Sep 6, 2007
A last three suggested answers to the 10 most frequently asked travel questions
Over the last week, I suggested answers to the first seven of the ten most frequent travel questions put to me in various forums (and on my Sunday travel broadcast). Here are the last three, together with the responses I make:
8) Should I permit my 18-year-old to vacation in Europe? I hedge on that question -- having no way to judge the maturity of the 18-year-old in question -- and suggest that the questioner look up the tour offerings of Contiki Holidays (www.contiki.com), which operates escorted motorcoach tours limited to persons 18 to 35 (and primarily booked by the younger end). Contiki is a solid organization, long in business, and generally regarded as thoroughly reliable for your travel-eager kids.
9) What's there to do in London, Paris, New York or (here they name a large, world-renowned city)? I answer, with barely-disguised dismay, that if they have to ask that question, they haven't done their travel homework. A trip to anywhere should be preceded by a visit to the library, an evening or two in which you bone up about the city or country you're about to visit. A failure to do that dooms you to disappointment.
10) Should I use a travel agent? Only if that agent possesses real knowledge of the destination you're planning to visit. Because use of a travel agent usually costs more than do-it-yourself planning (agents charge an airfare fee, now that they no longer receive commissions from the airlines), they should be able to justify the extra cost with their special familiarity with the details of a particular trip.
Incidentally, if you're not in one of the hundred-and-five-or-so cities where my program is heard, you can nevertheless listen to it on the internet. Go to www.wor710.com, click on "listen live" (Sundays noon-2pm) or "podcasting", and you'll hear the program either live or delayed.
Write and read comments about this post.
8) Should I permit my 18-year-old to vacation in Europe? I hedge on that question -- having no way to judge the maturity of the 18-year-old in question -- and suggest that the questioner look up the tour offerings of Contiki Holidays (www.contiki.com), which operates escorted motorcoach tours limited to persons 18 to 35 (and primarily booked by the younger end). Contiki is a solid organization, long in business, and generally regarded as thoroughly reliable for your travel-eager kids.
9) What's there to do in London, Paris, New York or (here they name a large, world-renowned city)? I answer, with barely-disguised dismay, that if they have to ask that question, they haven't done their travel homework. A trip to anywhere should be preceded by a visit to the library, an evening or two in which you bone up about the city or country you're about to visit. A failure to do that dooms you to disappointment.
10) Should I use a travel agent? Only if that agent possesses real knowledge of the destination you're planning to visit. Because use of a travel agent usually costs more than do-it-yourself planning (agents charge an airfare fee, now that they no longer receive commissions from the airlines), they should be able to justify the extra cost with their special familiarity with the details of a particular trip.
Incidentally, if you're not in one of the hundred-and-five-or-so cities where my program is heard, you can nevertheless listen to it on the internet. Go to www.wor710.com, click on "listen live" (Sundays noon-2pm) or "podcasting", and you'll hear the program either live or delayed.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: tips
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
