Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

September 2005 issue

Little things tainted great river cruise

After deliberately leaving some time to pass for reflection, I have a few comments about our Eastern Europe river cruise in August ’04. Grand Circle Travel (GCT) was the operator, and our flights were arranged on Lufthansa by GCT.

When I saw where our assigned seats were for our Aug. 3 flight from New York’s JFK, I called Lufthansa and had the seats changed. Arriving for the flight, we discovered that the changes had not been done; we wound up in the 3-seat row immediately behind the last 4-seat row. Tray tables came down between our seats instead of in front of them, and our feet...

March 2006 issue

International cell phone

Number one on my list of things which get packed is an international cell phone. I have one from Mobal Communications, Inc. (171 Madison Ave., Ste. 300, New York, NY 10016; phone 212/785-5800, fax 212/681-7431 or visit www.mobal.com).

You can order the $49 or $99 phone based on where you are traveling; the website will tell you which one you need.

Along with the phone (a Nokia 1100), you get chargers, user guide, handset, batteries and travel adapter. The phone is yours to keep, and you pay only for the phone calls made or received. You keep the same number, so people you...

July 2006 issue

Disneyland Hong Kong

During a time of particularly nice weather in November ’05, while on a trip to Hong Kong I decided to visit the newly opened Disneyland Hong Kong.

After arrival in town, I found that an ample amount of literature concerning the park was widely available. I picked up my brochures from the Tourist Information Office at the Star Ferry Kowloon.

Tickets for Disneyland may be purchased at the park, online or at the Hong Kong MTR station. Regular adult admission was HK$295 (near US$38) or, on peak days, HK$350 (US$45). Disney hotel guests have free entry to the park, and package...

December 2005 issue

Owner-led Chilean Special Journeys tour

Chile I joined the 21-day “Chile in Depth” tour from Chilean Special Journeys (Montville, ME), April 7-27, ’05. This tour was led by CSJ’s owner, Scott Jones.

It was a new tour, but my instincts (which on previous trips have provided me with some great adventures) told me it was going to be a very special kind of tour and that I would really enjoy it. Was I right! And I left feeling that I knew a lot about Chile.

We traveled from the far northern desert areas south to the Lake District and savored all major regions in between.

Traveling with an especially small group...

April 2005 issue

Speeding up security checks

In response to the request for suggestions on how to make airport security lines move along quicker (Nov. ’04, pg. 4), here are some that I have found useful:

Think about what you will need to do in advance. Arriving at the checkpoint and then acting surprised at the security requests is unnecessary unless you are a first-time traveler.

Read the signs and do a mental check to ensure you are not carrying any forbidden items on your person or in your hand luggage.

Especially for international travel, keep any medications in their original bottles.

Ask the first...

October 2006 issue

To London on MAXjet

In July ’06 I had the opportunity to try out a relatively new airline called MAXjet (888/435-9629, www.maxjet.com), which started up in November ’05 and currently operates from New York’s JFK Airport and Washington’s Dulles Airport to London’s Stansted Airport, though new destinations are planned.

The MAXjet difference is that it features a single class: business. Flying the long-range Boeing 767, a plane that normally carries some 300 passengers, MAXjet has configured it with just 102 seats, each on an aisle or window. Wonder of wonders, there are no middle seats.

MAXjet’s...

May 2006 issue

Off-hours car rental fee

While on a Princess cruise from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we stopped in Falmouth, England, on Sept. 25, ’05. I had confirmed reservations for a rental car from Europcar. However, since this was on a Sunday, I was informed that after I arrived at the agency, I was to call and someone would meet me and provide the keys to the car.

After the agent let us in, I was told that in addition to the £71.08 (near $126) for the car, there would be an additional charge of £40 ($71) because it was Sunday. I protested that this was not in the contract and nothing had been...

February 2006 issue

Dining in Brittany

After a tour of Greece in late June ’05, my wife, Dorothy, and I stopped in Brittany, France, to visit our daughter who resides in the small city of Douarnenez, which at one time was the sardine capital of Europe. We had the opportunity to try a few restaurants there.

• On the waterfront at the end of rue Anatole France, which leads into the marketplace, is the Bord Eaux Restaurant. From the deck there is an excellent view of the small boat harbor, and from inside there is a limited view from most tables.

The menu is fairly extensive, with several choices of beef, fish and...