Article
Rent a Car for Part of Your Trip? Count the Car Days
A trip can need a car without needing one every day. Compare the full cost and the handoffs before booking a vehicle for the whole stay.
Replicate the Magic
Real trips, useful details, and choices worth thinking through. Explore destinations, cruises, transportation, and the timing and costs that shape a day.
From our travels: MauiEight days, a West Maui home base, and a few very full days. Follow your curiosity
The article library
Article
A trip can need a car without needing one every day. Compare the full cost and the handoffs before booking a vehicle for the whole stay.
Article
Map three journeys before choosing a hotel: arrival with luggage, a normal sightseeing day, and the return after dinner. The address should fit your plans.
Article
The lowest fare on the search screen may not be the lowest price for your trip. Compare the same bags, seats, airports, and booking restrictions.
Article
We used one Waikiki hotel as the base for eight days of Oahu beaches, food, hikes, and day trips, including Kailua, the North Shore, Makaha, Mānoa Falls,…
Article
Start with Amtrak’s published bag limits, then plan the handling, storage, and transfers. A generous allowance still needs a practical luggage plan.
Article
A Paris rail connection may involve crossing the city. Check both station names and plan the journey between trains before choosing the onward departure.
Article
Direct and nonstop don’t answer the same question. Check the stops, total travel time, and aircraft changes before choosing a flight.
Article
A port-by-port planning guide for all Alaska sailings on Virgin Voyages' Brilliant Lady from Seattle. Covers Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Haines, and Prince Rupert,…
Article
Brilliant Lady is built for adults, not just for warm weather. Here's how the ship's spaces work on an Alaska sailing from Seattle: which decks become anchor…
Article
We spent 7 nights on Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady from Los Angeles. Here’s what the ship is actually like, from food and cabins to Scarlet Night and…
Article
A practical day-by-day look at Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady Mexican Riviera route, including Cabo, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, and what we’d change.
Article
Let one museum reservation anchor the day. Check the entry details, plan the route, and leave enough flexibility to enjoy the collection.