Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

January 2010 issue

Refunding made disadvantageous

After booking, on Air Berlin’s website (www.airberlin.com) on Feb. 9, 2009, a round-trip flight between New York and Düsseldorf in May, I unhappily discovered that reserving two economy seats would cost an additional €60, or $86, round trip. Nevertheless, on Feb. 20 I phoned Air Berlin’s US office (866/266-5588) and paid this amount to ensure that my wife and I would have adjacent aisle and window seats.

With a scheduled departure time of approximately 6 p.m., the outbound overnight flight (AB 3551) from JFK Airport on May 26 was nearly full. The seats we reserved (as well as the...

March 2009 issue

Cusco hotel noisy

On a tour of Peru in September ’08, the itinerary had us spending two nights in Cusco at the Samay Hotel (Av. San Martin 206, Cusco, Peru), then one night in Machu Picchu, then two more nights in Cusco. Although the accommodations at the Samay were good, we never got a decent night’s sleep due to noise from street traffic, trains and barking dogs as well as slamming doors, both staff and guests talking, etc. Earplugs helped only minimally.

Our room for our first stay at the Samay was on the second floor at the front of the hotel, overlooking the street. We had communicated our...

December 2008 issue

Dizzy dining

In his November ’08 “All Aboard!” column, Jay Brunhouse wrote about Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and described the KL Tower as having “the world’s first revolving restaurant.”

Before that tower was built, my wife and I visited Frankfurt, Germany, where a 20- to 30-story building also had a revolving restaurant. Our window seats gave us ever-changing panoramic views while we enjoyed a fine meal at sunset.

A.A. SCHAUFELBERGER

Fripp Island, SC

Mr. Schaufelberger is quite right. While the KL Tower was topped off on Sept. 13, 1994, and opened to the public on July 23,...

April 2009 issue

Memories of Trieste

I read every issue of ITN and it seems to me that there are frequent stories about Venice and the eastern Adriatic, for example, Yvonne Horn’s feature “The Adriatic Coast — in the Wake of the Winged Lion” (Feb.’09, pg. 6), but I have yet to see a story about the northern Adriatic, specifically, Trieste.

After being assigned to Trieste in 1953, when it was a free territory governed by the US and British military, I really developed a soft spot in my heart for the city. I went back often, the last time in 2001.

Trieste deserves more recognition for its notable place in European...

May 2009 issue

Katadyn water purifier

For a trip to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos in January ’09, like the writer of the letter “SteriPEN® Sterilizes Water” (March ’09, pg. 56) I too was concerned about the expense and environmental aspects of drinking bottled water exclusively.

My solution was to purchase a Katadyn Extream XR (www.katadyn.com) “personal water purification system,” which consists of a 1½-pint bottle with an insert that filters and purifies water.

I bought mine at REI (800/426-4840, www.rei.com) for about $50. The included filter is good for 164 refills. I brought along a second filter,...

February 2010 issue

Restricted-driving zone tickets

The matter of my traffic fines in Florence and Siena, Italy, has come to a conclusion (“Beware of Limited-traffic Zones,” Jan. ’10, pg. 12). I lost the Siena appeal, but winning two out of three is not all bad.

JOHN THORSON

Darien, IL

October 2009 issue

Unwanted pre-cruise stay

My husband, Richard, and I made reservations with Norwegian Cruise Line on Feb. 9 for an 18-day cruise from Santiago, Chile, to Los Angeles aboard the Norwegian Sun, April 12-30, 2009.

On the phone, I was quoted a total price that included round-trip airfare (Los Angeles-Santiago) and insurance. I asked about our air schedule and they said they would let us know two days later what it would be. I also was told that if we wanted to reserve the cruise, we needed to pay right then, as time was short. I used our credit card and paid the full amount.

Two days later, in a phone...

March 2009 issue

What wallet?

During a visit to Paris, my wife and I used the Métro to travel around. One time we were going down the stairs, staying close to the wall and the handrail, when all of a sudden three fellows came in directly behind me.

My wife yelled, “Jack! Wallet!”

I quickly turned around, and the three fellows moved to the center of the stairs and rushed down and soon were out of sight. I then realized I would have been the victim of a pickpocket except for the quick action of my wife.

The next day I asked myself, ‘What do I need to take with me while I’m touring?’ The answer was ‘...