Fly Me First Class

05/02/2015

What do you do when you’ve had enough of people bumping into you on the streets, no room for parking, and you just can’t seem to get anywhere on time? Well, all you got to do is pick you [and your friends, that is if you want] and head over to your own private island! Ooh and did I mention that you’re going to need $250, 000?

The luxurious Little Palm Island Resort and Spa in Florida’s Little Torch Key just launched its unprecedented all-inclusive “Spring for a Private Island” package for $250,000. And it’s an excellent idea—especially if you really have something to celebrate such as a family reunion, an anniversary, a milestone birthday, or even just a long-overdue get-together with very dear friends minus the ‘other people’ distractions’.
But all these perks are just the basics. The party hasn’t even started yet.
For three days (April 24 to April 26), the pristine 5.5-acre resort will be offering exclusive use of the island—and that includes 30 incredibly luxurious one-bedroom suites that will sleep sixty, gourmet cuisine by executive chef Roly Cruz-Taura, the expertise of the resort’s “specialists” and event planners, plus motor yacht transfers to and from the welcome station at Little Torch Key. Visitors who opt to drive the scenic A1A from the mainland will be serviced with valet parking. And there will be access to the island’s docks for those who arrive by yacht or seaplane.

Upon arrival, every guest is greeted with the island’s signature welcome cocktail: the gumby slumber, which is basically an elevated (and boozier) version of the rum punch. They’re then escorted to one of Little Palm Island’s exquisite one-bedroom suites—where a bottle of Champagne and a beach bag stocked with island essentials await. Fine French and pan-Latin meals—for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—are served at the plush Dining Room (just don’t neglect the mealtime dress code). And non-alcoholic beverages, including everything in the minibar, are complimentary.

The package even includes unlimited use of watersports amenities, which is a huge perk if you’re into all things sun, surf, and sand. Snorkelers will be thrilled to know that three two-hour snorkeling trips (with up to 12 people each) are also on offer. But if you’re the kind of vacationer who likes to do nothing at all? The resort has you covered, too. You can retreat to the Monkey Bar if you prefer to stay and drink in the shade. And Little Palm Island is peppered with lounge chairs and hammocks. There’s even a fire pit if you’ve got a hankering for island-style s’mores or fire-illuminated cocktails. Speaking of drinks, a cocktail party—with your choice of 60 signature island concoctions—is also on the agenda. So you’ll probably want to coordinate with the resort’s event planner to make sure all libations are to your liking.

All in all, Little Palm Island’s $250,000 is well worth the splurge if you do the math: If there are 30 couples, that’s less than $10,000 per pair. And we’ve all been on getaways that cost far more and offer much less. So get your crew together and plan that awesome private getaway!

Feel like vacationing and don't know where to get decently priced First or Business Class Tickets? Just contact one of our expert agents and we'll hook you up in no time and with no headache!

02/02/2015

Choosing your vacation is like shopping for a pair of shoes. It needs to fit right. It needs to match your taste. And it definitely needs to match your personality! So when the time has come to pick your vacation, decision making will be challenging (especially if you’re going with a travel partner). So how to go about it? First off, making a list of all the destinations you hope to visit someday and prioritizing them will definitely give you a head start on picking the vacation that’s right for you. Once you’ve compiled and sorted out your list you are ready to move onto the other tips that will help you with your destination picking.

Time Limitations
Time is the first necessity in planning a vacation. Obviously, planning a weekend vacation going from Australia to the Bahamas is unrealistic so make sure you know how long you want or can vacation for and then plan accordingly. To narrow down your destination choice, try this simple formula: divide the number of hours you will spend traveling by the total number of vacation hours in order to come up with a percentage. For example, if it will take you, from your door, five hours to get to New York City (and the same to get back home), and you plan to spend 4 days in the city (96 hours), that means just less than 10 percent of your trip will be spent traveling. Decide whether or not the percentage you arrive at seems worth the trip. The travelmath.com calculator can help you estimate travel times.

Expense Issues
High on the list of vacation decision making is the money factor. Starting with the amount you have to spend, “try out” a destination with a probable budget. Subtract transportation costs, whether for car, train, or plane, from your travel fund. Divide what’s left by the number of days you want to stay at your destination and determine if that amount will cover lodging, food, admissions and miscellaneous expenses. You might want to keep in mind that, according to Shelley Frost, writing for USA Today Travel Tips, “the smaller expenses add up quickly and can cause you to go over budget without planning.” So at this point, if the numbers don’t work out, you can either opt for a shorter stay or start the process over with a new destination.

Travel Partner
Traveling with a partner will automatically make your choice of destination becomes more complicated. Once you add even one travel companion,; a spouse who hates the cold won’t want to spend a February weekend in Chicago, for example. Once a vacation becomes a family matter, it’s up to parents to make sure both they and the kids will enjoy the choice -- and that doesn’t always mean heading for a theme park. So sit down with your traveling partner(s) and discuss both of your wants until a common you come up with a destination that is to both of your liking.

Old or New
When a TV commercial whets your appetite for a place you’ve never been to, say Rome for example, but you long to return to Paris, a city you’ve visited several times, deciding between the two can be a tough call. You might consider alternating destinations between somewhere new and somewhere old from one vacation to the next. Consider alternating city vacations with adventure vacations. Fodor’s adventure guide lists questions that may help you narrow down the kind of adventure vacation you might enjoy. You might choose to get out the travel photos and simply take a trip down memory lane before jetting off to a brand-new location.

So when you decided on your destination, all is left to do is contact us and have all your traveling needs taken care of!

29/01/2015

Trying to figure out how much you’re going to tip the bellhop, waiter or taxi driver while you’re out of the country? Whether you’re in China, the U.S. or Australia, tipping customs can be confusing at times. Do you tip them or not? Will they be offended or appreciative? You’ll be surprised that in countries such as China and Japan, tipping can actually come across as rude. So let’s take a look at the tipping customs around the world, since they differ from place to place.

Before leaving home, it’s always a good idea to research the tipping practices of the countries you’ll visit. You can download an app like Global Tipping to your smartphone so you’ll have access to tipping information at your fingertips.

TIPPING IN THE US

Airports: It’s accepted to tip any airport porter that assists you with your luggage. Commonly it’s $1 to $2 per bag. The same guidelines ( $1-$2) should be followed when taking a shuttle bus around the airport, to your car rental counter, and to the valet that brings your car around to the hotel entrance.

Hotels: The bellman that brings your luggage to the room should receive $1 to $2 for each bag delivered. You should tip your housekeeper $2 to $5 per day and do so each morning and you’ll likely get better service. You don’t need to tip the concierge for simple requests like directions to a local restaurant but you should offer $5 to $20 for more involved requests. For example, if the concierge secures reservations for you at the hot restaurant or sold-out Broadway show, tip accordingly.

Bed and breakfasts: Most often, the owners of a B&B prepare meals, clean rooms, and man the check-in desk. It is not necessary to tip the owner of a business.

Taxi drivers: It’s common to give a taxi driver 10 to 15 percent of the fare as a tip.

Restaurants: In the United States waiters and waitresses are tipped anywhere between 15 to 20 percent of the total bill for the meal. Bartenders generally get a buck a drink.

Tour guides: All tour guides should receive a few extra dollars for services rendered in addition to the price of the tour. The amount of the tip should hinge on the length of the tour (half-day or full-day) and how much you enjoyed the experience. You could give $5 to $10 per person for a half-day excursions and as much as $10 to $20 per person for full-day tours.

Australia: Tipping is not expected but waiters and waitresses do appreciate a 10 to 15 percent gratuity when offered and that’s becoming more common—especially in pricier restaurants. The only other person you should tip is your hotel bellman: $1 per bag.

Austria: In restaurants a service charge is usually automatically added but it’s common to round up the bill in addition to that (leaving 10 percent or less is common). Follow U.S. tipping guidelines for everyone else.

Brazil: Tipping here is not customary but you may offer a gratuity for excellent service. Most restaurants do add a 10 percent service charge to the bill so look for that first. Tip at your discretion.

China: Tipping is not customary in China with one exception: tour guides. Give $5 to $10 per person for a half-day excursions and as much as $10 to $20 per person for full-day tours.

France: A 15 percent service charge is always included in any
restaurant or bar bill and tipping beyond that is not expected. However, feel free to leave an additional 5 or 10 percent for excellent service. At a café, round up the bill if you wish to leave a little something extra for your waiter. Give your taxi driver one or two euros as a tip and bellman should get one euro per bag.

Germany: A service charge is automatically included in restaurant bills but it’s common to either round up the bill or leave an extra 5 to 10 percent for good service. Tip your taxi driver 5 to 10 percent, give your bellman one euro per bag, and leave one or two euros per day for your hotel housekeeper.

Hong Kong: Tipping is acceptable in Hong Kong. A 10 percent service charge is generally included in restaurant bills but you can round up or leave additional money for excellent service. Roundup taxi fares and offer bellman $2 or $3HK per bag.

Italy: Tipping in Italy isn’t compulsory. A service fee is often included in restaurant tabs. Feel free to roundup the bill or tip in addition to that for good service at high-end establishments. Hand your bellman $1 per bag and round up taxi fares.

Japan: Tipping is uncommon in Japan and sometimes viewed as rude—especially if you try to hand someone money directly. Tour guides and tour bus drivers should be offered a gratuity, but it’s best delivered in an envelope. Give $5 to $10 per person for a half-day excursions and as much as $10 to $20 per person for full-day tours.

Singapore: At hotels you only need to tip the bellman one or two dollars per bag. In restaurants, a 10 percent service charge is levied on all bills but you can leave an additional 10 percent if you feel service warrants it. Round up your taxi fare for your convenience but it’s not necessary.

South Africa: Tip 10 to 20 percent in restaurants. Group tour guides should receive 10 to 15 rand per person per day while private guides generally receive 50 rand for half-day tours and 100 rand for all-day excursions. Leave about 50 rand per day for your hotel housekeeper and tip the bellman about 5 rand per bag. Give taxi drivers 10 percent of the fare.

Thailand: Tipping is not customary in Thailand, but tokens of your appreciation are always happily accepted. Tip at your discretion.

United Arab Emirates: Hospitality workers are generally low-paid
here so while tipping isn’t expected, it’s very much appreciated. Consider 10 to 15 percent in restaurants, roundup taxi fares, and offer the bellman 5 to 10 dirhams.

26/01/2015

Nothing is worse than having your camera sn**ched away while on vacation, especially when your camera is full of pictures that aren’t backed up. Whether we like it or not tourists practically wear signs saying “pickpocket me.” Loaded with valuables, jetlagged and bumbling around in a strange new environment, tourists just stick out like a bejewelled thumb. If you’re not constantly on guard, you are kind of offering to be the next pickpocket victim. The one time I was pickpocketed was in London. I was walking with my messenger bag-purse and out of nowhere my shoulders felt light. The ‘sn**chers’ had snipped off the actual purse from the straps. Clever for them horrible for me. It was my worst trip ever. I lost all my credit cards, passport, driver’s license, cash, and not to mention my favourite lipstick. I learned quite a few lessons from that experience; never schlep along your documents when you’re touring and keep your credit cards and cash limited to the bare minimum.

Get Prepped
Before setting out on your journey, take some steps to minimize your loss in case of theft.
Make photocopies of key documents such as your passport, car-rental voucher, itinerary, prescriptions (for eyewear and/or medicine) etc. to take along on your trip. For backup, leave copies with loved ones too, in case you lose your copy and need to have one faxed to you. You could also bring a couple of extra passport pictures in case of emergency.
If you have expensive electronics (camera, iPad, smartphone, etc.), consider getting theft insurance. Take a picture of your pricey gear and store the picture at home; it’ll help you settle an insurance claim. As you travel, back up your digital photos and other files frequently.
Leave your fancy luggage at home. Luxurious luggage lures thieves. The thief chooses the most impressive suitcase in the pile.

Avoiding Theft
Your travels should be about as dangerous as hometown grocery shopping. Avoid putting yourself into risky situations (such as unlit, deserted areas at night). Your only putting yourself in more likely situations to get mugged, pickpocketed or G-d forbid worse. Don’t travel fearfully — travel carefully.

Here’s some advice given by a thief who won the lotto.
Wear a money belt. A money belt is a small, zippered fabric pouch on an elastic strap that fastens around your waist, under your pants or skirt. I never travel without one — it’s where I put anything I really, really don’t want to lose.

Leave your valuables in your hotel room. Expensive gear, such as your laptop, is much safer in your room than with you in a day bag on the streets. While hotels often have safes in the room (or at the front desk), I’ve never bothered to use one, though many find them a source of great comfort. Theft happens, of course, but it’s relatively rare — hoteliers are quick to squelch a pattern of theft. That said, don’t tempt sticky-fingered staff by leaving a camera or tablet in plain view; tuck your enticing things well out of sight.

Establish a “double check” habit. Travellers are more likely to inadvertently lose their bags than to have them stolen. I’ve heard of people leaving passports under pillows, bags on the overhead rack on the bus, and cameras in the taxi. Always take a look behind you before leaving any place or form of transport. At hotels, stick to an unpacking routine, and don’t put things in odd places in the room. Run through a mental checklist every time you pack up again: money belt, passport, phone, electronic gear, charging cords, toiletries, laundry, and so on. Before leaving a hotel room for good, conduct a quick overall search; under the bed, under the pillows and bedspread, behind the bathroom door, in a wall socket...

When you’re out and about, never idly set down any small valuable item, such as a camera, tablet, wallet, or rail pass. Either hold it in your hand or keep it tucked away. At cafés, don’t place your phone on the table top where it will be easy to sn**ch — leave it in your front pocket (then return it to a safer place before you leave). Make it a habit to be careful with your things; it’ll become second nature.

Secure your bag. Thieves want to quickly and unobtrusively separate you from your valuables, so even a minor obstacle can be an effective deterrent. If you’re sitting down to eat or rest, loop a strap of your daypack around your arm, leg, or chair leg. If you plan to sleep on a train (or at an airport, or anywhere in public), clip or fasten your pack or suitcase to the seat, luggage rack, or yourself. Even the slight inconvenience of undoing a clip deters most thieves. When holding a purse or carry-on bag, I always keep the opening zipper side next to me as opposed to behind me. While I don’t lock the zippers on my bag, most zippers are lockable, and even a twist-tie, paper clip, or key ring is helpful to keep your bag zipped up tight — the point isn’t to make your bag impenetrable, but harder to get into than the next guy’s.

Stay vigilant in crowds and steer clear of commotions. Go on instant alert anytime there’s a commotion; it’s likely a smokescreen for theft. Imaginative artful-dodger thief teams create a disturbance — a fight, a messy spill, or a jostle or stumble — to distract their victims.
Crowds anywhere, but especially on public transit and at flea markets, provide bad guys with plenty of targets, opportunities, and easy escape routes.

Be on guard in train stations, especially upon arrival, when you may be overburdened by luggage and overwhelmed by a new location. Take turns watching the bags with your travel partner. Don’t absentmindedly set down a bag while you wait in line; always be in physical contact with your stuff. If you check your luggage, keep the claim ticket or locker key in your money belt; thieves know just where to go if they snare one of these. On the train, be hyper-alert at stops, when thieves can dash on and off — with your bag.

City buses that cover tourist sights (such as Rome’s notorious #64) are happy hunting grounds. Be careful on packed buses or subways; to keep from being easy pickings, some travellers wear their day bag against their chest (looping a strap around one shoulder). Some thieves lurk near subway turnstiles; as you go through, a thief might come right behind you, pick your pocket and then run off, leaving you stuck behind the turnstile and unable to follow. By mentioning these scenarios, I don’t want you to be paranoid...just prepared. If you keep alert, you’ll keep your valuables, too.

Remember, nearly all crimes suffered by tourists are nonviolent and avoidable. Be aware of the pitfalls of traveling, but relax and have fun.

20/01/2015

Imagine landing after a 12 hour flight and you have no need for the usual 10 hour ‘nap’ to get rid of the fatigue and jet lag! Thanks to medical researchers who have developed a new pill may, jet lag may be a thing of the past. THAT feeling of fatigue, irritability and sleeplessness caused from crossing different time zones may be gone forever!

Scientists at McGill University and Douglas Mental Health University in Canada have come up with a pill that tricks the body’s circadian rhythm into thinking day is night and night is day.
Our circadian rhythm is our internal body clock that regulates our bodily functions over a 24 hour period such as appetite, sleep and temperature. It takes many of its cues from sunlight and tells the body when to rest and when to feel hungry.
International travel often interferes with this rhythm leaving your body feeling “jetlagged” and out of whack.
The new pill has been successfully tested on 16 people and researchers say it will not only benefit travelers, but shift workers as well.

Published in the Journal of FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology), the researchers said that white blood cells contain biological clocks that are synchronized to control the body’s reaction to day and night.
The pill contains the steroid based compound glucocorticoid which can alter the makeup of our white cells and essentially reset our biological clock.
Dr Nicolas Cermakian, co-author of the report, said: “Animal studies have shown that our central clock (in the brain) sends signals to the clocks in our other organs.
“Glucocorticoids appear to play a central role in transmitting these signals. We studied the rhythmic expression of clock genes in white blood cells to see how they adjusted in response to glucocorticoids.”
While the pills have not yet been released for general use, the researchers say it paves the way for “innovative therapies” for sleep deprived sufferers.
Travel here we come!

19/01/2015

Feeling the Monday blues? Well if you’re a fan of the TV show ‘Downton Abbey’ then perhaps reading this may lift your mood somewhat.
Downton Abbey, with its snooty aristocrats and even snootier butlers, has never been somewhere for the likes of us.
Until now.
Highclere Castle, the posh British mansion that doubles as Downton in the long-running UK television series, is opening up rooms to paying guests.
Bookings are now being taken for London Lodge, an historic gateway that forms a grand entrance to Highclere's extensive grounds in the countryside west of London.
Built around 1840, the "unique and luxurious" accommodation for two has, according to the estate, been restored over the past two years by the current Earl of Carnarvon and his wife (although they may have had help).
The rooms are split across the two buildings flanking the original gateway built in 1793.
Majestic Victorian castle
On one side there's a kitchen and sitting room arranged around a wood-burning stove.
On the other there's a double bedroom, bathroom and dressing area.
There are no servants quarters, so guests shouldn't expect white-gloved flunkeys delivering their morning newspaper.
And, since it's unlikely to available during filming, there's little chance of being witheringly insulted by the acid-tongued Dowager Duchess of Grantham.
What is on offer is a chance to gaze enviously at one of Britain's most majestic Victorian castles and the surrounding 6,000 acres of parkland.
Situated to the north of the castle, the lodge will be available for Valentine's Day 2015 and for selected weekends through the spring and summer.
There's no need to ask Carson to make the reservation. Weekend stays, priced from $545 per night, can be booked via the castle's website.

16/01/2015

Flying in my opinion is fun, except when your neighbor has eaten bad food before boarding the plane. Eating the right food before flying can make all the difference in making your trip (or your fly-mates trip) great or dreadful. Take a look at these 10 foods to avoid before traveling:

1-Beans
Avoid all foods that cause you to build up gas in your stomach. These mainly include beans, broccoli and cabbage. Besides the embarrassment of being gaseous on the plane, you don’t want to spend the flight feeling bloated and suffering from gas pains!

2-Garlic
As we all know, garlic can cause bad breath. Halitosis on the plane is never a pleasant thing to have. In addition to bad breath, garlic is absorbed in your bloodstream, which causes body odor, something I’m sure you’d gladly do without.

3-Chewing Gum
This one’s a bit weird since who doesn't chew gum on the plane to avoid ear popping? But what no one told you is that as you swallow more air, gas builds up in your stomach, which can make you feel bloated. Also the sugar in the gum can stimulate your bladder and artificial sweetener in the sugar-free stuff can cause flatulence.

4-Fruits
Fruits aren't easy to digest, especially the fibrous fruits like apples, can leave you gassy. Avoid them before flying. And day no to orange juice, it’s very acidic and is likely to cause heartburn, also, vitamin C can make you have to urinate more, forcing you to make more treks up and down the airplane aisle.

5-Carbonated Soft Drinks
Soda can cause flatulence. Plus carbonated beverages with caffeine will keep you from napping and lead to increased bathroom trips on the airplanes toilet. The carbonation might also cause you to belch or get heartburn.

6-Coffee
How can you just ignore the waft of fresh brewed coffee when you’re about to board the plane? I know I can’t. Talking from past experiences it’s best to avoid doing so. Besides making you more jittery and dehydrated, coffee can irritate your bladder, making you generally uncomfortable.

7-Hot Peppers
Spicy foods can cause stomach discomfort and bladder irritation. It can also cause bad breath and leave your mouth burning. You don’t want to deal with any of these things during a flight, so save the spicy treats for when you land.

Eat well and have a Happy Weekend!

16/01/2015

There's nothing like the !

13/01/2015

Let us help you make your mark on the world! Book your Discounted First or Business Class ticket now!

13/01/2015

Traveling sans incredible food is like eating ice cream without sprinkles! It’s just not the same! Take a look at these 6 destinations that have the most memorable dining experiences that definitely add the ‘sprinkles to the ice cream’.

On a Ferris Wheel
The Dining at 135 experience at the London Eye means guests get exclusive use of this London icon after hours. The three course meal includes bespoke wine pairings served throughout three rotations, with a 10-minute stop at the top -- 135 meters (443 feet) above the ground -- for a photo op.

Toes in the Sand
The Romance Concierge at the blissful Banyan Tree Seychelles Resort is happy to help couples organize toes-in-the-sand dinners beneath the stars, gazing out across the ocean.

Really in the Pool
Destination dining at Huvafen Fushi Maldives means eating beneath the stars with your toes in the warm water of the fiber optic infinity pool.

In a Cave
The Grotto Restaurant within the Rayavadee Krabi Resort in Thailand is tucked within a cave in a limestone cliff on Phranang Beach. Guests, feet in the sand, enjoy cocktails and lights snacks, or barbecues on certain days of the week.

In a Tree
Diners who choose to take their meal in the Treepod restaurant at Soneva Kiri resort in Thailand sit within a bamboo pod high up in the trees, where a personal waiter delivers dishes and drinks via zip-line.

In the Dunes
Couples staying at the &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia can enjoy an intimate dinner for two surrounded by the dunes of the Namib Desert.

Hearty Appetite!

12/01/2015

12/01/2015

And the World’s Most Punctual Airline is…

Anyone stuck reading this while waiting for a delayed flight should take note: next time fly via Bristol Airport.
The small airport serving the southwest England port city has emerged as the world's most punctual aviation hub in 2014, outperforming some of the biggest destinations on the planet.

With connections to Europe and north Africa, Bristol managed to get 94.4% of its flights on or off the ground within 15 minutes of schedule, according to stats from UK-based aviation data monitors OAG.

It's a figure that might discomfit officials at the main airports serving London -- including Europe's busiest at Heathrow (75.5%) -- none of which made the top rankings, with the exception of London Luton.
That puts it top of the league not only for small airports, but also larger facilities.

John Grant, OAG executive vice president, says the findings of his company's first annual "Punctuality League" were positive, although many leading operators would probably be looking to up their game in 2015.
"With many airports and airlines achieving in excess of 90% on-time performance within 15 minutes of schedule there is a lot to celebrate," he said.

European destinations dominated the timekeeping list when it comes to small airports, with Bristol followed closely by Brussels South Charleroi Airport at 93.1% and Berlin Schoenefeld at 92.3%.
Japan's Osaka International Airport claimed the top spot for medium sized airports with 93.2%, followed by Moscow Sheremetyevo (89.8%) and Copenhagen Airport (89.8%).

The most punctual large air hub was named as Munich Airport (89%) -- a fact that'll do little to dispel stereotypes of German efficiency, but one that also highlights the five-year delay to Berlin's still unopened Brandenburg Airport.
Munich was followed by Tokyo Haneda at 87.9% and Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport at 86.2%.

The world's busiest air destination, Atlanta, was ranked 12th on the large airports list with a score of 82.4%. Dubai, at 14th with 82.3%, was the only Middle Eastern airport to make any of the top twenties.

In a week when it emerged that passengers spent 28 hours stuck on a delayed flight from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco, OAG's rankings for the world's most punctual airlines makes interesting reading.

Smaller operations again took the lead, with Latvia's airBaltic outperforming all others at 94.9%. Second and third were Hawaiian Airlines at 92.3% and Austrian Airlines at 90%.

The rest of the top 10 includes: Iberia (89.7%), KLM (89.4%), Saudi Arabian Airlines (89.4%), SAS (89.1%), Japan Airlines (88.8%), Finnair (88.6) and Alaska Airlines (88.5%).
Norwegian Air Shuttle was named the most punctual low-cost carrier, with almost nine out of 10 flights sticking to schedule. It was followed by Thai AirAsia and EasyJet.

18/09/2014

In Latin America Travel, Considering Safety Before Fun
Sep 16, 2014

Monica Drake is editor of the Travel section. She shared her thoughts on last weekend’s annual Latin America edition.

Every year, our Latin America issue raises a question. Some news has happened in some country, and we must decide whether to ignore it, or to acknowledge it and play it up.

Last year the question was about Cuba opening up. (We played that up.)

The year before that, we wondered if there was any room to cover Venezuela as a travel destination just before its election. (We ignored it.)

But the perennial question, raised by readers inside and outside the building, is: “Is it safe?” Should we encourage travelers to go to a country rife with corruption, or a region where drug cartels seem to function as law, or simply a place that is so impoverished its own residents are making their way to our borders in hopes of refuge?

This quandary — which we also ask ourselves when covering destinations from the Middle East to Eastern Europe to Uganda — always brings to my mind a TED talk given in 2007 by Chris Abani, the Nigerian novelist, about the stories of Africa. He makes the case that the narrative of a place drawn strictly from news does not capture the whole of the place. As an example, he cites the view of America as a country whose citizens lack adequate health care and whose president prosecutes a war over the protest of its citizens and members of Congress. That perspective is obviously very much a limited perspective of this vast and complicated country.

Of course the Travel section doesn’t publish fiction, but literary nonfiction and feature writing can add more meat to a narrative solely shaped by news. Hence a story on traveling off the beaten path in Mexico this year. And another on Argentina, known for soccer more than danger, yet certainly not known for its African cultural roots. And another on traveling to Ecuador, not as a tourist but to visit a parent’s homeland.

We’re always interested in finding the counternarrative here, and our Latin America issue is an annual reminder to take up the challenge. It’s a feature editor’s dream, to focus in on a region simply bursting with untold stories.