International Travel News articles from December 2005

International Travel News archives from December 2005

2006 Zegrahm travel calendar.
December 1, 2005... 2006 ZEGRAHM TRAVEL CALENDAR DEP. DESTINATION # OF DAYS 2006 Jan Ultimate Ethiopia: Ancient Kingdoms, Natural 18 Wonders (Two departures available) Jan ...

Boarding pass.
December 1, 2005... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 358th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. On Oct. 12, about 1,500 people were evacuated from Machu Picchu, Peru, after a mudslide covered a section of the railway line to the mountaintop...

The Palamidi fortress in Nafplio, Greece, was the best of all the fortresses we visited in that area on our trip.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Palamidi fortress in Nafplio, Greece, was the best of all the fortresses we visited in that area on our trip. It was built by the Venetians from 1711 to 1714 but was seized by the Turks the following year. My wife and I must have burned up...

I spent the night at a farmhouse in the Burren, Ireland.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I spent the night at a farmhouse in the Burren, Ireland. The Burren is a vast, open plain or highland dotted with farm buildings and ancient ruins of Druid temples. It is almost always windy. It was cool and rainy in May '04 but beautiful and...

Crossing the Atlas Mountains is a visual experience.(Travel tidbits)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Crossing the Atlas Mountains is a visual experience. From Marrakech, Morocco, my daughter and I began an eye-popping journey of lush lowlands and high and higher mountains, many snow-covered. There were rocks everywhere we looked and little or...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2005... CORRECTION--In a "Travel Tidbit" last month, a writer mentions spending two days in an English-style city in New Zealand and walking along the Avon River. He names it as Queenstown, but that City, in the southwest part of NZ's South Island, is...

Catching the Christmas spirit in France's Alsace region.
December 1, 2005... Some years, as the Christmas holiday approaches, I get a definite "Bah, humbug" attitude. I feel overwhelmed by the boxes of decorations, the cards to be mailed and the shopping and baking to be done in preparation for family celebrations....

CDG Airport auto return.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2005... I read about the reader's frustration in trying to find the rental car return location at Paris' Charles de Gaulle International (Sept. '05, pg. 46). I picked up a car and returned it there in late September '05, and I found that if you watch...

Car hire snag in Britain & Ireland.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2005... In an article about the hiring of vehicles (July '05, pg. 95), the writer suggests that those who are over the age for hiring a vehicle should "Have a guide or younger person hire and drive the vehicle and reimburse him/her." He goes on to say,...

Cheaper guidebooks.(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... The reader's letter on travel to Iran in the June '05 issue (page 40) was most interesting and informative. However, at the end, the references for guidebooks listed their prices if bought at full price. I have had great luck with buying...

Dining in Paris.
December 1, 2005... * Le Bistro des Deux Theatres (18 rue Blanche, 9th Arr.; tel. 01 45 26 41 43. Website for the chain is www.bistro-et-cie.fr)--Metro: Trinite. This is one of six Willy Dorr restaurants. Each follows the same formula of serving a complete...

Dramatic sunrise in Morocco.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The guidebooks say that when visiting Morocco, you should spend a night in Marzouga so as to witness the sunrise the next day. You could do that via camel or Land Rover, and on a trip my daughter Heather and I took one July, we decided to use...

Funniest thing.
December 1, 2005... 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, Mexico or the Caribbean.) The ITN staff will choose...

Indonesia warning.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Due to ongoing concerns about the possibility of terrorist attacks directed against Western citizens and interests, the Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer nonessential travel to Indonesia. Those who choose to travel...

Burundi concerns.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against travel to Burundi. Although the security situation has stabilized in much of the country, the risk of sudden outbreaks of armed violence (including on major roads), acts of...

Kenya advisory.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Following a national referendum on a new constitution in Kenya in late November, Americans were being advised to delay travel there until late December, after the referendum and associated events had concluded. Recent public rallies, both...

Yemen caution.(News Watch)
December 1, 2005... The Department of State reminds U.S. citizens that the security threat level in Yemen remains high due to terrorist activities. Travelers should exercise caution.

Encephalitis in NE India and Nepal.(News Watch)
December 1, 2005... According to the World Health Organization, from July 29 through Oct. 3, 2005, 1,016 people died of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India. As of Sept. 27, the disease has caused 298 deaths in neighboring...

Yellow fever in West Africa.(News Watch)
December 1, 2005... According to the World Health Organization, as of Sept. 21, 2005, four cases of yellow fever, including one death, had been reported in the Batie, Gaoua and Banfora districts of Burkina Faso, near the Cote d'Ivoire border. Both countries were...

Current warnings.(News Watch)(Public Notice)
December 1, 2005... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 27 destinations: Yemen, Indonesia, Cuba, Burundi, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Somalia, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Kenya, Iran, Iraq, Democratic Republic of the...

Grand Palais in Paris reopens.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Grand Palais, the enormous steel-and-glass exhibition hall in Paris, opened in September for the first time in 12 years following a monumental face-lift. Closed for safety reasons in 1993 after a metal bolt fell from the ceiling, the...

Taiwan museum's 80th.(Travel briefs)
December 1, 2005... Taiwan's National Palace Museum is preparing for its 80th birthday in 2006 with a massive renovation, to be completed in June. It will remain open with about 800 to 1,000 works on display; normally, up to 4,000 are on view. Upon completion, 25%...

Railway to Tibet.(Travel briefs)
December 1, 2005... China has completed the first railway to Tibet, linking Lhasa with the northwestern province of Qinghai. The 710-mile final section took four years to construct. The pan-Himalayan line climbs so high, up to 16,640 feet above sea level, that...

Qing in London package.(Travel briefs)
December 1, 2005... The Athenaeum Hotel & Apartments in London has joined with the Royal Academy of Arts to offer the "Royal Academy China package," which, for -185 (approx. $323) per person, double occupancy, includes executive guest room accommodations on any...

Machu Picchu special.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... LANVACATIONS' "Machu Picchu Backpacker's Special" includes round-trip air with LAN Airlines, transfers, three nights in Cusco, round-trip "backpacker" train from Cusco to Machu Picchu, two nights in Lima, Continental breakfast daily, hotel...

Pacific WWII cruise.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Pacific Princess will set sail on the 21-day "Islands of the Pacific Theater" cruise on April 26, 2006, calling at former battle sites throughout the Pacific Rim and featuring WWII-themed activities. Embarking in Sydney, guests visit...

Windstar to Cannes and Grand Prix.(Travel briefs)
December 1, 2005... Each year, Windstar Cruises plans a cruise to coincide with the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival. In 2006, Wind Surf sails a 14-day cruise round trip from Nice, visiting Cannes, St. Florent and Corsica; Monte Carlo, and Italy's...

Deutschland deal.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... For cruises on its 5-star MS Deutschlahd in 2006, Peter Deilmann Cruises is offering free air from 16 U.S. gateways, free airport/ship transfers, 50% off prearranged shore excursions and 10% reductions on (or up to $1,800 off) cabin rates on 18...

Walk Wales.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... In May 2005, legislation was passed in Wales opening up 741,000 more acres--21% of the country's total land area--to public access. It quadruples the amount of land that walkers can use. Any area that has been classified mountain, moor,...

Icehotel in Sweden.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The world's first hotel constructed entirely of ice first opened in Swedish Lapland in 1991. Rebuilt each year, the Icehotel (Icehotel AB, 981 91 Jukkasjarvi, Sweden; phone +46/980-66800 or visit www.icehotel.com) has grown to nearly 54,000...

What's cool in Copenhagen.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Learn what the trendy hot spots are in Copenhagen, Denmark, on the 2-hour CPHCool walking tour. It starts at the Visit-center at Vesterbrogade 4A and takes in the top shops, eateries and hangouts in the Vesterbro and city districts. Priced...

Buskers in NZ.(World Buskers Festival)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The World Buskers Festival, the largest street festival in Australasia, will take place in Christchurch, New Zealand, Jan. 19-29, 2006. A total of 33 performers have been invited from various countries, including a magician, an acrobatic...

Incredible India: the North.
December 1, 2005... Travel ads use the words "Incredible India" to entice potential travelers to come to this exciting country. My husband, Chuck, and I made our journey in November '04, and we indeed found India to be incredible. The old flanks the new,...

Passed between tour groups like a baton.(Turkey tour)
December 1, 2005... I had a window of opportunity to take off work and go to Turkey, a country in which I had substantial interest. I began looking for companies that provided tours there, being mindful that I did not have much time to plan and would be alone. ...

Hotel's costly phone, Internet access.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2005... Looking for a "reasonably" priced but quality hotel room in London in October '04, I was offered a "superior double room" at the Thistle Euston (TH) near Euston Station for about $200 per night and it did not sound too bad. The room turned out...

Friendly haven.(The Hand Hotel)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... While awaiting information relative to a traveling companion who had been taken to the Wrexham hospital on May 23, '05, my wife, Evie, and I spent several hours in the lobby of The Hand Hotel in Chirk (Church St., Chirk, Wrexham, LL14 5EY,...

Cottage stays plus cruise.(England)
December 1, 2005... We took a delightful trip to jolly old England, Sept. 9-Oct. 2, '05. We stayed two weeks in cottages in the Cotswolds and spent one week on the canals. * Our first cottage was George's Stable at Barn Farm in Tysoe, and what a find! It...

London Canal Cruises.
December 1, 2005... We spent a very enjoyable day cruising the canals around London in May '05 aboard the narrowboat Helix through London Canal Cruises (63 Salisbury Rd., High Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 4JL, U.K.: tel. +44 [0] 20 8440 8962 or visit www.londoncanal...

To keep valuables.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I had the gift of a lifetime in 2002 in that I was able to take a year-long sabbatical and travel around the world. I visited 30 countries in 333 days on the Oneworld airline alliance, pass. It was a life-altering journey offering up the best...

Ruminating on laminating.(maps)
December 1, 2005... While I was spending a month in Paris, May 5-June 4, '04, my daughter visited me for eight days. Both of us paid attention to visitors of various nationalities and found a couple of things that would have helped them navigate the tortuous...

Hear the roses.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... On our trip to New Zealand in March '03, we chose to go to spectacular Doubtful Sound instead of Milford Sound. Getting there involved a motorboat across Lake Manapouri, a diesel-powered bus and another boat--hours of diesel motors and human...

Roaming the cities and villages of Romania.
December 1, 2005... Before planning our month-long trip to Romania and Bulgaria, Alan and I asked for suggestions in ITN's "Person to Person" section. Among four gracious replies, both Al Jungers and Carla Menist reported favorable experiences working with Sirma...

Flying around the world.
December 1, 2005... Nancy Stott of Walnutport, Pennsylvania, wrote, "I would like to see readers write on the topic of 'around-the-world itineraries' such as those featured by airline alliances and some consolidators. It would be great to have a few first-person...

Accommodations worldwide: hotels * B&Bs * homestays * apartments.
December 1, 2005... 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 (outside of North America and the Caribbean) plus restaurants or sights nearby. Prices are those paid at the time of the...

Cruising Scotland's Caledonian canal.
December 1, 2005... A few years ago we took a trip on the Gota Canal, a boat trip on inland lakes and step-locks across southern Sweden. After reading about a similar trip--this one on the Caledonian Canal in Scotland with an extension to the Orkney Islands--we...

Money matters overseas--a follow-up.
December 1, 2005... ITN asked readers to share how they deal with money and making purchases overseas (anywhere outside of North America and the Caribbean). Several reponses were printed in the October and November issues. Here are a few more. If you have...

Morocco correction.(Tours in review: candid appraisals of group tours)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2005... MOROCCO CORRECTION--A letter (Nov. '05, pg. 72) on a reader's 9-day tour of Morocco with Berber Tours (visit www.berbertours.net) incorrectly stated the land price as "$3,000 per person." It should have read "$3,500 for the two of us."--Editor...

Chile.(Tours in review: candid appraisals of group tours)
December 1, 2005... CHILE Scott Jones of Chilean Special Journeys (28 Morrill Rd., Montville, ME 04941; phone 888/345-6077 or visit www.chileanspecialjourneys.com) outdid himself in making our 21-day, April '05 "Chile in Depth" trip memorable. Scott, originally...

China.(Tours in review: candid appraisals of group tours)
December 1, 2005... CHINA The tour called "China and the Yangtze," organized by Grand Circle Travel (347 Congress St., Boston, MA, 02210; phone 800/321-2835 or visit www.gct.com), might be subtitled "The Best of China." This wonderful 21-day tour, April 9-29, '05,...

Feance, Italy and Monaco.(Tours in review: candid appraisals of group tours)
December 1, 2005... I have traveled many times to Europe, and "A Gourmet European Wine, Cuisine & Travel Experience" from Olde Ipswich Tours (8 Herrick Dr., Ipswich, MA 01938; phone 877/356-5163 or visit www.ipswichtours.com), April 14-27, '04, was the best tour,...

Romania and Bulgaria.(Tours in review: candid appraisals of group tours)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... ROMANIA AND BULGARIA The 2-week trip that my wife and I took with Tradesco Tours (3372 Woods Edge Circle, Ste. 104, Bonita Springs, FL 34134; phone 239/495-5076 or visit www.tradescotours.com), July 8-23, '05, was not set up to be a private...

Croatia and Slovenia.(Tours in review: candid appraisals of group tours)
December 1, 2005... CROATIA AND SLOVENIA We highly recommend "Croatia and Other Hidden Treasures of the Adriatic" with Vantage Deluxe World Travel (90 Canal St., Boston, MA 02114-2031; phone 800/322-6677 or visit www. vantagetravel.com). Our 15-day tour,...

Sunny Ecuador--a wonderful winter getaway.
December 1, 2005... I wanted to do something special for my 60th birthday. So was born the idea of a birthday trip. This wasn't to be merely a trip to celebrate my birthday, taken when it was most convenient. This trip had to have me someplace wonderful on my...

Europe Driver's Guide online.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Hertz is offering a free "European Driver's Guide" online. It includes information on the process of renting a car, lists insurance coverage options, gives tips on driving in Europe, explains traffic signs, includes a mileage chart for major...

Walks in Valparaiso.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2005... To sailors in the 18th and 19th centuries, Valparaiso, Chile, shone as one of South America's beacons of light. The central city, embraced by steep hills and a beautiful bay, bustled with prosperity. Above, elegant wooded neighborhoods housed...

Give Bhutan a break.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2005... I have been trying to get a reader's letter, titled "Bhutan Arrangements 'Challenging'" (Oct. '05, pg. 31), out of my mind, but I can't. Bhutan, the country complained about, is my favorite place in the world, and I feel it was unfairly...

Beijing to Kiev by rail.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A friend and I took a wonderful 24-day train trip, July 3-26, '05, out of Beijing, China, to Ulan Bator, Mongolia; Irkutsk and Moscow, Russia, and finally (overnight) to Kiev, Ukraine. This was a real experience, without one glitch, and it...

St. Petersburg guide.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Prior to our trip to Russia in August '05, we read about a guide in St. Petersburg named Sveta Motovilovets (phone [812] 275 34 77 or e-mail svetasad@hotmail.com) in ITN (Nov. '04, pg. 82). We spent a delightful day with Sveta and her...

Recommended Seville tours.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2005... My family and I had a wonderful 10-day trip through Spain in June '05. We fell in love with Seville, where we had a fabulous local guide. Concepcion Delgado (phone 902-158-226 or mobile 616-501-100 or visit www.sevilla walkingtours.com) speaks...

Chiran Peace Museum.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
December 1, 2005... The place that most interested me during our Japan trip was Chiran. Chiran was the site where young men flew on kamikaze flights, and today it is the site of the Chiran Peace Museum. It was April, and the road in from the entrance of the...

The King and I.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... After traveling in Laos and southern Thailand on a trip in 2001, I found myself in Bangkok on the first of December awaiting my flight home in a week. The city was decorated with yellow banners and pictures of the King for his birthday on Dec....

Kudos for TACA.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I would like for people to know how nice the airline Grupo TACA is. I was scheduled to go to San Jose, Costa Rica, on Sept. 4, '05, for a couple weeks. I live in Slidell, Louisiana, which was very hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. TACA readily...

All aboard!
December 1, 2005... Railpass question Q "Hello, Jay. Sure appreciate your making your e-mail address available to your readers. I'd like to get your thoughts on Something... "For years, I, like most other Europe rail enthusiasts, considered that the...

Italian rail winter promo.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... For travel through March 31, 2006, a Trenitalia Winter Promotion that must be booked by Feb. 28, 2006, gives North American travelers to Italy discounts of up to 17% off 2005 prices and 20% off 2006 prices. In second class, Winter Promo...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.
December 1, 2005... "IN SEARCH OF PASTORAL ENGLAND"--15 days, May 9-26, 2006. Highlights: Hever Castle, home of Anne Boleyn/Sissinghurst Castle and gardens/Cinque Port of Rye/home and barn theater of Edwardian actress Ellen Terry/options: horse-drawn caravan...

Meningitis.(TRAVEL & HEALTH)
December 1, 2005... Meningitis is a dreadful word and an even more dreadful condition. The central nervous system of your body, that is, your brain and spinal cord, has a special lining, call the meninges. When these meninges become inflamed or infected, you...

Ask Steve.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Hello! My name is Steven Venables. When I started in the travel industry 40 years ago, everything was a little more formal. In fact, the airline I first worked for, United, required us to wear military-like uniforms and use only our last...

Uganda land route.
December 1, 2005... In Uganda, a new road link between Kampala and Fort Portal Cuts travel time to three hours. At the base of the Rwenzori Mountains, Fort Portal is near Semliki Game Reserve and Kibale National Park, which has the highest number of primate...

The vanished reservation.(The Discerning Traveler)
December 1, 2005... "You can leave earlier if you travel standby on Delta," the reservation agent told my cousin, Marcus, when he called Northwest Airlines about his JFK-to-Seattle flight. "Fantastic! What a terrific service," he commented. He wasn't...

Crossing Rome's Tiber River to Trastevere.
December 1, 2005... Stepping out of Rome's Termini train station, a vast, bus-filled square greets me with a blast of noise and traffic. The crowds, cars and sprawling modern buildings dwarf the tiny crust of an ancient wall. The wall whispers this was the city of...

Cold war trail.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... In Germany, a trail for cyclists running the length of the route of the Berlin Wall is nearly complete, and now the European Parliament is considering creating a tourist trail stretching the entire length of the old Iron Curtain border, from...

Timeless roads of the Mideast & Mediterranean.
December 1, 2005... Queen Zenobia & Palmyra, Syria Most know that Hollywood made Cleopatra famous with movies of her romantic trysts with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony, but historians generally view Arab Queen Zenobia as having greater beauty, chastity and...

PeerMe online calls.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... PeerMe, Inc., allows travelers to download free software on their computer so they can make unlimited free phone calls to any other person in the world who also has the PeerMe software on their computer. The voice and instant messaging...

Off-site airport parking.
December 1, 2005... The website www.longterm parking.com offers users free parking reservations and discount coupons for off-site parking at 95 U.S. airports. Prices at these safe, secured locations, minutes from the airports, can cost up to 70% less than on-site...

Latin America.
December 1, 2005... Destination: Peru Recently, I was a delegate to the 2005 TravelMart Latin America. It is one of the most important business events for the tourism sector in Latin America. This year, Peru was the host country. Close to one thousand...

Changing hotel rooms at and after check-in.
December 1, 2005... There are times when travelers arrive at a hotel or other accommodation to find that they wish to change from the room they have been assigned, even though it is of the room type and category they requested and reserved. In this edition of...

easyHotels Basel & London.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Basel, Switzerland, now has an easyHotel. It's located at Riehenring 19, and prices start at CHF24 (approx. $20) a night for a room with a double bed, a shower room and a window or an air-conditioner. The 24 rooms vary from 97 to 172 square...

Culture & castles, Germany.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Several private castles, country houses and manor houses in Germany are renting rooms. For example, Groot Buggenum Castle offers an apartment for five for 250 [euro] (near $300) per person per night, including breakfast and a tour of the...

Report cards: on-the-spot reports from around the globe.
December 1, 2005... FIRST, FAST & FURIOUS--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. To...

Person to person: reader-to-reader info exchange.
December 1, 2005... 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 (include your...

SkyTeam Asia Pass.(Travel briefs)
December 1, 2005... In conjunction with an intercontinental round-trip ticket to the Asia Pacific region on any SkyTeam member airline, customers can buy three to eight SkyTeam Asia Pass coupons for international or domestic direct flights operated in this area by...

Online multi-flights planner.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Online, through Airtreks.com, travelers can plan, price and purchase air tickets for complex multidestination itineraries. Visitors to the site can use a "zoomable" world map or give city names or airport codes to get airfare estimates and...

Recharge with cellboost.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Cellboost is an auxiliary battery that restores power to cell phones while simultaneously recharging them. Smaller than a business card, it plugs into the same portal on the phone as a standard battery charger. It takes about an hour for a...

Handcranked cell charger.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The miniature, 2.5-ounce SideWinder charges a cell phone without electricity. You just turn a tiny crank. It is more powerful than an electric charger; only two minutes of turning provides six minutes of talk time or 30 minutes of standby time....