world reviewer
Elliott
Member statistics
- Member since
- 20th January 2009
Christopher Elliott has been called one of the world’s leading travel experts.
But his focus isn’t on the destination, or even the journey, but on the tools you need for a successful trip.
No other journalist has his depth of knowledge when it comes to offering practical travel advice, useful strategies and helpful tips.
Elliott is National Geographic Traveler magazine’s reader advocate and writes the nationally syndicated Travel Troubleshooter column, which appears in more than 50 U.S. newspapers and Web sites.
He also pens a popular weekly travel column on MSNBC.com.
Elliott is a prolific blogger, filing daily dispatches about consumer travel on his Web site and about general travel industry issues for Tripso.
He’s also one of the most sought-after public speakers in the country on subjects ranging from travel to blogging and social networking.
Elliott's activity
- 16 Nov 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post “Royal Caribbean should change its name to Pirates of the Caribbean”
A word of warning to anyone taking a cruse: Don’t trust anyone with your valuables..."
- 15 Nov 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Worst. Honeymoon. Ever.
Adam Salamon’s honeymoon did not go well. His all-inclusive resort wasn’t what he expected. The food was lousy, the staff was rude, there were bed bugs and his travel agent didn’t care, he claims."
- 11 Nov 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Queen Mary’s little gas problem
When Mel McBeth and his wife booked a cruise on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 last year, they weren’t expecting any additional charges. But that’s exactly what they got when the cruise line helped itself to another $180, which it claimed was a fuel surcharge, on"
Elliott wrote a blog post Victim of seatback police: “It felt like we had somehow landed in a World War II movie”
Beware of the airline seatback cops. They recently nabbed Cheryl Smith, and they could be coming for you."
- 08 Nov 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post 7 ways to find excellent customer service on the road
When I think of great customer service, I remember Alamo."
- 06 Nov 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post They stepped up to the plate and overpaid for my hotel — now what?
Dale Nielsen did everything he could to confirm his Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu. He booked the trip through an online agency that offered a notification of flight schedule changes. He called his airline."
Elliott wrote a blog post Sky Harbor’s luggage scandal: Who’s to blame for a thousand stolen bags?
The Unclaimed Baggage Center would have to be ten times its size if every piece of lost luggage ended up there."
- 02 Nov 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Banks, airlines deserve no credit for card tricks
For years, I’ve been telling travelers to pay with plastic and so have my buddies in the vacation punditry business."
- 31 Oct 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post An unmade bed — and no place to go
When Erin Hott checks into her hotel, she's shown to a room with an unmade bed. When she asks for clean sheets, an employee tells her they can't change her linen until the next day. And if she doesn't like it, she can find another hotel, but she'll still"
- 27 Oct 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Do-good passenger slams elite seatmate in open letter
“I’m sorry your Silver Elite status on Northwest Airlines didn’t qualify you for a first-class upgrade on your recent flight from New York to Minneapolis,” Kevin Winge quips. “All of us, your fellow passengers, shared in the incredulity you expressed so v"
- 25 Oct 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post More than half of air travelers would fly with the flu to avoid a change fee
A disturbing new poll says 51 percent of air travelers say they’d rather fly while infected with the flu than pay a $150 airline change fee."
- 24 Oct 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Claim denied on a terrorism technicality
My husband and I were scheduled to visit India last Thanksgiving, the day after the horrific terrorist event began. British and Americans were being singled out and murdered, hotels were being burned, and threats were made of hijacking and attacks on airp"
- 19 Oct 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Booking an airline ticket online for the holidays? Read this first
Here’s a cautionary tale for anyone buying an airline ticket for the holidays, and a little advice: Pay attention your bank account balance. And be patient."
- 16 Oct 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post If fuel costs are under control, then why are airlines stalling?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has some fresh numbers this morning that suggest airlines are no longer spending a fortune on fuel. Last August, domestic carriers spent an average of $2.02 per gallon on fuel — up from $1.90 a gallon the previous m"
- 12 Oct 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party rocks
The Mouse can do Halloween. For years, my family has been partial to SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular. The candy was abundant, the activities were fun, and the price of an annual pass was affordable."
- 11 Oct 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Why 2010 will be the year of the travel deal
If you thought the travel bargains were unbelievable this year, just wait until 2010."
- 29 Sep 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Which air travelers do you dislike the most?
"The ones that smell bad, according to a new poll by Travelocity. Fellow travelers with poor hygiene were called the “most disliked” in the survey, with a total of 45 percent of respondents calling out the unwashed masses."
- 28 Sep 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post “Flabbergasted” airline passenger asked to pay $15 receipt fee
When it comes to airline fees, nothing is off-limits. Just ask Jason Fogelson."
- 27 Sep 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Air Chapter 11: 5 tips for surviving the bankrupt skies
If I were a bettin’ man, I’d put some money on a big airline filing for bankruptcy protection in the not-too-distant future."
- 20 Sep 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post 5 insider strategies for avoiding a hotel billing error
The first Dave Howell lives in England, where he works as a manager for an export company. But when he checked into the Denver Marriott City Center, he found that the hotel had confused him with another guest that happened to share his name."
- 15 Sep 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Hey travelers, who owns your Internet phone call? Hint: it may not be you
Internet-based telephony services like Skype and Google Voice are a lifesaver for travelers, who can make reliable and inexpensive voice and video calls from almost anywhere on the planet. But who actually owns the data from these calls?"
- 14 Sep 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Socked for my friend’s single supplement
Question: I need your help getting a refund for a single supplement that I don’t think I should have to pay. With a friend, I recently booked an Africa trip through Overseas Adventure Travel. We’re both in our mid-60s, so I bought trip insurance."
- 28 Aug 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post “Could the airlines have a new trick up their sleeves?”
I love a good conspiracy theory as much as the next consumer advocate. So when Eric Smith contacted me with evidence he said suggests the airlines are trying to pull a fast one, I paid attention."
- 24 Aug 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post 5 secrets for avoiding sky-high cell phone bills on the road
When it comes to “gotcha” fees, the cellular phone industry makes travel companies look like rank amateurs."
- 17 Aug 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post And the award for America’s worst hotel goes to
It’s too close to call. A review of several “worst of” lists suggests there’s a high concentration of awful hotels in the New York area, with one or two standouts outside of Gotham. The bad properties are also likely to be owned by one chain."
Elliott wrote a blog post Blocked from checking in – but charged anyway
Gabriel Medina can't reach his hotel in New Orleans because there's a police barricade in front of it."
- 12 Aug 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post How to get rid of a foreign transaction fee on your bill
Just before the latest credit card bill was signed into law a few months ago, I predicted banks would start charging transaction fees for purchases made through an international company. I hate it when I’m right."
- 06 Aug 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post My $800 Mistake
In just a few days, the next phase of TSA’s Secure Flight initiative goes into effect, which streamlines the watchlist matching process and requires air travelers to give the government more information about themselves."
- 03 Aug 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post 7 ways to avoid checked baggage fees
Like just about every other airline passenger this summer, Elizabeth Rodgers wants to avoid any unnecessary fees. So on a recent flight from Los Angeles to Boise, Idaho, she tried to carry all of her luggage on the plane."
Elliott wrote a blog post Can the government regulate fees for checked baggage?
In a recent column about luggage, I suggested that a simple rulemaking by the Transportation Department could compel airlines to include one piece of checked luggage as part of the base fare. I recommended that readers write the DOT to let it know they su"
- 27 Jul 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post A true story about the power of nice
When I arrived at Gate K9 at O’Hare yesterday, it wasn’t a pretty picture."
Elliott wrote a blog post Your airline ticket’s no good here
Elliott, I need your help getting my money back for a plane ticket I had to pay for twice."
- 26 Jul 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Hotwire’s Bason: “I don’t expect these prices to last”
Clem Bason is the president of Hotwire.com, the discount travel Web site. I asked him about the outlook for bargains in the second half of the summer, and to address some of the consumer complaints about so-called “opaque” travel sites."
- 21 Jul 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Too much luggage + too short connection = “total nightmare” flight on Delta
Vivian Rouleau missed her connecting flight to Akron, Ohio, for because of baggage. Not hers, but everyone else’s. Worse, her airline didn’t seem to care about the resulting connection problem, even though it seemed to be entirely preventable."
- 20 Jul 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post 5 secrets travelers must know when dealing with a collection agency
It wasn’t John Martellaro’s fault. His rental car’s registration had expired, so he was pulled over twice and ticked on his way to the Philadelphia airport. “Clearly, that was Hertz’ responsibility,” he says. “Not mine.”"
- 13 Jul 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Should the travel industry end its war on smokers?
Haven’t smokers suffered enough already?"
- 02 Jul 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Expert reveals best Independence Day parties in America
Laid off from his corporate job, Guerriero used his severance pay to fund a cross-country trip to find the best parties in America."
- 01 Jul 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post How badly to you hate the middle seat? New survey says you’d rather visit the dentist
"More than half of of Americans would rather go to the dentist than sit in the middle seat."
- 30 Jun 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Bizarre new car rental trick: an airport fee for a non-airport rental
When it comes to fees, never underestimate the car rental industry’s creativity. If you do, you might miss the six percent surcharge that Avis slipped on Monica Huchro’s bill last week."
- 29 Jun 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Doggone airlines! 4 reasons pets shouldn’t fly
At just two pounds, Natalie Maldonado’s teacup Chihuahua weighs less than her purse."
- 25 Jun 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post “Pay an additional $800 or you can’t board the ship”
Timing is everything when you pull a bait-and-switch. Most of them happen just before or after the purchase – an “oops-the-price-isn’t-available” or a “sorry-did-we-forget-to-mention-a-fee” stunt."
- 22 Jun 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Children in first class? 3 suggestions for the kids ‘up front’
The most embarrassing moment of my life? That’s easy. Our son, Aren, had just turned one and we were flying from New York to London on an airline whose name I’ve promised never to mention."
- 17 Jun 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Kids on a plane! 5 fixes for unruly junior passengers
"Kids on a plane. No four words incite more acrimonious debate among air travelers. Not “your flight is delayed.” Not “here’s a new fee.” Not even “snakes on a plane.”"
- 10 Jun 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Missed your flight? Your airline may help — if you know what to ask for
If you’re delayed on your way to the airport because of a summer thunderstorm, you might think you’re out of luck. Most airlines now gladly charge you a full walk-up fare for the next flight when you don’t get to the gate on time..."
- 04 Jun 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Yes, the name on your airline ticket can be changed!
For years, we’ve been told that names on airline tickets can’t be changed. Never, ever. Wouldn’t be safe."
- 02 Jun 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Is the TSA “trying to scare me into providing personal information”?
Secure Flight. Just the mention of those two words is enough to confuse, frustrate or frighten the average air traveler. As in, “The Transportation Security Administration’s new Secure Flight program will require you to … (insert name of ridiculous new po"
- 01 Jun 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Vacation-phobia: Top 5 travel fears
When Robin McMullin heard about the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, her heart sank. She had planned to celebrate her graduation from nursing school with a trip to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun."
- 25 May 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post New rule: 3 travel policies that should be revived
Fumiko Seguchi did everything by the book on her recent flight to Tokyo. She confirmed her departure 24 hours in advance. She secured a seat assignment. And she arrived more than two hours before departure."
- 19 May 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post EU commissioner on airline Web sites: “There is more work to be done”
First, the bad news: European airlines still routinely deceive customers when it comes to air fares, according to a new report by the EU. But there’s also good news — it’s not happening as often, thanks to tighter government regulation."
- 18 May 2009
Elliott wrote a blog post Dot bomb! How to handle online travel purchases gone bad
The roundtrip airfare from Brussels to New York on the European online travel site eDreams was €337 — until Alisa Schlossberg clicked on the “buy” button. Then it jumped to €592, creating an eNightmare."
