Dear Globetrotter:

If you are holding in your hands the first copy of ITN you’ve ever read, welcome! You have a lot to look forward to.

I’ll let Suzanne Bell express what it is. She’s a member of a travel club in Annapolis started seven years ago by ITN subscribers (write John Scheleur, 452 Century Vista Dr., Arnold, MD 21012, or e-mail travelclub@comcast.net), and she wrote, “What a great group! There is such a camaraderie among ITN readers and we all really do fit such a...

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 377th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.

In Russia, foreigners checking into hotels often have to leave their passports there for a period of time to be registered with the authorities, and yet police can detain for several hours any traveler not carrying a passport.

Some police have taken advantage of this to extort bribes from visitors, telling the visitors that they can either visit the local police station to pay the “...

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 375th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.

Do not try this at home. . . or even away from home.

Several tourists on a bus in Costa Rica fought back when three muggers held them up on Feb. 21 this year.

A group of 12 passengers on the Carnival Cruise Lines ship Carnival Liberty had arranged an independent shore excursion to a beach at Limón on the Caribbean coast 80 miles east of San José. During the trip, three men...