Travelers' Intercom
‘Pleasant surprises’ of Turkmenistan
I have led group tours to Turkmenistan and the five ’Stans seven times over several years, most recently in May and October 2013, and all my clients have found the country of Turkmenistan to be one of the most pleasant surprises of the entire tour, so I was alarmed to read the negative comments about that country
Enjoyed airlines’ perks
After reading of a traveler’s 4½-day ordeal in returning to California following a tour of India that ended on Dec. 26, a subscriber wrote the letter titled “Air Travel Tips” (Jan. ’14, pg. 10).
Praise for Chilean Special Journeys
My husband and I have used ITN advertisers on several occasions and have never been disappointed with the excellent service we’ve received.
Sunset World Resorts in Cancún
During a visit to Cancún and the nearby Riviera Maya, on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2013, my wife, Fyllis, and I stayed at a hotel of Sunset World Resorts (800/494-9173), a group of six properties, each boasting unique attractions.
Panama, Costa Rica train rides
While on a 15-day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles on the Island Princess of Princess Cruises (800/774-6237), Oct. 30-Nov. 14, 2013, I signed up for two shore excursions involving trains.
Seoul airport’s delights
If one has to have a long layover, I’m here to tell you that Incheon International Airport near Seoul, Korea, is the best place to have one. I flew from Siem Reap, Cambodia, to Portland, Oregon, via Incheon and Seattle on Feb. 18-19, 2014. The journey included a 13-hour layover (5 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at Incheon.
Driver in Cape Town
My wife and I try to do a world cruise every year. Rather than take each ship’s shore tours, we usually hire local taxis, asking the drivers to show us what they are “proud of” in their city. We can never predict the results but are almost always pleasantly surprised.
Pickpocket ploy
I was in France in September-October 2013 and would like to warn travelers about something that was occurring in both Paris and Toulouse.
Turkish dessert
I find it ineffably sad whenever I see an old friend for what I believe may be the final time, and so it was with Istanbul on my sixth and last visit there in January ’14.
Amsterdam museums
I visited many of Amsterdam’s more than 50 museums during my Sept. 5-16, 2013, visit.
Arranged by Portugal Trails
My wife and I have been independent travelers for over 40 years and have seldom used a travel agent. Having been to Portugal before, staying in the Algarve region, we wanted to go to northern Portugal in May ’13 and stay in pousadas (government-operated inns).
A Massage to Die For: Shiatsu in Kathmandu
While in Kathmandu, Nepal, in September ’13, I had a massage at the Club Nirvana spa in Hotel Yak & Yeti (GPO Box No. 1016, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal; phone +977 1 4248999. Rooms/suites, $240-$750 + tax).
Stymied on advance seating
For a trip to Vietnam in January-February 2014, George Dottl of Rogers, Arkansas, called American Airlines and booked tickets for his wife and himself.
Timur’s summer palace
Tamerlane, also known as Timur the Lame and Amir Timur (1336-1405), is probably the best-known ruler of ancient Central Asia. Pictures of his mausoleum — the Gur-e Amir, located in Samarkand, Uzbekistan — are among the photographs most often seen in the travel literature on Central Asia.
70 hours on the Trans-Siberian Railway
My wife, Bonnie, and I took a month-long tour of China, Mongolia and Russia that included a 7½-hour daytime train ride from Ulan Ude, Russia, to Irkutsk, located to the west of the southern end of Lake Baikal. On Sept.
Macaws into the wild
A picture I took of two young scarlet macaws appears in my article on Costa Rica (Dec. ’13, pg. 32). These birds had been raised and released by the ARA Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rebuilding the wild scarlet macaw population
‘Otherworldly’ Yemen
Yemen proved to be an “otherworldly” experience, unlike any I’ve had.
Tropical paradise in Belize
My husband and I visited Belize in August 2013. We decided to stay on South Water Caye at the Pelican Beach Resort (P.O. Box 2, Dangriga, Belize; phone 501 522-2044, fax 522 2570).
Pedicure in Vietnam
I recall having a memorable pedicure while in Vietnam a few years ago.