The Travel Detective: How to Get the Best Service and the Best Deals from Airlines, Hotels, Cruise Ships, and Car Rental Agencies

by Peter Greenberg

Renowned travel authority and NBC Today show travel editor Peter Greenberg shares his insider secrets.

Americans now travel more than ever before. Yet as our traveling has increased, the service we receive from airlines, hotels, and other agencies has deteriorated dramatically. Industry surveys reveal what you already growing dissatisfaction among travelers of every age, income, and education level. We've been abused by the travel experience. Peter Greenberg is here to help. The Travel Detective tells you the things most travel agents can't — or sometimes just won't — tell you. In his characteristic friendly and conversational tone, Greenberg tells how to find the secret walk-up fares that can save air travelers hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on last minutes flights; which coach seats on which planes are better than first class; the secret rule to know to avoid being bumped from a flight, which cruise ship brochures lie; which credit card companies are fastest — and slowest — to come to your aid in a foreign land, or worse, in the U.S.,; which hotels have the best — and the worst — fire and crime safety records, and how you can protect yourself; how to negotiate the best hotel room deal; which hotels have the worst water pressure in their showers (and better yet, how you can get great water pressure, even at those hotels); and much, much more. Accessible and entertaining, The Travel Detective gives you the information and tools you need to make every trip an affordable pleasure.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Peter S. Greenberg (born 1950) is an American journalist. He is the CBS News Travel Editor. His books include "The Best Places for Everything", "New Rules of the Road", and "Don't Go There: The Travel Detective's Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World".

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not read the unrevised edition since it is totally out of date! That said, he has some great ideas and interesting writing.

[Sharon McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is 20 years old, so much of what was in here is outdated now.

I worked in many aspects of the travel industry over my life time and really enjoyed reading a lot of the history of airline travel. It is sad to think how many airlines that where mentioned here no longer exist.
I was looking forward to the tips about Cruising the most and unfortunately, this was the least informative section of the book.
The author definitely knows what he is talking about, though. I am curious to see if he has written anything more recent.

[David Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that takes the time to explain through clear examples how air travel works. I simply thought I booked a seat, went to the airport, and rode to my destination. There is a lot more going on behind the scenes and it is well worth the read if you want to have a better, and more importantly, a cheaper flight. He also spends time on car rental, cruises, hotels, luggage, and most other travel related topics. I will probably read all his books to be prepared for our vacation in June.
The funny stories and the secret to using your frequent flier miles are worth the price of admission alone.

[Ene Sepp · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay book to read. Some information I already knew (when to buy plane tickets), some was new (check out plane type and choose seat based on that), some information was outdated with the changes in the world and some information was seriously stupid (Soviet Union? It collapsed like 20y before first edition of the boom!!!!). Its okay to read but every piece of knowledge you get from therr should be handled with care and realization that world has changed a lot.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I already knew a few of his tips and tricks for seeking the best deals, just by dumb luck on my part, but seeing it fleshed out was enlightening. I have used his tips on several occasions (Wednesdays are best days to find air deals) and they have paid off (usually I spend $100-300 less per flight than my friends on the same trip).

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is mostly about airlines. I was hoping for it to be more about hotels and how to get good service. I guess I should have found some reviews before buying the book. A lot of the information is older and you can't use now because of the changes made. I just would get this book from the library or the bargain book bin.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must for anyone that travels. It is the in andout of hotels, how to get a better room, and how to be safe from germs! I never walk onthe carpet without slippers after reading this..... THis is true

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read about tricks and tips traveling. Some I knew, most i didn't. It's a little dated, but still full of good info. The book could have benefited greatly from chapters that broke up the book into more easily understood sections.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

tips on how to get better service and deals when traveling.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical travel advice you can use

[Rachel Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any avid traveler should check out this book. It helped me when I traveled to Savannah GA, and New Orleans, LA