Informing the international traveler since 1976.
Aug 2005 issue.
Boarding Pass
Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 354th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. In the June issue I mentioned that police in Malaysia had arrested criminals who possessed a machine that, using info gathered tapping into banks’ phone lines, could forge credit cards. I added that four credit card companies did not reply to ITN when we [...]Travel Tidbits
There is a magnificent painting by Dali, “Christ of St. John of the Cross,” in Glasgow, Scotland. For info, go to www.glasgowmuseums.com and follow through to “St. Mungo Museum of Religion.” There will also be more info on the Burrell Collection, opened in 1983 but as magnificent as ever! — DAVID GLASS, Laree, Alsace, France Chiang [...]China — a Silk Road journey
I had wanted to do the Silk Road again for some time and finally talked my husband into going. Since I planned on spending 30 days, I added a few places to the beginning of the itinerary that I had not yet visited. An unexpected start Things did not go quite as I had expected, however, as [...]Reserving wheelchairs in airports
I took a Continental Airlines flight from Seattle to Cancun and return, Feb. 27-March 8, ’05. I know ITN does not normally include anything on North America, but Houston is an international gateway plus I was assured by the ticket clerk that the same policy holds true everywhere: that is, even if you have made [...]Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova
In the ’90s, my wife, Alice, and I three times hired a car and drove through the newly opened countries of Eastern Europe, but we had yet to visit the three countries that were former Soviet states: Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. In May ’05 we made up for that omission. If we were younger, we would [...]Funniest Thing for August
Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. There are no restrictions on length. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.) The ITN staff will choose each month’s winner, who will receive a free one-year subscription to ITN. Entries [...]France’s ancient cities of stone
The hostess of our château pensione near Naucelle, France, was speaking about her visit to the United States. “In Boston, the tour guide showed us a church and said proudly, ‘It is over 250 years old.’ We waited for the punch line, but there was none. That was it.” She wasn’t sharpshooting. It was simply the honest [...]4-star’s rooms all not equal
During the week of March 13-20, ’04, we stayed at the Karl Schranz Hotel in St. Anton, Austria. We went with a group of six couples, booked by Alpine Adventures. We were told it was a 4-star hotel, but when we got there we were assigned a room in which the bathroom had no tub and [...]Landings infrequent at Pitcairn
ITN was mailed a copy of a letter sent to Discovery World Cruises, as follows. I was a passenger on the “In the Wake of the Bounty” cruise of the M.V. Discovery, Jan. 31-Feb. 15, ’05. My sole purpose in taking this cruise was to visit Pitcairn Island. To insure this, before booking I spoke with [...]Monet Adriatic cruise
We took a 14-day Adriatic cruise from Dubrovnik, Croatia, to Venice, ltaly, aboard the m/v Monet, March 16-30, ’05, with Elegant Cruises & Tours (www.elegantcrusies.com). We arranged it through TravLtips (Flushing, NY; 800/872-8584 or www.travltips.com). We took advantage of the off-season rates; they will be available again in November. The Monet has three cabin categories and [...]Insured by Access America
In the many years my husband, Ted, and I have traveled around the world on ship, on tours and independently, we have booked travel insurance about two-thirds of the time. We have seldom needed to use it and always questioned the expense of bothering with it. One outstanding event that precluded travel for which we could [...]Comfort of an assured departure
One important additional detail about choosing a tour company (Feb. ’05, pg. 58) is finding out if the departure dates are guaranteed! We have had three bad experiences with Globus* (Littleton, CO; 800/221-0090 or www.globus journeys.com); all three times we have tried to travel with Globus (confirmed, all payments made, etc.), they have canceled within [...]Choosing a tour
How do we go about choosing a tour (Feb. ’05, pg. 58)? My wife and I have traveled widely using a range of methods: group tours, individually, combined independent and group travel, canal boat rentals, etc. We would suggest the following steps, in order of priority. 1) Request references from the tour operator or agency. Call [...]Give singles a break
I saw the article in the February ’05 issue, page 58. I have always chosen a tour to see different parts of the world, as I am a single traveler (not by choice). I’m hoping readers will write in and let me know how I can avoid the “single supplement.” Is there a central agency [...]Mastering solo travel
This is in response to Audrey Curtis, who wanted readers to submit articles on traveling alone (May ’05, pg. 122). I’m a 66-year-old widow, but because my husband and I had different interests (he trekked in Nepal, I dug in Pompeii), while he was still alive we both frequently traveled sepatrately. I was lucky not to [...]Recommended in Turkey
During my visit to Turkey, Feb. 20-27, ’04, a friend and I had the good fortune to have as our tour guide Ms. Gülden Güllü (1786 s. 8/1 Sagsoz Apt., 35540 Karsiyaka, Izmir, Turkey; cell 90 532 441 9685 or e-mail gulden90@yahoo.com). Licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism, she was the best guide [...]Tonga — a South Pacific paradise
by Penny Strohl, Oakland, CA Having stopped at the tiny Tonga airport on our way to New Zealand a few years beforehand, our curiosity was piqued and we were determined to return and find out more about the “Friendly Isles.” Wendy Schatz of Travel Downunder put together an economical and near-perfect package for us. On Nov. 9, [...]Best and worst places to drive
We asked those of you who have rented cars and driven in various countries to tell us which cities/countries you have found to be the worst in which to drive. (ITN prints no information about destinations in North America or the Caribbean.) We asked you to explain why you chose that city or country, if [...]Accomodations Worldwide
Great Britain Looking for a place to stay near London Heathrow Airport but don’t want the expense of an airport hotel? St. Giles Hotel Heathrow (Hounslow Rd., Feltham, Middlesex, London Heathrow, U.K. TW14 9AD; phone 44-20-88-177-000), a 3-star property, is about 15 minutes from the airport. The staff was helpful during our stay in May ’04. The [...]Vietnam with Peregrine Adventures
I spent Christmas-New Year’s 2004-2005 on the 15-day “VIETNAM Overland” tour, with a 2-day pre-tour to the Mekong Delta, offered by Peregrine Adventures, an Australian company. I booked through Adventure Center (1311 63rd St., Ste. 200, Emeryville, CA 94608; phone 800/227-8747 or visit www.peregrine adventures.com). There were seven of us, and it turned out we were [...]Vietnam with Asian Affair Holidays
Our trip to Ho Chi Minh City, VIET-NAM, and Bangkok, THAILAND, in March ’04 was grand. Darryll at Asian Affair Holidays (360 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 3008, El Segundo, CA 90245; phone 800/742-3133 or visit www.asianaffairholidays.com) made all the arrangements and planned each detail. Nothing went wrong. As independent travelers, we need to know all [...]Vietnam with Bestway Tours & Safaris
My wife and I took the 14-day “Highlights of VIET-NAM” offered by Bestway Tours & Safaris (8678 Greenall Ave., Ste. 206, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5J3M6, Canada; phone 800/663-0844 or visit www.bestway.com). The tour, in April ’05, cost approximately $1,500 per person, ground only. My wife and I were the only ones in our “group.” Our 2-week [...]Vietnam with Ceylon Express International
Our group of four toured VIET-NAM in February ’05 on an 18-day trip (not counting travel days) arranged by Varini de Silva of Ceylon Express International (9542 Dumbreck Dr., Huntington Beach, CA 92646; phone 800/423-9566 or visit www.ceylonexpress.com). We visited the Mekong Delta (Can Tho), Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Nha Trang (stopping at Phan [...]Vietnam with Value World Tours
My wife, Esta Lee, and I visited SINGAPORE, VIET-NAM and CAMBODIA, Oct. 31-Nov. 16, ’04, on a tour arranged through Value World Tours (17220 Newhope St., Ste. 203, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; phone 800/795-1633 or visit www.rivercruises.net). After a $300-per-person early booking discount, our total payment for two people was $6,246. This price included flights on [...]Vietnam with Vietnam Orient Tours
When I agreed to a trip to VIET-NAM because of the 4-day extension to Angkor Wat, CAMBODIA, a destination that has always held a certain fascination for me, my wife of 43 years and traveling companion through all seven continents took the ball and ran. Ann reviewed past copies of ITN and discovered Vietnam Orient [...]Immersed in the Venetian lifestyle and the art of Florence
(Second of two parts) Like countless other travelers, we were spellbound by Venice. Our 3-night stay really meant only two full days, but they were two delightful days that we would repeat in a heartbeat. On queue We stayed in a residential area off the Via Garibaldi, a wide thoroughfare just a 10-minute stroll along the lagoon from [...]Highlights of Egypt
Well, we finally did it, and I must say that there is not much of Egypt that we did not see! My husband and I, our son and daughter-in-law and our daughter and grandson started a 14-day independent tour of Egypt on June 24, ’04. Our flights on Iberia Airlines were long, with very long airport [...]Aswan dining choices
Here are some restaurants that we enjoyed in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 6-9, ’05. Panorama Restaurant is on the Corniche El Nil and across from the EgyptAir office. They are very pleasant here and offer fresh lemonade and banana drink. We had soup, a meat dish (kofte and spicy meat) and drinks for E£50 (about $8). Aswan Moon, [...]Tips for driving in Britain
Many visitors who in their home country drive on the right-hand side of the road can find driving on the left in Britain a daunting task, but with a little insider information, and by following a few golden rules, they usually get by unscathed. It’s worth mentioning that, surprisingly, more people in the world drive on [...]Booted in Haarlem
One helpful hint for driving abroad is to avoid parking infractions. In Haarlem, Netherlands, several years ago, we found marked spaces with few automobiles and no instructions that we could see. But when we returned from the Franz Hals Museum, in the rain, there was our car — booted. As the rain grew heavier, we [...]A good look at Berlin
Three friends and I booked a trip to Berlin for March 6-11, ’05, with Expedia (www. expedia.com). For $905 each, double occupancy, it included airfare, hotel and ground transportation. We flew from the Washington Dulles airport to Frankfurt on United and connected with a Lufthansa flight to Berlin. We walked off the plane in Berlin to [...]Exchange $$ at legal kiosks
I learned of a currency exchange scam during a visit to the Czech Republic in October ’04. There are some other countries in Eastern Europe that have obsolete currencies. A prevailing scam in Prague is for people to offer a very wonderful rate of exchange from U.S. to Czech currency. Apparently, when the transaction is made, [...]Checkpoint security
Placing valuables into the open plastic container at airport x-ray checkpoints certainly is a concern (Nov. ’04, pg. 18 & Feb. ’05, pg. 83). However, there is a solution, if security would only go along with it. I was returning some time ago from Mexico and noticed that instead of using the open plastic containers, they [...]TSA refund received
After returning from a trip to Chile on Nov. 21, ’04, I found that the TSA locks on my luggage had been cut instead of opened. I immediately filed the appropriate claim form with the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) reporting that two TSA-approved locks had been cut and requesting reimbursement for their value. Over a [...]Close shave?
Regarding the letter titled “Don’t Even Think About It” (June ’05, pg. 89) with the picture of the interesting road sign showing a sailboat with a line through it, my guess is that it means “Don’t trailer a sailboat with its mast up on this road,” perhaps because there is a low-hanging power line somewhere [...]Guatemala travel
We were in Guatemala for 12 nights in October ’04. The travel agency we used in Antigua, Voyageur Tours (Centro Comercial La Fuente, 4a. Calle Oriente No. 14, Antigua, Guatemala, C.A.; phone [502] 832-4237, fax 4247, e-mail info@travel.net.gt or visit www.travel.net.gt/ant.html), was outstanding. We made all contacts with them through e-mail. We worked with Patricia Barragan [...]Thailand, Cambodia guides
We took the “Discover Thailand” tour, plus the optional pre-trip visit to Angkor Wat, Cambodia, with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/955-1925 or www.oattravel.com) in February ’05. The entire 19-day trip was great and our two guides were outstanding, as good as any we have had in over 30 years of travel. Both guides are under [...]Bhutan’s wealth
I write in response to the reader’s letter titled “Poverty in Bhutan” (April ’05, pg. 84). It seems to me that Bhutan must compare very favorably to most countries, including the USA, by any objective measure of poverty. There are no homeless and no beggars in Bhutan. There is no crime and no corruption. There is no [...]Costa Rican timeshare — a unique overseas accomodation option
After purchasing a time-share in August ’03, I started reviewing the large catalog with listings of hundreds of time-share properties around the world, including information on availability, amenities, nearest airport and more. I have been traveling internationally for some 30 years and thought a time-share would give me greater selection for accommodations abroad. International exchange On a [...]A novel approach to travel
For people who like murder mysteries in exotic locales, here is a fun list. • “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” by Alexander McCall Smith is one of a series of six books set in BOTSWANA. The land and culture are also like characters in this delightful collection of detection pursuits and everyday African life. • The [...]All Aboard » Einstein Year
In 2006 Berlin will celebrate the opening of new train stations at Hauptbahnhof/Lehrter Bahnhof, Potsdamer Platz, Papestrasse and Gesundbrunnen on May 28 before the craziness and traffic crunch of the World Cup soccer games. This year Berlin and Potsdam celebrate Einstein Year on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the physicist’s death and the 100th [...]The Cruising World » Sail one of these tall ships
(Second of two parts) Last month I described the romance of tall ship sailing. This month I will give some specific suggestions for fascinating tall ships around the world. Where the tall ships roam Cruising grounds for tall ships cover the entire globe. There are various tall ships in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan and South America, and [...]New on the Bookshelf
by Chris Springer, Contributing Editor “Himalaya” by Michael Palin (2004, Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 0312341628 — 288 pp., $29.95 hardcover). It’s been called the “Palin effect.” Whenever a Michael Palin travel series airs on the BBC, British tour operators are deluged with inquiries about the featured destinations. Previously, the comic actor traveled around the world in 80 [...]Travel & Health » Flying fitness
by Alan M. Spira, M.D. Flying was once a pleasure, but no more. It can be quite stressful. We put up with long security lines, hauling luggage, small seats and curious meals plus long periods of immobility and exhaustion. There are numerous health issues to face while flying, but today we will take a different tack: [...]Tips for the Solo Traveler
QUESTION: I am a bit of a loner and have no family nearby. While I am not able to travel a lot, I do enjoy my trips, which are usually solo. The December ’04 tsunami disaster made me think, however. If something happened to me, I wonder how long it would take for my family [...]Car rentals and leases
(Second of three parts) Last month I talked about the upper age limit invoked by car rental suppliers. This month I would like to discuss other automobile rental and lease-related factors. The following information applies to both rentals and leases. Driving in Eastern Europe If you plan to drive from Western to Eastern Europe, ask which countries are off-limits. [...]Focus on Archaeology » Exploring Colonia, Uruguay
A trip to Uruguay in April ’04 was my first to that country. I went to see Montevideo, its capital city. I also wanted to visit the small town of Colonia (its full name is Colonia del Sacramento) in the southwestern corner of the country, about a 2-hour drive from Montevideo. Having seen photos of [...]Far Horizons » The long-haul, single-destination group tour — from the inside
by Randy Keck Previously I have written on the subject of one of the rarest categories of all touring offerings in the U.S. outbound travel marketplace: the long-haul, single-destination group tour (LHSDGT), in this article to be referred to as LT. The LT was defined at that time as a group tour of three weeks or [...]Report Cards for August
On LATIN AMERICA, May-June ’05. . . • We took a new 15-day soft-adventure tour, May 29-June 11, with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; phone 800/955-1925 or visit www.oattravel.com). “The Route of the Maya” covered many Maya sites, including Copan in HONDURAS, Tikal in GUATEMALA and Caracol in BELIZE as well as Lake Atitlán and others. Joya [...]
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