Travelers' Intercom
US line’s overseas bank fee
Reading Patricia Russell’s letter about a foreign-transaction fee (May ’10, pg. 14; also see July ’10, pg. 11) triggered my writing about my experience.
Holland by barge and bike
Combine picturesque Dutch cities, luxuriant waterlands, acres of bulb farms and the famed Keukenhof garden in full splendor with a witty guide, skilled barge pilot, master chef and 16 compatible travelers and you have yourself a fine vacation.
Perils of booking day tours in advance
Although I ordinarily travel independently and avoid tours, for a visit to Iguazú Falls with a friend in March ’10 I requested quotes from the travel agencies listed in the Lonely Planet guide.
B&B in Warsaw
At Boutique Bed & Breakfast (Ulica Smolna 14 m. 7, 00-375 Warsaw, POLAND; phone +48 22 829 48 00, fax +48 507 022 339, www.bbwarsaw.com), the owner was a quite pleasant and knowledgeable conversationalist and ate with my husband, Eugene, and me on several occasions, along with the other guests.
Charging toward business class
In planning for a trip to China and Nepal in October ’11 to celebrate my 50th birthday, I went online to www.airlinequality.com/main/forum.htm to determine which airline to use.
Japan with Journeys East
My husband, Albert, and I highly recommend touring Japan with Journeys East (Middletown, CA; 800/527-2612, www.journeyseast.com). We’ve taken their in-depth “Farmhouse to Teahouse” tour twice, in October ’04 and ’09, and the second time around it was, if possible, even better.
Opals in Australia
In the letter from Nanci Scheithauer titled “Opals vs. Triplets” (Aug. ’10, pg. 25), regarding her dissatisfaction with a purchase of opals in Australia, it appears there was a problem of language.
Hotel Fita in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, Hotel Fita (Jan Luykenstraat 37 1071 CL Amsterdam, Holland; phone [020] 679 09 76, www.hotelfita.com) may be the best value in Europe!
Travel in Norway
My wife and I spent three weeks in the Oslo area with our daughter’s family in May ’10. We stayed at their home in Skui, but our experiences and observations may be of interest to others traveling to Norway.
Friedrichshafen flat
My husband and our three adult children and I rented an apartment in Friedrichshafen, Germany, home of the Zeppelin Museum, in June ’10. Friedrichshafen is on the shore of Lake Constance, and we took the ferry there from Romanshorn, Switzerland.
A rewarding chance encounter
The man stood by the doorway of his house, a large working windmill whose arms rotated sluggishly in the light breeze. A gnome of a man, he waved, beckoning to us as we drove past on a quiet back road near Peniche, Portugal, located on the coast not far from Lisbon.
Drawing from India
My son and I went on the 19-day “Heart of India” tour with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/493-6824, www.oattravel.com), Oct. 27-Nov. 14, 2009. For me, India was not primarily about the castles, ruins, museums, shrines, etc.; it was the atmosphere.
Senior-paced travel
Now 63 and 70, as my husband and I age we are leaning more and more toward traveling independently. We find that we need the luxury of going at our own pace and according to our own interests. Not having to deal with the temptations of big breakfasts and dinners on tours is also a plus.
When you have more time in Paris
I always use Rick Steves’ wonderful guidebooks for the basic, nitty-gritty information about traveling in Europe. However, he assumes that you will have only a week in Paris and tailors his recommendations accordingly. For those of you privileged to spend more time there, I have some ideas of things to see and do.
Hurtigruten recap
I read with interest Fred Steinberg’s article about cruises along Norway’s coast with Hurtigruten (June ’10, pg. 18) and would like to add a few comments. My wife and I traveled on the line’s ship Midnatsol from Kirkenes to Bergen in June 1994 and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
Guide in Paris
Prior to taking a river cruise in France in April ’10 (July ’10, pg. 14), my husband and I spent some time in Paris to see more of that city.
Wrinkle-free
When packing, roll clothes, when appropriate, especially to fit them between ribs of the suitcase handle. Put rarely used items on the bottom and those often used on top. Use flat folds for other items.
Munich hotel
My first thought when I arrived in the busy, two-story, glass-topped Munich train station was ‘Wow!’ It has so many interesting places to eat and drink or to buy food to take away plus flowers, postcards and the usual souvenirs.