The Twelve Days of Christmas are upon us. And I, like a lot of kids, wrote to Santa Claus every year. My Christmas wishes were usually fulfilled (Spoiler Alert!)--by my parents and grandparents of course. Being still young at heart, I thought I'd try it again this year, but with a travel theme.
Dear Santa -
My name is William Chalmers and I have been good this year. Really good per my kids, and not bad according to my wife.
What I wish most this year for Christmas is:
... a week of bebopping the Greek islands next summer.
... that we Americans would take and use all our allotted vacation time. We're killing ourselves!
...that I had a new Eagle Creek Tarmac International Carry-On. (I wore the old one out!)
...that airlines renewed pre-deregulation ticket reciprocity rules for missed flights.
...that we got an honest 24-hour stay in a hotel when we paid for a room.
... that I could participate in the 2017 world travel championship - The Global Scavenger Hunt.
... that all nations shared a common electrical plug.
... a long weekend of bliss with my wife at a cozy riad in Marrakesh...in February.
... I could afford dinner at Thomas Keller's Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry.
.... that I didn't have to tip service workers and they made a living wage.
...that international roaming charges weren't such a rip off.
... that TSA was consistent--Do the shoes stay on or off? Laptop out or not?
... that frequent flyer programs didn't constantly change by always upping the requirements.
... I could take my son ice skating on a frozen Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada.
... that US airports were quieter. (Do we really need those obnoxious 24/7 TSA announcements --15+ years running!?)
... I could take my daughter to visit here namesake--Petra, Jordan.
... that travelers had more empathy for each other and commonsense etiquette returned.
... that airlines had one standard size for carryon bags and enforced it.
... I could see the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun in one calendar year. Greedy I know!
... that travelers would look less into their smartphones and see what and who's around them.
... that Namibia wasn't so far away.
... that the FAA would get serious about stopping fools from directing drones near airports.
... airlines would squash the discontent caused by reclining seats.
... for a US-version of real consumer protections and Air Passengers Rights -- other nations have them!
... an overhead bin central-locking system, only accessible when the seat belt sign has been turned off.
... I didn't suffer from sunscreen guilt now.
...Christmas in London next year.
Finally, Santa, I wish for a Star Trek-like transporter system. Pretty please!
Thank you, Santa, and Merry Christmas too!
P.S. Enjoy our cookies and milk by the fireplace.
P.S.S. I think the lady of the house made them too sweet. Sorry!
That's my Santa Christmas wish list; I know, click my heels together and hope hard, right!?
What is on your travel wish list for 2017?