Travelers' Intercom
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?
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
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.
‘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.
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
Avoiding MSG overseas
I am very sensitive to MSG. I also am diabetic and need protein. When I first went to China, in the 1990s, I took those little packages of peanut butter crackers with me. Other than that, I ate lots of boiled rice.