Travelers' Intercom
Travels in the Dominican Republic
My husband, Joe, and I traveled to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Feb. 2-11, ’04, to complete visits to all the nations of the Western Hemisphere.
Are you fully covered?
As I was making a reservation for a rental car in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in January ’04, I asked the agent, “Will there be any hidden charges?”
Reciprocal tourism with Turtle Tours
I had already taken two tours with Turtle Tours (Box 1147, Carefree, AZ 85377; phone 888/299-1439 or 480/488-3688, fax 480/488-3406, e-mail turtletours@earthlink.net) when I received the brochure which read, “Join us as a volunteer.
Found Russia ‘fascinating’
I noticed in the Travelers’ Intercom section a couple of rather negative reports of Russian riverboat experiences (March ’04, pg. 32 & April ’04, pg. 82).
Get up and go
Since my retirement in 1999, I have taken 10 trips to Europe every year. My frequent trips to Italy have each been to different areas, but I return often to London, Paris, Rome, Prague, Vienna and Amsterdam and have been in those cities in various months.
Zegrahm makes it right
My husband and I took a trip to Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles, Feb. 23-March 9, ’04, with Zegrahm Expeditions (192 Nickerson St., Ste. 200, Seattle, WA 98109; phone 800/628-8747). In Madagascar, one of our carry-on bags was stolen.
A week for Prague and Budapest
Four of us, who were spending the week of Thanksgiving 2003 in Budapest and Prague, were annoyed that we couldn’t escape popular American music playing everywhere. Also, while we weren’t surprised to find McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC, in Prague we were caught off guard to see pizzerias on every block.
Online cruise agency recommendation
I would like to recommend an online cruise agency that I use, iCruise.com (127 W. 25th St., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10001; phone 888/909-6242). I have booked three cruises with them and find them very efficient and reliable.
Narrowboat in Wales
Along with another couple, my wife and I “narrowboated” the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in southeast Wales at the end of July ’03. We hired our narrowboat through Beacon Park Boats and had a wonderful experience.
Hanoi’s transformation
A reader in the March ’04 issue, page 48, correctly places Hanoi on the “Favorite Cities” list, but to state, “Hanoi, on the other hand, has changed very little in the past 30 years,” is inaccurate.
Arrangements needed double-checking
We took a trip to Machu Picchu, Peru, arranged through Analie Tours. The trip was delightful, but we felt Analie Tours was frightful.
Favorite Museum Dept.: Republic of China
On a trip to Taiwan in 2001 I visited the Great National Treasures of China collection in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. It’s a mindblower. My eyes almost dropped out of my head! Here are many treasures of Imperial China that were saved by the KMT in 1949, spirited away from the Communists.
Seville from Lisbon via Beja, Portugal
If you travel directly to Seville from Lisbon via Beja, Portugal, as we did in June 1998, you will take route 433, which winds pleasantly through the hills of the Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena.
Nightmare in Guatemala
I returned March 13, ’04, from a month-long trip to Honduras, Guatemala, Yucatán and Belize with Adventures Abroad (Richmond, B.C., Canada; phone 800/665-3998). I found them very thorough in covering the architectural and cultural parts of those countries.
Exploring the Cotswolds
(Part 2 of 3) We spent six weeks in England, July-August ’03, basically exploring the Cotswold area. We were based in Cirencester (May ’04, pg. 82) and, apart from a side trip to Wales to visit friends, we returned there every night.
Had to skip Brazil when passports not returned in time
A reader mailed ITN a copy of the letter below, sent to the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The cruise referred to was aboard Holland America’s m.s. “Amsterdam,” beginning Jan. 29, ’04, in Valparaiso, Chile, and concluding Feb. 19 in Rio de Janeiro.
Enjoyed river cruises in Russia
In reading the March ’04 issue, on page 32 I came across a reader’s comments concerning a cruise aboard the Novikov Priboy in Russia. Contrary to the general impression left by those comments, I found my two Russian river cruises — on a different ship — to compare favorably with any.
‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue
In the article on Rio de Janeiro in the May ’04 issue, there is an error on page 110 where the author is describing the trip to Corcovado Mountain.
It seemed no shuttle was forthcoming
We travel frequently and always use the local SuperShuttle for travel to the airport. SuperShuttle always tries to get us to make a reservation for our return home.
A Christmas gift to remember
For Christmas 2003, my husband, Bernie, and I decided to give each other an extra-nice present: we would take a 9-day “Hot Air Balloon Flight Over the Alps” tour in January ’04. Two days of the tour would be spent at the International Balloon Festival in Château d’Oex, Switzerland.