Travelers' Intercom
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.
Fly-fishing in Scotland
I arranged for two days of trout fishing in Scotland with Franz Grimley of Scottish Fishing Guides (phone 011 [44] 1324 626 433) in September ’10. He’s a gold medalist in a number of European fishing competitions.
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.
India arrangements
My wife, Lynda, and I took a wonderful, 14-day independent tour of the state of Rajasthan, India, plus the cities of Delhi, Agra and Varanasi beginning in late February 2010.
Finding Josephine
Having been many times to Paris, my wife and I have done all the must-see attractions. During a week’s visit, Sept. 21-29, 2010, we were determined to go to Château de Malmaison, the Empress Josephine’s country house, just outside of the city.
Hidden repellent
My wife and I, along with our daughter and son-in-law, stayed three nights in Kerala, India, at the Coconut Lagoon (Box 2, Kumarakom, Kottayam 686563, India; phone +91 481 252 5034), Dec. 21-23, 2010.
Vienna and Salzburg dining
While in Austria in September ’10, my wife, Judy, and I dined at three restaurants that we can recommend.
Thief in Rio
Rio and all Brazilian ports have problems with street crime. My friend Mary and I were in Rio, March 22-24, 2010, and while walking on the sidewalk close to Copacabana beach, Mary’s gold chain was ripped from her neck by a thief on a bicycle.
Cottages in Bali
While on “Oprah” in August, Julia Roberts said that Bali is “Heaven on Earth.” My husband, Carl, and I traveled to Bali in February-March 2010 and would agree with her!
Tivoli’s Villa d’Este
On our way to a week in Umbria in September ’09, my husband, two friends and I debated descriptions of the various villas along the tourist trail and decided on a visit to the Villa d’Este (Piazza Trento, 5) in Tivoli, ground central for villas.