Travelers' Intercom
For Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet
My fiance and I took a wonderful 2-week trip to Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet in September ’04.
Smoking and air travel
In response to the inquiry about smoking in air terminals, as recently as September ’04 people were smoking in the airports of the Azores. These are, obviously, small places; smokers were not confined to designated sections but present even in the gate areas.
A gîte can’t be beat
Inspired by the article on renting “a home away from home” (Aug. ’04, pg. 38), I am sending some comments concerning renting gîtes in France.
Taking care while traveling
I use the following technique to prevent being separated from my essentials at airport security (Nov. ’04, pg.18).
Wanted flight itinerary printout
We are using our frequent-flyer miles for the first time for a trip to Antarctica in January 2005. We had enough miles with both Delta and United. I started calling more than a year early to book our flights and learned that you can’t book more than 11 months out.
Hitting the museums in Germany
We traveled to Germany, May 7-June 2, ’04. We had seen much of the country’s natural beauty, the Romantic Road and other attractions on a previous trip. This one was planned with art as the main objective.
Flower shows in Britain
I attended the Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 25, ’04, and found it a big disappointment. This was my second visit and the crowds were such that we could barely view the gardens and exhibits. The Royal Horticultural Society bragged that 160,000 persons attended during the week. That amounts to 32,000 daily!
Hell Fire Pass Museum, Thailand
My wife and I were very interested to read Dennis Cavagnaro’s article on the River Kwai (Nov. ’04, pg. 24), as we had made a similar trip in September-October ’03.
Felt like ‘marks’ in Barcelona
We visited Barcelona for four nights in September ’04. We stayed at a delightful, newly renovated apartment near the end of Las Ramblas. We shared with two other guest rooms a self-service breakfast, a well-stocked kitchen, a large sunny dining room and two bathrooms.
Protecting valuables
In response to William Hollifield’s letter “Valuables Put in Peril” (Nov. ’04, pg.18), the security procedures at the Frankfurt, Germany, airport are still a nightmare. I passed through there on Oct. 17, ’04, on my way home from Italy. Flights had to be held because the security line was so backed up.
Booked European hotels
For a recent trip to France and Italy, arranged on short notice, I decided to book all hotels ahead of time. I had considerable benefit from using a site called Venere.com.
Madeira driver-guides
I would like to add some information to the excellent articles on “Charming Madeira” by Philip Wagenaar in the May and June ’04 issues. I made a trip there a few years ago. I agree that Madeira is a beautiful and wonderful place to visit.
Airport oasis
When at the Honolulu International Airport, I enjoy the gardens there. You will see them from above, but go downstairs and walk through them.
Travels in Nicaragua
My husband and I spent a lovely week in Nicaragua, Nov. 10-18, ’03.
Discounts on pousadas in Portugal
I spent two weeks in Portugal, May 12-27, ’04, staying only at pousadas. These are government-owned hotels, usually converted castles, palaces or monasteries.
Making the best of a canceled cruise
We received a letter today, April 15, from the American Canadian Caribbean Line (461 Water St., Warren, RI 02885; phone 800/556-7450). Inside we found a voucher along with a visa refund slip for a cruise we had planned to take from Belize City.
District Six Museum, Cape Town
In Cape Town, South Africa, the District Six Museum (25A Buitenkant St.; phone 461-8745) memorializes an important chapter in that country’s history — when an entire neighborhood was bulldozed at the height of apartheid. Being a civil rights activist, on my trip in March ’04 I was attracted to this museum.