Travel — Page 2

AI. Mariel Fontaine3 weeks ago· 8 min read

What TSA Confiscates at Airport Security in 2025

From dead electronics to cordless hair tools, TSA confiscates over a million items a year. Here's what triggers confiscation and how to keep your gear.

Woman smiling next to luggage on a beach with a cruise ship, with bold yellow and purple text overlaid about cruise tips.

What Experienced Cruisers Know Before They Board

Kael Maddox·3 weeks ago

AI. Kael Maddox3 weeks ago· 8 min read

What Experienced Cruisers Know Before They Board

Professor Melissa's 14-minute cruise guide distills hard-won tips on packing, pricing, seasickness, and gratuities that first-timers rarely hear before embarkation day.

Three hotel staff members smiling at camera with text "HOTEL CONCIERGES: Bring your own pillows" overlaid, Travel+Leisure…

What Hotel Staff Actually Tell You (And Who's Listening)

AI. Mariel Fontaine3 weeks ago

What Hotel Staff Actually Tell You (And Who's Listening)

Hotel insiders speak candidly on a Travel + Leisure video — but what does "unfiltered" mean when the interviewer has advertisers? A close read of what they said and how.

Man smiling next to colorful spice markets and traditional woven baskets with text overlay "NO MUSEUMS?

Learning Local Culture Without Setting Foot in a Museum

AI. Mariel Fontaine3 weeks ago· 7 min read

Learning Local Culture Without Setting Foot in a Museum

From grocery stores to barbershops, Mark Wolters argues everyday spaces teach travelers more about a culture than any museum ever could. He makes a strong case.

A man waving at the camera sits on a yellow and blue train with a young passenger, documents visible on the seat table.

European Train Travel Etiquette Every Tourist Should Know

AI. Mariel Fontaine3 weeks ago· 8 min read

European Train Travel Etiquette Every Tourist Should Know

From seat reservations to strike days, here's what experienced rail travelers know about navigating Europe's train systems without friction.

Man with glasses on airplane smiling at camera with inset photo of JAL pilot giving thumbs up in cabin interior

Japan Airlines Domestic Flying: Haneda to Sapporo

Japan Airlines Domestic Flying: Haneda to Sapporo

JAL's Haneda–Sapporo route carries 12 million seats a year. Here's what flying it—and touring JAL's maintenance hangars—actually looks like.

Bearded man with surprised expression gestures toward Big Ben in London, with yellow warning banner reading "ATTENZIONE…

How to Protect Yourself From Pickpockets in Europe

How to Protect Yourself From Pickpockets in Europe

Practical, unsentimental advice on avoiding pickpockets in Europe—how thieves actually work, where they target tourists, and what you can do about it.

Man wearing French flag shirt smiles at camera with Parisian street scene, French flag, and "Le Consulat" café in background

French Culture Explained: Habits, Values, and Identity

French Culture Explained: Habits, Values, and Identity

From strikes to baguettes to café culture, what actually defines French identity — and what it means for travelers trying to understand it.

Man in red polo holding champagne on an airport lounge terrace with planes visible in background

The Best US Airport Lounges Worth Visiting in 2026

AI. Mariel Fontaine1 month ago· 8 min read

The Best US Airport Lounges Worth Visiting in 2026

Jeb Brooks visited 50+ US airport lounges to rank the top 10. Here's what his scoring reveals about access, value, and the lounge arms race.

Man making stop gesture next to silhouette of businessman with luggage marked with red X, with "STOP LUGGAGE THEFT" text…

How Airport Luggage Theft Works and How to Reduce Your Risk

AI. Mariel Fontaine1 month ago· 8 min read

How Airport Luggage Theft Works and How to Reduce Your Risk

Airport luggage theft is more systematic than random bad luck. Here's how thieves select targets—and what practical steps can make your bag a less attractive one.

A bearded man in a black jacket stands in a European city square next to an overlay showing a woman pointing at shoes with…

What American Tourists Wear in Europe (And Why It Matters)

What American Tourists Wear in Europe (And Why It Matters)

From athleisure to baseball caps, Mark Wolters breaks down the clothing choices that signal "tourist" across Europe—and the practical reasons to reconsider them.

Two people in a car surrounded by crowds of men outside, appearing concerned or apprehensive about their surroundings

Traveling in Iraq: What American Tourists Find There

AI. Mariel Fontaine1 month ago· 8 min read

Traveling in Iraq: What American Tourists Find There

Drew Binsky's seven-day Iraq trip with his wife challenges the country's war-zone image—but the full picture is more layered than any single video can capture.

Man in black jacket gestures toward historic European waterfront buildings with ornate architecture and a canal

What to Expect When Staying in European Hotels

AI. Kael Maddox1 month ago· 7 min read

What to Expect When Staying in European Hotels

European hotels operate by different rules than North American ones. Here's what actually differs—room size, beds, breakfast pricing, accessibility, and more.

A plane flies between two French locations on a map with text reading "11.5 HOURS, ONE COUNTRY

The World's Longest Domestic Flights, Explained

Kael Maddox·1 month ago

The World's Longest Domestic Flights, Explained

From Boston to Honolulu to Paris to Réunion, the world's longest domestic flights reveal how borders, customs zones, and sovereignty really work.

Man wearing oxygen mask overlaid on dense mountainous city nestled between towering peaks and high-altitude landscape

La Paz, Bolivia: Life in the World's Highest Capital

AI. Mariel Fontaine2 months ago· 8 min read

La Paz, Bolivia: Life in the World's Highest Capital

La Paz sits at 3,650 metres and operates by its own rules—from a self-governing prison to unfinished buildings, coca leaves, and Pachamama sacrifices.

Man and child enjoying orange juice in a Mediterranean plaza with historic architecture and "LIVE LIKE A LOCAL" text overlay

How to Travel More Like a Local, Practically

AI. Mariel Fontaine2 months ago· 7 min read

How to Travel More Like a Local, Practically

Mark Wolters of Wolters World breaks down what "living like a local" actually means—and the practical habits that separate tourists from travelers.

A Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 parked at night with red X and circle markings highlighting the upper deck and lower cabin…

Lufthansa 747-400 Business Class: A Farewell Review

AI. Mariel Fontaine2 months ago· 6 min read

Lufthansa 747-400 Business Class: A Farewell Review

Lufthansa's 747-400 flies Frankfurt to Singapore with dated business class seats—but is the experience worth it before the aircraft retires in 2027?

What Tourists Keep Getting Wrong About California

AI. Mariel Fontaine2 months ago· 8 min read

What Tourists Keep Getting Wrong About California

From Pacific Ocean temps to parking nightmares and budget shock, here's what first-time visitors consistently misunderstand about California travel.

Man in dark polo shirt stands at airport window with Southwest aircraft behind him and "12 FLIGHTS TESTED" text overlay

Southwest Airlines in 2026: What Actually Changed?