Travelers' Intercom

December 2013 issue

Albania, Macedonia & Montenegro

By Nyck Wijbrandus

Like Jack and Anne Dini (“Returning to the Homeland: Albania,” Oct. ’13, pg. 52), my companion and I also followed the advice of Carol Probst (“Albania — Enjoying Europe Without the Costs and Crowds,” Dec. ’12, pg. 36) and took a tour with Albania Travel Net (Him Kolli str. 35, Pallati Agolli, Tirane 1003, Albania; phone +355 42247518) and guide Enea Kumi.

We toured Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro, Sept. 28-Oct. 8, 2013, and found Enea’s services to be excellent. Since that information has already been discussed, I thought ITN readers might like to know what they’re likely to find...

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December 2013 issue

Talk your way into a free cruise
By Chloe Winston

To cruise or not to cruise? That is the question. Cost is not the major drawback. What to consider is your body, your patience, your endurance and your ability to find pleasure in many new experiences.

A quick summary of the positives — great food, usually anything and everything you desire plus new experiences with cuisine; great cabin service, with stewards smiling, anticipating and pleasing; great ports of call (places you wouldn’t see otherwise), and great opportunities to learn and experience new things.

A quick summary of the negatives — tendering, i.e., transferring...

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April 2013 issue

Avoiding MSG overseas
By Carol Robles

I am very sensitive to MSG. I also am diabetic and need protein. When I first went to China, in the 1990s, I took those little packages of peanut butter crackers with me. Other than that, I ate lots of boiled rice.

On more recent trips to China, I found that local establishments were catering to American tourists. Especially if you are traveling in a group, you will be taken to restaurants that do not add MSG to food. “Add” is the magic word, however, since packaged goods and sauces used in restaurants generally already have MSG in them.

Don’t take any chances. When you first...

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June 2013 issue

Cartagena visit

Following a 9-day Panama stay, my wife, Faythe, and I flew to Cartagena, Colombia, for two weeks of exploration around the area, June 25-July 9, 2012. At the airport, we exchanged money at an ATM in the departure lounge before getting a taxi to our hotel.

Hotel Casa Relax (Calle del Pozo Nº 25-105, Barrio Getsemani, Cartagena, Colombia; phone +57 [5] 664 11 17) is located in the Getsem­ani area, outside the old walled city. The cost of COP150,000 (near $83) per night included an air-conditioned room and a nice breakfast. The staff didn’t speak much English. 

We took a 4-hour...

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November 2013 issue

Applying for a Russian visa
By Lois Halunen

For any of you intrepid travelers who may be planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Russia in February 2014, it is not too early to take a look online at the Russian visa application form. It is daunting.

Although the Russian Consulate will not accept a visa application until 45 days prior to your trip, finding out what is required ahead of time will help. 

After reviewing the application, myself, I decided to use a visa service company and chose CIBT (eight locations nationwide; 800/929-2428), which was recommended by the tour company my friend, Olga, and I were...

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November 2013 issue

Found Moroccans camera averse
By Steven Emmet

My wife and I travel to see interesting places and people and take lots of photos. If you like to do this too, do not go to Morocco! On our 2011 visit, people would run out of restaurants and physically accost us, demanding that we either erase the picture or give them money! 

This happened even at night in the big square filled with thousands of people. One man wouldn’t even let us take a picture of his cat!

Pictures of cute, little 6-year-old girls all dressed up for a holiday? Forbidden! The Berber market? Not only were there no folks dressed in interesting garb, the folks...

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August 2013 issue

Tips from a traveler
By Jerry Mendel

Always pack an umbrella. Often they’re difficult to find or can be quite expensive. While I was in Miami in April ’13, heavy rain was predicted. Umbrellas at Target cost $14 plus tax! They weren’t worth $2.

• Instead of visiting contemporary art museums and seeing the same famous names (and paying high admission fees), consider going to art galleries. Often, you will see amazing works by local artists. You’ll be able to talk to the people who work in the gallery, you won’t have to endure crowds and you’ll (probably) never have to pay an entry fee. 

Often, many galleries are...

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January 2013 issue

Touring Trieste
By Marilyn Hill
Castello di Miramare, near Trieste, Italy. Photo: Hill

Having paid $24 for a first-class one-way ticket, I was enjoying a relaxing train ride in Italy with no worries about when and where I was supposed to get off because my destination, Trieste, was the end of the line. The station was on one level, as in Venice, where I boarded, so there were no stairs to deal with, either.

With directions from a kind older lady, I turned right upon exiting the station. Do not turn left if you have luggage or you will have to go down a long flight of stairs that lead underground, then climb back up again.

My hotel, Albergo alla Posta (phone 011...

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