FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Chris Elliott -- can't they find someone better?
Old Dec 20, 2007, 9:25 am
  #14  
BearX220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
Can anyone name a travel writer that is really good?
Paul Theroux, but he's not offering advice on cheap tickets to Denver.

Most of the so-called "travel experts" are either addressing such a broad audience, they can't possibly offer FT-detailed advice... or are in somebody's pocket, whether it's their newspaper, syndicate, or some travel / hospitality provider that has spiffed them with "famliarization trips." Funny how nobody who gets a free cruise, or a free ride on the A380, comes back and slams it.

You would, however, have to be either stoned on acid or living in the last century to advise people to save money by finding a "trusted travel agent." Most storefront travel agents are half-informed or corrupt, and most now charge people to do bookings they can do themselves in half the time. On that point alone Chris Elliott takes himself out of the game. Presumably he had just enjoyed a resort weekend on the travel agent association's tab.
BearX220 is offline