Transportation tips

The Eternal City is well known for its historic sites as well as its eternal traffic jams, as many of Rome’s citizens and tourists get around by individual motorized vehicles. But a new initiative to boost cycling, walking, and public transport and how they all interconnect, hopes to change that.

I moved to Bangkok in 1999, a time when most visitors to Thailand reluctantly did a night in this megacity before beelining to an island or the north. Synonymous with traffic jams, pollution and urban sprawl, the Thai capital was largely seen as an unwanted but obligatory stopover.

On Oct. 3, 2022, I reserved a seat in a Megabus coach for the busy Sunday after Thanksgiving to return to Boston after visiting family in Philadelphia. With a $3.99 booking fee, the total came to $53.98. On Oct. 26, I received an email from Megabus canceling the trip “due to a schedule alteration,” and promising a refund. But I only received $49.99. I wrote every few months demanding my $3.99 back, receiving no response until nearly a year later, when an agent named Danielle wrote back to explain that the service fee was nonrefundable. I understand why a company would keep a fee if I had canceled or rebooked, but this was their decision. Can you help?

Flight delays and cancellations are some of the most un-fun issues to deal with while traveling. Even more of a headache? Trying to get a refund from the airline for your airfare or for any extra fees you paid for, like checked baggage.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued new rules Wednesday requiring airlines to disclose all fees upfront as well as “promptly” provide refunds when they are owed. Under the new rule, travelers are entitled to a refund if an airline cancels or significantly changes their flight, like changing the departure or arrival time by more than 3 hours for domestic flights and 6 hours for international flights, the DOT shared with Travel + Leisure. Travelers can also demand a refund if an airline significantly delays their checked bags (more than 12 hours for domestic flights and 15 to 30 hours for international flights), or if the airline doesn’t provide the ancillary services a passenger purchased like Wi-Fi, seat selection, and in-flight entertainment. Airlines will now be required to issue a refund automatically without a passenger having to request one. The refund must be in the form of cash or the original form of payment, and airlines cannot substitute travel vouchers or other forms of compensation unless the passenger willingly accepts it.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced two new rules for airlines in its years-long war on so-called “junk fees.” The White House says the new rules will help consumers save over half a billion dollars every year that they are currently overpaying in airline fees.

The Transportation Department on Wednesday announced new rules taking aim at two of the most difficult and annoying issues in air travel: obtaining refunds and encountering surprise fees late in the booking process.

Under a blazing morning Las Vegas sun, billionaire Wes Edens and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg threw a party this week to mark the start of construction of Brightline West, the first private high-speed railway in the U.S., driving yellow spikes into a section of track.

Austin is a unique and proudly weird city in many ways but one thing it has in common with its Texan neighbors is a heavy reliance on cars to get around.

A major milestone for a high-stakes, high-speed rail project is expected Monday. Brightline West is set to break ground on a new rail system that will someday link Southern California with Las Vegas.

Construction of a high-speed railway between southern California and Las Vegas officially broke ground on Monday, bringing the West Coast one step closer to a sustainable transportation option between the two states.

One of the quirkier aspects of flying out of Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., is getting set for a major face-lift.

There are no cars or motorbikes on the Gili Islands, and this is one of the many charms of this trio of tiny isles off Lombok’s northwest coast. In fact, all fossil fuel vehicles are steadfastly banned by local government ordinance. Most of the locals and visitors agree this is a good thing as there is no air pollution or traffic noise. There are few destinations in the world where you can completely escape from motorized traffic, so relish the peace.

Crisscrossed with an impressive web of highways and byways, Washington is a typical US state. Driving is king for those who can afford it and public transportation outside of cities is relatively meager compared to countries in Europe, Asia or South America. Many visitors elect to rent cars and partake in that most romantic of American vacations: the road trip.

Oregon is a big state with a lot of scenery, from towering forests that have stood for centuries to long stretches of windswept coastline offering head-turning views at every bend. While parts of the state – particularly cities and larger towns – are pedestrian-friendly, you’ll need a good transportation strategy to see the best of the state.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday announced a new partnership with more than a dozen state attorneys general to investigate consumer complaints against airlines.

As a travel writer constantly on the move, my adventures have taken me to the far corners of the globe, from the rugged terrains of Tanzania to the mountains of Bhutan. Yet amidst my travels, one constant remains: the search for that seamless trip to and from the airport.

As a born and bred Dubliner, I’ve spent most of my life trying to make sense of my hometown.

Despite the Côte d’Azur’s postcard image of beaches and palm trees, much of the Alpes-Maritimes – the French département (province) which lies in the Côte d’Azur's embrace – is covered by alpine terrain.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on airline frequent flyer programs, the agency said Monday, part of an investigation into potential unfair or deceptive practices.

Towering snow-capped mountains, evergreen forests filled with wildlife, deep-blue waters and coastlines dotted with little towns: this isn’t the setting of a fantasy novel, this is Canada, home to some of the world’s most thrilling landscapes.