TRIPADVISOR: DO I WANT THEM ADVISING ME ON MY TRIP?

Q – I’ve noticed that traveltruth.com and other professional sites seem to take a dim view of TripAdvisor. I like to book my own hotels for business and pleasure but I know their reviews are often way off the mark. Does your staff use TA and, if so, how do you get the most out…

THE BEST HOTEL VALUE IN BARCELONA

Q – It isn’t that we’re cheap, but I suppose you could say we’re thrifty. We know the Meridian and the Hotel Arts are two of the best hotels in Barcelona, but we’re looking for something smaller and, if at all possible, under $350 a night. We love that we know who is giving advice…

FINALLY – THE 787 DREAMLINER ACTUALLY FLIES

The line was more than three years long but ANA, All Nippon Airways, received delivery of its first two spanking new 787’s. This is the plane that, quite frankly, is the Boeing Corporations biggest single gamble. The first  flight took off from Narita on October 26th, landing a short time later in Hong Kong. Journalists…

TOP FIVE CRUISE LINE RATINGS REALIGNMENT

The new traveltruth 2.0 ratings of the World’s Top Five Cruise lines is out and there have been some changes since the last ratings were completed in Januarfy of 2011. The World of Residensea maintains its position as the # 1 rated cruise line. But Silverseas and Crystal Cruises have increased their standings, occupying the…

CAN WE PLEASE LET OUR AIR CONTROLLERS HAVE A BIT OF SLEEP?

There were some tense moments in our nation’s capital, last March 23rd, when several approaching aircraft could not reach the tower. It turns out, as reported by USA Today, that the lone supervisor had fallen asleep. We know that it has not been unusual for one controller to work the midnight shift at many mid-size…

MARRIOTT’S MOST IMPORTANT NON US MARKET IS …..

That would be China. A recent report in Travel Weekly shows the growth potential of an “American Heartland” lodging icon in China. The numbers are rather staggering. Marriott brands, including Ritz Carlton and the upscale JW Marriott division, will open a new hotel in China every month for the next three years. And there is…

WILL ITALY BE SAFE NEXT SUMMER?

Q – We have just heard that Italy’s Prime Minister, Berlusconi, iks resigning. Italy’s debt crisis dwarfs that of Greece. We’re doing a cruise out of Rome in July on Celebrity Cruises , booked with Celebrity, and we are both extremely worried about possible riots related to the new cuts the new government will have…

WHAT IF MY TAIL ICES OVER?

Q – We are scheduled to go on a wonderful South America trip on February 2nd planned by our travel agent in Rochester (New York).  But we have real concerns about a snowstorm or ice on the wings or any number of winter problems that could ruin our departure and put us days behind. My…

A BIT OF SEX EDUCATION CROSSING THE PACIFIC

Qantas Airlines has an in-flight film channel called “The Edge”. It is interesting to note that the video-on-demand system has an option to “learn improved sex techniques”.  It turns out that the video is a French documentary entitled “The Female Orgasm Explained.”  The documentary includes excerpts from some dated porno films, complete with all of…

WELCOME NUMBER 7 BILLION

It happened, or at least we think it did, on October 31st. The 7 billionth one of us was born. On the one hand we might manage. There seems to be lots of space and the birth rate has nearly been reduced to half of what it was in 1970. Farm production has seen enormous…

WHERE CAN WE FIND JIMMY BUFFET’S CARIBBEAN?

Q – We’ve beent here and done that, from Sandals to Sandy Lane. and my lady and I have decided that we’re done with big hotels, cruisers, and packaged tourists. Now, we’re looking for a few secret spots, just a few cottages on a beach where Jimmy Buffet might be lounging in the hammock. We’re big…

THE NY TIMES ON THE BEST PLACE TO VISIT IN 2011

The New York Times has selected its list of the 41 Places real travelers ought to consider visiting this year. Heading the List, at # 1, is a city that has survived an 8.8 magnitude earthquake less than fourteen months ago. By all reckoning this city should not even be standing. But Santiago, Chile has…

DO WE USE CRUISE LINE’S AIR PROGRAM?

Q –  We are set to take our second cruise sailing out of Venice next summer. This is a “Free Air” sailing, one of the reasons we picked it. We will be flying out of Miami and we are worried about the air route Holland America might give us. Our agent feels the fact that…

DO I NEED TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO SLEEP IN ROME?

Q – We just discovered this site and we can’t stop reading. But it is clearly built around the needs of the 1% who demand five-star accommodations. We are returning to Rome for the second time and we stayed at the Hassler on our first trip. Our room nightly bill could have bought us a…

MAY I HAVE SOME DOLMADES WITH MY TEAR GAS?

To date, no major cruise lines have canceled Athens embarkations.  We anticipate some hotel location changes designed to keep cruise guests away from the central square where major demonstrations are taking place. This situation is currently rather fluid and we recommend that all Athens bound guests review arrangements with their consultant two weeks prior to…

ON OUR OWN WITH THE KIDS IN ST. PETERSBURG

Q – Our family of four will be visiting St. Petersburg on a cruise operated by Celebrity. We hear it is one of the very top lines. Hope you agree. We will be bringing our 12 and 14 year old girls and wonder if there is a really good restaurant they might enjoy as we…

DOES SIZE REALLY MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO AIRLINE SAFETY

Q – Love the site, and forgive you your occasional spelling errors .I wonder if you can answer a question I’ve never seen addressed by travel folks. Are some aircraft safer than others? Are 747’s more dangerous, for example, then smaller. more maneuverable planes? Aren’t larger planes, like the 747, more likely to head into…

VEGAS ODDS AND ONLINE CASINO

Q – We have just started going to Las Vegas two or three times a year for a little gambling and some great food, that is why recommend you the Hakkasan is a favorite in Las Vegas is the hot nightclub at MGM Grand and it’s enormous! But since nowadays it’s impossible to go, so…

GOING TO EGYPT AND I’VE BEEN TO ISRAEL – OOPS

Q – We love the lack of garbage on this web site. Congratulations. It is so nice not to have to get past ads to get a questions answered. We’re headed to Egypt and then, possibly Syria, if things cool down. We’ve been to Israel twice. But my job requires a good deal of international…

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.