Travelers' Intercom

December 2013 issue

Sapporo Autumn Fest 2013
By Stanley Osur

Sapporo, Japan, has 1.9 million people and is the centerpiece on the northern island of Hokkaido, known in winter for its skiing and in summer offering golfing and hiking. Because of the long, harsh Hokkaido winters, the people of Sapporo have many spring, summer and autumn festivals to celebrate the great weather and relax, enjoying food and drink in famous Odori Park.

In 2008, to promote local products around Hokkaido, the city’s first autumn fest was held in Odori Park, lasting one week and occupying two blocks. Now the fest is two weeks long, covers five blocks and draws 1.3...

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April 2013 issue

Dining in San Miguel de Allende
By Judy Hodges

If you’re in the enchanting town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Nov. ’12, pg. 14), saunter over to Café San Agustín (21 San Francisco), owned by an Argentine movie star who occasionally drops by. They offer a choice of Mexican, Spanish or French hot chocolate, and the churros are legendary (about 9 pesos, or 70¢, for three with a hot chocolate).

Another suggestion for breakfast is Café Media Naranja (Hidalgo 83), which offers high-quality coffee (25 pesos, or about $2), omelets (50 pesos) and a wonderful green vegetable/fruit juice (25 pesos). You can order smoothies in a...

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June 2013 issue

Did not find expected amenities on Easter Island
By Charles M. Hayes

I was planning a trip to Easter Island (Rapa Nui) on my own and did some research on various websites. I finally decided to use the reviews on Hotels.com to choose a place to stay and settled on the Inaki Uhi (Atamu Tekena St., Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui; phone +56 32 2551160 or 2100231). I stayed there July 18-25, 2012, having booked my reservation about two months earlier.

The hotel’s reviews all were good, and the description of the property on Hotels.com showed several amenities that fit my wishes perfectly, including that there was a snack bar, that breakfast was available for a...

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March 2013 issue

“Castles Along The Rhine”

8-day / 7-night river cruise in four countries. Highlights: Embark in Basel, SWITZERLAND / in Strasbourg, FRANCE, ride a canal boat through “Petit France” / in GERMANY, medieval Speyer / wine tasting at Castle Vollrads in Rüdesheim / Koblenz / Cologne / disembark in Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS. Cruise, from $2,499. Uniworld (Los Angeles, CA; 800 / 733-7820).

August 2013 issue

Flying to England
By Joan L. Welch

British Airways’ business-class seats on flights between Tampa, Florida, and England’s Gatwick Airport have been reconfigured,* with, basically, every other seat facing forward and the others facing rearward. That’s great for a couple but a bit awkward if you’re facing a stranger. Side privacy screens alleviate this but in flight only. 

The crews on each flight that my husband, Harry, and I took in April and May 2013 were the best we have encountered in a long time.

Also, after decades of international travel, we have adopted a practice that...

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January 2013 issue

‘Outstanding’ in Canada
By Anita & Tom Tomasi

We stayed in an outstanding B&B in South Rustico, Prince Edward Island, in April ’12. The Barachois Inn (Prince Edward Island, Canada; 800/963-2194) was a splurge, at about $240 per night, but a memorable one.

We stayed in a building built near, and in the same style of, the original inn. There was a large, comfortable living area and a bed area with a refrigerator and microwave. The bathroom had both a shower and a Jacuzzi. There was also a deck.

The owners were friendly and helpful and served an unusually good breakfast. We were there before, in the fall, which is a...

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July 2013 issue

Cape Town guide

Looking for a guide in Cape Town for our May ’12 trip to South Africa, my wife, Jane, and I saw that Denise Dick (denised@yebo.co.za) was recommended by ITN readers as a very competent guide (April ’04, pg. 92 & April ’10, pg. 14).

Denise lives in Hout Bay with her husband, who teaches sailing. She is a perfect guide for someone who goes to South Africa on a formal tour but wants to experience the area “one on one” without other tourists. 

In two days with Denise, we were introduced to a local food market; visited the not-so-often-seen areas of Cape Town; toured a lovely...

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May 2013 issue

For Cinque Terre, stayed in Levanto
By Stephen O. Addison, Jr.
13th-century loggia, Piazza della Loggio, in Levanto.
Good luck sometimes comes wrapped in what appears to be misfortune. When planning, on short notice, for a September '12 trip to Italy, my wife, Paula, and I were unable to find accommodations that both fit our schedule and met our list of desired features. Looking farther afield, we found excellent lodgings in Levanto, an adjacent town to the northwest.