Travelers' Intercom
Re mandatory tipping
I definitely object to cruise lines automatically adding $10 per person per day (or any other amount) for collective tips for the staff.
Following Pannir
It was through an ad in ITN years ago that we first found the greatest travel agent ever, Pannir Murugesu.
Respect due
We spent a month in Thailand, November-December ’03, traveling with a Thai woman who was very offended when, at the temples, monuments and ruins, tourists would jump up and stand behind statues of Buddha that were missing the heads in order to have comical pictures taken.
Tipping on cruises
In the January ’04 “Boarding Pass,” the editor asked readers to comment on the trend among cruise lines to automatically add $10 per day for tips to shipboard staff.
Pickpocket ploy
As an avid traveler and ITN reader, I thought I was familiar with most of the means by which people were separated from their money, but the following was a new one to me.
New bills for travel
Thought I would add a postscript to the letter “Money Laundering 101.”
For travelers to northeast India
In fall 2003 I led a group through the Himalayas on our “Jewels of the Himalayas” program, Sept. 23-Oct. 17. Among places we visited in India were Darjeeling, west and east Sikkim and Kalimpong, then we entered Bhutan at the southern border town of Phuntsholing.
Shipboard tipping
A tip is not a tip if it is mandatory or coerced. In that case it is a passenger service fee and should be listed along with port charges, transfer fees and whatever as part of the total cost of the trip.
Doing the Baltic cruise ports on your own
We enjoyed a wonderful 10-day cruise aboard the Regal Princess in May ’02, traveling round trip from Copenhagen. In addition to Denmark, we visited Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Poland and Norway. I would like to give some tips on doing the shore excursions on your own as we did.
Promoted offer for singles not available
In the past few days I have received so much mail from Grand Circle Travel that I wondered how they could offer a decent trip paying so much for mail. I get mailings from them at least twice every week.
<em>Novikov Priboy</em> in Russia
My wife, Esta Lee, and I took a Russian river cruise between St. Petersburg and Moscow, June 4-18, ’03. We used Vantage Deluxe World Travel (90 Canal St., Boston, MA 02114; phone 888/734-0188), which had chartered the Novikov Priboy for several trips.
Surprise third party
ITN performed an invaluable service for travelers in publishing the reader’s letter entitled “Mystery Charge on Credit Card” regarding Internet hotel reservations (Dec. ’03, pg. 30).
Barging in France
We took a great “Burgundy barging” trip with Odysseys Unlimited (85 Main St., Ste. 101, Watertown, MA 02472; phone 888/370-6765, fax 781/370-3699 or visit www.odysseys-unlimited.com) in September ’03.
Travel is...
ITN asked its readers for essays centered on the subject “Travel is. . .” in 250 words or less. Small prizes were offered for the best five.
Victim drivers in Spain
While driving a leased car in Spain in the fall of 2003, I encountered the following incidents that should serve as warnings to other readers.
Village Vacations in England
My wife and I and our daughter and son-in-law spent a week in May ’02 in southwest England with David and Christine Hale, who have a B&B and a tour service called Village Vacations (Brookmead, Rimpton, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8AQ England; phone/fax [UK] 011-44-1935-850241, e-mail villagevac@aol.com or v
Borobudur and Prambanan impressions spoiled
I visited the astoundingly beautiful, inspirational and impressive sites of Borobudur and Prambanan on Java, Indonesia, in September ’03 and am sad to report that both left a bad taste in my mouth because of what has been allowed to develop at these sites.
Fixing a flight mixup
What would you do if you discovered that you were booked on a nonexistent flight? This was the unbelievable situation that my wife and I recently encountered.
Danube cruise interrupted
My husband and I booked a “Grand European River Cruise” with Vantage Deluxe World Travel which offered a voyage from the North Sea to the Black Sea. Our departure date of Aug. 15, ’03, coincided with the hottest and driest summer in Europe in the past 150 years.
Barcelona-Andorra day trip
The small country of Andorra lies in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Because of its location, methods of getting there are limited.