To the top of Africa--almost

              That would be Mt. Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania. Kili is an extinct volcano, and at its official summit, you can say you’re on the highest point in Africa, just over 19,400 feet. It was something Dave and I had talked about doing for years, and this was it. We trained hard for months with many visits to the gym to build up our strength and weekend hikes around the area. Armed with new backpacks and plenty of other gear, we flew out of Minneapolis on October 3, arriving in Moshi, Tanzania, the next evening. At the hotel we met our climbing companions, 13 other folks with a total of 5 countries represented. On the 6^th, our outfitter, Ultimate Kilimanjaro, transported us to the Lemosho Gate and we were off.

            From the gate to the eventual exit would be 43 miles, and there were no easy miles among them. In fact, it seemed there were no easy yards; the trails were much more difficult than advertised, strewn with rocks and sometimes blocked with boulders so large we literally had to climb over them. But our outfitter did a great job, with porters rushing ahead of us every day to set up camp and have it all ready to go by the time we arrived late in the afternoon. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it, our tents and sleeping bags kept us warm and dry through the frigid nights and the guides provided excellent advice and checked our medical condition twice daily. One gal, from Florida, had to turn back after two days due to altitude sickness, but we did just fine. But the difficult trail took a toll on Dave, who’d had foot surgery just six months earlier, and on the day we were to hike to the base camp, we were told Dave would have to turn back. I accompanied him as a guide and porter were dispatched to take us down to the exit gate, a rugged journey that took us two days.

            We arrived back in Moshi a day before our colleagues, and when they staggered in they told us only 8 of the remaining 12 climbers made it to the summit, scaling the final 4,000 feet in the early-morning darkness, lit only by their headlamps and buffeted by bone-chilling winds. As dawn finally broke, the survivors made it to the summit after a 7-hour climb. Then they had to turn around after only a few minutes and go all the way back down, plus another several kilometers to the next camp. All told, they were on the trail about 17 hours that day.

            Two nights in Moshi gave us a chance to clean up and get some rest, and then we flew to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, for the next leg of our trip, a safari outfitted by Alexander + Roberts. We stayed at the beautiful, historic Fairmont Norfolk Hotel—Dave was excited to learn our room was right next to the one Teddy Roosevelt had when he was there to start his own safari in 1909—and met our new group. After three nights in Nairobi, we set out for our adventure. Over the next ten days and nights, we stayed at five different camps and explored landscapes ranging from heavily forested to desert, and we saw animals. A lot of animals, in their natural state thanks to strict conservation laws in both countries.

            More than once we saw lions, sometimes coming within a couple dozen feet of them. One morning we saw a group dining on a zebra, and the next day another pride was feasting on a wildebeest. Elephants walked past us without an apparent care in the world. There was an amazing variety of antelopes, ranging from small gazelles to the moose-sized eland. We saw hippos and crocodiles in the Mara River, including a tragic example of nature in action, when a croc captured a wildebeest that had made the mistake of trying to ford the river on its own. We saw rhinos up close and a leopard. Lots of giraffes, too; in fact, at the Giraffe Center in Nairobi we were able to feed some. There were large herds of wildebeest and zebras, the occasional buffalo and an amazing variety of birds. At our camp in the Amboseli region, black-faced monkeys were all over, and you had to be careful if you were dining out in the open, because it was not uncommon for a monkey to swoop in and grab something off your plate. We saw baboons and warthogs and mongoose and lizards and so much more.

            The people we met, especially the ones who guided us on our game drives and staffed our lodges, were uniformly nice and provided excellent service. Yes, there were several moments when we drove through the crowded streets of a Kenyan or Tanzanian town and realized we certainly weren’t in Wisconsin anymore, but the people seemed relatively happy and hard-working. One thing was for sure, they really like Americans over there, and not just because we bring our credit cards. What we sometimes take for granted over here, they dream about over there.

            An African safari, even if you don’t combine it with a climb of Kilimanjaro, can be one of the best travel experiences you’ll ever have. Interested in finding out more? Give us a call, we’ll help you put a trip together and you’ll have hakuna matata (Swahili for “no worries”)!

Navigating Travel Challenges with Grace:
Tips for a Smoother Journey

Travel can be one of life’s most exciting and meaningful experiences, but it can also be stressful and frustrating. Sometimes, things are out of our control—lost luggage, delayed flights, messed-up reservations, and more—but many things are well within our ability to smooth the waters, so to speak, and make our experience enjoyable, even if there’s a problem. Travel consultant and writer Christopher Elliott recently noted there are certain things that you definitely should not say if you’re traveling, encounter a problem and approach someone for help.

·         “Why can’t you just do your job?” That’s disrespectful and demoralizing for the person who, after all, is the one you want to fix your problem. Show empathy and respect by saying, “How can we fix this?”

·         “Do you know who I am?” Travelers who have to declare how important they are, whether they’re an elite-level frequent flyer, an “influencer” or a show business celebrity, are just annoying. Employees will find a way to make their lives miserable.

·         “I’ll sue.” Usually accompanied by yelling and swearing, this threat rarely gets the traveler anything more than a downgraded seat section on a rebooked flight or a less-than-desirable room at the resort.

·         “It’s my anniversary.” Hotel marketers say this is a well-known trick to get special treatment. Someone arguing with the desk clerk and using that excuse to demand better accommodations obviously doesn’t realize that everybody else waiting in line is there for some occasion or another, even if it’s just business.

·         “I know the CEO.” Definitely not the right thing to say, and virtually a guarantee to produce a less than enthusiastic response to whatever the problem may be. A related threat, demanding to be given the name of the employee’s supervisor, is also very unlikely to produce results. The best way of getting what you want is to let the facts of your case speak for themselves.

·         “But I’m American.” Absolutely the worst thing to say if you’re traveling overseas, or even overland to Canada or Mexico. In some parts of the world, that declaration will guarantee poor service. Also, remember that there are plenty of people in the world who don’t speak English.

 

So, what should we do when a problem arises and we really would like better service?

·         Be calm. Emotion is the enemy, whether something’s gone wrong or you just have a special request. A level-headed, rational approach is always best. You don’t want to have security showing up to escort you away.

·         Be factual. Describe what you want without embellishment. Let the facts speak for themselves. Every customer at the hotel or the resort, at the airport gate or on the ship, is important to the company. They want you to enjoy your experience so you’ll return (and spend more money). Plus, they know word-of-mouth and online reviews are important in generating new business—and preventing the loss of current customers.

·         Be friendly. Employees are people, even if they don’t look exactly like you or speak your language very well. In your own work, you know that every now and then things will go wrong, and your response is to bend over backwards to help. Well, the people you’re dealing with now that you have the problem are no different.

Travel is at record-setting levels world-wide, but expectations are sky-high, too. Getting preferential treatment is hard, but getting the worst treatment is only a few careless words away.

Ready to get out there and see for yourself? Give us a call!

Sue Tindell

 

Coolcation Adventures: Discover North America's Chilly Charm!

Autumn is here, and the weather is turning cooler, leaves are falling and we all know what’s coming. Many of our clients are already calling to inquire about winter getaways. Those are always to someplace warm and sunny, where they can leave the cold and snow of Wisconsin behind for at least a week or two.

            But many people are getting away from warm weather, too. Publications like USA Today and Vogue are saying that the next big travel trend is the “coolcation.” No, not “cool” as in something trendy and stylish, but as in temperatures, and they’re not that far away. Here are the top ten “coolcation” destinations in North America:

·         Anacortes, Washington. This town on Fidalgo Island, off the Washington state mainland, has temps around 70 degrees in midsummer. A ferry makes it a popular destination, surrounded by the beautiful waters and mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Sea kayaking, hiking and wildlife watching—harbor seals and orca whales, to name two—are popular activities.

·         Prince Edward Island, Canada. This island province in the Canadian Maritimes is known for its red sand beaches, lobster and mussels, and inspiration for the Anne of Green Gables books by Lucy Maud Montgomery. You can get there by car across a bridge from New Brunswick, by ferry from Nova Scotia or by plane. Go during the “shoulder” seasons (fall and spring), for bracing walks on the beach and drives along the coast.

·         Yellowstone National Park, Montana and Wyoming. The park is open year-round, although most visitors come in the summer. Off-season Yellowstone is a great destination, avoiding most of the tourists and the mosquitos, and you’ll see a lot of wildlife. Camping is a great way to enjoy the park to its fullest, but bring plenty of bear spray, food and water, and a waterproof tent.

·         Portland, Maine. Another great off-season destination, Maine’s seacoast town offers a local brewery, great coffee shops and downtown streets that look straight out of a 19^th-century nautical painting.

·         Madison, Wisconsin. Yes, our very own state capital makes the “coolcation” list. Known for its big-city feel in a small-town package, it’s filled with arts, great food, parks and two beautiful lakes, not to mention Badger football in the fall. The Capitol building is known for its renowned architecture.

·         Logan, Utah. Situated in the Beehive State’s Cache Valley, Logan is surrounded by mountains that provide great hiking and camping, and plentiful hot springs to relax in. For great dining, try the Tandoori Oven, said to be the finest Indian restaurant in the state.

·         Woodstock, Vermont. No, not the site of the famed 1969 rock festival. That was in upstate New York. The one in Vermont is a quintessential New England town, right down to its wood-covered bridges and amazing fall color, which makes autumn the best time to visit. Notable stops are the farmers market and a quaint bookstore. There’s hiking nearby at Quechee State Park.

·         Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. For a combination of European romance and outdoor adventure, this city on Vancouver Island, just off the B.C. coast, has arts and crafts, great food, music and more. Architecture buffs will want to check out places like Hatley Castle, and there’s whale-watching tours out on the water. Gardeners and flower buffs will definitely want to go inland a little bit to see Butchart Gardens.

·         Salem, Massachusetts. Best known for the 17^th century witch trials, Salem is ideal for anyone who loves history and maritime culture. Walking tours and the Salem Witch Museum set the tone, and colonial life is on display at Pioneer Village Salem. There are also art museums and great restaurants.

·         Missoula, Montana. A college town in the middle of the Bitterroot and Mission Mountain Ranges of the Rockies, Missoula has a first-rate arts and music scene, the Lolo Hot Springs Resort, access to hiking and mountain biking trails and a wide variety of restaurants. Plus, you’re only a spectacular drive away from Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park.

With our own weather cooling off, a “coolcation” might not be on your bucket list till next summer. But when it’s time to start planning, give us a call. We’ll take care of the details, you just get out your hiking boots!

Sue Tindell

 

From SpaceX to Delta: Unforgettable Journeys and Record Breakers

           Last week, four tourists returned home following the trip of a lifetime. No, it wasn’t the 9-month-long round-the-world cruise we wrote about last week. This trip went up, and up, and up, farther up than any humans had been in 52 years. The Polaris Dawn mission by the company SpaceX sent two men and two women 870 miles from Earth. The last time anybody went that far was the final Apollo mission to the moon in 1972.

            Leading the mission was Jared Isaacman, a 41-year-old high school dropout who founded a company at age 16 that a quarter-century later resulted in him having a net worth of nearly $2 billion. He’d already flown around the world as a pilot, setting a record for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet at age 21. This was his first spaceflight, and he became the first civilian to walk in space when he exited the capsule nearly 500 miles above the planet. He was joined by SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, who is also a classical violinist. She brought her instrument along and joined up with orchestras on earth, linked up by the Starlink communications system, to perform “Rey’s Theme” from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” This wasn’t the first musical performance in space; that came in December 1965, when Gemini 6 astronauts Thomas Stafford and Wally Schirra played “Jingle Bells” on a harmonica and a handful of small bells. Those instruments are now in the Smithsonian.

            The Polaris Dawn mission got my husband thinking about how many miles we’ve traveled. My Delta app keeps track of them, and prior to our current trip to Africa, I’d flown 693,282 miles. I’ve logged more than a few on other airlines, too, but just the Delta miles would take me to the moon and back with mileage to spare. I’ve got a ways to go for the world record of miles traveled in flight, though. Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, who’s currently aboard the International Space Station, will have logged 1,111 days in space when he returns to Earth any day now. Perhaps he’ll be down by the time you read this. When he finally lands after his current 374-day mission, he will have orbited the earth 17,776 times, for a total of about 440 million miles, give or take a few. Does he get any kind of frequent-flyer status with that?
     
       Okay, space travelers are going to rack up the miles, just by definition. What about mileage records for “atmospheric” (translation: traditional) flights? Back in 2003, Fred Finn, an Englishman, set the record by reaching 13.9 million miles in the air. He commuted regularly between London and New York, and still holds the record for transatlantic supersonic flights with 714 crossings on the Concorde. Finn’s record for supersonic travel is likely to stand awhile, as there has been no commercial travel at Mach 1 or better since the Concorde’s last flight in 2003. But his overall mileage record was smashed a few years ago by an American.

            Tom Stuker, a car dealership consultant from New Jersey, bought a lifetime pass from United Airlines in 1990 for $290,000 (about $675,000 today). He has logged over 24 million miles on more than 12,000 flights, all with United and its Star Alliance partners. Stuker has actually accrued many more miles, but those he racked up on award and partner flights don’t count. He’s been to Australia more than 300 times. He once traveled for 12 days straight without sleeping in a bed, jetting from Newark to San Francisco to Bangkok to Dubai multiple times. His traveling inspired the movie “Up in the Air,” about a corporate downsizing expert played by George Clooney. In 2019 alone, Stuker flew 373 times with United, traveling a staggering 1.46 million miles.

            As you might expect, Stuker racks up a lot of frequent-flyer points. He’s spent them on cruises, hotel suites, Walmart gift cards and more. On a single day, he cashed in $50,000 in gift cards to contribute to his brother’s house renovation. Once, he even bid 451,000 miles at a charity auction to appear in an episode of ���Seinfeld.”

            Stuker admits that he would never have come close to all those miles if he’d just traveled economy class, and he never brings a checked bag. “Every town has laundromats,” he said.

            He’s still flying and adding to his record. Can anybody possibly catch him? Since airlines long ago stopped selling lifetime passes, that’s unlikely, but there is one frequent flyer who could come close. A Delta customer who goes by the name of Todd O. hit 14 million miles with the airline last year. Nobody knows much about Todd, such as his age, so it’s impossible to predict if he can reach Stuker-level mileage. At his present pace, Todd would need another 15 years or so to catch up.

            Ready to add to your own frequent-flyer account? Give us a call!