Travelers' Intercom
Mérida, Mexico, hotels
My wife, Kathryn, and I stayed in two wonderful hotels in Mérida, Mexico, in June ’10.
Guide in Nicaragua
My wife and I were assigned Juan B. Padilla (mobile phone [505] 86641048 or e-mail juansinmiedo44@hotmail.com) as our guide on four days of our visit to Nicaragua, Dec. 27, 2010-Jan. 3, 2011.
Cut ’em off at the pass
My husband, Tom, and I are in our eighties and, while it’s true that people drive fast in Italy, we had no problems driving there in September 2010. My husband is 86 and did most of the driving in Italy, though I did some.
Using plastic in France
I stayed 3½ weeks in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, in June ’10 with my children and grandchildren, ages 13 to 50, mostly visiting the smaller towns in Provence.
Ein prosit! at Oktoberfest
My wife and son and I attended the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, with BayernTrips (Ironwood, MI; 888/686-4240), which we found on the Internet. BayernTrips owners Scott and Vonia led our 12-day “Connoisseur’s Trip,” Sept. 11-22, 2010.
License requested
Rick Steves states that he has never been asked for an International Driving Permit (Jan. ’11, pg. 67). My wife, Judy, and I have traveled to Europe a modest 10 times and never had one before our trip in September ’10, but I was so glad I had it that time.
Hints for haggling
Bartering may be viewed as an unpleasant chore, but the exchange offers the opportunity to connect with local people. I have experience at bargaining in India, South America and numerous Southeast Asian countries, but traditions differ in other parts of the world.
Paris Métro tickets
On a visit to Paris, Sept. 21-29, 2010, several times my wife and I had problems getting Métro tickets at the smaller stations that had only one agent, who seemed only to supply information and did not dispense tickets anymore.
Carried a Travelex card
For an upcoming trip to Portugal, my travel partner and I (we leave our husbands at home) went to the Travelex office at Broadway and 47th Street in New York City on Dec. 6, 2010. I got a Cash Passport prepaid debit card on which I placed €1,000 at a cost of $1,530.69 (cash).
Focuses on ships’ informality, food
My cruises are portions of longer trips, up to two months in duration, and because this octogenarian doesn’t want to struggle with luggage or porters, he travels light — an old nylon garment bag with big zippered pockets slung on one shoulder and a carry-on nylon shoulder bag on the other.
India with Worldview Tours
I love India. I visited again at 83, traveling with my 60-year-old son on the 16-day “Ancient Heritage of South India” tour, March 6-23, 2010, with Worldview Tours (Newport Beach, CA; 800/373-0388). It was offered with no single supplement, making it affordable for us.
Touring tips from a world cruise
My husband, Bob, and I took the trip of a lifetime around the world, November 2010-January 2011, by combining two Oceania Cruises voyages. Here are a few helpful hints for others who’d like to circumnavigate the globe.
No chip-and-PIN needed
We read the letters about using American credit cards (not the chip-and-PIN type) in Europe (May ’10, pg. 36) and were a bit concerned about it before our trip to Germany and Switzerland in September ’10; we have a MasterCard and a Visa card.
‘Casual pub’ in Brussels
Among all the cafés, restaurants and other more elegant and expensive “refreshment stops” in the cosmopolitan city of Brussels, it’s not easy to find a casual pub, but Au Brasseur (rue des Chapeliers 9, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; phone 02 512 6868) is something special.
Game of Kenya
Our first game drive in the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya was very exciting!
Antigua café
While in Antigua, Guatemala, in November ’10, my travel partner, Eilieen, and I had a delightful lunch at Café Condesa (Central Park, 5a Avenida Norte, Numero 4, La Antigua; phone/fax [502] 7832 0338 or e-mail lastrescondesas@hotmail.com), which was recommended by another ITN subscriber (
Croatia and Slovenia Experiences
Articles my husband, R.C., and I read in ITN helped us plan our fall ’09 trip to Croatia and Slovenia. We went to Plitvice National Park because every article we’d read about Croatia mentioned this destination. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen another place quite like it.
Oceania’s Regatta
I took a 12-day Caribbean cruise, “Sun-Splashed Holiday,” on the Regatta of Oceania Cruises (Miami, FL; 800/531-5619), Dec. 22, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011.
Treasures of Travel in Turkey
After taking the 22-day “Eastern Turkey and the Black Sea” tour from Treasures of Travel (Edmonds, WA; 800/572-0526), we’re convinced that the region has it all: dramatic scenery, antiquities, archaeological sites dating back to perhaps 9,000 BC reflecting the various empires