At some of the world’s busiest terminals, there has been a rash of hundreds of private car scammers picking up riders. They claim to have been sent by Uber and other legitimate operators.

They’re not only illegal, but also unsafe and uninsured. They often charge customers much larger fares than were quoted when Uber booked the rides by phone/smartphone. One recent example was an Uber quote of $120 for a trip from La Guardia in New York to Princeton, New Jersey.

If you have your own car or a rental, it’s a five-hour drive from Vegas, 280 miles to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Sixty years ago, when Vegas was a sleepy little town of 100,000, you could've made it in five hours of empty desert.

Now the city and extensive suburbs have more than a million residents, along with several million tourists just about every day. If you begin your Grand Canyon trip from a downtown hotel, it could take an hour just to make your way through endless traffic and on to the highway.

Imagine that exciting cruise you’ve anticipated for months. Inhaling fresh sea air as you bask on the deck, watching the clouds and ocean roll by. Then, koff, koff, koff! A guy stomps by puffing on a cigarette, or worse, a stinky cigar. Your peaceful day at sea is ruined by the annoying odor of smoky nicotine.

Along with many other cruise lines, Holland America wants its passengers to enjoy their journeys in clean air. Smoking now is forbidden everywhere inside, and allowed only in certain isolated outdoor areas. For addicted puffers who ignore the ban, there’s a $250 extra cleaning fee added to their bills. So, butt out!

One of the oldest in Europe, this ancient Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur refuge of peaceful prayer welcomes visitors and tourists of all faiths. They may participate in daily services, as well as for Passover and other holiday celebrations.