International Travel News articles from January 2001

International Travel News archives from January 2001

Report Cards.
January 1, 2001... On-the-spot reports from around the globe From Iquitos, PERU, Nov. 5, '00... * Fitzcaraldo Restaurant & Bar (Napo 100, Iquitos) -- on the boardwalk along the Amazon River. Great atmosphere with lots of night activity and music outside....

Boarding Pass.
January 1, 2001... Dear Globetrotter: Longtime subscriber Dennis Martin of Yorktown, VA, knows what he wants in (and out of) a magazine. Here's what he had to say in a recent letter: "Years ago I used to write ITN once each year to comment about what a...

Fulfilling a lifelong dream -- riding Ecuador's G&Q.(Guayaquil-to-Quito railroad)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Riobamba, Ecuador -- 6:30 a.m. There was a chill and a light fog in the air. Street vendors were hawking coffee and fresh buns. A group of German tourists arrived to board one of the two vintage railcars waiting empty on the track. The...

Travelers' Intercom.
January 1, 2001... Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations Cooking in Bali The cooking classes at the Ritz-Carlton in Bali sound interesting (Aug. '00, pg. 174), but at $150 a day they are a trifle pricey. Might I suggest an alternative? The Casa Luna...

Indonesia unrest.(Americans should not travel there)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... The Department of State urges American citizens to defer nonessential travel to Indonesia and all travel to the regions of Aceh, Maluku and West Timor. Further, all travel by U.S. and other foreign government officials to Aceh, Papua and the...

Fiji developments.(military engaged in firefight)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... As ITN went to press, the State Department had not updated the following advisory. On Nov. 2, 2000, the U.S. Embassy in Suva released the following message: "U.S. citizens are advised to avoid nonessential travel to Suva, the capital...

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.(safety issues for Americans)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the potential danger of travel to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). The U.S. Government established diplomatic relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Nov. 17, 2000. Persons...

Haiti caution.(for US citizens)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Haiti due to the unstable security situation throughout the country. The Department has authorized the departure of family members of U.S. Government personnel from Haiti. If they...

Liberia security situation.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Liberia due to the unstable security situation throughout the country. The Department currently is prohibiting family members from accompanying U.S. Government employees to Liberia....

Solomon Islands travel warning.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to defer travel to the Solomon Islands due to continued ethnic violence between rival militant groups and a general breakdown in law and order in the capital, Honiara. American citizens resident in...

Traveling solo -- visiting Holland at tulip time.
January 1, 2001... Seeing the Dutch tulips in full bloom has been my dream for several years. Coming from a family where everyone travels extensively, I asked around to see if anyone wanted to go to Holland to see the tulips. However, everyone had been to Holland...

All aboard! From Bangkok to Singapore in style.(Eastern and Oriental Express)
January 1, 2001... Although the Eastern & Oriental Express came about much later than Europe's Orient Express, made famous by Agatha Christie in her murder mystery, I'm sure the author would have loved it. The train has everything: ambiance, a delightful group of...

ACCOMMODATIONS WORLD WIDE.
January 1, 2001... Hotels * B&Bs * Homestays * Apartments Great Britain & Ireland In June '00 my husband and I spent 11 days driving through the southeastern part of ENGLAND, an area we had not been to before. We always stay in B&Bs, and this time we...

CORRECTION.
January 1, 2001... It has been brought to our attention that in our write-up of the B&B Withymede (The Street, Bishop Sutton, Bristol, BS39 5UU, England), we inadvertently provided an incorrect telephone number (Oct. '00, pg. 66). The correct phone number is 1275...

Though chateaux are the star attraction France's Loire Valley offers even more.
January 1, 2001... Autumn only adds to the luster of one of the most beautiful pastoral regions in France -- the Loire Valley. My husband and I planned a leisurely week in the area, in early October 1999, combining our compulsive need to soak up more French...

TOURS IN REVIEW.(group tours)
January 1, 2001... Candid appraisals of group tours CHINA In July '00 I took a 21-day tour of the People's Republic of China. It was operated by China Focus, Inc. (870 Market St., Ste. 1215, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone 800/868-7244 or 415/788-8660 or log...

The Athenaeum in London.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... The Athenaeum Hotel & Apartments in London is offering a "Turner and Tea" package which includes a traditional Palace Tea in the hotel's Windsor Lounge and an entry ticket to the "Turner: The Great Watercolours" exhibition (commemorating the...

UK & Ireland arrangements for the disabled.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... For the disabled traveler, slow walker or any traveler who wishes to travel, independently but needs a little help, Undiscovered Britain can provide it in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. With a comprehensive data...

'Elegant Small Hotels'.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Pamela Lanier has produced the 15th-anniversary edition of the book "Elegant Small Hotels: A Connoisseur's Guide" (distributor, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. ISBN 1-58008-247-5). The book includes 249 of the world's finest grand luxe...

Subtropical to glacial: New Zealand has it all.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... My 12-hour nonstop flight on United Airlines from Los Angeles to Auckland in March 2000 went smoothly and on time, although I never quite resolved the mystery of crossing the International Date Line, leaving L.A. on Friday evening and arriving...

Cruises Critiqued.
January 1, 2001... Reader comments on ships, boats and cruises Don't miss the boat My husband and I were delighted to find the article in the August '00 issue because we took "The World's Most Beautiful Sea Voyage," the Norwegian Coastal (steamer)...

Mt. Kilimanjaro, then intriguing Zanzibar.
January 1, 2001... Mt. Kilimanjaro had not featured in my travel plans until I was perusing the new catalog from Explore Worldwide and saw a color photo of the mountain. I dithered between "Why not?" and "Why?," did some reading and made a reservation. ...

Tips for enjoying France.(Review)
January 1, 2001... How do charm French waiters? Ask directions on the street? Find the oldest tree in Paris? It's all in Polly Platt's new book, "Savoir-Flair: 211 Tips for Enjoying France and the French" (2000, Culture Crossing, Ltd. ISBN 0-96466841-6 -- $16.95,...

Properly outfitting Himalayan porters.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... If a snow-covered pass at 15,000 feet is difficult for a Western trekker outfitted with the latest combination of fleece, GORE-TEX[R], ice axe, crampons and boots, what is it like for a porter using a bamboo basket, rubber sandals and cotton...

Scenes along the Volga.(Obituary)
January 1, 2001... Michael Mark, editor of International Travel News' sister publication Military, represented ITN last September on a Russian water-ways cruise with GT Cruises (2610 East 16th St., Brooklyn, NY 11235; phone 800/828-7970, fax 718/934-9419 or visit...

All Aboard!
January 1, 2001... New tilting Look hard to find a train network in Europe that will not offer you a new train that tilts, to cut your travel time over conventional tracks. Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, Norway and Slovenia have joined the tilting...

Cruises.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... The new year brings... ... changes that can elicit joy and/ or sorrow for cruise aficionados. Constant flux in the cruise industry not only brings new opportunities for different offerings but can reawaken fond memories of happy sea...

INTRAV catalogs 2001 river cruises.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... INTRAV has announced its 2001 European riverboat cruises in a 32-page catalog, "Cruising the Rivers and Waterways of Europe," which lists more than 60 departures on 11 different voyages, from a new itinerary through the dramatic lochs of the...

2001 "Savings Series".(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Radisson Seven Seas Cruises' "2001 Savings Series" will feature savings on select voyages in the Americas, Alaska, Europe, South Pacific and Asia. From January to May 2001, the series of 16 destination-intensive voyages will offer guests three...

Transatlantic cruise two-for-one pricing.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... During a 34-day Crown Odyssey transatlantic-crossing cruise vacation, passengers will transit the Panama Canal, cross the Atlantic Ocean and visit ports of call on four continents. Departing from Los Angeles on March 27, this special sailing...

Yangtze package priced from $1,188.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... A 7-night vacation package in China has become very affordable, starting at $1,188 per person from West Coast gateways, effective March to December 2001. United Vacations is offering travelers three pre-cruise nights in Shanghai plus a...

Diverse Philippines expendition cruise.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... WWII shipwrecks, lost jungle tribes and an opportunity to swim with whale sharks: welcome to the Philippines, Zegrahm-style. In April 2001, passengers aboard the expedition ship Clipper Odyssey will explore the history, cultures and wildlife of...

PRIVATE JET TO ANCIENT EMPIRES.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... "Ancient Crossroads" is a 22-day trip to the Near, East and Asia aboard an all-first-class Boeing 757 specially out-fitted for 88 passengers. In JORDAN, visit the lost desert city of Petra, chiseled from sand-stone cliffs. In IRAN,...

"MOGHUL ROUTE: CENTRAL ASIA TO INDIA".(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... 22-day tour follows the trail of the Moghuls from the birthplace of Babur, the founder of the dynasty, to Delhi, last Moghul capital before the British took over. The Great Moghuls, known for their impressive architecture, constructed the Taj...

National Geographic Traveler -- Australia.(Review)
January 1, 2001... * "National Geographic Traveler -- Australia" by Roff Martin Smith (1999, National Geographic Society, 1145-17th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036-4688 -- $27.95, 399 pgs.). Roff Smith has lived in Australia most of his adult life. In 1996 he...

Azerbaijan, with Georgia.(Review)
January 1, 2001... * "Azerbaijan, with Georgia" by Mark Elliott (1999, Trailblazer Publications/Arc Publications, 38 Parkside, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex, U.K -- ISBN 187375633X, $22.95, 320 pgs.). As destinations, the Caucasus Republics are almost unknown....

The Senior Travel Vantage.
January 1, 2001... Savings in Japan Senior discounts are being offered by Japan Railways Group to men over 65 and women over 60 and one companion of any age. (This, does not have to be a relative.) A 50% discount will be awarded on these "Silver" or senior...

The Discerning Traveler.
January 1, 2001... Romania, an overlooked destination The congregation stood mesmerized as the sonorous, melodious voice of the priest echoed through the dark interior of the cavernous church. High voices chanted responsively from the back, where a small,...

Caribbean callings.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Windstar is offering 7-day tropical escapes from cold weather. * Islands of the Lesser Antilles -- The 308-guest Wind Surf sails through the Lesser Antilles on two different itineraries exploring the classic pirates' Caribbean. Nine 7-day...

St. Barths guide.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... WIMCO, a villa marketing and reservations company in the Caribbean, has published the "Vendome Guide to St. Barthelemy." The guide features the "inside" word on the hot and not-so-hot restaurants that have earned the sophisticated French...

Rick Steves' Europe [C].
January 1, 2001... Gliding through Venice's Carnevale Venice, a puddle of elegant decay, becomes a blaze of color and cameras during its February Carnevale. Sporting masks and costumes, Venetians from kids to businessmen join in the fun. Lively theater...

European Potpourri.
January 1, 2001... National monument reopened in Rome Dominating the adjoining Piazza Venezia, the imposing monument to Italy's first king, Victor Emmanuel II, was reopened in Rome on Nov. 4, '00, some 30 years after being closed for restorations. This is...

Timeless Roads of the Mideast & Mediterranean.
January 1, 2001... Ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, Morocco A mile before we reached Volubilis, our driver stopped so Moreen and I could see, in the distance, the best preserved Roman site in Morocco. These ruins, miles from the sea, stand foreboding against...

FOCUS ON -- ARCHAEOLOGY.(Bolivia)
January 1, 2001... Bolivian high My husband, Paul, and I were laboring up the Akapana pyramid at Tiwanaku in Bolivia. More accurately, I was laboring, stopping every few steps to catch my breath. He was faring a bit better, not stopping quite as often and,...

Adventure Travel--for the Mildly Adventuresome.
January 1, 2001... 'Slumming' in Rio (First in a 4-part series on Brazil. Note: Wayne went solo, on this trip; Saima stayed home to keep the home fires burning.) Last May, on a trip to Brazil sponsored by Riotur -- City of Rio de Janeiro Tourism Office,...

Far Horizons.
January 1, 2001... Victoria's breathtaking Mornington Peninsula In this, the second of a 2-part series on Victoria, I will share with readers one of Australia's best-kept secrets. Beginning but an hour's drive southeast along the coast from cosmopolitan...

Kilroy was Here!(Column)
January 1, 2001... Lucky year... Okay, Jeeves, you may open the millennium now. This is the first year of the next thousand and I don't want to hear any opposing voices. Today the mailman brings the Old Farmer's Almanac for 2001 and it contains a...

WorldClinic support, plus tips on maintaining your health during air travel.
January 1, 2001... The goal of the medical practice WorldClinic, founded in 1998, is to provide individuals who travel or work abroad immediate access to U.S. board-certified doctors who are familiar with their medical history. The 300 physician specialists, who...

Product helps fight 'Economy Class Syndrome.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... "Economy Class Syndrome" is a medical condition of which travelers should be aware. A number of medical studies have found that sitting immobile for extended periods of time, whether in an airplane or an automobile, may result in dangerous...

View finders.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Hua Hin, Thailand, for many years. the summer residence of the royal family, maintains the Royal Hua-Hin Golf Course on 180 acres just across the track from the train station. In 1921 the government built a "'railroad hotel" by the beach...

Funniest Thing.
January 1, 2001... This month's winner is BUNNY BROWER of Forest Hills, NY: One time, back in the '70s, I was staying at the old Paris Sheraton Hotel high up on the 27th floor. When my room service coffee came the first morning, I asked, "Le cafe, c'est...

Serena Hotel & Lodges.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... TANZANIA & KENYA -- "The Tanzania Experience" features a day at Lake Manyara, two days of game viewing in the Serengeti National Park and two nights at Ngorongoro Crater. First and last nights are in Nairobi, Kenya. $3,995 includes airfare...

Globus & Cosmos.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... BRAZIL -- 11-day tour "from the Amazon to Rio" includes a speedboat cruise deep into the Amazon, a drive through the "rubber boom" city of Manaus, a visit to Iguassu Falls and, lastly, Rio de Janeiro. $1,979 land only. Air-inclusive...

Tierra del Fuego national parks.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... CHILE -- "Patagonia Explorer" is a 17-day trip that features day hikes in Paine, Glacier and Tierra del Fuego national parks. Also take a 5-day cruise aboard a 114-passenger ship through the fjords and inlets of Chile's southern coastline...