booking online | what could possibly go wrong?

Brandenberg Gate (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

A traveler recently shared his experience of an all-inclusive tour to Dublin, London, and Paris booked through an online website. The story is a valuable, cautionary tale in this age of internet shopping. The price looked good, so they bought the trip.

How did it work out? These travelers were extremely dissatisfied. They were sent to a Dublin hotel 45 minutes outside of town. Their Paris hotel was 30 minutes from the center of the city in a sketchy neighborhood. Discrepancies between the printed itinerary and the actual vouchers caused them to miss their train on the Eurostar.

Just because a tour company claims expertise doesn't mean anything. I took a look at their website. Attractive and well-designed, their prices looked good, including round-trip economy air, airport transfers, accommodations, buffet breakfasts, and guided sightseeing. Sample itineraries were available to peruse, and the company specifically mentions its "handpicked hotels." Expertly Designed. Affordably Priced. Discover your dream vacation today, they say, so I put that claim to the test. I pulled up a random "expertly designed" itinerary from their website — Central Europe Vacation.

Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar 

1 night in Frankfurt at the Leonardo Royal Frankfurt or Mercure at Friedrichsdorf
2 nights in Berlin at the Abba Hotel or NH Alexanderplatz Hotel or Holiday Inn Express City Centre
2 nights in Warsaw at the Golden Tulip Warsaw Centre Hotel or Ibis Old Town
2 nights in Kraków at the Hampton by Hilton
2 nights in Budapest at the Novotel Centrum Hotel or Leonardo
1 night in Vienna at the Hotel Kavalier Wien
2 nights in Prague at the Clarion Congress Hotel or NH Praha Hotel
1 night in Munich at the Achat Premium South
1 night in Frankfurt at the Leonardo Royal Frankfurt or Mercure at Friedrichsdorf

Some quick observations... 

9 cities in 14 days means you'll doing a lot of packing and unpacking. You'll spend a lot of time between cities in a motor coach. Where is the time to explore, savor, and enjoy each destination on your own? Two nights in a city means just one full day to experience that destination. One night in a city means you get there in the afternoon and leave the next morning, a total waste. My advice: when planning an itinerary, less is more.

Handpicked hotels? Some google-mapping reveals the "handpicked hotel" in Vienna to be adjacent to the train station, five miles outside the Ring (where everything of interest is found). The "handpicked hotel" in Prague is five miles from the Charles Bridge. No chance to walk and explore. My advice: the top three things to consider when selecting a hotel are location, location, and location. If you're in Berlin, you'll want to be able to walk to the Brandenburg Gate (pictured above)

And what about quality control? Plenty of travelers choose inexpensive tours on the internet, but you're not just buying a tour. You're buying the services of a tour company, trusting them to put together your dream vacation and make sure all the pieces fit. My advice: ask who vouches for that company. If considering an individual travel advisor, is he or she a member of a respected hosting agency? If considering a tour company, is it a member of ASTA, USTOA, and a respected consortium such as Virtuoso? 

You can book a great trip online, if that's your choice, but planning travel is an art ... and stuff can and does go wrong.

copyright (c) 2017 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.

Shrahov Monastery | insider access in Prague

theological library at the Strahov Monastery, Prague, Czech Republic

The Strahov Monastery is a "must see" sight in Prague. During my first visit to Prague a number of years ago, I enjoyed being able to spend time inside the theological library of the Strahov Monastery, so when I returned this October, I planned for a return visit. Note that access to the library is very exclusive; the general public is not permitted inside. If you click on the picture above, you'll be able to see the room in greater detail… and see the tourists "looking in" from the outside, kept behind the velvet rope in the doorway.

Virtuoso guests can see the library from the inside! It's a gorgeous room with rich wood paneling, an amazing frescoed ceiling, and thousands of ancient books. I found it thrilling to stand in the midst of all of this beauty and history. But don't expect to walk up to the ticket booth and buy access… you'll have to arrange it in advance.

Where to call home in Prague? Prague is blessed with three great Virtuoso hotels. The Four Seasons Prague is near the Old Town Square and boasts incredible views over the river toward the Prague Castle when it's lit up at night. Both the Mandarin Oriental Prague and The Augustine are in former monasteries in the so-called Lesser Town. Your Virtuoso travel consultant can save you hundreds of dollars during your stay by providing exclusive amenities at each of the three, including complimentary breakfast for two, available room upgrades, and more.

copyright (c) 2013 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.

traveling to Austria!

from Wiki Commons, photographer Hans Peter Schaefer, http://www.reserv-a-rt.de

I've never been to Austria. I grew up admiring the Austrian composer W.A. Mozart, being a fan of the Sound of Music, and even liking the Blue Danube Waltz — but I've never been there. Now, after well over a dozen trips to Europe (I've lost count), I'm finally traveling to Austria. I'm not sure even what to expect, but as our trip has been planned by our Virtuoso on-site in Austria, I'm confident that we'll have an interesting itinerary, great guides, and access to the must-see attractions during our eight days there.

Our trip begins in Vienna where I'll be staying at Hotel Imperial. After four nights in Vienna (I find it takes a bit of time to get over jet lag - expresso helps!), we'll enjoy an all-day drive along the Danube, eventually landing that afternoon at Schloss Fuschl, a castle on a lake a bit to the east of Salzburg. Our one full day there will be a time for rest and relaxation, enjoying the scenery, and perhaps even indulging ourselves at the spa. Our last two nights will be spent in Salzburg at Hotel Goldener Hirsch.

I'll also be doing hotel site inspections, which will not surprise my readers. While these are all Starwood properties, we'll also get a chance to do site inspections at the other Virtuoso hotels in Vienna and Salzburg. For those who do not know, Virtuoso amenities provide you with complimentary daily breakfast, room upgrades when available, and other valuable amenities, all at the room-only rate that everyone else books online. Just contact your Virtuoso travel consultant.

And after Austria, we're on to Berlin and Prague... Be watching this space during our trip as I update with my own pictures and highlights of the trip.

traveling to Austria (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.

top 10 iconic images in Europe

The Matterhorn, Zermatt, Switzerland

What are the top ten sights in Europe? Abercrombie & Kent Europe recently published five different Ten Ten Europe lists that I will share with you in the next few issues of Travel Horizons. First, here's A&K's opinion of Europe's Top Ten Iconic Images. I've offered some reflections about each destination ... and suggestions on where upscale visitors will want to stay.

1. Eiffel Tower, Paris. This surely is the iconic image of Paris that I first saw when visiting Europe during the year after my high school graduation. Runners up in Paris: Notre Dame and the Louvre. Where to stay in Paris? Four Seasons George V is one of the best hotels in the world, close to the Eiffel Tower, and Le Meurice has a very Parisian feel with a great location to walk to Paris's other major attractions.

2. Colosseum, Rome. Nothing says Rome like the Colosseum and the nearby Forum, and don't miss the Vatican Museum. Ticket lines can be crowded, but you can purchase tickets in advance. Where to stay in Rome? Rocco Forte Hotel de Russie gets the highest accolades, and the Hassler resides at the top of the Spanish Steps.

3. Tower Bridge, London. Much to the chagrin of the investors who bought London Bridge and moved it to Arizona, Tower Bridge is the real thing, and while you're there, don't miss the Crown Jewels. I was also moved by Westminster Cathedral. London's best show (other than the occasional Royal Wedding) is the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. The Dorchester is London's classic hotel, and Four Seasons Park Lane has become an instant new classic after its thorough renovation.

4. Acropolis, Athens. I've never been to Athens, or even Greece, but the Parthenon is the ultimate example of ancient Doric architecture. I also want to visit the Greek islands some day. The best hotels in Athens are the Grande Bretagne and the King George Palace.

5. Kremlin, Moscow. Another place I've never been. Also see St. Basil Cathedral and visit the Tretyakov Gallery and Pushkin Museum. Stay at the recently opened Ritz-Carlton Moscow, right on the edge of Red Square - and we're all awaiting news about the opening of the Four Seasons Moscow.

6. Duomo, Florence. You need to read about the Duomo before you visit it, or you'll miss the significance of what you're seeing. It is the largest brick dome ever constructed - and, amazingly, it was built without the use of scaffolding. You can climb to the top of the dome using the same steps that the builders used to carry their materials up and down. Most of my clients stay at the incredible Four Seasons Florence. I'll be visiting Florence in October, staying at Il Salviatino, and will post my site inspections here. 

7. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona. Barcelona came at the conclusion of my trip to Spain in 2009, and the contrast of Gaudi's architecture to that of the older, traditional Catholic churches in Spain could not be more dramatic. Read my full thoughts here. Also get a tour of Gaudi's apartments and Park Gaudi - and don't miss the Dali Museum an hour north in Figueres. If you want to stay in the center of things, choose the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona - or the Hotel Arts to vacation by the beach (the Club Floor is definitely the way to go here).

8. Charles Bridge, Prague. Prague is a magical city, especially when it's lit up at night. It escaped bombing during World War II and its old world charm has been preserved. Another iconic sight: the Prague Castle lit up at night. You can get a straight-on view from the Four Seasons Prague, or stay at the Mandarin Oriental Prague, a monastery converted into a five star hotel.

9. Matterhorn, Zermatt. If the picture above seems faded, that's because I took it in 1969, 43 years ago. I didn't stay in a five star hotel in Zermatt. Arriving the night before, I had no idea where I was. I slept in a field that night ... and when the sun woke me the next morning, there was the Matterhorn in a cloudless sky — a sight I will never forget! So if you're 18, that's my suggestion of where to spend the night in Zermatt.

10. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh. Scotland is still on my bucket list. Go to Scotland for the castles, the rugged seascapes, and to celebrate the birthplace of golf at St. Andrews. While in Edinburgh, I recommend you stay at Rocco Forte The Balmoral.

How many of these iconic images have you seen? Where do you want to go next? When you've decided, email your Virtuoso travel consultant or Four Seasons Preferred Partner to receive complimentary amenities at every hotel mentioned in this article, including free daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, and extra amenities that add value to your stay.

Top Ten Europe (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 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.

luxury hotels in Prague

Where to stay when visiting Prague? During my recent trip to this magical city in Eastern Europe, I spent three nights at the Four Seasons and visited three other Prague luxury hotels during the course of my stay. If you're looking for a luxury hotel in Prague, Czech Republic, these are my impressions.

Four Seasons Prague (pictured above) features large, comfortable rooms; modern marble bathrooms; and some incredible nighttime river views of the Prague Castle lit up at night. With a prime location on the Vltava River, just a block from the Charles Bridge, Four Seasons has joined existing Baroque, Renaissance, and neo-Classical buildings into the preeminent five star hotel in Prague. Superior and Deluxe rooms provide the large, well furnished rooms we have come to expect from Four Seasons. Large marble bathrooms provide separate walk-in showers and soaking tubs. It is when you get to the more upscale rooms that the character of this hotel really becomes apparent. Premier Rooms look out across the Vltava River, and at night the lighted Prague Castle high on the hill across the river provides a stunning view. Rooms in the Renaissance wing are immense with 12-foot high ceilings with beautiful crystal chandeliers. For a really special WOW, book a Premier One Bedroom Suite. Book Four Seasons Prague through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant for free daily Continental breakfasts and a room upgrade upon arrival, if available.

Allegro, the hotel's restaurant, features cuisine that has won the first Michelin star ever awarded in Eastern Europe. We enjoyed a meal prepared by Chef Andrea Accordi that was both creative and exquisite.

Mandarin Oriental Prague is a recently opened small luxury hotel. With only 99 rooms, it features the contemporary Asian styling that Mandarin Oriental is known for. First built as a monastery in the 14th century, the property has a superb location in the "Lesser Village" of Prague, the oldest part of the city - and quieter at night. The hotel is just a two minute walk from the Charles Bridge. Rooms are attractively decorated and have beautiful bathrooms. However, as only 75% of the bathrooms have both a tub and a walk-in shower, it is essential to make your preference known so that you can be blocked in the appropriate room. Deluxe rooms seemed a bit cramped; I would recommend that most guests book at least a Deluxe Mandarin category ... and ask to be blocked on a floor with higher ceilings. I enjoyed a superb dinner at Essentia, the Mandarin Oriental's Asian-European fusion restaurant. When booked through Virtuoso, you will receive a complimentary daily buffet breakfast and a room upgrade if available upon arrival.

Pachtuv Palace is a member of Mamaison Hotels and part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the world. A solid 4-star hotel housed in a Baroque mansion, Pachtuv Palace offers large rooms, some of which offer laundry facilities and kitchenettes. Guest rooms offer a lot of local character, some featuring vaulted chapel ceilings, frescoes, and sculptures. Bathrooms are large and modern with single vanities and shower/tub combinations. This is a good value in a good location, on the river and a short walk from the Charles Bridge.

Kempinski Hybernská Prague is a brand new five star hotel at the edge of the Old City. With stunning contemporary styling within a neo-Classical building, most of the property's rooms are suites that include a kitchenette, a good choice for families looking for residential accommodations in Prague. Rooms feel a bit cramped, however. Even though there is adequate square footage in the suites, their design divides them into discrete sleeping and living areas, each of which is a bit too small. Rooms on the top floors have dormer windows, and the slanted ceiling (following the roofline) cuts into the cubic space of the room.


Prague luxury hotels (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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Prague | the Jewish museum

When in Prague, you should definitely plan a visit to the Jewish Museum. This is not a traditional museum in a single building. A visit involves walking through the Jewish Quarter of Prague and visiting exhibits in a number of the old synagogues of the city. The Maisel Synagogue is used for exhibition space. The Spanish Synagogue is an incredibly beautiful building currently in use, said to be the second largest Jewish house of worship in the world (just one inch smaller than Temple Emmanuel in New York). The Old Jewish Cemetery is an impressive site with nearly 12,000 tombstones.

The most impressive site in the Jewish Museum, however, is the Pinkas Synagogue which serves as a memorial to 80,000 Jewish victims of the Holocaust from Bohemia and Moravia. The names of these victims have been hand-painted on the walls of the synagogue (see the picture at the top of this article), and the sight of this seemingly endless list of names is an truly awesome experience. In the realization of the brutality of which humans are capable, we are reminded of our capacity for goodness and of the need — especially in these days — to embrace our common humanity. Travel becomes a transcendent experience for me in moments such as these.


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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Prague | unique pasta and pizza restaurant

When you come to Prague, you will of course want to try the local cuisine. I had a great potato soup for lunch one day and an incredible dinner one evening created by the Michelin-starred chef of the Four Seasons' Allegro. But for a very different kind of experience, try Ristorante Pizza Nuevo, part of the Ambiente group of restaurants. It's said that John Travolta loves this restaurant.

Although you can order off the menu, you'll probably want to choose the Degustazione Alla Campania, the "try as much as you can" pizza, pasta, and antipasti buffet. After a sampler plate at the antipasti buffet, the wait staff keeps bringing around all different varieties of freshly prepared pasta and pizza. The atmosphere is fun, the food is delicious (and filling), and you definitely will not leave hungry.

This is not a restaurant that tourists know about, but it's only a 5 minute walk from the main square of Prague. Even at 3 p.m. in the afternoon, the place was filled with locals, always the best restaurant recommendation. Ristorante Pizza Nuevo is a fun, good, and non-fussy pizza and pasta place to enjoy with your family or go out to with friends.


Ristorante Pizza Nuevo (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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Prague | a magical city

"It's like Disney, but it's real."

I was text messaging with my daughter last night from Prague. Through the wonders of internet technology, I was able to download pictures from my camera, edit them in iPhoto, post them in my gallery on MobileMe, and talk with her about them real-time on iChat. After seeing some of the night shots of Prague, she said "it's like Disney, but it's real." That is precisely my own insight about this magical city.

The picture above is taken from within the elaborate library of the Strahov Monastery in Prague. Containing 280,000 titles, these are some of the most fabulous rooms you'll ever see. Off-limits to the general public (the vast majority of tourists can only peer through a small doorway at the far end of the two rooms), our group was able to walk through the library at leisure, look at the ancient books up close, and generally experience these impressive spaces.

One of the most interesting features of the library is a polished antique wooden table; our guide showed us how the table converts into a step ladder that can be used to access books on the higher up shelves. We were also able to see up close the globes and stained glass windows throughout the room and hear explanations of the artwork on the painted ceiling.

How did we get into a place not normally open to the general public? The Virtuoso network includes local experts who can set up exclusive access to special VIP experiences in virtually any destination on earth, giving a whole new definition to luxury travel. Contact a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant to learn what might be possible in Prague — or in any destination you might want to visit.


Strahov Monastery, Prague (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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