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Message Center
In the Travel Q&A, there is a question about how to travel with a lot of bags. In Europe (and Asia) there is almost always a way to get packages from one place to another quickly and at a reasonable price. Since most people do not own a large car, if they own one at all, there is always a market for such a service.
Finally, in Message Center, there were three letters about unreasonable deadlines and unnecessarily long waiting times for check-in service. Don't bother to complain. It will get worse. Since the United States has chosen to put virtually all its domestic travel eggs in the airline basket and to allow long-distance passenger rail to die a lingering death, airlines have a lock on long-distance travel and have no incentive to improve, except for short bursts of non-systemic competition within the industry. The longer we wait to develop a modern passenger rail system, the more our airline system will come to resemble Aeroflot.
John Sietsema, Columbia
Genghis the Great?
IN HIS REVIEW of "Unknown Sands" [Road Reads, July 16], Jerry V. Haines quotes the book as alleging that Alexander (the not-so-Great) was an "empire builder" while Genghis Khan was an "empire destroyer." In fact, informed readers who've studied Jack Weatherford's bestseller "Genghis Khan" or who've heard Weatherford's U.N. lecture this summer understand that the misunderstood Genghis was a genius, and that Khan built the most stable empire (twice the size of Alexander's) in world history.
P.S. Why hasn't the Travel section noted this year's 800th anniversary of the founding of Khan's Mongolia?
Robert Thompson, McLean
Doing the Math, Cont'd
I HAVE FOUND the same thing as Mr. Ramlall when planning trips [Message Center, July 9] -- it does take a bit more work, but I do save enough to make it worthwhile to book my own air and hotel room. After a bad experience with Liberty Travel, which dumped us at the Richmond airport for a night due to bad weather, I feel that I'd just as well take my own chances.
Linda Limberger, Silver Spring
Car Rentals Abroad, Cont'd
WITH AN UPCOMING trip to England, I have read with interest the info on car rental in Europe [Rental Car 101, June 18]. Our Visa Signature card provides coverage for theft and damage to a rental car, but there is no coverage for liability or personal injury. These are serious omissions. I hope other readers don't expect full coverage from their credit card.
Mettah Kollmann, Easton, Md.
Write us: Washington Post Travel section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. Fax: 202-912-3609. E-mail: travel@washpost.com. Provide your full name, town of residence and daytime telephone number. Letters are subject to editing for length and clarity.
Car Rentals Abroad, Cont'd
WITH AN UPCOMING trip to England, I have read with interest the info on car rental in Europe [Rental Car 101, June 18]. Our Visa Signature card provides coverage for theft and damage to a rental car, but there is no coverage for liability or personal injury. These are serious omissions. I hope other readers don't expect full coverage from their credit card.
Mettah Kollmann, Easton, Md.
Write us: Washington Post Travel section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. Fax: 202-912-3609. E-mail: travel@washpost.com. Provide your full name, town of residence and daytime telephone number. Letters are subject to editing for length and clarity.
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