The rest of Q&A

Q –  (8.11.25) – My husband and I are recently retired. We have been fortunate enough to travel quite well in our former positions, but we never spent much time in Asia.. We plan to undertake up to three separate trips to Asia within the next 36 months. We will contact you regarding specifics, but we were wondering of you would mind, on this excellent Q&A format, to give us an overview of travel within Asia? Is it up or down – where are Americans going – any trends? 

A – The trends in Asia have been quite interesting. There has been a great deal of discussion about the Canadians boycotting travel to the United States. Rarely mentioned is the fact that the Chinese are as well. Inbound tourism from China is down significantly. The industry data shows that travel to Asia from the US is up between 15-20% year-to-year.  The countries that are responsible for most of this growth are Japan and Thailand. 

The influence of the TV Series White Lotus is thought to account for a great deal of the interest and follow-through in tourism to Thailand. There are no real signs of this interest slowing down. 

Travel to China is down, as it has been for the past four years. Some analysts attribute this to a  lack of adequate non-stop flights from the US Mainland to China’s primary destinations.  While Thailand is enjoying the benefits of Mike White induced tourism numbers, Japan is now leveling off as a result of over-tourism and consistently rising prices. Japan is a bit of an enigma – as the yen is still weak against the dollar. But trade tariffs and demand have resulted in higher prices negating much of the benefit of as dollar that buys more yen. 

We are seeing enhanced interest in cruises that circle Japan. It is a wonderful way to see the country and the “TrueLux” lines are, even in the best accommodations, far less expensive than the cost of hotels and meals on an independent basis. Many affluent travelers from the US are rethinking the cruising option given what are perceived as skyrocketing costs for hotels, meals, and private guides who speak fluent English. 

 

 

Q – We are looking for good options for the future – retirement is not far away and we want to plan way ahead so we can start getting ready and anticipating each journey. These are some of the places we are considering for two or three weeks per trip: 

Antarctica 

Greenland

Australia

India

How far in advance do we need to plan to get the good spots?   What time of year is best for different places? Looking for multiple options for the next several years.

Thanks so much – as always. 

A – Let us offer a few comments on your priority destinations:

Antarctica 

Season is November through January. You will want to do a cruise on Silversea or aboard the Scenic Eclipse.  Figure 90% of sightseeing requires sailing in Zodiacs. This is not terribly taxing and the crew is careful with helping guests on and off, but Zodiac travel is uncomfortable for some. Given the physical requirements – this should be at the top of your list when you are in the best shape.

Greenland

Greenland is too limiting on its own but is a fascinating destination. The best way to see it is in combination with Iceland on an Exploration cruise of about two weeks. Iceland, along with Japan, are the two hottest destinations right now for upscale travel so availability is an issue. I wonder if seeing Antarctica and then going and spending the money again to see Greenland would not be repetitious. I think Antarctica would meet your needs in terms of Penguins, Ice flows, and a rugged ice-borne habitat.

If you  have always wanted to go there we can find an excellent cruise (likely Silversea) with an excellent itinerary. But I do wonder if too much “ice age” travel might seem like overkill.

Australia

Everyone loves this part of the world – but everyone says the same thing. “Australia was terrific but New Zealand was even better”. There will be a temptation to cruise. But I really think you would love staying at some of the gorgeous top-tier lodges in New Zealand. If you can spare three weeks – something like a 12-14 Night cruise followed by two lodges in New Zealand would be the perfect trip. If the cruise was out of Auckland, you could do the lodges first and then board the ship. Private arrangements here are worth what they cost – you will never forget it. I have done this for a large number of clients – happy to send you the best itinerary to look over.

The other option is to do an all-land program. There are several excellent ones and our guests for decades have loved the Tauck 21-Day Australia/New Zealand Program. It is unique because it gives you 50% of your time in New Zealand -highly unusual. On this trip there can be five internal flights – that gives you an idea of the length and breadth of the areas you would be covering.

But here’s the thing – This is about the easiest travel on your list. So, in theory, it makes the most sense to delay it a while to get some of the more active programs out of the way. And they speak a form of English! No worries about the flights – the airlines that serve this part of the world handle Business Class extremely well.

India

Peak travel season is October through March. December/January would be the best months. BUT – I am very cautious about recommending travel to India unless it is a lifelong dream. Right now, eight of the ten most heavily polluted cities on earth are located within India. The air you breathe will impact your travels – as will the smells and the constant reminders of poverty. You would need to clear this travel with your doctor and I would be worrying about you both the entire time you are there.

India is an assault on the senses and fascinating on many levels. It now houses the world’s largest population and India will soon have the world’s largest outbound tourist industry. It is likely that one or both of you will get sick from the air and/or the food. Let’s just make sure it is worth it.

One of the very best way to see India is with Micato. They are absolutely deluxe and they would take wonderful care of you. 

Do be aware that there are some fascinating First Class Train experiences in India.

Allow me to share some personal bias: These will be some of life’s greatest memories – your retirement travels free of so many other pressures and time constraints. I would urge you to consider an important question that is never discussed in travel circles:

How would I feel if, for whatever reason, during my travels to this place I had to be hospitalized and in the hands of local doctors/surgeons?  Most travelers planning post retirement travel never ask this question.

Other places you recommend

• We like a few days in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or Qatar followed by a non-stop flight and a week or more at a pristine resort in the Maldives.

• Chartering a true luxury Barge along a French Waterway. Would require four couples sharing cost – but an incredible dining and visual experience.

• Ireland in Depth in April/May/September staying at some of the five-star country hotels. Ireland is now almost totally organic – the food is shockingly wonderful and the people colorful. Our Signature Trip there was one of our client’s all-time favorites. No need to join a group but they do, of course, exist.

•  Private Italy – Again, late April/May/ and particularly the first half of October. Our offices in Italy can create magic and one never tires of going there. I am not thinking of Venice – I am thinking of areas somewhat outside the tourist throngs like Perugia or Sicily.

OR

Think about joining us on one of our Signature Journeys. I can guarantee some wonderful fellow travelers. In October 2027 we will shortly be announcing a “Leaves & Lobsters” sailing on Regent from Boston up the coast to Canada with a few days at the end in Montreal.

In October 2026 we are cruising the coast of Italy aboard the fully chartered Ponant French Yacht with arrangements by Abercrombie & Kent.

Hope this helps a bit. Always happy to chat. Based on your list, we would look at Antarctica and India ahead of other easier journeys.

 

 

 

Q – This is an unusual way to apply for a job but I just retired from the US Government, no I was not fired, where I specialized in overseas logistical planning. It has always seemed to me that selling travel might come naturally as I have been fortunate enough to live in Singapore, Dubai, and Mexico. I have traveled on business extensively in Europe. I made a good living and I think I am realistic about what travel agent salaries might be.

I don’t know a great deal about your company but everyone is looking for great sales people and I think I am that. I love the content on your sites and I have learned a lot by reading your massive catalog of information. I have a resume and all sorts of awards that can back that up. Eventually, I would like to be a tour escort leading my own tours to places I’ve never been.

Love to know if you are interested or if you might point me in the right direction. I am 64 and I live in the Pittsburgh suburbs. Trust me – I am a born salesman. I would, I suppose, have to be home-based.

A – We receive a number of similar notes and we want to respond a specifically as possible. Here are some things we sincerely hope will be helpful:

We do not employ travel agents or salespeople of any kind. We do not believe that some of the most important moments of a persons life should ever be “sold”. So we have no openings for a travel agent.

The positions we have available are for Research and Concierge Team members who help make certain that every journey we plan is executed in the best possible way. That is a part-time position, three or four days a week, and requires extensive luxury travel experience and strong editing computer skills. Any new person who joins our team will work directly with guests and also assist our owners with the growth and management of Traveltruth Media Group. 

In terms of your specific needs we would suggest the following:

• Find one of the top-ranked travel agencies in the Pittsburgh area (there are several) Make an appointment with the owner.
• Offer to work as a trainee since you have no experience in the industry. Ask for a six-month trial without compensation or benefits. 
• Once successfully completed, become an outside salesperson for the top-tier agency where you will be paid commission for everything you sell. Expect to keep 60-100% of the entire commission.
• Define specific financial goals that must be met before management allows you to launch your own sub-division travel club where an annual or twice annual trip that you host will be the focus of your attention.

This path has led to success for others and we hope it brings you the level of success you are seeking.

Q – We are planning either an October cruise to England an d Ireland on Celebrity or a trip next May/June. Our cruise will be less than 10 days but we want to add a week or so at the beginning and the end so this trip will be in the range of three weeks plus. We stopped watching the news a few weeks ago and, like many travelers we talk to, no one has a really clear answer to the question how far will the dollar go this year versus next? May I ask what you are advising your clients regarding costs in Europe for the near term and into next summer?

A – We’re sure that you understand that anything we say that is specific will change in the next hour or so. But you were kind enough to reach out so let us try to offer some generalizations we feel comfortable making:

Let’s start with some good news: We think you may stumble onto some favorably-priced airline tickets to London or Dublin. International travel is down for non-luxury travelers, or those for whom cost is a significant issue.

But that is overshadowed by the fact that the dollar has declined for the first half of this year against peer currencies at the steepest rate in more than 50 years. To be specific, the Dollar Index, which tracks the dollar against a handful of major currencies, has turned in the worst performance for American travelers overseas since 1973. 

Today, a single British Pound now costs (as of today) $1.17 to purchase versus $1.08 only one year ago. No one knows where the dollar will be next year as our nation’s Tariff policy will be a major influence on future rates. 

It is difficult to give you specific advice – for which we apologize. But let us end this way – if the cost of your vacation is really important we would travel in October this year as cruise costs will be going up for certain given demand. But we would suggest that whatever travel arrangements you are making in advance be paid for before you leave in dollars so the amount of dollars you have to exchange at lousy current rates is minimized. Independent travelers who need to cash large amounts of US Dollars when they arrive abroad will take the biggest financial hits in the months to come. Consider a pre-paid tour (in USD) instead of winging it when you get there.

Finally, let’s take a broad look at the American Traveler and the state of overseas travel plans: The tourism market research firm, Future Partners, found that about 47% of all Americans who will take a vacation in the next year will travel abroad. BUT 35% said uncertainty about US policy decisions has already caused them to either cancel or reconsider those plans. 

But there is scant evidence that so-called “Affluent Travelers” have any intention to cancel or postpone overseas travel plans despite projected higher costs.

 

Q – (7.21.25) – Am I imagining it or are online scammers, like the ones who have created fake online hotel booking sites now training their efforts on airline ticketing? I just don’t know where to search for air schedules and fares anymore. You think you are dealing with an actual airline or a certified air travel agent – but often the phone numbers don’t match. Is this my paranoia or is this a “thing”.

A – You are actually understating what is happening. There are now several thousand online airline booking sites that are run by overseas professional scammers posing as as actual airlines or air-issuing travel agencies.

Often they book real flights but add on hefty fees that are falsely said to come from the airline -but are just tagged on. The primary goals of these companies is to receive and sell your credit card information. Flights booked by these online companies are often cancelled by the airline without the passengers knowledge.

They are often adept at changing the contact information in Google’s “Knowledge Panel” which is that nice box that appears on the right side of the page during a Google search.

This is a real and growing problem.  So here are some first steps to avoiding the fraud:

01 – Always verify that you are using the actual phone number of the airline. Remember that online listings and ads mean nothing. Many of them are fraudulent. There are hundreds of companies selling phony web sites to anxious buyers.

02 – Always use the URL address box at the top of the search engine. If you see words that are different than the airline’s name – walk away quickly. Check with Google to see if the site has any negative comments.

03 – Always pay by credit card – never by bank draft etc. That affords you a much higher level of protection.

04 – Always work with the airline reservations number directly. They sell what is in their computer system. No one can sell you a ticket that isn’t in their system. The staff in airline res centers is often outsourced. In many cases they are travel agents under contract to the airline. Always verify who you are speaking with before beginning any transaction. Keep a list of the best airline reservation numbers available to clients of some of the better travel agencies or copy information from one of the leading consumer travel magazines. 

Always remember that the internet is largely based on the sale of one particular commodity – your personal information. It is worth money. Always assume a 1-800 travel firm is a scam unless you are completely satisfied that it is not. 

 

 

Q – (6.24.25) – What are the advantages, if any, of booking our hotels through a travel agent? My wife and I will be setting up two driving trips in Croatia and Spain. and we’re looking for the best strategy. We like travel planning and will do most of the work ourselves but wondering what Traveltruth sees as the advantages of using one of the large online agencies or someone in the neighborhood?

A – That is actually a question that could justify a book. Here is the short answer:

You never want to book anything on an 800 number with someone claiming to be a huge online player. The site could be a fraud designed to gather your credit card and other personal information. The mega online legit bookers are always a bad idea because they never beat the rates the hotels charge directly and if you are booked by one of these firms online several hotel executives will admit to assigning their guests the worst rooms. The idea behind that is that online bookers are price searching and are not likely return guests. They likely are looking for the least expensive type of accommodation and it is doubtful they will spend much in the hotel on drinks and meals when compared to loyal past guests or those guests personally referred by a high-producing travel advisor.

Try to find an advisor who is a top-producing member of one of the better travel agency consortiums. They may not be able to get you a better rate than the hotel is offering to direct calls BUT:

01 – They can get you a comp upgrade

02 – They can get you a free breakfast

03 – They can personally introduce you to hotel management so they know you are coming.

You have not indicated your budget so we won’t make any assumptions. Let’s assume that you are really seeking out 3 or, perhaps, 4-star properties that are under 500 Euros per night. In that case, we would suggest that you carefully review the ad-free, professionally written hotel inspection reports and then contact the hotel directly when you are ready to book. But please be careful – a majority, a vast majority, of the online hotel booking sites are not affiliated with the hotel and are, therefore, not worthy of your trust or your credit card information. 

Q – (6.23.25) – You had something wild a few months back regarding never ordering coffee on any flight anywhere in any class of service. Does this still hold, and are there other things one should never order while flying a respectable, commercial aircraft (I fly four times a week on average)? Your site is wonderful except that I now know more than my TA and it can get somewhat embarrassing.

A – In general our advice holds. Coffee and tea are made using water from the aircraft’s bacteria-laden water storage tank. Virtually all airlines handle hot drinks this way as it saves them tens of millions of dollars per year.

We won’t get into alcohol consumption except to say that there is clear evidence that in the thin atmosphere aloft, alcohol has a more immediate and decisive effect. There are a few other “nevers” on our list. Here is the current short list of “nevers” when flying. Abd look carefully – see if you ever spot anyone from the flight crew actually drinking the tainted coffee or tea.

1. Never drink Hot Tea or Coffee 
2. Never drink water poured from a pitcher
3. Never drink anything aboard an aircraft in a glass filled with ice (it is not purified ice – it is also made from tank water)
4. Never drink Bloody Mark Mix on an aircraft (one of the highest sodium levels you can imagine at a level that could affect your well being at 33,000 feet)
5. Never consume food on long flights that can cause serious bloating and after effects such as broccoli or beans. If your seatmate on a flight to Singapore has brought a large bag of tacos aboard it might be wise to change your seat. 

Q – (5.20.25)  A bit of a challenge for your researchers: My wife of forty-two years loves great seafood. We will be on a tour of Australia through Scenic and I am wondering if there is one seafood gourmet dining experience that might provide a memorable experience for her?  I really want to knock her out! I suppose you might say we’re foodies but she has no idea I am planning this. Is there one best option?

A – We think there is but start working on your reservation right away. You want to try for Saint Peter, a new restaurant by, perhaps, the most famous chef in Sydney, Josh Niland. His “Saint Peter at the Grand National Hotel” is seen as an ultra-creative “scale to tail” fish concept. For an incomparable night, try to book a room in the adjoining 14-room luxury 14-room boutique hotel. The rooms continue the theme with fish-fat soap and ceramics made from fish bones.

You will want to order the 10-course Chef’s Table experience. If you can’t get in for dinner know that they are open for lunch. You can’t taste the best of Aussie cuisine at the moment until you’ve dined with dishes overseen by Chef Niland. 

Australians don’t pay all that much attention to stars from a tire manufacturer in France. Instead, they rely on their own system, the Three-Hat ratings. Of course, Saint Peter comes complete with a rare “3 Hat” ranking.

 

Q – I travel a lot and, if I’m being honest, I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about getting a deal or an upgrade and my secretary is far too shy to ask hotels for special treatment. But my wife and I have some trips upcoming and I wonder if you might reveal the two or three best ways to get an upgrade. I am sure that some of your legion of followers would appreciate your response, even if the hotels might not.

A – There are 11,237 posts online that address this question. Some have bits of truth while others are patently false. Here are the five secrets the real pros who work in the hotel sector rarely discuss:

Rule # 1 – Never book your room through an 800 call center online. Always book directly with the hotel making sure you are not engaging with a ghost site. The lousiest rooms are often set aside for deal seekers who booked online. The hotels figure they will never return.

Rule # 2 – The best rates are going to come from members of the top-level travel agent groups producing many billions of dollars annually for the top hotel chains. The room rate may match what the hotel will offer you directly but you will now be eligible for complimentary perks like free upgrades (really) and full breakfast included. 

Rule # 3 – If you are not booking in advance try to arrive at the property between 4:00 and 6:00 OM. That is when rates are often reduced. 

Rule # 4 – Give the front desk a real reason for upgrading you. It might be your birthday, your anniversary, or perhaps, “I’ve always dreamed of spending the night at your hotel”. 

Rule # 5 – Be extraordinarily nice to the front desk staff. Simple – but it works because “nice” is often not what they encounter as a rule.

One Additional Rule: If all else fails, request a corner room. It will likely be larger with windows on two sides – it will seem like an upgrade and, as it is at the end of the hall, you will not have to worry about loud guests on one side of the room. 

Q – (5.16.25) – There is this bucket list idea that originated with my lovely wife that we need to cruise through the Panama Canal. I am a Construction Engineer by trade and I have read a bit about the construction phase and I am also intrigued. We were directed to your website because you only evaluate and list sailings for the world’s top ten lines. We want to do a Canal cruise in February but all we could find was a ship operated by StarPride Cruises. We have never heard of them and they are not on your list. Meanwhile, I could not find a single alternative. What is going on here? Is your site just wrong?

A – You have actually uncovered a rather remarkable trend among cruisers. Panama Canal cruises were extremely popular at one time, providing ports on either side of the journey in Mexico and the Caribbean. But a regular series of high-end ships doing a “season” of Canal cruising really boils down to one current option – Windstar Cruises and their ship the the Star Pride. It carries fewer than 400 guests and cruises between Costa Rice and Panama. 

Here are some key ports:

• Colon, Panama – The starting point for many itineraries.
• Panama Canal – A full daylight transit through the canal.
• Balboa, Panama – A gateway to Panama City.
• Isla Parida, Panama – A secluded island with pristine beaches.
• Golfo Dulce (Puerto Jimenez), Costa Rica – A biodiverse rainforest region.
• Quepos, Costa Rica – Near Manuel Antonio National Park.
• Puntarenas, Costa Rica – The final stop for some itineraries.

The Windstar Product is not among the Top Ten-ranked cruise lines, but they are in the top fifteen. Their itineraries and food, including outdoor dining, get high marks. The ship itself was formerly owned by Seabourn Cruises where it sailed the world. 

These days, the top-ranked cruise lines (www.cruisetruth.com) only sail through the Canal on repositioning cruises between the US and Europe. These twice-a-year sailings normally take place in April and October to allow for the resumption of summer and winter sailing schedules. 

The major cruise lines believe that demand for Canal cruises has dropped substantially during the past decade. Executives believe that this is more a comment on the ports surrounding this itinerary than it is about the Canal itself. 

We would recommend the Windstar cruise or – you could just wait until the Panama Canal becomes “The American Canal” and see what new itineraries emerge from the change.