2. MAY 2015 9
WRITE AND WIN
Send us your anecdote, gripe or insight on one of
our stories and it may be selected as the Letter of the
Month, entitling you to a Pathfnder 22" Carry-On
with Suiter (available in black or blue). That’s a value
of $560! This lightweight, fully functional roller has
an organized interior that will ensure that you arrive
at your destination rumple-free. What’s more, unlike
most other luggage manufacturers, Pathfnder ofers an
Extra Mile Warranty that covers airline damage.
To enter, email letters@jarppubs.com, or write to:
Letters to the Editor
Premier Traveler
388 Second Avenue, Suite 520
New York, NY 10010
We reserve the right to edit letters.
HAWAII UH-0!
Wonderful writing and assessments. I
particularly loved the callout on the Hawaiian
Airlines attendants. This is so true for when it
comes to the inter island fights. Maybe they
lump the good ones onto the domestic and
international fights.
Linda J. Latz, Esq.
Scottsdale, Arizona
DADDY’S GIRL
Bill Kizorek is the most interesting
daddy in the world.
Jessica Kizorek
Two Parrot Productions
READERS’ LETTERS
PRISON PENPAL
Premier Traveler,
What a great surprise! Thank
you very much for choosing us
as one of your PT Picks!
We already got the first
booking for extreme night in
prison this year from american
youngsters. I suppose it is
because of your project!
Thanks! Have a nice day! My
best wishes and the warmest
greetings from Latvia!
You are always welcome to
our prison! :)
CAN WE GET THE “BILL,” PLEASE?
I wanted to send you an email conveying how much fun I’ve had
reading the Around-the-World travels of Bill Kizorek in the electronic
edition of Premier Traveler. I went to your sight looking for travel tips
and found myself enthusiastically reading and waiting for the next
installment of his adventures. Bill Kizorek did a great job!
I always have a tinge of fear when I venture out in a new, foreign
land, yet there’s also excitement and it feeds my explorer spirit.
After I get back, whether I was lost or it didn’t go as frst planned,
I always have a fond memory and am stronger in spirit for trying
where others, or maybe even a weaker self, may have avoided
venturing out solo. Though I have not been to nearly the amount
of countries Bill has traveled to (150 countries and counting per
the prelude to the articles), tales from his trip helped remind me of
some of my memorable experiences. Bill’s trials and tribulations
often made me smile and I want to thank you for publishing the
articles and look forward to future installments.
1 DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015
DECEMBER2014/JANUARY2015
$4.99/$5.99 Canada
PT PICKS • TRAVEL BITES • CHEERS • TECH TALK • READERS’ LETTERS • AIRLINE UPDATE
Being Rude on the Road
Plus:
It’s Not
Always Lonely
at the Top
Revealing the
Award Winners
Besttof
g
2014
3Women in Motion
Monta Krafte
Karosta Prison, Liepāja, Latvia
+371 26488200
Phil Chandler
Oconomowoc, WI
LETTER OF THE MONTH
3. 12 MAY 2015
Global media is abuzz with a series
of reports on incidents in China
where passengers did unthinkable
things on board commercial
airliners. The bad behavior ranges
from throwing hot noodles at a
fight attendant on a Nanjing-
bound Thai Air Asia fight over a
seating dispute to passengers
opening emergency exits on
different airlines at various stages
of fight—including (and thankfully
unsuccessfully) in midfight—to
lighting up the now taboo cigarette.
The reasons for the transgressions
varied: to protest an extended
delay, to “get fresh air,” to “get off
quicker,” or good, old-fashioned
inebriation.
Most of these passengers
ended up in jail, and in response
to the malfeasance, the Chinese
government introduced a “National
Uncivilized Travel Record”: a no-
fy list where errant passenger’s
names were recorded. Why? As
Can you believe it’s been 25 years
since fights (of six hours of less)
became no smoking in the U.S.?
Not long after that, all fights were
smoke free. The rest of the world
soon followed. The American
Heart Association and other health
organizations celebrated that
NEWSFLASH
WHILE YOU WERE AWAY
living standards in China have
risen, more passengers have taken
to the air for the frst time, whereas
in the past, the train was the
most common mode of inter-city
transportation. While China has an
enviable high speed rail system,
train tickets can now sometimes
cost the same as an air ticket.
This madness brings back
memories of American Airlines’
introduction of “Value Pricing”
in 1992, which resulted in a
fare war that made fying too
cheap to pass up for people who
hadn’t previously fown. Those
passengers new to air travel were
referred to as “FIRID” in airline
lingo, an abbreviation for “frst
time fier”. However, they became
better known as “The Clampetts,”
and that summer of full fights was
labeled “The Clampett Summer.”
The Clampetts were a fctional
family on a U.S. sitcom called
The Beverly Hillbillies that ran
throughout the 1960s. The laughs
were derived from the fact that
the Clampetts had struck it rich,
but were unfamiliar with creature
comforts of living in a mansion,
raising the eyebrows and ire of
their neighbors.
Stories that summer about
novice passengers opening
windows, smoking, not knowing
what to do with a seat belt, and
much more emerged up and
down the employee ranks. These
kinds of incidents now happen
elsewhere due to the unfamiliarity
of an airplane in emerging nations.
These incidents, however, are
far from comical; they can result
in expenses, inconvenience to
others, and a threat to passenger
and employee safety. In the
meantime, when fying in China,
keep an eye on your fellow
passenger, as this phenomenon
is sure to pass once again as air
travel becomes more routine.
RETURN OF THE CLAMPETT SUMMER
SPEAKING OF SMOKING anniversary on
February 23 of
this year. This makes the presence
of those iconic “no smoking” signs
and armrest ashtrays both a novelty
and a curiosity.
Indeed, some of us remember being
asked upon check-in whether we
preferred “smoking or no smoking.”
Most airlines relegated smoking to
the rear of the cabin, which meant
the back of the economy class
section and the last row or two of
frst class. Essentially, after takeoff,
before there was the now familiar
announcement about electronic
devices, there was the, “smoking
is now permitted” PA. Some
passengers in the non-smoking
section would congregate near the
rear galleys to grab a smoke. On
some airlines, such as Lufthansa,
as I experienced, smoking was
permitted on one entire side of the
aircraft “to be equitable.”
AMEXDECLINED
Once upon a time, and not
long ago, celebrities, fnancial
hotshots and regular folks
put their trust into American
Express’ credit cards and
products in marketing and
in real life. For years, their
effective branding as the
one thing you could never
leave home with out is now
being kicked to the curb by
retailers, investors and the
high rollers who once swore
by the miraculous piece of
blue plastic.
According to Paul R. La
Monica of CNNMoney, AmEx
is the worst performing stock
in the Dow this year, and the
once mighty giant credit card
giant reported its frst quarter
downfall in 2015, tanking 17
percent. Representatives
from AmEx reason that the
strong dollar was having a
“signifcant impact” on its
international business, but
this defects slightly from the
impending loss of credit card
partner Costco in 2016.
Earlier this year, Slate.com
reported the once venerable
credit-card company lost an
antitrust lawsuit over whether
it could stop merchants from
asking customers to use other
credit cards. Other credit-card
companies, including Visa
and Mastercard, typically
4. MAY 2015 13
Croatia is recognized as one of
the most beautiful destinations,
appreciated for its diversity,
unique coast, and unspoiled
nature. In the northern Adriatic
Sea, in the Kvarner bay, lies an
island of vitality—Lošinj. For
centuries, Lošinj has been known
as a place of fragrant, healing
nature—a point of pride that
carries on to this day.
In the idyllic surroundings of the
Park Forest Čikat, next to the sea,
surrounded by tall pines, agaves,
and palm trees and sheltered
from the wind, lies one of the
most luxurious hotels in Lošinj—
the boutique hotel Alhambra.
Its private beach is perfect for
moments of contemplation by the
An impressive “Ark” is about
to set sail at New York’s JFK
International Airport. It may not
be Noah’s, but it’s designed
WHILE YOU WERE AWAY
LULLED BY
CROATIA’S
LOŠINJ
for the transport of domestic
and wild animals. The new $48
million,178,000-square-foot transport
and quarantine “terminal” will
handle 70,000 animals annually
when it opens next year. The Ark
is designed with its customers
in mind to reduce the stress of
travel, with an animal arrival and
departure lounge, gourmet food,
showers, an overnight pet resort
called “Paradise 4 Paws,” and
veterinary services.
That said, animal transport has
been business as usual at KLM
since 1924. Its status as the frst
airline to transport live animals
was sealed when a bull named
Nico was fown from Rotterdam
to Paris that year. The reputation
has grown since, and KLM still
recognized as one of the best
and largest animal transporters in
the world. Zoo animals, livestock,
horses, ornamental fsh, dogs and
cats, and many exotic creatures
NOAH’S ARK NYC
have fown onboard. JFK’s “Ark”
team should take note that KLM
also boasts a special hotel for all
the animals.
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
PREMIER TRAVELER READERS!
Use code “PT” for booking
a stay at Boutique Hotel
Alhambra to realize a 15%
discount on reservations made
until July 15, 2015.
charge merchants that accept
their credit cards lower fees
than AmEx does. The higher
fees that AmEx charges
merchants allow AmEx to
offer better rewards to the
customers who use its cards.
Slate warned the T ruling
would mean cardholders’
rewards would likely to worsen
over time.
It doesn’t stop there.
AmEx has bigger issues
than currency fuctuations.
Company spokespeople said
the frm would be investing
heavily this year to try and
replace business they are set
to lose in 2016 after Costco
rides into the sunset. JetBlue is
also closing the door on AmEx,
and opening a new window
through a new deal with
Barclays and MasterCard.
Prospects for 2016 are not
looking too bright for the once
mighty blue chip company.
Even with Warren Buffett
standing by AmEx as one of
Berkshire Hathaway’s “Big
Four” stocks, and praised
its managers for being “both
talented and shareholder-
oriented,” cautious investors
are looking elsewhere to give
credit where it is due.
sea under the pleasant sunshine,
from early spring until late fall.
This exclusive natural
environment complements the
priceless architectural value of
this beautiful hotel, built in 1912
and designed by respected
Austrian architect, Alfred Keller,
to provide the utmost comfort
without spoiling the natural beauty.
Newly renovated, the boutique
hotel Alhambra maintained the
same charm and goal, offering
impeccable accommodation in
36 romantic double rooms and 15
spacious, elegant suites.
In communication with the
beautiful villa Augusta, which can
be completely separated if rented
in its entirety, the boutique hotel
Alhambra provides a full range of
services.
For guests with exquisite taste
who are accustomed to superior,
personalized service and elegant
comfort, the boutique hotel
Alhambra is an idyllic destination.
The additional amenities, such
as offers of in-room wellness,
motor and sailing boat rentals, or
panoramic tours by plane, make
Alhambra a unique hotel with
made-to-measure offers.
Boutique Hotel Alhambra is
part of the Small Luxury Hotels of
the World.
5. 14 MAY 2015
UP IN THE AIR
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS SHINE
BRIGHT, INSIDE AND OUT
Icelandair, in recognition of the Aurora Borealis,
has introduced a new livery on one of its Boeing
757s that fies back and forth between Europe
and North America, via Iceland (of course!). In
addition to the paint job of the plane, named Hekla
Aurora, the airline has ftted the interior with blue
and green LED lighting that brings the natural
phenomena inside.
The company says it celebrates the Icelandic
stopovers they are known for since it is one of the
places in the world where the Aurora Borealis can
be seen most often.
Airline
Update
BLUE SKIES
In the days of airline cutbacks, we had many choices yet lacked
competition. JetBlue upgraded the commuter flight experience by adding
amenities such as in-flight entertainment, a TV at every seat, and Sirius
satellite radio. In former CEO David Needeman’s words, JetBlue sought
“to bring humanity back to air travel.” JetBlue grew a cult following by
offering their extras, keeping the legacy carriers on their toes.
Since launching MINT service on transcontinental routes, JetBlue is
recognized for its fresh take on upscale flying, which includes private
suites, the widest seat in the U.S. domestic market, 15-inch flat screens,
and a partnership with Saxon & Parole. JetBlue will now be the only U.S.
carrier with lie-flat seating to the Caribbean.
In 2011, by introducing charter service to Cuba thanks to the now-
ended embargo, JetBlue is in the prime position. JetBlue currently
serves over 90 destinations, with more to be added. In the meantime, it
continues to flex its muscle as a travel brand by making a bid to transform
JFK Aiport’s iconic TWA terminal into a hotel blending futurism and mid-
20th century nostalgia. The airline’s New York-based hotel developer
partner, MCR Development LLC, are in advanced negotiations with the
Port Authority for the rights to the “space-age” 1962 architectural marvel
designed by Eero Saarinen.
Truth be told, Reykjavik is a cool (as in fun, not
temperature) place for a stopover, where 365
days a year, one can breathe clean air, eat fresh
seafood, swim in one of the many natural indoor or
outdoor heated pools, or relax in the world-class
Blue Lagoon Spa, which is right near the airport.
A PAL, INDEED
After establishing successful routes in Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Guam,
Philippine Airlines bites into an expanded
customer base in the Big Apple at Terminal 1
of New York City’s JFK International Airport.
March 15, 2015 marked the carrier’s much-
awaited network expansion, with four-times-
a-week service to and from Manila, with a
stopover in Vancouver, Canada.
PAL will utilize the Airbus A340-300 jets,
which seat 36 passengers in business class
and 218 in economy. In Business Class,
passengers can expect PAL’s signature “at
home” in-flight service, offering seats that
convert to full-flat beds, in-flight entertainment
systems with audio-video on demand, and
gourmet cuisine designed by top international
guest chefs.
Flight PR 126 departs Manila every
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
at 11:50 p.m. After a two-hour transit stop in
Vancouver, the service continues on to JFK,
arriving at 10:50 p.m. The return service,
PR 127, departs New York at 11:00 a.m. every
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday,
arriving in Vancouver at 1:50 p.m. and landing
back in Manila at 8:35 p.m. the following day.
The flight to New York, 16.5 total flying hours,
is PAL’s longest route.
6. 16 MAY 2015
Hotel
Update
ACCOMMODATIONS
FEEL LIKE SCOTTISH ROYALTY
WITHOUT THE BLOODSHED
For those who are seduced by the
vast verdant Scottish countryside
seen on Game of Thrones or even J.K. Rowling’s Casual Vacancy,
there is a place travelers can now visit. Though at Alladale
Wilderness Reserve, there are no worries of beheading here; instead,
a welcoming staff is at your beck and call.
In the Highlands of Scotland, Alladale Wilderness Reserve is
a nature-lover’s paradise. Encompassing 23,000 acres of land,
visitors can enjoy the stunning coastline, golf, catered picnics, and
wilderness activities. In fact, naturalist and owner Paul Lister’s long-
term vision includes plans to re-introduce wolves and bears into
Scotland which were hunted out 500 years ago—around the time of
the fictional Westeros.
The lodge accommodates 12 to 14 guests. It can be a romantic
getaway or a dream trip for a group of friends. A butler and personal
chef is provided so a private getaway is definitely a reality as is a
never-to-be-forgotten adventure.
THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST
Sometimes the road to trouble is paved with good
intentions. To curb wasteful government spending,
Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned civil
servants from hosting meetings in hotels late last
year and cut the allowances they would get for
attending. The hotel ban saves the government
24 trillion rupiah ($1.9 billion), according to the
proposed 2015 budget.
However, as this move slashes hotel revenues in
resort destinations like Bogor (where government
events have accounted for as much as 60 percent
of the hospitality business), it has caused an uproar
among hoteliers and others in related industries.
In response to complaints, the administration
announced in February that it would relax the ban.
Yanti Sukamdani, head of the Indonesian Hotel
& Restaurant Association and director at Hotel
Sahid Jaya, told Bloomberg Business that the
move will reduce tax revenue for local and central
administrations, and the administration is not
taking into account the multiplier effect of the hotel
trade from transport to insurance. She adds that
government business is even more important for
hotels in remote areas across the archipelago.
“Hotels can survive if the occupancy rate is 55
percent,” said Sukamdani. “Anything below that
would lead to layoffs in an industry employing 11
million people,” she noted. The government’s 2015
growth target “cannot be achieved if there is a
slowdown in hotel business.”
THE JAILHOUSE ROCKS!
Premier Traveler recently gave you the scoop
on Latvia’s Karosta Prison, which guarantees
the ultimate, pre-Glasnost KGB jail experience,
complete with bad food, humiliation, and
emotional torture included in the package. The fip
side of that comprises former prisons that not only
reformed their former tenants, but were reformed
themselves into conversation-starting hotel
properties with unusual features and perks.
In Boston, Charles Street Jail was transformed
from a former 19th-century prison in a state of
disrepair into an astonishingly luxurious four-star
jail with posh, plush suites and gracious public
areas. The Jail Hotel Loewengraben, a 19th-
century prison in Lucerne, Switzerland, offers
simple and clean overnight rooms—visitors can
upgrade to luxury suites built out of the former
library and the director’s offce. Every part of
the prison has been chicly repurposed while
maintaining the essence of the original layout.
Oxford Castle has a storied 1,000-year-old
history, most notoriously as a prison in the 1800s.
Now known as the Malmaison Hotel complex,
the monolithic building has overnight rooms,
apartments, restaurants, and bars. Much of the
prison infrastructure is still visible to visitors,
though everything has of course been upgraded,
remodeled, and refurbished.
CUBANS WELCOME AMERICANS
“HOME” VIA AIRBNB
Thanks to Airbnb, a country that’s been off limits
to Americans for 50 years is now opening its
doors and its arms to visitors. The online home
rental service’s decision to expand into Cuba is
illustrative of the Obama administration’s loosening
restrictions from the former U.S. trade embargo to
encourage the growth of the island’s small private
sector. Typing “Cuba” in Airbnb’s search engine
yields 1,000 properties across the island, with 40
percent in Havana and the rest in resort areas such
as Cienfuegos. Airbnb has been sending teams of
representatives to Cuba for three months to sign up
interested homeowners, and plans to expand further
in the coming months.
“We believe that Cuba could become one of
Airbnb’s biggest markets in Latin America,” said
Kay Kuehne, regional director for Airbnb. “We are
actually plugging into an existing culture of micro-
enterprise in Cuba. The hosts in Cuba have been
doing for decades what we just started doing
seven years ago.”
The service for now is only open to those
Americans traveling on the existing 12 government
sanctions for travel to Cuba, including family visits,
educational activities, and humanitarian projects.
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
THE READERS!
Mention “PT” for booking a stay
at Alladale Wilderness Reserve
and realize 15% discount or for
booking a stay. Contact andrew@
therovingambassador.com or judith@
alladale.com for further information.
www.alladale.com
7. MAY 2015 17
Loyalty
Programs
MARRIOTT CONTINUES TO
EXPAND WORLDWIDE
The acquisition of the 116-property Protea Hospitality
Group last April was the tipping factor that made
Marriott the largest hotel company in Africa. However,
Marriott Rewards aren’t available at all of the locations
yet. Point earning and spending eligibility has just
recently been made available at 26 of the Protea Hotel
South African locations—in Johannesburg, Cape
Town, and Durban. Rewards points are set to roll out
by the end of the year to the remaining properties
located in six African countries: Zambia, Nigeria,
Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania.
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES CONTINUES
TO MAKE AVIATION HISTORY
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest and most
profitable airline in Africa and the second
fastest-growing national carrier in the world,
has enjoyed a banner year.
To highlight a few Ethiopian historical
moments, the airlines unveiled its first Ethiopian
Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The ultra-
modern 787 serving the Addis Ababa-Dublin-
GLOBAL REWARDS
EXPEDIA-TING WORLD DOMINATION?
2015 has been quite a year for Expedia, as it assimilated rivals Orbitz and
Travelocity into its portfolio in January. Through its $1.33 billion deal with
Orbitz, Expedia gains access to the namesake brand, as well as brands like
CheapTickets and HotelClub. This adds to a stable of “household name” travel
site brands, including Hotels.com and Hotwire.com.
According to Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Orbitz was a particularly
attractive acquisition option in part because of its highly recognized brands and
loyal customers. Expedia also liked Orbitz’ loyalty program, and has installed
plans to invest in it and expand upon it.
Though some consumer groups expressed concern that Expedia’s
acquisitions may result in less competition and higher fares and room rates
for consumers, industry expert Jason Clampet, head of content at the travel
intelligence company Skift, points out that, “It’s been a two-horse race for a
while now. Expedia and Priceline are the big two giants in the U.S., but there are
still a ton of ways to buy travel.”
L.A. route will offer extensive on-board comfort
to passengers for the long haul (figuratively
and literally) with greatly reduced noise, higher
cabin air humidity, the biggest windows in the
sky, and spacious cabin interior.
In March, Ethiopian’s 787 Dreamliner
made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport.
Earlier this year, the largest airline in Africa
announced that it would commence three-
times-weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis
Ababa and Los Angeles on the Dreamliner
ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on
June 20.
In December at the “2014 Best of Awards
Gala,” Ethiopian Airlines was awarded “Best
Airline to Africa” by the most prominent travel
magazine in the United States. Commenting
on the award, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO
Tewolde Gebremariam said, “We are honored
that Premier Traveler Magazine’s readers in
the U.S. have selected us as the best airline
for travel to Africa. I wish to thank them for this
vote of confidence, which once again reaffirms
the quality of the service and product we offer.”
With the addition of Dublin, the airline’s
11th European city (now recognized officially
as their European hub), and Los Angeles
(its fourth point in the Americas), Ethiopian’s
international network will cover 85 destinations
across five continents.
Ethiopian Airlines was also pleased to
announce that it began new services to Tokyo
Narita International Airport as of April 21,
2015 in codeshare agreement with fellow
Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways,
Japan’s leading airline. The thrice-weekly
flight, the only direct connection between
Africa and Japan, will be operated through
Hong Kong with the aforementioned Boeing
787 Dreamliner aircraft to provide the utmost
comfort to its passengers.
CHANGE? NOT ALWAYS GOOD
Southwest has announced upcoming changes
regarding its Rapid Rewards program. Members
have been fearing the worst: devaluation. Set to
go in place April 17, the airline announced that
more factors will be taken into account when
calculating the amount of points needed for a
free fight.
If members’ worst fears come to fruition, this
change will follow suit with the point devaluation
that other airline reward programs such as
Delta’s SkyMiles and United’s Mileage Plus have
gone through within the last year. Long gone will
be days of the refreshing transparency Rapid
Rewards has had up until now, when all you had
to do to determine the amount of points needed
for a free ticket was multiply the base fare by 70,
100, or 120 for “Wanna get away,” “Anytime,” or
“Business Select” tickets, respectively.
