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News Stories by Doug Stallings
No-Nonsense Traveler: 10 Simple Truths about Travel
"I'm by no means the final voice on travel, but I've been traveling (and enjoying it) since I was young. Over the years, I've learned several important lessons."... (More)
No-Nonsense Traveler's Tips for Tipping
The first (and most important) piece of advice that I can give anyone about tipping is that you absolutely have to do your homework. So many people just set off on a trip without learning anything about the place. Why would you not want to know what people expect in terms of tipping? Just remember to do your homework and it will all become less stressful.... (More)
Swine Flu Update: What Do We Know?
Doug Stallings takes a quick look at what we know, what we don't, and how the outbreak could affect future travel plans to Mexico.... (More)
No-Nonsense Traveler: Be Wary of European Budget Airlines
If you can find a cheap airfare to, say, London, it's tempting to then want to switch over to Ryanair or Easyjet for the shorter (and significantly cheaper) hop to your actual European destination. Before you do that, I'd like to throw in a word of caution for the uninitiated and give you five simple tips for deciding if this is really worth your time and trouble....
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No-Nonsense Traveler: Is Mexico Safe?
This week Doug Stallings weighs in on how the current situation in border areas of Mexico should (or should not) affect travelers' plans to visit that area, and shares his simple rules for staying safe in a foreign country.... (More)
No-Nonsense Traveler Tackles Reader Questions
This week Doug Stallings tackles the tough questions submitted by several readers: What's the real price on those bottom-dollar cruise deals? What's the best way to spend a 4-hour post-cruise layover in New Orleans? And finally, what's a good warm-weather getaway close to Portland, Oregon? Do you have your own burning question about travel? Need some advice on your next vacation? Email us for the chance to have your own question answered here in the coming weeks.......
No-Nonsense Traveler's Inbox: Four Nights in Puerto Rico
This week Doug Stallings answers a request, submitted by our readers Dennis and Sarah, for help planning some good-old-fashioned R&R in San Juan, Puerto Rico....
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No-Nonsense Traveler: Choose the Cruise That's Right for You
The cruise experience, while a great vacation, is simply not for everyone. Some people are very prone to seasickness, some would prefer to spend their days lazing on the same beach, some want a true all-inclusive vacation (something most cruises are definitely not). But even if you love the sea, the most basic question you have to ask is not really whether cruising is right for you but what kind of cruising is right for you....
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No-Nonsense Traveler: Seeking Travel Help Online
The first time I went to Europe was for a trip to Spain with my parents when I was in junior high school. We flew on TWA and connected through Eero Saarinen's beautiful terminal at JFK. We didn't buy a guidebook, and I had no idea what I wanted to see once I arrived in Seville. You see, the reason we took this trip as our first overseas vacation wasn't so much a great love of Spain but because my dad's cousin was teaching for a year at a naval base on the Andalusian coast. Such was the way of my family, when most vacations had some kind of familial attachment connected to them. Since this was in the days long before the Internet, I can't help but think that we could have improved our trip immeasurably by asking some well-formed questions on...
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No-Nonsense Traveler: Timing Your Trip for Cheaper Travel
There are ways to save money traveling without having to make the big compromises. You don't have to stay in hotels with shared baths, or eat all your dinners as in-room picnics, or travel to Moscow in the depth of winter. One of the simplest ways to save money is to avoid traveling during the high season. I know that's easier said than done when you have kids and the only time available to you is during school holidays. But even then, if you choose your destination wisely, you can still travel without breaking the bank.... Talk to Doug: When do you plan your trips so that the prices are lowest, the crowds are the thinnest, and the weather the best?...
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