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November 2007 issue

Limits to enforcing nonsmoking on board

ITN was mailed a copy of a letter sent by a reader to Oceanwide Expeditions, as follows.

My husband, Gene, and I were on Oceanwide Expeditions’ voyage to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula aboard M/V Aleksey Maryshev, Jan. 28-Feb. 15, 2007.

The expedition leader, Rolf Stange, and the guides and lecturers John Harrison and Rupert Krapp were well organized, fit and prepared for anything — and good company as well. Alan Hogan worked hard as hotel manager.

We knew that the ship is not a cruise ship, and we were grateful for its ability to...

March 2008 issue

Doctor on Board

Carry physician ID

In answer to the questions from the doctor not allowed to treat another passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight because he was not carrying his physician ID (Dec. ’07, pg. 45), I think the staff did what was right.

I cannot understand why a physician would have his identification in his checked luggage, of all places. He should know better.

I’m a mental health counselor and I have a copy of my license on my person or in my carry-on at all times, as checked luggage can get lost or the documents stolen.

DONNA McDONELL

Spokane, WA

October 2008 issue

Hiring a day guide

My husband, Steve, and I have had very good luck with hiring our own private guides when disembarking from a cruise ship, rather than paying the exorbitant prices for the line’s shore excursions.

What we do is ask around the area as we disembark; there are always local tour guides wanting business. We find one who speaks English and has a decent car, decide on a price for the day and off we go. We tell the guide we don’t want to go to the touristy places or the government-run stores for shopping.

In Mumbai, India, in February ’07, “Sonny” was a third-generation taxi driver...

April 2008 issue

Siberia surprises

We knew Russia was big, but we didn’t realize how big until we traveled from Vladivostok to Moscow, westbound on the Trans-Siberian Express, May 29-June 11, 2006 — seven time-zone changes over 9,288 kilometers (5,771 miles).

We made our arrangements through MIR Corporation (Seattle, WA; 800/424-7289, www.mircorp.com), the U.S. agent for GW Travel, Ltd. (Altrincham, UK).

Among things that surprised us was the poor condition of the track in places, especially considering the amount of traffic on it.

There are several large, modern cities across Siberia with wide...

May 2008 issue

Village Museum, Bucharest

In the March ’08 issue, page 59, a reader wrote that he was disappointed with the outdoor Village Museum in Bucharest, Romania. We were in Bucharest in September ’07 and found the Village Museum to be wonderful. It is located on the banks of a pretty little lake, with native trees, shrubs and flowers all around. Houses and other outbuildings from all over Romania were dismantled, taken there and reassembled. Most are from the 1800s.

We were lucky to be there while they were working on a house. It was very interesting to see them put it back together. Some of the houses had thatch...

September 2008 issue

Affordable rooms in Greece

While I enjoyed the article “A Modern Greek Odyssey” by Henry Lee (July ’08, pg. 6) and found his travel experiences and tips interesting, I am concerned about an impression on the cost of hotel rooms that may have been created.

Mr. Lee did say, “we prefer higher-end rooms in which to unwind and be comfortable,” but some may be left with the impression that rooms are expensive in Greece. Au contraire! As recently as June of this year, on the Greek Islands I found spotlessly clean rooms each with private bathroom, small refrigerator and balcony facing the sea for €30 to €50 (near $47...

June 2007 issue

British Air bag fee

British Air and luggage

(Regarding April ’07, pg. 21), the baggage allowance for economy-class passengers on flights commencing in the U.S. for worldwide destinations is TWO bags, and British Airways is no exception to this rule. This ruling came into effect at the instigation of the U.S. government in the 1970s, and individual airlines are not in a position to opt out.

If the ticket is written USA/U.K./points in Europe/U.K./USA, all legs of travel are covered by the 2-bag rule (provided the travel is written and “fared” on the same ticket).

If separate tickets are...

January 2007 issue

Switched companies after lapse in contact

In September ’05, my traveling companion, Lynn Drake, and I, contacted PNG Holidays and arranged to take an 11-day “Goroka Festival” tour in Papua New Guinea a year later, Sept. 11-21, 2006. Including three internal flights in PNG, the cost was to have been $3,100 for each of us.

In late November ’05 we sent PNG Holidays $1,200 each as a deposit to secure flights and lodging. Soon after, we were notified that the monies were received. In late February we wanted confirmation of our hotel in Goroka and e-mailed PNG Holidays. A staffer asked us to send our itinerary, and then the...