Decorating the tree at home is a remembrance of travel — even when it is a Merry Christmas ornament from Alcatraz At the Cummings household, hanging each Christmas ornament on the tree is an exercise in remembering travel. We get to daydream, with snow on the ground...
Memories of vacations past fill our dinner conversations “My favorite city is Venice and my favorite country is Greece.” So said my 17-year-old grandson Phinneus Lucy. He and his mother, my daughter, Laura Cummings, and I sit around reminiscing about vacations past...
Tingling haunted ski resorts from East to West At first ponder, ski and snowboard resorts seem strange places to find ghosts. But when you consider that many of our winter snow resorts are built in areas that once had wild and sometimes grisly histories. The...
If I can’t travel during a COVID-19 staycation how can I dream? Traveling has always been a big part of my life. Last year I traveled to Cuba in February, Portugal in April, and Venice in September. I also took a quick jaunt to Florida in early December. Can I...
One man’s system for packing light Every traveler has his or her own methods of packing light. Rules for deciding what and how many bags to pack vary for different types of trips. Packing light is a mantra for many, whether it’s to avoid airline bag fees or...
Dreaming of when I can travel again and the first places I want to visit — my first bucket list trip Like many who work in the travel industry, I love to travel. And I miss it already. I’m writing this on my couch when I was supposed to be on a River Cruise in...
These accomplishments have been achieved by working closely with our members, national media, the travel industry, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Congress and many other agencies.
– Removal of restaurant fees from DC area eateries — this is an ongoing project
– Creation of DOT Dashboard to outline consumer rights after cancellation of a flight
– Bi-partisan bill to eliminate hotel resort fees introduced into House of Representatives
– Creation of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections
– Advertised airfares now include airfare plus, mandatory taxes and fees
– Lost/damaged/delayed luggage compensation limit increased to $3,800
– Passengers have 24 hours to change or cancel their nonrefundable tickets without penalty
– Once an airfare is purchased, that airfare and ancillary fees cannot be increased
– Families flying together act passed by Congress that requires family members 13 years of age and younger to sit with other family members at no additional cost.
