Natalie B. Compton
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Traveling and writing. On Instagram @natbco. On Substack @ nataliecompton.substack.com
Articles by Natalie B. Compton
10 peak fall trips to sneak in before the holidays Original
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Hannah Sampson, Andrea Sachs, Natalie B. Compton, Gabe Hiatt The Washington Post Fall is the most fleeting season — a brief, golden pause between the chaos of summer vacations and the frenzy of the holidays. As the weather cools, it feels natural to slow down: layer on a sweater, sip something warm and admire the scenery as the world turns amber. For many Americans, the best way to experience peak fall is to go find it.
10 peak fall trips to sneak in before the holidays
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Hannah Sampson, Andrea Sachs, Natalie B. Compton, Gabe Hiatt The Washington Post Fall is the most fleeting season — a brief, golden pause between the chaos of summer vacations and the frenzy of the holidays. As the weather cools, it feels natural to slow down: layer on a sweater, sip something warm and admire the scenery as the world turns amber. For many Americans, the best way to experience peak fall is to go find it.
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna
Article content One of Minchilli’s qualms is that the places employing the practice tend to stay open all day and night, which can be a sign of an operation catering to tourists, who want a sit-down pasta lunch at 3 p.m. — a decidedly un-Italian move. A truly traditional establishment, she said, must close in the afternoon to give staff a break, restock and prepare for evening service. Article content Another issue is the fresh pasta itself.
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna The women making fresh pasta in restaurant windows are a hit with tourists. Locals say it’s all wrong. A pasta-maker works in the window of the Rome restaurant Come 'Na Vorta, in April. Photo by Luigi Avantaggiato /FOR THE WASHINGTON POST We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work.
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna
The women making fresh pasta in restaurant windows are a hit with tourists. Locals say it’s all wrong. Author of the article: The Washington Post Natalie B. Compton Published Sep 28, 2026 • 8 minute read A pasta-maker works in the window of the Rome restaurant Come 'Na Vorta, in April. Photo by Luigi Avantaggiato /FOR THE WASHINGTON POST Article content We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work.
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna Original
The women making fresh pasta in restaurant windows are a hit with tourists. Locals say it’s all wrong. • A pasta-maker works in the window of the Rome restaurant Come 'Na Vorta, in April. /FOR THE WASHINGTON POST Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna
ROME — The woman in the window ignored the city foot traffic as she went about her work, her hair pulled back beneath a white hat. Her eyes tracked the strands of dough she rolled beneath her palms. Outside, a group of tourists paused to watch her toil, then one read the restaurant sign near the door aloud. “‘Pasta e Vino,’” the woman said. And then in English: “Perfect!” kAm%649?:42==J[ E96 C6DE2FC2?E’D 7F== ?2>6 H2D r@>6 ‘?2 '@CE2 − !2DE2 6 ':?@ W#@>2? 5:2=64E 7@C “=:<6 :E FD65 E@ 36” @C “=:<6 :?
Why you might want to get your next rental car from Costco
Nikki Oeler discovered the best deals on rental cars in the same place she buys bulk toilet paper and rotisserie chicken. “I used to look at Expedia and the other platforms, but nothing beats Costco,” said Oeler, a Pittsburgh-based landscape architect and mother of a teen daughter. Costco, the global retailer with the membership-only hangars of household goods, is known for its bargains on products ranging from eggs to socks to hearing aids.
Why you might want to get your next rental car from Costco
FILE - A lone shopper pushes a cart toward the entrance of a Costco warehouse, March 13, 2025, in Sheridan, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) Nikki Oeler discovered the best deals on rental cars in the same place she buys bulk toilet paper and rotisserie chicken. “I used to look at Expedia and the other platforms, but nothing beats Costco,” said Oeler, a Pittsburgh-based landscape architect and mother of a teen daughter.
Why you might want to get your next rental car from Costco Original
Why you might want to get your next rental car from Costco (washingtonpost.com) Why you might want to get your next rental car from Costco By Andrea Sachs; Natalie B. Compton 2026092209011300 Nikki Oeler discovered the best deals on rental cars in the same place she buys bulk toilet paper and rotisserie chicken. "I used to look at Expedia and the other platforms, but nothing beats Costco," said Oeler, a Pittsburgh-based landscape architect and mother of a teen daughter.
Why you might want to get your next rental car from Costco
10 hours ago Key Points Warehouse club Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) reports earnings after market close on Thursday. Analysts have high hopes for the company, projecting revenue of about $94.9 billion and earnings per share of between $6.53 and $6.55. But the real question is whether the stock is worth buying …
Where to see peak fall foliage across the U.S.
Four autumns ago, college senior Evan Fisher found himself with a problem. Like many people who love the changing colors of the season, he was frustrated with how difficult it was to predict when fall foliage would be at its best. Websites that promised such information were never as accurate they claimed, so the atmospheric science student decided to take matters into his own hands. About a year later, Explore Fall was born.
Ready for fall? This map shows you where to see peak foliage.
Four autumns ago, college senior Evan Fisher found himself with a problem. Like many people who love the changing colors of the season, he was frustrated with how difficult it was to predict when fall foliage would be at its best. Websites that promised such information were never as accurate they claimed, so the atmospheric science student decided to take matters into his own hands. About a year later, Explore Fall was born.
Amtrak’s NextGen Acela trains are bright, clean and slightly uncomfortable
Amtrak’s NextGen Acela trains are bright, clean and slightly uncomfortable (washingtonpost.com) Amtrak’s NextGen Acela trains are bright, clean and slightly uncomfortable By Natalie B. Compton 2026082817020200 It's been one year since Amtrak debuted its sleek, new NextGen Acela trains on the Northeast Corridor route, and like any baby, they've had their growing pains. The NextGens often had issues with their passenger doors, which caused delays in the early days.
5 questions about flying with marijuana, answered
5 questions about flying with marijuana, answered (washingtonpost.com) 5 questions about flying with marijuana, answered By Natalie B. Compton 2026080709010200 Preparing for a smooth airport experience can feel like trying to hit a moving target. Will security ask for your ID or your boarding pass? (It depends.) Will officers confiscate your lobster? (You're good, actually.) Will you be forced to gate-check your carry-on? (Who knows.) The process gets even more complicated when marijuana is involved.
Does Albania live up to the hype? We went to find out
Social media would have you believe the country is just like Italy or Greece, without crowds or high prices Author of the article: The Washington Post Natalie B. Compton Published Aug 04, 2026 • 9 minute read You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. The view from Blue Bay Restaurant and Bar in Himarë, Albania. Photo by Natalie Compton /THE WASHINGTON POST Article content We independently select everything we recommend.
Does Albania live up to the hype? We went to find out
Social media would have you believe the country is just like Italy or Greece, without crowds or high prices Author of the article: The Washington Post Natalie B. Compton Published Aug 04, 2026 • 9 minute read You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. The view from Blue Bay Restaurant and Bar in Himarë, Albania. Photo by Natalie Compton /THE WASHINGTON POST Article content We independently select everything we recommend.
Does Albania live up to the hype? We went to find out
Article content But like Instagram had promised, the actual beach was a dead ringer for parts of Italy or Greece; the water was strikingly clear, and the sun beds were plentiful. Article content Accommodations in town ranged from budget hostels to luxury hotels that cost hundreds per night. We checked in to a guest house in a hillside neighbourhood that was a steep climb up from the main drag.
Does Albania live up to the hype? We went to find out
Social media would have you believe the country is just like Italy or Greece, without crowds or high prices The view from Blue Bay Restaurant and Bar in Himarë, Albania. /THE WASHINGTON POST We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work. SHKODËR COUNTY, Albania — The clips usually start with water, ice blue or aquamarine, always impossibly clear.
Does Albania live up to the hype? We went to find out
Skip to Content Social media would have you believe the country is just like Italy or Greece, without crowds or high prices • The view from Blue Bay Restaurant and Bar in Himarë, Albania. /THE WASHINGTON POST Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. SHKODËR COUNTY, Albania — The clips usually start with water, ice blue or aquamarine, always impossibly clear.
De granadas escondidas en mantequilla de maní a una espada samurái: los hallazgos más insólitos de la TSA este verano
La TSA controló a más de 2 millones de pasajeros por día durante el verano en los aeropuertos de Estados Unidos (REUTERS/Jeenah Moon) Ha sido un verano ajetreado en los aeropuertos de todo el país. Incluso después de la avalancha de viajeros por el Mundial, la Administración de Seguridad del Transporte (TSA) ha estado controlando a más de 2 millones de pasajeros diariamente, mientras estadounidenses y visitantes se embarcan en una temporada de viajes.
These are the 7 weirdest TSA finds of the summer
A TSA agent pushes bins along at a security checkpoint at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, at DFW Airport, Texas, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) It’s been a busy summer at airports across the country. Even with the World Cup rush behind us, the Transportation Security Administration has been screening more than 2 million passengers daily as Americans and visitors alike embark on a season of travel. That’s a lot of luggage for security screeners to clear.
Are we ready to say goodbye to the Dulles people movers? Let’s discuss.
Are we ready to say goodbye to the Dulles people movers? Let’s discuss. (washingtonpost.com) Are we ready to say goodbye to the Dulles people movers? Let’s discuss. By Hannah Sampson; Andrea Sachs; Natalie B. Compton 2026072920260100 More than a half-century ago, the trams shuttling passengers around Washington Dulles International Airport were the future. Now, they could be history.
The 7 weirdest TSA finds of the summer
The 7 weirdest TSA finds of the summer (washingtonpost.com) The 7 weirdest TSA finds of the summer By Natalie B. Compton 2026072910020900 It's been a busy summer at airports across the country. Even with the World Cup rush behind us, the Transportation Security Administration has been screening more than 2 million passengers daily as Americans and visitors alike embark on a season of travel. That's a lot of luggage for security screeners to clear.
‘This is Jerry’: How a Maine lobsterman and a seagull became friends
‘This is Jerry’: How a Maine lobsterman and a seagull became friends (washingtonpost.com) ‘This is Jerry’: How a Maine lobsterman and a seagull became friends By Natalie B. Compton 2026072510013400 PORTLAND, Maine — The tourists were lucky. Had they booked their Lucky Catch lobstering excursion a few days earlier, they would have been cooking under a heat dome. Later that week, a torrential downpour would have drenched the tour.
‘This is Jerry’: How a Maine lobsterman and a seagull became friends
Donald Trump Is Very, Very Angry Iran is destined to become the signature failure of his second term. There’s almost nothing he can do about it. Sign up for the Surge, the newsletter …
The 52 definitive rules of flying
The 52 definitive rules of flying (washingtonpost.com) The 52 definitive rules of flying By Natalie B. Compton; Andrea Sachs 2026071616080600 Humans are a basically civilized species. We know not to go barefoot in restaurants, treat our friends' living rooms like landfills or nap on the shoulder of our office cubicle mate. And yet, as soon as we step inside an airport or onto a plane, our manners seem to vanish.
Santorini is crushed by tourists. Head to these 7 Greek beaches instead.
Santorini is crushed by tourists. Head to these 7 Greek beaches instead. (washingtonpost.com) Santorini is crushed by tourists. Head to these 7 Greek beaches instead. By Natalie B. Compton 2026071610010200 Greece has the longest coastline in the Mediterranean, but you wouldn't know it by the way many plan their trips to the country. Athens, Mykonos and Santorini receive the majority of visitors, which doesn't help with the overtourism Greece has been battling for years.
Santorini is crushed by tourists. Head to these 7 Greek beaches instead.
13 hours ago .ATHENS, GREECE - JULY 15, 2026: People chanting and carrying banners took part in a protest on Wednesday (July 15) in Greece's capital Athens, following the death of a 20-year-old man who was fatally shot by police in Argos.
Where did Erling Haaland get that raccoon holding a bottle of booze?
Where did Erling Haaland get that raccoon holding a bottle of booze? (washingtonpost.com) Where did Erling Haaland get that raccoon holding a bottle of booze? By Natalie B. Compton 2026071413010100 Erling Haaland didn't return to Norway with a World Cup trophy, but he did go home with the trophy of souvenirs: a taxidermy raccoon holding an empty bottle of booze. The internet quickly identified Wild Bill's Western Store in Dallas as the origin of Haaland's prize.
42 rules for group vacation rental Original
Let us read it for you. Listen now. Your browser does not support the audio element. You look forward to it all through the cold, dark winter: a week at the ocean with your pals. Sunshine all day, cool breezes at night, board games after homemade feasts. Sure, that one friend might take too long to commit. Your old college roommate can be a bit controlling about the food plan. And will everyone be on the same page around how to split the bill? Don't fret.
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna 1 of 12 ROME - The woman in the window ignored the city foot traffic as she went about her work, her hair pulled back beneath a white hat. Her eyes tracked the strands of dough she rolled beneath her palms. Outside, a group of tourists paused to watch her toil, then one read the restaurant sign near the door aloud. "'Pasta e Vino,'" the woman said.
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna (washingtonpost.com) In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna By Natalie B. Compton 2026071010011600 ROME — The woman in the window ignored the city foot traffic as she went about her work, her hair pulled back beneath a white hat. Her eyes tracked the strands of dough she rolled beneath her palms. Outside, a group of tourists paused to watch her toil, then one read the restaurant sign near the door aloud.
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: Pasta-making nonnas
1 hour ago At just $8 for each bottle, this Prosecco punches well above its price. Walk into your local Costco, and the odds are high you’ll leave with a year’s supply of cashews, enough olive oil to fill a bucket, and a cheese wheel the size of a manhole cover. But savvy shoppers know Costco is more than just …
In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna
11 hours ago When it comes to American history, the largest concentration may be along the Potomac River. Along the 405 miles from its source at the Fairfax Stone in West Virginia to Chesapeake Bay, what came to be known as "the Nation's River" has witnessed the birth, rise, and struggle of the United States …
14 do’s and don’ts to avoid a summer flying nightmare
The summer is still young, but travelers have already dealt with the seasonal one-two-three punch of extreme weather, schedule disruptions and stressful flights. (And that’s just among the members of our team.) During the busy Fourth of July holiday stretch between Saturday and Monday, airlines reported more than 25,000 delays involving U.S. flights and 3,280 cancellations, according to FlightAware.
14 do's and don'ts to avoid a summer flying nightmare
The summer is still young, but travelers have already dealt with the seasonal one-two-three punch of extreme weather, schedule disruptions and stressful flights. (And that's just among the members of our team.) During the busy Fourth of July holiday stretch between Saturday and Monday, airlines reported more than 25,000 delays involving U.S. flights and 3,280 cancellations, according to FlightAware .
The 42 definitive rules for sharing a group vacation rental
(iStock / Getty Images) You look forward to it all through the cold, dark winter: a week at the ocean with your pals. Sunshine all day, cool breezes at night, board games after homemade feasts. Sure, that one friend might take too long to commit. Your old college roommate can be a bit controlling about the food plan. And will everyone be on the same page around how to split the bill? Don’t fret. We’ve come up with 42 rules to help keep the peace and minimize stress on your group trip.
The 42 definitive rules for a group vacation rental
The 42 definitive rules for a group vacation rental (washingtonpost.com) The 42 definitive rules for a group vacation rental By Hannah Sampson; Andrea Sachs; Natalie B. Compton 2026070510010200 You look forward to it all through the cold, dark winter: a week at the ocean with your pals. Sunshine all day, cool breezes at night, board games after homemade feasts. Sure, that one friend might take too long to commit. Your old college roommate can be a bit controlling about the food plan.
Prepare for a hot, crowded Fourth of July travel surge
Prepare for a hot, crowded Fourth of July travel surge (washingtonpost.com) Prepare for a hot, crowded Fourth of July travel surge By Natalie B. Compton 2026070216180200 Between family vacations, heat waves, World Cup games and America 250 events, it's shaping up to be a scorching and hectic holiday weekend of travel. The bulk of the nation's travelers are expected to go by car, with AAA projecting more than 61.4 million Americans to embark on road trips between June 27 and July 5.
How an app actually helped me manage my jet lag
I tested Timeshifter on two trips to Europe — the results were surprising • Natalie B. Compton tested Timeshifter in an attempt to manage her jet lag. /THE WASHINGTON POST / ISTOCK Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. In my decade of travel writing, I never really put much effort into “beating” jet lag — despite the toll it routinely took on my trips abroad.
How an app actually helped me manage my jet lag
Natalie B. Compton tested Timeshifter in an attempt to manage her jet lag. Photo by Chloe Meister /THE WASHINGTON POST / ISTOCK We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work. Article content In my decade of travel writing, I never really put much effort into “beating” jet lag — despite the toll it routinely took on my trips abroad.
How an app actually helped me manage my jet lag
Skip to Content I tested Timeshifter on two trips to Europe — the results were surprising • Natalie B. Compton tested Timeshifter in an attempt to manage her jet lag. /THE WASHINGTON POST / ISTOCK We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work. In my decade of travel writing, I never really put much effort into “beating” jet lag — despite the toll it routinely took on my trips abroad.
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