Calling All Readers
Managing things at home during an extended trip
When you're away from home for more than 30 days on travel outside of the US, how do you handle your mail, and what arrangements do you make to pay bills, watch the house, etc.? __________ My travel companion and housemate, Margo, and I manage to leave home for six months each winter. What we do to prepare for our six months of travel may be of interest to — and easily applied by — someone who is leaving home for 30 days or more.
Managing things at home during an extended trip
When you're away from home for more than 30 days on travel outside of the US, how do you handle your mail, and what arrangements do you make to pay bills, watch the house, etc.? __________ I had the same questions before my wife, Bonnie, and I took our first extended trip, a 4-month around-the-world cruise in 2012. • The first issue is the United States Postal Service. Since the USPS will not hold your mail for more than 30 days [without additional authorization — Editor]*, you need to have your mail forwarded to someone else or to another address for the duration of the trip.
Rating foreign tour companies that customize tours
In past issues, we have 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.
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.)
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. Here are a few of the responses, and more will be printed in next month's issue. __________ As an octogenarian (84) who continues to rent cars outside of the US, I've been refused many times in various countries, usually at the Internet-booking stage.
A good bird-watching site (6 of 6)
Subscribers were invited to write in about places, outside of the US, where they've had rewarding sightings of birds. (We cannot accept more submissions.) In addition to the types of birds they saw, we asked travelers to each tell us where they were and the year/month/time their visit took place. ... __________ When you travel, don't forget to watch birds in cities. You will encounter them in parks and other green areas. Becoming acquainted with the varieties will enrich your travels because you will recognize them again as you continue your explorations. In April 2015, my husband, Calvin, and I enjoyed a cruise on the waterways of the NETHERLANDS and Belgium, taking the 7-night "Tulip Time" cruise with AmaWaterways ... .
The world on $100 a day
Pat Ove of Aurora, Colorado, wrote, "There must be many budget travelers reading ITN who are having exciting adventures discovering the world on $100 a day [not including overseas airfare]. ..." ... subscribers were asked to tell us how they did it and where and when they traveled, specifying modes of transport, types of accommodations used and how those were found plus any other budget-travel tricks. __________ I saw my first globe when I was 6, and my passion for travel was born. I wanted to see every country on that beautiful blue orb. But because my last name is not Buffett, the lottery jackpot numbers never match the ones on my ticket and no rich relative has left me millions of dollars, I had to find a way to see the world on an English teacher's budget.
A good bird-watching site (part 5)
<?php printImage(1, "left", 7); ?> Subscribers were invited to write in about places, outside of the US, where they've had rewarding sightings of birds. (We cannot accept more submissions.) In addition to the types of birds they saw, we asked travelers to each tell us where they were and the year/month/time their visit took place. We also wanted to know how difficult it was to reach an area, what equipment would be recommended and what the weather was like. We've printed responses about sites in the Americas and Africa. This month, in part 5 of the series, we're in Australia, and we'll wrap things up with other areas next month. __________ There is amazing bird-watching at Lamington National Park, lying on the Lamington Plateau of the McPherson Range near the Queensland/New South Wales border in AUSTRALIA.
The world on $100 a day (part 3)
<?php printImage(1, "right", 1); ?>Pat Ove of Aurora, Colorado, wrote, "There must be many budget travelers who are having exciting adventures discovering the world on $100 a day [not including overseas airfare]. I would love to read about their journeys." Regarding traveling outside of the US on $100 a day (excluding international air), ITN subscribers were asked to tell us how they did it and where and when they traveled, specifying modes of transport, types of accommodations used and how those were found plus any other budget-travel tricks. This is the third part of a 4-part series. __________ My husband and I visited Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, one of the most expensive cities in the world, in May 2015 and spent under $100 a day per person. Our daily budget included admission prices to museums and other attractions. (We use our memberships with AARP and AAA, or just the fact that we are senior citizens, to get discounts everywhere.)
A good bird-watching site
Subscribers were invited to write in about places, outside of the US, where they've had rewarding sightings of birds. (We cannot accept more submissions.) In addition to the types of birds they saw, we asked travelers to each tell us where they were and the year/month/time their visit took place. We also wanted to know how difficult it was to reach an area, what equipment would be recommended and what the weather was like. We printed responses about sites in Latin America in the last three issues. This month, we're in Africa. __________ Friends my husband, Al, and I were visiting in SOUTH AFRICA in April 2013 took us to Pilanesberg National Park, about three hours northwest of Johannesburg. It was a beautiful fall day, with the temperature in the 70s.
The world on $100 a day
Pat Ove of Aurora, Colorado, wrote, "There must be many budget travelers reading ITN who are having exciting adventures discovering the world on $100 a day [not including overseas airfare]. I would love to read about their journeys." Regarding traveling outside of the US on $100 a day (excluding international air), subscribers were asked to tell us how they did it and where and when they traveled, specifying modes of transport, types of accommodations used and how those were found plus any other budget-travel tricks. We printed a few responses in last month's issue, more are below, and more are to come. __________ Travel under $100 a day? It can be done. There are plenty of places I have traveled in the last five years where it cost me less than $100 a day, including Madrid, Córdoba, Porto, Rome and Brussels as well as throughout Poland and in Eastern Europe and a whole lot more. * Correction : Pat Ove's home state was corrected to Colorado, from California.
The world on $100 a day (Part 1)
Pat Ove of Aurora, California, wrote, “Reading Stanley Mui’s article about his 10-day trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, for less than $1,000 (June ’17, pg. 44) brought back many happy memories of the $100-a-day trips my husband and I took for 20 years. There must be many budget travelers reading ITN who are having exciting adventures discovering the world on $100 a day. I would love to read about their journeys. (For purposes of this information request, and considering inflation, perhaps the total of $100 per day should not include overseas airfare.)” Regarding traveling outside of the US on $100 a day (excluding international airfare), ITN subscribers were asked to tell us how they did it and where and when they traveled, specifying modes of transport, types of accommodations used and how those were found plus any other budget-travel tricks. The tips rolled in, and we’re presenting the responses over a few months. * * * My sister and I left our husbands home to take care of our pets and gardens and went to explore ITALY on our own for two weeks in July 2014. The idea was to stay close to local life, use public transportation and try to speak the local language.
A good bird-watching site (Part 3)
Subscribers were invited to write in about places, outside of the US, where they’ve had rewarding sightings of birds. (We cannot accept more submissions.) In addition to the types of birds they saw, we asked travelers to each tell us where they were and the year/month/time their visit took place. We also wanted to know how difficult it was to reach an area, what equipment would be recommended and what the weather was like. The most responses were about birds in Latin America, and we’re printing the last of those this month, with letters about other areas to follow. * * * My husband, Knox, and I traveled to BRAZIL in July and August of 2012 to study wildlife, with an emphasis on birds. Because Brazil is a very large country, we concentrated on only two areas: the Pantanal of the Central-West Region and also a UNESCO reserve in the Atlantic rainforest, northeast of Rio de Janeiro.
A good bird-watching site
Subscribers were invited to write in about places, outside of the US, where they’ve had rewarding sightings of birds. (We cannot accept more submissions.) In addition to their providing details about the types of birds they saw, we asked travelers to each tell us where they were (including any contact info) and the year, time of year and even time of day of each sighting. We also wanted to know how difficult it was to reach an area, what equipment would be recommended and what the weather was like. We printed a few letters last month and are continuing with locations in Latin America. __________ We took a private, customized tour to Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Trinidad & Tobago in March 2014 arranged by Jim Turner at Amazing Peru ...
Advice for a solo on a custom guided tour
Mazel Pernell of Rockville, Maryland, wrote, “I’ve enjoyed international travel with group tours. In planning my sixth trip to Africa for the fall of 2018, I didn’t find a set tour that I liked, so I’m working directly with a Ghana-based company to customize a 3-week guided tour that includes Ghana, Benin and Togo. I will be going solo.” “I would appreciate hearing from any traveler who has been on an extended solo tour. Specifically, did you eat all or some meals with the chaperone/driver/guide? Did you pay for his or her meals? What would be a reasonable amount to tip the chaperone for a tour of nearly three weeks? (If a percentage of the total tour cost, what percentage? If a set amount per day of touring, how much? Another option?) What else do I need to consider?” We printed a couple of subscribers’ responses last month. Here are a few more. __________ In my opinion, custom travel requires more responsibility and specificity on your part. You have to be totally honest up front about your interests and the things you want nothing to do with, and you must be realistic and forthcoming about your physical abilities and limitations, including foot problems, your tiny bladder and food preferences and allergies.
A Good Bird-watching Site
Subscribers were invited to write in about places (outside of the US) where they’ve had rewarding sightings of birds.
Advice for a solo on a custom guided tour
We hear back from travelers who have been on an extended solo tour.
Top 10 destinations lists — recommended vs. favorite
After the article “Building Your Travel Bucket List” appeared in Contributing Editor Randy Keck’s column (Jan. ’17, pg. 56), ITN asked subscribers to each send in two lists of international destinations, excluding locations in Europe (which is so popular among travelers) and in the United States (which ITN does not cover).
Top 10 destinations lists — recommended vs. favorite
ITN asked subscribers to each send in two lists of international destinations, excluding locations in Europe (which is so popular among travelers) and in the United States (which ITN does not cover).
Lengthy foreign tours wanted
ITN subscriber Carol Greene asked readers for their suggestions for lengthy foreign tours, writing, “When taking a tour to another country, one thing I don’t like is going through airports and spending a whole night or more on a plane and then being in the new country for just o