International Travel News articles from February 2004

International Travel News archives from February 2004

Boarding pass.
February 1, 2004... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 336th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. This issues marks a full 28 years of publication! Some of you will remember the name Paige Palmer, whose column Worldwide Travel Advice" ran in ITN...

Report cards: on-the-spot reports from around the globe.
February 1, 2004... 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 your travel impressions are fresh in your mind, or e-mail...

On course to adventure--delving into the Peruvian rainforest.(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... From a treetop deep in the jungles of Peru, a tiny brown monkey stares down at me with curiosity. I aim my binoculars and stare back into his intense, dark eyes. We check each other out for a couple of minutes, then he is gone, swinging with...

Laterna Magica in Prague.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... While in Prague, treat yourself to a performance at any one of several Laterna Magica or Black Light productions. Little or none of the productions involve dialogue, so knowledge of Czech is not needed. They are a combination of music, dancing,...

Brussels Card caveats.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... We returned Nov. 21, '03, from nine days in Paris and three in Brussels. Brussels has a fairly new offer called the Brussels Card, advertised as "a 3-day pass to most of the major and minor museums in the area plus 72 hours of public...

Victim drivers in Spain.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... While driving a leased car in Spain in the fall of 2003, I encountered the following incidents that should serve as warnings to other readers. Driving into Barcelona on a quiet Sunday afternoon, we began to encounter "windshield washers"...

The 'approachable' captain of Brilliance.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2004... The Traveling Tightwad (my son, Geoffrey Templeman) and I took the 14-night repositioning cruise of Royal Caribbean International's Brilliance of the Seas in October-November '03. The route was from Barcelona to Miami via Malaga, Lisbon, the...

Felt welcomed, safe in Turkey.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... I returned Nov. 24, '03, from a fantastic 19-day tour through western Turkey with Grand Circle Travel (phone 800/221-2610 or visit www.gct.com). In light of the Nov. 15 bombings in Istanbul, I thought some readers would be interested in the...

Funniest thing.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... 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...

Fighting rebels in Nepal.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to defer nonessential travel to Nepal. On Oct. 31, 2003, the Department designated the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) a terrorist organization, blocking the Maoists' assets wherever located...

Worldwide caution.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Department of State reminds U.S. citizens of the, continuing threat that they may be targets of terrorist actions overseas and should maintain a high level of vigilance. It points out there are increasing indications that Al-Qaida is...

Uzbekistan alert.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The U.S. Government has received information that terrorists may be planning attacks against hotels in Uzbekistan frequented by Westerners as well as against embassies and other organizations, facilities and institutions associated with or...

Threats in Saudi Arabia.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Saudi Arabia, It continues to receive indications of terrorist threats aimed at Western interests, including the targeting of transportation and civil aviation. Terrorists...

Vigilant in Bahrain.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The U.S. Government has received terrorist threat information specific to Bahrain. U.S. citizens should remain vigilant, particularly in public places associated with the Western community. They should avoid demonstrations and large crowds,...

Risks in Lebanon.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to consider carefully the risks of travel to Lebanon. Tensions in the Middle East have prompted public expressions of anti-U.S. rhetoric and public sentiment. Recent events in Lebanon,...

Bangladesh threats.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The U.S. Government has received information regarding several possible threats against the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka and other U.S. interests in Bangladesh.

Ethiopia concerns.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... On Dec. 13, 2003, eight people were killed when a vehicle carrying Ethiopian refugee officials was attacked in Ethiopia's Gambella Region, which borders Sudan. Following this latest incident, UNHCR withdrew nonessential personnel from Gambella....

Haiti unrest.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Political tension has increased significantly in Port-au-Prince, Gonaives, Cap Haitien, Petit Goave, Jacmel and other parts of Haiti recently. The U.S. Embassy was closed on Dec. 12, 2003, due to civil unrest, and from time to time it may close...

Yellow fever outbreak contained.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the yellow fever outbreak that began in July 2003 and affected five Latin American countries is now waning. As of press time, no new cases had been reported from the region since...

Current warnings.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 27 destinations: Nigeria, Nepal, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Libya, Turkey, Sudan, Bosnia, Iraq, Somalia, Israel, the West Bank and Gaze, Angola, Liberia, Kenya, Algeria,...

Kroller Muller Museum.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... "Helene's Favorites," an exhibition of approximately 12,000 objects assembled by Helene Kroller-Muller, founder of the Kroller-Muller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands, will run April 10-Dec. 31, 2004. Among others, it will include paintings...

Peter Pan a centenarian.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... "Peter Pan" turns 100 years old in 2004. The stage play, by Scottish author J.M. Barrie, was performed for the first time on Dec. 27, 1904, at the Duke of York's Theatre in London. Barrie gave the copyright of his children's classic to London's...

New face on St. Paul's.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... St. Paul's Cathedral in London is undergoing cleaning and repair work for about a year, and until it is finished the great West Front will be hidden by a huge printed image, a 57-by-30-meter enlargement of a 1927 architectural drawing of the...

Following the footsteps of a soldier.(France)
February 1, 2004... After traveling to 41 countries, my husband and I embarked on a self-designed journey that would surpass all the trips we had taken in our lifetime. Over several years we had searched for information regarding the death of my uncle, Staff...

Reader survey.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... (We know that some can be difficult decisions, so you may split your vote with a half-vote each if you pick two or one-third each if you choose three.) My all-time very favorite country: -- -- -- My all-time least favorite country:...

Fixing a flight mixup.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... What would you do if you discovered that you were booked on a nonexistent flight? This was the unbelievable situation that my wife and I recently encountered. We believe in firming up travel arrangements as early as possible to avoid the...

Also experienced curtailed cruise.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
February 1, 2004... I read ITN reader Helmut Richter's letter, titled "Yangtze Cruise Curtailed" (Nov. '03, pg. 34), about the river cruise portion of his trip "Imperial China, Tibet and Yangtze" with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), and have some comments to...

Plying the Yangtze.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... Re the letter "Yangtze Cruise Curtailed" (Nov. '03, pg. 34), about a cruise that was to begin in Chongqing, China, on April 8 but ended up being curtailed on two sections of the river, it is just by coincidence that on April 9, '03, we were...

Danube cruise interrupted.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... My husband and I booked a "Grand European River Cruise" with Vantage Deluxe World Travel which offered a voyage from the North Sea to the Black Sea. Our departure date of Aug. 15, '03, coincided with the hottest and driest summer in Europe in...

Enjoyed substitute itinerary.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... My husband, Don, and I took another fine trip with Viking River Cruises (phone 877/668-4546 or visit www.viking rivercruises.com), "Vienna to the Black Sea," via the Danube, on the Viking Europe, Sept. 14-Oct. 2, '03. In a little over two weeks...

Barging in France.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... We took a great "Burgundy barging" trip with Odysseys Unlimited (85 Main St., Ste. 101, Watertown, MA 02472; phone 888/370-6765, fax 781/370-3699 or visit www.odys.seys-unlimited.com) in September '03. We shared a marvelous chemistry with...

Selected midship cabin.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2004... This is in response to a warning by a reader on page 115 of the November '03 issue re cabin selection on a Norwegian Coastal Voyage cruise. In July '02 my husband, Ed, and I took a land-and-cruise tour with Odysseys Unlimited (85 Main St.,...

NCL onboard Internet access.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
February 1, 2004... I took a Panama Canal cruise on the Norwegian Sun, departing Miami April 12, '03, and arriving in Los Angeles April 29. The ship line provided an e-mail address where we could be contacted aboard ship. I gave this to family members so they...

Village vacations in England.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
February 1, 2004... My wife and I and our daughter and son-in-law spent a week in May '02 in southwest England with David and Christine Hale, who have a B&B and a tour service called Village Vacations Brookmead, Rimpton, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8AQ England; phone/...

Banks recommended notification of travel plans.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
February 1, 2004... I have traveled often to Europe, Southeast Asia, South America and even Borneo and have used a debit card in all those countries, finding it the best method of securing local currency. Until our last trip we encountered no problems and our bank...

'Unusual transactions'.(using credit cards while vacationing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... If you intend to use a credit card anywhere you seldom visit, it would be wise to notify the card issuer before leaving on your trip. My credit was suspended when the card company noticed "some unusual transactions." I took a tour to...

Barcelona-Andorra day trip.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The small country of Andorra lies in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Because of its location, methods of getting there are limited. If driving, you can enter from either France or Spain. However, an easy and economical way to enter...

Self-planned tour of Norway.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
February 1, 2004... In September '03 I took an independent tour to Norway traveling solo. When I began my planning in June, I had three main objectives in mind: visiting the cities of Oslo and Bergen, sailing the Geiranger Fjord and crossing the Arctic Circle....

Botswana self-drive safari--a truly wild ride.
February 1, 2004... Travel in Botswana is limited to a few choices. You can book accommodations through one of many tour operators. Their camps are generally small, accommodating 12 to 15 people, and are remote but well appointed. The food is gourmet, and the...

Travel is ...
February 1, 2004... ITN asked its readers for essays centered on the subject "Travel is..." in 250 words or less. Small prizes were offered for the best five. We were hit by a flood of responses--and the writing was so good, we decided to increase the number of...

Accommodations worldwide: hotels * B&Bs * homestays * apartments.(Directory)
February 1, 2004... 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. ...

Stepping into the past in a land of castles.(Wales)
February 1, 2004... My wife and I have taken several guided trips to various areas of Great Britain hoping to see as much of this very attractive country as possible. While we had obtained good overviews of many of its regions, Wales had been mostly ignored....

Tours in review: candid appraisals of group tours.(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2004... 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...

Crossing Russia in style on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
February 1, 2004... Clattering across eight time zones; the Trans-Siberian Railway line traverses one-third of the globe and all of modern Russian history. While continuing to provide basic transportation in an area with few roads, the train also serves as a draw...

Sailing around South America.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
February 1, 2004... Sailing around South America We took a 55-day voyage around South America, February-April '03. We'd taken a similar trip 10 years before on an old, slow, former Matson ship, but we were ready to do it again. This voyage was on the Olympia...

Fortnight in London.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
February 1, 2004... Fortnight in London I stayed in London for two weeks, July 7-22, '03, on a trip booked for $2,528 with Grand Circle Travel (347 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210; phone 800/221-2610). I had a large, 2-room apartment with a full, furnished...

Borobudur and Prambanan impression spoiled.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Borobudur and Prambanan impressions spoiled I visited the astoundingly beautiful, inspirational and impressive sites of Borobudur and Prambanan on Java, Indonesia, in September '03 and am sad to report' that both left a bad taste in my mouth...

Re international driver's license.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Re international driver's license In reference to the reader's letter "Driver's License Sufficient" (Dec. '03, pg. 78), regarding International Driving Permits, years ago a friend of mine and her husband were on a trip to Italy when they had an...

Guide in Cape Town.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Guide in Cape Town During the many years I have spent traveling throughout the world, I have used a number of Call 800/486-4968 to subscribe private guides. None has provided such exquisite service as Francois Viljoen (P.O. Box 6178, Welgemoed,...

The kindness of the Moroccan people.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
February 1, 2004... The kindness of the Moroccan people we had been alternating cheap and luxurious hotels, $60 one night and $6 the next, during our September '02 trip to Morocco, and now we were looking for a cheap place to stay between the Moroccan desert and...

Travel clubs update.
February 1, 2004... The LEXINGTON Travel Club was started in January 1987. Club members meet the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at various local restaurants. During the summer we just have dinner, but from September through April the dinner is followed...

Black Forest railroad.(All Aboard!)
February 1, 2004... When your train passes the famous "mighty roof" houses, onion-dome churches and even occasional cuckoo clocks, you know you are in Germany's Black Forest. Your ride through the Black Forest's Valley of Hell (Hollental) is romantic enough...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.
February 1, 2004... FOR GARDEN LOVERS --10-day/10-night tour of ENGLAND. Small group (maximum, eight). Departures May 16 and June 27, '04. Among highlights: Chelsea Flower Show (May) or Hampton Court Flower Show (July)/viewing of gardens in the Cotswolds...

Tips for the solo traveler.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... QUESTION: Traveling alone, I find it hard to get pictures that I want to look at more than once, and I am sure they bore my friends, so I have quit bringing them out to show, altogether. It seems like a waste of time and money, but I can't just...

You simply must visit South Africa.(The Discerning Traveler)
February 1, 2004... (First of three parts) "You now have to set your watch one hundred years back," the captain announced as the plane descended toward the Johannesburg airport. Just a few weeks earlier a screaming headline in the newspaper The Cape...

Spain's southernmost port.(Rick Steves' Europe[c])
February 1, 2004... To experience a laid-back town and a chance to day-trip to Morocco from Europe, make Tarifa your home base. Spain's (and Europe' s) southernmost port is a pleasant, Arab-looking town with a lovely beach, an old castle, restaurants swimming in...

Van Gogh Museum.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... As of Feb. 27, 2004; the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam will remain open until 10 p.m. every Friday night, with the restaurant and individual audio tours also operational. A program of lectures, concerts, films, etc., will be held those evenings...

Rijksmuseum.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Philips wing of the Riiksmuseum in Amsterdam is presenting all of its 17th-century masterworks, comprising highlights of northern Dutch painting, sculpture and crafts of the Golden Age. The works will remain there until mid-2008, when the...

Pubs week in Britain.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... This year, National Pubs Week is being held in Britain, Feb. 21-28. More than 15,000 pubs will be holding special quizzes, food promotions, themed nights and "pub crawls" (organized visits to several inns). For info, visit the website of...

Paraty--a link to Brazil's colonial heritage.(Latin America)
February 1, 2004... (First of two parts) Nineteen years ago I was totally captivated by the locale in the film "Gabriela." The movie starred one of Brazil's hottest stars, Sonia Braga, and the esteemed Italian film idol Marcello Mastroianni. "Gabriela" was...

The Turkish sport of cirit.(Timeless Roads of the Mideast & Mediterranean)
February 1, 2004... During our travels in Middle East countries, my wife, Moreen, and I have seen the horse valued as a treasured necessity for both transportation and animal husbandry. Yet, as in Western countries, we've also seen horses used for sports, though...

Canalboats in the UK.(Drifters consortium offers free booklet)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A free-booklet, "Waterway Holidays," explains how easy it is to book a narrowboat on Britain's 2,000-mile inland waterway network. Developed by Drifters, a consortium of canalboat rental companies, the booklet lists 20 rental bases, from which...

Energetic Manila.(Far Horizons)
February 1, 2004... (First of two parts on the Philippines) A kind of frenetic mania pervades the urban streetscape as the cultural combine of East and West continues to define itself while the business of daily life goes on. In the Philippines, all journeys...

Heads up re St. Barts.(Far Horizons)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... St. Barts effectively will be closed to air traffic in fall 2004 because of an airport renovation project. St. Jean Airport, famous for its 900-foot runway sandwiched between a mountain and the sea, will have its runway repaved and emergency...

Orchids at Kew Gardens.(Far Horizons)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Kew Gardens' Princess of Wales Conservatory is holding its 10th annual orchid festival, with a quarter of a million orchids, Feb. 14-March 14, 2004. London's Kew Gardens is open daily. Admission costs 8.50 [pounds sterling] (near $14.50)...

Seven ocean roll ...(Kevin Keating's Kilroy Was Here!)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2004... After boarding Oceania Cruises' M/S Regatta in Barcelona, my friend Joe Lynch came to anchorage in a ship's bar called Martinis. Lloyd Mthenby, a barman from South Africa, was juggling the ice and the olives, "And," Joe told me, "this young man...

Ins and outs of Korea.(Kevin Keating's Kilroy Was Here!)(Riding in Seoul)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... "Riding in Seoul" is a guide to public transportation in Korea as seen from a foreigner's perspective. It explains the ins and outs of subways and taxicabs, tells what to do in emergencies and offers local insights. It is on sale at...

Mughal art in Edinburgh.(exhibits)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A great example of Mughal art will be on display until May 3 at the Queen' s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. The jewel-like manuscript known as Padshahnama, or "Chronicle of the King of the World," was an official record of the...

Normandy Golf cruise recalls D-Day.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy, Kalos Golf in June 2004 is offering passengers a "Coast of Normandy" cruise on the 3-masted barque Sea Cloud II. Beginning in London on May 27 and ending in Pads...

'No Frills' Norwegian Coastal Voyage.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Norwegian Coastal Voyage is offering No Frills Vacations on the line's smaller ships at rates up to 33% below NCV Independent Vacations. Two 10-day packages feature a 6-day southbound or 7-day northbound sailing on the 312-berth MS Narvik...

Northern Belle tours Great Britain.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Orient-Express in 2004 is again exploring England, Scotland and Wales in grand style onboard the Northern Belle. The week-long London-to-London "Grand Tour" will depart Victoria Station on June 4, July 2, Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1. The...

The Royal Scotsman.(Travel briefs)
February 1, 2004... The luxury train Royal Scotsman travels the mountains and glens of the Scottish Highlands on one- to 5-night journeys. Described as "a country house on wheels," it hosts 36 passengers in sumptuous surroundings, stabling at night. Meals,...

DMZ tour expanded.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... In South Korea, the security tour that once Was limited to Panmunjom and the underground tunnels has been expanded to include the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the strip of land that separates the Korean Peninsula in half. Its ecosystem of rare...

Dolphins at Port Adelaide.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Port Adelaide, Australia, is home to about 30 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins that are frequently observed in the river. Now the city has a Dolphin Interpretive Trail along the riverbanks with signs identifying viewing locations and giving...

Camelback in Australia.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... On camelback, you can trek 14 miles of Broome'S remote coastline in Western Australia and experience the Kimberly region's rugged isolation and beautiful landscape. Morning and sunset rides are available. The cost for a one-hour tour is US$18....

Person to person: reader-to-reader info exchange.
February 1, 2004... 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...

Travel award recipients.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The following ITN readers are the latest to receive ITN travel awards. Congratulations go to... 100 NATIONS AWARD * REGINALD COOPER, IOWA CITY, IA * JACQUELINE COOPER, IOWA CITY, IA * ELINOR COURTNEY, TORRANCE, CA *...

Where in the world?(contest)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... You could win a year's subscription to ITN simply by identifying where the above photo was taken. The winning entry will be drawn from a pool of correct answers. Answers must reach the ITN offices by Feburary 25. Send your postcard entry...

Departure lounge.(Editorial)
February 1, 2004... On Sunday, December 7, 2003, Nino Mohan of Worldview Tours (who has advertised in ITN for about 20 years) presented a slide show about India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet to No Reservations, the travel club in Sacramento. It was indeed great...