Travelers' Intercom
Tour guides in India
My wife, Marilyn, and I took a customized 3-week trip to India arranged by Swagatam Tours (New Delhi, India; www.swagatam.com) in February 2019.
NZeTA app
After seeing the new requirements for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority pass (NZeTA), I decided to just get it over with and apply for one, since I’m going there next year.
Arranging travel around home exchanges
After our 3-week home exchange in Nimes, France, in June 2019, Joan Anderson, my companion of many years, and I were reminiscing about how we got into this wonderful way of traveling.
Narrowing Google searches
In his January 2020 “Boarding Pass” column, ITN’s editor described how a subscriber’s Google search had led him to unofficial websites where he would have spent more money than necessary for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority pass, or ETA (pgs.
Watch credit card statements
About to join a cruise-tour in Greece, on Oct. 1, 2019, I had lunch at a taverna on Adrianou Street in the Monastiraki area of Athens. The restaurant was in a row of similar tavernas located nearly opposite the entrance to the Ancient Agora.
Europe cruise and city stay, solo
A month before my 83rd birthday, I left for a 3-week solo trip in Europe. It began with a 2-week river cruise out of Budapest (Aug. 8-22, 2019) and ended with a week’s stay in Amsterdam, the terminus of the cruise.
Obtaining an India e-Visa
My wife and I took a tour of India in November-December 2019, and I thought I would share what I learned about obtaining a tourist visa.
Super-senior’s travel adaptations
The article “Travel Tips for the Less Able,” by Paula Prindle (Jan. ’20, pg. 40), was good. I will be 80 this year. I’m blind in one eye, my hearing isn’t perfect, and my knees now balk at stairs. But I still love to travel, even though I’ve lost my travel buddies!
‘Wonderful’ guide in Nicaragua
My husband and I were able to access Granada, Nicaragua, for a lovely excursion during a “Portraits of Panama” canal cruise with Oceania Cruises. On the Sirena, the cruise started in Miami and ended in Los Angeles (but did not have an actual stop in Panama), and our excursion was on Nov.
Visit to North Sumatra
My mother and I booked a trip to Bangkok, Thailand, that included a 5-day hotel stay, after which we intended to take a couple of weeks to fly around visiting “new” countries.
Restricted websites in China
Prior to embarking on a 7-country cruise in late October 2019, my wife, Patti, and I spent four days in China, and while in Shanghai, Patti discovered that she was blocked from accessing her Gmail account.
Georgia hotel’s mountain view
On a wonderful group tour that my wife, Sandy, and I took through the South Caucasus mountains with MIR Corp. (Seattle, WA; 800/424-7289, www.mircorp.com), Sept. 16-30, 2019, the hotels were superior.
Disinfecting where possible
Among the readers’ letters on the subject “Staying Healthy Abroad” (Dec. ’19, pg. 36), none mentioned disinfecting airplane seat areas as the first step to staying healthy while traveling.
Guide in Kolkata
My wife, Susan, and I had a 22-hour overnight layover in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, in April 2019. Through the former Viator Private Tours website,* we found Deepjyoti (Deep) Biswas (www.deepjyotibiswas.com), the best guide we have ever had in the world.
Volunteer guides in Japan
I am so grateful for all the information I receive by reading International Travel News and would like to share something with my fellow readers.