’ Europe: Driving ‘British’ and ‘Irish’
While most first-time visitors to Europe choo-choose to travel by train, consider the convenience of driving. Behind the wheel you’re totally free, going where you want, when you want.
Driving in the British Isles is wonderful – once you remember to stay on the left and after you’ve mastered the roundabouts. But be warned: Every year I ...Read more
Travel Troubleshooter: United Airlines Changes Flight, Causing A Missed Connection
Q: My family and I booked flights from Berlin to Seattle on Lufthansa using United Airlines miles. Our initial itinerary had us flying from Berlin to Munich to Seattle. Lufthansa canceled the Munich to Seattle flight, rebooking us on a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt, Germany, then to Seattle, with a stopover in Frankfurt of only 1 hour and 25 ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Eleven-plus museum exhibits not to miss this summer
Did you remember to pack everyone’s rain gear?
With such unpredictable weather patterns these days, you never know when it’s going to rain on your vacation. If you are in the mountains, you can probably count on afternoon thunderstorms, but you can get drenched at the beach, theme parks (we memorably were stuck in a tropical storm at Walt ...Read more

Celebrity Travel: Go away with Shannon Purser
Emmy-nominated actress Shannon Purser is best known for her work in “Stranger Things” and “Riverdale.” But she’s also a talented musician who pens contemplative songs like her latest, “Leave (Good Ending).” More recently, she was part of the cast of the stage production “La Cage Aux Folles.” “I had the best time,” said ...Read more

Rick Steves’ Europe: The Basque country’s cultural treats
The land of the Basque people, split between Spain and France, is a "nation without a state” – left off the map when they drew Europe's national borders. Basque Country is often left out of travel itineraries too, and that's also a mistake. With sunny beaches, spectacular modern architecture, tasty tapas, and feisty, free-spirited people, ...Read more
Travel Troubleshooter: KLM Forces Passenger To Pay $550 Extra Due To A System Error
Q: I recently flew from Amsterdam to Cape Town, South Africa, on KLM. When I arrived at the gate, an agent took my boarding pass and reassigned my seat. During the flight, attendants interrupted me three times, asking for my passport and ticket to confirm that I was in the correct seat. It was clear there was an error in their system.
To make ...Read more

Taking the Kids: What did you forget?
What did you forget to pack for your last trip, or your next one?
I always forget something. Once, it was a child’s duffel as we were heading to Cape Cod. Another time it was my youngest daughter’s ski parka as we were heading to a snow resort. Both were relatively easy fixes.
But Dr. Christina Johns, a Maryland pediatric emergency ...Read more

Celebrity Travel: Go away with ATEEZ
The K-pop group ATEEZ has grown accustomed to breaking barriers. Since launching their career in 2018, the octet has had seven Top 10 albums in the Billboard 200, including two that topped the chart. Their single, “Lemon Drop,” made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 in June. And their ongoing [IN YOUR FANTASY] world tour includes concerts ...Read more

Rick Steves’ Europe: Art, architecture and nightlife in Scotland’s Second City
Lately, I’ve really been enjoying what I consider to be the “second cities” of Europe, such as Naples in Italy, Marseille in France, and Hamburg in Germany. These places often have a rough, Industrial Age heritage and a rust-belt vibe that keeps them honest, unvarnished and nonconformist. Even though Glasgow is Scotland's largest and most...Read more

Taking the Kids: Attending a family reunion
The grandmother has high expectations for the upcoming family reunion. “I just want the kids and grandkids to connect and get to know one another,” she beams. She’s worked hard planning lodging and activities for more than a year. Kudos to her!
Like many families, hers is scattered across the country and rarely gets together. Thus, this ...Read more

Celebrity Travel: Go away with Atsuko Okatsuka
Thanks to her thriving stand-up career, comedian Atsuko Okatsuka has traveled around the world, sometimes with her family … on her honeymoon. “Our honeymoon trip to Taiwan – I brought my mom, grandma, dad and my stepmom,” she said in an interview from her Los Angeles home. “[I brought my husband] Ryan to a small village where I had ...Read more

Rick Steves’ Europe: A cheese-lover’s Europe
When I'm traveling, I become a cultural chameleon. I love a good pilsner in Prague, red wine in Tuscany, and a cheese course in France. For a cheese-lover, savoring Europe means savoring its cheeses – they're not only part of the cuisine, they're part of the culture. Here are just a few tips on how to see Europe as a tasty festival of mold.
<...Read more

Taking the Kids: Visiting a theme park this summer
Love them or hate them? Not food, not drink, theme parks! Everyone has an opinion on scary rides, especially roller coasters. I had one child who couldn’t wait to test her mettle on the biggest coasters she could find. But another child in the family absolutely hated the experience.
This summer, according to a new report from homeandleisure/travel/takingthekids/s-3756403">Read more

Trump travel ban disrupting business trips for immigrants
MINNEAPOLIS — Art dealer Martin Akinseye travels to Africa at least four times each year to meet with artisans and buy art at fairs and festivals. He has a trip planned to Ghana and Liberia in September.
Like several other immigrant business owners at Midtown Global Market, a bustling international marketplace on Lake Street in Minneapolis, ...Read more

Celebrity Travel: Go away with Arden Cho
In the animated Netflix film “KPop Demon Hunters,” actress Arden Cho (“Partner Track,” “Teen Wolf”) provides the voice for Rumi, the leader of the girl group, Huntrix. When they’re not slaying on stage, they’re hunting down demons. “This movie has been one of my absolute favorites, because Rumi is legit the coolest character,�...Read more

Rick Steves’ Europe: Hamburg is Germany’s alluring second city
Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city and its most important port. Like other great European “second cities” – such as Marseille, Glasgow, and Antwerp – this northern port city has a special pride. Popular with Germans (but a rare stop for Americans), Hamburg feels real and has an edgy charm. Visiting, you sense it knows where it ...Read more