Accommodations Worldwide

Usually, the ships that cruise in Russia are rather sparse in amenities, unless you upgrade to a suite, but our cabin aboard the M/S Tikhi Don, with Grand Circle Travel (347 Congress Ave., Boston, MA 02210; 800/959-0405, www.gct.com), had regular beds, a TV, a Western-style bath, a phone, an in-room safe, a fridge, two chairs and a table as well as closet space. We even had great reading lights above the beds, which we’ve never seen before. We chose the middle deck, where the cabins are 150 square feet and each have a picture window.

We sailed on the Tikhi Don on Grand Circle’s 16-...

I stayed in a room rented by Anka Markunovic (Antuninska 10, 20000 Dubrovnik, CROATIA; phone/fax 00 385 20 417 877, e-mail markunovic@hotmail.com or visit www.dubrovnik-online.com/rooms_vicelic), Sept. 26-30, ’05.

From the airport I took the city bus, which meets passengers outside of the door from luggage pickup after every flight. I got off after 25 kilometers at the first stop, at the entrance to the old walled city, and the ride cost HRK25 ($4).

Anka’s rooms were very clean, nice and newly remodeled. Single, HRK250 ($40), or double, HRK350 ($56). Hot plate, electric...

Europe

When I saw that their e-mail address was “frogetrosbif,” I knew we’d enjoy staying at La Belle Demeure (Le Bouscot, 24250 St. Cybranet, FRANCE; phone 5 53 28 57, e-mail frogetrosbif@wanadoo.fr or visit www.labelledemeure.com). “Frog” is English slang for the French, and “rosbif” is what the French call the English, so I could tell our hosts would represent both nationalities and have a sense of play as well!

The B&B is in the tiny town of St. Cybranet in the midst of the most fascinating and scenic part of the Dordogne Valley, only a few minutes from the charms...