Travelers' Intercom
Scrunch down
On a May cruise in Europe aboard Viking River Cruises’ (877/668-4546) Viking Pride, the most exciting time of day or night was when the ship passed under a low bridge.
Air France ‘friendly’
We are fortunate to have an Air France flight available from Philadelphia to Paris. Taking advantage of the irresistible advance-purchase fares offered in May ’06, we flew Philadelphia-Bordeaux that November, from Philadelphia to Amsterdam that December and Philadelphia-Nice in March ’07.
‘Laid-back’ Zermatt
Zermatt’s beauty and remoteness had entranced me on a visit 25 years earlier, which I made without my wife, JoAnn, so I was anxious to share with her a delightful travel experience on our trip March 9-20, 2007.
Get multi-entry visa
My wife and I took a trip in January ’06 that included Brazil, and we got the necessary visas. In January ’08 we returned to Brazil and, while preparing for the trip, I was asked if we had ever been there before and when.
Galápagos procedure changes
When Karen Scott and I went on our annual catch-and-release striped marlin sports fishing trip to the Galápagos, Feb. 26-29, 2008, we found some changes in procedures that we think ITN readers will want to know about.
Continuing travel
As a recent widow, I want to encourage others in my situation to not give up traveling now that your spouse is gone. Changes can be made.
Pleased with travel insurance coverage
During our “Discover Thailand” tour (including pre-trip to Cambodia) with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA: 800/221-0814, www.oattravel.com), Jan. 14-Feb. 2, 2008, I slipped and fractured my ankle within 24 hours of our arrival in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Airport Q Ratings
Here is the first batch of readers’ Q Ratings of international airports — plus, as you’ll see, a few revisions in the instructions which will make the tallies more useful. The goal is to generate an idea of the comparative wait times at airports.
Tips for Italy
• In both the Roma Termini and Napoli Centrale train stations in Italy, the overhead signs that point toward washrooms, exits, platforms, etc., also direct travelers to ticket sales offices (biglietterie).
Defaults to U.S. carriers
We don’t fly a foreign carrier when a U.S. carrier has the route, even though we realize the U.S. carrier will not match the foreign airline in service. Why? Because our carriers need all the help they can get to stay alive; if not supported, more will go the way of Pan Am, TWA, etc.
Engaging West Africans
Before our trip to West Africa, we read with interest Jim Sill’s 2-part feature on that region, even taking a copy of it with us on the trip. What a different experience we had. (In portions of Jim’s 2-part account, Dec. ’07, pg. 46 & Jan. ’08, p.
The Clink
Wherever English is spoken, the word “clink” indicates a place of imprisonment or punishment, but few people know that it was a real prison.
Abandoning ship
Jean Saulsbury of Mariposa, California, requested advice from anyone who ever had to abandon ship — what to grab, how to be ready, what transpired (March ’08, pg. 95). Here are three responses. When fire threatens the ship
Passport processed at embassy
I read how you could get additional blank pages into inserted in your U.S. passport (termed a “passport amendment”) at a U.S. Embassy (Aug.’07, pg. 34). After several years of international travel, my wife and I were running out of blank passport pages.
Stunning views in Mongolia
I went on a very interesting 19-day trip to Mongolia, July 1-19, 2007, with Nomadic Expeditions (Monroe Township, NJ; 800/998-6634, www.nomadic expeditions.com). The president of the company is Mongolian-American. They also have an office in downtown Ulaanbaatar.
Notes on Cappadocia
I enjoyed a month’s tour of Turkey in May ’07. Eastern Turkey is very scenic. There were two occasions that were disappointing, however.
Village Museum, Bucharest
In the March ’08 issue, page 59, a reader wrote that he was disappointed with the outdoor Village Museum in Bucharest, Romania. We were in Bucharest in September ’07 and found the Village Museum to be wonderful. It is located on the banks of a pretty little lake, with native trees, shrubs and flowers all around.
Rome’s Termini: bigger, better, bella
Rome’s Termini is a rather lovely train station. Really! It once was awful, but now it’s rather fine.
Wine tasting in Chile
My wife, Bonita, and I along with another couple in early 2007 booked the trip “Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego & the Chilean Fjords” with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA) for January ’08. Since we all are wine lovers and enjoy Chilean wines, we also booked the pre-trip to Chile.