A responsible traveler receives an inoculation before traveling abroad.

Recently the Center for Disease Control has become increasingly concerned about the large number of international travelers who don’t take health precautions very seriously and thus post the risk of spreading dangerous, infectious diseases to other travelers.

In the past two or three years, the CDC has logged over 650 reported cases of tuberculosis among travelers, carried principally by air when arriving or returning to the U.S. With the speed and abundance of air travel, a serious disease such as this has the potential to spread farther and faster than more notorious infections such as the famous case of Typhoid Mary.

Chicken pox and shingles also rank high among diseases that have the CDC concerned, especially because no one can say with certainty how many such cases go unreported each year. These are spread on cruise ships as well as airliners.

In such cases, to borrow a phrase from conservative football fans, “the best offense is a good defense.” Whenever one travels outside the U.S., it’s wise to contact the CDC or your local city or county health office to see what inoculations or preventatives are required or recommended for the destinations you plan to visit.

It’s estimated that a shocking two-thirds of travelers to Asia and Latin America who should arrange for them, do not get travel inoculations before leaving home. More than half of those traveling in areas subject to malaria have failed to take the necessary preventive measures. With numbers that large, the odds that you’ll be sitting next to one of them on a long flight are pretty high.

The solution is to see a travel doctor (often employed by the city or county of your residence) four to six weeks before your travel date to start the required course of recommended inoculations or preventative medications. Why a travel specialist instead of your family doctor? Because exotic viral diseases move and change, making it impossible for your personal physician to keep up to date with the current geo-spread of, say, dengue fever.

Also, your personal recommendation may change based on your own age or health status. Children, pregnant women, or those on certain medications need the benefit of a travel specialist when choosing travel vaccinations and precautions.

The more exotic the destination, the more necessary such measures become. (Remember that if you’re flying to and from Johannesburg for business, there’s a good chance you’ll be seated next to someone who’s been on safari.)

Those who are among the four-in-ten who act responsibly can travel with peace of mind, knowing they have protected themselves as well as members of the public in their close proximity.

It goes without saying that in addition to travel inoculations, care when consuming water is enormously important to your travel health.

For more about travel vaccinations, visit the CDC’s information page.

What are your options when you're traveling in India, but craving really good sushi?

Has this ever happened to you? You’re somewhere far-flung … say, China or Peru … and despite all the exciting culinary choices around you, you’re overcome with an inexplicable desire to go for Italian.

We say, give in and make an occasion of it. Here are some off-culture recommendations for a few major destinations.

Sushi in Mumbai. If the city formerly known as Bombay — an obvious center of great Indian food — has over-tandooried your tastebuds, then head for the Taj Palace Hotel to supp at Wasabi, the India branch of the ultimate authentic Japanese sushi house.

Prime Rib in Dubai. Once you’re had your fill of finger food, return to familiar knife-and-fork territory with Chef John Wood’s mustard-crusted prime rib of beef, complete with breathtaking view, at Al Muntaha atop the Burj Al Arab Hotel. (Start with the lobster Caesar.)

Mojitos in Ho Chi Minh City. After you’ve sampled your share of authentic Vietnamese food from those upbiquitous stand-up stalls, splurge for a sit-down dinner and consider indulging in what communist countries do best — providing genuine (and legal) Havana cigars for just a few bucks. Precede this with Cuban fare such as spicy meat balls and a strong Cuba Libre. La Habana is the place, near the Opera House.

Haute French Cuisine in Bangkok. Turns out the best French restaurant in Asia is at the top of the Oriental Hotel, which is why movie industry executives and the international diplomatic corps keep Le Normandie on speed-dial. The six-course degustation menu with optional wine pairing will make you genuinely thank your wife for sneaking your best dinner jacket into your luggage.

Whatever your off-culture inclination, avoid burger joints in far-off lands unless you’re hankering to hang out with the backpack crowd. Is that snobbery? Perhaps. But we’re dispensing advice about dinner, not about democracy. (After all, there is no such thing as equality among restaurants.)

Bon appetite!

Kimpton Hotels and Resorts cooks up a delicious approach to doing good this July.

Sometimes it’s just so easy to do the right thing.

In this tough job market, with so many people looking for work, imagine how difficult it would be to compete if you didn’t even have proper clothes for the job interview?

It’s an obstacle that keeps thousands of women impoverished. But you can change that, simply by eating ice cream in July — something you’re likely to do anyway — at a participating restaurant.

The idea is the brainchild of Kimpton Hotels and Resorts, who have long put a premium on giving back. They’ve paired up with the non-profit Dress for Success organization, who provide interview suits and training to help low-income women raise themselves up a notch. It’s good for them, and good for the economy, too.

Want to do a little good? Just eat some ice cream. (How easy can it get?)

For a list of participating restaurants, just go to the Kimpton page that describes it all. Thanks!

We mentioned fashion the other day (Diane von Furstenberg designing suites at Claridges in London), and here’s a follow-up: Dior has released their 2011 “cruise collection.”



We’re a little disappointed to see a major house dress women like sexed-up little girls. But hey, it’s not the first time a designer has run a controversial theme through his or her collection. And though there are many long dresses at the end of the collection, half of them remind us of the prom dress rack at Macy’s, and the final three look like something from a New Year’s Day float.

So much for our fashion-forward sense. We still remember the actual Christian Dior and that prejudices our judgment.

Regardless, the price tag alone will probably keep you from seeing any of these dresses on passengers aboard the big cruise ships, but there’s every likelihood that they (or a reasonable facsimile) could appear on a starlet at a dinner party aboard a Mediterranean yacht.

BTW, does your cruise wardrobe need a few new items? We must be on a DVF kick this week because we’ve noticed several appealing, well-priced, and definitely more womanly options in the Diane von Furstenberg boutique at Saks. Take a look for yourself.

(We like to mention this from time to time: Passport Newsletter never receives payment or compensation of any kind for the recommendations we make. That’s how you can trust what we say. That’s also one of the reasons our subscriptions are not free. Better advice than anywhere else, at just a fraction of the cost of a cruise frock.)

Here’s the second part of that Dior runway show:

Ash above the Iceland volcano, as seen by a NASA satellite. Full disclosure: we lightened the image a bit in Photoshop to make it easier to see the details.

We captured this NASA satellite image of the Iceland volcano the other day. Yes, it’s been out of the news (mostly) but it’s still sending ash into the sky.

The thing is, disruptive as it is to travel, with the perversity of color digital imagery, it’s actually kind of beautiful from space. We thought you’d like to take a look.

Extra credit if you can pronounce it: Eyjafjallajokull.

A portion of the Piano Suite by Diane von Furstenberg at Claridges, London.

As a designer, Diane von Furstenberg is all about fabric. Her eye for print, wrapped around or laid over the female form, catapulted her to international consciousness and has kept her there for more years that it’s polite to name.

Recently she decorated two rooms for Claridges, her favorite London hotel (and one we love as well), and that fabric sensibility is everywhere. The DVF Studio is a haven of black and white draped across great architecture and framing modern-day electronics, without interfering with either.

But it’s the Piano Suite we love.

Black and white is prominent again. In the master bed chamber, matched geometric prints tie headboard, curtains and chair together as standouts against a dark wall with gold accents and crisp white accents throughout the room. A second full bedroom, surprisingly understated in taupe, cream and ebony, includes curtains that take tri-color liberties with a classic Greek key-inspired style.

In the living room, more black and white in stunning curtains (one wants a dress made from them) are cast against brightly colored seating arrangements. Among all these sights and luxuries, including the grand piano, our eye was caught by a beautiful glass branch, sweeping across its tabletop to bring up competing mental images of ice sculptures and magnolias blooming in spring at the same time.

Although the unveiling happened last month, Claridges held a launch reception yesterday for DVF and her pals, who include fashionistas such as Gweneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham. More DVF rooms and suites are to follow.

We say, hasn’t everyone scrimped enough over the past couple of years? Once in awhile it makes sense to break out the old Centurion card and stay in something as special as the Piano Suite, followed by dinner downstairs at the Gordon Ramsay restaurant for a quintessential London luxury experience. There’s plenty of opportunity to become your fiscal-conservative self again once you’re back home.

The affluent have become emotionally weary, waiting for the economy to catch up.

• Many affluent travelers’ social consciences are stronger than their pampered egos. The well-to-do were quick to cut back in solidarity with their less fortunate companies and countrymen.
• When affluent travelers cut back, the value they found at a lower price range was not lost on them. Their value-for-money meters have been reset.
• A good part of sky-high luxury hotel rates was based on status ‒ showing up the Joneses ‒ but that particular bucket doesn’t hold as much water as it used to. At least, not yet.

With these lessons in hand, fine hoteliers are offering fewer $10,000-per-night suites to guests (exception: rock stars) and many more luxury suite options in the $800-$1,000 range. Some of these are the same suites that went for three or four times their present rate prior to the economic loop-de-loop.

Weary of Waiting for Better Times

Even though the affluent market is not generally paying luxury rates where they don’t perceive real value in the price, there is a growing trend toward ending the pattern of economic self-denial and returning to normal ‒ within reason. Upscale travelers, weary of deprivation, are ready to revert to the “suite life” again ‒ but they’re not prepared to be gouged for it.

Hotels get this, as expressed by new rates, which some properties are still a little reluctant to advertise. So, next time you’re planning to stay at a fine hotel, call them to press for their best rate, which might not be listed on their website.

In Bergisch Gladback, Germany, the place now known as Castle Hotel Lerbach was first mentioned in a 1384 manuscript. It opened as a hotel in 1992 and is home to chef Dieter Muller, whose three-star-rated restaurant (named after him) is a highlight of any visit to Germany's wine country.

Is it one of your life goals to dine in the world’s best restaurants? Unlike the amateur review sites we mentioned in our last post, Michelin Guide writers definitely know how to find and evaluate excellent cuisine.

You might be interested to know there are only 85 restaurants in the world that enjoy Michelin’s (top) three-star rating. Most of these are concentrated in Western Europe; although the guide writers have recently put a strong emphasis on growing their list of brilliant dining experiences in Japan as well.

The 2010 distribution of three-star-rated restaurants is:

• Belgium, 2
• China, 3
• France, 26 (of these, 10 are in Paris)
• Germany, 9
• Italy, 6
• Japan, 18 (of these, 11 are in Tokyo, 6 in Kyoto)
• Monaco, 1
• Netherlands, 2
• Spain, 7
• Switzerland, 2
• U.K., 4
• U.S., 6 (of these, 5 are in New York)

Next time you’re traveling in these areas, plan to splurge at least one night in one of these restaurants. Reservations are definitely required in advance.

Bon appetit!

P.S. If you’d like to buy a Michelin Guide, save quite a bit off the suggested retail price at Amazon.com.

It takes more than blue water to make a five-star resort.

It used to be that a hotel without a restaurant (or elevator, or bellman) had no hope of achieving a five-star rating. But today, on most travel websites, no such standards exist. A restaurant in Rome might be evaluated by travelers on the basis of its menu prices, or whether it serves hamburgers to those who miss bad food back home. However, travelers with higher expectations, such as finding an establishment with a good pastry chef, a robust wine list, or an excellent culinary specialty, are often out of luck for reliable online advice. (Present blog excepted.)

Today, inexperienced travelers invent their own amateur ratings and post them willy-nilly, all over the Internet. Thus, a hotel near a train station, which a professional would warn against using, earns a five-star rating on a big travel website from a visitor who loves the price — under $50 per night.

I recently read one such amateur rating, fueled principally by the traveler’s personal budgetary relief rather than any particular experience at identifying a good hotel. And another five-star review was given to a “city hotel” — we would have put it in the motel category — because his room was next to the vending machine, making it easy for the visitor to feed his family without going to a restaurant.

Five stars for this? Really? Equal to the Paris Ritz? The Hong Kong Peninsula? The St. Regis New York?

The sad part of these online reviews is what comes next. Subsequent travelers choose these same hotels based on the good reviews left by their identity-cloaked predecessors, then deeply regret the experience. One poor soul found herself caught in the combo-platter-from-hell: A rude staff, a dirty room, broken bathroom plumbing, a bed that had been occupied without a change of sheets, street noise all night long, and an unforgettable stench. Sadly, this is how she will remember Rome, thanks to the guy who gave this hotel a five-star rating.

“Never again in a million years,” she vowed.

The point is, avoid such problems by first identifying the type of traveler you are, and then seek QUALIFIED advice for that travel style before you make your plans.

If you’re a budget traveler, please go to Amazon.com and spend $20 online for a guidebook that specializes in low-dollar travel and that can advise you about the cheaper hostels and neighborhood food sources. Choose one that also steers you away from the nasty spots which can populate that price range. These books are written by people who have visited most of the inexpensive inns and diners and use an established scale to rate them. Try to avoid one-star properties if you can. Once in awhile treat yourself to a three-star property (upper reaches of the budget range) if possible.

For travel at the mainstream level — above budget class — it’s definitely worth your time to consult both a mainstream guidebook and a qualified brand-name travel agency where someone on staff has experience in the country and the price level that matches your plans. Even if you love traveling independently, a bit of qualified advice for the most expensive cities on your route can save you from costly or time-consuming disappointments. You may have a three-star hotel budget if you like to spend your travel dollars on events and restaurants, but with careful planning you can find three-plus accommodations, and possibly even four-star in less dense areas, within your price range. Also, rely on seasonal special offers from large hotel chains.

And if you have a taste for deluxe or luxury travel, such as four- and five-star hotels or private accommodations, then please realize the typical mainstream guide book is not written for you, and the average travel agency is likely to view you as a payday rather than as a person. In such cases you’d be mad not to rely on a resource such as our Passport Newsletter, as well as the advice of an acknowledged specialist in upscale travel who will listen carefully to your interests and have the resources to fulfill your requests. (And who, in many cases, also reads Passport Newsletter.)

Next time you’re doing research online, remember this: The chance that a stranger has the same taste as you do is probably less than one percent, so take those anonymous online reviews with a pound or two of salt.

If you want high-quality experiences during your trip, rely on experts who specialize in your style of travel. Otherwise, the advice you receive could be the opposite of what you seek, and one thing is sure: You can never get back any lost days spent in the wrong place … or in the case of the woman we mentioned earlier, the opportunity to love your first night in Rome.

Passport Newsletter in spring colors

• We have brought on a new, 24/7 subscription service line at 866-838-5364.
• We have a new accounting system and a new address for subscription payments:
       Passport Newsletter
       P.O. Box 77808
       Seattle, WA 98177
• We’re re-organizing our circulation processes
• We’ve made changes to our technology side which are a little hard to see from this view (so far), but which will allow us to serve you better in the future.

I know, I know, that all sounds SO exciting.

Of course, we’re still the same company under the same ownership and editorial leadership, which means we haven’t changed what you love best about Passport Newsletter — namely the world-wide coverage, the global network of seasoned travel correspondents, or the genuine concern our staff has for serving our readers.

Right now the May issue is printing and will soon be headed for the post office. In it, you’ll have an opportunity to read about our latest finds for dining, shopping, hotels and sights from Newport Beach to the Amalfi Coast, from lonesome desert expanses in Utah to the temple-laden hills of Chiang Mai; from vintage shops in Paris to summertime in the Madeleine Islands. And there’s more, as well.

If you’re a subscriber, then keep an eye peeled for the next issue. If you’re not yet a subscriber, consider becoming one (or perhaps give a subscription to Mom for Mothers’ Day). And if you’re a visitor with just a casual interest, feel free to download our sample issue by ordering one here:

Thanks for stopping by. We’ll pick up regular posting here again soon.