International Travel News articles from September 2000

International Travel News archives from September 2000

POSTMARK Report Cards.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... On-the-spot reports from around the globe From San Jose, COSTA RICA, July, 18,'00... * Mr. Pablo Sharpe, tour guide (Hatillo 8, Acera 2, Casa 15, San Jose, Costa Rica; phone 011-506-231-0614, 24 hours a day, seven days a week) -- over...

Boarding Pass.
September 1, 2000... Dear Globetrotter: Taste Sensations: that's what we titled a recent poll of readers. Reading the replies (see page 82) makes you want to raid the refrigerator. One food that I'll never forget is "jungle spaghetti." In 1993 I took...

'Small group' tour to China and Tibet offers countless sights -- and insights.(author descibes her trip)
September 1, 2000... A stolen backpack in Xi'an may have put a damper on my visit to the terra-cotta warriors, but nothing could dim the memories of a wonderful four-week trip to China (September and October of 1999). My trip planning started in the spring when Bev...

Travelers' Intercom.
September 1, 2000... Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations Back from Scandinavia I returned June 30, '00, from a trip to Norway and Sweden with one important "caveat": Swedish restaurant bills now ask for a tip, called "extra" shown below the total of the...

South Korea advisory.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The U.S. Embassy in Seoul advises U.S. citizens traveling or residing in South Korea that there have been several random attacks in recent weeks involving Americans, including the stabbing death of a U.S. Army medical doctor, in the Itaewon...

Malaysia caution.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The Department of State reiterates its Public Announcement of April 26, '00, concerning the attack of April 23 by members of the Philippine-based terrorist group Abu Sayyaf on a dive resort on the Malaysian island of Sipadan. Sipadan is located...

World Discoverer to be replaced.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... In late April '00, Society Expeditions' renowned 138-passenger expeditionary - style ship World Discoverer, suffered significant damage after striking an uncharted coral reef in the Solomon Islands during its "Mysteries of Papua New Guinea"...

Mozart week 2001.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Every year, on the occasion of the birthday of its favorite son, Wolfang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg, Austria, puts on a special Mozart week. In 2001, from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4, emphasis will be placed on works by the younger Mozart, among them...

Emperor Charles V turns 500.(exhibitions and concerts)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The 500th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Charles V is the catalyst for important exhibitions and celebrations in the sweep of European countries that formed the nucleus of his empire. Among the most important is the "Carolus" exhibition,...

Denmark/Sweden 3-month festival.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The new 10-mile-long bridge and tunnel between Denmark and Sweden, the [theta]resund Fixed Link, is the occasion for a cultural explosion,. Sept. 15-Dec. 15, '00, throughout the region of greater, Copenhagen and Malmo-Lund just across the...

Russian treasures in Korea.(touring exhibit)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Russia, an exhibition of Russian artifacts and historical relics will tour Korea through March 2001. On display are more than 550 national...

An architecutural wonderland -- old-city panoramas abound in the Czech Republic.
September 1, 2000... For me, the hardest part of visiting the Czech Republic was remembering what to call it. Czechoslovakia kept slipping out, but that country, created by the partitioning of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of the First World War, no longer...

Brazil -- from city to remote isles.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... I wanted to share some of the sights of Brazil with my family recently. From Los Angeles, we flew to Rio de Janeiro via Miami. In Rio, I showed them Sugar Loaf and the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado. Using Varig to fly north, we...

British Isles.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... We have two recommendations from our June '00 trip to ENGLAND. * The Bridge House (88 Lansdown Rd.; Cheltenham GL51 6QR, England; phone 011-44-1242 583559 or e-mail bridgehouse@freeuk.com) -- within easy walking distance of the train,...

Europe.(tourist accommodations - Paris, Switzerland, Spain)
September 1, 2000... I would like to make a recommendation for apartment rentals in PARIS. My daughter and I rented an apartment in May '00 from a company called Chez Vous (1001 Bridgeway, PMB 245, Sausalito, CA 94965; phone 415/331-2535, fax 415/331-5296, e-mail...

Pacific.(tourist accommodations in Bali)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... After one night in a hotel in Kuta Beach, Bali, that had been recommended to us for $15 but was run-down and beat up, we found a gem of a place to stay: Pelasa Hotel (Batu Pageh St., Legian-Kuta, Bali, INDONESIA; phone 0361 753423, fax...

Latin America.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... In ARGENTINA we stayed at Hotel Continental (Ave. R. Saenz Pena, Buenos Aires) -- in a central location. A small, older hotel. Clean. Friendly. Cost was $109 for a single including breakfast. * In BRAZIL we stayed at Hotel Rio Copa...

A breathtaking bus ride in the Dolomites shows two sides of this Italian region.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Atesina, Italy's equivalent of the Greyhound Bus Line, carries passengers throughout that mountainous peninsula. If you should be traveling in the very north of Italy and board one of its buses for a trip over the Dolomite Alps, for the cost of...

Rail in Europe.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... All Eurail and Europass prices for 2001 will remain the same as in 2000. In addition, effective Jan. 1, 2001, anew railpass will be offered to travelers in Europe: the Eurail SelectPass will allow the traveler to journey at a savings within...

EGYPT.
September 1, 2000... In February '99 I took the 14-day "Jewel of the Nile" tour offered by Gate 1 International Travel (101 Limekiln Pike, Glenside, PA 19038; phone 800/682-3333 or 215/572-7676, fax 215/886-2228 or visit www.gate1travel.com). I can highly recommend...

NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... I took one of the most rewarding, delightful and memorable trips in more than 30 years of travel, March 24-April 6, '00. It was the Road Scholar tour "The Golden Age of Dutch and Flemish Art" with Saga International Holidays (222 Berkeley St.,...

EUROPE.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... My husband and I took the "Grand Tour of Europe with Oberammergau," beginning on May 24, '00, with Saga Holidays (Boston, MA). It was an 18-day tour that stopped in seven countries. Our only complaint was regarding the hectic pace of the tour....

MALTA.(travel narrative)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A friend and I participated in a Road Scholar tour of Malta with Saga Holidays (222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116; phone 800/621-2151) in May '99. It was a 12-day trip with 10 nights at the Diplomat Hotel in Sliema. The cost was $2,149 each...

MALAYSIA.(Labuan)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... In October 99 my wife and I, both senior citizens, took a 13-night Saga Holidays (Boston, MA) tour to Labuan Island in Malaysia. Labuan is a small island close to the northwest coast of Borneo. The tour was well run, interesting and...

WESTERN EUROPE.(bus travel)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... On March 26, '00, my wife and I joined a European tour offered by Trafalgar Tours USA, Inc. (it East 26th St., Ste. 1300, New York, NY 10010; phone 800/854-0103, fax 212/725-7776 or visit www.trafalgartours.com). This tour was booked through...

BRITISH ISLES.(travel narrative)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... In May '99 we took a most enjoyable 11-day tour to the British Channel Islands with Trafalgar Tours (New York, NY,). The price was $4,036 for two. These islands are located just off the coast of France and have a blend of English and...

SOUTH AMERICA.(travel narrative)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... My friend Jeanne Hoskins of Sumner, WA, and I took a country-gathering trip to the Caribbean plus Guyana, Surname, French Guyana and the Dominican Republic, Sept. 17-Oct. 13, '99. This was put together by Universal Travel System (Box 2115,...

Rose festival in Adelaide.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The 2000 International Rose Festival in Adelaide, Oct. 19-22, '00, will be the first in a series of biennial celebrations centered in Botanic Park and extending throughout Adelaide and regional South Australia. It will feature displays of...

In the Channel Islands.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Coming up soon in the Channel Islands are the following events. * International Air Display, St. Aubin's Bay (Jersey), Sept. 14--one of the biggest aerobatic displays in the U.K., with WWII aircraft, modem fighter planes and a performance...

Royal Guard in Seoul.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The Changing of the. Royal Guard Ceremony, in Seoul Korea, has increased from a weekends-only to a Tuesday-through-Sunday schedule. Between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. every day except Monday, royal guards in brilliant yellow uniforms stand at the...

Korea area codes.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... As of July 2, '00, Korea's 144 area codes have been replaced by 16 codes. The new code system includes eight new codes. 031 (Kyonggi-do), 033 (Kangwon-do), 041 (Ch'ungch'ongnam-do), 043 (Ch'ungch'ongbuk-do), 054 (Kyongsangbuk-do), 055...

Hong Kong Dragon Card.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Until the end of February 2001, visitors to Hong Kong can enjoy a range of special discounts at selected outlets throughout the city with the new Hong Kong Dragon Card 2000. Examples of special offers available with the card include...

Berlin WelcomeCard.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A book of vouchers for visitors to Berlin, the WelcomeCard offers you three days. of free travel on all buses and trains operating within the A, B and C fare zones of the Berlin-Brandenburg public transport network (but not excursions and...

Berlin museum pass.(for state museums)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... New in Berlin are the Museum for Communication, the Film Museum, the Vitra Design Museum with a branch in Prenzlauer Berg and, coming next year, the Jewish Museum, along with the reopening of the restored Old National Gallery, on Museum Island....

Pont du Gard restored.(2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Restorations were completed in June on the Pont du Gard, the 3-tiered, 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct located near Nimes, France. In the process of restoring the structure -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site to its original state, olive trees,...

Taste Sensations.(favourite foods from around the world)
September 1, 2000... "What food or drink should you not leave a particular country without tasting at least once?" This is what we asked our readers to tell us, adding that they should include any special instructions on how to find the food or drink plus any tips...

Exploring Ireland's inland waterways.
September 1, 2000... I had seen Enniskillen Castle before, approaching by land. This time I saw the 16th-century fortress as it should be seen -- from the water. Enniskillen is just one of myriad isles and historic sites to be discovered on the Emerald. Isle's...

'Stella Solaris' cruise a 'bargain'.(South America tour)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... On Jan. 17, '00, we along with 600 other passengers embarked on a 56-day circumnavigation of South. America aboard the Stella Solaris of Royal Olympic Cruises 1(800/872-6400). The Stella Solaris is a 50-year-old traditional cruise ship. She...

Enjoyed Whole experience on 'Century'.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... We read the letter "Disappointments on Cruise" about a reader's experience aboard Celebrity's Century (Dec. '99, pg. 91). We want to share our experience on Celebrity's Century in December '99 with ITN readers as it was totally opposite of the...

'Marco Polo' through the amazing Suez Canal.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The triumphant Suez Canal: this was the greatest highlight of a voyage aboard Orient Lines' Marco Polo, celebrating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's famous travels. Launched in 1965 in East Germany, the Marco Polo was designed as a...

The freighter 'Columbus Florida'.(passenger travel on a freighter)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... We sailed on the freighter Columbus Florida, which is operated by Maritime Reederei under charter from Columbus Line (call Freighter World Cruises in Pasadena, CA: 626/449-3106). We embarked in Sydney, Australia, on March 3, '00, and arrived in...

France barge cruise.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The company The Barge Lady (101 W. Grand Ave. #200, Chicago, IL 60610: phone 800/880-0071 or fax 312/245-0952) does an outstanding job and has many barges from which to choose. For our "French Wine Barge Cruise," we selected the, Luciole...

GT Cruises on the Volga.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... In May/June '00 we sailed on the MIS Lomonosov on a 16-day Volga River cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Russia. We booked our holiday directly through GT Cruises (2610 East 16th St., Brooklyn, NY 11235; phone 800/828-7970 or...

Cross Berlin by bus.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Visitors to Berlin can gain their first impression of the city on a new bus line, bus 200, offering an 11-kilometer-long ride. Bus 200 joins bus 100 as the only bus lines to directly link the two city centers of the metropolis as well as the...

Germany culinary guide.(Review)
September 1, 2000... Part guidebook, part culinary gazetteer, part recipe book and part photo album, the 150-page "Culinary Germany 2000/2001 -- A Journey through Art, Culture and Delicacies" takes readers on seven different journeys through Germany in search of...

Master French chef.(Rene Betrard runs cooking course in Provence)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Master chef Rene Betrard is teaching a 4-day course on "Art de Vivre," the culinary traditions of Provence, part of, a 7-night package with France Vacations comprising, two nights in Paris at the Villa Alessandra and five nights in the...

Vienna cooking tour.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Learn to cook traditional and new-style Viennese cuisine on a "Taste of Vienna" tour, Oct. 21-28, '00, comprising three half-day sessions in a professional cooking school plus one morning in the kitchen of one of Vienna's leading gourmet...

Italy-Greece ferry.(Attika Superfab)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Anew ferry, to Attika Superfab which plies the Italy- Greece routes Italy-Patras-Ancordia- Bari-Patras-Brindisi and Brindisi- Patras-Brindisi (together with Hellenic Mediterranean Lines), was into service on July 1, '00. In 2000 these routes...

African? Asian? Madagascar is truly an island unto itself.
September 1, 2000... Last month the Stalcups told of their visits to the islands of Lamu and Zanzibar as well as to Kenya's Masai Mara. This month they continue their custom-made itinerary to the fascinating island of Madagascar. Madagascar, the fourth-largest...

Swiss scenic trains.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Rail Europe has made several improvements on Switzerland's well-known special scenic trains. The service period of the William Tell Express, which takes travelers on the route Lucerne-Fluelen-St. Gotthard Tunnel-Bellinzona-Lugano-Locarno,...

All Aboard!(Scandinavian railroad travel)
September 1, 2000... Oresund Fixed Link When Queen Margrethe of Denmark and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden opened, on July 1, 2000, the [theta]resund Fixed Link connecting the two countries by tunnel and bridge, road and rail, they changed train travel in the...

In-port visit to a true luxury ship.
September 1, 2000... In today's cruise business there are generally three grades of cruise vessels offered in the market, with the parameters which define them very hard to delineate. The price ranges overlap in the three categories because of the ranges of...

World roaming, reasonably and in relative comfort.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Several times each year, the mailboxes here at ITN receive queries about travel on passenger-carrying freighters. The major reason for the inquiries to such offices as ours is an almost complete lack of knowledge about the subject among the...

Star-studded 2001 'round-world cruise.(Crystal Cruises)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Crystal Cruises is scheduling an entertainment program that includes the host of the most popular TV show in America. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" emcee Regis Philbin is among the celebrity guests who have accepted invitations to join...

New North Atlantic cruises.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The ever-intrepid Explorer, Aber crombie & Kent's pioneering expeditionary ship, charts new waters in 2001 with the addition of "Whit Nights" and "Secret of the Celts," two new cruises featured in its "Adventures in the North Atlantic"...

Renovated yacht in the Galapagos.(Metropolitan Touring)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... Metropolitan Touring has completed a US$2 million renovation of the Isabela II, a 40-passenger yacht cruising in the Galapagos Islands. The "new look" to the Isabela II includes an enlarged reception area, a redesigned library and a new...

Circumnavigation of South America.(ocean cruise in South America)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The 490-guest, all-suite Seven Seas Navigator -- 90% with private balconies -- will offer a 58-night "Grand Circle South America" voyage round trip from Ft. Lauderdale on Feb. 2, 2001. Including her first Amazon River cruise, the...

TOURS.(travel agents - tour offerings)
September 1, 2000... A selection of escorted tours "SPARKLING SCANDINAVIA" is a 14-day Brendan Gold tour to Copenhagen, Frederiksborg, Oslo, Geilo, Bergen, Flam, Balestrand and Stockholm. Highlights include the adult home of Hans Christian Andersen,...

"London for the Independent Traveler" by Ruth Humleker (1999, Marlor Press, 4304 Brigadoon Dr., Saint Paul, MN 55126 -- $14.95, 256 pgs.).(Review)
September 1, 2000... This is the book for travelers to London -- veterans as well as first-timers. It is organized into 3-day tours, each with a focus on a particular interest or theme. Some of these themes are "Basic" London, "Literary" London, "Art Lover's"...

"Let's Go: South Africa" (1999, Let's Go Publications, 67 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, MA 02138 -- $17.99 497 pgs.).(Review)
September 1, 2000... One of the big pluses of this "Let's Go" series is that the guides are revised annually so that information is up to date. The guide begins with general information for the traveler: where to go, what you need to take and important...

Tips for the Solo Traveler.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... QUESTION: Many of my friends are booking their flights themselves on the Internet. They keep telling me I should too. I am wondering if they are right. (My daughter gave me her old computer and she wants me to get connected to an Internet...

St. Barts beaches restored.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... For the first time since Hurricane Luis in 1995, the most popular beach on St. Barts now has 70 to 100 feet of sand in front of the hotels instead of the ocean pounding onto their walls. Beachgoers now can jog all the way from Eden Rock to Les...

Crew for regatta champions in the BVI.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The Bitter End Yacht Club, on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, is hosting the Boatscape.com 14th Annual Pro-Am Regatta at the resort, Nov. 4-11,'00, and guests can race with. some of the world's top sailors. Consisting of a series of...

Clear Customs in Aruba.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The U.S. Customs Service has opened an office in Aruba joining the existing Immigration airport facility to allow U.S.-bound air passengers to clear Customs before they leave the Dutch Caribbean island. The new service allows visitors to save...

Dulwich Picture Gallery.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Following, are a few exhibits upcoming at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London. * "Gerrit Don: Rembrandt's First Pupil," Sept. 6-Nov. 19, '00 -- A Dutch painter of the Golden Age, Gerrit Dou was a master of atmosphere and is best known...

Wales rails.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Rail enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that the latest extension to the Welsh Highland Railway was completed on July 14, '00. The Welsh Highland Railway project, led by the Ffestiniog Railway, was set up to rebuild and operate the Welsh...

Britain for seniors.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Money-saving tips for mature travelers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are outlined in a new guide called "Britain: Time-to Travel." The brochure points out that transatlantic airlines offer discounts for seniors, and more...

'Theatre Break' package.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The luxury boutique hotel The Montague on the Gardens, in Bloomsbury and just minutes away from London's West End theater district, is offering the "Theatre Break." This special package includes two tickets to the award-winning "Rent" or a...

Britain.
September 1, 2000... London's No. 11 him line Around Piccadilly Circus, half a him tour bus companies compete him visitors, hoping to show them him highlights from the open him of a double-decker bus. These him are well and good but a bit him: [pound]12. How...

Rick Steves' Europe (C).(Alsace)
September 1, 2000... Vintage France with a splash of Germany The French province of Alsace stands like a flower-child referee between Germany and France. Bounded by the Rhine River on the east and the softly rolling Vosges Mountains on the west, this is a lush...

European Potpourri.
September 1, 2000... Letter from London Arriving in England the first week in November '99 at a time of year when one expects a season of mists, rain and clouds, I was delightfully surprised to find a succession of mellow days of golden sunshine, all of which...

Africa.(safaris)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Safari adventures West African safari For a different African adventure, how about visiting the tropical rainforest of West Africa? The newest-built safari camp is the Sinoe River Camp next to Sapo National Park in Liberia. The...

Timeless Roads of the Mideast & Mediterranean.(oasis villiage of Siwa, Egypt)
September 1, 2000... Tracing Alexander the Great's route to Siwa For centuries, caravans have crossed Egypt's gravelly western desert seeking Siwa's famous dates and olives or audiences with Siwa's divine oracle. Today, as in yesteryear, this oasis remains an...

HK's Chi Lin Nunnery.(Hong Kong)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Hong Kong's Chi Lin Nunnery, which embodies the traditional craftsmanship, Buddhist beliefs and grand simplicity of the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907), was recently renovated. A living museum of Tang-style monastic architecture, the mummery is...

FOCUS ON ARCHAEOLOGY.(Venetian island of Torcello)
September 1, 2000... Torcello mother Venice Venice is a city of plenty. It overflows with riches: hundreds of Renaissance palazzi and palazzetti lining its canals; scores of Titians, Tintorettos and Tiepolos hanging in its museums and churches; cafes and...

Far Horizons.(Belize)(part 1)
September 1, 2000... Belize adventure (First of two parts) In early May I had the opportunity to join an adventure tour to Belize and Guatemala as a guest of International Expeditions (Helena, AL; phone 800/633-4734). The 10-day/9-night itinerary appeared...

Kilroy Was Here!(evolution of cruise lines)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Cruising trends... Cruise lines are working hard to refine their on-board amenities and activities to attract new and younger passengers. It's interesting that people are not ambivalent about cruise vacations. They love them or hate...

'Airfare Secrets Exposed'.(Review)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The book "Airfare Secrets Exposed" tells dozens of ways travelers can save on airfares. One chapter reveals how airlines set prices, so the reader will learn to save by buying on a particular day of the week. Another chapter tells all...

Device provides relief from motion sickness.(ReliefBand by Woodside Biomedical)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The ReliefBand device is the only medical device to receive FDA clearance for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness. Worn on the underside of the wrist, the electronic wristband uses gentle electrical signals to...

Cappadocia.(region of Turkey)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... During a "Treasures of Turkey & the Turquoise Coast" tour with Tauck Tours (Westport, CT; phone 800/468-2825), Oct. 16-23, '98, we visited the Cappadocia region, which was a highlight of the trip. The landscape is unlike any other with its...