Calling All Readers

Jean Sargent of Bainbridge Island, Washington, asked ITN readers for their advice on staying healthy during trips, writing, “What are the best sources for travel health advice? Do you recommend using a travel health service and, if so, how do you choose a good one? What health issues have arisen on trips that you wished you’d been aware of so you could have asked advice from your doctor before leaving home?”

Here are some of the tips that our readers shared.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo set out to vaccinate more than 800,000 children in September in order to curtail what the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling this year’s largest measles outbreak. During the current outbreak, more than 3,500 people have died of measles complications, more than have died of ebola in the country this year.

Two ITN readers wondered if traveling without being tech-savvy was still possible (Feb. ‘19, pg. 54), so we asked subscribers who travel without a smartphone or laptop computer to answer these questions: What tech problems or hurdles have you faced recently when traveling or even when making travel arrangements, and what solutions did you find? If you manage to get to wherever you want or to book arrangements without using any of the new personal electronics, what is it that you do to succeed?

Solo traveler Edna R.S. Alvarez of Los Angeles, California, described showing up ahead of time at the assigned-seating dining room on an ocean cruise, requesting to be seated at a table with other travelers and being disappointed to end up by herself at a corner table.

Solo traveler Edna R.S. Alvarez of Los Angeles, California, described showing up ahead of time at the assigned-seating dining room on an ocean cruise, requesting to be seated at a table with other travelers and being disappointed to end up by herself at a corner table.

Carol Anderson asked, "Are there any cards that do trip-cancellation coverage better" (than that provided by the United MileagePlus Explorer Visa card from Chase)? Yes, I know of one that's better, but it's very pricey: the United MileagePlus Club Visa card from Chase.*

At $450 a year, this card has a hefty annual fee, but among its many perks is a one-year membership to all the United Club airport lounges, which was important for my husband and me when the lounges at Newark Liberty International Airport were being renovated and not allowing anyone but members in. ...