Columns

April 2006 issue

Boarding Pass
By David Tykol

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 362nd issue of your overseas travel magazine. That’s over 30 years of publishing monthly — since 1976.

Just a “heads up” here — the drought of the last few years in East Africa had, at press time, affected hydroelectric production not only in Uganda but in Tanzania. Money for infrastructure projects as well as essential services was being diverted to the importation of thermal power plants and diesel subsidies. Low lake water levels were making it difficult for cargo ferries to reach jetties, as well.

If you’re visiting soon, be...

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November 2006 issue

Chip and PIN cards, London airlines
Q

Steve, this is about the letter on “Chip & PIN” credit/debit cards on page 15 of the July ’06 issue of ITN (the best travel magazine in the world!). What’s the answer for a pair of Yanks going to London in January? What can we do? — T. Harrison Stanton, Jackson, MI

A

Dear Harrison, first of all, I don’t want you to worry. You are doing the right thing by arming yourself against any problems. Knowledge is power.

In Britain, credit cardholders received new “upgraded” “chip & PIN” cards, and on the 14th of February this year, British merchants were required to start...

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May 2005 issue

Cruise industry trends and how to take advantage of them
By Lew Toulmin

by Lew Toulmin

Cruising is hot! According to the Cruise Lines International Association, or CLIA (80 Broad St., Ste. 1800, New York, NY 10004; phone 212/921-0066 or visit www.cruising.org), 2004 was a banner year for the cruise industry in terms of new builds and passenger growth. Last year, CLIA cruise lines capped a record-setting 5-year building boom that introduced 62 new ships to the North American market out of a total of 150 represented by CLIA.

Twelve new ships were introduced in 2004 alone, although new introductions will be reduced to six in 2005 due to the fall in...

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June 2005 issue

Chile’s Colchagua Valley
By Randy Keck

Two hours’ drive south of Santiago lies one of Chile’s most renowned wine-producing regions, Valle de Colchagua. On my last visit to Chile, in February ’05, I had the opportunity to visit, albeit too briefly, this impressive valley of abundance on the Ruta del Vino.

A lengthy list of awards and medals have to date been earned by the valley’s wineries in prestigious international competitions and publications. This was highlighted in 2003 when the Colchagua Valley was named Wine Region of the Year in the U.S. magazine Wine Enthusiast. Valley wines are of...

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September 2006 issue

Over-age-70 drivers in Ireland, driving Mediterranean islands
Q

Steve, I have heard that a driver over 70 years of age cannot rent a car in the Irish Republic. I called the Irish tourist office and their representative did not seem to know much about it but said it was probably “an insurance thing.” What can you tell me about this? Is it the government, the rental car companies or the insurance companies — or all three — that are behind this age discrimination? Are there any exceptions? Could we rent a car in Belfast, which is in the U.K., and then drive it into Ireland? — Thomas McKenna, Montpelier, VT

A

Dear Thomas, all rental car companies...

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December 2006 issue

Friendly French, transportation options in Ireland

DEAR READER, I’d like to share an incident with you that I had on a recent trip to France.

Nearly a thousand years ago, in 1066 to be exact, one of my ancestors moved from a small village in Normandy to England and founded our family. He became known as “Gilbert of (or from) Venables,” and his descendants simply became Venables (without the “of”). Now every five years, the village, north of Paris on the Seine River and still small, hosts a party and all Venables are invited back to attend. This year, three of my cousins traveled with me to attend.

We picked up a rental a car...

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October 2006 issue

Ballindalloch Castle, Norweigan Coastal Voyage
Q

Steve, I just wanted to express my appreciation for your article “A Wee Taste of Scotland” in the April ’06 issue. Amazingly, I’ve been to all of the places you mentioned. We’ve visited many Scotch whisky distilleries, and Strathisla is our favorite. But most of all, I appreciated the mention of Ballindalloch Castle. Surprisingly, I know nobody else who has been there. It’s probably the most picture-perfect castle I’ve ever seen, and I had the best ploughman’s lunch ever in its tearoom. One question — how does one pronounce Ballindalloch? We got slightly lost on our way there and asked a...

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August 2006 issue

A cruise director for all nations
By Lew Toulmin

Frederic Jansen is the tall, handsome, energetic and always upbeat cruise director of the Star Clipper, which sails in the western Mediterranean, the eastern Caribbean and transatlantic. He has delightful manners and a charming sense of humor. I interviewed him in January ’06 on board the vessel, which is one of three tall ships in the Star Clippers (U.S. office in Miami, FL; 800/442-0551 or www.starclippers.com) fleet; see last month’s column.

Q: Tell me about yourself, Frederic.

A: I was born in Belgium and am 33 years old. I am the youngest in my family, with two older...

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