Travelers' Intercom
Billed for tour before accepting it
In December 2008, I called Grand Circle Travel to arrange March 2009 travel for two to Sicily. GCT calls the basic trip a “14-Day Extended Vacation.” They also offer a 6-night pretrip to Malta and a 7-night post-trip on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.
Paul Gauguin cruise
We took a superb cruise in French Polynesia, Oct. 30-Nov. 12, 2008, with Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/248-3737, www.gct.com). The ship was the Paul Gauguin of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
‘Mind the gap!’
ITN readers who have ridden the London Underground and trains are familiar with the unending “Mind the gap” announcements at each station and the weak jokes associated with them. I even have an English postcard with “Mind the gap” printed on it in big black letters.
Eastern Turkey’s ties to the world
When I signed on for the 22-day/21-night “Turkey’s Biblical East” tour organized and led by Tamer Teoman of Teo World Culture Tours (New York, NY; 888/444-1110, www.teoworldculturetours.com), I knew little about that part of the world. Anatolia? I can’t say I even knew what part of Turkey that was.
Memories of Trieste
I read every issue of ITN and it seems to me that there are frequent stories about Venice and the eastern Adriatic, for example, Yvonne Horn’s feature “The Adriatic Coast — in the Wake of the Winged Lion” (Feb.’09, pg.
Zeiss binoculars
A short time ago I decided to evaluate a range of upper- to middle-price compact binoculars best suited for travel. My final choice was the quality, ultraclear Zeiss Conquest Compact, 8x20 model.
Wildlife on African safari
In November ’07, my wife and I traveled to Botswana, Zambia and South Africa on a private trip for just the two of us organized by Rothschild Safaris (Denver, CO; 800/405-9463, www.rothschildsafaris.com).
Dental coverage lacking
I took a tour of Morocco with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) in April ’08. It had many excellent features, including a special guide. During the post-trip extension to Marrakech, two days before we were to leave, I fell while climbing to see a waterfall.
ChildSafe International
I read the reader’s letter “Coping With and Fighting Poverty During Travels” (Dec. ’08, pg. 56).
Three days in Johannesburg
Prior to a 3-week tour of Botswana, Zambia and South Africa, my husband, Maurice, and I flew in three days early to Johannesburg and met our guides, Gill and Graham Maskell of Africa 2000 Tours (P.O.
Guide in St. Petersburg
On a stop in St. Petersburg, Russia, during a September-October ’08 river cruise, instead of taking the ship’s tours we engaged a private guide to show us the city and countryside.
Off the beaten path in China
My wife, Joan, and I are inveterate independent travelers with 45 years’ international experience. We usually travel by car or rail, with vaguely planned itineraries and seldom with prebooked overnight accommodations.
Tour companies and single supplements
James Sibley of Houston, Texas, wrote (Dec. ’08, pg.
Finding kindness in Moscow
I just finished reading the reader’s letter titled “Impressions of Russia” (March ’09, pg. 32) and disagree with his evaluation of Moscow as dirty, expensive and unfriendly.
Disappointed on Silk Road tour
We took a trip along the “Silk Road” to the five “Stans” (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) and Turkey, Aug. 17-Sept. 9, 2008.
Navigating code-share tickets
In the letter “Weak Link re Code-share Tickets” (Feb. ’09, pg. 30), the writer’s problem with code-share tickets and seat assignment confirmations is by no means unique. Also, with a code-share ticket, unless you are paying attention you could go to the wrong airline to catch the flight.
Notes on Australia
In the March ’09 issue, page 55, Wanda described her pretrip planning before she and her husband, Ray, took the tour “Ultimate Australia” with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/493-6824, www.oattravel.com) in October-November ’07. Here are her tips from the trip itself.
Guide in Israel
On a tour to Israel with Overseas Adventure Travel, Sept. 2-16, 2008, we had a guide named Marina Schiff (Jerusalem; cell phone 00972 52 3056467, Skype marina.ergas.schiff or e-mail maschiff@gmail.com).
LEGOLAND Village family hostel
My 7-year-old son, George, was, in his own words, “really into LEGO.” Knowing he would be a little boy for only a little while longer, my husband, Skip, and I decided to indulge him and took him to Denmark’s LEGOLAND in June ’08.