When packing, always put shoes in shoe bags. I make my own shoe bags from soft fabric, such as a thin flannel, as the plastic ones do not pack as well. Wipe off shoes, when needed, with wet wads of toilet paper, then dry them with additional sheets of the paper.

For a long trip, carry mothballs in small cloth bags, especially in damp climates, to get rid of mustiness. I usually use them in my shoes. Put them into zip-lock bags until you’re ready to bring them out. Use them, then pitch...

On a trip to the Philippines in late October 2010, my husband, John, and I stayed at the Manila Hotel for four nights. We stayed in the old hotel, opened in 1912 and full of history, and the whole experience was wonderful. A string ensemble played nightly in the lobby. It’s connected to a more modern tower hotel, but we loved the older charm, elevator, etc. Our room, with beautiful mahogany doors and woodwork, had two small balconies and faced the street and a park. It was difficult to...

Articles my husband, R.C., and I read in ITN helped us plan our fall ’09 trip to Croatia and Slovenia. We went to Plitvice National Park because every article we’d read about Croatia mentioned this destination. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen another place quite like it. The color of the lakes is so special, black-and-white photos cannot do it justice. We spent an entire day walking the park’s paths.

We also read Yvonne Michie Horn’s article “The Adriatic Coast” (Feb. ’09, pg. 6),...