Travelers' Intercom
Highlights of Verona
On my first afternoon on a revisit to Verona, Italy, May 11-14, 2011, I met a woman from Sydney in my hotel. She had never been to Italy before, and we decided to spend the following day together.
Seeing more in Turkey
My wife, Carol, and I took the 15-day “Legendary Turkey” tour with Odysseys Unlimited (Newton, MA; 888/370-6765), May 29-June 13, 2012. The cost, including round-trip air from San Francisco, was $4,592 per person.
Did not find expected amenities on Easter Island
I was planning a trip to Easter Island (Rapa Nui) on my own and did some research on various websites.
Meal in Bolzano
During my third visit to Bolzano, Italy, May 5-9, 2012, I discovered an organic (in Italy, “bio”) trattoria called Aretè (Piazza Parrocchia 22; phone 0471 05 45 44).
Purchasing Paris public transit tickets
In Paris, the RATP (bus/Métro/tram) and RER (commuter rail) continue to make improvements in the ease of purchasing tickets and passes and in recharging passes, as my wife, Roberta, and I found during a visit, Feb. 25-March 4, 2013.
‘Gem’ in Siem Reap
About three miles outside of Siem Reap is a gem of a hotel: the Angkor Spirit Palace Hotel (Phneachey Village, Svay Dangkom Commune, Siem Reap, Cambodia; phone [855] 17 908 007).
Kyrgyzstan visas
Travel in countries ending with the letters “stan” has always been challenging, particularly navigating the visa requirements. Kudos to Kyrgyzstan, which in 2012, I just learned, became the first “Stan” country to waive visa requirements for citizens of core nations, including the US.
Labrang Monastery, China
I was going to be in Beijing in June ’11 with some time to spare. What to do?
On canceled tours
I was fascinated by the subscriber’s letter titled “South America for the Birds” (Jan. ’13, pg. 22), in which he recounted his tour “Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad” with Adventures Abroad.
Driver, port to Beijing airport
Getting from the port at Tianjin, China, where the cruise ships dock, to the airport in Beijing several hours away can be quite a challenge. The port, itself, is 45 minutes from Tianjin.
Private guide in Latvia
My husband, David, and I wanted to see more of Latvia than just its capital. About six months before our June 27-July 1, 2012, visit, we contacted the guide Ieva Sala (email ieva-sala@inbox.lv) through Tours-by-Locals (Vancouver, BC, Canada; 866/844-6783).
Winter Olympics tickets
The item titled “2014 Sochi Olympics” (April ’13, pg. 69) stated that individual tickets for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, were sold out but might be available later. On April 5, I bought confirmed tickets for seven days during the Games.
Apartment in Budapest
My wife and I rented an apartment from Budapest Vacation Rentals (phone, in the US, John Farago at 917/913-0815 or, in Budapest, +36 20 945 1679) for the week of Sept. 8-15, 2012.
Cartagena visit
Following a 9-day Panama stay, my wife, Faythe, and I flew to Cartagena, Colombia, for two weeks of exploration around the area, June 25-July 9, 2012. At the airport, we exchanged money at an ATM in the departure lounge before getting a taxi to our hotel.
Ethiopia’s ‘wonderful’ mix
My wife, Jane, and I arranged a private tour in Ethiopia for 18 days, Dec. 16, 2012-Jan. 2, 2013, with Yama Ethiopia Tours (Haile G/sellasse Ave., Haile Building 5th floor, No. 507, P.O. Box 14973, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; phone +251 116 628710).
Tango time in Buenos Aires
While passing through Buenos Aires, I went to an expensive tango show performed in the dance style they use for competitions and professional entertainment.
Pleased with Tauck, United
I was booked to go to Cuba with Tauck (800/788-7885) at the beginning of November ’12, but Hurricane Sandy closed Newark Liberty Airport. Tauck allowed me to cancel and applied all the money I had paid them to my next trip with them.
Nagasaki guide
My wife and I were on a cruise that stopped in Nagasaki, Japan, in May ’11.