International Travel News articles from December 2003

International Travel News archives from December 2003

Boarding pass.(editorial, travel industry)
December 1, 2003... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 334th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. Wipe that smile off your face; you're going to Tahiti. The Canadian Passport Office has informed photographers across the country that...

What do you collect?(travellers' memorabilia choices)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Do you collect memorabilia of your trips? For example, Jack Troster of Atherton, CA, collects bars of soap (in the wrappers) from hotels. Others collect matchbooks identifying great restaurants or hotels. Some people bring home a doll from...

Report cards: on-the-spot reports from around the globe.(International Travel News, readers' travel reports)
December 1, 2003... The following is a sampling of reports received from ITN readers around the globe. ITN invites you to join our corps of reporters--just drop a card in the mail while the travel impressions are fresh in your mind, or e-mail editor@...

Serendipitous stop offers monuments and museums on a semester at sea sailing.(Japan and South Korea, description and travel)
December 1, 2003... (Second of two parts) After spending five days at sea, its original itinerary altered by the SARS outbreak, the SS "University Explorer" was welcomed in Nagasaki. Nagasaki Docked within an easy walk of Nagasaki's city center, we...

Dine with the Danes.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations; Copenhagen, Denmark)
December 1, 2003... A highlight of out stay in Copenhagen in August '03 was an evening spent with a local family, arranged through Dine with the Danes (www.dinewiththedanes.dk). We filled out a profile online and were matched with a couple in the same age group...

A tip on processing digital pictures overseas.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Cruise aboard Holland America's Rotterdam)
December 1, 2003... We went on a cruise aboard Holland America's Rotterdam, Aug. 15-Sept. 17, '03, sailing from New York to Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Russia, Finland, Ireland and back to New York. A large number of passengers on...

East Africa with RoySafaris.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Week long camera safari in Tanzania )
December 1, 2003... We took a week long camera safari in Tanzania in July-August '03. It was a special experience, due in large part to our guide/driver, Evagry James Tesha, who works, with RoySafaris (Box 50, Arusha, Tanzania; phone 255 27 2502115, fax 255 27...

Car rental in Spain.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... On May 28, '03, we rented a car from Europcar (www.europcar.es) in Madrid. We made all the arrangements online using Yahoo! Spain (which is in Spanish), and we had special requests that were handled by e-mail. All of our questions were answered...

A few tips on visiting Paris.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... We took a 2-week tour of France, including Alsace, the Wine Road, the Loire Valley, Chartres and Paris, June 24-July 10, '03. The weather was excellent, as usual (or we have been extraordinarily lucky, since this was our fourth trip to France...

Dining in France.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... I visited the following restaurants in France during September' 03. Hotel Restaurant George Sand (9 rue Quinteful) in Loches, Loire Valley. I dined on the terrace overlooking the Indre River. Classy service and an inspired chef. Good food...

Funniest thing.(Magazine wants to hear funniest thing that ever happened to people while traveling in a foreign country)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 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...

Morocco warning.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... In September, the U.S. Embassy in Rabat warned American citizens visiting Morocco that they could come under attack by Islamic groups linked to Al Qaida; interrogations of Al Qaida suspects had disclosed plans to ambush American motorists and...

Bolivia volatile.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Centered on the cities of La Paz and El Alto, anti-government protests in September and October resulted in dozens of deaths and the isolation of much of northwest Bolivia. The political and social situation remains volatile. During the...

Angola travel risks.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the considerable risk of travel within the Republic of Angola. The Nov. 21, 2002, signing of a peace agreement marked the definitive end of 27 years of civil conflict; however, fighting in most of...

Mideast and North Africa caution.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Department of State reminds travelers to the Middle East and North Africa, including the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, that there remains a potential threat to U.S. citizens and interests in the region posed by those harboring...

Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.(News Watch)(Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Ongoing violence has caused numerous civilian deaths and injuries, including to some American tourists, students and residents, as well as to U.S....

Yellow fever in Africa and South America.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Since January 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported yellow fever cases in the West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso as well as in southern Sudan. Mass vaccination campaigns are being conducted. At...

Current warnings.(News Watch)(State Department travel warnings on 26 destinations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 26 destinations: Nepal, Israel/the West Bank/Gaza, Angola, Iraq, Liberia, Kenya, Algeria, Indonesia, Yemen, Cote d'Ivoire, Saudi Arabia, Burundi, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Colombia,...

D-Day anniversary events.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... It was in June 1944 that the biggest armada the world had seen, with troops from the USA, Britain, Canada and many other allied nations, set off from southern England for Operation Overlord. On "D-Day" (June 6) they landed on the coast of...

'Carmen' in its natural settings.(Travel briefs)(Seville International Music Festival 2004)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Although several productions of George Bizet's opera "Carmen" have been staged in Seville, Spain, none has used the dramatic settings of the actual buildings in which the action takes place. That will change Sept. 2-12, 2004, when 10...

Snow show in Lapland.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Snow Show, in a spectacular event, will be held Feb. 12-March 31, 2004 (or longer, if the weather holds), in Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle in Finland. Taking place simultaneously in Rovaniemi and Kemi, it will comprise colossal...

Wartime remembrances enhance a Christmas tour of Germany.
December 1, 2003... We were very pleased with a tour of central and southeastern Germany that we took Nov. 26 to Dec. 8, 2002. It offered not only visits to Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmarkts or Christkindlmarkts) but insights into history and experiences with...

Mystery charge on credit card.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... On our trip to Europe in September '02, nearly all reservations were made via the Internet in advance. We booked the flight, car rental and train reservations as well as hotel stays in Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris and Nice. Nowhere was a problem...

Felt tour too heavy on shopping, tipping.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... The tour group Orient Odyssey (Point Roberts, WA; phone 800/637-5778 or visit www.orientodyssey.com) is A+, in my opinion. I traveled with them to China in 2000 and liked the great hotels in great locations; traveling by train instead of...

Pleased with evacuation by Trip Mate.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... Perhaps you recall an account of our trip to Costa Rica in 2001 where my husband tripped in the airport upon arrival and broke his shoulder (Aug. '01, pg. 43). Well, you might consider this chapter two. I think he ought to write a book about...

Medical evac insurance correction.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2003... I received the following correction and clarification from MEDEX in regard to my article in the November '03 issue. As you know, travel insurance is a complex subject, and I'm glad to have the opportunity to print the following. WAYNE...

Visit Turkey.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... In June '03 I took my third trip to Turkey in two years, a brief visit to meet a friend. This letter was prompted by a statement made to me on that trip. My first two visits were about three weeks each and covered both the western and...

Assisi recommendations from a drive in Italy.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... My wife and I took an 18-day driving tour in Italy. We left Chicago on March 21, '03, flying to Milan via Frankfurt and returning on April 8 along the same route. First off, to comment on the competitive car rental deal mentioned by a...

On stage in London.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... During a 2-week stay in London, July 7-22, '03, I attended several shows and concerts. I was able to get a last-minute partial-view balcony seat to "The Magic Flute" at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden for 20 [pounds sterling] (about...

Dining in Vilnius.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... On a visit to Vilnius, Lithuania, in July '03, we ate dinner at the restaurant in the Mano Liza Hotel (Ligonines Gatve 5, Vilnius, Lithuania; e-mail hotel@aaa.lt). I had a cheese-and-onion smoked-salmon soup and potato pancakes with meat,...

Marveling at the raw beauty of New Zealand.(Bus tour from Christchurch to Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island)
December 1, 2003... (Part 5 in a series of 6) "Break glass in case of emergency." Those were the words that kept drawing our eyes during the bus tour from Christchurch to Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island. Did our bus driver's off-key rendition of "The...

Accommodations worldwide: hotels * B&Bs * homestays * apartments.
December 1, 2003... 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. ...

Finding natural splendor plus five world heritage sites on a Croatia self-drive.(Cover Story)
December 1, 2003... Croatia is a country rich in history, with medieval villages, walled cities, spectacular national parks and the beautiful Dalmatian coast. The war has been over since 1995, Europeans have been going back for years and the old walled city of...

Internet cafes overseas--a link home.
December 1, 2003... Several months ago, ITN printed the following information request from Hugh Wilkes of Watervliet, NY: "Recently, while in Amsterdam, I was tempted to send a greeting home via e-mail. I finally found an Internet cafe, but it didn't look inviting...

Tours in review: candid appraisals of group tours.
December 1, 2003... The following are candid appraisals of some of the tours ITN readers have taken in the last year or so. When writing to ITN about a tour, please keep it as brief as possible (200-400 words) and include the ADDRESS and or phone number of the...

To the roof of Africa--'Babu' climbs Kilimanjaro.
December 1, 2003... After meeting my goal of climbing the highest point in each of the 48 contiguous states, I was looking for an outdoor adventure that would give me a respite from the dreariness of a Washington, D.C., winter. Having often considered climbing Mt....

Douro River, Europe's 'best-kept secret'.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... In May '03, the "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" travel group made their annual European river Cruise, this time on the Douro River in Portugal. In the past, we have had delightful cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Rhone and Saone. We wondered if the...

Ayutthaya adventure.(Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Tour of Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand)
December 1, 2003... When my June '02 business trip to Bangkok got extended by a week, I found myself with a Saturday to fill. At the advice of some of my Thai colleagues, I decided to use my windfall free time to visit Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand. The...

To leave nothing behind.(Traveler's Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... In response to Janet Clayman's request (Sept. '03, pg. 123), here are three suggestions to help prevent leaving things behind in a hotel room. 1. If you're staying somewhere for only one or two nights, don't unpack! Just take out the...

Leave no stone unturned.(Traveler's Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(How to avoid leaving belongings in the hotel room)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... How to avoid leaving belongings in the hotel room? Take your packing list with you (everyone makes a packing list, don't they?) and check off the items on it. If you put things in drawers, pull the drawer out far enough that you can run...

Driver's license sufficient.(Traveler's Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I appreciated the warning on bogus international driving permits (Sept. '03, pg. 2). While the AAA may be the FTC's officially sanctioned source for international driving permits and while theirs may be affordably priced, the fact is, as...

Turkey visa fee.(Traveler's Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I was shocked to find out that Turkey' s Visa fee for U.S. citizens is a superhigh $100! It's too late for me to cancel my travel plans, but if I had known this beforehand I would not be going to Turkey. SAMANTHA SARTAIN Colorado...

Guide in Iran.(Traveler's Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... I would like to refer a good guide in Iran. On a tour I booked through an agent in Vancouver, Khademi took us around his country for three weeks in October 2000. It was a wonderful trip, and I liked so much that I have been in contact with him...

Romania guide recommendation.(Traveler's Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... In his June '03 "Far Horizons" column on Romania, Randy Keck recommended traveling with a guide who is also a driver as the way to see that country. He is quite right in this. He listed a number of tour companies that could put together an...

Zenith cruise from Chile.(Traveler's Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2003... I took a cruise from Santiago, Chile, to New York City on Celebrity's Zenith, April 9-26, '03. The ship was top-notch and the service very good. I would sail with Celebrity again. I got an excellent price of $1,299 for an outside stateroom....

Berlin's new Hauptbahnhof plus world heritage sites.(All Aboard!)
December 1, 2003... A Berlin newspaper recently polled its readers to determine their preference for the name of the German capital's new railroad hub that is in its final years of construction. Ninety percent of the readers preferred "Lehrter," which is the...

Berlin's New National Gallery.(Museum of Modern Art)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... While undergoing major reconstruction, the Museum of Modern Art New York (MoMA) will display 200 of its most important masterpieces at the New National Gallery in Berlin (not on Museum Island). Focusing on 20th-century American painting,...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.
December 1, 2003... "NATURE OF PROVENCE"--9-day tour of FRANCE with guide/photographer Don Lyon, March 31-April 8, 2004. Limit, seven participants. Among highlights: On Palm Sunday in Fontvieille, villagers in 1890 period costume demonstrate traditional...

Emergency medical evacuation coverage--a review.(The Discerning Traveler)
December 1, 2003... "Faster," Rick, our trip leader, admonished. As I increased my walking speed, I became increasingly short of breath. Noticing my discomfort, he cautioned, "Rest. Take it easy." While my exhausted body squatted on an outcrop, I felt my breathing...

Miracle sailing.(The Discerning Traveler)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Carnival Cruise Lines' Miracle, under construction in Helsinki, Finland, will sail on a 3-day inaugural cruise from Jacksonville, Florida, Feb. 27-March 1, 2004, with a call in Freeport, Bahamas. Prices for the sailing begin at $399 per...

Request shore tours in advance.(Radisson Seven Seas Cruises)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... On its Seven Seas Mariner, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises tested an option for guests to prerequest shore excursions, and now it's extending the program to the Seven Seas Voyager, Seven Seas Navigator and Radisson Diamond, with plans to add the...

Exploring offbeat Europe.(Rick Steves' Europe[c])
December 1, 2003... No one planning a trip to Europe needs to be reminded to see BigBen and the Leaning Tower. But did you know that you can spelunk the sewers of Paris, quaff home-brews with German monks or ski in Scotland in summer? Here are a few unexpected...

African adventures.(Africa)
December 1, 2003... Although the political landscape in Africa can be very volatile, with Ivory Coast, Burundi, Nigeria, Algeria, Central Africa, Congo, Sudan, Angola, Somalia, Zimbabwe and some parts of Kenya continuing to be trouble spots, Africa still offers...

Kingdom of the Chams.(Vietnam)
December 1, 2003... I was standing beside a stone statue of Nandi, the bull associated with the Hindu god Shiva. A headless statue of Shiva lay nearby. Surrounding me were the crumbling ruins of temples, gateways and altars. They were all part of an archaeological...

BritRail off-peak discount.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Until Feb. 28, 2004, you can save 25% on any BritRail Consecutive Pass or BritRail FlexiPass. All categories of railpasses qualify for the reduction: first or standard class, adult, child, youth and senior. With the BritRail Family Pass,...

Remembering Glenn Miller.(Travel briefs)
December 1, 2003... In 2004 a yearlong program of events in and around Bedford, 52 miles north of London, will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of band leader Glenn Miller. It was from nearby Twinwood Airfield that Miller (and other performers, including...

Celebration in Jersey.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... In 1204, Jersey decided to stay loyal to John, King of England and Duke of Normandy rather than switch allegiance to Philippe Auguste of France alongside their Norman cousins. In 2004, to celebrate the 800th anniversary of its unique...

Silversmiths centenary.(Georg Jensen Silversmiths)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... On April 19, 1904, Georg Jensen opened his silver workshop on Bredgade in Copenhagen. Today, his company is world-renowned as a purveyor of fine silver cutlery, jewelry and gifts. In April 2004, the 100th anniversary celebration of Georg Jensen...

Society expeditions sailing.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... According to Society Expeditions, their cruises are continuing as scheduled, this despite a petition being filed against the company to force it into involuntary bankruptcy. "Society Expeditions is a financially solid company that always...

Get lost (in Translation) in Tokyo.(Travel briefs)
December 1, 2003... In Kinship with the film "Lost in Translation." set in the Park Hyatt Tokyo, the hotel has a "Lost in Translation Package" (valid to March 31, 2004, excluding Dec. 20-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 3). The package includes five days in a Park Suite;...

Police in Korea at 112.(Travel briefs)
December 1, 2003... In case of an emergency or to file a complaint, visitors in Korea can dial 112 for the police emergency interpreter service and be connected directly to an operator, police officer and interpreter for immediate help. Interpretation in...

'Traveling with Pets'.(Travel briefs)
December 1, 2003... Korean Air has a booklet, "Traveling with Pets," which explains the dos and don'ts of pet travel, from kennel requirements to preparing your furry friends for flight. Example tips--If you want your pet to fly along with you in the...

Museum of automata.(Machinations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... A 20-year-old animated model of a toy shop, carved from wood and worth more than 7,000 [pounds sterling], is one of the highlights of Machinations, a new museum of automata in the village of Llanbrynmair, central Wales. An extension to the...

Person to person: reader-to-reader info exchange.
December 1, 2003... 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, or e-mail editor@intltravelnews. com (please include your...

In June 2001, I visited the Republic of Georgia following a tour of Armenia.
December 1, 2003... In June 2001, I visited the Republic of Georgia following a tour of Armenia (see Aug. '03, pg. 54). The second country to accept Christianity as a state religion, the beautiful but complex Republic of Georgia boasts a number of ancient...

Where in the World?
December 1, 2003... You could win a year's subscription to ITN simply by identifying where the photo on the left was taken. The winning entry will be drawn from a pool of correct answers. Answers must reach the ITN offices by December 26. Send your postcard...

Departure lounge.(Editorial)
December 1, 2003... You may think I'm biased when I say that I think ITN is the most "real-life" travel magazine, but hear me out first. We print the travel warnings from the U.S. State Department (much to the consternation of our advertisers selling those...