Flipboard 2025 Travel Tips

Hotel Int

I booked through a third-party site and now no one—not the hotel or the website —will help me fix my reservation. Who’s responsible?

Before we dive into the chaos, picture this: you booked a great hotel deal through a third-party site, felt like a bargain-hunting genius, and then—disaster. Your dates are wrong, your room type isn’t available or maybe the system thinks you don’t exist at all. You call the website…they blame the hotel. You call the hotel…they blame the website. And somewhere along the way, you realize you’ve entered the hospitality version of a ping-pong match, except you’re the ball.
December 5, 2025 J. Clarke

We only get one vacation per year and I want to go on a cruise, but my wife wants to go to an all-inclusive resort. Which is better?

Vacations are precious—we only get so many days a year to escape the grind. So, when one partner wants a cruise and the other is dreaming of an all-inclusive resort, how do you choose?
August 28, 2025 Jesse Singer

My flight was canceled while I was already at the gate. The airline rebooked me for the next day—am I entitled to a free night in a hotel?

There’s nothing quite like sitting at the gate, feeling that pre-flight optimism…only to hear the dreaded announcement: “This flight is canceled.” You barely have time to blink before your phone lights up with a rebooking for tomorrow. But what happens tonight—does the airline owe you a hotel?
December 4, 2025 Jesse Singer

Why are so many American travelers getting fined in Europe?

If you’ve traveled in Europe recently, you might’ve noticed something strange: travelers getting fined for things that feel…completely normal in the U.S. Europe’s rules can be surprisingly strict—and surprisingly expensive. People keep whispering, “Wait…you can get fined for that?” Yes—you really can.
December 2, 2025 Jesse Singer

My toddler screamed the entire red-eye flight and another passenger yelled at me. Could I actually get reported or fined for that?

If you’ve flown a red-eye with a toddler, you know it’s basically a trust fall with fate. Sometimes it works…sometimes it’s a whole airborne meltdown. And when another passenger snaps at you, it’s only natural to start wondering: can someone actually report you—or could you even get fined—for a crying kid?
December 1, 2025 Jesse Singer

I paid extra for “priority boarding,” but families with kids and half the plane boarded before me. Should I demand a refund?

Discover what to do when you pay for priority boarding but still watch families and half the plane board before you. Learn why it happens, whether you should request a refund, and how to navigate airline boarding systems with confidence. A fun, engaging guide for frustrated travelers seeking answers and practical solutions.
November 28, 2025 Jack Hawkins

I got food poisoning on an all-inclusive vacation. Can I hold the resort responsible?

You book an all-inclusive vacation to relax, indulge, and maybe make questionable choices at the swim-up bar—not to spend quality time examining the tile pattern on the resort bathroom floor. Yet foodborne illness strikes thousands of travelers every year, and when it happens on vacation, the stress doubles. Suddenly you’re wondering if that buffet shrimp was plotting against you and, more importantly, whether the resort can be held accountable. Here’s what you need to know before you point any fingers.
November 27, 2025 J. Clarke
Airport Int

My passport expires in five months and I’m flying to Europe. Will I be turned away at check-in?

Nothing kills the joy of planning a European getaway faster than suddenly noticing your passport expires sooner than you remembered. One moment you’re dreaming of gelato, fjords, and tiny cobblestoned streets; the next, you’re spiraling down an internet rabbit hole about mysterious “passport validity rules” enforced by shadowy airline gate agents. Five months left might feel like plenty of time, but depending on where you’re headed, your trip could be smoother than French butter or end abruptly at the check-in counter.
November 29, 2025 J. Clarke

I brought my own food on the plane and the flight attendant told me I couldn’t eat it. Is that even a rule?

If you’ve ever brought your own food onto a plane, you probably assumed you’d be able to eat it. After all, you bought it, packed it, and carried it through TSA. And airlines don’t even serve real meals on most flights anymore, right? But still, travelers get told they can’t eat their own food. So…is that actually a rule—or just airline weirdness?
November 27, 2025 Jesse Singer

Why Do Americans Traveling In Europe Put Canadian Flags On Their Backpacks?

If you’ve spent any time in European train stations or hostels, you’ve probably seen it: an American accent, a U.S. passport…and a big Canadian flag patch sewn onto the backpack. It’s not a fashion statement—and it’s definitely not accidental. It’s one of the oldest unspoken travel traditions in the book, and it’s way more interesting than people think.
November 26, 2025 Jesse Singer

I rented a car online, but when I arrived they said my reservation “wasn’t guaranteed.” Is that legal?

Remember that Seinfeld episode where Jerry argues with the rental car agent—“You know how to take the reservation. You just don’t know how to hold the reservation”? Well, it might’ve been a show about nothing, but this exact situation is definitely something a lot of us have had to deal with.
November 26, 2025 Jesse Singer

The guy behind me on a plane was barefoot and kept stretching his legs into my space. Should I have said something, or just endured it?

Learn how to handle a barefoot passenger invading your space on a flight with calm, confident steps. This guide explains when to speak up, what to say, and how to involve flight attendants without causing drama.
November 26, 2025 Allison Robertson