Travelers' Intercom
New deck plan results in less congeniality
My husband, Mark, and I took a Holland America Line (HAL) cruise on the Rotterdam from San Diego, California, to Callao, Peru, and back, Oct. 23-Nov. 22, 2010. We paid about $7,500 for the two of us.
The Aristella in Zermatt
Starting in Geneva, our small group of six took a train to Visp, then rode the Glacier Express for an hour through breathtaking Alpine valleys to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn.
Alluring Alicante
I was delighted to read Martha Wiley’s article “Spending the Day in Alicante” (Sept. ’11, pg. 18). Alicante is a lovely city. One of its attractions is its moderate climate — never too hot or too cold.
Far West Ski Association trips + Romania guide
My partner, Carolyn, and I took a three-week trip to Switzerland, Bulgaria and Romania, Feb. 26-March 19, 2011, with Far West Ski Association (310/319-3757). This trip, like others organized by the FWSA about March every year, was part skiing and part touring.
Key to navigation
We’ve all been in a new city and obtained a map showing locations of various sites. On a trip my wife, Anne, and I made to Seville, Spain, in April-May ’11, we made sure to get a map, then note that on its table of hotels, ours was number 61.
Passport prerequisites
Sure, we know that US passports are good for 10 full years. Well, almost! In some cases, it’s 9½ years.
Douro River with Uniworld
My friend Sue and I, both in our eighties, are always looking for a destination to which neither of us has been.
Treats in Bologna
During my 2011 trip to northern Italy, I stayed in Bologna the nights of May 6-7 at Nuovo Hotel del Porto (Via del Porto 6 [Piazza Maggiore], 40122 Bologna, Italy; phone +39 051 247926).
Turfantastik for Turkey
I am so grateful to ITN subscriber Nancy Anderson (Feb. ’07, pg. 67), who told of her excellent experiences with Mehmet Ozbalci, owner of Turfantastik (Millet cad. Inan Is Hani No.
Thai Customs rule change delayed delivery
I stay part of the year in Bangkok, Thailand, where I have an apartment. In fall 2010, for the first time, I used a luggage-forwarding service called Luggage Free to send over some of my possessions. It was just household bric-a-brac (clothing, books, DVDs, etc.).
North Island B&B, New Zealand
Less than an hour’s drive west of the Auckland airport on New Zealand’s North Island is Bush Sand & Sea B&B (26 Te Aute Ridge, Bethells Beach, Waitakere City, Auckland, N.Z.; phone 0064 9 810 9584).
Ethiopia’s enigmatic stelae at Tiya
It was my privilege to visit Tiya as part of a trip to Ethiopia with Spiekermann Travel Service (Eastpointe, MI; 800/645-3233) in January ’11. Tiya is regarded as the most important of the 160 archaeological sites in the Soddo region south of Addis Ababa.
Visiting Kulusuk
A feature article in the May ’11 issue made mention of Kulusuk, Greenland. I spent nine days there in August ’09 as the village celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding.
Alsatian B&B
In the Alsatian wine region of France, we were fortunate to stay at Clos des Raisins (5, rue des Raisins, 68980, Beblenheim, France; phone 0033 03 89 79 45 11) in late April 2011.
Made Ethiopia easier
“There’s no denying it: traveling in Ethiopia is not easy.” So says my Lonely Planet “Guide to Ethiopia and Eritrea” in the chapter “Getting Started.”
Busan, Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk
Holland America Line’s 2011 repositioning cruise of MS Volendam from Singapore to Vancouver, BC, took 35 days, departing Singapore on April 14 and arriving in Vancouver on May 18.
India with Rothschild Safaris
In February ’11, eight people, including our guide, met for dinner at the majestic Taj Mahal hotel in the heart of Delhi.
Improving any medical treatment overseas
I read the subscriber’s advice regarding carrying medical records while traveling (Sept. ’11, pg. 35).
Midway and the tsunami
As a tour operator, I was on Midway Atoll in March ’11 escorting a group of 15. Part of the Hawaiian Archipelago, the atoll is an unincorporated US territory, but everyone needs a valid passport to visit, even US citizens.
The Namib Desert
The Namib Desert, arguably the oldest desert on Earth, contains an enormous reserve of red-gold sand dunes, some of which (at Sossusvlei) reach 1,000 feet in height, among the world’s highest.