Travel Tips

Radio Guest List–The Trafalgar St. James in London, England–August 25, 2018

Locations in this article:  London, England

This week Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from the historic (and newly renovated) Trafalgar St. James hotel in London. Joining Peter this week is Simon Calder, Senior Travel Editor at The Independent, who talks about the continuing after effects of the FIFA World Cup in Moscow –what happened with the Russian visa process as a result of the games and why it’s bound to open up tourism to the country. Scott McCartney, Travel Editor for The Wall Street Journal, with an important update about airline frequent flyer programs– what you need to know before trying to redeem any of your miles. We’ll have an extended conversation with Laurent Magnin, the CEO of an airline most of you haven’t heard about– XL; curator Christopher Riopelle from The National Gallery talks about some surprising “new” American artists added to its collection and Trisha Andres from The Daily Telegraph on 2019’s trending destinations and the surprising U.S. city that is becoming an up and coming destination for foreign travelers. There’s all this and more as Peter Greenberg Worldwide comes from The Trafalgar St. James in London.

Click here to listen to the show streaming live from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 25, 2018.

Have a travel question? Then ask Peter. Call 888-88-PETER (888-88-383), email him at peter@petergreenberg.com, or tweet your questions to @petersgreenberg (include #AskPeter).

Simon Calder, Senior Travel Editor at The Independent, joins the program to talk about the aftermath of the FIFA World Cup in Russia including the visa process and why it’s bound to open up tourism to the country and why the tournament brought out the best in humanity. He then expands on Brexit, the difficult summer Ryanair is currently facing and London Heathrow’s new terminal.

Scott McCartney, Travel Editor for The Wall Street Journal, speaks about the the story behind the three-letter airport codes, the reasoning behind some of the codes and even recalls his favorite one. He also shares which codes confuse people the most. Scott then dives into the Marriott and Starwood loyalty program merge, the infamous redeeming miles challenge and whether it’s better to accumulate miles with a mileage credit card or simply opt for a cash back card.

Trisha Andres, Commissioning Editor at The Daily Telegraph’s travel desk, talks about 2019’s trending destinations and reveals what African country is getting a lot of attention. She also speaks about a true gem in the Middle East–a destination that is not on everyone’s bucket list but why it should be. Then, Trisha comments on the surprising U.S. city that is set to become a popular destination for travelers from the U.K. and how its direct flight to and from London may have something to do with it.

Laurent Magnin, CEO of  XL Airways France, discusses the history of XL Airways and why it has been successful with two different business models when many airlines in the past were not. He also talks about the airline industry and who he thinks the real powerhouse behind the shift in today’s airlines has been. Laurent then brings up frequent flyer programs and how the programs relate to XL Airways.

Kalyn Franke, Founder of Girl Gone London, talks about moving to London from Orlando as a study abroad student, what surprised her the most upon her arrival and the stereotypes she had to dispel. She discusses the city being a melting pot and the different types of cuisine that make up London’s food scene. Then, because London isn’t known for being inexpensive, she lists her top activities and museums that can save visitors money when coming to England’s capital–especially during the summer–and her favorite places to eat that may surprise you.

Christopher Riopelle, The Neil Westreich Curator of Post-1800 Paintings at The National Gallery, stops by the program to discuss the museum’s mission, how it’s introducing more American artists and why this particular collection is considered to be one of the greatest in the world. He reveals what surprises visitors most (including a piece passed down by Vincent van Gogh’s family). He also talks about the role Ed Ruscha is playing at the National Gallery after being a popular figure in the Los Angeles art scene.

Mike Gibson, Deputy Editor at Foodism, talks about the evolving food scene in London and how it includes casual dining and street food–an innovative way to eat in the city. He comments on hotel dining and how it has changed over the years with international bartenders and big-name chefs reeling in people from all over the city. Mike then talks Michelin stars, tasting menus and his favorite food spots around the city.

Tom Howard, Head Concierge at The Trafalgar St. James, expands on the hotel’s iconic location and reveals the surprising history behind one of their suites and what it has to do with the Titanic. He also shares his own story at the Trafalgar St. James, comments on how its demographic has changed over the years and his go-to places around the city for breakfast, lunch and dinner –including a London street food top 20 contender.

Elodie Van Beveren, Deputy General Manager at The Trafalgar St. James, speaks about the significance of the square’s historic role and why it’s the true center of London. She expands on the hotel’s renovation and the little things that have made the rooms more comfortable. Elodie then explains all of the modern and environmentally-friendly updates in the room that, along with the rest of the renovations, have been designed to make guests feel more at home.

By Alessandra Taryn Bea for PeterGreenberg.com