Informing the international traveler since 1976.
Archive for February, 2005
Enjoyable dining, Europe
My wife and I would like to share some wonderful restaurants we experienced while traveling in Europe in May and June ’03. • In Hall, AUSTRIA, a pretty medieval town about 15 minutes from Innsbruck, we ate at the Goldener Hirsch restaurant (A-6060 Hall-Unterer-Stadtplatz, Austria; phone 05223/53124). For $18 for two, we had soup, entrées, vegetables, beer [...]A few thoughts on personal security
During a February ’03 trip, my pocket was picked in Santiago, Chile. The last time I was a victim of street crime was in 1966 when a band of street urchins stole my wristwatch in Saigon. I’m an experienced traveler and have made many visits to big, dangerous, third-world cities, like New York and Los Angeles, [...]Keeping wallet in sight at x-ray
ITN printed a letter of mine about my going through Frankfurt Airport in 2003 and having a security screener insist that my wallet and passport be x-rayed (Nov. ’04, pg. 18). I expressed concern that they could have been stolen while they were at the other end of the conveyor belt and out of my [...]Booking on the Web
It is with much interest that I read the letter “Web Booking Provided No Satisfaction” (Nov. ’04, pg. 36), regarding a reader’s experience booking a cruise through Travelocity. She booked a Category Y Outside Guarantee and was surprised to find that her cabin was obstructed. She found that for $50 more she could get what [...]A ‘super day’ near London
London was crowded with tourists in August ’04 and it was also the wettest August on record. Daily sky bursts were the norm, and before your umbrella was fully extended you were sopping wet. So many people running for the same shelter at the same time only exasperated the situation. Although it rains everywhere, there are [...]Extended travels in Latin America
My wife, Elaine, and I traveled in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands at the end of January and beginning of February ’04 for two weeks. We then spent several weeks in Peru and finally a month in Panama. Here are a few comments that might be of interest to readers. ECUADOR & GALÁPAGOS — It seems most [...]Bulgaria — a perfect vacation destination
We are extremely interested in history and enjoy visiting different cultures. In August ’04 we visited Bulgaria. After spending 10 days in this largely unknown jewel of the Balkans, we wanted to tell our friends that Bulgaria has everything anyone would expect for a perfect vacation. Customized tour Our trip was planned by Balkan Travel & Tours [...]USTOA tour-selecting tips
To help you in choosing a tour, the United States Tour Operators Association, or USTOA (342 Madison Ave., Ste. 1522, New York, NY 10173), suggests a number of questions to ask and points to consider. Questions to ask • What is and is not included in the price? Find out if airport transfers, service charges and airport [...]Tips on choosing a tour company
Many years ago I took my first trip with a travel company (which shall remained unnamed) and learned some hard lessons. It was a frustrating and expensive process, but it did pave the way for many other successful trips with very few unpleasant surprises. As a single female traveler, I initially ask the tour operator questions [...]The challenge — and rewards — of visiting southern Ethiopia
It is said that Ethiopia has an image problem, and indeed it has. Years of relentless media coverage of famine, war and rebellions have taken their toll. Unfortunately, this has made travelers pass on the opportunity to visit an area that is unique, not only to Africa but worldwide. Deciding on a destination Ethiopia has four faces, [...]
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