Travelers' Intercom
South Africa guide
Anne Short (Box 101, Henley-on-Klip, R.S.A. 1962; phone 016 366 0603 or mobile 072 220 8325 or e-mail anneshort2003@ yahoo.co.uk) is a tour guide “extraordinaire.”
Wizz Air fees an ‘eye-opener’
In his July ’05 column, Rick Steves mentioned Wizz Air as a low-cost carrier out of Budapest, so when I decided to tack on a second river cruise out of Antwerp to Basel following an already-booked October-November ’05 cruise that will end in Budapest, I checked out Wizz Air in early August.
CDG Airport woes
From a May-June ’05 trip to Europe, here are two caveats. 1. Beware of the short flight connection.
Re airport wheelchairs
In reply to my complaint about not having a wheelchair waiting when I got off the plane, printed in the August ’05 issue, page 14, Continental Airlines sent me a 2-page letter that said essentially that the treatment I received was not according to procedure and next time I should ask to speak to a CRO (Complaint Resol
Keep it hidden
I read in the January ’05 issue the letter about a reader’s unfortunate experience with a purse snatcher in Barcelona (page 32) as well as the very helpful letter on protecting valuables while going through airport security (page 78).
Budapest café
On a trip to Budapest in September ’04, I ate at the Fresco Fi Café Restaurant (1052 Bp. Vigado ter 3, Budapest, Hungary; tel. 266 2010 or visit www.fresco.hu). It’s located three blocks from the Budapest Marriott.
Europe gas prices
The following probably won’t make you enjoy filling your gas tank here in the States, but it may ease the pain a tiny bit.
Get rail ticket punched
In Paula Prindle’s article about Italy (July ’05, pg. 20), she said the conductor was not worried about their unpunched train ticket on the way from Rome to Venice. I suggest that travelers not rely on that as the standard for Italy.
Virgin Air’s ‘suites’
On a flight from Newark, New Jersey, to England on Virgin Airlines in late April ’05, we had an opportunity to try out the new upper-class suites.
‘Kudos’ to Horses North
I was scheduled to depart June 30, ’05, for a “Thorsmork Riding Tour,” which was to be five days of riding with a herd of Icelandic horses. I had made my flight and trip plans through Holly Nelson and Brad Vogel, owners of Horses North, LLC, aka Iceland Adventure, LLC (P.O.
Easter Island guide
We cruised to Easter Island on Discovery World Cruises’ Discovery in February ’05. Dissatisfied with the excursions being offered by the ship, I arranged in advance for two half-day tours of Easter Island for our party of six.
Right-side driving
In the letter “Tips for Driving in Britain” (Aug. ’05, pg. 73), the comment that more people drive on the left side of the road than on the right is incorrect. The latest figures I have seen (from 1996) estimate that about four billion people drive on the right versus two billion on the left.
Tips for rail travel in Germany
The German railway system offers a great way for travelers to get around while visiting that country. Many guidebooks and websites describe how to use the rail service but often omit facts that would be very useful to novice travelers.
Indochina — beautiful and affordable
In October ’04 my wife and I had a sensational journey through Indochina. We booked our tour through All Asia Travel Company (57-59 Do Quang Dau St., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; tel. 848-9203493, fax 848-9203446, e-mail allasia@hcm.fptvn or visit www.allasiatravel.com).
Hot pocket
I wish to add something to the readers’ excellent advice about protecting valuables (Jan. ’05, pgs. 78-79).
Turkey in spring
Springtime turned out to be a great time of year for touring Turkey. As we drove through central Anatolia in April-May several years ago, the wheat fields, stretching to the horizon, were just greening up.
Bhutan arrangements ‘challenging’
My wife and I took a trip to India (the “15-Day Romantic Rajasthan Passage”) and Bhutan (4-day extension) with Pacific Delight World Tours, March 12-April 1, ’05. Pacific Delight partnered with Creative Travel of India to handle the Indian component.
Holland and flowers
My husband, Al, and I traveled through Holland and Belgium, April 18-May 6, ’05, at the peak of the spring flower season.
Claustrophobia in salt mines
I couldn’t resist adding a P.S. to Norine Matteson’s note about the Wieliczka Salt Mines (July ’05, pg. 85).