Travelers' Intercom | International Travel News

December 2006 issue

Around the world in 80 days

My husband and I have taken several trips around the world. On our most recent such trip, in 2005, dubbed “Around the World in 80 Days” (actually 83), we shopped in Hong Kong’s wet market, had an elephant massage in Thailand (my husband’s back massaged by an elephant’s foot), visited the National Museum of Bahrain and soaked in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon.

You can, too. It’s easier and less expensive than you may think. But long-term, independent, international travel requires some special planning.

TICKETING — The biggest obstacle is lack of time. Using a circle ticket or...

September 2005 issue

Laid-back in Belize

During the middle of July ’04, my wife, Ione, and I spent two weeks in Belize City and San Pedro (on Ambergris Caye), Belize. Our American Airlines flights from Miami were comfortable and on time.

Due to flight schedules, we stayed overnight at La Quinta Inn & Suites Miami Airport West (8730 NW 27th St., Miami, FL 33172; phone 866/725-1661), which we found online at www.parksleepfly.com. We paid $95. The hotel offered 30 days of free parking with our room as well as a courtesy shuttle to and from the Miami airport.

In Belize City we stayed at The Great House (13 Cork St...

April 2006 issue

Guide in Lithuania

I’m a genealogist, and I wanted to explore the towns and villages in Lithuania where our parents and grandparents lived in the early 1900s. Through the Internet, I found Ms. Nijole Pakalniene of Lithuanian Holidays (Šeimyniškiu˛, St. 1a, LT-09312 Vilnius 5, Lithuania; phone +370 5 2636064 or visit www.lithuanianholidays.lt). I asked for a Jewish guide who spoke English, and she paired us with Chaim Bargman.

Chaim is very knowledgeable and dedicated to Lithuania and its history. He speaks five languages. He showed us memorials, museums, ghettos, cemeteries and mass grave sites of the...

June 2005 issue

‘Outstanding’ guide in Romania

From April 1 to May 15, ’04, we spent four weeks on our own in the Czech Republic and Hungary and then another two weeks in Romania, ending up back in Bucharest.

Szeged, Hungary, is a city we highly recommend. It reminded us of Paris with its pedestrian mall, parks, cafés, ice cream parlors and shops. We stayed at Hotel Tisza (e-mail info@tiszahotel.hu), which had just been renovated, for about $80 a night.

For our tour of Romania, an outstanding Romanian guide, Andrei Nicolau (phone +40-722-576-456 or e-mail nicolau34@yahoo.com), picked us up in Szeged. Having always...

October 2006 issue

’Round-world trips

Are you considering a trip around the world (Dec. ’05, pg. 53)? Our recommendation would be “Go for it!” In March-April ’05 we traveled around the world, spending five weeks in 10 countries, and it was truly the trip of a lifetime. Here are the particulars.

1. We used United Airlines and their Star Alliance partners. They have specially trained agents who assisted us with the itinerary and the details.

The restrictions were minimal: complete the trip within a year, travel in only one direction (except when returning to a hub) and keep air miles at a certain level. (There are...

November 2005 issue

‘Fabulous’ guide in Turkey

Five of us took a personal tour of western Turkey with Mehmet Ozbalci in March ’04. A reader had recommended him in a short letter (May ’99, pg. 117). He truly is a guide “extraordinaire.”

Not only is Mehmet knowledgeable about Turkey and its wonderful history, he is a caring, patient, engaging individual.

Every day was a new adventure visiting all of the wondrous sights plus small villages and the friendly people of Turkey. On one occasion we enjoyed lunch outside in a remote village restaurant with a saz player serenading us; the saz is an instrument that is plucked....

September 2006 issue

Budget travel in Japan

My wife and I toured the island of Hokkaido on a 7-day Japan Rail Pass in November ’04. We stayed at Toyoko-Inn hotels. These are businessmen-type hotels, all located within a few minutes of train stations. The rooms are very clean and comfortable but a little small. They cost less than $100 a night, and on Sundays the rates are one-half for seniors.

You can make reservations via Internet, without giving a credit card number, at www.toyoko-inn.com. After you send in your reservation a confirmation is given, if a room is available. To cancel, call the hotel and ask for an English-...

June 2006 issue

Hands-on Bled Castle

While in Bled, Slovenia, you should definitely spend a couple of hours in Bled Castle. In addition to touring the museum and chapel, be sure to stop by the print shop where, with the help of a friendly, traditionally garbed printer, you can print a souvenir certificate for yourself for a small fee.

The printer leads you through selecting the paper and the details of your certificate, sets the type and shows you how to operate the printing press. It’s a lot of fun and gives you a unique souvenir of your visit. The small print shop is decorated with photos of the famous personages who...