Travelers' Intercom
Flight arrangements for tours
In response to a subscriber’s request, readers who take tours wrote in saying whether they prefer making their own flight arrangements for tours or having the tour company book the flights.
India arrangements
Julie Skurdenis’ article on Gujarat (March ’09, pg. 62) brought back many pleasant memories of the trip my wife, Audrey, and I took there in 2003, especially of sites like the Modhera Sun Temple and the hike up Mount Shatrunjaya in Palitana.
Promised day trips not provided
On a trip to India, July 5-23, 2008, my daughter and I created our own itinerary, choosing not to travel with a group. However, we did use the services of two India-based travel agencies to help with some of our arrangements.
Chennai airport queues
The first thing our local guide asked my wife, Nancy, and me when we arrived in Chennai, India, was the departure time of our flight to Bangkok two days hence. After a month of travel throughout India without a hitch, we wondered about his question.
Scoping out bargain airfares online
Finding the best airfare can be almost as much of a journey as the trip itself. ITN readers may find the following airfare journey an instructive example.
Tips for a Madrid visit
When my spouse, Isolde, and I visited Spain in May ’08, the AeroCity shuttle (phone +234 91 747 75 70, www.aerocity.com), at €21 (near $28) for two persons, was a convenient way to get from the airport to our accommodations.
Trieste’s castles
Bruce Hardy wrote of his memories of Trieste, Italy (April ’09, pg. 39), which he last visited in 2001, and it was asked if anyone had been to the city recently. We were there in August ’08, and it was everything Mr. Hardy wrote about and much more. Had we only known, we would have stayed more than two days.
Considered optional tours overpriced
I consider myself a fairly canny and frugal traveler, arranging my own trips so that I spend time on the cultural and scenic attractions that interest me and don’t waste money on fancy accommodations I would only occupy while asleep.
Musée de la Reddition in Reims
Reims, a large city (188,000 inhabitants) in northeast France, is often described as the heart of the Champagne country.
Heads up on Paris Métro
Travelers to Paris should be aware that, at least as of my trip in March ’09, there are no longer ticket booths in the Métro stations. The booths were where you used to be able to buy tickets for the subway and the bus lines. There are now two machines instead; apparently, one takes credit cards and the other cash.
Zierer owned up
I had Zierer Visa Service (multiple offices but based in San Francisco, CA; 866/788-1100, www.zvs.com) get me a visa for Brazil in September ’08, several months ahead of a Princess cruise I was about to take. I received the visa in about three weeks.
Whale-watching in the Azores
In the article on the Azores in the April ’09 issue (“Far Horizons,” pg. 72), the writer states, “Today Pico is regarded as one of the best whale-watching venues in the world, with a viewing season running from April to October.”
Atop Cathedral of Quito
The Cathedral of Quito, officially La Catedral, is a not-to-be-missed sight in Quito, Ecuador. The different types of gargoyles, alone, are worth a visit, but for $2 a climb up the towers is an experience which will not be forgotten.
Praise for ACCL
I appreciated Lew Toulmin’s article on the American Canadian Caribbean Line (“The Cruising World,” March ’09).
Sweet treat in Mérida
On an independent trip to Venezuela with two friends in December ’08, we visited Mérida.
Extending your air miles’ expiry date
I have been dealing with a few airlines lately in the matters of protecting or using frequent-flyer miles.
Guatemala easily
I have traveled on my own to Mexico and Central America two to three times a year for 19 years, doing all my own planning, but on a December trip to Guatemala I wanted to take it easy and let someone else worry about the arrangements while I focused on my photography.
Comforters out of place
My wife, Verne, and I took a tour to Egypt and Jordan in November ’08, staying in a number of excellent hotels. In each hotel as well as on our Nile riverboat, the beds were fitted with thick comforters. We were not comforted.