Departure Lounge
The new “Phileas Fogg Award"
Have you been to England, France, Italy, Egypt, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and (for our many non-US readers) the USA?
An update on awards
Have you been to ALL of these: France, Italy, Germany, UK, Mexico, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Austria, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, Canada, Chile, Switzerland, Argentina, Egypt, Netherlands, Russia, Australia and China? A total of 21 countries.
Beware of investment scams
At first glance, it might appear that this month’s subject matter is off our usual topic. But you may find that it could well impact your travel plans.
ITN, the bargain of the century
From the Mailbag: Tom Dickenson, Ann Arbor, MI, wrote, “ITN is a fabulous publication and the bargain of the century.”
ITN: a lot more substantive info than slick magazines
From the mailbag: “In just one issue of ITN I got a lot more substantive info and a broader range of possibilities than I did from a bunch of slick magazines, nice as they are.” Observant people there are in Austin, Texas.
From the mailbag
From the mailbag — “The magazine is the best on the market, in my opinion. The others are comic books by comparison.”
Reduced-rate trips and ITN
First, I wish to express our deep gratitude to those who take a copy of ITN on their trips, show it to other travelers, then gather up the names and addresses of those who would like sample copies sent to them. Thank you.
Survey prize winners
In mid-July we mailed a survey to 1,000 ITN subscribers. By mid-August we had just about 800 responses. To show our appreciation, we’re giving out $800 worth of prizes. The prizes are sixteen 50-dollar gift certificates for the travel-supply company Magellan’s.
Poll on covering Mexico and the Caribbean
In response to consistent requests for expanded coverage in ITN, we asked our readers if they wanted the magazine to also cover Mexico and the Caribbean. Here is a small sampling (in the order received) of the answers. Then follows the prizes awarded.
Airline survey
Fun and games at ITN! I took 10 pieces of paper, each 2 inches by 3 inches, and wrote on them, individually, the numbers 0 through 9. Folding them, I put them in a box and, with my eyes closed, drew them out, one at a time.
Departure Lounge
As promised, here is a list of destinations, in order, where ITN readers went in year 2008. We mailed out 1,000 surveys and had an 87.7% response. Of those, 81.2% traveled overseas last year.
An increase in postal rates
Due to the recent horrendous Post Office price increase to magazines, we now must charge $2 per issue on a one-year subscription. About the same as you pay for a glass of iced tea in a restaurant.
On complimentary travel
Like the sunspot cycle, there is an issue that periodically rises up among our readers, so every five years or thereabout I address the topic.
Favorite Country poll results, plus avoiding scams
Reader Survey Here are the results of your voting on “My All-Time Very Favorite Country”: 1. Italy