CAN WE VACATION AT DAVID COPPERFIELD’S PLACE?

Q – We are serious luxury level travelers and we’ve heard that the magician David Copperfield made a lot of money in Las Vegas and set up a beautiful resort in the Caribbean, getting inspiration form the beautiful Marquee he stayed in in las vegas. Your recommendations would be appreciated. We have no problem with rates…

DO YOU KNOW THIS SEAFOOD JOINT ON ARUBA?

Q – I turn everyone on to this amazing site. You guys should really link up with the big boys to get more hits. If you don’t know the site’s name you can’t find it. So you owe me. A simple question. We’re going to Aruba in two weeks and we heard there is this…

BERMUDA VACATION IN MAY

Q – We are thinking about getting away next May to Bermuda. We’ve found some rates that are almost too good to be true. Any thoughts? A – Other than pass – not really. Bermuda visitors are just often unaware of it’s location. The Visitors Bureau may not like it when we point it out,…

BEACHING IN ST. BARTS

Q – Really interesting web site. Much appreciate the specifics. So, we’re off, for the first time to St. Bart’s, a rather silly place for two Brits to go – but that’s another story. We want to find a beach or two to call our own. Where do/would you go? A – The insider’s choice…

HOW DO THE MAJOR CITIES IN EUROPE HANDLE TRAFFIC CONGESTION?

If you are renting a car it will be helpful to know the following in advance: Greece: The trick in Athens is to secure two legal license plates. Odd numbered plates are allowed on odd numbered days, even on even. This, quite theoretically, cuts traffic congestion by 50%. Italy – The rules keep getting tougher…

FOODIE UPDATE: FLORIDA TOMATOES GET GASSED

The fall and winter season will soon bring Florida’s crop of absolutely unripened tomatoes to our tables. This is another example of our collective willingness to eat chemically treated food when better alternatives exist. It is what separates us from the Italians, the French, and the Spanish as we appear to have no trouble with…

GETTING NAKED WITH CLASS

Q – I hope this question is appropriate but we are in shape and we enjoy nude beaches. It seems like most of what we read about beaches where you can go topless or even nude is licentious .We’re not into anything kinky it’s just that my husband and I can go to a beach…

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Credit Card Redoux

In case you’ve missed all our other credit card advice over the years. Here are the essentials: If you travel internationally two or more times per year, strongly consider using a credit card exclusively for overseas purchases.

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Thinking Globally; Some Thoughts About Cruise Growth

There are some key “understandings” shared by many cruise line executives about their future growth and the internalization of their passengers. Here are some observations that can help the consumer envision the world of upscale cruising projected ten to fifteen years into the future: It is a given that at least 50% of luxury cruise…

ARE WE NUTS FOR GOING TO QUEBEC?

Q – Instead of going to Paris, we’ve been there five times, we’ve chosen, much to the consternation of our very local, she lives next door, travel agent, Quebec this coming August. We’ve asked about hotels and she recommended the Chateau Frontenac. But it seems huge and huge is not something we generally like unless…

COSTA RICA GOLF HOTEL IN GUANACASTE

Q – Trying to pin down a hotel. My husband is a golfer, I love the sun. We’re headed to Guanacaste on Costa Rica’s west coast and have been looking at both the Hotel Punta Islita and the Four Seasons. Any bottom line opinions you might share? A – See if you can get golf…

ARE THERE ANY FLYING STRATEGIES FOR LONG WEEKENDS?

Q – My husband and I decided, well more I decided and I let him know, that we will, in the next 36 months, be taking long weekend vacations instead of longer trips abroad. After that, we’ll return to our travel addiction but, for now, we want to cut the travel budget a bit. For…

DOING SORRENTO AND POSITANO WITHOUT PRIVATE DRIVERS

Q – Enjoy your site but you have to know that most of your visitors can’t afford to get around by taxi or private drivers. A lot of us use public transportation and your site is not very good at telling us how to get around on the cheap. Right now, we are getting ready…

IS CRYSTAL MORE EXPENSIVE THAN ITS COMPETITORS?

Q – We are thinking of going on a Crystal Cruise to Europe in 2012. But friends tell us that they read on the internet that Crystal is more expensive then some of the smaller ships. Price won;t be the main issue in our decision, but we were wondering if Crystal is generally more expensive…

WHO SHOULD WE USE IN ANTARCTICA?

Q – Really grateful for this site and your willingness to help. We are about to plunk down a fistful of cash to see Antarctica, the trip of our dreams. We don’t necessarily care about having the largest cabin etc., but we want to see as much as possible. Our agent is saying Le Boreal…

IS SEABOURN GOING DOWNHILL?

Q – We are currently booked on a Greek Islands cruise on Seabourn this summer. We just read about the changes at the line on traveltruth and we’re concerned. Should we change our plans given that the ship is now going to be run by Carnival Cruises? We booked directly with Seabourn so they are…

VENICE HOTEL CHOICES

Q – We are making a return trip to Venice before embarking on a cruise. We have one night to spend before the cruise and we are looking at Ca’ Segredo, the Hotel Cipriani, or the Hilton Stuckey. We like our comfort and appreciate hotels that have safety procedures in place and no bed bugs….

AMERICAN OR CATHAY PACIFIC

Q – We are going to be flying to Hong Kong in May to begin a lovely trip to China. How many nights should we stay in Hong Kong and should we do it before or after the trip? Also, I went online and it looks like I can fly American or Cathay. Which one…

INTRODUCING MY WIFE – AND HER JEWELRY

Q – Don’ know if you can answer this – wondering if I can win anything for stumping you. The wifey and I are off to Monte Carlo for a nine-night First Class cruise on one of the best lines out there. She is looking forward to dressing up and showing off her jewelry. She…

BEST TIME TO DO RIVER BOAT CRUISE IN CHINA

Q – We have been following your site for the past three years and really love the way its grown. Hope this question will appear in Q&A as it must concern a fair number of people. As we enter our seventies, we think this is the time that we just have to do China. We…

WILL MY HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISE PRICE COME DOWN?

Q – My family is booked on a Holland America cruise to the Caribbean in January. We’ve sailed with them before and we have not yet made final payment. How are we notified if the price goes down? I’ve booked with some travel agents where cruise pricing was automatically adjusted. How does the system really…

PRICE OF GUIDE SERVICES IN ITALY

Q – We are pretty much convinced that guides can make or break a trip. We are planning a 20th Anniversary with a vacation taking in Florence, Assisi, Bologna and Rome. We are staving at really nice hotels with amenities provided by our travel agent but we haven’t pulled the trigger yet on guide services…

KEEPING UP ON TURKISH NEWS PRIOR TO VISIT

Q – I have one, hopefully, simple question. How are people supposed to keep up with events in a country abroad they are going to be visiting in the near future? Sure there is lots of info on the internet but it all seems uneducated or anecdotal. Travel agents don;t seem very good at describing…

WHAT AIRLINES SELDOM TELL YOU ABOUT PRICING

Q – We just saved about $400 by paying no attention to what a US Air agent told us on the phone and doing our own online research. It turns out that we were able to save considerably by departing Philly for the West coast on the early morning flight and leaving LA around dinner…

BEACHING IN ST. BARTS

Q – Really interesting web site. Much appreciate the specifics. So, we’re off, for the first time to St. Bart’s, a rather silly place for two Brits to go – but that’s another story. We want to find a beach or two to call our own. Where do/would you go? A – The insider’s choice…

TOKYO BOUND FOODIES

Q – Thanks to Japan Airlines mileage desk, and a business trip, my wife and I are headed to Tokyo for two weeks on the company. But, unfortunately, that does not extend to the six days we are on our own for a short vacation. We live in Denver where there is some good Japanese…

40 Somethings on Ibiza

Q – OK, we’re in our forties, about three decades younger then your average blogger on this site. My goodness, if they are so afraid of getting robbed, hurt, or sick, why don’t they just stay and go to Starbucks for entertainment? But we trust your advice so put on your party hats and advise,…