Calling All Readers

January 2009 issue

Winging it finding a hotel

Many travelers book hotel rooms in advance for the first and last nights of their trips but wing it for all the nights in between. Some just start out cold, blowing with the wind. We asked you independent travelers to tell us how you go about finding nonreserved rooms in places you’ve never been to overseas and to answer the following questions.

What do you look for in a hotel, itself? What do you avoid? When is the best time to check in? What is the best way to ask for a room in order to get a better rate? What is the price range you aim for in particular countries? In what way do...

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April 2011 issue

Apartment rental tips

This month, we’re wrapping up our five-part series on renting apartments outside of the US. We’ve got a few more tips from subscribers followed by recommendations of specific apartments. Anyone with something helpful to add may write to Apartment Rental Tips, c/o ITN, 2116 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818, or e-mail editor@intltravelnews.com (include the address at which you receive ITN).

Tips for when you get there —

In advance, tell the apartment owner when your plane is due and ask if the apartment will be ready. Occasionally, when my flight was due really early, I have...

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March 2009 issue

Boutique museums

Here is a note we printed from Hollie Stotter of Cambria, California, in our November and December 2008 issues on page 4: “I would like to see a list of boutique (small) museums in the world compiled. Each would be a small gem of a not-so-well-known museum that can be seen in less than an hour. For instance, a favorite of mine that I often have recommended to friends is the Jacquemart-André in Paris, an 1869 home preserved with its furniture, tapestries, rugs, paintings, etc. The Benaki Museum in Athens is another. Perhaps ITN’s travelers each can suggest a small museum that has an...

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May 2011 issue

Managing liquids and gels with carry-on only

Barbara Glavish of Incline Village, Nevada, wrote, “Many readers have mentioned that they travel all over the world with just one carry-on bag. I do wonder how they cope with the rule prohibiting carrying greater-than-three-ounce containers of liquids, gels and pastes.* Do they carry lots of little bottles of body lotion, shampoo, face cream, toothpaste, etc? Do they purchase toiletry items on the go? I’ve found that in many places, even generic-type lotions, shampoos, etc., are much more expensive than others at home and, frankly, I can’t be bothered with hunting down these items while I’...

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May 2009 issue

Best walking shoes

Here is the assignment we gave you a few months ago.

Write in about the walking shoes you have found to be the most comfortable. Give a description, including brand name, and tell what you like about them and in what ways they are ideal for travelers — plus any drawbacks. Perhaps you pack two pairs, for different situations. If possible, tell us where you found the shoes or where they can be purchased (include any available contact info) and the approximate price.

And while we’re at it, what about socks and stockings? What types are the most desirable and why, and where do...

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May 2011 issue

Coping with medical needs overseas

Annie and Fred Dintzis of Peoria, Illinois, sent in a request: “We’d like to know how travelers with medical problems cope in different locations overseas. Please solicit readers’ experiences, comments and tips on dealing with diabetes, various allergies, high blood pressure, etc.”

So we invited each of you to write in, using the following guidelines. Limit any experiences cited to those outside of the US. Along with any experience and the steps you took, include where you traveled and when your trip was (or when your most recent trips were). If pertinent, name the airline and the...

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July 2009 issue

Castles — best for a visit, best for a stay

A few months ago we asked you to share the following.

What castle (or castles) overseas did you find the most rewarding to visit? What about it impressed you or what about it did you enjoy? Along with its name and/or location (if you have contact info, please include it) and any descriptions or comments or anecdotes you wish to add, please mention approximately when you visited.

Separately, what castle (or castles) did you find it most rewarding to stay in overnight? Along with answering the above questions (don’t forget to state when you stayed there), include the...

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June 2011 issue

Managing liquids and gels with carry-on only

Barbara Glavish of Incline Village, Nevada, wrote, “Many readers have mentioned that they travel all over the world with just one carry-on bag. I do wonder how they cope with the rule prohibiting carrying greater-than-three-ounce containers of liquids, gels and pastes.* Do they carry lots of little bottles of body lotion, shampoo, face cream, toothpaste, etc? Do they purchase toiletry items on the go? I’ve found that in many places, even generic-type lotions, shampoos, etc., are much more expensive than others at home and, frankly, I can’t be bothered with hunting down these items while I’...

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