International Travel News articles from January 2004

International Travel News archives from January 2004

Boarding pass.
January 1, 2004... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 335th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. His column last appeared in our May '03 issue and I was holding out hope that he would continue it, but I received word this month that our...

Help troops get home.(Give us your input ...)(Airlines offer 'hero' miles to US Armed Forces coming home from Iraq)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... You can help troops of the U.S. Armed Forces who are on active duty status in Iraq get home from the East Coast after they arrive Stateside, if you are a member of the mileage plan of any of the following airlines: Air Tran, American, Alaska,...

Rail cruises in Australia.(Give us your input ...)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Scheduled to commence in April 2004, the private train Ozback Explorer will operate fully inclusive 16-day "rail cruises" between Sydney and Darwin. It will have a bar and a lounge carriage, a dining car and four styles of private compartment...

Sydney night tour.(Give us your input ...)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Night Cat Tours offers a Sydney-by-night tour. Experience the nightlife, learn about the history, culture and secrets of the city and enjoy fantastic skyline views. Operating on Friday and Saturday nights, the tour costs Aus$65 (near...

A piece of paradise in the Cook Islands.
January 1, 2004... (Part 6 in a series of 6) On the island of Rarotonga, nothing can be built taller than a coconut tree. This inspired bit of zoning regulation sums up why we chose the largest of the Cook Islands over better-known South Pacific destinations...

Barcelona sightseeing.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... To sightsee Barcelona, I recommend the Bus Turistic. Run by the local transit authority, it is a 25-stop bus route featuring both a north and south loop. A multilingual tour guide is aboard each bus. One- and 2-day tickets are available at...

Not ready to leave the Borghese.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Borghese Gallery )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The following will be of interest to art lovers; especially, since Rome's Borghese packs one of the strongest punches of any museum in Europe. I visited the Borghese Gallery (Piazzale del Museo Borghese, 5, 00197 Rome; phone 39-06-328-10)...

Drove a leased Renault in Italy.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... We returned Oct. 16, '03, from a month in Italy, where we had a car for 24 days. We found that if you're planning to drive in Europe for 17 days of more, it generally pays to lease a car rather than to rent. We leased a brand-new mid-size...

Tuscan cooking course.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
January 1, 2004... I had the pleasure of attending a one-week Tuscan cooking course, Sept. 29-Oct. 5, '02, given by the Aolmaia Country School, based in beautiful San Miniato, Italy. It offers courses in cooking and other Tuscan/Ligurian arts and subjects such as...

In and around London.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Our plan was to attend the Chelsea Garden Show on May 22, '03, with the preceding week spent in and about London seeing all the sights. We were warmly welcomed everywhere--I really don't think I have ever encountered friendlier people. The...

Tivoli 'a jewel'.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
January 1, 2004... In contrast to the opinion expressed in the reader's letter "Tivoli, a Tarnished Treat" (Sept. '03, pg. 18), the Tivoli that I visited in Copenhagen in September '03 was a highlight of my trip. So enchanting was the theme park that I just had...

New books.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
January 1, 2004... I recommend the following two new travel books, * For those of you who have been to Africa or plan to travel there, I would like to recommend Paul Theroux's new book, "Dark Star Safari--Overland from Cairo to Cape-town" (2003, Houghton...

Funniest thing.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Tell ITN about the funniest thing hat ever happened to you while raveling 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...

Bombings in Turkey.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... On Nov. 15, 2003, two synagogues in Istanbul were the targets of suicide car bombs. On Nov. 20, the British Consulate General and the London-based HSBC bank in Istanbul were damaged by powerful explosions, killing dozens and wounding hundreds....

Kyrgyz Republic caution.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Department of State reminds U.S. citizens that extremist groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a terrorist organization with links to Al Qaeda, may be planning terrorist acts targeting Americans of American interests in the...

Malaysia concern.(News Watch)(U.S. concern for the safety of travelers to that region of Malaysia)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Oct. 5, 2003, kidnapping of six Indonesian and Filipino workers from a resort along the coast of eastern Sabah reinforces the U.S. concern for the safety of travelers to that region of Malaysia. Extremist groups in the region have...

Unrest in Sudan.(News Watch)(Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to Sudan)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to Sudan. Although the fighting resulting from the 20-year civil war has diminished greatly, the two parties have not signed a peace accord ending the war. The fighting affects...

Fighting in Somalia.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to Somalia, including the self-proclaimed "Independent Republic of Somaliland." Interclan and interfactional fighting can flare up with little warning, and kidnapping, murder and...

Bosnia-Herzegovina.(News Watch)(State Department warns U.S. citizens that there are still risks in Bosnia and Herzegovina)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Department State warns U.S. citizens that there are still risks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Attacks against minority returnees continue, especially in the eastern and western parts of the country, and visitors could get caught up in...

Libya caution.(News Watch)(Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Libya)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... United Nations sanctions on Libya were lifted on Sept. 12, 2003; however, U.S. sanctions remain in place. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Libya. There has been evidence of hostility to the U.S. in some segments of...

Marshall Islands spotless.(News Watch)(Measles outbreak has waned)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The measles outbreak in the Republic of Marshall Islands, which began on July 13, 2003, has waned. The Ministry Of Health has lifted a requirement for visitors' documentation of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination.

Current warnings.(News Watch)(State Department issues travel warnings on 27 destinations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 27 destinations: Libya, Turkey, Sudan, Bosnia, Iraq, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Angola, Liberia, Kenya, Algeria, Indonesia, Yemen, Cote d'Ivoire,...

Carnival's speedy boarding.(Travel briefs)(Carnival Cruise Lines has an electronic registration Web sites)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Carnival Cruise Lines has an electronic registration website that will speed up the data-gathering process required by the Department of Homeland Security as well as speed up guests' embarkation process. Passengers who register prior to 40...

Silverseas' flexible check-in, checkout.(Travel briefs)(Silversea Cruises)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Silversea Cruises now offers its guests the following options (subject to local government regulations, which may limit program availability): Early Embarkation--Guests wishing to board the ship earlier than the scheduled embarkation time...

Lines' paper ticket fee.(Travel briefs)("Rush fee" of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises guests who book within 21 days of sailing will pay a $35 "rush fee" if they want their tickets delivered in the traditional paper format. EDocs, i.e., documents delivered via e-mail, are...

More time to reschedule with AA.(American Airlines)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... American Airlines is giving customers new flexibility to change their flights when they have to postpone or cancel trips. Customers with nonrefundable tickets that allow changes now have a full year from the date their original ticket was...

Fiji package includes free airfare.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Representing a savings of up to $1,644 per person, through March 23, 2004, Islands in the Sun is offering a 10-day "Fiji Fly Free" package to Fiji featuring free round-trip airfare from Los Angeles via Air Pacific as well as accommodations in...

Petition dismissed.(Society Expeditions)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... On Nov. 4, 2003, a Seattle-judge dismissed an involuntary bankruptcy petition filed against Society Expeditions (Dec. '03, pg. 101). The judge stated that the petitioners had acted improperly in filing the petition. Society Expeditions...

Antarctica--'equisite beyond word'.
January 1, 2004... I am walking on an ice floe atop the Southern, Ocean, the most inhospitable sea on Earth. The only thing between me and a thousand feet of water filled with orcas, whales; penguins and seals is a 2-foot-deep crust of white, blue, gray and...

Wildly varying cruise fares irksome.(Norwegian Cruise Line)
January 1, 2004... ITN received from a reader a copy of a letter he sent to Norwegian Cruise Line, parent company of Orient Lines, as follows. We have recently returned from spending, out of the last 2Y2 years, our 39th week aboard an Orient Lines ship. ...

Stood up by Paris shuttle.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A Parisian friend arranged, for us to be picked up at her nearby apartment, where we were visiting her in 2002, by Air Line Shuttle (112 bis rue Champimnet, Paris 18e, France; phone 01 42 51 2656). We Were going to Charles de Gaulle Airport at...

Impressed with actions of China focus.(China Focus Travel)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... In April '03 we were scheduled to depart for China on a tour with China Focus Travel (870 Market St., Ste. 1215, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone 415/788-8660, fax 415/788-8665 or visit www.chinafocustravel.com) Two weeks prior to our departure,...

Driving, hiking in Romania.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
January 1, 2004... Just as our July '03 issue arrived with Randy Keck's article on Transylvania (Romania), we were about to leave on a self-planned trip covering the same sites. These are our observations, to augment his. Hotels were all quite good, with...

Gamelan on Java.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
January 1, 2004... In May 2000 we visited Solo on the island of Java in Indonesia. We particularly enjoyed Solo because it is a classic, traditional Javanese city, especially in regard to the music scene. Our favorite venue was the Sriwedari Theatre, a huge hall...

Helped build a school in China.(Global Volunteers)
January 1, 2004... "Grandmothers shouldn't be doing work like this," the little Chinese boy said as he took the shovel from me and laid it down. With his small hand in mine, he led me over to a log and indicated I should sit down. I knew this 3-year-old...

Expression of sympathy.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... When we planned a romantic visit to the Italian lakes area, we expected lake views, islands, gardens, great food and lots of wine. We did not expect to see a beautiful, modern monument honoring the victims of September 11. On our visit in...

A winding ride on Taiwan's remarkable forest railway.
January 1, 2004... Taiwan's Alishan Forest Railway climbs from 30 meters at Chiayi to 2,274 meters at Alishan in just 3V2 hours and gives all the adventure and spectacle any railfan could ever want. Better yet, it takes the nature lover from sea level through...

Munich Welcome Card.
January 1, 2004... The Munich Welcome Card grants free rides on public transportation in the German city. Single-day tickets are 6.50 [euro] (near $7.60); single 3-day tickets, 15.50 [euro], and single 3-day-tickets, including rides to/from the airport, 26...

Tourist office directory.(Directory)
January 1, 2004... The following is list of foreign countries/ destinations and their tourist information offices in the United States. New in this listing--we are indicating those countries that require a U.S. citizen to have a tourist visa. Some countries...

Strolling through Strasbourg.
January 1, 2004... Years of travel have taught my travel companion and me the value of a pause between segments of intensive touring. After a week of "Bags out at 7:00," we find it wonderfully restorative to spend a quiet interval by ourselves in some interesting...

Accommodations worldwide: hotels * B&Bs * homestays * apartments.
January 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. ...

Viewfinders.(hiking to Mt. Kilimanjaro)
January 1, 2004... The top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was my goal, so in May '02 I joined 11 others in Amsterdam and we flew to Nairobi, where we boarded a bus and rode for seven hours through southern Kenya and then northern Tanzania to the Marangu Hotel in...

Internet cafes overseas--a link home.
January 1, 2004... In the last few issues we've printed many letters from readers sharing advice on using Internet cafes while traveling. This is the last of four parts on the subject. We could not print all the mail we received, but we thank everyone who took...

Museum and city passes.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Travelers to France can purchase museum, transportation and city passes ahead of time at www.museumpass.com, a website devoted to travel passes. Museum and city passes offer savings and enable visitors to cut through long lines at attractions....

City markets & jungle trails--into the heart of Guatemala & Belize.
January 1, 2004... Latin America is so close to the U.S., but for some reason (mainly security) many international travelers shun countries other than Costa Rica. My wife and I decided we should visit some of our neighbors. Finding a reasonably priced trip...

Uganda and Ethiopia 'wonderful'.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
January 1, 2004... In July-August '03, my friend Carol and I traveled in Uganda and Ethiopia with arrangements we had found on the Internet and booked by e-mail. Making the arrangements was a real pleasure, especially remembering the difficulties of arranging...

Eighth trip to Istanbul.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
January 1, 2004... I found Istanbul as interesting as ever on my eighth trip to my favorite city. Istanbul is all about the people in the streets, both past and present. If you are not too timid, you should stay where the Turkish people are--bustling about the...

Guide in Egypt.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
January 1, 2004... My husband, my parents and I departed on Dec. 16, '02, for an 18-day trip to Egypt that included sightseeing around Islamic and Coptic Cairo; the Sakkara necropolis; the Giza pyramids; several days in Luxor to visit the temples and West Bank; a...

Private guide in Tuscany.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
January 1, 2004... My husband and I spent a week in Tuscany with our family group in June '03. One feature of our stay was a guided tour of parts of the Chianti wine region not normally visited by tourists. We used the services of an independent tour guide,...

Guides in Romania.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... My wife and I spent four days in Romania with a local guide at the end of October '03. In addition to seeing Bucharest, we traveled into the mountains and saw the wonders of Sighisoara, Brasov and Sinaia, plus some wonderful villages still not...

Dubrovnik cafe.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2004... Due to an editorial change in the article on Croatia in the December '03 issue, the author appears to be sightseeing in the Old City of Zagreb (page 52) when, in fact, he is touring Dubrovnik before a late-evening flight to Zagreb. Therefore,...

Cash up front.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... In a letter in the December '03 issue, page 78, a reader was "shocked" to learn of Turkey's $10O visa fee and thought to cancel her trip when she did learn of it. It is truly "penny wise and pound foolish" to miss a trip to one of the world's...

Reciprocal fees.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A recent Travelers' Intercom writer was shocked to find that Turkey's visa fee for U.S. citizens is a super-high $100. We just applied for a Brazil visa, which costs $110. A statement on the application said the lee had been raised to the same...

Break from the pack.(South Africa safaris)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... In Dan Gifford's article on South Africa (Oct. '03, pg. 29), I was interested to read about the radios used by tour guides on safaris. We were shocked when we learned, ourselves, that this was an accepted routine on all safaris. We took an...

Yorkshire churches.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A series of leaflets gives details of historic churches, cathedrals, abbeys and chapels in Yorkshire, England. More than 230 churches are featured, with maps showing their locations. The "Historic Churches" series covers York and Selby; Whitby...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.
January 1, 2004... "12-DAY DALMATIAN COAST"--Departures May-Nov. '04; book by Jan. '31 for discount. Among highlights: In Sarajevo, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA, Bas Carsija Turkish bazaar and Husraf Bays Mosque/Mostar/in Dubrovnik, Francescan monastery, Old Town...

Seniors pay half on Britain bus.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... All travelers age 60 of over, or those registered as disabled, are eligible for half-price fares on Britain's largest long-distance bus operator. They can buy National Express tickets at half price, except on Fridays and except on Saturdays in...

Windsor Castle treasures.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The 400th anniversary of the Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland is marked by an exhibition of treasures from the Stuart dynasty, on view at Windsor Castle until April 25, 2004. The display of drawings, miniatures, books and documents...

200 years of steam railways.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... 2004 marks the bicentenary of the world's first steam locomotive on rails Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick's "Pen y Darren" engine, as well as the 100th anniversary of a record-breaking 100 mph run by the engine "City of Truro" and 400...

Tower of London exhibit.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Tower of London will hold a major exhibition, "Prisoners of the Tower: 1100-1945," from April 28 to Sept. 5, 2004. It will deal with famous prisoners (Anne Boleyn, Sir Walter Raleigh, etc.) as well as less-well-known inmates up to the 20th...

Wheelchair accessibility in the UK.(Brit bits)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
January 1, 2004... Wheelchair users and others with mobility difficulties planning to visit Britain may want a copy of "Smooth Ride Guide--UK" by July Ramsey. It grades, in three categories, the accessibility of hotels, locations and attractions. (A previous...

Where to take tea.(Brit bits)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
January 1, 2004... In Britain, afternoon tea usually includes finger sandwiches; scones with clotted cream and preserves; pastries; fruit cake; biscuits, and a choice of teas. * The "Guide to Afternoon Tea in Britain's Finest Hotels" by Keith Newton...

Croatia's pristine park: Plitvice Lakes.(Rick Steves' Europe[c])
January 1, 2004... While Croatia is known for its recent war of independence from Yugoslavia, few Americans know about the country's natural beauty. One of Croatia's most spectacular spots is an inland forest laced with waterfalls and studded with turquoise...

Scandinavia packages.(Rick Steves' Europe[c])(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Continental Journeys is offering 5-day, air-inclusive weekend getaways at $499 per person, double, to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen or Helsinki. Thursday departures take place weekly through March 25, 2004, with returns on Mondays. ...

Scoop Lynch, ace reporter ...(Kevin Keating's Kilroy Was Here!)
January 1, 2004... Hanging in the home of my friend Joseph Lynch is one of the best travel posters I've ever seen. It promotes Air Nepal's Yeti Service and features a huge, hairy hand holding a tray with an iced martini. When you're flying over the high...

For frequent hostelers.(Hostelling International USA)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Hostelling International USA (HI-USA) has added "FreeNites & More," a frequent-user rewards program that gives members points for each night they stay at participating hostels, both in the U.S. and overseas (currently in England, Wales, the...

Daylight Canal transit guaranteed.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Through 2004, Clipper Cruise Line is guaranteeing a daylight navigation of the Panama Canal on its voyage "Exploring the Natural Treasures of Costa Rica and the Darien Jungle, Plus the Panama Canal" aboard the 138-passenger Yorktown Clipper....

SuperClubs free night.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Cruise passengers can cash in a boarding pass for a free night when booking a SuperClubs Super-Inclusive holiday. Anyone who cruised for a minimum of three nights in 2003 or intends to cruise in 2004 is eligible. A SuperClubs Resort...

Switzerland ski package.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Picasso Travel is offering a 6-day/4-night ski package to Engelberg in central Switzerland through March 2004. For $799 per person, double occupancy (single supplement, $149), it includes round-trip air from New York, Boston or...

Classes in Armenian cooking.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Guests at the Avan Villa Yerevan, a 14-room boutique inn in Yerevan, Republic of Armenia, can take a class on authentic Armenian cooking. Participants will prepare a complete meal of appetizers, main courses and desserts--including making...

St. Thomas-Virgin Gorda shuttle.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Rosewood Hotels' Little Dix Bay resort on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, now offers a 12-minute air shuttle service between St. Thomas and Virgin Gorda. The air taxi costs $100 per person, one way; operates daily except Tuesdays and...

Sydney-Tasmania ferry.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A new ferry route between Sydney, Australia, and Devonport in Tasmania will go into service in January 2004. TT Line's Spirit of Tasmania will depart at 3 p.m. from Sydney and arrive the next morning at 11:30 a.m. in Devonport three times a...

Secret haunts in Port Adelaide.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A guided twilight ramble in Port Adelaide, South Australia, offers visitors insight into local history and folklore and the opportunity to meet several of the port's ghostly characters. Visitors see some of the city's historic buildings, with a...

Arctic ice village.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Visitors to Rovaniemi, Finland, may want to stop at Arktikum, featuring an Arctic snow research facility, educational exhibits and the Provincial Museum of Lapland. Also at Arktikum, the Snow & Ice Theater, constructed of snow and ice, is open...

Treetop walk in SE Australia.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Just off the Great Ocean Road at Lavers Hill, in the Otway Ranges of southeast the new Otway Fly Tree Top Walk is a 657-yard-long walk through the treetop canopy of the rainforest. Accessible to young and old, the walk ascends at a gentle...

Swing through tree-tops in Jamaica.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A new "canopy tour" is being offered in Jamaica by Chukka Cove Adventure Tours and Chukka Blue Jamaica Adventure Tours. Utilizing an intricate harness system of pulleys on horizontal traverse cables, and supervised by experienced guides,...

My trip to Southeast Asia in 1998 included several countries, but I found Burma (Myanmar) to be the most fascinating.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: My trip to Southeast Asia in 1998 included several countries, but I found Burma (Myanmar) to be the most fascinating. Most of our time was spent in the city of Yangon and the region of Bagan. At the...

Departure lounge: you received a great compliment.
January 1, 2004... Susanna Davila of San Rafael, CA, said, "I very much appreciate ITN. I've gleaned much useful information, in addition to enjoying the feeling of 'family' that is evident in each issue." At the office here, we were touched by Susanna's...