International Travel News

Travelers' Intercom

August 2008 issue | Appears on page 28

Catching up with the ship

My husband, Lynn, and I were to join my parents in Philadelphia where all four of us would continue on to England and begin our anticipated 2-week Baltic cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Constellation, June 2-16, 2007. (For the cruise, two of us paid a total of $8,768, which included airfare and $518 for trip insurance.)

However, my husband and I were off to a bad start, stuck on the runway at the Pittsburgh airport for three hours because of bad weather. The pilot announced he was...

August 2008 issue | Appears on page 30

Line canceled shore tour, charged cancellation fee

In August ’07 my husband, Robert, and I booked a 14-day South America cruise on the Norwegian Dream; we would leave Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Feb. 3, 2008. At the same time, we booked a shore excursion, “Antarctic Flightseeing,” online for $2,199 per person. We received written confirmation from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) that same month.

In November ’07 we made our final payment on the cruise, and in December we received our itinerary and confirmation of the shore excursion.

August 2008 issue | Appears on page 31

Bargain to Bali and HK

My husband, Fos, and I took a trip to Bali, Indonesia, and Hong Kong, China, April 3-23, 2008. Although we usually travel independently, we chose this package because we were unable to match the prices that Escapes Unlimited (2012 Lerner Ln., Santa Ana, CA 92705; 800/243-7227, www.escapesltd.com) was offering for air travel.

The package included economy airfare from San Francisco to Denpasar, Bali (with a stopover in Hong Kong), on Cathay Pacific (reasonably good food plus free wine...

August 2008 issue | Appears on page 32

Africa Easy

The “secret season” in South Africa is during September and October. That’s what Nadia Eckhardt of Africa Easy Travel Company (2212 Queen Anne Ave. North #148, Seattle, WA 98109; 800/617-2319, www.africaeasy.com) told us years ago. We’ve traveled four times with her during that time of year and have enjoyed lovely weather and few crowds.

On our most recent independent-travel trip arranged by Africa Easy, Sept. 29-Oct. 31, 2007, we added BOTSWANA to the itinerary for the first time and...

August 2008 issue | Appears on page 32

Incredible Real India Tours

My wife, Gina, and I took Holland America’s 114-day world cruise aboard the Amsterdam, Jan. 4-April 24, 2008, out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While we booked many shore excursions with the ship, we felt their overland excursions were overpriced.

In India, we arranged to take the 4-day “Golden Triangle” tour of Incredible Real India Tours & Travels (C-162, Bharat Marg, Hanuman Nagar, Vaishali, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302021, India; phone 0091-93511-54969 or 0091 141 2245655, www....

August 2008 issue | Appears on page 33

Senses-filling India

India! Many love it, and some say they hate it, but no one is indifferent to this vast subcontinent teeming with almost one billion people. I was privileged to view it on a March-April tour with The Eagle Connection (Te Wairua, Apuau Channel, Private Bag, Havelock, Marlborough, North Island, New Zealand; phone +64 3 576 5048, fax 5148, www.eagle-tours.co.nz).

Some of my impressions — a kaleidoscope of color that swirled and shifted endlessly; people, cows and vehicles pressing in...

August 2008 issue | Appears on page 34

Discovering Roots in Poland

For our trip to Poland and Romania in August ’07, Orbis Polish Travel Bureau, Inc. (347 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10016-5020; 800/867-6526, www.orbistravel.com) had assigned to my wife, Margi, and me a guide and driver in each of the cities we visited. This made sightseeing easier and more flexible.

The cost of the Poland portion of our trip (nine nights) was $4,807 for two, including breakfast, hotels, private car, driver and guide, rail travel and entry fees. Other meals cost extra...

August 2008 issue | Appears on page 36

Mendoza, Argentina

On your next visit to Argentina, leave the tango behind, for a change, and take a dive into the real culture, history and splendor of nature in Mendoza, which is only a 2-hour flight from Buenos Aires.

Mendoza, the capital of Mendoza Province, is located in an area of vast diversification, from vineyards in the wine country (similar to California’s Napa and Sonoma regions) to the majestic range of the tallest peak in the Western Hemisphere, Mount Aconcagua.

This realm teems...