I traveled to Romania with Original World (131 Camino Alto, Ste. E-3, Mill Valley, CA 94941; 888/367-6147, www.originalworld.com), May 21-June 1, 2007. The land price was $1,490 plus $250 single supplement.
The price included all breakfasts and some lunches and dinners. Each lunch not included ran me about $4 and dinner with a shared bottle of wine, $12. Romania is relatively inexpensive. Food generally was good to excellent.
Of all the airlines you’ve flown between the U.S. and a foreign country in the last three years, which airline’s flight(s) did you most appreciate? That’s what we asked readers to write about, using the following parameters.
Compare only the airlines’ flights on which you traveled in the same class of service. Rate only the in-flight experience. Do not consider ground personnel or processes, the on-time record, delays due to mechanical problems, etc. Name the airline(s) and where (cities) and when you flew.
Hotel Gonzalez (Calle Manriquez, 3, Córdoba, 14003 SPAIN; phone 957 97 9819, e-mail hotelgonzalez@wanadoo.es) is within walking distance of Córdoba’s many historic sites and good restaurants. It is located near the Mezquita in a building where Julio Romero de Torres, Córdoba’s famous artist, once lived.
The hotel was a good value at €78 ($115) for a double with bath including breakfast and tax. The staff spoke English and were helpful.
My wife, Connie, and I visited ITALY and SWITZERLAND in late September and early October ’07 and would like to share recommendations of three hotels.
I’ve stayed four times in a wonderful flat in London owned by Ted and Francoise Phillips (6 Tite St., London SW3 4HX, ENGLAND; phone 011 44 7376 7646 or e-mail wonderfulchelsea@aol.com).
The owners are very nice and helpful in many ways.
The flat has everything one would wish for: twin-bedded room, marble bath, washer/dryer, stove, fridge, microwave, broadband Internet access and more. My most recent stay was in September ’07. A single cost £65 ($130) per night.
I had a lovely lunch in Assisi in May ’07 at Trattoria Pallotta (Vicolo della Volta Pinta, 06081 Assisi [PG], Italy; phone 075-812649, fax 812307, www.pallottaassisi.it).
Originally from Germany, I became involved in the tourism industry many years ago, working in a tour company as a group tour coordinator, tour manager and sales representative. I now have my own tour company. Since I am still traveling worldwide, I enjoy reading the comments, opinions and recommendations submitted by subscribers to ITN. At times, however, I am a little surprised at the attitudes of American travelers who travel to Europe or other foreign countries.
In Rome, Italy, Ristorante del Pallaro (Largo del Pallaro 15; phone 06-68801488) is located between Campo de’ Fiori and Largo Argentine, but to find this traditional Roman restaurant I had to ask a lot of folks on the street, “Dové Largo Pallaro?” I finally, along with 20 college students, found Signora Paola Fázi’s dining room.
Less than an hour’s train ride from Kyoto, Nara’s huge wooded park’s complex of shrines and temples offers much to visitors. Unfortunately, its popularity means that the park can be crowded and chaotic. A quiet, relaxing lunch at Noh provides a welcome respite from the hordes of tourists and visiting school groups.
Ethiopia and its people are poor. There is malnourishment and there is begging, though it’s not as bad as in India.