Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

October 2009 issue

Enjoyed Costa Europa

I’m writing in response to the subscriber’s letter titled “Cruising ‘Italian Style’ on Costa Europa” (July ’09, pg. 31), which listed multiple complaints. My friend and I, both Americans, were also on the Jan. 17-31, 2009, sailing of that ship, in the Indian Ocean, for which the base price was $3,340 plus a fuel supplement of $252. (I purchased my own air.)

We and four other Americans dining with us daily did not share the above-mentioned subscriber’s opinion. We did not spend time dissecting the ship or the dinner service. In fact, one of the women developed a friendly relationship...

December 2009 issue

On flight arrangements

Adding to readers’ comments about making flight arrangements for tours (Dec. ’08, pg. 41 & June ’09, pg. 41), my wife and I usually make our flight arrangements independently from the cruise or tour company we are traveling with. We do this because of the following:

• We like to arrive at least one day early and sometimes stay a day or two after the end of the cruise or tour, something that often is not allowed by the company unless you purchase an optional extension or an expensive hotel package.

• Flight itineraries bought through companies are designed for the benefit...

November 2011 issue

Treats in Bologna

Bologna was famous for its many towers, but of the nearly 200 that were built only 21 remain. Le Due Torri (The Two Towers) are the city’s most striking landmarks, and the shorter one, like the Tower of Pisa, is decidedly leaning. You can climb 500 narrow wooden steps up to the top (320 feet) of one of Le Due for a spectacular view of Bologna.

August 2011 issue

Medical Needs Overseas: Blood-thinning medication

A subscriber mentioned the complications of taking the blood thinner Coumadin (aka warfarin), used by many of us traveling seniors with atrial fibrillation (May ’11, pg. 44). The patient’s blood has to be checked for INR (clotting) every month or more, and if the INR value is outside the range prescribed for the patient, his or her dosage is changed and the INR is retested after a few days or a week.

Even with my doctor’s prescription, getting these tests has been a significant hurdle during extended travel. Getting an INR test in Ushuaia on the southern tip of Argentina, for...

June 2009 issue

Guatemala easily

I have traveled on my own to Mexico and Central America two to three times a year for 19 years, doing all my own planning, but on a December trip to Guatemala I wanted to take it easy and let someone else worry about the arrangements while I focused on my photography.

I chose Caravan Tours, Inc. (Chicago, IL; 800/227-2826, www.caravan.com), whose 11-day/10-night “Guatemala, Tikal & Copán” tour starts at $995, land only. With taxes and single supplement, I paid about $1,500.

The tour price included all meals, hotels, guides, private buses with great drivers and a black...

July 2011 issue

Holds back when haggling

I feel it is necessary to add my thoughts to the subscriber’s letter “Hints for Haggling” (May ’11, pg. 15).

We took the trip “Amazon & Inca Adventure” with GAP Adventures (Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 888/800-4100) in June ’10. At the start of the tour, our group leader, Andreas, went over many things, including bargaining. He made some points which I think everyone who travels, especially to Latin America, should consider.

Selling their crafts or other goods is the livelihood and sole source of income for many of the people you are buying from; they are clearly not...

April 2011 issue

Peru by Fertur

When my nephew, Jim, and I traveled to Peru in July ’10, I followed the advice I’d read in ITN (Aug. ’09. pg. 24) and purchased a new pair of glasses in Lima. At Optica Santa Lucia (Calle Schell 365, Miraflores), I paid $220 for bifocals with Italian frames. I took a prescription with me, ordered the glasses and picked them up the next day.

En route to get the glasses, we happened to see the office of Fertur Travel (Calle Schell 485, Miraflores, Lima; phone [+51 1] 242 1900 or 445 1760 or, in US, 877/247-0055) and decided to have them set up our tour.

We were well pleased...

May 2011 issue

Charged through France

I traveled in France, Sept. 15-Oct. 10, 2010, and visited Paris, Lyon, Dijon and several small towns and villages in Burgundy. I used my American-issued Visa credit card, American Express card and Visa debit card without any problems at all in ATM machines and at merchants’, restaurants and hotels.

There were only two minor problems. My American cards did not work in the automated ticket machines in the Paris Métro or in the automated ticket machines at the railroad stations. However, at the rail stations I was able to use my credit cards in the ticket office.

SUSAN JERRICK...