I took an 18-day tour with smarTours (501 Fifth Ave., Ste. 1402, New York, NY 10017; 800/337-7773 or visit www.smartours.net), May 14-30, ’05, in which we spent 10 days in Malaysian Borneo, two days in Kuala Lumpur and three days on the island of Penang. The other days were spent flying. Our group consisted of 28 people, ranging in age from 22 to 86, with the average being the late 50s.
As avid travelers, we have been to over 100 countries. We love to cruise, and there is one thing we have a hard time finding good information about: how to get from the airport to the cruise port in an economical manner.
by Beth Habian, Features Editor
In October ’04 my wife and I had a sensational journey through Indochina. We booked our tour through All Asia Travel Company (57-59 Do Quang Dau St., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; tel. 848-9203493, fax 848-9203446, e-mail allasia@hcm.fptvn or visit www.allasiatravel.com).
In reply to my complaint about not having a wheelchair waiting when I got off the plane, printed in the August ’05 issue, page 14, Continental Airlines sent me a 2-page letter that said essentially that the treatment I received was not according to procedure and next time I should ask to speak to a CRO (Complaint Resolution Official).
KIT STEWART
Sequim, WA
My wife and I took a trip to India (the “15-Day Romantic Rajasthan Passage”) and Bhutan (4-day extension) with Pacific Delight World Tours, March 12-April 1, ’05. Pacific Delight partnered with Creative Travel of India to handle the Indian component. Creative Travel in turn partnered with Etho Metho Tours & Treks of Bhutan to handle the Bhutan component.
In sum, we’d give Pacific Delight a grade of B+*, Creative Travel an A- and Etho Metho a D-. Following are the details.
From a May-June ’05 trip to Europe, here are two caveats.
1. Beware of the short flight connection.
On a flight from Newark, New Jersey, to England on Virgin Airlines in late April ’05, we had an opportunity to try out the new upper-class suites.
by Deanna Palic
CRUISE NEWS
Knowing that lawmakers are considering allowing cell phones to be used on planes, in the July ’05 issue (page 122) Rich Harvey of Athens, Ohio, asked if anyone else was opposed to the idea. Several readers replied, as follows.