Coolcations are a scam. Try this instead.
One of our readers thought he was escaping the summer heat by heading to Scandinavia. Instead he found packed ferries, doubled room rates and a hotel with no air conditioning during a heat wave. Meanwhile, travelers who booked Phoenix and Madrid found empty pools and rooms at half price. Is the "coolcation" actually the worse deal this summer?
PLUS: Whatever happened to that federal rule requiring airlines to post a one-page summary of your rights during delays, cancellations and baggage disasters? Scroll down to our Members Only section to find out.
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💬 Today on Backchannel: Should you cancel your trip because of heat, smoke or extreme weather?
I'm researching a story about how travelers are rethinking their plans as extreme heat, wildfire smoke and related weather events disrupt destinations that were once considered reliable. I'd love to hear from anyone who faced this call. Did you cancel a trip because of a heat wave, wildfire smoke or a weather warning, and how did you make that decision? Share your thoughts in the new Backchannel.
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🔔 Here’s what you missed this week
Coolcations aren’t cool anymore. Why you should book a trip to a hot place
Is the rush to the Arctic Circle really the smartest way to beat the summer heat, or is it just the fastest way to burn through your savings?
Should airlines ban robots?
Three of the big four carriers already have. Does their reasoning hold up?
This summer’s biggest points swindle
Travel sites are asking their readers to fight a bill that could make prices more affordable. But why?
From earthquake rubble to carbon zero: Here’s how Christchurch is building a greener city
To understand how Te Pae Christchurch became a carbon zero certified convention center, you need to meet Oscar.
My Furnished Finder subscription auto-renewed. Why can't I get a refund?
When Debbie McNulty discovers a surprise $179 charge on her credit card from Furnished Finder, she immediately asks for a refund. Why is the company trying to keep her money?
Turo charged me $2,338 for damage I didn’t cause. Can I get a refund?
Turo charges Georgina Montalvan $2,338 for damages she didn’t cause. Then Turo makes a U-turn, dropping the charges. Then it changes its mind again. Does she really have to pay?
Is this the worst check-in policy in the history of travel?
Alison Palkhivala was ready for pretzels, polka, and a pint. She’d booked a stay in a vacation apartment in Munich through Booking.com during the legendary Oktoberfest.
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🔒 MEMBERS ONLY: The consumer rule that never took effect
A federal rule requiring airlines to post a one-page summary of your rights during delays, cancellations and baggage disasters took effect in late May. What happened to it? Details are in today’s Members Only section.
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