If you’re thinking of renting a car for a vacation in Europe, getting a short-term lease instead of a rental may actually be cheaper.

If you’re renting for more than two weeks, consider a company that offers rentals that are actually short-term leases.

Did you know that the European Union, Switzerland and Norway have banned 92 airlines from flying into their airports? Read on to find out which ones were banned — and why.

The 92 airlines banned by Europe are mostly very small carriers, usually based in Africa or Asia, and few of them fly anywhere near Europe.

But they were placed on the airline blacklist by Europeans for failing to adhere to basic safety standards, or for using antiquated planes.

You couldn’t have timed it better. You finally made it to Paris after all these years, but when you get to the Louvre, it’s closed for… Ascension Day?

Or you arrive in Milan to find that you won’t be seeing Michelangelo’s Last Supper after all because it just happens to be The Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul Day….

Just like in the U.S., many museums, national monuments, banks — and in some cases, restaurants and shops — are closed for national holidays. So before you schedule your next vacation, make sure to find out in advance about any holidays or festivals that may occur in the country you will be visiting.

February 26, 2007

A few days ago, we received an email from one of our readers, copying us on a letter to Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines.

Dear Richard Branson,

I would like to tell you about the worst travel experience in my life.

Thursday, February 15, 2007, I had a premium economy ticket on Flight 18 from Newark to London Heathrow, scheduled to leave at 8:20 a.m. While sitting on board, we were delayed taking off by two hours. One of the two navigations systems was broken and finally it was determined that it could not be fixed. The pilot informed us that we could indeed take off, but would have to take …

Many solo travelers are discovering that they’re not alone, after all.

In fact, a look at some new websites shows that the Internet is helping travelers all over the globe — at least the ones who want to — connect like never before.

Many solo travelers are discovering that they’re not alone, after all.

Three of the more innovative sites in this regard include TripHub, Travel Chums and TripUp.

There are also a number of other travel sites, including Travelocity and Site 59, that among others, are expanding their offerings in ways that might make traveling solo better than ever.

TRIPMATES/TRIP UP

Much was made of the 2005 …

With so many airlines cutting back on food offerings, what’s a hungry air passenger to do? Find out how hotels have been filling that gap, offering prepackaged “to go” meals for airport-bound travelers… only these aren’t your typical boxed meals.

Ritz-Carlton has a “Flight Bites” menu designed to travel well, while the Peninsula Beverly Hills offers Pen Air meals.

Hotel Plaza Athenee in New York has specially-designed “Goodies to Go.”

Even some budget hotels without restaurants are getting into the act, directing guests toward private companies like SkyMeals that deliver packaged meals to guests before they check out.

These meals aren’t cheap, though.

SkyMeals has a $25 minimum order and most hotel meals cost around $20.

But these specially designed “airline meals” do have advantages over …