Low-cost carriers expanding service at Pittsburgh International Airport
As air travel continues to rebound from the pandemic, Pittsburgh International Airport is receiving boosts from some ultra-low-cost carriers that plan to add or expand service to several markets starting next year. Sun Country Airlines said Monday that it will increase seasonal service between Pittsburgh and Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport...
Thanksgiving might bring changes in holiday-travel habits
The Thanksgiving travel rush was back on this year, as people caught planes in numbers not seen in years, setting aside inflation concerns to reunite with loved ones and enjoy some normalcy after two holiday seasons marked by COVID-19 restrictions. Changing habits around work and play, however, might spread out...
‘A Christmas Story’ home for sale in Cleveland
One of the most recognizable homes in holiday cinematic history is for sale. The iconic house from “A Christmas Story,” watched by millions every yuletide, was listed Monday. Vandergrift resident Lisa Dormire took a day trip last December to tour the home with a group of senior citizens from Redstone...
Expect more drivers on the road this Thanksgiving despite record gas prices
Motorists can expect record high gas prices when they hit the road for Thanksgiving next week. The national average fuel price is expected be $3.68 on Thanksgiving Day, almost 30 cents higher than last year and more than 20 cents above the previous record of $3.44 set in 2012. Despite...
Airbnb aims to convince more people to rent out their homes
Convinced that the boom in leisure travel is permanent, Airbnb aims to expand its listings by convincing more people to turn their homes into short-term rentals. The company said Wednesday that it will increase the amount of liability coverage for hosts, up to $3 million, in a play for owners...
The busiest days to fly during the winter holidays
Most weeks of the year, Fridays are the busiest days to fly, and Tuesdays are the least busy. But during the holidays, that trend doesn’t necessarily hold true. In most years, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is actually the busiest travel day for U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration,...
Spirit Airlines to cut flights from Arnold Palmer Regional to Ft. Lauderdale
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport is marketing itself to other low-cost carriers as Spirit Airlines told officials it will be halting its flights from the Unity area to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Dec. 5. Spirit’s decision leaves Orlando as the sole destination for commercial flights from the airport near Latrobe, where...
In a recent WWII Days reenactment, some participants played the Nazis — here’s why they do it
Someone has to play the bad guy. Someone has to play the Nazi. Otherwise, how do you teach history? I heard this a lot. Whenever I would ask anyone portraying a German soldier at Rockford, Illinois’ annual World War II Days about why they had chosen to reenact a soldier...
Daycation: Smicksburg offers a rural retreat 60 miles from Pittsburgh
Unplug and unwind with a rural road trip retreat to Amish country in Indiana County. A daycation to Smicksburg offers a glimpse into a large Amish population living a simpler, agricultural lifestyle rich in their religious beliefs. More than 300 Amish families reside in the Smicksburg area, co-existing among those...
Why booking travel on your phone is a bad idea
Since the first iPhone launched 15 years ago, consumer shopping habits have slowly but relentlessly shifted toward mobile devices. According to a survey of 3,250 U.S. consumers from Pymnts.com, a website dedicated to analyzing the role of payments in new tech, the majority of travel service purchases (51.4%) were made...
Alpine views, picturesque towns, and a mountain to cycle up
CLUSES, France — “Be patient, slow down,” I reminded myself as we neared the summit of the Col de la Colombiere in the French Alps, a climb that’s been ridden 23 times in the Tour de France. And, trust me, they don’t include it so regularly in the world’s most...
Visit Kauai to tour, taste through one of America’s only working chocolate farms
KAPA’A, Kauai, Hawaii — In a quiet clearing on the lush, tropical fruit and chocolate plantation of Lydgate Farms, we take our first bite of tangy, mucilaginous cacao fruit. The creamy white pulp could have become an epic sour candy flavor had it not been overshadowed two millennia ago by...
West Virginia spring’s waters still drawing devotees
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Every couple weeks, Lauren Lee stuffs a few dozen gallon jugs into a big black laundry bag. She brings it to a covered pavilion right in the middle of Berkeley Springs State Park, which itself is right in the middle of downtown Berkeley Springs, West Virginia....
Is inflation affecting travel points and miles?
After years of unusually low prices on airfare and vacation rentals during the pandemic, travel prices have taken off in 2022. And while travel price inflation has cooled with slowing demand and falling fuel prices this fall, it continues to affect travelers’ plans and budgets. So with travel prices still...
Report: Theme park attendance was a roller coaster in 2021
ORLANDO, Fla. — Last year was a roller coaster ride for theme parks worldwide, with U.S. water parks approaching pre-pandemic levels and parks in China struggling with lockdowns, according to a new report. The speed of recovery was greatly influenced by the level of government restrictions, the success of vaccine...
New York’s Hamptons offer a feast of indoor, outdoor art
On the eastern end of Long Island, New York, lies a trove of art venues and a rich cultural scene to explore at leisure. You can find works in lush gardens and meadows, on manicured lawns, around ponds with waterlilies, by marshy creeks, and in historic Hamptons buildings. The list...
Tourists flock to Japan after covid restrictions lifted
TOKYO — Eager to admire colorful foliage, eat sushi and go shopping, droves of tourists from abroad began arriving in Japan on Tuesday, with the end of pandemic-fighting border restrictions that had been in place for more than two years. “We got the news that we can finally come. We...
Fall cruises available at rock-bottom prices as cruise lines work their way back to profitability
MIAMI — Multi-night cruises for the price of a single night in a luxury hotel? You heard right. Cruise lines, still struggling to pull themselves back into profitability after the prolonged covid shutdown, have deeply slashed fares for hundreds of voyages this fall. Here’s how cheap your next cruise could...
3 days in Yosemite: How to see the park’s many wonders on a weekend trip
LOS ANGELES — I recently ventured to California’s most-visited national park — Yosemite — for a whirlwind 48-hour tour. Turns out, there’s a lot you can do and see in the land of the Ahwahneechee over a couple days. Here’s my suggested itinerary, if you decide to make a quick...
Daycation: Agritourism farm tours offer rural retreats in Waynesburg
Explore green acres in Greene County with a day trip focused on agritourism. Agritourism is described as a form of business enterprise linking agricultural businesses with tourism for education and entertainment purposes. Tourism in Greene County has created more than 480 jobs, and, in 2019, visitors spent more than $78...
Why free swag at bars, hotels is so important to brands
Chances are if you’ve been to a great restaurant, bar or hotel, you’ve snagged a coaster, matchbook, napkin or card key. Mementoes like these are talismans that help us remember what a fun experience we had. You may hesitate before you pocket the swag, wondering if doing so is OK....
White House: New rule will show ‘true cost’ of plane tickets
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced a new initiative Monday that would eventually allow consumers to see a more complete price on airline tickets — including baggage and change fees — before they buy, as the White House continues to search for ways to lower costs for Americans amid persistently...
Canada won’t require masks on planes, drops vaccine mandate
TORONTO — The Canadian government announced Monday it will no longer require people to wear masks on planes to guard against covid-19. Transport Canada said the existing rules for masks will come off Oct. 1 “We are able to do this because tens of millions of Canadians rolled up their...
Airfares hit highest level in years despite falling fuel prices
LOS ANGELES — Jet fuel prices have been dropping dramatically since May, and the nation’s airlines now have more workers on staff than before the pandemic. So Americans preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel should expect lower airfares and fewer delays and cancellations, right? Don’t get your hopes up. Ticket...
Airbnb hosts are sick of Airbnb, too
Disgruntled Airbnb guests are taking to Twitter and TikTok to vent about everything from cleaning fees to misleading listings. But they aren’t the only ones with complaints: Airbnb hosts themselves have become increasingly disillusioned with the platform and its disrespectful guests. On message boards and Facebook groups, hosts are sharing...
