Travelers' Intercom
Charged foreign-transaction fee
The letter “Foreign-transaction Fee” (May ’10, pg. 14) really struck a nerve with us. In early April we were on a cruise from Miami to Barcelona with Oceania Cruises, and while on board we decided to place a deposit for a 2011 cruise.
Obtaining a visa for India
My wife, Eve, and I booked a trip to India and a pretrip visit to Sri Lanka with Overseas Adventure Travel, or OAT (Cambridge, MA; 800/493-6824), for February-March ’10. After an amount of ordinary procrastination, in early December we applied for our India visas.
Thai food in India
In Delhi, India, I recommend the splendid Spice Route Restaurant in the Imperial Hotel (Janpath, New Delhi 110001, India; phone +91 11 2334 1234). The venue itself is like visiting an art gallery.
Won’t leave without me
The letter titled “Private Shore Tours” (April ’10, pg. 14) was written by a traveler with a preference for taking independently arranged excursions as opposed to ones purchased from a cruise ship.
Western Front tour
When planning a trip for October ’09, my wife, Marilyn, and I decided to include a tour of the World War I battle sites in northern Belgium and France. This would be a special tour for my wife, whose uncle’s name is inscribed on the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge, the site of a significant battle.
Notes from visit to China
I joined a group of 34 well-traveled people on May 14, 2009, for an 18-day trip to China with smarTours (New York, NY; 800/337-7773, www.smartours.com). It included a Yangtze river cruise and time in Hong Kong.
Swiss trains — DIY planning
I’m often asked to assist with travel plans in Switzerland because I grew up there, know the three languages and have been there at least once a year since 1981. Gene McPherson’s wonderful trip report, “Bicycling Switzerland and No. Italy” (March ’10, p. 32), brings to mind some points that I’d like to share.
Felt like royalty in France
I’ve learned a valuable lesson: don’t neglect the small ads in ITN.
Vilaró in Uruguay
In the article on Uruguay in the April ’10 issue, the author wrote, “… in planning my trip, I found useful Internet information in English to be elusive, and finding a US-based company with Uruguay-only offerings proved impossible.”
Connecting-flight check-in worries
I purchased two round-trip tickets from CheapAir.com on Oct. 10, 2009, for travel from Los Angeles to Pisa via New York and Rome on April 27, 2010. These were Alitalia/Delta code-share tickets.
Londolozi Pioneer Camp in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve
On our final night at Londolozi Pioneer Camp in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve during a private trip, the manager told my wife they had prepared a small surprise for her. In our room, we discovered a candle-surrounded tub filled with bubble bath, with a chilled bottle of champagne nearby.
Car from Jucy Rentals in NZ
We waited until we arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, to book our rental car in February ’10 and we’re so glad we did.
Suggests Swagatam for India
For independent travel in India, I highly recommend Swagatam Tours Pvt. Ltd. (www.swagatam.com), which is based in New Delhi and has offices in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.
The Mt. Blanc trail
Walking in the shadow of Mt. Blanc is a powerful experience. Intense effort is rewarded by spectacular scenery. Words cannot do it justice. How do you describe heaven?
Staying at hostels
In 1996 I asked Swedish friends to recommend a hotel in the central part of Sweden. They told me they NEVER stay in hotels; they always stay in vandrarhem (hostels).
The Paris lifestyle
My husband, Dick, and I stayed in an apartment in Paris on rue de Lévis in the 17th Arrondissement in June ’09 — a fantastic experience. No tourists there but us!
Rare tour to Wake Island
For those not in the US military, it has been virtually impossible to visit Wake Island, “the Alamo of the Pacific.” After several failed attempts, I had almost given up.
Slovenian family tree
The discovery of a handwritten family tree led me to the “old country” of Yugoslavia, now Slovenia, from which my great grandfather, Martin Jakljevic, emigrated in the late 1880s.
Bilbao vs. Madrid
For four exhilarating days, Dec. 11-14, 2009, I “basqued” in the élan of bodacious Bilbao. It was my fifth visit to that blossoming metropolis. Also a fifth visit, I stayed in Madrid, Jan. 4-11, 2010. While, I think, Madrid is getting by on its past, Bilbao has eagerly embarked on the future.