SEABOURN VERSUS TIES AND GOWNS

Q – The wife and I are seriously considering a Seabourn Cruise that will explore Japan and some of Korea next year. We’ve been on one cruise, a Windstar, which we enjoyed. There is lots on the internet about Seabourn but the criticisms you always read are that they are way too formal and they…

A POSTCARD FROM OVERWORKED SWEDEN

It isn’t easy being Swedish. A report has just come out showing that the average full-time worker is now toiling 26.2 hours a week, a historic high. Some labor unions are calling for changes to these long hours with claims that working that many hours “may affect people’s health. It is, however, interesting to note that…

WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IS BEST FOR LOWEST AIR FARES?

Q –  We are in the fortunate position of planning two business trips and two pleasure trips to Europe and Asia in the next 12 months,for this we’re going to use the best tour companies from sites as japankensingtontours.com/tours/asia/japan to make the most of these trips. We enjoy the search aspect of planning but we…

WE’RE SPEADING THE NEWS . . . .

Q –  My husband will be annoyed that I wrote to you. First, feel free not to print this but, if you do, I trust you will not use my name. My husband and I have traveled on ten or eleven tours and about twelve cruises. Over the years we have been struck by how…

SLEEPING IN ROME’S CITY CENTER AFFORDABLY

Q – We will be visiting Rome in the Fall and we were wondering of there is a really nice, really well-located, hotel you might recommend that will cost less than the Excelsior or the Eden? We like to avoid hotels that are small and so hip and modern that it requires an engineering degree…

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BEST CRUISE AIR CONNECTION STRATEGIES

Currently, we get more questions about airline strategies than any other single subject. A growing number of your questions have to do with the best ways to make airline arrangements in conjunction with European-based cruises. Here then, is our list of Our Top Ten Air Strategies for “Comfortable Cruise Connections>” 01 – If possible, connect…

IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO TAUCK IN EUROPE?

Q –  Although we suffered from a bit of sticker shock when our agent showed us a Tauck Tour brochure last year, we thoroughly enjoyed it and we felt the quality was well worth the extra cost. What a difference between the way they handle things and the way our previous tour was managed, with…

UNITED CANCELLED OUR FLIGHT: STRATEGIES IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN?

Q – We were scheduled to fly out of Jacksonville to connect to a flight to Europe on United’s partner, Lufthansa. There was one United employee working the desk at the airport when our flight out was cancelled and she could do little to help us with our missed connections. After hours of work and…

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BARCELONA DINING?

Q – We will be leaving in two weeks for Barcelona, where we intend to spend three days before joining a cruise. We really appreciate great  food and were wondering if you have any tips? A – You will be visiting one of the world’s most vital and important restaurant cities. Barcelona’s culinary influences have not…

ARE AMERICANS GOING TO EUROPE THIS SUMMER?

Q – We are based in Wales and very much enjoy the information and the insights. Quite frankly, we learn a lot about Americans going over the Q and A. That leads to a query regarding travel to Europe this summer. We are wondering what trends are being noted in terms of cruises and tours….

WHY MUCH OF AFRICA IS ENTRALLED WITH T.B. JOSHUA

How could it be that one of the best known personalities on the African Continent is virtually unknown in the United States? Meet T.B. Joshua who holds tens of millions of his followers and believers in his pocket. Joshua is a Nigerian televangelist who is highly respected by many of Africa’s leaders and worshipped by…

DO BOUTIQUE LUXURY HOTELS EXIST IN ATHENS?

Q – We are going to be staying in Athens prior to an upcoming cruise of the Greek islands and Turkey. Having been to Athens before, we understand that there are surprisingly  few boutique hotel options. The King George and the Grand Bretagne have great locations on Syntagma Square, but we prefer something on a…

CAN YOU ENCOURAGE A RETIREE TO BECOME A TRAVEL AGENT?

Q – I am a recently retired consulting engineer in the field of water collection methodologies. We have done some traveling and would like to do more. I think I would be the perfect part-time employee. I’d really appreciate a quick overview of the industry in terms of the issue of survival. I’d want to…

ARE MY AA ADVANTAGE MILES SAFE IN MY ACCOUNT?

Q – We’ve been following your responses to questions about American Airlines bankruptcy carefully. Just wondering if anything has changed or if you remain confident we face no danger in letting our miles grow in the account. We’re approaching 500,000 miles. Please try to do less cruise reporting and more on the airlines. We all…

CAN WE TIE THE KNOT AND AVOID THE CARIBBEAN?

Q – We are frequent visitors to your site. In fact, we decided to get married and ask you about our honeymoon four days ago. Here is our dilemma. We are planning a June 2013 wedding date and we’d love to be legally married aboard a nice cruise ship. But we just don’t want to…

CAN Y0U BUY CRYSTAL FOR $2305?

Q – We have friends in Portland who claim to have booked a Crystal Cruise for $2305 per person. They’ve been bragging about the great deal they got but we wonder if this is really the rate. I don’t know exactly where they are going but I think they are traveling in April or May….

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THE ALTERNATIVE TO BORING, BIG BUS CRUISE SHORE EXCURSIONS IN EUROPE?

You should know about a new company called “A TASTE OF LIFE”. Just imagine – private shore excursions and pre and post cruise stays in leading cities in Europe that promise: No museums, cathedrals, historic monuments or dry historical narration If you have done the history tours and would like unique experiences focusing on the…

WILL MIAMI START TO SMELL LIKE AN ASHTRAY?

Q – My wife and I like to gamble and we go on upscale gambling vacations twice a year. We’ve heard that there is something coming to Miami to be built by the Chinese that will be the largest casino in the States. Is there any truth to this?  As a suggestion, your coverage of…

WHAT HAPPENED TO CRUISES OUT OF MEXICO?

Q – My husband and I and our two children were looking forward to booking a cruise to the Mexican Riviera this year. But when we spoke to our agent, she told us that there just aren’t any cruises that would suit our needs and she suggested we look, instead, at the Western Caribbean. What…

WHY THE EUROPEANS NEED TO HIDE THEIR CONTRACEPTIVES

The economic future of Europe is tied to issues of current debt fueled by sharply declining birth rates. More people usually means more workers, more purchasers, and higher levels of GDP. But not one European country has current fertility rate that would enable it to maintain its current population into the foreseeable future. The pending…

ARE WE SAFE UP THERE?

Q – I am desperate to take my wife to see relatives in County Clare, Ireland next summer. But she is absolutely afraid to fly. Any facts you might provide to help me convince her it is safe would be much appreciated. A – We’re not sure she will care much about our “facts” but…

HOW MANY MORE CRUISE BERTHS ARE BEING BUILT?

Q – I am just wondering about the state of the US Cruise industry. With the economy, and all, are new ships going to be launched in the next several years or are they holding off? A – Cruise brands based in North America have firm contracts to launch 10 new cruise ships between now…

CAN WE ACTUALLY WALTZ IN THE NEW YEAR?

Q – A quick question about a lifelong dream. I have always wanted to surprise my wife with a lavish New Year Ball celebration, where we can waltz in the New Year in Vienna. Is this even possible? I know that it will not be inexpensive. A –  Yes, you can attend any one of…

ITALY COFFEE ETIQUETTE 101

Travelers to Italy this summer need to know the basic rules of coffee etiquette. It will really help you tear into the fabric of the country. Start with standing – you’ll pay significantly less than the tourists seated at the tables. Never order a latte – only young children actually drink milk in Italy. It…

BED BUGS AT SEA: HOW SERIOUS A PROBLEM?

Q – We’re turning to traveltruth with a serious concern. We are being urged by family members to join them on a Spring Break cruise next year on Norwegian Cruises Line. But my husband and I have real concerns about bed bugs which we understand is a real problem on cruise ships. How serious a…

AND THE EUROPEAN COUNTRY WITH THE FASTEST RISE IN PROSTITUTION IS

Well, believe it or not, that country would be Switzerland. While the rest of the world has been busy fighting its wars, politicians from neutral Switzerland have been “improving” life for their citizens. This has translated to mean that certain cantons have made Prostitution legal. But that has caused traffic jams. LTC Office Supplies –…

THE INEVITABLE HARRY POTTER QUESTION

Q – I read this site all the time now and I know you are not particularly child-centered. But please help us. We’ve got eleven year-old Natalie and thirteen year-old George, Muggles one and all. They are begging us to take them to Universal for a week of Harry Potterizing. Has anyone on your staff…

ANNOUNCING TRAVELTRUTH 2.0 – FOR THOSE WHO CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH

We would like to formally welcome you to the new traveltruth.com, version 2.0. It is a privilege to have you visit with us. You will not have to spend much time on our site before realizing that there is something very, very different about our content. It is truthful and it is totally advertising-free. Hopefully,…

OUR BEST BALTIC BET

Q – I have avoided cruises for most of my adult life, not wishing to attend any party I would be unable to leave at my choosing.  In February, my wife and I accepted an invitation to join her tennis group and their spouses on what seems to have been a stereotypical cruise of the…