Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary
Get More Elbow Room When You Travel
Private dining—such as this lunch on the Great Wall of China—is just one way to get more elbow room. I won the lottery earlier this month. No, not Mega Millions, but something almost as good: I flew from California to Europe in economy class and had three seats all to myself. And I wasn’t the only one—about 20 of us in the back of the plane had three or four seats each.
Here at WendyPerrin.com, we love getting more elbow room when we travel, especially when it starts with the first flight of a trip.
I asked a flight attendant why the plane was so blissfully empty. He explained that I was flying a seasonal route (San Francisco to Zurich, on United) soon after the season had begun, and such routes often take time to build up a full passenger load. I immediately regretted not booking the same route for my trip home: On my return flight from Munich a week later, I could count the plane’s total number of empty seats on just one hand.
If you want to take advantage of this tip yourself, you can find seasonal flights from your home airport in Nonstop Flights to Make Your Travels Easier.
Another reason why the coach section of my flight was so empty? San Francisco and Zurich are popular start and end points for business travelers. The airline may have been willing to operate my flight with a mostly empty economy cabin because they made enough revenue from business travelers sitting up front. That’s another tip for trying to get an empty seat (or two) next to you in coach: Fly heavy business-travel routes. Think flights from business hubs like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., to business hubs like Brussels, Geneva, London, Milan, Mumbai, Singapore, and Zurich. (Those hubs need not be your final destination; they are where you can connect to your final destination.)
WendyPerrin.com editor Brook Wilkinson shares tips for getting more personal space when you fly.
You may not score an empty row every time (I certainly don’t), but here are a few more strategies that I employ to maximize my space in economy:
- Fly on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, when planes are less crowded. Fly in low season too, of course.
- If you think your flight won’t fill up, choose a seat toward the back of the plane. If there are two of you, take the window and aisle in the same row. The middle seats in the back are the last ones to fill up, giving you the greatest chance of ending up with an empty seat beside you. I love having a window—partly for the view, partly so that I can rest my head against the plane’s fuselage when I sleep—but if you don’t need a window and you’re flying a widebody, choose an aisle seat in the center section in a row where the other aisle seat in that center section is already occupied. Chances are the middle seats between you will be occupied only if the entire plane is full.
- Download your airline’s app and check your flight’s seat map so that you can change your seat if your row fills up. In the last week before a flight, I check the seat map daily. (Note that not all airlines allow you this visibility or flexibility: My ticket from Munich to San Francisco on Lufthansa required that I pay for a seat assignment, and then I could only change my seat by making a phone call.)
- At the airline gate, ask the agent if there are any empty seats on the plane, and if so, politely request to sit beside one. (It may help to tell the agent that you’ve got a lot of work to do on the flight and you could use the elbow room.)
Consider carving out more elbow room for yourself after your flight has landed too: Work with a local fixer who will sprinkle your trip with secluded meals in special locations, rooftop restaurants with plenty of breathing room, private boat rides, and other hard-to-book experiences that provide an oasis from the masses. That’s how our travelers got the WOW trips you can read reviews of below.
China: “Having a gourmet lunch prepared on the Great Wall was a very special moment…”
Emma Jacobs and Patrick Woerner dining on the Great Wall of China.
“Our trip to China was excellent. We had an amazing dinner prepared and cooked in a private space by a chef and his team, curated by Mei’s office, as our WOW Moment in Beijing. Having a gourmet lunch prepared on the Great Wall was a very special moment. One of a kind!! Shanghai took us by surprise, what a great city with exceptional food. We had a wonderful foodie tour there too.” —Emma Jacobs
Read more reviews of China trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Italy: “A day on a private boat in Portofino was magical in every way…”
Elaine and Gregg Patterson on the rooftop of the Marrone Winery in La Morra, Piedmont, where they had lunch and a private tour.
“We had been to different parts of Italy about a dozen times before we started working with Maria and Brian and quickly learned that they can deliver itineraries and experiences that we could never arrange on our own. (And I say that even though I love doing travel research and have planned dozens of trips for us over 40 years.) For this trip, we gave Maria our wish list of Turin, Piedmont wine region, Genoa, Portofino and Lake Maggiore.
Her recommended itinerary checked every box. Wonderful hotels with spacious rooms and beautiful views, private vineyard/winery visits (most with amazing lunches), and the best tour guides who were great travel companions and also helped us plan our free days. Maria’s recommendation for a day on a private boat in Portofino was magical in every way, the restaurants she suggested were all local, delicious, and down to earth, and all the transportation arrangements (excellent drivers, comfortable vehicles) were totally seamless.
Our WOW Moment—a private lesson making cocktails at Martini & Rossi headquarters near Turin—was completely unexpected and completely fun! We learned so much and have so many unforgettable memories from this trip, thanks to Maria and Brian and their network of exceptional people on the ground.” —Elaine Patterson
Read more reviews of Italy trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
France: “A 2-hour private tour after close at Sainte-Chapelle at the Golden Hour…. YES PLEASE!!!!”
Saint Chapelle in Paris, France. Photo: Shutterstock
“What an amazing trip with a lifetime of memories! A 2-hour private tour after close at Sainte-Chapelle at the Golden Hour…. YES PLEASE!!!!
I have been to Paris many times. I have always done my own thing and enjoyed it. This trip we were taking my 82-year-old mother, who mentioned she had always wished she had gotten to Paris. Needless to say, I wanted to make it extra special for her and do a few things I hadn’t previously done. I knew that meant reaching out to someone on Wendy’s WOW List and, let me tell you, after giving Jennifer some background, she came back with a sample itinerary that was just jaw-dropping. She offered things I didn’t even know were possible!!!
On our first evening in the city, we took a 2-hour tour of the city in a vintage French car. It was such a cool experience, it felt like we were in a movie! We got to zip around the city with our informative guide who also expertly and strategically parked the car and took amazing pictures of us all over the city. It was the perfect way to kick off our stay in Paris.
We had a fantastic walking tour of the Marais with a focus on Jewish history. It was informative, moving and tasteful, as it incorporated a lot of food tastings at specialty shops as well. We had a gourmet picnic set up for us in the Luxembourg Gardens; it looked like a postcard! It was a gorgeous day and perfect for some down time and lounging around while enjoying the gardens and former palace grounds.
Jennifer and her team planned two half-day trips for us to get out of the city for a bit. I didn’t want to do Versailles again and she suggested Vaux-le-Vicomte, the inspiration for Versailles! The story behind Vaux-le-Vicomte, the owners and history were so interesting. Truly a beautiful chateau with a tragic history and—no crowds!!! The second half-day tour we spent in Giverny. I had always wanted to go but never made it. Well, I finally made it and it did not disappoint. One of my favorite places.
To cap off our trip, the crème de la crème, we were given a 2-hour private tour of Sainte-Chapelle after close!!!! Two hours all to ourselves in Sainte-Chapelle at the Golden Hour! It was absolutely magical. There are literally no words to describe how special this was. Perfect way to end our trip.” —Christine Stephenson
Read more reviews of France trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Malta: “Loved being able to visit a private palazzo in Mdina, which the owner had not yet opened to the public…”
Palazzo Falson, in Mdina, Malta. Photo: Shutterstock
“Damon made arrangements for us to stay in a quieter part of Valletta, and all of our activities were structured to avoid the crowds arriving and departing on two huge cruise ships. Our hotel was in a 16th-century building, with a lovely view of the harbor, friendly staff, and excellent breakfasts. We could walk or take a little dghajsa boat during our free time to visit other parts of the city. We got to contemplate the two Caravaggios at St. John’s Co-Cathedral a bit ahead of the crowd.
Wendy arranged for us to have a unique WOW Moment, touring the Villa Guardamangia with the curator—and it was a WOW! It is not currently open to the public due to renovation; it is where Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip lived during the early years of their marriage, while Philip was in the Navy. We all loved the TV series The Crown and, of course, were thrilled to be able to visit!
We also loved being able to visit a private palazzo in Mdina, which the owner had not yet opened to the public. We learned about his family history, including a political murder that took place on his balcony, knick-knacks and treasures found in the attic, and what it takes to renovate a home dating back 400 years!
We also loved a private dinner at the Markus Divinus Winery during which the owner told us what is involved in growing grapes and making wine on this relatively small island. My inner nerd was pleased to visit the Hagar Qim, a prehistoric temple built to worship the fertility goddess and, according to UNESCO, the oldest continuously standing structure in the world.” —Stephanie Wright
Read more reviews of Malta trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Vietnam and Cambodia: “Our guide was able to time our sunrise visit to Angkor Wat so well that we thought we had the temple complex to ourselves…”
Mike and Lindsay Lanaux—and no one else—at Angkor Wat at sunrise.
“After listening to the way that we like to travel, Sandy and Ethan planned a trip that catered to our interests in history, architecture, culture and food. We started in Hanoi where we stayed at the Metropole. We really appreciated the history and architecture of the Metropole, as well as the bunker tour of the hotel. In Hue, we were simply awed by the Imperial Palace and the Tombs of the Emperors. Lunch at the home of a local family was one of the highlights of the trip. It was fascinating to see the kitchen where they cooked and to talk to the host about his family history. It truly was one of the best meals of the trip.
In Hoi An, we loved our hotel situated on the river. Watching the boat traffic at night was magical. We also enjoyed our eco tour where we got to ride bikes through the rice paddies and try farming and fishing Vietnamese style. In Saigon, we loved the rooftop bar at our hotel and the history associated with it. The powerboat ride down the Mekong River to the Cu Chi tunnels was fascinating. But the highlight had to be the nighttime Vespa tour exploring the back alleys of Saigon and eating some great street food.
Ending the trip in Siem Reap was a dream come true. The Jaya House River Park Hotel is an excellent mix of luxury and intimacy. Another rooftop bar and spa treatments every day. Our guide was able to time our sunrise visit to Angkor Wat so well that we thought we had the temple complex to ourselves. But the most outstanding experience was being blessed by a 19-year-old monk at his temple and being able to talk with him afterwards. It was truly an exceptional trip that we will always remember.” —Mike and Lindsay Lanaux
Read more reviews of Vietnam and Cambodia trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Germany and Czech Republic: “Having a guide in the Palace and Monastery in Prague was invaluable, and Claudia arranged for us to have lunch within the walls…”
Ian and Suzy Crabb on the Charles Bridge in Prague.
“We were in Berlin, Potsdam, Dresden and Prague. It was fantastic and Claudia and Juliet were amazing. They added SO much value to our trip. Claudia personally knows the guides and they were all wonderful. All had personal stories about the history that really made it come alive and touch us. Claudia and Juliet helped us get concert tickets and dinner reservations. I had done this myself for a trip to Spain and having someone else do it was such a relief.
We had so many amazing experiences. We visited two brothers we had hosted who then hosted our children, and we had not seen them for 20 years. Took a train to Braunshweig which Claudia arranged for us. We had a really interesting dinner at CODA in Berlin where every course looks and tastes like a dessert but it’s not. Having a guide in the Palace and Monastery in Prague was invaluable, and Claudia arranged for us to have lunch within the walls with a magnificent view of the city. Touring the Meissen factory was also not on our agenda—a Claudia suggestion—and that day trip (boat down the Elbe to Meissen) was great. Everything went incredibly smoothly and we were SO pleased with our first WOW experience.” —Ian and Suzy Crabb
Read more reviews of Germany and Czech Republic trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Norway: “We essentially had this fjord to ourselves while we rowed and fished…”
Lovatnet Lake, Norway. Photo: Shutterstock
“What a fantastic trip! Jan did an excellent job planning an amazing self-drive itinerary in Norway. Norway is breathtakingly and relentlessly beautiful. Driving above, around, and on (via car ferry) the fjords is the perfect way to see it. One stunning sight after another comes into view. Waterfalls are everywhere, mountain views, glaciers, fjords, fields in the mountains all overwhelmed with us their beauty. We had so many unique and incredible experiences on this trip but will list only a few:
RIB boat adventure: This three-hour private RIB boat trip from Gudvangen on the Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, and the Sognefjord eventually docked in Solvorn at the Hotel Walaker, our home for the next two nights. Along this exhilarating fast boat ride we saw stunning beauty, cascading waterfalls and other sights that are too beautiful to adequately describe in words. You might ask what happened to our car while we were zipping along the fjords? No problem—Jan arranged for someone to drive our car the two-and-a-half hours to the hotel for us while we had all the fun!
A day on the fjord: Perhaps the most unique and beautiful experience of the trip was a full day with Sverre and his dog Rondor on an antique rowboat on the fjord just outside the Hotel Union Øye where we stayed. We essentially had this fjord to ourselves while we rowed and fished. We caught two small haddock and Sverre rowed us to shore where he cleaned, deboned and cooked the fish over a fire he built in minutes. His love of nature and his ability to share the beauty of Norway with us was truly special.” —Jonathan and Suzanne Scharfstein
Read more reviews of Norway trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
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