Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

May 2008 issue

Trans-Siberian sensations

What can you see through the woods but for the trees? On my May ’07 Trans-Siberian Railroad trip I saw plenty.

I saw the different shades and hues of the forest trees, the pristine crispness of the trees and tundra, and the majestic snowcapped mountains in the far background.

I saw the enormity of it all, the huge expanse and vastness, the isolation and remoteness. I saw the loneliness and solitude it offered. The raw beauty of its nature, its ruggedness, and its calmness.

I saw its streams and lakes — and was totally taken in. The awe-inspiring landscape that I wish I...

September 2007 issue

Most/Least Helpful National Tourist Ofﬁces

Most helpful — Switzerland Tourism (608 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10020; 877/794-8037 or 212/757-5944) and the website www.myswitzerland.com.

I was interested in visiting a hospital in Interlaken and sent an e-mail to info.usa@myswitzerland.com. They informed me of the following website, which was exactly what I needed: www.spitalinterlaken.ch.

Most helpful — Austrian National Tourist Ofﬁce (Box 1142, New York, NY 10108; 212/9446880) and the website www.austriatourism.at/us.

I needed information on the city of Seefeld in Tirol and they mailed me complete information. The...

June 2007 issue

Attempts at Air India miles credit

My wife, Betty, and I flew Air India from Los Angeles to New Delhi on Jan. 25, 2006, and returned on Feb. 15, 2006. Wanting to apply to their frequent-flyer program so we could get credit for air-miles with Air India and/or their partners, I asked on the plane for an application. They said they didn’t have any but usually do and to ask at their check-in desk when we stopped in Frankfurt, Germany. I did and was told, “Ask on the plane to New Delhi.” Again, they said they had none (though they usually do) and to ask at check-in in New Delhi, which I did. I was told to apply for one on the...

November 2007 issue

Leading the eye

I learned from a professional photographer, who is also a Kodak retiree, that the color of clothing can be very important when traveling if you expect to be in your pictures. Bright, solid colors photograph well, like a red umbrella on a rainy day.

White will stand out and dominate your picture, distracting the eye from your intended focal point, so in taking pictures try to avoid people with white shirts.

RUTH K. PETERSON

Flint, MI

October 2008 issue

A case for undies

My husband, David, and I thought we were pretty savvy travelers. On an August ’07 trip (Aug. ’08, pg. 52), we packed a few things in each other’s bags, double-checked the destination tags the airlines put on our checked bags, locked the bags with our TSA locks and had our 3-1-1 baggies present and accounted for, but we still ended up in hot water when our bags did the Charles de Gaulle shuffle and failed to arrive in St. Petersburg, Russia. Our entire concept of carry-on bags changed in mere minutes.

We had quit taking large carry-ons when they got a little too heavy to lift easily...

April 2008 issue

Creditor arrangement

In the letter titled “Bills Paid Before Travel” (Feb. ’08, pg. 64), R. Casey Hasey outlines his methods for being “carefree for a long trip” by arranging for every bill possible to be paid by credit card.

Long ago I put all my bills on AFT (Automatic Fund Transfer), with the exception of auto insurance, which I pay once per year by MasterCard. Month after month, the only check I write is to the bank holding the card.

When I travel, I estimate how much I will spend by MasterCard and send a check in advance for a sum substantially in excess of that. They post this as a credit...

September 2008 issue

Antarctica & Chile with Smithsonian

We took a magnificent 14-day tour of Antarctica and the Chilean fjords with Smithsonian Journeys (Box 23182, Washington, D.C. 20077-0843; 877/338-8687, www.smithsonianjourneys.org), Jan. 9-23, 2008.

The cost for two was $19,078 including airfare from New York’s JFK to Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, Argentina. We bought trip insurance, at $1,700 for the two of us, primarily because of JFK in January and having only one chance to meet the boat in Argentina.

All meals (and gourmet they were) were included. The wine was great.

There was no tipping aboard ship or on any other...

June 2007 issue

Denmark museum

The National Museum of Denmark (Frederiksholms Kanal 12, Copenhagen; phone [+45] 3313 4411 or visit www.nationalmuseet.dk. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-5. Admission free) is one of the largest archaeological museums we have ever visited anywhere. Be prepared to wear comfortable shoes and put your coats in the free lockers provided.

Even though we spent five hours there, we did not see everything; we did view exhibits covering the period from 1300 B.C. to A.D. 1800.

The collection is not limited to Denmark. There were artifacts from early peoples in North America, Asia, New Zealand...