2014 Travel Plans are Coming Together

It looks as if 2014 will be a busy travel year; that's nothing new for me as America's International Travel Expert®. If you find you're going to be in the same area at the same time as me, let's get together!

• January 1-6, 2014: New York City, NY (vacation)
• January 10-13, 2014: Chicago, IL (Travel and Adventure Expo)
• [Tentative] January 24-27, 2014: Santa Clara, CA (Travel and Adventure Expo)
• February 2-20, 2014: Los Cabos, Mexico (vacation and Caboholic Convention)
• February 27 - March 3, 2014: New York City, NY (New York Times Travel Show)
• [Tentative] March 28-31, 2014: San Diego, CA (Travel and Adventure Expo)
• April 2, 2014: San Diego, CA (Il Divo Concert A Musical Affair)
• May 19 - July 18, 2014: Paris, France (living as a Parisian; working on new book)
• [Tentative] September 2014: (Panama Canal Cruise)
• [Tentative] October 24-27, 2014: Dallas, TX (Travel and Adventure Expo)

I'm sure there will be more to add, but that's it for now!

The Dos and Don’ts When Planning Your Trip to Italy

This is the first of two posts of traveling in Italy, originally written by me and published by Expert Beacon. This post is on things to DO while in Italy; you can probably guess what the next post is about!

There is so much to see, to do, and to absorb on every trip, and your first trip to Italy will be that way. Whether you are taking a guided tour, spending a few extra days at the end of a cruise, or just going on your own, there are some things that you definitely should do, and there are some you don’t want to do. By necessity, these must be somewhat general in nature; but since you’re creative—or you might not be going to Italy—you can use some imagination and tailor them to your own trip.

Do Travel with an open mind

You’ve probably watched at least one video, one movie, and a couple television shows about Italy; those might even be what spurred you to book your trip. Put a lot of that glamor and the easy-going attitude aside, and realize that not everything is going to be like what you saw. Yes, Italy is a great country to visit—about 46 million people visit there each year—and, just like your own country, most of the people living there have their own lives to live and jobs to do. The best thing you can do as you pack is to start with an open mind of what it’s going to be like once you’re there.

Traveling with an open mind and a flexible attitude works no matter where you go, even if it’s just a town or two away from home. But when you’re out of your comfort zone, and in another country where the language is different and so is the money, even the smallest disruption can create stress. You don’t want that. You do want to enjoy your vacation, and accepting that changes will occur (the weather, the lodging, the plans that were so meticulously made) will put you in a frame of mind that allows you to have the best possible time. Another way to look at it is that you might have an unexpected surprise when something “happens” that wasn’t on your scripted itinerary.

Do Learn some Italian

One of the accepted truths in international travel is that most people in the hospitality business speak at least some English. That’s nice, but I don’t know many Americans who want a visitor from a different country to expect them to speak their “foreign language.” You’ll earn a lot of respect and a willingness to be even more helpful when you begin the conversation with a Buon giorno or Buona sera, depending on the time of day. It might feel awkward the first few times you try it, but that return Italian smile will tell you how much it’s appreciated that you cared enough to try.

My recommendation is to buy a small pocket phrase book that you can carry with you during your daily travels. Practice often, even with a traveling companion, and soon it will will feel natural. When you see a word you don’t know, look it up. Also, when you want to say something to a local, or ask a question, don’t be embarrassed—pull out our phrase book, look it up, and then try to pronounce it. If you get a strange look, show the book and point to what you were saying. You’ll get an “Ah,” along with that smile again. At a minimum, use the following words and phrases: Buon giorno (good morning or good day); Buena sera (good evening); Grazie (thank you); Prego (please, you’re welcome, I need to ask you something—it’s used for many things); Arrividerci (good bye); Si (yes); No (no); Quanto costa? (how much?). TIP: Take a 3x5 card and write down your list of words and phrases (Italian and English), and carry that card with you. It’s easier than opening the book, and soon you won’t even need the card.

Do Prioritize your list of cities

Unless you’re planning to spend four weeks in Italy, or you just want a “fly-by” visit to check Italy off your countries visited list, you should focus your time on one or two main areas. A good rule of thumb is a minimum of three days per major city (Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples), plus a half-day or more travel. There’s fifteen to eighteen days right there, and that doesn’t count places like Cinque Terra; Capri and the Amalfi Coast; the island of Sicily; other cities (Ravenna and Bologna) along the eastern shore. Then there are areas that are worth immersing yourself into their culture—Tuscany; the Dolomites; Italian Alps; hill towns.

Start with your absolute must-visit places. Rome has been there for thousands of years; it will still be there two or three years from now. On our first visit to Italy, we flew into Rome, but the tour headed right out, and we spent no time in Rome. It wasn’t until we were on an European tour three years later that we spent some time in Rome. Use this as a starting formula: Divide the number of days in Italy by 3. Round that number down, and then subtract one. So if you’re planning a two-week trip, you lose two days in the USA-Italy-USA travel. You’re left with twelve; 12 divided by 3 = 4 (no need to round down). Subtract one, and you’re left with three major cities to visit. This allows for transit between cities, extra time  for the side trips, and you’re not disappointed that you had to cut the last city short. Also, by not visiting every place on your first trip, you’ll have an excuse to return to Italy. TIP: If you want just highlights, divide by two instead of three.

Do Acquaint yourself with some of the local customs

Some of things that we take for granted are different in Italy. Some of them are mandated by the government, such as when hotel heaters must be turned off and when air conditioners can be turned on. The solutions to these are simple: put on a sweater if you’re cold, or sweat like everyone else if you’re hot. Coffee is served by the cup, meaning you don’t get unlimited refills, just as soft drinks are typically sold by the bottle or can; they’re not dispensed from a fountain machine.

Eating dinner at nine in the evening is a custom that is difficult to adapt to, but that is a normal starting time for the evening meal in Italy. That’s why you’ll see many restaurants are closed until six or seven, and then they open the doors just because they are there getting things ready. If you go inside, they’ll serve you, but you’ll be eating all by yourself. And when the Italians do show up for dinner, don’t be surprised when you see the whole family arrive, children included. Eating dinner is like an event for them, and it will get noisy and stay that way until everyone leaves. Meanwhile, you’ve finished your meal, and you’re waiting for them to bring il conto (the check), but it never arrives. That’s another nice custom; they won’t push you out of the restaurant to make the table available for someone else—you have to ask for the bill.

Do Be adventurous and try eating something new

All of us have our favorites when it comes to food and drink. So do the Italians, and our favorites don’t always overlap theirs. The saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” applies perfectly when it comes to trying to food and beverage items. There are many regional specialties, such as squid in Venice and Trieste, and meats in Bologna. Using your phrase book, you can either ask for something in particular, or interpret what is listed as today’s specialty. If you like wine, be prepared to be surprised how good (and inexpensive) the local wines are. You’ll win points, and taste some good wines, when you order vino della casa (house wine).

If you have particular dietary restrictions (or strong preferences), you will do better to go to the larger restaurants in the major cities. Once again, use your phrase book to point to something you want, or to show them something you don’t want. Be prepared, however, for a response that indicates they don’t have it, or it can’t be done. For example, if you have an intolerance for wheat, you’d better avoid the pasta unless they convince you that they have rice pasta available.

Norwegian Fjords Cruise

We leave tomorrow morning (Thursday) for London, UK, to board the Celebrity Infinity out of Harwich, about 2 hours northeast of London. We sail Friday evening for a 10-day Norwegian Fjords Cruise. I am doing double duty on this cruise--I will be giving my normal Destination Talks on different aspects of history, culture, etc., and then I will also be giving Port Talks for each port that we're visiting. So, yes, I will be busy. This cruise is from July 26 to August 5, coming back to Harwich.

On August 5, although we are staying on for the next cruise (British Isles), we will go ashore and have lunch with George and Tawny, some friends we met on a Barcelona-Dubai cruise in October 2011. After lunch and chatting, we'll get back on the ship for the next 10 days cruising the British Isles. I will be giving the Port Talks on this cruise, which, of course, had me learning a lot more about the ports than I would have if were just regular passengers. This cruise ends August 16 back in Harwich, and we will fly back to Boise that day.
Our return home will be short-lived, however,as we head back out five days later for Stockholm and two cruises in the Baltic region. Ah, but more about that later.
Here is the itinerary for the Norwegian Fjords cruise:

Date	Port/City	Activity	Arrival	Departure	Sunrise/set
July 26	Harwich, England			5:00 PM	0515/2058
July 27	At Sea
July 28	Oslo, Norway	Docked	7:00 AM	4:00 PM	0449/2156
July 29	Kristiansand, Norway	Docked	7:00 AM	4:00 PM	0514/2153
July 30	Stavanger, Norway	Docked	7:00 AM	4:00 PM	0520/2205
July 31	Ålesund, Norway	Docked	8:00 AM	10:00 PM	0455/2227
August 1	Geiranger, Norway	Tendered	7:00 AM	4:00 PM	0458/2224
August 2	Flam, Norway	Docked	9:30 AM	7:30 PM	0519/2209
August 3	Bergen, Norway	Docked	9:00 AM	5:00 PM	0522/2206
August 4	At Sea
August 5	Harwich, England		4:00 AM		0530/2041

I guess I'd better go start packing! Bye for now.

Is “Progress” Always a Good Thing?

Business classes that we took in college always seemed to spout the benefits of progress. And those of us who took Latin in high school know that the word “benefits” has the Latin root “bene,” which means “good.” Therefore, by assertion, progress is good. Well, is that always the case?

I just finished reading a New York Times article in the Global Business section, titled “Hong Kong’s Old Airport Reopens as Cruise Ship Terminal.” I was in Hong Kong in April as I was one of the three invited speakers aboard the Celebrity Millennium for a 15-day Asian cruise. When you read this article (www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/business/global/hong-kongs-old-airport-reopens-as-a-cruise-ship-terminal.html), I’d like you to consider several items:

1. Notice the main picture where the new terminal building sits at the end of the old runway. Does it look as if you can walk anywhere from there? At the old/current cruise terminal (Ocean Terminal, indicated in one of the lower images), you could walk right out into historic and exciting Kowloon. With the new terminal, you’ll be able to walk out into, perhaps, a construction zone. Call that progress?

2. Ocean Terminal and its adjoining shopping malls are home to hundreds of stores for anything you would possibly want—whether it’s clothing for the cruise, a delicious ice cream cone, or gifts to take home to the grandkids. There’s no word on shopping in the new cruise terminal. But if it’s anything like the relatively new cruise terminal near Tianjin (the access port for Beijing), it will be terribly lacking. Our ship was docked for 3 days at that terminal in April, and it was the worst excuse for a terminal I’ve ever seen. Yes, it was big and new . . . and EMPTY! The currency exchange booth ran out of money every day; there was one shop that would open for two hours a day. That’s not what I would call progress!

3. What will happen to the thousands of workers who earn a wage in the current Ocean Terminal? Will it still be as thriving when the cruise ships don’t stop there anymore? I saw hundreds of people stop and gaze at the ship; some of them, I’m sure, went in the terminal for shopping. Will the workers see their hours cut back? How many stores will have to close? What will be the economic impact to the Kowloon area, its restaurants, its shops? As a shopkeeper puts up a CLOSED (for good) sign, will he or she be thankful for the “progress” with the new terminal?

Okay, that’s my 421 words against progress. For those of us who were fortunate enough to fly into the old Kai Tak Airport as we sat on the right side of the upper deck of a 747, we will never forget that bold right turn and drop down to a landing. That was fun! The new airport is nice; I particularly like being able to walk to a hotel in under 5 minutes without having to go outside. So that is progress that I will support.

Speaking of more progress, my re-configured website is done! Thanks to Paul, he put together a good theme and set of pages. Check it out at www.stuartgustafson.com. I will be working to add the travel photos from my old site so you can see some of the places I’ve been to. I also plan to have a page where readers can submit travel photos! I’m trying to keep my travel plans current on the website’s Travel page so you can see where I’m going—just in case you want to consider coming on a cruise where I’m speaking.

For those of you on Facebook, you probably already know of my International Travel Expert FB page (www.facebook.com/pages/International-Travel-Expert/147321228683651); that might even been where you’re reading this article. I’ve also started a new group called Travel with AITE (www.facebook.com/groups/345304905572972/); AITE stands for America’s International Travel Expert^®, my U.S. Registered Trademark. The idea behind this group is for people who would want to travel with others to various places around the world. An optimum size group per trip would be about 16, and not everyone would want to go on every trip; I’m thinking that putting together even two a year will be a lot of work. There are no dues, no obligations, etc., but if you think you’d enjoy talking about future trips as a small group, please visit the Travel with AITE page and join the group.

It’s just about a week until the official start of summer. What travel plans do you have? If you have any questions about travel, don’t hesitate to ask me.

Safe journeys wherever they may be,

Stuart Gustafson,

America’s International Travel Expert^®

Mexico—Missing—Safety...What?

When I wrote my mystery novel Missing in Mexico, that wasn't the title that I originally had in mind. What it was is truly irrelevant because it didn't make sense to anyone but me. When I realized I needed to change the title, I went through a process of writing down words that had meaning to the story. The first one was Mexico; after all, that is where the story mainly takes place. Then I wrote down Sarah, the 19-year old who's gone missing. Oh yes, and then I wrote down Missing, because that's what happened to Sarah. I jotted down a few more words, and then I looked at my list. The new title was there immediately. I saw Mexico and Missing, and said "Missing in Mexico." And the title has stuck. And it's been a strong enough title for the Amazon Kindle version to be the #1 Best Seller and the #1 Top Ranked book in the Mexican Travel category at the same time—twice!

If you've read the book, you know the story is NOT about the thousands of people who have been reported missing in Mexico; that story takes a qualified journalist, which I'm not. But during most interviews, I do get asked abut the title, and the safety of traveling in Mexico. Yes, there are some trouble spots in Mexico, and then there are trouble spots in the USA, in Canada, in Italy, in ... you get the idea. If you want to look for trouble, I guarantee that you can find it in any town in the world, even your own.

Back to the basic question of safety and Los Cabos—it is THE SAFEST vacation place in all of Mexico. Why? Here are a few of the reasons:

• Access—it is at the tip of Baja California, over one thousand miles from the US border along a single road. It is also 300 miles from mainland Mexico. So it's not easy to get in, or out.
• Economy—the economy of the Los Cabos area, and most of the state of BCS (Baja California Sur) relies heavily on tourism. There =fore the local officials ensure that the area is safe.
• Lifestyle—Cabo, as its affectionately called, has quite a laidback lifestyle. Who wants crime when you already have sun, sand, surf; it's all pretty nice.

It's also pretty easy to get to Los Cabos. There are non-stops flights from Canada, from as far away as Newark, plus many other US locations. I love going to Los Cabos, and I'm always happy to talk with people about the area. If you have any questions about Cabo, please feel free to contact me.

Hasta luego.

Planning a Trip to France

With the French Open currently taking place at Roland Garros in Paris, France, it seems like the perfect time to re-visit a piece I wrote a few months back for Expert Beacon. The article was titled, “Dos and Don’ts When Planning Your Trip to France.” I was asked to write this article because as America’s International Travel Expert®, I’ve been to France several times and much of the advice was specifically targeted for the first-time visitor (per the publisher’s request).
 
Okay, let’s get started. You’re excited because you’re finally going to France for the first time; congratulations! But then your mind starts asking questions like, “What should I wear?”; “What should I do?”; “Is it safe to be out at night?”; “Do they speak English?” Relax; once you do some proper planning and expectations setting, your trip to France will be magnifique, and you’ll start planning your return trip even before your feet leave French soil!

Do #1 — Do spend the majority of your time in Paris
Unless you’re going to be in France for a full month (quite rare for a first-time visit), you’ll want to spend most of your time in the City of Lights. This marvelous crossroads-of-the-world city is a better introduction to French life than most videos you’ll ever see. Of course, you’ll want to go to the major sights: Louvre; Eiffel Tower; Notre Dame Cathedral. The best daytime view is from the tower at Sacre-Couer, at the highest point in the city. Looking south gives you a different perspective from what you see from the Eiffel Tower. At night, the boat ride along the Seine River is a must-see spectacle; you can even have dinner on some of the boats.

Art galleries and museums are ever-abundant in Paris. You could spend a month in the Louvre, but don’t do that; hire a guide, or take a half-day tour, and then use your pass to get back in the next afternoon when you have an free hour. The Orsay Museum, a converted railroad station is delightful, as is Monet’s Orangerie. There are smaller ones dedicated to Delacroix, Rodin, Picasso (my favorite) and others; plus there’s a Perfume Museum, a Jewish Art & History Museum—you get the point; there’s lots to see in Paris.

Do #2 — Do buy a Metro pass for your entire stay in Paris
Since you’re going to be in Paris for most of your stay, the Metro (subway) is the easiest way to get around town. You’re never more than a 10-minute walk from a stop, and the trains run about 18 hours a day. You’ll find that you can even take the Metro to a train station (Gare) for your day-trip to Versailles, Normandy, or wherever you want to go. Your best value is to buy a carnet (book) of tickets, and only buy them from the Metro stations; never buy tickets from someone offering you a “good deal.”

As with most major tourist spots, you’ll want to protect your personal belongings on the Metro (and everywhere, of course) and in the stations. Pickpockets are around, but be smart and you’ll be safe. If you’re flying into Charles De Gaulle airport, you can take the train from the airport to Gare du Nord (literally, Train Station of the North), and then board the Metro to your lodging in Paris. I’ve done it, and it’s a lot faster and cheaper than taking a taxi. Just ask your hotelier which Metro line and station you want to transfer to inside Gare du Nord.

Do #3 — Do learn some of the basic words in French
One of the best ways to create instant rapport with someone in another country is to speak some words in their language, rather than expecting that they will speak yours. They probably can speak English, but France isn’t the USA; it’s not the U.K., and it’s certainly nowhere near Australia or New Zealand. Learning a few basic words and phrases is fun to do, and it also lets the French know that you care about them and their culture.

Start with a few everyday words and phrases, and then expand as your comfort level increases; pronunciation is a bit tricky, so practice with a friend or your traveling partner: Merci (Thank you); S’il vous plait (Please); Bonjour (Good morning); Oui (Yes); Non (No); Ou est (Where is). Purchase and carry with you a small phrase book, and don’t be afraid to refer to it, and even point out words in it if you’re having a communication issue.

Do #4 — Do mingle with the locals
You’ll find that the French like to get outdoors, go for walks, and sit in the parks and in the cafes. Even the smallest villages have gathering places where the locals will sip a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and you’ll be welcomed to join in. Point to your phrase book, and they’ll know you’re an American, but speak as much French as you can. While you’re “with the locals,” try some of the local cuisine, whether it’s crepes at a sidewalk café, escargot in a sit-down restaurant, or the local beer or wine that’s being served with the local cheese. It’s all good, even though it’s not what you’re used to having. But give it a try, and enjoy life!

Do #5 — Do speak only French for one entire day
One of the most exciting days on my first trip to France was to force myself to speak only French for one full day. I was traveling alone, so it did make it easier since I didn’t have to talk with myself. But I greeted everyone in French; I ordered my meals and asked for the bill in French; it was rather painless. I had my phrase book with me, and so I would look up something if I didn’t know it in French, and I was never made to feel embarrassed by what I was doing. I could tell, instead, that they appreciated my efforts, and it did feel good.

Okay, those are what you should plan to do on your trip, whether it’s the first or the fifteenth time. Now let’s look at some things that you shouldn’t do (unless there is areally strong reason).

Don’t #1 — Don’t stay where only Americans stay
One of the nice things about the big hotel chains is that they have hotels all over the world. You can find a Marriott-branded hotel almost anywhere. There are also Hyatts, Best Westerns, etc. I have nothing against them; I’ve stayed in them in numerous countries. On your first trip to France, however, you don’t want to spend all your time being surrounded by Americans, do you? If so, then why not just rent a hotel room in your own downtown?

Be a little adventurous and stay someplace “different.” Mercure (www.mercure.com) is a hotel chain in Europe that has a quality reputation; they have a lot of locations, and you could even build up rewards points through their loyalty program. Ibis Hotels is another European chain (www.ibishotels.com) that you could try. You could also do a search on hotels or Bed & Breakfast lodging in the areas where you’ll be. These hoteliers might not be as fluent in English as at the Marriott, but I’m confident that your stay will be more pleasurable, and your experiences will be more genuine.

Don’t #2 — Don’t be afraid to mispronounce words
The best way to learn a language is to speak it. The locals will know you’re not French; that’s okay. By attempting to speak some of their language, you’ll see them open up more to you, and they’ll extend the arm of hospitality as if you’re a longtime friend. Once you show that that you’re trying, you will soon find them helping you with the pronunciation, such as you don’t pronounce the ending ‘n’ in ‘non’ or the ‘s’ in ‘pas.’ But even if you do put the emphasis on the wrong syllable, or you can’t do that nasally sound, their smiles will show you that they appreciate your trying.

Besides your hotel or B&B, the safest place to try your new speaking skills is in the restaurant. If the waiter can’t understand what you are saying, you can always point to the picture and smile. Or say, S’il vous plait while you open your phrase book and find exactly what you’re trying to say and how to pronounce it. You’re only going to get better by practicing.

Don’t #3 — Don’t be a cheap-skate
You’ve already spent a fair amount of money on the airfare (or cruise) just to get to France; don’t tighten up the purse strings now. Look at your spending as an investment in your travel experiences and enjoyment. This doesn’t mean you have to go crazy and buy everything you see, but if the room with a spectacular room costs a little bit more per night, then go for it. The elevator ride up the Eiffel Tower isn’t included in the Paris Museum Pass, so go ahead and spend the 12 Euros and go all the way to the top.

One place you can save a few dollars, however, is when you exchange Dollars for Euros. Your hotel might change them for you, but ask what their rate is; a B&B is less likely to be able to do the exchange for you. Walk to a bank, or an American Express exchange location; I’ve found that Amex gives a better rate plus no fee if you have your Amex card with you.

Don’t #4 — Don’t pay attention to the nay-sayers
There are always going to be some people who will try to discourage your trip to France. “They’re rude” some people will say. Others will tell you how their trip-of-a-lifetime was ruined by the cold and “I don’t speak any English” waiter they encountered during their special anniversary dinner. Don’t listen to those people; they’re secretly jealous that you’re going instead of them. If France were such an awful place to visit, why would over 75 million people a year go there?” It has topped the most-visited country list for the past 3 years, and I don’t see what could change that.

You ARE going to have a wonderful experience on your first trip to France because of your planning, preparation, and proper attitude. When you return, those same nay-sayers will be expecting to hear how they were right, but won’t they be surprised when you tell them about the exciting places you visited, the warm and friendly locals who made you feel extremely welcome, and all the foods you tried. And when you tell them how many words in French you were able to use, they’ll mutter something and walk away, looking for someone else whose trip they can try to spoil.

Don’t #5 — Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the experience
It’s easy to get caught up in hustle and bustle of your trip. There is a lot to do before you go, and you might ask yourself, “Is this really worth it?” YES, it is worth it. You are going to have the most marvelous time because you took your phrase book, and you weren’t afraid to speak French. One of the most surprising things is that you’ll find yourself automatically saying Merci instead of “Thank you.” You discovered how easy it was to take the Metro across town or even to the train station for a day trip in the country. It will be easy to spot another visitor, with his or her guide book opened and looking confused. Bonjour, you’ll say, followed by “May I help you find something?” That “thank you” smile will tell you how much your assistance was appreciated.

If the majority of your time is going to be in the smaller cities, you will be able to participate in many of the local activities, especially the open air markets on the weekend. Sample the breads, the cheeses, and the wines. Try out your French; it does come a little easier after the first glass of wine. As you savor the foods and drinks, you’ll also be absorbing the total experience that brings so many people back to France year after year. Maybe you’ll jot in your travel notebook some of the things you want to do on your NEXT visit to France. Yes, it was a great trip, and you’re smiling as you replay so many of those great memories you have; “When can I go back?” you’ll ask yourself.

In summary, traveling to France for the first time can be intimidating, but only if you listen to the negatives (and they’re mostly unfounded). Your proper planning, taking that small phrase book, and being mentally set for a great time, all these things will combine into a trip-of-a-lifetime experience for you. Being able to fit in with the locals, and speak some of their language, has boosted your confidence in being a seasoned traveler. Congratulations, and Bon Voyage!

More travel tips and information is available from Stuart Gustafson, America’s International Travel Expert®, at www.stuartgustafson.com.

[America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.]

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