Travelers' Intercom
Ireland and Wales with David McGuffin
Nine months in advance, my husband, Gary, and I (ages 70-plus) and our daughter and her spouse began planning a trip to Ireland.
Searching websites for low fares
When you check airlines’ websites for airfares, most websites put a “cookie” on your computer. Each website uses the cookie to track your habits on subsequent visits.
‘Circling the Sun’ in Kenya
My husband, Alan, and I have traveled to Africa three times with Overseas Adventure Travel and have had extraordinary trips each time. The historical novel I just read, “Circling the Sun” by Paula McLain (2015, Ballantine Books), made me long for another trip to Africa.
Amazon with International Expeditions
An Amazon River cruise, Aug. 16-24, 2014, was the sixth trip my husband, Ed, and I took with International Expeditions (IE) (Helena, AL; 855/246-0405 or 205/428-1700, www.ietravel.com).
National Trust’s ‘undiscovered gems’
Helen Harper’s letter “National Trust Sites, England” (Nov. ’15, pg. 27), about tours by the Royal Oak Foundation, motivated me to write with more info. Many travelers, even if they’re Anglophiles, might not know about England’s National Trust (P.O.
Dolphin Discovery in Punta Cana
While visiting Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on a November 2015 Caribbean trip, three family members and I got to swim with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery (Carretera de Veron Bavaro, La Altagracia Province, Higuey Town, 23301, Dominican Republic; phone, in the US, 866/393-5158, w
Cab fare scam, Istanbul
While in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept. 16-24, 2015, my wife and I were scammed by a taxi driver. He had palmed a 20-lira bill, and when we paid with a 100-lira note, he flashed the 20, claiming that that is what we had given him, and demanded more for the fare.
Exploring Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of my favorite spots to visit, and I’ve stayed in hotels there in most years since 1969. A Special Administrative Region of China, on its southeastern coast, Hong Kong is a multicultural city.
Talking your way into the rice house
When my companion and I travel, it’s the personal experiences that we remember most, the chances to talk to or share time with locals and to bring out kids’ smiles. How can you find these people-to-people moments? Ask, and ask again!
‘Impressed and happy’ with Hurtigruten
In a letter about the Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten (Bellevue, WA; 866/552-0371, www.hurtigruten.us), a reader complained about their policy of not permitting guests to take their own water to the dinner table
Conacul lui Maldăr in Romania
Every year, I try to travel by car to a different destination in Romania. During my April-May visit in 2015, I made a 3-hour drive from Bucharest to Măldărești. Part of that drive was on a beautiful highway, which gave way to magnificent mountain scenery.
Battle of the Bulge tour
Having completed a privately guided tour of WWII Battle of the Bulge sites in Belgium in September 2015, I would like to share some observations for those considering a visit to that historically significant area.
Beware of email links
In the Editor’s November 2015 “Boarding Pass” column, he warned of an online-hotel-booking scam, and I must take friendly issue with advice given on page 58 that describes what to look for after clicking on a link
In the Hindu Kush of Pakistan
Ever since 9/11, Pakistan has not been considered a tourist hot spot, but it is a mix of many cultures, with thousands of years of history and some awesome landscapes.