Travelers' Intercom
Long lines upon departing Aruba
Upon arriving at Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) in Oranjestad, Aruba, in March 2018, I was impressed with how well the process worked. Not so with our departure. We were advised to arrive three hours before our flight time, and we did.
Guide for Moroccan Jewish heritage
If you are planning to visit Morocco and are interested in visiting synagogues, cemeteries and other sites important to the history and heritage of Judaism there, consider choosing
Kangaroo Island
Being the frugal person I am, I opted not to pay $145 for a tour of Kangaroo Island's wildlife park — off the coast of South Australia — to see some kangaroos in February 2017.
Assessing hotels on an OAT Baltics tour
My husband and I went on a trip called "The Baltic Capitals & St. Petersburg" with Overseas Adventure Travel, or OAT (Cambridge, MA; 800/955-1925, www.oattravel.com), Oct. 2-17, 2017.
Tips for driving in Japan
After returning from our second driving trip in Japan (July 2-12, 2018), my wife, Arnette, and I wanted to share some tips that could be useful to others who would like to see this beautiful
‘Fabulous’ river cruise in Russia
My husband, Jack, and I took a vacation to Russia, June 26-July 7, 2018, traveling on a 12-day river cruise offered by Value World Tours (Fountain Valley, CA; 800/795-1633, valueworldcruises.com). We had a fabulous experience both on and off the ship.
Upsides to luggage tags
When taking a trip with multiple destinations, my wife, Patti, and I want any lost luggage to find us in the destination country.
Only lowest-class seating offered
I have a Merrill Lynch BankAmericard (Bank of America) credit card* on which I earn points. The card's brochure promises you can get a ticket for a round-trip flight costing up to $500 in exchange for a minimum of 25,000 points.
‘Wonderful’ Lithuania guide
While in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Sept. 27, 2017, the group I was traveling with stopped by the tourism information office in the Old Town. As that day happened to be World Tourism Day, we were told to draw a ticket from a box and were given a prize: free tickets to an Old Town walking tour. Our guide was wonderful!
Splitting trains in Europe
I expected that the transfer from Cˇeský Krumlov, Czechia, to Innsbruck, Austria, on July 31, 2018, would be a challenge for my sister and me. A search online provided several options, including buses and trains.
Volunteering with Primetimers
Many opportunities abound for doing "service travel" and making a difference somewhere in the world, often at minimal cost to the traveler.
Russian visas from ILS
My wife, Karen, and I needed Russian visas in order to take the tour "Waterways of the Tsars," traveling from St. Petersburg to Moscow with Viking River Cruises (Woodland Hills, CA; 855/338-4546, www.vikingcruises.com), June 1-13, 2018.
Snorkeling Raja Ampat
Lying in the Pacific Ocean's Coral Triangle, the Raja Ampat archipelago, in West Papua, Indonesia, is among the places with the world's richest diversity of corals and fish.
Visiting during Ramadan
Only after my wife, Paula, and I booked our May 2018 Moroccan trip did I discover that most of our trip would occur during the holy month of Ramadan.
Israel — Archaeology 101
In the fall of 2016, I realized I wanted to visit Israel after seeing a Jerusalem exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Convertible travel pants
I ordered three pairs of convertible travel pants ($134.95 each plus $7 shipping), one of each of the available colors, from Clothing Arts (Brooklyn, NY; 646/422-9222, www.clothingarts.com). I am very satisfied with my purchase.
Airlines’ meal policies and North America
After taking the "Cities of Light" cruise-tour from Prague to Paris with Viking River Cruises, on Oct. 16, 2017, I flew from Paris to Montreal, continuing home to Los Angeles.
Frank Lloyd Wright at Meiji-mura
On a day trip from Nagoya during our March-April 2016 sakura (cherry blossom) trip to Japan, my husband, Clyde, and I headed to Inuyama and its open-air architectural Museum