the changing of the guard | avoid the crowds

changing of the guard (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

The changing of the guards is perhaps London's most spectacular daily spectacle, and yesterday we experienced this event. But we did not do it the way most tourists do. Most head to the Victoria Memorial (in the center of the circle in front of Buckingham Palace) where thousands of tourists gather each day at 11:30 to be a part of the pageantry. This is certainly how I have done it in the past — as part of a massive crowd of tourists — but only because I didn't know there is a much better way.

You can avoid the crowds by heading to the Wellington Barracks (where the guard lives) just a few hundred feet away. If you look closely at the picture above, you can see the single row of tourists lined up behind the fence on Birdcage Walk. The map below shows just how close it is — but those few hundred feet mean no crowds standing between you and what you came to see.

But we got even closer than Birdcage Walk. We had the exclusive experience of witnessing the event from inside the Wellington Barracks. The new detachment of guards was lined up in the parade grounds (the rectangular area I've marked in the google map) preparing to march to Buckingham Palace. No crowds, no fence, just ourselves and our knowledgeable guide. We witnessed the inspection of the troops, heard several musical pieces performed by the band, and then watched as they processed out the gate at the northwest corner of the yard and marched to Buckingham Palace.

Brownell Travel has connections, and we can get you inside the Wellington Barracks. But even if this is beyond your budget, position yourself by the gate at the northwest corner of the parade square where the band marches straight out onto Spur Road. You'll have a thrilling experience, and it won't cost you a pence.

copyright  (c)  2016 by David Ourisman LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

the passenger in seat 1A

Wednesday morning found me seated in 3C on a Delta flight from San Francisco to Atlanta. I was on my way to Birmingham, Alabama for a meeting of Brownell Travel's IC Advisory Board. Seated across from me in seat 1A was the America's Cup.

Yes, my traveling companion was none less than the prestigious Cup awarded to the winner of the world's greatest sailing race. Protected inside a traveling case, it was accompanied by a personal security guard (seated in 1B) on the way to their final destination, Frankfurt, Germany. While in the Bay Area, I am told, the Cup is safeguarded in an "undisclosed location" — a building I suspect owned by the Oracle Corporation. But I speculate.

It was not an uneventful flight. After departing a half hour late, the captain came on the PA shortly after take-off. "I'm afraid I have bad news," he informed us. "We're having issues with the landing gear. The lights indicate it has not retracted. We're returning to San Francisco and will be landing in 30 minutes. Crew, prepare the cabin for landing."

Making my connection in Atlanta was the least of my concerns. The primary concern obviously was a safe landing at SFO. And if we didn't? I realized what would be the next day's headline: America's Cup Destroyed in SFO Crash.

Thankfully, the Delta crew flew us safely back to SFO... and then safely to Atlanta two hours late. The arrival gate was at one end of Terminal A. Doing my best OJ imitation racing through the airport, I actually made my connection (at the absolute end of Terminal B) totally out of breath with a couple of minutes to spare.

Hope America's Cup enjoyed the Delta One service to Frankfurt!

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

want Old Course tee times in 2014?

18th Fairway at St. Andrews

If the Old Course at St. Andrews is still on your bucket list, here are three options to get tee times, but you must act this week.

1. One of my preferred suppliers, Premier Golf - Wide World of Golf, has a limited number of Old Course tee times still available for late July and early August (after the Open).

2. There are limited "Tour Operator Trade" times that can be accessed by Premier Golf. The application deadline on these times is Tuesday, January 7, at 5 p.m. EST.

3. You can apply for direct times via the St Andrews Links Trust which will be accepting accplications beginning on Wednesday, January 8, at 9 a.m. EST. Do not send early or you will be eliminated from consideration.

To apply for options 1 or 2, please contact me, or email Paul Schmidt, referencing David Ourisman of Brownell Travel (and copy me).

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

before you go | travel checklist

Kevin McCallister, accidentally left at home
when his family left for Paris. 

Forget anything?

Have you ever left on a trip and wondered, when you were halfway there, if you forgot something important (like turning off the oven ... or even remembering to bring all your kids)? While many folks swear by the principle of spontaneity, lots of us like to make lists. If you're one of those, here's a new resource that might come in handy. Click on the link to download a 2-page version of our Brownell Travel Checklist.

This travel checklist has a bunch of practical tasks, starting well before you actually leave on your trip, that you might not otherwise think of until you're already on the plane, halfway across the Atlantic. I suspect the list's author had a sense of humor. One of the "day of travel" checklist items is "sedate children." Download and use if the travel checklist useful for you!

What's your best story of something you forgot to bring on a trip? Drop me an email, and I'll publish some of the most amusing stories I get!


travel checklist (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

holiday wishes from Brownell

An interesting holiday card, showing the development of our logo over the past 125 years (Brownell is one of the oldest travel agencies in the United States). What's next? Not allowed to say, but I do notice the big red question mark… Let me pass along my own holiday wishes and best wishes for the next 125 years.


Brownell Travel (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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use a travel agent or "wing it"?

A recent question on the Europe Forum on fodors.com was written by a traveler going to Italy for the first time. Her question: should I use a travel agent or "wing it" on my own? ... What are the pros and cons?

Virtually every response offered the advice to plan the trip herself. In fact, Fodors exists as a resource for do-it-yourself trip planners and it serves as an excellent source of information. For a lot of travelers, researching and planning an itinerary can be an incredibly enjoyable experience, but this is not the answer for everyone. Here's the answer I posted (slightly edited):


No one has addressed the other side of the question... It can be invaluable to work with a travel consultant with expertise on Italy, to have an experienced professional ask about the kind of experience you'd like to have, clarify the kind of accommodations you like (and dislike), and brainstorm the attractions you'd like to visit. Working with a travel consultant will save you many hours of research - as well as the hassle of communicating with multiple hotels. You'll get a well-planned itinerary that makes sense for you and that works, given the timing and constraints of your trip. You can also arrange some unique experiences not available to the general public.

A good travel advisor will charge you a trip planning fee — perhaps $150 for a one-week trip or $300 for a two-week trip — to compensate for the significant amount of time this professional will spend working on your trip. A planning fee paid to the right travel advisor will be the best investment you may make. In return, you will receive an attractive, well-designed, totally customized itinerary with all the essential details of your trip documented.

While you can certainly book your own hotels, a travel consultant can book the same hotels, and you won't pay a penny more. The travel agent will be commissioned by the hotel (not paid by you), and you will be free of looking after all the details yourself. And, in the case of many luxury hotels that are members of Virtuoso, a Virtuoso travel advisor will provide you with complimentary amenities such as free breakfasts, upgrades, and even lunches or dinners. You get the benefit of the buying power of the world's largest luxury network.


The bias on Fodors is to "do it yourself," and that's fine. My point is a simple one: the right travel consultant can save you time and money and add so much to your trip to Italy. There are some real Italy experts out there who are worth their weight in gold. One recommendation? Ellen Craig, my friend and colleague with Brownell Travel.


Virtuoso travel advisor (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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