Helsinki discount airfare

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* We will be in Strasbourg in early October 2004 for a barge trip. Following that, we would like to find a guide with auto to take us to selected villages along the Wine Road in Alsace for two days.--Helen Cahn, Box 873, Tesuque, NM 87574; jcahn1@cs.com

* We are planning to spend five to six days in Switzerland and need a guide to drive and plan our itinerary. We would appreciate any recommendations. All responses will be acknowledged.--Jeanne Levy, 1001 City Ave., Apt. EC210, Wynnewood; PA 19096-3946; phone 610/649-5707 or e-mail jeannelen23@aol.com

* I will be in Dusseldorf, Germany, October-November '04. I do not need hotel information but would like some information on sightseeing, tours and side trips plus how to dress for the weather. Any other suggestions that you think will be helpful will be appreciated. I am traveling with a group who will be busy with their meetings, and a couple of us want to wander around on our own.--Jean W. Johnson, Washington, D.C.; jean_w_ johnson@hotmail.com

* We are planning a Grand Circle Travel "Christmas Market River Cruise" on the Danube, with extensions in Vienna and Munich (we'll be there for Christmas Eve and Day). We'd appreciate any information/ suggestions on sights and events at Christmastime. We are also interested in readers' experiences with GCT river cruises.--Rae Leaper, 445 Collingwood St., San Francisco, CA 94114; rkle@pacbell.net

* I am considering Grand Circle Travel's "Great Rivers of Europe" cruise/tour in 2005. Most of the shore excursions are included, but there are several optional ones offered (for a price) as well. Can previous cruisers tell me if these optional excursions are worth the fee? Pros and cons will be appreciated. Also, I would like to receive evaluations of the pre/post 3-day extensions in Brussels and Vienna.--John Henderson, California; johnwhenderson@earthlink.net

* We are going to Malta in March 2005. We would appreciate any recommended air connections using discount European airlines to Malta. (We can go from LAX to any major European city.) Any other tips or recommendations appreciated. We're staying at a time-share, so lodging not needed.--Diana Barrows, 3601 Jackdaw St., San Diego, CA 92103; dbmd@highstream.net

* We are interested in going from Bari, Italy, to Malta in June 2005. Need suggestions for best way to travel and also for "must sees" in Malta, together with reliable guides and hotel/restaurant recommendations. Interested in history, archaeology, the people, food, etc. All answers will be acknowledged. --John F. Ciaffone, New Jersey; bumstead@warwick.net

* For travel to Sicily in fall 2004, I would welcome any suggestions on private homes in which to stay, such as B&Bs. Also any travel tips on the island.--Norman Levan, 3112 Amber Ct., Bakersfield, CA 93301; phone 661/322-3150 or e-mail norman3112@cox.net

* A friend and I are needing a car and driver for two weeks in the middle of March 2005 to travel in Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia and Montenegro. If you have names, e-mail addresses or phone numbers, please let me know. Would like to hear from anyone who has made this trip, with suggestions as to what to see. We will wind up in Venice to see the Murano glassworks. What is the best way to get there from the railroad station? How long will it take? What will the weather be like in March? I will reply to all who answer.--Bill Dinges, 3609 So. Parkway, Huntsville, AL 35801; phone 256/883-6420 or e-mail wdd1928@aol.com

* My husband and I are touring Bulgaria and Romania in October with two guides (Mike Travel and Chris Florea) recommended by ITN readers. We plan to change guides at the border, Ruse to Giurgiu. For one of them to drive across the bridge would cost $75. We understand from Lonely Planet that we cannot walk across. Perhaps we can take a taxi. Has anyone made this crossing without a car and not on a tour? Also, we want to get from Bucharest to Zagreb, but the best airfare I found was $600, which was way too much. If we travel by train, we can go via either Budapest or Belgrade. Any suggestions? I am sorry to say that, at present, our access to e-mail is difficult and sporadic and we cannot answer correspondents until after we return in November, so thanks in advance.--George & Brenda Milum, Box 3052, Olympic Valley CA, 96146; yachtavatar@yahoo.com

* We have not seen much information on traveling through Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. We are interested in traveling this region in spring 2005. Please share any information, advice, etc., both land or cruises.--Dianne Osborne, 7061 SW 11th St., Plantation, FL 33317; dianneos@worldnet.att.net

* Solo, male, senior, experienced traveler planning to take Trafalgar's "Wonders of Helsinki, St. Petersburg & Moscow," departing September 2004. Would appreciate any input from anyone who has taken this or similar Tragalgar tours.--F.E. Shelton, 2509 Columbine Dr. No., Jacksonville, FL 32211-4021; flagene@comcast.net

* I am considering staying at a B&B in Moscow, Russia. Does anyone have any suggestions or experiences to relay?--Steven Myers, 144 Candee Ln., Marquette, MI 49855; lexy@up. net

* From anyone who has traveled to Minsk, Belarus, what hotel accommodations did you have? Did you use any tours while there? Did you have any problems with visas or currency? We are planning to arrive in late August '05. Any suggestions will be appreciated.--Carol Coverly, 3 Bannister Ln., South Yarmouth, MA 02664; coverlyc@gis.net

* I am interested in information on "Mongolia on your own." Has anyone booked their itinerary there upon arrival? I am looking for recommendations for housing, guides, itinerary and international air deals. All ideas will be appreciated.--Luisa Georgov, 11 Mystic Dr., Bear, DE 19701; lgtravel@siteone.net

* We are taking a group of about 20 friends to Cairo, Egypt, in February and are looking for a restaurant which has a really fun atmosphere and where we can have a multicourse dinner served family style. Any recommendations would be appreciated.--Norm Helber, Scottsdale, AZ; nhelber@cox.net

* I have a chance to go to Puerto Rico in September for a week--is it too hot? What about hurricanes? Is there anything to see at Arecibo? Are most of the roads really bad? Are there any maps that are particularly good? One girlfriend is new to snorkeling and wants a life jacket. If we snorkel, can we rent equipment? Does anyone have recommendations for a reasonable small hotel in Old Town San Juan for the last two nights? What dancing is available (country western or salsa)? Has anyone used Charlie's Car Rental instead of the big names? Any information on B&Bs, inexpensive paradores, etc., will be appreciated.--Marilyn Chandler, Chesterfield, MO; mcworldtraveler@hotmail.com (please put "ITN" in the subject line)

* My spouse and I are planning a December 2004 land trip to Panama and can't decide if we should go to the San Blas Islands or not. We heard that there is malaria there, and we don't want to complicate our lives by taking malaria medicine. We're thinking about staying at the Sapibenega Lodge or the Dolphin Island Lodge and would like to hear from anyone who has stayed there. Do these two lodges have hot water? All answers and replies will be very much appreciated and acknowledged.--Paula M. Hutt, 870 Hudson St., Denver, CO 80220; jhutt_yh@yahoo.com