Trip Doctor
01.28.13
Don’t...
Yell. Your driver is a professional. Phrase your complaint as a personal preference—not an attack.
Stay in a cab if you feel unsafe. If your driver doesn’t respond to feedback, ask him to pull over and then find another ride.
Do...
Pay the fare. Your receipt may be helpful in reporting the driver. Tipping, however, is optional.
Record the medallion or car number. Local authorities rely on passenger feedback to keep unsafe drivers off the streets.
Send your dilemmas to news editor Amy Farley at tripdoctor@aexp.com. Follow @afarles on Twitter.
Photo by Anthony Haigh / Alamy
01.21.13
Q: What’s a Chip & PIN card, and do I need one if I’m going to Europe?
A: For the past decade, Europe has been moving away from the swipe-and-sign credit cards that we use domestically and toward those employing a Chip & PIN system (also called EMV). These cards protect users from fraud by asking them, with each purchase, to confirm a numeric code that’s stored in the card’s data chip. But although Chip & PIN is now the primary payment method in much of Europe, you can still get by with your American plastic—just as long as you can find an attendant to process the transaction. Even so, it’s best to prepare for the rare occasion when nobody is available. If you don’t already use one, call your bank to establish a four-digit PIN, which will make any card compatible with EMV machines. And while some travelers may feel it’s more hassle than help, you may buy a Chip & PIN Cash Passport from Travelex which allows you to preload euros or British pounds on to a universally accepted card (leftover cash can be transferred back into your bank account).
Send your dilemmas to news editor Amy Farley at tripdoctor@aexp.com. Follow @afarles on Twitter.
Photo by Forbes Stuart / Alamy
01.08.13
Q: I booked a flight on Orbitz, and the price dropped the next day. Can I get my money back for the difference? —Heather Browne, Colorado Springs, Colo.
A: Most online booking engines offer price-assurance guarantees that protect you when fares fluctuate. Orbitz has a hassle-free policy that will automatically issue you a refund check if another customer books a cheaper fare. Other sites make you do the legwork: Travelocity, Expedia, and Priceline give credits toward future purchases on top of the price difference if you spot a better deal within 24 hours—but it can be time-consuming to make sure you’re matching all the criteria that qualify you for a refund (dates, fare category, cancellation policies, and more). Alternatively, if you book directly with a carrier, sites such as Yapta can monitor your fare and alert you when you can request a refund.
More From Travel + Leisure:
America's Worst Airports for Flight Delays
Best Secret Islands on Earth
America's Coolest City Parks
Have a travel conundrum? The Trip Doctor is in. Send questions to tripdoctor@aexp.com.
Photo by iStockphoto
12.25.12
Do
...call the manager on duty. He can dispatch security. He’ll also know when your rowdy floor mates are checking out.
...ask for earplugs. Most hotels expect some type of noise pollution, be it from tropical birds, traffic, or a wailing toddler.
Don’t
...take matters into your own hands. You want the hotel to be involved early on in case the culprit is uncooperative.
...demand that other guests move for your sake. If you want a quieter space, expect to switch rooms yourself.
Have a travel conundrum? The Trip Doctor is in. Send questions to tripdoctor@aexp.com.
Illustration by Peter Arkle
12.11.12
Q: Why do I have to turn off my devices during takeoff and landing?
A: Electronics emit a variety of frequencies that can interfere with navigation systems. The problem is: no one is sure which devices pose a threat. Variations in aircraft and individual gadgets (a new device is different from one that’s taken some abuse) make each situation unique. For now, better safe than sorry.
Send your dilemmas to news editor Amy Farley at tripdoctor@aexp.com. Follow @afarles on Twitter.
Photo by istockphoto.com
12.05.12
Q: When—and how much—should I tip the hotel doorman?
A: Holding doors and hailing cabs warrant tips only when extra legwork is required. Give two dollars for a taxi found during rush hour or a storm, one dollar for each suitcase handled, and a fiver for doing both. But tip on the spot: belated thanks can end up in the wrong pocket.
Have a travel conundrum? The trip doctor is in. Send questions to tripdoctor@aexp.com, and reach Amy on Twitter @afarles.
Photo © iStockphoto
11.26.12
Q: Any advice on how to spend my daylong layover in Rome? I’ve done the classics. —Ania Byczkowska, Chicago, Ill.
A: Sure—here’s a tour of some of our favorite hidden gems around the city.
9 a.m.: The Outdoor Print Market, on Largo Fontanella Borghese, peddles hard-to-find art books and vintage prints. Finish your shopping with a coffee at nearby Ciampini (29 Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina).
2 p.m.: Head to the unsung Palazzo Nuovo (part of the Capitoline Museums) on Piazza del Campidoglio, where hundreds of statues and busts are displayed in their original 17th-century home.
7 p.m.: Craft beer is having its moment in Rome, and Open Baladin (6 Via degli Specchi) has more than 40 domestic varieties on tap.
9 p.m.: Inside the historic Palazzo Cenci, Ae Pompiere (38 Via Santa Maria de’ Calderari; $$$) feels like a private club. A burnished wooden staircase leads to a suite of frescoed rooms where you can dine on carciofi alla giudea (fried artichokes) and the signature porchetta. Then swing by the new Eataly emporium (Piazzale XII Ottobre 1492)—open till midnight—to pick up Antonio Mattei biscotti for the plane.
Have a travel conundrum? The trip doctor is in. Send questions to tripdoctor@aexp.com.
Photo by David Leventi
11.21.12
The busiest travel days of the year are upon us. Aviation trade group Airlines 4 America, forecasts some 24 million people will fly during the Thanksgiving holidays, with planes reaching 90 percent capacity on the busiest days: today, Sunday, and Monday. Here, eight strategies for getting through the terminal without losing your patience—or your mind.
Load up Your Phone: Check your flight status and get instant updates on any delays with the FlightTrack and the FlightAware Flight Tracker apps; stay on top of weather patterns (and potential problems) with the Weather Channel app; and use iFly, Kayak, and PointInside to navigate the airport like a pro.
Read More
11.06.12
Travelers across the country had their plans disrupted by last week’s Super Storm Sandy. From being stranded in a powerless New York City, to getting stuck in airports far away from home, their plights yielded some lessons on how to prepare for disaster and what to do when it strikes. And travelers take note, these tips may be useful sooner than expected; a nor'easter is expected to hit the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic this week.
• Use an excellent travel agent, especially if your trip is particularly complicated or important. (See Travel + Leisure’s favorite agents here.) These travel experts can save you time, headaches, and heartache by taking care of all the rerouting and rebooking on your behalf.
Read More
04.23.12
As Travel + Leisure's news editor, I've spent nearly a decade working behind the scenes to deliver the strategies you need to make the most of your travels. Now it's time to speak with readers directly. In my new role as T+L's Trip Doctor, I'm here to answer your most pressing travel dilemmas, from how to save money in a time of rising airfares to what apps and websites you really need to make your life easier.
Tomorrow afternoon, in honor of our upcoming June hotels issue, I'll be hosting a live Facebook chat to tackle your thorniest hotel questions—just in time for your summer getaways. Want to know when to book a hotel room online to get the best rate? Curious about which guest-rewards programs give you the most bang for your buck? Want to know the tricks for getting a room upgrade, or how (once and for all) to tip your housekeeper? Log onto Facebook.com/TravelandLeisure tomorrow, April 24, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. ET to send your questions my way. And look for our new Trip Doctor column in Travel + Leisure's June issue.
P.S. If you can't make the chat, you can always reach me at TripDoctor@aexp.com and by following @afarles on Twitter.
