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Please note: We created this site for intelligent, sophisticated travelers who are tired of self-proclaimed “critics” and mass marketing drivel. We accept no funding and we seriously believe that you are entitled to access to the “Traveltruth” provided by some of the nation’s most respected travel advisors and consumer travel journalists.

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• WHEN CAN WE START BOOKING THE NEW CELEBRITY RIVER CRUISES – SHOULD WE?

  Q –  11.29.25  – When will the new Celebrity Riverboat be sailing, and have the books been opened up yet? Is this a river cruise you will be recommending? We are past Celebrity guests in Europe (twice) and we were extremely satisfied. 

  A – Celebrity River Cruises will launch their first sailings in 2027, featuring two new luxury river ships: Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker. The initial itineraries will explore the Rhine and Danube rivers, promising immersive cultural experiences, expansive open decks, onboard butler service, and 24-hour dining.

  Past Celebrity guests were allowed to begin booking in September of 2025, and the entire 2027 season sold out in six minutes, according to Celebrity.

  As the vessels have not yet been launched, we cannot make any recommendations. Our Inspectors will be filing reports, and we will begin to determine how Celebrity River Cruises’ quality standards compare with those of the three leading river cruise lines in Europe: Scenic, AMA Waterways, and Tauck.

  

  For now, these are some of the features and characteristics you will find in the new Celebrity River cruise brand:

  Here’s a breakdown of the key features you can expect aboard these 172-guest luxury river ships:

  Signature Design & Outdoor Living • Infinite Veranda Staterooms: Adapted from Celebrity’s ocean ships, these cabins feature floor-to-ceiling glass that transforms into open-air balconies at the touch of a button. • Expansive Open Decks: More outdoor space than any other river vessel, designed for panoramic views and relaxation. • Infinity-Edge Plunge Pool: A dramatic, cantilevered pool extending over the river for a floating sensation. ️ Dining & Social Spaces • Magic Carpet-Inspired Dining Pods: Elevated, cantilevered dining venues offering immersive views and a floating experience reminiscent of the Magic Carpet on Edge-class ships. • Top-Deck Bar & Grill: Al fresco dining and cocktails with 360-degree views, designed for year-round enjoyment.

  Luxury Service & Amenities • Butler Service: Personalized attention in all suite categories, continuing Celebrity’s high-touch hospitality. • 24-Hour Dining: Flexible, upscale culinary offerings around the clock. • Wellness & Enrichment: Programs focused on local culture, history, and cuisine, with onboard experts and curated excursions.

  Itineraries & Immersion • 33 Weeklong Sailings in 2027: Focused on the Rhine and Danube Rivers, with immersive port experiences in cities like Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, and Basel. • Cultural Deep Dives: Emphasis on local flavors, storytelling, and behind-the-scenes access to Europe’s most iconic destinations.

  Will these ships be tying up to other riverboats at night? In many ports we suspect they will. Will there be extra charge shore-excursions and dining options? Unlike more inclusive competitors we expect that there will. 

   

  Will most of the guests be coming over from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises? Absolutely yes. So Celebrity River Cruises is looking to become an extension of an existing brand loyalty not normally associated with a TrueLux product on Europe’s rivers.

  But remember this: Royal Caribbean is not playing games here. They have announced a commitment to an initial order of ten new Celebrity riverboats carrying 172 guests each. But TrueLux cruise brand Silversea is also owned by Royal Caribbean and don’t be surprised if you see the development of the ultimate river cruise product under that name and financial umbrella. 

• CAN YOU SIMPLIFY TRAVEL INSURANCE AS IN ‘WHAT SHOULD WE TAKE OUT”?

  Q – Much of what you cover on your “Traveltruth Media” sites makes sense and we feel travel educated when we spend some time reading the postings. But there is an exception. Travel insurance just confuses the hell out of me. I am 71 years old, both my wife and I are cancer survivors, and we both go a full 18 holes a few times a week. So, we are in pretty good shape. As we start doing even more touring around the world, in general, how would you advise us to approach travel insurance? And remember – please keep it simple.

  A – Understood. Technically, it is against the law in most states for a non-licensed insurance agent to make insurance recommendations. Of course, we do it anyway.

  Per your request to keep it simple: Take out a policy with one of the very best private insurance companies that offers at least $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage. The trick is to use one of the top-grade insurance firms that gives you extended coverage if you take out the policy within three weeks to a month of your deposit. The specific benefit you want is the waiver of pre-existing coverage. That means that if your previous condition acts up and you need to cancel, you would be covered even though the medical reason is based on a recurrence of a prior condition.

  We go a step further with our clients. We urge them to consider the state of medicine in the countries they will be visiting. Would they be comfortable with the level of medical care, surgery, hospitals, etc. if there was a medical emergency during their travels? If the answer is “no,” we think our clients should seriously consider medical evacuation coverage from a company like Med-Jet.

• IS THERE REALLY A SO-CALLED $2000 RULE AT RITZ-CARLTON HOTELS?

  Q – In a previous post, you mentioned the $2000 Rule at the Ritz-Carlton. I am in HR at a Fortune 500 Bank Group, and I am really curious as to how this works. I understand it is a “Rule” at the hotels and not necessarily aboard the new Ritz-Carlton Cruise line. Can you explain what it is and how it works?

  A –  The Ritz-Carlton’s $2,000 Rule empowers every employee—regardless of role or rank—to spend up to $2,000 per guest, per incident, to resolve a problem or enhance a guest’s experience, without needing managerial approval.

  The Core of the $2,000 Rule • Empowerment at Every Level: From housekeepers to front desk agents, every Ritz-Carlton employee is authorized to use up to $2,000 to immediately address guest concerns or create memorable moments—without needing to escalate to a supervisor. • Per Guest, Per Incident: The rule applies to each guest and each incident, not as a lifetime cap. This means if a guest has multiple issues during a stay, the employee can act on each one individually. • No Pre-Approval Needed: The policy is designed to eliminate bureaucratic delays. Employees are trusted to use their judgment and act swiftly to resolve issues or surprise and delight guests.

  The Strategic Philosophy Behind the Rule • Rooted in Hospitality Psychology: The policy was introduced in the early 1980s by Horst Schulze, then COO of Ritz-Carlton. He believed luxury wasn’t just about opulence—it was about creating a sense of home and psychological safety. Guests should feel that their needs are anticipated and met with care. • Proactive, Not Reactive: The rule encourages employees to anticipate guest needs and go beyond reactive service. For example, noticing a guest’s toothpaste is running low and replacing it without being asked is a small but powerful gesture.

  In fact, Ritz-Carlton contacts tell us that the “$2000 Rule” is rarely used. While the $2,000 limit is generous, most employees don’t come close to spending that amount. The real value lies in the freedom to act, not the dollar figure itself. It is the staff empowerment and the way staff can think about improving the guest experience that is seen as the major value of “The Rule”.

• ARE ALL THESE ‘BLACK FRIDAY’ OFFERS REALLY LEGIT?

  Q –(11.21.25) – It seems as though our e-mail and our physical mailbox have been inundated with so-called “Black Friday” travel offers from hotels, cruise lines, tour operators – everyone! The offers sound good. In one specific case, the current offer and amenities seem better than what I had when I booked my Viking cruise four months ago. How do I know if I can take advantage of these Black Friday offers? I guess what I am really asking is “are these true deals or true scams”?

  A – That is a complicated question. In previous years, offers from the Cruisetruth Top-Ten ranked cruise Lines or the RiverboatRatings.com site rankings were generally insincere marketing ploys to attract new bookings over the Thanksgiving Holidays. At the same time, mass market brands can discount at any time with little regard for the feelings of those who might have booked their tour, hotel, or cruise, in fact, the very top brands do not, as a rule, punish their best clients who have booked the first 25% of a tour, a room, or a sailing. They have no interest in alienating those who book earliest, seen as their most loyal and most preferred customers.

  So “sales” and “special one-of-a-kind” promotions were the rule aboard the larger, mass-market cruise brands and at hotels that were below true five-star status.

  The way pricing typically works on the better cruise lines’ and riverboat lines is that the upper-echelon lines raise prices every 90 to 120 days. Then marketing develops a strategy to sell the remaining space at the new, higher price point.

  So when we would be checking a “sale price” for clients, about 80-90% of the time, the original price paid was the better deal. That was the way the system worked, but it was not publicly discussed, as no high-quality hotel or cruise product wants to admit that when occupancy reaches a certain level, prices will go up.

  The better escorted tour products are much more concerned about being undercut by “early bookers”. Think about the challenge faced by a seasoned Tour Director when several couples on a tour discover that they have paid a significantly higher price than others in the group.

  In the hotel industry, this is not a concern. It is assumed that guests really do not interact with strangers or discuss the price they paid for their room. On a several-thousand-passenger floating shopping mall with dozens of for-profit mini-centers scattered about the ship, core stateroom pricing is not a major concern, as it is assumed by management and by their customers that prices can and do change regularly.

  But on one of our TrueLux Top-Ten Ranked cruise lines, management must assume that passengers mix and dinner conversation could well drift to the area of “price paid”. It is also a fact that on the Top Ten Rated Lines (see the summary of the latest 2026 Ratings on www.cruisetruth.com) those who book earliest tend to book higher-category staterooms as specific category suites are limited in number.

  So that is the way that pricing has always worked. But this year, we are seeing some pricing strategies that are different. There seems to be a feeling that Black Friday, and the days just prior to and following Thanksgiving, have become, as a result of efforts by Amazon, Wal-Mart, and other major online sellers, a sort of national sales Holiday Season with the expectation that special pricing offers never previously offered will be available for a one or two-week period. That is what we have seen this year, and it has affected some pricing in the TrueLux cruise sector. The chances are still not good that the “Black Friday” offer will be better than the price paid by guests who booked months earlier – but this year, it very well could be, and price checks are always required.

  To save time and effort and to approach cruise pricing seriously – there is one simple rule to follow:

  If you booked your cruise months earlier, you paid one price. The deal, upgrades, price incentives you see on the TrueLux products during the Thanksgiving period are generally real – but YOU MUST PAY THE CURRENT PRICE FOR YOUR STATEROOM. That means that your room charge will likely be significantly higher than the price paid months ago. Then you must add in all the bubbles and the glitter in the new Thanksgiving offer to see if they offset the current pricing.

  Sorry for the long explanation but we wanted to try to explain this thoroughly as your question has come up many times.

• JUST WHAT CAN WE DRINK ON AN AIRCRAFT THAT WON’T MAKE US SICK?

  Q – We are not yet clients – but hopefully, we soon will be. So let me pose a serious question. You have been somewhat specific about some beverages you advise your clients to avoid when flying. These include coffee, Coca-Cola, Hot Tea, and that famous Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix, which tastes better at 33,000 than on dry land, even though the concoction is 50% salt. You also warned against water served from carafes. Please let me know, when working with you on future trips, precisely what you will recommend I drink at my seat while flying.

  A – Well – we do permit our clients to purchase something from Starbucks in the terminal to enjoy onboard. In fact, we generally recommend purchasing a picnic of sorts in the terminal before boarding. Actual water encased in a bottle is fine onboard, and a bit of sugary juice won’t make you ill. But, right now, and after consulting with nutritionists and parking lot attendants at Duke, UCLA, and NYU, we recommend that your first choice should be old-fashioned Ginger Ale – one of the brands that actually contains Ginger. Ginger will help soothe your stomach. Or, just carry some real ginger in your carry-on and add it to your drink. 

• WHAT DO WE DO IF ONE OF OUR PLANNED EUROPE VACATIONS IS AFFECTED BY A FLIGHT CANCELLATION?

  Q – This coming year, we have two trips planned to Europe: one for a Baltic Cruise on Seabourn and the other for a Douro River Cruise on Scenic. In each case, we are doing the air arrangements ourselves, taking your advice to work directly with the airlines. Given all the delays and cancellations we’ve heard about, we are wondering what our rights are if the worst happens when flying to/from/within Europe as U.S. citizens. Really appreciate this site.

  A – The good news is that when you fly within the European Union, and there is a severe delay or cancellation, you will likely be entitled to a replacement flight or a cash refund. The standard refund in the EU is now “up to a maximum of Euro 600”. That is based on how long you were delayed and the advance notice you were provided – so all a bit “iffy”.

  This general rule applies to both US carriers and E.U. airlines. But understand that, these days, most serious delays are weather-related, and “climate change” events are thought to be legally out of the airline’s control. So if thunderstorms are delaying your departure, don’t expect meal vouchers, accommodations, or even an earnest apology – unless, of course, you have chartered an Emirates 787 for yourself.

• FLYING TURKISH AIRLINES TO ISTANBUL TO CONNECT – KIND OF WORRIED – ANY ADVICE?

  Q – We will be flying Turkish Airlines because it has the best connection to Italy, where we are headed. I am a rather Goth-looking fellow, as is my girlfriend, who will be joining me. We have a fair share of tattoos, and we are a bit concerned about being stopped and searched in the process of changing planes in Istanbul. We have sprung for Business Class seats so perhaps that will help. My girlfriend has some face jewelry so wondering if she will get served? We take lots of videos and post online but this one scares us a bit. My father suggested I ask your opinion. 

  A – Several questions there – let’s try to be specific:

  No one cares if you follow a Goth lifestyle as you pass through Turkey. If, however, you get invited to President Erdogan’s residence for dinner – we would suggest you say you are busy. Actually, the Italians might be more inquisitive. 

  Covering tattoos should be easy and, if possible, we would suggest removing facial jewelry where possible. Customs inspectors are human, and they make decisions on appearance. 

  The Business Class on Turkish overseas direct to Istanbul is one of the highest-rated in the industry. The service and food get high marks, and the accommodations are quite inviting. You will likely have to pass through Istanbul’s beautiful airport between flights. It would be a good time to “blend”. 

  There is one specific we want to warn you about. Do not attempt to video any Turkish Flight attendant or officer and do not film in the Istanbul Airport. Turkish police have detained passengers for filming flight attendants during the safety demonstration when the attendants claimed it was sexual harassment. 

  

  If at all possible, carry documentation that shows that you are a regular golf partner of President Trump. It couldn’t hurt. 

• WHICH CARIBBEAN ISLANDS SHOULD BE AVOIDED BY HONEYMOONERS?

  Q – 11.9.25 – We will be planning a honeymoon to the Caribbean in the next three months, and we have a rather specific question we hope you can answer without fear of backlash. Obviously, we will be choosing a five-star resort or as close as we can get to it. My bride and I love to walk, shop, and explore. We keep hearing stories that in the Caribbean that can, in certain places, be dangerous. Despite the quality of the hotels, can you name the islands that you would deem “unsafe” for folks like us – adventurous types who would not want to remain “on-campus” at one of the island’s inclusive resorts. We are 26 and 29 – if that matters. Really appreciated and we will understand if you prefer not to name “names”. 

  A –  These are the islands we would definitely avoid at the present time:

  • Haiti – No brainer – healthcare is collapsing and there is a high rate of civil unrest and attempted kidnappings of foreigners. If you are planning on packing an AK-47 in your honeymoon luggage – you might have a chance. 
  • Trinidad and Tobago – Same as above – but somewhat less severe.  There is a current “reconsider travel” alert from our State Department.
  • Jamaica – Violent crime is an issue ion many neighborhoods. Jamaica is also under “Reconsider” advisory although the Jamaica Tourist Association will offer a counterargument. 
  • Dominican Republic – This is the one most visitors miss because the Dominican Republic has numerous inclusive resorts and low airfares. But look behind the ads and you will note any number of statistics that make us add it to our list.
  • Turks & Caicos – Requires a “heads up” for travelers from the US although less serious than the preceding islands.
  • St. Thomas – The Mega-Cruise Ships call here daily so the assumption is that the island is safe. But night demands caution and assault and kidnapping are not unknown. There are absolutely neighborhoods that rank among some of the most in the Caribbean.

  We realize that some of our readers and guests will point out that cruise lines regularly call at most of these ports. Yes – but they get out of town by sundown!

  We all wish you a truly memorable, walkable, and entirely safe honeymoon.

   
• ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 20% ADD-ON FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE?

  Q – 11.9.25 – We are sailing to the Caribbean aboard one of the new Explora Cruise ships in a nice Suite. The Travelex insurance for this trip is a 20% premium. I believe this is really excessive. I am curious, what percentage of your customers actually purchase this high-cost insurance?

  A –The vast majority of our guests traveling overseas take out insurance – 90% use Travelex. There are several companies with in-house, flat-rate insurance that we are currently recommending. These include:

  Tauck – AMA Waterways – Abercrombie & Kent – Silversea 

  Most supplier-provided insurance is outsourced to firms we do not highly recommend. The advantage of Travelex is they permit advocacy meaning we can, sometimes, get them to re-open a claim that had been rejected.

  The average cost for insurance bought directly from the supplier is currently in the range of 12.5%. But age-based policies, as you know, can go much higher. Supplier-provided insurance is less expensive but it does not offer the same coverage including the coverage of pre-existing conditions..

  To receive the waiver for Pre-Existing conditions you would need to take out Travelex within 15 days of deposit. If you don’t, pre-existing conditions are not covered.

  The better consortium groups carefully screen insurance companies that want to be part certified “partners” with access to their members.  Few qualify. As of now, Travelex remains our highest-rated provider which is the sole reason we recommend them. 

  If you feel that the quote is too high (that will happen with age-based policies which Travelex is) one alternative is to visit the website www.squaremouth.com  This site includes most of the insurance carriers including some with lower rates. It tries to describe the coverage in detail. My concern is that you would be working with a website. But it might answer some of your questions.

  In summary:

  If an age-based policy recommended by your adviser seems too high, compare it to the actual coverage offered by the supplier’s insurance which is, almost always, a flat fee and not age-based. If the coverage is similar, you will save a considerable amount of money going with the fixed-price cruise line or tour operator policy.

  From a practical “what if something goes wrong” perspective, look at the issue of “advocacy” carefully. If the person who sold you the insurance policy cannot speak directly to top-level management in a case where a claim is rejected, shop somewhere else. If you are entitled to coverage and no one is going to fight for you by demanding your file by re-opened by a new adjuster, you may regret your insurance decision. Normally, the higher-priced policies offer significantly better coverage. But once you approach seventy years of age, the rates can skyrocket as you have noted.

  This is a really excellent question and we understand it is on the minds of many travelers. We wish it was on even more “traveling” minds. 

• ANY STRATEGIC ADVICE IF MY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, OR EVEN CHRISTMAS, FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?

  Q – (11.8.25) – We are, I am certain, not alone when it comes to concern and more than a little anger that we are subjected to so much stress over our next two major holidays regarding the shutdown and its impact on flights within the United States. If our political parties actually speak to one another this thing may end in a few days but from what I am hearing, that won’t solve the shortage of qualified (let’s pray they are) air traffic controllers. Been following this really helpful site for more than a year and wonder if you might share some of the advice you must be giving your personal clients during these challenging times.

  A –  We are pleased to share a communication we sent out to our guests yesterday:

  Dear Friends and Flyers:

  As our media is filled with stories highlighting the dysfunctional nature of our government and a bit of chaos at our nation’s airports, we thought it might be helpful if we could highlight some of what you need to know as this “crisis” unfolds.

  We have scoured some of the best information currently available and put it in one report for your convenience. There are some cliches in the attached report but, also, some very good advice.

  In terms of our reading of this air crisis we thought it best to highlight a few personal observations:

  01 – There is a very real shortage of air traffic controllers in the United States. The number of job openings currently exceeds 3,000 and we do not see any way that this number will be increased in any dramatic way without special government intervention and funding. This has been exacerbated by the current government shut down. This means that, for safety reasons, flights and entire routes will be cancelled in the months to come. The current feeling is that a 10% reduction in the number of commercial flights operating in US skies is an achievable goal.

  02 – There are no planned cutbacks of international flights to and from the United States. As they tend to involve larger aircraft, international flights are seen as an economic necessity when it comes to airline profitability.

  03 – Small, so-called “Regional Jets” will be the target of most cutbacks this weekend and into the immediate future.

  04 – Every domestic flyer should have a strategy. The first involves allowing 3-4 hours of check-in time until this situation is under control.

  05 – Some TSA and Air Traffic Controllers are not being paid a salary given the government shutdown. In fact, several airlines have requested their catering management at major airports to deliver food to controllers working the “towers”. There are reports that some controllers have taken on second jobs such as Uber driver while the paychecks are being withheld. This shortage of controllers was predicted and will need to be addressed via systemic changes no one is openly discussing.

  06 – You will be checking the status of your flights. Do not do that with a human being at the airline. Cancellations, pricing, and most scheduling is now a part of so-called “Dynamic” pricing which is managed by sophisticated AI programs.

  07 – When you call an airline you will be led to believe and even told you are speaking with an employee reservationist. In fact, some air reservations customer service staff have been outsourced for years. Some are simply a component of the largest corporate travel agencies. Some are based outside the United States. One of our largest hotel chains was in the habit of setting up reservation centers in prison settings where those on “good behavior” work for $5.00 per hour with no benefits. The two best ways to check the status of your flight during a “crisis” is to use the airline app you have downloaded to your phone. This is the method most often used by airlines to notify passengers of any changes/delays/cancellations. Don’t be an “ANT” (A Naive Traveler) who books online. That is usually what “ANTS” do because it appears to be easier. But it rarely produces an iota of customer service or human care. ANTS are laughed at in much of the travel community.

  08 –  If you are making new air reservations, we strongly urge you to consider making them through Cranky Concierge or a similar service that includes real time flight monitoring via e-mail.  Do not expect cruise line or tour operator air departments to have the staff to offer flight monitoring services. They are offering air “as a convenience”. 

  09 – If you have an issue with an airline that requires that you speak to a supervisor, do not try calling. Instead, state your case as clearly as possible and ask for as prompt response on the airline’s Customer Service Facebook site. They actually monitor Facebook.

  10 -If you are getting frustrated – and can’t get through – here is a trick that often works. Call your airline at an overseas office in Europe. Google the airline and “London Reservation Center” etc. You will find you can often get through easily to an English-speaking agent who is sitting in front of the same flight database as colleagues in the States.

  Major airlines have overseas locations where staffers speak English—in the U.K., Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, for example—and they are typically just as able to help you as their U.S.-based counterparts, as long as their office is open (not all call centers are open 24 hours) and not dealing with a snowstorm.  So if you need to speak with someone at, say, American Airlines, try calling one of their worldwide phone numbers.  To keep the cost of the call down, use WhatsApp, Skype, or Google Voice.

  11 – Gethuman.com is a website that gives you the best telephone numbers to use to reach customer service at a wide variety of travel-related corporations. Might save you time.

   FINALLY – OUR CONGRESS MAY BE CLOSED DOWN –

  BUT WE’RE NOT

  CHURCHILL & TUREN LTD. WILL REMAIN OPEN THIS WEEKEND AND ALL WEEKENDS UNTIL THIS AIRPORT CRISIS, THIS PREDICTABLE CRISES, IS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED.

   

   

       
• MY CHASE VISA GETS ME AIR MILES: HOW DOES THAT REALLY WORK?

  Q – 11.1.25 –  I have a high-level Chase Sapphire card and I earn miles which I use on American Airlines for free tickets to Europe and upgrades in the States. But no one ever really explains how the system works. Am I really earning something tangible? It seems as though I am.

  A – It is a bit complicated, and it is constantly changing – so let’s simplify what is really happening. You are earning something tangible. Visa is purchasing miles from American to give you as a partial repayment of some of the profits they are earning based on your use of the card. the price has generally been between 1.8 to 2.5 cents per mile. Visa then takes the miles they have purchased and doles t hem out as rewards to customers. And here is the secret rarely discussed: In recent years, several major airlines have earned as much selling miles to credit card banks as they have selling airline tickets to consumers. 

• CAN YOU GIVE IT TO US STRAIGHT – AFTER ALL THE ADVERTISING BS WHAT ARE THE BEST THREE CRUISE LINES OVERALL?

  Q –  I don’t know if there is an answer to this question but your advice would be truly appreciated. We have traveled within the US and have always gone the deluxe route. We can, fortunately, afford the best accommodations, food, guides etc. when we are on vacation. We’ve traveled abroad seven times, staying at castles, villas etc., twice with friends. Now, finally, we are ready to go on our first cruise and we want to start at the top with the best, highest-rated cruise line overall. Online searches reveal little but we thought we could pose this simple question in the hope that you will be able to offer a straightforward answer. 

  What are the current top-three cruise lines in the world all things considered? 

  A – Your question made us smile because it is rather timely. Our Consumer Cruise Site rates the Top Ten Cruise lines annually and we are deep into research and Certified Cruise Ship Inspection Reports before officially naming the Ten Lines for 2026. But you have asked a reasonable question and we fully understand why getting the answer is not something you are likely to discover on Tik-Tok or in industry advertising. The rankings have changed this year. These are the Top Three Cruise Lines in the World at the moment:

  # 1 – Ritz-Carlton Yachts # 2 – Hapag-Lloyd  # 3 – Scenic Eclipse  
• DO YOU HAVE A HANDY SUBSTITUTE FOR VENICE ITALY NEXT SEPTEMBER?

  Q – (9.27.25) – We are traveltruth newbies – thoroughly impressed. But we are frustrated. My wife and I honeymooned in Venice thirty-four years ago. We have been back once, but were thinking of going again for our vacation next September. But when I look at the overcrowding and the long lines I wonder if it might be best for us to just keep the Venice that we know cradled in our memory. The thing is, of course, we loved the Venice we knew. So we are looking for a viable substitute which doesn’t have to be in Italy. But we’re seeking sort of the same vibe, beaches etc. But here’s the thing – we want the place to be ours – we are looking for a place that is lovely, charming, with Venetian style towns and villages to explore. Does the secret Venice, unscathed by mass tourism exist?

  A –  At the moment, the tourist hordes have not yet discovered the beautiful 30-mile coastline of Slovenia and  the town of Piran, the heart of the Slovenian “Riviera.” This lovely city actually rests just across the Adriatic from Venice. In fact, it was once a part of the Venetian republic. We think you will love being an early visitor to this hidden gem. The fresh fish is extraordinary but so are the nearby villages, the beautiful forests, and the cliffs  that plunge toward the water. The harbors are not crowded but they are welcoming. We would urge you both to consider being the first on your block to claim Piran as “yours”.

• IS CRYSTAL RIGHT FOR THE KIDDIES?

  Q – 8.28.25) – I have a question for you; here is the background: My wife would like us to take a cruise with her son and his family (wife and two small children, currently aged 2 and 4).  Obviously, after Mickey let me down, the Cult is out of contention.   

  I have been looking into luxury cruise lines that have programs for small children.  Surprisingly, Hapag-Lloyd seems to have good programs for children, and even has cabins that are configured for parents and kids.  (Also, it seems that one of the Hapag-Lloyd ships, the Europa 2, is trying to court people who don’t speak German: the ship has a bi-lingual staff, and a dedicated English-speaking “hostess” for what they call “international guests”.  I read several reviews by non-German-speaking cruisers, and they all thought that everything was excellent, with one exception: while the Europa 2 offers at least one excursion in English in each port, that means that the selection of excursions is limited for those who don’t speak German.)  The problem for us is that, in the itineraries which have been released for the Europa 2, none of them work for us (there is one which starts and ends in Miami, which would be perfect, but it lasts for 14 days, which would be much too long for our son’s work situation)…

   …So I did some googling for luxury cruise lines which have children’s programs, and there seems to be only one: Crystal.  I read your most recent appraisal of Crystal, and it sounds quite good.  There do seem to be several itineraries in the next two years that could work for us.  So my question is: have you heard any first-hand reports about Crystal’s children’s programs? — probably most importantly, whether they are sufficient to keep rambunctious kids occupied for a significant amount of time, day after day?

  A – This is what you need to know about the Crystal Kids Programs:

  Children must be at least three years old to participate in Crystal Cruises’ onboard kids program independently. The program is divided into two age groups:

  •          Fantasia (ages 3–12): Includes supervised activities like crafts, scavenger hunts, pajama parties, and more.

  •          Waves (ages 13–17): Tailored for teens with gaming consoles, video arcades, and social events.

  Children under age 3 are welcome aboard but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times during any kids’ programming. Crystal also offers babysitting services for children aged 1 and older, available for a fee.

  Crystal operates older ships (with three new ones on order). They have been kept up nicely and we think the line offers one of the best combinations of excellent crew/cuisine/and entertainment. We agree that Hapag-Lloyd is not the appropriate choice in this scenario. 

  Be careful – as the Crystal kids programs only operate when there are enough kids onboard to justify operation/staffing. Best to book during primary school holidays.

  Crystal is not a major force in terms of online social media “impressions”. But their product wins awards in several categories in the Cruisetruth Rankings. Have your travel adviser ask her contacts how many other children are booked before you put money down. Your adviser can also determine if onboard children’s program staff is confirmed for your sailing.  And congrats on the quality of your research.

• HEADED TO MYKONOS AND PAROS WHERE WE HEAR THE BEACHES ARE MOBBED

  Q – A quick question, as I imagine you are busy booking “Southwest tickets”. We leave for the Greek Islands in three weeks and I am hearing stuff on TripAdvisor and TikTok about crowds on some beaches in Greece. I guess you need to make a reservation to hold a spot. I am less concerned about Mykonos than Paros. We have heard some great things about the island and we will be there seven nights. What is the secret to getting a good spot on the beach. I realize we can pay a small fortune to rent a chair and umbrella but we just want to lay in the sand and go swimming. What’s the real story? And I know you likely have never booked a Southwest ticket!

  A –  You will be entering “Towel War” country. In June, the residents of Paros got fed up with the lack of space on their formerly beautiful, unspoiled beaches. Now, the locals have trouble, literally, finding a place to set up camp close to the water. So residents are waking up early, beating the tourists to the beach, and laying down towels to protect their newly claimed ground. Under Greek law beaches are public. And beach umbrella stands are forbidden to set up barriers around their chairs. The sand is, essentially, first-come first seated. On the island of Paros, the local protesters would tell you that their “movement” has been a success. Locals can now have their “place in the sand”. They just have to wake up at 7:00 AM to grab a towel and go to claim it. 

• WHERE CAN WE SEND OUR DAUGHTER ON HER HONEYMOON?

  Q – Our incredible daughter number three is getting married, and she has asked us to plan the honeymoon. Both she and her fiancé have traveled very little; he to Mexico and the Caribbean, and she has taken one trip to Paris. They think we have a strict budget, but we want to surprise them with something magical. They are hard-working good kids and they deserve it and I can afford it. So, I suppose, without knowing them, what parts of the world are currently at the top of most lists as the overall best honeymoon destinations?

  A – Right now, the top five on a bride’s “wish list” would include:

  • Italy (but of course)
  • Tahiti
  • Maldives
  • Bali
  • Hawaii (Maui)

  But unless this must be a total surprise, I would suggest that you contact your preferred travel adviser and schedule a long discussion with the bride and groom. If you don’t have an adviser we would be pleased to assist.

  This is the most important journey this couple will ever take. It should be to a destination that will be the stuff of memories for decades. The secret is to have them both there and only take notes when the bride speaks.

  Congratulations.

• WHERE ARE THE HEAVIEST TRAFFIC JAMS IN THE AIR?

  Q – Although I thoroughly enjoy Traveltruth, I have absolutely no plans to travel anywhere this year. But I am a bit of an airline nerd and was wondering about increasing traffic in the air. Where are the skies most crowded these days?  It came up in conversation with friends last night, and I honestly had no idea. 

  A – It is an interesting question with a surprising answer.  Currently, 90% of ther world’s busiest air routes are all located in the Asia-Pacific region.

  If you are playing airline trivia (might be a good idea for a small business concept) the busiest flight route in the world at the moment is in Korea. The route between the resort city of Jeju (CJU) and Seoul saw just over 13 million passengers flying in 2024.

  For the sake of comparison, the busiest route in the United States is New York to LA. This is largely due to the fact that the Housewives of Beverly Hills can’t live without the Pastrami sandwiches at Katz’s Deli. But still, the total annual number of travelers on the LA-NY route is just under 2.5 million.                                                                                                                                                                                     

• CONSIDERING TWO OR THREE TRIPS IN ASIA BEFORE 2028. WHAT IS CURRENT STATUS OF TRAVEL IN ASIA FROM A TOURISM PERSPECTIVE?

  

  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. 

   

   
• LOOKING AT FINALIZING OUR BUCKET LIST: PLEASE HELP US SORT IT OUT

  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.

   

     
• RETIRED AND WANT TO WORK FOR YOU? HOPE YOU WILL RESPOND

  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.

• IS THIS THE TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A STRONG DOLLAR IN EUROPE?

  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.

   

• ARE THE SCAMMERS WITH PHONY HOTEL WEBSITES NOW ENTERING THE AIR TICKETING PORTIONS OF THE INTERNET?

  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. 

   

   
• WHAT ARE THE REAL ADVANTAGES OF USING ONE OF THE ONLINE TRAVEL AGENCY GIANTS?

  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. 

• DO I STILL NEED TO AVOID COFFEE OR TEA MID-FLIGHT?

  

  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. 
• NOT SURE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS; HOW DO YOU PLEASE A SEAFOOD LOVER WITH ONE OF THE BEST MEALS OF HER LIFE DOWN UNDER?

  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.

   

• JUST REQESTING YOUR BEST HOTEL UPGRADE SECRET

  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. 
• LOOKING AT PANAMA CANAL CRUISE IN WINTER – SHOULD WE WAIT UNTIL WE OWN IT?

  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.

  

• HEADED TO THE DANUBE IN SEPTEMBER – WILL WE BE GREETED BY YANKEE GO HOME SIGNS?

  Q – (4.27.25) – This September, we are headed on our first river cruise on Viking. I think we may be less traveled than some of your readers and we are getting extremely concerned about the anti-American feelings we hear mentioned on the news. There are obviously a lot of European who can’t stand Trump because of his abandoning NATO, tariffs, lack of support for Ukraine etc. But how will all of that affect US travelers? If we are going to be placed in a position as Americans of defending our country, I think we are comfortable delaying our overseas travels until calm prevails. My local travel agent says I am a “worry-wart” and I should just go and have a good time, or words to that effect. How are you counseling your clients on this matter. 

  A – This general subject is generating dozens of questions addressed to Traveltruth and we receive about five or six inquiries a week from guests of Churchill & Turen Ltd. over the phone. (800-445-7979)

  We can well understand your concerns. We explain to our clients that, yes, there is a significant degree of anti-US Government  reporting and editorial coverage in large segments of the European press. We are seeing things said about our current government that are new and some respected observers feel that, where in the past the American people were not necessarily linked to the actions of any President, that is not the case now. 

  We have been collecting a database of anti-American commentary from the world press in preparation for future articles we are working on. One of the things we discovered is that the most vitriolic commentary we could find, referring to our President as a certified “Psychopath” did not appear in any newspaper in Europe – it appeared in the Toronto Star.

  But, to date, there seems to be no connection to what is shown overseas on TV and what appears in their newspapers and any overt anti-American actions taken toward tourists. Most of the world, a vast majority, feel that Americans are some of the nicest tourists on the planet and we are among the highest spenders. 

  Some travelers with imminent plans to travel abroad, are stating concerns about confrontation, tough questions, and political arguments. We think these concerns are overblown and there are few facts to support the contention that this will happen.

  It might be wise to sort of turn the tables. Instead of you heading for the Danube, let’s suppose that you meet some tourists from Budapest sitting at the next table in your favorite restaurant back home. Are you going to start questioning them about Orban’s leadership and arguing politics over dinner?

  You won’t do that because it is impolite and not really part of our culture and the manner in which we interact when we meet citizens of other countries. The same can be said of Europeans. They are generally far too polite to confront visitors for their political beliefs. 

  Sadly, you would be far more likely to possibly encounter a political argument on a cruise or tour filled with Americans of various educational backgrounds.

  Go and enjoy. Turtles just don’t have much fun. 

   

• ARE AIR TAGS A GOOD IDEA WHEN TRAVELING TO EUROPE?

  Q – My wife  travel overseas two or three times a year since my retirement. We have not had a major lost luggage issue but our next-door neighbor has had two such experiences. My teenage son says I should get the Air Tags. Wondering if that is a good idea?

  A – We highly recommend that all international travelers use Apple’s Air Tags in/on their checked luggage when traveling overseas and domestically as well if there are connecting flights. 

  No one has developed a better system than Apple for monitoring where your luggage is at any stage of your journey. The capabilities of Air Tags are increasing and there are now several airlines that work in tandem with the system. At a cost of $75-$100 for a set of three, we think this is a reasonable investment. 

  The biggest mistake made by Air Tag users is allowing the batteries to run low. They do need to be fully charged prior to your departure.

   

  We do not accept compensation for any products ever recommended on any of our consumer sites. We like to recommend Apple products because we like to support “the little guy”.

  By the way – you can now have your Air Tags engraved with your name and contact information. We think this is an unnecessary expense as your normal luggage tags will suffice. Do be certain that your luggage tags on your outbound flights  show the name and location as well of the dates of your first  hotel. 

• HOW DOES A SAVVY CONSUMER SHOP FOR AND BOOK A VACATION OR EVEN A BUSINESS RENTAL CAR?

  Q – You have not responded to many questions about renting a rental car for vacation or even business use. I realize that this site is more centered on vacation planning. But  I read some of the online stuff and everyone talks about Expedia or Kayak for rental cars. There are, apparently, a great many car rental websites that allow you to compare rates etc. Is this the way to go – simply pull up one of the mega-sites and book what looks like a good deal? Here in Philly, there are many of us who support your efforts. By the way, what are the two or three top-rated rental car companies?

  A – Let’s be honest – if you really supported our efforts you might send us some Philly steaks from  Pat’s or Geno’s.

  Our advice: Always check some prices, types of vehicles available, and special promotions online. But anyone who books a travel product online is asking for problems. It is, virtually always, a sucker move. Get whatever information you want online and then book directly with the rental company. You never want to be dealing with a third party site that could be located anywhere on earth. What is there are issues with your rental or if you need to change your plans? Going through a third party on a car rental is just never a good idea.

  The same is true, by the way, in the case of hotel reservations. Remember that online sites demand you personal address, credit card information and they already have your computer information recorded. Remember that ghost travel sites number in the tens of thousands online. Booking online is, in the vast majority of cases, a sucker move.

  Know that off-property airport locations have lower rates generally than in-airport locations. Try to secure AARP or AAA Memberships as most of the major rental car companies offer discounts for members.

  The top-ranked car rental companies are:

  1. National
  2. Enterprise
  3. Alamo

  But the quality of service can vary greatly by location. Not every rental car location is a Pat’s or Gino”s!

   
• IS THERE ANY DATA ABOUT WHICH US CITIES NOW HAVE THE HIGHEST HOTEL RATES?

  Q – As a telecom exec for the past 11 years, I find myself on the road about 60% of the time. My secretary books nice hotels and I just follow her directions. I find that hotel rates seem to vary from city to city among similar level accommodations. Is there any data you can find that shows which specific cities in the United States are currently able to charge the highest average hotel rates. This might be interesting to others who use your sites and might help me in terms of future business planning. 

  A –  There are several ways to look at your question but the latest real-time data comes from a major study issued by the Travel Resources division of Bookings.com, one of the largest online hotel booking sites. The new data is rather surprising but when you look at demand and availability of 4-5 star properties, it sort of makes sense. These are the cities with he current highest hotel costs. The report includes the average per night cost of hotels in all major categories:

  # 1 – Detroit – $278.88 Per Night  (78% higher than average cost of US hotel room)

  # 2 – Washington, D.C. – $261.04 Per Night

  # 3 – Long Beach, Ca. – $$261.04 Per Night

  # 4 – Arlington, Va. – $235.56

  # 5 – New York City – $231.90

  We should also mention that if your secretary is booking your hotels by contacting them on your behalf, that is considered a “direct” booking. But unless you have demanded a refund, you have been paying the built-in travel agency commission of 8-10%. That amount should have been refunded to your credit card at check-out. Hotels will try to charge you the agency commission ever when you have not used an agency. You are entitled to a refund of that expense. In America, it is still unethical to charge individuals for services that were never provided. If you ask a hotel about this they will simply explain that we are “crazy”. But we have our sanity tested every day and we think that this is such a major consumer rip-off that it needs to be discussed.

• CAN YOU ADDRESS A BASIC QUESTION – RELATED TO SIZE?

  Q – Like a fair number of your followers, my wife and I are each anticipating retirement in about a year if Elon does not get to us before then! We are talking to agents here in Dallas but we are getting conflicting answers. We are not that well traveled, we will be in our mid-sixties in excellent shape, and we are, I suppose more adventurous than most. Cost is not really a factor.  And here’s our dilemma and where we are getting confusing information:

  We understand all of the advantages of cruising but there is no way we would ever board anything that carried more than a few hundred guests. We would want to travel to some really fascinating places – not London or Paris – and we would want to do some hiking, perhaps biking off the boat. We’d love to travel with a brand that stood for excellent service with fellow guests with enough energy to want to truly explore some exotic destinations.

  That all said, is there one cruise product that your team feels comes closest to potentially meeting and exceeding our expectations? Please just give me your first choice – we’re not interested in second or third. The agents I have talked to keep throwing Silversea and Viking at me. Thanks and very much enjoy the hardcore info on your site. 

  A – When it comes to the sailing experience we are convinced that “size” is the critical component. You should look first at Aqua Expeditions. They are, we believe, the best in the small ship expedition field. Their vessels never carry more than 350 guests and some of their smaller ships carry far less. They are best known for operating exploration journeys of quality in Peru on the Amazon, the Mekong (Cambodia and Vietnam) along with coastal yacht voyages to Komodo National Park and the Spice Islands. 

  Aqua’s newest yacht, the Aqua Mare, is based in the Galapagos Islands and carries up to 16 guests.

  Your stipulation that your “ship” carry fewer than 100 guests is self-limiting. We would suggest you use a new number – 600. That will get you more options, more activities, more shore excursions, and more dining choices. If you are amenable to that, we would suggest you throw Ritz Carlton Yachts into the mix. We would not rule out Silversea which will shortly be designated The World’s Top-Rated TrueLux line. 

  Please let us know how this all turns out and give all of the Dallas agents our warmest regards.
• HEADED TO SWEDEN UNTIL I READ THIS ………..

  Q – We are excited about a tour with Kensington followed preceded by a five nights in Stockholm which we booked ourselves online.

  Yesterday, we happened to look up some of the expected “excellent” ratings for Sweden’s safety only to discover that our State Department has issued a level 2 Warning for the country warning of “terrorists with little or no warning” who might attack any place where people tend to gather in large numbers. This could include “airports, cultural institutions, and major sporting events” to list a few.

  We have only been to Europe once before and this makes us very nervous. Should we reconsider this trip?

  A – Absolutely – we think you should cancel all foreign travel and stay home in the safety of our own country.

  Oh – wait a minute! Come to think of it, we currently rank # 134 on the International Safety Index, meaning that there are 133 countries in the world that are statistically safer than the United States. If you didn’t travel, you might be relying for your “view of the world” as presented by Whoopi and the ladies on “The View”. 

  Of course you should enjoy Sweden for all that it offers. The country ranks among the top three nations in the world on the “Happiness Index”. Its citizens would not be that happy if they feared for their lives. 

  In Gothenburg’s Ostra Nordstan shopping center and Old Townin Stockholm you could encounter some top-tier professional pickpockets.

  And watch out for the famed Swedish Taxi Scam – the meters are in Swedish krona but they may try to convince you that the fare is showing in Euros. 

  Other that that – enjoy every moment. Our State Department has to cover itself just in case. What we would really urge you to remember is that as soon as you are buckled in to your seat awaiting take-off, your life expectancy starts to increase in relationship to the amount of time you will be away from the USA. Sad, but true. If you want to know why – well, it’s a long story but it has to do with the availability of guns, our absolutely awful driving statistics, and the fact that we have a culture translating to the largest number of incarcerated citizens of any industrialized nation on earth. 

• IS CRYSTAL CRUISES REALLY OFFERING FAR SUPERIOR SHORE EXCURSIONS THROUGH A&K AS PREDICTED?

  Q – (3.3.25) – We are huge fans of the Traveltruth Media Group but there is one question I have been waiting for others to  ask. My husband and I are thinking about Crystal versus Seabourn for a cruise in Europe out of Venice next summer. We’ve sailed Seabourn twice before, once on an unforgettable journey to Antarctica, and were thoroughly impressed. They deserve your high rankings. But, among our 18 past cruises, are three on the “former” Crystal Cruises we absolutely loved! We have avoided them since the bankruptcy and the new Abercrombie & Kent purchase but we are now seriously thinking about them.

  We get Crystal mailings and they kept sort of hinting that on January 1st there would be a major change and the operation of shore excursions would now be handled by A&K local offices. They would, we were led to believe, be better than the shore excursions offered by anyone else in Europe because of A&K’s operation planning and access to the best places with the best guides. Despite the Crystal inferences, I have seen nothing in the press or on your sites to indicate that the big change expected on January 1st has taken place. So a simple question – did the improvement and takeover by A&K in terms of shore excursion quality actually take place? Can I be certain that the quality of Crystal shore excursions will, on the whole, be better than its five-star competitors? 

  A – The short answer is “No – not exactly”. It has not happened as some Crystal optimists had hoped it would. Instead, Crystal has announced that three years after their acquisition of Crystal, actual “A&K Experiences” will be available to guests.

  In reviewing A&K’s announcement carefully, it appears that the company is no longer making  claims about immediate changes in day-by-day shore excursions. Instead, A&K is taking a different path, announcing a series of longer pre/post cruise A&K branded experiences, most requiring several overnights.

  In 2025, the A&K branded pre/post programs will primarily be offered on cruises operating within Asia and Africa as well as a number of special land programs in India.

  The company admits it is “planting seeds” and will be expanding its programs in 2026 to include Alaska, Iceland, Italy, and France sailings.

  

  Every year will bring additional A&K Cruise tour offerings but it will likely be several years before A&K attempts the impossible task of operating all shore excursions under the company umbrella. The problem is that A&K simply has no offices in the majority of countries it visits via the Crystal brand.

  For now, what we can say with some accuracy, is that on a number of exotic sailings, A&K is offering longer pre and post programs to their guests of substantial quality – and cost. Very shortly, A&K will offer pre and post options unmatched by any competitor. We think that is a fair statement. But vast improvements in the overall quality of European shore excursions is a long way away and presents numerous operational hurdles. 

  What is often missing from the press coverage related to shore excursions is the fact that in most European ports, aside from the majors, there are only one or two shoreside companies with the financial stability, bus inventory, and contracted guides to handle several cruise ships arriving on the same day. Every cruise line must work with the firm that has the buses and the guides – they have little choice but to go with their programs. A&K has offices throughout the world. In the long run, that could become a serious competitive advantage. But, we think, that is years away. 

  We are getting extremely positive feedback from our guests on the new Crystal. It is, we believe, very significant that 82% of the original Crystal staff has returned. Our advice would be to stay with Crystal but sprinkle in a selection of personal tours in those ports where you have the strongest interest. 

   

   

   

   

   

   
• WE ARE DOING A BRITISH ISLES ESCORTED TOUR PROGRAM – DO WE NEED ONE OF THE NEW VISAS?

  Q – We booked a fully guided tour out of London and ending in Edinburgh. We booked it ourself and we have not received any information about the new Visa Program I have heard about. It is a 12-Day tour operated by a British company so, as Americans, I wonder what I need to do. Thanks in advance for any help you might provide. 

  A –  If you are connecting flights at Heathrow etc. you would not need the new ETA Visa. 

  As you will be traveling to other countries, you will need an ETA Visa to travel through the United Kingdom. This is easy to obtain online. The Visa is currently 10 British Pounds (about $12.00 P.P.)

  The most simple way to get the Visa is to download the UK ETA App on your phone using either the Apple App Store or Google Play.

  On Apple, the App is located under “Utilities.” There is no charge for the App.

  The process is quite simple – this is what you will need:

  • • Keep Passport handy
    • Have Credit Card handy
    • You will need to take a photo of your passport photo page as well as a self-photo from the neck up.
    • There is a simple online form to fill out

  It has been averaging 3-4 business days for the completed Visa to be returned to you.

  Your note was a tad disturbing. Why have you not been in touch with the tour operator you booked? Why are they not advising you on the Visa issue? Who is taking responsibility for the planning of your journey at the other end? Who is your travel advocate? 

  As it is highly likely you are being charged the travel agency commission of 12-15% for your guide/tour/hotel etc. we think you should reasonably expect assistance with your questions. We are always pleased to help but we want you to receive what you are already paying for in terms of your arrangements. No worries – the Brits are making the new ETA Visa as easy as possible – you know, just the way our government is making it easy for foreign passport holders from wealthy nations to enter the USA. 

• ARE THESE CRUISE UPGRADE OFFERS SOMETHING TO POUNCE ON?

  Q – (2.25.25) – We just received an unsolicited offer from Regent Seven Seas for a Suite Upgrade Bidding Offer. I wonder, first of all if this is legit as it did not come from my agent. But if it is legit – what gives? When did Regent start marketing like a three-star Vegas Hotel?

  The pricing could be good and it seems like a good deal. What do you recommend and does Regent really know anything about this offer?

  A – The offer you attached is quite legitimate and we imagine your agent was copied in. We share your opinion that this is a rather odd way to represent a supposed five-star cruise line. One has to imagine that this brilliant marketing ploy originated at one of NCH’s lower tier brands like Norwegian Cruises or Oceania. 

  This could work out well and there are many booked guests who will tell us that they are pleased with the Bid outcome. But this is what you must consider:

  • The chances are good that you would have received a better price than the Bid price on the upgraded category if you had booked it originally when prices were lower. Most five-star cruise lines raise their prices on a 90-120 day cycle.
  • If your “Bid” is accepted you will have no option to rescind it. You’re stuck.
  • You have no input in terms of where on the ship the suite is located. You must take what is assigned. Be certain you get on well with elevator shafts. What staterooms are left for the bidding process? Not the best-located ones.
  • Payment is due immediately once your Bid is accepted.
  • Most Bids are not accepted unless they come close to the high-end revenue goal of the cruise line.
  • No cruise line wants Bid Suite winners telling the fools who actually paid for their suite what a lousy deal they received. 

  It all boils down to what someone once said …”well, are you feelin lucky?”
• WHAT IF MY ‘LOVED ONE’ DIES ON DECK 7 WHILE CRUISING FAR AWAY FROM HOME?

  Q – (2.21.25) – Do not want to bring everyone on TT down BUT …………just returned from a cruise to Australia and New Zealand. Loved the cruise but one of the passengers died in his sleep and I could not believe the way it was handled. An announcement was made about what had happened and it seemed designed to impress how carefully it had all been handled and to show how considerate the crew had been. Then, two days later, the coffin was off-loaded (I learned that all of the better lines have an onboard morgue and coffins) in port before the rest of the passengers could disembark. Those having breakfast on the outside upper deck could witness the entire procedure.

  This upset me and led me to start thinking about what I could do if my husband or a loved one I was traveling with dies on a cruise ship in a foreign port. What should cruisers do to protect themselves in that situation? Would the ship just sail at its scheduled time leaving us to fend for ourselves with the coffin? I apologize for bringing up this subject but I imagine there are others who might want to know. 

  A – No worries at all. It is a thoughtful and important question. Here are a few points that might be helpful:

  01 – Assuming you are on one of the higher-rated lines, the port agent would be put in touch with you and arrangements with a local funeral parlor would be made. The ship might, or might not, help you with hotel reservations. But the ship will still sail on time, leaving you alone.

  02 –  The best outcome would occur if you booked the trip with a travel advisor who was a member of one of the leading agency consortiums like Signature, Travel Leaders, Ensemble, or Virtuoso, that has “on-site” offices around-the-globe. Your advisor would likely have a relationship with the on-site office in the city or country where you have disembarked and they would contact them to try to assist you with hotel, procedures, drivers etc. That is a best-case scenario. 

  03 – If the above is not possible, you would try to book into the best hotel near the port. You would then work with the Concierge Team to contact the funeral home etc. and to arrange for air home, loading of the casket on the aircraft etc. Your Travel Advisor would be in touch with the hotel Concierge to help coordinate these efforts. You may need the services of a local attorney.

  04 – Most of the better travel insurance policies would cover most of the costs indicated above. But specific coverage details are often overlooked so we recommend paying particular attention to the provisions of your policy related to death. You would also be in contact with your insurance provider back home who would begin the necessary paperwork. The funeral home would usually assist with the forms needed to depart the country with your loved one.

  The bottom line is that this is another real-life example of why you should never book anything travel-related either directly or through a 1-800 call center in Miami or Mumbai. The same is true of online bookers. Work with a human who knows and cares about you and your family. It may take a year or two to find such a person but they are out there. 

  Hug your husband as often as you can.

• SHOULD WE GO OR SHOULD WE GO TO THE ‘ASIAN” SIDE OF THE RIVER IN ISTANBUL?

  Q – We are going to be in Istanbul for eight days this Fall, visiting friends and spendings several days on our own exploring. One of the things we are wondering about is whether or not it is recommended to cross over the Bosporus for the day? Is it safe? Worthwhile? 

  A – It is a wonderful idea for one or two days. There was historical animosity that lasted for centuries between the European and Asian sides of this important river. But now, with prices skyrocketing in metropolitan Istanbul, many artists and university graduates prefer to live on the Asian side in Kadikoy. The short ferry ride is fun and on arrival you will be seeing an area that has been compared to Brooklyn vs. Manhattan. You will find colorful streets, markets, and lots of coffee bars. Really worth strolling without the tourist crunch sometimes evident in the big city just across the sea. 

• IS THERE A RELIABLE WAY TO SEARCH FOR THE LOWEST AIRFARES ONLINE?
  Q – Is there one best place to check online when seeking the lowest price for a domestic air ticket?

  A – We hear a great deal about this subject and, were we to believe the ads, online travel agencies are each given their own, private airfares on every worldwide flight. Of course this is not true. Fares can change on a minute-by-minute basis as they are not created by humans. In fact, we now have a process that allows computer programs to personalize air quotes based on each consumer’s personal online profile consisting of an average of more than 2,000 specific data points. So your purchase habits at Walmart or on Amazon can help determine the airfare you will quoted by an online source. 

  We do think that a good start is one of Google’s latest features, the “Aggregation” of fares from third parties. Google now has a new tag identified as “Cheapest”. But be aware that the cheapest airfares may well involve routing and/or airport changes that are less than desirable. As a general rule, non-stop airfares are normally higher, often by a significant amount, than more “creative routing” that dramatically increases your risks of missed connections or lost baggage. 

  There are, so-called, “Air Consolidators”, online vendors who claim to have lower fares often involving contracts with specific carriers. This makes sense until you realize that other airlines will generally not recognize these tickets. That means that if your flight is canceled, other airlines flying the route you need will not accept the ticket you are holding. 

  As your question relates solely to domestic flights, we recommend that you personally call the airlines that fly the route you will want. Ask for the lowest current fare. Explain that you work for Elon Musk and you don’t earn much. 

• WE LIVE IN MANITOBA – WE’RE DIFFERENT – WHEN SHOULD WE SAIL THE DANUBE?

  Q – Greatly enjoying this site – even if it is not written by a Canadian. We are anticipating our first European River Cruise next year. I know that my friends in the lower 50 are greatly concerned about too much sunshine and the fact that other tourists may be present in “alarming” numbers. Not my concern. I just want/need sunshine. As much of it as I can get. I will deal with your warnings of horrible heat by simply purchasing a cup of Tim Horton’s, or some locally awful substitute, and enjoying the warmth that surrounds me.  

  So, given that, which month has the warmest temperatures in Budapest, Prague, and Vienna?

  A – You will want to do the Danube in July when you should average 7.9 hours of sunshine per day. That compares to 4.1 in London in July. But it strikes us that your smartest move might be to simply move to Los Angeles where you can enjoy 8.9 hours of sunshine per day in July.   

  We value our Canadian clients and readers and we wish you a memorable Danube experience. And do remember a phrase that many of us feel is the ultimate truth – “If your donut is fresh and your coffee is hot – then you’ve got more than any man’s got”.

• WHAT IS THE BEST STRATEGY TO USE AIRLINE POINTS – I HAVE OVER 1 MILLION ON UNITED

  Q – I have, lovingly supported United Airlines for the past fourteen years in my work which requires frequent cross-country travel. I am not a “points geek” and I don’t waste my time using points to fly for business domestically. I just gather those points like a squirrel hoarding nuts with the idea that in one year and three months, when I retire, my wife and I can use my current 1.3 million United Miles to enjoy many years of retirement travel abroad. I suppose my question is, “If I were a Points Geek – would I be doing anything different – would I use any specific strategy to stay ahead of the game”? Enjoy your approach – keep it up. 

  A – As the Wall Street Journal recently pointed out, we are going through a process called “Pointsflation”. The fact is that saving mileage award points is not at all like investing in a money market fund – your points are actually losing value the longer you fail to use them. One example in the WSJ concerned a Delta non-stop from JFK to London Heathrow. It was 86,000 points on 2019- it will now cost you over 150,000 points. Just last year on United, you could use points to fly to Paris CDG using 60,000 points – that flight is now hovering close to 100,000 points. This is all deliberate. It is an easy way for the airlines to enhance profits by increasing the cost to use miles on any popular route. 

  If you were investing cash in an interest bearing account we would recommend sticking with your plan. By given that this is “Airline World” and “Airline Ethics”, we would suggest that you figure out a way to use your miles for business travel as soon as possible and save the money you are saving your company by investing it for your retirement travel. 

• CAN WE GET THIS DEAL ON AMA WATERWAYS?

  Q – We are booked on our second AMA sailing on the Rhine River in May of 2026. We were able to receive a nice discount of about 20% when we originally booked this several months ago. Yesterday, we received an AMA e-mail notifying us that they are now offering complimentary three-night land packages to guests booked on Rhine sailings, including our specific itinerary. When our trusted agent called to get us set up with the comp land program we were told that it does not apply to our sailing but we can buy it for an additional $2500. This seems like misleading advertising. What are my options?

  A – Welcome to the wonderful world of consumer travel advertising. Your sailing is heavily booked. Prices have gone up twice since you originally made your booking. Because prices have gone up, you will need to pay more should you cancel and re-book with the current offer. On the other hand, on your sailing, AMA will “allow” you to purchase the land offer for only $2500.

  On escorted tours, pricing is more heavily regulated because no one wants to spend ten nights touring on a motorcoach with riders comparing notes on what they paid. And think of the poor tour guide who has to deal with price allegations.

  But the cruise and riverboat firms worry less about passengers talking to one another. The major mass market lines discount at will and they often discount as sailings with empty cabins approach sailing date. The major four and five star lines, however, generally reward guests who book the earliest – the rule of thumb is the first “20%” always get the very best pricing. The prices, as we have indicated, start rising on an average three-month cycle. 

  The “tricky part” comes when it is decided to match a price increase with a “special booking incentive offer” while trying to never mention the fact that the cruise or riverboat price has gone up. 

  We checked, and in your specific case, you can get the free land offer on some of the potentially poor weather spring and fall dates. But riverboat guests planning to travel next summer should be aware that inventory on Europe’s major rivers for prime season already has already fallen to just below 30%. If you booked one of the “weather and water level” riskier dates, you will also find that cabin selection is quite minimal.

  There are always exceptions, a part of what makes our work so fascinating, but you are most often going to be best served by booking early and taking advantage of early booking discounts without the tainted applesauce in the form of “special deals at a higher cost. 

   
• I KEEP SEEING THOSE CHARMING VIKING ADS – BUT WONDERING WHO OWNS THEM AND WHO IS PAYING FOR THEIR SEEMINGLY UNENDING GROWTH?

  Q  – I keep seeing these rather charming, British voice-over ads for Viking Cruises. It seems like they are among the largest lines but I am wondering who owns them and are they really that successful? The ads keep talking to me and inviting me to sail – but who is really doing the inviting?

  A –  There really is no such thing as “Viking Cruises”, There are three brands of cruises, Viking River Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Viking Expeditions which, together, form a single company “Viking” that is owned by the Norwegian billionaire Torstein Hagen. The company is privately-owned, an anomaly among mega-lines and Hagen owns 77% of the company.

  It is quite a success story. Tor had been CEO of Royal Viking Line in the early eighties. In 1997, serving as a consultant, he helped a group of Russian oligarchs buy a shipping company. Out of gratitude, they sold him four river boats to launch his own company at a sharply discounted rate. In 2000, Hagen was able to quickly expand and his purchased KD River Cruises of Europe and their fleet of 22 vessels. KD also owned several advantageous anchorages which Viking still uses to its advantage.

  Viking does its Marketing out of a headquarters in Los Angeles but the real company headquarters is in Basel, Switzerland. This is where crew hiring, training, and marine operations is centered.   

  

  With more than 90 ships sailing on rivers, lakes and oceans around the world, Viking is one of cruising’s major players. Its European river fleet is the largest in Europe and Viking has river ships on the Mekong, the Nile and the Mississippi. The fleet continues to expand. Ten more Viking Longships will join the river fleet by the end of 2026 and a new Mekong ship, Viking Tonle, launches in October 2025.

  The ocean fleet includes two luxury expedition ships and 10 new-build ocean ships (all identical). Viking Vela  launched in December this year and Viking Vesta in 2025.

  Of course, with more than 90 ships in its fleet, and a massive new-ship building program underway, Viking is no stranger to debt.

  Entering 2023 it had  about 4.7 billion in debt. Viking’s interest expenses ballooned 41% between 2020 and 2022, and cruise operators have generally been looking to cut funding costs by selling new notes.

  

  Viking, the only pure-play luxury cruise line, has reported its first quarterly earnings since going public. The company is targeting English-speakers over the age of 55, a demographic with most of the wealth and a broad eagerness to travel. The cruise line generated 4.7 billion in revenue in fiscal 2023, compared to 3.18 billion in 2022 and 625.1 million in 2021. Like most of the cruise lines operating in North America, Viking profit patterns are extremely positive and debt is being paid down. 

• MAY WE REQUEST MORE “INSIDER’ AIR INFORMATION – THIS IS AN ‘AIRLESS” SITE
  Q – (12.9/24) – No one would deny that this is an unusually honest and helpful site, but I do have one criticism I hope you will consider. Whatever destination or mode of exploration you are discussing, the fact is that we need to fly there. So I think it would be extremely helpful to include more insider air advice whenever it relates to any of the questions posed. Just a suggestion. You seem to avoid air advice rather than take a deep dive into it. 

  A –  Fair enough – we are not air experts and, in fact, we do not believe that our business should be processing air arrangements. Our strengths lie in worldwide vacation planning. Air is a much more specialized field than many in the industry would acknowledge. Our approach is to outsource air for our clients to the very best air experts in the nation. We think that air has become a more complex component of the vacation planning matrix. Dynamic pricing and shortages of aircraft, pilots, and air traffic controllers is causing an increasing number of cancellations. So we want everyone we work with to have their own Concierge monitoring their flights for any changes or cancellations. We do not advise purchasing any airline ticket from any online firm that does not provide personalized flight monitoring services. 

  If you want to hear airline insider buzz from experts you may want to start following the following sites:

  • View from The Wing
  • The Cranky Flier
  • The Points Guy
  • The New York Times Travel Newsletter
  • Travel Weekly Magazine
  • Travel Pulse

  All of that said – we will leave you with just a little bit of gossip/valuable air information that we hope may be useful: 

  • When the Chinese tourism market opens up to its full potential, many airline executives expect to see pricing come down on international flights. This is particularly true of some of the better government-owned and controlled carriers.
  • US major airlines need to turn a profit – that is not a major issue for several of the world’s leading international carriers based in Asia and particularly the Middle East. Plane for plane – the Middle East currently provides the highest levels of service and dependability in the air. They also have the best record when it comes tot he number of flight cancellations.
  • International carriers vary in  terms of how they handle refunds to consumers. Currently, TAP, the airline of Portugal, and Air Canada have the poorest reputation when it comes to refunds related to issues of guest satisfaction.
  • Some international frequent fliers will tell you they try to connect overseas through Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. (Although the airport is technically in Virginia) This is particularly true when the flights are headed to the Gulf Region. It is thought that there are “Diplomatic” reasons for favorable pricing.
  • It is not a bad idea to do your flight searching with Google flights. They have a feature that allows you to request updates when the price of the flights you are interested in are heading south.
• A PERSONAL QUESTION ABOUT HOTEL TIPPING

  Q – Thanks for this really uniquely honest site. I keep looking for the ads! So nice to see a site where no PR crapola is tolerated. 

  My wife and I like to stay in four and five-star hotels when we travel regularly throughout Europe. We are wondering, under normal circumstances, who and how much should we be tipping non-food related staff?

  A – This is, of course, a personal question which we will answer – but please do what is most comfortable for you:

  Valet/Baggage Handling – 1-2 Euros per bag based on service

  Concierge Desk – 5 – 10 Euros for services including dinner reservations or private touring (Dinner reservations should not be more than 5 Euro as the Concierge may well be receiving a kick-back from  the restaurant)

  Housekeeping Maids – In the vast majority of hotel properties worldwide, these are the hardest working and most poorly compensated service providers. An envelope with a brief note and a gratuity of 5-10 Euros per night would be truly appreciated and may well help out a family that needs some help. 

• HOW DO WE FIND THE VERY BEST ALASKA CRUISE OPTIONS AND AVAILABILITY AND PRICING ONLINE?

  Q – We will want to be booking a nice, very nice, Alaska Cruise next summer. We will be joined by four friends and we will want to sail out of Vancouver B.C. or Juneau on a cruise that is somewhere between ten and twelve nights. How do I do my research before taking it to a travel agent?

  A – Well, first of all, you don’t need to do your own research. For the commission they will earn, a travel advisor should be willing to get to know you a bit followed by some specific recommendations designed to meet your specific needs. But that said, you may want to start by clicking on the link to www.cruisetruth.com on the bottom of this page. Once on cruise truth (there is no registration required) just go to the cruise database section. There, using a simple drop down menu, you can search for cruises that are ranked among the Top Ten lines by company, date, number of nights, and destination. All of your options will pop up. There are no ads and there is no sales hype. It is a great way to search independently. 

  There are no prices. Consumers need to understand that the entire purpose of a travel website is to get you to click and to fall into the waiting arms of a crowded call enter where you will meet someone speaking to you from a small cubicle. They are paid a small commission to get you to book directly because it saves the company a much larger commission built into your quoted fare. No cruise line, or tour operator for that matter, keeps real time availability information on their website. For that, your agent needs to look closely at the real time computer statistics – and they can change by the minute. 

  As to pricing – cruises are sold much like hotel rooms. As hotels book up for certain dates, the price of their rooms are raised by complicated algorithms. You would need to work with a qualified advisor or call the cruise line directly to get accurate pricing. Several cruise lines are canceling scheduled sailings in the Orient and Europe and placing additional tonnage in Alaska in anticipation of strong sales next summer. Do try to book your Alaska cruise 14-12 Months in advance. 

  Here is a rule of thumb that will help you choose the best overall strategy and time to book:

  

  The “Cruise lines” (3,00-6,000 passenger Floating Walmarts) are not concerned that some of their guests will pay more than others. This is not a major discussion topic in the buffet line. They do last-minute deals, early booking deals, and deals associated with nearly every Holiday you can imagine. 

  The inclusive, “TrueLux” top-tier lines cater to a much more sophisticated clientele. They feel they could lose the loyalty of their valued guests if folks who waited until the last minute scored a better price than those who booked early. The norm for the TrueLux Lines (The Top Ten Lines in the World as reported on Cruisetruth.com) is that they raise their pricing every 90-120 days. There may be offers but they always refer to current price levels that can often be significantly higher than the pricing paid by those who booked early.

   

• WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THE ANTI-AMERICAN FEELINGS THAT WILL LIKELY GROW UNDER A TRUMP PRESIDENCY?

  Q – (12.3.24) – Given all that is involved in traveling overseas on vacation about twice a year, and as a former engineer with a wife who is a CPA, we like to plan our travels almost two years out. As we look at 2026 and beyond, we are struck that neither traveltruth or any of the other major travel sites that we follow seems to have any concerns, as we do, that a Trump presidency, given his criminality and tendency to pull away from support of Europe and Ukraine, will result in waves of anti-tourist and anti-American feelings of a level that could make it really uncomfortable for Americans traveling abroad. You seem unafraid about taking on tough travel industry issues but we wonder why you have been so silent on this one? How do you see Americans being greeted in Spain and Italy, for instance, during the next four years?

  A –  You are projecting something that might happen. There is no solid evidence that we have seen that indicates that Europe, or any other part of the world for that matter, will turn its back and put up the “Unwelcome” signs for American tourists spending American dollars in their countries, because we have just elected a government that is to the “right” of what we had. Our clients traveling within Europe since the election are not experiencing any anti-American manifestations.

  Yes, there are over-tourism demonstrations in major Italian cities. There were some American tourists who were sprayed with water pistols as they sat in cafes along Laa Ramblas in Barcelona. But the kind of anti-American political rallies you suggest have just not happened. Not yet. That is probably why travel writers, most of whom are rewarded with free trips for every story they publish, have not tried to look ahead to judge what might happen under the Trump second reign.

  But you need to also put this into some kind of perspective. As American drifts toward the right so has large sections of Europe. Italy now has a right-wing government, Hungary has a very right-wing government, and the “Right” has made steady progress where their cooperation is now required to form any kind of viable coalition, in France.  So are the Europeans in any position to rally against our domestic politics?

  From our research, you may have a point. And that is the other side of the coin. Off the record, we know that two major tour operators are increasing the number of domestic tour programs they will be offering in 2026 while reducing some international destination departures. In  other words, although it has not yet been reported in the travel press, there are some interesting assumptions being made at the highest industry levels that international travel for Americans may well decrease under Trump. 

  Our Senior Editor, Richard Turen, reports that several industry leaders are concerned about the way American tourists may be greeted abroad in the near-future. The specifics cited in private, off-the-record interviews, involve the likelihood that before too long video of illegal immigrants being rounded up, placed in detention camps, and forcibly sent back to their country of origin, may dominate news coverage in major European capitals. The widespread video leading newscasts and major news apps may, it is thought, trigger a level of anti-American feelings we have not seen before. This will start in universities and then spread is the dominant theory. But this is just theoretical at this point. 

  If the United States does, indeed, as threatened, pull out of the NATO Alliance, that could also create high levels of anti-American feelings in Europe. We have, after all, for better or worse, established ourselves as Europe’s defender. 

  You ask why we have been “silent” on this issue. Traveltruth is a consumer-based Q&A site with no ads or PR phony hype. We try to respond to all questions asked. Ours is not a “political” site. There are more than enough of those. But the real reason we have been quiet on this issue is that, thus far, there is little evidence of the kind of anti-American behavior you are suggesting. It is interesting to note that some major travel firms seem to be planning for the eventuality of increasing anti -American tourist sentiment. But even there – let’s be careful about drawing assumptions. We know that a strong anti-tourist movement already exists in many major tourist centers abroad. But anti-tourist or anti-cruise sentiment is not necessarily directed at American citizens or a particular brand of politics. 

  AND – there are a number of destinations within the United States where locals are unhappy with the spending habits ashore of mass market cruise tourism. When your meals, entertainment, and credits in the onboard gift shops is included in your fare, the average mass market cruiser is not really motivated to shop and dine to the degree that it really has a positive impact on the local economy.

• WE HAVE JAPAN ON OUR ‘BUCKET LIST’ BUT WE KEEP HEARING IT IS THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE CITY? IS THERE A WAY TO BEAT THE HIGH COSTS WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY?

  Q – This site has been really amazing and we use it to guide our future travel planning. Some day we hope to be able to afford your personal services. Like everyone else, we have a bucket list, and Japan is at the top of the list. But we keep hearing that Japan is one of the two or three most expensive cities on earth to visit so we’ve put it off for years. Just wondering your thoughts – we can afford to travel well but we do have limits on what we will spend on any single two-week trip. Should we just take Tokyo off the list?

  A – There are several inaccurate assumptions in your question. The news is all good so we are very pleased you took the time to ask us.

  The idea that Tokyo is the most expensive city int he world is a long-held travel myth. Some of it has been perpetuated by travel writers and bloggers. In fact, the latest edition of the Economist’s List of the World’s Most expensive cities based on cost of living and travel statistics, shows that of the sixty most expensive cities to visit or live in on earth, Tokyo ranks number sixty. There are 59 worldwide cities that are more expensive than Japan.

  We recently returned from our twice-annual Signature vacation with our clients and did a cruise around Japan on Regent Seven Seas preceded by three nights in Tokyo. Our group was so impressed with the costs we encountered that many, among our 53 guests, did a surprising amount of shopping. Prices were that good. 

  Absolutely go to Japan and you will quickly see that reports of its high prices are greatly exaggerated. 

  In terms of your comment that you hope to be able to afford our “personal services” – we will only state one fact. In 2023, 91% of our transactions and services to our clients were offered on a complimentary basis with no fees of any kind. In 2024, after all is tabulated, we expect that figure to be about the same. 

  Forget about us – the fact is that you can normally utilize the experience and knowledge, as well as access, of a top-tier travel advisor on a complimentary basis. AND – please note that if you should decide to make your own arrangements without using a travel advisor, you are still going to pay the built-in travel advisor commission. It is a part of every price quote and direct bookings allow the cruise line, tour operator, or hotel to more than double their profit without informing the consumer as to what they are doing. 

  We urge you to keep Japan high on your bucket list.
• IS FOOD POISONING TYPICAL ON LONG-DISTANCE FLIGHTS?

  Q –  I fly a fair amount for business and recently returned from the Orient on Malaysian Airlines where I managed to get a bad case of food poisoning despite flying Business Class. Malaysian has responded to my online account but I am wondering just how common food poisoning is on long-distance international flights? I was wondering if you give your clients any specific advice about what to avoid eating on an aircraft?

  A – This has really not been an issue in the airline industry. The airborne food suppliers generally work under strict supervision as a single case of food poisoning, such as yours, can lead to a public relations nightmare. We do not instruct guests in Business as to what foods they should not order but we do recommend that all fliers on longer flights consider putting together their own picnic basket using food outlets in the airport. Of course, those who pay thousands of dollars to fly Business or First Class are unlikely to take this advice. We do urge our three clients who fly economy to consider avoiding meals served in the back of the plane. 

  But you asked a serious question so let us share the following:

  It is best to avoid food poisoning by avoiding certain products:

  • Salads served in the air are usually from a bag and may contain ingredients with some risk of e-coli contamination.
  • Fish is risky -particularly raw fish served on some Asian carriers. Avoid uncooked fish.
  • Avoid ice cubes in your drinks – trusting that ice is made from purified water in an act of faith best avoided
  • Always avoid ordering coffee or tea for reasons enumerated elsewhere on our site.

  Now that we have said this – allow us to stress our initial point: Food poisoning traced to onboard cuisine is just not an industry issue. It is a rather rare occurrence. Coach food served aboard aircraft prepared in kitchens in a non-developed country should be avoided. It is acceptable and wise to ask the flight attendant the country of origin for the food you are being served.

  We urge our clients to consider a “Picnic at 33,000 Feet”. Have the flight attendant deliver your tray without appetizers or the main entree. Then add your favorite sandwiches prepared fresh in the airport before you boarded and kept in a refrigerated bag. You will enjoy your sandwich(s) and you will have few concerns about food poisoning. 

• HOW DOES AQUA EXPEDITIONS STACK UP AGAINST AMA OR AVALON?

  Q – (11.28.24)  – We are thinking about joining friends who have booked a small ship, I guess you would call it a riverboat line, called Aqua Expeditions sailing the Amazon next year. I looked over the consumer riverboat site, www.riverboatratings.com and could not find Aqua listed among the top five lines. Wondering why?

  A – Your friends have made an excellent selection – choosing the very top-rated riverboat experience along the Amazon. Aqua Expeditions is a well-run, high-end, small collection of vessels that ply waterways in South America and in parts of Asia like the Mekong River. They are not ranked, although they are mentioned, on Riverboatratings.com because the site is dedicated to riverboats that ply the rivers in Europe, where Aqua does not operate. From food to personalized service and quality of shore excursions, you will be in the best possible hands with Aqua. Kudos to your friend’s travel advisor. 

  One bit of advice – the Amazon River basin is one of the most disease-ridden areas of the world for tourists. You should definitely use the services of a tropical medicine clinic as well as your personal physician to make certain that your shots are all up-to-date as required and recommended. This is not a reason not to go – just a warning that advance preparation and the information provided by a trusted advisor are critically important. 

  Currently, there is no small, exclusive Riverboat firm operating where Aqua Expeditions sails that offers a superior product.

   

• HOW DO I GET REGENT SEVEN SEAS TO GET ME ONE OF SEVERAL NON-STOP FLIGHTS HOME?

  Q – (9.21.24) – We are sailing Regent Seven Seas next summer and just received our  Business Class Air Schedule. Although there are several non-stop options to Phoenix from London they are asking us to fly to LA and then connect back to Phoenix on the return. With several non-stop alternatives, I don’t see why they would inconvenience their guests with this kind of schedule. How can we get them to change it? Why in the world would they pick a schedule that is so clearly inconvenient for their guests?

  A – You are booked on the, now discontinued, “Free Business Air” Program operated by Regent for many years. This process in fairly complex as tickets are purchased and flights assigned through a separate office at the airlines contracted for specific gateway cities. In fact, it is the airline that ultimately chooses the flights based on the pricing parameters set up contractually. In your case, the airline fares for the non-stops are significantly higher than the agreed  fare arrangements with Regent. They will book you on the non-stop return but the airline is requiring a $2200 per person upcharge to reflect what the real cost of the non-stop would be versus the net contract rate. 

  You have not been assigned the non-stop on the return because the airline is charging the cruise line significantly more than their agree-to budgetary costs for the air service.

  The fact is that the major airlines operating routes to Europe no longer feel that they need to dilute their revenue by providing contracted fares to cruise lines and tour operators. We are starting to see major lines eliminate or drastically change their previous air programs based on favorable rates unavailable to the general public. 

  Regent has been affected by this is a major way as previously discussed on this site. Effective September 1, 2024, they eliminated the Free Business Air Option. Now, guests are given a specific quote for air based on the class of service, their gateway, and the specific flight option. The “Ultimate” Regent option includes the air, transfers on arrival and departure, as well as a $500 Limousine company credit to be used for transportation to/from the airport or some time during the cruise in port. 

  We are now advising, that in the case of Regent, guests carefully consider choosing and booking the air independently. 

  It is important to point out that Regent’s competitors on the TrueLux List  of the world’s best cruise lines are not currently offering an inclusive Free Business Air Program. There are carefully orchestrated efforts by major luxury lines to get out of the air business whenever possible given the disappearance of once-common “contract rate” agreements. 

  Cruise lines were once able to offer attractive “free air” rates on international itineraries. The airlines have now moved away from these arrangements as they feel they can fill their seats at higher rates than cruise lines are willing to pay.

• WONDERING HOW SILVERSEA IS HANDLING RESTAURANT UPCHARGES ON THE SILVER DAWN THAT WE ARE BOOKING FOR MARCH 2026?

  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. 

  

   
• FLYING TO JAPAN AFTER CONNECTION IN DALLAS: HOW CAN WE MAXIMIZE OPPORTUNITY TO SLEEP?

  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.
• WONDERING IF YOU FEEL ‘CLEAR” MEMBERSHIP WILL HELP US MOVE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS FASTER?

  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. 

   

• WE ARE PLANNING A MEMORABLE FAMILY VACATION IN FRANCE. WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ‘BEHAVIORAL’ RULES TO KNOW?

  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. 

   
• ANXIOUS TO STAY IN THE COUNTRY THEY SAY DOES NOT EXIST? SO WHERE IS IT?

  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.

   
• IS IT TRUE? IS THERE REALLY AN AIRLINE THAT CATERS TO DOGS

  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.

   

• OFF TO BRUSSELS AND BRUGE IN APRIL, 2025. WILL WE NEED TO GET ETIAS PASS?

  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:

   

   

• READY TO TRAVEL AND NEED FEEDBACK ON A 32-DAY VIKING CRUISES AUSTRALIA CIRCUMNAVIGATION

  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. 

  

• How Do We Find the Best Travel Insurance Information that Isn’t Biased?

  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.    
• HEADING TO HAWAII AND PLANNING TOURING BY HELICOPTER – IS IT SAFE?

  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. 

   
• SHOULD WE SWITCH OVER OUR CURRENT REGENT BOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW ROUND-TRIP LIMO THAT IS INCLUDED WITH AIR?
  

  Q – We are fairly new to the cruise game – so forgive us a rather basic question. We are, or were, happily booked on a lovely Regent Seven Seas Cruise to Japan in 2026. We live in Arizona and were thrilled to discover we could receive free air with our cruise in Business Class, along with transfers to the hotel and then later to the ship and back to the airport at the end of our cruise. Last week, I received a mailing, with a fair bit of “fine print” that said that the Free Air Program now includes round-trip limousine service from our home from a company called Blacklane. We are traveling with my wife’s sister and her husband and using their local travel agent based in Prescott.  Even though we are not your clients, wonder if you might take a moment to advise if we should switch over to the new program. We all really enjoy this site. 

  A – Thank you for your question and it will be a pleasure to respond. This site was designed to help travelers and travel advisors from all over North America so there is no issue with your using your sister’s agent.

  If you did not take the current offer you would have received an air credit of approximately (depending on date) $2700 per person. The program you reference went into effect on July 1st, 2024. You now pay for the Business Air, upwards of $5,000 + from Phoenix, and, for that, you receive a $500 limo package from Blacklane, a limo company headquartered in Germany.

  This is all rather complex and we have received more than two dozen questions on this specific topic. To make things simple let us break down what you need to know in bullet points. Excuse the lack of flowery sentences:

  • Anyone who was booked under the old, pre-July 1st change has received much more favorable pricing from Regent. If you were to take advantage of the new offer, you would have to cancel your current booking and then re-book at today’s rate which is significantly higher. Although they fail to mention it in their ads, the luxury cruise lines tend to have fare increases every 90-120 days so, as the ship fills up, those who book later pay more. There are always “deals” in mailings and cruise ads. But, the “secret sauce” is that to take advantage of any deal you must re-book at the new rate as of the current date – and it will always be higher, often much higher, than the no-deal rate would have been six months earlier.
  • The included Business Class air program Regent has used for years is no longer sustainable. With plane delivery and supply train issues, seat prices have been going up and the airlines are less willing to enter into reduced fare contracts with cruise lines. This is particularly true when it comes to seats in the often sold out front of the aircraft. 
  • Regent must individually quote each new air offer and it will be based on publicly available fares you can often obtain on your own. Do note that Regent’s quote includes round-trip transfers with a value from Blackstone of $500. If you work directly with an airline you will not get that credit. 
  • If you choose to get to the airport on your own, you can keep the Blacklane credit and use it to provide sightseeing/private drivers in one or more of the ports you will be visiting. But to use Blacklane, you will need to download their App and do everything with them directly online. 
  • Taken together, Regent’s newly-announced Air Program will cost guests several thousands of dollars more than their previous program. Guest’s should now pay particular attention to booking Regent’s lowest “Cruise Only” rates. But, for convenience and ease of use, many guests will continue to ask that their Advisor have Regent include the entire Air Package in their booking.

  So – your case, we would urge you to stick with what you have and give your Prescott Travel Agent our best regards. Hope it is a truly memorable trip – and remember – as you stand on any corner in any major city in Japan, one out of every three women you see under the age of 50 has never, ever been on a date. Japan now has negative population growth which is why they are embracing immigration. 

• REQUESTED AGENCY REFUND FROM HOTEL BUT HAVING TROUBLE GETTING AIRLINE TO RETURN TRAVEL AGENCY COMMISSION

  Q – Thank you! Amazing how much of the “travel truth” escapes media interest given the huge ad spending stats from the industry. My wife and I are in our early forties and we are waiting to travel internationally until we get a bit closer to retirement age. We do most of our own planning, not because we think we are saving money but, rather, because we enjoy the planning part of every domestic journey. 

  We have taken your advice regarding securing rebates of the built in travel agent commission when we book hotels. We have had only moderate success but it has been fun trying and watching them defend charging us the travel agent commission when we never worked with a travel agent.

  But the fun aspect does not apply to the airlines. Our demands for a commission rebate have fallen on deaf and sometimes “rude” ears. Are we missing something?

  A – We admire your tenacity in the light of truth but the airlines are a dead end street when it comes to getting the commission returned to you. The reason is simple – they stopped including the travel agent commission in ticket pricing more than a decade ago. That is why almost all travel agents have to charge ticket fees for the processing of airline tickets. The larger agencies do negotiate override commission deals but the consumer really is not entitled to any commission rebate on air tickets because it is not, as it is with hotels, cruises, and tours, baked into the final pricing. 

• GOING ON A LONGER SEABOURN CRUISE AND WONDERING IF THE DOCTOR’S SERVICES” COME WITH THE FARE?

  Q – (5.14.24) I won’t bore you with my medical history. I am going to be 79 and I have type-2 Diabetes along with several other maladies – some related, some not. We are going to be going on a 54-day sailing on Seabourn in Asia that combines several shorter sailings. Can you confirm that should my wife or I need the on-board doc’s services they are included in the fare. I seem to have read that on so-called Grand Voyages” and the Around-the-World’s” the physician’s services are all included. Can you verify? 

  A  –  No verification here. This must be explored with your travel advisor and Seabourn management. Here is what you need to know and what you need to do:

  • Have your physician prepare a detailed list of your current medical concerns and a full list of your medications. Have your travel advisor submit that list to Seabourn or do it directly for reasons of privacy. The on-board physician will need your medical summary information.
  • Your assumption was, at one time, correct. But cruise lines have been getting away from unrestricted commitments to include medical services on any length of voyage. There are just too many insurance issues. It is more likely that your initial consultation will be included in your fare but additional services will not be complimentary. You need to get this policy in writing. You need to know exactly what will be included in onboard medical services and what won’t be. Your advisor can assist with this.
  • We want you to understand that the ship’s onboard physician does not work for Seabourn. They are independent contractors. Seabourn insurance will not, generally, cover interactions with the shipboard physician. 
  • You need to investigate the potential of a huge medical bill should something unexpected happen. Will Medicare or your private insurance cover you? To what extent? Have you taken out medical insurance? What are its provisions? Have you taken our advice to never take out travel insurance unless it specificifically provides at least $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage?

  Going on a cruise with Diabetes is not unusual. But going away, anywhere, out-of-country for two months and traveling to areas where the local hospital situation may not be up to US standards, is something we would urge you to consider carefully. Your medical; health issues and paperwork must be in order and you need to know who to notify if you encounter unexpected issues. Your Advisor should be discussing all of this with you in some detail. As you have not mentioned that a professional advisor is involved, the possibility exists that you are not using one or that you are making your arrangements online or directly with the cruise line. Don’t.

  You are going to be paying many thousands of dollars in travel agent’s services even if you don’t use an agent. It makes sense to share your concerns with a specialist who will adviuse you on the above. In your case, you might want to contact someone locally so you can sit down face-to-face to discuss these medical concerns in person.

  Wishing you a smooth, healthy 54 Days seeing some of this planet of ours. 

• IS IT TRUE THAT AMA WATERWAYS HAS BEEN SOLD AND HOW MIGHT THAT AFFECT OUR BOOKING ON TH MEKONG NEXT JANUARY?

  Q – (5.12.24) We can’t wait to sail the AMA Spirit to Vietnam and Cambodia. But a friend who follows social media more closely than I ever will, just advised us that AMA has been sold and that it is no longer an American company. We’ve sailed with them twice before, once on the Duoro in Portugal and once for the Christmas markets along the Rhine. We love the line and the people it attracts. We know that you rate them highly but we now have some worries that the AMA we know will not be what we have experienced in the past. Any advice you can offer?

  A – Yes, we suppose AMA Wasterways will change – for the better!  After all, the founders remain very much in charge but the line now has an infusion of cash that is the envy of  other companies that compete in the “river trade”.  

  The  French investment firm, L. Catterton, has acquired a significant stake in AMA. The founding owners, Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst, and the Murphy Family are part of a consortium of investors. Centares is the travel and hospitality branch of  L. Catterton,. The investment group has $9.6 billion under management and the company is a part of the family of funds owned by Bernard Arnault in France. Mr. Arnault is said to be the world’s richest man.  Under the Arnault umbrella, AMA will now share ownership with many familiar brands including:

  Tiffany & Company – Louis Vuitton – Christian Dior – Moet & Chandon – Fendi – Bulgari – Givenchy

  Many of the friends of AMA, including those of us who know Rudi, Kristin, and Garry Murphy as three of the most approachable, intelligent and down-to-earth executives in the industry, are thrilled that this group now has the funding to accompany their vision to create products in the river cruise market that will operate in new markets and at the highest possible levels. AMA will remain a product specifically suited for a majority of American guests although the European market will continue to be an important part of their overall demographics.

  You can now tell your friends to stop believing what they read on social media. You can also tell them that your personal riverboat company has “more money behind it” than any of its competitors. You will love your Mekong River Cruise and when you go to bed at night know that Mr. Arnault will make certain that you continue to have the very best experiences on AMA.

• FREE TIME IN THE SUBURBS OF BUENOS AIRES

  Q – (5.13.24) My partner and I enjoy your fresh take on the waves of travel nonsense that is produced by social media each day. And that, sort of compliment is coming from a team that produces some of that noise for a wide variety of corporate clients. We are, in fact, off next week to Buenos Aires to work with one of those clients in a mid-city high-rise. But we will have some free time and we were wondering where you might suggest we rent a bike and do some neighborhood exploring in safety and with a stop for some great Argentinian coffee every hour or so. I suppose we are interested in seeing the kinds of neighborhoods where successful folks in our business might reside in a nearby suburb. We will get more than ouir fill of city life, food, and entertainment. But we want to explore on our own and sort of get an insider’s view of where locals like us, who do what we do, live and enjoy their weekends. We are thinking upscale housing, parks, and plenty of restaurants and cafes that can be explored on a bike. Thanks very much for your response.

  A –  There are several great residential neighborhoods surrounding the core of Buenos Aires but we would first suggest that you head to Palermo, just northwest of the city center.  This is the neighborhood where BA’s young professionals and media types are all moving. You will fiund upscale shops and restaurants and sidewalk cafes galore. The neighborhood is admired for jogging and biking and it is considered safe. There are public bike racks available or shops that rent bikes. But don’t stay too long – you may be tempted to put down an apartment deposit. Palermo is that much fun and largely undiscovered by tourists.

• IS IT TRUE THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET AMERICAN MILES WHEN WE BOOK EITHER CELEBRITY OR BACKROADS TOURS?

  

  Q –   We had a long weekend, so my wife and I planned out a cruise we will be booking on Celebrity Cruises to Europe next summer, which we will follow with a Backroads Walking Tour of Spain. We spoke to our travel agent who knows that we always fly American out of Charlotte. I do love collecting those Advantage Miles and have saved enough in the past for some nice weekend getaways. But my agent told me she does not think I will get mileage credit from the cruise line or the hiking company if I purchase the air through them. Does this sound like it could be true? How can I be sure to fly American while still earning my full mileage credits? PS – we always fly Business Class. 

  A – Your travel agent is absolutely correct. This is all a bit technical but let us simplify it a bit. American became the first major airline to say that if you book your air through a third party vendor, like a cruise line or a tour operator, you will no longer be able to earn miles on those flights. This policy went into effect on May 1st, 2024.

  Of course, the math is fairly simple. American has to give out contracted rates and pay commission when a third party sells their tickets. They have made a business decision to, essentially, only grant miles when the customer books directly with American either online on the American App. or using the American reservation system. 

  Many travel advisors are waiting to see if the other shoe drops and other airlines match this policy.

  Your alternative is easy – book the air with American yourself directly. And be prepared to relinquish the airport to hotel and hotel to ship transfers that your cruise line would have included in the air package. 

  This is just one more example of why so many millions of folks are wearing those red baseball caps that read “Make American Airlines Great Again”. They even hold their own anti-American Airline rallies. 

• REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING OUR LUGGAGE ON UPCOMING CRUISE

  Q— (5.5.24) Our friends recently returned from a Regent Cruise sailing out of Athens. They were booked on a pre-cruise program. Their flight out of New York was canceled, and they ended up with a new schedule that required several flight changes. They arrived in Athens after 38 hours of flying. According to the Apple Air Tag, their luggage was still at Charles DeGaulle. No one from Regent or the Regent-booked hotel could help them. They finally sent an e-mail directly to the CEO of Delta and received word two days later that their luggage would be sent home as they had requested.  Thjey did the cruise with clothing and accessories they had purchased in Athens. 

  We have a cruise planned on Silversea in two months and we are wondering what to do to prepare for such a situation. They told me that the travel agent could not do much because the agent had not done the ticketing. Any advise for those of us who might be worried about a similar experience regarding lost luggage would be appreciated.

  A – As the rate of flight cancellations keeps creeping up, stranded pre-cruise and pre-tour baggage is a growing problem. It is a rather complicated problem to fix when it occurs because the airlines generally refuse to talk to anyone but the booking agent or the customer directly. Most airlines outsource their lost baggage departments these days so formal claims must be filed before departing the airport at one’s final destination. Although cruise lines provide air as a “convenience” to their guests, they are generally unwilling to assume responsibility for lost baggage. They will claim that it is the airline’s responsibility.

  Here are Some Suggestions to Both Prepare and Cope with Lost Luggage During an International Trip: 

  • Use the Apple Air Tags or a similar tracking device so you always know where your bags are at any moment
  • Do not travel without emergency numbers, including the number of your airline’s lost baggage department. Ask for this number when you check in for your first flight.
  • If your bags are lost, you should send a specific email to the lost baggage address. Always include the baggage claim number, the lost baggage report number, and a full description, including size, brand, and color, of your missing luggage. 
  • Try using large baggage tags, including where you are staying and the dates on the back of the tag. That could prove helpful. 
  • Always pack two nights of fresh clothing in your carry-on. 
  • If you are not assigned non-stop flights abroad, seriously consider having your bags shipped directly to your hotel by one of the better luggage shipping services such as “Luggage-Free” (It isn’t) 
  • Forget arriving at your pre-cruise destination one night before boarding the ship. To help avoid boarding without your possessions, start planning three-night pre-cruise stays wherever you are traveling. That extra day and night will help increase the odds that you will receive your bags before boarding your ship. 
  • If you check in to a quality hotel without your luggage, tip the team at the Concierge Desk and nicely solicit their aid. They will often have contacts within the airport. Don’t forget that once your luggage arrives at your destination airport, it still has to be sent to your hotel. There are instances where you would go with a courier from the hotel to secure your luggage from customs personally.
  • Keep a notebook with the dates/times of all conversations and details associated with your lost luggage. Keep all receipts and copies of paperwork in an envelope for easy access. This will be extremely helpful should you decide to file an insurance claim using your “lost luggage” or “trip delay” provisions. 
  • If you have not received your bags do not immediately go on a wild shopping spree as insurance companies have very limited coverage of expenditures for replacement clothing. 
  • Your travel advisor will, hopefully,  be tirelessly working on your behalf. Make certain that you send your advisor a daily status update. It helps if you work with an advisor who has a personal relationship with your cruise line’s management. Because cruise lines do not take responsibility for lost baggage, and the airlines will only deal with the entity that issued the tickets (The Cruise Line or Tour Company Air Departments), your travel advisor will likely be rather restricted in what they can do to help you. If your travel agency personally issued your tickets, they will/should get involved with their airline representatives.
  • One or two of the better air ticketing specialists include assistance with lost baggage in their services. If you use one of these Flight Monitoring Services, such as Cranky Concierge, you will have an advantage as they can deal directly with the airlines and their baggage departments.
  • Always pack anything that is truly important to you and all documentation in your carry-on. 
  • Please try to stay calm. In the vast majority of cases, well over 90% of the time, passengers flying internationally, particularly those in Business or First Class, are eventually reunited with their lost luggage.

   

   

• GETTING A RESERVATION AT ONE OF THE TOP FIFTY RESTAURANTS WORLDWIDE

  Q – As my wife and I work, almost continuously, on our Five-Year Travel Planning, we find ourselves drawn to the list you published several months ago of the World’s Top Fifty restaurants. Fine dining seems as good a reason to visit a country as anything else, so we are trying to use two or three in-country firm reservations to guide us in our planning. The question is how to best secure a reservation at one of the restaurants on the list.  Do you recommend that we call or, perhaps, put our request in an e-mail? Should it be addressed to the Head Chef or the owner? We would love to lock several places in Brazil and Japan in for 2026. Is there anything we should tell the restaurant about ourselves to make this all go smoothly?

  A –  Good idea but, perhaps, wrong approach. The last thing a world-class restauant wants to do is try to figure out what a US caller is talking about. You have no clout with a foreeign restaurant unless you get screamed ast easch evening by someone named “Gordon”.

  The last thing the really top restaurants overseas  want is a reputation for catering to tourists from the USA. It would help kill their local business. We would leave the restaurant reservation portion of your trip-planning to the overseas office used by your travel advisor to do the rest of the tyrip. The owners of your on-site offices live in-country and if the restaurant is on the “Top-Fifty” List it ios likely they have a relationship with management. Leave it to your local contact to fill the restauant in on juist how very important you are. Unless you are a blood relative of Anthony Bourdain  however, they may remain unimpressed. They hear from true VRVIP’s each and every afternoon seeking tables. 

  The rule here is that any reservation needs to be made by a local, fluent speaker of the language or, in the case of the British Isles, by someone with the proper pronunciation.

  There is one exception – if you are a return VIP Guest at one of the very best hotels in town, it is likely that the Lead Concierge at your hotel would also be a good source to score a hard-to-get reservation. 

  May we say that being led on your travels by a desire to dine really well is an idea with a great deal of merit. But beware that that approach may keep you isolated int he more affluent, sophisticated portions of your destination. We would suggest a fifty-fifty mix of fine-dining and dining “a la local” in the countryside.

• WE ARE BOOKING THE GORING HOTEL IN LONDON BUT HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE ARE GETTING THE BEST RATE AVAILABLE?

  Q – It would appear that The Goring in London meets with your approval. We work with a TA and she is a member of one of the major consortium groups. However, I was able to call the hotel directly and get an extremely competitive rate with no hassles. We are collecting countries, 73 to date, and there will be many hotel nights to book as we are in our early fifties. So I suppose I want to ask, on behalf of others who visit this insider site, how do we really know when we are getting the very best hotel rate?  Do I book through my agent, the hotel directly, one of the mega-online agencies, or do I spend my time on Expedia and Priceline? Is there clear advice you can share. It really isn’t the money. It’s more about the principle – if we are spending, on average, in excess of $1,000 per night, how can we be certain that we have been given the best price?

  A – This is, as you realize, a somewhat complex question. But you raise several excellent points and we feel that we want to try to achieve some clarity in our response. So allow us to address your questions with bullet points:

  • The best hotel rates are normally going to be offered by the hotel property, not by some third-party 800-number online entity. One would have to assume that Hotel Owners are idiots were they to allow internet-based sites to beat the pricing they have in their own hotel database. We know what the ads say – but booking anything with a 1-800 Call Center is just a sucker move – yet – seven of the ten largest travel agencies sell online strangers. They are there to sell you a hotel room but, as importantly, they are there to gather your identity and your credit card information which can then be sold several times. The proceeds from the sale of your private information is generally greater than the profit on a hotel room booking – even one at a deluxe property.
  • But you only represent a single booking. your agent may book the Goring several times a year and her consortium may do six figures or more in total annual bookings. So normally, (and believe us the phrase “there are always exceptions” was created by the hotel gods for their profession, the best consortium members receive similar pricing plus a package of amenities. This may include complimentary breakfast, airport transfers, a dinner voucher for the hotel restaurant etc. In other words you agent would not be undercutting the hotel’s direct price but they may have negotiated volume amenities and upgrade offers that are not available to the general public or those who book their accommodations directly. 
  • So – the bottom line:
    • Only book a hotel with an advisor who has a consortium certified contract arrangement with your hotel. That is how you get the best rate – ask if the hotel “Is a Preferred Supplier of your consortium”?
    • If not, your second best option is to book directly with the hotel – not a service desk or a rep firm – the hotel itself
• IS SUNDAY STILL THE BEST DAY OF THE WEEK TO BOOK A DOMESTIC AIRLINE TICKET TO SECURE THE BEST FARE?

  Q—I have a guidebook that says Sunday is the best day of the week to book a flight within the USA. Prices seem to go up on Monday. This sort of makes sense but it also seems too simple to be true.

  Is there a time of day when the average air ticket is lower? We are now at the point where we will be doing more domestic travel to visit kids and grandkids and I am trying to figure out a simple strategy. Thanks very much.

  A – Airline strategies are fun to write about but much of what is written is old by the time it reaches print. You want to book domestic flights between 30-60 days before departure. But there is no one day when rates are lower. The new breed of computer algorithms is changing fares constantly based on availability and sales data streaming in by the millions. There is no way a human can try to predict or even keep up with those changes.

  Wednesday and Thursday may be the best days but that is really hard to certify. We do know that flights that leave between 6:00 and 8:00 am and flights that depart in the evening between 10 PM-1:00 AM tend to have better pricing and better on-time records than mid-day departures. 

   
• IS STOCKHOLM STILL THE COOLEST CITY IN SCANDINAVIA WORTH A ONE WEEK WINTER VISIT?

  Q – We are three friends – all in our thirties, all financially comfortable, and all working for West Coast architectural firms. We ski and take lots of photos, but we travel primarily to be stimulated by new ideas in urban planning, architectural design, and lifestyle planning. We like to go where the world’s happiest people live to try to gain an understanding of how buildings and design can make city living fun again.

  We are now planning a November getaway – possibly to Stockholm. We have already traveled to Copenhagen. We are wondering if you would agree that Stockholm is the obvious choice? Love the site and the lack of ads. 

  A – We would make a strong base for Oslo at the moment. A surplus of  Norwegian oil money has allowed the city mothers and fathers to devote considerable energy to take stodgy Oslo and turn it into a cultural colassus that admirably competes with Stockholm. You will actually see locals enjoy winter sports as you walk downtown in November.Walk to the top floor of the Oslo Opera House where you can climb promenades that slope toward the roof. The public library is not to be believed – they have craft stations with 3-D Printers and home-made crafting, high quality music studios, and movie theaters that are, of course, complimentary. The National Museum is spectacular and is larger than any other museum in Scandinavia.

  Then there’s the Bjorvika District and the new performance center, SALT. But to see the locals enjoying one another’s company, you might want to book a short sail on a small Sauna boat that will drop you off in a relatively isolated portion of the fjord. You jump into the frigid water and then soon come back aboard warming up on the boat’s large sauna.

  Sorry Stockholm – the newest hot major Scandinavian city of the moment is Oslo. But not literally “hot” in November. 

   

• IS THERE A SHORTCUT TO FGURE OUT WHAT US AIRPORTS HAVE NON-STOPS TO A CERTAIN DESTINATION?
  

  Q – I travel for business and my husband and I travel as much as possible overseas for pleasure. Inb our early forties, we are somewhere in the world about 60% of any year. But trying to really figure out flight schedules is terribly frustrating. Just wondering if there is a website or specific source you would recommend to help us figure out which airports have non-stop flights to cities where we need to go overseas. I have, of course, fooled around with the Expedia and Kayaks of the world. Simplicity of use is not one of their attributes. Sorry for the bother, buit we just feel we are missing something.

  A – You are certainly not alone. Flight search sites are predicated on the belief that price rather than non-stop flights is the major motivation for visitors. Fortunately, there is “work-around” for this problem. Virtually every major airport in the United States now has a page on Wikipedia. Go on the site and scroll down to the section called “Airlines and Destinations.” Under this subject you will find clear listings of which routes from the airport have non-stop service and which airline(s) provide it.  This is a simple fix but it works.

         
• WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH AN OCTOBER CRUISE TO JAPAN? ANY SECRETS TO CLEARING A WAIT-LIST?
  

  Q – This is a rather fascinating site. As a resident of  Manchester U.K. I must admit that some of the cryings about travel displeasure seem uniquely American in nature. I have been planning my own travels with few issues for about twenty-five years. But I have just recently run into a stone wall trying to get confirmed on a Silversea sailing from Tokyo. I wrote a letter to management indicating that I take at least one major trip a year etc. but that has done little for my status. Do you have any suggestions to get the space cleared? Do they work these wait-lists conscientously. Any tips would be appreciated. We Brits do like to mind our manners and keep our place in line – but not necessarily in Manchester. Keep it up.

  A – Let’s look at it this way. You represent a potential booking. One small piece of the cruis line’s annual revenue. Our firm belongs to a consortium group of top-producing agents. It is a “By Invitation Only” organization. In 2023 we did a total of $23 Billion in luxury sales and we are the top-producing group for most of the major luxury brands. Then, drill down a bit to who we are and what specific revenue we might product for a top-ranked cruise line. By failing to take advantage of advocacy and oversite you have placed yourself in a position to lose this soccer match. A bit of advice for getting space cleared:

  • Work with a top-producing travel advisor well known in executive circles at the line. It will cost you nothing and may well get you cleared.
  • Have your advisor help you design a brief bio that highlights your unique ability to generate word-of-mouth bookings for the line. That bio should be submitted with a special request to the travel advisor’s personal sales manager at the line. That won’t clear the space but it very well may move you up on the waiting list.
  • Put it all in perspective: Japan and Iceland along with Grand Voyages of more than 24 Days are currently booking up faster than the vast majority of cruise itineraries in the luxury sector. They should be booked 14-16 months in advance to assure that you will get what you are seeking.

  Good Luck with Liverpool.

• DON’T LIKE SURPRISES? MUST I GO TO DINNER DRESSED AS A PENGUIN?

  Q – We are planning on doing a 14-night Regent Seven Seas Cruise to Australia and New Zealand next winter. I was wondering if you could tell us how many formal nights there will likely be so we can plan on packing.

  A – There will be zero formal nights. Sorry if this is disappointing. Regent does not have formal nights for any sailing of less than 16 nights. But on other competitive lines like Seabourn, Crystal, or Silversea, formal nights are less of an issue than many first-time guests imagine. Every Luxury line offers alternative dining venues on formal nights that do require that male guests try to look as much as possible like members of a Falkland Islands Penguin colony.

• HOW DO I KNOW IF MY FAMILY IS SAFE AS WE WALK OUT OUR HOTEL FRONT DOOR AT NIGHT IN WARSAW, PRAGUE, AND BUDAPEST?

  Q – We are planning a visit to Europe in the Fall that will include Warsaw, Prague, and Budapest. We are not budget travelers at all, so quality hotels are not an issue. But we wonder about making certain that the areas around a hotel we might choose in these cities are safe at night. How do we make certain we are not venturing into unsafe areas? Is this something a travel consultant can help with? Do you advise your clients on such things, or is it up to us to do all of the research? Although we have done many driving trips in the US, as you might be able to tell – we are not well-traveled outside the country.

  A – This is not a silly question. You need to feel safe when you travel. When you work with a professional advisor you should be shown hotel inspection reports that are not available online. These reports will cover any concerns such as unsafe areas around the hotel.

  The truth is that five-star hotels are normally not open in anything like a dangerous area. Part of any hotel stay for visiting tourists is wandering out and finding dining choices that look enticing. The Concierge Desk at your hotel is the overall best source for the most up-to-date safety information. Always feel free to ask questions such as “is there a direction where you would advise we avoid walking”?

  In general, when walking around a strange city, we recommend leaving most of your cash and some of your credit cards, along with your best jewelry, in the hotel safe. And remember, again, that 131 countries in the world are safer to walk around than almost any of America’s largest cities. (Source: 2024 Global Safety Index)

• JUST FOR THE RECORD – IN 2024 WHICH CRUISE LINE RANKS # 1?

  Q – (1-26-24) I just received my issue of Travel & Leisure, and I counted eight cruise lines that were touting the fact that they had won “World’s Best” Awards. Viking claims they have won top line in several categories including Riverboats and Cruises. As we are in the New Year, I wonder if there is any consensus as to which cruise line, based on objective factors, is really the top-rated line in the world. We have only done a four-day cruise to the Bahamas many years ago but are now ready to commit the money to sail the best line at sea. 

  A  – No answer to your question is truly “objective”. We look at many criteria, several of which involve sources  based abroad. We also maintain our own program of CSI Inspectors who sail all of the top ships at full tariff and undercover. We have achieved this by training sophisticated world travelers who have luxury cruise experience. They use the same evaluations and tests that we use when comparing cruise products.

  There are two things to note that are important:

  • Numerous companies sell full sets or partial sets of A!-produced online reviews. For that reason, they are virtually meaningless. 
  • Print Media believes, and studies do show, that “Lists” or “Ratings” increase circulation. The major consumer magazines try to create as many categories as possible so that every potential cruise advertiser has an award to reference. This is all big business and the consumer is supposed to believe that the line they want to sail, or the one their travel agent recommends, is really top-of-the-line. In most cases that is false.

  In 2024, the top-ranked cruise line is Hapag-Lloyd. The top-ranked ship is the Europa 2. Following Hapag-Lloyd there is a close bunching of excellence as Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Seabourn battle for second place. 

  Hapag-Lloyd is a German Line and guests who do not speak German may be at a conviviality disadvantage. Silversea is a more formal alternative to Regent Seven Seas. Seabourn does more creative itineraries and Regent is, by a significant margin, the better value as they include round-trip Business Class Air and shore excursions on all sailings.

  When you ask this question next year, we think you will see some major shits in the Cruisetruth Rankings as smaller luxury lines like Four Seasons and Aman begin to launch their products. This will squeeze out non-inclusive higher density lines like Viking from Top Ten consideration. Our team is busy updating our www.cruisetruth.com website where you will soon see the updated rankings. 

• THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A WEAK EXCUSE TO VIST PARIS – STILL AGAIN!

  Q – (1.26.24) – Just so you know ……….there’s Fodor’s, AFAR, TripAdvisor, Travel + Leisure and 10,000 blogs that deal with Parisian Bakeries. But, in good faith, we are coming to you in the hopes that you will take our question sort of seriously. My wife, Marie, is of French background. I have childhood memories of ordering French onion soup on Queens  Boulevard in a borough of that name – when we could afford it.

  Now, I write an occasional screenplay and we jet off to Paris whenever we can come up with anything that remotely resembles a valid excuse. OK – this Fall we are going to spend a week in Paris for the primary purpose of finding out and, just for our friends, documenting, where one might go to uncover the best baguettes in the city. We imagine this will take us into any number of colorful neighborhoods, some away from the tourist hordes. And we will visit the best bakeries with a small cooler filled with local provisions purchased that morning so we can quickly find a park bench and immediately begin the tasting/filming process. We don’t want to waste time and we truly feel this is the place to turn. Really enjoy this ad-free site. Hope you  can monetize it in some way. 

  A – We enjoyed your question and, particularly your premise. Having some sort of good-tasting reason to walk around a city gives one purpose and, best of all, takes you into neighborhoods that one might just never visit on any kind of a touring program. We have a list that we think might be a good start. Please enjoy and, if you have a moment, please share your photos with us at documents@traveltruth.com  Have a memorable visit.

  Maison Landemaine Jules Joffrin With over a dozen locations in Paris, plus one in Lille and a few in Tokyo, Maison Landemaine might not seem like the authentic expression of the artisanal boulangerie, but the hits still hit. The baguette tradition is crusty and chewy in all the right ways, especially paired with cheeses from the nearby Laiterie cheese shop on Rue des Poissonniers. 4 Rue du Poteau, 75018 Paris, France Shinya Pain Montmartre Shinya Inagaki has made bread for some of the most beloved sourdough bakeries in Paris (think Fermentation Générale and the Terroirs d’Avenir boulangerie). At his own operation in Montmartre, Inagaki is making sourdough breads his own way. Olive focaccia, brioches, multigrain breads, and scones are just some of the specials Inagaki scrawls on butcher paper at his tiny storefront on Rue des Trois Frères. 41 Rue des Trois Frères, 75018 Paris, France Maison Julien Les Saveurs de Pierre Demours The 2020 winner of Le Grand Prix de la Baguette de Traditional Française de la Ville de Paris, a coveted award recognizing the city’s best baguette, Taieb Sahal makes a standard-bearer for traditional Parisian baguettes. Crusty, airy, and with a warm yeasty smell, the baguettes at Maison Julien in the 17th represent French bread at its finest. Mamiche You’ll likely encounter a line when visiting the original bakery outpost of Cécile Khayat and Victoria Effantin’s wildly popular Mamiche bakery, but the wait is worth it. Using natural leaven, Mamiche’s breads are excellent, from the hearty pain de campagne to the lightweight pain de mie, as well as a traditional “miche Mamiche.” Don’t miss the babkas and viennoiserie, too. You can’t go wrong with any of it. 45 Rue Condorcet, 75009 Paris, France The French Bastards – St Ferdinand With three locations across Paris and a name that’s fun to say, the French Bastards’ bakery could get by on novelty alone. Thankfully that’s not the case: Breads with honey and figs, hazelnuts, plentiful seeds, rye flour, and more comprise the menu at the three French Bastards locations, and they’re all delicious. Take a hearty loaf to go, and eat a caramel eclair on the way home. 35 Pl. Saint-Ferdinand, 75017 Paris, France The Rue des Martyrs location of Farine&O frequently has a line around lunchtime, with working Parisians picking up sandwiches, pastries, and sodas to go. The line moves fast and the wait pays off: Baguettes, brioche, and rotating daily offerings will satisfy even the most discerning of bread-heads. Don’t forget to pick up a croissant — they’re flaky beyond human understanding. 10 Rue des Martyrs, 75009 Paris, France Levain, Le Vin The concept — and cheeky play on words — at Christophe Fertillet’s Levain, Le Vin is all about pairing great naturally leavened breads with great natural wines. Sit for a planche of breads crafted in-house by Fertillet and charcuterie to match, or take loaves of bread to go along with one of the carefully curated bottles of wine that line the shop’s shelves. 83 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 75010 Paris, France Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Terroirs d’Avenir Part of the strip of shops on Rue du Nil that make up the sustainable agriculture organization Terroirs d’Avenir (or, terroirs of the future), the boulangerie has sourdough breads that are inspired by the organization’s mission. All manner of breads are on offer, from focaccia to multigrain tin loaves, and since the boulangerie is only a stone’s throw from the primeur (or fresh market), fish shop, and butcher, you can have dinner sorted out before you reach the end of the block. 3 Rue du Nil, 75002 Paris, France Boulangerie Utopie While many boulangeries around Paris will sell bread, pastries, and viennoiserie (think anything laminated), most excel at one area or another. At Utopie in the 11th, it’s safe to pick between any of the sourdough croissants, elegant pastries, brioche, and inventive breads made with ingredients like sesame and curry powder; kalamata olives; and guava and cranberry. 20 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris, France Tout Autour du Pain A baguette at Tout Autour du Pain is a classic option for picnics, parties, or just midday snacks. Perfectly golden and crisp, they’re the platonic ideal of a baguette. Buy one for later and one to eat immediately in the petite plaza directly across from the shop. 134 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris, France General Fermentation As the name implies, the M.O. at Fermentation Générale in the 11th is everything fermented. From kefir and kombucha to natural wines, ciders, and pickles, the menu is a dream for anyone who loves sour flavors. Sourdough fits perfectly in that mix. Every bread is tangy and tart, with a depth of flavor reminiscent of San Francisco sourdoughs. 37 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 Paris, France Ten Belles Bread Alice Quillet and Anna Trattles’s sourdough bread bakery Ten Belles Bread was initially confusing to some Parisians, as they didn’t sell baguettes and they used the word “bread” instead of “boulangerie” in the name. The bakery won almost the whole city over with their bread loaves, though. They offer just the right amount of sour, with a custardy inside and crusty outside. Ten Belles sells great coffee, pastries, and lunch specials, too, so you’ll absolutely want to come with an appetite. 17-19 Rue Breguet, 75011 Paris, France Le Bricheton In a tiny storefront in the 20th, Le Bricheton is the choice for the truly devoted bread lover. It has limited hours, and the bread sells fast, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, this tiny bakery is an essential visit. Breads are made from organic flour, sourced in France, often with ancient grains like 50 Rue de la Réunion, 75020 Paris, France Boulangerie Poilâne You’d be hard-pressed to find a visitor to Paris who isn’t heading to Poilâne at some point during their trip. That’s because the bakery has been making delicious sourdough wheat loaves for almost 100 years. You’ll recognize a Poilâne miche by the signature swoopy “P” scored into the bread before baking, as well as its brown color imparted by the proportion of stone-ground whole wheat in the dough. Looking to make sandwiches with jambon de Paris? The loaves can be sliced to order. 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Paris, France Le Boulanger de la Tour While not every visitor to Paris has the time or money to visit the historic Tour d’Argent restaurant, Le Boulanger de la Tour is more than sufficient as a backup. A rotating menu of breads is available from the famed restaurant’s bakers. They’re so good, you can close your eyes and almost imagine you’ve nabbed a seat in the restaurant’s historic waterfront dining room. 2 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris, France  These bakeries are listed by the highly recommended “Eater” Web group.   
• WE ARE WONDERING WHICH DESTINATIONS SEEM TO BE BENEFITTING FROM WEATHER CHANGES DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING?

  Q – (1.12.24) We are, as we write this, sitting at a table piled with travel brochures we’ve been collecting. We are trying to figure out where we should be headed this coming summer in Europe? This led to some discussion and we are wondering what trends you are seeing at traveltruth? Have people changed their travel destination choices in the past year and do you have any sense as to the better options for summer heat travels in 2024 and 2025.  We live in Rancho Mirage so summer getaways are now an important consideration. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

  A – The data is actually rather startling. The demand for cooler overseas destinations has increased dramatically this past year. Mindset Consulting claims that demand for “cooler destinations” is up 186% at the end of 2023. The search for colder destinations is strongest, according to the research, among residnets of California, Florida, and Georgia.

  So where are they headed? The Netherlands had a 174% growth last year – Ireland was up 154% – and Finland 133%. These examples are being repeated all around northern Europe.  If we were launching a new travel firm today, we might call it “Cooler Climes”.

• SHOULD WE BE BOOKING OUR FUTURE TRAVELS ONLINE?

  Q – (1.12.24) My husband’s Dad passed away a few months ago and we have inherited enough money to do some serious travel going forward. We live in Colorado and we are skiers so we have not felt the need to travel overseas more than once. But as we get older, we want to see Europe, Antarctica, the Maldives, and portions of South America.

  Some of this will, I suppose, be escorted tour travel, some will be cruises (which we have never done) and I still think we have it in us to do a few totally independent journeys to places like Rome and Paris. We still won’t shake our desire to save money while enjoying upscale travel opportunities so my questions is should we be looking at booking our travels online or should we make contact with a travel agent? 

  A –  If you have confidence in your planning skills, it might be fun to do some of your independent travels on your own using trusted internet sites. Currently, Statistica Consumer Insights reports that 53% of travel bookings are made this way because users feel it more convenient and faster than using a traditional travel agent. Online sites can sometimes make it easier to compare pricing.

  Be aware, however, that when you book things online independently you are still charged the built-in travel agency commission which runs from 10-15% on average.

  For your longer, more complex travels, we think you would be most satisfied with the services of a caring travel advisor. Try to choose one that is associated with one of the three or four most trusted consortium groups – their membership requirements are normally quite strict. 

  There are many excellent agencies in major areas of Colorado. You may want to create a face-to-face relationship if you live in an area with an excellent agency. Do let us know if we can ever be helpful. 

• LIKE THE QUESTION ANONYMITY BUT WONDERING WHO IS MINITORING CRUISE OFFERS?

  Q – (1.12.24) – Have enjoyed discovering this one-of-a-kind site. Kudos for forcing all questions to be on subject and anonymous. It surely helps eliminate 90% of the BS encountered on other travel platforms. 

  We cruise at least three times a year since my retirement. We have, I must confess, done Royal Caribbean with the grandkids and we just returned from a stint on the Ritz Carlton Yacht. I have noticed that we keep mailings and e-mail messages telling us about special offers etc. on some of the better lines, including Seabourn which we will be sailing in four months. My question is this: Who is monitoring these new offers and promotions? Is it the travel agent I use, the cruise line, or is it all on me and my own initiative?  Thanking you in advance. I can’t figure out how you make money from this site but I hope it continues while I can still travel. 

  A – Appreciate your observations and your important question:

  • Our entire Media Group, each of our sites, is set up to serve the consumer on a not-for-profit basis. We do not accept online bookings. We do not have amateur or off-subject commentary. Anyone can anonymously ask a question but we want our sites to be honest and informational and we can’t achieve that if we allow amateur “critics” to rant about experiences they may or may not have had. We are also very aware of the likelihood that some of the most-popular sites purchase reviews and AI-generated comments.
  • The bottom line answer to your question is “hopefully your travel advisor is monitoring your pricing – but ultimately, it is the consumer’s responsibility to inquire about new promotions.” Cruise lines will, as a rule, not closely monitor pricing so they can lower the cost of a booked cruise and, therefore, lower their percentage of profit. They have little motivation to do that.
  • Please understand that this has not been a major issue when dealing with four or  five-star rated lines. New promotions tend to be offered in tandem with scheduled price increases which normally occur every 90-120 days. When a booked guest tries to take advantage of an upgrade offer or a new discount, in the vast majority of cases they must pay the cruise fare in effect at the time. In most, but not all, cases the new deal is not as good as the earlier pricing booked. No highly-rated cruise line wishes to offend those top suite guests who booked their cruise earlier than most. Many of the computer programs that control pricing are set up so pricing increases when a ship reaches a certain occupancy level. This is often set at 20-30%. 
• 13 CRUISES LATER – LOOKING FOR SOMETHING REALLY DIFFERENT

  Q – While we would enjoy boring you with the details, you are well aware of the cruises we have booked over the course of our eleven-year relationship. We are ready to commit to something new and exciting for 2024 but we are looking for something completely different – a destination of true exploration where ships rarely go. Unfortunately, we have been spoiled and we find that five-star cruising has absolutely nothing in common with adventure cruises where you spend your days trying to get in or out of zodiacs or larger ships that seem to appeal to aging “funsters”. Is there one, off the charts, truly unusual itinerary we should look at that takes in portions of the world in about two weeks on a ship that might meet our quality requirements. Or to put it another way, a destination where my uppity next-door neighbor has never been.

  

  A – Thanks for your rather challenging question which, perhaps, could have been shortened to just your last sentence.  We do think you should strongly consider one of two sailings in May or August on the Seabourn Pursuit that operates between Sydney and Guam on a superb fifteen-day itinerary called The Isles of Papua New Guinea. The Pursuit is technically an Exploration vessel – but it is oh so five stars we don’t really think that will be an issue for you. And the chances are your neighbor has not yet been to Vonavona, the Russell Islands, Ifalik Island or the ever-popular Woodlark Island among others. 

• ROME VERSUS BOCA – BEST NIGHT FOR DINNER?

  Q –   We are going to be headed to Rome and points south for two weeks in early October. (I know you are aware of this). May I suggest that you try to include more coverage of questions related to food and dining both in the US and abroad? Here is an example: My sweet Mrs. has gone fishatarian, or what ever you call it. No meat but lots of fish. We are wondering in Italy or back home in Boca, if there are specific nights of the week when restaurants  have the freshest food. I tried to research this online and got a bag of nonsense. Fully understand there may not be an answer. Thanks for everything.

  A – That is an interesting question and we do believe that there is one best answer. It applies to both Italy and Boco – something the two towns have in common.

  The answer is never discussed publicly because it would serve to possibly discourage dining out on other nights not recommended. But chefs and upscale restaurant insiders know the following to be true:

  Due to warehouse rules and driver union contracts, weekend food deliveries of fresh fish and meat rarely takes place on the weekend. Weekend diners are eating food that was likely delivered to the restaurant several days earlier. 

  Most top tier restaurants receive their fresh fish and meat deliveries on Tuesday mornings (many restaurants are closed on Monday). Industry pros prefer to dine out on Tuesdays when the food is most likely to have “arrived that day”.

• GOING TO CUBA – WITH OR WITHOUT CASH?

  Q – We have just been approved to visit Cuba with a small group. This has been a rather long dream of ours. They are suggesting we bring lots of cash but my wife and I would much rather rely on our credit cards. Do you know if Mastercard or American Express would be more widely accepted? We have just started researching this but that is our major question at this point. Although we will be in a group, do you feel we will be safe in Cuba?

  A – Switzerland or the Vatican might have been safer choices but the dancing is much better in Cuba. We do want you to do a fair bit of research before you set off on this “cultural” journey. For now, we would advise:

  • Credit cards are generally not accepted from US banks in Cuba. You will likely pay most of your expenses to the tour organizer upfront. Bring enough cash to cover several days of emergency expenses. Do not attempt to hide it. Declare it when you go through customs.
  • Leave all expensive jewelry and country club insignia clothing at home. No one needs to know you are Americans – although it is highly likely they will figure it out about ten feet outside the airport. 
  • Be open to the food but be cautious about drinking non-bottled water. 
• DOES A TRAVEL AGENT WORK AS AN EMPLOYEE OF A FIRM OR ARE THEY ALL OUT ON THEIR OWN?

  Q – I am in the process of talking with two or three travel agents in our part of Florida. They each have business cards showing the name of an agency but I am getting the impression that they really work independently. When I asked about it they said they were IC’s. Should I be concerned in any way? I must say that your profession seems rather vague about who works for whom and how they are compensated. Would you agree?

  A – Yes. Travel professionals are lousy communicators when it comes to explaining ourselves to the general public. Many bright consumers cannot explain the compensation model when they use a travel agent. Many, perhaps most, believe that they are paying more to use an agent’s services. Let’s try to summarize a few responses to your question:

  • Most travel is no longer booked by brick and mortar travel agents working out of a business office. Currently, an estimated 71% of travel agents are technically independent contractors – not employees.
  • They are usually affiliated with a travel firm and increasingly with a Host Agency. The Host provides office back-up, financial reporting and a variety of other services. But the owner of the agency cannot dictate what an IC does. 
  • The travel industry, for the most part, operates very much like the real estate industry. Individuals do their own marketing and go after their own clients. But the “House” provides certain basic services so they can maximize their “sell time”.
  • Currently, IC’s split commission with their affiliated agency. The normal split these days is 80-20. IC’s are free to form their own business identity with their own corporate name. 
  • It is perfectly OK to interview a potential travel advisor. Ask tough questions and make certain you have a clear understanding of their personal insurance coverage. Do they carry, for instance, errors and omission coverage?
  • Pricing is confusing because the industry wants it to be. If you are a five-star hotel owner are you really going to contact ten different online travel agencies and give them each a different price?  Do you really believe that any cruise line would risk alienating all of the travel agents nationally that sell its products by giving someone in India working a 1-800 call center better prices? It just doesn’t happen. Cruises and tours must have fixed pricing nationally so passengers don’t feel slighted when they socialize on tour or aboard their ship.
  • Cruise pricing tends to change every 90 days or so based on marketing trends and computer-generated algorithms connected to current occupancy rates. On the other hand, escorted tour pricing is generally fixed as changing rates could cause major problems for the group tour guide.

  We hope this brief summary is helpful. Your basic assumption is correct – the travel internet is dominated by misleading, price-centered, deal and discount features that, in truth, are always available to anyone.

   

   
• IS ALULA WORTH A TRIP FOR HISTORY BUFFS?

  Q – 12.127.23 – Wondering if you know anything about Alula and if you feel planning a trip around these sites is a good idea?

  A – In the northwest of Saudi Arabia, and 200km from the Red Sea, Alula is located on the old ‘Incense Road’. This was a trade route that linked Arabia with the Mediterranean region. For centuries it was a geographical and cultural crossroads, a place of meetings and exchange. It attracted travelers from all over the world, and since 2020 has been doing so again. An ambitious regeneration plan aims to attract two million visitors by 2035 and make this the world’s largest living museum – a unique and global destination for arts, culture, heritage and nature tourism.

  But, sadly, you have come to a biased source. We are among a growing number of travel industry professionals that will not recommend or book guests on behalf of the murderous Saudi Regime. We just cannot condone travel to a country that has exhibited such consistent levels of disrespect for women, members of the LGBT community, and Jewish travelers. The Saudis fund any number of anti-American schools worldwide. 

  Yes, they now envy  the model of the United Arab Emirates as they have slowly moved from an oil-based to a more tourism-based economy. The Saudis have unlimited funds to do the same and we have little doubt that travel to the Kingdom, with the support of its government, will become extremely popular in the years to come. Arriving guests will stay in five-star+ hotels after flying over on a heavily subsidized Saudi airline. You will soon be seeing full color-spreads in consumer magazines and travel agents will be bombarded with free travel offers to personally experience all that the Kingdom offers. 

  But it is wise to remember who the Saudis are and what point of view they represent. We do not believe that spending tourist dollars in the country is morally justifiable and we will not support it. 

  In fairness, we strongly believe that Alula is a striking, truly memorable World Heritage site. The Saudis are going to try building a world-class tourism network in empty deserts. They have plans to build an entire city in a single straight line – a brand new engineering concept. We’d love to go there – but we won’t. We would love to help you plan this journey – but we won’t. 

  Too many in the travel industry believe that the growth of tourism will somehow create a kinder, gentler society based on acceptance of all people. We find little evidence of that in the real world. What tourism does is further line the pockets of those who promote tourism in places where prejudice and hate are the rule rather than the exception. 

  We do think you should visit Saudi Arabia. But we think you should do it via YouTube. 

• IS THERE A TRICK TO FINDING OUT WHICH AIRLINES FLY WHERE?

  Q – As a very recent retiree I have been trying to relax – and read your various sites. Wish you had more on airline strategies. Given my former corporate role, I spent two and a half decades flying three or four days per week. Now, I get physically ill when I see a bag of peanuts. But in the process, I have earned several million miles that I know want to start using for our bucket list.

  I am wondering if there is anything like an online shortcut or “hack” that will allow me to see non-stop flights from various airports in the upper Midwest? I am sure we will have many more questions as we get closer to planning.

  A – There is a hack for what you want to view online. Although it is not widely known, Wikipedia lists every major airport in the country. You airport page has a tab for “Airlines and Destinations”. Click on it and you will find a listing of all direct flights and which airline flies them. It is a great timesaver.

• WHICH COMPANIES HAVE THE VERY BEST TOUR GUIDES IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL?

  Q – We are trying to decide which tour company we should go with next summer for approximately two weeks in Spain and Portugal. Having a hard time choosing which tour operator to use based on our strong desire to have the best possible guide. Do we look for a “Certified Guide” as you have mentioned, or do we consider what the online reviews might say about a particular guide? Do we try to do this independently to hand-select the best guides? Will tour companies tell us in advance who the guide will be before booking so we can check references? We don’t want to come across as “escort fanatics” but we really believe that, given our limited overseas travel experience, the guide is 90% of the trip outcome. Really appreciate your time and this incredible site. 

  A – There is a lot in your question. Let us try to address each portion  with some bullet point responses:

  • You should assume that all full-time guides for the major tour firms are certified by local tourism authorities.
  • Note that approximately 40% of the experienced tour guides in Europe had no work during Covid and sought employment in other professions. There is, currently, a serious tour guide shortage.
  • Tour guides who work independently, out of their homes, rely on online reviews to attract new clients. These positive reviews can easily be purchased or even composed using an AI Chatbot by someone with computer skills. 
  • The upscale major tour operators tend to attract the best guides because they appeal to an affluent rather than a mass-market clientele. This means, on average, that the guide for a company in the upper price range will likely secure higher average tips from the tour group. 
  • A company like Tauck attracts many of the very best guides because Tauck has one of the lowest percentages of cancelled tours due to lack of participation. For many of the mass market firms this is an ongoing problem. Guides don’t know which tours will actually operate among the hundreds of departure dates listed. A Tauck or Abercrombie & Kent guide can pretty much plan their summer schedule far in advance. 
  • Given the fact that there can always be heath issues or scheduling conflicts, the majority of tour departures do not list the name of the assigned guide. 
  • Often, the absolute best guides are affiliated with the best of the on-site in-country offices that work with the large luxury consortiums and their agents. They know the guides personally and use them for VIP Guests. Many of the better guides will not do bus tours. They prefer to work with sophisticated travelers who will generally show their appreciation for good service. You would, for example, find excellent guides affiliated with a company called “Made for Spain & Portugal”. They are based in Madrid and have won numerous industry awards. Your travel advisor can set up touring with them directly and specify your interests and the type of guide you are seeking. But, of course, private touring is far more expensive than touring incorporated as part of a group tour. 
• WE’RE NOT YOUR TYPE – WE PREFER DOING IT OURSELVES

  Q – Really fascinating site – but I fear we are not your type! My girlfriend and I have wonderful jobs in the private equity field and we are devoted to taking two weeks out of every year to travel. We prefer one destination in depth and then we like to set up a program ourselves involving tours geared toward our interests in art, hiking, and cuisine. We are in our thirties and, I suppose, more adventurous than many of your site followers. We would never go on a cruise ship or a fully escorted tour. We tried that kind of travel with our parents and we will wait another thirty years or so to try it again. As two women traveling together, we have to be aware of our surroundings and we tend to use upper four or five-star hotels.

  Here is our question: We have successfully used a company called Tours By Locals. We have thoroughly enjoyed all seven of our experiences with this organization yet we don’t see it mentioned anywhere on Traveltruth. Could it be that they do not pay travel agents a commission and that is the reason no one ever mentions it?  One of the reasons we do not use a travel agent. You seem honest – were we just lucky seven times? We did our research on each guide and their ratings so that may have helped. Really interested in your take on this company.

  A – Thank you for an intriguing question. When we were in our thirties we would never even consider having a travel agent plan our initial journeys to Europe. Let us respond by saying that Tours By Locals is a tour guide company – not a tour operator. They are based in Vancouver and guests can work with them directly on their website to book privately guided tours all over the world. The company has grown substantially and cruise passengers are now able to book their guides in worldwide ports at pricing that tends to be less than similar private touring arranged by a travel advisor or directly by the cruise line. We are pleased you raised the question as we think that ToursByLocals is a viable itinerary for many travelers who just prefer to do make their own travel arrangements.  Here are some observations we trust you might find helpful:

  • Several couples can book the same guide at substantial savings. Reviews of the guides appear on the web sites and some of the reviews might actually not be purchased.
  • There is an important matter of liability. You are in a foreign country – who is responsible for your health and welfare during your touring? Suppose you fall? Suppose you get back to the pier after your ship has sailed?
  • Can you properly insure services by a local guide with whom you have a private contract? 
  • ToursByLocals is not a member of the major travel agent consortiums so that kind of financial protection is not available. But you can book their tours through your travel agent. In fact, they do pay commission to travel agents. Their lowest commission is 5% and they pay 10% what an agencies business exceeds $7,500 annually. Most agencies will request that you work with the company directly.
  • We think that one of the great values of Tours By Locals is that you can, with the guide’s willingness, adjust the sightseeing plan to meet your needs. You will have access to your guide’s reviews and background online. 
  • We do think that ToursByLocals is a credible touring option for those independent travelers who prefer to make their own private tour arrangements while saving money in the process. Seven positive experiences speaks for itself. 

     
• IF A RESTAURANT HAS TWO MICHELIN STARS IS IT WORTH VISITING?

  Q – We are planning a trip through portions of Portugal with a touch of Spain. We are planning our self-drive route using Michelin reviews so we can dine at two and three-star Michelin restaurants. (We are in our forties – from LA – and fairly well traveled) Our question really concerns Michelin. Are their ratings till dependable? Also wondering if you have any driving recommendations as in “precautions”. 

  A – Yes, try not to ever pick up a hitchhiker with an M-15 strapped to his back. We would also  urge you to be extra cautious about leaving anything of value on the seats of the car when you stop somewhere. Break-ins of rental car are fairly common in Spain and Portugal while crimes against persons are quite rare. Always scan the car when parking to make sure nothing at all is in plain sight.

  As to Michelin:  Yes, still the gold standard in terms of honesty and the requirement of several visits. Some industry insiders might argue that two-stars is actually a wiser choice than strictly three-star as the standards of perfection associated with a three-star rating may be both uncomfortable and overbearing. But these days, there are some notable newspapers that do excellent reviews of restaurants in their travel sections. You have to look at publications that don’t accept free anything – and they are few and far between. You might want to Google the New York Times, The Guardian, and the Times of London for a start. Any review published in a book is likely to be out-of-date. 

• DOING EGYPT IN EIGHT MONTHS – OR ARE WE?

  

  Q – 12.4.23 – The wife wants to see Egypt and, as a Philly girl, she has little fear of wandering virtually anywhere on God’s green earth. So we are booked on a tour in January of 2025 with Kensington that includes a four-day Nile cruise. We just found this travel Q&A site (thank you) and were wondering if you feel this program is at all likely to operate? What is happening with the current crop of Egypt tours with wives even crazier than mine? Have they all been cancelled? 

  A – As of this morning, the situation in Gaza worsens, talks have broken down, and virtually no tours within Egypt have been cancelled. Egypt is a sort of ally of the United States and it has a rather serious interest in maintaining the safety of tourists as well as the country’s tourism infrastructure. All tours are currently operating.

  No one can predict where this is all headed. The Chief Political Officer of Hamas actually resides in Qatar and now discussions with Qatar as a mediator have broken down. But there is hope. The answer to your question is a strong “probably”. 

• Regent’s Touring Options Not At All Perfect in Japan

  Q – 12.1.23 We just returned from an in-depth cruise in Japan aboard the Regent Explorer. Overall we had a lovely time.  However, we were disappointed (as were many fellow cruisers) with Regent’s “Pre-Vibrant Tokyo Tours”.  Essentially, the tours were drop off bus rides to sites with superficial brief commentary by “Guides” who simply told passengers to “walk around on your own and return to the meeting sites within 30 – 45 minutes–or less”. Quite frankly, it is a waste of time to spend 15- 20 minutes strolling around unescorted in Tokyo’s wonderful National Museum. My husband and I ended up hiring our own private Guides who gave us outstanding, comprehensive and unique tours in Tokyo.

  We met a travel agent aboard the ship who was a host (Free trip perhaps) for the Virtuoso organization.  Interestingly, she told us that she also books private tours avoiding the Ship’s tours. Per her insights and our own experience we question whether the current quality of Regent’s “All Inclusive Tours” outweighs the cost/benefit of cruising with Regent? 

  Although there were some artwork changes from the last time we had cruised The Explorer, we have to say that dining in the Pacific Rim remains outstanding–and seems to be a favorite venue among a lot of our fellow cruisers.

  All in all, a wonderful experience but we are concerned about our new perceptions about Regent touring. Why should tours we arranged on our own be better than the ones carefully selected by the cruise line? And what’s with the “Fleeting glimpses of Tokyo” tour that was included?

  Q – We are going to try to give your question the space it deserves:

  After air, the segment of the cruise experience that produces the largest number of complaints is touring. Let’s use Venice, Italy as an example. On a typical day in-season, Venice can have between 12 and 22 ships calling. About half of these ships are designated “Mega-Liners” meaning that they are carrying several thousand guests. There are also hundreds of crew members who have the day off in port and they often need to sign up for tour experiences.

  Add to the number of cruise passengers requiring touring, the fact that Venice is a city that is trying to keep cruise ships away from the central Canal area, and you have the makings of a monumental logistics operation. And then you have to ask ………….

  Where are the tour buses coming from and who owns them? The reality is that in most worldwide ports you only have one or two companies that have the equipment to move that many cruise passengers. That means you are sailing into a virtual monopoly. The bus companies can offer the tours they wish to offer and the cruise lines can discuss options and offer suggestions etc. but they do not control the process. In fact, finalization of cruise ship tours is done by the ship’s Purser staff working with their on-shore representatives. But touring is always under local control. 

  Then there is the question of the guides. Where do they come from and are enough certified guides available? In Venice, for example, one must ask where the guides live. A home in central Venice is extremely expensive. Often, guides must travel great distances to reach their work. 

  And then there is the stark reality that about half of all cruise passengers want to see the major sites while the other half wants to meet locals, explore the dining scene, and get a sense of real life in modern times with little interest in history. or the “Ancients”.

  So cruise lines have to deal with that as well. That is why no cruise line is currently earning A+ scores for its land programs. Planning touring for several thousand people each of whom has paid several thousand dollars fore the experience is an operational challenge of the highest magnitude. Regent’s tour programs are similar to but not better than those offered by other five-star competitors. They are all drinking out of the same tour trough. And often there are fewer options than we would like.

  Private touring is always an option and there are some good companies starting to make a dent in this market. But given that Regent includes free shore excursions, few of the lines guests feel any need to spend more money to purchase tours when the same essential tours offered by other lines are included in Regent’s fares.

  As to the three-night Tokyo package included with your sailing as a comp pre-cruise package: Tokyo may be the world’s most expensive tourist city. Were Regent to include the kind of detailed, longer, and personally guided sightseeing you would have preferred, there would have to be a significant cost increase. You did have the option of not taking the Tokyo introductory package. We do agree with you that Regent’s wording of the tour was not as clear as it should have been regarding the manner in which guests would be dropped off to explore on their own.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

   

• A NOTE FROM A SOON TO BECOME GRANDPARENTS AND FREQUENT FLYERS

  Q – 11.18.23 – Dear, dear Traveltruthers. We recently learned that our son and daughter-in-law are going to give birth to our first grandchild. In their wisdom, they live in Silicon Valley while we happily reside  in Rhode Island. This, for us, means that we are going to start flying out to the west coast several times per year. Our question has to do with domestic airline planning. When should we be looking at flights/costs and is there one web site you would recommend that we can play with to learn the ropes. From everything of yours that we have read, it seems that for flights within the US you recommend searching online but doing the actual booking directly with the airline? True?

  A –  For domestic flights, we recommend getting serious about 100 days prior to departure date. After that point, fares begin to rise. We would use the much improved Google Flights website. This site will give you the fare history of your selected flights and it will tell you what it things is a fair price for your ticket. You can set a price alert when you your ticket hits the recommend price range. You can easily set up the site to notify you via e-mail when the prices are about top change.

  Congratulations. Wishing you many more and a regular commute out west.

• TIME TO GET A CREDIT CARD WITH SOME REAL TRAVEL BENEFITS. WHICH IS THE BEST ONE AT A REASONABLE COST PER YEAR?

  Q –  11.18.23 – We have been using a “cash-back” credit card for years. Now that we are retired and we are starting to see a bit of the world, we would like to start out with the better of the travel reward cards in the “under $100 Per Year” price range. Not sure if you really want to get involved in this sort of advice but thought I would ask. We love the site.

  A – This is a subjective question. Virtually every travel website offers credit card advice and there is almost always a statement which essentially says they may receive renumeration in kind for their recommendations. You can assume that any website about travel that seems to have a good deal of credit card advice, ads, deals etc. is enjoying payback from the various credit cards they are hawking.

  Unfortunately, we have no escape clause and we receive nothing from any travel product we might recommend. We are business fools.

  That said, the current consensus seems to be that the best of the cards for those planning on traveling a few times per year is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. We won’t do an ad for the card but it does give you better than usual travel rewards together with painless redemption procedures. You get some excellent benefits for $95 per year. You get points for dining, shopping etc. and, unlike an airline-branded card, you can redeem miles at a good rate on most of the world’s leading airlines.

  We will now await the dozens of notes of disagreement from other credit card issuers and their users.

• STILL WONDERING ABOUT TRAVEL TO EGYPT SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY

  Q – 11.18.23  We are wondering what the status might be of our scheduled tour with Globus in February. We have called twice and all they are saying is there are no refunds being given and the tour will operate based on current information. Is there anywhere we can get more definitive information? We would love to postpone this trip by a year just to see if things calm down in Israel and along the Gaza Strip. We are not getting any information about safety from the company and we have paid in full. Any specifics you can provide would be really appreciated – our phone calls have not produced anything of value except that we are being told a credit to use another time is out. For what it is worth, we are in our seventies, we are Jewish, and we certainly don’t need the uncertainty or the stress. I am sure you understand.

  A – What we don’t understand is why you are making these calls. Why isn’t this being handled by your travel advisor? Someone is earning a nice commission on your booking so it would seem appropriate that they do a little work to earn it. Our concern is that you may have booked this directly with the company. If that is the case, please make certain that the travel agent commission portion of the price you paid is returned to you. If, in this situation, you paid the full rate inclusive of the agent commission, but you never used an agent, someone is making a double profit. We hope that is not the case.

  The specifics, for now, are these:

  The war is in Israel and in Gaza. It has not extended to Egypt so tours are not being canceled and booked guests are, across-the-board, being denied future credited unless they specifically were booked on a canceled Israel departure. 

  There is a travel “advisory” issued for American travelers going to Egypt. That means “take extra precautions”. It does not mean “don’t go”. Many American cities are under travel “advisories” and foreign visitors are warned about taking precautions to remain out of harms way. If our State Department, for whatever reason, changes the “Advisory” to a “Warning” your tour will, we are certain, be canceled and you will either be offered a total refund of all but your travel insurance fees or an attractive future credit.

  If you are truly nervous about going and you booked with Globus without the advocacy of a travel professional, we would pout together a carefully crafter letter to the director of Customer Services at Globus laying out the reasons why you need to postpone this journey. You might want to include a letter from your physician as well. No guarantees, but that would take it out of the hands of the reservation agents at a call center who have been taking your calls. 

• LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO GO WITH FOOD TOURS AS INTERESTING BUT FAR DIFFERENT THAN WINE TOURS

  Q – 11.3.23 – Hello. You are now communicating with the person who has done more wine touring on the  west coast of the United States than any Californian alive. We’ve done it all over a 30 year span from Napa to Mendocino – even venturing into Washington State for some memorable Pinot tastings. Sad to say, my blood cell count has created the need to cut down on wine consumption so I am looking to find some upscale food touring that might best be accompanied by a single glass of wine. We don’t know who else to ask but we sense you understand. We don’t want to learn to cook pasta like someone’s grandmother and we have no interest in cupcakes or cheese. Something wonderful best accompanied by wine with a clear focus and beautiful scenery. Don’t feel the need to respond right away – if you could ponder it and respond I would raise a single glass in your honor. 

  A – Yes, we try to ponder all questions for months before responding. We are not the best source for this question but we do have one rather strong recommendation assuming it clears your medical team: The latest trend in food tasting centers around Oyster events. Like wine, there are major geographical distinctions and the scenery from the California central coast, to the Gulf, on to Maine is often truly spectacular. You might start the search by checking out the tours offered by Hog Island Oysters outside San Francisco. 

• TIPPING THOSE WHO NEED IT IN INDIA – CAN GIFT CARDS WORK?

  Q – Well we made it to India yesterday. Arrived at the hotel at 4 AM. Begin our tour today with a half day of sightseeing in Mumbai and then tomorrow off to Udapur. 

  The hotel (Taj Palace) is off course lovely, historic and well maintained. I pointed out to my wife that they repaired all the bullet holes from the 2008 terrorist attack. She of course felt much better.

  What can I say about Mumbai? It’s called the City of Dreams. I am dreaming of getting out of here.

  Just one question. We are, in the first 24 hours, seeing people we pass on the street who have, we would guess, not had a healthy meal for a long time. Is it a good idea to purchase gift cards from a local chain restaurant and give them out when we see someone who might really need it. I am not entirely comfortable carrying cash and handing it out. I have budgeted about $1,000 for this purpose but I don’t want to be just another ugly American. How do I know it won’t be used for drugs?

  A – That is so kind of you. Don’t worry about any money being used for drugs by the homeless on the streets. Crime is not a major issue but carrying a wad of cash is always a bad idea. The restaurant gift card is not a bad idea but we would suggest you discuss this with your local guide. You would need to know that the recipient can read and understands how to properly utilize such a gift. Our recommendation would be to do your giving in a different way. You may want to make a brief visit to an orphanage and bring them something they need – like a computer. You will also see versions of the soup kitchens we have in our own inner cities that are always in need of support. That would be a way to address the truly hungry without giving them cash on the street. Your local guide should be more than willing to help you achieve your goal of giving money to those who most desperately need it.  Thank you so much for the question. 

• CAN YOU HELP ME FIND A HARD PLACE TO FIND?

  Q – 10.22.23 – So here is my dilemma: I am 64, my husband is 69. Next summer he has a big birthday and he deserves a great travel gift. But like so many of our friends, we are getting a bit concerned about the War in Israel and all of the demonstrations we are seeing.  I had planned to surprise him with a trip overseas but now, I feel restricted. He loves exotic locales, snow rather than beachy, and he loves to wander quaint streets without a lot of tourists and speaking with the locals.

  I want to surprise him with a trip in a place I know he will feel safe yet a place that is really different enough to allow him to do some wandering and take some memorable shots of the two of us. We are not foodies and, while not on a budget of any kind, we certainly don’t expect five-star hotels wherever we end up going. Oh, one other rather important thing – he does not enjoy flying. A one-stop would work but nothing more than that. A city of several million is something he would hate. We live in Cincinnati and that is as much city as he ever wants to see. I know this is a tough one but just wondering if you might have a suggestion. Thanks so much for a really different website. It makes me feel like I have a friend in the “business”. 

  A – First, thank you. And let us say “you do”.

  We have put ourselves in your place and we can only respond with a location we would personally love to explore. Why not surprise him with a trip to the World’s Largest Island”, Greenland. There is the capital Nuuk, but we are thinking that he almost might prefer Ilusissat, a truly picturesque outpost that sits on a fjord surrounded by icebergs. Of course, getting to Greenland’s second city is no easy task but there is some good news regarding transportation to Greenland.

  Starting in 2024, Icelandair will begin new service through its hub in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik. Currently, you would have to get off in Reykjavik and get to a second, smaller airport for the lift into Greenland. Now, you will have a simple stop and then proceed non-stop from Reykjavik to either Nuck or Ilusissat Airport. They are working on airport improvements and a slow growth in tourism as we speak. But you will be ahead of the herd if you plan something for this coming summer and your husband’s 70th. Hope this is helpful. 

• CAN WE GET OUT OF OUR EGYPT TOUR NOW THAT THERE IS A TRAVEL ADVISORY?

  Q – 10.22.23  – We were really excited about our planned program in Egypt with Kensington Tours. But then my husband started getting cold feet and coming around to my point of view that we ought to cancel. I found  the questions about this situation on this site extremely helpful but I am wondering about one specific issue. How exactly does the new Advisory by our State Department influence cancellation policy? Does this give everyone the right to get their money back? It sounds like our government is telling us not to go so why would any company make us go if we don’t want to? 

  A – The specific answer to your question is that an “Advisory” is in no way binding on a tour operators decision to operate a profitable tour where guests are paid in full. If the situation were to become truly dangerous the State Department would issue a “Warning” and cite specifics reasons it was issuing the declaration. Any tour company that operated a tour in a country where American citizens were being specifically told by our government “Do Not Travel to ______” could, it seems clear, face potential legal ramifications from booked guests. 

  The specific wording of a State Department announcement regarding travel to Egypt will also have an impact on the point at which your cancellation insurance will kick in. 

  Travel advisors are prohibited from discussing insurance policies and practices. We would recommend that you call your carrier directly to fully understand at what point of cancellation you might be covered.

  We would add two briefs bits of advice:

  01 – If you are really worried about a trip to the point that you are no longer looking forward to it, we would advise you to cancel it if possible.

  02 – Do note that when you are traveling with a top grade tour operator, guides are trained to keep you far away from street demonstrations and any activity that could be unpleasant. If that could not be assured, the tour will always be cancelled by the operator. 

• I CALLED MY SO-CALLED FIVE-STAR CRUISE LINE TO GET A REFUND AND WAS TOLD ‘NO WAY”

  Q – 10.19.23 –  My wife and I are booked on a major five-star line whose name begins with the letter “S”. We worked with them directly so there would be no funny business. Our cruise was calling in Egypt and Israel after sailing to Greece and other ports. The cruise departs in a month and a half and I called them this morning after consulting with my wife. I was told that the stops in Egypt are still on but that Israel ports are going to be replaced with time in Cyprus and Turkey. The cruise will now end in Turkey and I am responsible for changing my air return from Tel Aviv.

  They were nice about it but they will not consider giving me a refund or even allowing me to let them keep my money and allow me to go on a different cruise some time nest year.

  This is really lousy customer service and I am surprised the media is not calling them out about it. I did everything they asked me to do but they were non-responsive. Is there some strategy you can recommend to get me my money back or a future credit? 

  A –  Thank you and truly sorry about this situation. We have heard from dozens of cruisers in much the same position. Let us make just a few specific observations that may be too late for you to have a satisfactory outcome but hopefully will help others avoid the same travel trauma.

  • The rules are, as stated to you by “S”. The only way they will cancel your cruise and offer any form of refund is if there is a government order that Americans not travel to Europe as well as the Middle East.
  • It sounds as though you did not use a travel advisor but, instead, booked this cruise yourself in the expectation that the approximately 15% travel agent commission would be refunded to you in cash. Our guess is that you never asked for it.
  • You likely spoke to someone in the “S” call center. You are representing one booking, one revenue source – yours. The call should have been made by a trusted travel advisor familiar with the line’s management team. You could have been working with a travel advisor who gives upward of $1,000,000 in annual revenue to the line. Instead, you decided to give up the advocacy a talented advisor represents while representing yourself and your single booking. And, sadly, you never knew to demand the refund of the built-in commission for services you never received.
  • The cruise line does have the right to change itineraries when they feel it is in the best interests of the guests to do so. That language appears in every cruise line contract. So we would suggest you persist, be firm, but be kind as they are only doing what every one of their competitors is doing.

  As to what to do now?

  We would suggest that you start writing every day to executives  using their Facebook and other social media accounts. Try calling again and try to speak to the head of the line’s Customer Service division The reservation team does not have the authority to change policy but the Customer Service Desk does. 

  You will not be put in harm’s way – not when you are traveling aboard one of the company’s prized assets.  At this point we would think you might want to start thinking about how you can maximize your enjoyment of this cruise. And do take our advice – never book directly again unless you  have the cruise line’s or the tour operators assurances in writing that you will be refunded the 10-17% of the total cost represented by the build-in travel agent commission.