- Explore Chicago by Bus, then Enjoy it by Foot
- Mexico, Hands Down
- Minimizing Your Travel Expenses
- Dining in France & Italy
- Currency Exchange
- Osaka's Charm is Found in its Culture
Explore
Chicago by Bus, then Enjoy it by Foot
Dear Sandra: I will be visiting relatives in Chicago for a few
days this July with my 21-year old daughter. Can you recommend some must-see
places? Also, should we book airfare now or wait to see if fares go down?
-R.B., Syracuse
Dear R.B.: Explore the River and Pier Walks, where you'll find on-going events, many free, all summer. A boat or bus tour will give you a good introduction to the city's main attractions, then visit the ones that interest you the most. A City Pass will give you a break on admission prices to the Hancock Observatory, Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and Adler Planetarium. In the evening, check out one of the many jazz or blues clubs, or have a theatrical dinner at Tommy Gunn's Garage, a Roaring Twenties speakeasy.
For more information, order a travel packet from www.choosechicago.com
or call (877) 244-2246.
It is never too early to look for air tickets. Pick a price you think
is fair ($250 or less). When you find it, buy it and stop looking.
Tip: Make use of Chicago's free trolleys. No ticket is needed;
just catch a trolley at any stop marked by "Free Trolley."
If you to use the public transportation, Visitors Passes, starting at
$5 for a one-day pass, are available for unlimited rides on buses and
trains.
Mexico,
Hands Down
Dear Sandra: What is your preference: Mexico or Aruba?
I have found some very nice private villas in Mexico that are inexpensive.
Aruba has a lot of all-inclusive resorts but not many private rentals
on the beach. We are looking for a tropical climate with snorkeling, shopping
and relaxation. -D.H., East Syracuse
Dear D.H.: If you are looking for fun in the sun and have never been to Mexico, try it. It is less expensive than Aruba, and even getting there will be more reasonable. The tropics are full of great beaches, so I'd go for the best value. Aruba is beautiful, but geographically, Mexico is more diverse, with great beaches on both coasts, plus shopping in indigenous markets and pre-Columbian sites to explore.
For more information on Mexico visit www.visitmexico.com or call (800) 446-3942.
Tip: If you rent a villa, you will probably need a rental car. We always book the least-expensive car and are frequently upgraded at no extra cost. Plus check the benefits provided by your credit card. Ours covers a portion of the insurance.
Minimizing
Your Travel Expenses
Dear Sandra: You mentioned in your column that you had free air
travel. I haven't traveled much, but hope to do more in the future. I
would like more information on this. -W.T., Lafayette.
Dear W.T.: I pay for my own travel, so I minimize my expenses in as many ways as possible. Recently, we used frequent flyer miles for tickets to Ecuador and Central America. Even if you think you will never fly again, you should always enroll in the airline's program; it is free. If you ask, the airline or travel agent will sign you up when you make your flight arrangements. You must remember to give the booking agent your frequent flyer number every time you fly. Some airlines are in partnership with other airlines, such as Northwest and Continental. Try to get all your miles entered into one account. With most programs 20,000 miles will get you a free ticket within the United States and a minimum of 35,000 miles are needed for international travel. There are restrictions and taxes run about $20.
Tip: Airlines offer other ways to accumulate frequent flyer miles. The fastest way to get free miles without flying is with a credit card. We charge everything - groceries, medical bills, gas - and get one mile per dollar. The only way it is cost effective is by paying the balance each month so no interest charges are accrued. However, most charge a yearly fee. Also, we earn five miles for every dollar we spend on our long distance phone service. A few frequent flyer miles can be earned from some hotels and car rental agencies.
Dining
in France & Italy
Dear Sandra: This fall I will be traveling from France (Paris and
Nice) to northern Italy (Lake Como area) and enjoy eating in restaurants
with great food, good wine and unusual atmosphere but not necessarily
expensive. Any suggestions? -W.T.C., Mattydale.
Dear W.T.C.: It's hard to get a bad meal in France. In Paris,
check out Le Petot Bofinger (45 blvd de Montparnasse) and La Soummam (25
rue des GrandsAugustins), where they offer couscous and tajines (stews
prepared in clay pots). While in Nice, we enjoyed eating at beach-side
restaurants during the day and in cafes on the Rue Massena in the evening.
Or try La Nissarda (17 rue Gubernatis), where they serve local specialties.
Also consider a wine tour of one of the local vineyards (Chateau de Cremat
or Chateau de Bellet).
Literally in Lake Como, Locanda dell'Isola Comacina is on the only island
in the lake. It offers a great view. I find the best source of current
information comes from the hotel personnel, who know all the favorite
local eating places. For the best value when dining out, choose the fixed-price
or menu of the day.
Tip: Because dining is a matter of taste, and there are so many
wonderful choices, consider buying a book designed for dining out. "Time
for Food Paris: Good Value Eating and Drinking," by Thomas Cook Publishing,
or "Eating and Drinking in Italy," by Andy Herbach and Michael
Dillon, are good choices. The same authors also wrote "Eating and
Drinking in Paris."
The books can be ordered from your local bookstore or from www.amazon.com
Currency
Exchange
Dear Sandra: My wife and I are going to Italy. We will take travelers
checks and credit cards. I would like to buy euro so I have cash when
I arrive. Can I do this in Syracuse and get the advertised conversion
rate? What do you recommend? -C.G., Syracuse.
Dear C.G.: The best exchange rate is always from a bank in the country you are visiting. However, if it gives you comfort to have euros when you arrive in Italy, then do so. It will cost only a little bit more.
Check the current rate, www.xe.com/ucc, and then call your bank to compare the rates. Thomas Cook's currency exchange booth in the airport gives fair rates and, with a receipt, it will exchange the euro back into dollars with no transaction fee.
Tip: I am not a fan of ATMs because of the fees they charge but we used ours frequently on our recent trip to France. Many of the banks in the major tourist areas would not exchange money; instead, they directed us to their ATM machines. The rate they offered was excellent and there were no transaction fees. Free airfare no gimmick
Osaka's
Charm is Found in its Culture
Dear Sandra: My husband and I will be visiting Osaka, Japan, in
July. What points of interest and educational features can you recommend?
-J.C., Mexico.
Dear J.C.: Osaka, one of Japan's largest cities, is a cultural and educational center known for its puppet and other theaters. Try to catch a performance at the National Bunraku Theater, Japan's only theater dedicated to traditional puppetry, where puppeteers skillfully manipulate doll-size figures. Don't miss Osaka Castle Park, where the castle has been restored to its former glory and houses a high-tech museum detailing the life and times of the warrior general who built the castle. Visit the Buddhist temple of Shitennoji, founded in 593, and Temmangu, a Shinto shrine founded in 949.
Wander along Teramachi Street, a covered pedestrian street, where you will see temples among souvenir shops, pachinko shops (pachinko is a pinball-like game extremely popular in Japan) and restaurants. Off this street is Shinjo Market, where merchants carry on business as their ancestors have for 1,000 years.
For more information, check www.jnto.go.jp or call (212) 757-5640.
Tip: Before venturing from your hotel unescorted, ask the concierge
to write down the name and address of your hotel and your destination
in English and Japanese. Even though many people speak English, it is
helpful to have something on paper to show the taxi or bus driver.
This is a good idea even in countries that share our alphabet.
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