A playground for the slow travel elite, starting at $80,000 a night, the “L’Observatoire” suite aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is train travel, but not as you know it.

For decades, America's second-largest metropolis has been trying to build an efficient public transport system. In doing so, L.A. often gets in its own way.

Journalist Georgia Husson settled in New York right in the middle of the holiday season preparations. Just a few hours' ...