Smarter Credit Cards Coming Soon: An EMV Primer

As cash becomes passé, new secure chip cards are taking its place and lowering credit card fraud.  Here’s what you need to know.

If you’ve ever tried to pay for fuel at a closed filling station or transit an unmanned toll booth in Europe and found that your credit card would not work, you are not alone – but you are probably a U.S. resident with a U.S.-issued credit card that …

First Hotel Twentyseven, Copenhagen, Denmark – Review

Imagine a place to stay in central Copenhagen, just a few meters from the town square (Radhuspladsen) and a five-minute walk from world renowned Tivoli Gardens.  A hotel with a unique contemporary vibe, excellent service, good dining and a broad selection of bars, including one that is an international tourist attraction.
That place is First Hotel Twentyseven. During a recent stay, this charming boutique property lived up to its billing as …

Tips for the First-Time Business Traveler

As the summer gets underway, thousands of newly-minted graduates will be entering the workforce and some will accept positions that require travel.  For many, it will be their first experience traveling for business.
Many companies have rules and guidelines that govern business travel but few if any organizations offer “Business Travel 101” as part of new-employee orientation.  Rather than leave it to chance, we’ve prepared a guide to your first business …

Impact of Monday Malware Threat Expected to Be Minimal

Computer malware that would cause computers to be unable to surf the Web has been largely eradicated and only a relatively small group of computer users is likely to be affected tomorrow.
The malware was created by a group of hackers and designed to reroute computers users from legitimate websites to look-alike copies.  The FBI shut down the ring, indicting six Estonians and one Russian in the process, and came up …

Welcome to Frequent Business Traveler 2.0

A few years back, my brother Greg Spira designed our magazine’s original website, then called Executive Road Warrior.  He wanted to create an easy-to-read page with plenty of white space and lots of visuals.  I think he succeeded beyond our expectations.
A few months before Greg passed away, he made some substantive changes to the site in the name of navigability, including the addition of a uniform footer on every page.
On …

Marriott Executive Apartments Panama City, Finisterre, Panama – Hotel Review

As soon as we pulled up in front of the Marriott Executive Apartments, in the pleasant, leafy Bella Vista section of Panama City, Panama, doormen were car-side, opening doors and taking our bags. After a quick, friendly check-in in the airy, sunlit lobby, I was led up the elevator to my room.
THE ROOM
My studio apartment was spacious and open, with modern furnishings, hardwood floors, and sweeping views of the city. …

Jabra Supreme UC Bluetooth Headset – Review

Most Bluetooth headsets fall in the $50-and-under category.  So when you see one that has a list price of $150, you have to wonder if the headset is worth the investment. In the case of the Jabra Supreme UC, that very well may be the case.
The Jabra Supreme UC is equipped with active noise cancellation, wind noise reduction technology and noise blackout 3.0, which together contribute to better voice quality …