MARCH Q&A WITH ASHLEY RICHARDS
In the March 2018 issue, account executive Ashley Richards talked about her recent trip to The New York Times Travel Show. The show inspired the question: What do you look for when planning a first-time trip? If you’ve completed a recent trip, did it meet your expectations?

I’m a history person. If I’m going somewhere for the first time, I need something to give me a taste of the place’s past, even if it’s only one small museum. The more random and specific the museum, the better. One of the strangest I’ve been to this past year was the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb. I can’t even describe it — you have to see it for yourself. That would actually make an interesting article for GT: The Weirdest Museums in the World. I’d also add the Old Operating Theatre Museum in London to that list.
REID LEWIS, Carthage, Texas

I just recently came back from Hong Kong, and it was my first time there. Overall, it was an incredible trip. I’d say there are certain aspects that didn’t meet my expectations but several other parts exceeded them. Despite research, I was surprised at just how large the city is and how long it can take to get from one part to the other (the coffee situation is also wanting). That being said, the food was even better than I anticipated, the people friendlier and more accommodating than expected for such a large city, and there were some surprisingly quiet, peaceful parts of the city, which I didn’t expect. Overall, I strongly recommend it, but it’s true — you really don’t know what you’re going to get, and it’s important to keep expectations in check.
AMBER VENTERS, Hanover, Md.

HUMAN TOWERS
Thanks for introducing me to the Human Towers competition through your article. I went online to learn more and found the primary competition takes place in the Tarraco Arena Plaza in Tarragona. Do you know what date that occurs this year? I have been unable to confirm this year’s date even though I have learned there are other competitions elsewhere in Catalonia. Thanks for any advice you can share.
EDWARD HATCHETT, via email

Editor’s Note: Hi, Edward. The biggest non-competitive Human Towers events in Tarragona are the Sant Magí festival on Aug. 19 and the Santa Tecla festival on Sept. 16, 23 and 24. There will also be an event June 24, St. John Day. The largest competitive human tower competition will be held Oct. 6–7 in Tarraco Arena Plaça (the ancient bullring). This competition takes place every two years.

TRAIN TRAVEL
I recently read with great delight in the January issue of GT about your shared passion for train travel. Indeed, I also subscribe to rail journeys as the last civilized “Golden Age of Travel” mode of enjoyable transportation. Among my many rail journeys, I completed a bucketlist (I prefer to call it a life-list) luxury train journey last April on Belmond Royal Scotsman, via a four-day journey through the mystical highlands of my native bonnie Scotland. Next up, I am looking at Belmond’s new sister train, the Grand Hibernian, which travels on two-, four- and six-day rail journeys through the Emerald Isle.
JAMES FERGUSON, Dana Point, Calif.

CORRECTION: JANUARY ISSUE
Editor’s Note: We regret an error in our January issue. We incorrectly labeled Singapore Airlines’ new suites as business class. The new suites, which debuted in December, are first-class suites. We apologize for the error.

SEA OF THREE CONTINENTS
My husband and I did an eight-day Southern Mediterranean cruise with Viking last year, and it was one of our favorites. It departed from Rome and ventured to Tunis, Valletta and Sardinia, ending in Barcelona (my personal favorite city). Everywhere we went was beautiful. We usually prefer the Mediterranean to a Caribbean cruise. Next on our list is Alaska.
ANNE QUIROZ, Akron, Ohio

REASONS TO SMILE
I’m a big fan of Alaska Airlines. I live in Everett, and I saw the airline’s adding flights from Paine Field in the fall. I’m expected in L.A. a couple of times a month for work, so the new flight will make my life a lot easier. I’ve never had a problem with the airline, which isn’t something I can say about all of them.
DAVID GUTIERREZ, Everett, Wash.

PREMIUM PLUS
I saw the article on your website about United’s new Premium Plus cabin coming on international flights later in 2018. You mentioned more space — long overdue on United. I haven’t been able to check out Polaris, but I’m curious if Premium Plus will be similar. Usually premium economy just means slightly more legroom and a way larger price tag, but I hope United doesn’t follow this trend.
WILLIAM HODGES, via email

AIRBNB AND BUSINESS
In the Feb. 21 issue of eFlyer USA we talked about how rental company Airbnb is adjusting and adding to its business model to incorporate more business traveler-friendly features and address concerns some companies have using the tool for work-related travel.

I’ve used Airbnb a couple of times for trips with friends, but my company isn’t fully open to the idea of using it for work trips. I suggested it for Los Angeles in particular after seeing the price differences and the beauty of some of the rentals. I look at Airbnb a little bit like Uber and Lyft. When they started, people were hesitant to use them over cabs, but they quickly became the norm. I can understand the hesitation, but it sounds like the company is facing some of those doubts head on. It’ll be interesting to see what it does next.
ROB RAO, via email

CRUISE INDUSTRY FLOURISHES
In the Feb. 28 issue of eFlyer USA, we talked about the rapid growth in popularity of cruises, thanks in large part to more immersive experiences and innovative technology. We invited our readers to share their recent cruises experiences and asked, “Have you witnessed an overall improvement?”

This article doesn’t surprise me at all. We had several friends take cruises lately, and we’re taking one later this year. I think the biggest positive change people see is a move away from the way-too-big cruise ship experience — average-at-best food, watered-down drinks, expensive packages, crowded pools and even more crowded port calls in overly touristy destinations. Ships are either getting smaller, though, or large ships add more personalized services. A friend went on a Carnival Cruise with the new wearable Medallion, which she said worked really well. She mostly used it to order drinks to the pool, but she said she felt it improved the customer service aspect of her trip. We’re really looking forward to our cruise with Norwegian in December.
JILL HEANEY, via email

Q&A WITH JULIE HAUPIN, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
My life recently got a little more golden when I became a dog owner to a sweet golden retriever, Lacie. She loves bananas and peanut butter, playing fetch and never leaving me alone.

Airports and hotels are increasingly pet-friendly. However, with all this talk regarding animals and airports, pet relief stations and emotional support pigs, peacocks, hamsters and monkeys, I wonder if my dog Lacie will ever accompany me on a plane.

Have you taken a pet on an airplane? If so, do you have any tips on how to make it a smooth ride?

Email us: letters@globaltravelerusa.com