1
THOSE WERE THE DAYS
Who am I kidding? Those were not the days. Today is the day! Carpe Diem! No seriously, I don’t think there’s ever been a better time to travel despite all the horrid news the media has been putting out there about over tourism, the impact of tourism on local economies and communities and so much more. The truth is that stuff does happen, but if you think about it in the overall scheme of things, they happen in a small number of locations around the world. Here’s a positive view for you: the world has never been better travelled than it is now, and that’s a very, very positive thing. That being said, you want to know what the biggest milestones in travel were over last 50 years? This is the report for you, from TravelAge: “TAW’s editorial staff has picked 50 of our top moments in travel, beginning in 1969 — the magazine’s founding year — to the present. What will the next 50 years bring? 1969: The first Boeing 747 jet takes its maiden flight. Lindblad Explorer, the first private, purpose-built expedition cruise ship, sails the icy Antarctic Ocean.” And more! Find out if you can name some of those major milestones!
2
TUTAN-COME-ON!
You’ve heard it before, I’m sure, that Cairo is a unique and magical place. But, have you ever wondered what else it has to offer beyond pyramids, pharaonic ruins, Rami Malek or Mohamad Salah? National Geographic has got us covered with its Cairo Beyond the Pyramids: The Ultimate Itinerary: “2 p.m. Cairo’s largest and most vibrant tourist souk, Khan El-Khalili, offers a promising collection of shops. Known for its semiprecious and precious jewelry, the marketplace has trinkets of every color and price. Originally built as a mausoleum for the Fatimid caliphs, the structure underwent many changes over time, and was eventually remodeled in the 16th century by Sultan al-Ghuri. Inspired by the Ottoman style, it closely resembles a Turkish bazaar. Drop by the hundred-year-old café Fishawi for its Egyptian-style coffee and sepia-steeped ambience. The shop is has served local and international celebrities alike, including Egyptian Nobel Laureate author Naguib Mahfouz and Will Smith. An ideal order would include mint tea or the hibiscus-based karkade, Egypt’s national drink, with a shisha on the side. You will probably need the shisha after all the bargaining at the souk. Fun fact: Most of the shops at the bazaar decide their own timing.” So here’s a little secret for you: I lived in Egypt for a bit – if you let me know you’re interested in visiting Cairo and Egypt in general, let me know and I’ll put together the best itinerary for you.
3
THE SECRET HIDDEN CITY
Take your chances if you will, but it’s time for us to stand up against airline pricing schemes (which even as a self-declared travel aficionado, I’ve never ever understood). I knew this place existed, but I never attempted going there myself. That’s about to change. Apparently, if you’re booking a trip from New York-LA, for example, the airline might charge $500. However, you’d also be able to book a trip from NY-Las Vegas, stopping in LA for $350. So, in that situation, you book this second flight and ditch the second leg (as long as you have carry-on only) to get a cheaper flight. Many are using the “hidden city” technique, but airlines are on to them, so operate at your own risk. From CNN (who probably does a much better job explaining it): “Nobody who sold you that instant oatmeal, jar of multivitamins, bar of soap, perfume-free laundry detergent, latest best-seller, NASCAR tickets or whatever Gwyneth Paltrow sells on her website will come after you to make sure you used your purchases. But the world’s biggest airlines might.”
4
BALI-NG
Simply put, Bali is one of my favorite places in the world. Really. I will also be the first to admit it happens to be the favorite place of a lot of other people as well. So, why not look into some of the lesser, as glorious, islands (17K in total!) beyond Bali. Also from TravelAge: “Lombok Island Often called Bali’s more laid-back counterpart, Lombok is a peaceful oasis away from Bali’s crowds. A popular island-hopping destination, Lombok offers great surfing and diving opportunities along its many scenic beaches. For a challenge, avid adventure-seekers can embark on a three-day hike to the top of Mount Rinjani — an active volcano — and be rewarded by otherworldly views of purple mountains and a crater lake. The island is also home to the Sasak people, whose culture consists of animist, Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim influences. Lombok’s three offshore islands — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — give tourists even more activities to choose from, including snorkeling and nightlife.” My kind of place!
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AMERICAN TOURISTER
Ever wonder how people spend their money while traveling? Sorry I didn’t have the big bucks for the full report, but the topline figures give a decent glimpse into what people are spending their monies on while on the road – makes me feel not as bad! From Skift: “The U.S. is one of the most diverse countries in the world, and its residents’ travel habits reflect that. That makes studying different demographics and travel-spending categories key to understanding the American traveler. In this report, we’re able to answer questions like how many Americans travel and what does a typical American spend on travel in a given year? We’re able to break these answers down into four top-level categories — transportation, lodging, food and drink, and entertainment — as well as several subcategories that are contextualized relative to each other, relative to general year-round consumer spending, and as average household spends.” So, in 2017, the order of spend was: Transportation, Lodging, Food and Drink, then Entertainment. So this is not a surprise, but the differences are interesting, and the subcategories as well.
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!