I would like to know what others do in the way of traveling to other countries and taking helpful gifts to leave behind — a type of humanitarian tourism. I do not mean joining a church group or medical or dental group that is going specifically for that purpose. People can do things on an individual basis as well (although this is getting harder to do because of the limit of checking only one suitcase for free on international flights).

On our travels, my wife, Jane, and I usually...

My husband, Loren, and I decided in August to fly into Barcelona a few days prior to a cruise starting Jan. 4, 2013. 

I would like to recommend Hotel Catalunya (Santa Anna 24, Barcelona, 08002, Spain; phone 93 3019150, fax 93 3189403). Its location is ideal, on a pedestrian street running into La Rambla half a block away. 

When we arrived at the Barcelona airport, the bus was easy to get at a cost of €5.75 (near $7.50). It stopped at Plaza España and the university area on the...

I read the subscriber’s account of her tour of South Korea (May ’13, pg. 44). From my research, the mainstream tour companies do South Korea poorly or not at all. Instead, in April ’12  I joined a tour of South Korea from Kobayashi Travel Service (650 Iwilei Rd., Ste. 410, Honolulu, HI 96817; 808/593-9387), which offers 10-night spring and fall tours. 

I purchased the land-only option. (The 10-day autumn 2013 tour costs $3,095, land, with single supplement $1,095, plus about $200 for...