The impetus for our trip to Paris in May-June, 2012, was to visit the new World War One museum, the Musée de la Grande Guerre du Pays de Meaux (rue Lazare Ponticelli, 77100 Meaux, France; phone +33[1] 60 32 14 18). It was built to house one man’s personal collections, from thimbles to ambulances. It opened in November 2011 and is state of the art.

My husband, Herb, and I took the train to Meaux (about 40 kilometers) and a taxi to the museum. There is also a local bus to the museum....

My wife, Jane, and I had a memorable tour of southern India with Namaste Tours (O-130, DLF Shopping Mall, Arjun Marg, Phase 1, Gurgaon Haryana-122002, India; phone +91 [124] 4040636 or 637), Dec. 16, 2011-Jan. 3, 2012.

One of the most efficient, well-organized companies I have ever used, Namaste Tours arranged all the internal flights and trains as well as a car and driver for parts of our trip. A representative met us in each place and helped get our bags on the train or check us...

With 22 other people, I took a “Landlubber’s Galápagos” tour of Ecuador and the Galápagos with Adult Customized Tours (Palm Springs, CA; 888/605-8280), June 20-27, 2012.

The cost of $2,635 included airfare (Los Angeles-Quito-Galápagos-Guayaquil-Los Angeles) and two nights in Quito, four on Santa Cruz and one in Guayaquil. Breakfasts were included, but we were on our own for other meals. There was a fee of $10 to fly to the Galápagos and a fee of $100 for the national park. Optional...