Christopher Elliott
Christopher Elliott is a journalist and consumer advocate.
His articles, columns and essays offer advice for people who want to become more informed travelers.
Elliott is National Geographic Traveler's ombudsman, a nationally syndicated columnist through Tribune Media Services, a columnist for MSNBC.com and a commentator and independent producer for public radio.
He's also the host of "What You Get For The Money: Vacations" on the Fine Living network.
Most of Elliott's career has been spent as an independent journalist. He's founded numerous Web sites dedicated to consumer advocacy, including _Tripso_, which he currently edits.
He's penned regular travel columns for ABCNews.com, CNN.com, Kiplinger.com, MarketWatch.com, MSN, The New York Times and USAToday.com. His essays have appeared on nearly every major U.S. newspaper's op-ed page.
Elliott is a contributing editor to SkiSnowboard America & Canada, the leading ski guide book in North America.
He has been featured as a travel expert on CBS, MSNBC, NPR, CNN, and Britain's ITN network. Other radio appearances include public radio's Marketplace and Sound Money, CNET Radio, and numerous ABC network affiliates. He's also been quoted as a travel expert in a variety of publications, from BusinessWeek to The Wall Street Journal.
Before he became an independent writer, Elliott worked for Dow Jones & Co., where he frequently wrote about the stock market and initial public offerings for The Wall Street Journal. He also served as a section editor for Travel Weekly, a travel trade publication. Elliott completed seven editorial internships, including stints at the Los Angeles Times, The Dallas Morning News and Reuters.
Elliott is a 1990 graduate of the University of California at Irvine, where he majored in humanities. He completed his Master of Journalism degree in 1991 at the University of California at Berkeley and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 1996.
Christopher Elliott Samples
Don't Fly High: 7 Reasons to Lose the Booze
Don't drink and fly. Words to live by, not just if you're a pilot, but also if you're a passenger. Sandra Langer explains why: On a recent trip from Amsterdam to New York, she watched a good number of her fellow passengers get hammered.
'Keystroke Error' Turns $289 Rate Into $28
XXXXX. Terry Capps finds a $28 a night room rate at a Westin hotel in Orlando. XXXXX. Q: I recently found a $28 per night rate at the Westin Imagine in Orlando.
Whoever Wins in the Tax War, Guests Still Pay the Bill
Next time you book a hotel room online, consider what happens to the taxes you've paid. Occupancy taxes can take a big bite out of your vacation budget. Where does all the money go?
The Travel Troubleshooter-Advisory
We have moved a TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER BONUS column entitled "Whoever Wins in the Tax War, Guests Still Pay the Bill."
7 Ways to Find Excellent Customer Service on the Road
When I think of great customer service, I remember Alamo. Alamo Rent A Car, that is. I think about it because the company had almost no reason to be nice to me when I rented a car a few years ago.
Help! My Car Rental Company is Taking Me to Court
XXXXX. Tracey Brown Osborne finds a mysterious charge on her American Express bill that turns out to be a repair bill for a rental car tire -- a tire she says she never damaged. XXXXX. Q: We recently rented a car through Hertz in Scotland.
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