Columns

December 2007 issue

Tips on snorkeling
By Lew Toulmin

by Lew Toulmin, (First of two parts, jump to part 2)

Many cruise and expedition passengers enjoy snorkeling off beaches, Zodiacs or dive boats. Snorkeling is an easy sport and provides fantastic views of beautiful coral and fish. The sport is open to swimmers of any age. I have seen snorkelers from ages five to 85 enjoying themselves on cruises.

The sport is so easy that I, myself, thought I knew it all, then I met the master snorkeler and diver Dr. Jack Grove, an expert on the fish of the Galápagos, a fellow of the Explorers Club and one of the founders of Zegrahm...

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October 2007 issue

Pumalín nature park, using travel agents
Q:

Dear Steve, do you know of any U.S. tour operators that have tours to Pumalín in Chile, that conservation land a USA couple bought in order to halt its development? — Mark S. Sommers, Dorchester, MA

A:

Dear Mark, Pumalín, a vast, privately owned nature park comprising 800,000 acres of virgin land, is located about 70 miles south of Puerto Montt. It is owned by Americans Doug and Kristine Tompkins, who own, in total, about two million acres of property scattered around Chile and Argentina.

Doug at one time was an owner of the Esprit clothing label. The park has a website at...

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November 2007 issue

Boarding Pass
By David Tykol

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 381st issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.

This September, the Arctic’s Northwest Passage — between the Pacific and the Atlantic — was “fully navigable,” with sea ice melting to its lowest level since satellite measurements began 30 years ago, according to the European Space Agency.

Many shippers would find the route cheaper than taking the Panama Canal, and it certainly would be a quicker route between Europe and Asia. The Northeast Passage through the Russian Arctic remained partially blocked.

Most...

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May 2008 issue

Personal memories of yesterday’s Mideast

Longtime readers of this column certainly realize that Moreen and I are extremely fond of the Middle East, especially its people.

Having said that, 9/11 hurt us personally, seeing that men of the Muslim faith, others of whom had always treated us with utmost respect and kindness, would initiate such violence toward our country. No, we weren’t naive. We knew that some reviled our country’s global power controls and others envied our open lifestyle.

During 35 years of travel in this area, we’ve witnessed major changes. In particular, the modernization brought about by oil...

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March 2008 issue

Boarding Pass
By David Tykol

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 385th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. We’re beginning our 32nd year of publication. . . and not slowing down!

This is the first March issue of ITN since 1986 that has not contained a Reference Index listing all of the articles, letters and news items printed in the magazine during the previous year or, since, September ’03, half year. Instead, we are devoting those pages to more of your articles and letters.

As I announced last month, we still compile a Reference Index, but it will appear only on our website (www....

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September 2007 issue

Latin America updates
By Deanna Palić

by Deanna Palic

Brazilian carrier GOL takes over Varig

GOL, the leader of low-cost airlines in Brazil, recently took over Varig Brasilian Airlines for about $275 million in a cash-and-stock deal.

Gol said that Varig would continue as a separate brand and would keep its frequent-flyer program, offering 2-class service on long-haul routes. GOL plans to cut costs and introduce more efficient aircraft.

Along with other prosperous Latin American airlines, including LAN, Copa Airlines and TAM, GOL is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

UNESCO and Ecuador express... CONTINUE READING »
February 2008 issue

Dealing with delayed, canceled and overbooked flights
By Philip Wagenaar

by Philip Wagenaar, M.D. (second of two parts)

Last month, I discussed the many causes of delayed and canceled flights and suggested a few tactics on dealing with the problem. This month, I continue my discourse.

F. COMPENSATION

Since federal law does not require compensation to passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled, you are stuck with only a few options if you don’t rebook.

• Ask for a refund of the airfare.

• Accept one or more of the amenities (which vary by company) that a number of the larger carriers voluntarily provide. These are listed on the...

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December 2007 issue

On becoming a G.O.
By Randy Keck

In the travel industry, G.O. is the abbreviation for the term “group organizer.” Most ITN readers probably know at least one person who has functioned as a G.O.

Who are G.O.s?

The definition of a group organizer, broadly stated, is someone who organizes a group of people to travel together with a common group itinerary. A group is usually defined by the travel industry as 10 or more passengers traveling together. A G.O. can be anyone with a following or who otherwise has the ability to procure travelers for a specific group travel itinerary. Sometimes G.O.s are...

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