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How to Avoid Airline Baggage Fees
Luggage fees come in three basic forms: checked bags, overweight bags, and carry-on bags. Most airlines charge basic economy-class passengers to check a bag. Most airlines also charge passengers extra for checked bags over a specific weight. Some discount airlines also charge for carrying on a bag that’s larger than a personal item. What’s a budget-conscious traveler to do? Here’s how to outsmart baggage fees, no matter which airline and destination you choose.
City Guide: What to See, Do, and Eat in Portland, OR
This article appeared in the November-December 2018 print edition of Via Magazine (including the cover of the Oregon edition), and on the website (https://www.viamagazine.com/destinations/things-to-do-portland-oregon).
Italy Explained: Italian Trains
For the vast majority of Italy travelers, the best way to get around Italy is by train, although it's not always a straightforward process to do so – and that's where this guide comes in.
Italy Explained: Gelato
Gelato is Italy's most affordable and delicious souvenir, a treat in which every visitor should indulge as often as possible while in the country. This guide will help you find the best gelato, order more efficiently, and branch out in your flavor selections.
12 Tips to Make Weekend Travel Count
Think a two-day trip is too short to make a weekend getaway count? Think again.
Cheap Flight Hack: How to Cross the Ocean as Cheaply as Possible
There are a few tips we routinely dole out to travelers looking for hints about how to find cheap flights, and one of our favorites is “cross the ocean as cheaply as possible,” also known as “the Greek Islands trick.” The gist is that if you can get a killer deal on a long-haul international flight to the continent you want to visit, you can pair that with a cheap regional flight (or even a train or bus ride) to get to your final destination.
Complete Guide to Mojave National Preserve
In southeastern California, an area called the "Lonesome Triangle" delivers mountains, mesas, buttes, canyons, an ancient lake, and volcanic relics.
Best Days for Thanksgiving and Christmas Flights
When traveling for the holidays, it’s important to know which days to target and which to avoid.
How to Book Open Jaw Flights to Save Time and Money
Open jaw flights are booked as a roundtrip itinerary, but they don't follow the typical pattern of a there-and-back roundtrip. Because international one-way flights are often nearly as expensive as roundtrips, this allows you a bit more flexibility in your travel without added expense. In fact, open jaws can even save you money in some instances.
Walking On Sunshine & Variety is the Spice of Life
These two articles appeared in the AAA Via Magazine for May-June 2018.
The Best Time to Book a Cheap Flight
There’s no shortage of opinions on the best time to book a flight, and—not surprisingly—the information varies depending on the source. At Scott’s Cheap Flights, we know a thing or two about finding airfare deals. We swim in those waters 24/7. So, we also have some opinions on the subject.
Best Time to Book a Cruise
Caribbean or Mexico? River or open sea? Land excursions or lazy days onboard? Planning a cruise vacation is a thrill until it’s time to pull out the credit card: That’s when things get serious. What if a better price is right around the corner—or you’ve just missed it?
How to Read Travel Advisories
When planning your next international trip, be sure to make one more stop on your Internet wanderings: the U.S. State Department's Travel Advisories website. While you're unlikely to be vacationing in North Korea or Iraq, you might be surprised by what countries appear on this page. (use zip code 94114 to view article)
Ponyride: A Haven for Detroit's Small-Scale Makers
Detroit has long been a city of makers, and this hands-on, DIY spirit today encompasses far more than just its automotive sector.