Talking travel with luxury-travel-for-less planner and author

by Jerry Guo on

Theo Brandt-Sarif is a professional lecturer who gives seminars on booking luxury vacations and business trips. He’s also author of Guerrilla Travel Tactics, a tell-all guide on how to get the best deals on flights, hotels, and vacation packages.

Are there shortcuts to getting business or first class air travel at less than street price?

By far the best way is to use frequent flyer miles. And with credit cards offering frequent flier miles in virtually any and every airline’s programs, it’s easier than ever to accrue a lot of miles, even if you do not fly very often. Go to freetravelreport.com. One of the free reports is titled “Simple Secrets to Getting First Class Airline Upgrades”.

How about getting upgraded to a suite, oceanfront, or concierge floor?

One of my favorite hotel upgrade strategies is the “special event” strategy. All you need to do is contact the hotel reservations office 2-3 days ahead of arrival by fax, email or phone, explaining why your forthcoming visit is special. If it’s your honeymoon-you are virtually guaranteed an upgrade. But wedding anniversaries, birthdays, graduation gifts, first visit to a country-they all count as “special events”.

You will almost always get something you would not otherwise have received-an upgrade, free breakfast each day, champagne and fruit delivered to your room etc. Think about it from the hotel standpoint-it costs them virtually nothing to engender a very loyal customer.
Is there ever a good time to use those airline or hotel chain package

I see six primary reasons to book a package:

  • It can be an ideal way to visit a new exotic destination where independent planning can be complex and/or figuring out the lay of the land once you are in the destination can be challenging because of communication barriers. A good example would be touring China beyond the three major cities (Hong Kong, Shanghai or Beijing).
  • To visit a lot of new cities quickly. Should you want to return to savor those destinations you loved the first time round, making the arrangements on your own will be much easier. A good example is the first timer wanting to get a flavor of Europe-visiting multiple countries. I did that as a student, rushing through nine countries in five weeks!
  • A single traveler seeking a group of companions and security in numbers.
  • A short-of-time traveler who would rather not spend hours planning and coordinating an ideal trip.
  • A cautious traveler who is reluctant to drive or figure out where to go, for whom a deluxe bus package with driver and tour guide holds special appeal.
  • A last-minute traveler who takes advantage of an air/hotel or air/car package that is considerably cheaper than purchasing the flight and hotel/car separately. Online travel agencies are increasingly recognizing the niche for business travelers, and are developing offerings to meet their needs.

In your book, you mention that it’s possible to get guaranteed free award seats during peak periods. Seems impossible.

I look forward every year to traveling abroad with my family on a summer vacation. Because I know we will go somewhere each year, planning and booking one year in advance has become a routine activity. Because we plan ahead, we have been able to use awards to fly free within the US, as well as to Hawaii, Australia, Fiji, Europe, Asia, and Africa during peak holiday periods. This summer my family of five is flying business class to the Seychelles (islands off the east coast of Africa) using a combination of British Airways (LA to Nairobi) and Northwest Airlines (Nairobi to Seychelles) frequent flyer miles. We got the exact dates we wanted during the peak summer season simply by booking 11 months in advance.

Planning as far in advance as possible is almost always the best strategy, especially if you want to travel during peak periods, such as around Thanksgiving or the Christmas holidays. Ideally you want to book award air travel around 330 days in advance of your desired travel date-that’s the day seats for flights go into most major airlines’ computer systems. Leisure travelers can easily book in advance since public holidays and school vacations are known well ahead of time.

What’s the best credit card to use while traveling abroad?

Since the 1980s, Visa and MasterCard have charged 1% of the total purchase to convert a foreign currency purchase into US dollars. Unfortunately, in many cases, the fees don’t stop here. The majority of banks that issue credit cards now charge 3% or more on top of what Visa and MasterCard charge, which can add a significant and unnecessary expense to purchases. Some of these same credit card companies also charge the “conversion” fees even if a foreign purchase is made in US dollars. There is fortunately one exception–Capital One, which does not add fees to those already charged by Visa or MasterCard for making purchases in foreign countries. In fact they absorb the fee charged by Visa or MasterCard, so the net charge on foreign transactions using a Capital One card is 0%.

What are some of your negotiation tactics to get cheaper rooms, travel packages, even a taxi from the airport?

Conventional wisdom has been that one gets the lowest hotel rates simply by calling a hotel’s own reservation department, rather than going online or contacting the central reservations line. That is still true, but only in a few instances, for example, when a hotel has unusually low occupancy rates during the time you intend to visit. You may be able to negotiate a cheaper rate, an upgrade for standard price, get free breakfast or whatever-there is nothing to lose by asking.

The two most common discount hotel opportunities are AAA or AARP rates. If you are a member of either or both organizations, always check out the special rates that may be available. Many hotel web sites now enable you to check these special rates, which typically get a 10-20% discount.

Another among my favorite discounts is the Entertainment Directory 50%-off discount rate. While that discount is usually applied to the rack rate-which is the full room price rarely charged except when the hotel has very high occupancy-the savings can be significant. The Entertainment Directory has far more hotels throughout the US and abroad contracted to offer a half-price discount than any other hotel discount program. Discounts will usually apply whenever the hotel occupancy is 80% or less.

When and how should airfare and hotel consolidators be used?

Airfare consolidators are now virtually extinct, since the web has been a perfect vehicle for airlines to get rid of excess inventory without resorting to “middlemen”. Stated differently, airlines will now readily offer much lower fares on flights that are selling slowly. One exception to this, however, is if you want to get cheap coach fares to countries that are off-the-beaten-path. Expatriates may know of an agency that negotiates low fares on the less well-known national carrier. Do a Google search on the country you wish to visit with the word “consolidator” to try identify such agencies. Hotel consolidators still exist, but only one impresses me. Quickbook.com contracts lower rates with boutique hotels, and has no cancellation or change fees.

What sites do you use for booking flights? And why?

While entire books have been written about travel web sites, I’ll discuss just the key strategies you should pursue when seeking great airfares and hotel rates. No fluff-just the high-yield stuff, a simple approach for time-pressured travelers…..

Here are the results of a real search I did. Assume I want to fly from Hartford to San Diego on July 20, returning July 22. When I perform an airfare search, I start with Orbitz.com to get benchmark pricing. Orbitz.com presents airfares in a matrix, with zero stops, one-stop and two-stops on the left, and all the airlines flying the selected route across the top. There are no non-stops on the Hartford-San Diego route, and I noted one-stop flights from United and Delta having lowest roundtrip fares $477 (including all fees). Two-stop flights offered no savings. Since the majority of low cost carriers do not sell through the major online travel agents, I then checked out some low cost carriers-Southwest.com was offering a one-stop option. Southwest Airline’s lowest roundtrip fare-a “wanna get away fare”, came in at $510.

Other nifty features at Orbitz.com are its Flex search capabilities; easily activated by clicking on “flexible dates” below the dates you input for your departure and return dates. These enhancements enable you to check out fares for up to three days before and after your ideal date (so called “Bonus Days”); or to search fares over a 30-day window (so called “Flexible Stays”). For travelers who are patient, Orbitz.com also offers Deal Detector whereby you select a threshold price, and Orbitz.com will send an e-mail if your requested price becomes available. Southwest Airlines’ web site has added a feature called “Shortcut” that enables you to view fares to your desired destination(s) over an entire month-simply click on Travel Tools to activate.

Next, check out the major airline sites-United.com offered by far the best price for a variety of flights at $319 (the winning fare for my trip!), while Delta.com was $588, higher than Orbitz.com.

“Site scrapers,” such as Mobissimo.com, and Kayak.com scan vast numbers of web travel sites to find the best airfares and hotel rates, providing a simple way to compare airfares side by side. Each site has capability to scan different sites, so none is able to access the entire universe. One benefit of accessing these sites is that their searches include fares offered by major discount airlines such as Southwest and JetBlue, which you frequently cannot obtain from Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, or Travelocity.com. If you see an attractive fare, you simply click on a link that takes you directly to the reservations site offering the fare. However, prices are not necessarily the lowest possible, and their technology still has a way to go to be fast, user-friendly, and consistently effective. But give it a try if you have some extra time!

What are the top 3 upscale destinations to go this year that are on the cheap—destinations abroad where the dollar is actually worth something:

  • Argentina: The vibe of Paris at less than half the price. A steak dinner will run you less than $25.
  • Mexico: While most of Mexico is still reasonably priced for tourists coming in from the US, Mexico City is clearly the best deal. The city is booming with new museums, a historical architectural revival, and a vibrant music and arts scene.
  • Costa Rica: Surprisingly, the dollar has gotten stronger against Costa Rica’s currency. Whatever your vacation interests; jungle adventure tours, eco-tourism, white water rafting, surfing, scuba diving incredible reefs, canopy tours, golf, or just relaxing on an unspoiled tropical beach, you will find all of that and more in this tropical paradise.

What’s the most affordable place–that’s not a hellhole–you’ve been to?

Bali: This island in Indonesia is the most spectacular tropical paradise I ever visited. Luxury hotel rooms go for around $100, half-hour massages cost less than $15.

Let’s say I have 3 weeks off this summer, but I’m on a tight budget. Can you give us an itinerary for a trip where we won’t have to sleep in hostels and survive on pizzas?

Head for Asia. Spend 10 days in Bali, another five in Vietnam. Your remaining time will be in the connecting city (Hong Kong if you fly Cathay Pacific, Bangkok if you fly Thai airlines etc).

Talking travel with Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern (part 2)

by Jerry Guo on

I’m here with Andrew Zimmern, the wildly popular host of Travel Channel’s hit series, Bizarre Foods. He’s a personality that needs no introduction–at least around the Gadling water cooler. You could even say he’s our Paris Hilton.

His show–which is about what it sounds like–has just finished its second season, with episodes spanning the globe from Iceland and Bolivia to St. Petersberg and Delhi (check out our episode guides here). Beyond the tube, he’s a celebrated food writer, dining critic, radio talk-show host, and chef. For more Andrew, check out his blog.

In this exclusive interview, Andrew dishes on everything from director Ang Lee’s stinky tofu fetish to his NYC School of Hot Dog Consumption Theory.

What are the top four worst foods you’ve sampled, ranked by terribleness?

  • My aunt’s meatloaf. Horrific. Each slice ringed with an orange pool of fat, spreading out on dirty plastic plates. I was six at the time and it traumatized me.
  • Stinky tofu at Dai’s Sisig in Angeles in the Philippines. It’s a quick hash made with meat and cartilage from chopped pigs faces. It was really nasty.
  • Raw pigs balls sliced and served with raw egg yolks. I ate it at a getemono bar in Tokyo, and texturally and aromatically, it was a real challenge to eat.
  • And I guess to round out the list I would have to choose all the bad versions of dineguen, which is a Malaysian blood soup that I adore, but bad versions of it are just hideous.

Any food you would recommend? (A question for readers who haven’t caught your show)

WOW…all the rest! I think that we are all bored with boneless, skinless chicken breasts wrapped in plastic in the grocers shelves. My show teaches people that if they just put their pinky toe outside their comfort zone, they will end up diving in face first.

I would in general encourage people to eat street foods in the countries they visit, I cannot, for the life of me, understand why the Hard Rock in Beijing is popular with Americans. When you’re in China, why not eat Chinese food? Think of it this way, Kraft American Cheese Singles sound strange to nomadic tribes in Saharan Africa, and roasted sparrows sound weird to kids in Minnesota, but the yuck factor, the contempt prior to investigation is learned behavior, it’s psychological. I have watched little kids dive onto a platter of fried bats in the jungles of South East Asia, but in our country we are taught a mythology of food that is often times misguided at best. The kids in Thailand, or Samoa, don’t have Halloween, or Vampire stories. To them, bats are just yummy, like chicken wings with meaner faces.

I’ve heard you sometimes carry around Pepto-Bismol. What other accessories, food-related or just travel, are must-carry?

For some reason I’m impervious (knock on wood) to stomach troubles, but I always carry Pepto-Bismol with me on the road for peace of mind. It’s smart for any traveler to carry Pepto when visiting new places or experiencing new foods. Because of different security rules around the world, I keep the chewables in my carry on.

I also carry your typical antibiotics and first-aid stuff in case something happens. I think one has to be prepared for anything. I have never had to even take Cipro on the road for traveler’s trots. I never travel without my Grundig world radio for those slow nights when you can’t fall asleep, my iPod is loaded with radio and TV shows “Ring of Fire” from NPR is one I love to listen to late at night). I always bring five more books on the road than I can ever read (William Boyd and Michael Chabon top the list today).

How do you pick the cuisine and the destinations for each season? Do you have local fixers? Tips from viewers? Your mother?

The production company I work with is fantastic and we have a dozen team members who work all year long finding the best stories for our show. Originally we came up with a master list of countries and cities and we are just barreling through them as we go. Sometimes the network wants us in a country because we are doing a network-wide approach to a theme, like China Week. Sometimes we are steered clear of a locale because some other shows on our station just went there and it would be overkill. We use local fixers in all locations and we learn plenty from viewers, we really read all the mail and get our best tips that way. My mom responds to any question she is asked with the standard mom catchphrases about making sure I ate and made my bed.

Talking travel with Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern

by Jerry Guo on

I’m here with Andrew Zimmern, the wildly popular host of Travel Channel’s hit series, Bizarre Foods. He’s a personality that needs no introduction–at least around the Gadling water cooler. You could even say he’s our Paris Hilton.

His show–which is about what it sounds like–has just finished its second season, with episodes spanning the globe from Iceland and Bolivia to St. Petersberg and Delhi (check out our episode guides here). Beyond the tube, he’s a celebrated food writer, dining critic, radio talk-show host, and chef. For more Andrew, check out his blog.

In this exclusive interview, Andrew dishes on everything from director Ang Lee’s stinky tofu fetish to his NYC School of Hot Dog Consumption Theory.

Before Bizarre Foods, how much jet-setting around the world did you get to do?

Plenty! I was lucky enough to come from a family that always traveled and placed a premium on pursuing singular experiences, eschewing resorts in favor of spending weeks skiing in Europe, driving ourselves around and eating in local restaurants and in homes with people we met along the way. I am a paler version of my Dad, the original “food freak” in the family, who introduced me to the concept of a tasting menu at Paul Bocuse in 1974. I am eternally grateful.
When you’re not taping a show, would you be eating any of these bizarre foods? Which ones are now part of your palate? (I’ve heard you gush about those sparrows several times.)

Of course I would, assuming it was available and fresh. Also important are the intangibles like setting and ambience. It’s hard to duplicate tuna collars (10 pounders!) grilled over coconut husks, served with sautéed banana flowers, tossed with braised whelks and a crispy wild pig. All this is available here in the U.S., but it’s not the same as pulling up a chair to a table that’s groaning with the stuff at Kinabuch’s in Palawan in the Philippines.

What happens is that being courageous and willing, and 5,000 miles from home, makes you open your eyes to the foods available in your own back yard. I have been way more enthusiastic about beaver, moose, raccoon, possum, squirrel and other local treats because of what I eat when I am away from home. My son and I have caught lots of grasshoppers in our back yard, but we still have not eaten any of those.

You’ve mentioned that you stop at stinky tofu. Is that really bad? I think I have a jar sitting around somewhere, it’s like the Chinese version of Nutella right?

Way worse…Here’s the deal: I ate stinky tofu every day for a snack in Taipei, it was awesome; two days in the briny sludge, then grilled, split and stuffed with pickled cabbage and brushed with sweet peanut sauce. It was amazing. Then on day six, I ate 14-day-old stinky tofu at Dai’s House of Unique Stink…it was horrific. After 14 days in putrid vegetable matter, the tofu is as close to rotting flesh as anything I have ever seen or tasted. I got one bite down, but could not get another one past my tongue. There’s a lot of confusion out there since many people have only seen the two-day stuff and wondered what the big deal was. Director Ang Lee has Dai’s send him stinky tofu all over the world when he is on location. He’s a better man than I am.

What other foods do you stop at, and say, “no way, I’m not getting paid enough for this?”

The only foods I have ever refused to date were raw rotten chicken intestines in a Chang Mai jungle market that were not washed, and running tap water in a Delhi street stall that was being used to moisten some chat that they were selling for snack food. In both cases I knew that consuming either one meant a guaranteed trip to the hospital or a night spent puking my guts out.

How were the rooster testicles? What other (not sure how to put this delicately) gonads have you eaten? Care to describe them or have those memories been sufficiently suppressed?

I have eaten the following testicular treats, often times accompanied by the penis as well: snake, yak, cow, goat, rooster, duck, goose, donkey, water buffalo, frog, deer, elk and probably about a dozen others. The balls are great, especially on smaller animals and when eaten extremely fresh. Rooster balls are one of my faves, they are not too gamey, very creamy and when steamed, then quickly pan crisped and served with hot chiles and lime, they are addictive in the extreme. Wolfgang Puck made me Hunan style rooster balls a few weeks ago in L.A. Apparently they were on the opening menu 25 years ago at Chinois but didn’t go over real well. Maybe now they will make a comeback.

I think the more that we eat alternative foods and continue to eat “snout to tail”, the better off we are as a people. The pressure that alternative food-eating takes off of the mainstream food delivery system is an unheralded health and wellness benefit that we would be well-advised to take better advantage of. Tomatoes, spinach and factory farm pork from commodity producers that are commonly available in American supermarkets can make you very sick. Rooster balls are quite delightful!

Talking travel with pro motorcyclist Erik Buell

by Jerry Guo on

I’m here with Erik Buell, a former AMA racer and engineer for Harley-Davidson who now runs his own subsidiary, Buell Motorcycle Co, which produces the only sportbikes made in the US. He’s also happens to be an avid road-tripper–of the two-wheeled variety–and has cruised almost all the back-roads of America.

What got you interested in motorcycles?

Freedom to explore and experience the world at low cost! I grew up out in the country on a farm, and although it gave me a great work ethic, it also gave me a great need to see more.

Is a cross-country roadtrip by motorcycle possible? How would the logistics of that work? I’m assuming step one is lose the suitcase.

Cross country trips on motorcycles are the very best. When you are inside your Hummer with tinted narrow windows, a big GPS screen, dashboard and controls, face it, you might as well be at home on the couch. On a motorcycle you roll through valleys and hills and your senses feel the changes in temperature, you smell new-mown hay, and as you idle through little towns you listen to kids playing and maybe get splashed by a sprinkler as you ride by. And you can either use a backpack to travel light or get saddlebags, top box and tank bag and have all the clothing you could want in case you want to go to a fancy restaurant in St. Louis, or go to a play in Seattle, or even pull out your backpack guitar and sit in with some guys jamming on the street corner.
What are some of the best motoring routes in the states?

Anything with less than four lanes! And for me, the wigglier it looks on the map, the more appealing.

I’ve heard of epic adventures motorcycling across South America and Asia. What parts of the world are most friendly to motorcyclists and any particular routes you recommend?

Interestingly, motorcycles are very accepted all over the world, since many people ride in less affluent countries, where fuel is expensive and transportation more of a necessity than a luxury. Motorcycles are more green than any other motorized personal transport, and as such people see you not as an invader, but as a fellow individual traveling through life.

What about Europe? What’s their deal with motorcycles?

Europe is a great place to ride. Once again, they have been living with high fuel prices forever, and lots of city congestion and narrow roads. So although they may be affluent, the perspective on economy and personal footprint is much in tune with motorcycles. The terrain is also wildly variable, with lots of hills and mountains, so it is a spectacular place to ride.

How much training goes into riding a motorcycle, let’s say for a roadtrip?

Basically, anyone who starts riding should take a really good initial training class like is offered by Harley-Davidson through the Rider’s Edge program. Beyond that you need to simply get some riding experience. Not much takes the place of simply riding on a regular basis so the controls are all natural. If you want to go further, Harley-Davidson has the advanced Rider’s Edge course and, of course to become expert, you can take a training course at one of the Buell Inside Pass sessions at racetracks around the country.

What about speed vs cruising? Is there always a trade-off?

Well, sport bikes and cruisers appeal to different riders and are suited to different roads. All motorcycles, like all cars are capable of significant speed. Cruisers are best suited for interstate type roads or putting down the beach front, as the riding position is much like an easy chair. Of course such motorcycles can go 150mph on the Autobahn in Germany if needed! Sportbikes on the other hand are light and nimble and athletic, so they are the best for the winding roads through the Alps, or slipping through the traffic in Milan or in Los Angeles.

Worst accident on a bike for you? I’ve heard it’s inevitable that sooner or later you’ll crash and burn if you own a bike (but hey, I like danger).

Riding on the street it has been a long time since I had an accident, but I did have a couple big ones on the racetrack!

Talking travel with PBS travel host Rudy Maxa (part 2)

by Jerry Guo on

I’m here with Rudy Maxa, PBS’s “Savvy Traveler” and host of the awards-winning series Rudy Maxa’s World. His sixth season is currently airing, featuring locales such as Estonia, Argentina, and Thailand (he’s already done a whopping 65 episodes).

He began as an investigative journalist at the Washington Post and then became the “Savvy Traveler” 15 years ago for public radio. He’s now a contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler and his work has appeared in GQ, Travel & Leisure, LA Times, and Forbes, among other publications. If you’re interested in more of what he has to say, check out his blog.

Read part 1 here.

What has been your greatest adventure?

“Adventure” is a big word. Watching the northern lights from a lodge in the countryside of Iceland was magical. Safari in Kenya really made me understand where in the food chain we rank-which is well below lions unless you’re talking “zoo.” Surfing in a wet suit down a white-water river in New Zealand–on my stomach with just a little board to keep me (mostly) upright–certainly got the heart pounding.

Worst travel experience?

Waiting before dawn in a tiny, freezing waiting room at what was then Leningrad’s airport for a flight to the States. The room was cold, my fellow passengers were largely drunk, and we boarded the big, old, lumbering Soviet jet through the cargo belly. The plane had to make two refueling stop before it could make it to the East Coast.
 Favorite food and restaurant? Bar?

Thai and Italian. Oh, my, I have so many favorite restaurants around the world-Alma in the Twin Cities, where I live. Sushiko in Washington, DC. Cut and Fraiche in Los Angeles. L’Ami Louis in Paris. River Café and St. John in London. I’m not much of a bar guy, but I could live at a tiny hideaway called Vodka Tonic in Tokyo.

Where do you go to book flights? Any tips for getting the best deals?

I check third-party web sites such as Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz. Kayak is handy for overseas flights. Cheapflights shows me if booking a few weeks or even months ahead will save me money. But I also check airline web sites for deals. For last-minute deals, it’s site59.com or lastminutetravel.com. Book far ahead-given how quickly airfares are rising, if you know where you want to be for Thanksgiving or the December holidays, it’s not too soon to make reservations.

What about travel agencies? When are they a good idea, and when are they not?

A good travel agent is a real find. Use an agent if you want help planning a trip to a specific destination or if you have a complicated itinerary.

Any advice to save on car rentals?

Look for deals on rental car web sites. Enterprise, the largest North American rental car company, has the largest fuel-efficient fleet with hybrids and vehicles that average 32 and 28 miles per gallon. When searching rental cars online, don’t cheat yourself. Look at Enterprise.com: outside of three summer months, they usually offer 50% off on weekend rentals at their neighborhood locations.

Do you use travel guides when you’re on the road? If so, which ones and why? If not, do you depend on friends and locals?

I almost always depend on locals or friends who know a destination well. There is so much information on the web today, travel guides often can’t keep up. A guide is good in providing a general overview of a destination that is totally new to a visitor.

Are there any truly off-the-beaten-road destinations today? Places that aren’t in Lonely Planet.

Not really, though there are experiences that some tour companies can provide in less-visited countries. But when former outposts such as Ulaanbaatar and Libya are welcoming tourists, it’s difficult to find new, hidden gems.

How do you feel about tourism to places with authoritarian regimes. Myanmar or North Korea or Iran, etc?

While I loathe spending money in a country such as Myanmar that might support a repressive government, people-to-people contact is so important to citizens of those places. At least that’s what I learn when I ask folks familiar with such places the same question you’ve asked me.

What are some easy ways travelers can save money on the road?

If you’re planning a road trip in the US, consider renting a car that might be bigger and more comfortable than yours or one that might get better gas mileage. You avoid wear and tear on your personal vehicle and you may get a nicer set of wheels in the deal.

If traveling abroad, families should consider renting apartments or condos to save on room nights and meals. If you’re going to be in Europe 17 days or longer, don’t rent a car-lease one from a company like europebycar.com to avoid value added taxes and high insurance charges. And with tri-band cell phones (try Cellularabroad.com) and Skype, there’s no reason not to stay in touch. Get out of the big cities to save money on lodging and food.