The rest of Q&A

Q – We’ve been reading this blog and one particular section has really made me angry. We have been booking our own travel for almost twenty years. Yes, there have been glitches, but most of the time things worked out and we’ve had some marvelous times. But we always felt we were getting a deal by bypassing travel agents. Now that we understand how the system works, it seems that we were charged thousands of dollars for services we never received. Since two companies, tour operators, received most of our business, we are thinking we should demand some money back for all the times we traveled and were charged a price that included the travel agent’s fees for stuff we never received. We never, for instance, got any advice about insurance and we got badly burned twice. Again, we never used a travel agent. Is this a complete waste of time and how should we approach it? 

A – It could be a waste of time but it might be worth the effort. You would need to carefully document the money you spent over the years with each company. You would then show that the travel agency commission was built into all of the payments you received. You would next show the types of services an agent would have performed for their built-in fee – and point out you never received those services. You might assume an average built-in commission of 12-15% and demand a refund using specific percentages of what you paid. You can assume that everything you paid always included the commission. 

You have, in our view, been ripped off over the course of many, loyal years. We seriously doubt that any tour company or cruise line will give you back the funds you are due, but they very well may offer a response that, in some way, recognizes their appreciation for your past support. 

Q – Friends told us that you can fly home out of Ireland back to the United States without clearing customs as though you are on a domestic flight. True?

A -Not exactly. US Customs staff are in Dublin’s airport and US citizens clear US customs before ever boarding the plane home. This also allows for baggage that can be checked through to final destination.

Why isn’t this being offered in other European countries? The U.S. has offered to expand this service –  so far no takers. 

Q – First, thank you for keeping us up last evening. Love your sites and especially the “No Ads” policy. How refreshing. Kept waiting for the magical, annoying boxes to appear – but none ever did.  My husband and I are planning to visit both Australia and New Zealand for up top three weeks but we are unsure as to whether we should do a cruise ship, one of the Top Ten, or an Escorted Tour with one of the firms you recommend. Sad to say, we’ve done neither. This is a big deal for us financially but we have money saved and now we’re just trying to figure out the “how”. We live in Chapel Hill and my husband will be retiring in June after 30 years as a financial planner. Is there anyone in Chapel Hill you would recommend or is there a way to speak to you directly? Love to know your thoughts regarding our quandary. Thanks so much for your expertise, insights, and recommendations. 

A – We would be pleased to speak with you and we will forward some propaganda about our firm and services. If you would prefer working with a neighborhood travel consultant we will help you with that as well. Our feeling, based on the facts at hand, is that you should lean toward the escorted tour. The better ones that cover both countries in some depth are about three weeks long. Water-based touring in Australia and New Zealand includes a fairly high percentage of days at sea when you would essentially be seeing nothing. Given that this would be a “first” for you, we would suggest you save cruising for Europe, Alaska, South America, Antarctica, or Asia. You will love the tour itinerary, it will give you multiple night stays, and you will not feel that you have any “wasted” days at sea. Sure, we love cruising, we love reading a book in a deck chair with nowhere to go. We love not packing and unpacking at sea. But to this part of the world – on your very first experience, we would strongly recommend the land tour. 

Q – We are wondering if you would recommend some of the beach resorts along the French Riviera such as Cannes or St. Tropez or would we be better off pursuing our French dreams inland, away from the glam coast.  This will be a long-delayed honeymoon for us. She is 56 and I am 65. We have, for various reasons, never been to Europe. We think we will enjoy it all but afternoon reading, cuddling, and dining are what we are all about. Did I say “cuddling”. 

A – Tough to generalize but we think the safest approach would be to plan flying home out of Nice while beginning your trip in Paris or Provence. Depends on length of trip but you might want to end with a few days on the Riviera beachfront before departure. If you like to pick up the garbage from the beach to clean the environment we have  scrap metal pick up to make the task easier.

You will enjoy the beach, there is a great weather, people and the ambiance is marvelous, also we recommend you to take the whale watching california experience, you can’t miss it !

Here are some basic decisions you should make before consulting your consultant:

• Number of nights and number of hotel changes (For a honeymoon we think you should become familiar with the bedding and avoid frequent changes.)
• Is seeing one portion of a country going to be satisfying or will you be frustrated that you didn’t see more?
• Nights beachfront versus rural village proximity
• Can you abide by the Honeymoon Travel Rule: No more than one hotel change per week?

Q –  Greetings whoever y’all are. (May I suggest you tell us who is writing what so we know who to blame?) I have just retired from a Bourbon producing company here in Kentucky and it is time for me to show my wife a bit of the world in the fashion to which, unfortunately, she is accustomed. We love doing travel research but we would love to know which two or three hotels in the world are your favorite. I would also like to know at what point I should be engaging the services of you (hopefully) or some agent you would recommend and just what kind of expenses that might involve over, say, a ten-year period. A tip of my glass to your team. Great site. 

A – Thank you for an impossible question to answer. We love Ballyfin in Ireland, Monasterio Santa Rosa on the Amalfi Coast, and the Aman Resorts almost anywhere but particularly in the isolated mountains of Bhutan.  In Paris, our favorite is a boutique property on the Left Bank called  Esprit de St. Germain. In southern Africa, Singhita Lodges are really special and we love several of the smaller hotels in New Zealand such as the  Huka Lodge. 

Instead of just planning vacations, one at a time, we think you would really benefit from some discussions that would help you prioritize future trips and destinations. If you were to work with us we would discuss/design a Five-year Travel Plan. Once we know you and your specific needs and goals when you travel, we can help you put your plan into action. As you have already retired, it would be wise to begin talking things through as soon as you are comfortable doing so. 

Q –  We are strongly considering a cruise on the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti next November, We are extremely excited about this destination but we have friends who flew the airline and said it was extremely uncomfortable in coach. We’re willing to pay for Business Class if you think it would be worth it. The line offers free coach and then an up-charge for business. This is not an airline that is a household word so we’re kind of concerned.

A – Don’t be. Air Tahiti Nui is a household word in the islands. We recommend them but we doi think that the eight and a half-hour flight is best done in Business Class.

There is some good news. Air Tahiti is taking delivery of new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on this route. You’ll be riding in Rockwell Collins B/E Parallel Diamond seats that are 20.5 inches wide with a 60 inch pitch. They are the same brand-new seats pm the United Airlines Dreamliners. Your seat becomes a lie-flat bed six feet and six inches long (excellent). There are four new planes and these are the ones you want to book. They are designated TOA, MUA, VAA, and NUI.

The new aircraft will depart LA on Tuesday, Fridays and Sundays. Business Class will fill up quickly so get this confirmed tomorrow. Your flight will leave LA at 10:55 pm. unless there is a Leonardo di Caprio sighting in the terminal beforehand. Arrival time is 5:05 in the morning the next day so make sure you have a day room with guaranteed early arrival in Papeete.

The flight back to LA departs at one minute before midnight on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, arriving at 10:10 am. the next morning.

Your flight numbers are TN 191 and 102. Seating is three rows of two across. 

It isn’t a bad way to get to paradise. 

Q – Are all travel writers working part-time and do they always receive free trips? I read several of the travel magazines and love their stories of exotic travel. But I always wonder who is paying for their travels and how the financing works. 

A – Travel writers are often approached by public relations media to travel to a destination to write about it. Most of the features we see in print and on TV were provided to the writer on a complimentary basis. The one major publication we are aware of that does not accept complimentary travel is the New York Times. We understand that the Associated Press and USA Today also have policies that do not permit subsidized travel for writers on assignment. It is assumed that the destination will be treated fairly and in a generally positive manner. Tourist boards, cruise lines, and hotels routinely offer comp. travel to writers affiliated or freelancing for major publications. Airlines are a bit more hesitant to comp writers but it does happen. 

Much of what you read in the consumer travel press is bought and paid for by the destination or product being described, The economics of publishing are such that few publications could afford to send their writers off to the far corners of the earth. Many trips are organized specifically for travel writers and they will travel as a small group. The sponsor can then concentrate on assuring a really spectacular showing.

Travel writers do not enter the profession for the money. They do it for the lifestyle and experiences. Pay varies but is almost consistently low. A payment of $1 per word is not uncommon. It is a better hobby or second job than a neat way to make a lot of money. For examples of some of the best travel writing read anything by Paul Thoreux, Pico Iyer, or the late Anthony Bourdain.

Q – I think we are a bit obsessive when we travel. My wife and I, both college professors, one a robotics scientist the other a psychologist, start a handwritten three-ring binder in preparation for every trip we take. The obsessive part, I suppose, is that we start our binder exactly two years to the day prior to our anticipated departure. It has worked well as a system for us although it is clearly not for everyone. Your site is among our favorites as much for the “attitude” as the honesty. Our next trip is going to involve 17 days on our own. (We know you suggest guides in Japan) and we have it fairly well mapped out. We were wondering if there was one major piece of advice you might want to share that might not be in our notes. Not so much looking for places as we are for approach. Anything we should do differently traveling in Japan we might not have done in our previous travels to Nicaragua, Jordan, or Sri Lanka?

A – You know, there is something poetic we love about your approach. You sound fearless – an important characteristic of the best exploration travelers. Allow us two recommendations: As you wander, many of those you encounter will not speak English. Carry a phrase sheet with you so you can can point to what you need. Include emergency assistance. Our primary recommendation is that you schedule specific days to simply get lost. Don’t carry your phone on those days – leave it all to chance and the kindness of those you will meet along the way. If you find your way back to your lodgings in time for dinner – fine. But if you’re late that is OK as well. Go off the tourist track with the express purpose of getting lost and the most amazing things will happen. But do hide some serious cash inside your socks. Getting lost  is the secret sauce in truly memorable travels. 

Q – We are planning a long-delayed trip to see some of the Greek Islands next year. I’ve read some of what you have to say about the crowds on the more popular islands and we are quite comfortable going in the off-season as opposed to the off-off season. I guess our question is, how late in the season can we go to these islands and still find people there operating their businesses and, particularly, their restaurants. We are not cruisers and we would want at least three nights per island. Also wondering about off-season flights. Thanks so much. This is an incredibly informative site. 

A – We would suggest that you travel in mid-October with a plan to return home no later than November 1st. Flight operations in and out of Athens for the islands will be reduced on or around October 1st but some flights still operate for those locals who commute between Athens and the islands. Many shopkeepers live in Athens during the non-summer months. We have a feeling you will have a more interesting and enjoyable stay than those who visit Greece in the midst of the “season”. Do be aware that inter-island air schedules, as well as ferry schedules in Greece, are mere “suggestions”.

Q –  We have arranged our own First Class air for a cruise we are taking from Venice to Athens. In order to get the best price, I have to fly  American to London and then change planes in London Heathrow to then fly on to Venice. We have an hour and forty-five minutes for the connection which American assured me is more than enough time. But then there is the problem with my flight to Venice. It is on British Airways and I understand, from what I have researched online, that the seats in First are small and that the food on BA is nothing to write home about. I bought a coach ticket and used miles to upgrade to First within Europe. How do I assure I get a first class experience flying from London to Venice? 

A – You could try chartering your own jet. Short of that, you will be flying an Airbus 320 or 321 as your flight time is about two hours and five minutes. For short-haul intra-Europe flights, airlines have one class of about six rows of so-called First Class seats. On the airbus models, the middle seat is normally converted to a tray table and the seats are somewhat larger with additional legroom compared to coach. But it is certainly not as true First Class despite the fact that your ticket reads that way. It is, instead, a combined Business Class/First Class section. In other words, had you paid less for Business Class you would have ended up in the same section with the same seat.

As for the food – yes, largely inedible is what you should expect. We recommend buying sandwiches in the terminal. 

The rule is that before you pay for First Class seating, make certain that there is a true, “dedicated” first class section. A good agent would have pointed this out but it sounds as though you placed your trust in an outsourced  airline call center. To give you a bit more bad news, we don’t feel that anything less than two or three hours connecting time is recommended at Heathrow. In-transit passengers are required to go through a security checkpoint with frequently long lines. If your carry-on bag is cited for inspection that process can take close to an hour, depending on the number of passengers waiting and the number of security guards on duty. Heathrow is, in our view, a “Three-Hour Connection” Airport. You will likely make it but do be extra-careful in tagging your luggage in a way that clearly identifies where you will be spending your first night in Venice. Hopefully you have a pre-hotel night built into your itinerary.