Report Cards

September 2009 issue

Report Cards for September '09

From BADEN-BADEN, Germany, July 15, 2009. . .

• Hotel Colmar (Lange Strasse 34, D-76530, Baden-Baden, Germany; phone 07221/93 89 0, fax 93 89 50, www.hotel-colmar.de) — located in central Baden, on the pedestrian zone.

This is a fine and friendly hotel, written about by Mr. Rick Steves, himself, as a good place to stay in Baden. However, the Colmar is the loudest hotel I have ever stayed at — period.

We last stayed here in 2000. We booked our room online, and the hotel once again offered us three nights’ stay (July 12-15) in a great central location, with a kind staff...

CONTINUE READING »
October 2009 issue

Report Cards

From FRANKFURT, Germany, July 18, 2009…

• Albatros Airport Hotel (Nord­endstr. 12, Morfelden-Walldorf 64546, Germany; phone 011 49 6105 70100, fax 6105 75295 or e-mail info@albatroshotel.de) — a 15-minute ride from the Frankfurt airport.

In my opinion, this is a 2-star hotel, but I would rate it a “good bang for the buck.” Very clean but sparse on amenities. All they give you is liquid soap in the shower and at the bathroom sink.

The hotel is not air-conditioned, so try to stay away from the top floor in the summer. My room did have a fan and a refrigerator.

My...

CONTINUE READING »
October 2007 issue

Report Cards

From BUJUMBURA, Burundi, July 17, 2007. . .

• 16-day trip “Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi” with Advantage Travel (Poway, CA; 800/882-2098 or e-mail advantaget@aol.com) — great trip!

Did a forest walk with a young chimp on my back in Uganda. This was on an island in Lake Victoria, and only those who stay overnight get to come in contact with the chimps; day visitors can watch them being fed. You need to get shots in advance, too. We stayed in plush tents.

Saw lots of gorillas in Rwanda. For the trip to see the mountain gorillas, bring warm clothes, especially at the hotel....

CONTINUE READING »
December 2007 issue

Report Cards

From PARIS, France, Oct. 10…

• We used Capitol Shuttle (www.airport-shuttle.com) in Paris for airport/hotel transfers. Beware! We had a one-hour wait for pickup at the airport (“caught in traffic”). Pickup at our hotel was on time, but they attempted to drop us off at the wrong terminal! Then they dropped us off at correct terminal but at a definite no-stopping area, which brought airport security over in a flash to question us. I would avoid this company.

• Hotel du Cadran (10 rue du Champ de Mars, 75005, Paris) — good location. A small hotel with the usual small rooms but...

CONTINUE READING »
March 2008 issue

Report Cards

On FRANCE, December ’07-January ’08. . .

After 20-plus trips to Paris, we continue to find excellent, unusual, inexpensive restaurants (in terms of euros, not in terms of the present dollar exchange rate). On our last trip, the following were noteworthy.

• Casa San Pablo (5 rue de Sevigne) — in the fourth arrondissement, about midway between the Hotel de Ville and the Bastille, near the Place des Vosges and very near the St. Paul Métro stop. Open daily.

Casa San Pablo serves French/Basque/Spanish cuisine, including a wide variety of tapas. We shared a Sunday lunch of...

CONTINUE READING »
June 2008 issue

Restaurant in Tournus, France, B&B in Delhi, restaurant in Madeira

From TOURNUS, France, May 19, 2007. . .

In Burgundy we found a delightful restaurant on the main street in the village of Tournus, which is south of Beaune. Le Rampart (2&4 avenue Gambetta, Tournus, France; phone [33] 038551056) is very pleasant, serves excellent food and is reasonably priced. Lunch with wine, $40 for two.

— Anita Tomasi, Santa Rosa, CA

From DELHI, India, Feb. 1-20, 2008. . .

• Delhi Bed & Breakfast (A/6 Friends Colony East, Delhi; www. delhibedandbreakfast.com) is the perfect and affordable way to personalize your visit to North India...

CONTINUE READING »
July 2008 issue

Report Cards

From JERUSALEM, Israel, May 6, 2008. . .

• Private tours with Eric Tomer (phone 972 9 7493437, cell 972 546909553, fax 972 9 7492831, e-mail tomertours4u@gmail.com) — $220 a day (if using your rental car)

Eric was born in Israel and after a career in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and the prime minister’s office decided to become a tour guide so that he could share the beauty of his country with others. He is extremely knowledgeable and speaks Arabic, English, French and Hebrew.

We arranged a private tour for our family of four people and were delighted with the three...

CONTINUE READING »
August 2008 issue

Report Cards

From the ISLE OF MAN, May 24, 2008. . .

• Our discovery of the glorious open spaces of the Isle of Man was surpassed only by having the good fortune to choose Close Taggart Cottages (Ballaugh, Isle of Man, IM7 5BH; phone/fax +44 [0] 1624 897459, e-mail john@closetaggart.co.uk or visit www.closetaggart.co.uk), in the Curraghs, via Internet search.

Owners John and Shirley Kneale have two meticulously clean, beautifully appointed cottages on several acres of gardens and land.

On arrival, we found a basket of food, more food in the fridge and surprises in each room. Their...

CONTINUE READING »