International Travel News

Travelers' Intercom

March 2011 issue | Appears on page 14

Tokyo’s fish market

Traveling on a professional grant, I joined a group of five other educators for a June-July 2010 trip to Japan, where I experienced the warmth and beauty of Japanese culture in Tokyo, Oita, Hiroshima and Kyoto. A highlight was a visit to the tuna auction at the Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market, also known as the Central Market, the world’s largest wholesale seafood market.

Tsukiji drives a thriving distribution system at the core of Japanese cuisine, delivering more than 2,000 tons of...

March 2011 issue | Appears on page 16

Hotels’ all-inclusive option

If you are going to mainland Europe and are concerned about the cost of extras, such as drinks and snacks during the day and wine with your meals, why not do as my wife, Vivien, and I did on our trips to Crete and Tenerife in late 2009, early 2010: choose the “all inclusive” option that is now offered by quite a few decent-quality holiday hotels.

The increased cost over half-board was not much more than what we usually spend on coffees and teas, which we were buying about four times a...

March 2011 issue | Appears on page 24

Comparing Africa trips offered by OAT

I read Wanda Bahde’s article “Ultimate Africa — Going Beyond the Simple Safari in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe” (Oct. ’10, pg. 44), about the trip she and her husband took with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) in September-October 2009, and I could not concur more with their recommendation of this trip. My wife and I took the “Ultimate Africa” trip with OAT in July ’09 and had a superlative experience.

I have a few comments on Ms. Bahde’s assessment.

She wrote that they were...

March 2011 issue | Appears on page 26

Assigned cabin too small

My wife, Shirley, and I have been vacationing in Norway for many years. We have friends in the Lofoten Islands and stay with them or in a rental owned by their son.

Getting to the Lofotens is possible by car, ship or, via multiple in-country flights, plane. Since we love to travel there by ship, we most often use the Hurtigruten system and have done so at least 19 times. We have never had a problem with Hurtigruten personnel or, until recently, the ships’ accommodations.

Many...

March 2011 issue | Appears on page 29

‘Security absurdity’

After visiting Argentina in November ’10, my wife and I flew home to Charlotte out of Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) on Continental Airlines. I will compare our experience to that of another ITN subscriber who returned to the US through EZE in February ’07 (Sept. ’07, pg. 44).

Good news — the departure tax was included in the cost of our airline ticket. One less queue!

It’s still true that you can wear your shoes while passing through the security checkpoint....

March 2011 issue | Appears on page 29

Cottages in Bali

While on “Oprah” in August, Julia Roberts said that Bali is “Heaven on Earth.” My husband, Carl, and I traveled to Bali in February-March 2010 and would agree with her!

We planned the trip, ourselves, and stayed in several places for seven to 10 days each — so we could really get to know paradise. At two places, in particular, the staff was friendly and helpful and we made some new Balinese friends.

Taman Harum Cottages (Box 3216, Mas, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia; phone [62 361]...

March 2011 issue | Appears on page 30

Thai guest house

Every year for the past six years my daughter, Alison, and I have taken a trip to Thailand. In Chiang Mai we stay at Sarah Guest House (20 Tapae Road, Soi 4, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand; phone [66 53] 208271, fax [66 53] 279423). It is owned and operated by Sarah, who is from the United Kingdom, and her husband, Jack, who is a Thai tour guide.

Sarah’s accommodations are very basic and clean, with no frills. For $8 or $9 per night, Alison and I shared a room, with bath, that had a fan...

March 2011 issue | Appears on page 31

Panama City hotel

My husband, Norman, and I found a gem of a hotel in Panama City. We stayed at the three-star Hotel Bahía Suites (Calle 31 con Justo Arosemena; phone 011 507 225 8578), in the Calidonia area of Panama City, Aug. 24-Sept. 1, 2010.

Our queen standard room, $69 per night, included a fabulous full breakfast served in the rooftop restaurant with its panoramic view of the city, the Casco Viejo and the Bay of Panama. King standard rooms cost $79 per night.

Although the décor, furniture...