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Thursday, September 03, 2009 by Rudy Maxa.

Are travel agents obsolete? When airlines stopped paying agencies fees to issue tickets in 2002, and with the rise of travel planning on the Internet, you might think so.

Yet although there’s been a decline in the number of storefront travel agencies throughout the past 17 years, the actual number of travel agents hasn’t changed much, according to the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). Given the extraordinary number of hotel, airline, and car rental reservations made online today, how can that be?

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Wednesday, August 26, 2009 by Rudy Maxa.

I think I found the ultimate family resort this week—a summer camp on steroids, a Neverland without the weirdness. It’s not a secret place—Smugglers’ Notch Vermont, approximately a 35-minute drive from Burlington, has been around since 1956. But throughout the years, it has morphed into a sprawling resort with upscale condos, waterparks, tennis courts and—in the winter—ski slopes. Plus, there are enough kids’ activities to fill a year of Saturdays.

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Sunday, August 09, 2009 by Rudy Maxa.

Quick, finish this statement: "What happens in Las Vegas . . . ." Or this one: "Virginia is for . . . ." Those are two of the classic travel slogans of modern times, advertising tag lines that have insinuated themselves into the lexicon and, not incidentally, colored how you and I think of a particular destination.

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Wednesday, June 03, 2009 by Rudy Maxa.

You gotta love hotels that offer in-room dining, turn-down service, and luxe health clubs, but sometimes renting an apartment, condo, or home for a vacation makes eminent sense. You’ll probably rub shoulders more frequently with locals. You may enjoy a more spacious environment, helpful if you’re traveling with children. And you’ll probably save money. Then, of course, there’s the technique for staying free all around the world. But more on that in a moment.

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Monday, March 30, 2009 by Rudy Maxa.

How do you get situated when you land in a new, big city? I go directly to the nearest, fanciest hotel in town. Even if I’m not staying there.

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