International Travel News articles from May 2002

International Travel News archives from May 2002

Boarding pass.
May 1, 2002... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 315th issue of your monthly overseas-travel magazine. There's a jubilant, hopeful feeling in Sri Lanka right now, a country that has suffered nearly 20 years of violent infighting. Sri Lanka's...

Report Cards.
May 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...

Visiting another age in Papua New Guinea.
May 1, 2002... -- ANN and ED STALCUP, Malibu, CA Papua New Guinea was probably the most colorful, fascinating and exciting travel destination of our lives. It is a place where, for many, time has stood still. As they, have for centuries, people...

Travelers' Intercom. (Readers' Opinions, Tips & Recommendations).
May 1, 2002... Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations Compounded fee If we use United Mileage Plus Visa cards for purchases in a foreign currency, First USA Bank is going to charge an extra 2% after the conversion into U.S. dollars and after a...

Funniest thing.
May 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...

Peace accord in Sri Lanka. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A historic peace treaty and ceasefire between the Government of Sri Lanka and the rebel group the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was signed on Feb. 22, 2002. The treaty was endorsed by the Norwegian Minister of Foreign affairs, ...

Clashes in India. (News Watch). (travel tips).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... India's western state of Gujarat has been the scene of violent communal clashes. While the situation has calmed considerably, reports of scattered unrest continue. The potential exists for renewed violence similar to the mob attack on a train...

Madagascar caution. (News Watch). (political unrest, travel tips).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The complex and difficult political situation in Madagascar following the Dec. 16, 2001, presidential election continues to evolve. There have been large demonstrations, with occasional violence. Commercial transportation to and from Madagascar...

Nepal warning. (News Watch). (political unrest, travel tips).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The conflict between Maoist insurgents and the Government of Nepal continues and the state of emergency imposed by the government in November 2001 remains in effect. In some areas outside the Katmandu Valley, the situation is tense and...

Pakistan travel warning. (News Watch). (US Dept of State).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Pakistan. Terrorist groups have demonstrated a willingness to hit civilian as well as official targets. An American journalist was kidnapped and brutally murdered in Karachi in...

Turkmenistan concerns. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The terrorist attacks in the United States and the proximity of Turkmenistan to Afghanistan raise continued concerns. The situation in Turkmenistan is currently calm and the Government of Turkmenistan has taken steps to increase security...

Be vigilant in Peru. (News Watch). (terrorist attack, travel tips).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... On March 20, 2002, a powerful car bomb exploded in a shopping arcade directly across from the U.S. Embassy in Lima, resulting in nine deaths and approximately 30 injured victims. American citizens are advised to be vigilant and avoid crowds and...

Argentina on rebound. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The security situation in Argentina is improving. The government has lifted the state of siege that was imposed on Dec. 19, 2001, following the sudden resignation of ex-President Fernando de la Rua. In the current environment, large...

Dengue in Brazil. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Brazil is suffering one of the worst outbreaks of dengue fever in recent years, with nearly 40,000 cases reported in Rio de Janeiro state, the worst-hit region, in the first two months of 2002. Dengue, which is carried by the Aedes aegypti...

Current warnings. (News Watch).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 27 destinations: Pakistan, Yemen, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Liberia, Iran, Algeria, Israel/the West Bank and Gaza, Macedonia, Indonesia, Central African Republic, Sudan,...

Tiaras on display. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Until July 14, 2002, London's Victoria and Albert Museum is presenting an exhibition entitled "The Tiara Today." It features about 200 spectacular tiaras, some worn by royalty, historic figures and present-day celebrities, all the work of...

Adventures while learning Spanish in Ecuador.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... -- SANDRA SCOTT, Mexico, NY Our primary purpose for traveling to Ecuador was to learn Spanish. However, my husband and I didn't want to be stuck in a classroom in the middle of a city and miss the beauty of the country. Homework pays...

Exploring the southwest region of England.
May 1, 2002... Deciding it was time to travel again after the tragic events of September 11, I went to England Nov. 27, 2001, for 10 days -- not to London, which I love to visit, but out into the beautiful and historic area from Stratford-upson-Avon and...

Accommodations worldwide. (Hotels-B&Bs-Homestage-Apartments).(Directory)
May 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...

A Ham Radio holiday in Malaysia.
May 1, 2002... There are probably as many reasons to travel as there are travelers. For some it's the food and for others, art. Of course, history buffs are in great number. Photographers practice their craft. Meerschaum pipe fans visit the factories. A...

Low rail fares, airports to London. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... For travelers staying five days or fewer, a new round-trip fare for rail connections between any of London's three airports and downtown London is available exclusively from Rail Europe. Both segments of the round-trip must be completed within...

Macau tourism tax. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... In Macau, China, the 5% tourism tax on the consumption of food and beverage in restaurants will be waived for the duration of 2002. The cuisine of Macao includes traditional Portuguese and Chinese dishes as well as spicy recipes from Africa...

Tours in Review. (Candid Appraisals of Group Tours).
May 1, 2002... Candid appraisals of group tours 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...

The best of Italy -- it was sad to say goodbye.
May 1, 2002... "Time to Say Goodbye." If something can haunt you, it is the operatic strains of Andrea Bocelli as you roll through the magical Tuscan countryside. We were in Italy, the land of opera, history, art, fine cuisine, fashion... and fun....

All Aboard! William Tell Express 2002. (train travel in Switzerland).
May 1, 2002... "Swear you the oath of your confederacy! You swear you will be free and sooner die than live in slavery." -- F. Schiller: "William Tell" With the completed restoration of the Lake, Lucerne paddle steamer fleet: (www.lakelucerne.ch) and the...

Cruises: Hawaiian Islands cruising.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Late in the year 2001, the sole company which had been involved in year-round cruising within Hawaii filed for bankruptcy and withdrew their two vessels from service. They had the advantageous position of being an American corporation with...

Happy 750th, Stockholm. (Cruises).
May 1, 2002... Stockholm celebrates its 750th anniversary as a city, June 1-8, 2002. A week-long celebration will feature concerts and historical plays plus exhibitions showing off the latest in design, architecture and technology, including a number of...

Da Vinci exhibit. (Cruises).
May 1, 2002... A selection of works by Leonardo da Vinci from the royal library in Windsor Castle will be seen in a touring exhibition at galleries and museums around Britain in 2002. For more info, call the British Tourist Authority in New York, NY, at...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.
May 1, 2002... "LITERARY ENGLAND" 14-day literary tour through England and WALES, Aug. 3-16, '02. Highlights: Visit the former residence of Charles Dickens in Kent/ Sissinghurst and its garden, the former home of Harold Nicholson/Batemans in Kent,...

Focal point: Capturing travel images.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The joys of sakura in Kyoto One of the joys of travel photography is to reach a destination in time for a special seasonal event. I can think of no better example than sakura, the blooming of cherry and plum trees in Japan's ancient...

The discerning traveler.(Norway)
May 1, 2002... Highlights of lovely Norway (Part three of three) In this month's issue will continue the description of our Norwegian Coastal Voyage. EXCURSIONS As with all cruises, the Hurtigruten companies (there is more than one owner) offer...

Rick Steves Europe[c]; Berlin: rebuilt and revitalized.
May 1, 2002... The big news in Germany is Berlin. Five years ago it was a construction site with a disenchanted tax base. Today this energized city rules Germany with charisma and vision. Berlin's ongoing makeover is massive, revitalizing its once-grand...

Africa: Zambia.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... We continue our Zambian odyssey with a very different camp in a very different national park. This is the second in a series of three articles about a trip to Zambia in November 2001. After our stay at Sussi & Chuma Lodge at Victoria Falls,...

Mideast & Mediterranean, timeless roads of the: Nizwa and the 'Mountain of the Sun'. (Part 3 of 4 on Oman).
May 1, 2002... Fewer than 50 years ago the city of Nizwa and the surrounding interior of Oman were controlled by conservative imams, Islamic religious rulers. The safety of foreign travelers at that time was questionable. All this has changed under the rule...

Jubilee in Britain.
May 1, 2002... During summer 2002, Queen Elizabeth II will be touring England, Scotland and Wales as part of celebrations marking her Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of her reign. These include street parties, church services., special exhibitions and...

Far horizons: The magic of Lago Villarrica. (Second of Four Parts). (travel to Chile).
May 1, 2002... It was such an incredible place, I felt compelled to visit twice in the same trip. Thankfully, my hosts for this visit to Chile, Tourisma Cocha, were understanding of my need to return to Villarrica to be able to adequately report on the...

Adventure travel -- for the mildly adventuresome: "Grand Russia Cruise". (Second of Three Parts).
May 1, 2002... Visits to relatively unknown Russian cities Moscow and St. Petersburg are world-class cities; tours to see their sights are pretty mandatory for a trip to Russia. A more comprehensive insight into today's Russia is provided by visits to a...

Kilroy was here!
May 1, 2002... Naked as a radish... A boy riding a dolphin was a highly popular art subject in the golden age of Greece. In today's mail comes some news from Bare Necessities Tour & Travel (Austin, TX), the letterhead emblazoned with art of a maiden...

Eurail Selectpass Drive promotion. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... Until May 31, anyone purchasing Rail Europe's Eurail Select-pass Drive, combining rail travel and rental car in three bordering European countries, will save more than 40% over the regular price. Travel may take place up to three months after...

DER's Euro Fly 'N Rail. (Travel Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... For bookings made through May 25 for travel completed by Aug. 31, 2002, DER (Destination Europe Resources) has Euro Fly 'N Rail packages available. The Euro Fly 'N Rail incorporates a round-trip airline ticket from a major U.S. gateway to...

Person to Person. (Reader-to-Reader Info Exchange).
May 1, 2002... 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 you do NOT want your complete...