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January 2008 issue | Appears on page 90

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From VIENNA, Austria, Oct. 28

• For EuroHotel Vienna Airport (1 Marco-Polo-Strasse, Fischamend, Austria), our reservations were made through Call Box Customer Contact Solutions (Encino, CA; 888/810-7464) on behalf of Allresnet.com (Phoenix, AZ; 800/892-2108).

Since the hotel at the Vienna Airport was expensive and did not have consistently good reviews, I found this off-site location, which is only eight minutes away by hotel shuttle. 

Three times we found the reception...

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December 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

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From PARIS, France, Oct. 10…

• We used Capitol Shuttle (www.airport-shuttle.com) in Paris for airport/hotel transfers. Beware! We had a one-hour wait for pickup at the airport (“caught in traffic”). Pickup at our hotel was on time, but they attempted to drop us off at the wrong terminal! Then they dropped us off at correct terminal but at a definite no-stopping area, which brought airport security over in a flash to question us. I would avoid this company.

• Hotel du Cadran (10...

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October 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

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From BUJUMBURA, Burundi, July 17, 2007. . .

• 16-day trip “Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi” with Advantage Travel (Poway, CA; 800/882-2098 or e-mail advantaget@aol.com) — great trip!

Did a forest walk with a young chimp on my back in Uganda. This was on an island in Lake Victoria, and only those who stay overnight get to come in contact with the chimps; day visitors can watch them being fed. You need to get shots in advance, too. We stayed in plush tents.

Saw lots of gorillas...

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September 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

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On FRANCE, July ’07. . .

• Do you love to try new wines in France? Head to the grocery stores and check out the wonderful selections that are available in half bottles (roughly two glasses per bottle). The prices range from €1.5 to €5 ($2-$7) for wines from all different regions. Grab some of that delicious French cheese and a baguette and, voila!, a picnic!

• When touring the château and grounds of Versailles*, France, be aware that you will be charged separately for...

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August 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

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From Wroclaw/Boleslawiec, POLAND, June 3, ’07. . .

• Hotel-Restauracia Bielany (55-075 Bielany-Wroclawskie, ul. Klecinska 3, Wroclaw, Poland; phone +4871 311 2794, www.hotelbielany.com.pl).

On a trip from Slovakia to Boleslawiec to buy Polish pottery, I stayed at Hotel-Restauracia Bielany in Wroclaw. The hotel is right off the A4 autostrasse near the large stores Tesco, Ikea, Makro and others. I chose this hotel for its easy access to the A4, but it is also only a 10-minute...

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June 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

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From Trier, GERMANY, April 21, 2007. . .

• Hotel Pieper (Thebäerstrasse 39, Trier; phone 0651 23008, www.hotel-pieper-trier.de) is a very nice small hotel in Trier. Near the pedestrian zone of the city, it’s within walking distance of the bus and train station and a 10-minute walk from the Porta Nigra. The Church of St. Paulin, a beautiful baroque-style church, is a 3-minute walk from the hotel.

The staff is very friendly, although most do not speak English. The rooms each have...

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May 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

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From Sohren, GERMANY, March 18, 2007. . .

• Using the website www.flyhahn.com and flying into Frankfurt-Hahn Airport on Ryanair, I found this incredibly great hotel deal: €35 (near $47) per night, single (or €40 with breakfast), at Hotel-Pizzeria Venezia (Niedersohrener Str. 14, D-55487 Sohren, Germany; phone +49 [0] 6543/98 88-0, fax 98-88 38 or visit www.hotel-pizzeria-venezia.de).

The hotel is about eight minutes from the airport. Call the hotel upon arrival; they’ll pick...

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April 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

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From Paris, FRANCE, Jan. 29, ’07. . .

• Côté Cour (Impasse de la Gaité, Paris 75014; phone 01 43 27 23 34), located off rue de la Gaité. A favorite restaurant just off the “street of theatres,” it offers traditional French cooking with 2-course meals (entrée and dessert or appetizer) or all three courses. Drinks are extra at moderate prices.

My husband, James, and I started with escargots (12!), then had veal blanquette, then custard with cream — at €26 (near $34) a typical...

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