May 2004

I would like to identify my traveling credentials before giving you my thoughts on the controversial subject of tipping.

I read the reader’s letter “Wildly Varying Cruise Fares Irksome” in the January ’04 issue. I have been on 39 cruises with various lines. As Bill Bennett put it (page 27), “cruise lines vary their prices according to demand.” I agree that is true. I have booked both early and late, and even though I am a past passenger with various lines I must be there at the right time to get the deals. I believe you just luck out unless you are in the know.

If your trip is going to cover three weeks or more, here is an option which guarantees no film damage by x-ray machines at airports.

Those of you with American Airlines frequent-flyer miles should watch for a possible scam coming through by e-mail. The message states that American Airlines AAdvantage is having difficulty posting miles due to an incorrect AAdvantage number. The recipient is to reply to the e-mail address — but it is not an American Airlines address.

I foolishly opened the e-mail, but I did not reply.

I called American Airlines to inform them of this. The representative said it would be reported to their security department.

REBA KLOCKGETHER
Fullerton, CA

In January ’04 we took a self-directed trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and to Montevideo and Punta del Este, Uruguay. We experienced a delightful and safe adventure at a very reasonable price.

Over the years, I heard and read a lot about the Maginot Line, and I always wanted to visit the most impressive part of it. Because it extended from Luxembourg to Switzerland, with another section from Switzerland to the Mediterranean, I needed some help and turned to the French Government Tourist Office. The problem was that the tourist office couldn’t (or wouldn’t) answer simple questions like “Where is the best site to visit?” and “When is the best time to go?” I was referred to a website which was mostly in French, making it difficult to find answers.

By Jack C. Ogg, part 2 of 3 on the Balkans

The aqua-blue waters of the Adriatic, the coves and beaches of the Dalmatian coast, medieval walled cities, imperial Roman ruins, mountain lakes and the forests and vineyards of the interior make Croatia a modern-day Shangri-la.

I arranged a 12-day tour to India, Feb. 4-16, ’04, through Vacations International (725 E. Chubbuck Rd., Chubbuck, ID 83202; phone 888/453-0832 or 208/406-1360, e-mail info@vacations-international.com or visit www. vacations-international.com).

The local agency they used was Moksha Tours & Travels (Madurai, India; visit www.mokshatours.com).

My son and I left on Dec. 4, ’03, for an 11-day South Africa and Kenya trip offered by South African Airways Holidays (814 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Ste. 203, Coral Gables, FL 33134; phone 888/777-1138 or visit www. saaholidays.net).

After a 14-hour direct flight from Atlanta to Cape Town, we enjoyed two days and nights of touring in Cape Town, then flew via Johannesburg to Nairobi, where we began an 8-day, 1,200-kilometer Kenya safari.