Hotels and Lodging

I knew I would fly into London a day ahead of my Holland America Line “Arctic Explorer” cruise, departing July 25, 2011, from Tilbury, England, but I was puzzled as to whether to stay in London or near the port, itself. Luckily, a British client of mine felt I would prefer to stay in London, so he did some checking for me.

He told me to stay in a hotel near the Tower of London from which I could easily reach Tilbury Town Station by a British Rail train that left Fenchurch Street Station (on the Shoeburyness line).

I read the subscriber’s report “High & Low Points of Chile/Argentina Tour” (March ’12, pg. 25), about his January ‘11 tour with Grand Circle Travel. My husband and I took the same 3-week itinerary with Grand Circle, Feb. 7-March 3, 2012 (though we also went to Peru and Brazil on pre- and post-tours). We stayed at the same hotels as he and did the same activities and LOVED everything about the trip.

I traveled through China’s Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, where minority peoples live in the countryside, on a 17-day trip, Oct. 9-29, 2011. These sections are interesting because some of the people still adhere to the older customs and style of dress.

At any of four luxury hotels in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, book three nights or more (including Dec. 21, 2012) and get the room for free on the night the Mayan calendar ends. If the world ends, the hotel will repay you double your money.

Rates run $350 per night, double, for a one-bed, one-bath condo to $1,130 for 3-bed/3-bath with views. Contact Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen (866/479-2738). Festivities, Mayan ceremonies, tours and performances are planned.

REPORT ON NETHERLANDS…

The boutique hotel Jake’s (Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica; phone 876/965-3000, fax 965-0552), on Jamaica’s south coast, offers a “farm dinner” once a month. Served on a white-linen-set table surrounded by lanterns in the middle of a working field, it begins at sunset and features organic dishes prepared at local farms.

For a trip to India, my partner, Peter, and I wanted more freedom and time in places that intrigued us than a tour would offer, but, although we were healthy 75-year-olds, we also wanted a support system. We found it with Mrs. Hemlata at IATA-accredited Govan Travels (New Delhi, India; phone 011 91 11 23312674 or 23312627). Mrs. Hemlata and I e-mailed for a few months.

I went with a surgical team to a hospital outside of Bangalore, India, in August ’11. Beforehand, two of us decided we also wanted to see Jaipur and Agra and then fly from Delhi back to the US, so I went on the Internet and ended up contacting Prudent Holidays (Suite 115, Ansals Majestic Tower, G-Block, Vikaspuri, New Delhi, 110018, India; phone +91 011 41586840, fax +91 11 41586740) to work out a plan.