Arthur Frommer's Blog, page 41

Wyndham Hotels Has Snatched Up One Vacation Rental Company After Another After Another After Another...

Who would have guessed it. When, a few years ago, the giant Wyndham Hotels created their Endless Vacation Rentals subsidiary to rent vacation homes and apartments ( www.evrentals.com ), I for one regarded the step as somewhat odd for a hotel chain -- odd in that they were now marketing homes and apartments that competed with their own hotels. I regarded it as an eccentric gamble by people bored with their ownership of Ramada Hotels, Days Inns, Microtels, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Super 8, and all the other smaller chains that make up Wyndham.

Turns out I underestimated their ambitions. Within the last several months, it's been revealed that Wyndham has now snatched up -- sorry, "acquired" -- no fewer than 25 local real estate firms around the world, each specializing in the rental of vacation homes and condos in particular geographical areas. With those 25 brands, it now disposes of 90,000 properties in 500 destinations. And it claims that it can meet the vacation desires of all sorts of travelers, in lodgings that range from luxurious Italian villas (it now owns the well-known Italian-broker called Cuendet ( www.cuendet.com ) and another called Italian Country Cottages ( www.italian-country-cottages.co.uk )), to resort condos in Florida (ResortQuest ( www.resortquest.com ) and James Villa Holidays ( www.jamesvillas.co.uk )), to tented communities in France (through its ownership of Canvas Holidays ( www.canvasholidays.co.uk )) to riverboats traversing the canals and waterways of England and Scotland (through Blakes and Hoseasons ( www.blakes.co.uk ), which it now owns).

And how does that affect you, the vacationer. Well, some people prefer to rent their vacation villas and condos through local, specialist firms with an intimate knowledge of their properties. And other people prefer to rent through a giant international company that has the financial wherewithal to guarantee the quality of its properties and fix any mishaps or problems with them. Wyndham's new company will now, it is claimed, be able to satisfy both of those wants. You will deal with local specialists backed up by the financial strength of a worldwide giant -- the classic, controversial justification for corporate acquisitions.

If you agree with that reasoning, you will now want to do business with Wyndham Rentals, a website giving you access to all 25 brands, under the one address: www.wyndhamrentals.com . Though some of us may be sad to see local specialists becoming part of a giant worldwide firm, it was probably inevitable that the booming market in the rental of vacation homes and condos was bound to wind up with consolidation like this. The other big giant in the vacation home and condo rental field is HomeAway (itself the owner of several formerly-independent vacation brokers, like VRBO.com).

The New Source for Heavily Discounted Business Class Airfares

By virtue of its heavy marketing, mainly through the constant placement of small, inch-high, one-column ads in prestigious publications, a New York firm called Cook Travel ( www.cooktravel.net ) has attained a prominent position in the field of discounted business-class airfares. It springs to mind among a great many travelers wanting to buy a heavily-discounted business class or first class airfare. Yet when I recently called Cook to obtain a cheap business-class airfare for my own recent trip to Poland, I was disappointed with the level of service I received and the poor discount I was offered. I ended up simply going directly to an airline.

And thus it's been gratifying to see that another firm is starting to make a name for itself in supplying heavily-discounted business-class airfares to numerous international destinations, including Mexico and Canada (although it seems to specialize mainly in flights to and from European cities). The company is the Dallas-based Access Fares (tel. 888/318-3187; www.accessfares.com ), whose proprietors have been in the business of air ticket distribution for over twenty years. While Access Fares does not seem to undercut the non-stop New York-to-Paris and Washington, D.C.-to-Paris business-class fares of the unique, new Open Skies airline subsidiary of British Airways ( www.flyopenskies.com ), its prices to all other European cities and from other U.S. cities seem quite competitive. Here, apparently, is a welcome new addition to the discounting of those overly-high-priced business-class airfares.

If You've Hit a Wall in Your Attempt to Find a European River Cruise, Switch Booking Engines

The European river cruise is the smash success of the current travel season. If you will go to any booking engine listing river departures, you will find whole swatches of time -- especially the month of September -- totally sold out. And when you phone the river cruise brokers, or river cruise companies, they will be deaf to your pleas for an available cabin.

But the various sources of European river cruises, available to a U.S. vacationer, are curiously limited. Almost always, they confine themselves to the big river cruise fleets that operate the large modern fleets -- companies like Viking, Ama, Avalon, and Unitours. I am indebted to my daughter Pauline Frommer for pointing out on her own blog that a large number of European river cruise companies operating older or more simple ships are rarely listed in the river cruise compendiums of the major, U.S.-based search engines.

[image error]

Photo Caption: Wooden cathedral on Kishi Island in the Volga river. Joe Rubin/Frommers.com Community

And thus, if you'll go to a source like Euro River Cruises ( www.eurorivercruises.com ), you'll find a number of river cruiseships -- especially those that ply the Volga in Russia -- that are unknown to you. And when you study their characteristics and statistics, you'll discover that they are simply slightly older or slightly simpler ships, not that very much different from the slick vessels operated by Viking and its peers. They cater to a largely European clientele, an audience that insists on a high level of cuisine and on reasonable comfort. And they are generally cheaper than the big European riverboats available to Americans.

How about the daily shore excursions offered on every European river cruise? Pauline put that question to a specialist and learned that the lesser-known European riverboats make use of the very same motorcoach companies and guides as the big, American-oriented lines. In other words, that spanking new riverboat that stops for the day in Cologne, along the Rhine, makes use of the same motorcoaches and their guides that the European riverboat uses the next day when it stops in Cologne.

So here's a solution for those occasions when you're absolutely frustrated in your attempt to find an available European riverboat. Simply switch to the lesser-known booking engines (they're easily found in Google), or to Euro River Cruises, where you'll often find available cabins for the dates you want.

The Opening on September 11 of the Memorial Will Initially Provide Only Limited Viewing Opportunities

As we approach the tenth anniversary of September 11, I've received a number of inquiries from readers about the advisability of trips to New York to view the structures now in construction at Ground Zero. Eventually, of course, that area will be one of the most heavily visited in New York, and a potent reason for scheduling a trip to New York.

But not yet. What will open on September 11 is not the long-awaited museum commemorating the events of September 11, but the Memorial Plaza of that area, the two reflecting pools on the sites where the Twin Towers once stood, surrounded by an expansive garden area. And the Memorial Plaza will also display the names of the persons who died on that day.

For obvious reasons, the Memorial Plaza will be restricted to visits by relatives of the victims on September 11 itself. Thereafter, additional would-be visitors will need to apply by e-mail to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation (information can be found at www.911memorial.org ) for a pass (visitor numbers will need to be limited each day). So heavy are the requests for such admissions that the first several weeks of visits are said to be already fully reserved. And it will not be until some point in 2012 that the Museum of September 11 will be open. I would think that most out-of-town visitors would want to wait until 2012 to schedule visits that will then enjoy access to the long-awaited museum.

The 10th anniversary of September 11 will be Sunday, September 11, 2011. My daughter and I plan to devote the entire two hours of our Sunday broadcast that day to the travel aspects of September 11 and the new Memorial site, forthcoming Museum, and other structures now approaching completion on the site. And we will be interviewing persons with informed comments to make about the travel aspects of September 11: the security procedures that September 11 brought about in our air transportation, the response of aviation officials to the news of September 11 and the temporary, day-long moratorium on later flights that day, the impact of September 11 on tourism to New York and the recovery of such tourism, the reasons for visiting the Memorial site and Museum. If any of our readers have particular comments to make about September 11, we'd be happy to hear from you and to consider recording your remarks for presentation on the broadcast that day.

You can pass on your initial response by way of comments to this blog.

China Spree Has Come Back Swinging, Claiming It Offers More Than China Focus

As I knew they would, China Spree ( www.chinaspree.com ) has responded with a strong counter-attack on China Focus' ( www.chinafocustravel.com ) claim to offer a superior visit to Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian. For those of you who are late tuning in, I pointed out last week that China Focus had suddenly cut the price of its 7-night winter package (January through mid-March) to those three cities to $1,388, a sum that's $98 less (see the explanation below) than China Spree charges for roughly the same tour (Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, including a bus excursion to two subsidiary Chinese towns). That claim of a $98 advantage comes about through the inclusion of $87 worth of fees and taxes in China Focus' price, as compared with China Spree's policy of charging $87 extra for such fees and taxes. Add an $11 lower price and you get $98.

[image error] Photo Caption: Roof in Beijing, China. JerrycAZ/Frommers.com Community

Ah-ha! says China Spree. But we offer one extra day and two extra meals. In an e-mail to me from China Spree's public relations representative, there is no mention of China Focus' $98 advantage, but considerable mention of that extra day and meals. The riposte runs as follows:

[Y]ou have been misled:

1) For example, China Spree's tour is 10 days, China Focus's 9 days. Or, if you prefer to forget the silliness of counting days, China Spree includes 8 nights of hotel accommodation, China Focus only 7 nights of hotel accommodation. The extra day of the China Spree tour includes travel to Suzhou, the "Venice of the East," and the water town of Tongli, which is not an included feature of the China Focus tour.

2) Speaking of hotels, "4- and 5-star" Chinese ratings are more-or-less meaningless. And are these "4- and 5-star" hotels within walking distance of major sites, restaurants and shopping? China Spree's chosen hotels live up to 4-star American standards, are within walking distance of sites, restaurants and shops, and tour participants praise the hotels.

3) China Focus does not provide more meals; they provide one less day. In our 10-day itinerary, China Spree includes a total of 17 meals (8 breakfast, 5 lunch, 4 dinner) plus 2 in-flight meals. In China Focus's 9-day itinerary, they include a total of 15 meals (7 breakfast, 3 lunch, 5 dinner) plus 2 in-flight meals.

So there you have it. China Focus will undoubtedly respond, and we'll be carrying all the further blow-by-blow details.

A tip? Don't ever get into a controversy between two tour operators to China.

Starting with October Departures, Trans-Atlantic Airfares Appear to be Lower Than Was Earlier Anticipated

Contrary to many dire predictions, off-season airfares to Europe seem to be lower than was earlier contemplated by a great many observers. And they may be lower still if recent declines in the price of oil are sustained.

The key, low-cost period begins October 1 and continues through the end of March. It is at that time that non-stop, round-trip airfares on British Airways from New York to London reduce to as low as $686, including all government taxes and fees and including fuel surcharge.

Mind you, that $686 figure isn't available for all flights, but is most frequently had on Monday-through-Wednesday flights, and even then only for flights occurring at specific times and not at all times. Daytime, eastbound fares, leaving New York early in the morning and flying throughout the day, are usually the cheapest, and are frequently the basis for a round-trip cost of $686.

It was only short weeks ago that airfares were predicted to be much higher this coming fall and winter. Lessened demand, and a recent reduction in oil prices, is undoubtedly the reason why actual fares are coming in at lower levels.

In these days, a $686 price for flying non-stop and round-trip to Europe is a moderate sum, and one that permits an affordable trip (if the traveler is careful enough to keep accommodation and meal costs down to a reasonable level). So cost-conscious travelers don't have to give up the prospect of a European vacation -- at least not yet.

Four Points to Always Remember When Dining in Developing Countries

The latest edition of the Johns Hopkins Medical Newsletter contains a restatement of the practices to be followed for avoiding travelers' diarrhea. It contains no surprises and its specific warnings have frequently appeared in other publications of this sort. But those rules can't be sufficiently emphasized by persons making trips to under-developed countries:
Avoid drinking tap water, and don't use tap water for brushing your teeth. Rather, obtain bottled water for tooth-brushing, meaning water that's been boiled or otherwise de-contaminated. And don't let them put ice cubes into your drinks. Avoid uncooked fruits and vegetables, unless they are products that you yourself can peel.Never eat raw meats or raw seafood.Consult your doctor to determine whether your own constitution or medications will permit you to take Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate for preventing or treating travelers' diarrhea once incurred.

Doubts About the U.S. Economy Haven't Affected the Value of the U.S. Dollar

Wondering whether turmoil in the stock market has affected the value of the U.S. dollar, you might be reassured by turning to that authoritative website on currency, www.xe.com . If you do, you'll find that the value of the U.S. dollar hasn't budged by a penny over the past two weeks of sharp stock market declines. The Euro continues to be worth $1.42 and the British pound continues to be worth $1.62. The Chinese Yuan is trading at a stable 6.43 to the U.S. dollar. In the same way that foreign holders of U.S. treasury certificates and bonds haven't dumped either, no one appears to be dumping the U.S. dollar or driving its value sharply down.

Take that, Standard & Poor!

As We Approach September, Iceland Express' Airfares to Europe Are Becoming Sensational

Try a test booking and you'll find confirmation of the claim made in our headline. On a sample round-trip between Boston and London, leaving September 12 and returning September 19, the total cost on the upstart airline known as Iceland Express (not to be confused with Icelandair) -- including all government fees and taxes and the airline's own fuel surcharge -- comes to $576. That requires a stop in Reykjavik en route, of course (no big problem) and a decision on your part to visit strife-torn London (which will undoubtedly have calmed down by September 12).

Go to www.icelandexpress.com if you're at all interested in a September trip trans-Atlantic.

China Focus Is Raising the Stakes in its Competition with China Spree

The battle between China Focus ( www.chinafocustravel.com ) and China Spree ( www.chinaspree.com ) has now moved from hard-fought to awesome. Two weeks ago, I told about how China Spree had announced a winter tour to China going, essentially, to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai, for $1,399 per person, including round-trip airfare between San Francisco and China (but not including departure taxes of $87), essentially matching the price of China Focus for its similar "Great Wall and Terra Cotta Tour."

[image error] Now, in a devastating blow designed to knock out its competitor, China Focus has announced that it is reducing the price for its Great Wall and Terra Cotta Tour (Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai) in January, February and March of 2012 to $1,388, including departure taxes (a total of $98 less). It will also provide more meals than China Spree does (three meals a day except for one day in Shanghai, when breakfast only is provided), it will place participants in four and five-star hotels, and it will charge $1,399 for the same tour in mid- to late-November 2011. Then, to administer the final blow, China Focus has announced that its 2012 departures on this tour will be on Saturdays, returning Sundays, enabling passengers to lose only one week at work -- one precise week.

It's hard to see how a tour operator can give so much for so little. Round-trip air to China? Four and five-star hotels? Air within China (to Xian and onwards)? Three meals a day (except on one day)? If you've never been to China, but have a hankering to go there, you'd be daft to pass up this opportunity.

But I'm waiting for China Spree's response, of which we will probably learn within the week to come. How much more can they throw in? How low in price can they go?

Photo Caption: Detail of Terra Cotta warrior in Xian, China. gswanson27/Frommers.com Community