International Travel News

Travelers' Intercom

November 2013 issue | Appears on page 18

Touring rainy Bergen and Ålesund

By Paula Prindle

Geiranger village seen from Ørnesvingen (Eagle’s Bend) Lookout. The road to the lookout is full of hairpin curves like the one on the left. Photo: Prindle

There is an old Norwegian saying: all Bergen babies are born with umbrellas. My husband, David, and I certainly needed an umbrella during our day in port during a Norway cruise with Royal Caribbean International in September ’12, but we found that in the afternoon the rain was intermittent. Therefore, our recommendation is to schedule any excursions you can for the afternoon, when the fog often lifts.

Our ship, Vision of the Seas, sailed into Geirangerfjord before daylight...

November 2013 issue | Appears on page 28

Did not find big-bus touring ‘leisurely’

By Susan Klapstein

I took the “Cultures & Contrasts of South America” tour offered by Grand European Travel. It was scheduled to take place Dec. 15-31, 2012, traveling for about five days each in Brazil, Argentina and Chile, with an optional day trip to Colonia, Uruguay. The land-only price, including a single supplement, was $7,805.

However, because the Brazilian consulate was not issuing tourist visas for a period during October-November 2012, I ended up missing the Brazil...

November 2013 issue | Appears on page 29

Savings buying tickets from theater

By Yvonne Richter

My husband and I wish we’d known how easy it is to buy tickets for Russia’s Bolshoi and Mariinsky theaters. We would have saved a lot of money on our Bolshoi tickets.

We booked a 17-day tour of Russia, May 15-June 1, 2012, through Kensington Tours. For tour members, the company offered to purchase theater tickets. As soon as the venue was announced, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, we asked for seats for the ballet “Giselle.” We were told the first-circle, first-row (box) seats cost $...

November 2013 issue | Appears on page 30

Return to Ethiopia

By Susan Lushing

After 17 years, in 2013 I paid a return visit to a truly unusual and interesting country. I was in Ethiopia in 1995 visiting the tribal south on a rugged tour, mostly camping. I returned with a friend, Jan. 6-21, to explore the unique rock churches in the Christian north. I found a changed country, with no starvation and with decent roads and a much-improved tourist infrastructure, in terms of hotels and restaurants.

Our trip was superbly arranged by Red Jackal Tours (PO Box 28529,...

November 2013 issue | Appears on page 31

Gorillas with ElderTreks

By Victor Block

My wife, Fyllis, and I took the 16-day “Uganda” tour with ElderTreks (Toronto, ON, Canada; 800/741-7956). Ten travelers were on the Sept. 20-Oct. 6, 2012, safari, most of whom were primarily interested in seeing mountain gorillas and big cats.

At a price of $7,895 a person (not including air from the US), participants anticipated an intriguing itinerary, excellent guides and high-quality accommodations and food, and all expectations were met with flying colors.

Most...

November 2013 issue | Appears on page 32

Memorable Kurdistan

By Phyllis Schlesinger

The most memorable trip I have taken is the tour “Exploring Iraqi Kurdistan,” from Adventures Abroad (Blaine, WA; 800/665-3998), April 13-21, 2013. Including breakfasts, dinners and very good accommodations, the land price of the 9-day tour was $3,390 plus $600 for the single supplement. Airfare from New York was $1,390.

The Kurds were friendly and welcoming to us. Even the checkpoint guards were friendly as they waved us on. We never felt as though there was any threat to...

November 2013 issue | Appears on page 32

New Zealand with AAT Kings

By Patricia Rosen

I took a 15-day tour, “New Zealand Experience,” with AAT Kings Tours/USA (Anaheim, CA; 866/240-1659). It started on Oct. 8, 2012, and was a wonderful trip, with excellent guides and excellent hotels.

I bought this tour through Travel Downunder (Bellevue, WA; 866/258-1629), which also arranged my flights. The owner, Wendy A. Schatz, was prompt with her emails and very helpful.

Including 12 dinners, a lunch or two and all breakfasts, the tour cost $4,710. Airfare from New York...

November 2013 issue | Appears on page 33

Parisian Studio Apartment

By Allan Penl

My wife and I took a quick trip from London to Paris, staying two nights in the delightful, one-bedroom Parisian Studio Apartment (contact Marie Lefebvre, 4 Weymouth Ct., Newport Beach, CA 92660; 949/433-5110), located in the eighth arrondissement.

We found the apartment to be clean, comfortable and tastefully appointed, with complete kitchen facilities and WiFi access. The cost of our stay, July 29-30, 2013, was $282.50 per night, which included cleaning charges.

We walked two...