F2 Q&A Andrew McCarthy, Act 2 BY ANDREA SACHS Yes, he is that Andrew McCar-
thy. Let me back up: The Society of
American Travel Writers an- nounced last week that among the 2010 Lowell Thomas winners, the highest honor — Travel Jour- nalist of theYear, gold—would go to Andrew McCarthy. What a boon for that guy, we thought, sharing the same name as the famous actor who once turned Molly Ringwald into a puddle of pinkandshowsnosign of retiring his leading man status. But then we realized that this was not a case of mistaken identity. Andrew McCarthy is one and the same. Check his Web site if you don’t believe us. On his home page, he lists his vocations/talents/crafts as acting/directing/writing. (We assume he chose that order for alphabetical reasons.) Interested in his double rain-
bow of careers, we arranged a tete-a-tete at a bar inManhattan, after a travel writers’ salon called Restless Legs. McCarthy, 47, was dressed casually in jeans and a dark sweater, his hair a little flop- py, as if he had used the open window of a cab as a stylist. He blended in well with the down- town decor and jaunty audience, like a true chameleon travel writ- er.
He debriefed us on his back
story. “I used to travel a lot before
having kids. Travel changed my life. I believe in the transforma- tive powers of travel.” Among his adventures: plying the Amazon and walking through Spain. A dedicated reader of travel litera- ture (sample: Paul Theroux), he also became a casual writer, jot- ting down notes to “seal” the experiencesin hismind.These,he assures his audience of one, were not the sentimental scribblings of a diarist, but the sharp-eyed ob- servations of a journalist. About seven or so years ago, he
asked Keith Bellows, editor of NationalGeographicTraveler,out for a drink. Bellows agreed. Over beverages, McCarthy expressed interest in writing about travel. Bellows asked for clips;McCarthy had none, but he reasoned, “I can tell a story, because that’s what I’ve been spending my whole life
CHRIS SANDERS
AndrewMcCarthy, on assignment in Brazil, says acting taught him to be observant of people, which has helped his travel-writing career.
doing.” Bellows acceded and sent him off to Ireland, a place both familiar and familial to the actor. That 2006 piece begot more piec- es in such top-notch publications as Travel and Leisure, Afar and Bon Appetit. Next month, he sets off for Patagonia on assignment forNationalGeographic Traveler. Now, onto the questions we
were itching to ask the actor (slash) travel writer. Is it fair that youhavenotone
but two dream jobs? Isn’t that a little selfish? I pursued what I wanted to do.
They’re the same job really. They’re my passions and they let me be creative, something I grew up doing. Has acting helped you with
travel writing? Acting taught me to be obser-
vant of people.Acting teaches you to keep an eye on the story. As a celebrity who tries to
stay private, is it hard to write in the first person and expose yourself? [For a NGT assignment on Los
Angeles], I had to marry my two worlds. Before I had kept them separate. They told me to come
clean about what the city means to me. That makes it more diffi- cult, that degree of disclosure. Writing about what’s titillating— I shy away from that stuff. . . . But you have to disclose feelings and emotionifyouare invested in that piece. Do you get recognized when
out reporting? Often I am not recognized be-
cause I’min a different mode. I’m just a curious, interested traveler. . . . Sometimes [being a known actor] does open doors. It relaxes people in a certain way because they think they know me. How are you going to spend
the prize money? What? I won money. I didn’t
know that. Yeah, I think about $1,500. I guess I’ll buy new kitchen
table chairs. If you were on a cruise ship
. . . I wouldn’t be on a cruise ship. If you could win only one
award in your lifetime, which one would it be: an Emmy, Os- car, Razzie or Lowell Thomas? I’ll take them all.
sachsa@washpost.com
COMING&GOING
First Exit to Brooklyn PoorBrooklyn.The popular
borough has been unfairly under-served by themajority of Washington-NewYork bus lines, which typically pull aU-turn in Manhattan.But a new transportation company has
taken up its cause. On Friday, the
KnowItExpresswill start nonstop service between theU StreetMetro inNorthwest Washington and theParkSlope area ofBrooklyn (more specifically, Flatbush and Fourth avenues). Cost is $25 oneway and $45 round trip with a reservation, or $30 for
walk-ups. For now, the buses will run Friday throughMonday. Info: 888-308-1129,
www.theknowitexpress.com Reporting: Andrea Sachs.Help
feed CoGo. Send travel news to:
cogo@washpost.com. Bymail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St.NW,Washington,D.C. 20071
EZ EE
KLMNO WHAT’STHEDEAL?
Theweek’s best travel bargains fromaround the globe
LAND lPetit St.VincentResort, a 113- acre private island property in the southern Caribbean, is offering nine nights for the price of seven for staysNov. 1- Dec. 17 and Jan. 8-21. In November andDecember, the rate at the 22-cottage luxury resort usually starts at $709 per couple per night; after discount, nightly rate starts at $551, a savings of $1,418. In January, rates start at $903; after discount, cost is $702, a savings of $1,806.Taxes and service charges are 20 percent extra.All meals included.Book by calling 800-654-9326.Hotel info:
www.psvresort.com. l HotelCrillon leBrave, a five- star property in France’s Provence region, has discounted its rates by 50 percent throughNov. 28. Rooms, after discount, start at about $167 a night.The 32-room hotel,which sits atop a small hill town 45minutes from Avignon, is spread across seven restored stone houses built in the 16th and 17th centuries. Amenities include an open-air spa. Info:
www.crillon
lebrave.com.
SEA
l The AlaskaMarineHighway System,which operates 11 ferries along theAlaskanCoast and to PrinceRupert,B.C., and Bellingham,Wash., is offering savings of up to 25 percent on travel in the Inside Passage. With the discount, the See Alaska Pass costs $160 eachway. Passengers traveling northboundmust embark in PrinceRupert; southbound travelersmust start in the Alaskan cities of Skagway or Haines.Up to three stops are allowed in each direction in
Ketchikan,Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka,Haines or Juneau. Savings depend on itinerary.TravelMay 1-Sept. 30. Cabins for overnight ferry cost extra. Info: 800-642-0066,
www.ferryalaska.com. l Pay forHurtigruten’s six- nightNorwegianCoastal Voyage cruise fromBergen to Kirkenes, and get the return five-night voyage free.Deal applies to selectOctober- December departures.The 11- night sailing nowstarts at $1,533 per person double (taxes included), a savings of $657. Book byOct. 31. Info: 866-552-0371,
www.hurtigruten.us.
AIR
l OnOpenSkies, fly business classwith a friend from WashingtonDulles toParis and save at least 20 percent. Round-trip fare for two people traveling together in “biz seats” is $2,700, plus $238 taxes—a savings of $660 per couple.By comparison, tickets purchased individually cost $1,799, including taxes.The airline is also offering 25 percent off “biz bed” tickets for two passengers traveling together.Discounted round-trip fare starts at $4,400 per couple, plus $336 taxes.Biz seats recline to 140 degrees and have a 52-inch seat pitch; biz beds lie flat.Travel byMarch 31. No blackout dates, but sale fare may be sold out on some flights around the holidays. Purchase byOct. 22 atwww.flyopenskies. com, or pay $50more per person by calling 866-581-3596. l Lufthansa has sale fares to Europe. For example, fly round- trip fromWashingtonDulles to Warsawfor $705, including $187 taxes; fare on other airlines starts at $800.Depart byMarch 31 and return byApril 30. Fourteen-day advance purchase required. Fares are lowest for midweek travel.Minimumstay is Saturday night;maximumis
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2010
onemonth.Holiday blackout dates areDec. 16-23 and Jan. 1-9. Purchase byOct. 26 at
www.lufthansa.com. l Qantas is offering one free stop inAuckland as part of its NewYork-to-Australia fare sale for flights departingApril 1- June 26. For example, fare from NewYork’s JFKtoAuckland to Sydney,with return toNew York, is $1,235, including $197 taxes. Fares on other airlines starts at about $1,440.Brisbane orMelbourne can be substituted for Sydney. Purchase byOct. 26
atwww.qantas.com.
PACKAGE
l Book one ofRitzTours’ 2011 European vacations byDec. 17 and save $300 per couple. Savings apply to the 10-night EuropeanDelight,which visits England, France, Switzerland and Italy; the 10-nightBest of EasternEurope,with stops in Germany,Austria,Croatia, CzechRepublic, Slovenia and Hungary; and the eight-night ItalyEssence,which covers Milan, Sorrento,Capri and Rome. Prices vary by trip and travel date. For example, the Italy Essence tour starts at $2,062 per person double after the discount for theMarch 31 departure.Trip includes airfare fromNewYork, 12meals, daily guided sightseeing, lodging in four-star hotels, land transport and taxes.Airfare add-on from Washington is $200. Info: 888-345-7489,
www.ritztours.com.
—Carol Sottili
Submit travel deals to
whatsthedeal@washpost.com. Please include your phone number and e-mail address. Priceswere verified Thursday afternoonwhen the Travel sectionwent to press, but deals sell out and availability is not guaranteed. Restrictions such as blackout dates and advance purchasemay apply.
Pavement to Pink Sand Washington, D.C. to Bermuda in less than 2hours.
Now every 3rdnight is free! Stay for 2nights and get the 3rdnight compliments of Bermuda.*
Book now through March 12, 2011, for travel from November 15, 2010 -March 15, 2011. For moreinformation and to plan your vacation, visit
bermudatourism.com/compliments.
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*Advertised Rates arebased on the best available average daily rate and arefor single and double occupancy rooms. Offer is available for new bookings only and valid only at participating hotels: Cambridge Beaches, Clearview Suites, Elbow Beach Bermuda, Fairmont Hamilton Princess, The Fairmont Southampton, Fourways Inn, Granaway Guest House and Cottage, Greenbank, Grotto Bay Beach &Tennis Club, Newstead Belmont Hills Resort &Spa, Surf Side Beach Club, St. George’sClub, Royal Palms Hotel, Rosedon, Tucker’sPoint Hotel &Spa, Willowbank Hotel &Spa. Promotion must be booked between September 15th, 2010, and March 12th, 2011, and is valid for travel November 15th, 2010 –March 15th, 2011, and is subject to availability.The free room night(s) includes the room rate only; customers will be charged for the gratuities and resort fees on the free night. Tour Operators will be responsible for the total stay and the free night will be deducted from the customer’sinvoice upon check out. Rates may vary according to date of departure, number of persons, room type and meal plan, and arebased on availability.Rates aresubject to Government Tax, Gratuities and Resort Fees and will be reflected in your final folio. Rates and taxes aresubject to change without notice. Hotels reserve the right to close out this promotion at their discretion. Seasonal surcharges, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.Usual cancellation policies apply,based on individual hotel policies. This offer can be combined with other offers; however,itisuptothe individual hotel. This offer is not available for groups or weddings. Void whereprohibited by law.Offer must be requested at time of booking.
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