I've taken more flights than anyone in the world – I think these European countries are over-hyped but Brits love them
10/13/2024 03:01 AM
THE World’s Most Travelled Man, who’s logged over 31,000 hours in the air, has revealed the two European destinations he isn’t a fan of.
And it’s bad news for fans of a cheap holiday to Bulgaria or Spain.
Fred Finn, 84, is recognised by the Guinness World Records for the title – one he’s held since 1983.
One place he said he didn’t have a good time in is Bulgaria because of a bad experience he encountered there when he visited.
He told Sun Travel: “I got ripped off there very badly. They copied my credit card and I lost £600.
“It was a very expensive dinner…. things like that put you off from going back.
“I’m sure now I’ll get friends telling me I’m wrong. Its my own opinion, that’s all.”
The Sun’s Jonathon Samuels recently visited the capital Sofia, and said it may not have the “pizzazz of Paris or romance of Rome but does have charm and history”.
Another place Fred isn’t in a rush to go back to is Spain.
He explained: “I think parts of Spain have become over crowded.
“There are some good parts to the country, such as the Spanish islands, for example.
“But again, you’ve got to choose which one very carefully – with a lot of them, Brits just go to the bars there to drink.
“I think, ‘Why do they go on holiday then?'”
There is one place he raves about that he says Brits should stop overlooking – the country of Georgia.
He said: “People don’t really know about Georgia. Kutaisi has tremendous history and Batumi on the coast is like the Monaco of the Black Sea.
“The food is good, the dancing they do is fantastic. It’s got the highest mountain in Europe, it’s got villages and lakes. It’s also very hospitable there.
“And it’s the oldest wine producing country in the world, they’ve been doing it 5,000 years.
Fred, born in Canterbury, started flying as young as 13, although his millions of miles racked up when he joined a major American corporation.
Why you should visit Georgia in 2025
AIRLINES British Airways and easyJet are launching direct flights from the UK to Tbilisi for next year, making it the place to visit.
The British Airways service will take off every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from London Heathrow.
EasyJet’s new route from London Luton to Tbilisi will take flight just two days later on April 1, 2025.
By and large, Tbilisi is a pretty inexpensive city to visit, with bargain hotel rooms from £34, based on two people sharing a room.
Overnight stays are even cheaper if you’re prepared to bunk in a hostel dorm, with beds for just £6 and private rooms for £10.
A new international airport could be built in Tbilisi, according to the country’s prime minister.
The new airport will increase passenger flow and boost the country’s economy by $129.65million over the next few years.
Over the years, he says he has flown 15 million miles in the air, including a record 718 flights on Concorde.
When it comes to his favourite airline, British Airways is his top carrier.
He said: “I’ve flown with British Airways more than anyone. By a long shot, I don’t think it’s the best airline in the world, because it doesn’t have the money to compete with Etihad, Qatar and Singapore Airlines.
“But British Airways is like a pair of old slippers for me, they’re actually very comfortable, you know what they look like, and you know what they’re going to do.
“I like the colour scheme, it’s restful, and it’s comfortable.
“Usually when I’m on a flight they announce ‘we’ve got a guy on board that has flown more than the whole crew put together’.
“That kind of thing goes on, which is good.”
Fred has now written a book called Sonic Boom where he shares the incredible journeys he’s undertaken over the years, as well as the evolution of commercial aviation and its impact on global culture.
The book is available for pre-order now here.
Former Chief Pilot and Director of British Airways, Al Bridger has shared how food on flights has changed through the years in his book Flavour of Flight: The Food and Drink of British Airways.
