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!

 

Be aware of local customs rules when traveling 
For many U.S. citizens traveling to foreign countries, going through customs upon arrival can be an adventure, even for experienced travelers. If you’re going to Cancun, Mexico, it might be a little more challenging.

            Cancun International Airport is the busiest airport in Mexico, with over 500 daily flights and some 13 million passengers annually. If you’ve ever been there, you know it’s a very busy place and generally runs pretty efficiently. One visitor from Florida recently found out that it might be a little too efficient.

            Tammy Levent told USA Today that she had arrived on a business visit with two check-in suitcases and one carry-on. She was flagged to one of the customs tables and told that a search of her luggage had found something that caught the agent’s attention. No, it wasn’t drugs or other contraband. It was her iPad and her laptop computer. “You can’t have both,” she was told.

            This was news to Levent, who’d brought both devices with her to Cancun several times in the past without a problem. But this was the day she found out that Mexican customs regulations allow one portable computer per foreign arrival. Tablets count, just like laptops. An extra device means a tax of up to 19% of the deemed value, which is up to $4,000 per device. Levent had to pay a $200 entry tax on her iPad, which meant it was valued on the spot at about $2,000, much more than its actual worth, especially considering it was not even close to brand-new. “This was wrong,” Levent told the newspaper. “At the end of the day you want tourism but you’re driving people away,” citing the example of a company that would be bringing employees to Cancun for a conference, with most of those visitors packing more than one device.

            The Mexican law isn’t new, but it’s only randomly enforced. The customs list says foreign travelers can bring “a portable computer equipment known as laptop, notebook, omnibook or similar.” If passengers don’t pay the 19% fine for their extra device, it will be confiscated. It’s not hard to imagine that the traveler would never see the device again.

            Michael Boguslavskiy, a specialist on Cancun trips, says the law “has actually been in effect for a very, very long time. It’s a massively outdated list at this point but it’s still there.” He points out that visitors can only bring in a maximum of ten DVDs. Who still travels with DVDs? Many Gen-Z travelers probably don’t even know what they are.

            Although the law has been around for a while, it might be getting more attention from Mexican authorities. Riviera Maya News quoted David Ortiz Mena, president of the Tulum Hotel Association, as saying, “Since Covid, it has become a global trend for people to choose to work remotely, which opens up a niche for longer-term tourism. But surprisingly, tourists are charged if they bring in more than one electronic item.”

Are cell phones allowed? Yes, up to three per person. I’m not sure anybody would ever travel with four cell phones, but that fourth one might just get taxed. Boguslavskiy also notes that the increase in device taxation could be the result of people bringing extra devices into Mexico with the intent to sell them on the black market, although he says “that’s not the case with 99% of people bringing a laptop and an iPad.” He says that only two cameras are allowed tax-free, and technically, cigarettes exceeding ten packs can be fined or confiscated. Since there’s a duty-free store right before customs, people stock up on cheap tobacco thinking it’s safe, only to have it seized shortly after the purchase.

It's a lesson for all of us: be aware of local customs rules when we’re traveling. If you’re concerned about taking certain things into a country you plan to visit, let us know, and we’ll help you plan your trip so those nasty extra taxes won’t be hitting your credit card. Give us a call!  

Sue Tindell

 

 

World Cruise experiences

For many travelers, the ultimate trip is to outer space, which is possible these days for a pretty high price, and the trip will last only a few minutes. Perhaps more realistic dreamers think that sailing around the world would be the zenith of travel, and indeed, many cruise lines offer voyages that do just that, sometimes taking three or four months from start to finish.

            Last year, Royal Caribbean decided to do a round-the-world cruise like nobody had ever done. This one would last nine months, with passengers sailing aboard the Serenade of the Seas, one of RCL’s older vessels. The voyage would include stops in 65 countries, visit all seven continents and cost anywhere from $60,000-117,600 per passenger—but that would include unlimited food and drinks. About 650 passengers were in it for the entire haul, with others coming and going with each of the four “legs” of the cruise.

            The trip launched from Miami on December 10, 2023, and 274 nights later it ended at the same port last week. How did it go?

            Many of the passengers told news outlets it was “exhausting,” or “a blur.” One woman said, “We don’t know where we were yesterday, we don’t know where we’re going tomorrow.” Many chose to sit out some shore excursions in favor of staying on board to rest, and at-sea days were very popular.

            Social media was heavily used by the cruisers, of course, with many coming aboard as bona fide “influencers” before the cruise, others becoming prominent after setting sail, like Joe and Audrey Martucci, who were new to social media but posted often with the whimsical handle @spendingourkidsmoney. They became known to their followers as “Cruise Mom and Dad.” Joe said he didn’t even know how to spell TikTok before posting his first video. (And, he added, there’s plenty of money left for their kids.) A pair of fortysomething sisters described how to live with an adult sibling and not go stir crazy. A Gen-Z female poster, who used the name “Little Rat Brain,” became known for her chaotic, wry dispatches from sea.

            It didn’t always go well for the influencers. Amike Oosthuizen, a 26-year-old from South Africa, posted a video of the treacherous Drake Passage crossing that drew six million views on TikTok. But then the platform banned her. “They said I was selling counterfeit goods, which I was not selling at all,” she told CNN Travel. She set up another account, which never achieved the traction of her first effort.

            While many of the voyagers said they formed strong friendships with their fellow passengers, things didn’t always go smoothly. Family members experienced the usual tensions that family members do; Little Rat Brain shared an inside cabin with her mother, but just took time for herself when she needed it. Other passengers noticed a disconnect developing between them and their friends and family back home. Some said they might have a little trouble adapting to life back on shore. And dealing with new-found fame might require an adjustment for the newbie influencers. Audrey Martucci said it was a surreal moment when she and her husband were ashore in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and were recognized by fans. Other people came up to them and said, “We thought you were dead.” One passenger, an elderly woman, did indeed pass away on the ship. There were unconfirmed reports that as many as four couples filed for divorce.

            With so many passengers documenting their voyage, even veteran influencers grew a little stressed by all the cameras constantly in use. Little Rat Brain said that after awhile it felt like she was trapped inside The Truman Show, a 1998 film starring Jim Carrey in which the main character is living his entire life as the subject of a reality show, without him realizing it until he finally escapes.

            “I wouldn’t do a nine-month straight cruise again,” Joe Martucci said. “It’s just way too long away from family, away from everyone and we started to feel burned out.” His wife said the nonstop itinerary made it hard to catch up on sleep. Eventually, the couple decided to cope by taking time off and slowing down during their days. Sometimes they’d skip RCL-run excursions to just “wander in the wild” around a destination.

            What was the most popular place they visited? Many of the cruisers cited Antarctica, others a visit to the Great Wall of China. The European ports of call were almost too much, many said, with one right after the other and very little down time.

            Will there be another voyage like this one, ever again? RCL says it has no current plans to repeat the nine-month cruise, but somebody else probably will. Maybe even longer, but talk, as they say, is cheap. Getting it done is a lot harder. Life at Sea Cruises had a 3-year round-the-world cruise scheduled to depart last year, but it was eventually cancelled due to a rather serious problem: the company couldn’t get a ship. Villa Vie Residences says it has one, though, and offered a 3½-year cruise aboard a refurbished 31-year-old ship that is now on its 6^th owner and has been docked at Belfast, Northern Ireland. The voyage was scheduled to begin in May, but various delays prevented sea trials from being conducted until recently, which, the owners hope, will allow them to get the Passenger Ship Survey Certification that will allow them to set up the gangplank and welcome their passengers aboard at last. Some have been waiting in Belfast for months.

            If you’re interested in a cruise, whether it’s one of those long ones or just a more traditional week or two in duration, we’ll get you on board. Give us a call!

Travel is Booming

Most of our clients have traveled within the United States as well as outside our borders. It might have been a relatively short trip by car to Canada, or by air to Mexico, or by ship throughout the Caribbean. Many other clients have gone across the big ponds, east to Europe and Africa or west to Asia and Australia. A few have visited every continent, including Antarctica.

            They’re getting out there, and so are a lot of other folks. Travel is booming, here in the States and worldwide. And when we travel, we spend money, which boosts the local economy. People who travel within the U.S., both American citizens and foreign visitors, spend the most. According to CNN Travel, travel and tourism added $2.36 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023. That’s a new record, which could very well be broken this year.

            China is the number 2 market worldwide, but lags considerably behind America with “only” $1.3 trillion in travel-related spending last year. Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom round out the top five. France is in sixth place in terms of visitor spending but leads the world in the actual number of visitors.

            It shouldn’t be surprising that Paris is the top destination for tourism in France. The global research company Euromonitor International put together the Top 100 City Destinations Index for 2023, with the French capital at the top of the list. This year, with the Summer Olympics, Paris is once again expected to lead the way. Europe had 7 out of the top 10 cities on the 2023 index; the only non-European cities on the list were Dubai (2), Tokyo (4) and New York (8). Madrid was third, with Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Barcelona and London in the top 10.

            There were four newcomers to the Top 100: Washington DC (48), Montreal (68), Santiago (88) and Vilnius (92). Haven’t heard of that last one? Vilnius is the capital of the small Baltic state of Lithuania. The city that led the way in number of actual foreign tourists was Istanbul, followed by London and then Dubai. The cities with the biggest year-to-year growth were Hong Kong (up a whopping 2,495%) and Bangkok (142%), due to being among the last cities to reopen after the Covid-19 pandemic.

            As we’ve mentioned before, “overtourism” is becoming an issue in many cities and countries. Last week, New Zealand tripled its tourist tax. Its International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) has gone up from US$22 to US$62, effective October 1. Visitors to New Zealand spent $11 billion last year, a huge part of the island nation’s economy, and some folks down there aren’t happy with the IVL increase. A consortium of travel professionals from across New Zealand said the country is already losing tourism business to Canada and the U.K., which have smaller entry fees. Also, New Zealand tourist visas will increase from $131 to $211 at the same time the IVL bump kicks in. Citizens of 60 countries and territories, including the U.S., can get a visa waiver that will allow them to stay for up to 3 months for tourism purposes.

            Another example of “overtourism” having an impact is in Rome. City authorities are considering limiting access to the Trevi Fountain, one of Italy’s most noted landmarks. Rome has always been a very popular destination, but it’s expected to set a new record for visitors in 2025, when it will host a year-long Roman Catholic jubilee that is expected to attract 32 million tourists and pilgrims.

            The draft plan to control access to the fountain includes requiring a prior reservation, with fixed time slots and limited access to the steps. Non-residents would be asked to make a “symbolic” contribution of a euro or two (US$1.20-2.20). The Trevi Fountain has been a tourism draw since its completion in 1762. It’s also been featured in many movies, including the famous scene in Frederico Fellini’s classic La Dolce Vita, when Anita Ekberg wades into the fountain and beckons co-star Marcello Mastroianni to join her.

            If Rome is on your bucket list of destinations, give us a call. We’ll help you get there, and by the way, don’t plan on wading in the Trevi Fountain.

             

 

Scenic Railway Travel

            There was a time, not too long ago, when riding the rails in America was not only practical, but even somewhat romantic. The first transcontinental railroad was completed shortly after the Civil War, and for nearly a century the railroad dominated American domestic travel. But then came the 1950s, the decade that saw the arrival of jet-powered commercial aircraft and the interstate highway system. Almost overnight, things changed: flights were much faster and traveling long distances by road much easier. The American railroad system began to decline, in terms of ridership and quality.

            It’s certainly not that way elsewhere. European rail systems are popular and modern, as my husband and I delightedly discovered on our visit to Switzerland last spring, and high-speed rail systems in Japan have set the standard for fast, efficient domestic train travel. Given the choice, most Americans would rather fly from one place to another, rather than take the train. But rail travel is still popular for people who just want to relax and enjoy the scenery, as well as the nostalgia of the experience. We’ve ridden the Rocky Mountaineer twice, in Canada from Vancouver to Banff and in the States from Moab to Denver, and both trips were great. We’d gladly do either one again, but there are many scenic train rides to choose from, especially overseas. USA Today recently ranked the best international scenic railways and routes.

·         Glacier Express, Switzerland. Proud to call itself the world’s slowest train, offering panoramic views of the Alps from St. Moritz to Zermatt. During the 8-hour trip, you’ll go through 91 tunnels and cross 291 bridges.

·         Jungfrau Railways, Switzerland. Your ears will pop on this 45-minute ride through the Alps from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch. It’s pricey at $127 per person, but worth every penny.

·         Santa Claus Express, Finland. The jolly old elf resides on the Arctic Circle in Lapland, and you get there with a 15-hour journey from Helsinki, with tickets starting at just $25. Sleeper cars are pricier, but riders also have WiFi, power outlets and even showers.

·         Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe. Travel like European millionaires of the 1920s on a luxury train that’s a time machine on rails, with routes from London to Istanbul and many places in between. Its 18 carriages are well-appointed, and the dining is world-class. You’ll pay for it, though; the Paris to Budapest trip will cost over $4,000 per passenger.

·         Rovos Rail, South Africa. This luxury hotel on tracks provides “train safaris” that take you as far away as Tanzania. Itineraries range from two nights to two weeks, but they all offer stunning vistas and off-train excursions for game drives, golf and a visit to Victoria Falls.

·         Oriental Express, Malaysia. The Eastern & Oriental Express departs from cosmopolitan Singapore and takes you to the jungles of Malaysia, with 24-hour private steward service. There’s also a Dior spa on board.

·         Great Journeys New Zealand. Offering routes that take you to both islands for their stunning scenery, from the coastline of the South Island to the volcanoes of the North.

·         The Vietage by Anantara, Vietnam. This is a short train, with only two passenger cars and only six passengers each. Quiet luxury is the unspoken theme, with your fare including afternoon tea and a 15-minute back and shoulder massage.

·         VIA Rail, Canada. The scenic ride from Winnipeg to Churchill is unforgettable, taking you all the way to Hudson Bay and the polar bear capital of the world.

·         Spirit of the Outback, Australia. This is the only way to experience Down Under’s most beguiling place without an exhausting drive. You’ll board in Brisbane and spend 26 hours traversing Queensland all the way to Longreach.

If you’re ready to ride the rails over there or want to stay over here with a wonderful Rocky Mountaineer ride, we can get you there. Give us a call, and pretty soon you’ll be hearing, “All aboard!”

            

European beach destinations

Two weeks ago I was in Mexico, inspecting new resorts in the Cancún area, all of them with beautiful beaches. They are, of course, a prime draw for tourism, especially North Americans and Europeans who might live in chillier climates and want to get away from the winter. In our hemisphere, Mexico competes with many Caribbean islands for beach-bound travelers, and indeed, we’ve sent clients to some excellent beaches in places like the Turks & Caicos, the Dominican Republic, the Caymans, St. Lucia and many more.

            Many Europeans like to stay closer to home, though, when it comes to beach vacations, and now a lot of Americans are discovering that Europe has some excellent beaches, too. Recently, a U.K.-based company, Quotezone, ranked the continent’s most popular beaches, factoring in natural beauty, air temperature, calmness of the water and, of course, cost. Here are the top ten beaches in Europe, starting with number 10:

·         Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica. This French island in the Mediterranean has Caribbean-worthy beaches, with this one being its most popular. It’s also the most expensive on this list, costing about $250 for an overnight stay with food and drink.

·         Bournemouth Beach, England. We don’t normally think of “beach” and “England” in the same sentence, but this sprawling beach, tucked between cliffs on the southern coast, not far from the Isle of Wight, offers warm waters rare in the U.K. and a bustling pier.

·         Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria. Spain’s idyllic Canary Islands offer diverse beaches made of black or golden sand. This one is known for its lighthouse, rolling dunes and warm waters.

·         Praia da Falesia, Portugal. This historically significant country is climbing the lists of many Americans who travel to Europe, and this beach is worth a visit. Sandstone cliffs, bright blue water and lots to do make this beach one of the best on the continent.

·         La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia. The Italian island is the second-largest in the Mediterranean and offers a picturesque getaway for travelers, especially for those looking for beaches. This one is popular to the point where advance registration is required before you can dig your toes in the sand.

·         Zlatni Rat, Croatia. Translating to “Golden Horn,” this is a triangle-shaped beach on the Croatian island of Brac that extends into the Adriatic. As the tides and swells change, the beach changes its shape. It’s also relatively inexpensive. A one-night stay with food and drink is just over $100.

·         Elafonissi Beach, Crete. Greece’s largest island has been beloved by travelers for centuries, with this beach being one of Europe’s most famous. Calm azure waters greet the traveler year-round, but it does get crowded.

·         Portoroz Beach, Slovenia. Another Balkan beach on the Adriatic Sea, this pebble beach fronts a popular resort area, with a beautiful promenade for strolling. Like its Croatian counterpart to the south, it’s inexpensive, too, yet another reason why the Balkans are gaining prominence as destinations for U.S. travelers.

·         Mellieha Beach, Malta. This historic island in the middle of the Med offers the second-rated beach on our list, a sheltered bay with gentle and warm waters. It’s the largest sand beach on the island and popular with families from both Europe and North Africa.

·         Nissi Beach, Cyprus. Our top-ranked beach is on yet another Mediterranean island. Cyprus is just south of Turkey in the eastern Med, and this beach has it all: warm weather and water temps, calm waters, and a small island nearby that adds to the ambience. A one-night stay here will run you about $114.

 

Ready to hit the beach as part of your next European trip? Almost all of these are year-round destinations, and we can get you there. Give us a call and start packing the sunscreen!

 

 Overlooked vacation destinations

The summer is going by fast—it’s now less than two weeks until Labor Day—and we’ve been busy booking travel for our clients well into 2026 and even ‘27. Just about everything is popular: cruises, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, adventure travel. You might think that there aren’t any new places left to visit. Well, you might want to reconsider that. Let’s take a look at three destinations you might not otherwise think of. We’ll start with the closest.

·         Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Perhaps you’ve never been to Europe and aren’t quite ready to take that first transatlantic flight. You’ll stay over dry land—except for a brief time over the Great Lakes—by visiting Montreal, one of the most historic and interesting cities in Canada. Founded by French explorers in 1642, the city retains much of its French heritage with a charming mix that includes British and even American influence. (The U.S. tried to annex Montreal and all of Canada twice, during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, but gave up when the British and Canadians proved a little too resistant to the idea.) You can fly direct from Minneapolis and be there in less than five hours. Once there, you’ll find Montreal to be a pedestrian-friendly city with efficient public transportation, not to mention nearly 700 miles of bicycle lanes. The historic Old Montreal district is home to art galleries, museums, restaurants and quaint hotels. If you speak even a little French (the official language of Quebec), c’est magnifique! Start your day with a bagel, available everywhere and a source of local pride; they’re boiled in honey water before being baked in wood-fired ovens. For a midday snack that really is a full lunch, order poutine. After dinner, the city offers a thriving night life. Coming home from Montreal isn’t as daunting as the long flight back from Frankfurt or Rome or Amsterdam; just five hours back to Minneapolis, and you’ll be home with half your day still to go.

·         Cuba. For more than a half-century after American troops helped liberate Cuba from Spain in 1898, the Caribbean’s largest island was a hot destination for U.S. travelers, especially those interested in Havana’s night life and gambling. That all changed around 1960, after Fidel Castro’s communist revolution. Official U.S. tourist travel to Cuba was banned in 1963, but restrictions were eased somewhat in 1999, allowing “people to people” travel. While the larger issue of full access to the island by Americans is a perpetual political football being kicked around in Washington, U.S. citizens can still travel to Cuba and enjoy the island’s vibrant culture and natural beauty. One of the ways that’s growing in popularity is the bicycle tour, which my husband and I are considering for 2025. Several Cuba-based companies offer tours that cover different parts of the island, but if biking isn’t your thing, there are many other tour opportunities waiting for you. Cuba welcomes millions of tourists every year, with about one-third of them from Canada, which has always maintained full diplomatic relations. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba’s chief trading partner, the island nation realized that it had to move its economy more toward tourism. Cuba scored some initial successes in renovating hotels and resorts to attract more Europeans and Canadians, but then tourism slowed somewhat. Today, the Dominican Republic draws more visitors than Cuba, but the “Pearl of the Antilles” still has much to offer. Americans are allowed to travel to Cuba if they meet the requirements for one of twelve categories of legal travel, such as visiting family, journalism and religious work. One of the categories is “Support the Cuban People,” which allows tourists to qualify by engaging in activities as benign as visiting marketplaces, cultural sites and interacting with local residents (which is always a good idea anyway). And Cuba is relatively cheap. Renting an Airbnb house in Germany can run into the hundreds of dollars per night, but a casa particular in Cuba can go for as little as $15-20 per night.

·         North Korea. Well, okay, this one’s a little way off the radar for most Americans, but the government of the Democratic People’s Republic announced last week that it would resume international tourism to its northeastern city of Samjiyon in December, and possibly the rest of the country in 2025. After years of strict Covid-related border controls, North Korea appears ready to start opening up, or as much as its government will allow. International flights to Pyongyang resumed last year. So far, most of the foreign tourism has come from Russia. Samjiyon, by the way, is where the government has been building what it calls a “socialist utopia, a model of a highly civilized mountain city” with new apartments, hotels, a ski resort and commercial, cultural and medical facilities. DPRK-based tour groups are putting together itineraries now, hoping to entice North American visitors to the “Hermit Kingdom.” But be advised, our State Department still has a level-4 “do not travel” advisory for North Korea travel, saying there is a “serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals.”

Well, that might be a little too adventurous for me, but Montreal and Cuba sure do sound tempting, don’t they? Give us a call, and we’ll help you plan your trip while you brush up on your français or Española…or maybe both! 

         Sue Tindell