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May 2005 issue

Re ‘credit hold’ on a cruise

Editor’s note: The following letter refers to the January ’05 “Cruising World” column in which Dr. Lew Toulmin wrote about a woman who, in advance of a cruise, objected to signing a document authorizing the line to put a “hold” of a certain amount on her credit card to ensure there was sufficient credit to pay for her on-board expenses.

A credit hold is not a credit charge. Granted. As an experienced cruising traveler, including having taken some cruises with Holland America Line (not my favorite operator), I have never agreed to permit a hold to be placed on my credit card. Please...

September 2005 issue

Lightkeepers on Kangaroo Island

Out of 66 people with correct answers for the January ’05 “Where in the World?” photo quiz — re The Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island off South Australia — I was fortunate to have my name drawn.

A last-minute decision while in Australia in November ’03 took us to Kangaroo Island, where we stayed at one of three lightkeepers’ cottages located nine miles from where the January photo was taken. We booked at a travel agency in Adelaide.

The 3-bedroom cottages had 14-inch-thick walls of limestone AND nine inches of plaster on the inside. During our 2-night stay, the other two...

February 2006 issue

Tourist farms in Slovenia

My wife and I drove a rental car through Slovenia, May 20-28, ’05. We traveled from Venice and drove most of the interesting roads in Slovenia, which is full of beauty in all varieties and can be visited at a very reasonable cost.

We contacted the Slovenian Tourist Office (2929 East Commercial Blvd., Ste. 201, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308; phone 954/491-0112) and they sent us a booklet called “The Countryside, Tourist Farms” which gave information about booking accommodations at Slovenian tourist farms, called kmetij Slovenije.

The tourist farms are rated on a scale of one apple...

August 2006 issue

Thailand jewelry

Jewelry has always been my souvenir of choice on our many trips abroad. In each country, I try to find a unique gold piece that is representative of the culture and craftsmanship.

The gold and precious stone items in Thailand are irresistible. In 1998 I took a loose, 13-carat amethyst to Bangkok and had it set in a handmade, 18k gold pendant setting with a small diamond for $98.

Mrs. KAYLOR C. WHITEHEAD Granite Bay, CA

October 2006 issue

Tips on traveling for months at a time

In the January ’06 issue, page 50, Cecilia Morrissey shared extensive advice on arranging flights around the world. Here she offers advice on other things to consider when planning months-long travels.

GETTING TASKS DONE AT HOME WHILE AWAY — What about the mail and paying monthly household bills while you’re away? You can 1) find some victim to take care of this for you, 2) do most of the arranging before you leave or 3) do a combination of both.

Regarding the monthly bills, you can prepay your utilities, phone, cable, etc. Just figure out a monthly average and pay a chunk of...

March 2006 issue

Georgia's Military Highway

The Military Highway in Georgia began as a track used by invaders in the first century. Later, as part of the Silk Road, it was an important link between Europe and Asia before becoming the main link with Russia.

Following it along the Aragvi River as it cut deep chasms through 5,000-meter-high peaks, we entered the ancient land of Colchis where, according to Greek mythology, Jason and his 50 Argonauts rowed up the Black Sea to slay the dragon and capture the golden fleece. However, during our trip one June, the road was still quite bumpy due to the Russian exodus with all their...

July 2006 issue

Lucked into Libya

We took a trip to Libya with Distant Horizons (Long Beach, CA; 800/333-1240), an ITN advertiser. We were quite fortunate to have received visas, which arrived at almost the last minute. Other tours had to be canceled because the Libyans had not issued visas for those groups.

It seems the Libyan government relaxed its restrictions on visas, at least temporarily, to take advantage of the thousands of people who wanted to watch the total solar eclipse on March 29, ’06. Our group left Libya on March 27, and Distant Horizons had to pay a special “eclipse tax.”

We had a very good...

December 2005 issue

Kudos for TACA

I would like for people to know how nice the airline Grupo TACA is.

I was scheduled to go to San José, Costa Rica, on Sept. 4, ’05, for a couple weeks. I live in Slidell, Louisiana, which was very hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. TACA readily agreed to refund the full amount of my ticket.

LAUREL FREID Slidell, LA