Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

August 2008 issue

Beautiful, friendly NZ

The following tips are the result of three trips to New Zealand (in 1983, 1993 and 2008) totaling some 16 weeks. The last visit my wife, Carol, and I made, in February, reconfirmed our conviction that NZ is the most beautiful and friendly country in the world.

Here are some general suggestions.

We think New Zealand should be visited independently instead of on a group tour so you won’t miss contact with the wonderful people. NZ is an ideal location to be traveled by motorhome (campervan) or by car, staying at farms and B&Bs.

Unless you have more than three weeks,...

October 2007 issue

Fitting in with Tours of Provence

What immediately follows are two letters from ITN readers who each took a 2-week tour in France with Tours of Provence.

Seven seasoned travelers came together on June 30, 2006, for a much-anticipated 2-week immersion into the culture of Provence led by Rohan Hindman of Tours of Provence. Prior to arriving, we all were exhorted, by e-mails and phone calls, to read, understand and bring a document called “LeGuide,” prepared by our host.

The “LeGuide” itinerary for our day of arrival stated, “at 8 p.m. we normally take a walking tour of Avignon, two hours maximum.” For our tour...

March 2008 issue

Bus lacked promised rest room

I went on the tour “Imperial China & the Yangtze River” with Go Ahead Tours, Oct. 5-22, 2007. Go Ahead’s hotels, riverboat and Chinese guide Jonathan all were very good. The buses, however, were not.

The 2007 brochure stated, on page 120, “Private motorcoach with reclining seats and restroom.” I called Go Ahead to verify this before sending my deposit. I was assured there would be a rest room on board. (I was concerned because of the scarcity of public toilets in China.)

Before sending my final payment, I called again and an agent assured me that there would be a rest...

December 2007 issue

‘Quintessential’ travel vest

The reader’s letter titled “Safeguard Your Wallet” (Sept. ’07, pg. 89) prompts me to write a note I have put off for many years.

Tilley Endurables (3176 Abbott Rd., Building A, Orchard Park, NY 14127; 800/363-8737, www.tilley.com) makes, as far as I am concerned, the quintessential travel vest designed for storage and carrying convenience as well as safety.

I use the two top pockets, for example, for my dark glasses and reading glasses, eliminating the need to pack cases. Velcro® and zippers make the pockets totally safe.

A call to Tilley Endurables will get you lovely...

April 2008 issue

Turin Film Museum

The Museo Nazionale del Cinema (Via Montebello 20, Turin; phone +39 11 8138 560 or 561) was our favorite museum in Turin, Italy. We spent about half a day there.

It’s housed in the Mole Antonelliana, a building with a needle-like tower that is a city landmark. The admission price of €8 (near $12) includes a ride on the “panoramic lift,” an elevator to a viewing platform high above the city — spectacular views, with the Alps in the distance on a clear day.

The cinema exhibit is comprehensive and begins with the study of perspective during the Renaissance. It includes various...

May 2008 issue

Tour of lush Indonesia

We took a wonderful vacation to Sumatra and Java, Indonesia, Jan. 17-25, 2008, through Floressa Bali Tours (Jalan Gandapura III K / 16 Kesiman, Denpasar 80237, Bali, Indonesia; phone +62 361 467625, fax 467347 or visit www.floressa-bali.com).

I cannot say enough about the professionalism of their guides, the safe transport, the wonderful accommodations and our personalized itinerary, which included ecotourism and cultural tourism.

We started by visiting Medan on Sumatra, then went to Parapat, near Lake Toba, for three nights. It was a bit off the beaten path, but the scenery...

November 2008 issue

Guide’s insight into Russia

My wife, Marilyn, and I hired Julia Ivanushkina (Tipanov str 34/3-26, St. Petersburg 195233, Russia; e-mail juliaguide@gmail.com or visit www.spbwondertour.com) to guide us on a May ’08 day tour of St. Petersburg, Russia, because we had seen her ad in ITN’s MART Classifieds.

She did an exceptional job, and her tour was by far the most fascinating and enjoyable we experienced on our 3-week cruise aboard the MS Royal Princess of Princess Cruises.

For starters, Julia arranged for and e-mailed us the Russian visas we needed for the tour, and because she has her own travel company...

June 2007 issue

Vaccination form incomplete

My husband, William, and I were to take a 12-day Amazon River cruise aboard the Princess Regal, Jan. 16-28, 2007. The cost of our trip was $6,653 including airfare.

The Walnut Creek Urgent Care Clinic gave us the vaccinations we needed for Brazil. The Brazilian Consulate accepted these records when we obtained our visas, and in San Juan, Puerto Rico, we were accepted on board ship after the Princess agent checked our passports, Brazilian visas and immunization records.

However, at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, we received a call from the purser curtly telling us that our...