International Travel News

Columns

January 2008 issue | Appears on page 82

Tips on snorkeling

By Lew Toulmin

by Lew Toulmin, second of two parts

In my last column I shared some tips from Dr. Jack Grove of Zegrahm Expeditions (192 Nickerson St. #200, Seattle, WA 98109; 800/628-8747, www.zeco.com) on snorkeling safety and footwear for use during cruises with snorkel programs. This time I will talk about ear and skin protection, eye protection, safety and free diving.

Ear and skin protection

Some snorkelers, myself included, use foam or rubber earplugs to keep water from getting...

January 2008 issue | Appears on page 84

Dealing with delayed, canceled and overbooked flights

By Philip Wagenaar

by Philip Wagenaar, M.D., first of two parts

It was 11:35 a.m. when the Alaska Airlines gate agent intoned, “I am sorry to inform you that flight 580’s departure to San Diego has been postponed. It has been rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. Everybody may pick up a voucher for a sandwich and a drink at this desk.”

Before the rep had finished, a crowd had swarmed the desk. Where else can you get a free sandwich and free drink?

By 1 p.m. we were again gazing out over the tarmac at...

January 2008 issue | Appears on page 88

Nostalgia in a Polish milk bar

By Rick Steves

I remember a bleak time in Poland when the economy was so maddeningly out of touch with the needs of its people that anyone lucky enough to own a car would remove their windshield wipers at night and take them inside. In their command economy — oblivious to the laws of supply and demand — some official forgot to order wipers and, consequently, they weren’t for sale anywhere. Inspired by a hungry black market, thieves would work late into the night snapping them up.

...

December 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Boarding Pass

By David Tykol

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 382nd issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine, the one written largely by you and your fellow subscribers!

A few items worth noting crossed my desk this month.

The International Airline Passenger Association, or IAPA (www.iapa.com), in a Sept. 14 press release wrote, “The U.S. Department of Transportation is considering new rules which may see the airline passenger receiving increased compensation for being denied...

December 2007 issue | Appears on page

Certain exceptions of the 3-1-1 carry-on rule

In his May ’07 “Discerning Traveler” column, Philip Wagenaar described how, when going through security checkpoints at airports, anywhere, he places on the moving belt, for inspection, his quart-sized zip-lock see-through baggie with sundries in it, each of the sundry containers capable of holding no more than three ounces of liquid or gel, of course. Next to that, again for the inspectors to see, he places a 4-ounce bottle of contact lens solution.

He explained that...

December 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Tips on snorkeling

By Lew Toulmin

by Lew Toulmin, (First of two parts, jump to part 2)

Many cruise and expedition passengers enjoy snorkeling off beaches, Zodiacs or dive boats. Snorkeling is an easy sport and provides fantastic views of beautiful coral and fish. The sport is open to swimmers of any age. I have seen snorkelers from ages five to 85 enjoying themselves on cruises.

The sport is so easy that I, myself, thought I knew it all, then I met the master snorkeler and diver Dr. Jack Grove, an expert on the...

December 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

On becoming a G.O.

By Randy Keck

In the travel industry, G.O. is the abbreviation for the term “group organizer.” Most ITN readers probably know at least one person who has functioned as a G.O.

Who are G.O.s?

The definition of a group organizer, broadly stated, is someone who organizes a group of people to travel together with a common group itinerary. A group is usually defined by the travel industry as 10 or more passengers traveling together. A G.O. can be anyone with a following or who...

November 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Boarding Pass

By David Tykol

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 381st issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.

This September, the Arctic’s Northwest Passage — between the Pacific and the Atlantic — was “fully navigable,” with sea ice melting to its lowest level since satellite measurements began 30 years ago, according to the European Space Agency.

Many shippers would find the route cheaper than taking the Panama Canal, and it certainly would be a quicker route between Europe and...