November 2006

As a New Zealander, operating personal guided tours in New Zealand, I would like to comment from my own knowledge and observations on the reader’s letter “South Island a Speed Trap” (July ’06, pg. 18).

In my view, it was a purely random, unlucky coincidence that the reader copped a fine on the west coast of the South Island. The police often focus on particular areas which are prone to accidents.

On the ticket, it is mentioned that one can pay at a specific bank with a credit card. A visitor could do this and get it over with.

On a trip to London, July 14-25, 2006, I discovered that credit cards and debit cards in the United Kingdom use “chip & PIN” numbers for added security. U.S MasterCards, Visa cards, American Express et al. will work only if, for example, store or restaurant cashiers are equipped to “swipe” your card. However, if your card has to be inserted into a machine which has a key pad that requires a “chip & PIN” number, as in automatic ticket machines in London tube stations, it will not work.

For many, traveling and eating are synonymous. I just had an exquisite experience at an Indian restaurant in London’s Berkeley Square: Benares (12a Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6BS; phone 020 7629 8886 or visit www.benaresrestaurant.com).

Owner and acclaimed chef Atul Kochar adapts homemade recipes he acquires while traveling in India, then adds his own twists to craft an eclectic and savory menu with contemporary panache.

From a trip my wife, Barbara, and I took to Hungary in May ’06, I strongly recommend these three restaurants in Budapest.

The caption for the picture on page 69 of the September ’06 issue reads, “The smallest frog in the world is this Golden Mantella. It is found only in Madagascar.”

During a trip my husband, Joe, and I took to Argentina (Sept. ’06, pg. 84. & Oct. ’06, pg. 76), we visited Iguazú Falls. We are so glad we went. It was absolutely spectacular!

In the January ’06 issue, page 50, Cecilia Morrissey shared extensive advice on arranging flights around the world. Last month (Sept. ’06, pg. 37), she offered advice on other extended-travel considerations. Here, she continues.

FOOD — In Europe, eating is easy. Your tour books will alert you if the water isn’t safe in a particular country and give you some menu basics. The water is just fine in most countries in Western Europe. The dilemma is this:  do you want to 1) eat out all of the time, 2) self-cater exclusively or 3) do a combination of the two?

by Seth Sherman, Thomasville, GA

Stephen Hughes of Simply Nice Tours (250 S. Pitt St., Carlisle, PA 17013; 717/243-5112, www.simplynicetours.com) arranged everything for our July 26-Aug. 8, 2006, tour of Wales. This was the first time we took a tour offered by a small company where we were the only clients on that trip. We were a bit apprehensive about the logistics, but pickup in London and delivery to Heathrow worked beautifully.

Since our retirement, my wife, Dorothy, and I follow a custom of celebrating Christmas away from home. We spent the 2005 holiday season on the tour “Best of Kenya and Tanzania,” Dec. 13-31, with Overseas Adventure Travel (One Broadway, Ste. 600, Cambridge, MA 02142; 800/493-6824, www.oattravel.com).

East Africa is an area of great natural beauty mixed with abject poverty — huge collections of animals alongside native peoples scratching out a living yet apparently cheerful.