Virtues of contrarian travel

Many places may not figure on many people's list of dream destinations. places which, for a variety of reasons, have garnered negative reputations.

Perhaps they have figured in horrific headlines, been wracked by war, poverty, pollution, natural disasters or social instability. Maybe the country has fallen out of political favor with the United States. It may be a once popular destination to which travelers no longer flock, done in by its own popularity, byover-development or simply the ever-changing tastes of tourists, who are lured by bigger, newer, and more glitzy attractions.

While some places have bad reputations and deserve them, others don't. No country or city is guaranteed to be free of crime or the potential for accident, mayhem or natural disaster. Unpleasant things can happen anywhere.

So often, when people think about distant destinations, vague impressions become absolute assertions, subjective carping masquerading as fact.

That's a shame, because hogwash is still hogwash, even if delivered by those whose opinions you trust.

The simple truth is that most places are inhabited by people who are going about their daily business, often in unique, interesting and colorful ways. Even if changed by time and too many visitors, once popular places still retain vestiges of those attributes that made them desirable in the first place. In fact, they may be even better with fewer visitors.

Similarly, numerous nations that were once enemies now warmly welcome their former foes.

So if you have the desire to see and experience someplace for yourself, don't automatically let negative headlines and opinions deter you.

Check out the facts for yourself. Investigate the latest guidebooks, Web sites and other on-line resources. Seek advice from people who have actually been recent visitors.

Although not always an unbiased resource, the U.S. State Department can be a good source of information on a wide variety of conditions within other countries. Consular Information Pages found on its Web site, http://travel.state.gov/ travel_warnings.html, are easily accessible fonts of practical advice. The Centers for Disease Control also have up-to-date information about health conditions and medical precautions world-wide at www.cdc.gov/travel.

Another way to catch up with current events elsewhere is by perusing the local newspapers from places you plan to visit. That's easily done by anyone with access to the World Wide Web, www.naa.org/hotlinks/index.asp. Investigate what the local tourist bureaus have to say, too, at www.towd.com.

The bottom line? Don't let idle comments and misinformation complete ly deter you from venturing someplace that attracts you. Whenever and where ever you go, it's important to be aware of potential risks, to be alert to the surroundings, to avoid trouble, and to react appropriately to unexpected situations that unfold. Forewarned is always forearmed.

When the urge to discover outweighs the fear of danger or disappointment, brave travelers venture where the timid fear to tread. More often than not, they avoid the crowds and have some wonderful adventures.

In a completely different vein, I recently had my first opportunity to fly across the Atlantic on US Airways' new flight from Pittsburgh to London Gatwick. I'm pleased to report it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

I had taken the British Airways' flight on that same route half a dozen times and greatly appreciated the convenience of direct, nonstop service vs. the hassle and uncertainty of making connections in New York City or other cities. Plus, the amenities and food service in BA's economy class were good values for the money.

While much less busy than London's Heathrow Airport, Gatwick also offered ample connection opportunities to other European destinations, not to mention quick, convenient and inexpensive train service to Victoria Station in London.

When BA announced last October that it was terminating all flights out of Pittsburgh, I was not alone in considering it a major loss for the area.

Through the concerted efforts of interested officials and six months of international negotiations, US Airways won the right to fly from Pittsburgh to Gatwick. This route joins the nonstop flights it already offers from Pittsburgh to Frankfurt and Paris.

US Airways initiated that service in July, operating a daily seven-hour flight scheduled to leave Pittsburgh each day at 5:30 p.m. and arrive in London at 5:55 the following morning. The return service leaves London at 11:40 in the morning, an eight-hour flight with a scheduled arrival here at 3:15 the same afternoon.

Both of my flights took off and landed within minutes of their scheduled times. Seating in the economy section of the wide-bodied 767 is configured into a two-three-two arrangement, so that no passenger is more than one seat from an aisle. The seats themselves are comfortably wide and cushioned and offer considerably more leg room than on US Airways' domestic flights.

The food was equal to any I have enjoyed on any airline's international economy class section, with complimentary beverages, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, delivered by smiling, efficient cabin attendants who seemed genuinely interested in making sure passengers had a pleasant flight experience.

The in-flight entertainment programs, two first-run feature films and several TV sitcoms, provided sufficient diversion to help the time pass quickly.

All things considered, both flights were much more agreeable experiences than I have come to associate with US Airways' domestic service. As a cabin attendant candidly observed, it's like a completely different airline.

I'm looking forward to taking US Airways' flight to Frankfurt on the new Airbus 330's, which offer bigger, more comfortable seats, individual video screens and a wider selection of in-flight entertainment options.