Report Cards

On ITALY, March ’05. . .

• Hotel Villa Schuler (Piazzetta Bastione, Via Roma I, 98039 Taormina, Messina, Sicily, Italy; phone +39 0942 23481, fax +39 0942 23522, e-mail schuler@tao.it or visit www.villaschuler.com) — in a convenient, central location but quiet as the villa sits in its own private gated grounds.

We stayed at this hotel for seven nights and highly recommend it. Family owned and operated — a welcoming, helpful family who treated us as guests in their home.

The villa is completely refurbished, with an elevator, air-conditioning, room safes and hair dryers, but it maintains the charm and individuality of the villa. 21 rooms, three suites and one apartment. Most rooms have a balcony or terrace. Spectacular views of the sea and Mt. Etna.

Rates during our stay were €124-€136 (near $165-$180) for a double room, including an excellent breakfast. Credit cards accepted to hold reservation, but final payment on checkout must be in cash or travelers’ checks.

— Patricia Russell, Las Cruces, NM

On COSTA RICA, February-March ’05. . .

• El Caballo Blanco restaurant — located on the Interamerican Highway, near the intersections with routes 17 and 23.

This is a popular roadhouse with a big roof and open sides. Excellent preparation on the food. For $8 we had a lunch of fish stew, rice and a fruit milkshake.

•Sofia’s restaurant — near Cerro Plano School in Monteverde. Neo-Latin cuisine, excellently prepared. Entrées ran $7-$10.

• Marquez — in the town of Santa Elena, Monteverde region. A pleasant seafood restaurant favored by the locals. A fillet of marlin with rice and canned vegetables, mixed green salad and fruit drink cost $12.

— Peter Calingaert, Chapel Hill, NC

On VENEZUELA, February ’05. . .

• “Highlights of Venezuela” tour, Feb. 10-18, with Amazon Adventures (Austin, TX; 800/232-5658 or e-mail jmc12@amazonadventures.com). Ask for Jim or Teresa.

$1,375 not including international air. Eight domestic flights were included in the tour price along with English-speaking guides throughout the trip.

This was a well-conducted, individualized and diversified trip covering Caracas, Mérida (site of the longest cable car run), Andean villages, Maracaibo (hub of the oil industry), Ciudad Bolívar and Canaima National Park (which contains the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls).

The Sinamaica Lagoon excursion near Maracaibo, the 46-minute overflight of Angel, Sappo and Hacha falls as well as the 12-kilometer trek around and under the numerous waterfalls and tepuis (table mountains) were unforgettable and a must for any visit to Venezuela.

— Ed Lifset, Oceanside, CA