International Travel News

Travelers' Intercom

January 2010 issue | Appears on page 26

Refunding made disadvantageous

After booking, on Air Berlin’s website (www.airberlin.com) on Feb. 9, 2009, a round-trip flight between New York and Düsseldorf in May, I unhappily discovered that reserving two economy seats would cost an additional €60, or $86, round trip. Nevertheless, on Feb. 20 I phoned Air Berlin’s US office (866/266-5588) and paid this amount to ensure that my wife and I would have adjacent aisle and window seats.

With a scheduled departure time of approximately 6 p.m., the outbound overnight...

January 2010 issue | Appears on page 28

Innovative Immersion Tours

I have taken several tours with Innovative Immersion Tours (11664 National Blvd., Ste. 277, Los Angeles, CA 90064; 916/709-3249, www.iitours.com), most recently to Bali, Indonesia, June 17-July 2, 2009.

This one was called “Island of the Gods: Bali.” The value for the money was outstanding, and most expenses (meals, tours, entrance fees, etc.) were included. Including airfare from San Francisco on Singapore Airlines, it cost $2,850 plus a single supplement of $350.

The owner of...

January 2010 issue | Appears on page 29

Freighter around Europe

I traveled on a Grimaldi Lines freighter, Grande Spagna, June 6-July 5, 2009. From Valencia, Spain, we sailed past Gibraltar to England, Holland and Belgium. We docked at Portugal on the way back to the Mediterranean, stopping at Valencia again before heading on to Italy (three ports), Greece and Turkey and finishing at Valencia.

I was scheduled to leave Valencia on June 2. That was changed to June 3, and I finally left on June 6 on a different vessel than originally scheduled.

January 2010 issue | Appears on page 30

Turkey on the cheap — in Selçuk

I traveled solo in Turkey for 26 days in May ’09 for a total of $950.57! This did not include airfare but did include all transportation, lodging, meals, entry to historic sites, a few souvenirs and renting several mopeds. I told about my stay in Bodrum (Oct. ’09, pg. 14); in this write-up I describe my economical touring in the town of Selçuk in the north.

The bus ride from Bodrum to Selcuk took a bit over three hours (TL20, or about $12.50). The bus company was KamilKoc (www....

January 2010 issue | Appears on page 32

Highlights of Nicaragua

Just our luck! My husband, Frank, and I picked the rainiest week of the year when we visited Nicaragua in October ’08. Fortunately, almost every day had some sun, except the Sunday we watched an NFL game in our room during a sideways rainstorm.

We spent three nights in Granada, three in San Juan del Sur and one near Managua airport before an early-morning departure. Except at the hotel in San Juan del Sur, we spoke Spanish throughout our trip.

Because we were arriving late at...

January 2010 issue | Appears on page 35

Leases Europe autos with Kemwel

The subscriber’s letter about leasing a car for 30-plus days in Italy (Nov. ’09, pg. 51) led my husband, Klaus, and me to contact the agent at bonvoyagebycar@yahoo.com. The agent claimed he could get us a better price than we would with a lease/buyback via Peugeot or Renault.

We then contacted Kemwel (Portland, ME; 877/820-0668, www.kemwel.com) and were told that, as the direct agents with the manufacturer, they handle 80% of the lease/buyback contracts with Peugeot in the US, thus no...

January 2010 issue | Appears on page 53

Village of Zagarolo

Like so many visitors to Italy, I get trapped in the beautiful inner city of Rome, with its Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and, of course, the Vatican, but venture east 26 miles and you’ll find Zagarolo, an ancient village, where life is lived in the style of centuries past.

Walking into the town’s bakery from a narrow side street, I felt transported hundreds of years into the past. My friend and I ate crispy biscotti fresh from the 300-year-old ovens before walking along the uneven...

January 2010 issue | Appears on page 54

Railpass insurance

I write regarding the letter “Staged Distraction” from the gentleman whose railpass was stolen from his jacket on the seat (Nov. ’09, pg. 51).

First, railpasses, along with everything else of value, belong in a neck pouch or money belt except when the train conductor asks to see them!

Second, Rail Europe (phone, in US, 800/622-8600 or, in Canada, 800/361-7245, www.raileurope.com) sells railpass protection coverage.

My wife, Roberta, and I are going from New York to...