International Travel News

Features: "Middle East and Africa: Taking advantage of some specials to live the “suite” life on a luxury cruise from Dubai to Cape Town" and "Mexico: Escaping the winter blues for some festive holiday celebrations in the state of Oaxaca."

Columns: "What’s Cooking In… Myanmar: At Ngapali Beach, it’s Rakhine Hot and Spicy Chicken Curry," "Garden Path: The history and wonder of The Crystal Garden in southwestern Wales," "Rick Steves’ Europe: A look at charming Italian Riviera towns not far from the Cinque Terre" and "Focus on Archaeology: Located in Nice, France, the ruins of the Roman city of Cemenelum, plus things to do in town."

Calling All Readers!: "Senior Drivers of Rental Cars : Rating Foreign Tour Companies that Customize Tours" and "Mexico: Escaping the winter blues for some festive holiday celebrations in the state of Oaxaca."

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Funniest Thing

When you're hot, you're hot

This month's winner is DOUGLAS MOLANDER of Fort Lauderdale, Florida:

Included in an Overseas Adventure Travel tour of Chile that I took in February 2017 was a 3-day visit to Torres del Paine National Park.

The morning of our entry into the park, we picked up a local guide. While driving into the park, the guide warned us that the weather could be very changeable and there could suddenly be rain, wind and cold temperatures. She also said that the likelihood of our seeing one of the indigenous deer was not great, since there were fewer than 10 breeding pairs in the area. Seeing pumas was also a remote hope; in 15 years of taking travelers into the park, she had seen just one puma.

Rating foreign tour companies that customize tours

In past issues, we've printed letters from subscribers who took customized private tours (outside of the US) that were arranged by tour companies and guides that are local to the destinations.
__________

As part of a whirlwind trip to pick up additional countries on my Travelers' Century Club (travelerscenturyclub.org) list, my wife, Susan, and I scheduled a private day tour on the Isle of Man ... .

For £150 (near $193), Jane gave us a fantastic tour of the southern half of the island. Highlights included Castletown, Balladoole, the village of Cregneash and the Sound, the town of Peel, the village of St. John's and the Laxey Wheel. Jane's love for the island came across very clearly as she showed us many unique sights.

The Laxey Wheel, once used to pump water from mines on the Isle of Man. Photos by Norman Dailey

Senior drivers of rental cars

We asked our subscribers who recently had trouble renting vehicles outside of the US because they were above an age limit to each tell us which country it was, which rental company, what was said, what alternative was found and when it all occurred. Some of the responses were printed in last month's issue, and here are a few more.
__________

... On the rental forms, I was truthful about my age: 76. All three came back "Approved," or so I thought.

Upon arrival in Dublin, IRELAND, all went well at Avis until the agent spotted my age. She asked if I had brought my documentation. Since I had seen nothing in the approval paperwork about documentation, I, of course, had none. (I had rented Avis cars previously, at age 74, in Amsterdam.)

About ITN

International Travel News has been an invaluable trip-planning aid for high-frequency travelers since 1976. Printed monthly in a black-and-white newsprint format, ITN is both a news source and communication medium for travelers to destinations outside of the United States. read more

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January 2019 Issue

Feature : "Impressed with a custom tour of the Caucasus"