Travelers' Intercom
Dealing with flights to Europe
I read with interest the reader’s comments in the letter titled “Flights Spoiled a Good Cruise” (Jan. ’05, pg. 26), regarding the flights assigned by Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA). We are also Grand Circle “Inner Circle” members.
Companies came through
• A promotion run in 2003 by Grand Circle Travel (347 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210; phone 800/221-2610 or visit www.gct.com) promised two $250 travel certificates applicable to your next GCT trip if you completed an extensive questionnaire on your future travel plans.
Dining in Croatia
On a trip to Croatia in June ’04, we found three restaurants which were excellent.
Marco Polo repeat passenger
I read with a lot of interest the October ’04 article by Lew Toulmin about the Marco Polo of Orient Lines (800/333-7300 or www.orientlines.com).
Calling on IsCard
This is a follow-up to my letter in the February ’05 issue, page 16, regarding making phone calls through Iscom, Inc.
Paid for exit row on Virgin
At Miami Airport I checked in for Virgin Atlantic flight No. 6 to London Heathrow and, putting on my nicest smile, asked if I could possibly have an exit row seat. . . for the stretch-out room. Imagine my surprise when I was told I could “upgrade” to an exit-row seat for the sum of $70.
Düsseldorf and more
I was in Germany for several weeks in June ’04 and found a wonderful small hotel, Hotel Berlin Plaza, one-half block from the Ku’Damm in Berlin. I would recommend it. I think it’s too small to have “groups,” but the building did have two elevators. Almost all of the other people there were Germans.
Milan trattoria
Travelers to Italy looking for a trattoria near the Milan train station can go with confidence to Trattoria La Baita (phone 02-6694173), just around the corner from the station at Via Lepetit 27, corner of Via Vitruvio.
Missed tour due to communication snafus
ITN is breaking with tradition, in this case, in how it presents a reader’s complaint and the company’s rebuttal. In the interest of brevity and clarity, the following facts have been summarized from many, many pages of correspondence. — Editor
Visit to Transnistria
My wife, Arlene, and I spent a few hours in a little-visited part of the world that is well worth seeing because of its complex history and location.
Hired driver in Hungary
In need of a driver on our September ’04 trip that included Hungary, we were turned on to Gabor Stern (e-mail sabor.s@vivamail.hu, phone 0036-202238630) by the Hungarian National Tourist Office (e-mail info@gotohungary.com).
Travel to Sri Lanka post tsunami
After the initial shock of and reaction to the unprecedented tragedy that hit South Asia on Dec. 26, it is important to present the traveling public with an accurate account of the current situation on the ground in terms of tourism. I have such information to pass along regarding Sri Lanka.
The Monet on the Adriatic
In late October ’04 I boarded the Monet, a small cruise ship carrying a maximum of 59 passengers, at the San Basilio pier in Venice, Italy. Our itinerary was a leisurely 7-day cruise down the Dalmatian coast (formerly Yugoslavia), terminating in Dubrovnik.
On Lufthansa seating
The reader’s letter “Flights Spoiled a Good Cruise” (Jan. ’05, pg. 26) regarding Edward DeCrappeo’s July 17 Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Washington, D.C., inspired me to write. My wife and I took that same flight in June ’04 and we concur completely with his comments on the discomfort of the airplane.
Fourth trip to China
For our fourth trip to China, in October ’03, we selected areas of the country that had UNESCO World Heritage Sites that we had either read or heard about for many years. Our new destinations would be Shanghai, Tunxi, Huang Shan, Chengdu, Leishan, Zigong, Dazu, Chongqing and Suzhou.
Florence repasts
I was in Florence, Italy, on a Christmas-in-Florence tour, Dec. 21-28, ’04, and found several good places to eat in the Centro Storico area. Both are on the street that is about one block from the famed Ponte Vecchio.
Hotel Toro transformation
A reader sent ITN a copy of a letter mailed to AMS Hotels (Parc Center, Bolling Ave. 8, 1119 Schiphol-Rizk, Netherlands) regarding a property in Amsterdam, as follows.
Pleased with global phone
A discovery! I purchased a GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) phone for a trip to Egypt/Jordan in November ’04. Although there was no need for lengthy conversations with my progeny, I did feel a need for a phone should a crisis of some kind occur.
Around the world in 8 days
I took an around-the-world trip in 7½ days flying first class on Qantas, American Airlines and Cathay Pacific, Nov. 6-14, ’04. I used One World’s ’round-the-world fare. The ticket cost $9,100. I paid full price — no breaks.