Travelers' Intercom
Your preferred ATM card?
My companion and I are looking around to find an ATM card that we can use abroad without incurring exorbitant foreign-transaction fees. We welcome our fellow ITN readers’ advice and expertise on this matter. Help! — JOELLYN ROSS, Philadelphia, PA
Dumped in Dublin
I enjoyed reading of the variety of ways air travelers get all their liquids and gels into a one-quart bag (May ’11, pg. 40 & June ’11, pg. 42).
Seeks low-price barge cruise
My wife and I have traveled to almost all the countries in the world. We usually stay in hostels for $10 to $20 a night. In fact, if a Hilton or Sheraton were offered to us at that same rate, we would prefer to stay in a hostel, 15 persons to a room.
Traveling in Egypt during a revolution
At the end of January 2011, my daughter, LeAnn, 22, and I finalized our plans to visit Egypt. Our trip was not meant to be a traditional vacation but one arranged as we went along our way, using local guides and taking public transportation.
Switzerland for scenery
No matter when I take a trip, I always seem to travel one week too late. Upon arriving at a B&B or hotel, the host asks, “And how are you enjoying your visit to (wherever)?” When I answer, “Fine, but I wish it weren’t raining so hard,” the response is, “You should have been here last week. It was beautiful.”
Despite unanticipated walking, enjoyed tour
My wife and I took the eight-day tour “Munich, Salzburg & Vienna” with Globus (Littleton, CO; 866/755-8581), Sept. 4-11, 2011. The land price was $1,549 per person.
Bolzano delights
Once a year, I travel to my favorite country: Italy. During my 2011 trip, I visited Bolzano, May 15-18.
More on Tottori, Japan
I have a bit more information regarding a couple of the places mentioned in the article on Tottori Prefecture in Japan (Nov. ’11, pg. 6). I visited the area Nov. 1-7, 2011.
Covered in the hinterlands?
The article “Will I Have a Medical Emergency Overseas?,” back in the August 2011 “Eye on Travel Insurance” column, discussed the likelihood of travelers needing treatment plus the types of coverage one might want.
Emirates flight failings
I am writing in regard to Emirates flight EK225 on May 31, 2011, from Dubai to San Francisco, on which I was a passenger in economy class.
Perahera in Kandy
We traveled to Sri Lanka primarily to see the Kandy Nawah Maha Perahera, the Pageant of Kandy, an absolutely exciting procession honoring the relic of the tooth of Buddha. This festival is held for about 10 days, with the last day falling on the first full moon in August (for 2012, July 23-Aug. 2).
Panama and Kuna Yala
I took the 11-day land tour of Panama, “From the Pacific to the Caribbean,” in March ’11 with Explore! Worldwide (based in the UK, with an office in Oakland, CA; 800/715-1746). It was a good experience. The land cost was $1,670 plus a single supplement of $505.
Tresses dressed in Lucerne
Over the past 33 years I have used many beauty salons all over Europe, and I have nearly always found that European hairdressers do a very poor job when compared with most American hairdressers.
Be aware in Argentina
On Nov. 30, 2011, while visiting the beautiful “Paris of South America,” as Buenos Aires is justly called, members of our tour group went exploring on their own.
ATM fees ‘shocker’
My companion, Abram, and I traveled to Paris the last week in October ’11 and used our Capital One Visa card and our Wells Fargo Visa debit card. We made about 15 purchases with the Capital One card and used the Wells Fargo card four times to withdraw euros from ATMs.
Narrow boat, auto, barge in UK
Narrow boating is the ultimate do-it-yourself activity. You not only run the boat, cook and housekeep but operate the locks and raise the bridges on the canal or river.
GPS enabled driving in Japan and Russia
For independent travelers who drive, Japan and Russia would seem to offer some obstacles, but I would dismiss these, as there are great benefits to driving in both countries. The independence factor is what applied in our experience.
Parish holidays in UK
For many years throughout the British Isles, the “parish holidays” program was a fund raiser for Anglican churches. For many American visitors, it offered a joyful way to participate in local life and customs at a very reasonable cost. Since 2005, my husband, Lou, and I have enjoyed three parish holidays.
Driver in Bali
During three wonderful weeks that my wife and I spent in Bali in September-October ’11, our vacation was made easy and enjoyable thanks, in large part, to our driver, Billy Dewa (e-mail billybaliman0908@yahoo.com), whose services we used on six occasions.