Travelers' Intercom
‘Wonderful’ Iran
I was very pleased to read Marvin Primack’s letter “Misconceptions of Iran” (March ’13, pg. 26). How lovely to read of someone else’s pleasant experiences in that wonderful country.
Not delighted with Turkey tour
A friend and I booked the 15-day tour “Turkish Delight,” April 21-May 5, 2012, with Pacha Tours and got a great price, $1,490 per person, not including airfare. I asked the Pacha agent to book my airfare.
Asian airports’ good impression
My wife, Lois, and I traveled in Asia for five weeks, June 24-July 27, 2012. Organizing 35,000 miles of travel on 15 flights was a challenge met by our travel agent, Dorothy Pogge of Lawrence Travel Leaders (785/842-4000), and all flights went smoothly, with acceptable delays.
Hiking Offa’s Dyke Path in the UK
It was my friend Claire’s idea. From her home in Australia, she planned the details of our June 12-30, 2012, hiking vacation along Offa’s Dyke Path for us and four of our friends.
Villedieu-les-Poêles
After stays in Colmar and Paris in September ’12, our traveling companions Paul and Mary Ellen Quigley and my husband, Klaus, and I made Bayeux our base for exploring Normandy.
Iran ‘interesting’
I agree with the letter written by Marvin Primack (March ’13, pg. 26) concerning misconceptions about Iran. I visited there with MIR Corporation (Seattle, WA; 800/424-7289) at the end of 2011.
India through Indebo
My husband, David, and I took a wonderful 16-day trip to India planned and coordinated for us by Indebo. We worked through their US agent, Carole Herdegen (888/546-3421, carole@indebo.com), and Poora in their main New Delhi office.
France’s Château de Chambord
With 440 rooms, France’s Château de Chambord is one of the Loire Valley’s most impressive châteaux. JACK & YVONNE PREVO
Feeding elephants in Myanmar
In the course of making plans with an in-country guide for a tour of Myanmar about four months later, my husband and I signed up for a day program at Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp (17 [5A], Kyaung St., Ahlone Township, Yangon, Myanmar; phone +95 9 73107278 or 4923284 or 517068
Darjeeling stay
During a March-April ’12 India trip, my husband, Clyde, and I arrived in Darjeeling late in the afternoon to check into the Dekeling Hotel* (51 Gandhi Rd., Darjeeling 734101, West Bengal, India; phone 91 354 2254159, fax 2253298 — room rates, INR1,400-INR3,300 [near $25.50-$60] per
Dancing Bear in St. Petersburg
My husband and I and another couple booked a cruise with Silversea Cruises that included three days in St. Petersburg, Russia, July 18-20, 2012.
Art in Haiti
My most recent visits to Haiti were made during Royal Caribbean International cruises in 2010 and 2011, but my son and I first traveled there in 1985.
Amsterdam recommendations
In Amsterdam, 12 of us girlfriends stayed at Hotel Fita (Jan Luykenstraat 37, 1071 CL Amsterdam, Netherlands; phone +31 [0] 20 679 09 76, fax 664 39 69), Dec. 28-31, 2012.
A stay in Paris
My husband, Herb, and I rented a fantastic apartment in Paris, Le Buci (rue Buci, 6th Arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Prés), May 29-June 7, 2012, from AdrianLeeds.com. It’s on the Left Bank, and at €235 (near $306) a night it was well worth the price.
The story behind the scenes
There has been much discussion of tour-group travel versus independent travel in ITN, as there should be.
‘Magic of Nicaragua’
My husband, Jim, and I visited Nicaragua to experience the beauty of the land, lakes, volcanoes, art and history. Our 12-day custom trip, Jan.
Indian elephant festival
The majestic elephant wields a special significance in India, having transported royalty over the centuries, entertained princes, led fabled charges by Rajput warriors and paraded in gold and velvet at religious celebrations.
Mixed review for hotel in Phnom Penh
While visiting our son in Phnom Penh, my husband, Bill, and I stayed near the airport at the Cambodian Country Club & Hotel (Street 2004, Group 6 Toeuk Thla, Russey Keao district, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; phone 023 885 591 or 592 — club membership is not necessary to sta