Family Travels: Around the World in 30 (or So) Days

Between June 30 and August 5, 1995, the Reeves family-two parents, five adult offspring and the 10-year-old daughter of one of the couples-tore through 18 cities in 14 countries of Europe, Asia and Africa and came up with this good-natured travel epic. First, the bill: $27,000, not unreasonable thanks to detailed planning, careful shopping for air fares and stopover allowances, economical routings and the use of discounts and coupons at good hotels, all without sacrificing comfort or, indeed, luxuries. But better than the tips on travel logistics are the excerpts from the entertaining logs each member of the family kept, which provide varying depictions of the same people, places and adventures as well as a delightful picture of the family itself. Reeves, a syndicated political columnist, recoiled from Nepal for its filth, while his wife, Catherine O'Neill, a political commentator, adored its architecture. In Egypt, Colin, 29, a TV producer, got a panic attack in a pyramid, while grade schooler Fiona complained about the stairs and the noxious smells. Reeves and his wife are more than superficially knowledgeable about their destinations, and, nearly everywhere, both had contacts, from ambassadors to American ex-patriots. It's a jolly, exuberant, informative tour of the world that, for all its brevity, manages a scope and vividness that would likely amaze and engage even Jules Verne. Photos. (Mar.)