Q&A WITH PATTY VANIKIOTIS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR/COPY EDITOR
In our February 2019 issue, Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor and copy editor, mentioned plans for a fall trip to Spain and Portugal. Needing to rent a car and having never driven internationally before, she asked: What tips do you have for undertaking such a journey? If you’ve made such a trip, what would you consider essential take-alongs and key elements to consider? Any pitfalls we should try to avoid?

I rented a car internationally once when I traveled to Italy a few years back. The process was a little tedious but manageable. There are so many options these days in choosing a reputable company, but I had a travel agency handle everything for me.
THOMAS MASTERSON, via email

My husband and I have rented a car for all of our European vacations. We have traveled to Spain and Portugal four times in the last eight years. You must have an international driver’s license for each driver. Good for one year, we get ours from AAA. I like to take a Michelin book map for more detail than the standard folding country map; you can order them online.

I highly recommend a standalone navigation device rather than one you rent with the car. You will know how to use it, it will be in your language and you can carry it with you in pedestrian mode in cities or on hikes. You can load the international maps, and it comes with software to load onto your home computer. You can map out your driving routes with planned stops, then transfer them to the nav device. You can also load places you want to visit, restaurants, gas stations, banks and such, and transfer them to the device. Spain and Portugal have some skinny streets in the old towns and villages, and you want to avoid them if you can.

Have a great trip.
GLORIA CANTRELL, via email

TRAVEL MORALITY
In the Feb. 6, edition of eFlyer USA, we discussed the rankings of ethical travelers, according to a study by The Latin America Travel Co. The list was conducted based on human rights, animal welfare and gender equality. A few readers wrote in with thoughts:

Found the distribution ridiculous. Surely … Bhutan above Sweden … Qatar above Israel? Seriously? Is this based upon actual travel, or brochures published by the respective countries?
DR. RICARDO SCHACK, via email

Germany ranks as the most desirable destination for ethically minded travelers? I don’t know about that. In terms of animal welfare, I would think the Netherlands would be higher on the list.
ANGELA NEWSON, via email

THE END OF THE A380
In the Feb. 20 edition of eFlyer USA, we discussed Airbus ceasing production of the A380. The final Airbus A380 aircraft will be delivered in 2021, and some readers wrote in with a response:

I have had the pleasure of flying an A380 only a few times, and it quickly became my favorite jet. I hope I will have the opportunity to fly on an A380 again.
SCOTT PEDERSON, via email

I have just gone through your description regarding its outstanding qualities and likeability throughout the world, but then what are the other reasons for its discontinuation of production which have not been mentioned?
MUHAMMAD SHARIF, via email

MALTA, MALTA, MALTA!
In the Feb. 27 edition of eFlyer USA, we discussed the increasingly popular tourist destination of Malta and the record number of North Americans flocking to the archipelago. A few readers wrote in from personal experience:

I’ve been to Malta twice, both for business conferences. The first time was about 12 years ago, and I was amazed by the history and old fortifications.

Two years ago we held a confer – ence there for our European dealers, and they loved it. The guys from the Netherlands had never been there or even thought about it. After a few days at our Malta FaxCore conference, they said they would return with their spouses and children on holiday.

The place is affordable, easy to get to from most hubs in Europe, and the people are friendly and welcoming.
TOM LINHARD, Globility Board member, via email

Read your online story regarding U.S. and Canadian travelers to Malta. My husband and I visited Malta for a week in May last year (we are from Ontario, Canada). It was fantastic.
SANDYE HOOK, via email

FLYING FRONTIER
In a recent story featured on globaltravelerusa.com, one writer discussed the new concept of tipping flight attendants on Frontier Airlines. One reader wrote in with thoughts:

While I always tip 18–20 percent when dining out in restaurants, I just don’t see the same level of service on Frontier as I do in a nice sit-down restaurant. I don’t require a lot of service on a flight and I don’t fly Frontier often, but I would be interested to see if the service improved on my next trip based on the new tipping concept. I can’t see this becoming a popular trend among airlines.
BRITTNEY WELLS, via email

Q&A WITH MARIE EDWARDS, DIRECTOR OF SALES
Whenever I travel for work, I try to find new and interesting places to visit, especially green spaces. So many cities are becoming more sustainable, green and making significant changes to the city landscape and community.

Do you seek out gardens and parks or have a natural curiosity about urban locations that have been transformed within the city/destination you are visiting? If so, what cities are your favorites?

Email us: letters@globaltravelerusa.com