News & Advice

Morning News: Dr. Beach Names America’s Top Seashores

No surprise: Florida and Hawaii beaches top the list of the country’s best.
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Oahu’s Waimanalo Bay Beach Park is the best in America, according to an annual ranking of beaches by Stephen Leatherman, the Florida International University professor who goes by Dr. Beach and “used 50 criteria to evaluate the beaches, including water and sand quality as well as safety and management,” Nancy Trejos reports. Four beaches in Florida made the top ten, the most for any state. (USA Today)

ProPublica has aggregated data on cruise-line safety into a one-stop guide for prospective passengers. (ProPublica)

“New train, ferry, and helicopter routes” will make getting to your summer vacation destinations a little easier this year. (Condé Nast Traveler)

Google Maps has improved its “traffic alerts” that help users avoid gridlock: “Now when you input your destination, you’ll get an explanation of upcoming traffic conditions that helps you identify the quickest route. While you’re on the road, Google Maps will give you a heads up if congestion lies ahead, and how long you’ll be stuck in a jam.” (Google)

The travel booking site Luxury Link abruptly ceased operations and suggested consumers with existing reservations “contact their credit card companies to attempt a refund.” (Skift)

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was excited about JetBlue changing its Boston-to-Santo Domingo service. (Twitter)