Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

April 2006 issue

Sense of direction

I read with great interest the various letters regarding driving internationally (August and September ’05 issues). I have had similar experiences in my travels in 70-plus countries. There is one bit of advice I would like to add. It has saved me on numerous occasions.

Take along a good, dash-mounted compass and use temporary double-faced tape to mount it on the dashboard of your rental car. You will be thrilled at the many times it will keep your tempers cool and your directions accurate. Good driving!

DON DUFEK Maineville, OH

June 2006 issue

Tango in BA

I just finished reading Raymond Kisch’s letter regarding Buenos Aires tango shows (April ’06, pg. 16) and deeply regret that he did not go to La Ventana (Balcarce 431, San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina; tel. [5411] 4334-1314, 4334-1315, 433-0217 or 433-8689 or visit www.la-ventana.com.ar), where we saw a fabulous tango show in January ’06.

We were en route to Ushuaia, Argentina, to board Orient Lines’ Marco Polo to Antarctica and were fortunate enough to spend three days and two nights in Buenos Aires. This was my second trip to B.A. and to the same tango show which I originally...

September 2006 issue

Feedback on Helsinki

My wife, Rose, and I stayed three nights in Helsinki in June ’06 and discovered two excellent places to eat. Both were quite near the central train station and square.

For lunch, we ate at a small buffet restaurant called Meze Point, at Wikonkatu 8. It was not an American-type, all-you-can-eat place. Rather, we got one “pass” at the food, which consisted essentially of a nice salad, three or four excellent entrées and wonderful bread.

Eating was inside or, as we chose, at tables outside in the sun where we could watch folks pass by. With a generous glass of beer and a plate...

November 2006 issue

Hotelink to Gatwick Airport

Hotelink, Ltd. (Southways Park, Lowfield Heath, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9TQ, U.K.; phone [01293] 552251, fax 531131, e-mail tmale@hotelink.co.uk or visit www.hotelink.co.uk), serves all London hotels. In May ’06 we paid £23 (about $45) per person for the transfer service, arranging it through our hotel. They told us to be ready at 10:30 a.m. At 10:45 a 12-passenger Mercedes van pulled up to the hotel door. The driver took our bags and put them in the rear of the van. He then picked up passengers at two hotels nearby.

Our next stop was the Victoria train station. We pulled into a...

June 2006 issue

Guide in Na Trang

During a cruise in November ’05, the ship stopped in Na Trang, Vietnam. As is our custom, rather than sign up for the ship’s structured land tours, my husband and I usually hire a driver and tell him to take us where the tourists don’t go.

A man of about 35 approached us and we hired him and his driver for the day. We paid $70 for four of us as we were traveling with another couple. The guide’s name was Tran Cong Lac, or Loc, for short (29 B Thai Nguyen, Na Trang; mobile phone 0914 166 143 or e-mail conglac@hotmail.com).

He spoke English well, was very knowledgeable and went...

June 2006 issue

Berlin guide

We were five days in Berlin in August ’05. On three of those days we were guided privately by Markus Mueller-Tenckhoff (Markgrafenstr. 39, 10117 Berlin, Germany; phone 0049 [0] 160 80 88 011, www.markusmuellertenckhoff.de or www.guidesinberlin.de/markus).

Markus went at a pace that seniors can handle and made sure that we saw all of the sights worth seeing. He was able to tell us a tremendous amount of history and show us East Berlin, North Berlin, Jewish sites, galleries, museums and restaurants. We would never have gotten the flavor of Berlin without him.

Markus charges €...

August 2005 issue

Give singles a break

I saw the article in the February ’05 issue, page 58. I have always chosen a tour to see different parts of the world, as I am a single traveler (not by choice). I’m hoping readers will write in and let me know how I can avoid the “single supplement.” Is there a central agency I can get in touch with that will supply this information?

I wanted to do a Sicily tour this year but the supplement was almost $600. The only tours I have taken without that charge have been Elderhostel trips (for which I am very grateful).

I really don’t mind sharing, but most tour companies do not...

November 2006 issue

Two nights at Iguazu Falls

During a trip my husband, Joe, and I took to Argentina (Sept. ’06, pg. 84. & Oct. ’06, pg. 76), we visited Iguazú Falls. We are so glad we went. It was absolutely spectacular!

We left our luggage at the hotel in Buenos Aires and flew out of the city airport to Iguazú. The city airport looks new, so it was probably refurbished a short time ago. We flew Aerolineas Argentinas, which, after having seen bad reviews, surprised us by providing a very clean new plane with a pleasant staff. We were fortunate that there was no strike during the time we were there in early April ’06.