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June 2014 issue | Appears on page 15

Neckargemünd dining

By Elizabeth Johnson

My husband and I were in Heidelberg in early December ’13 for the Christmas market and, for dinner, decided to go to Neckargemünd, which is a 10-minute S-bahn ride from the Heidelberg train station.

Across the street from the front of the Neckargemünd station, the well-lighted Gasthaus Reber (Bahnhofstrasse 52, 69151 Neckargemünd, Germany; phone +49 6223 8779, fax 6223 862738) drew our attention.

The owners are a husband-and-wife team, who cook and manage the dining room and...

June 2014 issue | Appears on page 22

Miami airport woes

By Emily Moore

My husband, Al, and I arrived at Miami International Airport from Panama City on March 4, 2014, at 10:30 a.m., leaving plenty of time before our 1:30 p.m. flight aboard American Airlines to St. Louis, Missouri.

However, we encountered long lines and faced long walks. We went through security twice. We had to search for our luggage because it had been taken off the carousel immediately to make room for that of another incoming flight.

The next step was to go through Customs,...

June 2014 issue | Appears on page 23

Adventures in Kenya and Tanzania

By Lynda Howland

Giraffes at Giraffe Manor checking out the breakfast menu in the hotel dining room. Photos: Howland

Two friends and I spent an exciting month in Africa, June 18-July 15, 2012.

We landed in Nairobi, KENYA, and stayed at the gated Flora Hostel (phone +254 720 071772). A Catholic-based center run by the Consolata Sisters, it is frequently used by missionaries but is open to anyone.

It had a friendly staff and offered immaculately clean rooms. Including three meals a day, room rates are currently KES3,000 (near $35) for a single with private shower and toilet (KES2,600 with...

June 2014 issue | Appears on page 26

Africa 2000 Tours

By Diane Steele

A trip to Southern Africa for our group of 12 friends, April 29-May 22, 2013, was put together by Gill and Graham of Africa 2000 Tours (P.O. Box 1025, Knysna, 6570, South Africa; phone +27 44 384 1262), an ITN advertiser.

I have traveled extensively in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other “easy” places, and I was a bit nervous about visiting Africa. As soon as Gill and Graham picked us up at the Cape Town airport, I realized I was in excellent hands. They are efficient,...

June 2014 issue | Appears on page 28

Glob Metropoliten for Serbia

By Bob Cushman

My wife and I decided, on short notice, to try to get to the Davis Cup tennis finals in Belgrade, Serbia, Nov. 15-17, 2013, and then spend another week or so seeing more of the country.

After a bit of Web surfing, in late September we got in touch with Glob Metropoliten Tours (Lufthansa City Center, Makenzijeva 26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; phone +381 11/2430899).

Mirjana Ljubinković, the general manager, immediately sent us information about their package tours of Serbia and...

June 2014 issue | Appears on page 29

Two days in Taipei

By Kevin O’Brien

Before joining a group for a tour of Taiwan in May 2013, my wife, Jane, and I traveled independently for two days in the capital, Taipei, a city of six million people.

We found Taiwan to be a delightful, user-friendly country. All signs were in Chinese and English, the trains were fast and punctual, and the people could not have been more hospitable and helpful.

Jane doesn’t walk well, but that was no problem, thanks to the kindness of the Taiwanese. The woman at...

June 2014 issue | Appears on page 30

Lodging in Bur Dubai

By Nancy J. Norberg

During our 4-day stay in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in April 2013 prior to a cruise, my husband, Ed, and I chose the Bur Dubai area for lodging, rather than the other historic area of Deira, because of its access to many of the attractions we wanted to visit.

We found three interesting hotels in the Bur Dubai area: Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa (Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai, P.O. Box 46500, Dubai, UAE; phone +971 4 3519111, fax 3517744), Orient Guest House and XVA Art Hotel. All...

June 2014 issue | Appears on page 30

Swissôtel Amsterdam

By Marilyn Hill

Houseboats in the Jordaan area of Amsterdam. Photo: Hill

During my September 2013 stay at the Swissôtel Amsterdam (Damrak 96, 1012 LP, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; phone +31 20 522 3000, fax +31 20 522 3223), just off Dam Square, I found its location convenient for walking to the Centraal Station, the Jordaan area and the Hermitage area. In back was a small alleyway to the pedestrian-only shopping area behind the hotel. For most, however, reaching the three major museums in town would likely require a tram trip.

The Swissôtel had a...