Travelers' Intercom
4-star’s rooms all not equal
During the week of March 13-20, ’04, we stayed at the Karl Schranz Hotel in St. Anton, Austria. We went with a group of six couples, booked by Alpine Adventures.
Recommended in Turkey
During my visit to Turkey, Feb. 20-27, ’04, a friend and I had the good fortune to have as our tour guide Ms. Gülden Güllü (1786 s. 8/1 Sagsoz Apt., 35540 Karsiyaka, Izmir, Turkey; cell 90 532 441 9685 or e-mail gulden90@yahoo.com).
TSA refund received
After returning from a trip to Chile on Nov. 21, ’04, I found that the TSA locks on my luggage had been cut instead of opened.
Car rentals and leases
(Second of three parts) Last month I talked about the upper age limit invoked by car rental suppliers. This month I would like to discuss other automobile rental and lease-related factors.
Insured by Access America
In the many years my husband, Ted, and I have traveled around the world on ship, on tours and independently, we have booked travel insurance about two-thirds of the time. We have seldom needed to use it and always questioned the expense of bothering with it.
Tips for driving in Britain
Many visitors who in their home country drive on the right-hand side of the road can find driving on the left in Britain a daunting task, but with a little insider information, and by following a few golden rules, they usually get by unscathed.
Thailand, Cambodia guides
We took the “Discover Thailand” tour, plus the optional pre-trip visit to Angkor Wat, Cambodia, with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/955-1925 or www.oattravel.com) in February ’05.
Reserving wheelchairs in airports
I took a Continental Airlines flight from Seattle to Cancun and return, Feb. 27-March 8, ’05.
Give singles a break
I saw the article in the February ’05 issue, page 58. I have always chosen a tour to see different parts of the world, as I am a single traveler (not by choice).
Exchange $$ at legal kiosks
I learned of a currency exchange scam during a visit to the Czech Republic in October ’04.
Landings infrequent at Pitcairn
ITN was mailed a copy of a letter sent to Discovery World Cruises*, as follows.
Highlights of Egypt
Well, we finally did it, and I must say that there is not much of Egypt that we did not see! My husband and I, our son and daughter-in-law and our daughter and grandson started a 14-day independent tour of Egypt on June 24, ’04.
Close shave?
Regarding the letter titled “Don’t Even Think About It” (June ’05, pg. 89) with the picture of the interesting road sign showing a sailboat with a line through it, my guess is that it means “Don’t trailer a sailboat with its mast up on this road,” perhaps because there is a low-hanging power line somewhere ahead.
Comfort of an assured departure
One important additional detail about choosing a tour company (Feb. ’05, pg. 58) is finding out if the departure dates are guaranteed!
Booted in Haarlem
One helpful hint for driving abroad is to avoid parking infractions. In Haarlem, Netherlands, several years ago, we found marked spaces with few automobiles and no instructions that we could see. But when we returned from the Franz Hals Museum, in the rain, there was our car — booted.
Bhutan’s wealth
I write in response to the reader’s letter titled “Poverty in Bhutan” (April ’05, pg. 84).
Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova
In the ’90s, my wife, Alice, and I three times hired a car and drove through the newly opened countries of Eastern Europe, but we had yet to visit the three countries that were former Soviet states: Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. In May ’05 we made up for that omission.
Mastering solo travel
This is in response to Audrey Curtis, who wanted readers to submit articles on traveling alone (May ’05, pg. 122).
Checkpoint security
Placing valuables into the open plastic container at airport x-ray checkpoints certainly is a concern (Nov. ’04, pg. 18 & Feb. ’05, pg. 83). However, there is a solution, if security would only go along with it.
Monet Adriatic cruise
We took a 14-day Adriatic cruise from Dubrovnik, Croatia, to Venice, ltaly, aboard the m/v Monet, March 16-30, ’05, with Elegant Cruises & Tours. We arranged it through TravLtips (Flushing, NY; 800/872-8584).