Returning from a trip to England in May ’08, my husband and I were in Philadelphia trying to get home to Las Vegas; however, Delta had delayed all their flights due to inclement weather in Philadelphia. People were camped out in long lines everywhere, and no one knew what the weather would be like in the morning.

My husband had Delta’s 800 number in his cell phone, so he called them and found out the last Delta flight out of Philly was leaving in an hour for Atlanta. We got the last...

While my wife, Paula, and I didn’t find Lugano, Switzerland, to be the most exciting or interesting of destinations, the city is the southern terminus of two of Swiss Rail’s most scenic train routes: the William Tell Express and the Bernina Express. That is its primary attraction for many travelers, but its mountainside location on picturesque Lake Lugano (shared with Italy) provides another good reason to visit.

The city certainly doesn’t fit the stereotypical image of an Alpine...

Upon arriving in Bali, Indonesia, Americans, Canadians and Europeans are required to pay $25 for a Visa On Arrival (VOA). The visa will be applied to a page in your passport. Most travelers from Asian countries are spared this expense.

For the convenience of visitors, many money changers are available to convert dollars to rupiah. A word of caution from someone who has traveled often to Bali, most recently in May ’08 — many of these people are less than honest.

Just be sure you...