I have traveled a lot over the years. My American Airlines account boasts 1.3 million miles. You can only imagine how many hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts and inns I’ve stayed in. While most have been adequate, a few were downright scary. And I can count on my two hands those I would rate with five stars….
The Best Inexpensive Overnight Deal in the Best Vacation Spot on Earth
Rick Steves’ Europe: The Schilthornbahn: Bringing Life to the Village and the Village to the Alps
Suddenly, a bright modern cable car swooshes by with 30 tourists gawking out the windows. I’m watching the Schilthornbahn mountain lift from the terrace of a hotel in the tiny traffic-free hamlet of Gimmelwald, high in the Swiss Alps just south of Interlaken. My friend Walter, who runs the hotel, joins me with a drink…
The Schilthornbahn: Bringing Life to the Village and the Village to the Alps
Suddenly, a bright modern cable car swooshes by with 30 tourists gawking out the windows. I’m watching the Schilthornbahn mountain lift from the terrace of a hotel in the tiny traffic-free hamlet of Gimmelwald, high in the Swiss Alps just south of Interlaken. My friend Walter, who runs the hotel, joins me with a drink…
Taking the Kids: Slope-Side Lodging for Families, Pooches, Too!
A snow beach or ice bar? S’mores made at a fire pit overlooking river ice floes. Perhaps a sleigh ride dinner. Where would you go for an après ski treat? Definitely for s’mores, said Lauren Ikeman, 10, staying with her family at the ski-in, ski out Grand Hyatt Vail where unlimited s’mores kits are one of…
Rick Steves’ Europe: The Camino de Santiago: A Medieval Pilgrimage in Modern Times
For over a thousand years, the cathedral towering over the main square of Santiago de Compostela in the far northwest corner of Spain has been the ritualistic last stop for pilgrims who’ve hiked here from churches in Paris and all over Europe. And for a thousand years, pilgrims — standing before this towering cathedral —…
Rick Steves’ Europe: The Church of David
Entering Florence’s Accademia Gallery is like entering the Church of David — a temple of humanism. At the high altar stands the perfect man, Michelangelo’s colossal statue of David. Like a Renaissance Statue of Liberty, David declares, “Yes, I can.” This 500-year-old slingshot-toting giant-slayer is the symbol of Florence. The city’s other treasures are largely…
Taking the Kids: On Spring Break Safely
Got your backpack? Reusable water bottle? Especially this year, consider getting outdoors for spring break. The more time you can spend outdoors, the safer you’ll be, public health experts suggest. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a backpacking or RV trip, although those options can be a lot of fun. You can hit the slopes or…
Ducks, Dung, and Hay in Eastern Turkey
I’m in Kastamonu, five hours northeast of the Turkish capital of Ankara. It’s a town that has yet to figure out the business of tourism. The business hotel where I’m staying is cheap and comfortable, but not slick. I hand a postcard to the boy at the desk, hoping he can mail it for me….
Is subscription flying in your future?
Here’s the deal: You put money up front — anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand — to gain access to discounted flights for up to a year. Subscription deals for private jets have been around for years, with more than a dozen established systems. Check jetcards.org/pricing for more information. As far as…
Get the Most (or lose the least) in foreign Exchange
With COVID-19 restrictions falling, chances are that many of you are considering a trip to Europe or Asia this summer. That means paying in euros, francs, yen, or whatever when you’re at your destination. Unless you’re a currency speculator, you’ll almost always lose something in exchanging your dollars for whatever, but you can keep those…
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