International Travel News

Travelers' Intercom

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 49

The castles of Parma

My wife, Rosalie, and I spent our 45th wedding anniversary in Italy, May 21-June 10, 2009. One of the places we visited was the municipality of Parma in the province of Emilia-Romagna. This area, which has long been overlooked by tourists, is noted for its numerous castles and châteaux similar to those of France’s Loire Valley.

We chose the town of Soragna as a base from which to tour the area. Soragna is located just south of the Po River and about a half-hour drive northwest of the...

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 51

Need a car for more than 30 days?

I am responding to the request for information on renting a car for more than 30 days (July ’09, pg. 31).

When we needed to have a car for more than 30 days in Italy in 2004, I found that the cheapest and best way was to lease. The lease included all costs, including 100% insurance coverage. There were no surprises. Of course, we paid for the gas and we needed to say if more that one person would be driving.

The car was new. It was “pick it up and drop it off,” no questions...

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 51

Staged distraction

Although we are supposed to be savvy travelers, in April ’09 we were taken in by a scam that we were not ready for.

My wife and I were seated in a 4-seat section on a train in Germany. I had put my Eurail pass in my jacket inside pocket, with the jacket lying on the seat opposite my window seat.

An older gentleman lost some coins on the floor, and while we were distracted his partner removed the contents of my jacket pocket. Of course, we didn’t realize what had happened until...

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 52

One crooked cabbie

I spent three weeks with a group in Hanoi, Vietnam, starting Nov. 3, 2008. Some of us frequently took a cab between our hotel and the Old Town shopping center. Usually the cab cost around 45,000 dong (near $2.50).

One time we took a cab back to the hotel and the meter showed 91,000 dong ($5). Obviously, a crooked meter! We refused to pay, settling for, I think, 50,000 dong.

Be aware!

VAUGHAN PARKER

Santa Barbara, CA

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 52

Counts on travel agents

I agree 100% with Kent Shamblin’s letter about paying a small fee to have a professional travel agent book a trip (Sept. ’09, pg. 49).

I am a nurse but not an x-ray tech, so I don’t read my own mammograms; I hired a construction crew to put a new roof on my house, and I have a mechanic fix my car.

Using a travel agent means that I have a 24/7 emergency phone number, accessible worldwide, to be used if I miss a flight or have other travel problems or emergencies.

My agent...

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 52

Travel agents can help

I would like to commend Kent Shamblin for his letter “Relies on Travel Agent” in the September ’09 issue. His recommendation to travelers to find a good professional travel agent is excellent.

I have been in the travel business for 20 years, and, when reading “Person to Person” in ITN, I find that many of the letters requesting information could be answered immediately by a reliable, experienced agent for little or no fee.

Some people say ‘Everything’s on the Internet and so...

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 52

Cutting all ties, temporarily

I just finished reading Rick Steves’ “Techie Tips for Travelers” (Sept. ’09, pg. 58). It’s all good information, I’m sure. Call me old-fashioned or “out of the loop,” if you will, but doesn’t anyone travel to get away from it all anymore?

I receive e-mails, cell phone calls and phone messages at home from friends and family, but I’m not taking them with me when I go on vacation! I will check in with them when I get home, but while I’m gone I’m going to be too busy enjoying my trip and...

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 53

Traveling in Costa Rica

The Costa Rica tour a subscriber wrote about in the September ’09 issue (page 20) seems to offer good value for the money, but she did err in one matter.

She probably didn’t realize that a boat is not the only way to get to Tortuguero National Park. True, there are no roads, but there is a small airstrip. While I haven’t taken the plane, I have friends who have; there is service every day from San José. My companion and I actually walked the airstrip when we were turtle hunting.