International Travel News articles from January 2003

International Travel News archives from January 2003

Boarding pass.
January 1, 2003... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 323rd issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. Holland America canceled a sailing of its Amsterdam in late November to scour the ship in an effort to eradicate a virus that had stricken many...

Report Cards: on-the-spot reports from around the globe.
January 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 your travel impressions are fresh in your mind, or e-mail...

St. Petersburg marks 300 years.
January 1, 2003... It was a rain-free cruise of long days and short nights -- all 13 of them. That the majority of the 513 passengers plus 260 officers and crew members were German was not surprising. The ship, MS Deutsch land, is a 4-year-old luxury liner of...

Adelaide bicycles.(free to borrow)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... By fall 2003, Adelaide, South Australia, will have free bikes for hire. Plans for the service include the provision of 500 bicycles and 120 new bike-parking stations across the city plus bike-friendly improvements to bike lanes, paths and...

Travelers' Intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations.
January 1, 2003... No crowding or straining to hear! On our October '02 "Provence and the Rhone River" cruise/tour with Grand European Tours (Lake Oswego, OR; phone 800/552-5545), on the first evening each person was given a headset with an earphone and battery...

Funniest thing.(Brief Article)
January 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....

Use caution in Jordan. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... On Oct. 28, 2002, an American employee of the United States Embassy was assassinated in Amman, Jordan. Earlier Warden Messages from the State Department have noted the threat of kidnapping of U.S. citizens. Although Jordanian security...

Insurgents in Nepal. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... In a Nov. 15, 2002, press release, Maoist insurgents in Nepal claimed responsibility for targeting and brutally murdering two locally hired U.S. Embassy security guard employees in separate incidents that occurred on Dec. 15, 2001, and Nov. 9,...

Philippines caution. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... In view of a number of recent security-related incidents and the possibility of future terrorism, kidnappings and other violence or criminal activity, Americans traveling to or residing in the Philippines are urged to exercise great caution and...

Uzbekistan security. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... While the situation in Uzbekistan appears calm, ongoing events in the region warrant that all Americans in or traveling through Uzbekistan take measures to ensure their security and safety. Terrorist groups do not distinguish between...

Van Gogh turns 150. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... 2003 is the 150th anniversary of Vincent van Gogh's birth year. To celebrate, the two Dutch museums with the world's largest van Gogh collections, the Van Gogh Museum in 'Amsterdam and the Kroller-Muller Museum in Otterlo, are organizing...

Midlands crystal manufacturer revived. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Royal Brierley has started manufacturing again, two years after going into receivership. The, 225-year-old company, adjacent to the Black Country Living Museum at Dudley near Wolverhampton, England, has supplied generations of the Royal Family...

Emirates-SNCF plane-to-train link. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... With a special rail terminal at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, the Dubai-based international airline Emirates and SNCF French Railways now offer travelers rapid rail/air links between Dubai and six cities in France. Passengers from...

Ferry in Western Samoa. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Inter-Islander Express Services has started a new fast ferry link in Western Samoa between Mulifanua Wharf, Upolu, and Salelologa Wharf, Savaii. The Tausala Cedar o Samoa carries 94 passengers and crosses the 35-kilometer strait between...

The Emerald Isle ... getting a taste of the best.
January 1, 2003... When friends heard that I was going to visit Ireland, they asked me what type of food I thought we'd be eating. I had to say that I didn't know much about Irish cuisine. Stew? Potatoes? I did know there would be beautiful scenery, wonderfully...

A reunion--old buddies, beer and Bavaria!
January 1, 2003... Remember the old song "April in Paris"? Well, it was "May in Germany" for this old traveler. My longtime German friend, Walter, had visited me and my family about four years ago and ever since then had been after me to go to Germany so he could...

Accommodations Worldwide.(Directory)
January 1, 2003... Hotels * B&Bs * Homestays * Apartments 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...

Packing list additions and tips on packing.
January 1, 2003... ITN presented The Ultimate Packing List -- a compilation of readers' master packing lists -- in the August '02 issue, followed by The Ultimate Carry-on Packing List plus readers' tips on "packing light" (September '02) and The Ultimate...

Viewfinders: share your travel photo(s).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Spain In June '98, following a trip through Portugal, my wife and I traveled by car through southern Spain. We found highways in southern Spain to be in excellent condition, with the exception of about a 30-mile section under...

Tourist Office Directory. (A-Z).(Directory)
January 1, 2003... The following is a list of foreign countries! destinations and their tourist information offices in the United States. Where available, the address, phone number and website of each are included. Some countries have no tourist office here, and...

Flower show in Korea. (Travel Briefs).(World Flower Exhibition, April 24-May 8, 2003)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Producing 70% of all international exports of grafted cacti, Goyang City, located an hour from Seoul, is considered the center of Korea's floricultural industry. It's also the site of the 3rd World Flower Exhibition, this year themed "Joy of...

See a traditional Korean wedding. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Nowadays, it is rare to see a traditional Korean wedding ceremony in which the bride wears a headpiece and has red spots on her cheeks and forehead, but actual ceremonies are still held at the open-air theater inside Nakseongdae Park in...

John Lennon's specs. (Travel Briefs).(exhibited in Liverpool, England)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Pop idol John Lennon's round, tinted spectacles -- the world's most valuable eyeglasses, valued at $1.5 million -- have gone on permanent display in the Beatles' birthplace city of Liverpool. The specs, which he wore when composing the...

An introduction to old and new Japan.
January 1, 2003... A trip to Japan is a wonderful contrast of old and new. On a two-week trip to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo last summer, my husband and I learned a lot about traditional Japan but were greatly impressed with the soaring architecture, efficient...

Tours in review: candid appraisals of group tours.(Central America, Russia, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Austria, Czech Republic )
January 1, 2003... 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...

'Winter Wonderland' on alpine rails. (All Aboard!).(train travel to Switzerland)
January 1, 2003... Snow piles high beside your train, pines sag with the white crystals, and scenes, of extraordinary beauty dazzle you as you pass though 'the Alpine Swiss canton of Graubunden between Chur and St. Moritz in winter. You fully understand "Winter...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.(England, France, India, Myanmar, Guatemala, Peru, Chile)
January 1, 2003... "ENGLAND'S LAKE DISTRICT"--8-day inn-to-inn walking tour. Five to 10 miles per day (or opt to hike only half the day). 2003 departures May 4, June 15, July 20 and Sept. 28. Highlights: Visit the medieval village of Cartmel with its...

Cruise cavalcade: upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises.(Society Expeditions offers cruise 'Voyaging the Sea of Okhotsk' on World Discoverer ship, Royal Olympic Cruises offers cruise to South America)
January 1, 2003... 'Voyaging the Sea of Okhotsk' Society Expeditions offers a 19-day cruise, "Voyaging the Sea, of Okhotsk," on the World Discoverer. The cruise, Aug. 20-Sept. 8, 2003, is priced from $7,749 to' $13,215 per person, double occupancy,...

What goes in front of your lens? (Focal point: Capturing Travel Images).
January 1, 2003... If the goal of the photographer is to capture the sharpest image possible, arguably the lens is the most important part of his or her camera. Camera companies have made their reputations based on the sharpness of their lenses. Here's...

Antarctica by cruise ship. (The Discerning Traveler).
January 1, 2003... Golden sun rays were caressing my face, offering the euphoria of a bright summer day. At 43[degrees]F and with no wind, it felt so comfortable. Should I take my jersey off? I vacillated. If I did remove it, it might cause me to miss some of the...

Flights within Europe. (Rick Steves Europe).
January 1, 2003... Flying is now a realistic option for budget travelers looking to make the most of their time in Europe. Airfares have plunged due to European Union reforms and deregulation, and reliable, no-frills airlines are taking off. In addition,...

Rome's legacy to Provence. (Timeless Roads of the Mideast & Mediterranean).(Romans' colonization of Provence, France)
January 1, 2003... (2 of 4 on Provence, France) Travelers in the Mediterranean walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans, though some find it surprising to discover a major Roman legacy in the Provence area of France. During a 15-day tour of Provence in...

Kevin Keating's Kilroy Was Here!(Larkspur Landing Home Suite Hotel, San Francisco, CA)(Column)
January 1, 2003... Over the waves... I slipped a slice of raisin bread into the toaster oven -- my only culinary talent -- and was pouring some rich Colombian coffee into my favorite mug when the FedEx man leaned on the doorbell. He was delivering a...

BritRail sleeper packages. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... BritRail is encouraging American travelers to take its overnight sleeper services between London and Scotland. Sleeper service is available to both the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands, and packages include the rail ticket, sleeper accommodation...

YHA London "Explorer" packages. (Travel Briefs).(Youth Hostel Association, UK)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Accommodations in youth hostels, sightseeing tours, local transportation passes and admission to top visitor attractions -- such as Madame Tussaud's, the London Plantetarium, London Dungeon and London Eye -- are featured in London "Explorer"...

'Eternal City' package. (Travel Briefs).(Picasso Travel's Rome, Italy, tour package )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Travel must be completed by March 31, 2003, on Picasso Travel's 6-day/4-night "Rome The Eternal City" package (subject to availability), which starts at $599 per person, double, and includes roundtrip air from New York, Boston or Washington's...

A&K Concierge Villas. (Travel Briefs).(Abercrombie and Kent International Inc. 's villas rented by travelers in Europe)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Abercrombie & Kent now offers Concierge Villas in. Europe. Weekly rental includes the services of a concierge, cook/house manager, maids and a gardener/pool attendant along with selected meals and laundry. * For example, in Tuscany, Italy,...

See Tasmania. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... One-third of Tasmania is national park, and one of the best ways to enjoy its, natural and historic beauty is from the air. Tasmanian Seaplanes provides a range of experiences, including flights over the wilderness areas, city tours with...

Trip insurance clarification. (Travel Briefs).(Uniworld's travel protection plan)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... It should be noted that Uniworld's new Worry-Free Travel Protection plan, allowing customers to cancel a tour at any time and for any reason (see Dec '02, pg. 143), applies only to people who book a trip through Uniworld (Encino, CA; phone...

Multilanguage Phrase Book. (Travel Briefs).(Book Review)
January 1, 2003... The "World-wide Multilingual Phrase Book" by Eric Dondero R. is the first pocket-sized phrase book to contain languages from all over the world. Phrases and vocabulary are included for all the major world languages plus a few smaller ones....

Ramen Museum near Tokyo. (Travel Briefs).(Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, Japan)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Outside of Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan, Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum chronicles the historical roots of the dish ramen, even taking visitors through a 1958 working-class neighborhood that, among other storefronts, features eight ramen shops...

Custom trip maps. (Travel Briefs).(designed by artist Donna Walker )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Artist Donna Walker can design for you a customized map of a memorable trip you took, a sailing adventure, a special hiking trail or even an ancestral home. The one-of-a-kind works on canvas are hand-painted and can feature historical...

Person to person.(information exchange on planned trips overseas)
January 1, 2003... -- Reader-to-reader info exchange -- 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...

Saudi Arabia.(tourism)
January 1, 2003... The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is slowly opening up to tourists. Previously, the only way one could visit was by invitation, through sponsorship of a company or as a relative of a person living there. Since 1998, however, visas have also been...