I was diagnosed in 2004 with multiple sclerosis (MS). I have gone from walking four miles a day to walking with a cane, barely being able to walk down a hall. So I know how hard it can be. I am looking for a get away for my husband and myself mainly for my husband, because his life has change overnight, but he has hung in there. We have been married over 26 years … please send me information on your next outing so I can try and plan for it.
Sherry N.

The next MS Week in Jackson, New Hampshire, is scheduled for May 5-9, 2008. While the details are still being planned, they are expecting even more local businesses to participate in this important week.

During this week, the inns, restaurants, and stores in the town of Jackson Village, New Hampshire, open their doors to people living with MS and their guests. Participants can enjoy up to two nights accommodations, breakfast, workshops, and a recreation guide … at no cost! You can also check out a column I did on the subject.

For more information on MS Week, visit https://www.innatjackson.com/MSweek.html

Hello Peter
I am planning on going to Thailand early December 2007

On long distance flights I like to travel business class – so which would be a good airline to take? I know Singapore Airlines is GREAT but expensive. And I have been on it a few times but like I said it is expensive. Any other airline and any other ideas??

Thanks,

Linda

Without knowing your departing city, there is no final answer. Some smaller international airlines only fly out of select U.S. cities. However, there are a few lower-cost solutions out there. Korean Air has a good business class section, with lie-flat seats on some of their Boeing 777s, on-demand in-flight entertainment, and pretty tasty in-flight food (especially if you like Korean food). Korean Air flies out of 10 US cities.

Your flight will, of course, be routed through Seoul. Note that although the airline had a pretty miserable safety record throughout the 1980s, this has improved drastically in recent years.

A sample flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Bangkok (BKK) on Korean Air’s business class is showing up at about $5,000. Compare that to a Singapore Air which is pricing at $6,400.

For an even more affordable option, Philippine Airlines’ business class seats are currently pricing in the low $3,000 range. This experience won’t compare to Singapore Airlines, but it’s serviceable and worth the price. Keep in mind, this airline only departs from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

As I was traveling to Cape Cod last week with my family. I came upon your radio show about RV traveling. This was my first time tuning into your show! I enjoyed the show! I will be traveling to Greece September 29 to October 9, 2007. I am not a world traveler by any means having only traveled to Ireland. My husband and I travel the U.S. but in our car. Packing is so much easier I find when you travel in a car!! Having never been to Greece or that area before, I would like to know what to expect regarding weather so I will have some knowledge on how to pack. I would appreciate whatever you have to offer on the subject of Greece. Would it help if I related that I am a senior at 71!!?

Thanks so much.

Joan E.

The weather in Greece during your travel period should be pleasant, ranging from the 60s to the 70s. It could get a little chilly at night, with some winds increasing on the coast and on the islands. Well into October, the water around Greece retains much of its summer warmth, so if you want to venture in for some swimming, the water should be fairly nice and warm. Pack layers to prepare for all possible weather conditions. A light cardigan should be sufficient for the weather during this time, but just to be safe, throw in a jacket so you will be prepared if chilly weather arises.

After working 28 years in law enforcement and missing several holidays with the family. I would like to take them on a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. I was wondering if you might have any recommendations?

Thank you, C. H. and Family

Hawaiian cruises are offered year round, so your options are wide open. The most popular travel times are summer and fall, when the islands get the least amount of rain. Summer and Christmas season are the busiest times of year for visitors, and therefore are the most expensive. Excluding holidays, you’ll find lower prices between November and February.

Several of the major cruise lines offer Hawaiian cruises—these are good options for family travel because there are plenty of activities on board and at port that are appropriate for all age groups. Remember that shore excursions will cost you extra, but there is a range of prices depending on your interests: a walking tour, for example, may be only about $25 per person, while a snorkeling session is nearly $100 per person, and a visit to a remote region of Maui can run more than $130. Spending an afternoon on a white-sand Hawaiian beach with your family? Priceless.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, is a new ship that sails a strictly Hawaiian Island route. A week-long cruise departs on Saturday from Honolulu, and sails to Hilo, Kahului, Kona, and Nawiliwili. Prices range from $749 (interior room) to $1,699 (exterior suite) in January and February (not including airfare). www.ncl.com

If you’d rather depart from the mainland, Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Of The Seas has a 14-night Hawaiian Circle cruise that departs from Los Angeles. You’ll hit destinations such as Maui, Hilo, Mount Kilauea, and Ensenada, Mexico, starting at $1,999 for an interior cabin. www.royalcaribbean.com

Is there a specific day of the week that is the best to purchase airline tickets, since costs seem to fluctuate for the exact same flights? From past experience, several years ago and with Continental, I believe that Wednesday morning was the magic day and time. Trying to purchase round trip from Austin to Cincinnati for business travel in early October, on Delta. What was $700 round trip on Friday is $1,000 today (Monday).

Thanks for your advice.

Best,
Barbara H.

You’re right. Wednesday morning is often the magic time to buy tickets. But not just any hour of the morning … it’s actually 12:01 a.m. Wednesday morning in the time zone where their airline is based. The reason for this is competition. Say one airline raises its fares—this usually happens late Friday night. By Saturday, airlines with competing routes will match that fare to make a buck.

But in some cases, a major competitor won’t raise its fares—it will actually drop them in order to compete! By late Monday, another competing airline may DROP its fares to match that one, and by Tuesday, the war is on. Your job is to strike on Wednesday. Because by Thursday morning, it’s nearing the weekend and the cycle begins again. And Wednesday at midnight is when airlines usually reload their computers with the latest low-cost fares that were announced the previous days, but will be cancelled if they are not purchased within 24 hours.

I write on behalf of my friends from London who recently visited the U.S. They came to see us in San Francisco then took a side trip to Las Vegas for the sole purpose of visiting the Grand Canyon. They had booked a day trip through “Scenic Airlines” a Las Vegas-operated company. The cost for a family of four was $1,536.00.

They were supposed to be collected from their hotel at 7:10 a.m. They were at the pick-up point five minutes ahead of schedule and waited for another 30 minutes. No one showed up. They contacted the hotel tour operator, who in turn called Scenic and was told that the trip time had been changed and someone had apparently come to hotel at 6:50 a.m. No attempt had been made by [anyone from] Scenic to reach my friends; they had [my friends’] email address and phone number, not to mention the hotel in which they were staying. They did not even get a call that morning to say someone was waiting downstairs for them at reception area.

So far Scenic has not responded to fax, phone call or letter. I also called the Director of the company, Jessie Thom, on behalf of my friends and left a voice mail, I have had no response.

I would be grateful for any advice or assistance you can give.

Terry B.

After receiving your email with a follow-up email from your friend Maureen (the customer in question), we tried contacting Scenic Airlines’ corporate offices in Nevada. We also left a message for head of customer relations, Jessie Thom and didn’t hear back.

So we tried again. After being on hold for more than 18 minutes (!) we were able to get the name and number of the head of marketing for Scenic Airlines. He passed on your information back to Jessie, who responded to us promptly. She apologized for the delayed response, and explained that your friends’ tour had been “rescheduled due to a flight schedule change,” but did not offer any explanation as to why you were never contacted at any point.

At this point, your friend’s credit card has been refunded. But the real question remains … what recourse is there for customers who can’t get a response from customer service?

In the case of Scenic Airlines, specifically, Jessie Thom states “Please let me know if any problems of this nature come up. If you send me an email or call me directly I will work on claims within a few days, I would prefer emails because it is easier to track and prioritize.” So for those who may have a similar problem in the future, here is the direct contact information for Jessie Thom, head of customer relations at Scenic Airlines: 702-638-3222, jthom@scenic.com

If you want to “Ask Peter” a question, write us at info@petergreenberg.com. Remember, we’re not travel agents, so please don’t ask us to plan your vacation. And don’t forget, you can “Ask Peter” LIVE on the air on Saturdays.