Travelers' Intercom
Guatemala insights
My wife and I took a great 2-week tour, “Guatemala: Land of Eternal Spring,” April 17-30, 2007, led by an exceptional director, the best we have had in our many years of travel.
Keep in mind when selecting a barge
This year we got stung with a barge trip in France and learned a couple of things that are important.
Assessing Botswana lodgings
My husband and I traveled throughout Botswana, then to Victoria Falls, in September and October 2006. We flew into Gaborone, Botswana, and stayed at the Gaborone Sun International Hotel (phone 09267-3951111 or visit www.sun-international.com). Bed and breakfast can be booked at $147 per night for two.
Safeguard your wallet
Dr. Wagenaar’s article on carry-on luggage (May ’07, pg. 87) was extremely informative and useful. I would only add the following helpful household hints.
Rossia cruise + spending cash in Russia
We took a cruise-tour in Russia, the 18-day “Tatars, Cossacks and the Golden Ring,” April 28-May 15, 2007, with Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/221-2610, www.gct.com).
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Dive! Dive! Dive! No, not a line from a submarine movie but the call to Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, a great dive and snorkel venue which is not very well known to many people other than Brazilians.
Carry-on of choice
For at least 15 years, I’ve toted a black nylon LeSportsac carry-on, which weighs an ounce on a good day and is certainly within airline luggage limitations. With British Air, it’s all I get. With airlines that allow another personal item, for me it is a small LeSportsac backpack.
EZE’s queues cue ‘Q rating’
After arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on an Oceania Cruises ship, departing from the nearby Ministro Pistarini International Airport (or EZE, in Ezeiza) for the U.S. in February ’07 was an eye-opener. The queues, darling, the queues! Let me count for you the ways you queue (line up) at EZE:
Int’l Expeditions’ quick save
We were flying home on Feb. 26, 2007, after a trip to the Antarctic with International Expeditions (One Environs Park, Helena, AL 35080; 800/633-4734, www.ietravel.com).
Most/Least Helpful National Tourist Offices
Most helpful — Switzerland Tourism (608 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10020; 877/794-8037 or 212/757-5944) and the website www.myswitzerland.com.
Tackling CDG
After seeing the reader’s letter “CDG Airport Lag” (April ’07, pg. 28), regarding Charles de Gaulle airport and Air France, I had to write. I am a travel junkie who happens to work in retail in an airport.
Helsinki Card
On a visit to Helsinki, Finland, in 2006, at noon on July 26 I bought a 24-hour Helsinki Card* for €29 (near $39). I flashed the card as I took a train to the ferry dock, where I boarded the boat for a quick sail to the Helsinki Zoo (€8, or $11).
Carry-on essentials
Dr. Wagenaar wrote about traveling with carry-on luggage only. Clearly he does not include a number of items I never travel without:
Italy with GCT
A coincidence — as the July 2007 edition of ITN arrived, I was completing a survey of comments on Grand Circle Travel’s (Boston, MA; 800/248-3737, www.gct.com) “Heart of Italy” trip, which we took May 20-July 7, 2007.
Luggage lagged behind
My partner, Pamela, and I decided to support the work of Earthwatch (3 Clock Tower Place, Ste.
Week in Reykjavik
We spent a week in Reykjavik, Iceland, in July ’06. Reykjavik was a most pleasant adventure and surprise. We walked up and down and all over the town — lots of steep hills!
Amarula in Johannesburg
A reader talked about buying a bottle of Amarula liqueur at an African duty-free shop and putting it in her carry-on bag for the return home (June ’07, pg. 50).
Medieval churches in Sweden
I love to visit churches when I am abroad. My favorites are in Sweden, where there are small churches in the countryside that still have their wall paintings from the Middle Ages. I went to Sweden five times from 1996 to 2007.
China trip arranger
A friend and I took our second trip to China in October ’05. Prior to the trip, we were put in touch with John Zhang, a tour agent employed by Teddybear Center (e-mail cqteddybear@126.com or phone 013983177596 or 023 63773545) in Chongqing, China, and worked with him in planning part of our trip.