Travelers' Intercom

June 2011 issue

Panama City guide

My husband, Norman, and I knew we wanted to hire a tour guide to show us the major sights of Panama City in August 2010, and our trip’s best find was Alvamayita (Alva) Pinzón (cell phone 507 6676 4147 or e-mail alvamayita@yahoo.com).

We called her from the US to discuss our tour needs and her rates and availability. I had researched and called many tour companies recommended in the travel books, so I knew what our tours would typically cost. Prices for Alva’s tours were equal to or less than those of any group tour, and with just the three of us, we could go at our own speed and...

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November 2009 issue

Arrangements for Greece

After staying with friends in a villa in Spain (Oct. ’09, pg. 12), my wife, Betty, and I flew on April 10, 2008, from Valencia to Athens via Rome on Alitalia, with our scheduled arrival in Athens quite late. Our friend Jan, a retired airline executive living in Kansas, flew from Valencia on another carrier.

A word about low-cost airlines — portions of our itinerary involved flying within Europe, and we found a site online, www.whichbudget.com, which shows, worldwide, who flies where and when. It lists low-cost carriers and their schedules, sites and fares.

During our trip, we...

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January 2010 issue

Innovative Immersion Tours

I have taken several tours with Innovative Immersion Tours (11664 National Blvd., Ste. 277, Los Angeles, CA 90064; 916/709-3249, www.iitours.com), most recently to Bali, Indonesia, June 17-July 2, 2009.

This one was called “Island of the Gods: Bali.” The value for the money was outstanding, and most expenses (meals, tours, entrance fees, etc.) were included. Including airfare from San Francisco on Singapore Airlines, it cost $2,850 plus a single supplement of $350.

The owner of the company, Mellissa Withers, often leads the groups and was the leader on our tour to Bali....

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March 2009 issue

Cusco hotel noisy

On a tour of Peru in September ’08, the itinerary had us spending two nights in Cusco at the Samay Hotel (Av. San Martin 206, Cusco, Peru), then one night in Machu Picchu, then two more nights in Cusco. Although the accommodations at the Samay were good, we never got a decent night’s sleep due to noise from street traffic, trains and barking dogs as well as slamming doors, both staff and guests talking, etc. Earplugs helped only minimally.

Our room for our first stay at the Samay was on the second floor at the front of the hotel, overlooking the street. We had communicated our...

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December 2008 issue

Dizzy dining

In his November ’08 “All Aboard!” column, Jay Brunhouse wrote about Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and described the KL Tower as having “the world’s first revolving restaurant.”

Before that tower was built, my wife and I visited Frankfurt, Germany, where a 20- to 30-story building also had a revolving restaurant. Our window seats gave us ever-changing panoramic views while we enjoyed a fine meal at sunset.

A.A. SCHAUFELBERGER

Fripp Island, SC

Mr. Schaufelberger is quite right. While the KL Tower was topped off on Sept. 13, 1994, and opened to the public on July 23,...

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April 2009 issue

Memories of Trieste

I read every issue of ITN and it seems to me that there are frequent stories about Venice and the eastern Adriatic, for example, Yvonne Horn’s feature “The Adriatic Coast — in the Wake of the Winged Lion” (Feb.’09, pg. 6), but I have yet to see a story about the northern Adriatic, specifically, Trieste.

After being assigned to Trieste in 1953, when it was a free territory governed by the US and British military, I really developed a soft spot in my heart for the city. I went back often, the last time in 2001.

Trieste deserves more recognition for its notable place in European...

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May 2009 issue

Katadyn water purifier

For a trip to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos in January ’09, like the writer of the letter “SteriPEN® Sterilizes Water” (March ’09, pg. 56) I too was concerned about the expense and environmental aspects of drinking bottled water exclusively.

My solution was to purchase a Katadyn Extream XR (www.katadyn.com) “personal water purification system,” which consists of a 1½-pint bottle with an insert that filters and purifies water.

I bought mine at REI (800/426-4840, www.rei.com) for about $50. The included filter is good for 164 refills. I brought along a second filter,...

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September 2011 issue

Medical Needs Overseas: Carry meds record

Recently, I visited one of my doctors and was asked to update the list of all medications that I currently take. This information was entered into the PPO’s (preferred provider organization’s) databank of reports that each of my doctors consult in their management of my case. (All of my doctors belong to the same PPO.)

I asked for, and was given, a copy of the updated list, which shows the medications by prescription name, dosage instructions, etc., and the name of the medical provider. (My wife received a copy of her medications too.)

I added to this list the...

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