August 2004

My wife, A.J., and I spent a week exploring a considerable amount of El Salvador in April ’04. As our base we used the InterContinental Hotel, very conveniently located opposite the largest shopping complex in San Salvador, the Metrocentro. A room for two including breakfast was $133 plus taxes of 13%. (El Salvador’s currency is the American dollar.)

The city and some of the surrounding areas we explored on our own. We felt perfectly safe, and the people were always very warm and friendly.

My husband and I spent a lovely week in Nicaragua, Nov. 10-18, ’03.

by Chloe Ryan Winston, Redding, CA

A tour of China I took Nov. 8-20, ’03, which included a Yangtze River cruise with Victoria Cruises, was booked with Sharon Carr Tours & Cruises (14580 East Beltwood Pkwy., Ste. 108, Dallas, TX 75244; phone 800/648-4856, e-mail info@sharoncarrtravel.com).

Scotland We took a 3-day/2-night tour of the Highlands of Scotland and the Isle of Skye in May ’04 with Rabbies Trail Burners (207 High St., Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland; phone 011-44-131-226-3133). We had a great trip.

The cost was £99 (about $182) per person for their transportation. Rabbies will arrange accommodations on Skye according to how much you want to spend. Meals are additional.

I took a group of my college students on the 9-day/7-night “Braveheart” tour of Scotland with Passports Educational Travel Institute (389 Main St., Spencer, MA 01562-1908; phone 508/885-4600), visiting Edinburgh, the Highlands and Glasgow. The $2,300 price (May ’04) included airfare on USAir from Denver, 3-star hotel accommodations, daily breakfast and dinner, transfers, tour and admission fees and travel insurance.

Our trip was arranged by JMG Tibet Tours (6001 Falls Circle Dr., Ste. 301, Lauderhill, FL 33319; phone 866/548-4238, e-mail jeff@jmgtibettours.com).

I took a 20-day custom tour, Jan. 20-Feb. 2, ’03, arranged for me by Ceylon Express International (Huntington Beach, CA). The entire cost of the trip, including international and domestic air, hotels, breakfasts, my own car and driver and English-speaking guides in each city, was about $6,300.

Queenstown, set along the gorgeous, blue-green Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the beautiful Remarkable Mountains, should be on every New Zealand visitor’s itinerary. It offers golf, sailing, paragliding, jet boat riding, bungy jumping and more. The dress code is casual, with hiking boots common.