Dear fellow travelers:
Hello and welcome to David Rowell’s Travel Insider newsletter. Once again, this is Joe Brancatelli of JoeSentMe.com pinch-hitting for David while he’s escorting several Travel Insider groups around Europe.
I hope you’ve enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend (or, elsewhere, you bank and national holidays). It was a tough week on the road, with strikes in Germany and Portugal (rail), Italy (Alitalia) and disruptions in Scandinavia. But this week promises to be a little better since there are no strikes planned. Do expect some disruptions in the Central United States, however, as the late-spring tornado and storm season fires up.
Meanwhile, we have a lovely assortment of material for you. I take a look at the travel outlook this summer. Bob McGarvey has a trio of stories that will affect your travel. Weve got reports from Italy and commentary of travel with children and how airlines travel to slice and dice out travel experience to extract the maximum amount of cash. We also have some outstanding bargains on the JoeSentMe deals page and my Tactical Traveler column looks at why you need to cash out of Delta and United’s frequent flyer programs right now. Most of these columns are free to read, but several require membership in JoeSentMe. So start reading…
Best regards and I’ll see you next week as David continues his travels. And as David says, enjoy safe travelers. Cheers — Joe Brancatelli // JoeSentMe.com // [email protected]
BRANCATELLI IN SEAT 2B: THE SUMMER TRAVEL OUTLOOK
We all need some summer downtime. With my few days, I expect to pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep. But if you want to travel this summer, I suggest you try a great American road trip rather than risk the domestic skies. I also look at the market for bargains in Europe and Asia this summer. Your one-stop summer travel summary at http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/blog/seat2B/2015/05/joe-brancatelli-summer-travel-deals.html
TACTICAL TRAVELER: WHY YOU NEED TO CASH DELTA & UNITED MILES NOW
The briefing in brief: You really need to start cashing your Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus miles. Singapore Air launches its premium-economy service on August 9. A barrage of new hotels worldwide. Airlines add more flights south of the border. Europe’s holiday rail strikes off. And much more … Surf to http://tactical.biztravelife.com
STEALS & DEALS: THE BEST TRAVEL BARGAINS — IN CONTEXT
+ Emirates slashes business-class fares to India.
+ Asiana has a summer sale for business-class travel to Asia.
+ Cathay Pacific discounts its premium-economy cabin.
+ British Airways offers up to $400 off fares.
+ Our completely updated summer business-class deal guide.
Surf to http://deals.biztravelife.com
CAROL PUCCI: AMALFI WAS MADE FOR WALKING
Driving Italy’s Amalfi Coast is something many travelers think they want to do until they try it. It’s tricky, crowded and annoying. The better way to do Amalfi and its fabulous coastline? Walking. Surf to http://carolapucci-tips.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-amalfi-coast-it-made-for-walking.html
WILL ALLEN: CLASS WARFARE IN-FLIGHT
Airlines continue to add more fare classes and invent new in-flight products to match those fare classes. But do any of them make sense. With tongue only partially in cheek, Will Allen has an indea for a better way to look at fares and in-flight classes Surf to https://allenontravel.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/extreme-fare-class-parsing/
JEROME GREER CHANDLER: ARE THE KIDS ALRIGHT IN FLIGHT?
Seasoned travelers with few fears of flying can go catatonic at the idea of having to spend time cooped up with kids in an aircraft cabin. You’ve seen the look as they suddenly realize they’re seated next to a mother with child. Surf to http://www.airlineratings.com/news/490/lessons-from-on-high-staying-safe-and-sane-while-flying-with-kids
THE ROBERT MCGARVEY SHOW: A TRIO OF TRAVEL-NEWS UPDATES
+ Travel agents are winning back customers by offering expertise and personal service. Surf to https://www.mainstreet.com/article/how-travel-agents-are-winning-back-customers-by-delivering-valuable-expertise
+ Gas is cheap so that means road trip! Here are five trips to savor this summer. Surf to https://www.mainstreet.com/article/road-trip-nation-five-summer-drives-to-savor-really-cheap-gasoline
+ Is Airbnb making it impossible to find and rent a great apartment? Some people say yes. Surf to https://www.mainstreet.com/article/is-airbnb-making-it-impossible-for-you-to-rent-that-dream-apartment
BRANCATELLI FILE: TWO OUT OF THREE ON THE ROAD AIN’T BAD
Let us consider Meat Loaf, airline chief executives and the concept of two out of three ain’t bad. When it comes to the self-important SkyGods who run airlines, I’m always looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks and a Coupe de Ville at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box. But a life on the road has taught me that there are no rubies and Coupe de Villes. Still, I’ll take two out of three on the road. And today I can report that this week we actually did get two out of three when it comes to airline bosses. Surf to http://joe.biztravelife.com/joe.html
PHIL BAKER: A BETTER WAY TO INNOVATE
Hardware technology products have undergone a renaissance. It’s driven by the innovative spirit of young entrepreneurs who prefer to create something themselves rather than take a less risky job with a large corporation. Surf to http://techspertsinc.com/innovations-in-building-and-funding-hardware-tech-san-diego-transcript/
