We were on one of the relatively new "premium" trips that Exodus, the company we were travelling with, runs.
She spent $163,000 for 25 premium-class trips over 15 months.
It is a tempting journey for those who lack health insurance or struggle to pay rising premiums: such trips are estimated to account for up to $2 billion of annual drug spending.Every sort of prescription drug can be bought in Mexico.
For example, the April 3 or April 10 departure of the seven-night Gems of the Danube cruise starts at $3,680 per person double and includes free round-trip premium economy air from Washington, a value of about $1,470 per person.
Another reason is that, um, people no longer have the luxury of shelling out money for premium cable or a trip to the pub to watch a game.
Many parents are prepared to risk the fine for unauthorised absences (£50, increasing to £100 if you don't pay within 28 days - exactly like parking) just to avoid the premium on school holiday trips.
Evan Evans Tours and Premium Tours offer day trips to places like Stonehenge, Oxford and the Cotswolds.
Travelzoo.com, which offers a list of Best Europe Flight Deals, recently pointed out premium-economy round-trip fares from $1,162 (not including taxes and fees, which can add up to $250) on Air France from New York to London, and $1,857 (not including taxes and fees) from Los Angeles to London on Air New Zealand.
Some insurers are allowing you to claim back the premium paid for a single trip (rather than annual) policy, according to the British Insurance Brokers Associationn.
But for an additional fee — $49 was typical — the more adventurous can take a variety of "premium tours," which on my trip included a ride through an alligator-filled swamp and a visit to the once-notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola (which now promotes itself as a model penal institution).
