The rest of Q&A

Q – We have been following your ratings and rankings of the top, the very top, worldwide cruise lines and we are excited to be trying Silversea in 2026 on a wonderful itinerary. You rank them as second best in the World – high praise.  But on one of threads I follow I see that Silversea is now charging for dinners – something that doesn’t compute with its high per diems. I can afford whatever they charge but I would really like to know what my additional dining costs will be on the Dawn from Split to Lisbon? By the way, your telephone number is tough to find and I recently discovered you are unlisted. Who the hell is your Marketing Manager?

A – We now have cruise lines that are engaged in partnerships with top-line Michelin chefs and some of the options on the very top lines in our rankings are now charging for dining that really goes beyond the normal gourmet experience. Some of the “extra charge” dining experiences come with or offer extraordinary wine flights for those so-inclined. What we look for in our rankings is just how necessary is it for guests on a five star line to avoid paying anything extra to dine while still enjoying a “better than the restaurants at home”.

Here is a point often missed by cruisers: Your best restaurant at home normally gets deliveries on Monday/Tuesday and/or Thursday/Friday. Weekend food is rarely fresh. But on most itineraries, the Chef and staff make runs into local markets and pick out groceries and proteins that are fresh and meet their high standards. So you are often dining on better overall ingredients, like fish less than 24 hour sold, when you dine aboard one of the five-star’s on our list. 

On your cruise, there are five restaurants that carry no additional charge. They are: Atlantide – La Terrazza – Silver Note – The Grill – Spaccanapoli

There are the extra charge dining options and the current pricing:

• Salt Kitchen – Stands for “Sea and Land Taste”. This is a “culinary voyage into local cuisine and culture. It is normally $230 Per Guest. It is worth trying once but we find that our “Foodies” like to dine in this venue more than once during a voyage.
• La Dame – Truly French with some great DNA, $160 Per Person at the moment.
• Kaseki – A serious Japanese venue at $80 per person. Some of the discussion revolves around the fact that Crystal does not charge for its sushi bar. 

So – is there kickback about these extra charges? Really very little. Food costs are hard to predict almost two years ahead of a sailing and extra charge dining options seem to be ingrained in portions of the lux cruise experience.

Our telephone numbers have been generally unlisted for forty years. Our Marketing Manager, one A.V. Churchill, has never felt that we should be accessible. A.V. is very British and will not book anyone on any travel unless it is to Great Britain or its (Empire) and reachable by British Airways. But always feel free to reach out to us at 630-717-7777. We’ll make sure that A.V. doesn’t answer the phone. After 40 years, he still does not know quite how to work the phones. 

Q – We have a long flight coming up on Japan Airlines but first we have to connect from Las Vegas then on to Dallas for our flight.  We are fairly well traveled but this is a long flight on an Airbus 350 and I am not prone to fall asleep while flying. Any advice for us specific to how to prepare for a good night’s sleep? Any information about how comfortable we will be in Business versus First Class? Can’t tell you how much we value this site and its honesty. 

A – Well let’s start out with the good news. You will be flying the recently configured Airbus 350-1000 with one of the most innovation and comfortable Business Class seats that convert to beds in the skies. You will have a privacy wall, excellent food, a large screen, and more technology than you will ever be able to figure out during one flight. And – you will have a comfortable bed with speakers in the pillow section that will help play the sounds of sleep if you wish.

Here are the specific recommendations we discuss with our clients who have sleep concerns on longer flights to Asia, Africa, and portions of Pakistan:

• Start by considering Melatonin and a strategy to wear compression-socks. 
• For two days before your flight go on the “FJD”, the Flying to Japan diet. That might mean lean meats, fish, nuts, dairy, and some complex carbs. Avoid the hard to digest foods you normally eat.
• Try to get into deep relaxation in the 24 hours prior to your flight. Avoid raising your heartbeat – no strenuous exercise..
• Carefully select an eye mask and comfortable earplugs in advance. Test them out at home. Don’t rely on what the flight attendant hands you.
• Always avoid any hot, water-base beverages offered on an aircraft. They are likely using tank water but they do not advertise that. Notice how rarely, if ever, you have seen a flight attendant make themselves a cup of coffee. The stuff they drink is from Starbuck’s in the terminal.
• Try to book the latest flight out so you are exhausted when you board.
• Consider making a picnic at your seat using healthy choice options you purchased in the terminal. It is OK to pass on what is being served in favor of your own creation. If it keeps you more comfortable it is worth it.

Travel safe and well.

Q – (9.19.24) – We have heard that CLEAR is actually preferred to TSA Pre-Check to save time and effort in airport security lines. I love shortcuts – do you recommend that your clients take out this membership?

A – We are not yet enthusiastic about CLEAR. It costs $189 Per Year and there is good US Airport coverage. But we are not at all impressed with its coverage overseas. There have also been delays based on the need for each passenger to input information into machines that can be moody.

Bottom Line: If you regularly fly out of a home airport with CLEAR by all means sign up – but don’t rely on it as an international strategy for scooting through airports ahead of the masses. 

Q – Although our planned trip to Paris and Bordeaux with our grown kids and their three children is still eight months away, we are wondering if there are a few cultural rules we ought to start drumming into everyone now? In other words, what does it take to be a successful “tourist” in the eyes of the French? This is a 70th Birthday Celebration and we want everyone to fully enjoy the experience – but aside from us, no one in the family has been abroad. 

A – There are several things worth knowing about French cultural norms that will be helpful. Here are our personal French “House Rules”:

• Never speak loudly in a restaurant or cafe. If other tables can hear you – tone it down a few octaves,. The French don’t mind being seen but they dislike being heard. 
• Never ask for food to go or for leftovers to be placed in a doggie bag.
• Everything that touches your lips should be eaten slowly – always carefully and thoughtfully savored. Americans, the French feel, do not know how to slowly enjoy anything from coffee to snails – to life itself.
• Never ask a French person what they do for a living. The French are proud of their life-work balance and they do not enjoy discussing work after hours. 
• Never enter or leave any French establishment without a proper Bonjour or Monsieur/Madame acknowledgement. And always make sure you utter hello or goodbye in French before the staff. 

Q – (9.7.24)  This one may be a wild goose chase but a fellow golfer was bragging that he was planning to visit a country that really “does not exist”. But he claims he can still go there and intends to add that nation notch to his rather wide belt. Does this ring a bell of any kind? He seemed sure it is in Europe but I can’t imagine a nation in that part of the world that “does not really exist” in the eyes of the world.

A – It’s real and its name is Transnistria, a smallish slice of Moldavia that declared its independence. Unfortunately, no other countries recognize it even though it has strictly patrolled border crossings, along with its own anthem, flag, and “military”. Transnistria is a sad by-product of the Soviet Union’s collapse.

Intrepid Travel, a reliable operator, once offered  a 13-day day tour of Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania that included two nights in Transnistria. It would, we think, almost be worth a trip to bring home a few pieces of the local currency that is made of plastic and looks like slot machine tokens.

The best thing about this miniest of miniest Soviet wanna-be states is the Aquatir Sturgeon Complex which produces some world-class caviar. 

Your local guide, if you can possibly find one, will likely drop you off at the train station. It is overgrown with weeds and has no trains – but at least it is in a central location.

They sort of want tourists but you can never be certain if the serious-looking border guards in their fur Russian hats will have received the message, To date, the tourist board in Transnistria has not offered Churchill & Turen a consulting position designed to increase the tourist numbers.

Q –  I heard it but I won’t believe it until I hear it from you. There is now an airline that caters exclusively to dogs? Is there a “just cats” airline as well? 

A – There have been several budget airlines that cater to “mutts” but, yes, BARK Air is now flying. Nothing for cats quite yet. No one is sure that cats would remain in their seats or pay any attention at all to to the  safety drill.

On its first flight earlier this year, Bark flew from Westchester County, New York to, need you guess, Los Angeles. It was and is a curated luxury experience. On the Inaugural the plane was carrying six dogs and eleven proud owners. The dogs receive calming music, scents, and colors along with belly rubs from the on-board concierge. (a service we recently discovered is not offered to passengers in Business Class on American Airlines) The cuisine included dog-friendly cupcakes as well as chicken-flavored puppycinos, something Starbuck’s marketing department has overlooked. The transcontinental flight was $6,000 per dog and owner. The scheduled JFK to London service is currently priced at $8,000 a ticket and BARK reports that most flights are sold out. This is a very real, new business venture off to a good start.

Q – (9.4.24) – Our trip for ten days will take in some fine dining in Brussels and some boating through the center of Bruge in Belgium. But I read that there is this new kind of Passport called ETIAS that is now required for  all Europe-bound Americans. Can you let us know the latest on these requirements?

A – This is not a big deal – it is a little deal designed to enable European nations to use the internet to bring in some additional revenue for each arriving tourist. It was initially supposed to kick in in 2024 but some disagreements within the European Union postponed its introduction. It appears it will be ready to roll out in 2025 but nothing is certain as of today. This is what we know at this stage:

Americans will need to apply for a form of travel authorization before being permitted to enter 30 European nations. The authorization can be obtained online and should just take a few minutes. This of this as a toy passport. The cost will likely be 7 Euros but as a special offer for Traveltruth visitors, every European country has reached out to us and agreed to waive the fee for those under 18 and over 70 years of age.  In some cases, the application can take up to four days but that will not be typical. If you want to get the latest details go to travel-europe.europa.eu/etias

Here is the current list of countries that will require ETIAS Registration:

Q –  Good to see that you are keeping up this site. There is really nothing else like it. After some downtime, we are ready to travel with you again. This time, we are thinking about a 32-day itinerary on Viking, recommended by friends, that does a full circumnavigation of Australia.

Love to know what you think of the line and this particular cruise. As you know, we prefer to be away for two or three weeks at a time.

A – Great to hear from you. We can discuss in-depth on the phone, but here are some thoughts we would like to share:

01 – This is a rare and in-depth itinerary. It is designed to attract some guests from the South Pacific and Europe.

02—Viking is not a Five-star line. Given your cruising history on several of the better all-inclusive lines, I have concerns you might be disappointed in several aspects of the experience. You will note they never use the word “luxury” in their advertising. Viking is not trying to be five-star, and we think that is really an important part of their success.

03 – As a rule, we feel that trying to see this part of the world by ship is a mistake. If, for instance, you did one of the better land tours with Tauck or Abercrombie & Kent, you would have 4-6 required international flights, just to get to some of the major sites you would miss on a cruise ship that never stops inland.

04 – This cruise has ten days at sea and Viking is not the best when it comes to sea day stimulations. You are essentially wasting one-third of your time seeing nothing.

05 – When the election is over and all votes are tabulated, New Zealand is most often preferred to Australia as the most memorable of the two destinations. If you have already spent time in New Zealand, then Australia in-depth makes sense, particularly if the relaxation of many days at sea is attractive. But if you have never been to New Zealand we think it is a major mistake to miss it.

06—Given that Viking is competitively priced and ultra-modern, this Viking in-depth sailing makes sense if you are willing to spend the days at sea while skipping New Zealand. If you are up to lux touring, I would strongly recommend the Tauck 21-Day Australia/New Zealand Program. It is unique in that it gives you 50% of your time in NZ. A&K also does a similar itinerary that is excellent, and they do not take more than 24 guests.

07 – Melbourne is actually preferred by many to Sydney.

Upscale clients seem to love an itinerary we created using some of the best lodges in New Zealand. It can be a separate vacation or an add-on to a cruise or tour. New Zealand is one of the safest, friendliest nations on earth. It is well worth a vacation on its own without a single hour in Australia. 

Q – We have been doing mostly vacations in the West and Southwest – two exotic parts of the world given that we live in South Burlington, Vermont. But now that I have tried my last case I think we are ready to do some intensive travel. I am an information gatherer and am ready to start my “files” on Croatia  as well as a cruise out of Hong Kong to Singapore. Two questions – do I really need to use a travel agent and pay all the fees and how does the consumer get real information about insurance coverage? Really appreciate your efforts on this site. It really is a breadth of fresh travel air. 

A – There are several myths surrounding the use of a travel agent, advisor, or consultant (they are all somewhat different by the way). The biggest myth is that you pay more to use one. In fact, the full commission tot he agent is built into all pricing, every single travel product the consumer purchases from hotels rooms, to escorted tours, to cruises. You are always paying for the agent so it kind of makes sense to take advantage of what they have to offer. The better advisors normally have access to preferred rates as well – better than what you, representing no one, can negotiate on your own. So, unless you are in the mood to try your case with every cruise line you book and every hotel  where you stay, demanding a refund of that commission because you never used an agent, you are likely better off using a good agent’s services. 

Here is one quick example: Last year, 91% of our clients did not pay  anything for our services. Our services were free because the commission to our firm is already built into every price. The consumer usually has no understanding as to how this possible and they just don’t demand their proper refund when they book directly because no one ever told them that they could. 

Insurance is a shorter answer. In virtually every state, it is illegal for a non-registered insurance agent, such as a travel advisor, to “evaluate or interpret the technical terms, benefits, or conditions” of a policy a consumer is considering. There are two ways to conquer insurance:

01 – Read the best consumer articles about travel insurance in publications like the New York Times or Consumer Reports. 

02 – Call the Customer Service line at the insurance company you are considering. They will/should answer all of your specific questions. 

One final insurance thought: After all the analysis is completed, you are likely going to receive the best coverage from one of the more expensive policies.

Q – My husband and I have been to Hawaii twice before. We went up in a helicopter in Maui once and we were rather pleased although a tad nervous when the wind drafts carried us upward. Now, we are going back to Hawaii for three weeks, in part, because we want to help the local economy which is still very much in the recovery stage. We will, and can, spend money. Everything we do these days since “cash-out” is pretty much five stars. But the one aspect of the trip that causes me some concern is my husband’s pushing me to do five or six helicopter rides. So, given your honesty on so many other matters, just how safe is helicopter touring on the island these days?

A – We would need to know a bit more about your concerns – but allow us an opinion based on what you have provided. We might suggest one helicopter experience just so you can say you’ve done it and in keeping with your prior experience in the air over Maui. 

There are some facts we want to share:

The National Safety Transportation Board has recorded 246 Helicopter crashes since 1983 resulting in 188 deaths and 115 serious injuries. Sixty of those deaths occurred during Helicopter operations in Hawaii. 

Compare that to commercial airline operations in the United States which has not resulted in a single fatal domestic crash since 2009.

On that basis, we think your concerns are fully justified.