Q – We are thinking about taking a cruise on the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti. We are looking at an 11-Day sailing out of Papeete to the Society Islands. We are casual people, we don’t like dress up nights but we’re ready to try some quality after our last disappointing cruise on one of the…
Lots of hotel properties unknowingly compete for the “World’s Worst Hotel” title among travel mavens, but there seems to be real consensus that North Korea’s Ryugyong Hotel is the clear winner. This is somewhat amazing given that the 105 story property was never completed despite being started in 1987. It is not as if funding…
Q – My wife and I were curious if your restaurant writers saw the 20-20 on ABC TV about food and restaurant contamination (November 16th)? What did you think about it? A – Yes, we saw it. It struck us as a combo platter of light investigative reporting that really didn’t take on the corporate…
Q – My golfing partner thinks he read somewhere that you can do a safari in the Arctic. Any truth to this and how would we go about getting additional information? Is there really such any such thing? A – Well it’s a bit of a marketing ploy but you can actually see wildlife like…
Q – The family, six of us, are headed for two nights on Santorini as part of a Greek islands itinerary planned with Isram Travel in New York. Is there a particular restaurant on Santorini that you think we should go out of our way to try? Will the cruise ship hordes ruin our time…
Q – Don’t know if you folks are allowed to do this but I would love your opinion on a 33-Day Voyage on the Oceania Marina in April of 2014 from Tahiti to New York via Easter island, Peru, Ecuador, the Panama Canal, some of the Caribbean and even a day in Charleston before heading…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
To reach our editorial offices, please e-mail us at: documents@traveltruth.com. To contact one of our Cruise or Escorted Tour Specialists Tel: 800-445-7979.
The content at Traveltruth®.com is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use of this material is prohibited.
© Copyright Traveltruth®.com 2025. All rights reserved.