Hotels and Lodging

We traveled by train and Norwegian coastal steamer throughout Northern Europe in August ’05. Here are some of our “finds.”

My wife, Dona, and I traveled to Brazil, Jan. 10-22, ’06, to search for the pink dolphins that inhabit the Rio Negro where it joins the Amazon near Manaus, Brazil. Yes, there really are pink dolphins! We saw two that were solid pink (about the color of bubble gum) and several that had pink underbellies and light-gray backs.

A few can be seen at the Ariaú Amazon Towers, a resort built in the rainforest on stilts to accommodate the changing river level. There are four miles of elevated walkways between the buildings.

For our 8-week Australia-New Zealand trip, we booked most of our lodging before leaving because we did not want to have to arrive at a destination and hunt for a hotel. Incidentally, every hotel and several B&Bs we stayed in provided a washer and dryer. Knowing this can cut down on packing considerably. We each had a backpack and a small carry-on bag and had more than enough room for everything — and we even took dress clothes for a ballet at the Sydney Opera House, which we booked through the website www.whats-on-in-sydney.com.au.

by Deanna Palić

by Margaret and Roger Kinkle, Oro Valley, AZ

For 10 days in early October ’05 we visited friends in south-central Serbia & Montenegro, touring three historic sites in Serbia: Niš in south-central Serbia; Felix Romuliana at Gamzigrad near Zaječar in eastern Serbia, and Staro Selo (Old Village), south of Užice in western Serbia.

I had a great trip to England along with four friends, July 23-Aug. 6, ’05. It was arranged through Midway Motor Travel (Southerwicks, Corsham, Wiltshire, England, SN13 9NH; phone from U.S. 800/214-8738 or e-mail admin@midwaymotortravel.com), and our driver/guide was Anton Prole.

At opposite ends of the spectrum of hotel operation, here are experiences we had in South America in December ’05.

A letter in ITN (April ’03, pg. 70) prompted me to make reservations with Claudine Hemelryk to stay five nights at B&B Olleros 3000*.

Claudine and her husband, Juan, welcomed us at their well-appointed B&B, where we paid $60 per night total for both a double and a single room in February ’05. The rooms were very quiet, clean and comfortable. The breakfast, included in the price, was delightful in taste and presentation. If we decide to return to Buenos Aires, we’ll immediately e-mail Claudine to stay at Olleros 3000 again.

Planning a trip to MOROCCO in the near future? Consider staying at one of the premier riads, or small hotels, in 14th-century Fez, near the Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate), the stunning main entrance of the medina. I stayed at the Dar Al Andalous (14, Derb Bennani, Douh, Quartier Batha, Fès Médina, Maroc; phone 212 [0] 55 74 07 00, fax 74 07 12 or visit www.daralandalous.com) in October ’05 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Our group of 10 enjoyed three restful nights at Momijiso (Momijidani koennai Miyajima-cho, Saeki-gun, Hiroshima-ken, JAPAN; phone 81-0829-44-0077, fax 81-0829-44-0076, or visit http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/miyajima/momijiso.htm), a small, family-run ryokan (Japanese inn) on Miyajima, a lovely island off the coast of Hiroshima. The ryokan is located in Momijidani Park above the town and just below the cable car station.