Report from India…

We used the guide Sanny Khan (phone +91 9335666195 or e-mail sanny_khan3169@yahoo.com) for a tour of Varanasi, India, Oct. 25-26, 2010. His English was great, which is less common in India than I had expected.

Not only did Sanny take us to all the tourist sites and arrange sunset/sunrise boat trips on the Ganges, he took us to all the local haunts for the best lassi, chai and spices, took us to local markets and outlying villages, arranged for porters to...

REPORT FROM INDIA…

In the Civil Lines area of Delhi, we stayed at the bed-and-breakfast Sham Nath Villa (12, Sham Nath Marg, Civil Lines, Delhi, 110054, India; phone +91 11 23976660 or 23923925), Oct. 16-19, 2010.

Conveniently located near Delhi’s modern, easy-to-use metro and minutes from all the important sights, this is a glorious, historic, family property with a spacious garden and five big rooms with balconies. Booked online, our room cost INR4,500 (just over $100) per...

REPORT FROM Italy…

• Located in Aosta, Hotel Ristorante Cecchin (Via Ponte Romano, 27, 11100 Aosta, Italy; phone 39 016545262, fax 39 016531736, www.hotelcecchin.com) is an easy walk from the pedestrian area and near the Arco d’Augusto.

Our room, booked through www.venere.com at €90 (about $115) for Sept. 2, 2010, was spotless and roomy and had a balcony. The proprietor spoke English and was very helpful.

A city with much art and history, Aosta has many churches, museums...