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December 2010 issue

Day trip to Mont-St-Michel

For a week’s stay in Paris, Feb. 27-March 6, 2010, I found the Paris Métro system just excellent.

There were long lines of tourists trying to comprehend the ticket machines plus long lines of people buying tickets from humans. It seems that all the manned ticket booths are being replaced by machines. I carried a copy of the reader’s letter “Buying Paris Métro & Bus Tickets” (Nov. ’09, pg. 12), just in case.

I went on an excellent, one-day trip to Mont-St-Michel from Paris for €166 (near $231) with Gray Line. I’d been told it was impossible to do in one day, but with Gray...

October 2010 issue

Cairo stay

My wife, Paula, and I stayed at the Mövenpick Resort Cairo - Pyramids (Alexandria Road, Pyramids, P.O. Box 1, Giza, Egypt; phone +202 3377 2555, fax 3377 5006, www.moevenpick-hotels.com) for five days in April ’10 (Aug. ’10, pg. 12).

This is an excellent choice if your priorities are relaxation versus readily exploring Cairo on your own. This sprawling resort hotel is an oasis of calm among the noise and tumult of Cairo and Giza, and the hotel’s Rooftop Café provides good views of the Giza pyramids. Unfortunately, there’s nothing of interest within walking distance of the hotel....

March 2004 issue

Following Pannir

It was through an ad in ITN years ago that we first found the greatest travel agent ever, Pannir Murugesu.

In March of 1996 we (a party of four) went to Bangkok, Bali and Hong Kong; the package we booked was offered in an ad by Natrabu Indo-American Travel. At that time, Pannir Murugesu was with Natrabu and that is where we came to know him. We took another three trips through Pannir at Natrabu: a 5-island tour of Indonesia in October-November ’97, Bali in April ’99 and Bali and Malaysia in April ’00.

In April-May ’01 we went to Bali, Australia and Malaysia on a package that...

July 2005 issue

Pay it or lug it

In April ’05 I returned from Gatwick Airport, London, to Newark International as I have for several years, twice a year. Please be informed that travelers arriving at Newark now must pay $3 for the use of a luggage cart. Needless to say, I saw no one taking advantage of the “bargain.”

JEANETTE HARDIE Park Ridge, NJ

June 2010 issue

Londolozi Pioneer Camp in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve

On our final night at Londolozi Pioneer Camp in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve during a private trip, the manager told my wife they had prepared a small surprise for her. In our room, we discovered a candle-surrounded tub filled with bubble bath, with a chilled bottle of champagne nearby. In the main dining area, a table for two had been readied before the fireplace, where the blaze felt very good on that cool, damp November evening.

GEORGE HOBGOOD

Austin, TX

April 2004 issue

Notification with specifics

The reader’s letter “Unusual Transactions” (Feb. ’04, pg. 41) brought to mind some of our experiences with credit card companies and our prevacation routine.

We have always notified our credit card companies of when and where we will be going. It is becoming more unnerving, though, as we find we have to fill in the blanks rather than count on the companies’ representatives to ask the questions.

For example, in response to “Where will you be going?” we tell them each country we will be visiting, not just an area of the world, and include the time frame. It has been up to us to...

September 2010 issue

Drawing from India

My son and I went on the 19-day “Heart of India” tour with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/493-6824, www.oattravel.com), Oct. 27-Nov. 14, 2009. For me, India was not primarily about the castles, ruins, museums, shrines, etc.; it was the atmosphere.

While at the Ranthambore Game Preserve we had about given up on seeing a Bengal tiger, but at the end of our game drive we came upon one just getting up from its nap and strolling off. Magnificent — a sight I’ll never forget!

The Nahargarh Hotel, where we stayed on the preserve, was remarkable — a great white palace...

May 2004 issue

Tips for the Solo Traveler » Taking more interesting pictures

by Linda Ledray

Several readers sent in excellent suggestions in response to my February ’04 column on taking more interesting pictures and displaying them in a more compelling way back home. I hope you find their suggestions as interesting as I did.

Included is a tip from one of ITN’s advertisers, Close-Up Expeditions (858 56th St., Oakland, CA 94608; phone 800/457-9553 or visit www.cuephoto.com). Other advertisers that offer trips focusing on photography include EP Travel (Box 1043, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546; phone 800/492-1106 or e-mail bill@ep-travel.com). . . In Focus with...