International Travel News articles from November 2000

International Travel News archives from November 2000

Report Cards.(On-the-spot reports from around the globe)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... 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...

Boarding Pass.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Woman wearing a tudung works with sticky-rice flour at a mill in the Minangkabao highlands, Sumatra. Dear Globetrotter: In 1991 while on a tour to Sumatra, rats ate big holes in my soft-sided suitcase when it was stored overnight in an...

Switzerland -- a taste of the best.
November 1, 2000... Sipping wine and waiting for lunch, our small group sat at one of a couple dozen tables on a terrace filled with diners in ski outfits and sun glasses. The world's "most recognizable mountain," the jagged, snow-covered Matter-horn, stood before...

Travelers' Intercom.(Readers' opinions, tips and recommendations)
November 1, 2000... Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations Leaving behind old clothes My experience with leaving old clothes when traveling in third-world countries is different from that of a previous writer. I've found the hotel maids to be pleased, and...

'Extreme caution' in Indonesia.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... American citizens traveling or living in Indonesia should exercise extreme caution. The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta has had indications that the wave of recent bombings in Jakarta may escalate and that American companies and interests, not further...

Nepal caution.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... On Sept. 11, 2000, the American Embassy in Katmandu disseminated the following information to the local American community: "The American Embassy in Katmandu has information indicating that official United States Government installations...

Kyrgyz Republic threat of violence.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Americans are urged to avoid all travel in rural areas along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border and to be aware of an increased threat of terrorist violence in Uzbekistan and along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. The Department of State also urges U.S. citizens...

Guinea notice.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... The region of Guinea bordering Sierra Leone and Liberia has experienced renewed cross-border incursions and kidnappings by armed factions. As a result of rising tension in the region, U.S. Government and U.S. Government-affiliated personnel...

Angola unsafe.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Angola because of continued military conflict in interior provinces and increased violent criminal activity, including kidnapping and the threat by criminals and rebel insurgents to...

Save in London and Paris.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Offering unlimited access to 17 of London's museums and galleries, the 3- or 7-day GoSee card is available to anyone purchasing a London Visitor Travelcard from Rail Europe. The card permits unlimited visits to both permanent and temporary...

Current warnings.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 27 destinations: Angola, Tajikistan, Lebanon, Liberia, Serbia-Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Albania, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic...

'Good-Buy' Europe car rental.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... IMTC/Pegasus is offering seven new "Good-Buy" car rental packages that combine round-trip air, economy class, from Los Angeles OR San Francisco to either Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Prague or Budapest with seven consecutive...

Regent Sydney.(hotel rates)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Through April 30, 2001, travelers to Australia will receive a fourth night free at the newly renovated Regent Sydney Hotel when it is preceded by three paid nights. "Sample Sydney" rates begin at Aus$305 (near US$180), inclusive of tax....

A three-generation American family finds Australia a gold-medal destination.
November 1, 2000... Australia, the only country that is a continent, has a temperate climate (practically) year-round, and its seasons are in reverse to ours. This land of Oz, a land of many cultures and the friendliest people you could ask for, has many varied...

Cruising the 'Crossroads of the World'.
November 1, 2000... I was cruising the Mediterranean in March 2000 aboard Renaissance Cruises' beautiful new R5. Lufthansa flew me from JFK to Athens, Greece, to board the 684-passenger luxury liner. It is a smoke-free ship, and passengers must be at least 18...

ACCOMMODATIONS WORLDWIDE.
November 1, 2000... 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...

Tuva... home to an independent people.
November 1, 2000... If you are interested in adding the 100th international destination to your list of travels, Tuva is the place to go. Who? What? Where is Tuva? Any philatelist may recall collecting triangular stamps from Tannu-Tuva. They began issuing...

TOURS IN REVIEW.
November 1, 2000... 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 to CHINA. When writing to ITN about a tour, please include the ADDRESS and/or phone number of the...

Agencies and information sources for travelers with disabilities.
November 1, 2000... After some initial requests for information on cruise lines and tour companies amenable to travelers with disabilities, ITN printed some reader responses in the magazine. Subsequently, more readers sent in suggestions, spurring the following...

Finding plenty of wildlife closeups in South Africa's Pilanesberg.
November 1, 2000... Just after a beautiful African sunrise, we left the comparative safety of our truck and began to hike in single file up to a far ridgeline populated by a herd of zebra. About halfway up we heard the roar of a lion from back down where we had...

Cruises Critiqued.
November 1, 2000... Reader comments on ships, boats and cruises Following are write-ups of various cruises - ocean, sea, river or whatever -- that readers have taken in the last year or so. Please note that, with the exception of the Cruises column by Bill...

Tracing the history -- from Stone Age to 20th century -- in two UK bailiwicks.
November 1, 2000... When British Airways offered direct, round-trip flights between Denver and London's Gatwick airport at an off-season "sale" fare, we decided to visit the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey. The lower fare dictated that travel had to be...

UNESCO World Heritage Site.(Angkor Wat, Cambodia)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Reclaiming Angkor, Cambodia, from the jungle In May 1999 we visited Angkor, Cambodia, a World Heritage Site. UNESCO has coordinated restoration efforts since 1989 and in December 1992 Angkor was formally placed on the World Heritage Site...

All Abroad!
November 1, 2000... ICE Generation On Nov. 5, 2000, GermanRail's (DB) multivoltage, third-generation InterCity Express Trains (ICE 3s), dubbed as "ICE International," begin to take you between Amsterdam and Frankfurt/Main every two hours. The trains are...

Cruises.(tipping on cruise ships)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Tips on tipping There is no subject that generates more sotto voce discussion among passengers on a cruise than the subject of tipping. The opinions regarding this old and traditional practice aboard cruise ships are extremely diverse: and...

Cruise Cavalcade.(cruise services around the world)
November 1, 2000... Upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises Norway low-season perks for singles Norwegian Coastal Voyage is eliminating single supplements on round-trip sailings from now until April 15, 2001, for seven categories of outside and inside...

TOURS.(international tours)
November 1, 2000... Selection of escorted tours "GREAT GARDENS OF ENGLAND IN SPRING" -- On this 14-day/13-night garden tour, you'll spend three nights in the South Cotswold District and two nights each at Isle of Wight, Dorsetshire, Cornwall, Devonshire and...

Reviewers' Corner.
November 1, 2000... The latest travel-book reviews Here are a few of the latest travel-book reviews written by ITN readers. * "Explore Costa Rica" by Harry S. Pariser (2090, Manatee Press, Box 225001, San Francisco, CA 94122-5001 -- $19.95, 496 pgs.). ...

The Discerning Traveler.(Column)
November 1, 2000... How to find the right accommodation at the right price In the last issue I discussed where to locate hotels and resorts at a reasonable price. This month I will continue with additional lists of accommodations from which to choose. *...

Welsh museums highly rated.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... More than 300 popular tourist attractions in the U.K. were put through the mill to win a place "THE WHICH? Guide to Tourist Attractions." Among them are two museums in Wales. In the study, which looked at visitor numbers, quality, of the...

The London you're looking for.(guide books from London Secrets)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... London Secrets can, custom make a guidebook that is individually researched and printed to match your unique interests. Are you fascinated by sites associated with Shakespeare, Dickens or Sherlock Holmes? Want to find those traces of Roman...

Caribbean Corner.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... 'Rediscover Bonaire' With the completion of environmentally friendly piers and with ALM's second nonstop flight from Miami to Bonaire, which began July 1, Bonaire has launched an island-wide program called "Rediscover Bonaire." The...

Rick Steves' Europe[C].(Lisbon, Portugal)
November 1, 2000... Lisbon's gold still shines. Barely elegant outdoor cafes, glittering art and the saltiest sailors' quarter in Europe, all at bargain-basement prices, make Lisbon an Iberian highlight. Portugal's capital is a wonderful mix of now and then....

European Potpourri.
November 1, 2000... A find in Vienna Despite my long years of residence in the Austrian capital, I will invariably learn something new about this city, or at least something I had known and perhaps forgotten, every time I have a visitor look me up here. ...

Africa.(cruises)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Cruises of the dark continent As we approach the true millennium, how about seeing Africa a new way? On a cruise. It's an exciting way to get introduced to the dark continent, especially for those travelers who are intrigued with the...

Timeless Roads of the Mideast & Mediterranean.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Traveling with Biblical Abraham in Harran and Urfa Save for a few power wires, an occasional TV antenna and a paved street that seems to disappear at the edge of town, the village of Harran remains ancient. Many of its people still live in...

ETM's 'Weekend Gems.'(Amsterdam)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... The ETM Travel Group has added Amsterdam to its "Weekend Gems" program. These long weekend packages offer. city breaks to London, Dublin, Paris and now Amsterdam and are available through March 31, 2001. Prices begin at $499 per person and...

FOCUS ON ARCHAEOLOGY.(Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand)
November 1, 2000... On the road, to Mandalay (First of two parts) I had dreamed of a trip to Burma for more than a decade. Besides Burma, long almost inaccessible but now beginning to open its doors and its treasures to travelers, I could also revisit two...

Far Horizons.(group tours)
November 1, 2000... Dealing with problem people on group tours -- an update I received a record response regarding my controversial July 2000: column titled "Dealing with Problem People on Group Tours." I hit many sensitive nerves. Of the more than 50...

Kilroy Was Here!(discount travel purchasing on the Internet)(Brief Article)(Column)
November 1, 2000... Cyber savings? Well, friends, there's a lot of chatter going around about how to save money by buying travel on the Internet. Is it possible? I don't know. But a lot of folks are trying to sell the idea. I've heard good things...

'Hop on, hop off' Austrian Airlines in Europe.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Austrian Airlines passengers using Vienna, Austria, as their Central European starting point are being given the opportunity to "hop on, hop off' at any combination of more than 100 destinations in England, continental Europe, Russia, Greece...

Provencale cooking class.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Both experienced and novice cooks can enjoy the program "La Cuisine de Provence" at the recently restored Domaine de la Fontaine in L'Isle sur la Sorgue, approximately on half hour from Avignon. A combination of cooking, dining, shopping...

WHERE IN THE WORLD?(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... You could win a year's subscription to ITN simply by identifying where the photo on the right was taken. The winning entry will be drawn from a pool of correct answers. Answers must reach the ITN offices by November 25. Send your postcard...

Person to Person.
November 1, 2000... 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...

CORRECTION.(Sept. 2000, pg. 186)(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2000... * In my report card on Hotel Helios in Santa Margherita, ITALY (Sept. '00, pg. 186), with 20 rooms all facing the Mediterranean, I meant to say it cost 330,000 lire (near $158) per COUPLE, not per person. -- Jeanine Healey, Naples, FL. ...

Viewfinders.(Bali, Indonesia)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Share & your special travel photos During a February '00 visit to Indonesia's Bali, I found beautiful, natural surroundings with friendly, artistic people who have strong religious convictions. Bali is called the "Island of the Gods"...

Funniest Thing.(accommodations in Hydra Island, Greece)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... This month's winner is MARIAN BAER of Paramus, NJ: We, arrived on the beautiful island of Hydra in Greece tired, hot and without hotel reservations. Once a fashionable artists colony, there are no cars there. We encountered few people who...