Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.

Ed Perkins

Name: Ed Perkins

Occupation: Contributing Editor, SmarterTravel

Hometown: Wilmette IL

Residence:Ashland OR

Website: SmarterTravel

Short Bio: First job: USAF Early: Research in aviation, tourism, and travel. Mid: Founding Editor, Consumer Reports Travel Letter. Now: Syndicated columnist, blogger, consumer advocate. Widower; no kids; one standard poodle

How often do you fly: Every few months

How many countries have you been to: 41

How many continents have you been to: 6 (missed Antarctica)

Favorite American city: San Francisco

Favorite international city: Florence

Least favorite country: Mexico

Favorite World Heritage Site: Westminster Abbey

Favorite airline: JetBlue

Favorite aircraft type: B 777

New category: Interesting/unusual airplanes flown: Boeing 307 (the old Stratoliner, not the 377 Stratocruiser); Comet IV; Sud-Est Languedoc 4; Dassault Mercure; lots of DC3s and DC4s (yes, I am that old)

Aisle or window: Window

Favorite airport lounge: Whichever one I can get in

Favorite U.S. airport: MFR – I love small airports

Favorite international airport: LCY – same

Favorite hotel: Much prefer a good vacation rental

Favorite cruise line: Don’t cruise; no opinion

Favorite island: Hawaii (big island)

Favorite fancy restaurant: Don’t do fancy restaurants

Favorite hole in the wall: Gene & Gerogetti’s in ORD

Favorite fruit: Lime

Favorite food: Veal parmagiano

Least favorite food: Foie gras, avocados

Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground) Cabernet or Merlot

Favorite travel movie(s): Murder on the Orient Express

Favorite travel show(s): No favorite – I get enough travel stuff that I don’t need any more on TV

Favorite travel book(s): Frommer’s

Right now I am reading: Cook’s European Timetable (well, you asked); Aviation Week

Five things you bring on a plane: Pills, Kindle, notebook computer, camera, more pills

What do you always seem to forget: Some paperwork

What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty free store? Nothing – it’s all overpriced, unnecessary, or both

Favorite travel iPhone app(s): VOIP app (haven’t decided which I like best yet)

Most embarrassing/worst travel moment: Carefully schlepped unopened bottle of outstanding red wine (Fixin) in carry-on, gently lowered carry-on to floor while checking out of hotel, turned around to see large red pool spreading from carry-on.

What’s your dream destination: Cool weather, good food, low prices – yeah, sure

Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: SmarterTravel of course; Airline Zone; Consumer Traveler

Best travel tip: The best single way to cut travel costs substantially without sacrificing or lowering standards: book hotel accommodations through an opaque site.

2 Comments On "Travel Style: Ed Perkins"
  1. Tonk|

    seems traveling veteran..

    funniest thing was “most embarrassing moment” :)

  2. naoma4|

    I liked today’s story the best. Woman who does a lot of travel!!!

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