Q - My boss just informed me that I ve won a two week trip to Italy that will include three nights

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Q -  The little woman and I are interested in sailing down to Mexico, perhaps getting off or on in Acapulco. But we re fairly cautious people and if there is crime we d just as soon go to one of the Mexican restaurants here in Denver, texas state travel guide sip a few Margaritas, and pretend we re out to sea. We are in our mid-sixties and my wife walks a little slow. I m no gymnast either. Do you recommend these Mexican cruises?
A The statistical truth is that crime is an issue in certain ports in Mexico including Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan which has seen something of an outbreak in the past twenty-four months. It has reached the point where Holland America and Princess Cruises have said they will not be doing their normal full schedule of sailings to Mexico in 2013.
Inclusive texas state travel guide resorts in Mexico appeal to a wide variety of travelers texas state travel guide and there are upscale options that represent real value. We d rather see you doing a great inclusive resort than wandering around port areas off a ship at the present time. The tourism officials in Mexico are adept at keeping bad news about attacks on tourists out of the news, but within the travel trade, it is a fact of life. Still, it needs to be emphasized that most port calls in Mexico by those ships still operating there, occur without incident.
traveltruth.com is a collaborative texas state travel guide effort designed to offer the vacation texas state travel guide consumer real world advice without exaggeration, deception, or sales bias. It is the ultimate insider's view of how things really work, written by an award-winning team of travel texas state travel guide consultants and journalists. We are the owners, texas state travel guide managers, and staff at Churchill Turen Ltd.
Q -  We find your site rather confusing. On the one hand, it purports to be a cruise texas state travel guide site, but we notice lots of information that seems way off topic. If you wish to have people use the site, you might want to think about sticking to one thing and doing it well. Our question has to do with Amazon River Cruising. We know that several of the deluxe lines like Silversea, Seabourn, and Crystal do Amazon itineraries but we are really interested in more of a comfortable, high quality expedition cruise experience with fewer people than a large cruise ship. Are there companies you might recommend?
A Thank you for the advice. We won t follow it because traveltruth.com is not a cruise web site. We deal exclusively with First Class and Deluxe vacation planning worldwide. There are many parts of the world where it is impossible or makes little sense to travel by ship. Our efforts are geared toward the upscale traveler who wants advice that is not tainted by sales pressure or advertising concerns.
Q These hotels really get me angry. They always pretend they are full when I ask for an upgrade. Meanwhile, I know from online availability, that they have suites available. I am just constantly being turned down for upgrades and I know others are getting them. I dress quite well, I m a decent texas state travel guide looking guy, and I have a good job, so what am I doing wrong? I just want more than I paid for and I see nothing wrong with that.
A Do you think it might have something to do with your attitiude when you arrive? Try this: Never ask for an upgrade. Ask for a corner room or a room with a nice sitting area where I can get some work done . Be as nice as you can be. Do not address the desk clerk by the first name on their tag.
If there was a past problem with your behavior at one of the chain s hotels, it is perfectly possible that you have a RAH next to your profile. We will leave it to you to figure out what those letters represent. Your profile designation will follow you around and you may never be upgraded.  If you suspect that is the case, schedule texas state travel guide a meeting with hotel management and explain your feelings and ask if there is anything texas state travel guide on your profile texas state travel guide that is preventing you from being offered an upgrade. They may possibly respond honestly.  Finally, use a credit card that allows for automatic upgrades based on points.
Q -  My boss just informed me that I ve won a two week trip to Italy that will include three nights in Sorrento, along the Amalfi Coast. My wife wants us to rent a car and do some driving. Do you think that s a safe idea? Any tips on the towns nearby that are must-see s . We re really excited and would appreciate any advice. We tell everyone texas state travel guide we know about this site. Keep up the good work.
A We re OK with you driving in Italy. The Italians, along with the Dutch, are Europe s best drivers. You will hardly get lost, just stay on Strada Statale 163 or, as the uninitiated call it, the Amalfi Drive. This incredible two land road hugs the edge of the cliffs for twenty-five miles, passing some of Italy s most beautiful texas state travel guide views.
texas state travel guide We would suggest you swim in the Grota dello Smeraldo, visit the lovely town of Amalfi, and definitely go a bit out of your way to see the small fishing village of Atrani, texas state travel guide poff the main tourist track.  Unfortunately, many casual visitors to the Amalfi coast fail to see Ravello, a wonderful town with more incredible views and an artistic past. When you know Ravello, you know the Amalfi texas state travel guide coast. Positano is lovely but the single street, Viale Pasitea will be filled with tourists, many of them just off the cruise ships for the day.
Q With great sadness, my husband and I read of the passing of Andy Griffith, a wonderful role model and, I think, a true southern gentleman. My husband suggested we just drive to Mayberry . Is there such a place and how would we get there? Hope this request is not sounding silly.
A Not not at all. We all loved Andy though some viewers had a stronger attachment to Barney and they bear watching. There is no Mayberry texas state travel guide but the show was truly inspired by a place in North Carolina named Mt. Airy, that Andy knew well. There s an Andy Griffith Miuseum texas state travel guide and every September there s a celebration called Mayberry Days .
It s all a bit touristic these days but you can still get a glimpse of small town life and there are numerous small towns within driving distance that have no tourists. You can actually tour Mt. Airy in a vintage sheriff s car.
Q I am a country club wine drinker but I do keep the Wine Bible next tot he remote and I am slowly getting into French red, particularly Bordeaux s. We re headed to France to do some tasting texas state travel guide with another couple who thinks that the Trader Joe s label is really prestigious. But I do want us to go to the very best vineyards. If you could let us know which Bordeaux s are considered the very best, I d be eternally grateful.
A Well this is a bit tricky as there are tens of thousands of wine connoisseurs who wish to taste the best Bordeaux s. To get into the very best vineyards, you need to know someone and, even then, it is extremely difficult to get to the Premier Grand Cru First Growth estates. We suggest that you work with your consultant texas state travel guide to make all arrangements through one of the world s top wine experts specializing in the top-level French production. Even then, you may be disappointed. Work at least a year in advance to have any chance at all. There are the wines you should target they are the best of the current crop of Grand Cru s:
Q I am a software gun for hire and I travel about 80% of the time. I know that there are often great deals online at the hotels I m staying at but I just don t have the time to check it all out on a daily basis. Is there any way to get the same rate as the internet when you re at the check-in desk? Very cool site but wish you had more for the business traveler. Not all of us can be on a perpetual vacation.
A Some experts suggest the let s be realistic approach at the front desk. You might try pointing out that the average online site is getting texas state travel guide close to 30% in commission from the hotels they are selling. So suggest that if the hotel will give you 20-25% off the online price, they will still be making a profit on your stay. But be careful how you handle this as it could easily backfire.
My husband and I will be in Copenhagen at the end of June, having just ended a cruise. My husband mentioned there is supposed to be a terrific new site in Copenhagen called Blue Planet and he was thinking about adding a day to our trip so we could spend some time there. Do you know anything about this and would it be worth the extra day?
A -  Well it looks like you are in luck. Copenhagen s absolutely stunning new aquarium, Blue Planet, is scheduled to open on March 22nd in time for the summer tourist season. We expect this to quickly become one of the two or three leading tourist attractions in Scandinavia. There will be almost 500 species and just over 20,000 animals housed in a building that is already being nominated for major architectural awards. Copenhagen design firm, 3XN has created a building that resembles moving water and the aquarium s rooftop will swirl, resembling the world s largest whirlpool. Guests flying into or out of Copenhagen s Kastrup texas state travel guide Airport will have the best some amazing views of this new complex.
Q We have a little but of a dilemma. We are doing a land tour that begins in Istanbul and includes two nights texas state travel guide in the city with sightseeing. But to use frequent flyer miles with US Air, we had to add on three additional nights to make our upgrades work. So we now have three nights in a Muslim country with the sightseeing of all the major places already included in our tour. Your site mentions Lifestyle Touring for people who don t want or need historical bus tours. I suppose that s us. Any suggestions?
A You can have your agent arrange private sightseeing or you can contact the Concierge at your hotel to arrange the kind of sightseeing you really want. But very few guides are prepared to really take you inside the daily lives of the residents. texas state travel guide The best program texas state travel guide for you would be the Istanbul Lifestyle Touring Program designed texas state travel guide through