Sunday, February 11, 2007
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The Advice IssueTHANK YOU for providing such a superior guide ["Way to Go," Feb. 4]. I found myself reading and marking what I wanted to save, and then quickly found that there was so much valuable information that I needed to save the entire section.
A job well done, one that meets the needs of all types of travelers.
Ellen R. McGuire, Alexandria
THANKS FOR the wonderful information for travelers. Three items reminded me of my experiences.
· Regarding long layovers, in January I had a 7 1/2 -hour layover in Dubai. When I asked Emirates Airline personnel whether there was a place to rest, they said that rooms with hotel-like features were available in the airport for $20. A fellow passenger said there was a special sleeping lounge without charge in the main concourse. That sounded good, except that people returning from the hajj in Saudi Arabia not only filled that up, they also were sleeping in the aisles.
· In searching for low airfares, don't forget ITA Software ( http://www.itasoftware.com/). It's free, but you have to go to the airline Web site or a travel agent to book the fare.
· Anyone interested in travel to Poland can check Polhotels.com for discounts or booking to most of the major hotels. There also are discount listings on car rentals and links to similar Web sites in other countries.
Marion Raczek, Darnestown
AS THE EDITOR of a travel information Web site, I'm thrilled that people are acknowledging the pull and power of the Internet. There's a class of Web sites, though, that I didn't see in your listing. They aren't sites where you book travel, but ones where you can find information on all kinds of destinations, from the popular to the quirky.
Although you mentioned the excellent Lonelyplanet.com, here are three that are less known but deserving of attention (yes, mine is included): Offbeat Travel ( http://www.offbeattravel.com/), TravelLady ( http://www.travellady.com/) and SoGoNow ( http://www.sogonow.com/).
Neala Schwartzberg, Editor, Offbeat Travel, Albuquerque
IN YOUR airport guide, you omitted the fact that BWI has 16 ATMs throughout the airport's terminals. My company, M&T Bank, operates these ATMs, and recently announced plans to operate a total of 18 ATMs and open a full-service branch at BWI in June.
Philip Hosmer, Vice President, Corporate Communications, M&T Bank, Baltimore
Into IndonesiaI ENJOYED John Auchard's witty and informative article about his trip to Indonesia ["In Indonesia," Jan. 28]. It was refreshing to find such a humorous and positive piece on the country. I have been to Indonesia only once, and only to Jakarta, but like Auchard, I found it a friendly and welcoming place.
I hope The Post will continue to publish similar articles that shed light on little-known and often misunderstood or incorrectly stereotyped places such as Indonesia.
Laura Oldanie, Washington
I WAS DELIGHTED to see another story by John Auchard in The Post. Once again, he drew me in with his rich detail and off-the-beaten-path observations.
In a time when too much travel writing consists of fluffy reviews of five-star resorts and fine dining, I congratulate The Post for publishing stories that present travel as an experience filled with wonder, beauty and discovery.
Aaron Dalton, Brooklyn, N.Y.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree that Yogyakarta is worth a visit. Plus, yes, the people of Indonesia are extremely friendly and open-minded. In Yogyakarta, we can also recommend the Bedhot Losmen hotel and restaurant, with its colorful paintings and tiles. It is super-clean and has friendly owners and staff. Plus, our daughter was married in the lobby, which naturally gives it a special cachet.
Heide Clark, Chevy Chase
Guide Dogs on BusesTHANK YOU for exposing Todays Bus's reprehensible mistreatment of Joe Orozco and his guide dog, which was a violation not only of federal law but of basic principles of decency, courtesy and common sense [Coming and Going, Jan. 28]. We really appreciate your column and read it faithfully for this kind of reporting on the day-to-day problems and needs of travelers.
David Downes, Francine Madden, Washington
Kudos to United, Cont'dI WOULD like to second what Margaret McDonald wrote about how much better United Airlines' customer service has become [Message Center, Jan. 28]. I flew from Dulles to Heathrow during the busy holiday season in 2005 and 2006. The former was a mess of huge queues and lack of United reps and coordination, whereas 2006 was smooth as could be. Last year it took me an hour and a half to check in; this year, a quarter of an hour.
Antonia Balazs, Washington
Chat Plus PlusI SUGGEST that the reader seeking a midrange private game reserve in Kruger National Park [Chat Plus, Jan. 28] consider bungalows and cottages in the park. They accommodate three people and have refrigerators. We froze water in plastic bottles for our treks, knowing that we would have long days. We ate inexpensive buffet meals in a lodge and then set out for a day of viewing critters in a rental car. You must stay in the vehicle (except in bird-hides), but with a hearty breakfast (and perhaps a stop for lunch at another park-run camp) we had a wonderful days and saw more than we did on the organized tours that are provided by the camps. For information: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/.
Patti Pride, Washington
Rental Cars, Cont'dI WOULD like to expand on Donald Hirschfeld's excellent letter about car rentals [Message Center, Jan. 21].
Car manuals are out. They are too detailed and take time to study. The renter wants to get into the car and go.
Hirschfeld's checklist idea is the answer. It could be helpful if illustrations or pictures of the various controls involved were included.
Arthur L. Podolsky, Gaithersburg
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