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Anywhere But Here
I can get through nearly any situation by focusing on my next trip. It doesn’t have to be a vacation. It can be a work thing or a family thing. It can be anything. I just need to always have a plan to go to somewhere.
I love talking about my trips and listening to stories about other people’s trips. Most of my NPR stories were rooted in traveling. Not that I love every aspect of traveling and I’ve made a huge number of travel mistakes.
Pro Tip: Neverthrow bacon at a cheetah while on safari. The cheetah doesn’t care and the other people in the your jeep will go BESERK!
Now I know. Now I know.
I love hotels more than any other part of traveling. Probably because my mother was from Vegas and sometimes we’d stay in one of the blinking palaces lining the Strip. When I was thirteen my mother took me to see Cher at Cesar’s Palace. During the encore Cher ran into the audience and touched me on the head. BOOM! Instantly gay. But I digress…
When I hear someone say, “Who cares about the hotel? We’re barely going to be in it. It’s just a place to sleep,” I want to hold them in my arms and ask, “Who hurt you?”
Perhaps more than any other part of travel I love a perk, an upgrade, a little something extra. But getting them is getting harder as the online world of travel booking has gotten a lot more complicated and a lot less fun. Now we have to contend with AI and the question of whether anything that we’re seeing and reading about a destination is real or not. It’s very rare to actually speak to a real person when you have questions about the online travel you’ve booked. When something goes wrong, who can you turn to for help?
It’s time to return to the more civilized and effective way to book and enjoy traveling using the services of a certified Travel Advisor, specifically me. I am a Certified Fora Travel Advisor. Fora is a consortium of independent travel advisors with collective bargaining power and partnerships with travel suppliers to offer you an upgraded travel experience. The suppliers, not the travelers, pay the travel advisors. That means my services are free to you.
Why burden yourself with the hassle of a million details when you can hand it over to someone who is literally obsessed with those details? I do everything but flights. Booking your flights online or directly with an airline has become very easy. I can provide guidance but it’s better to book you own flights.
FORA provides me with a constant stream of information about travel promotions, so you’re thinking about a trip let me know. I can find out whether there’s a current promotion or whether there’s likely to be one that aligns with your plans.
You can reach me at 917-370-2121 or james.judd@fora.travel. It doesn’t matter if you’re planning a destination wedding or need a one-nighter at an airport hotel. It’s important to me. I’m here to give you a judgment free range of options to fit your budget, and I will be available to provide support before, during, and after your travels.
This monthly newsletter is full of my thoughts on the current state of travel. It’s free, so please subscribe and share it with your friends and family.
Now, let’s get going!
Do I Need…
…to swim with Orcas?
Very near the top of my bucket list is swimming with orcas. It’s the trip I’m most determined to book for 2025.Every year, during the winter months, orcas swim in the fjords of Norway where the herring are plentiful. I’m sure it’s as cold as it looks but you swim with a snorkel in a drysuit at the surface during the few available hours of daylight (if any depending on the time of year.) So far, I haven’t found any reports of snorkelers being eaten by an orca.
Sail Norway is one of several companies that offer this adventure. I like this one because it’s on a sail boat and part of itinerary includes sailing around the fjords and stopping at small villages. But there are other options. lWaterproof Expeditions, offers 7-night liveaboard trips beginning around $5000. Meanwhile, Aqua-Firma offers sailing expeditions on a 3-mast with 32 passengers that will make you feel like Shackleton but doesn’t offer snorkeling. Prices start at around $2000.
You’ll need to get to Tremso, Norway. SAS will take you from NYC to Tremso roundtrip for around $500, and LAX for around $690. I recommend a stop in Oslo. There’s lots of things to do in this easily walkable and friendly city. You’ve got to see the giant naked statues in Vigeland Park.
Boston Airport Hotels: Which one?
Living on Cape Cod has made traveling more difficult than I’d like. I live 2.5 hours from Boston’s Logan Airport on a perfect day with little traffic. Early morning departures or late-night arrivals have necessitated a lot of overnight hotel stays. But it’s hard not to feel like these super-short stays that aren’t really a part of your purpose are a waste of money, especially in Boston, which seems to have the most consistently over-priced hotels on earth. Convenience isn’t much of a player in Boston where everything comes with an extra dose of hassle.
Aloft, Element, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield, Ritz-Carlton, Moxy, W Hotels, AC, SpringHill Suites are all part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection that have hotels in Boston and are serviceable places to stay if you’re coming or going from Logan.
My favorite is Aloft Seaport. For a quick stay, it’s just right. It’s still a $25 taxi ride to or from the airport but rooms are reasonably priced, typically about $175. The rooms are big. The beds are new and comfortable. The elevators are fast, and the staff is always super-friendly. It’s pet-friendly, too.
Things to Pack - Good Vibes
I want to encourage anyone out there who struggles with the fear of oversleeping to pack my favorite vibrator.
I bought this vibrating alarm clock with little faith that it would wake me up. It’s not much bigger than the picture. I think the instructions said put it in your pillowcase but I didn’t do that. I just left it on the bed nearby. OMG. It totally works. ($25.99 Amazon.)
What Can a Travel Advisor Do for Me?
Eliminate hours of scrolling trying to compare and price different hotels, cruises, itineraries, and tour options.
Elevate your experience with VIP upgrades available but not easily findable.
Provide complimentary support before, during, and after your travel.
Curate your itinerary based on your desires, time, and budget.
My Two Favorite Hotels in Spain
Spain is one of my favorite places to travel. I’ve been visiting since I was a teenager. But over the … oh, let’s just say it, DECADES of travel my taste in hotels has become more refined. A threadbare motel might be fine for a scuba trip on a rustic island but not in Madrid or Barcelona. Daddy needs comfort, style, and customer service.
The Only You Hotel in Madrid is tucked into a narrow side street in La Chueca, the predominantly LGBT neighborhood and is appropriate for all travelers. It’s a great base for exploring the city. It has a great bar and some seating areas on the ground floor that you would actually enjoy spending some time hanging out in. The dining room is terrific. The breakfast spread is indulgent. The friendly staff and attention to details set it apart from other hotels. Room prices begin at $320 in May, 2025.
Let me help you get these perks:
Free Wi-Fi
Minibar & Coffee kit by Nespresso
VIP Welcome Amenity with a personal note
Early arrival and late departure subject to availability
Room upgrade
Let’s talk about the Alma Hotel in Barcelona. Gurl, you’ve arrived. This hotel oozes luxury and peacefulness. The location is central. The service is impeccable. The dining options are delicious. You can open your door with your fingerprint. Rooms prices start at around $520 a night in May, 2025.
Let me help you get some perks:
Breakfast for 2 daily
$100 Hotel Credit per Stay (to be used on services such as spa, dining, or selected amenities valued at $100 or more)
Hotel Welcome Amenity and Welcome Note from the General Manager on behalf of Fora
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Room Upgrade
Priority Check-in and Check-out
Have You Considered…
… A Viking River Cruise on The Nile?
There are a lot of river cruise companies out there with lots of different destinations. Planning these trips requires a lot of advance planning, sorting through itineraries, and all the little differences between the cruise lines. A travel advisor can be indispensable. There’s a lot of options and a pretty big range of prices, but expect $400-800 a day per person depending on the level of luxury. There are trips out there that sound affordable but have lots of hidden costs. Call or email me and we’ll figure it out. 917-370-2121 or james.judd@fora.travel
The peak season for Nile cruises is from October to early January, while shoulder season is from mid-January to early April. Low season is from May to the end of September, but temperatures can reach a high level of ick.
Should I Be Wearing a Cape?
There’s nothing less fun than dragging around a suitcase. I yearn to break free from my heavy suitcase and go places in one outfit that will last a week (but still look good.) Perhaps the answer is a cape that could go over a basic black outfit. I mean, I even look like that one guy, sort of. We definitely could be related. All I’m saying is don’t be surprised if we run into each other at Versailles and I’m wearing a cape.
Love the cape. *Funniest line: "I want to hold you in my arms and ask 'Who hurt you?'" Hysterical. Keep up the good work.