International Travel News articles from December 2001

International Travel News archives from December 2001

Report Cards.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... On NORTHERN IRELAND, October '01... From a one-week trip, I can highly recommend two newly built B&Bs. * Killeague Farm Lodge (phone 028 70 868 229)--located a few miles south of Coleraine on the road to Garvagh. All of Mrs....

Lending a hand.
December 1, 2001... Concerning the hand sculpture intrigue in recent issues (Aug. '01, pg. 165, Oct. '01, pg 181 & Nov. '01, pg. 173), in May. '97 we took this photo in Parque Juan Carlos I on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain. A plaque nearby identified it as...

Boarding Pass.
December 1, 2001... Dear Globetrotter: I would like to share with you excerpts of a letter I received from Mahmood Poonja of Bestway Tours & Safaris. Commenting on the message I was trying to relate in last month's "Boarding Pass," he wrote, "We all need, to...

Explore & Discover the Swabian Alb: The world was forever changed the day I landed in Germany ... It was September 11, 2001.
December 1, 2001... Swabian Alb The Swabian region spreads diagonally across the state of Baden-Wurttemberg in the southwest corner of Germany. This is an area rich in history, culture, centuries-old cathedrals, Roman ruins, beautiful landscapes and...

Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations.
December 1, 2001... Quick turnaround at passport center Thinking about renewing your passport? I sent in my old one, along with application, photos and check, to the National Passport Center in Pittsburgh, PA, on Oct. 13, '01, via Priority Mail with a tracking...

Funniest Thing.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. There are no restrictions on length. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the U.S., Canada or Mexico.) The ITN staff will choose each month's...

Kidnappings in the Philippines. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... A number of recent security-related incidents highlight the danger of travel in the Philippines. Bombings, kidnappings of foreigners and other violent incidents call for Americans to exercise great caution throughout the Philippines. Moreover,...

Georgia. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi has received credible information that American citizens in, Georgia are being targeted for kidnapping. There is no information to suggest that this threat has any connection to the Sept. Ii terrorist attacks in the...

Niger caution. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The American Embassy in Niamey has received reports of anti-American threats and sentiments in Maradi and Niarney linked to possible U.S action in response to the attacks of Sept. 11. As a result, the Embassy is reviewing all travel by its...

Bangladesh demonstrations. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Bangladesh has experienced some anti-American sentiment following the U.S. military action of Oct. 7. In addition, there have been several anti-American demonstrations throughout Bangladesh. While these demonstrations generally occur on Friday...

Current warnings. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 30 destinations: Macedonia, Sudan, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Iran, Sierra Leone, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Libya,...

Swissair on limited schedule. (Travel briefs).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Swissair filed for protection from its creditors on Oct. 1, 2001, and its future is still very much in flux. Although it stopped flying for several days in early October, it resumed a limited flight schedule. A sister company, Crossair, has...

Australian visas online. (Travel briefs).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The Australian Government has made it easier to head Down Under. You now can visit the Electronic Travel Authority application site at www.eta.immi.gov.au and arrange for a visa to Australia online for a small fee (approximately US$15).

The Amazon: In February 2001 we embarked on "The Greatest Voyage in Natural History" on the mighty Amazon.
December 1, 2001... Getting there Our trip to explore the upper Amazon was arranged through International Expeditions for $2,898 per person, double occupancy, including airfare from Miami, a hotel in Lima for one night, six days on the river and all meals...

Summertime in Sweden: An independent driving tour.
December 1, 2001... Last May we departed on United Airlines from San Francisco for Copenhagen and Sweden. We returned the third week of June after completing a 3 1/2-week trip. It was a marvelous experience; we enjoyed the beauty of the country, the history, the...

Accommodations Worldwide Hotels: Hotels * B&Bs * Homestays * Apartments.
December 1, 2001... The following is a listing of some of the hotels, B&Bs, etc., in which ITN readers have stayed over the past year or so plus restaurants or sights nearby. Prices are those paid at the time of the visit and conversion rates are approximate. ...

Caribbean holiday: a family tradition.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Every Christmas season, I take my children and grand-children to enjoy the sunshine and warm water of the Caribbean for snorkeling and skin diving. We try a different island each year, and last year it was Providenciales (Provo), the main...

Turkey.(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... At sunrise every morning of her young life, Gunduz rises from her hard bed knowing she will work on the family farm until sunset. The land is fertile for growing their wheat, friends work alongside and her life seems. relatively peaceful. ...

Tours In Review: Candid appraisals of group tours.(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... The following are candid appraisals of some of the tours ITN readers have taken in the last year or so. Where possible, for comparison's sake, different readers' appraisals of a particular tour company are presented in tandem. When writing...

Viewfinders: Share Your special travel photos.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... In May and June 1998, my sister and I traveled to Corn-wall, England, and Wales. We called our trip "Saints, Stones and Sea." It was a journey of discovery: following the footsteps of the Arthurian legend; exploring mystical Bronze Age...

All Aboard!: Year-end money-saving specials.(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... You can almost hear St. Nick jingling down your chimney with cash savings and bargains at year-end. It's the time of year to give yourself a holiday present and put some cash in your stocking at the same time. Sales of European railpasses...

Cruises: The interior of the 'great land'.
December 1, 2001... An invitation was received by ITN in late July for the magazine to send a representative on a 13-day combination cruise and land tour of Alaska sponsored by Celebrity Cruises and their subsidiary, Royal Celebrity Tours. The purpose was to show...

Clipper's Tasmania. (Cruise Cavalcade).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... Clipper Cruise Line has introduced a new voyage aboard the new 128-passenger Clipper Odyssey this winter, taking passengers to Australia's only island state, Tasmania. The program, named. "An In-Depth Perspective of Tasmania plus Melbourne...

Central America from Houston. (Cruise Cavalcade).(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... Royal Olympic Cruises announced the details of its new year-round sailings from the Port of Houston through April 2003. With cruises beginning at $847, per person, double, vacationers from America's Southwest may now conveniently visit the...

Tours: A selection of escorted tours.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... "INTRODUCTION TO IRELAND" -- 8-day tour featuring Dublin, Ennis, Tralee, Waterford and more. Departures January-March '02. Highlights: In Dublin, Trinity College with the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells/in Kildare, the Irish National Stud...

Focal Point Capturing Travel Images: Bringing home a sense of place.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Trimming bushes in my Florida yard, I was surprised to hear an accented voice asking if I minded being photographed. I turned to discover two smiling French couples, beach gear in hand, obviously on their way back to a neighborhood house after...

Golf in the Dominican Republic. (Caribbean Corner).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... On the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana Resort & Club opened a P.B. Dye-designed, 18-hole, 7,152-yard golf course in January 2001. A 4-day/3-night "Titanium Golf Package," at US$985. per person, double occupancy,...

Renew vows on Virgin Gorda. (Caribbean Corner).(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Consider having a wedding or renewing your vows at Biras Creek Resort, a private all-suite hideaway on a 140-acre nature reserve on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. A romantic civil wedding can be held in various locations throughout...

Wind Surf savings. (Caribbean Corner).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Windstar has significantly shortened the number of cruises the ms Wind Surf will offer from Barbados during its winter Caribbean season in 2002. As a result, free and reduced airfare and savings of 40%-50% off the brochure rates are being...

Bloomsbury House for the holidays. (Brit bits).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Located within The Academy Town House Hotel complex in London, The Bloomsbury House is a semidetached, 8-bedroom home with all the amenities of a full-service hotel. It is designed for a group of family members or friends desiring their own...

A Victorian Christmas. (Brit bits).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Cross-Culture's "Ye Merrye Olde English Christmas" program, Dec. 20-27, 2001, includes London as well as the English countryside. A highlight in London will be a guided visit to the Wallace Collection at the Hertford House, which has been...

Rick Steves' Europe[C]: Barcelona -- bold and boisterous.
December 1, 2001... Barcelona is Spain's second-most-important city (after Madrid) and the capital of the proud and distinct region of Catalunya. With Franco's fascism now history, Catalan flags wave once again, and the stirring, patriotic Sardana dances are a...

European Potpourri.
December 1, 2001... Sadly, Lloyd McCune passed, away on October 2nd. The following article, submitted recently by Lloyd, is something he wanted to share with readers. Written in his unique style, it shows a side of Lloyd -- and a time from the past in the City of...

Far Horizons: A call to travel.
December 1, 2001... Shortly after the events of September 11, 2001, we were advised as a nation to prepare for a war on terrorism that would be a part of our individual and collective realities for some time to come. Most Americans understand that we are not...

Kilroy Was Here!: Tales of Sea Gypsies.
December 1, 2001... Ray Jason has been San Francisco's most popular Street performer for 20 years or so. His act is truly remarkable. He juggles torches, hatchets, sickles, machetes and bowling balls. Dangerous business. He positions himself as a vagabond writer...

Rail Europe youth discounts. (Travel briefs).
December 1, 2001... Here's a special offer from Rail Europe. For the third consecutive year, any traveler under 26 years of age who buys a Eurailpass Youth, Europass Youth, Eurailpass Youth Flexi or the new-for-2001 Eurail Selectpass Youth is entitled to a 50%...

A week in Japan. (Travel briefs).
December 1, 2001... With the yen at recent lows, Delta International Vacations is offering a special 7-day trip, "A Week In Japan," priced from $949 to $1,169, through March 2002. The price includes airfare on Delta Air Lines from Los Angeles, Atlanta or New...

Far & Wide offers no-cost cancellation/interruption policy. (Travel briefs).
December 1, 2001... FAR & WIDE Travel Corporation is introducing the SAFE & SOUND assurance program. "An industry first," it offers travelers the flexibility to change their travel plans for any reason without being penalized. Travelers may cancel plans at...

Untours' No-Risk Reservations. (Travel briefs).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Idyll, Ltd., which operates the staff guided but independent-travel "Untours," has a No-Risk Reservations offer. Book your Untour by Dec. 14, 2001, and if you cancel by Jan. 25, 2002, you will receive a full refund, no questions asked. ...

Micato Safaris offers credit. (Travel briefs).
December 1, 2001... Renaissance Cruises declared bankruptcy, but for travelers who were booked on a Renaissance cruise-safari in Africa, Micato Safaris is offering a full credit of the Renaissance safari portion, valued at $500, toward any Micato safari listed in...

'Comfort Grip' Handle Extender. (Travel briefs).
December 1, 2001... Travelon, designer / manufacturer of luggage and other travel solutions, has developed the Comfort Grip Handle Extender, an ergonomic, clip-on handle that allows you to pull wheeled luggage while maintaining a natural palm-facing-body posture....

Person to Person: Reader-to-reader info exchange.
December 1, 2001... Planning a trip overseas and need specific info? Let your fellow ITN readers provide the answers. Send your question to Person to Person, c/o ITN, 2120 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818. Please indicate if you do NOT want your complete address...