Travelers' Intercom
Inquire about ‘optionals’ in advance
We took Trafalgar’s tour No. 159 to Finland, Russia, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, Sept. 9-24, ’03. The tour cost us $2,560 each, including air from Philadelphia. This was our fourth Trafalgar tour and possibly the last, due mainly to the prices of and number of optional tours this tour had.
A special place in the South Pacific
If you enjoy discovering new places, here is a very special treat.
Provence is ‘compact’
One mistake we made planning our 4-week stay in Provence in 2002 was trying to stay in too many different places. We didn’t realize just how small and compact Provence is. It is enough to stay in two or three places, and all sightseeing attractions can easily be reached on day trips.
Athens auto rental
We don’t usually have favorable comments about car rental agencies, but in October ’03 we received extraordinary service from Dionysos S.A.
Travel insurance inquiry
Because my husband and I travel extensively, we are paying out exorbitant amounts of money on comprehensive travel insurance when we only require to be covered for certain risks.
In and around Quito
When my grandson got married in November ’03, we promised to pay for his honeymoon (within reason, of course). He told me, “Grandpa, if you do that, we insist that you come along.” Somewhat unusual, to say the least, but we were honored. My wife, JoAnn, said she’d go anyplace as long as it was cool and unusual.
Re credit card coverage of CDW
I would be interested in hearing from others concerning their rental car insurance experiences.
Watch for currency ‘inspectors’
At the train station in Bucharest, Romania, in October ’00, my friend George and I were exposed to a scam similar to that in which another ITN reader and his friend lost $100 each at the same station (May ’04, pg. 11).
Shipping added cost, despite verbal assurances
My wife and I went on a “Discover Thailand” tour with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), Sept. 9-Oct. 2, ’03. Our tour was 16 days long, to which we added a pre-trip of three days in Cambodia, visiting Angkor Wat. The basic cost was $1,690 per person, including airfare via Minneapolis and Tokyo.
France and Monte Carlo with Grand Circle Travel
For our 41st international junket (Aug. 30-Sept.
Volunteer vacation in England
We participated in a week-long “working vacation” in northern England, March 27-April 3, ’04, with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, or BTCV (Conservation Centre, 163 Balby Rd., Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 0RH; phone 01302 572-244, fax 01302 310 167, e-mail information
Made use of travel insurance
This letter is to inform ITN readers of the utmost necessity of taking out travel insurance before any trip, especially with regard to interruption of a tour and, of course, reimbursement of medical expenses.
Fingerprinted in Brazil
My husband and I took a 2-month segment of a 4-month cruise on the Saga Rose, a British ship sailing from Southampton, England. The portion of the cruise we took left Southampton on Jan. 4, ’04, and we disembarked in Sydney, Australia, on March 4. The ship returned to Southampton via South Africa.
Day cruise in Fiji
My husband and I began planning our January ’04 trip to Australia and New Zealand about a year ahead. Several people mentioned that a stopover in Fiji would be a good way to end it.
Enamored of Iceland
My husband, Compton, and I wanted to get away to gain new perspectives and hoped to find some peace in Iceland. We found that and much, much more. The one week we spent there in September ’03 was most memorable and exciting. We only regret that we did not have more time.
Budapest dining, train
• The restaurant Karpatia Etterem es Sovozo (Inboda Ferencier Tere 7-8, Budapest, Hungary; phone 0036-1-317-3596) is located in Buda, not far from the Danube.
Quick refund from International B&B
My husband, Eugene, and I were scheduled to leave on April 12, ’04, on a month-long trip to Eastern Europe, beginning in Prague.
Lesser-known sites in the Cotswolds
(Part 3 of 3) — We spent six weeks in England, July-August ’03, mostly exploring the Cotswolds area (May ’04, pg. 82 & June’04, pg. 84). We were based in Cirencester.