the best return on your travel investment

If you're like most luxury travelers surfing the web, I imagine you're looking for the best travel experience for the lowest possible price. I totally understand that logic, and in fact my services as a luxury travel consultant are all about obtaining the best possible value for my clients.

The search for the absolute lowest price, however, sometimes has unintended consequences. Making decisions simply on the basis of price, especially when we're traveling to unfamiliar and exotic destinations, can rob us of the very experiences we're traveling around the world to have. Here's a true story that happened to me.

Shortly after I became a Virtuoso travel consultant, I planned a trip for myself to Italy. I scheduled two nights in Naples, wanting to visit the famous ruins of Pompeii. I asked one of the Virtuoso onsites in Italy to provide me a quote for a tour of Pompeii — a car and driver to take us there and a half-day tour of Pompeii with a private guide. While their price was OK, I also emailed the Concierge of my hotel in Naples, asking him to quote me a price for the same services. The hotel's price came back perhaps 20€ lower. So I went with the lower price. What's the difference, I figured, between one guided tour and another?

Well, quite a lot, it turns out — a lesson I learned the hard way. Our driver was great. He picked us up in a comfortable car and drove us to Pompeii. Upon our arrival around 10 a.m., we were introduced to the guide arranged for by the Concierge. He took us into the ruins of Pompeii, explained the various sites that we were seeing, and then — at 11 a.m. — said "goodbye" to us.

"But we paid for a half-day tour," I said.

"I don't know anything about it," he replied ... and off he went to meet his next clients.

I saved 20€, but I didn't get the experience I was hoping for. When a three hour in-depth tour turns into a sixty minute cursory visit to one of the major attractions in Italy, you are going to feel cheated and disappointed. This was a valuable lesson.

Why do we travel, after all? We do it for those unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experiences of seeing history with our own eyes ... and while I saved 20€, it shortchanged my experience of Pompeii (although we made good use of the extra time by having our driver take us to Herculaneum - not all was lost).

So here are the top reasons that Virtuoso travel advisers will use onsites to plan the components of a foreign trip.

1. They are true experts about their locale. They know the best way to tour the sights and absorb the culture of their destination.
2. They are vetted by Virtuoso, and you can be confident that these companies are financially secure and consistently provide exceptional service.
3. They contract with the best available English-speaking guides.
4. They know the best restaurants (and can make reservations) and can take you to out-of-the-way sights most tourists never see.
5. They can arrange exclusive experiences that will give you "bragging rights" for a lifetime.
6. If anything goes wrong on your trip, they are a local resource there to assist you.

It's not the least expensive way to travel and your travel consultant will receive a commission [disclaimer], but onsites offer the best possible return on your travel investment.


luxury travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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how not to get bumped

Travel forums relate countless stories of travel adventures — of once-in-a-lifetime accounts of transcendent moments that surpass expectations ... and of frustrating misadventures of travelers whose plans go awry. The latter was the case in the story, posted just five days ago, by a traveler flying to Buenos Aires to embark on a 16 day cruise around South America.

Things went terribly wrong. His airline flew him from LAX to IAD, then bumped him from his connecting flight to Buenos Aires. Even though he had purchased business class tickets from IAD to BUE, his seats on the second leg were cancelled due to an "equipment change" (or so he was told). Unable to board his international flight, he missed his cruise, an adventure he had been anticipating for an entire year. It doesn't get much worse than that.

Is there anything he could have done differently? Although there are no absolute guarantees when it comes to travel, here are some strategies you can use to lessen the chances of being bumped and ruining your entire vacation.

1. Get seat assignments when you make your airline reservations. If you book on the web, go to the seat selection page - and if there is none, call the airline to get a seat assigned, if at all possible. If you come to the airport without an assigned seat, you'll be at the top of the potential bump list.

2. Join the airline's frequent flyer program. Even if you don't fly enough ever to be able to use the miles you earn, doing this gives you a level of status that non-members do not have. Non-members are more likely to be bumped.

3. Check in online 24 hours before your flight. Go the airline's website, click the "check in online" link, and get your boarding passes. If anyone's going to be bumped, it will be the passenger who waits to check in until an hour before the flight.

4. Get to the airport early. If seats are limited, it's first come, first served. The last to arrive are more likely to lose out.

5. Build a cushion into your schedule. Are you flying to meet a cruise? Don't plan to arrive by air the same day that your cruise departs. If anything goes wrong, you'll miss your cruise's departure. Plan to arrive a day (or more) earlier and enjoy the sights of your port of departure. Surely this traveler could have enjoyed Buenos Aires for several days.

6. Insure against trip delays. Had this traveler booked his air through the cruise line, it would have been the cruise line's responsibility to get him to the next port on his cruise's itinerary. Or ... had he purchased travel insurance with a trip delay component, he could have purchased flights to the next port and been reimbursed to the extent of his policy.

Mishaps do occur when we travel, but these are strategies to minimize the possibility that they will happen to you and ruin your vacation.


copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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help for motion sickness

I suffer from motion sickness more than the average traveler. I've had "incidents" off the Napili Coast of Kauai on a small boat, on small planes in turbulent weather, even on jumbo jets at the end of long flights — not to mention sitting in the back of a bus ... or trying to read in a moving car.

My first encounter with Relief Band came during my recent trip to New Zealand. Our group was in a 4X4 truck climbing the bumpy gravel road leading to the volcanic crater at the top of Mt. Tarawera. One member of our group (even more prone to motion sickness than I) was having a particularly rough time of it. Even though she was sitting in the front seat, the bumps and sudden turns in the road caused her an extreme case of nausea. There was no place to let her off, she had no choice but to ride all the way up ... and she suffered every minute of that ride. After reaching the top of the mountain, she stayed in the truck, afraid that she would pass out if she tried to stand up, while the rest of the group went out to explore the crater.

Returning to the truck a half hour later, she was still sitting there. But then, digging through her purse, she found her Relief Band (which she normally kept with her medical supplies). Putting it on her wrist, the symptoms of motion sickness were relieved almost immediately. Within a few minutes, she was totally well and back to her normal self!

I would not have believed that a simple wrist band could be so effective had I not seen it work with my own eyes. Although I have used motion sickness patches (worn behind the ear) with great success, they cause side effects — dry mouth. I have obtained a Relief Band and will try it myself during my next trip. I'll be sure to report on the results of my personal test, successful or not!



copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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what if you lose your passport?

The thought of losing your passport while traveling overseas is frightening, but fortunately there is an easy precaution that every foreign traveler should take. Complete the form on the Travel Registration page at the US State Department website. This will greatly simplify matters should your passport go missing.

I heard the story of a traveler who, while traveling abroad, unfortunately had his passport stolen. He immediately contacted the US Embassy and because he had completed his online Travel Registration, embassy staff were able to access his stolen information and provide him with a replacement passport in 6 hours! The Embassy said that if he hadn't registered online, this process could have taken several days.

This service has been available for awhile, but most people probably don't know about it. Taking 5 minutes to fill out a simple online registration form is such a simple precaution to take!


copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Sundance Resort | A River Runs Through It

Robert Redford is passionate about the outdoors, film, and the arts, and Sundance Resort is the realization of that passion. In 1969, "Bob" (as he is known by the staff) bought the land upon which Sundance was developed. It's a beautiful mountain resort ... and a river runs through it. Sundance is a great summer destination; come for fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in the warm months. With 10 miles of hiking trails and 25 miles of biking trails, the lifts run all year to take nature lovers to the top of the mountain.

Sundance is an ideal winter destination resort as well. Just one hour from the major airline hub of Salt Lake City, it's far more accessible than Vail, Aspen, Jackson Hole, or Whistler. Guests can access the Express Line at the chairlift (available only to resort guests and to private lessons). Downhill and cross country skiing, as well as snowboarding, are popular here. Count on full occupancy during the Sundance Film Festival (2010 is already fully booked). Though the main event is held in Park City, UT, Sundance guests can see the same films in the resort's own intimate screening room.

The arts are a third reason to come to Sundance. The Art Shack features hands-on classes in pottery, jewelry making, and photography ... and you can watch glass blowing in action. We signed up for a private photography class led by Annalisa Rosenvall; she will customize your two hours to address your own particular questions and needs. And if you're attracted to the culinary arts, Tree Top is the highest rated restaurant in Utah; it features organic meats and vegetables.

Rooms are large and comfortable condo units with rustic, pine paneling and plush feather beds. All suites are due for a rolling renovation with replacement of soft goods and installation of upgraded granite counters and appliances. Families can be guaranteed connecting rooms, and luxurious 3-6 bedroom homes are also available at surprisingly affordable rates. The best values are available through a Virtuoso travel consultant (click to contact); Virtuoso guests receive room upgrades subject to availability, complimentary full breakfast daily (including an incredible Sunday brunch), and an exclusive wine-tasting class for two during your stay.


Sundance Resort (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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New Zealand | luxury boutique hotels

Mollies is the archetype of a boutique hotel, but it's not for everyone. If you're looking for a large, comfortable business hotel in Auckland in a convenient location with a highly efficient concierge desk, your best bet is probably the Westin. But if you're a discerning traveler who seeks unique and personal experiences, I highly recommend Mollies. This hotel was originally a home built for the first Mayor of Auckland. It was later converted into a boarding house and, ultimately, into a luxury boutique hotel by Molly (the mother of the current owner). The hotel is decorated with antiques, and the wall treatment is Venetian plaster.

Staying at Mollies is an event. Guests gather in the drawing room for cocktails and canapes every evening at 6:30 p.m. and stay for a brief and extremely well-done operatic performance at 7:30 p.m. While I’m not a particular fan of opera, this was highly enjoyable, short and sweet, with performances of classic opera arias that should be familiar to most. (Frances Wilson, the owner, is a noted opera coach). The setting is conducive to conversation between guests, and you will get to know some interesting and sophisticated fellow travelers.

My Junior Suite at Mollies was everything you would expect from that room category, a comfortably sized corner room with a separate sitting area and a small balcony. The room has all the expected amenities, and the bathroom is large with a double vanity, jacuzzi tub, and a very large walk-in shower. From April through December, Virtuoso guests are virtually guaranteed upgrades to a Villa (suite); just book through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant. The top room category are the Premium Villas which are larger with great views and your own baby grand piano in the room. The most requested room at Mollies is #8.

The Spire Hotel is a small luxury boutique hotel in Queenstown with ten suites. My suite was spacious with a large patio overlooking the village church. Beautiful contemporary interior design features a very comfortable Eames reading chair facing a gas fireplace and the immense wall-mounted Panasonic plasma TV. The room has the latest in electronics, all controlled by a high-tech remote control that completely baffled me! The room has a gas fireplace, large dressing area, and a large bathroom with soaking tub, walk-in shower, and dual vanities. The Spire is upscale, visually appealing, and will not disappoint. Rates include breakfast, free internet, and free airport transfers. The hotel prides itself on great service; the manager is always ready to recommend the best places to eat and shop (and to drive guests there), and the hotel’s own dining room is superb.


luxury boutique hotel (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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