Hotels and Lodging

by Jennifer Petoff, Blue Bell, PA

We asked you each to name, in English, the 25 core words and phrases that are the most helpful or important to know how to say in the local language before arriving at a new travel destination (outside of North America and the Caribbean). We also wanted you to share any special foreign words or phrases that are important or helpful to know in a particular country, explaining how to pronounce them.

In the January ’06 issue, page 50, Cecilia Morrissey shared extensive advice on arranging flights around the world. Here she offers advice on other things to consider when planning months-long travels.

GETTING TASKS DONE AT HOME WHILE AWAY — What about the mail and paying monthly household bills while you’re away? You can 1) find some victim to take care of this for you, 2) do most of the arranging before you leave or 3) do a combination of both.

My husband, Foster, and I returned on May 6, ’06, from a 5-night trip with Globotours’ (18725 East Gale Ave., Ste. 209, City of Industry, CA 91748; 800/988-4833 or www.globotours.com) to Singapore and Cambodia (for Angkor Wat), with a 3-­day extension to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We also added one extra night in Singapore, bringing the total hotel nights to nine.

by Judith Anshin, Contributing Editor

I realized last year that I am becoming limited in what I can physically do, so I took a Mediterranean cruise primarily to places I had already been, just to see if cruising was easier. I carry a cane chair ($30-$34 from www.sportseat.com) and avoid all stairs and exertion. For any mobility-impaired travelers, I thought I would share what I learned.

From Auckland, NEW ZEALAND, April 30, ’06. . .

My husband, Joe, and I were incredibly happy that we chose Buenos Aires (B.A.), Argentina, as our vacation destination this year. Aside from the U.S. dollar’s being strong there, one of the main reasons we decided to go was because we read W.E.B. Griffin’s “Honor Bound” series, “Honor Bound” and “Blood and Honor” among them, which addresses B.A. during WWII. It is very descriptive of the city and the estancias, also mentioning the Alvear Palace Hotel, and it sounded like an exciting and fascinating place. We were not disappointed.

(Also see the March and January articles)

Friends and I stayed three nights at the Gasthof Fraundorfer (Ludwigstrasse 24, D-82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GERMANY; phone 011 49 8821 92 70, fax 8821 92 799 or visit www.gasthof-fraundorfer.de).