The Travel Detective Flight Crew Confidential: People Who Fly for a Living Reveal Insider Secrets and Hidden Values in Cities and Airports Around the World

PETER GREENBERG

1 Where are the tips?
I will call this book TD2, a sequel to the blockbuster, "The Travel Detective." Supposedly, the tips are submitted by air crew members (pilots and attendants), although the text appears in first-person format with Peter Greenberg as the author. TD2 has 370 pages of comments and tips on where to shop, dine, and visit in a couple dozen domestic and international cities; 24 in U.S. and Canada, 25 overseas. The section for each city has airport tips and city tips. A section with honorable mention cities (5 U.S. and 13 overseas) includes more listings.

Like the first book, the first item I looked up in the Index was incorrect; a misspelling in this case. I tried to not let that influence my impression of the book. Detectives are usually meticulous with their work and uncover/reveal useful information. Like the first book, however, the secrets in TD2 are few and far between. TD2 is just a listing of places to shop, eat, and get serviced. By the way, there are an inordinate number of "best" manicure and massage spots. If you crave the inside scoop on the best U.S. manicure spots, as suggested by a few flight attendants, then I suggest TD2. There are better choices for travel information, however. For instance, follow the suggestions of each city's freebie paper, with annual "bests" selected by the readers (residents).

TD2 is useful for those who desire to follow in the footsteps of air crew members or craves air crew recommendations for dozens of cities around the world. Anyone who does travel to dozens of cities would likely find little use for TD2 and would consult other sources for tips and advice. It is worth checking TD2 out from your local library.

Reviewed September 2002 by Charles McCool at LowerAirfares.com

2 So, ask someone...
like the flight attendant, or even better the person at the car rental stand. Many of the tips here are okay, I guess, but certainly anyone's who's an experienced traveler already has a few "gems" that they frequent whenever they find themselves in a certain city. If you are an infrequent traveler, or are simply a little shy about asking advice from others; you might benefit from this book. Also, its size is ideal to fit into a carry-on bag/backpack. Worth reading.

3 i will never fly without this book!!!
i read the first Travel Detective. It was an essential piece of my carry-on baggage from then on. It's saved me hours at airports and hotels, and it's saved me money. This book is for destinations what Travel Detective was for the finesse of travel. And who better to tell me than the pilots and the flight attendants themselves? I've already tried some of the tips in both Toronto and New York, and they really really work. Everyone who flies knows it's not that much fun anymore, but Flight Crew Confidential gives me tangible hope that while getting there may no longer be half the fun, you can still survive quite well when you get there. Now, i pack BOTH books when I travel!!

4 Pretty good book for the experienced traveler
Fairly informative book for people who have some spare time or have already been to these places mentioned in the book and want to explore the unique establishments in each city. Best italian eatery, best little bookshop, best spa, etc. It also includes some great airport tips.

However, for most travelers (like myself), I am not driving out of my way to drop off my clothes to be dry cleaned @ a recommended dry cleaners chain in Las Vegas, or go to some kickboxing joint in Houston, or go get my hair done @ a hairdresser joint in Cairo, Egypt. Get Real!!!

Take my advice: Buy "The Travel Detective: How to Get the Best Service and the Best Deals from Airlines, Hotels, Cruise Ships, and Car Rental Agencies" book and that is all the info you will need to survive in today's traveling environment.