5 Stunning German Train Trips at a Bargain Price
In Germany, a country with one of the world’s most extensive public transportation systems, traveling has gotten a whole lot simpler. That’s thanks to the Deutschland-Ticket, or Germany-Ticket, a new type of (almost) all-inclusive travel pass. Priced at just 58 euros, or about $63, for a month of travel, it lets you crisscross the country […]
After Heathrow, Who Pays for Missed Cruises and Hotel Bookings?
Last Friday’s power outage in Heathrow Airport disrupted vacations across the world, causing countless thousands of travelers to miss prepaid reservations and forgo long-anticipated adventures. Among them were Sheila Addison, a therapist from Seattle, who missed out on a four-day whisky-tasting in the Scottish Highlands, forfeiting a $500 nonrefundable hotel room and a rare break […]
Obligation to provide support for family rests on both spouses
Dear PAO, My wife and I have been living separately since 2009. We have three children together, two of whom are still in school. I work as a seafarer, and my estranged wife works in a bank. While we both earn a decent amount of money to support our children, my estranged wife has been […]
Why These Islanders Hunt Dolphins
The call of a conch shell roused the dolphin hunters from their beds. Under moonlight, the six men shuffled to the village church. There a priest led them in a whispered prayer, his voice barely audible over the sound of crashing waves; the tide was high. Saltwater pooled in parts of the village, which is […]
Routine stop and limited warrantless search of vehicles are considered legal
Dear PAO, My girlfriend was stopped and requested to surrender her vehicle for inspection at a police checkpoint, without a search warrant. Does a warrantless search at checkpoints violate the constitutional right of a person against unreasonable searches and seizures? Piolo Dear Piolo, The general rule is that no arrest, search, and seizure can be […]
A Journey on South Africa’s Blue Train
Chaos surrounded us. Informal porters rolling luggage carts zigzagged between cars. Commuters spilled from the bus terminal onto the sidewalk, where they sat on suitcases and duffel bags. Minibus taxis zoomed through the congestion, pedestrians be damned. Our car crawled past a barbed-wire fence and reached a sliding gate, where all that separated my wife […]
United Airlines Raises Price of Club Lounge Memberships
Relaxing in a United Airlines Club lounge is now going to cost airline regulars much more. United is overhauling its lounge membership program, reducing amenities and increasing the cost to enter the dozens of United Clubs worldwide, including locations in Tokyo, Chicago and Los Angeles. At a time when lounges are more in demand than […]
Conditions for entitlement under the GSIS Act of 1997
Dear PAO, I have been currently employed in a government agency for more than 25 years and counting. I am now 58 years old, and the increasing frailty of old age has already taken a toll on my health. From time to time, I suffer from severe headaches, coughs and colds. Considering my circumstances, can […]
American Travel Anxiety Grows for Those Headed Abroad
As Franck Verhaeghe and two friends planned a March trip to Mexico City, they plotted out not only where they would stay and which museums they would visit but also the language they would speak: French. “It’s not that I think it’s unsafe for Americans,” said Mr. Verhaeghe, 65, who lives in California, but “I […]
Manning agency cannot legally withhold employee’s Philippine passport
Dear PAO, I am a sea-based OFW who disembarked in October 2024. Shortly thereafter, I surrendered my travel and employment documents, including my passport, to the manning agency with the expectation that they will process the renewal of my US visa. Two weeks later, I was informed that my contract will not be renewed. When […]