International Travel News articles from February 2002

International Travel News archives from February 2002

Boarding Pass.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2002... Dear Globetrotter: Jean Cater of Dover, NJ, wants to give credit where it is due. She sent in this "public 'Thank you'" to be printed: "A hearty 'thumbs up' to United Airlines. A friend and I had nonrefundable tickets on Lufthansa (booked...

Hong Kong.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... On a trip to Hong Kong in 1998 we visited Occan Park. We took the MTR train from Tsimshatsui station, located on Nathan Road, and got off at the Admiralty stop. At the bus stop, we bought round-trip bus tickets and also got entrance tickets to...

Report Cards: On-the-spot reports from around the globe. (Postmark).
February 1, 2002... The following is a sampling of reports received from ITN readers around globe. ITN invites you to join our corps of reporters -- just drop a card in the mail while your travel impressions are fresh in your mind. To obtain your ITN Report Cards,...

'Baltic dawn' highlights.
February 1, 2002... My wife and I were really looking forward to our June 2000 tour of the Baltic countries when International Cruises & Tours went bankrupt. Fortunately, our travel agency, Jean's House of Travel in Port Townsend, WA (360/437-2593), was able to...

Travelers' intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations.
February 1, 2002... On air travel/on euros It was cold and rainy in Seattle in mid-November '01. We craved some sunshine, especially after my wife, Flory's, recent open-heart surgery. I logged onto the Internet to look for cheap flights to Southern California,...

Funniest thing.
February 1, 2002... 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...

Nepal violence. (News Watch).
February 1, 2002... The Department of State warns Americans to defer travel to Nepal. Americans in Nepal are urged to avoid travel outside the Kathmandu Valley, particularly by road. Violence by Maoist insurgents and fighting between Maoists and the Royal...

Argentina political, economic turmoil. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Political and economic uncertainty contributed to sometimes violent demonstrations in Argentina in December. On Jan. 2, 2002, the country had acquired its fifth president in two weeks. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens in...

Kipnapping in Colombia. (New Watch).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... On Dec. 9, 2001, about a hundred FARC rebels swarmed a luxury resort in northwestern Colombia. They selected about a dozen guests who, apparently, appeared affluent and able to pay high ransoms and took them to the mountains. A resort employee...

Gabon ebola outbreak. (New Watch).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an outbreak of ebola in Ogooue-Ivindo province in northeastern Gabon. As of Dec. 11, WHO had received reports of 12 suspected cases, including 10 deaths. Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe,...

Current warnings. (New Watch).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 28 destinations: Afghanistan; Pakistan, Algeria, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Yemen, Macedonia, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Central African Republic, Solomon, Islands, Sudan,...

Renaissance cruises claims. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... February 12, 2002, is. the deadline for passengers intending to file claims against Renaissance Cruises, which ceased operating in September 2001. Claims should be sent to U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Renaissance Claims, Box 019169, Miami, FL 33130.

Sydney zoo overnight stay. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... "Roar & Snore" is the name of an overnight package at Sydney's Taronga Zoo that includes an Aussie barbecue dinner, a nighttime zoo safari and a stay in tents pitched under the stars amongst the wildlife. Wake up to a hearty breakfast and a...

Pub dining guide. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The British motoring organization the AA has announced AA Pub of the Year awards and introduced an "AA Pub Guide 2002." Available from British bookshops, its price is [pounds sterling]14.99 (near $21.25). For more info, visit www.theAA.com.

Diverse South Africa -- and more.
February 1, 2002... When I returned from South Africa in May 2001, I was asked many questions about my trip, but the most frequently asked was "Did you see a lot of wildlife?" My answer -- given while grinning from ear to ear -- was always a very enthusiastic...

Journey to Shangri-La.
February 1, 2002... Where is "Shangri-La"? The mystique of finding Shangri-La led us to Yunnan Province in southwestern China, a region similar to that described in James Hilton's "Lost Horizon." The location, climate, natural sights and rich ethnic culture we...

Caution for freighter passengers.
February 1, 2002... Graham Collins of Vancouver, B.C., Canada found out the hard way that the fine print in his Trip Mate travel insurance policy did not cover an unexpected change in his freighter's itinerary. Early in 2001 he boarded a freighter for a...

Accommodations worldwide: Hotels, B&Bs, Homestays, Apartments.
February 1, 2002... Great Britain & Ireland During a trip to ENGLAND in July '01 I discovered two particularly nice bed-and-breakfast establishments. On a quick day trip to Windemere the Lake District, we consulted with the local Tourist Information...

Airport-to-city transit options.
February 1, 2002... At the urging of a subscriber, ITN asked readers to share information on airport-to-city transit services overseas...or simply the best way to get from the airport to the city center. We asked readers to include as many details as possible:...

'Fancy france' lodging, dining -- affordably.
February 1, 2002... In June 2001 I led a group of friends (mostly fellow teachers) to London and Paris with Go Ahead Vacations. At the end of our 10 days together, I saw them off to the USA and spent the next week with my husband and another couple traveling...

Tours in review: Candid appraisals of group tours.
February 1, 2002... BALI In this day of travel cautions, there is a place that offers friendly people, good accommodations and a very interesting culture. The place? Bali. I spent six weeks. there, Aug. 17-Sept. 30, '01, and had a fabulous time. The first two...

Seeing queensland on the five-star 'hotel on wheels'.
February 1, 2002... While Sydney can rightfully bask in its natural beauty and its successful Olympic Games, to most visitors Australia is its tropical Queensland, a state of verdant rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. We combined both on an exceptional rail...

400 years of British design.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Fifteen new galleries, tracing British design from the Tudor period to the end of the Victorian era have opened at London's Victoria & Albert Museum. They offer a chronological survey of British design and explore four major themes: style,...

Viewfinders share your special travel photos.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... On May 6, 1999, my son and his fiancee were married in Florence, Italy. They met during graduate school in San Diego. They then migrated to East Lansing, Michigan, to work at Michigan State U. Their friends were literally scattered around...

Cruises.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... For those who are still reticent about venturing to more distant ports to embark on a cruise vacation, herewith is a slightly edited version of a recently received press release, which highlights one such close-to-home option. STAR...

Tours: A selection of escorted tours.
February 1, 2002... World War II veterans showing their patriotism in front of the memorial on Omaha Beach erected to honor those who landed there on June 6, 1944. --Photo courtesy Image Tours "LONDON THEATRE GETAWAY" - 6-day tour. Departs March 21, '02....

Hello France: A Hotel Guide to Paris & 25 Other French Cities. (Reviewers' Corner).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... "Hello France: A Hotel Guide to Paris & 25 Other French Cities," second edition, by Margo Classe (2000, Wilson Publishing, 5554 Spokane St., Los Angeles, CA 90016. ISBN 0965394409 -- $18.95, 345 Pgs.). Few travel writers, would dedicate...

Traveler's Companion: Argentina. (Reviewers Corner).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... I loved this guidebook! One of some 40 books in a series that covers far-flung countries as well as nearer regions, it's an easy-to-hold and easy-to-use, 5 1/2-by-8 1/2-inch paperback full of excellent color photos and maps. "Traveler's...

Capturing Travel Images: When the sun goes down, get out the camera. (Focal Point).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... When the sun goes down, the photography starts getting good. Yet so many of us put our cameras away after sunset. Night photography is a personal passion that goes back many years. to an instructor's advice that photos can be made under any...

Tips for the solo traveler.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... QUESTION: I really don't want to travel alone, partly because of the expense but also because, since I am not particularly outgoing, I would have no one to talk, to for the entire trip and I would bore myself' I have a lot of unused vacation,...

The Discerning Traveler: Rambling on la guadeloupe and la martinique.
February 1, 2002... (Second of two parts) Following last month's description of our visit to the eastern Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, I continue with our rambles in the nearby French territory of Martinique. La Martinique It took forever to clear...

Around the Caribbean.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Beach resort in Puerto Rico The Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort, Country Club & Ocean Villas in Puerto Rico is offering, the "Romance in Paradise" package through February 2002. Starting at $107 per night, the package, includes round-trip...

London luxury hotels weekend packages. (Brit Bits).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In an unprecedented move, 13 of London's luxury 5-star hotels have joined together to offer American travelers a special weekend package called "The Jubilee Link" in honor of Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee in 2002, the 50th anniversary of her...

'Titanic' suite in scottish hotel. (Brit Bits).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A suite resembling a cabin on the Titanic, some newly collected antiques and a resident ghost are among the attractions of the Pool House. The Scottish hotel is a Victorian mansion on the shores of Loch Ewe in the North West Highlands of...

Trip planning in cyberspace. (Rick Steve's Europe).
February 1, 2002... Cyberspace is filled with free online travel talk. If you have a particular concern, you can get a world of advice through your computer modem. Vagabonds between trips hang out on travel forums. Google Groups (http://groups.google.com) and...

Oman, undiscovered Middle East jewel. (Timeless Roads of the Mideast & Mediterranean).
February 1, 2002... (1 of 4 on the Sultanate of Oman) Few have heard of, much less visited, the Sultanate of Oman at the foot of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a country of wonderful contradictions. Travelers in Oman stay in beautiful 4- and 5-star hotels...

Chelsea flower show.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... London's Chelsea Flower Show, May 21-24, 2002, will feature more than 40 show gardens and more than 150 floral exhibits in two pavilions. Tickets for the first two days are reserved for Royal Horticultural. Society members, but for the...

Namibia - of rock art sand dunes and wildlife. (Focus on Archaeology).
February 1, 2002... The day we visited the rock art at Twyfelfontein in northwestern Namibia began with a search for desert elephants -- elephants that have adapted to the harsh environment of the region called Damaraland. Our Wilderness Safaris guide assured...

'Grand Russia Cruise': (first of three parts). (Adventure Travel - for the Mildly Adventuresome).
February 1, 2002... A visit to Russia is an adventure in international understanding Independent travel in Russia is possible these days, but it's not as easy as one would expect in, for example, England or Germany. In Moscow and St. Petersburg the few hotels...

A little grass shack. (Kilroy was Here!).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... My friend Filip Boyen has again turned up working his hotel magic in yet another exotic locale. Filip was the General Manager of the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort when I met him. He, his wife, Joanna, and their young daughter, Amy, have...

Visitors' 'Conciliation desk' in Florence. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Chamber of Commerce of Florence Italy, has set up a specialized conciliation desk for tourists. Conciliation is an instrument offering an alternative to ordinary judicial proceedings to resolve disputes between firms or between firms and...

Global wireless solutions.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Roadpost, Inc., a specialist in global wireless communications, offers products and services ranging from international-standard mobile phones with service in more than 120 countries worldwide to Iridium satellite phone services providing...

One phone, one number, one bill worldwide with nextel.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Nextel Worldwide offers a phone with worldwide global roaming services that makes it easy to seamlessly conduct business or contact home from over 80 countries. With it, you can use the same U.S. number internationally as well as domestically,...

Auckland bridge climb. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... For the first time since 1959, visitors to New Zealand can climb onto the Auckland Harbour Bridge for spectacular views of the harbor and the city skyline. Open to anyone over the age of 10, the climb is suitable for visitors of all levels of...