New York-based journalist and ombudswoman Michelle Couch-Friedman has helped people scammed by fake travel agencies, a college student who paid nearly $1,000 for a rodent-infested Airbnb, and a woman who was charged $8,000 for a rental car that died soon after pickup. She even helped a passenger get a $16,000 refund for a wildly misrepresented diamond necklace purchased on a cruise. Couch-Friedman, who writes consumer protection columns for The Points Guy and Fodor’s and has successfully mediated thousands of cases as a consumer advocate over the past decade, launched her Consumer Rescue organization four years ago.
As “chief fiasco fixer” for Consumer Rescue, Couch-Friedman has helped right the wrongs of travelers who are stuck at an impasse with companies or suffering from some kind of travel injustice — and she does it all for free. If she agrees to take on a case, she’ll step in as the voice of reason to mediate the issue in a non-adversarial way. As a licensed (although no longer practicing) psychotherapist, Couch-Friedman is a master at resolving complicated problems between consumers and companies and has a high success rate, she says, “because I’ve built relationships with top executives at companies around the world and they know that if I send a case to them, there must be a service problem on their side.”
Couch-Friedman often writes about these issues on her Consumer Rescue website, using real-life scenarios to offer tips for other travelers on how to prevent similar experiences from happening to them. She also runs a private Facebook group, What’s Your Problem, where travelers can share their problems and get real-time advice and answers from Couch-Friedman, and she provides a free weekly newsletter, Tales from Consumer Advocacy Land, with additional resources and information.
Consumers should always attempt to resolve issues directly themselves, making sure to document all communication and scenarios in writing and, when appropriate, with photos or videos. If you’re not sure who to reach out to at a company or how to connect with a real person in this age of AI, send a request to Consumer Rescue’s Your Research Valet, and you’ll receive the name and contact info for an actual person who will respond. However, if you’ve been scammed (no shame, it can happen to anyone these days) or you find yourself unable to resolve a travel-related issue, reach out to Couch-Friedman and she’ll steer you in the right direction or help resolve the situation. https://consumerrescue.org/about-consumer-rescue.
New Wonder Routes guide visitors around Whistler Blackcomb ski resort
With 8,171 acres of skiable terrain, more than 200 trails, 36 chairlifts, and the world’s highest gondola of its kind (1,427 feet above ground) that connects two mountains, Whistler Blackcomb resort can feel a bit overwhelming to approach for first-time and even return visitors. The resort’s newly mapped Wonder Routes can help you navigate this vast terrain by offering themed trails you can follow while skiing or snowboarding. The seven Wonder Routes include the Gold Medal Route, which takes intermediate and advanced skiers and riders down the courses for the 2010 Olympic Games and 2025 Invictus Games (an adaptive multi-sport event); Top of the World Route, geared to all levels, that links the resort’s four highest points and, on a clear day, offers breathtaking views across the Coast Mountains; and the Family Certified Route, which follows green (easy) runs to a Magic Castle, through the gladed Enchanted Forest, to a Tree Fort in the woods, and by Chic Pea lodge, known for its cinnamon buns. It also offers the Alpine Sampler, a collection of mostly expert-level trails from the double-black Couloir Extreme on Blackcomb to the Glacier and Whistler bowls on Whistler Mountain; the Glade Stashes Checklist, which links some of the top gladed runs across both mountains — ideal on a low-visibility day; and the Après Route, which connects all the on-mountain lodges and eateries, including the small, European-style Horstman Hut at the top of 7th Heaven, offering amazing waffles, Bavarian classics, and sweeping views.
All seven routes include a ride on the Peak2Peak gondola, meaning you get to explore both mountains. One skier, who recently completed the Super Blues route, said that following a Wonder Route as a first-time visitor helped her focus on terrain that interested her — in this case, a sampling of the top cruiser blue runs across both mountains — and make the most of her day pass without wasting precious time (lift ticket starts at about $150 if booked four or more weeks in advance, or use your annual Epic Pass). Whistler-Blackcomb, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, has online and paper maps of the Wonder Routes (use the Epic app to determine your location on the mountain and where you want to go).
For fueling your adventure, stop at Lift Coffee Co. next to the Whistler gondola at the base area for a grab-and-go coffee and breakfast sandwich or head to the new Quebecois-inspired Lorette Brasserie for a scrumptious sit-down breakfast (think croque madame and five different types of eggs Benedict). On the mountain, Glacier Creek Lodge is a local favorite for its ramen bowls (and a food truck-like collective with plenty of other options). For dinner on the pedestrian-only Village Stroll, top picks include wood-fired pizza at Caramba (try the crispy lamb with goat cheese, jalapeno, and pesto) and the multi-course tasting menu at Latin-inspired Balam restaurant, where each dish brings a creative burst of flavor from the multiple ceviche options to the Amazonian black cod with tiger prawns and blue spirulina foam. www.whistlerblackcomb.com/explore-the-resort/discover/wonder-routes.aspx.
Kari Bodnarchuk can be reached at travelwriter@karib.us.
Kari Bodnarchuk can be reached at travelwriter@karib.us.