Junk Fee Rules: Response from FTC to 12,000 Comments

The Austrian Alps are known for their visually dramatic walking trails. But equally alluring are the sumptuous spa-hotels where hikers can relax aching limbs in a maze of saunas and steam rooms, all scented with eucalyptus. And no spa is more labyrinthine than the radioactive caves I found myself (naked) in in Bad Gastein.

Like some, I initially balked at paying a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) for The Platinum Card® from American Express, but with its vast array of benefits and rewards, this card drew me in — and I don't regret it.

There's no more luxurious travel moment than kicking off your shoes after a long day of sightseeing and slipping those throbbing feet into a pair of lush hotel slippers. With your feet propped up on the bed, fuzzy lining soothes your soles—and your soul. But the harsh reality comes rushing in once you stand up. A few trips around the hotel room, and you realize, they’re nothing more than glorified feet warmers.

Royal Caribbean executives are seeing signs of strong demand for cruise experiences in China as they prepare for their return in April 2024.

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

The European Commission has once again delayed the start of a travel authorization fee to enter Europe until at least 2025.

US tourists will get an extra year of free travel to Europe after the European Union pushed back its plans to charge a fee for entry.

American Express offers a strong lineup of Hilton cobranded cards, ranging from a no-annual-fee card to one offering top-tier Diamond status.

Federal officials are proposing a ban on one of the most frustrating aspects of hotel stays: being charged misleading resort fees at checkout.

Coffee table books are my achilles heel. I live in a modestly-sized apartment in Boston where space comes at a premium, but I will never deny myself the joy of a beautiful travel-inspired tome. I’ll collect them until my shelves are full, until they serve as impromptu nightstands, until every kitchen cabinet overfloweth and, yes, until they cover my coffee table itself. I simply can’t stop collecting them, and the books given to me by others are especially nostalgic—is there any gift more elegant?

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on October 7 a bill to ban mandatory hidden fees — also called junk fees — starting July 1, 2024.

The Senate’s No. 2 Democrat asked the CEOs of United Airlines and American Airlines to answer questions on rising passenger complaints and higher ticket prices and fees.