Friday, November 6, 2026

The October travel surprise and travel in 2026-27

 

 

  As it turns out, could be that the unrest in Europe spurs US travel, however, one thing is a surety, if you thought to insure your winter vacation in Europe, then the insurance will pay off, the riots in Europe are considered an event, and will serve as a reason to cancel.
  One of my research websites, goinsurance.com discusses the details.
  I have also found travel websites that give advice about what to do if you decide to go anyway, but keep in mind that it isn't always easy to predict where, or how quickly neighborhoods become part of the protests and the unrest spreads.
  Travel abroad, for 2026-27, whether to the mid-east or Europe, even Australia and New Zealand could pose a hazard.
  My many years of travel related experience offers me more insight than most, I foresee continuing hazards for booking travel abroad, moreover, the price of US travel will increase because of inflationary pressures, this is the time to use your connections to various clubs and business associations to seek group travel possibilities, to save money, and satisfy your need to get away.
  If you have a child in college, many schools have family week, and if the school is in a tourist area, the travel package can be a first class experience, too.
  HAPPY TRAVELS wherever you go, make those memories, take plenty of pictures.
 

 

Saturday, October 17, 2026

When it was possible to travel 1st class in Europe on $5 per day: a travel primer

 
  My travel primer begins when Arthur Frommer published Europe on $5 a Day in 1957, it was just a pocket book for GI's who were stationed abroad, nobody was expecting that middle class Americans would embrace his guide with such fervor, but then in the 1960's it was very expensive to travel in the US, and during 1962, for those who lived in New York city or in Los Angeles, CA, Frommer's breakout book was publicized in the NEW YORK TIMES "Travel Section." 
  As it turned out, despite that Frommer's Europe on $5 per day 1st class travel claims seemed too good to be true, many bought the book and they experienced living life large in Europe, in fact the opportunity to experience first class travel abroad attracted thrifty travelers for the next decade. 
  The current advent of private train cars, see the link to the recent NEW YORK TIMES "Travel Section," was the basis for this "travel primer," however, thanks to Google's AI, I was advised about the publication of Arthur Frommer's middle class travel sensation book, decades ago.
  I have experienced the Eurail international rail pass system created in 1959 by major European railway companies to allow tourists to travel across multiple European national rail networks, and sad to say, it was no better than the current USA AMTRAK's TV dinner, dining car experience.
  My personal first class travel experiences also come to mind, decades ago I attempted to book a SNCF Mistral-like train for a memorable trip to Istanbul by train instead of by plane, but catching that train was a logistical nightmare, and I arrived in Turkey's most western oriented city in the 1st class section of the long defunct defunct PAN AMERICAN airplane. 
  Today, travel by train, and eating in a dining car, is like a TV dinner experience, but my travel primer is a reminder that it was once possible to spend $5 a day and travel first class.
  It could be that in a few decades, if the riots in Paris spread to other parts of western Europe, that a bankrupt EU might offer 1st class travel again on $5 per day, that is unless we in the USA decide to try the EU socialists recipe for a worker's paradise here, then we won't have $5 to spare. 
  HAPPY TRAVELS!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, September 7, 2026

Winter holiday travel & the Iran war

  Google's AI has a good summary of the main thrust of what to expect, namely, Winter holiday travel costs are surging, for the Christmas and New Year flights you should figure about 20% higher to cover for the higher jet fuel, as well some airspace disruptions from the ongoing Iran war, resulting in longer detours and higher operating expenses, major carriers continue to bypass restricted Middle Eastern airspace, for instance, Virgin Atlantic, has suspended select regional routes—like London to Dubai, a popular commercial destination, though not a top tourism destination for Americans, however, recently, Delta and American have resumed flights to Israel.
  When I looked for websites to detail some specifics, cnbc.com offered details about renewed interest in Japan and India as safe destination substitutes for the now problematic middle east.
  Insofar as estimates about much airfares, forbes.com is predicting that the traditional shoulder season of lower fares is gone, instead, airfares will climb as high as 39%,  moreover, Yahoo lists 10 ways the Iran war has impacted the public, but doesn't cover the travel scene with any new facts.
  The guardian.com predicts last minute holiday bookings may not be possible.
  If you do plan to travel out of country, I suggest that you bookmark the website, travel.state.gov, I've put it on my research list, it's the last one, mainly for international travel advisories, most travel agents and airlines do not advise with the same specifics as this government website, doing so could save your life.
  However, although my research proves that the Iran war has had fossil fuel energy effects exhibited by higher airfares, there has not a very significant change in the global travel patterns.  
  Traveling is still a way to make memories, wherever you decide to go, I wish you,
  HAPPY TRAVELS