Fall for Italy

Italy is always in style as a vacation destination. And in the fall, "prices drop significantly, but the weather is still beautiful," said Misty Ewing of Virtuoso. Deals for fall trips to Italy include the three-night Welcome Autumn package at Rosa Alpina Hotel & Spa, in the Dolomites. Available through September, it includes accommodations in a junior suite, breakfast and a 60-euro dining credit per person (665 euros [$790] a person; book by e-mailing reservations@rosaalpina.it). Travelers who prefer lakes over mountains may want to consider the three-night Quiet and Relax on the Lake package for two at Palazzo del Vice Re, on the shores of Lake Como. Available in October, it includes accommodations in either a junior suite or one-bedroom apartment, breakfast, a wine tasting, a risotto dinner and the use of the property's canoes and bikes (525 euros [$625] a person; book by e-mailing samantha@palazzodelvicere.com).

New York Times

Passport party

Is your U.S. passport within a year of expiration? Or, do you still not have one? In observance of national Passport Awareness Month, the Minneapolis Passport Agency is holding a special Passport Day on Saturday at the Old Federal Building downtown. With officials on hand to answer questions, the event is a great opportunity to renew your passport or apply for your first one. You can choose standard service (four to six weeks; fees vary) or expedited service (two to three weeks) for an additional $60. Appointments are required; call 1-877-487-2778. (10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.; 212 3rd Av. S., Mpls. General information at travel.state.gov.)

Simon Peter Groebner

Doggie concourse

Since 2013, Los Angeles International Airport has gone to the dogs. One of the country's busiest airports partially relies on cold noses to help travelers who are stressing over TSA screenings, oversized bags and overbooked seats. The furry emissaries come courtesy of the Pets Unstressing Passengers program (PUP). Under its auspices, brigades of as many seven or eight red-shirted dogs and their volunteer owners walk through terminals and offer passengers their pets' unwavering love for a couple of hours a day (even on weekends). Although PUP volunteers say they encounter the occasional shy or standoffish stranger, most affection is reciprocated. Maria Miller said that Penelope, her Chihuahua-Jack Russell mix, had pink lipstick on her forehead a mere 15 minutes after a recent visit to the terminal. It "de-stresses you" before you board, said Andrea Marr, a Navy dentist based in San Diego.

Washington Post

Coco, a standard poodle, strikes a pose at Los Angeles International.

Delta card for millennials

For its latest airline card, American Express is looking for people who don't travel. Yet. Amex has debuted the Blue Delta SkyMiles credit card, offering two miles per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants and on Delta Air Lines purchases, and one mile per dollar spent everywhere else. It is one of the few airline co-brand cards that don't come with an annual fee, a decision Amex and Delta made to appeal to millennial travelers, said Eva Reda, an Amex executive vice president. "No annual fee — that is one of the key things that we're excited about," Reda said. "This product is really for those who are just starting to travel." The new card's benefits won't include priority boarding, free baggage check or airport lounge privileges offered with other Delta cards.

Bloomberg