Travelers' Intercom
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
Heavenly hammam in Paris
One of the largest mosques in Europe is the Grand Mosquée in Paris (39, rue Saint-Hilaire; phone 01 43 31 38 20). It’s on the southeast corner of rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and rue Daubenton, across from the Jardin des Plantes.
Delicious duck in Paris
In Paris, La Rôtisserie du Beaujolais (19 quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris, France; phone 01 43 54 17 47), open daily till 10:15, is the “younger sibling” of the world-famous La Tour d’Argent across the street.
Tour’s cruise itinerary switched
My husband, Neal, and I booked a trip with Elderhostel that was to begin in Berlin. Following a few days of touring there, the group would be bused to Potsdam, then board the Peter Deilmann Cruises ship Katharina von Bora for a cruise through Saxony to Prague.
Peru by Fertur
When my nephew, Jim, and I traveled to Peru in July ’10, I followed the advice I’d read in ITN (Aug. ’09. pg. 24) and purchased a new pair of glasses in Lima.
Booking a ‘mileage ticket’
I have read many times that “mileage tickets” are supposed to be the most difficult to get. However, I have been able to book tickets using frequent-flyer miles, for both business and economy class, several times. The way I did it was to book as far in advance as I could and to be flexible with my travel dates.
Credit card double whammy
On at least two occasions in Europe, when I used a MasterCard to buy souvenirs in a town busy with American tourists, the charge slip that I was given to sign for the purchase of an item priced in euros had language at the bottom stating that the purchaser agreed to have the charge made in US dollars instead, with the
Recommended in Brussels
My husband and I visited Brussels, April 26-May 2, 2010, and stayed at La Résidence Les Ecrins (Rue du Rouleau 15, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique; phone +32 2 219 3657, fax 2 223 5740, e-mail les.ecrins@skynet.be).
Galloping good time in Chile
I’m not a horseback rider, but my daughters are, so while traveling around the world for a year, on occasion we had to appease their desire to be on the back of a horse. By the time we got to Chile in April ’09 we were due, and both girls let us know loud and clear.
Day room luxury in Fiji
Travelers using Nadi International Airport in Fiji often face several empty hours before the next stage of their journey. I’ve used a number of the airport hotels there in the past; all were adequate though nothing special.
Travel, then and now
While planning a trip to the south of Italy recently, I thought about all the ways that my traveling differs today from back in the “old days.”
Book cottages directly
It had been a few years since my husband and I (now 70) booked a cottage in England, so what we discovered when planning our fall 2011 trip to the Cotswolds was a big disappointment: some of our favorite websites that we’ve used in the past are now using a booking agent, such as Cott
In Frankfurt’s Old Town
My wife, Arlene, and I went to Frankfurt, Germany, for the Christmas markets and were surprised to find a paucity of hotels in Old Town.
Pickpockets in BA
Waiting for our cruise-tour aboard the Norwegian Sun to begin with Vantage Deluxe World Travel (Boston, MA), we spent three days in Buenos Aires in late March ’10. Luckily, on one of our city tours the local Vantage guide filled us in on a tourist scam.
Sinsheim Technik Museum
The Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim, Germany, about 30 miles south of Heidelberg, is easy to find. My husband and I visited it twice in the last few years.