International Travel News articles from June 2002

International Travel News archives from June 2002

Boarding pass.(International Travel Network magazine, services)
June 1, 2002... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 316th issue of your monthly overseas-travel magazine. Readers of ITN know that one of the things that sets this magazine apart from the competition is that ITN is written largely by travelers...

Report cards.
June 1, 2002... On-the-spot reports from around the globe-- 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...

Finding Shangri-la--in tiny Bhutan: we traveled to the Himalayan Mountain Kingdom of Bhutan in November 2001 for 17 days. This beautiful country has been referred to as Shangri-la, a title richly deserved.
June 1, 2002... Bhutan is a tiny kingdom, 150 kilometers wide and 300 kilometers long. Among its many attractions are high mountain peaks with terraced rice fields, deep valleys and ancient temples (dzongs). To preserve the beauty of this nation, there are...

Day trip to Paris from London. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Take a day trip to Paris from London Eurostar. All exclusive excursion from BritRail includes a specially priced round-trip Eurostar ticket, a complimentary pass valid on Paris' extensive public transport network and a map of Paris. The...

Eurostar London-Avignon route. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... This summer, travelers can go for the first time directly between London and Avignon in the south of France via the Channel. Tunnel on the high-speed Eurostar train. The London-Avignon route will run only between July 20 and Sept. 7, although...

Rail Europe acquires DER. (Travel Briefs).(Destination Europe Resources)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... To offer a broader product line and better service, Rail Europe Group, the largest North American distributor of European rail and related travel products, has acquired Destination Europe Resources (DER), a major distributor of European car...

Smooth handoffs of rented auto. (Travelers' Intercom).(at Renault Eurodrive )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Our trip to Europe in September '01 included a car rental. Prior to our departure, we made a rental agreement with Renault Eurodrive (visit www.renaultusa.com). We selected the model desired, the period of rental and the point for pickup and...

First class inconsistent on UK rail lines. (Travelers' Intercom).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... In December '01 I took a trip to the UK. I used an 8-day BritRail Pass that worked very well (including my round trip from Heathrow Airport to London). I traveled to Edinburgh on the East Coast Mainline using Great Eastern Railroads (or...

Hong Kong & Tokyo package. (Travelers' Intercom).(from Asian Affair Holidays)
June 1, 2002... I traveled to Hong Kong and Tokyo, March 8-17, '02, on a package trip purchased through Asian Affair Holidays (360 N. Sepulveda Blvd. #3008, El Segundo, CA 90245; phone 800/742-3133). This firm is an arm of Singapore Air. I spent three nights...

Travel insurance and the preexisting condition. (Travelers' Intercom).(personal narrative)
June 1, 2002... As I was looking for insurance coverage for another trip I called the companies listed in Wayne Wirtanen's informative article in the March '02 issue, page 72. Below is a brief summary of my travail. 1. Travelex -- I repeatedly tried...

Tips for better enjoying a cruise. (Travelers' Intercom).(cruise ships, personal narrative; P&O Cruises)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... My wife and I had been looking for something spectacular in the way of travel to help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary in 1999. We received a flyer from Princess Cruises (800/340-7674) for a world cruise on the Oriana of P&O Cruises...

Getting from Cambodia to Viet-Nam. (Travelers' Intercom).(tourists, personal narratives)
June 1, 2002... In August '01 my husband and I spent a wonderful week in Cambodia and, while there, looked for a "creative and interesting" way to cross the border into Viet-Nam that didn't involve flying. We took the advice of our hotel manager at the...

Funniest thing.(personal narrative, travel to a foreign country)(Brief Article)
June 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's...

Venezuela 'volatile'. (News Watch).(travel advisory for Americans in Venezuela)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The Department of State warns American citizens against travel to Venezuela, stating that the security situation is volatile and unpredictable. Following widespread strikes and other public disturbances, the political situation remains...

Philippines danger. (News Watch).(travel advisory for Americans in the Philippines)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... A number of recent security-related incidents highlight the danger of travel in the Philippines. Kidnappings of foreigners, bombings and other violent incidents call for Americans to exercise great caution throughout the country. Moreover, as a...

Be aware in Peru. (News Watch).(travel advisory for Americans in Peru)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... There are indications that terrorist organizations are continuing to plan actions directed against American citizens and American interests in Peru. American citizens are advised to be vigilant, and avoid crowds and public areas, particularly...

Middle East caution. (News Watch).(travel advisory for Americans in the Middle East)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The U.S. Government continues to announce its growing concern that individuals may be planning terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and interests in the region of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. U.S. citizens should exercise...

Bordeaux Wine Festival. (Travel Briefs).(will run June 27-30, 2002)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Almost 50 acres of pavilions offering visitors wine, food, music and other entertainment will line the banks of the Garonne River in the city of Bordeaux, France, June 27-30, 2002. A central focus is a pavilion dedicated to Oporto, Portugal....

Hermann Hesse at 125. (Travel Briefs).(birthday festival for famous German writer, tourism)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... 2002 marks the 125th birthday of Herman Hesse, the world's most widely read 20th century German writer and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1946. He was the author of "Siddliartha," "Steppenwolf' and many other books. His...

Cultural highlights in Germany. (Travel Briefs).
June 1, 2002... Following are some of the special cultural events taking place in Germany in 2002. * The Ring of the Nibelung, Semper Opera House, Dresden - In 2003, for the first time in 60 years, Richard Wagner's "The. Ring of the Nibelung" cycle will...

Buddy Bears in Berlin. (Travel Briefs).(Buddy Bear Berlin show, Germany; tourist attraction)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... For over 720 years the bear has been the heraldic symbol of Berlin. In June 2001, some 430 colorful, life-sized bear status were placed in streets and squares throughout the. German capital. The bears are hand-painted by artists and sculpted...

Bern tourist office. (Travel Briefs).(Switzerland)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... In Bern, Switzerland; the Tourist Center (phone ++41 31 328 12 12, fax ++41 31 328 12 77) is moving to the ground floor of the Bern Railway Station and the management office is moving to a new building nearby. The new address for the Bern...

Skyscraping in Macau. (Travel Briefs).(Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... At 338 meters 1,109 feet) high, the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre; which opened on Dec. 20, 2001, is the world's 10th-tallest tower. It boasts restaurants, shopping mails and indoor and outdoor observation decks with...

Returning home with many wonderful 'Impressions of a Swedish Summer': in mid-July 2001 I "discovered" Sweden again for the fifth time, along with my travel companion, Doris Sandberg, who was making her first visit to this beautiful country.
June 1, 2002... Since my parents both were immigrants from Sweden, I had grown up becoming acquainted with its culture, language and customs. Doris, on the other hand, traced her American heritage back many generations but wanted to see Sweden because our...

Stockholm City Museum.(exhibition)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The Stockholm City Museum is located in the 17th-century palace of Tessin the Elder. A jubilee exhibition dealing with the history of Stockholm from 1252 to 2002 opened on March 23, 2002. It covers the development of the city from a small...

Luggage lost, lesson learned. (Travelers' Intercom).(Club ABC Tours, personal complaints about service)
June 1, 2002... Late in 2000 my wife and I visited Kenya and Tanzania on a tour with Club ABC Tours (Bloom-field, NJ; phone 973/338-8687). We chose Club ABC because they included on our return flight a tour of the pyramids and a day room in Cairo, Egypt....

Baggage concern. (Travelers' Intercom).(British Airways, customer complaint)
June 1, 2002... Editor's note: ITN was mailed a copy of the following letter, sent by a reader to British Airways. During July 1997 I flew first class on British Airways to Prague. My luggage did not fly with me, however, and I spent the first three days...

Remaining seated. (Travelers' Intercom).(American Airlines, personal complaint about service)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... On Jan. 16, '02, I took American Airlines flight AA70 from Dallas to Frankfurt, Germany. The captain announced a few minutes into the flight that he preferred that we remain in our seats and only get up to use the bathroom, so that the "crew...

Refund sent. (Travelers' Intercom).(Overseas Adventure Travel, customer complaint)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... In the letter "Having Enough Time to Catch a Connecting Flight" (May '02, pg. 36), Doral Poujade of Portland, OR, described booking a tour with Overseas Adventure Travel, seeing that there was not sufficient time to make one of her connecting...

Encore for the 'Norway'. (Travelers' Intercom).(Norwegian Cruise Line, marketing; misrepresentation charges)
June 1, 2002... Editor's note: ITN was mailed a copy of the following letter, sent by a subscriber to Norwegian Cruise Line. I am writing to protest the gross misrepresentation relating to the "Final Farewell" sailing of the Norway in September 2001. (We...

September 11 on SS 'Norway'. (Travelers' Intercom).(cruise ship, 2001 U.S. terrorist attacks )
June 1, 2002... We had sailed from Miami up the U.S. coast, and the SS Norway entered New York harbor on Sept. 5. It was a clear, sunny day. We all were on deck to see the spectacular port. After touring the city and welcoming the New York passengers on board,...

Galacruises in the Galapagos. (Travelers' Intercom).(travel, personal narrative)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... I took a fabulous d-day/7-night cruise to the Galapagos Islands in January '01 for the bargain price of $780 per person. The trip was on a 70-foot yacht, and I was able to book it online; it included all meals, naturalist guide, snorkeling and...

Yangtze cruise aboard the 'President I'. (Travelers' Intercom).(China, Yangtze Cruise Company Ltd.; cruise liners)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... During a trip to China in fall '01 with several acquaintances, we took a 5-night cruise on the Yangtze River, Spet. 30-Oct. 5, with the Yangtze Cruise Co., Ltd. (566 Seventh Ave., Ste. 805, New York, NY 10018; phone 800/779-2856 or...

Tunisia independently. (Travelers' Intercom).(travel to Tunisia, personal narratives)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Tunisia independently My wife, Carolyn, arid I made an independent trip to Tunisia in August 1995. We found that most tours to Tunisia were cheap package vacations that focused on the beaches. Since we wanted to concentrate on the Roman...

Diving, snorkeling Palau, Yap & Chuuk. (Travelers' Intercom).(Pacific islands, tourism; personal narrative)
June 1, 2002... I took a trip to Palau as well as Yap and Chuuk in Micronesia in January-February '02. Koror, Palau, is easily accessed daily by several airlines (Japan Airlines, Continental Micronesia, etc.). We booked our hotel and diving through Fish N...

Continuing to travel. (Travelers' Intercom).(2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S.; effect on tourism, personal narrative)
June 1, 2002... We left Washington on Sept. 14, just three days after the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. We had no thoughts of canceling our 3-week trip to Sikkim, Darjeeling and Bhutan which had been arranged by Advantage Travel &...

The lure of Tanzania's Manyara National Park.(description and travel, personal narratives)
June 1, 2002... The female elephant was swaying her trunk, just a little, with her baby huddled by her side. Before her was the road, to the left our Land Rover and to the right a Toyota Land Cruiser, beside which another Land Cruiser had just roared up....

Knopf CityMap Guides.(map publishing)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Knopf CityMap Guides," handy little guides with big foldout maps, each presents a different destination section by section, neighborhood by neighborhood. Titles include Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Rome and Venice plus...

Accommodations worldwide.
June 1, 2002... 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...

Sightseeing: free and easy in Tokyo.(Tokyo, Japan; description and travel)
June 1, 2002... Tokyo often is regarded as one of the world's most expensive cities; however, there are many low-priced and even free sights available that many travelers don't always see while visiting Japan's capital. My trip in December 2001 was a good...

UNESCO World Heritage Site: treasures of Croatia.(tourist attractions, personal narratives)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... There are currently six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Croatia. On our trip in June 2001 we visited five: Plitvice Lakes National Park, the historic center of Dubrovnik, the historic center of Split within the Palace of Diocletian, the...

Djoser, Inc. (Tours in Review: Egypt).
June 1, 2002... I took a 15-day tour of Egypt in October '00 with Djoser, Inc. (160 Woodgate Lane, Paoli, PA 19301; phone 877/356-7376 or visit www.djoserusa.com). This company arranged all my international and domestic transportation plus lodging with...

Rutahsa Adventures, Inc. (Tours in Review: Bolivia).
June 1, 2002... A trip I took to Bolivia, Feb. 6-20, '02, was really an Adventure with a capital "A." I went with Rutahsa Adventures, Inc. (299 Allen Hollow Rd., Cookeville, TN 38501; phone 931/526-1390, e-mail rfinch@usit.net or visit www.rutahsa.com). Ric...

Trafalgar Tours. (Tours in Review: Portugal).
June 1, 2002... I took a 12-day tour of Portugal, May 29-June 9, '01, with Trafalgar Tours (29-76 Northern Blvd.; Long Island City, NY 11101; phone 800/854-0103, fax 718/685-3333 or visit www.trafalgartours.com). I purchased it through Mo Jones at Liberty...

Exploring the architectural gems of northwest Spain and Portugal.
June 1, 2002... Even though we were forewarned, we gasped as we stepped through the door. Stone columns leaned at strange angles, walls tilted and arches were imperfect. No, we had not entered the hall of mirrors in some small Galician carnival. We were in a...

Prague, Czech Republic. (Travelers' Intercom).
June 1, 2002... (Part 3 of 4 on Eastern Europe) This is a continuation of our write-up of our travels through Eastern Europe in October '00; part one covered our travels through Hungary and part two, Poland. This account of our trip is a combination of my...

Introduction to Bangladesh. (Travelers' Intercom).
June 1, 2002... Bangladesh is NOT the place to go for a plush, luxurious, gourmet vacation, but DO go if you want an-eye-opening, socioeconomic cultural experience with some unique natural beauty tossed in as a bonus. I took the "Indian Ocean Odyssey" tour...

Egypt guide, tour. (Travelers' Intercom).
June 1, 2002... The December '00 issue carried a glowing testimonial on page 127 from Robert Mihelic about a young Egyptian guide he had the good fortune to employ on a recent trip to Egypt. My wife and I went to Egypt with Grand Circle Travel in April...

Bali driver/guide. (Travelers' Intercom).
June 1, 2002... I'd like to share a tip for an excellent driver/guide whom we used in Bali in March '01. His name is Wayan Sueta, and he can be reached via e-mail at sueta@yahoo.com. Wayan is a family man, a young 28 years old. He speaks excellent English...

Homemade calf pouch. (Travelers' Intercom).
June 1, 2002... In the letter "Costly Lesson?' (March '02. pg. 136), ITN reader Arthur O'Brien wrote about the safekeeping of valuables, including wearing a money belt or neck pouch. I agree with all he said and can suggest an added device. I make a small...

Travelers' club in Tampa Bay. (Travelers' Intercom).
June 1, 2002... The Uncommon Travelers get together at 7 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month for a potluck dinner and a program. From September through May we meet at Unity of Tampa (3303 West Horatio Street). During the summer we have dinner meetings...

Brussels: high-speed hub. (All Aboard!).
June 1, 2002... You hardly can turn around in Brussels' beautifully refurbished South (Midi/Zuid) Station without seeing a high-speed train going somewhere. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is NATO headquarters, seat of European Union institutions and EU...

Pacific Princess to leave Princess fleet. (Cruises).
June 1, 2002... No vessel of the past four decades gained more renown or was as well used to promote cruising as the ship with which we all are very familiar under the current name Pacific Princess. Launched as the "Sea Venture" in 1972, she served for...

Free air to Europe for August cruise. (Cruise Cavalcade).
June 1, 2002... Swan Hellenic has announced that it will pick up the airfare from anywhere in the Continental U.S. for passengers booking its Aug: 17-31 "Summer-time Special" cruise from London to Naples. Travelers can follow the pilgrims' route to the...

Antarctic cruises focus on Shackleton. (Cruise Cavalcade).
June 1, 2002... A, remarkable tale of courage and survival, the incredible adventure of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and his 27-man crew has recently been the focus of much public attention, inspiring a number of books, a television documentary, a...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.
June 1, 2002... "AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUB CRAWL OF GREAT BRITAIN" -- 13-day cultural tour, "Through the Glass Darkly," Sept. 19-Oct. 1, '02, in southern SCOTLAND and ENGLAND. Highlights: Travel on country lanes, stopping occasionally at pubs to sample the...

Barcelona to Bilbao. (Reviewers' Corner).
June 1, 2002... "Barcelona to Bilbao," edited by Robert Fisher (2001, Fodor's Travel Publications, 201 East 50th St., New York, NY 10022; log on to www.fodors.com. ISBN 0-679-007431 -- 332 pp., $17). "Barcelona has now catapulted to the rank of Spain's...

New on the bookshelf.
June 1, 2002... "Winning the Airfare Game: Save Money and Stress on Every Flight" by Charles McCool (2001, Hawk Ridge. Press, Box 2755, Reston, VA 20195-0755. ISBN 0970511922 -- 196 pp., $13.95). McCool offers advice and strategies for travelers, seeking...

Croatia: a jewel of natural beauty. (The Discerning Traveler).
June 1, 2002... (First of three parts) I will never forget April 20, 1987. We had bicycled from Athens, Greece, and had arrived early in the day in Zadar, Yugoslavia. As our ferry to Rijeka wasn't leaving until the wee hours of the morning, we really...

Senior savings in Britain and more. (Brit Bits).
June 1, 2002... A wide range of touring suggestions in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland -- plus information on how senior travelers can make their dollars go further during a visit -- can be found in the 2002 edition of the British Tourist...

Gardens in Britain. (Brit Bits).
June 1, 2002... * The British Tourist Authority (BTA) now has a pocket-sized map-folder called "Britain's Gardens" that identifies 100 of the finest gardens in England, Scotland and Wales. Sponsored by Jarvis Hotels, it also looks at the history of gardens and...

Britain planners. (Brit Bits).
June 1, 2002... Events marking Queen Elizabeth H's Golden Jubilee, new art galleries, the country's biggest sporting event of modern times and a new national park are among the many places to see and things to do highlighted in the new edition of "Britain:...

Cotswolds Finest Hotels'. (Brit Bits).
June 1, 2002... Cotswolds Finest Hotels, a collection of independently operated hotels and inns in the Cotswolds region of central England, offer accommodation from [pounds sterling]40 to [pounds sterling]400 (approx. $56-$560) per night. A 30-page brochure...

St. Croix package. (Around the Caribbean).
June 1, 2002... Divi Carina Bay Resort & Casino in St. Croix is offering the "Sunny Days and Romantic Evenings Air/Land Inclusive package." It includes seven. nights' accommodation (double occupancy), round-trip airfare on American Airlines from the...

Belize Tourism Village. (Around the Caribbean).
June 1, 2002... The first phase of Belize's $10-million Fort Point Tourism Village was completed in December 2001 and cruise ship visitors can now enjoy the amenities of this soon-to-be full-service tourism village. Now available is a main arrival hall...

Two free nights for families, Jamaica. (Around the Caribbean).
June 1, 2002... At the Sunset Beach Resort & Spa, located on the Montego-Freeport peninsula in Jamaica, through Dec. 15, 2002, every family consisting of two adults and at least one child under the age of 12 staying at least seven nights will earn two free...

Glorious Edinburgh. (Rick Steves' Europe).
June 1, 2002... Lively Edinburgh (ED 'n-burah), Scotland's centerpiece, is at its most glorious in August during its annual Festival -- a carnival of music, dance, art, drama and comedy. The Festival actually consists of a number of festivals -- official,...

Zambia. (Africa).
June 1, 2002... (Third of three parts) After finding we could not fly into Kafue National Park because poachers and game wardens were involved in a running gun battle, our disappointment soon was melting away as we boarded our aircraft for the flight to...

Salalah and the southern region. (Timeless Roads of the Mideast & Mediterranean).
June 1, 2002... (Part 4 of 4 on Oman) The southern region of Oman is seldom visited by Westerners, although Salalah, Oman's second-biggest city, has fine hotels, lovely Arabian Sea beaches and interesting tourist sights. My wife, Moreen, and I were...

Sanitago. (Far Horizons).
June 1, 2002... (Third of four parts on Chile) In this report I will focus on some of the attractions of bustling Santiago, Chile's gateway city nestled at the foot the Andes in the central sector of the country. Up front I will confess to feelings of...

Grand Russia Cruise. (Adventure Travel -- for the Mildly Adventuresome).
June 1, 2002... (Third of four parts) Shadows of WWII For those of us who were alive during the World War II fighting, Russia's ordeal during this time was well known. Segments of the Peter the Great Cruises itinerary I took are of great interest as...

Kilroy was here!
June 1, 2002... Travel trends... It's interesting to note that with all the anxiety in our uneasy world, many travelers believe that the wilderness may be safer to visit than so-called "civilized" destinations. Travel to sun-splashed beaches or...

Lease a luxury Renault. (Travel Briefs).
June 1, 2002... Renault's two new luxury models, the Avantime and the Vel Satis, are now available through Renault's Eurodrive short-term lease program. The Avantime is a cross between a touring, car, a station wagon 'and, a minivan, with a rear picture...

Airport parking. (Travel Briefs).
June 1, 2002... Discounted airport parking rates and confirmed reservations at over 75 airports worldwide, including 57 major airports in the U.S., are offered at the website www.airportparkinglots.com. It is the only service of its kind on the Internet, as...

Globus & Cosmos customer protection. (Travel Briefs).
June 1, 2002... Group Voyagers, Inc., which markets Globus and Cosmos (Littleton, CO), has secured a $10 million letter of credit issued by a leading bank to further protect payments made by its customers for all 2002 vacation departures. This is in addition...

Brendan Worldwide. (Travel Briefs).
June 1, 2002... Brendan Tours has officially changed its name to Brendan Worldwide Vacations. In addition to motorcoach group tours, Brendan offers self-drive vacations, customized arrangements for individuals and groups, FITs, resort packages,...

Seoul has world's highest fountain. (Travel Briefs).
June 1, 2002... The World Cup Water Fountain, which opened near Seoul, Korea's, new World Cup Stadium on Oct. 30, 2001, has broken the Guinness world record for the tallest fountain. At 202 meters, the fountain's plume is higher than that of the fountain...

Person to Person.
June 1, 2002... 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. Please indicate if...

ITN's traveled the Continents Award honorees.
June 1, 2002... The following ITN readers have received the Seven Continents Award. Congratulations go to... * WALTER & LOUISE BOCH, NORTHRIDGE, CA * ALVA BUSSELL, BUENA VISTA, CO * INEZ ODOM CAMERON, ALEXANDRIA, VA * GRETCHEN CHELL, INDIAN...