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Every December, the Northeast performs the same sacred ceremony. The weather changes its mind. The roads clog. Airports become emotional endurance tests. And millions of otherwise rational adults convince themselves that this —this exact week—is the perfect time to move themselves, their children, their gifts, and their unresolved family issues across state lines. Welcome to holiday travel season in the New York–New Jersey corridor, where snow, rain, sleet, and existential dread are once again teaming up to remind us that nature does not care about your dinner reservation. The forecast calls for a wintry mix. Which, in meteorological terms, means everything bad, everywhere, all at once . Snowflakes flirting with rain. Rain freezing mid-fall out of spite. Roads that look wet but behave like betrayal. It’s Christmas ambiance, sure—if your idea of festive includes hazard lights and whispered prayers over the steering wheel. And yet, despite all evidence from every year prior, 109.5 mil...

If you ever wanted to know what it feels like to live inside a Kafka novel written by a disgruntled Southwest pilot, congratulations: welcome to Washington, D.C. — where all three of its airports are about to turn into live-action escape rooms without winners. The Federal Aviation Administration, proving once again that irony is the only renewable energy in government, announced it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume markets.” Translation: your flight is canceled, your connection’s gone, and the only thing taking off this week is your blood pressure. And for the unlucky millions in the nation’s capital region — BWI Marshall, Reagan National, and Dulles International — the news couldn’t come at a better time. The leaves are pretty, Thanksgiving is around the corner, and nothing says “family reunion” quite like a six-hour delay followed by a “courtesy rebooking” in 2026. The Shutdown Strikes Back: When the Sky Becomes a Union Dispute Government shutdowns are the ...

American Express just unveiled what it calls the Amex Travel App™ and Amex Passport™ , promising to “simplify and enhance the premium travel journey.” Translation: they want you to spend even more quality time inside the American Express ecosystem—swiping, tapping, and collecting digital doodads while you’re trapped in an airport lounge that smells faintly of overworked espresso machines. But hey, at least they’re upfront about it. Let’s unpack this shiny new layer of plastic-wrapped convenience and see if it’s really the luxury shortcut it claims to be—or just another way to keep you loyal, logged in, and slightly addicted. 1. The “All-in-One” App That Solves a Problem Amex Helped Create American Express wants you to believe that planning a trip is the modern equivalent of climbing Everest. 81% of people , they tell us, want “an all-in-one app.” 55% visit at least three websites before booking. 56% of Millennials and Gen Z spend four hours planning trips. Cool stats....

Welcome to Hell, We Hope You Packed Snacks Oh, the great British summer getaway — that sacred time when schools empty, temperatures flirt with the idea of being pleasant, and every man, woman, and child with a driver’s license or a passport decides to flee simultaneously. If your grand plan this weekend involves “going somewhere,” I’d like to extend my most heartfelt condolences. Because barring a miracle, you’re not going anywhere fast. Let’s get one thing out of the way upfront: this weekend is a Category 5 Clusterjam across every imaginable form of transportation. Planes, trains, automobiles — and yes, even ferries — are all expected to descend into chaos, congestion, and confusion. It’s the Great British Queue-Off , and everyone’s invited. And if that weren't enough, we’ve got an unexpected guest star this year: President Donald J. Trump — America’s most divisive export since reality TV — who has thoughtfully chosen this particular moment to swing by Scotland. Because what ...

Ah, air travel—modern humanity’s most glamorous ritual of public undressing, aggressive shoe removal, and passive-aggressively holding in flatulence at 30,000 feet. And if you’re anything like the rest of us who occasionally fantasize about faking appendicitis just to skip TSA, I have a revelation that might not make you any less miserable—but will at least make your misery more efficient. According to the ever-smiling, soul-sapping data terminals from HappyOrNot —you know, those little feedback kiosks with green and red faces next to every airport bathroom like some kind of Orwellian bathroom Yelp—the best time to fly is early in the morning. As in, early early. As in, “I-set-my-alarm-before-the-birds-are-even-drunk” early. Specifically between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., otherwise known as the Witching Hour for Frequent Flyers Who Hate Joy. And when’s the best day of the week to drag your half-conscious self to the terminal? You guessed it: Tuesday. That most aggressively beige of weekdays...

Oh, how the mighty have fumbled the tourist bag. Once upon a time, international tourists flocked to the U.S. with a suitcase in one hand and a wad of foreign currency in the other, ready to be parted from both in the name of Disneyland, outlet malls, and a totally normal portion of pancakes. Now, thanks to the delightful fusion of tariffs, tantrums, and “America First” rhetoric that basically screams “Everybody Else Last,” foreign visitors are saying, “Nah, we’re good.” And with that, an eye-watering $90 billion in potential U.S. revenue is getting quietly yeeted into the economic void. Let’s unpack this, shall we? Welcome to America: Now With 100% More Tariffs and Side-Eye Here’s the deal: tourists from places like Canada, Germany, and the U.K.—you know, countries that used to love us despite our weird obsession with ranch dressing—are canceling their trips. Why? Because the United States is starting to look like the international equivalent of that one dinner guest who spends ...

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, the great American tradition of packing up the family car, hitting the road, and escaping the soul-sucking monotony of daily life was an achievable dream. But alas, thanks to the magical forces of inflation, corporate greed, and economic inequality, that dream now requires either a winning lottery ticket or a rich uncle with questionable business ethics. The ‘Affordable’ Vacation—A Relic of the Past Remember when a budget-friendly getaway meant a simple road trip to the nearest beach, national park, or theme park? Yeah, those were the good old days. Now, unless you’ve got a secret side hustle selling feet pics, affording a basic vacation is like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. Gas prices have decided to do their best impression of a SpaceX rocket launch, and airline fares are competing with mortgage payments. Even so-called “economy” tickets now cost a small fortune, complete with the privilege of getting crammed into a seat desi...

Ah, travel. That seductive siren song luring you out of your sweatpants and into the wild unknown, where you can Instagram your way through history, culture, and overpriced coffee. Each year, the New York Times compiles a list of 20 Places to Go, ostensibly to inspire your wanderlust but really just to test your ability to ignore your dwindling bank balance. This year’s list for 2025 is no different. Let’s take a tour through the highlights with a healthy dose of cynicism, shall we? 1. Jane Austen’s England Ah, the rolling hills of Hampshire, the cradle of Austen’s biting wit. Sure, you could go for the literary connection, but let’s be honest: you’re really here for the Bridgerton-core vibes. Put on a bonnet, clutch a paperback of Pride and Prejudice , and prepare for disappointment when you realize Mr. Darcy isn’t real. But hey, there’s a Jane Austen-themed fair, so you can buy expensive trinkets while pretending you’re cultured. 2. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador Nothing screams “eco-to...