SHOCKED BY TREATMENT BY RIVER BOAT OPERATORS

Q – My husband and I were planning our first cruise on a Danube River Boat Cruise. We’ve read so many wonderful things about these cruises on this site and others. We didn’t use a travel agent and tried booking the cruise ourselves with Tauck, Viking River, and Grand Circle. I am rather shocked to…

The Three Biggest Cruise Myths and Legends

WHY IT “AIN’T NECESSARILY SO” Now that almost 10% of the adult population has taken a cruise, more and more “experts” seem to be popping up in online in chat rooms,  in your local community, and on the telephone as part-time practitioners of the travel craft attempt to show off their knowledge of cruising. Some…

A LETTER FROM BHUTAN

We thought you might enjoy this summary of an experience one of our guests forwarded recently. It captures a visit to this fascinating land in very few words.     EXAMINING CHANGE IN BHUTAN  When my children were little I used to tease them and say, “Don’t grow. Please don’t grow- I want you to…

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT AMERICAN AIRLINES?

American Airlines passengers can tell you that the airline is flying through some unusually strong turbulence. On September 4th, a federal judge ruled that American’s management could, under the rules of Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings, tear up the contract the airline had signed with its pilots. They were also allowed to make some serious benefits…

CRUISE CREW SALARIES EXPOSED

Q – We’ve just returned from a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas and some friends we had dinner with told us that they had gotten friendly with their cabin attendant who told them that crew is paid next to nothing and really survives on tips. In this day and age and with minimum…

COSTA CONCORDIA WINS AWARD

The oldest continuously publishing Maritime Journal, Lloyd’s List, has given its annual “Seafarer of the Year” Award to the crew of the Costa Concordia which partially sank off the coast of the small island of Giglio on January 13th this year. In an unusual move, the award was given to the Concordia’s entire crew in…

SUNDAY: IS IT THE BEST DAY TO BOOK FLIGHTS?

Q – Having just retired from Duke Power after twenty years, my wife and I are ready to do some traveling. We’ll do some overseas cruises but we really want to travel within the US at least four or five times annually. I’ve heard that I should go online on Sunday evening to get the…

POSITANO SECONDS

Q – We have a problem that is, admittedly, in light of real world problems, insignificant. So we thought we would turn to your editors. We have a full day in Positano while visiting Sorrento off a Holland America ship. We’ve been there before and walked the streets of Positano which we loved. We wish…

THE BEST FAST FOOD HAMBURGER WINNER

The Battle of the Burger giants has just ended and the overall winner, based on nationwide polling by the Market Force Information Group, is Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Fuddruckerse came in second, followed  by, surprisingly A&W, and Smashburger. The results were based on food quality, service, taste, value, and cleanliness. Five Guys swept every…

HOW DO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF REGENT CRUISE LINES FREE BUSINESS AIR OFFER?

Q – Read about your site in one of the travel magazines and would like to know a bit about the “Free Business Airfare Offer” they have at Regent Cruises. We are looking at a cruise in South America on the Seven Seas Mariner next December 8th that starts in Rio  de Janeiro and ends…

CHINA NEXT YEAR: WHEN SHOULD WE GO?

Q – We are thinking about doing China next year, using one of the better tour companies like Trafalgar, Abercrombie and Kent, or the Tauck Tours. We are wondering which of these you would recommend for the best overall experience? We would also like to know exactly when we should do this trip for optimum…

GOING TO THE MIDDLE EAST IN MARCH, WHAT TO DO?

Q – Love this site. Like sitting down with our doctor or attorney – but for free. This March we’re headed on a voyage that will include several ports in the Middle East including Egypt. We booked through the cruise line for the savings but we’re not getting any updates on the itinerary changes that might occur…

DO WE REALLY NEED TO DO THE WORK OF OUR TRAVEL AGENT?

Q – We’ve been going on three major trips a year for the past five years, using a travel agent with whom we feel we have a good relationship. But she is always telling us that we should reconfirm our reservations at hotels even though she has made the bookings. We’re rather tech savvy so…

BEST SINGLE WAY TO CUT AIR COSTS DOMESTICALLY

Q – My husband and I love reading about luxurious travel options on your site. But with two pre-teens, our primary goal at the moment is planning three and four day vacations within the United States. Other than using low-cost airlines like JetBlue and Southwest, is there one single strategy that you could recommend to…

HOW DO WE BOOK THE NEW DREAMLINER FOR A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT?

Q –  How do we actually book a flight on the new Boeing Dreamliner? We hear such great things about the plane but I don’t see any ads for it and I don’t know how to go about getting on board this year or, if necessary, next year. It is likely we would want to fly her…

A POSTCARD FROM RELIGIOUS RIO

Rio de Janeiro has a reputation for explosive nightlife and a hedonistic attitude toward life. But the real trend in Rio is a sharp decrease int he Catholic population and a major growth spurt in the number of evangelical Christians. Catholics now make up just 65% of the population and evangelicals and Pentecostals are now…

BOTTOM LINE: SHOULD MY DAUGHTER DO THIS TRIP?

Q – My daughter, my only daughter, has come to me asking permission to join two girlfriends on a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean next Spring. There may be an older sister on board who is twenty-two if the line requires it. Her girlfriend’s parents have given their consent, feeling that a cruise ship is as…

ANNOUNCING OUR 2013 SIGNATURE CRUISE FROM ICELAND TO THE COASTAL VILLAGES OF NORWAY

SPECIAL PREVIEW ANNOUNCEMENT: We are very pleased to announce our annual Signature trip, June 12-24, 2013 from Reykjavik to Copenhagen aboard the five-star rated, all-suite, all-inclusive, Regent Seven Seas Voyager. This cruise will be personally escorted by Angela and Richard Turen. There is no better way to cool off this summer than “Chilling with the…

THE LATEST EUROPEAN RIVER BOAT RATINGS

You’ve seen the ads, you’ve heard the buzz, and now neighbors are returning from Europe’s growing number of river boat cruise options. So does all of the hype match the quality of the experience. Since we know boats are really popular and there are even celebrations around this such as the Newport Beach Christmas Boat…

WINTER IN THE FURIOUS FIFTIES; POSSIBLE? RECOMMENDED?

Q – We are writing about our desire to do something really different next year, exploring the sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand, the Antipodes. We know the seas are rough but we wonder if there is anything in these waters we might consider?  We’re thinking of, perhaps, seeing Campbell Island and the Bounty Islands, perhaps…

A POSTCARD FROM LONDON; INSIDER ADVICE

We are pleased to take you inside one of London’s top-rated small hotels. The Stafford Kempinski, and the Concierge Desk where you will find Frank Laino. Mr. Laino is one of the most respected Head Concierge’s in Europe. Here are his personal recommendations in London for the busy month of September: Buckingham Palace State Rooms…

WHICH FISH ON TODAY’S MENU ARE REALLY SAFE TO EAT?

Fresh fish has been our culinary safe haven. It is what we eat when we are feeling guilty about the food we actually enjoy eating. After all, fish are not shot up with hormones and quack science. What could be better than fresh fish from the sea? Unfortunately, the National Academy of Sciences doesn;t quite…

CRYSTAL OR SILVERSEAS: IS THERE REALLY A DIFFERENCE?

Q – My wife and I are looking to take a Baltic Cruise next year. Given the current offers, we’d prefer booking now rather than wait. But we are rather new to cruising and not really sure about the differences between Crystal and Silverseas. Any light you might shed on the differences? We understand they…

WHO REALLY HAS THE LARGEST SUITES AT SEA?

Q – The stuff on the internet is really confusing. I am trying to find out which cruise line has the largest cabins, or should I say suites? My wife and I like lots of space and there is a possibility that we will bring our family of six along with us. I’ve looked at…

WHY YOU WANT TO LEAVE PARIS SOON AFTER ARRIVAL

Q – My seventeen year-old daughter, her best friend, and I are off  to Paris in six weeks for a shopping splurge the likes of which Westport, Connecticut has never seen. Wondering if you could give us your best tip to really take advantage of  the best designs at the best prices. We’ll have ten days…

THE CANADIANS WIN – AND WE DON’T MEAN THE OLYMPICS

It has finally happened. Those folks up north, the ones  up in the attic who make so little noise compared to our neighbors down in the basement, have finally, quietly, passed us by. The net worth of the average Canadian household was $363,202 in 2011 compared to $319,970 in the United States. This means that we…

INSTEAD OF SPAIN – CONSIDER MAINE

There are always a million reasons to consider a trip to the coastal towns of Maine. There are numerous country inns filled with charm, small villages with nary a tourist, great Atlantic Ocean views and the best ice auger, and easy connectivity to the glories of New England and the eastern Canadian Provinces. But this year,…

NEW CREDIT CARD USE FEES FOR TRAVEL SERVICES?

The good folks at Visa, Mastercard, and, of course, Amex may be able to enrich their coffers by penalizing their own cardholders for actually using the cards. This could have a major effect on the nation’s second largest industry, travel, since an estimated 92% of all transactions occur by credit card. How did this likely…

THE GREEKS DON’T GET ENOUGH CREDIT

It is time to stop beating up on the Greeks and the management of their faltering economy and unwillingness to maintain even minimal levels of competent property and tax records. It turns out that the Greeks do one thing extremely well. They make yogurt the old-fashioned way, more firm and filling than its skinnier American…