Laurie's light travel travel tips

The big dog was waiting for me in the kitchen. I did not know his or her name, breed, or temperament. I only knew that it was a shock to see a dog there. "Aaaaaahh!" I screamed, racing into the downstairs bathroom, calling out to the owner who was not visible: "Get your dog! Leash your dog!" A guy comes out, looking pissed at me. "What? Why are you yelling at me?" "Because your dog is not on a leash!" He starts waving his finger at me, "Shut up, shut up, lady. Dogs are allowed here. Shut up!" Just another fun day when you are, more or less, living at Airbnbs. I spoke to the host, who seemed great at first. I told her I'd been bitten in the rear by a dog at 16, after leaving the old folks' home, where I'd gone to play piano. "That's awful," she said, showing real compassion. "I don't blame you at all for yelling." Then today she sent me the text this guy sent, accusing me of yelling at him, demand...

I'm a sucker for romance, especially when the press release includes some of my favorite destinations. By far, Rome remains the most memorable city I have ever visited, for several unromantic reasons -- the ruins, the lasagne, the language among them. I had not thought of romance because I went there alone, but that is a kind of romance, sì ? HotelwithTub (great name) crunched the numbers and shares its top 50 cities for the newly married. (In my view, these "honeymoon" destinations also double as great spots for singles, but then I'm biased.) Here are the key findings: 1. Rome is the Most Romantic Destination in 2026 With 1,613 swoonworthy restaurants and 1,328 romantic hotels, the Eternal City earns the highest Romantic Score (66) and stands as the world’s most romantic destination in 2026. 2. London Leads Global Date-Night Culture With 2,173 romantic restaurants and more than 12,800 romance-related hashtags, Blighty achieves a Romantic Score of 63, ranks #...

Wacky isn't the adjective I think of when I look back at 2025, but that's the fun of this annual post: tradition dictates that despite the pain, I find the wacky. "Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think," a philosopher, Jean de La Bruyère, said. I have thought of that statement countless times over the years, and on my best days I realize life is a blend of both darkness and light. As we end 2025 mourning the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner -- a tragedy that has extended beyond the entertainment community in the States, worldwide -- I reflect again on the fragility of life. This was the year I was at my most vulnerable, felt the most alone and scared. Yet when the world is looking at you as a crazy old lady (some days), you have only two choices: believe the world, or flip them the bird. I chose the latter. In the spring I broke into Washingtonian magazine, interviewing a source at the NIH who chose to remain anonymous to protect the...

Either staff have been instructed to spin the story or this is genuinely a nothing burger, I am not sure. But, there is just a minimal amount of foot traffic through Terminal A, which has been consistent for about the past two hours. I asked a Jet Blue agent if this was a normal night, and she said yes, for a Tuesday. She also didn't see any difference in terms of air traffic controllers showing up to work. Yet, speaking to a TSA agent sheds a different light. "We have to work for fear of retribution," she told me, "even if we aren't getting paid." I told the agent thank you for working and I hoped the government shutdown didn't last long. As I look around me in the airport , though, I cannot help but wonder if people are staying away for fear of another airline incident. I mean, who wants to get on a plane knowing the air traffic controllers aren't getting paid? The U.S. shutdown has entered its seventh day. It was just reported that across the cou...

A recent study developed by MouseNotifier , which alerts users when a Disney restaurant table is available, ranked 203 countries based on LGBTQ+ rights and safety. Hearing this, I took note, as rights of this community are in peril in the U.S. In a comprehensive report, the researchers tapped five key factors, including legalized same-sex marriage, LGBTQ+ worker protections, and the criminalization of LGBTQ+ acts. Key Findings Sweden ranks #1 for strong protections, including legalized same-sex marriage and hate crime laws. I spent my 57th birthday in Stockholm , I am not gay it definitely felt very LGBTQ+ friendly. Where else would one find such colorful foods, flowers and art? Indeed, Sweden has hate crime legislation written into the Penal Code, as follows from the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Hate Crime Report: Criminal Code of Sweden (1962, as amended 2018) (excerpts related to hat...

Dear tourists: Save a grand flying roundtrip from Omaha in June and come enjoy the splendours of a New York winter. From ice skating in Bryant or Central Park or Rockefeller Center to enjoying a hot cocoa with friends in the Village, the city is oozing warmth this time of year. True, you must pack that winter coat, a good hat and gloves, and another layer for every body part (I wore jeans and sweats yesterday). You must also check your vanity at the door, ladies -- caught my reflection and realized my face looked like a very white raisin. Remember to moisturize! I recommend dining indoors, not out, even when restaurants offer heaters oitside. It is impossible to heat the entire space and you will freeze running inside to the bathroom. Book ahead if you really want a decent table. My favorite restautants include Butter (butterrestaurant.com) in Midtown and Balthazar (balthazarny.com) in lower Manhattan. But for simple good eating either buy a hot dog from a street vendor or pop into...