Travelers' Intercom
Israeli tour guide
My husband and I were privileged to have Jonathan Kohn as our guide through historical and biblical Israel, March 8-19, 2015.
Driving in Eastern Europe
In the article “Recommendations for a European Rental Car Journey” (Feb. ’15, pg. 43), the author provided tips and described some of the problems encountered while traveling with his wife by rental car in Western and Eastern Europe.
Barclaycard Arrival Plus
The list of available sources of chip-and-PIN cards in the editor’s note following the letter “Tips on Exchanging Currency” (Feb. ’15, pg. 14) was a welcome sight.
Difficulty communicating with Icelandair
My cousin, Robert, and I have always used Icelandair (800/223-5500, www.icelandair.us) to travel between the US and Europe. Their Saga Club (business class) is excellent, with wide seats, good food and first-rate service.
Plan B? Chiang Mai
I read the item “Myanmar eVisas” about applying for the visas online at http://evisa.moip.gov.mm (Jan. ’15, pg. 4).
Driver/guide in Greece
Prior to our leaving for a 10-day visit to Greece in May 2014, our travel agent — with Travelive (US office in Bloomfield, NJ; 888/377-5483, www.travelive.com) — arranged for my husband and me to take a private two-day trip to Delphi and Meteora.
Visa-free stays in China
China now allows 72-hour visa-free stays in an ever-increasing number of cities: Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Shanghai, Shenyang and Xi’an. My husband, John, and I made use of this to visit Shanghai.
Discover card in China
In an article about Shanghai, a traveler reported that a restaurant did not accept Visa, MasterCard or American Express (Feb. ’15, pg. 11). There’s a simple solution: use a Discover card.
United’s unlocked- luggage policy at Narita
Preparing to fly back to the US from our second trip to Japan in 2014, my husband, Clyde, and I were at Narita International Airport on Dec. 16.
Praise for Squaremouth
When my wife, Patti, and I went to book a 10-day trip (April 30-May 9, 2015) to Peru and Bolivia back in February, the tour company told us they no longer sold trip insurance and now referred people to Squaremouth (St. Petersburg, FL; 800/240-0369, www.squaremouth.com).
Drivers in Chile & Argentina
My husband and I spent October 2014 visiting Chile and Argentina on a customized tour, and for three days in Santiago we had an excellent English-speaking guide whom we highly recommend.
Overlooked Aachen
You would think that a town with history stretching back 5,000 years, one which was once a Roman military spa town and which was Charlemagne’s capital during the eighth century, would be a well-known tourist destination.
Global Entry double-checks
In the letter “Issues with Global Entry” (Dec. ’14, pg. 51), a traveler enrolled in the Global Entry program wondered why she and her husband rarely were assigned TSA Pre√TM (Pre-check) status for easier security clearance for domestic flights.
French dining concerns
My husband, Jim, and I spent May and June of 2014 in a rental home in the small village of Paziols in southern France, very close to the Spanish border. Our intention was to find a location where the residents didn’t speak English. We found it!
Finding one’s way in Brussels
In regard to Stephen Addison’s comments in the letter “A Guide to Brussels’ Metro” (March ’15, pg. 12), I can only agree.