1
FLIGHT FOR THE RIGHT!
Recently, I checked into a flight from Canada to the US only for the check-in attendant at the airport counter to tell me that my flight was cancelled and that I was booked on the next flight 3 days later. I exaggerate. It was the next morning, but still, no hotel room, no transportation, no change of clothes, nothing. What do you do? Let me just say, it’s good to pull out your (hidden) travel rights. That simple. For example, “If you change your mind about booking a flight within 24 hours, you can get a full refund for most flights. If you’re denied boarding and delayed more than two hours, the airline is required to pay you 400% of the one-way fare, not to exceed $1,350. If an airline cancels your flight and you decide not to travel, the airline must give you a full refund within a week.” And more. Fortunately for me, that’s just what I did. I pulled out my “travel rights”….and, the airline didn’t care. They said it was due to weather which wasn’t covered. So, I sucked it up and was able to get two taxi vouchers. That’s worth something, right?
2
CANT-É NAST THINK OF ANYTHING BETTER
If there’s one source of credible travel information, it’s Yelp. Just kidding. Never trust Yelp. But, I do trust Condé Nast (or it might just be a weakness of mine where I trust anyone who has an accented letter in their name). And, Condé Nast has put together an alternative travel wish list: “Surfers flock to Waihi Beach on New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula. It’s a pretty spot, but there’s something even more special hidden nearby. At Waihi’s northernmost point there’s a walking trail, tucked away, poorly sign-posted, and only accessible at low tide. It takes you over a hill and through overgrown brush to a completely untouched, utterly deserted beach in the Orokawa reserve with golden sand and a thick fringe of palms. Take a picnic and spend a few hours entirely cut off from the rest of the world.” Now, that’s what I’m talking about Condé!
3
U-NESCO TO THESE NEW WORLD HERITAGE SITES
So this is a little embarrassing. I literally thought there were a handful of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. And, in doing my comprehensive, multi-tiered advanced analytical research for this blurb, I came to realize that there are actually over 1,100 world heritage sites! Nevertheless, I bring all this up because UNESCO just identified 20 new world heritage sites like the ancient city of Qalhat in Oman: “The site, which is located on the east coast of the Sultanate of Oman, includes the ancient city of Qalhat, surrounded by inner and outer walls, as well as areas beyond the ramparts where necropolises are located. The city developed as a major port on the east coast of Arabia between the 11th and 15th centuries CE, during the reign of the Hormuz princes. Today it bears unique archeological testimony to the trade links between the east coast of Arabia, East Africa, India, China and Southeast Asia.” Just when I thought I was getting close to hitting up all of the world heritage sites…
If you’re interested in the full list of World Heritage sites and a nice interactive map to find them, click here.
4
BEYOND GOT DUBROVNIK
Apparently, you will have to put up with the clowns pretending to be Hodor from Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik these days (not hating on GOT – just the last season). But you can still appreciate the sheer beauty of it all; if you stick to the 48 hour itinerary I’m recommending here, you may, just may, be able to overlook the Whitewalkers, Wildlings, and Dragon Queens. From the Daily Mail on how to spend 48 hours in Dubrovnik: “Of more than a thousand islands along this coast, only 40 are inhabited and all beaches are public. Take a ten-minute taxi ride to the port for a boat trip around the Elafiti Islands, an archipelago of 13 lovely islands. Stop for a sumptuous five-course lunch and siesta on the island of Sipan in your own cabana at Bowa before returning across the placid seas.” Funny how most of the suggested itinerary is spent outside of actual Dubrovnik.
5
Z-ILLENIAL AT HEART
The experience – check. Sustainability – check. Uniqueness – check. Traveling Often – check. Technological Conveniences – check. Taking Advantage of Financial Situations – Sorta. Ok, well, I demonstrate ALMOST all of the characteristics that differentiate Gen Z travelers from others like Millennials or Baby Boomers. Wondering about the differences between you or your kid, or dare I say, grand kid, when it comes to travel? Forbes shares some insights: “For members of Gen Z, travel is all about the experience, not just the destination. Older generations of travelers can go to any old beach resort, lie in the sand and drink fruity cocktails for a week and then go home. It doesn’t matter where the beach resort is, just that it exists and that it’s somewhere other than home. For Gen Z, that’s not enough. They want to go to a mixology class and learn to make the cocktail. The beach resort should offer events, spa treatments, tennis workshops and live music. They want to get off the property to explore the destination thoroughly.”
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!