The rest of Q&A

Q – We are looking to celebrate my recent retirement from Citibank with a trip that has only one major requirement: We wish to visit the world’s most beautiful beach. There is little interest in visiting the second best beach or the third. We certainly understand the subjective quality of this question but, “Is there a beach that you would recommend that might satisfy our two decade-old obsession?

A – We have our favorites but the beach of your dreams may well be Anse Source d’Argent, a lovely boulder-studded oasis on the lovely island of La Digue in the Seychelles. In terms of credibility, this beach has been named the world’s best by National Geographic in their book “The 10 Best of Everything”.

Closer to home, if you don’t mind about a hundred or so fellow visitors, you might want to check out one of our favorites, the Soggy Dollar Bar on White Bay on the small island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgins. Yacht-owners know it well.

Q – My husband and I are making our second trip to London and we are scheduled to fly a 777 on American. The model is a 300, whatever that means. We have asked for aisle seats across. Our travel agent says this is a great plane but we know that sometimes the information on this site is more accurate. My husband is a large man and 6’4“. Would you spend the extra money for the more leg room economy seats?

A – The 777 is a really comfortable ride, provided you are seated in the front of the aircraft. The 777-300ER holds 304 passengers, 220 of whom are accommodated in coach. The seat pitch is 31″ and the aisles are notoriously narrow. It is virtually impossible for a passing passenger to walk past you without knocking into your arm. The window seats on this aircraft produce a curve that can cause neck pain. The newly designed seats are narrower and less comfortable than some AA seating on other aircraft.

Given the health issues of having your knees pinned back for a protracted period of time, we would certainly recommend that you invest in “Main Cabin Extra”, which will get you additional leg room. If that is unavailable, we would say you should consider springing for Business Class. Follow this strategy when you travel until your husband ages enough so he begins shrinking.

Do consider getting g a credit card that will get you the miles you need to upgrade on your next trip.

Don’t look at Business Class in terms of seat comfort. Look at it as a kind of health insurance when you travel.

Q – Forgive me, but I just don’t get it. My wife wants to bring the grandkids, ages 8-16 on a seven-night Disney cruise. I’ve heard they do some special things but have no sense of the experience. Wouldn’t the family have just as good a time on an adult line like Princess that also offers kid’s programs?   I never bought into the mouse and the characters. It all seems so juvenile. If I see a fake pirate running around the ship I’m liable to shove him overboard.

A – But you won’t – because that would be juvenile. Then there’s the matter of “the hook”.  If the cruise is really for the grandkids, and you’re not just bringing them along to accompany you on vacation, Disney is as good as it gets.

You will do rotational dining with the  same waiter throughout. In Animator’s Palate, you draw characters that come to life onscreen. The Aqua tube is a big hit and it runs efficiently. Every cabin gets use of a cell phone/walkie talkie. You’ll always know where the grandkids are. The electronic wristbands for kids participating in the kids program works well and the staff can pinpoint the location of each child on a screen. The shows are professionally produced and truly memorable. The movies are fun and Disney puts their latest on the ships.  The only nudity will be a quick shot of Tinkerbell.

Yes, you have to buy into the concept and yes, there is lots of cross-selling of toys that kids find hard to resist. But Disney is all about families while other lines realize that too many kids will adversely affect the number of adult cruisers they will be able to attract. That is the crucial difference and the reason that we have to rate Disney as the ultimate experience for cruisers whose primary concern is the well being, the joy, and the memories, their children and grandchildren will take away from the experience. Oh, and do remember to bring a suitcase filled with Purell.

Q – We will be making our third trip to Asia, this time Thailand and Laos. I am wondering if I should let the credit card company just work out the exchange rate when they bill us or should we try to exchange at a currency outlet here or abroad? We do have a Capital One Venture Card that does not charge the foreign transaction fees. I hate being ripped off by money changers. Maybe it’s a biblical thing.

A – Generally speaking, you are going to do better by just leaving it to Visa or MasterCard to charge you in US funds based on the conversion rate in effect on the date the charges are entered on your account. Currency offices, biblical  or otherwise, charge fees and also make money on the conversion rate.

Q – My wife and I are planning to travel to India in November and are wondering whether or not to include a visit to the Pushkar Far in our itinerary?

 A – The Pushkar Fair takes place in the fall every year, with the exact dates being determined by the Hindi calendar.　 This somewhat dusty and frenzied annual five-day gathering brings  100,000 local people together, along with an onslaught of camera-toting tourists, to trade camels and other livestock.　While truly memorable, it would require adding 2 days to your travel plans, it is a tremendous experience for those seeking great photo opportunities, to see India’s holy men, and to be up-close and personal with the local culture.　 As you might imagine, the fair is also very crowded and ‘colorful’. Most of our clients who have attended come home believing that the photo ops were well worth the hassles and travel time. It is as much of a “movie set” panorama as one is likely to encounter during travels in India, perhaps the most colorful country on earth.

Q – We will be leaving shortly for a culinary tour of southern Italy. Are there any “proper manners” we should be aware of as we dine out?

A – Try not to ask the owner if he or any member of his family is involved with the Mafia. This could possibly ruin your meal.

The biggest “gaffe” is ordering cappuccino after 12:00 noon. Italians have a deep-seated belief that only infants and morning “Cappo” drinkers should indulge in milk.  The proper course of action is to always order an espresso at the end of dinner. This will assure that you remain awake for the following three days.

Do not think about adding Parmesan cheese to your dish after it is served. If it is a good idea, and deemed appropriate, the waiter will offer to grate some atop your dish.  Italians tend to like fish relatively unadorned. Don’t add cheese to any fish dish.

Have low expectations for salads in Northern Italy. Rustic Italians aren’t big on salad as a main course.

And, of course, understand that pasta is a mere introduction to the main course, the primo piatti or “first plate”. This is not the same as an appetizer which actually comes before the first plate. The Entrée, which is substantially smaller than portions in our at-home Italian restaurants, features a meat, chicken, or fish preparation.

Italians, as a rule, go to their favorite bar for a stand-up breakfast of cappuccino and a pastry. Only tourists order ham and eggs. To an Italian, breakfast is merely light calisthenics in preparation for lunch.

Never, ever ask for a “doggy bag” for leftovers. Italians think this is a uniquely barbaric American practice. No need to carry food back to your hotel. In Italy, good food will always be available – fear not. The Panini’s at the autostrade rest stops are even memorable. But never eat in your car. No respectable Italian would risk getting crumbs on the leather.

It is considered a bit “American” to order a gelato at the end of a meal. One earns a Gelato by walking in the slow dance through the village or the city that every Italian loves. In the restaurant, it is most appropriate to end the meal with some fresh fruit. Italians at other tables will sometimes stare at you as they find the American tourists inability to properly peel an orange rather entertaining.

Q – Somehow, I know that your team will know the answer to this question. I was doing a quick connection at O’Hare Airport in Chicago and walked past this gourmet-looking chocolate store called Vosges. Any good, worth bringing home, or skipable?

A – We’re not huge fans but it is decent chocolate. The stunner, at the moment, is something called “Mo’s Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar”. You want to grab several of these as they are difficult to track down. Think great dark chocolate with caramel, salt, and deep-seated bacon. If you’re flying American internationally, you might want to grab two or three of these and skip the Vanilla Hagen Daz served at your seat in Business Class. Oh, and thanks for the most useless question of the week.

Q – Call us crazy, but we’re bringing the twins, our eleven year-olds girls, on a Crystal Cruise to the Baltic that will include several days in St. Petersburg, Russia. We want to put together a special day that might include a really nice lunch the entire family can enjoy. Is there anywhere you could recommend where you would trust the food and the atmosphere as child-friendly. Crystal was not very helpful when we called. Thanks so much and best wishes for the long life of this wonderfully helpful web site.

A – Try Lujaika on Aptekarsky Prospekt. The actual theme of this really good Asian restaurant is a child’s imaginary wonderland. The children can fish in a pond next to outdoor dining areas and the restaurant’s pet rabbits roam the grounds. Remember that the ship’s blanket Visa will not cover you for any independent time off the ship.

We might suggest that it is unrealistic to seek out advice from cruise line commissioned sales phone agents. Not only is it highly unlikely they have never been to St. Petersburg; many of them have never actually sailed on a cruise. On the other hand, both Crystal ships have uniquely well-qualified on-board Concierge staff who we would certainly trust with this  kind of request. Most cruise lines on-board will only sell you tours, programs, and reservations that are profitable. Five-star lines like Crystal, Seabourn, Sea Dream, Silverseas, and Regent, have some superb people on their respective concierge desks.

Currently, Silverseas and Crystal have the best-qualified and most reliable Concierge desks in the industry.

Q – As we plan a river boat journey, our first, from Basel to Amsterdam next September, we are wondering when it might make the most sense to book. We are looking at Viking River and we know that the boats book up early.

A – Two schools of thought. You may want to book this afternoon. The entire bed count on all of the Viking River fleet (the world’s largest), would fit into Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, with many beds left over, Book as soon as you are committed. Another strategy is to wait until eleven months prior to your scheduled return date. This will allow you to lock in your air arrangements as soon as the flights are available for sale, but if you are looking for something a little more exciting than a simple river cruise, the you should definitely consider going on an American Whitewater Expedition.

Q – We are going to be staying at the Grand Hotel des lles Borromees along the water in Stresa for a week. Flying from LA to Milano, renting an Alfa, and ready for some day trips. Are there any restaurants in the area worth a drive of am hour or so that you could recommend? We hear there are islands near Stresa. Is there a way to get there? We thought this could be a great drive vacation using Stresa as a base. Good idea?

A – Actually, it’s an excellent idea, although your hotel is old world Europe and you may imagine it smells “musty”. The three islands are each lovely, different, and easily accessible from the main pier in Stresa with frequent local boat service. We would suggest that you make reservations on Isola dei Pescatori (Fisherman’s Island) at Ristoranti CasaBella.

Our favorite drive restaurant is Piccolo Lago in Verbania Fondotoce. You won’t believe the small lake views that surround this tiny hamlet. No one has discovered this restaurant with the exception of several well-disposed Michelin inspectors. Their signature dish of the moment is a beef topped with a goose liver sauce you will never forget.