Travel myths...

Certain ideas have stuck around for decades like old wives’ tales. No, you can’t make ice cubes faster with hot water, and no, you can’t get in first class just by asking. Here are a dozen of the most widely believed travel myths, along with the truth about each.

1. Trains are the best way to get around Europe. Not only is that a fleeting memory, but with the advent of low-cost airlines, a trip from London to Paris can cost significantly less via plane…see below options for example:

2. Ask nicely and you might get upgraded to first class. This silliness dates from the Howard Hughes era of aviation, when air travel was glamorous and airlines actually competed on service. Now the skies are ruled by cost structures and loyalty programs, and airlines reserve the front cabin for a select few: customers who buy first-class seats, passengers cashing in miles, elite frequent fliers, regular frequent fliers and passengers with promotional coupons, in that order. Go ahead and ask but you may as well ask for special odds in Vegas.

3. U.S. airlines are required to compensate you if a cancellation is their fault. I found this out when I was stuck in Vancouver at 11pm having missed the connection on a return flight from Paris….I thought for sure they had to send us to a hotel, but I found out they don’t. This fable is based on the so-called “Rule 240,” which no longer exists — thank the Reagan-era frenzy of deregulation. Today, there is no government requirement at all covering canceled flights. What happens to passengers depends on the particular airline’s “contract of carriage,” and these vary widely. You may or may not be rebooked on another airline; you may or may not be offered a hotel if you’re stuck overnight or even a meal if it’s an all-day b reakdown. Most U.S. airlines, at least grudgingly, provide some level of care, though. At the very least, they do have to honor their contract and get you to your destination, when possible. Want compensation if, say, you miss the first night of your honeymoon? Good luck.

4. Americans are the world’s worst tourists. Not even close. Expedia’s annual survey of 4,500 hotel managers worldwide placed Americans ninth-best among 27 nationalities. Although we spend a lot of time complaining about accommodations and are also amongst the least tidy, we led the way in putting forth an effort to learn key phrases in the local language and sampling local delicacies. Japanese tourists were rated best overall, with Canadians, Australians (another supposedly much-despised group), Germans (ditto) and Dutch among the 10 best. And the worst tourists…dead last behind everyone else? The French.

5. Jeans and sneakers brand you in Europe as an American dolt. Not necessarily. Today, Europeans from the Baltic to the Mediterranean now all wear jeans and running shoes while they’re out and about during the day. I’d stay away from the track suits, but that’s just me, especially when visiting churches or more formal attraction. You won’t see many Europeans clad this informally for evening events, so dress accordingly.

6. Foreign travel is dangerous, especially in the developing world. Crime statistics are notoriously hard to compare, because each country reports differently. But the United States is definitely nowhere near the most law-abiding on Earth, and some measurements put its raw crime numbers at the top of the list. The United Kingdom, Finland, New Zealand and Holland are all, on a per capita basis, more dangerous than Russia, Slovakia, Zambia and Papua New Guinea. The best advice would be to refer to the State Department with your questions. Of course, use common sense... I wouldn’t necessarily plan a vacation to Juarez for sightseeing.

7. Street food isn’t safe. FALSE. In street markets and at food carts, you can watch the food being cooked and stringent handling requirements have lessened food-borne illness in most countries. I’ve eaten street food in several foreign countries and have never been sick. Wandering through markets and sampling local foods is a superb way to save money, experience local culture and enjoy the genuine adventure of travel.

8. Cruises are all-inclusive so you can leave your wallet at home. That’s true only if you just the cruise cafeteria food, sit on the deck in lounge chairs and never leave the ship. Superior dining, shore excursions, Internet access, some types of recreation (including spa treatments and exercise classes), laundry and tipping are not included in the price of your cabin. Cruising experts suggest the average traveler should expect to spend up to 50 percent more than the base fare; less than that requires spending discipline.

9. It’s easy to use your phone in Europe or Asia. Yes, that may be the case if you are a tech genius, can “unlock” your phone, buy a SIM card, manage to open the phone and swap cards, pick the right local network and chat with the “help” staff in another language. I’ve always just purchased the special program through my carrier which is not exactly cheap, but provided decent coverage and internet when needed.

10. Really savvy travel shoppers can fly for less than $10 on budget airlines. No. Nope. Not ever! Yes, there are occasions when various low-cost carriers advertise low fare sales, especially in Europe, but when you add in the fees, taxes, surcharges and other extras, they total around 100 Euros.

11. You must have an International Drivers Permit to drive overseas. An American license has been sufficient in Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK in my experience. Generally speaking, visitors to most countries may drive with a legal license from their home country, as long as they are visiting for less than six months. However, it’s a really good idea to just pay the $10 that AAA charges for an IDP — it’s an extra layer of documentation that can allay the suspicions of the local traffic officer in Krakow who believes you were driving 20 kilometers over the speed limit. Also check your insurance before leaving…don’t end up paying extra for something for which you may be already covered.

12. The best time to buy travel is about six weeks before you go. The worldwide travel slump has thrown all such generalities out the window. Airplane seats, rental cars, hotel rooms and other travel items such as tours are commodities — especially now that billions of people worldwide can buy anything online — and commodity prices fluctuate in ways that even Einstein wouldn’t be able to predict. If continually saving money is your goal, continually tracking prices is the best strategy. You’ll learn how the particular market operates, and you’ll learn to recognize great prices when they pop up.

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