The World's Most Expensive Computer Game

Do you ever find yourself annoyed when your kids waste time playing games on the computer? There are so many marvelous things you can do on the internet, like plan your next trip. And just think of the money you will save! I occasionally encounter people who just love to talk about their most recent trip and how much they saved by booking it themselves. In fact, the savings often trump anything else about the trip. But did you ever stop to think of the value of your time spent staring at the screen or chasing down link after link to save a few dollars. Sure, everybody wants to get the best value for their money, but if you earn an hourly rate higher than minimum wage, and you are doing this research from the office, are you really saving anything?

Beam me up

If only there was an option to get to your destination that didn't involve flying! Deregulation of airlines years ago has created a free for all market that is totally out of control. The latest ill advised scheme is charging passengers to check luggage. This has created a huge monster, that coupled with the TSA security dance, causes more problems with what could be a simple process. So the folks that play by the rules pay their baggage fees, while others drag huge bags through security with the intention of stuffing them into the ever-shrinking overhead bins. So now there is a mountain of luggage in the gate area. The solution? Gate check! That is a process by which you can tag your bags, have them stowed for the flight, and pick them up as you exit the plane at your destination, thereby avoiding the luggage carousel...and it's free! There is a solution for you. And what about the losers, literally, who paid for the same service? Well, they are filling the coffers of the airline industry with billions, yes, billions. The only thing they gain is the ability to travel with their big bottles of shampoo while the gate check crowd gets to put it all in the wee 3 ounce bottles in the 1 quart bag. Is there potential for delay in this procedure? Really?

Time to waste on your next trip?

While spontaniety always sounds glamorous and exciting, there is nothing fun about finding yourself stuck somewhere because all the planes, trains and automobiles are booked because of some unforseen event. Sure it might sound great to be stuck somewhere like Venice, for example, but what happens to the hotel you booked in Florence, and the rest of your trip that is now one or two or more days out of sync because there are no available trains? So instead of enjoying the afternoon touring the city, you are on the phone rearranging your trip. And getting evil stares from your traveling companion. Plan those things that need to be planned, then take the time on the ground at your destination to discover something new.

Bucket Lists

OK, everyone is talking about their bucket list. Is it just me, or does anyone else think that is a bit grim. I visualize hoards of people clutching copies of "One Thousand Places to See Before You Die", frantically checking off suggested sites, snapping a quick picture with the digital camera and quickly moving on to the next item. I love that book, and I admit I have checked off quite a few pages. But are we missing something? I used to tell my clients to carefully read escorted tour itineraries and keep their eyes open for two critical words: "see" and "visit". And there is a HUGE difference. You can see a lot of places and things as you drive by, but a visit is another thing entirely. Slow down and visit. You will experience more with the slow approach. Travel should not be approached like a scavenger hunt, because all you do is collect bits and pieces. Travel for the experience that stays with you forever. To put it another way, if you have only changed planes in Atlanta, you haven't been to Atlanta.

Just back from.....

A fantastic cruise on the Silversea Whisper and what a wonderful experience! We departed from San Juan after an overnight stay at the El Convento and sailed to St Barths, Antigua, Grenada, Dominica and St Kitts. Silversea is not the wild dance and party experience so often touted by other cruise lines. It is a more low key and sophisticated experience, with a focus on luxury accommodations, fine dining and excellent service. There are no climbing walls, wave pools, drinking contests, etc., but instead they offer a great experience for those who want to travel in style.