Andrew Harper is the pseudonym of a gentleman traveler who, frustrated by commercially driven travel coverage, began writing his own candid reviews of smaller, unique hotels. The Hideaway Report, which began as a small newsletter for friends and family, is now one of the most distinct voices in luxury travel.
Impatient with pretense and skeptical of passing trends, Andrew Harper has an abiding passion for classic hospitality and refined service amid peaceful surroundings. He is on the road for several months each year, and hotels are his second home.
These are his personal travel tips:
1. Over the years I have found – prosaically - that the two most useful items to put in my hand baggage are ziplock plastic bags (in assorted sizes) and superglue (things always get broken when you travel). I also carry a Leatherman in my suitcase, which has a variety of tools, the most useful of which is a tiny screwdriver with which to reassemble your sunglasses when the little screws fall out. The crucial thing to remember about a Leatherman is that it does not contain a corkscrew. Other gadgets I always carry include a small but powerful Maglite torch (flashlight), a slim, solar-powered pocket calculator and a universal adaptor plug.
2. Before leaving home on a far-flung trip I research the local telephone numbers of my airlines, hotels and travel companies and store them in my PDA. Even on the best regulated journeys things tend to go wrong and when they do, having this information at your fingertips is invaluable.
3. Always put passports, wallets, credit cards, etc. back in exactly the same place in your hand baggage. This simple procedure is the best way not to lose them. I also take several photocopies of my passport and store them in a variety of locations.
4. Credit cards are all very well, but I never leave home without cash, usually $500 (in small bills) and €250. The greenback may not be quite the force it once was, but from Salzburg to Samarkand people are happy to accept dollars. $100 bills are virtually useless, however, as nearly everyone believes them to be forgeries.
5. Obviously people on medication need to carry a copy of the prescription. However, a prescription for eyeglasses can also be useful. If you need glasses to see the Tintorettos or the wildebeest you’re not going to have much fun without them.
6. The single thing that most improves life at airports is wearing loafers or deck shoes. Many people seem to travel in trainers and therefore are obliged to lace and unlace them going through security. This is annoying for themselves and everyone else.
7. If you fly within the United States, you will generally have to connect through the principal hub airports like Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta. U.S. airlines frequently issue tickets with a 45 minute connection time. If you have checked baggage this means it will invariably be left behind. Airlines really don’t try very hard these days, even for First Class passengers. Should you wish to remain united with your suitcase, a 90 minute connection is usually required. In my experience, airports in the West and Rockies such as Denver and Salt Lake City are particularly egregious in this respect. So if you want to stay in touch with your skis the next time you go to Aspen, Vail, Telluride or Sun Valley, be sure to leave plenty of time.
8. Flying privately is one of the ultimate modern status symbols. And it can indeed be very pleasant, with no immigration and customs hassles (the officials generally come on board your plane) and take-off 15 minutes or so after your car arrives at the airport. But what no one ever mentions is that the small aircraft used most often - Citation Ultra and Hawker 400 - are actually fairly uncomfortable. It is impossible to stand up straight and filled to capacity with seven passengers they become downright claustrophobic. In addition, they have a limited range. From New York to Palm Beach is a stretch; from New York to the Caribbean is an impossibility. True luxury in private aviation actually begins with a midsize jet like a Citation Excel or Hawker 800.
9. Noise-canceling headphones really do work and are, in my view, a mandatory purchase. Alas, they are hopeless for sleeping in, so the foam earplugs remain a necessity. Rather than relying on the airline, however, take your own preferred earplugs and eyeshade.
10. I always take at least one large linen laundry bag. The ones supplied by hotels are invariably too small and the plastic ones are unattractive and split open at the slightest excuse.
11. It is generally a mistake to imagine that you will be able to buy sunscreen when you arrive. Most hotels gift shops have either factor 4 or factor 50 and nothing in between. I always take #6, #15 and #30. Also, many people, myself included, are allergic to cheap brands. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that the best sun products are made by Clarins.
12. On safari, everyone remembers to take a camera – although many people neglect the mandatory 300mm lens – forgetting that the really essential piece of kit is a pair of good binoculars. Friends who own safari camps have traditionally sworn by Leitz products. However, if money is no object, I suggest you opt for Swarovski’s EL 8.5×42. Also remember to take your own bird identification books and field guides: the lodges never have enough copies.
13. Read local newspapers on the web in advance. Many local English-language newspapers are surprisingly good. Not just the obvious ones like the Sydney Morning Herald, the South China Morning Post and The Times of India, but also the Buenos Aires Herald, the Prague Post… They provide extremely useful insight into concerts, galleries and exhibitions, plus new restaurants and shops.
14. Everyone always plans to read a stack of books prior to a trip and then, somehow, in the frantic lead-up to an extended vacation, their good intentions go astray. This really is unfortunate, as over three decades it has been my experience that preparatory reading is the most infallible way to enhance the pleasure of a journey. Try to find the time.
15. Many of the world’s iconic travel sights demand to be seen, but inevitably disappoint the traveler of romantic inclination. Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat are representative examples, being so overrun with tourists that they have lost much of their former allure. One trick is to briefly pay homage and then go to somewhere less well-known where the ghosts still linger. For example, the most dramatic Mayan city is Tikal in Guatemala, but at around 9:00 AM, the tour groups from Mexico begin to arrive. Fortunately, other Mayan sites nearby such as Yaxha are extremely evocative and virtually deserted.
