Media reels: Lonely Planet author fraud
Am I outraged? Am I reeling? Am I surprised? No, no and no. But as a travel writer, and a former Lonely Planet guidebook author, it’s impossible for me to keep blogging away about luxury travel on a budget (my next post) and ignore the dozens of headlines in the global media over the last days following pre-publicity for Thomas Kohnstamm's book 'Do Travel Writer's Go To Hell? (Random House, due for release 22/4/08)'. Have you seen these? Confessions of a Travel Writer Rattle Execs at Lonely Planet (The New York Observer, 9/4/08); Journalism on a Shoestring (Outside magazine, April 08); Shocker: Lonely Planet Writers Accept Schwag (Guest of a Guest blog, 10/4/08); and this weekend: Lonely Planet writer says he made up part of books (Reuters); Lonely Planet reeling after author's fraud (www.news.com.au); Travel writer tells newspaper he plagiarized, dealt drugs (on CNN.com); Lonely Planet rocked by claims of free trips, plagiarism (Courier Mail, Australia); Lonely Planet rocked by author fraud (National Nine News/NineMSN); Lonely Planet's Bad Trip (The Daily Telegraph/Sunday Telegraph, Australia); Lonely Planet Rocked By Fraud Scandal (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age); A travel writer on a not so lonely planet (Telegraph, UK); and 5 Reasons to be outraged by the Lonely Planet fraud (Gadling travel blog). There was also a fascinating (for different reasons) discussion on Lonely Planet's online travel community forum Thorn Tree: Lonely Planet Author's Fraud and comments on the Colombia guide. As I haven't read the much-discussed book yet, I can't comment on the content. But like many writers I was initially thrilled to see a fellow author publish what some would consider to be a real book. After all, every travel writer dreams of writing travel lit. (Terry and I are also writing a book about our two years of continuous travel on commissions). But then there was the barrage of headlines and simplistic opinions. Such as the suggestion that one writer's wild behavior and "questionable ethics" imply all travel writers 'research' books this way. And the even more ludicrous claim that this will impact the credibility of travel writing and the integrity of travel writers. Let's face it: every industry has its equivalent of the gonzo journalist. And every industry has its workers who occasionally behave unethically on the job, just as there are organizations that make it easy for workers to abuse the 'system' and managers and staff who prefer to look the other way. Plagiarism? Accepting freebies? None of this is new. While Lonely Planet's policy doesn't allow authors to accept comps or discounts in exchange for positive coverage when on assignment for LP, travel writers from some of the world's most reputable newspapers and magazines frequently travel courtesy of airlines and hotels, and get food, drinks, tours, spas and other activities for free. It doesn't appear to compromise their work. (Or does it? There's a topic for another post.) Some writers are also lazy, writing about places they've never been, and cutting and pasting freely from other stories without acknowledgment; see my previous posts. But the actions of a small percentage shouldn't impact the whole travel writing profession, not publisher nor travel writer.Okay, I admit it, there was one thing that was surprising - apart from the fact that Lonely Planet didn't find any errors in the Colombia guide (or any of Thomas K's other books), so we better make that two - why on earth would Thomas have accepted the Colombia contract and not gone there? The main reason we all work these long hours (12 hour days, 7 days a week, 362 days a year - and I'm not kidding!), for very little pay (that part is true too), is for the love of travel. To get an opportunity to travel and not do so is even more ludicrous than some of claims being made. If you didn't see this article A Job With Travel But No Vacation in 2006, take a read now; note that the story opens with a tale from Thomas' travels.
The image? Note-taking over a lunch break while researching in Ithaki, Greece, two summers ago. Terry is off taking photos of fishermen mending their nets. Now do you see why we do what we do?
Top 5 tips to planning a luxury escape: getting the most out of your hotel
After you’ve decided on your luxe hotel, or narrowed it down to a short list (see previous post), here's how to make the most out of your indulgent getaway: 1. Club access: check on the hotel site to see if there are ‘club’ rooms. While the rate may be slightly higher, you’ll be spoilt by the extras offered. Typically, they include transfers, complimentary welcome drinks, Club Lounge access where breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails are served, luxurious toiletries, complimentary newspapers, Internet access, spa use, and private butler. Lazing around reading newspapers after breakfast in bed is preferable to waiting in line for cold scrambled eggs. Not to mention popping into the lounge for champagne and hor d’oeuvres before dinner.
2. Promotions: also check for special rates. Most hotels offer promotions that represent such excellent value you immediately become suspicious. This is because they’re taking advantage of quiet periods. It may be that a city hotel busy mid-week with business clients is dead on a weekend, so it offers ‘weekend city breaks’ or ‘theatre packages’ including sightseeing tours and tickets to shows. Or a beach resort relying on weekend trade offers fantastic mid-week deals.
3. Romance packages: if there are several offers, opt for the romance package, which may include flowers, canapés, champagne on ice, chocolates, a candlelit bath, in-room breakfast or champagne breakfast, spa treatment, and late check-out. Whether you’re rekindling a romance or not, just enjoy the lavish extras. Plus, if the hotel is really quiet they’ll probably upgrade you to a suite.
4. All-inclusive packages: definitely not something I normally encourage travellers to do - it goes against all my beliefs about travel – travellers on all inclusives rarely leave the resort, don’t see much of a destination and don’t mingle with locals. But on a luxury getaway, you don’t want to leave the hotel! The reason you’re there is to enjoy the place. But not having to worry about money is a luxury, right? One thing you don’t want to be doing is calculating costs the whole time, so if you know up front all meals, drinks and activities are included, you can relax and just enjoy it all. The total figure might seem outrageous, but do the math, it’s generally cheaper than if you had to pay for everything separately.
5. Travel off-season: you’ll find even the most expensive hotels are affordable off-season, but keep in mind that while Venice might be romantic in winter, Dubai is sizzling in summer and few can handle it. This is when hotel rates are lowest though and even the seven star Burj Al Arab is a ‘bargain’ at only $1000 (!) a night over summer.
The pic above is of the plate of scrumptious canapés that welcomed us in our Grosvenor Club Room along with champagne, chocolates, Arabic sweets, and a bowl of fruit at Grosvenor House, Dubai.
Top 5 tips to planning a luxury escape: selecting your hotel
So what should you look for in a luxury hotel, to continue from my last post on luxury travel planning? 1. Rooms: scrutinize the website pics and list of amenities - the longer the better! You want a big bath or jacuzzi, not just a shower, a plasma TV, DVD and CD player or iPOD docking station (BYO music if they don’t have a library), a fully-stocked mini-bar, balcony or terrace, and lots of space. If the room isn’t sumptuous it had better be plush, unless you’re a minimalist, then you’re after style.
2. Facilities: is there valet parking, 24-hour concierge, florist, beauty salon/hairdresser and lobby shop? Are there swimming pools, with a separate pool for adults? Is there a gym, sports facilities, sauna, steam rooms? Is there a spa offering luxuriant treatments? Ask for a spa menu and book treatments in advance. Are there lush gardens for leisurely moonlit strolls? A crèche or child-care services if you’re taking kids?
3. Eating & entertainment: room service is a given, plus a wide choice of eateries so you don’t have to leave the hotel, and a fine dining restaurant is a must. Check if there's a decadent degustation menu or a local specialty that might need to be ordered in advance. Are there chic bars for pre- and post-dinner drinks? A cigar bar for smokers? And a club if you feel like a boogie? Ask for your names to be put on the door-list when you make your hotel reservation.
4. Activities: are there things to do to make the experience extra special? For instance, a cooking course in Italy, yoga lessons in India, elephant training in Thailand, and hot-air ballooning across the desert in Dubai? If the hotel offers tours and day trips, do they include private car and personal guide if you'd like one?
5. Location: is the hotel close to the centre if you're in the mood for sightseeing, shopping or a meal, and if so, does the hotel offer a car? Is the hotel on a beach or lake or does it overlook the desert or mountains? Then book a room with a view and balcony. Are transfers available and included or are you better off booking a car service? Forget taxis on a luxury escape, as you want to start spoiling yourself at the airport. Don’t forget to drop into duty free at Arrivals and pick up a bottle of champagne – just in case there isn’t a cold one on ice waiting for you!
See my next post for how you can get the most out of your hotel choice.
Pictured is the swanky Kempinski Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, again.
Planning a luxury escape
So you're planning a luxury getaway, and this isn't something you do everyday, so where do you start? First, decide on your destination. Are you staying somewhere locally, heading inter- state, sticking to the region, or going to some far-flung destination? Perhaps your budget will determine that. Do some research or simply dream - this trip is about pampering yourself after all. Next, select a hotel. If you’re a fan of travel guides, go for the books that are heavier on top-end and boutique hotels, such as DK, Style City, Luxe, and Wallpaper. Of the hotel booking sites, I find i-escape by far the best for special boutique sleeps - it's the only site to truly tell it like it is. But if you’re after five star ‘brands’ go directly to the hotel's own site as most offer lower rates for online bookings. Once you've chosen a hotel (or have a short-list) then you want to figure out how you can make the most out of the experience and spoil yourself silly. Let's get down to it then! Next posts: tips to luxury trip planning.Pictured? The Swarovski crystal drawer knobs at the Kempinski Mall of the Emirates Dubai, and no, they don't unscrew.
The price of luxury?
It's often said that if you have to ask how much you can't afford it. I don't agree. Luxury travel shouldn't only be for the rich. Everyone deserves to be spoilt and pampered. Especially if it's a special holiday, a honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday for instance. Or simply because you've been working really hard and deserve a decent break. One of the reasons Dubai has become such a hot destination is because it has taken its tradition of Arab hospitality to the extreme. The city treats its visitors like Sheikhs and they respond by behaving like them (as my co-writer Terry often says). If you have to save for that hard-earned holiday and are planning a trip where you intend on spending money like it's going out of style, then you want to know it's going to be worth it, that you're going to be guaranteed a great time, and that it's going to be memorable. Which is a very good reason for travel writers to do thorough first-hand research (as I am here, testing out Al Maha's Bedouin Suite infinity pool for you) and to be more responsible when it comes to giving advice. I simply wouldn't send you to some of the properties 'reviewed' in the various glamping stories I cited in previous posts. So where would I send you?