Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers
In February, Barb McGowan took a seven-day cruise on Holland America Line, visiting the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Dominican Republic for just $343, or $49 a day, excluding taxes, port fees and extras. By comparison, Holland America currently lists a seven-day Caribbean itinerary in October from about $700. The catch: She had just […]
Lessor wants to increase rent of residential apartment
Dear Pao, Can I still increase the rent by 7 percent? I am a single parent who inherited my parents’ small residential apartment. Since I solely take care of my two children, I cannot afford to have a 9-5 job. So, I merely rely on the monthly rent being paid by my lessee to cover […]
Japan Airlines Downgraded Our First Class Seats and Skimped on the Refund
In late 2021, Mark from San Diego and his wife were flying home on British Airways premium economy from Split, Croatia, via London and Dallas, but missed a connection. They were rebooked in economy on Virgin Atlantic and tried for two years to get reimbursed when finally, in December 2023, they were told they had […]
A New Look at an Old Favorite for Adventure Seekers: La Paz, Mexico
For our last night in La Paz, Mexico, we kept it simple: A couple of cans of cold Pacifico, a bench on the malecón, the city’s waterfront promenade, and the sunset glowing orange over the shimmering silver-blue Sea of Cortez. My husband, Alex, and I had spent nearly a week taking scenic desert drives and […]
The absence of parental advice shall not render the marriage void
Dear PAO, My 23-year-old boyfriend and I want to get married. His parents are against our marriage because they do not want me to be their son’s wife. Will the lack of parental advice invalidate our marriage if we proceed with it? Claren Dear Claren, Articles 2, 3 and 4 of “The Family Code of […]
5 Hotel Pools Perfect for Swimmers
Michele Heisler, 61, is an avid swimmer, putting in 45 minutes three times a week in a local 25-yard-long pool. But swimming while traveling can be challenging. “Most hotel pools are too tiny or too crowded,” she said. Then, while planning a trip to Chicago, Ms. Heisler, from Ann Arbor, Mich., came across a photo […]
Homeowner-lessor’s right to use the association’s facilities
Dear PAO, I am a homeowner in an exclusive subdivision. I have been paying the annual dues regularly until 2021, when I eventually decided to lease it out to my friend. The lease period is five years, and annexed to our contract is a document in which I expressly authorize the lessee to be a […]
The Secrets of a Danish Castle
My first conscious memory occurred on the lower landing of a staircase that spiraled up four floors of the 14th-century, moat-encircled Gjorslev castle in Denmark. I was hugging the railing while my tweed-clad grandfather, Edward Tesdorpf, who owned the place, smiled at me as he walked down the hall to take care of his ever-expanding […]
Rights of a lessee regarding improvements he/she introduced on leased premises
Dear PAO, I entered into a lease contract over a parcel of land for a period of seven years, renewable upon the agreement of the parties. I made renovations and improvements to the land. There is no provision in our contract regarding whether I will be reimbursed. Will I be able to claim a reimbursement […]
Last-Minute Strategies to See the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
On April 8, a total solar eclipse will blot out the sun for roughly 4,200 miles stretching from Mexico to Canada — a cosmic show that so much of North America won’t see again for about 20 years. Many made their plans to view it well in advance. And then there are the procrastinators, who […]