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An hour outside of Venice and 10 minutes from Vicenza, four of us spent a week in June 2014 at a wonderful villa in Italy’s Veneto region: Villa da Schio (Piazza G. da Schio n. 4, 36023, Costozza di Longare [Vicenza], Italy; phone +39 0444 555099, www.costozza-villadaschio.it/new/ing). 

We had two large bedrooms with private baths and a large sitting room with a small kitchen plus a beautiful terrace for €150 (near $183) per night for all four of us.

The owner, Giulio da Schio...

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I read the item about the increase in traffic accidents in New Zealand involving foreign drivers (Dec. ’14, pg. 2). I would point out that the main problem for Americans driving in New Zealand is that New Zealanders drive on the left (“wrong”) side of the road.

Even if, intellectually, you know you’re supposed to be driving on the left-hand side, in an emergency your reflexes are liable to fail you and you may respond by driving on the right-hand side.

We visited New Zealand in...

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In his letter titled “Do-it-yourself Dryer,” Charles Severs asked for suggestions for a good towel to dry clothes with after washing them while on a trip (Oct. ’14, pg. 56).

I have traveled widely since 1972, but it was during a 3-week trip in South Africa that I discovered my cotton T-shirts would NOT dry overnight. It could take four days! I discarded those and decided to never travel with another all-cotton item if it would need to be washed overnight.

Somehow, I discovered...

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In the letter “Vaporetti in Venice” (Nov. ’14, pg. 32), a subscriber wrote about the vaporetto pass. While on a tour of Italy in October 2009, my wife, Kathy, and I had a free day in Venice. I bought us each a 24-hour pass and we rode the vaporetti all day.

We toured Burano for lace and Murano for glass and rode all around, ending up taking the No.1 down the Grand Canal to Piazza San Marco. 

It was sunset, and as we sat in an outdoor café with our...

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Before boarding a ship for a Baltic cruise, my friend and I, along with my daughter and her husband, spent four days and three nights (Sept. 1-4, 2014) in Copenhagen, a city with a reputation for being one of Europe’s priciest. With careful planning, however, we were able to enjoy our time in this clean and modern yet historic city without breaking the bank.

Through Booking.com, we booked our hotel, Wakeup Copenhagen, Borgergade (Borgergade 9, Copenhagen, Denmark; phone +45 4480 0090...

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My wife and I visited Machu Picchu, Peru, in May 2014. We had read on different online forums and were advised by more than one tour company that a special permit was required for lenses over 200mm long.* 

When we arrived at Machu Picchu, however, no one was enforcing that rule. I was carrying a 300mm lens, yet none of our equipment was inspected, nor were we asked for a permit.

To those who’d like to limit themselves to just one lens on a trip like this, I’d recommend NOT...

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I returned from London, flying to Los Angeles on United Airlines out of the airline’s new Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport, on Oct. 22, 2014. After walking forever and ever from security to the gates in Terminal 2B (Gates B31-B49), I wondered just how far it was.

When I couldn’t find the information online, I asked the woman doing the check-in in the United Red Carpet Club if she knew how long the walk was. Without hesitation, she said, “Yes. It’s a mile!”

She went on to say that...

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