the best hotel room I never had

The Matterhorn - (c) 2018  photo taken in 1969 by David Ourisman

I had a conversation yesterday with a client who is near retirement; he's about 4 years younger than I. We were reminiscing about some of the travel experiences we'd enjoyed in our youth. He remembered using a one-month European rail pass to criss-cross Europe, using overnight trains instead of hotel rooms. That reminded me of a non-hotel stay of my own.

One of the very best travel experiences of my life, I spent the night sleeping in a field under just a blanket. It was August, 1969, and we had driven into Zermatt after dark (don't think you can drive into Zermatt now). With no intention of getting a hotel room, we settled into a field just outside the village. It was a dark night, and I really had no idea where I was.

When the sun rose the next morning, I awakened. The first sight I beheld that day was the Matterhorn in a cloudless sky. Awakening to this stunning view in Switzerland was truly one of the best travel experiences of my life. But nowadays, I'd opt for one of the luxury hotels in Zermatt for its creature comforts and Virtuoso amenities.

For those who are interested, the picture above was taken with a Minolta SRT-101 with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. Though a bit faded with age, it helps me remember that brilliant, sunny morning in Zermatt ... almost half a century ago — ouch!

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

what's your return on life?™

What's your return on life?™ is a trademark of Virtuoso, the luxury travel consortium. The phrase alludes to "return on investment" (ROI), one of the key financial ratios that investors use to evaluate the performance of their portfolio. Unfortunately, for most of us, the ROI of our stocks, bonds, and real estate over the past six months has been pretty dismal.

But what about our ROI from travel? While the value of securities can rise or fall, nothing can ever take away the rich "return on life" that travel provides. Travel broadens our horizons. Travel opens us up to experiences of different cultures. Travel brings us face to face with incredible natural beauty. Travel makes possible serendipitous encounters with unforgettable people in faraway places. Travel creates indelible memories.

I'll never forget my first trip to Europe after my high school graduation. Though not luxurious in any way, the memories have stayed with me always: listening to orators at Speakers Corner in London (see my 1969 picture above), seeing many of my favorite Impressionist paintings at the Jeu de Paume in Paris, waking up in a field outside of Zermatt to the sight of the Matterhorn in a cloudless sky (see my 1969 picture at the top). These are experiences that enrich our lives, the return on life that travel alone can offer.

Especially in tough economic times, we shouldn't avoid safe investments that guarantee a lifetime of rich memories. They say buy low, sell high. This is the right time to buy low; there are travel bargains in every corner of the world, compelling values for every budget. This might be the very best time to plan that trip of a lifetime.

As a Virtuoso luxury travel adviser, I can advise you that past [travel] performance is indicative of future results.

Virtuoso luxury travel adviser (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. 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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