April 30, 2007
It's time to sked that summer vacation, so this week we're checking out the season's hotspots, as seen by three high-end travel magazines - plus a newbie. They're chockfull of cool tips, but sadly their tone does nothing to dispel the reputation of the ugly American traveler. Too bad.
National Geographic Traveler unveils a tidy makeover that is fixated on story hooks that, well, just don't work for us. First up is "America's Tuscany" on how California's wine country can be passed off as the swarthy region of Italy. California's hills are parched and brown like arid Tuscany's, with wine aplenty and great local goat cheese. And folks, that's where the similarities end. Next, NGT tells us Zambia's back country and safari business offer up "The Last Real Africa" - before a tourist boom sparked by such reporting puts an end to that. Meanwhile, a choice unreality piece: "Finding True Florida" assumes there was one. Elsewhere, a story touts the ancient art form of authentic Persian (Iranian) rug making, some of which has shifted to safer Turkey.
Condé Nast Traveler thinks big in its special report issue: "Where You Can Stay to Change the World." That lofty goal isn't always apparent in its wrap-up on the world's hottest new hotels and spas. Perhaps tourist bucks eventually do help downtrodden local economies. Another piece for the moneyed travel crowd is a ranking of 20 fantastic places around the world to see before they collapse, perish or sink into the sea. The threatened treasures include Azerbaijan's medieval palaces, parts of Brazil, Budapest, Borneo - and the Everglades. Meanwhile, another spread sends food critics to 30 countries to review 95 new restaurants from Bombay to Reykjavik, with dishes costing from $1 to $200 for shark fin soup. (The cheap one? at Beijing's Jiumen Xiochi; the pricey one, Bangkok's Breeze atop a 52-story skyscraper.)
Travel + Leisure revisits Europe yet again. While we never tire of Europe, there seemed something not quite fresh enough about T+L's take. First, the layout confounded - with special inserts and advertising sections - and the paper stock seemed unaccountably rough. (Not sure if this amounts to a drop in quality or that it justs seemed lacking in its big glossy spreads.) Still, there are good tips on where to stay, eat, shop and sightsee in Paris, London and Rome. The great new affordable European find section, with some hotels priced below $200, was especially welcome given the recent strength of the euro against the dollar.
City is a lifestyle magazine for class-conscious jet setters. As such, it devotes as much energy to fashion, food and design as it does to travel. Sometimes it does this to hilarious effect, like the suggestion to pack a gold lame vest made by Patagonia for the trip to Patagonia. ("Your fellow travelers won't be able to take their eyes off you as you make like a beacon on the rough glacier treks.") When it comes to travel, the magazine cares more about uncovering the trendiest restaurants and boutique hotels than offering cultural or geographic insights.
