J. Clarke articles

You spend months planning a cruise. Maybe you picked that sailing because it stopped in Santorini, Cozumel, or Nassau. Then, out of nowhere, the cruise line announces a port change. Suddenly, the destination you were most excited about is off the itinerary. Cruise lines have a lot of flexibility when it comes to changing itineraries, though there are still a few situations where refunds, credits, or reimbursements may come into play.

Renting sports gear on vacation sounds simple enough. You pick out a kayak, snowboard, paddleboard, bike, or jet ski, sign a form, and head off to have a good time. Then you glance at the paperwork and suddenly it feels like you are signing away half your life just to go down a hill or paddle around a lake. The language can be intense, especially when it starts talking about serious injury, equipment damage, and responsibility. Still, the paperwork is not there because every rental is a disaster waiting to happen. It is there because outdoor sports do involve real risks, and rental companies want those risks spelled out before anyone gets started.

You booked your shore excursions through the cruise line because it seemed like the safest option. Then the cruise line canceled the excursion, kept your money longer than expected, or refused to issue a refund altogether. It is a frustrating situation, but you still have several ways to push back and try to recover what you paid. Here are some practical steps that can help.

Getting stuck in another country is bad enough. Finding out your airline canceled your flight and then seemingly vanished from existence makes it even worse. Before you do anything else, save screenshots of your booking, cancellation notices, emails, app alerts, and any attempts you've made to contact the airline. Those records could end up being very valuable later.

You measured your bag. You checked the airline’s baggage rules. You made sure you were under the weight limit. Then you got hit with an extra baggage fee anyway. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. The good news is that you do have options if you think the airline charged you incorrectly. Here are some steps that can help you challenge the fee and make your case.

America has given the world burgers, barbecue, and apple pie. It has also produced some foods that leave even Americans scratching their heads. Some are strange combinations. Others are regional favorites that never quite won over the rest of the nation. Here are 21 of the most controversial foods that consistently rank among America's least-loved dishes.

Americans can argue about almost anything, but travel opinions get especially heated. One person calls a city magical while another swears they’d rather spend vacation days reorganizing a garage. Some destinations keep winning travelers over with food, scenery, and culture, while others leave visitors muttering about traffic, crowds, and overpriced sandwiches.

You booked the cruise, counted down the days, and probably already started shopping for tropical shirts you’d never wear anywhere else. Then the cruise line canceled the trip and handed you future cruise credits instead of a refund. The good news is that passengers do have options. The bad news is that cruise lines love making future credits sound like a glittery prize when many travelers just want their money back. Here’s what you should know before accepting that onboard “gift”.

You booked the hotel. You got the confirmation email. Maybe you even prepaid. Then you walk into the lobby after a long travel day only to hear the words nobody wants to hear: “We don’t have your reservation”. Suddenly your relaxing getaway turns into a customer service obstacle course filled with screenshots, receipts, and increasingly desperate refreshes of your inbox. The good news is that you usually still have options if you act quickly.