Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Interview with Nathan Lump

Aired August 01, 2002 - 07:58   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Here we are on the first day of August, and if you're still trying to decide where to spend your summer vacation or planning to go somewhere a bit later this year, which is a little more practical right now, you might be trying to figure out where to find the best of everything. We can help today.

Did you know, for example, season travelers consider Sydney, Australia the world's best city? So say some of the readers of "Travel and Leisure" magazine, their annual "World's Best Awards" announced in the August issue.

Here to talk about it now and reveal the "Best of the Best," senior editor, Nathan Lump.

Good morning to you.

NATHAN LUMP, "TRAVEL AND LEISURE": Good morning.

HEMMER: I love to talk about this travel stuff, especially on a global perspective. But on August 1, who is planning a summer trip right now?

LUMP: Actually, a lot of people, I mean, especially given...

HEMMER: Come on.

LUMP: ... especially given how many last-minute deals there are. You know, it's been a tough time for the travel industry. So they are really trying to get bookings out, especially, you know, to close out the summer with a bang, move into the fall, which is traditionally a busier time for travel. So everybody has got deals out there.

HEMMER: All right, listen, if you say it, I'll believe it, but I'm having a tough time buying it. Nonetheless, let's go to your survey. Sydney, Australia, No.1, because?

LUMP: Well, you know, Sydney has really got it all. It's situated on one of the most beautiful harbors in the world. It's got vibrant cultural activities, great restaurants, superb shopping. One of my favorite things about it is that it's really close to nature as well.

HEMMER: Very true, you can take a boat across the harbor and go to the zoo. LUMP: Exactly.

HEMMER: How many great world cities can you do that in? If you want to get a deal to Sydney, though, what's the best one going?

LUMP: Well, right now, there's one on a site called TravelZoo.com, and you can get round trip air fare from Los Angeles, five nights in a hotel, five days' car rental, that's just over $1,000 per person, $1,097 in fact.

HEMMER: Wow!

LUMP: That's an excellent value.

HEMMER: Yes. That's down a couple of grand from where it would be normally, right?

LUMP: Exactly. And if you're not interested in packages, a lot of the airlines are continuing to run sales as well on their air fares. I saw United recently, it was just under $600 from various points in the U.S., round trip air fare to Sydney.

HEMMER: OK, back here in the U.S., New York City, second year in a row, destination of choice.

LUMP: Exactly.

HEMMER: What are people saying?

LUMP: You know, really, New York, it's very gratifying to see New York do well again. It's been a tough year. Certainly, business is down in the city. What our readers love about New York is shopping -- they say it's the No. 1 city in the world for shopping -- restaurants and of course, the cultural and artistic attractions in the city.

HEMMER: The best deal going to Manhattan is what?

LUMP: Well, you know, hotels are traditionally a concern, the cost of -- the high cost of hotels. Expedia has got a deal up right now. You get three nights at a hotel. The fourth night is free. And you know, included in those hotels are places like the Radisson, $119 a night, hard to beat that.

HEMMER: Yes, that's very true on that. If it's the second year in a row, last year when it was No. 1 for the first time, was that survey done before or after 9/11?

LUMP: That survey would have been done before 9/11, and this year's survey was done after 9/11.

HEMMER: Huh, OK, interesting. Best places to stay, North American, got to go over to Vancouver, the Wickaninnish Inn.

LUMP: Exactly.

HEMMER: That's a new one on me. Tell me about it.

LUMP: You know, some of these readers are really voting for small hotels now. People are looking for that kind of intimate experience. The Wickaninnish is a small, 34-room hotel on Vancouver's western coast, beautiful, beautiful setting...

HEMMER: Wow!

LUMP: ... perched high above the Pacific overlooking a mile-long beach. It's really all about the views there, but there is great food, great service, and it's very much a nature destination.

HEMMER: But I've got to think that's a little more than 119 a night. Am I wrong? Or is that Canadian dollars?

(CROSSTALK)

LUMP: No, you are right about that. In high season, rooms begin at $250, which is nothing, but we're talking about a world-class hotel.

HEMMER: Yes.

LUMP: So in fact, that's actually quite a bit of value compared to some other places.

HEMMER: That is beautiful. There is a place in Quebec I want to talk about a bit later, but we're running out of time here. Quickly, a cruise right now, how popular and what kind of deals are you seeing?

LUMP: Well, cruises continue to be very, very popular in this survey, a really high percentage, more than half of our respondents have taken cruises recently. And in fact, Crystal Cruises was the most popular this year. They have been very year since we began this survey. Really that's all about the comforts of a small yacht translated to big ship. And they have got some great deals going now as well, especially if you can sail this fall. Mediterranean cruises...

HEMMER: Wow!

LUMP: ... up to 60 percent off.

HEMMER: Two for one.

LUMP: Two for one deals if you can sail now, on cruises next year. So really, there's a lot out there.

HEMMER: Yes. I love to see those things coming up the Hudson in the morning, too -- beautiful sight.

We're out of time. Best car rental company was?

LUMP: Hertz.

HEMMER: Hertz. Best island in the world voted is? LUMP: Bali.

HEMMER: There's a shocker. Best airline?

LUMP: Midwest Express Airlines in the United States.

HEMMER: Really?

LUMP: And among foreign airlines, Singapore.

HEMMER: Huh! Very good. And the best spa?

LUMP: Golden Door in California.

HEMMER: Which part?

LUMP: Southern California, San Diego.

HEMMER: The Golden Door. I have to make a reservation.

Thank you, Nathan -- Nathan Lump, senior editor at "Travel and Leisure." Thanks for taking us around the world.

LUMP: Thank you.

HEMMER: All right.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.