By Colleen Kujawa From Chicago Tribune I’m not a social superhero. I’m friendly, but I’m neither savvy nor successful at small talk. But I love connecting with people in a sincere way, especially when I’m away from home. It’s one of the best parts of the human experience. When I went on vacation in England…

Over the years I’ve devoted lots of ink and pixels to travel insurance, but recent developments with a Boston-area tour operator have raised two new—or at least new-to-me—potential pitfalls. Both deal with a subject once more prominent than now: failure to pay legitimate claims. And to understand the situation more clearly, I’ll start with a…

When John and Betty Price thought about taking a vacation with a tour company, they decided to do some good while they enjoyed themselves. They searched the internet for firms that offer inviting excursions, value, and an opportunity to give back in various ways to the destinations they visited. Overseas Adventure Travel, part of the…

TOURS, France—On April 24 and 25, the unique sounds of Shen Yun Performing Arts resounded in the capital of Touraine, which has been the capital of France several times. Didier Garnier is a former Inspector General of Agriculture. “It is a magnificent show! The production is very well done. It is the whole history of…

By Mia Taylor From TravelPulse A new 7,500-mile bus journey will take passengers to 22 countries. For more than a few travelers, a two-month-long bus trip may sound like a bit of a nightmare. But that sentiment might change perhaps, if the bus in question is luxurious and the two-month itinerary includes plans to stop…

TOURS, France—For a weekend, the city of Tours was the host of Shen Yun Performing Arts. On Feb. 11 and 12, the Palais des Congrès in Tours vibrated to the sounds of traditional Chinese music. Laura Vallée-Hans, an agricultural engineer in the south of Toulouse, was among the attendees. “I honestly think I have never…

By Mary Ann Anderson From Tribune News Service J.R. Ewing, the scoundrel oil baron of the prime time melodrama “Dallas,” was known to often enjoy a neat order of bourbon and branch as his tipple of choice. John Wayne fancied Wild Turkey, another bourbon whiskey. For Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, it was Jack Daniels….

Got more time than money? No problem. You and your family can do so many fun things without spending money — next weekend or any time of the year. Consider these ideas to help get some plans in motion. No. 1: Go Geocaching Not exactly a sporting event, geocaching (pronounced GEE-o-cashing) is an outdoor treasure-hunting…

A factory tour is perhaps the most underrated sort of attraction in the U.S. When I first started writing about factory tours, I highlighted them as the “best free attractions you could find,” but liability and staffing issues have forced many to start charging. Still, the chance to see exactly how some favorite item is…