October 15, 2014: Listening to the noise of the 24-Hour, always “Breaking News” stories, we’d all be better off hiding under our beds. But experienced travelers know that sensationalized reporting can make any place in the world sound dangerous. Here are our current Go/Don’t Go Ratings based on the best available industry on-site reports. Liberia…
Q – My husband and I are making our second trip to London and we are scheduled to fly a 777 on American. The model is a 300, whatever that means. We have asked for aisle seats across. Our travel agent says this is a great plane but we know that sometimes the information on…
Q – Forgive me, but I just don’t get it. My wife wants to bring the grandkids, ages 8-16 on a seven-night Disney cruise. I’ve heard they do some special things but have no sense of the experience. Wouldn’t the family have just as good a time on an adult line like Princess that also…
Q – We will be making our third trip to Asia, this time Thailand and Laos. I am wondering if I should let the credit card company just work out the exchange rate when they bill us or should we try to exchange at a currency outlet here or abroad? We do have a Capital One Venture…
This is our list of the current “Hot Vacations Worldwide” as compiled by the $12.4 billion Virtuoso membership. The “Hot List” is compiled using date that tracks the largest increases in traveler visits year-over-year: # 1 – NEW ZEALAND # 2 – CHILE # 3 – INDONESIA # 4 – HUNGARY # 5 – HONG…
Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have been sold. After being rumored for weeks, the deal to acquire Prestige Holdings, the owners of both Oceania and Regent Seven Seas cruises lines, has been formally announced by Norwegian Cruise line’s CEO Kevin Sheehan, The deal cost NCL $3.03 billion and Norwegian will soon be issuing…
Q – Our agent has assigned us to a cabin that appears to be at the very rear of the boat on a river cruise we are taking next July. Just wondering if we should kick and scream. Our impression is that there was very little space left on the sailing. Does that sound right…
Q – My wife and I, and my semi-annoying brother-in-law (he actually plays polo – what a toff) are looking at a Scenic Waterways cruise on one of their new ships, something called the Awful, oops, sorry, its the “Opal”. Haven’t heard much about this boat and my wife points out that you guys don’t…
Q – My wife and I are planning to travel to India in November and are wondering whether or not to include a visit to the Pushkar Far in our itinerary? A – The Pushkar Fair takes place in the fall every year, with the exact dates being determined by the Hindi calendar. This somewhat…
Q – We will be leaving shortly for a culinary tour of southern Italy. Are there any “proper manners” we should be aware of as we dine out? A – Try not to ask the owner if he or any member of his family is involved with the Mafia. This could possibly ruin your meal….
While proper tipping etiquette does vary from country-to-country, you will be pleased to know there are current industry standard expectations of tipping behavior. Here is what you should be tipping for good to excellent service: HOTEL DOORMAN: $1.00 TO $2.00 or 1 Euro for opening door, hailing a taxi and $3.00 or 2 Euro for…
A new study released by the U.K.’s Aberystwyth University (you get a degree if you can learn how to spell it) is shaking up the way US travelers are now exchanging greetings. The fist-bump, popularized by President Obama, has now been shown to reduce exposure to bacterial disease by 90% when compared to the common handshake. As…
Q – Somehow, I know that your team will know the answer to this question. I was doing a quick connection at O’Hare Airport in Chicago and walked past this gourmet-looking chocolate store called Vosges. Any good, worth bringing home, or skipable? A – We’re not huge fans but it is decent chocolate. The stunner,…
Q – Call us crazy, but we’re bringing the twins, our eleven year-olds girls, on a Crystal Cruise to the Baltic that will include several days in St. Petersburg, Russia. We want to put together a special day that might include a really nice lunch the entire family can enjoy. Is there anywhere you could…
Q – As we plan a river boat journey, our first, from Basel to Amsterdam next September, we are wondering when it might make the most sense to book. We are looking at Viking River and we know that the boats book up early. A – Two schools of thought. You may want to book this afternoon….
Q – We are going to be staying at the Grand Hotel des lles Borromees along the water in Stresa for a week. Flying from LA to Milano, renting an Alfa, and ready for some day trips. Are there any restaurants in the area worth a drive of am hour or so that you could…
WANT TO AVOID NOROVIRUS? DINE AT SEA (reprinted from Travel Weekly Magazine) By Senior Contributing Editor Richard Bruce Turen Given their fairness in all matters concerning cruise industry health and safety matters, I imagine I will soon be seeing a public apology from our friends at the major network news organizations and the decision-makers at…
Q – In the mid-eighties, I spent a semester in Barcelona, studying Spanish and a bit of Architecture. Now, my wife and I, she has never been to Spain, are heading for Barcelona to begin a 12-Day Cruise on Oceania. Because of work, there is just the one day in Barcelona and I am intent…
Q – Do you think it is practical, to plan a trip to Mexico City that would allow us to take in some of the best local food spots and markets in about a week? My husband just lives for authentic Mexican food but we live just outside of Birmingham and we’re not about to…
Q – I think it is fair to say that you have no bigger fans of this site but, sadly, we find little help from you in planning our upcoming cruise with our 8 and 11 year-old boys. I know, for example, that Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are supposed to have the best…
Q – I thought I would see if traveltruth.com is going to give us the same blank stare we get when we ask a travel agent about cruising West Africa. I mean, Africa is a fairly large continent and, near as I can tell, it has both an East and a West Coast. We would…
Visitors to our wonderful country should understand that we are all totally sleep-deprived in Spain. As journalist Joaquin Pi Yague points out in El Pais, “our night owl culture is hurting our economy.” There has been much modernization in Spain, easily visible to tourists in Madrid and Barcelona. But one thing that has ot changed…
Q – I am a pediatrician here in Dallas and an avid reader of this space. Next summer (2015) Patti and I want to take our three children on a real quality cruise up to Alaska that might have children’s programs. I would love to know the best line to do this with and how…
Q – I am going to need to be in Singapore in February on business and I am thinking about bringing along my wife for a week of seeing and exploring the city. Some of what I am seeing online makes me feel that this might not be worth five nights or so and the…
Q – We loved your response about river boat companies and their candor is talking about possible weather problems. We are scheduled to do a Danube cruise on Scenic next August and it sounds as though that could be the time of year when draught and low water levels is a problem. We were wondering, looking…
Q – We are one couple, of hundreds, whose river boat cruise turned into a combination cruise (on a different ship than we booked) and bus tour. We are rather surprised at the lack of advance information about flooding or low waters we were provided. Is this common and what are your views on this…
Q – Our travel agent has set us up with a cruise on the Viking River Line, which I understand is the Cadillac of river cruises. We’re scheduled to leave on June 12th next year but I’ve heard from friends that the rivers sometimes flood preventing a full sailing on the river with days made…
Q – I am so damn mad at my travel agent. We’ve asked her three times which side of the ship is best (we’re sailing the Avalon Line on the Danube) but she doesn’t seem to know. It would seem like a simple question. I think I’ll just do it myself next time. Do any…
Q – We have been looking at a longer cruise, next summer, from Amsterdam, but the reverse direction seems to work better in conjunction with my wife’s work schedule, she is a pediatrician. Would appreciate any guidance here – how big a mistake would we be making to do this itinerary in reverse? A –…
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