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Taking the Kids: How to take the family stress out of Thanksgiving
I wish you a stress-free Thanksgiving. You are probably thinking that’s impossible, whether you are traveling, hosting or being a guest.
Believe me, I’ve been there – the oven that conked out Thanksgiving morning; the relative who stormed out in a huff mid-dinner; the complaints about sitting at the kids’ table; the inappropriate ...Read more
Pack your bags: REI brings back travel experiences for its members
REI Co-op is returning to its roots of offering experiences by introducing a new benefit to its members Wednesday: trips planned through a tour operator to domestic and global travel destinations.
The Issaquah-based outdoor retailer has partnered with Intrepid Travel, which refers to itself as the world's largest adventure travel company," to ...Read more
Here's what to expect at airports for Thanksgiving travel
The fallout from a week of sharp flight reductions nationwide has eased considerably, just in time for what is expected to be record air travel for Southern Californians flying for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
While the vast majority of travelers will be driving to their destinations, airports and planes will still be crowded given the ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Richie Moriarty
Playing a ghost has worked out well for actor and comic Richie Moriarty, who portrays Pete Martino on the CBS series “Ghosts.” He spends half the year filming in Quebec, and the other half at home in New Jersey. “We film mostly in studio in Montreal on our beautiful set, but it’s really fun to be able to film on location occasionally,”...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: A walk through Ghent
Once one of Belgium's medieval powerhouses, Ghent today is home to one of Belgium’s biggest universities and a vibrant student population. While it has plenty of pretty canals and gables, it also enjoys a certain amount of urban grittiness, with a welcome splash of creative hipster funkiness.
Ghent is very walkable, and I enjoy strolling ...Read more
Travel Troubleshooter: Airbnb Bans Model Customer For Life But Won't Detail Why
Q: I've been an Airbnb user for nearly a decade with over 40 stays and positive reviews. Recently, Airbnb abruptly removed my account, citing a vague "possible violation" of its Terms of Service.
I appealed, but the company doubled down, banning me for life without an explanation. I'm baffled. What could I have done to warrant this? All I want ...Read more
Thailand says tariff talks to continue after Trump-Anutin call
Thailand said tariff talks with the U.S. will continue following a phone call between their leaders, despite Washington’s earlier move to halt negotiations pending Thai compliance over a peace declaration with Cambodia.
The U.S. informed Bangkok of the temporary suspension, but that changed after President Donald Trump and Prime Minister ...Read more
China warns citizens to avoid traveling to Japan amid Taiwan row
China urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan in the near term, escalating a conflict over comments from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting potential intervention in the event of a military conflict over Taiwan.
The measure, the first significant retaliation taken by Beijing in the row, was sparked by Takaichi’s remarks last ...Read more
Taking the Kids: Get ready for Black Friday deals
Are you ready? I’m not talking about Thanksgiving or navigating the inevitable family drama (more about that in next week’s column!)
I’m talking about being ready to snare one of the excellent Black Friday-Travel Tuesday travel deals, prime time for scoring major deals on hotels and all-inclusive resorts, according to Expedia travel ...Read more
'Excessive and even exorbitant': Chicago Public Schools watchdog urges district to reform travel spending policies
CHICAGO – Chicago Public Schools Office of the Inspector General is urging district officials to reform travel policies amid “questionable, excessive and even exorbitant” spending on overnight trips, according to a report released Wednesday.
CPS travel expenditures, including airfare and lodging, more than doubled between fiscal year 2019...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Zina Wilde
Actress, producer and wellness entrepreneur Zina Wilde is used to traveling the world. Born in London and raised in Thessaloniki [Greece], she currently splits her time between homes in New York and Los Angeles. Wilde said that one of the things she has learned over the years is to go with the flow. “Plan things, but not too many,” Wilde ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Warsaw is a resilient spirit carved by a harsh history
Every November 11, local Poles gather in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Warsaw’s Piłsudski Square to honor Poland’s Independence Day. The ceremony itself is filled with somber commemorations and highly-structured military salutes – reminders of the country’s harsh history, and enduring spirit of resilience. Poland’s ...Read more
Travel Troubleshooter: Guests Are Charged $385 For Keypad That Was Damaged From Rain
A couple faces a $385 charge after an Airbnb keypad fails during a rainstorm. The locksmith blames the weather, but Airbnb sides with the host. When the weather wreaks havoc, should guests foot the bill?
Q: My partner and I booked an Airbnb near Joshua Tree National Park, California, for my birthday. On the second day, heavy rain caused the ...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe Advisory
The 11/11/25 Rick Steves's column has been revised. Last sentence of graf 5 has been replaced for clarity. Use updated version.
©2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Taking the Kids: When food is central to the experience
As we are all thinking about all the work Thanksgiving involves, let’s think about the famous Mothers of Lyon.
These extraordinary women, none trained as professional chefs, are credited with turning Lyon, France into a huge center of gastronomy, starting in the 18 th century.
We learned about the ...Read more
Celebrity Travel: Go away with Thurston Moore
Thurston Moore is best known as the singer-songwriter-guitarist for the influential rock band Sonic Youth. But he’s also a critically acclaimed author, whose “Sonic Life: A Memoir” documented his life and time in the group. Touring as a musician is part of the job, but it was his travels with his family that he vividly remembers. “When I...Read more
Rick Steves’ Europe: Carcassonne is the Fortress City of your travel dreams
Sunny, out-of-the-way Languedoc stretches from the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees in southwest France. It shares a balmy climate, winter wind, grapevines, and the sea with the better-known neighboring region of Provence. To me, Languedoc is somehow more “France in the rough.”
I first came here as a teenager, when I visited Languedoc’s ...Read more
Charity helping pay for Michigan Gov. Whitmer's trips draws lobbying complaint
LANSING, Mich. — A business-backed nonprofit organization that's been helping fund Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's overseas trade missions should be investigated for failing to register as a lobbyist, a complaint filed by a longtime lawyer contended Monday.
Bob LaBrant, former general counsel for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, authored ...Read more
Taking the Kids: Affordable family snow vacations
Snow bunny or adrenaline junkie? Maybe you want to indulge at a slopeside spa, cozy up by the fire with a new novel while the kids are in ski school, or include a cultural experience overseas off the slopes. But will it be an affordable family snow vacation?
However, you envision your getaway to the snow, there have never been more options – ...Read more
United, American CEOs meet Vance as shutdown strains travel
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said a prolonged government shutdown would likely snarl travel during the busy holiday period, as the administration seeks to ramp up pressure on Democrats over the funding standoff.
Vance’s comments followed a roundtable at the White House with aviation industry leaders on Thursday.
Attendees included United ...Read more
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