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Ask The Frommers!
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 Welcome to our WOR Travel Blog! Every weekday on the webpage you are reading now, we'll post responses to some of the travel questions we receive from listeners to the show.
You can send me an email at: frommertravelshow@yahoo.com
Remember, Pauline and I also answer questions live on the Travel Show from noon to 2 p.m. (E.S.T.) on Sundays. Give us a ring at 800-544-7070.
Either way, you can have your travel questions answered by e-mailing or phoning in the manner indicated above! Today’s e-mailed questions are:
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Shore Excursions for Less, Safety in Venezuela, Road Tripping Colorado
Hi Arthur and Pauline:
There are 12 of us going on a Carnival Cruise to Alaska this July for a family vacation. There are those of us who feel we should book excursions now as the avoid being locked out of those trips we really want to take and then there are those that want to just wait and see. What do you recommend? Are there places in the towns we will be going to that can offer the same excursions cheaper? A few of us are looking to do the helicopter ride to the glacier where we can then ride the dog sled. This trip is approzimately $350 per person and we are wondering if it is worth it. We would really appreciate any advise you could give us.
Thanks! Linda
Dear Linda,
Thanks for your message. No need to be worried about being locked out of shore excursions. They don't tend to sell out before the cruises and they're overpriced anyway. I'd suggest, instead, contacting the following specialists and see if they can create itineraries for your group. Prices should come to wll below what you'll pay with the cruiselines:
Best--Pauline Frommer
Hi Arthur & Pauline,
What do you think about traveling to Venezuela from May through November. Unfortunately, it is Carracas where I did read that crime and violence is at its worst.
If a friend is planning a wedding there in November at a Country Club; would that protect the guests from any crimes which occur in and around the area? In other words, will the protection of the Club offer the protection they seek? Or, are we all wishful thinking?
I read in one place on your site that it is particularly important to be registered at the US Embassy, there. In other words, make certain our country is aware of the individuals on travel there, hopefully assuring their safety.
Any information you can offer me on behalf of my sister and friends would be so appreciated. We know absolutely very little about the place - but have much to be concerned with.
Sincerely, J. Emmons
Dear Ms. Emmons: Nothing I have read or heard indicates there is any special problem of travel to Caracas, apart from the usual dangers of pickpockets and muggers that one would encounter in any large city. But the political conditions in Venezuela have not yet reached the levels that would require a special warning, and the warnings that are made are those identical to what would be advised on a trip to Mexico City or San Jose, Costa Rica: do not take taxis that you would hail on the street, but have your hotel phone for a taxi and use only the car that they have obtained for you. Don’t go wandering about at night. And obviously, once you’re on the grounds of the country club for the wedding ceremony, you’ll be perfect protected.
Nor have I heard that it is necessary to register with the U.S. embassy in Caracas. This is not the kind of city or country where that is done, and I very much doubt that doing so would lend you any special protection.
Use common sense, same as you would in New York City; take reasonable precautions; and your trip to Caracas will be quite reasonably safe. Best—Arthur Frommer
Dear Pauline and Mr. Frommer-
Always a pleasure listening to you!!! I would love to be asking you a question concerning some exotic places, but this summer we have a trade show in Las Vegas, and then we are thinking of flying to Colorado. Can you give us some suggestions on how to begin our trip. I thought of seeing areas like Vail, Aspen, Beaver Creek and such. We are not skiers, but we enjoy the beauty of nature. We also would like to be able to play golf, and see the Rocky Mountains. Any help you can give as to where to stay, and how to map out a week's trip would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, we have been purchasing your travel books since we begin travelling which is now over 20 years. Thanks for all the expert advise!!!
Thank you,
Claire Tanzer
Dear Claire,
Thanks for your kind message.
The key to this type of vacation is not biting of more than you can chew, or in this case, drive. You don't want to spend your entire vacation in the car, getting from place to place. Since you only have a week, and you'll be likely flying into Denver (which will be the least expensive gateway from Vegas), plan on spending at least one night in that wonderful city (great museums, restaurants, shops, modern architecture) and then heading to Rocky Mountain National Park. You want to consider spending two nights in and around the park, driving Trail Ridge Road and visiting Grand Lake, Winter Park, the Berthoud Pass and Georgetown. Next will be Vail for one day (Beaver Creek is very near, so you could possibly see that, too). And then Aspen, and then you'll want to slowly make your way back to Denver for the flight back, perhaps overnighting in Breckenridge.
That's how I'd skin this apple, but there are of course, other ways and truthfully, you could cut out one of the ski resorts and spend more time in another and enjoy yourself just as much (especially if you want to work in some golf).
Have fun however you do it.
Best, Pauline Frommer
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Cary Grant, Loch Ness, Touring Ireland and More
Hi Arthur and Pauline,
I am taking a vacation to Liverpool in August. I would like to see the most famous lake in the world and take a Loch Ness tour. I'm not that familiar with the distance between Liverpool and Loch Ness. Would this be a day trip? Also, I'm a Cary Grant fan and want to visit his hometown of Bristol. Do you know if Bristol has any Cary Grant oriented tours?
Thanks,
Mike
Unfortunately, Loch Ness is a good 8-hours plus drive from Liverpool. So it would not be possible to make a day trip of it. Visiting the Lake District of the UK, rather than trekking all the way into the Scottish highlands, might be your best alternative. Driving from Liverpool to Windermere would take about two hours, and the scenery in the Lake District is absolutely spectacular. (I was just there last summer).
As for Cary Grant and Bristol: there's a statue honoring their local movie star, but no tours (at least that I've ever heard of).
By the way, the New York Times actually has an article up today on Liverpool that might interest you.
Have a wonderful UK vacation. Cordially, Pauline Frommer
Hi Frommers,
We just got back from a Discover Ireland tour with CIE Tours and though I drive in New York, Boston, Miami and Los Angeles and don't give it a second thought, I can tell you that I was delighted NOT driving in Ireland. It’s not just driving on the left, or the roundabouts, or making a right turn from the left lane, or the impossibly narrow roads which Isometimes thought were a country lane and not a road where trucks and busses passed each other inches apart. The real problem was that there was so much to see through the large windows of the tour bus that I’m happy I didn't miss it. Ireland is beautiful and you can't see it if you are constantly worried about the other cars on the road.
We started and finished in Dublin and visited Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, Blarney Castle, Kilarney, the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and then Galway. We ferried across the river Shannon, cruised Kilarney Bay, were entertained at the Abbey Tavern back in Dublin.
We have nothing but wonderful things to say about our almost all inclusive tour package, our wonderful driver/tour guide Frank Thompson, and our beautiful brand new tour bus.
We recommend going a day or two early to get your internal clock on local time, make a hotel reservation on the internet, and take the aircoach express bus to the center city and save a very expensive cab ride.
Things are expensive and the euro situation doesn't help, but there are pubs and small restaraunts, so go for it.
Don't worry about getting euros before you go, we saw ATM’s all over the airport and in every town and small village. Charge everything you can and you need not carry a lot of cash.
Good luck, Marsha and Jeff Shpiner
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Shpiner: Thanks so much for your very interesting report on Ireland, and we're glad you so enjoyed your trip. C.I.E. is a state-owned touring company that has been in existence for many years, and it's good to know that they maintain the standards of touring for which they have such a fine reputation. Best--Arthur Frommer
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Advice on Atlantic Crossings, Changing Money and Travel Insurance
Q: We booked a repositioning cruise from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean for the second half of December. We'll be crossing the Atlantic for 5 days between Portugal and Guadaloupe.
1. At that time of year, is the water very rough at sea?
2. Should it be warm enough to sit on the deck while at sea?
We listen to your program almost every Sunday, either in the car or at home. Pauline and you are terrific. We are at the stage of our life where we are fortunate to be able to travel. So many times during each week, my husband and I will talk about something discussed on your program. It makes life fun.
Larry and Helen Slavin
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Slvain: First, thanks so much for your kind words, which I am sure that Pauline also appreciates.
The crossings made by re-positioning cruises are of the south Atlantic, where conditions are much calmer than to the north. In fact, to avoid the choppy seas of the north Atlantic, the Cunard Line—several years ago—changed the routing of the QE2 to cross at a far more southerly point, and thus added one day to the time required to travel from England to New York.
No one can guarantee that you won’t hit bad weather even on a crossing of the south Atlantic; but the chances are so diminished that this normally isn’t regarded as a problem. Nevertheless, you might want to buy a packet of “Bonine” which you take a few hours before first boarding the ship, and then at periodic intervals thereafter. It will protect you against anything other than the most severe seas, and the chances are that you won’t have any problem at all.
As for sitting on deck, you’ll probably want a light sweater, but not more than that; and if it happens to be unusually chilly—which is unlikely—the deck stewards will being you blankets to place over your legs and midriff. But again, and especially as you approach the Caribbean, you’ll easily find temperatures enabling you to sit comfortably on deck.
Have a good trip! Best—Arthur Frommer
Q:: How does a traveller decide on the type of travel insurance to get? I am leaving for a 21 day trip to China at the end of August and beginning of September. My current healt insurance plan will cover any out of pocket medical expense in a foreign country. The great difference seems to be in the medical transport. How would I know how to evaluate this expense so that I have a good understanding of how much to spend on the travel insurance. I am a senior citizen with minor health issues such as food allergies. Is there any percautions that I should take in preparing for a trip to China?
Kathi L. Barnegat, NJ
Dear Ms. Lynch: There are no special medical precautions to be taken in advance of a trip to China, and the overwhelming number of passengers complete the trip without the slightest discomfort. But at your age, medical evacuation insurance is very much recommended against the faint possibility that you may have a severe illness in China. Go to the website called Insuremytrip.com where you’ll find a comparative analysis (with costs) of policies providing emergency evacuation services, and that explanation should give you the basis on which to make a decision. Have a good trip to China! Best—Arthur Frommer
Q: A co-worker of my husband will be traveling from Algeria to the United States via Europe later this month. Because he does not have a credit card he will be using cash to cover all of his expenses. My husband suggested this gentleman purchase travelers checks upon his arrival in the States to protect himself from loss, but I thought I heard you comment that travelers checks are not the currency they used to be. What would your advice be regarding when and how this gentleman convert his funds to get maximum value and protect himself from loss or theft? His major transaction will be the dinars to dollars exchange, but he will need some euros for sundry airport purchases while en route. Thank you very much!
M A Snow
Thanks for your kind message. Because this gentleman doesn't have credit cards (or, I assume, an ATM card), then Traveler's Checks are his smartest option to safeguard his cash. It's simply unwise to be walking around with large amounts of cash. While using plastic (credit cards and ATM cards) is a more convenient and often more cost-effective solution nowadays, since that's not an option here, he should go with traveler's checks.
Best, Pauline Frommer
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Planning Ahead for the Weather In Europe
Hello Mr Frommer and Pauline.
I want to take my husband to Europe for his 40th birthday. Unfortunately, his birthday is in January and weather wise...it is not the most comfortable. :)
Do you have any recommendations on where we can go that would not be as cold as January in NY?
We are new travelers and have only traveled to Paris, Barcelona, Rome & Florence.
Thank you very much for your help. Jacey B
I think January's a GREAT time to go to Europe. Prices are at their very nadir, both for hotels and airfares and you won't be fighting the crowds in the museums. In many of the top cultural cities, it will be the height of the various arts seasons, so there'll be a buzz in the air about the latest gallery or theater openings. Remember: many of the delights of Europe are cloistered indoors, inside its ancient churches, great museums and palaces. So the weather doesn't have to matter all that much.
However, if staying warm as you go from place to place matters a lot to you, you simply choose the most southerly of the European destinations. These would include: Spain and Portugal, Greece, the foot of the boot of Italy and the rock (Sicily) it's kicking. You won't have beach weather in any of those places, but temperatures should be moderate.
Have a wonderful celebration. Pauline Frommer
Dear Arthur and Pauline.
My wife and I are planning a trip to Italy next April or the beginning of May. We were wondering what the weather will be like. Will we need heavy outwear? Also we're thinking of going with a company that is all inclusive( breakfast/dinner) Is that a good idea or should we think about doing dinner on our own?
Ed from Ramsey NJ
The weather will depend on where you are. If you visit the Italian Alps, it could still be quite chilly at the end of April. If you're in Rome, which is quite southerly, you're probably looking at temperatures in the high 60's, or even the 70's. You can find information on seasonal averages in great cities around the world by going to the website www.weather.com
As for going with an all-inclusive tour company: I think that's a terrible mistake. One of the top delights of traveling to Italy is eating at its wonderful small ristorantes, trattoria and enotecas. Group tours don't go to any of those. They take their clients to mass-volume places, often in hotels, which are large enough to accommodate busloads of 40 people arriving at the same time. An Italian wouldn't be caught dead eating in these places because the quality of the food is so poor.
To be frank: I don't think you need to book a tour at all to enjoy Italy. And this is true even if you've never traveled abroad before. Italy has one of the most sophisticated touristic infrastructures in the world. In every destination you visit, you'll find bus and walking tours you can pick up, on the spot. You'll find many tourist information kiosks, you'll find that hotel desk staff always speak English and the Italians are such friendly people that even if they can't speak English, they'll do their best to help you out if you get lost. (And there are few more fun places to get lost by the by; you make wonderful discoveries in Italy when you're just wandering at random).
Enjoy La Dolce Vita! Best, Pauline Frommer
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Finding a Guide, the Arduous Task of Finding Affordable Family Accommodations in
Dear Arthur & Pauline: We are on a Royal Caribbean Mediterranean cruise in June. When we call at Liorno, we would like to book a car and driver/guide to meet us (2 -4 persons) at the dock and take us to Lucca, Pisa and at least one vineyard for a tour. Any recommendations on who to contract? Thanks for your wonderful, informative and entertaining show. Susan Giannattasio
Dear Susan: I assume you’re referring to Livorno (known in English as Leghorn, a major port city in Italy. If you will go to Viamigo.com, you will find a listing of 1,500 guides around the world who can be hired for the purposes you’ve described. Kindest regards, Arthur Frommer
Dear Arthur & Pauline: I am looking for accommodations for a family of four in August. Location: Paris and its vicinity. Price for the family (it could be in one room) About $150 per night.We would like the accomodations to be in a safe area and have a private bath room.
Thank you, Robert
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