Travel is always a challenge, but right now, the war with Iran has added a whole new layer of turbulence and uncertainty—especially for those who plan to fly. Airlines around the globe are raising prices, adding fees, and cutting flights. Planning your trip now requires extra care because of travel scams fueled by AI. It’s also becoming
A recent Checkbook investigation found widespread problems with vacation rentals, including fake listings and stolen deposits. Even worse, many victims get little or no help from Booking.com or Vrbo to recover their lost money. In this episode: We share results of our investigation and provide tips on how to protect yourself when booking a vacation rental. One
Checkbook’s editors and researchers love to save you time and money, and they use a broad range of consumer-oriented websites and apps to do so. In this episode, we’ll highlight some of their favorites and why they find them to be valuable tools. More from Checkbook: Our Editors’ Favorite Websites and Apps Not a Checkbook member? Sign up
Saving you time. Saving you money. Helping you score great deals—and steer clear of rip-offs and scams. That’s what we’re all about at the Consumerpedia podcast. In this episode, Checkbook staffers share their favorite life hacks—simple tricks and workarounds they’ve used and swear by—that will help you shop smarter, spend wiser, and stay one step ahead. Related
A bad hotel room can ruin your vacation or business trip, so you need to be careful when making your reservations. Hotel websites and online booking sites have great photos and glowing descriptions, but what you see isn’t always what you get. In this episode, tips for booking a room so you don’t end up having a
Travel is always a hassle, but this year, it comes with some added twists. There’s growing uncertainty about the economy, and concerns about being an American tourist in a foreign country. Will you be welcome? In this episode: What to expect when booking flights, hotel rooms, or vacation rentals; how to spot travel scams that can ruin
Whether it’s a complimentary dessert, an unexpected upgrade to a better hotel room, or you find a $20 bill in your coat pocket, we all like freebies. The staff at Checkbook sifted through member benefits for credit cards, warehouse clubs, health plans, and AAA. We discovered dozens of perks that are often overlooked. If you don’t know
Want to spend a few days in Dublin before going to Munich? Sightsee in Madrid or Lisbon on the way home from Paris or Rome? Maybe break up that long-haul flight to Australia or New Zealand with a few nights in Tokyo or Honolulu? Dozens of airlines (mostly foreign carriers) let you visit two places for the
It’s going to be a busy summer for travel, especially for those headed abroad. It’s late in the booking season, but some deals may still be available. In this episode, we’ll look at what you can expect to pay for airfare, hotel rooms, and rental cars. Plus, tips from travel experts Haley Berg of Hopper.com and Christopher
Travel outside the U.S. and you’ll need to make sure your cell phone works wherever you’re headed. With a little advance planning, you can also lower the cost of using your phone on that trip—in some cases, by $100 a line a week or more. In this episode, what the major phone companies charge to use their
