The ugly tourist (and how not to be one)
I’m going to be brutally frank. Many Americans find their trips to Europe suffer because they’re treated like “ugly tourists.” But those who are treated like ugly tourists are treated that way because they are ugly tourists. They aren’t bad people, just ethnocentric (and there are plenty of tourists from other countries who also qualify as “ugly”).
11 days, 10 nights in MYANMAR. Departures September-December 2017. Group limit, 24. Highlights: Transfer from Yangon to Pyay to board 44-passenger Scenic Aura for Irrawaddy River cruise/in Bagan, Shwesandaw Pagoda/colonial buildings in Thayetmyo/Minhla Fort/Mya Tha Lun Pagoda on Naguttama Hill/Youqson Kyaung teak monastery/Myinkaba, known for lacquerware. $4,645-$5,645 ppdo. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours (Boston, MA; 855/517-1200, www.scenicusa.com).
12 days, 11 nights, July 28-Aug. 8, 2017. Highlights: In Colombo, Pettah Market, Dawatagaha Mosque, Wolvendhal Church/Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage/5th-century rock fortress Sigiriya/ruins of Anuradhapura/Minneriya National Park elephant migration/Dambulla rock cave temple/Kandy Esala Perahera festival/gardens at Peradeniya/tea factory in Nuwara Eliya/safari at Yala National Park. Land, from $3,085 ppdo. Single supp., $850. Ceylon Express International (Huntington Beach, CA; 800/423-9566, www.ceylonexpress.com).
16 days, 15 nights, Nov. 26-Dec. 11, 2017. Group limit, 4-10. Highlights: In New Delhi, Qutub Minar, 16th-century Humayun’s Tomb/game safaris in Kaziranga National Park, home to one-horned rhinos/in Sivasagar, former royal sports pavilion Rang Ghar/former headhunters in Lungwa village/in Nagaland, two days at Hornbill Festival/fly to Kolkata/Sundarbans National Park, home to tigers, monitor lizards. $6,395-$7,450 ppdo (per group size). Single supp., $2,325. Journeys International (Ann Arbor, MI; 800/255-8735, www.journeysinternational.com).
8-day, 7-night, “moderate-level” trek in ITALY, Sept. 29-Oct. 6, 2017 & April 22-29, 2018. Group limit, 10. Highlights: Travel from Naples airport to ruins of Pompeii/in Paestum, Greek temple ruins/Valle delle Ferriere Natural Reserve/9th-century Amalfi Cathedral/Positano/hydrofoil to Capri/Punta Campanella. From €3,475 (near $3,720) ppdo. Single supp., €350 ($381). Caspin Journeys (65 Randall Rd., Kenilworth, England, CV8 1JX, U.K.; in US & Canada, 800/908-1980, www.caspin.com).
9-day, 8-night rail journey on Golden Eagle Danube Express, Dec. 28, 2017-Jan. 5, 2018. Highlights: In Budapest, HUNGARY, Buda Castle, Matthias Church/in Keszthely, Baroque Festetics Palace/in Vienna, AUSTRIA, waltz lesson, New Year’s dinner at city hall with Wiener Hofball Orchestra, fireworks/in Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC, 9th-century castle, astronomical clock. Cabin, $7,495-$12,595 ppdo or $11,295-$21,095 single.
9 days, 8 nights in GERMANY, Sept. 30-Oct. 8, 2017. By private coach. Highlights: In Berlin, Brandenburg Gate, Royal Porcelain Factory, Charlottenburg Palace/in Potsdam, Dutch Quarter, Sanssouci Palace/in Dresden, Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace porcelain collection/Meissen Porcelain Factory/in Selb, Rosenthal Museum/in Munich, Baroque Nymphenburg Palace. $3,395-$4,495, ppdo. Single supp., $795. Academic Travel Abroad (Washington, DC; 800/556-7896, www.academic-travel.com).
7-day, 6-night tea-focused tour in ENGLAND, Sept. 15-21, 2017. Group limit, 14. Highlights: At Newen’s in Richmond, “Maid of Honour” cakes and tea/Kew Royal Botanic Gardens/Westminster/Kensington Palace & Gardens/UK Tea Academy/Chelsea Physic Garden/in Greenwich, Cutty Sark tea clipper/Michelin-star dining at Indian restaurant. $4,350 per person, double occupancy (ppdo). Single supp., $1,200. Harney & Sons (Millerton, NY; 888/427-6398, www.harney.com) and Onward Travel (Walden, NY; 215/272-9968, www.onwardtravel.co).
In April 2016, I retired from my job of 15 years. My friend Jessica had retired a few months before. Like me, she has a passion for travel.
Brazil borders on 10 other countries. On the South American continent, only Chile and Ecuador don’t share a border with Brazil.