Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

February 2008 issue

Market in Naha

Busy Kokusaidori (Kokusai Street) in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, has many open-faced stores, bright gaudy colors and scads of neon signs. The enormous city market is situated off the main street and is something like an endless maze. On our visit we were tempted to drop bread crumbs like Hansel and Gretel in order to find our way back to the start.

Your choices are many, from souvenirs to fabric to wigs (I was surprised to find one displayed on an old mannequin with wrinkles and bags under the eyes — a welcome advertising realism we aren’t accustomed to in the U.S.).

If you find...

August 2008 issue

Discovering Roots in Poland

For our trip to Poland and Romania in August ’07, Orbis Polish Travel Bureau, Inc. (347 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10016-5020; 800/867-6526, www.orbistravel.com) had assigned to my wife, Margi, and me a guide and driver in each of the cities we visited. This made sightseeing easier and more flexible.

The cost of the Poland portion of our trip (nine nights) was $4,807 for two, including breakfast, hotels, private car, driver and guide, rail travel and entry fees. Other meals cost extra.

Our explorations in Poland were assisted by the driver and Orbis guide Margaret and by...

January 2008 issue

Keep in mind when on tour

Originally from Germany, I became involved in the tourism industry many years ago, working in a tour company as a group tour coordinator, tour manager and sales representative. I now have my own tour company. Since I am still traveling worldwide, I enjoy reading the comments, opinions and recommendations submitted by subscribers to ITN. At times, however, I am a little surprised at the attitudes of American travelers who travel to Europe or other foreign countries.

• I think the first law of traveling abroad is flexibility. For example, it does not matter how well organized and...

March 2007 issue

RMS St. Helena

I have individually thanked the readers who answered my request in the November ’06 ITN for information on the RMS St. Helena, a “mail packet” which sails from London to South Africa via the island of St. Helena, and now for all ITN readers I offer the address of the current booking agent for the ship.

It’s Andrew Weir Shipping, Ltd. (Dexter House, 2 Royal Mint Court, London, EC3N 4XX, U.K.; phone +44 [0] 20 7575 6000, fax 7481 4784 or visit www.aws.co.uk).

LESLIE R. STEVENS

Raleigh, NC

July 2008 issue

Chile’s Rose City

Puerto Varas, or the City of Roses, in Chile, is just that, with rosebushes lining the streets, both in the median as well as along the curb. The setting with Osorno Volcano in the background is breathtaking.

On a March trip to the Lake District of Chile, our tours included a half day in and around Puerto Montt and a half day to visit Frutillar, a small, German-style village, also on Lake Llanquihue.

One day was spent going up Osorno, where there is a ski resort and spectacular views. We were really impressed by all the beautiful flowers and trees everywhere. To see fuchsias...

December 2007 issue

Special Copenhagen tour

While in Copenhagen, Aug. 2, 2007, we noticed in the throwaway monthly guide called What’s Going On a small mention of a walking tour entitled “Jews in Copenhagen.” We called the number and arranged to meet the guide, Gitta Bechshoft (phone [+45] 40 81 12 17 or visit www.copenhagen-walkingtours.dk), in 30 minutes.

Gitta is fluent in English, Hebrew and Danish. She lived for six years in Berkeley, California, and for a number of years in Israel. She is a certified guide but not a travel agent. She gives many tours, and the one we got — an introduction to the history of Jews in...

November 2008 issue

Southern Africa Top 10

Here are 10 highlights from a 3-week excursion through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, the Kalahari Desert and Victoria Falls, Zambia, with Great Adventure People (225 Franklin St., 26th Fl., Boston, MA 02110; 800/676-4941, www.gapadventures.com). The land price for our Jan. 30-Feb. 19, 2007, tour was $1,695 plus $400 local payment.

1. South Africa’s fascinating Cederberg Mountains, near the Namibian border, with their unique sandstone formations.

2. The Namib Desert of Namibia, arguably the oldest desert on Earth. The spectacular, apricot-colored Sossusvlei sand dunes,...

April 2007 issue

Kraków

Kraków, Poland, is a small city. The Old Town — encompassing the town square, the old city walls, the opera house, museums and churches — is less than a square kilometer. The castle, called the Wawel, is a kilometer from the town square. Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter, is a 15-minute walk beyond the castle.

Old Town’s town square has a lovely market square built in the Middle Ages. In its center is the Cloth Hall, a long, Renaissance-period building which today houses crafts and souvenir stands on the ground floor and a museum on the second level. During a visit my husband,...