Travelers' Intercom

November 2014 issue

Accessing currency overseas
By Lorenz Rychner

In the letter “Instead of Heathrow” (Sept. ’14, pg. 14), a subscriber wrote, regarding flying into northwestern England, “And if you choose to get local currency at the airport upon your arrival, be aware that Travelex, the currency-exchange bank, has a monopoly on cash machines in Manchester Airport and offers an outrageous exchange rate.”

Two things to note —

1) Travelex (www.travelex.com) is not a bank. It’s a currency-exchange company.

2) Regular cash machines, not operated by Travelex, are found in all three terminals, on both sides of the security-control points...

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October 2014 issue

Netherlands’ Day of Liberation
By Emily Moore

Every year in May, Holland celebrates two special days: Day of Remembrance on May 4 and Day of Liberation on May 5.

My husband, Al, and I were in Holland on both of those days in 2005. On the Day of Remembrance, we saw how they decorated military cemeteries with flowers and observed two minutes of silence at 8 p.m. (This was observed throughout Holland, even at traffic stops.)

On the next day, Holland celebrates the end of World War II. At the war memorials and other places, we saw many engraved messages, including, “We are eternally grateful to the Americans and British for...

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September 2008 issue

CPAP machines and British Air

 

I use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. There’s no oxygen tank; it’s just a machine. On flights, I’ve always taken aboard a carry-on, my purse and the CPAP. However, often I’ve put the CPAP in my checked baggage simply to avoid having security have to confirm that it is what it is. I don’t need it on the plane or when sitting up anyway, only when lying down.

FAA rules state that medical devices can be carried in addition to the normal carry-on items, and, indeed, airlines have always exempted my CPAP as a piece of carry-on luggage. However...

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November 2014 issue

Madagascar with Far Fung Places
By Frederick Dintzis

Because of our interest in travel, nature and other cultures, my wife, Annie, and I visited Madagascar, traveling May 22-June 6, 2013, on a tour with Far Fung Places (San Francisco, CA; 415/386-8306, www.farfungplaces.com). 

As elderly travelers (81 and 72 years old), we went with a company we knew to be reliable, enjoyable and safety conscious. We had traveled with Far Fung Places in 1999 to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia and in 2000 to Bhutan.

Our tour cost was $7,828 per person, double occupancy, which included flights on South African Airways between Johannesburg, South...

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January 2015 issue

No tripods at Machu Picchu
By Alan R. Lichtenstein

My wife and I visited Machu Picchu, Peru, in May 2014. We had read on different online forums and were advised by more than one tour company that a special permit was required for lenses over 200mm long.* 

When we arrived at Machu Picchu, however, no one was enforcing that rule. I was carrying a 300mm lens, yet none of our equipment was inspected, nor were we asked for a permit.

To those who’d like to limit themselves to just one lens on a trip like this, I’d recommend NOT taking a 75mm-300mm lens. Instead, I would recommend a zoom lens that goes down to 14mm-18mm.

...

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October 2014 issue

Six days in Siem Reap
By Anne Stoll

My husband, George, and I made a 3-week visit to Southeast Asia, including a 6-day side trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia, Jan. 21-26, 2014. Our goal was to really see and photograph Angkor Wat and its environs.

I lucked out and found a wonderful tour company online: ABOUTAsia Travel (ABOUTAsia House, Charming City, Charles de Gaulle Ave., Siem Reap, Cambodia; phone +855 63 760 190, www.aboutasiatravel.com). 

Their travel advisor Tola answered all emailed questions quickly and expertly. Given many choices, we picked the mid-range trip. For the two of us, we paid $2,166 by...

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September 2015 issue

Heading to Cuba by cruise ship
By Tony Leisner

A local newspaper mentioned a cruise ship that travels between Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Cuba, making five landings in Cuba.

I went on the website, www.yourcubacruise.com, in April and booked a cruise with ease through Cuba Cruise (phone the Toronto, Ontario, office at 855/364-4999), selecting one of the few balcony suites for CAD1,414 per person, double occupancy, which worked out to $2,318 for both my wife and me. Shore excursions and booze are not included, but onboard meals and services are. Air miles covered our airfare to Jamaica.

Our 7-day cruise will depart Jan. 15,...

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June 2015 issue

Barclaycard Arrival Plus
By Evans M. Harrell

The list of available sources of chip-and-PIN cards in the editor’s note following the letter “Tips on Exchanging Currency” (Feb. ’15, pg. 14) was a welcome sight. 

I have a Barclaycard Arrival Plus (877/523-0478 [and press “0”], www.barclaycardus.com), which is a chip-and-PIN-and-signature card. To enable the PIN when outside the US, you need only to sign the first charge, and thereafter the PIN kicks in. (This card has some of the best and most flexible rewards available, plus you can sign up to use Apple Pay.)

The reports in the financial services industry are that many...

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