Productopia | Travel Sites

More and more Americans have passports. While once the very low percentage of U.S. ownership of this prized document was dismal (only seven percent in 1989),  since 9/11 and the resulting decision that Americans need it to travel to Canada and the Caribbean, the number of U.S. passports has risen dramatically. In 2012, according to Forbes Magazine's Andrew Bender, U.S. passport ownership has risen to a very respectable 33 percent. What this means is that while advanced biometrics make stealing a passport -- and let's face it, a U.S. passport is a very fine thing to have -- less appealing to thieves, if it is your bag, and your bag gets stolen, well...more and more U.S. passports are going to disappear into thin air. And this might not come about due to deception. According to the United Kingdom's Home Office, more than 10,000 Brits a year accidentally throw theirs away including one left in a coat that was generously given to a homeless person. Read more

Want last-minute tickets to see Usain Bolt in the 100m final? With four months to go before the games begin, you'll need very deep pockets for this event and other popular sports. But, if you plan to be in London for the games, there are still options available. Many Olympic events, even if they don't have that blue ribbon appeal, can still provide the thrill of Olympic contest. Below, check out some tips on how to secure your admission ticket. Read more

Earlier this week I booked a flight from New York to Miami.  Even though JetBlue only flies to the nearby Fort Lauderdale, I couldn't pass up the advertisement in an e-mail sent to me: Book Today, $89 each way from JFK. When I went online to look up fares, I did not see that fantastic rate; instead the fares were through the roof with the flights I wanted ringing up to $500 round trip. I didn't note the little asterisk (pictured at left in the screenshot from my e-mail), which referred me to a very lengthy paragraph entitled "Taxes, Fees and Restrictions."

Hopefully that's the last I'll see of miseading airfare offers. Earlier this week, the Department of Transportation issued a release outlining new regulations that went into affect Jan. 27. Two important parts of the new rules: Taxes and fees now must be included as part of the advertised price, and baggage fees must be clearly disclosed up front. "Airline passengers have rights, and they should be able to expect fair and reasonable treatment when booking a trip and when they fly," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in the statement. Read more

With spring officially here, summer vacations loom. Yet as gas prices rise and consumer sentiment wanes, some might think they will have to ditch their plans to travel during the warmer months.  All-inclusive resorts are one way to control costs; the idea is simple: One price gets you lodging, food and activities for the whole family, and you never have to leave the resort's property. However, you might not always get as much as you think, or you could end up paying for perks you'll never use. Here's our rundown of what you can expect.
Read more