Alex Berger serves as the founder and CEO of the 3D distance learning company FusionVirtual, works as a mergers and acquisitions analyst, authors the travel blog VirtualWayfarer, runs the websites The Ultimate Packing List and The Travel Resource List, and is an avid social media expert and active guest lecturer when not traveling the world.
Cheapflights: What’s your routine when you fly?
Alex Berger: I start thinking about the trip and what I’ll need a few weeks before my departure. The actual execution though starts 36 hours before my flight and takes the form of checking my flight details every two hours out of paranoia, then starting to pack at 11:30 p.m. the night before my flight.
CF: What is your biggest travel pet peeve?
AB: Rude and oblivious people. They make everything take longer than it should, put everyone in a bad mood and generally make a mess of things. The other is the lack of clocks in airports. It always amazes me how difficult it is to find the time in an international airport.
CF: What kind of trip type do you prefer?
AB: I’m a hostel kind of backpacker. I travel solo but am extremely social. Hostels give me a casual environment where I can meet other like-minded people from all over the world. I’m not overly organized and seldom have a guidebook, preferring to rely on online research and people’s recommendations instead. From there I make sure to see the major attractions but relish the opportunity to get lost and just wander through destinations. I absolutely love mountains and waterfalls, but am just as drawn to the ocean.
CF: Although it’s hard to choose, tell us what your favorite destination is.
AB: Scotland. From the capital of Edinburgh to the wild and rugged cliffs of the Orkney Islands it’s an amazing place: Incredible waterfalls, beautiful mountains, stunning fjords, mesmerizing history, rich culture and of course ancient cities and castles. Just make sure the visit is in the summer!
CF: Cheapflights is all about value. What location do you think offers the best value for travelers?
AB: This is a tough one. It depends on how (and when) you travel as well as what you’re looking for. I can give you a dozen cheap places or 100 which are off the beaten path but offer amazing experiences and insights. To pick one though? Impossible. Instead, I’ll go with Dublin Airport. While the city of Dublin itself is overrated and overpriced, Dublin Airport is typically the cheapest airport in Europe to fly into. Combine an international flight into Dublin with a cheap discount air ticket and you’ll find yourself with a very budget friendly portal into the whole of Europe. Since Europe in general is fairly expensive, every Euro saved is a Euro spent on future travel.
CF: What is your ideal airport, and what’s your advice on how to best enjoy it?
AB: This may sound biased but I’ve got to go with my hometown airport – Phoenix International here in Arizona. The airport has been ranked as the nation’s friendliest, almost never has long (or even medium-length) lines, offers free Wi-Fi and is located in a fair-weather climate. It may not be surrounded by exciting things to explore, but for pure convenience it takes the cake. I will say, however, that I loved the convenience of San Pedro, Belize’s walk-on airport which is only serviced by small 16-seat aircrafts and handout laminated, water-stained boarding passes.
CF: If you had to sit in the middle seat on a plane, who would be your chosen (or most-feared) seat mates?
AB: The middle row is definitely one of my worst nightmares when flying. Turbulence? Bad food? A broken video screen? That I can deal with. Somehow though, I always end up next to other guys my height which makes for a tight fit. My chosen seatmates would be attractive, petite women near my age. I’ve had friends meet their wives during international flights – makes for a great story if you ask me. My most feared? Large, smelly individuals. I’m tall but fairly thin and always do my best to be considerate of those around me. I dread getting stuck next to someone who not only spills over into my space, but also smells badly.
CF: What would you classify as a hypothetical travel nightmare?
AB: Honestly? I don’t have many. I’ve been quasi-shipwrecked, lost, missed my train stop and survived some really bizarre adventures on Guatemalan Collectivos. However, each time everything ended well and made for great stories. I guess my main fear is getting injured or arrested. Luckily neither has happened. The other would be missing my flight in such a way that my airfare was forfeit and budget blown. I learned a long time ago that if you keep a positive attitude, believe in yourself, and embrace the adventure it always works itself out.
CF: How does what you do for a living give you a unique angle on traveling?
AB: I’m all over the place professionally which gives me a lot of different insights into people and the world at large. I work 9-5 as the director of research for a mergers and acquisitions company, run a travelogue and two travel resource websites, am an active Latin/salsa dancer and an entrepreneur working on projects in the online education and distance learning/social media sphere. These all combine to help me better understand the people, history, economy and mindset of the places I visit.
CF: Share with us a few insider tips on how to improve the in-flight experience.
AB: Window seats are great in that they offer a view. As a result, most of us opt for them. The truth of the matter though is that you trade 15 minutes of fun scenery for hours of discomfort. I’ve read that window seats are usually physically smaller and also feel more cramped due to low-hanging bulkheads.
Exit row seating is similar. Everyone fights over it but the added leg room isn’t worth it. The exit row is a common place for families to request seats and should you manage to escape crying children you’re almost guaranteed to be seated with tall people looking for extra leg room. As a result, I’ve abandoned window seats and exit rows in favor of well-positioned aisle seats.
Always make sure to take your own ear buds. Also, avoid being within four rows of a bathroom – not only do they smell, but people waiting tend to lean on your chair. I also try and eat a banana or two over the course of a long flight to make sure I’ve got sufficient potassium. That cuts down on cramping and muscle stiffness. Combine that with an eye mask, music and plenty of water to make for the most enjoyable experience possible.
Cheapflights is proud to have guest voices express their opinions. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheapflights Media (USA) Inc.
