Guide

Guides

Honest, researched answers to the questions people ask before they book: what is worth it, what the total really is, and what to do when something breaks.

  1. Older travelers abroad: the Medicare gap, insurance and pace

    Medicare doesn't cover you outside the US. Before an overseas trip, buy medical cover, choose a slow pace and set up someone to call.

    · 6-minute read

  2. Flight cancelled: the DOT refund rule and the 24-hour rule

    If a US airline cancels your flight or changes it a lot and you turn down the new option, you get your money back. Card refunds are due within 7 business days.

    · 6-minute read

  3. Cancún and Punta Cana without the scams: what travelers flag

    Travelers in Cancún and Punta Cana warn about money stings, not danger: the airport ride, menus without prices and surprise tips. Here's how to avoid them.

    · 7-minute read

  4. Long weekends from Chicago: three days, nonstop, no PTO

    From Chicago, a long weekend is worth it when the flight is nonstop, it leaves at a sensible hour and you know the total for two before you go.

    · 6-minute read

  5. Long weekends from Los Angeles: three days, nonstop, no PTO

    Worth it from LA: Las Vegas came to $697 for two for Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026. Here's how San Diego, Palm Springs, Mexico and Canada fit three days.

    · 6-minute read

  6. Long weekends from New York: three days, nonstop, no PTO

    Worth it when the flight is nonstop, it leaves at a sensible hour and the place is within reach: Miami, New Orleans, Nashville, Charleston, Montréal, San Juan.

    · 6-minute read

  7. Cash or points: price the cash total first, then decide

    Use points only when they beat the all-in cash total for the same trip and dates. Price the cash first; it's the yardstick.

    · 6-minute read

  8. Someone on your side: what to do when a booking breaks

    Booking site not refunding? Ask in writing, go to the airline or hotel, then your card's dispute process and DOT. Here's the order and what to keep.

    · 6-minute read

  9. Trip planning feels like a job? How to decide in an evening

    Settle the occasion, the dates and the all-in budget first, then compare a few totals for two instead of endless tabs. That's an evening, not a month.

    · 6-minute read

  10. Why trips disappoint: the hype, the crowds and the weather

    Most vacation regret is a trip that didn't live up to the hype, then crowds and weather. Pick the month first and know the catch before you go.

    · 6-minute read

  11. Disney deluxe or moderate: how you'll use the room decides

    Disney deluxe vs moderate is a coin flip. Deluxe is worth it if you'll relax in the room or walk to the parks. Moderate is for sleeping and showering.

    · 7-minute read

  12. Travel insurance vs your credit card's cover: which one you need

    Often the card is enough for firm dates and refundable bookings. Buy a policy for medical care abroad, prepaid trips, or dates that might move.

    · 7-minute read

  13. Resort Fees in Vegas and Orlando: See Them Before You Book

    Since May 2025, mandatory resort fees must be included in the advertised total. Here's how to spot them in Las Vegas, Orlando and elsewhere before you pay.

    · 7-minute read

  14. Eleven days off: how to make long weekends worth it

    With about eleven paid days off, use the Monday holidays for long weekends, save one real week, and know the total for two before you go.

    · 6-minute read

  15. Cancún for a family of four: what the total really includes

    The total for four is more than the fare: flights, one room, the resort fee, a checked bag each way and the airport ride. Here's what each line looks like.

    · 6-minute read

  16. Anniversary trips: what makes one worth it for the two of you

    For an anniversary, worth it means spending on what you'll use together: the view, the room, the walk. How to judge it, with real totals for two.

    · 6-minute read

  17. How to read hotel reviews like a travel agent: which to trust

    Trust a score with at least 100 reviews behind it, read the newest and the negative reviews first, and weigh the reviewer who compares.

    · 7-minute read

  18. The real total of a beach week: resort fees, bags and taxes

    A beach week's real total is flights and hotel with taxes plus the resort fee. Checked bags are extra: $35 to $60 per person each way.

    · 6-minute read

  19. Is an all-inclusive resort worth it? What travelers say

    It's worth it for a beach week with no planning and a total you know before you go. It's not worth it if you'd eat out or pay every upcharge.

    · 6-minute read

  20. Cheapest weeks to fly: school breaks vs the week after

    Fly the weeks next to the holidays. Early to mid-November, MLK weekend and late April usually cost less than Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break.

    · 6-minute read

  21. Balcony or inside cabin: cruisers say worth it, about 2 to 1

    A balcony is worth it for most cruisers, about 2 to 1 in forum verdicts, if you'll use it. If you'll be on deck all day anyway, an inside cabin does the job.

    · 6-minute read

Quotes are word for word from public forum posts and reviews, each with its source and year. Numbers come from our own price checks and the sources named.