Tagged: government

These Are the Safest Caribbean Islands for Travelers, According to the U.S. Government and Other Sources

The safety situation for travelers in the Caribbean varies across the region's many islands, with crime rates improving here or worsening there based on economic conditions,…

7 Lesser-Known Reasons Your Passport Can Be Rejected: Check Yours Now!

Most international travelers know by now that it’s unwise to head to the airport with a passport that expires in less than 6 months. Egypt, Singapore, Thailand, and Fiji are just some…

Some Airports Have Suspended Wait Time Reporting Online Due to Shutdown Chaos

Remember how we advised you last week to consult the website of the airport you're flying out of in order to find reliable estimates for security wait times? The Transportation…

The Minneapolis ICE Surge Has Hurt the City's Travel-Worthy Restaurants. Here's How You Can Help

As anyone who has visited Minneapolis will tell you, the city’s restaurant scene is remarkably vibrant, varied, creative, and absolutely worth traveling for. There are innovative…

U.S. Nonprofit Libraries Forced to End Passport Services. Can They Get an Extension?

Nonprofit public libraries have to stop offering U.S. passport services on Friday, Feb. 13.That decision was recently handed down by the Department of State, which has opted all of a…

Warning: Trump Won't Let You Cover Up His Photo on Your National Parks Pass

Some nature lovers have been suggesting ways to cover the glowering mug of President Donald Trump on the new annual pass for U.S. national parks, but if you wanted to do that, too, you…

Before You Fly During the U.S. Shutdown, Check These Websites

The U.S. federal shutdown has lasted more than a month. Workers in the Transportation Security Administration and in the air traffic control system have not been paid, and their…

The Unexpected Travel Effects of the Federal Shutdown

No matter how common they have become, U.S. Government shutdowns can be painful, especially for travelers.Already, the action that began on October 1 is affecting everything from…

These Airlines Make More Money from Extra Fees Than Ticket Sales

Airlines raked in more money in extra fees last year than ever before—a whopping $148 billion, according to new research from IdeaWorksCompany, an aviation consultancy. The previous…

Can You Opt Out of a Face Scan for International Flight Departures in the U.S.?

This month, a facial recognition system at U.S. airports completed its pilot stage and moved to official implementation. As of September 26, there are 57 major American airports where…

U.S. Airlines Try to Abandon Passenger Rights and Performance Reports—to Secretly Police Themselves

The nation's largest airlines are quietly asking the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to virtually eradicate every meaningful consumer protection we have. If the big carriers…

How to File a Complaint Against an Airline Using the U.S. Government's Updated System

The U.S. Department of Transportation says it has streamlined and modernized the process for consumers who want to submit complaints with the government against airlines or ticket…

Trump's Policies Are Making Travel More Expensive and Less Convenient

The United States travel industry is in a period of contraction, and that's bad news for travelers—and all Americans.Anger over President Donald Trump’s stated intentions to acquire…

One of the World's Most Scenic Countries to Start Charging Entry Fees at Natural Wonders

New Zealand plans to charge entry fees to foreign visitors at four of the country's most popular natural attractions, the government has announced. The new policy, revealed over the…

Europe Is Tripling the Cost of Its Entry Fee Before It's Even Implemented

The cost travelers will eventually have to pay for a digital permit to enter the European Union has gone up—even though the system hasn't been launched yet. Foreigners applying for the…

It's Official: The TSA Has Ended Its Loathed Shoe-Removal Policy

At airports across the United States, the Transportation Security Administration is now letting passengers in the standard screening line keep their shoes on. First noticed by flyers…

New Executive Order Demands National Park Price Hikes for International Tourists

On the day before Independence Day, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to make international visitors pay more to visit America's national parks. In a confusing new…

U.S. Senate to Force Sale of Millions of Acres of Publicly Owned Vacationland

There is an update to this story at the bottom of the post.The U.S. Senate is marking public lands to be pillaged, and preservation groups are sounding the alarm to call fans of…

Your Personal Airline Data Is Secretly Being Sold to U.S. Homeland Security

Perhaps it surprises nobody that in this age of meaningless digital privacy protections, the U.S. government has been secretly buying up data about airline passengers.But that's what…

Does the Trump Travel Ban Mean Americans Can't Visit the Blocked Countries?

As of Monday, the Trump administration's new travel ban has taken effect. Foreign nationals from 12 countries, mostly in the Middle East and Africa, are barred from entering the United…

Amid Trump Budget Cuts, New Activist-Led National Park Tours Aim to Spur Social Impact

There are good reasons to worry about U.S. national parks right now. The Trump administration's extensive layoffs of National Park Service workers and proposed cuts of $1.2 billion to…

Flyers without REAL ID Asked to Arrive 3 Hours Early (Or Just Bring This Instead)

REAL ID is a case study of how constantly shifting politics in the United States makes it nearly impossible to get constructive long-term projects done. First developed in 2001 after a…

Newark Airport is a Mess. Has it Become Less Safe to Fly in the U.S.?

Even people who live nowhere near New Jersey have been shaken by reports of chronic flight delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) due to ATC. There's…

Trump Budget Cuts Could 'Wipe Out' Operations for At Least 350 National Park Units

"The president's proposed budget plan is beyond extreme. It is catastrophic."That's what Theresa Pierno, the head of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in an urgent…

How to Stay Safe on Cruises Now That the CDC Has Fired Health Inspectors

A new virus emerges. It has a high infection rate, sickening dozens almost immediately after its discovery. The Trump administration underplays the threat.Sound familiar?History is…