International Travel News articles from March 2000

International Travel News archives from March 2000

Report Cards.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... On BAHAMAS, Jan. 11, 2000... * Received wonderful care and consideration from staff at Port Lacaya Resort & Yacht Club (Bell Channel Bay Road, Freeport, Grand Bahama) while my wife was hospitalized at the local hospital with heart...

Boarding Pass.(Editorial)
March 1, 2000... Dear Globetrotter: "Thanks so much for the tip about the older Swiss banknotes becoming obsolete this spring (Jan. '00, pg. 141). We had some left from a previous trip that we planned to use on our visit to Switzerland in June. Had Mr....

Seeing Turkey's wonders on a cultural folklore tour.
March 1, 2000... I kept rubbing my eyes in disbelief. It was like a moon landing as we stepped off the bus in Cappadocia, located in central Turkey. Taken by complete surprise, I stopped in my tracks to behold one of the great natural wonders of the world. ...

Indonesia caution.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... American citizens traveling to Indonesia should exercise caution. Indonesia welcomed its first democratically elected government in October 1999, ending an extended period of political uncertainty. The new government has widespread support,...

Colombia kidnapping danger.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Colombia. Violence by narcotraffickers, guerrillas, paramilitary groups and other criminal elements continues to affect all parts of the country, both urban and rural. Citizens...

Burundi travel warning.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Burundi due to the uncertain security situation within Burundi and the surrounding Great Lakes Region. Burundi has been involved in a civil war since 1993. Fighting can be...

Solomon Islands incidents.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... American citizens are advised to exercise caution while traveling on Guadalcanal. There have been acts of lawlessness and sporadic armed incidents since 1999. Despite indications that violence has largely been confined to rural areas and...

Travelers' Intercom.
March 1, 2000... Thumbs up to Air France! I flew from Los Angeles to Paris to Venice in November '99. When the plane landed in Paris I realized that I would probably miss the flight to Venice due to a short connection time. Imagine my surprise and relief when I...

Iceland Outdoor adventures in a misnomered land.
March 1, 2000... In October 1999 I was invited by the Iceland Tourist Board on a short press tour. Wanting to know more about this island country, I was eager to participate. Before leaving the States, I was told that Iceland and Greenland were given their...

A warm reception in sunny Sicily.
March 1, 2000... "Dov'e Bisacquino?" I asked many times when I traveled on my own in Sicily while searching for my father's hometown. I got lost more times than I wanted to admit on my first trip in 1981. But to finally see Bisacquino, nestled south of Palermo...

British Isles.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... On an October '99 visit to ENGLAND, we found two B&Bs which deserve special mention. * The first is Hill House Farm (9 Main St., Coveney, Cambridgeshire; phone 1353 778369). This is close to Ely's magnificent cathedral and the home of...

Europe.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... My husband and I stayed at a delightful gourmet B&B, La Paqueraje (36320 Saint Branchs, FRANCE; phone 011 33 2 47 26 31 51 or fax 011 33 2 47 26 39 15 or visit http://perso.wanadoo.fr/lapaqueraie), located about 15 miles southeast of Tours in...

Indian Ocean.
March 1, 2000... My new wife and I took an on-time, smooth flight on Lufthansa from New York's JFK to Frankfurt in May '99. It was the first leg of an "Indian Ocean Odyssey" that included Mauritius, Reunion Island and Seychelles. Our honeymoon lasted a month,...

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2000... The correct phone number for the Llysmeddyg Guest House in Pembrokeshire, Newport, WALES (Feb. 00 pg. 62), is 01144 1239 820008.u Editor

Kenya.
March 1, 2000... A vast golden plain stretches beneath an ever-changing cerulean sky, and I am overwhelmed by the stillness of this place. Just then the stillness is shattered by a single impala darting across the land, and the seemingly empty grass parts to...

Athens' new metro.(new metro system in Athens Greece)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... As Athens prepares to host the 2004 Olympic Games, numerous infrastructure projects are underway. A new metro system opened Jan. 15, adding two additional lines and sleek new rolling stock. The two new red and blue lines will add more than...

Holland hopping in 2000.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... The following are among major events in Holland this year. * 200th Anniversary of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2000) -- Celebrating its 200th anniversary, the Rijksmuseum, which houses Rembrandt's "Night Watch" and other...

Hohen-zollern crypt reopened.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... The Hohen-zollern crypt in the Berliner Dom was reponed after three years' restoration work and is now accessible for the first time in 500 years. The crypt contains 94 of the original 100 coffins once laid to rest there, making it the largest...

Kamchatka Peninsula.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... My husband and I traveled to Chile in November/December '97. Our first destination was the north with its deserts and geysers. This was exciting for us, as we then had seen all five of the world's major geyser areas (the others being...

Leipzig events.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Following are some of the highlights in Leipzig, Germany, in 2000. * "First Leipzig Museum Night" (May 20, 2000) -- For the first time, art fans can visit Leipzig's museums until late at night. The first Leipzig Museum Night, May 20-21,...

Festivals in Korea.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Formal ceremonies celebrating the birth of Buddha will be held throughout Korea at most temples, May 5-7, 2000. Especially stunning will be the evening landscape, as the nation becomes saturated with bright lights from the colorful lanterns...

Taking on the challenge and finding the rewards of an extensive So. America trip.
March 1, 2000... Five and a half weeks away from home: that's what we'd planned. We had never been away that long before, and we didn't know if we could make it or would have to pay LanChile an extra $100 apiece to take us home early. Our trip to South...

AFRICA.
March 1, 2000... In July '99 I took a most wonderful 6-week trip to SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE, ZAMBIA, SWAZILAND, KENYA and TANZANIA with Adventures Abroad (2148-20800 Westminster Hwy., Richmond, B.C., Canada V6V 2W3; phone 800/665-3998 or 604/303-1099,...

THE BALKANS.(visit to Valley of the Roses in Bulgaria)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... In May-June '99 we took a 3-week tour of HUNGARY, ROMANIA and BULGARIA with Adventures Abroad (Richmond, B.C.) at a cost of $3,707. I would like to echo agreement with the several recent favorable articles in ITN relative to travel in the...

ENGLAND.(tour of Cornwall, England)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... We took a tour of Cornwall, England, Sept. 8-22, '99, led by Shirley Hammerle, owner of British House Parties (8200 SE 62nd St., Mercer Island, WA 98040; phone 206/232-6909), a firm which offers in-depth, small-group tours of England and...

THAILAND.(tour of Thailand)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... In October '99, six of us visited the colorful country of Thailand. After extensive research, and based on several recommendations throughout the years in ITN, I chose Diethelm Travel (Bangkok; fax 011 662 255 9192 or 011 662 256 0248, or visit...

ITALY.(tour of Italy)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... I returned in October '99 from a super fabulous trip to Italy with Earthbound Expeditions (P.O. Box 11305, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110; phone 888/842-9799). Our guide, Matthew Brumley, who is also the company owner, was young and...

TURKEY.(tour of Turkey)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... In April '99 my wife and I toured Turkey with Insight International (745 Atlantic Ave., Ste. 720, Boston, MA 02111; phone 617/482-2000, or visit www.insighttours.com). The 16-day "Treasures of Turkey" tour cost $1,344 per person, land only,...

GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.(travel tour)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... I left June 20, '99, for Munich, Germany, to join the 13-day "Country Roads of Bavaria & Austria" offered by Insight International Tours, Inc. (Boston, MA). Because of weather delays, my KLM flight was 3 1/2 hours late in leaving...

SWITZERLAND.("Country Roads of Switzerland" tour )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... We took the July 10-24, '99, "Country Roads of Switzerland" tour offered by Insight International Tours, Inc. (Boston, MA). The cost was $2,950, air and land, plus $174 for airfare from Denver. Extra excursions offered totaled $501 -- we...

PACIFIC.
March 1, 2000... My wife, Marion, and I took a 17-day tour of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji with smarTours (New York, NY) in September '99. We found the tour to be extremely well planned and an excellent value for the money. Total cost was $2,499, which...

New Berlin-Hannover high-speed line.
March 1, 2000... After six years of work, 155-mph trains began racing along the 164-mile Berlin-Hannover (Hanover) high-speed line on Sept. 27, 1998, to cut your travel time between Berlin and Hannover by one hour. Passenger travel between Berlin and Hannover...

A comfortable ship. An unusual voyage.
March 1, 2000... Among treasured memories of the former Royal Viking Line are thoughts of many happy voyages aboard the triad of lovely ships which once comprised the fleet of that company. One of that threesome is currently providing, many lucky passengers...

'En boca cerrada no entran moscas'.
March 1, 2000... In translation, "A closed mouth swallows no flies." This old Spanish proverb flashed into my mind recently while I was reading and analyzing the new and thick brochure from Cunard outlining their program for the year 2000. It happened when...

Short hikes and bike rides in La France.
March 1, 2000... We had just reached the top of the hill when we heard a wrenching noise. We feared something terrible had happened to one of our bikes. Indeed, Flory's derailleur had broken. The chain drooped dejectedly. Our faces mirrored the contour of the...

'2000 Years Around Britain'.(travel guide)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Motoring itineraries around Britain featuring ancient and historic sites as well as attractions and exhibits opening in 2000 are suggested in the publication "2000 Years Around Britain." Co-sponsored by the British Tourist Authority and...

Town & Country.(package tour of England)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... "Toasts of the town, tastes of the country": this is the theme of an exclusive package offered by two deluxe properties: London's 5-star Royal Garden Hotel and Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire. It begins with...

Winter in St. Kitts.
March 1, 2000... Frigate Bay Beach Resort welcomes the winter season with a new look and new rates. Winter season rates for the recently renovated resort, through April 5, range from $140 for a standard room to $190 for a studio with kitchenette. All rooms...

Singles week in Aruba.
March 1, 2000... The Aruba Tourism Authority and Aruba Sonesta Resort are launching Aruba's first "Singles Week 2000," May 6-13. The 8-day/7-night package includes round-trip air and accommodations as well as the complete services of a singles concierge...

'Magic' St. Martin.("Honeymoon Magic" package at Grand Case Beach Club)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... The Grand Case Beach Club is offering a "Honeymoon Magic" package through April 17. Included, are accommodations with private balcony or terrace, Continental breakfast, use of tennis courts, beach bag, welcome cocktail, bottle of wine, $10...

Sassy, spicy Sicily.
March 1, 2000... Jabbing his pole like a one-pronged pitchfork into the slow red river of rock, the ashtray salesman pulled out a wad of molten lava. I scrambled back as he swung it by me and plopped it into a mold. His partner snipped it off with big iron...

Luxembourg Gardens to St. Germain-des-Pres.
March 1, 2000... Latin Quarter Promenade 11(6th district) The first time I saw Paris (1948-1949) Shown here (at right) is the address of the Hotel Medici where I spent a blissful year, 1948-1949, at a time when there was still rationing and no gasoline...

Nicosia, the divided capital of Cyprus.
March 1, 2000... (Part 5 of 5 on the island of Cyprus) Years ago, Moreen and I stood at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin looking into the, then, forbidding East Germany. In April 1999 we again gazed across concrete, barbed wire and sand bags: this time the...

Arcane travel notes.
March 1, 2000... Today's mail brings a colorful European brochure from Collette Tours. It includes some interesting trivia you might want to try out on your friends and traveling companions. The incidental intelligence is always led by the phrase, "Did You...

Eurostar Spring Special.
March 1, 2000... Travel between London and Paris or Brussels on the Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel anytime through April 15, 2000, and save up to 40% off regular fares. Eurostar Spring Special fares, which are nonexchangeable and nonrefundable,...

Caronia's theme cruises.
March 1, 2000... Cunard Line's 675-passenger caronia, formerly the "Vistafjord," is offering 13 theme cruises for 2000. Among the themes offered are the following: * "European Culture and Cuisine," a 14-day cruise (July 20-Aug. 3) from Dover, England, to...

Rick Steves' European railpass guide.(Review)
March 1, 2000... Europe-bound travelers will appreciate Rick Steves' "2000 Guide to European Railpasses." The 62-page booklet lists complete prices and features for all Eurail, Euro, Rail & Drive and country passes, including money-saving passes that Americans...

Study Norwegian.
March 1, 2000... An innovative summer program sponsored by Sons of Norway combines an intensive Norwegian-language course with the direct experience of living in Norway. Camp Norway takes place June 20-July 17, 2000, in Skogn, about a one-hour drive north...

Chocolate central in Berlin.
March 1, 2000... Against the historical back-drop of the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin, the largest chocolate shop in Germany was opened by Fassbender & Rausch in November '99. In an area of 500 square meters, this traditional company presents more than 500...

Mauritania bandits.
March 1, 2000... In the West African republic of Mauritania, a desert convoy of 52 German tourists was set upon by bandits in late November '99. Believed to be Tuareg nomads, they took over $180,000 in cash and most of the tourists' vehicles, leaving them two...

India, Nepal and Thailand.
March 1, 2000... I had always dreamed of visiting Thailand. My daughter, Elena, also wanted to go to Nepal, and a friend, Patricia, said that since Agra appeared to be so close to Katmandu that we could not miss the Taj Mahal. I began looking for tour...