Author - The Durango Herald

Stuck with an annoying airline seatmate? Here’s what you can do

Airline passengers can be so annoying. How annoying? Just ask Retha Charette, a tour guide from Arlington, Vermont. On a recent flight from Newark to Amsterdam, her seatmate opene...

DATE: Nov 23, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

For the unlucky, motion sickness starts when the cruise ends

For Katy Breuer, the symptoms start as soon as she steps off a cruise ship. She feels dizzy and disoriented, can’t eat and can’t find her land legs. “It’s debilitating,” says Breuer, an exec...

DATE: Nov 16, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

Should you get a SIM card or an international roaming plan?

Before Molly Last traveled to Greece to volunteer at a cat sanctuary, she ran the numbers for her phone. Should she get a SIM card or an international roaming plan? A calling plan...

DATE: Nov 9, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

In 10 years of answering your travel questions, the list gets longer

Ten years ago, the this column quietly embarked on a mission to offer readers practical travel advice. The lack of fanfare was no coincidence. America was emerging from the Great Recession, ...

DATE: Nov 2, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

For water safety abroad, don’t rely on your eyes

Water standards vary around the world. About 71% of the global population uses a safely managed drinking water service, according to the World Health Organization. But 785 millio...

DATE: Oct 26, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

Agent? Adviser? In travel, terms are changing

Finding the right travel agent used to be easy. The top agents had a defined set of skills and certifications, and they belonged to the same trade groups. So for someone like Kath...

DATE: Oct 18, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

Here’s what can get you banned by airlines, hotels and rental car companies

Don’t hit a flight attendant. Don’t trash your hotel room. And whatever you do, don’t leave a loaded gun in your rental car. All of the above can land you on the travel industry’s...

DATE: Oct 11, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

Do you need an international permit to drive overseas?

If you’re renting a car on your next international trip, you may need an additional ID: an international driving permit. Not paying for the document, which translates your Americ...

DATE: Oct 5, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

To fight unfair damage fees, always take pictures

I take pictures of everything when I travel. Not just the landmarks, the kids and the tacos we ordered from a San Antonio food truck. I shoot my car, my hotel room, even my vacation rental. ...

DATE: Sep 27, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

When evacuating a plane, you can help save the day

Chances are, you’ll soon hear a lot about how to evacuate a plane. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to take a stand on minimum seat room in the next few weeks, and the ability...

DATE: Sep 21, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

More travelers feel betrayed by loyalty programs

If you’re unhappy with your loyalty program, you might relate to John Franklin’s story. Actually, you might relate to it even if you aren’t unhappy with your loyalty program. Fran...

DATE: Sep 13, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

Manufacturers bring a little more intelligence to ‘smart’ luggage

When it comes to new carry-on luggage, travelers are looking for the right balance between form and function. At least that’s what frequent travelers such as Evan Saltzman will tell you. ...

DATE: Sep 8, 2019 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter