Our Coconut Telegraph

Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007

Looking for the best undiscovered bargain hideaway in Mexico…a restaurant recommendation in Venice…an insider tip for the best place to spend winter…the best place to snorkel…someone to swap your home with…or a romantic and inexpensive island getaway?

Ah, ha…look no further. The answers are at your fingertips. As a reader of these International Living electronic dispatches, you are also a member of our IL Traveler's Tales discussion group, where the world's savviest travelers (our readers) share their best-kept travel secrets.

Don't worry. It's free. Part of the International Living service…one of the benefits of association. You can consult the group on any destination…read about the best accommodation…the most unusual things to do…most authentic places to eat…most affordable places to plan a well-deserved escape…all over the world.

For example:

"I am reluctant to share this tip, because I may not be able to get a table next time we go to Venice: Trattoria della Madonna, in an alley close to the Rialto Bridge. Dining is informal at long tables so you meet the other diners. I had lasagne Northern Italian-style and tiramisu. Both were incredible, the best ever. Since this is a Trattoria they do not take reservations. First come, first served."
-- P.L.

"We just returned from a road trip in Panama. We rented an SUV in Panama City and drove up the PanAm highway to David, then to Boquete. The highway is four-lane from Panama City to Santiago; on to David it's two-lane. The roads are in good shape, but the two-lane sections don't have shoulders, so you have to pay attention. Car rentals are available only in Panama City, and at the airport in David (I also understand you can rent a car at the DeCameron Resort north of Santa Clara). We paid $125 extra for a one-way rental dropping the car off at the airport in David. All in all, the car rental was fairly painless, and it is a good way to see the country. Total rental for seven days for a Toyota Land Cruiser was $430 (including the drop-off charge of $125). Driving in Panama City can be unnerving, so we paid $15 for a taxi to drop us off at the car rental, then lead us out of town. I hope this info helps."
-- D.J.

"My family and I plan to move to Honduras over the next year. We have bought some property which contains an old 'campesino' house which we will convert into a café. We are starting work on renovating the campesino house this month, and hope to maintain its historical integrity. I would love to hear from others who seek to relocate to Honduras or who have already done so. I have traveled to Honduras for several weeks every year for the past 12 years, and I know the country pretty well."
-- J.J.

"We're considering living somewhere other than the USA when we retire. Since we have two dogs…one lab, one border collie…we need to consider them. How expensive is it to transport a motor home to Europe? We have a 36-foot 'Monaco.' Would like to hear any and all considerations or opinions. Thank you!"
-- K.M.

"The islands off the coast of Croatia offer some fantastic romantic getaways. My wife and I spent a vacation right out of a dream on the island of Losinj. The east coast of the Adriatic has all the Mediterranean charm you could ask for, excellent dining and accommodation, and beaches that rival the world's best. The Croatian people were friendly and everything had an Old World charm. Plus, the cost of a great two-week vacation was half the price of countries farther west."
-- J.S.

"I was in Florence, Italy this past summer, stayed at a B&B five miles outside of town. I found that half the charm was waiting for the little 8-seater bus. We bought weekly tickets and took the bus everywhere, got to mingle with the local populace. In many parts of central Florence, there is no automobile traffic, so I imagine that parking is probably difficult at best. Unless you are disabled or absolutely must have control of your own transportation, I would highly suggest using the bus system while in and around Florence."
-- M.K.

In every city and town where expats gather, a coconut telegraph develops… an informal, usually word-of-mouth means for sharing local intelligence. In the world of International Living, it's our Traveler's Tales online discussion group. You are enthusiastically invited to join the fun. Go to http://forum.internationalliving.com.

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, For International Living

P.S. This is an open conversation. You can discover the travel secrets of fellow readers…and share your own tips, discoveries, recommendations, and anecdotes with them. I'll be reading closely over the next few days…look forward to hearing from you.