Travelers' Intercom

Four of us visited the Czech countryside during the first week of May ’07. We had a guide who was passionate about his country and made sure his guests experienced the real Czech Republic. His name is Petr Zidek. We found him through Original World (131 Camino Alto, Ste. E-3, Mill Valley, CA 94941; 888/367-6147, www.originalworld.com).

We paid Petr $750 for five days and four nights of guiding, which included lodging at four different locales: a 15th-century Gothic house-turned-hotel in Prachatice, a 14th-century former monastery near Cesky Krumlov, a 14th-century Baroque castle-...

For years I have used a self-made closure devised of a Velcro® brand fastener on each of my travel wallets, since the wallets that come with ready-made Velcro® closures haven’t suited my needs. I would like to share with you the technique of applying the Velcro® fastener.

As you know, a Velcro® fastener consists of two mating parts, the hooks, comprising the rough part, and the loops, or the smooth part. Many varieties (sew-on, glue-on, iron-on) are available, but for this application you need to get the black “Sticky Back® Tape” with No. 72 acrylic adhesive, which has a white...

Judy Puckett requested comments from readers as to how they’ve located suitable travel partners (Oct. ’08, pg. 18). I am very glad that she asked for this information. I have a related request.

My wife, a schoolteacher, often cannot travel on the dates I want to travel. Sometimes she simply has no interest in my destination. This leaves me with the option of either finding a roommate or paying the single supplement.

I view single supplements as something to avoid for this reason: whatever I save in not having to pay a single supplement becomes my deposit on the next trip I...