Travelers' Intercom
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?
Red tape in Eritrea
During a private tour, we visited Eritrea, Feb. 5-14, 2010. Sana’a was fabulous. I’ve been to 111 countries, and the Old City is one of the most intriguing places I have been. However, we feel ITN readers should be made aware of the deteriorating tourism situation in Eritrea.
DenRus in St. Petersburg
In St. Petersburg, I highly recommend the independent-tour-guide company DenRus (Ligovsky Pr. 73 Office 608-610, St. Petersburg 191040, Russia; phone +7 [812] 572 4511 or, from the US, 561/459-5534).
What Makes Madrid “Madrid”?
In a writing “contest,” ITN posed the question “What makes Madrid “Madrid”? The window for submissions is closed, and in the last two issues we printed a few of the entries. Here are a few more. Other cities will be the subjects of future essay contests, with more prizes.
Comfort on TAM
My friend Mike and I took a trip to Brazil, Oct. 29-Nov. 16, 2009. It was our first experience with TAM Airlines (in the US, phone 888/235-9826).
Cinque Terre hotel
Saltwater scents from the Ligurian Sea mixed with aromas of homemade focaccia from the nearby bakery, Forno di Monterosso, as my wife, Cindy, and I arrived at La Spiaggia Hotel (Via Lungomare 98, Monterosso al Mare; phone 0187-817-567), five
Populous China
CLARIFICATION — A reader questioned the statement in the letter “China with Viking River Cruises (March ’10, pg. 29) that Chongqing is almost double the size of Shanghai and Beijing.
Found anchorages inconvenient
I went on the 15-day “Romantic Rhine” cruise aboard the Viking Sun, Nov. 7-21, 2009, with Viking River Cruises. With a discount offered by Pennsylvania Travel Service, my cost was $3,520, land only.
Mobility-impaired cruiser
I had a mild case of polio as a child and had no problems with mobility for many years. However, in my late 40s or early 50s I started having weakness, first in my left leg and later in my right.
Standby versus confirmed
I work for an airline and might be able to offer an insider’s perspective on the whole “standby vs. confirmed” debate (March ’10, pg. 72).
Lalibela bargain
If you are going to Lalibela — and it would be a pity to go to Ethiopia and not go to Lalibela — try to get a room at the Mountain View Hotel (c/o Lalibela post office, Lalibela, Ethiopia; phone +251 333 360 804 or mobile +251 911 983 396).
Thomas Cook timetables
Okay, so you have read the Rick Steves guidebook and the Rough Guide to wherever it is you want to go in Europe. You have decided to see the wildflowers in one village and a museum in another and to go wine tasting someplace else, but you have no idea how to get to them all.
Luggage lashing
My husband and I did a tour to Mali, Jan. 3-18, 2010. We used Air France because it was nonstop San Francisco-Paris and nonstop Paris-Bamako, Mali — as easy as it gets for such a long distance.
Recommended in London
My friend Billie Rivers and I spent two nights in Greenwich at One Six Two (162 Westcombe Hill, Greenwich, London, SE3 7DH, U.K.; phone +44 [208] 4655444, e-mail
Geared up for the Galápagos
I thought ITN readers would be interested in my assessment of clothing and equipment used on my April ’09 trip to the Galápagos with GAP Adventures (Toronto, Ont.; 800/708-7761). Some items were old faithfuls and some were purchased for this trip.
Foreign-transaction fee
I want to alert ITN readers to beware of new foreign-transaction fees that may have been imposed by their credit card companies.