Disastrous Advice

Regarding your column “When Disasters Hit a Trip Site” (Insider, Oct. 12), I am distressed that of all your suggestions to travelers about to travel to a place hit by disaster, calling your travel agent was not included. Even though the airlines have tried to exclude us from the business, some of us truly enjoy what we do and try to be of help to our clients in all situations. Please do not think that all we care about is our commissions. We do have a lot of information at our fingertips.

CARLA B. OLSON

Conquest Travel

Studio City

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It isn’t just in cases of disaster or emergency that the traveler needs reliable information about his destination; it’s almost on any trip. While your discussion had a number of useful suggestions, I’d be inclined to discount the advice from the local American Embassy. The “advice” I’ve received from people at embassies has been pretty far off the mark, a lot of the time.

It’s much better to get information from someone who lives where you’re going. In many business trips, you’re intending to see someone you already know.

The average tourist may not know anybody at the other end; but, in a pinch, there are Usenet newsgroups that deal with almost every country in the world. Groups such as soc.culture.wherever usually have some participants from the country, who could provide information in a day or two.

ANDREW T. YOUNG

San Diego