Travelers' Intercom
How much to tip on tours?
Richard E. Smith of Long Beach, California, opened up the topic of tipping on tours (April ’04, pg. 4).
Ship credit hassles
My husband and I sailed on Holland America Line’s MS Statendam for a “Japan and Transpacific Passage” (Japan/Siberia) cruise, April 29-May 21, 2006, which we booked through Vantage Deluxe World Travel.
Buenos Aires + Uruguay + Panama
My wife, Barbara, and I booked a trip to Buenos Aires for March ’07 with Escapes Unlimited (2012 Lerner Lane, Santa Ana, CA 92705; 800/243-7227, www.escapesltd.com). We would be flying COPA airlines, which uses Panama City as its hub.
Inside Japan Tours
My husband, R.C., and I cannot speak highly enough for Inside Japan Tours (Lewins House, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NN, U.K.; phone ++ 44 [0] 870 120 5600, fax 870 746 1047) and the trip we took with them in October ’06.
Re language
I have a great deal of experience in learning another language by studying and later teaching English to Brazilians and, several years later, teaching Spanish to Americans.
BA seat assignments
Is British Airways discouraging business these days? Besides being among airlines offering the least space between seats, they also have implemented a policy forbidding selection of seats until 24 hours before travel.
Safeguarding valuables in hotel
I am a 55-year-old woman who does a lot of international traveling alone. The issue of where to keep my money and passport is always a problem. Although I am somewhat hesitant about the in-house safes, in so many countries where pickpocketing is a regular job, we almost have to use the hotel safes.
Skip LAX when cruising
My wife and I took a cruise out of San Pedro, California, on the Celebrity Summit, March 31-April 14, 2007, visiting the Mexican Riviera, Costa Rica, Panama and Aruba and disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale.
Stockholder credit
I was surprised by the reader’s letter “Re Shore Tours, Stockholder Perk” (Sept. ’06, pg. 30) complaining about Holland America Line’s (HAL’s) customer service. While experiences are individual, I have found HAL’s customer service personnel to be unfailingly prompt and helpful.
Solo travel in South Korea
South Korea, the Land of the Morning Calm, is anything but calm. It’s a totally dynamic, 24/7 country. Alone on a week-long business trip to Daegu in June ’06, I extended my stay, adding a week in Seoul to experience South Korea. I avoided the common tourist spots.
Economy class syndrome
If you’ve recently been on a long plane trip more than five hours and have shortness of breath, you could easily have pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs).
Car and driver in Morocco
On a trip to Morocco, Dec. 20, 2006-Jan. 4, 2007, I arrived in Casablanca with only a hotel reservation and some ideas but no firm plans.
Vaccination form incomplete
My husband, William, and I were to take a 12-day Amazon River cruise aboard the Princess Regal, Jan. 16-28, 2007. The cost of our trip was $6,653 including airfare.
Otavalo and environs
Since my wife, Barbara, and I had previously planned to visit the famous Saturday market in Otavalo, Ecuador (90 kilometers north of Quito), we opted to use Hotel Ali Shungu (www.alishungu.com) for a 4-day January ’06 stay and do day trips from there.
Denmark museum
The National Museum of Denmark (Frederiksholms Kanal 12, Copenhagen; phone [+45] 3313 4411 or visit www.nationalmuseet.dk. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-5. Admission free) is one of the largest archaeological museums we have ever visited anywhere.
India (and Asia) travel tips
• In addition to the various Lonely Planet guides on India, the DK’s “Eyewitness Travel Guide: India” is well worth looking at; the copious illustrations make it very easy to find your way through tourist sites without a guide. If you are heading to the South, George Mitchell’s “Blue Guide: Southern India” is a must.
All Around Persia
I was part of a group of eight friends who arranged a trip to Iran, Nov. 19-30, 2006, with the help of a guide, Saied Haji Hadi, or Hadi, at All Around Persia (Tehran, Iran; phone 0098-21-2357580 [or 81, 82 or 83], fax 2357584, e-mail info@allaroundpersia.com or visit www.allaround persia.com).