Travelers' Intercom
Choosing a cruise
What factors do I consider when choosing a cruise? Time of year and itinerary are on top of the list. I go between September and May (no holidays). Prices are lower and there are fewer families.
Railpass use in Italy and France
1. On Feb. 17, ’05, we went to Gare de Lyon in Paris to activate our multi-country saverpass (seven days, four countries, two people, good for two months) and make seat reservations for travel starting on Feb. 21 to/within/from Italy and Belgium.
Anticipating death overseas
I don’t know when I have been so moved by an article in ITN as I was by the one penned by Betty Patterson concerning the death of her husband (Feb. ’05, pg. 16).
Re ‘credit hold’ on a cruise
Editor’s note: The following letter refers to the January ’05 “Cruising World” column in which Dr.
Kenwood House
I loved A.J. Goodhead’s letter on Kenwood House and Golders Green, etc. (Feb. ’05, pg. 81); it could have been written by my husband and me.
A matter of public record
My sympathies are with Mrs. Patterson on the tragic death of her husband and her subsequent ordeal with bureaucracy. However, there is one point that should be cleared up.
Better rate for large bills
While my wife, Joan, and I were in Thailand in February ’05, our guide told us that as of that month, all Thai banks charge a fee of 33 baht (near 87¢ U.S.) for each travelers’ check cashed, so it’s cheaper to carry 100-dollar checks than 20-dollar checks.
AESU smooth recovery
Seeing the news item titled “Carmen in its Natural Settings” (Dec. ’03, pg. 21) prompted us to contact AESU, or American European Services Unlimited (3922 Hickory Ave., Baltimore, MD 21211; phone 800/638-7640 or visit www.aesu.com), to learn more about it.
The Turkish bath experience
The Cagaloglu Hamami (Turkish bath) is the oldest bath in Istanbul — over 300 years old — and I arrived at about 3 o’clock one afternoon in July ’04 after a day of sightseeing and shopping in the Grand Bazaar.
Re Icelandair gift certificates
For our 50th wedding anniversary in June ’04, my wife and I were each given a $400 gift certificate for Icelandair travel.
Insured for medical evacuation
I was deeply moved when I read the letter titled “Coping With the Red Tape of an Overseas Death.” It was incredible to read about the obstacles Mrs. Patterson had to overcome after her husband’s sudden demise. I offer my sincerest condolence. I would like to add the following to Mrs. Patterson’s recommendations.
Restaurants in Turin
Travelers to Turin, Italy, who stay at the Holiday Inn Express will find a clean, modern, comfortable hotel at a reasonable price (€75, or about $97.50, per night for two, including a lavish breakfast), but it is located rather a ways from the center of town and in a neighborhood surprisingly bereft of
Wheelchair passenger concern
I was one of a group of five relatives who took a tour of Ireland and then drove around Italy in July ’04. Our flights were on Aer Lingus as well as British Air, but to get from Dublin to Venice we had to go through London, with the leg from London’s Heathrow airport to Venice on British Midland Airways.
Beautiful tent camps in Zimbabwe
We had received an offer of “Take a Companion Free” on a photo safari, “Focus on Zimbabwe,” with David Anderson Safaris (30 W. Mission St., Ste. 7, Santa Barbara, CA 93101; phone 800/927-4647, fax 805/563-7953 or visit www.focusonafrica.com or www.onsafari.info).
On Singapore and Malaysia
• Just once in your life you owe yourself a flight on Singapore Airlines in “Raffles Class.”
Separate credit cards recommended
Betty Patterson’s letter titled “Coping With the Red Tape of an Overseas Death” (Feb. ’05, pg. 16) was very helpful as well as disturbing.
Western Scotland
On a trip to lesser-known territory of the U.K, Sept. 11-24, ’04 (April ’05, pg. 16), my travels took me to western Scotland.
Loire Valley waterways
Early last spring I discovered the company French Country Waterways (Box 2195, Duxbury, MA 02331; phone 800/222-1236 or, in MA, 781/934-2454 or visit www.fcwl.com) while reading the New York Times travel section.
Important documents
Thanks to Betty Patterson for the description of her experiences in France when her husband died.
Beauty in Burma
I was in Burma (Myanmar) in November ’04. In Pagan (now Bagan) there was a very pretty young girl selling postcards at the Ananda Temple. She was appealing and vivacious without being pushy, so I not only bought a strip of postcards but took her photograph.