Travelers' Intercom
Frequent-flyer woes
I would like to add my comments to the experience that Daniel M. Mitchell had attempting to use frequent-flyer miles with United Airlines (“Frequent-flyer Seats Sparse,” Dec. ’08, pg. 25).
Communicating in Peru
I disagree with the statement made by the author of the article “Peru — Exploring Machu Picchu and Beyond” in the January ’09 issue. He stated, on page 24, “… most Peruvians speak little English, even those in the tourist industry.”
Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses
My wife, Jane, and I traveled to Copenhagen for the first time in 2006. We went to the town square to find a sightseeing bus and boarded one which had “Hop On-Hop Off” prominently displayed on the side. We rode for two or three stops and then hopped off at a palace that had been made into a museum.
Ruth Yacht on Turquoise Coast
The 100-foot, 14-passenger Ruth Alessandro is a magnificent gulet, and my husband, Bob, and I, along with six other adventurous couples chartered her for a 2-week cruise, Sept. 8-22, 2008.
Magician in the kitchen
Helmsley, England, a gorgeous village in the Yorkshire Moors which we visited April 10-12, 2008, boasts an exceptional restaurant within the Black Swan Hotel (Market Place, Helmsley, YO62 5BJ, U.K.; phone 01144 1439 770466, www.blackswan-helmsley.co.uk).
Island volcano, NZ
White Island, in the Bay of Plenty 30 miles off the coast of Whakatane on New Zealand’s North Island, is an active volcanic site.
Experiences in Mongolia
My wife, Margi, and I met Zambativ Tuvshintulga on a 2006 Pacific Holidays tour of Mongolia, where he was one of our local guides (Aug. ’07, pg. 59). Tuvshin wanted us to see the west and north of Mongolia, too, so when we made plans to attend the Beijing Olympics (Dec. ’08, pg.
Turning the tables
As to which was the world’s first revolving restaurant (Dec. ’08, pg. 63), several readers noted that the Seattle Space Needle opened at the World’s Fair in 1962.
Weak link re code-share tickets
My wife, Carol, and I used the Internet to ticket a February ’08 trip from Orlando, Florida, to Christchurch, New Zealand. For booking the flights, we selected www.orbitz.com because it seemed to offer the best connections by combining several airlines. Our order was placed on Oct. 8, 2007, at a cost of $2,411 each.
St. Moritz restaurant
During a trip to southern Switzerland in May ’08, my wife, Paula, and I visited St. Moritz for two nights during the depths of its spring off-season.
Revisiting Spain solo
Taking advantage of some frequent-flyer miles on United Airlines, I decided to travel to Spain on my own, May 10-27, 2008. It had been 10 years since my late husband and I had been in Spain, and I wanted to revisit the south.
Tel Aviv restaurants
During our visit to Tel Aviv, Israel, Sept. 16-23, 2008, my husband, Jerry, and I ate at three wonderful restaurants that I want to share with ITN readers. Please note that reservations for these restaurants are definitely advised.
Independent-travel tip
My wife, Barbara, and I returned from a 10-day trip to Beijing in October ’08. Our first trip to China was on a tour in 1985, and we wanted to visit highlights that we had not seen 23 years before.
Ticino/Venice sampler
My wife, Margaret, and I spent a week in the Ticino region of Switzerland and another week in Venice, both stays organized by Untours (Media, PA; 888/868-6871). Untours provides apartment accommodations, transfers and on-site hosts who give advice and an orientation.
The Japanese bath
I enjoyed reading Rick Steves’ article on culture shock (Dec. ’08, pg. 72). His comments on the Japanese bathing customs bear further discussion.
CDG-to-Paris transfers
From a visit in early October ’08, I believe I have finally found the best way to get to Paris and back from the confusing Charles de Gaulle International Airport arrivals/departures “terminals.”
Compensated for misdirected bag
I took the 16-day “Italian Masterpiece” tour with Cosmos, Sept. 29-Oct. 14, 2007. The trip began with two days in Venice, then the itinerary led us south to Rome, which we reached on Oct. 3. From there we continued back to Venice.