Journal
The Journal
Field notes, planning letters, and the questions I ask suppliers before I send a client their way.
Why small-ship cruising rewards the patient planner
The cabins book fifteen months out, the itineraries are less than photogenic, and the galley is tiny. The case for small-ship cruising is exactly that.
What I actually check before booking an all-inclusive
Star ratings and brochures tell you almost nothing. A short list of checks — the beach, the kitchen, the staff turnover rate — tells you almost everything.
The four questions I ask every boutique property
Four questions, every time. The answers are the difference between a property that photographs well and a property that treats your clients like returning guests from day one.
Connecting rooms are not optional when you travel with grandparents
The ask that gets forgotten until check-in. Here is how I head it off and why the property's answer matters more than the floor plan.
The three excursion questions to ask before booking
Clients book excursions through the ship by default. That is fine, sometimes. Here is how I decide when it is and when it is not.
Why I choose properties for service and kitchen, not the brochure
Brochures pick the angle. Reviews pick the loudest guest. A short stay picks a bad week. Service and kitchen are the only signals that survive.