Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

August 2005 issue

Give singles a break

I saw the article in the February ’05 issue, page 58. I have always chosen a tour to see different parts of the world, as I am a single traveler (not by choice). I’m hoping readers will write in and let me know how I can avoid the “single supplement.” Is there a central agency I can get in touch with that will supply this information?

I wanted to do a Sicily tour this year but the supplement was almost $600. The only tours I have taken without that charge have been Elderhostel trips (for which I am very grateful).

I really don’t mind sharing, but most tour companies do not...

November 2006 issue

Two nights at Iguazu Falls

During a trip my husband, Joe, and I took to Argentina (Sept. ’06, pg. 84. & Oct. ’06, pg. 76), we visited Iguazú Falls. We are so glad we went. It was absolutely spectacular!

We left our luggage at the hotel in Buenos Aires and flew out of the city airport to Iguazú. The city airport looks new, so it was probably refurbished a short time ago. We flew Aerolineas Argentinas, which, after having seen bad reviews, surprised us by providing a very clean new plane with a pleasant staff. We were fortunate that there was no strike during the time we were there in early April ’06.

January 2006 issue

Romania, Moldova & Bulgaria tour

Having read another traveler’s comments (April ’05, pg. 35), we engaged a tour operator in Romania who turned out to be exceptional. Her name is Costela Petcu of AKS Tours (phone +40 21 313 6338, cell +4 0744 294 373 or e-mail costelape04@yahoo.com)

For our trip in Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria, Aug. 31-Sept. 22, ’05, she met us at the airport, introduced us to our driver/guide for the next 18 days, took us to dinner upon our return to Bucharest and even checked in on us while we were having another dinner. The driver, Christian, was exceptional.

For the whole trip, Costela...

July 2006 issue

Advice for Americans visiting Iran

Based on my April ’06 trip to Iran, I’d like to share three practical tips with ITN readers who are thinking of going there.

First, I was told that the Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistani Embassy in Washington will not issue a tourist visa to an American unless the prospective tourist already has received a visa authorization number from Tehran.

I had to send a copy of my passport information page to the company arranging my tour, which in turn presumably sent it on to the local operator in Tehran. This can be a time-consuming process. I received my number more than a...

May 2005 issue

Wheelchair passenger concern

I was one of a group of five relatives who took a tour of Ireland and then drove around Italy in July ’04. Our flights were on Aer Lingus as well as British Air, but to get from Dublin to Venice we had to go through London, with the leg from London’s Heathrow airport to Venice on British Midland Airways.

When we arrived at Heathrow on July 21, an attendant with a wheelchair was waiting for my mother to race her through the line for boarding passes. This was the last we saw of her until the flight was boarding.

The other four of us waited in a long line for our boarding passes...

August 2006 issue

Hong Kong arrival tips

The fastest and easiest way to get to Hong Kong and Kowloon from the Hong Kong International Airport is the Airport Express train. There are several options in buying the tickets. After two trips to Hong Kong, Nov. 25-29 (staying at the Shangri-La Kowloon) and Dec. 27-29, ’05 (Holiday Inn on Kowloon), I pretty much figured them all out.

• On the first trip, my husband, John, and I cleared Customs and walked through the automatic doors. Immediately in front of us was a counter, where I purchased tickets for the Airport Express. For some reason, at this particular counter they only...

January 2006 issue

Card limits

Before traveling to Italy in October ’05, I phoned my local bank, through whom I have a combination debit/credit Visa card, to let them know I’d be using my card in Italy for the next four weeks. The information I received (and I hadn’t actually realized I should ask about any of this!) was that there’s a dollar limit on both the amount of cash I can withdraw and the amount I can charge in a day.

Also, if the card doesn’t work at first, it’s okay to try a second time that day but no more. At the third try, the card may be taken.

The other credit card I took has a dollar limit...

July 2006 issue

Good deals in Manchester

While visiting family in London in March ’06, my wife, Kay, and I took an excursion to Manchester. We booked complete travel, including local train, subway (tube) and long-haul train via Transport for London (Central Customer Services, 23rd Floor, Empress State Bldg., Empress Approach, London, SW6 1TR, U.K.; phone 020 7222 5600 or visit www.tfl.gov.uk), which allowed the selection of schedule and carrier plus online payment by credit card.

For these arrangements, we paid £59.90 each (about $209 for two). Tickets were mailed to arrive at a U.K. address four days prior to our arrival...