International Travel News articles from September 2004

International Travel News archives from September 2004

Boarding pass.
September 1, 2004... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 343rd issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. Muriel Dowe of Fort Worth, Texas, read Marilyn Karr's "three reasons to fold clothing with plastic bags when packing" in this column two months...

Report cards: on-the-spot reports from around the globe.
September 1, 2004... 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 the travel impressions are fresh in your mind. To obtain your ITN Report...

India--discovering a well of amazing sights.
September 1, 2004... My first visit to India was so long ago that much is just a dim memory now. When I was invited recently for a return visit, I jumped at the chance. A special visit Although the trip started in Delhi, there was little time for touring...

Tips on Vienna and Budapest.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... From a trip to Europe my wife and I took in May '04, here are some tips for travelers to both Vienna and Budapest. In Vienna, our taxi from the Sudhahnhof to Mariahilfer Strasse cost 8.50 [euro] (near $10.40), but the meter ran even when...

Lion Camp participation program.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I was a paying volunteer in the Tau Consultants (Pty), Ltd., Project Participation Program (Private Bag 83, Maun, Botswana; visit www.taucon.com) at Lion Camp in the Okavango Delta of Botswana, May 24-June 4, '04. South Africans Hanlie and...

Touring Paris by Segway.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... My 16-year-olds granddaughter and I found an unusual and exciting new way to "tour" in Paris on our trip in early June '04. City Segway Tours (phone 01.56.58.10.54, e-mail paris@citysegwaytours.com or visit www.citysegwaytours.com) offers day...

Marble in Tuscany.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... With two other couples, I rented a farmhouse in the northern Tuscany region of Italy for a week at Easter in 2002. After reading many articles and researching many websites, I located a house through Vacation Rentals by Owners (visit...

Funniest thing.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... 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...

Haiti hazards.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Although many areas have calmed considerably since earlier this year and major commercial air carriers have resumed their operations into and out of Haiti, the Department of State warns U.S. citizens that travel in Haiti still involves serious...

Threats in Bahrain.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Department of State has. received information that extremists are planning attacks against U.S. and other Western interests in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Due to security concerns, on July 3 the Department authorized the departure, on a...

Iran tensions.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Department of State warns of the risks of travel to Iran. Tensions generated by the current situation in Iraq have increased the potential threat to U.S. citizens and interests abroad. Some elements of the Iranian government and population...

Sudan dangers.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to Sudan. Although the two parties in the long-running civil war are negotiating a peace accord, travel in the south is still dangerous. In addition, there is serious fighting in...

Crises in Zimbabwe.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Department of State reminds U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Zimbabwe, which is in the midst of political, economic and humanitarian crises. The economy is in precipitous decline, with extremely high rates of unemployment and...

Nigeria's many risks.(News Watch)
September 1, 2004... Conditions in Nigeria pose considerable risks to travelers. Violent crime committed by ordinary criminals, as well as by persons in police and military uniforms, can occur throughout the country. Kidnapping for ransom of persons associated...

Current warnings.(News Watch)
September 1, 2004... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 26 destinations: Nepal, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Algeria, Haiti, Bahrain, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Cote d'Ivoire, Indonesia, Somalia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kenya, Lebanon,...

Tokyo World Fair in 2005.(Travel briefs)(Ai Chikyu Haku)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The first World to be held in the 21st century will take in place in Japan's Aichi Prefecture (about an hour southwest of Tokyo by bullet train), March 25-Sept. 25, 2005. The fair has been given the name Ai Chikyu Haku (Love Earth...

Cuba travel restrictions.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... New restrictions on travel to Cuba went into effect on June 30, 2004. Now Cuban-Americans can visit only close family members once every three years instead of every year; their visits are restricted to 14 days (previously there was no limit),...

Euro coin scam.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Don't get scammed in Europe. Though the euro has replaced the lira in Italy, many people throughout the E.U. are passing off old 500-lira coins, worth about 25 cents before becoming totally worthless in 2001, as the new 2-euro coins (worth...

Helsinki Card .(Travel briefs)
September 1, 2004... The Helsinki Card offers free entry to most museums in the Finnish capital as well as to such sights as the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Seurasaari Open-Air Museum and Helsinki Zoo. It also provides shopping discounts, complimentary use of the...

European castle collection--matching miniatures with the real thing.
September 1, 2004... I have a set of 12 cold-cast porcelain castles distributed by the Danbury Mint. The exquisitely detailed replicas are approximately 7"-8" wide, 6"-8" high and 5"-6" deep. They are reproductions of castles found in Europe. Sever are located in...

Hassles with code-share tickets booked through Delta.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Three weeks after writing to Delta Air Lines following a trip to Europe, a reader mailed ITN a copy of that letter, as follows. On our recent trip to Italy, we were very upset by the lack of service we received from Delta Air Lines. On...

Regarding cruise pricing.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... On Oct. 6, '03, my wife and I booked with Holland America Line on the MS Noordam for their Baltic cruise starting June 22, '04. We were interested in a Deluxe B cabin, which was listed for $3,062 or, at an early-savings rate, for $1,970 plus...

Princess' Anytime Dining.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... My husband and I sailed from Auckland to Sydney on the Star Princess for 14 nights, Jan. 31-Feb. 14, '04. We had no problem with the prepaid tips for our cabin steward. However, we had signed up for Anytime Dining and I want to say that we...

Royal Princess Europe cruise.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Aboard Princess Cruises' Royal Princess, we took the "European Explorer" cruise from Rome to London, May 7-19, '04. This was the second trip we have taken to Europe and the first tune we visited many of the areas. The itinerary included Rome,...

Australia visit the 'best'.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... My wife and I took a trip to Australia, March 19-April 11, '04, using the services of Travel Downunder (10020 Main St. A, Box 142, Bellevue, WA 98004; phone 866/258-1629 or 425/454-0631 or visit www.travel-downunder.com). Travel Downunder is...

China arrangements 'outstanding'.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... After traveling in eastern India and Thailand on my own, I flew to Kunming, China. For helping me with the planning and execution of an outstanding 18-day trip in southwest China, 'March 2-20, '04, I would like to publicly commend Lucy Lu of...

Special memories of winter travel.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I celebrated the 2002 New Year by taking a tour of Vienna and Budapest, Jan. 6-14. I ventured to take a mid-winter trip figuring that, although the weather would be cold, the museums and concert halls would be heated. Also, my tour group would...

Mount of St. Peter.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... If you visit Maastricht, Netherlands, it's worth your time to take a trip outside of town to the remarkable place known as the Mount of St. Peter. There, on our trip in 2000, we saw a miniature mountain made of marl, a type of sandstone well...

Topographical buffet.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... When I picked up my pictures following a trip I took back in May-June '99 with Far Fung, Places (San Francisco, CA; phone 800/410-9811 or visit www.farfungplaces.com), the manager of the photo shop ran over to ask where I had been. He said he...

Southernmost Africa.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Technically, the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa is not consistently the place where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. Oceans being what they are, that meeting place can shift considerably depending on wind, tides and the like. Cape...

On the subject of travel insurance.
September 1, 2004... Below are four letters/inquiries from. ITN readers on the subject of travel insurance. Each is immediately followed by my response or recommendations. 1 I read the letter "Travel Insurance Inquiry" and Mr. Wirtanen's reply (July '04, pg....

Kangaroo Island encounters.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Explore some of Kangaroo Island's most isolated areas on a 4-wheel-drive expedition. Hike deserted beaches, rocky outcrops and dense scrub to come face-to-face with Australia's kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, platypuses, sea lions, goannas,...

Rewards of winter travel.
September 1, 2004... The Weather Channel's website (www.weather.com) showed that the 10-day forecast for the Croatian coastline for the middle of February '04 was in the 40s and 50s and in the 30s for inner Croatia and Slovenia. Being from the northwest, I thought...

Belgium museum combo.(Travel briefs)(Royal Museum of Fine Arts)(Ghent Fine Arts Museum)(Groeningen Museum)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The historic cities of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp offer a combination ticket for visiting the permanent collections of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, the Ghent Fine Arts Museum and the Groeningen Museum in Bruges. With almost 50,000...

Madrid museums.(Travel briefs)(Museo Nacional del Prado)(Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia)(Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, Spain, has added 16 galleries with a total of 86,000 square feet, doubling the museum's exhibition space and enabling the display of 300 new works. Also undergoing expansions in 2004 are the Museo...

Gaeltacht districts identity order.(Travel briefs)(Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs)(Gaeltacht Districts)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... In Ireland, a New Placenames Order has been published for the Gaeltacht Districts, affecting about 2,119 villages and towns. The order would prohibit the use of the English versions of place names in the Acts of the Oireachtas, in statutory...

U.S./China airlines agreement.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Today, United and Northwest are the only U.S. passenger carriers flying into China, with China Southern and China Eastern the only Chinese carriers flying into the U.S. A June 18 agreement has set the course for service by five additional...

Dresden's Green Vault.(Travel briefs)(Green Vault )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Started by August the Strong in the 16th century, the Green Vault in Dresden, Germany, is one of the largest treasure chamber museums in the world. The name is derived from the Dresden Green Diamond, the only large diamond with a natural green...

From Argentina to Chile: a breathtaking Andean lakes crossing.
September 1, 2004... One of the highlights of our recent trip to Argentina and Chile during December '03 was the Andean Lake Crossing between Bariloche, Argentina, and Puerto Varas, Chile, following the so-called "wool route" that the early settlers of Patagonia...

'Encore! Encore!(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... If you enjoyed a particular choir, string quartet, jazz festival, etc., overseas or wish to share information about attending any especially pleasing music performance (outside of North America), write to 'Encore! Encore!', c/o ITN, 2120 28th...

Accommodations worldwide: hotels * B&Bs * Homestays * apartments.
September 1, 2004... The following is a hotels 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 visit and conversion rates are...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2004... CORRECTION--The building pictured on page 61 of thr July '04 issue is NOT the Palace Hotel Bucaco near Luso, Portugal. We know the hotel well, having just been there in May.--BILL STELTZER, Kenneth Square, PA Right you are, Bill. The...

Enjoyed Tunisia.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I read the article on Tunisia in the June '04 edition and was sorry to hear such a neutral/negative picture of a country that I liked. We were in Tunisia in March of 2004. We experienced rain only one day, we had little problem with...

Much to see in Tunisia.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... My wife and I spent a week in Tunisia in March '04. We went with Amelia International (176 Woodbury Rd., Hicksville, NY 11801; phone 800/742-4591 or visit www.ameliainternational.com). Including airfare from Savannah, Georgia; six nights in a...

Boutique resorts in Belize.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... We booked a 10-day/ 9-night luxury package in Belize, "Escape to Paradise," through Global Travel Club (1 Kiln Shaw, Langdon Hills, Essex, U.K., SS16 6LE; phone +44 [0] 1268 541732, fax +44 [0] 1268 541363, e-mail info@global-travel.co.uk or...

Biking in Provence.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... In May '02 we took a biking "Untour" in Provence, France, arranged by Idyll, Ltd. (Media, PA; phone 888/868-6871 or visit www.untours.com). Our trip started with a nonstop flight from San Francisco to Paris, where we spent one night at an...

Wheelchairs in airports.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... In the July '04 "Person to Person" section there was a query about tipping airport wheelchair attendants. I have used wheelchairs all over the world and found that while some attendants will not accept a tip, most will. For a short trip, I...

On TSA locks.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... This in response to the inquiry (July '04, pg. 2) regarding the use of the new TSA locks (which can be opened and relocked by all TSA airport personnel). I purchased two of them from the Magellan's catalog (phone 800/962-4943 or visit...

TSA locks.(Travelers'intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Regarding the new luggage locks, yes, I have had two problems with them. TSC personnel in Columbia, South Carolina, knew nothing about them when I took a Delta flight in November '03. I was told, "Leave it open," and then the lock was stolen!...

Locks in use.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... We purchased two TSA locks from Travel-Smith (Novato, CA; phone 800/9501600 or visit www.travelsmith.com) and have used them on two trips. On a trip to Portugal in May they were not opened, but on a trip to the four corners of the USA in June...

TSA-secured.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... We've used the new TSA locks for several trips okay. Once, a TSA plastic piece was attached showing that the bag had been inspected, but otherwise they've sailed through apparently unopened. Usually, we check one bag and one set of golf clubs...

TSA courtesy.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... For a flight to Dallas from Seattle that my husband and I took on May 6, '04, I purchased TSA locks from AAA. We had no problem in Seattle. On returning from Dallas on May 12, we took our bags to the security check station. There I was...

Military museum correction.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2004... In his letter "60 Years After the Battle of the Bulge" (Aug. '04, pg. 33), Bill Kofoed mentions the Military Museum at Diekirch, Luxembourg. The correct e-mail address for the museum curator, Roland Gaul, is roljgaul@pt.lu. --Editor

Places to be.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... After reading "The Man Who Has Been Everywhere" (July '04, pg. 40), I had a few unanswered questions. Please provide the rest of us with 1) the TCC list of 317 places, 2) the list of the "Secret Guinness 14" and 3) the list of the ARRL's...

Profitable 'rest stops'.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I took a trip to India in April '04, and in each city the guide took us for a local craft tour to someplace which was actually a sales outlet--a little education and lots of shopping and salesfolk to "help." The guides always made sure to...

Prague guide.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... The most knowledgeable, personable and capable guide during our April '04 General Tours "Bohemian Countryside" trip (which included Prague) was Gabriela Gogova (e-mail gogoun@volny.cz). This experienced guide speaks English well. And when...

Rome guide added depth.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I was in Rome for a few days in summer 2003 during the severe heat wave in Europe. A half-day tour of the antiquities was as much serious sightseeing as I was able to manage, but I decided that was not nearly enough and vowed to return when the...

Morocco driver/guide.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Wanting to experience Morocco's Atlas Mountains and the Sahara, I traveled there in August '03. I was blessed with a very good driver/guide. He was knowledgeable and thorough. His name is Rachid Azeouane (Dour Fint, Taharbilt 45000,...

Attending a bullfight in Portugal.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... During our trip to Portugal in November '98, we attended the bullfights in Albufeira. There is no need to be squeamish about a bullfight in Portugal, as the bull walks out of the ring when it's over. Prices ran about $28-$37 then, but the...

Patan, Nepal.(Favorite Museum Dept.)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Patan, Nepal Responding to a query in ITN, I have no doubt about Which museum is my favorite. It is the Patan Museum, located in the ancient city of Patan, one of the cities of the Kathmandu Valley, in my favorite country, Nepal. Nepal is...

"Sunken Cities, Sacred Cenotes & Golden Sharks: Travels of a Water-Bound Adventurer".(New On The Bookshelf)(Book Review)
September 1, 2004... "Sunken Cities, Sacred Cenotes & Golden Sharks: Travels of a Water-Bound Adventurer" by Bill Belleville (2004, University of Georgia Press. ISBN 0820325929--233 pp., $29.95 hardcover). Florida-based naturalist Bill Belleville journeys to...

"Pilgrimage to the End of the World: the Road to Santiago de Compostela".(New On The Bookshelf)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
September 1, 2004... "Pilgrimage to the End of the World: The Road to Santiago de Compostela" by Conrad Rudolph (2004, University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0226731278--131 pp., $13 paperback). After reading about a religious pilgrimage popular in the Middle Ages,...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.(Directory)
September 1, 2004... CHRISTMAS SHOPPING--Five tours offer shopping at holiday time. Airfare is from New York, Boston or Newark. London 9-day: Shop at Harrods, Selfridges; visit museums, historical sites; traditional Christmas lunch. From $1,099 land only or...

Cruise West 'stowaways'.(Cruise cavalcade: upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Cruise West invites travelers with flexible schedules to "stow away" on its ships and save 25%. The only caveat is that the line will choose the exact departure date within a 30-day window. "Stowaways" select a 30-day departure window and...

Loch Ness cruises.(Cruise cavalcade: upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Jacobite Cruises offers trips on Loch Ness. The company's flagship, Jacobite Queen, accommodates 159 passengers in centrally heated comfort. Jacobite Warrior takes 53 people on shorter cruises, and Jacobite Spirit carries 100. Cruises range...

Cirque du Soleil and Celebrity.(Cruise cavalcade: upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises)(Cirque du Soleil)(Constellation and Summit)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... In its partnership with Cirque du Soleil, Celebrity Cruises in December will transform a lounge aboard each of the ships Constellation and Summit and rename it "Bar at the Edge of the Earth." Passengers will be able to mingle with Cirque...

Society Expeditions setback.(Cruise cavalcade: upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Society Expeditions filed for Chapter 7 (liquidation) bankruptcy in the Seattle Bankruptcy Court on June 29. Mortgage holders took possession of the company's ship, World Discoverer (see Jan. "04, pg. 18). Scheduled cruises were canceled, and...

The cruising world.
September 1, 2004... The Queen and I The lady is beautiful, enchanting, sweet and noble--every man's dream. Her necklace of lapis lazuli and her high feather crown are evidence of great wealth. She holds hands with Hathor, the goddess of love. I'm a bit in...

Titanic artifacts.(Brit bits)
September 1, 2004... Hundreds of artifacts recovered from the wreck site of the ill-fated liner RMS Titanic are featured in an exhibition at Manchester's Museum of Science & Industry. "Titanic--The Artefact Exhibition" runs until Jan. 16, 2005. Visit...

Anglo-Saxon treasures.(Brit bits)
September 1, 2004... Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, 80 miles northeast of London, was the burial ground of Anglo-Saxon pagan kings of East Anglia. A new exhibition, "Far-Fetched Treasures," features items excavated from the area, including a silver tray...

Book low-cost bus online.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Using a ticketless Internet booking system, Megabus.com offers bus travel to Britain's major cities on no-frills, high-capacity, double-decker buses. Prices start at 1 [pounds sterling], with higher fares for last-minute bookings or popular...

Showman's wagon a cozy home.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Two 1930s showman's wagons, which used to be the living quarters for families who made their living traveling to fun fairs around England, have been restored for use as overnight accommodation. Set in a 12-acre orchard in the county of...

Sip and shop at Selfridges.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... If sipping champagne on leather seats while selecting a new designer handbag is your idea of what shopping should be, then Selfridges department store on Oxford Street in London is where you want to go. That is the location of The Moet...

Focus on--archaeology.
September 1, 2004... Bakhchysaray: palace of the khans The Crimean Peninsula juts off the Ukrainian mainland into the Black Sea. The Greeks established colonies here as early as the eighth century B.C. In 1243, the Tatars took control of Crimea. They were the...

Long-haul, single-destination group tours.(Far Horizons)
September 1, 2004... What is a long-haul, single-destination group tour (LHSDGT) and why are the majority of most American travelers so resistant to the concept? This long-established resistance is contrary to the travel philosophies and travel patterns of...

Swiss all-business-class service.(Far Horizons)
September 1, 2004... Swiss International Air Lines will begin all-business-class service between Newark, New Jersey, and Zurich, Switzerland, on Jan. 16, 2005. The Boeing 737 Business Jet will have 56 lie-flat seats with a pitch of 60 inches. Tickets will cost...

No gambling in Bermuda.(Far Horizons)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Bermuda's supreme court has banned gaming Bermuda machines from bars and hotels and will not allow casinos on the island.

Lost bag compensation in Europe.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Airlines of countries in the European Union now must pay passengers higher compensation for luggage lost or damaged on any flight to or from an airport in the E.U. That amount will be up to about 1,200 [euro] (near $1,460) or the currency...

Malaysia restricts carry-ons.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The "one hand luggage per passenger" ruling aboard International flights out of Malaysia airports is now being strictly enforced (as of Aug. 1, 2004). Still allowed, in addition to the one carry-on, are ladies' handbags, laptop computers,...

NJ-NY shuttle for So. America bound.(Travel briefs)
September 1, 2004... Passengers on LanChile, LanPeru and LanEcuador now can enjoy complimentary shuttle service to the JFK airport terminal in New York from New Jersey's Paterson Station, Union City Station and Newark Station. The service, offered daily, is not...

Driving Tasmania.(Travel briefs)
September 1, 2004... The "Tasmania Touring Map" highlights 11 new self-drive touring options across the Australian state. For a free copy of the map as well as the "Tasmania Holiday Planner," e-mail tasinfo@sbcglobal.net. Visit www. discovertasmania.com.

Join the outback cattle drive.(Travel briefs)
September 1, 2004... You can take part in the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive, April 30-June 11, 2005. The epic journey involves 600 head of cattle, 120 horses and some of Australia's most experienced cattle drovers. Horse tailors will match people to horses...

Person to person: reader-to-reader info exchange.(Travel briefs)
September 1, 2004... 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, or e-mail editor@intltravelnews. com (include your...

Travel award recipients.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
September 1, 2004... The following ITN readers are the latest to receive ITN travel awards. Congratulations go to... 24 THE ZONES * BILL & PATRICIA BOCCHINO, GUTTENBERG, NJ * BART & EDITH TURNER, BOYNTON BEACH, FL 100 NATIONS * JAY MANNING,...