The Trazee Book 2016

trazeetravel.com | $4.99 | 2016

THE TRAZEE BOOK ​ AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE WORLD OF MILLENNIAL TRAVEL

PLUS: A CELEBRATION OF THE 2016 THE TRAZEES WINNERS

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EDITORIAL

Age of Exploration

W

elcome to the first issue of The Trazee Book. This special print edition spins off our digital publication, trazeetravel.com, which presents reviews, tips and insights into destinations around the world. From backcountry expeditions through India to luxurious romps around Vegas and everything in between, our extraordinary team of young, passionate explorers brings you the best the world has to offer. For someone like me who enjoys traveling for music festivals and historic landmarks alike, Trazee Travel is a boon. As a publication, we understand our readers have complex interests which range from adventure sports to farm-to-table dining; a stay at a 5-star hotel in the city might be followed with a backpacking trek through the jungle, so we do our best to keep our young, intrepid travelers informed.

If you’re planning a vacation, Trazee Travel proves an incredible resource for picking a destination and figuring out what to do. Our reviews cover the entire span of your trip from the hotel to the airport to restaurants and attractions, in addition to articles on the best and most useful travel gear available. Already have a destination in mind? The Under $100 section offers pre-planned day guides that let you explore a city on a budget, complete with links, prices and photography. Check out a few of these guides on the following pages. Also in this book, we further spin off the website with reports on brands and travel trends of interest to the demographic. We recap The Trazees 2016 winners, announced on trazeetravel.com in July, and we try to define what the 18–35 traveler of today looks like. Don’t miss the best bets for helping finance worldwide expeditions with a look at the best credit cards for travel.

For a further taste of what the web publication offers, the Tips section makes the most difficult destinations a breeze, while Trends covers specific aspects of travel, like Adventure for off-the-beaten-path places to go camping and History, which focuses on the cultural importance of destinations around the world.

After two years of working on Trazee Travel, we are proud to bring our digital brand to the print realm, providing the best in travel news and information at your fingertips. Our team is proud to share its experiences abroad and hopes to make your journey through the world and through life even more fulfilling.

Pleasant journeys!

AKHIL KALEPU, digital coordinator, Trazee Travel

Editor in Chief KIMBERLY KROL kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com Vice President/Digital Director KATIE SKRZEK katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Editor J ANICE HECHT jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor PATRICIA VANIKIOTIS patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com Digital Content Producer DEBRA BOKUR debra.bokur@globaltravelerusa.com News Editor ALLIE MOORE allie.moore@globaltravelerusa.com Intern AMANDA EKSTRAND intern@globaltravelerusa.com

ART Art Director TRACEY CULLEN tracey.cullen@globaltravelerusa.com Staff Photographer CHRISTOPHER P. OTTAUNICK christopher@globaltravelerusa.com Special Events Video Editor VANCE PICCIN

CONTRIBUTORS KRISTY ALPERT MARGARET BACKENHEIMER SUSAN BARNES JOE BAUR RON BERNTHAL BETH BLAIR DEBRA BOKUR J.D. BROWN BRENDAN BYRNE MARK CHESNUT ELLEN CLARK LAURA DAILY SUSAN FINCH EUNICE FRIED LOIS FRIEDLAND MARY GALLAGHER

TERRY GARDNER MARLENE GOLDMAN JACK GUY BECCA HENSLEY MEGAN HILL STEPHEN JERMANOK AKHIL KALEPU ILONA KAUREMSZKY SHARON KING HOGE DALE LEATHERMAN TIM LEFFEL KARIN LEPERI IRVINA LEW FELICITY LONG KIM FOLEY MACKINNON JUSTIN MASTINE-FROST

GREGORY D. MCCLUNEY SHARON MCDONNELL WILLIAM J. MCGEE ALLIE MOORE CHADNER NAVARRO RICHARD NEWTON VICTORIA ABBOTT RICCARDI HOLLY RIDDLE KATHY RODEGHIER BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS STILLMAN ROGERS MEGAN ROWE CARLEY D. THORNELL SUSAN VAN ALLEN ALLISON VOIGTS

For complete bios, visit globaltravelerusa.com

CIRCULATION Specialists JOHN WROBLEWSKI, LOUIE ATSAVES Managers JAYHAWK EVANS, MARK P. FORD, TERESA JACKSON, ANTHONY “SCRAPS” DIMERA Circulation Director MICHELE SHANNON Circulation Manager ANNA PUDZIANOWSKI Research Consultant SHARON STERNE

ADVISORY BOARD

Chairman MICHAEL DONAHUE COO MICHAEL KIELY President CARLOS CAPPUCCIO Executive Vice President GARY OSWALD Senior Vice President JOSEPH PFENDER Deputy Vice President Aviation EDWARD JEFFERSON Deputy Vice President Accommodations STEPHEN DOHERTY Deputy Director Destinations WAYNE TALLMAN Vice President Special Events/Photography CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK Secretary MARK LANE Research Director FRANK LOVERME Treasurer KEVIN RYAN

GENERAL COUNSEL THOMAS F. GOLDMAN

CONTACT US

Find us here, too!

General Inquiries/Issue Requests tel 267 364 5811 Subscriptions tel 818 286 3134 | gbtcs@magserv.com Public Relations KIMBERLY KROL tel 267 364 5811 ext 202 | kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com Letters to the Editor letters@globaltravelerusa.com Reprints JENNA PAYESKO | tel 267 364 5811 ext 212 | jenna.payesko@ globaltravelerusa.com Global Traveler is published monthly by FXExpress Publications, Inc., 310 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, PA 19067. The U.S. subscription rate is $42 for one year, $79.95 for two years, $121.95 for three years.

Postmaster: Please send changes of address to Global Traveler, 310 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, PA 19067

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2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 3

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ADVERTISING

Join the Journey

T

he wait is over — welcome to the first-ever edition of the The Trazee Book! Our smart source web publication for millennials has officially gone to print. Now you have access to everything Trazee in the palm of your hand — and, no, I’m not talking about your smartphone.

From recapping our 2016 The Trazees Awards to describing millennials and their travel trends, rounding up the site’s top Under $100 articles and recommending the best credit cards for millennials, this guide is guaranteed to keep you in the know.

As a millennial and contributor to Trazee Travel, I find constant updates on travel subjects particularly thrilling — with our tips, products, trends, quizzes, events and reviews, your next adventure is practically all planned out. Our network of journalists updates travelers daily with content on topics of unique interest to this particular demographic: From the Barcelona Christmas Market to bachelor parties in Paris, winter cruises or college football tailgates, we cover it all.

Travel is no longer viewed as a luxury but instead as a necessity. With photos and blogs of exotic destinations and adventurous excursions flooding social media feeds, it is no surprise travel remains a top priority. Immersing themselves in new cultures, feasting on local cuisine and gaining hands-on experience and recognition, millennials entertain unique travel expectations.

With our staff all millennials, we bring you top-notch information written by millennials for millennials. Whether you are a millennial or trying to understand them, I hope this guide provides insight into one of the most influential generations, as millennials are truly a different breed of travelers. We are excited to share with you our inaugural The Trazee Book and look forward to many more. Bon voyage!

Jenna Payesko, advertising and editorial coordinator

Publisher/CEO FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER tel 267 364 5811 ext 200 fran.gallagher@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Vice President RICHARD T. EVANS tel 267 364 5811 ext 203 dick.evans@globaltravelerusa.com Executive Vice President, Associate Publisher CARLY ALLEN tel 267 495 6287 carly.allen@globaltravelerusa.com Advertising Director BANU YILMAZ tel 215 301 6869 banu.yilmaz@globaltravelerusa.com Account Manager, Western Region AMANDA TOLBERT tel 310 801 1940 amanda.tolbert@globaltravelerusa.com Digital Coordinator and Account Executive/Digital ANGELIQUE PLATAS tel 267 364 5811 ext 210 angelique.platas@globaltravelerusa.com Advertising and Editorial Coordinator JENNA PAYESKO tel 267 364 5811 ext 212 jenna.payesko@globaltravelerusa.com

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES China ALEXANDER GLOS tel 86 21 6095 6570/71 | fax 86 21 6095 6574 aglos@i2i-m.com.cn Egypt CARMEN DOYLE and HASSAN SHEHAB tel 61 0 403866188 carmen.doyle@afrozinternational.com hassan.shehab@afrozinternational.com France, The Netherlands JEREMY PRADERIO-REGIE tel 09 54 20 09 50 | cell 06 07 96 54 15 j.praderio@pema-group.com Germany MICHAELA JUSTI tel 49 69 56 02 01 21 | fax 49 69 56 02 01 23 | cell 49 171 20 29 502 justi@mediasalescompany.de India FAREDOON KUKA

tel 91 22 2925 3735 | cell 91 98200 85045 kuka@rmamedia.com

Japan YOSHIZUMI MIYAKE, MEDIAHOUSE INC. tel 81-3 3222 7811 | fax 81-3 3234 1140 miyake@mediahs.com Malaysia AUDREY CHEONG tel 60 3 7729 6923 | fax 60 3 7729 7115 cell 60 16 270 9420 audrey.cheong@publicitas.com

Find us here, too!

Scandinavia WILL NICHOLSON tel 46 7 68 94 86 02 | will@vision-network.eu South Africa MARGIE OGILVY tel 27 44 384 0800 | ogilvy@mweb.co.za South Korea JEFF HWANG tel 82 31 703 7782 | fax 82 010 6347 9117 gng@gngcom.co.kr Spain LUIS ANDRADE tel 34 91 788 2001 | fax 34 91 395 6396 landrade@luisandrade.com Thailand STEVEN FONG tel 662 651 9273 | fax 662 651 9278 steven.fong@publicitas.com Turkey GURKAN KINACI tel 90 212 559 9670 | fax 90 212 661 7660 cell 90 532 213 0390 | gurkan@divamed.net United Kingdom JOANNA PERCY tel 44 207 286 6048 | cell 44 778 556 3050 joanna@jpmediasales.com Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore PEGGY THAY tel 65 6836 2272 ext 218; 65 9664 4662 peggy.thay@publicitas.com

Mexico FERNANDO PALACIOS OAXACA tel 55 36007718 | cell 0115215555098734 fernando.palacios@borderlinemx.com

CORPORATE OFFICE

310 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, PA 19067 tel 267 364 5811 | fax 267 364 5796

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contents 8

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High Honors Trazee Travel celebrates the 2016 winners of The Trazees.

BY HOLLY RIDDLE

16 Generation of Change

What sets the millennial traveler apart?

BY HOLLY RIDDLE

22 Great Expectations

As millennials explore the world, travel brands cater to their passions and preferences.

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BY MEGAN HILL

26 Under $100

Discover the best ways to enjoy a city on a budget.

COMPILED FROM TRAZEETRAVEL.COM

40 One of a Kind

Millennials spark travel trends in their search for unique experiences.

PHOTOS: © BRYAN GRANT, PIXIL STUDIO, © ANDOR BUJDOSO | DREAMSTIME.COM, © VADYMVDROBOT | DREAMSTIME.COM

BY JACK GUY

46 The Right Rewards

Choose the best travel credit card to suit your needs.

BY BRENDAN BYRNE

46

on the cover trazeetravel.com | $4.99 | 2016

THE TRAZEE BOOK AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE WORLD OF MILLENNIAL TRAVEL

PLUS: A CELEBRATION OF THE 2016 THE TRAZEES WINNERS

COVER PHOTO: © MICHAL BEDNAREK | DREAMSTIME.COM

trazeetravel.com

2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 5

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Tempting Taiwan Explore Taiwan's wealth of culinary and cultural options for a truly diverse travel experience.

From back-alley public art projects to the loftiest institutions and grand downtown performance halls, the Taiwan’s culture truly fascinates as something to be celebrated. The culture thrives with life and variety. No visit to Taiwan is complete without a tour of the National Palace Museum, nestled against a mountain at the top of the Taipei basin. Cultural and artistic treasures, along with the historical collection of more than 700,000 items, await you.

The cultural landscape of the country is uncanny, from the colorful and inspiring fusion of themes displayed throughout Taiwan’s performing arts to the traditional religious and cultural festivals like Dragon Boat Day, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the goddess Mazu’s birthday. These are authentic experiences you don’t want to miss.

Wander the alleyways of Taipei to come across a hand puppet performance. These authentic, elaborately attired characters are charming keepsakes. Or perhaps the personable, quirky Bodhisattva, a handcrafted and pure gold-robed statue, suits your tastes better.

Taiwan, known for its 300-plus rapid service night markets, delights hungry city dwellers with its staggering variety, innovative recipes and fresh ingredients. Dive into one of life’s most satisfying

adventures and inspire your senses by tasting your way from stall to stall. Taiwan is filled with around-the-clock delights, from fresh tropical fruit, oyster omelets and beef pepper cakes, all reasonably priced.

Small eats, essentially snacks but with more variety and flavor, attract travelers.

Favorites include scallion pancakes, fried chicken and bubble tea — find these gastronomical delights from dusk till dawn. If you’re in town for a large gathering or an intimate night out, delve into fresh seafood, soup dumplings and everything in between.

Whether you enjoy hot over cold or sweet over salty, you can always find a scrumptious bite in Taiwan. Be sure to indulge in the yin yang hotpot, spicy and mild broths in the same hotpot; braised pork rice, succulently cooked pork stewed in soy sauce and spices; tart, tangy, sweet and refreshing mango ice; pineapple cakes, the perfectly tangy, chewy and pineapple-filled buttery pastry; and the aromatic, full-bodied and chewy pearls of tapioca used to create the internationally popular bubble milk tea.

Taiwan welcomes everyone, no matter your taste — on the ground with aboriginal elders, admiring

the inspiring natural beauty of snow-capped peaks and butterfly valleys, exploring the intricate temple architecture or relaxing with a cup of Taiwan tea, culture lives here. Discover the true treasures of the island.

PARTNER TOUR OPERATORS AAvan Vacation aavanvacation.com Affordable Asia www.affordableasia.com Majestic Vacations www.majestic-vacations.com SITA World Tours www.sitatours.com Super Value Tours www.supervaluetours.com www.taiwan.net.tw

High Honors G Trazee Travel celebrates the 2016 winners of The Trazees.

BY HOLLY RIDDLE | PHOTOS BY BRYAN GRANT, PIXIL STUDIO

8 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 2016

lobal Traveler’s annual Global Business Travel Association reception and second annual award ceremony for The Trazees proved a fantastic success as colleagues and friends gathered in the mile-high city of Denver. Set against the NATIV Hotel Denver’s stylish backdrop, the event celebrated not only another successful GBTA convention but also the second year GT’s sister web publication, trazeetravel.com, honored the biggest names in the world of millennial travel.

Acceptees from a number of world-renowned travel brands were in attendance to represent their companies and take home Trazee Travel’s recognition of their influence and achievements.

trazeetravel.com

Trazee Travel offers a one-stop web publication for millennial travelers aged 18–35, with news, tips and reviews updated daily. The publication accepts reader nominations for The Trazees online, while additional nominations come from the group of intrepid writers and world travelers who make up the site’s contributor team. FX Express Publications, Inc. management selects final winners.

“The second annual The Trazees event and awards ceremony was a great success, with many outstanding industry

trazeetravel.com

representatives in attendance. The NATIV Hotel Denver provided the perfect setting for an evening of celebration with our esteemed colleagues, as we honored Trazee Travel readers’ and contributors’ favorite travel brands,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler.

The 48th Global Business Travel Association convention welcomed more than 6,500 travel professionals from all over the globe. The 49th convention will take place next July in Boston.

2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 9

1. Jeff Wright, director of sales, North America, Aer Lingus

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2. Demetria Widemand, concessions marketing director, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 3. Marty Grant, director of sales, Element, Aloft and Four Points 4. Daniel Kress, regional vice president of operations, Hertz 5. Larry Ryan, director of sales, USA, Lufthansa 6. Reed Forrester, district sales manager, Delta Air Lines; Jori Sjostrand, sales account manager, Denver, Delta Air Lines 7. Jeffrey Etherington, regional director of sales and community marketing, Alaska Airlines; Jennifer Clark, regional director of sales and community marketing, Alaska Airlines 8. Rafael Lizarraga, chief commercial officer, Posadas 9. Lisa Markovic, company manager, USA, Qatar Airways

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10. Pablo Chiozza, senior vice president, USA, Canada and Caribbean, LATAM Airlines 11. Lourdes Perez, managing director of sales, United Airlines 12. Tiffany Megnath, digital experience manager, web and mobile productions, JetBlue 13. Todd Neuman, executive vice president, the Americas, South African Airways; Damion Rose, director, marketing promotions, South African Airways 14. Olav Glorvigen, director of sales and market development, Star Alliance 15. Geoffrey Heuchling, senior director, B2B eCommerce, Marriott

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1. Ricarda Lindner, director of the foreign representatives office, USA, German National Tourist Office; Marzena Weglowski-Pallazzo, marketing and sales manager, German National Tourist Office

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2. Grigoria Kamaterou, director, Greek National Tourism Organization​ 3. Tricia Smith, senior vice president, events and political fundraising, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, the State Chamber of Commerce; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler

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4 4. Kate Campbell, marketing officer, USA, Qatar Airways; Banu Yilmaz, advertising director, Global Traveler; Olivia Falcione, sales and marketing manager, Global Traveler 5. Sara Jurado, consortia and crew manager, Posadas; Laurie Feder, national accounts manager, Posadas 6. Roberto Cuesta, vice president, sales and marketing, airberlin; Banu Yilmaz, advertising director, Global Traveler; Matthew Jones, director of sales, USA, airberlin; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler

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7. Cedric Bartolini, international account director and corporate travel leader, Mövenpick Hotels; Chris Xenophontus, international account director, U.K. and Ireland, Mövenpick Hotels; Jeannie Porter, international sales director, North America, Mövenpick Hotels 8. Rolando Damas, general manager, North America and Asia, Avianca Airlines; Alp Ozaman, marketing manager, Turkish Airlines

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9. Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler 10. Lourdes Perez, managing director of sales, United Airlines; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler

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2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 11

WINNERS’ CIRCLE a r R en ta l F avor ite C C om pa ny Hertz

FAVORITE FOODIE CITY Portland, Ore.

FAVORITE WORLDWIDE CITY Dublin

FAVORITE EVENT AROUND THE GLOBE 1. Oktoberfest Second Consecutive Year 2. Guinness Toast 3. Sundance Film Festival 4. Full Moon Party 5. Running of the Bulls

FAVORITE WORLDWIDE CITY 1. Dublin Second Consecutive Year 2. Paris .

3. Istanbul 4. London 5. Sydney

FAVORITE SHOPPING CITY/DESTINATION 1. Paris 2. London 3. Dubai 4. New York City 5. Bangkok

FAVORITE DESTINATION WEDDING RESORT 1. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa 2. Ashford Castle, Ireland 3. Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos 4. Penha Longa Resort

FAVORITE NIGHTLIFE DESTINATION 1. Ibiza 2. New York City 3. Rome 4. Barcelona 5. London

FAVORITE HONEYMOON DESTINATION 1. Greece 2. Aruba 3. Bora Bora 4. Paris 5. Cook Islands

FAVORITE FOODIE CITY 1. Portland, Ore. 2. New Orleans 3. Chicago 4. Melbourne 5. Austin, Texas

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FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL 1. Burj Al Arab Jumeirah 2. The Peninsula Beverly Hills 3. The Ritz-Carlton Montreal 4. Hotel Zaza, Dallas 5. Montage Beverly Hills FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN 1. Aloft Hotels & Resorts 2. Element Hotels 3. InterContinental Hotels Group 4. Marriott Hotels & Resorts 5. The Ritz-Carlton

PHOTOS: © ATTILA TATÁR | DREAMSTIME.COM, © ERICA SCHROEDER | DREAMSTIME.COM

FAVORITE COUNTRY 1. Spain Second Consecutive Year 2. Italy 3. Ireland 4. Greece 5. Mexico

FAVORITE LIFESTYLE HOTEL 1. Vida Hotels and Resorts 2. Meliã Hotels & Resorts 3. Andaz 4. Canopy by Hilton 5. Aloft Hotels & Resorts FAVORITE HOTEL WEBSITE 1. Marriott.com Second Consecutive Year 2. Westin.com 3. KimptonHotels.com 4. Hilton.com 5. Starwood.com

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WINNERS’ CIRCLE a r R en ta l F avor ite C C om pa ny Hertz

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN MEXICO Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts

FAVORITE AIRLINE TO SOUTH AMERICA LATAM Airlines FAVORITE HOTEL REWARDS PROGRAM 1. IHG Rewards Club Second Consecutive Year 2. Starwood Preferred Guest 3. Marriott Rewards 4. Hilton HHonors 5. Wyndham Rewards

PHOTOS: © LATAM AIRLNES, © FIESTA AMERICANA

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN LATIN AMERICA 1. Sheraton Latin America 2. Meliã Hotels & Resorts 3. Hilton Hotels 4. Casa Andina 5. Four Seasons FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN MEXICO 1. Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts Second Consecutive Year 2. Rosewood Hotels 3. Westin Hotels & Resorts 4. Live Aqua 5. Camino Real FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST 1. Vida Hotels and Resorts 2. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts 3. Address Hotels + Resorts 4. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts 5. Starwood Hotels & Resorts

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FAVORITE GREEN HOTEL 1. Element Hotels Second Consecutive Year 2. Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica 3. Earth Lodge, Antigua, Guatemala 4. Jean-Michel Cousteau, Fiji 5. Sofitel Hotels

FAVORITE FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM 1. United MileagePlus Second Consecutive Year 2. American Airlines AAdvantage 3. Delta SkyMiles 4. Southwest Rapid Rewards 5. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE 1. Delta Air Lines 2. United Airlines 3. LATAM Airlines 4. Etihad Airways 5. Alitalia

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN NORTH AMERICA 1. Alaska Airlines 2. United Airlines 3. JetBlue 4. Delta Air Lines 5. American Airlines

FAVORITE AIRLINE ALLIANCE 1. Star Alliance 2. oneworld 3. SkyTeam

FAVORITE BUDGET AIRLINE 1. JetBlue 2. Southwest Airlines 3. Frontier 4. Spirit Airlines 5. West Jet

FAVORITE AIRCRAFT TYPE 1. Airbus A380 2. Boeing 777 3. Boeing 787 Dreamliner 4. Airbus A350 XWB FAVORITE AIRLINE WEBSITE 1. JetBlue.com Second Consecutive Year 2. AA.com 3. United.com 4. Delta.com 5. Southwest.com

FAVORITE AIRLINE TO SOUTH AMERICA 1. LATAM Airlines 2. Avianca 3. Aeromexico 4. Aerolineas Argentinas FAVORITE AIRLINE IN EUROPE 1. Aer Lingus Second Consecutive Year 2. Lufthansa 3. Alitalia 4. Turkish Airlines 5. British Airways 2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 13

WINNERS’ CIRCLE a r R en ta l F avor ite C C om pa ny Hertz

FAVORITE CREDIT CARD Venture Card from Capital One

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN AFRICA South African Airways

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN AFRICA 1. South African Airways

Second Consecutive Year 2. Ethiopian Airlines 3. Mango 4. Royal Air Maroc

FAVORITE GREEN AIRLINE 1. Lufthansa 2. Alaska Airlines 3. Aer Lingus 4. Virgin America 5. Delta Air Lines

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST 1. Qatar Airways 2. Emirates 3. Etihad Airways 4. EL AL Israel Airlines 5. Saudi Arabian Airlines

FAVORITE OVERALL AIRPORT IN THE WORLD 1. Munich Airport Second Consecutive Year 2. Singapore Changi Airport 3. Incheon Airport 4. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 5. Reykjavík Keflavík International Airport

FAVORITE ASIAN AIRLINE 1. Korean Air 2. EVA Air 3. Singapore Airlines 4. Cathay Pacific Airways 5. China Airlines

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA 1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Second Consecutive Year 2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport 3. San Francisco International Airport 4. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport 5. Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston

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FAVORITE RENTAL CAR COMPANY 1. Hertz 2. Enterprise 3. Avis 4. National Car Rental FAVORITE LUGGAGE BRAND 1. TravelPro 2. Samsonite 3. Briggs & Riley 4. Rimowa 5. Tumi FAVORITE CREDIT CARD 1. Venture Card from Capital One 2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card 3. United MileagePlus Explorer Card by Chase 4. Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Card 5. American Express

trazeetravel.com

PHOTOS: © SEAN PAVONE | DREAMSTIME.COM, © CAPITAL ONE, © PATRICK ALLEN | DREAMSTIME.COM

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

PHOTO: © SYDA PRODUCTIONS | DREAMSTIME.COM

Generation of Change What sets the millennial traveler apart? BY HOLLY RIDDLE

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n paper, millennials are simple. Born 1982– 2000 (depending on your research), they are, to many, a generation of self-entitlement, laziness and rapidly changing technology. As of last year’s census, millennials, numbering more than 83 million, have overtaken previous generations and account for one-fourth of the U.S. population. With large numbers comes power, particularly buying power, and millennials are changing the face of the economy, travel included. How millennials travel is shaping industry priorities and brand offerings, making way for a more personalized mode of travel and startups with the potential to morph into industry giants overnight.

While older generations may scoff at, say, an entire

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business trip planned with nothing more than a handheld device, for a millennial traveler such conveniences are just another day in the life.

The course the millennial generation plowed through history sets the tone for its actions today.

Technological advancements in the 1980s and 1990s laid the foundation for the world as it stands currently. In the same years millennials were born, their parents were listening to music on the Sony Walkman and watching movies on the first VCRs. Many had yet to buy their first PC or cellphone. Fast forward to the millennia’s formative teen years, and cellphones — even smartphones — are commonplace, and internet usage is widespread. By the time many millennials are in

trazeetravel.com

conducted earlier this year by Expedia and Future Foundation, 30 percent of millennials admitted a tendency to idealize their lives on social media, with 40 percent expressing a desire to be more like their social media selves in reality. It just so happens social media posts regarding travel are an excellent addition to any social media page looking to up its appeal or overall appearance of wealth, leisure or sophistication. Just posting about their travel is not enough, though; millennials expect a certain level of interaction from their followers, with almost half saying it’s important to them that people comment on posted travel photos.

In addition to travel and social media combined being a source of validation for millennial travelers, it’s also a source of inspiration. Vacation destinations, travel activities and brands used are all influenced by what millennial travelers see as they scroll through social media feeds. It’s not uncommon for images to be saved through channels such as Pinterest and Tumblr, giving them lasting impact. Feeds such as these and other tech-available sources are what millennials consult before making firm travel decisions; in fact, millennials consult more sources than non-millennials before booking. These include

PHOTO: © ADAM RADOSAVLJEVIC | DREAMSTIME.COM

college or part of the job market, enabling them to make buying decisions that influence the travel industry, social media occupies a key part of life. Unlike their parents before them, millennials have never experienced a time in their adult lives when travel and technology were not intertwined.

Millennial travelers are driving an unprecedented growth in mobile booking and the other travel conveniences afforded by technology. Convenience and accessibility allow for ultimate micromanagement when planning a trip without ever using a personal computer or printer. From boarding passes and navigation to interpretation and cataloguing travel photos and videos, today’s mobile devices eliminate the need for a large number of physical objects once considered travel necessities. This constant access to travel booking and plans allows millennials a level of spontaneity unavailable to their parents.

As such, a noticeable trend among the group is the habit of booking last minute.

Possibly, however, the largest tech player in relation to millennial travel is social media. Social media standing is incredibly important to millennials as users attempt to develop themselves into an elevated persona or even a brand. In a poll

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2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 17

PHOTO: © NONGNUCH LEELAPHASUK | DREAMSTIME.COM

blogs, online reviews and forums.

The constant stream of information, including data regarding peers’ travel and experiences, leads to a generational phenomenon known as FOMO. The fear of missing out is a real and psychological construct under which an individual suffers varying levels of anxiety over the possibility of missing out on an important experience. According to a Harris Poll study, nearly 70 percent of all millennials admit feeling a fear of missing out. Emotions such as these drive new kinds of travel and spending based on authentic experiences rather than tourist traps and material goods.

Millennials, to the tune of 78 percent, are spending more of their incomes on experiences such as travel than on material goods. In the coming years, the amount spent is expected to increase even more. Millennials expect authentic travel experiences, preferably Instagram-worthy. How they define authentic differs but generally includes some sort of local culture and exclusivity, along with a deviation from the normal, mainstream tourist activities. Surprisingly, 18 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 2016

though, most millennials are not willing to put their safety at risk for these authentic experiences, and most carry a higher concern for personal safety when traveling abroad in comparison to older generations. How do millennials verify a travel activity’s authenticity? Most go back to the same group consulted before booking travel plans.

Travel brands are increasingly attempting to capture millennials’ buying power, though some are doing a better job than others. As millennials reveal the need for customized, purely individualized travel experiences, travel professionals see a need they can fill by creating one-of-a-kind itineraries. As millennials look for extreme convenience, airlines and hotels find ways to tailor their products to a new, digital-friendly clientele. Even business travel providers work to accommodate the millennial business traveler, the norm rather than a rarity, as the group expresses interest in traveling for work. Entire brands are developed in hopes of offering an eye-catchingly authentic and convenient experience. trazeetravel.com

SMART SERVICE: Aloft Hotel brand’s emoji room service (top), and its first Botlr (robotic butler), A.L.O. (bottom) PHOTOS: © STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS

Hotel brands especially are jumping on the millennial bandwagon, developing new boutique-feel properties with an emphasis on healthy options, social spaces and digital accessibility. Starwood’s Aloft brand is popping up in hip destinations around the world, boasting vibrant décor, keyless entry, robotic butlers, emoji room service menus and more. Marriott’s Moxy Hotels brand is similar yet distinct, with a more chic than laid-back feel, and lists an impressive pipeline of more than 30 properties. Both are a far cry from the Hiltons and Hyatts millennials may have visited with their parents.

It’s the sharing economy, though, that truly has millennials to thank for its success. From well-known frequented favorites such as Airbnb and Uber to up-and-comers like BonAppetour, millennials share everything from cars to housing to dining when they travel. While one perk may be overall reduced travel costs as the situation allows, the primary benefit is the off-the-beaten-path authenticity millennials crave, whether that includes a stay in a local’s villa in Italy or a home-cooked meal in Brussels.

As millennials age, will their travel habits begin to mirror those of their parents? Chances are, not likely.

Even millennials on the older end of the generation spectrum and those with children are still unwilling to give up their spontaneous, experience-driven travel.

Many are choosing to make time for getaways sans children and choosing travel over material goods, habits far different from their parents’. As industry brands fight to keep up with the advancing demands of millennial travelers, other generations may be forced to step aside or learn to adapt to an entirely new way of circling the globe.

Airbnb airbnb.com Aloft Hotels starwoodhotels.com BonAppetour bonappetour.com Moxy Hotels marriott.com Uber uber.com

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GES FIQUE VOYA MY MAGNI

Th e Gu estroom Th e Hotel

Th e Ou tdoor Pa tio

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THE ULTIMATE HOTEL DESTINATION IN LOS ANGELES SOFITEL LOS ANGELES AT BEVERLY HILLS OFFERS LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS, CALIFORNIA FRENCH DINING, LIVE BAR ENTERTAINMENT, SPACIOUS MEETING ROOMS AND EVENT SPACES, COMPLIMENTARY HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, SPA TREATMENTS, SALON SERVICES, FITNESS CENTER AND MORE. WWW.SOFITELLOSANGELES.COM

Great Expectations As millennials explore the world, travel brands cater to their passions and preferences. BY MEGAN HILL

MIX AND MINGLE: Hotel Max Seattle lobby (top), and (bottom row) guestroom, local liquors in room and Miller’s Guild grill PHOTOS: © HOTEL MAX

A

s the fastest-growing customer base for the travel market, millennials exert a wide-reaching impact on hotels, airlines and other hospitality and travel brands.

Those defined as the millennial generation, also known as Generation Y, were born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s.

This group makes up 27 percent of the U.S. population and 25 percent of the labor force; they’re not yet a force to be reckoned with.

But by 2020, millennials will make up nearly half the U.S. workforce, and by 2030 they’ll be outspending baby boomers.

And because they’re passionate about travel — and they travel at

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a higher rate than any other age group — their preferences and tendencies are likely to influence the travel market for decades to come.

THIS YOUNG GENERATION sees travel as a birthright, and they have a strong desire to explore off the beaten path, seeking travel opportunities that will give them unique experiences, not cookiecutter trips to well-trodden destinations. They’re after adventures in remote locations. They expect internet connectivity (in part to share their experiences on social media) and technological advances in every arena.

This growing segment comes with its own set of standards and tastes, and companies are working hard to win millennials over now in anticipation of their future reign as a powerful customer base.

Among millennials’ expectations when it comes to accommodations is the ability to meet other people staying at the hotel.

They’re also interested in staying near public transportation (while trazeetravel.com

older travelers want to be near landmarks or the airport), and they’re more likely to avail themselves of dry cleaning, spa services and other perks. They also tend to be more interested in pet-friendly accommodations.

What’s more, millennials want authentic experiences and prefer hotels that sport the look and feel of the destination rather than generic corporate branding. They have high demands for technology like WiFi connections, which they expect to be fast and free.

Armed with this knowledge, hotels are responding. Millennials expect a knowledgeable staff that can give them insider advice on local neighborhoods; hotels react by emphasizing off-thebeaten-path ideas and unique experiences. Others are organizing local excursions and activities for groups of hotel guests.

Hotels know they need to rethink their interior design, too. Millennials are drawn to modern, open-concept spaces rather than ones broken up by walls and partitions. Young travelers are also more willing to utilize a hotel’s common areas to socialize and meet other travelers, so hotels are putting emphasis there. Guestrooms are minimal, encouraging guests to head down to the lobby.

Seattle’s Hotel Max, for example, features a first-floor restaurant that sports a 9-foot custom grill, local beer and craft cocktails. The hotel’s minimalist guestrooms encourage guests to hang out instead at the complimentary daily craft beer hour in the modern, art-filled lobby. The Ace Hotel brand draws a young audience by emphasizing affordability without sacrificing hip interiors, plush bedding and a convenient urban setting.

CONVENIENT COMFORT: Ace Hotel Portland guestroom (top), and lobby and photo booth (bottom) PHOTOS: © ACE HOTEL

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LOCAL CONNECTIONS: Nader Chabaane, director of mixology, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (top); and (bottom row, left to right) Canopy

by Hilton guestroom, charging station and local taste of the neighborhood PHOTOS: © FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS, © HILTON WORLDWIDE

Lobby bars are common, and many of them emphasize millennial-valued craft cocktails. The Fairmont last year completely revamped its bar program worldwide, bringing together a handful of its most skilled hotel bartenders to craft a menu of signature drinks that would be adventurous yet approachable for a traveler in any of its hotels around the world.

Major hotel brands like Hilton and Marriott are spinning off subbrands that emphasize customized experiences and digital connectivity: Canopy by Hilton, Moxy by Marriott and Aloft by Starwood, to name a few.

“Millennial travelers are seen more as explorers than tourists, and Aloft hotels are specifically designed with them in mind,” writes Casey Key, SEO manager, HotelPlanner.com, on the company’s blog. “Aloft features free WiFi, areas for working poolside or in the bar, and even a robotic bellhop that appeals to tech-savvy millennials. Now, guests who are too busy to talk to a human can order from an emoji room-service menu by texting a string of emoji with their last name and room number to Aloft TiGi (which stands for Text it. Get it.). The pilot program is available at Aloft Manhattan Downtown, Aloft Liverpool and Aloft London Excel, and will expand to Aloft properties in Asia next.”

In a move to appeal to the community of millennial travelers, AccorHotels’ new JO&JOE brand breaks with convention, blending the best of homesharing, hotels and hostels. JO&JOE reflects a collaborative process that incorporated input from guests, students and experts to create an innovative “open house” concept attracting locals and travelers alike. Touted as “a house where you will simply live life to the full,” each property will encourage guest interaction, offering group events from yoga classes and concerts to workshops, a bar featuring local craft products, and a collaborative kitchen along with traditional dining options. Accommodations vary from hostel-type areas guests share without sacrificing personal privacy to out-of-the-ordinary spaces featuring unique formats such as sleeping hammocks, yurts or caravans. What’s more, the brand’s social media app will enhance the overall experience, allowing locals and travelers to connect, meet and initiate events. AccorHotels plans

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to open 50 JO&JOE properties by 2020 in destinations popular with millennials such as Paris, Bordeaux, Warsaw, Budapest, Rio and São Paulo, all in city-center locations near public transportation and points of interest.

MAJOR AIRLINES ARE NOT normally known for their innovative edge, but small shifts in the industry seem to signal these companies are targeting millennials, too.

This generation values technology, and its members expect WiFi availability everywhere — even at 30,000 feet. Honeywell’s third annual Passenger Connectivity Survey showed the quality of an airline’s WiFi is a deciding factor when booking a plane ticket, with some three of four airline passengers saying they would switch airlines to have access to better, faster internet — similar to what they have at home.

This development directly relates to the power of millennials, credited as the driving force behind WiFi improvements. A full 70 percent of millennials

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food and craft beverages. Several have implemented local chefdriven menus and offer beer, wine and spirits sourced from their hub cities. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and more are jumping on the bandwagon.

in the Honeywell survey said WiFi is a deciding factor in their flight picks; they expect a constant connection, one that allows them to keep in touch with friends, family and co-workers or to simply be entertained while flying. And 89 percent want WiFi fast enough to stream content.

Airlines are listening, with many implementing modern satellite-based WiFi through companies like Global Eagle, Gogo, Panasonic, ViaSat and Honeywell. Airlines like Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Air Caraibes are working with Honeywell to install a faster internet system called GX in the near future.

Airlines know the millennial generation is drawn to local

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WHILE MILLENNIALS WANT unique travel experiences rather than pre-packaged, generic trips, they’re not wholly opposed to booking a trip with a travel company or tour operator; they’re simply after off-the-beaten-path experiences.

Tara Cappel, founder of tour company For the Love of Travel, is a millennial herself. Her company aims specifically at this age group. “Some of the ways we cater to our generation’s wants/needs are including both off-the-beaten-path and must-sees in our itineraries; promoting connection with new places, people and ideas; ingraining social responsibility into our trips and core values,” she says.

Travel startup Trip Tribe recognizes millennials want unique group travel opportunities, so it offers the ability to meet fellow travelers before booking as well as recommended trips based on travel preferences.

“Group travel has largely been an offline booking experience — travelers having to thumb through catalogs, call 1-800 numbers or meet with an agent in person to book a tour,” says co-founder Meg Aidekman. “But millennials are pushing for the convenience of online everything — from banking to grocery shopping and, of course, dating. So Trip Tribe is taking not only the booking experience online but also the social dynamic of travel online — because it’s not just where you go, it’s who you go with.”

GROUP DYNAMICS: Trip Tribe's Find What Feels Good Retreat in coastal Nicaragua earlier this year with YouTube star and yoga sensation Adriene Mishler PHOTOS: © TRIP TRIBE

Ace Hotel acehotel.com Aloft starwoodhotels.com Canopy by Hilton hilton.com Fairmont Hotels and Resorts fairmont.com For the Love of Travel ftlotravel.com Hotel Max Seattle hotelmaxseattle.com Jo&Joe joandjoe.com Moxy Hotels marriott.com Trip Tribe triptribe.com

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ON ICE: Ice skating in Bryant Park, New York City PHOTO: © LITTLENY | DREAMSTIME.COM

Under $100

with a piping-hot cup at any one of the several Jacques Torres Chocolate locations throughout the city. Choose from classic cocoa or the store’s specialty spicy variety for about $4.

Ice skating in New York offers a fun winter experience. Whether you’re skating at the world-famous Rink at Rockefeller Center ($25 admission, $12 skate rental) or Central Park’s Wollman Rink ($12 admission, $9 skate rental), Winter Village at Bryant Park (free admission, $20 skate rental) or Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers ($10 admission, $5 skate rental), or just watching locals and tourists take a spin, you will enjoy this popular winter tradition.

For lunch with a view and a brew, visit La Birreria, a rooftop restaurant and microbrewery in the Flatiron District. The restaurant’s retractable roof and heaters keep the space open through all seasons. Enjoy a classic Italian dish from $17 and beers from popular American breweries like Dogfish and Allagash from $8 or Italian beers like Peroni from $7.

Venture to the Upper East Side and step out of the cold and into the warmth of The Frick Collec-

Discover the best ways to enjoy a city on a budget.

T

razee Travel regularly features Under $100 articles, offering things to see and do in a worldwide city for less than $100 a day.

Check out some suggestions for cities around the globe here; for more, visit trazeetravel.com.

UNDER $100: NEW YORK CITY, THE WINTER EDITION

BY MONIQUE BARRETT

Winter is one of the most beautiful times of year to visit New York, with cold-weather activities like ice skating and warm food and beverages galore.

Chilly weather makes the perfect complement to a warm mug of hot chocolate. Start your day 26 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 2016

tion, a home-turned-art gallery boasting masterpieces of European painting from renowned artists like Goya and Velázquez, major works of sculpture and a quaint garden courtyard. Get your daily dose of art for $22.

If you’d rather stay outside and brave the cold, head to the New York Botanical Garden, New York’s largest public garden, nestled across 250 acres of Bronx Park and a living museum of the natural world. Weekday admission costs $20, while weekends run you $25.

Finish the day next to a roaring fire at Shoolbred’s in the East Village. The cozy bar features a buy-one, get-one happy hour daily until 8 p.m., as well as burgers and snacks from $6.50. nycgo.com mrchocolate.com therinkatrockcenter.com wollmanskatingrink.com wintervillage.org chelseapiers.com/sr eataly.com frick.org nybg.org shoolbreds.com trazeetravel.com

ART HISTORY: Diego Rivera painting inside the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City (above), and interior of the National Museum in Mexico City (right) PHOTOS: © DANILO MONGIELLO | DREAMSTIME.COM, © SPESHILOV SERGEY | DREAMSTIME.COM

UNDER $100: MEXICO CITY

BY BRENDAN BYRNE

A day in Mexico City on a budget of $100 proves quite a day. The dollar here is strong; food, drinks and cultural activities are cheap (or free); and it’s incredibly easy to get around. That said, there are so many different things to do, choosing an itinerary for a single day can be a daunting task. So here is a great day in the beautiful and bustling Mexican capital for $100!

Roll out of bed and head over to El Cardenal, one of Mexico City’s oldest and most celebrated restaurants. The place is always packed for breakfast, especially on the weekends, so it might be a good idea to get a reservation, if possible. Try the escamoles omelet (a pre-Hispanic delicacy made from ant eggs) or the aporreado, beef with eggs made in Michoacán’s lowland style. You won’t pay more than about $10 for the entire breakfast.

From there, walk over to El Zócalo, Mexico trazeetravel.com

City’s massive city square. Take in the sights and the massive flag, as this square is the world’s third-largest behind Tiananmen Square in Beijing and Red Square in Moscow. Make sure to stroll through the cathedral (entrance is free): Take a look at the beautiful altar and marvel at the massive structure. Then, walk over to the Palacio Nacional (entrance is free) and check out the incredible Diego Rivera murals.

At this point, hop on the metro (or in an Uber; they work well here) and get over to El Pescadito Taquería in La Condesa and eat some of the best, cheapest tacos you will ever have in your life. Try the tacotote, a taco with a cheese-filled green pepper, accompanied by fried shrimp. You won’t regret it. A full meal here will cost about $10.

From this point, hop in an Uber (or walk the short distance) to Chapultepec Park (entrance is free), Mexico City’s massive open green space.

Stroll along the ponds and sidewalks until you reach the Museum of Anthropology, Mexico 2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 27

ON A STROLL: Madrid tourists at Plaza Mayor PHOTO: © MARTINMARK | DREAMSTIME.COM

City’s biggest museum (entrance is about $3.50).

Take in the Mexican and indigenous cultures through the seemingly endless hallways of artifacts from throughout the country’s vast history.

After exhausting yourself at the museum, head over to Polanco, Mexico City’s fanciest and most lavish neighborhood. Make sure to get a reservation at Quintonil, one of the city’s most exciting and unique restaurants. Serving a highly contemporary take on Mexican food, the restaurant consistently tops the best-of lists in the city. Expect to spend around $42.

Once you’ve finished your dining experience, grab a few cocktails at Mexico City’s premier cocktail lounge, Jules Basement. The first “speakeasy” bar in the capital, the cocktails are certainly part of its charm. The bar offers a wide selection, and the well-known beverage director, Jay, prepares each libation with care and attention. Aside from the explosion of flavor provided by such amazing cocktails, the bar boasts entertainment in the form of live music, comedy and imaginative abstract décor. Expect to spend around $32.

And there you have it: a full, non-stop day in Mexico City for $100. Hard to find such an incred28 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 2016

ibly fulfilling day in any of the world’s capital cities, let alone one of the most unique, cultural and beautiful destinations in the world. visitmexico.com restauranteelcardenal.com quintonil.com julesbasement.com

UNDER $100: MADRID

BY ALLIE MOORE

Spain’s capital offers more than just art museums, tapas and sangria (although these should be automatically added to any Madrid agenda). To fully enjoy the city and not spend all your euros on the first día, heed these tips. ¡Olé!

Start the morning with a café con leche and churros con chocolate, which won’t set you back more than $5 or $6.

Traveling around the city could not be easier, as both the underground metro and the bus system use the same ticket. Purchase a 10-trip ticket for €12 (about $13) to get the most for your money.

Day-specific discounts abound in Madrid; so

even if your budget is tight, you can still enter some of Europe’s best art museums. You can view more than 7,000 paintings in the Museo del Prado for free Monday through Saturday, 5–7 p.m. If your siesta lasts too long, the normal admission price is approximately $14.50. To view Goya’s fantastic ceiling frescoes, visit the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, where entry is free all day, every day.

The cost to view some of Madrid’s most wellknown monuments and parks is absolutely zero.

Stroll through Plaza Mayor and past Palacio Real to catch a glimpse of Madrid architecture at its best.

Visit Pastelería Mallorca, a take-away lunch spot, and tote your snacks to the nearby Parque del Buen Retiro for a peaceful afternoon in nature.

Tapas restaurants seem to be around every corner in Madrid, but keep an eye out for the menús del día to snag the best culinary catches.

Drop into Bar La Ideal for bocadillos (sandwiches) for less than $3. Casa Labra has served traditional Spanish tapas since 1860, with current tapas prices ranging $1–2. www.esmadrid.com museodelprado.es casalabra.es trazeetravel.com

UNDER $100: DUBAI

BY AKHIL KALEPU

Dubai earned fame as an expensive oasis in the desert, and looking around you can understand why.

With all the high-rise buildings and luxury boutiques, the city is certainly built for the extremely wealthy. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it on a budget. Here’s how to spend the day in Dubai with $100, or about 367 Emirati dirham.

Dubai’s recently launched metro makes the city one of the best in the Middle East for public transportation. A day pass for unlimited metro and bus rides will cost you $3.81, available at stations throughout the city.

You can start your day with a tour of Jumeirah Mosque, the largest and most photographed in the city. This mosque offers tours for free at 10 a.m., every day except Friday. Modest dress covering knees and shoulders is required.

As in many cities in the Middle East, the market is the best place to get a feel for the culture. To get ALL THAT GLITTERS: Gold Souk in Dubai PHOTO: © TANYASHIR | DREAMSTIME.COM

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there, take a relaxing ride in an abra, a traditional wooden boat, for only about 28 cents. Take in the diverse landscape as you sail toward Dubai’s famous souks. The Spice Souk has been in decline due to the growing presence of supermarkets, where you can get a higher quality at a better price. What you can’t get at Carrefour, though, is the experience of walking through a market as old as the city itself.

The Gold Souk proves another popular destination, brimming with sparkling, 22-carat jewelry, definitely a sight to behold. If you’re looking to make purchases, know the current price of gold and be prepared to haggle. Many of the vendors have storefronts in the modern malls, so they’re reliable. Another option is to head to Satwa, Dubai’s Little India, with a large population of Indians and Filipinos as well as plenty of gold shops without the crowds.

Shopping can work up an appetite, but you can skip Dubai’s fine dining for a trip down Al Dhiyafah Road (now called December Road). This famous street features restaurants from all corners of the globe but specializes in a variety of Middle Eastern cuisines. You can get a meal here for $8–11, so don’t be afraid to sample a few different places.

If you’re looking for a place to relax, you can not only do it at the world’s only 7-star hotel, you can do it for free! Burj Al Arab’s beach is free to the public, unlike some of Dubai’s other beaches.

Once you’ve recharged, spend the rest of your day at Alserkal Avenue, a former industrial compound revitalized as Dubai’s arts district. With 25 contemporary art galleries to choose from, you can see a side of the U.A.E. rarely experienced by tourists.

Now that the sun is setting, you have more than enough dirham to splurge on the rest of the night. Enjoy! visitdubai.com cultures.ae alserkalavenue.ae

UNDER $100: LISBON

BY ALLIE MOORE

The capital city of Portugal may be a place of former riches — especially during the golden period of discovery — but just because your budget is limited does not mean your experience has to be.

Start your day in the coastal city with a traditional Portuguese breakfast of pastry and coffee.

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PERSPECTIVES: Elevador da Gloria funicular in Lisbon (top), and the Acropolis in Athens (bottom) PHOTOS: © MARTIN LEHMANN | DREAMSTIME.COM, © SBORISOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

The best way to see the hilly city is on foot. Break out your map and draw a walking plan that takes you through the unique neighborhoods of Barrio Alto (with shops, bars and colorful façades) and Baixa and Rossio (featuring stunning architecture and religious monuments). The thrifty, creatively named shops and smiling restaurant hosts add their own element of charm to these two central neighborhoods.

If your legs can’t quite handle the hills, hop on one of the exquisitely designed lifts for some of the best sights of the meandering streets below. Both Elevador da Bica and Elevador da Gloria sell return tickets for approximately $5.

Once you have embraced the geographical wonder that is Lisbon’s seven hills, rest your legs at one of the cafés that surround Praça Dom Pedro (or Rossio, as it is known to locals). Scour the backstreets for tascas that offer menus do dia for the lowest prices, or sample some of Portugal’s grilled meats and seafood at churrasqueiras (grill restaurants). Top off your meal with a shot of Lisbon’s characteristic cherry liqueur, or ginjinha, for about $1.30.

Properly satiated, make your way toward Castelo de São Jorge, where for about $8.25 you can explore the castle and its grounds that date to the 11th century. At noon and 4 p.m., join one of the free tours.

If your legs can’t handle the steep but short climb to the castle, take Tram 28 for a scenic climb (about $4). visitlisboa.com

UNDER $100: ATHENS

BY MEGAN HILL

Athens, Greece, has been the heart of Greek life and culture for some 4,000 years. Any visitor should try to gain an appreciation of the city’s timeless contributions to modern society born here, as well as some of the more contemporary aspects of this important city.

Start your day with breakfast pastries at one of the many street-side bakeries strewn throughout central Athens. It’s generally easy to find one close to your hotel, and coffee and a few bites will only set you back about $7.

Next, get walking. You can explore central Athens in a day, taking in sites like the Acropolis, with the famous Parthenon, a must-see for any visitor.

Depending on the time of year you visit, you’ll pay about $6–13 to enter the site. Tack on a visit to the Acropolis museum, free in the off-season and only about $1 in summer.

Grab lunch at any number of worthwhile cafés below the Acropolis, where you should do as the 30 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 2016

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TABLE WITH A VIEW: People eating and drinking in the restaurant at KaDaWe in Berlin PHOTO: © T.W. VAN URK | DREAMSTIME.COM

Greeks do: Order several small sharing plates and some wine and linger awhile. You’ll plunk down about $20 per person or so, depending on where you eat.

Walk through the vibrant Plaka neighborhood, where shops sell souvenirs, art and clothing. If you have time, visit the National Archaeological Museum for about $5 in the off-season and $10 during peak times. And last, you’ve got nearly $60 left for dinner, which will go far in Athens. visitgreece.gr namuseum.gr

UNDER $100: BERLIN

BY KATIE SKRZEK

Berlin, Germany’s capital city and the country’s largest, draws many visitors for its cultural and historic highlights. Berlin’s famous department store, KaDeWe, is one of the largest in Europe trazeetravel.com

at almost 200,000 square feet. Shoppers will find everything from designer fashions, beauty and spa products to gourmet items. Grab a coffee and pastry at KaDeWe’s Leysieffer Café for about $12.

If you’re in the mood for museum hopping, purchase the area pass for about $26, which gains you access to the museums on Museum Island. The island in the Spree River hosts the Altes Museum, Bode Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Neues Museum and Pergamonmuseum.

For authentic currywurst, take a trip to Curry 36. Order the eponymous fare or try some of the other options like various sausages and schnitzel.

Potato and pasta salads and fries are also available. At about $5–8 total, this lunch won’t break the bank.

Berlin boasts many beautiful parks. Take a stroll through Tiergarten in the city center. Situated on more than 500 acres, the park is a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate, another of Berlin’s popular attractions. Follow your walk with a filling meal at Martha’s. Focusing on a farm-to-table approach, the restaurant uses local German ingredients to put a spin on dishes like its duck “sashimi” appetizer.

Dinner runs about $30.

Berlin’s nightlife booms, with many clubs, music venues and bars staying open into the early morning. Berghain/Panorama Bar is one of the best-known clubs in Berlin. Be warned: You might not get in to the exclusive club. Wearing black and traveling in small groups or alone will help. Cover charge and drinks for one evening will cost about $25–30. visitberlin.de kadewe.de smb.museum marthas.berlin berghain.de

UNDER $100: LAS VEGAS

BY HOLLY RIDDLE

If you think you can’t go to Vegas and spend less than $100 per day, you’re wrong. While it’s certainly easy to spend much more, getting out of the casinos may be all it takes to enjoy Sin City on a budget.

For breakfast, go to Bouchon Bistro, a favorite no matter how deep your pockets. Menu items range from a variety of pastries for about $4 each to a classed-up chicken and waffles for $27. For 2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 31

something in the middle, try the sourdough waffles, topped with caramel apples, toasted pecans, Chantilly cream, vanilla bean butter and maple syrup, all for $14.

If you have your heart set on booking a show, take into consideration what kinds of shows are available. You can see just about anything in Vegas, and some attractions are more affordable than others. Magic and comedy shows are often cheaper than seats at the most recent resident musical act.

If you don’t want to spend more than $30 or $40 on your ticket, go with those shows.

Keep in mind Las Vegas offers much more than gambling, shows and nightlife. You’ll find plenty of daytime attractions both on and off the Strip when you’re not lounging by your hotel’s pool. In particular, an assortment of museums fits every interest, like The Mob Museum ($24), Neon Museum ($19), the Auto Collections (free) and The National Atomic Testing Museum ($22).

For dinner for less than $20, head away from the hotel and resort restaurant offerings and try something new. Find the Fukuburger truck, offering Japanese-style burgers, or go to SOHO SushiBurrito for more Japanese flair. Craving an

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after-dinner coffee? Try Bad Owl Coffee, home of the Harry Potter-inspired butter brew latte.

STREET ART: Murals in the Wynwood Arts District in Miami PHOTO: © SOUS | DREAMSTIME.COM

lasvegas.com thomaskeller.com/bouchonlasvegas themobmuseum.org neonmuseum.org autocollections.com nationalatomictestingmuseum.org fukuburger.com sohosushiburrito.com badowlcoffee.com

UNDER $100: MIAMI

BY MONIQUE BARRETT

Mixing Latin flavor with European culture, Miami offers unrivaled nightlife and shopping as well as an arts scene as hot as its beaches.

Before hitting the beach, grab breakfast at News Cafe, an iconic sidewalk café serving breakfast 24 hours a day in the Art Deco District. The popular spot offers outdoor seating and items like egg dishes from about $8 and French toast from $7.75.

Spend the morning catching rays at any of the area’s several beaches or at your hotel pool.

Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly spot or a party beach lined with cafés, there’s a stretch of sand for everyone.

La Sandwicherie makes the perfect spot for a quick and casual bite. With two locations in the city, it offers an extensive menu of basic sandwiches from about $6 and signature sandwiches, like The Terminator with ham, turkey, salami and provolone, from $8.20.

Art enthusiasts find no shortage of galleries in the area, especially in popular spots including the Wynwood Arts District and the Design District.

World-renowned artists showcase their incredible creativity in the pedestrian-friendly Wynwood area, where guests can check out street art and graffiti free of charge. A visit to the Pérez Art Museum Miami provides an excellent way to escape the heat in the afternoon, offering admission to modern and contemporary art exhibits for $16.

For dinner, head to Miami’s must-try Cuban restaurant, Versailles, in the heart of Little Havana.

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The restaurant offers a taste of Cuba with dinner samplers featuring yellow rice, black beans, shredded beef in tomato sauce, fried pork, ham croquette and sweet plantains starting from $12.95.

Cap the night off with some Latin flavor at live music venues like Hoy Como Ayer in Little Havana. miamiandbeaches.com newscafe.com lasandwicherie.com wynwoodmiami.com miamidesigndistrict.net pamm.org versaillesrestaurant.com hoycomoayer.us

UNDER $100: AUSTIN

BY ANGELIQUE PLATAS

Texas capital and self-proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World, Austin is a uniquely fun destination. Start your day off with dessert for breakfast at Voodoo Doughnut. The doughnut shop remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; so unless you show up on a holiday, it will welcome you. Voodoo Doughnut takes cash only,

with ATMs at the ready.

With Austin’s plentiful lakes, parks, hiking and biking trails, you’ll find plenty to do on a beautiful day. Check out Barton Springs Pool located in Zilker Metropolitan Park. This manmade pool is a recreational swimming area fed from an underground spring. The pool averages a temperature of 70 degrees year-round and attracts tourists from all over.

For lunch, head over to the SoCo District, or South Congress Avenue, for eclectic shopping and dining options. While downtown, take a tour through the music venues, antique shops and galleries late into the night, as most shops stay open until 10 p.m. Also be sure to visit the State Capitol for an unforgettable Austin landmark experience.

Dinnertime in Austin means Stubb’s Bar-B-Q. This music venue, bar and restaurant lives up to the fame. Enjoy dinner while listening to live music from either of the two venues, or buy a ticket at the door and enjoy the show. Menu items range from $3 a side to $30 for a full rack of pork spareribs.

Everything is made from fresh and natural ingredients, and the Stubb’s Mean Nachos, for $6.99, are a house favorite.

After dinner, take a walk over the South Congress Bridge to see the famous Austin bats fly through the air overhead. austintexas.org voodoodoughnut.com www.tspb.texas.gov stubbsaustin.com

UNDER $100: BOSTON

BY AKHIL KALEPU

Boston, America’s premier college town, offers plenty of things to do for broke college kids. Check out these sites around Beantown and do Boston for less than $100.

Besides the Red Sox and Harvard, Boston’s most well-known icon might be Sam Adams beer. Their brewery located in Jamaica Plain gives tours of the facility as well as tastings on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, beginning at 10 a.m. The tours are free, but a suggested donation of $2 benefits local charities.

Having brunch at Harvard Square lets you explore the home of the esteemed Harvard Uni-

BAT SIGNAL: Massive flight of bats leaving the South Congress Bridge in Austin at sunset PHOTO: © ANTHONY ANEESE TOTAH JR | DREAMSTIME.COM

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GOOD READS: Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, Boston PHOTO: © WANGKUN JIA | DREAMSTIME.COM

versity. The historic district is known for its street performers, with more than 300 registered to perform at the square. After chowing down, make sure you stop by Harvard Book Store. Although it has no affiliation with the university, the store is known for its intellectual audience, bringing in authors and academics renowned in and around Boston and the world. The store regularly hosts free readings and events.

If Cambridge is a little too pricey, Boston runs a number of free food festivals throughout the year.

These festivals, covering everything from taco nights to Italian feasts, take place all over Boston.

Popular sites include Harvard Square, North End and Boston Common.

Boston is home to a number of museums, and many offer free admission. The Museum of Fine Arts has a list of days with no admission charge.

If your taste in art is a little unconventional, The 36 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 2016

Institute of Contemporary Art offers free admission Thursdays 5–9 p.m. The Museum of African-American History and the Commonwealth Museum are also free.

For an afternoon pick-me-up, head over to Coolidge Corner Wine & Spirits, offering free tastings 6–8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 4–7 p.m.

Saturdays. Once the sun sets, the Coit Observatory at Boston University offers free viewing programs most Wednesdays promptly at 7:30 p.m. during the fall and winter and 8:30 p.m. during the spring and summer. bostonusa.com samueladams.com harvardsquare.com harvard.com mfa.org icaboston.org www.sec.state.ma.us ccwineandspirits.com bu.edu/astronomy/undergraduate/astronomydepartment-facilities

UNDER $100: SÃO PAULO

BY AKHIL KALEPU

With a population of 20 million in its metropolitan area, São Paulo is Brazil’s biggest city as well as its most diverse. Depending on the exchange rate, $100 will get you about 320 Brazilian reals. Here’s how to see the city in a day.

Taxis tend to be more expensive here compared to other large cities, and visitors will most likely use the city’s rail network, composed of subways and surface trains. Single rides cost about $1.10 with no limit, and you can also purchase credits for smartcards, making things easier and slightly cheaper if you take the bus, as swiping the magnetic strip gets you three hours of bus rides.

If you’re in town on a Sunday, Avenida Paulista is a definite stop on your itinerary. The street offers a blend of historic buildings and modern architecture, splitting the city between the old Centro and the up-and-coming West. Avenida Paulista features two outdoor markets on Sundays, one for antiques under the art museum and a handicrafts market trazeetravel.com

across the street. The area also boasts a plethora of restaurants perfect for lunch. For a quick bite, try Black Dog, the city’s famous hot dog franchise, where a meal will cost around $3. If you want something heavier, a range of delicious street food vendors charge you per kilogram (figure half a kilo per person).

Once you’ve eaten your fill, walk it off with a visit to MASP, São Paulo’s famous art museum, considered to have one of Latin America’s best collections of European art, in addition to exhibits on Brazilian, African and Asian culture. Entrance costs about $8, but the museum offers free admission all day on Tuesdays and after 5 p.m. on Thursdays. While MASP is impressive, São Paulo is also known for its street art, so take a stroll down Beco de Batman, located on Vila Madalena in the West Side. “Batman Alley” acts as a sort of testing ground for the city’s artists, a constantly morphing, open-air gallery where nearly every space is either filled or has been painted over and will inevitably be filled again.

You’ve no doubt heard of Fogo de Chão, the famous Brazilian steakhouse spread around the world, but

now that you’re in São Paulo, you have a range of options for dinner at a churrascaria. Though it will run you about $30, Vento Haragano is well worth the price for an authentic Brazilian barbecue. The restaurant exudes a folk-style ambience, with Alexandre Reider landscapes decorating the walls and servers wearing gaucho attire.

São Paulo has a great nightlife, though it tends to start later than in the United States. Before you’re in the thick of it, try one of the city’s Brazilian bars, called botecos. These are essentially bars stripped down to serving just beer, snacks and maybe caipirinhas if the bartender is feeling particularly daring. Bar Astor is one of the city’s most well-known, located in Vila Madalena, but if you want to try something more experimental, head to SubAstor, located directly underneath. The place is headed by Italian mixologist Fabio la Pietra, who enjoys utilizing an eclectic palette of tastes including butter, capers and even saffron, worth its weight in gold. visitbrasil.com masp.art.br

LOCAL FLAVOR: Picanha, traditional Brazilian barbecue (right), and Beco do Batman street art in São Paulo (below) PHOTOS: © ALFFOTO | DREAMSTIME.COM, © WILLIAM RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS | DREAMSTIME.COM

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LOCAL FLAVOR: Traveling and eating like a local PHOTO: © ANDOR BUJDOSO | DREAMSTIME.COM

One of a Kind

Millennials spark travel trends in their search for unique experiences.

BY JACK GUY

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A

quick scan of the media today reveals a real preoccupation with millennials and their lifestyle choices, but what of the generation’s tastes in travel?

Millennials are a much-maligned group, often accused of living an infantilized existence further into adulthood than their parents and grandparents. Others point out the economic and cultural changes in modern society inspired shifting priorities among today’s young adults.

Whatever your opinion of them, it is an incontrovertible fact: Millennials are an incredibly important demographic.

For starters, the group is the largest-ever consumer generation, loosely defined as anyone born from 1982–2000, depending on the source. As a result, millennials wield a great deal

of economic clout and exert a huge amount of influence on societal trends.

When it comes to travel, millennials can be full of contradictions in terms of what they want. Marketing teams sometimes struggle to come up with millennial-focused strategies due to apparent contradictions in their behavior, but three main travel trends among millennials merit discussion.

THE FIRST IS A DESIRE to scratch below the surface of their chosen destination by pursuing unique, local experiences. Far from content to stay in identikit hotels on package tours, millennials seek homestays with local families or stay in traditionally non-tourist neighborhoods using services such as Airbnb, couch surfing or trazeetravel.com

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HANDS ON: Learning to weave with a Mayan woman at San Juan la Laguna, Guatemala PHOTO: © STEFANO EMBER | DREAMSTIME.COM

home exchanges.

According to the WYSE (World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation) Millennial Traveller Survey, “Meeting friendly locals, living like a local and the new memories that result from these experiences were amongst the strongest motivations for millennial travelers.”

The key idea here is that millennials look to assert their individuality by building tailor-made experiences none of their friends have had. This desire for authenticity in travel is a major motivator behind the trend for local experiences among millennials.

Another important benefit of these local experiences is the opportunity to interact with locals and learn a new skill such as a language or local handicrafts. According to a survey conducted by HVS, 78 percent of millennials indicated they prefer to learn something new when traveling, while 70 percent indicated they expect special places to offer immersive experiences that are interactive and hands-on.

Savvy tour operators now offer trips that combine learning experiences with travel, be it improving your Spanish while volunteering with an NGO in Mexico or learning how to weave with local Mayan women in Guatemala. Millennials

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are increasingly concerned with adding value to their vacation time, and interacting with locals to learn new skills is a popular way of doing so.

For those who prefer independent travel over organized tours, a number of apps and online services offer to put millennial travelers in touch with local peers. The attraction of these services is linked to millennial attitudes toward user-driven content. As a group, they are more likely to trust recommendations from other users on sites such as TripAdvisor than traditional sources of information such as tour companies.

As a result, apps such as Spotted by Locals and Vayable are increasingly popular. Spotted by Locals curates city guides put together by local people, allowing millennial travelers to experience what is hot among local peers, while Vayable offers personalized private tours put together by local guides which include the best attractions in a certain subject matter such as art, design or fashion. These kinds of unique experiences hold great appeal for millennial travelers.

SOME OF THESE LOCAL experiences focus on food and drink. As a generation, millennials care far more about the

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FOOD AND FILM: Trying a traditional bánh mì sandwich in Hoi An, Vietnam (left), and a view inside New College in Oxford, England, where scenes of the Harry Potter movies were filmed (below) PHOTOS: © TRAVELTELLY | DREAMSTIME.COM, © CHRIS DORNEY | DREAMSTIME.COM

culture of food than older groups. You need only take a quick skim through Instagram to see how restaurants and bars have become a key element of trendy millennial life.

The rise of the foodie, or someone who is obsessed with the food and drink they consume, feeds into related trends in travel. If millennials place great stock in finding innovative culinary experiences at home, it stands to reason this will also prove a motivation while traveling. After all, if your friends have all posted photos from the same pop-up burger stall in Brooklyn, how better to stand out from the crowd than to post about the amazing mezze you just ate at the hippest restaurant in Beirut?

At the same time, millennials place great stock in creativity and enjoy expressing themselves while traveling. Instead of simply consuming local food, there is a growing trend toward learning how to make local dishes as part of a trip. The rise of culinary tours ticks various important boxes for millennial travelers, with local experiences allowing them to learn a new skill while interacting with new people in unique environments.

ANOTHER BURGEONING TREND among millennials is pop culture tourism, with an increasing number of people inspired to travel after a destination is featured in a film or book.

While some places, such as Los Angeles and New York, attract plenty of visitors without their pop culture references, others are more obscure. There would be little to mark the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon from its neighbors were it not known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, a title which attracts almost 5 million visitors per year.

Around the world, unlikely destinations are supported by income from tourism thanks to millennials’ desire to see the landmarks from cultural phenomena. Of all the cornfields in Iowa, one receives 65,000 visitors per year thanks to its role in the 1989 trazeetravel.com

2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 43

movie Field of Dreams. In fact, pop culture tourism even led to the foundation of entire travel companies, such as Brit Movie Tours and Tour for Muggles.

The former offers movie-themed tours around Britain while the latter is the only company in the world offering exclusively Harry Potter-themed tours.

THE COMMON THEMES of local experiences, food and drink, and pop culture travel illustrate millennials seek something unique. Whether that means learning a traditional dance, making local dishes or visiting the scene of their favorite cult movie, millennials see travel as an opportunity to express their individuality.

The sense that experiences should be unique and personal is linked to heavy use of social media among millennials. Many younger travelers would be horrified to post a cliché picture of the Eiffel Tower, preferring instead to show off the tagine they just made at a cooking class in the bohemian 20th arrondissement of Paris or the meal they just ate at a café featured in the movie Amelie.

In many respects, millennials can appear a mysterious group replete with contradictions, perhaps due to the wide age range of the group. However, identifying and analyzing travel trends among millennials proves incredibly important for anyone connected to the travel or hospitality industries. After all, millennials represent a huge section of the population and wield great influence over trends from the next hot destination to accommodations, restaurants and activities.

INTERACTION: Cooking class at Dorogomilovsky Market, Moscow (above), and learning Dandiya Raas, an Indian dance in which participants bang sticks together to music (left) PHOTOS: © PHOTAWA | DREAMSTIME.COM, © TOXAWWW | DREAMSTIME.COM

Brit Movie Tours britmovietours.com Field of Dreams Movie Site fodmoviesite.com Spotted by Locals spottedbylocals.com Tour for Muggles tourformuggles.com Vayable vayable.com WYSE Travel Confederation wysetc.org

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PHOTO: © SYDA PRODUCTIONS | DREAMSTIME.COM

The Right Rewards

Choose the best travel credit card to suit your needs. BY BRENDAN BYRNE

M

ost people who take a year or two off to travel do so in their 20s, just after college and before so-called “real life” begins.

Traveling millennials should know the high costs of their adventure and plan accordingly. There are plenty of tricks in the book to help with your travel finances: cheap flight deals, volunteering at hostels, street food. The list goes on, but one of the best things you can do before traveling is find a credit

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card that rewards you and makes a cheap trip easier to obtain.

A number of credit card providers offer the chance to save a lot when traveling, from cash back to hotel deals to air miles and low foreign transaction fees. Despite all your financial planning, you are guaranteed to benefit further from the right credit card. But you need to choose wisely and find the card right for your specific needs. Your bank

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I was one of our nation’s hungry kids growing up. Today, 1 in 5 children in America struggle with hunger. But when they get breakfast, their days are bigger and brighter.

Learning, attention, memory and mood improve. Together, we have the power to get breakfast to kids in your neighborhood — let’s make it happen. Go to hungeris.org and lend your time or your voice.

Viola Davis, Hunger Is Ambassador

Hunger Is® is a joint initiative of the Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, which are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.

Photo By: Peggy Sirota

MAKE BRE AKFAST HAPPEN SO KIDS CAN BE HUNGRY FOR MORE

THE DISCOVER IT MILES CARD helps you do just that: Discover. This is perhaps the best credit card around for gathering air miles. If you’re going to be jumping from country to country, continent to continent, this card will make your frequent flying significantly cheaper.

As a traveler, you’ll undoubtedly have at least a few flights in your year or two away from home.

This card offers 1.5 miles

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for every dollar you spend. Booking a hotel, hostel, shuttle bus or even just paying for a meal on your card helps you notch up those air miles to get you to your next destination.

The best part? It doubles your miles at the end of the first year. Say you take one year to roam around South and Central America, racking up 3,000 miles. This doubles to 6,000 miles after 12 months of traveling. Six thousand miles could cover half a flight to Europe from Mexico City or at least an upgrade to first class for your long trip ahead. You can see how easily this card benefits your travel experience. While flying can take a huge chunk out of your budget, this card will help you subsidize those costs.

Another perk? Discover It will reimburse up to $30 on your in-flight WiFi purchases, so you can keep in touch with home while on the move. This comes as an automatic credit in your annual statement, which will seem like free money when it appears in your account.

The only real downside is Discover It cards are not as widely accepted as other, bigger brands like Visa. A negative, for sure, but it certainly doesn’t outweigh the positive aspects.

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PHOTOS: © DISCOVER, © VADYMVDROBOT | DREAMSTIME.COM

can offer advice, but you need to be aware yourself of what you intend to achieve in your travels — whether you will be passing through many countries or just a few; if you’re staying in hotels, hostels or on couches; how much you plan to spend on food; or whether you will travel on buses or planes.

Here is a comprehensive guide to the current best credit cards for traveling millennials.

PHOTO: © SOLOWAY | DREAMSTIME.COM, © CHASE, © BARCLAYCARD

CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED is probably the best traveler’s credit card out there. It offers great rewards on travel, dining and hotels plus a point per dollar spent on other purchases as well. Travel and dining earn two points per dollar. These flexible points may be transferred to airline and hotel partners of the Chase group including British Airways, Air France, The RitzCarlton, Hyatt Gold and InterContinental Hotels.

Cardholders can receive 50,000 points if they spend $4,000 in the first three months after obtaining the card. Those points go a long way on the road. Although $4,000 seems like a lot to spend in three months, if you prepare your travels using the cards, you may find you’re up to $2,500 before you’ve even left home. Look into these things well in advance and you may find yourself benefiting greatly later on.

The best plus: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card charges no foreign transaction fees, which really add up when you’re traveling abroad. Many cash machines charge up to $10 on trazeetravel.com

foreign cards, and that’s before your own bank adds its fees.

This often forces young travelers to take out large sums to avoid these costs, a dangerous practice when traveling around unfamiliar parts of the world.

The card also has chip-enabled technology. The United States now mandate EMV — standing for Europay, MasterCard and Visa and representing the global standard for cards with computer chips — and thus this card’s technology will be a lot more prevalent overseas.

Also worth checking out is Chase Sapphire Reserve, launched this summer, offering three times the points on travel and dining with a $300 travel credit. The card has an annual fee of $450.

THE BARCLAYCARD ARRIVAL PLUS WORLD ELITE MASTERCARD offers a great deal of flexibility. You earn flexible travel credit that can be used for any kind of travel purchase, so it’s not restricted to partners of the company.

You get one cent per point; earning 40,000 points will earn you 2016 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 49

PHOTO: © SHAO-CHUN WANG | DREAMSTIME.COM, © BANK OF AMERICA

$400 in travel costs. It also offers two air miles per dollar, also available to use with any airline you like.

Many suggest this card is inferior to the Chase Sapphire due to the lower rates on air miles and points, but the ability to spend your points where you like gives you a lot more freedom — what any millennial wants when traveling. There are no foreign transaction fees, and it uses chip card technology, making it a lot more secure in the United States and abroad.

The first 12 months of this card come with 0 percent APR for every balance transfer made within the first 45 days of opening the account. After this period, APR applies at between 16.24 percent and 20.24 percent, depending on your credit rating with your bank.

THE BANKAMERICARD TRAVEL REWARDS CREDIT CARD is a great card with no annual fees.

It offers a rather weak 20,000 bonus points, but earning 1.5 points per dollar spent makes up for this. And these are everyday purchases, 50 | TRAZEE TRAVEL | 2016

not just ones spent on general travel, so you can accumulate a lot of points in a short period of time.

Other purchases made through the Travel Center earn you three points per dollar without limitations, so booking hotels or cars through the Travel Center earns you some serious points to spend wherever you like.

Existing Bank of America customers can earn a further 10 percent customer points bonus on each purchase, giving you more incentive to take up this card if you’ve already got an account with Bank of America.

BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card bankofamerica.com/credit-cards

AS YOU SEE, lots of credit cards are available that may enhance your travel experience. They all have their perks; it’s just a matter of figuring out which is the right one for your specific needs or if one may be better for you based on your current bank.

The Discover It Miles is probably the best option if you plan to do a lot of flying, while a current Bank of America customer could hardly turn down the offer of 10 percent customer point bonuses from the BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card. Those who want more flexibility should definitely choose the Barclaycard Arrival Plus for the options it gives in your purchases. Do your research and speak to your bank when considering the best credit card for your travels, and enjoy them.

Discover It Miles discovercard.com

Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard barclaycardus.com Chase Sapphire Preferred creditcards.chase.com

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