Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

June 2011 issue

In and out of Buenos Aires

I agree 100% with the subscriber’s comment in the letter “Security Absurdity” (March ’11, pg. 29): EZE Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is inconsistent with security.

I have traveled to many countries with my small, nurse’s bandage scissors with blunt tips, part of my first-aid kit. Before I boarded our Nov. 27, 2010, Continental Airlines flight to Houston, EZE confiscated them, even after I tried to show the screener my RN license.

To add to the unfairness, the flight leaving from the gate next to ours for the US did not have an added gate security inspection, as ours did...

February 2010 issue

Carry-on a smidge too big

I went off on Sept. 22, 2009, with my new luggage, an Eagle Creek Tarmac 22, expecting the carry-on piece to stay with me throughout my trip to Edinburgh and England. I travel light and never check my bag.

On the very first flight, aboard a United Skywest Airlines plane, the overhead could not accommodate my carry-on. The crew had to remove my luggage and utilized their “à la carte” service, meaning the bag would be made available to me on the tarmac upon arrival. The very same thing happened on that same plane back to Medford on Oct. 8.

When I returned home, I checked the...

June 2007 issue

A museum of wars remembered

“Saving Private Ryan” and “The Thin Red Line” are about as realistic as war movies get, but I saw a couple of battle films that they couldn’t hold a rifle to. In one, British Tommies in World War I clambered over the top of their muddy trench to face withering German fire that cut many down. In another, Russian troops in World War II made their final assault on Berlin, a destroyed city that looked like the backyard of hell.

It’s unlikely you’ll see this black-and-white grainy footage at a theater near you. However, if you happen to be in London you can view these documentaries at...

January 2007 issue

Untour in Nafplio

My wife, Margaret, and I spent 3½ weeks in Greece in September ’05, and for the first two weeks we were based in Nafplio, less than two hours west of Athens by car. We had arranged to rent an apartment through Untours (Box 405, Media, PA 19063; 888/868-6871). The cost of our Nafplio Untour apartment plus a rental car was $1,299 per person.

To get to Greece, we were fortunate to find a very good business-class fare of $2,215 each from Houston to Athens via Boston and Rome, returning via Rome and Newark. The flights from Houston to Boston and from Newark to Houston were on Continental...

September 2007 issue

Carry-on essentials

Dr. Wagenaar wrote about traveling with carry-on luggage only.

Clearly he does not include a number of items I never travel without:

A pillow. I can’t sleep on those bouncy ones provided by hotels/ motels, which seem to be ﬁlled with chunks of foam rubber.

Aside from the usual toothbrush and paste, he probably does not have a kit containing makeup, curlers, brush, comb, nail equipment (including scissors), tush wipes and face crème plus a bath plug, sunscreen and more items. I have a second important kit ﬁlled with my many medications, eye drops, etc., plus batteries...

June 2008 issue

Making the most of airport stopovers

After traveling around the world with occasional long airport stopovers, I have come to learn some of the secrets of making the most of the “dead” time.

I found that when I make a visit to a nearby area, I feel much more relaxed and ready to continue the next leg of the trip. Available options include 1) taking one of the tours offered directly from the airport, 2) finding transportation into the city and taking a tour from there or 3) winging it on your own.

If time is a critical factor in making another flight (fewer than five hours), it might be best to take a tour with...

February 2007 issue

Regatta Med cruise

We took an 18-day sojourn to the Mediterranean. Before boarding the Regatta of Oceania Cruises (Miami, FL; 800/531-5658, www.oceaniacruises.com), we spent three nights in Barcelona. What a great city! We used the “bus touristic” for two days — a wonderful way to see the city. It went right by our hotel so was an easy way to get about. We got on and off all day for the one price (€22 for two days or €18 [near $24] for one day).

We arrived in Barcelona on Oct. 31, ’06, the day before the Day of the Dead. We were a little worried about the holiday, but no problemo. We spent three...

August 2007 issue

Avoid passport glitches

The letter “Missed Cruise Due to Visa Snafu” (June ’07, pg. 32) highlighted the potential danger in not having sufficient blank pages in your passport. A couple was denied boarding in Frankfurt for their flight to South Africa because they each did not have a full page remaining in their passport for the required visa on arrival (they had booked the cruise and flight through Princess Cruises). They, like many travelers, were unaware that a full blank page was needed.

Because of the unique destinations to which my company organizes tours, we have always insisted that travelers have...