The Perrin Post Travel Blog: Conde Nast Traveler on Concierge.com

How to Maximize Your Port Sightseeing During Your Mediterranean Cruise

Conde Nast Traveler — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:12:24 -0500

It's sometimes smartest to avoid the cruise line's pre-fab group shore tours and hire a private driver and/or English-speaking local guide to pick you up at the pier, take you to the sights you want to see, and then return you to the ship shortly before it sails.

How to Get the Flights You Want with the Miles You Have

Conde Nast Traveler — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:34:23 -0500

I hope everyone's having a happy new year. Mine's been a busy one so far. Since 2010 started I've skiied in Vermont, been to a wedding in Boston, and planned trips to Montreal, Mumbai, and Hawaii all within the next...

How to Cope with Holiday Flight Cancellations, Overbooked Planes, and Other Airline Adversity

Conde Nast Traveler — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:14:00 -0500

If you're hitting an airport this holiday season, you should follow these steps to minimize the damage that flight delays and cancellations can do to your travel plans.

How To Turn Your Hodge-Podge of Miles in Different Mileage Accounts Into a Free Ticket

Conde Nast Traveler — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:36:46 -0500

What to do when you've got a bunch of frequent-flier mileage accounts, yet not enough miles in any one of them? Here are the top ten ways to turn them into a free ticket.

Tips for the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia

Conde Nast Traveler — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:21:35 -0500

A question has come in: "We are going to St. Lucia's Coconut Bay Resort on January 1st. Any tips for our week there?"

Should You Stay Loyal to Your Loyalty Program Or Call It Quits?

Conde Nast Traveler — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:18:22 -0500

When your preferred airline or hotel chain suddenly changes its program rules, devaluing your precious miles and points, at what point do you bail and throw yourself into another program's arms?

Five Ways to Snag the Mileage-Award Seats You Need

Conde Nast Traveler — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:47:00 -0500

How many months before a trip do you have the best shot at nabbing frequent-flyer-award seats? Is there a best day of the week or best time of day to call the airline? Is one city better than another to fly into when you're looking for the greatest award-seat availability? These are some of the questions raised by reader Denise McDonald in her winning entry in the FlyerTalk Challenge.

Are Your USAirways Miles Safe?

Conde Nast Traveler — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:46:00 -0500

Last week's FlyerTalk Challenge yielded ten top frequent-flyer-mile questions that we will be answering here on The Perrin Post over the next couple of weeks. And by "we," I actually mean Randy Petersen -- a.k.a. the world's leading expert on frequent-flyer programs -- and his merry band of mileage mavens over at Boarding Area.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Travelers

Conde Nast Traveler — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:39:44 -0500

Wondering what to get the travelaholic in your life this holiday season? You might grab some ideas from this Associated Press article that compiles gift advice from the likes of Pauline Frommer of the Pauline Frommer guidebooks, Brett Snyder of The Cranky Flier, the gear experts over at Magellan's, and yours truly.

Help Is On the Way for Your Top Ten Frequent-Flyer Problems

Conde Nast Traveler — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:07:00 -0500

Remember a few days ago we introduced the FlyerTalk Challenge? I asked you to share your most frustrating mileage-award problems, and I promised to choose the top ten and get them solved by the world's leading expert on frequent-flyer programs, FlyerTalk founder Randy Petersen, and his team of mileage magicians over at Boarding Area.