Travelers' Intercom
Uganda’s Murchison Falls
I would like to correct a statement made in the letter titled “Uganda Wildlife,” regarding “the shooting of the tourist on Nov. 8, 2005, in Murchison Falls National Park. . . within the park boundaries” (Aug. ’06, pg. 83).
Viking Surkov to Moscow
My wife and I started planning in the summer of 2005 to take one of the Russian ships of Viking River Cruises (5700 Canoga Ave., Ste. 200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367; 877/668-4546).
Custom tour with MIR Corp.
I noticed while reading the letters submitted for the piece “The Good or Bad Tour Guide” (June ’06, pg. 50) as well as some comments printed in “Travelers’ Intercom” that many writers offered ways to augment their tour experiences.
Am fib be us
The caption for the picture on page 69 of the September ’06 issue reads, “The smallest frog in the world is this Golden Mantella. It is found only in Madagascar.”
Taking intercity buses from Quito
On our 2-week visit to Quito, Ecuador, in January ’06, my wife, Barbara, and I found intercity buses to be easy to use and cheap.
Screaming infant on a flight
ITN was mailed a copy of the following letter, sent by a reader to Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Received medical care in France
During a visit to our favorite haunts in France in September ’04, I awoke at 4 a.m in our suburban Paris hotel room with an emergency at hand. Pat, my wife of over 40 years, was suffering a crippling pain in her abdomen that called for immediate action.
‘Chip & PIN’ in UK
On a trip to London, July 14-25, 2006, I discovered that credit cards and debit cards in the United Kingdom use “chip & PIN” numbers for added security. U.S MasterCards, Visa cards, American Express et al. will work only if, for example, store or restaurant cashiers are equipped to “swipe” your card.
Hotelink to Gatwick Airport
Hotelink, Ltd. (Southways Park, Lowfield Heath, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9TQ, U.K.; phone [01293] 552251, fax 531131, e-mail tmale@hotelink.co.uk or visit www.hotelink.co.uk), serves all London hotels.
Enjoyed Oceania’s Insignia
My husband, Ray, and I took a 24-day, 2-segment cruise in Europe on the Insignia of Oceania Cruises (Miami, FL; 800/531-5658, www.oceaniacruises.com), May 21-June 14, ’06.
Tips on traveling for months at a time
In the January ’06 issue, page 50, Cecilia Morrissey shared extensive advice on arranging flights around the world. Last month (Sept. ’06, pg. 37), she offered advice on other extended-travel considerations. Here, she continues.
EgyptAir’s business class disappointed
On Feb. 21, 2006, a companion and I flew on EgyptAir from New York (JFK) to Cairo, Egypt, with Grand Circle Travel. We were on GCT’s “Ancient Egypt and the Nile” tour with a 5-day pretrip extension to Jordan. We upgraded to business class (which we do on long flights).
Important words and phrases
We asked you each to name, in English, the 25 core words and phrases that are the most helpful or important to know how to say in the local language before arriving at a new travel destination (outside of North America and the Caribbean).
Aix and Cézanne
In Aix, France, we followed the footsteps of Paul Cézanne, a native of that town, whose art was not much appreciated by its citizens during his lifetime. The Musée Granet has only a few small works by this renowned artist, though the rest of the collection is worth a visit.
Credit card surprise
There’s something else about which to ask your credit card company before you travel. Is a new card being issued for you while you are on the road?
Regatta to the Amazon
My wife, Esta Lee, and I took a Miami-Manaus (Brazil)-Miami sailing aboard the Regatta of Oceania Cruises (Miami, FL; 800/531-5658), Nov. 27-Dec. 22, ’05. For an ocean-view cabin, the cost was roughly $4,000 each. It was our second cruise on the Regatta.
South Island speed traps
I wish to echo the concern expressed by Fred Kerr about speed traps in the South Island of New Zealand (July ’06, pg. 18).
Gauguin to skip Cook’s Bay
Readers should know that Regent (formerly Radisson) Seven Seas Cruises is no longer planning to dock the Paul Gauguin regularly at Cook’s Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia.
’Round-world trips
Are you considering a trip around the world (Dec. ’05, pg. 53)? Our recommendation would be “Go for it!” In March-April ’05 we traveled around the world, spending five weeks in 10 countries, and it was truly the trip of a lifetime. Here are the particulars.
Ronciglione, Italy
Ronciglione, about an hour’s drive north from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, is near Lake Vico, a summer playground for Italians from Rome. It was early November when we visited, and the town was bustling during the day and quiet at night. Some of the restaurants were closed for the season.