Report Cards for August

On LATIN AMERICA, May-June ’05. . .
• We took a new 15-day soft-adventure tour, May 29-June 11, with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; phone 800/955-1925 or visit www.oattravel.com).

“The Route of the Maya” covered many Maya sites, including Copan in HONDURAS, Tikal in GUATEMALA and Caracol in BELIZE as well as Lake Atitlán and others. Joya del Ceren in EL SALVADOR was closed on Monday, when we visited.

Small groups, great accommodations, many meals and many extras and options. The price was $1,995 per person, including air from Los Angeles.

— Ed Lifset, Oceanside, CA

From the Isle of Wight, U.K., May 28, ’05. . .

• We stayed at the Sillwood Acres B&B (Church Rd., Binstead, Isle of Wight, PO33 3TB, U.K.; phone 01983 563553 or visit www.sillwood-acre.co.uk).

In our experience of B&Bs, this was the best. The friendly help and hospitality and the wonderful food provided by the proprietor, Mrs. Deborah Hart, was exceptional.

In this beautiful Victorian house there were two double rooms and one twin room, all with facilities en suite. We had a large double room overlooking the garden. The tariff was £23 (near $30) per person, if staying more than one night. No credit cards.

Good bus service was close by plus easy access to the mainland by ferry or hovercraft. Binstead is close to Ryde & Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s summer residence. The island has good beaches and glorious countryside with plenty of things to do.

— Keith & Yvonne Short, Bedford, TX

From Brussels, BELGIUM, May 11, ’05 . . .

• La Vigne (Rue Jourdan 6, 1006 Bruxelles). We had delicious soup, mussels, dessert and wine for €26 (near $34) per person. Excellent!

— Anne Helms, Salinas, CA

On ITALY, May ’05. . .

• La Tana dei Re restaurant (Piazza Redi Roma, Rome). We had a 7-course meal with wine included for €40 (near $52). Wonderful food and entertainment. Fantastic desserts. There was music by guitar, piano and accordion plus an opera singer (who took requests) and sing-alongs. Reservations are necessary.

— Pim Dodge, Frankfort, MI

From Warsaw, POLAND, May ’05. . .

• I spent a week in Poland, three days of which were in and around Warsaw. There, I had an excellent guide, a young gentleman named “Ziggy,” aka Zbigniew Pelczyk (cell phone +48 601 238 242, home phone +48 22 756 38 16 or e-mail zpelczyk@wp.pl).

A licensed guide, Ziggy was polite and punctual, is well versed in Polish history, spoke perfect English, was a good and careful driver and has a year-old comfortable car that can seat four or five passengers.

He bases his charges on the desired services. I felt he was very fair and reasonable at approximately $80 a day. Services for that fee included pickup upon our arrival, transfer to the hotel, guiding and sightseeing, the cost of fuel (about $4 a gallon) and parking fees. He returned me to my hotel (or other desired location) each evening and also dropped me off at the airport the night I left, after picking up my luggage at the hotel where I’d been staying. I paid for entrance fees and lunches.

The lunches were most delicious and enjoyable at small, family-type restaurants which we were able to seek out!

I’d be happy to answer any questions with an e-mail c/o ITN.

— Elizabeth L. Moore, New London, CT