Comments

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  Allan Lynch January 14, 2010 at 4:39pm

  I once did a 21-day trip which involved staying at 18 hotels. NEVER AGAIN! I never accept a trip that requires more than two hotels in a week. It's too tiring, and wastes too much time.
  
  Like Colin, I also write about the MICE market. If I'm joining a group trip, I make it clear what parts work for my readers, what doesn't and so that's when I ask for an alternative that can work for my readers. But I do that when I get the invitation, so there's time to seamlessly arrange it.
  
  As for the inexperienced writers - they're a hoot. I did a cruise once where the very young editor of a major magazine would say to the paying cruisers: "Isn't it great all the things they do for you? The flowers in my room were nice, the champagne, and now these great binoculars ..' Meanwhile the paying passengers were asking crew why they didn't get these perks.
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  Emma Krasov January 14, 2010 at 10:04am

  Sorry to interrupt an endlessly fascinating discussion about "bad trips" - just wanted to say: Jose, thank you so much for great references to PV experts! I agree with Jennifer - we are better off planning our trips ourselves. Now, with Tripatini resources it's even easier to achieve. El viva!
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  Jennifer Merigan January 14, 2010 at 7:38am

  I have only flown business class twice in 20 or so trips - once was a fluke and one was organised. I still find i write the best articles when i pay and plan trips myself.
  But my absolute pet hate is hotel inspections! If i am not staying at a property i really dont want to inspect it because i dont write about properties i havent stayed at - one trip i did to Mauritius in 7 days we stayed at 5 properties and then did another 6 hotel inspections - it was a nightmare and so hard to get a story angle from because we spent most of the trip either moving hotels or inspecting them!
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  Ed Wetschler January 14, 2010 at 6:29am

  The one part of that story that jolted me the most was the one about upgrades on flights. Before the mid-1990s, we almost always flew First Class--in fact, Business Class was a downgrade.
  Now if they seated me in First Class, I wouldn't even know which fork to use.
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  Susan McKee January 14, 2010 at 5:07am

  Thanks, DPA! And thanks Media Bistro!
  
  I did like the comments about rookies drinking too much on press trips. I've seen that happen more often than I'd like to remember. Come to think of it, it wasn't always the rookies.....
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  David Paul Appell January 14, 2010 at 12:54am

  Regarding the MediaBistro press trips piece and Susan McKee's comment that only paid members could view it, I asked the MB folks for permission to reproduce and they sent me this link, viewable by everyone: http://www.mediabistro.com/avantguild/mbPressTrips.asp
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  Colin J. Holden January 13, 2010 at 9:28pm

  It's interesting to see the comments on press trips... We cover the "business" of business travel and MICE topics globally - and quite often get press invitations that offer nothing to do with what we actually cover. We decline the majority of invitations. In the past we have sent editors on trips where nothing they have been shown is of interest - basically a waste of time and expense for all involved. It is very important that your hosts/you know what is expected from each trip. Make sure any itinerary is detailed and discuss options for coverage before accepting any invitation.
  
  For press trips we are interested in business travel hotels and accommodations; MICE venues; airlines, airports and ground travel infrastructure; incentive travel; cultural and historical travel; corporate profiles; executive interviews; etc..
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  José Balido January 13, 2010 at 9:06pm

  Emma, you may want to approach my friend Vicki Skinner (a.k.a. "Vallarta Vicki," a.k.a. "Sarong Goddess," but that's another story -- she's a wonderful person!) here on Tripatini, she knows PV like nobody's business!
  
  Also, these members have reported they can advise on Puerto Vallarta: Alicia Graciela Ramirez Lorence, Kara Vanni, Carolina Atai, and Walter DeMirci.
  
  For future reference, when you want to find members who can advise on a destination, just click on MEMBERS at the top, then on Advanced Search, and put the destination you're interested in in the "What destinations & travel topics can you advise members on?" field. All members who have indicated their ability to advise on that destination will come up. This is yet another powerful way we can all use Tripatini!
  
  Finally, you may wish to also contact members Teresa Villarreal, director in Miami of the Mexico Tourism Board, and Cessie Cerrato, who handles travel and tourism PR for the Mexico Tourism Board.
  
  Hope this all helps!
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  José Balido January 13, 2010 at 8:51pm

  Seel, I thought if I wanted to do an iPhone app, I'd have to pay some company $40,000 to develop it, and then run the risk of selling 2 copies to my Mom and dog. Since it appears Sutro Media has created a way to "create" the book online, and then they put it on the iPhone App Store, that financial risk disappears. So this could be very interesting, and I don't see why you couldn't do your Guide to Galicia the same way, Inka. What I don't know, since I haven't signed up, is what percentage of the sale price the author gets. Maybe Chelle should blog about her experience creating her iPhone app guidebook (listening, Chelle?). I just think this is very exciting. Who wants to lug a heavy paper guidebook on vacation? I want it on my phone!!
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  Ed Wetschler January 13, 2010 at 8:38pm

  Yes, Jose, I have a thought: That's a damned good tip. Thank you.