Second Cities

Posted by Rebecca Eggleston on June 10, 2009 |

Interest in second cities is on the rise again.  As travelers look to urban experiences that come with a lower price tag and go beyond the most established destinations while still accessing world class dining, entertainment, culture and events, second cities around the world are proving attractive choices.

In this article, Jeremy Kressman suggests a list of the best second cities around the world from Krakow to Melbourne, Osaka to Gothenburg, Salvador to Galway, the U.S.A.’s own “second city” Chicago, and more.

Across all these examples and what they have to offer, there is a common theme of a sense of discovery without sacrificing on choice or excellence in the cultural experience.

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Culture Is Travel’s Holy Grail

Posted by Carol Coletta on May 19, 2009 |

High-end travel apparently needs to "mean" something today.  At least, that's what Ann Mack, director of trend spotting at JWT, told the NYT.  Seems that wealthy travelers are too embarrassed to indulge in hedonistic mindlessness.  Instead, they are pursuing "cultural sojourns" to compensate for their profligate spending.  "It's not about luxury anymore," according to one high-end travel agent.  "For now, it's about the experience you take away with you."  Recommended destinations include Peru, Toledo (Spain) and Segovia.  Ok, I'm in.

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Now Hear This

Posted by Carol Coletta on September 25, 2008 |

I travel.  A lot.  And there are so many small, unneccessary travel hassles that could be corrected or avoided if these companies would just adopt a user-centered approach.  For instance, last night, after an hour and a half delay thanks to mechanical and weather issues, I sat down in seat 6A with a stack of papers that needed reading and editing and found that my overhead light only illuminates a tiny portion of my seating area.  The entire lefthand side is in the dark.  Do you know how frustrating that is?  It's a stupid, small thing, but I wasted four hours of uninterrupted think time for want of a light.  Even an adjustable light would have worked.  But the light was behind a panel and could not be adjusted.

This morning in Seattle, living now on Pacific time but working on Eastern time, I get up to take a 6 a.m. phone call to be followed by a 6:30 call.  So I could have used some caffeine.  I found a pot to heat the water, but the selection of tea bags consisted of three herbal flavors.  (Now, keep in mind, these wimpy tea "flavors" are sitting right next to a…

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