Business Traveler articles from August 2004

Business Traveler archives from August 2004

Editor's letter.(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Loyalty has its rewards. We hope. As the summer travel rush gears up, the TSA is kicking off its Registered Traveler Pilot Project, which, if all goes well, could help speed frequent flyers through airport security lines. Although critics...

Please confirm.(Letter of the Month)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... In "Taken for a Ride" (May 2004), Faith A. Zuckerman reported that on two separate occasions, after making a reservation with the same hotel chain, she was told there was no reservation or room for her (other than a suite) upon arriving at the...

Questionable return.(Readers' Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... I was interested to note Brookstone Inc.'s response (May 2004) regarding their replacement policy. After reading this article, I returned a damaged silver TSA-approved lock to Brookstone at the South Coast Plaza in Orange County. I was told...

Weighing in.(Readers' Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Last year I spent a lot of time flying (150,000 miles altogether), and I know a thing or two regarding airline rules when it comes to luggage allowed, excess luggage and its related charges. Or at least I thought so, until a trip from Japan to...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2004... Please note the following corrections to the Premium Economy Class chart that ran in the April 2004 issue. Look for our new and improved, updated Premium Economy Class Chart to appear in the September issue. United Airlines Economy Plus:...

Airports unprepared for summer rush.(Airports)(Transportation Security Administration)
August 1, 2004... TRAVELERS SETTING OFF ON their summer breaks this year could be facing chaos and delays because of a shortage in federal screeners at airports across the country. The Transportation Security Administration has predicted that 200 million...

What women want.(Surveys)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... IT'S OFFICIAL: IT'S THE little things that count, at least for women business travelers. A new survey by Wyndham Hotels found that women prioritize the "personal touch," and want more amenities like bottled water in the guest rooms,...

Breadless business travel.(Health)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... FANS OF THE ATKINS DIET can now eat their hearts out while flying, thanks to airlines introducing menus that cater to the latest diet fads. American Airlines has introduced a new low-carb menu option, and its domestic first class flights...

Fight club.(Airlines)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... LOW-COST AIRLINE SONG recently made the headlines by promising free tickets to passengers who were nice to their staff. Delta, however, is taking no chances. From August this year, it will offer self-defense classes to its 14,000 attendants....

Meeting and eating.(Internet)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... BORED AND LONELY business travelers are increasingly turning to Internet dating services to avoid dining alone during business trips. The advent of informal dating services like itsjustlunch.com, where participants get together for...

Dariush Grand Hotel.(Hotel Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The first international hotel chain in 25 years to enter the Iranian hotel market, Rezidor SAS, has opened the Dariush Grand Hotel on Kish Island in Iran. The 168-room hotel, which opened late July, has three meeting rooms, two restaurants and...

The San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre Hotels has opened two new properties.(Hotel Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre Hotels has opened two new properties. The redesigned Hotel Carlton reopened in San Francisco this May. The Carlton is located in a vintage 1927 building near the California Street cable car line and is nine...

Kimpton Hotels opened the 112-room Onyx Hotel in Boston's North Station area this spring.(Hotel Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Kimpton Hotels opened the 112-room Onyx Hotel in Boston's North Station area this spring. The hotel--close to the nearly completed "Big Dig"--offers free Wi-Fi access and the Ruby Room lounge with fiber optics set into its black granite bar....

Hotel Andra.(Hotel Update)(Seattle's Claremont Hotel )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Seattle's Claremont Hotel has been refurbished and reopened as the Hotel Andra. The building, constructed in 1926, is in the center of downtown and features clean Pacific Northwest-inspired design in its 119 oversized rooms and 4,000 square...

Where to Wi-Fi.(Technology)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... * Virgin Atlantic now offers its Upper Class passengers Wi-Fi connections in all U.S. Virgin Clubhouses. The new technology has been installed at Virgin Clubhouses at New York JFK, Newark Liberty and San Francisco International airports. *...

Singapore Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Singapore Airlines launched nonstop services from Singapore to Newark Liberty on June 28. This is the world's longest flight--approximately 9,000 nautical miles--with a flight time of about 18 hours in each direction, which will save passengers...

Israir Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Israir Airlines, which characterizes itself as the JetBlue or Virgin Atlantic of Israel, launched service from New York to Tel Aviv on June 20. The nonstop New York-Tel Aviv flights are operated with Boeing 767-300 aircraft with 42 seats in...

Lufthansa.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Lufthansa has begun offering Internet service on selected long-haul flights, along with a free online news service. The system, called FlyNet, has been installed on five long-haul aircraft and will be available on up to 80 flights by 2006....

Qatar Airways and Thai Airways have signed a codeshare agreement that will link Qatar Airways' network of 49 destinations to Thai Airways' network of 72 destinations on four continents.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Qatar Airways and Thai Airways have signed a codeshare agreement that will link Qatar Airways' network of 49 destinations to Thai Airways' network of 72 destinations on four continents. The codeshare agreement allows both airlines to carry each...

Finnair.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Finnair is reintroducing hot meals on its European-scheduled flights more than two hours long. Business-class passengers on its Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Moscow and Oslo services will also receive hot breakfasts on morning departures.

Iberia.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Iberia has launched flights between its Madrid hub and Montevideo from July 6, providing the only nonstop service between Europe and the Uruguayan capital, cutting three hours from the current fastest travel times. It will initially operate the...

American Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... American Airlines has launched its fifth route to Japan, with daily nonstops between Los Angeles and Tokyo Narita.

American Eagle.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... American Eagle is adding a number of new connections. From Dallas-Fort Worth it will fly to Nassau from June 10; to Peoria, IL, from July 15; from Raleigh/ Durham, NC, to Providence, RI, from July 1; and to Austin, TX, from October 1.

China Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... China Airlines will inaugurate Taipei-Seattle-Houston passenger service on June 22 with three weekly flights. With the new flights, the airline becomes the first Taiwanese carrier to serve the southern United States. The Houston-bound...

Conrad Miami.(United States)
August 1, 2004... The Conrad Miami is celebrating its grand opening with a discounted rate of $100 through September 12. For more Information call 305-503-6500 or visit www.conradhotels.com.

Loews New Orleans.(United States)
August 1, 2004... Loews New Orleans is offering its superior rooms at an introductory price of $139. The special rate will last until September 30. For Information and reservations visit www.loewshotels.com or call 800-235-6397.

The Westin Horton Plaza San Diego.(United States)
August 1, 2004... The Westin Horton Plaza San Diego invites guests to take advantage of special rates this summer. Until September 20, fates start at $179 per night with breakfast for two. The Westin Hotel is minutes away from the historic Gaslamp District. For...

Summer deals can be found at Miami's three Ritz-Carlton properties.(United States)
August 1, 2004... Summer deals can be found at Miami's three Ritz-Carlton properties. The Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove is offering rates from $189 per night for a deluxe guest room, valet parking and breakfast, The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne offers rates from...

Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers.(United States)
August 1, 2004... After an extensive renovation, the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers is offering low weekend rates through September 5. Rates start at $169 for guests staying between Thursday and Sunday. For information or reservations call 888-625-5144 and...

Mandarin Oriental New York.(United States)
August 1, 2004... Through August 24, rates start at $429 per night at the Mandarin Oriental New York. The "Delight Rates" package includes daily delivery of The New York Times, access to the hotel's fitness center and lap pool, and a shoe shine. Also enjoy...

The Pan Pacific San Francisco.(United States)
August 1, 2004... The Pan Pacific San Francisco is offering air guests the "Cross Dresser" package with rates of $199 for superior rooms and $219 for deluxe accommodations. Complimentary Internet access, cable-car city tour and breakfast are included. This offer...

Chicago's Lenox Suites Hotel.(United States)
August 1, 2004... Chicago's Lenox Suites Hotel is introducing "Sunday in the Park." The package offers two entrance tickets to the "La Grande Jatte" exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. Rates are $139 on Sunday nights with each additional night at $99. The...

Fairmont Miramar Hotel Santa Monica.(United States)
August 1, 2004... The Fairmont Miramar Hotel Santa Monica's "Room With a Vroom" package, available until December 20, includes a car rental (Thunderbird or Jaguar), deluxe ocean-view room, breakfast and valet parking. Rates start at $440 per night for two. For...

Raffles Resort Canouan Island.(Caribbean; promotional offer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... To celebrate the opening of the new Raffles Resort Canouan island, guests can stay through November 12 starting at $298 a night. The Raffles Resort is located in the Grenadines and opened July 15. Guests can book a garden view room and receive...

The Milestone Hotel and Apartments.(Europe; : promotional offer )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Milestone Hotel and Apartments in London is offering a deal for American visitors. Through December 31, guests at the Milestone will receive a "guaranteed U.S.-dollar rate." American visitors may book a queen guest room for $340, a superior...

Baur au Lac.(Europe; promotional offer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Cruise in Alpine foothills or around Lake Zurich on a Harley-Davidson on your time off with "Swiss Hog Heaven" at the Baur au Lag, Zurich's lakefront hotel. Through the end of the year, guests will receive two nights and three days in a double...

The Excelsior.(Asia; promotion by Excelsior in Hong Kong )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Excelsior in Hong Kong is offering a three-night package at $295 per person for double occupancy or $487 for single occupancy. Included in the rate is three-night accommodation in a superior harbor-view room, airport transfer, a half-day...

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Hong Kong.(Asia; promotional offer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Take in Hong Kong with the "Suite Weekend" at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Hong Kong. The hotel is offering guests a weekend stay with deluxe accommodation and upgrade to a suite. Also included in the weekend stay will be breakfast for two, high tea...

Delta Airlines.(Airline Deals; promotional offer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... DELTA AIRLINES is offering a round-trip "Special Business-Class Companion Fare." This promotion allows you to take along a companion at a 50-percent discount when you purchase a round-trip business-class excursion fare for travel between NYC or...

British Airways.(Airline Deals; promotional offer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... BRITISH AIRWAYS recently extended its Visa Signature credit card "Free Companion Ticket" Offer, for tickets issued by December 31, 2004 and travel completed by March 31, 2005. They have also removed the advance-purchase requirement from these...

China Southern Airlines.(Airline Deals)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES has introduced a "Buy One, Get One Free In China Southern Business-Class Deal." This promotion allows you to take a companion along free on China Southern flights from Sydney or Melbourne to Guangzhou, Hong Kong,...

O'Hare speeds up.(Airports; Federal Aviation Adminstration eases take off and landing rules at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... SEEKING TO EASE THE NATIONAL air-traffic bottleneck at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, the Federal Aviation Adminstration (FAA) is easing rules on the distance between planes taking off and landing at the busy airport. Planes taking off...

Virgin Atlantic.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... Members of Virgin Atlantic's AARP Privileges program can receive discounts on flights to London this year. Discounts will be given on economy-class and premium economy-class tickets purchased before December 15. Rates vary depending on date of...

ANA.(Reward Roundup)(All Nippon Airways; program for ANA Mileage Club members launched)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... All Nippon Airways launched a program for ANA Mileage Club members outside of Japan. The Family Account Service allows families of members to redeem the combined miles for awards like ANA and Partner Flight Awards or ANA international Upgrade...

BondRewards.(Reward Roundup; from BondTravel)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... When travelers book reservations online with BondRewards' BondTravel, they earn miles both for purchases and free U.S. savings bonds. For Information or to book reservations visit www.bondrewards.com.

Priority Club.(Reward Roundup)
August 1, 2004... Priority Club members can now earn double points or miles when they stay at InterContinental Hotels Group locations worldwide. It is extended to members beginning with the second stay, from now through August 31. In addition, starting with the...

Avis.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Avis has relaunched its Preferred Select Program for frequent renters. Members who rent at least 15 times in a period of 18 months can receive free rentals and airline tickets. For 15 to 20 rentals, members will get a Best of Avis Quick City...

Budget and American Airlines.(Reward Roundup)
August 1, 2004... Through August 31, AAdvantage members who rent vehicles from Budget can earn triple miles on qualifying rentals. Customers may earn 150 miles per day for renting a midsize or larger vehicle at participating Budget airport locations. For...

Delta SkyMiles.(Reward Roundup)
August 1, 2004... SkyMiles Medallion members will have a variety of benefits to choose from in 2005. Members who receive 40,000, 75,000, or 125,000 Medallion Qualification Miles by the end of 2004 may choose benefits including bonus miles or a mileage bonus for...

Rewards Network.(Reward Roundup)
August 1, 2004... Members now have more than 10,000 hotels to choose from with the addition of 3,000 new properties. At Rewards Network, members earn Cashback Rewards and other loyalty rewards at restaurants and hotels as well as competitive room rates with...

Aerolineas Argentinas business class.(Flight check: New York JFK to Buenos Aires)
August 1, 2004... FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Terminal 4 was bustling, which came as no surprise as it is JFK's main international terminal and houses more than 30 airlines. Luckily, there was only one passenger in front of me at Club Condor check-in, and I was promptly...

The Inn at Irvinq Place.(Hotel check: New York, New York)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... WHAT'S IT LIKE? An understated (the name isn't even on the door) hotel converted from two landmark 1834 townhouses. If you want to forget about business the moment you walk into your hotel, this is the place to stay. In fact, you can forget...

EVA Air Premium Laurel business class.(Flight check: Taipei-Hong Kong)
August 1, 2004... FIRST IMPRESSIONS: When it opened four years ago, Chiang Kai-shek Airport's Terminal 2 was a marble mausoleum, with acres of space and precious few passengers. That is no longer the case: The new terminal is increasingly busy as airlines...

Global alliances: fusion fare rules in D.C., from Latino dim sum to upscale American comfort food spikes with international flavors.(Restaurants)(Zaytinya Cafe 15 Ceiba)
August 1, 2004... Zaytinya 701 9th St. NW tel. 202-638-0800 With soaring ceilings and walls of windows that stretch two levels high, Zaytinya's modern blue and white interiors brightly evoke the Mediterranean. It's a fitting setting for this...

Point taken: Matthew Benneth reports on taking advantage of point-purchase programs and sign-up bonus offers.(Loyalty Programs)
August 1, 2004... Not all hotel loyalty programs require an actual hotel stay for you to acquire points. Like most domestic airlines, which allow you to buy miles, several hotel programs also allow you to purchase points, instead of only earning them the hard...

The beat goes on: the '60s still echo in San Francisco, as the Summer of Love continues to shape how business is done.(San Francisco)
August 1, 2004... The steel drummer is ringing out solos, his hands a blur, dancing atop silver concave pans. Low-angle light bounces off eucalyptus treetops from nearby Golden Gate Park, highlighting funky trim work on the colorfully clad old Victorian flats....

Hotel couture: fashion hotels are coming to a city near you. But, asks Andy Williamson, is it a case of the empreror's new clothes?(Designer Hotels)(Cerruti)(Armani)
August 1, 2004... There's nothing new about mixing fashion designers with hotels. From Florence to Florida, hotels feature the work of everyone from Ferragamo to Ferretti (see box on pg. 38). In some cases the style gurus have been hired to bring their visual...

Survivor instincts: how do you build a killer team? Outdoors, unplugged and out of your comfort zone.(Corporate Retreats)
August 1, 2004... In the wake of the dot-com meltdown, the stock-market slide and the post-9/11 travel jitters, bean counters poured cold water on adventure-travel pursuits by companies and other groups. "It looked unseemly, to pursue what looked to many...

Creative sparks: St. Petersburg's artists are making a splash on the international scene, and not without controversy.(St. Petersburg)
August 1, 2004... "The money is in Moscow, but the art is here." You'll hear that refrain often to St. Petersburg, Russia's 300-year-old cultural capital. Home to a vibrant arts scene, much of it experimental, it is the more established, traditional sights that...

Aiming higher: a silver lining emerges following Rio's loss of the 2012 Olympics.(Rio de Janeiro)
August 1, 2004... And then God created Rio and saw that it was good.... Cariocas, as residents of Rio de Janeiro are confusingly known, are fond of saying that God created the world in six days, but spent a whole day just on Rio. When it comes to describing the...

Golfing around Philadelphia: top-rated golf courses dot the Philadelphia region, some just a few minutes from Center City.(Golfing Around Philadelphia)(TATTERSALL GOLF CLUB)(WALNUT LANE GOLF CLUB)(TURTLE CREEK GOLF COURSE)
August 1, 2004... Philadelphia has a storied golf tradition, with legendary courses such as the Mellon Golf Club, the 1911 Hugh Wilson design that has hosted more championships than any American golf course. Merion (like most of the best in the city) is private,...

4 hours in Mexico city: from the sacred temples of the ancient Aztecs, to an enormous plaza built by the Spanish conquistadors, Darren Foster explores the roots of the world's most populous concrete jungle.
August 1, 2004... [1] THE ZOCALO The third largest plaza in the world was ordered to be built by the Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortez in the early 16th century. Paved with the ruins of the Aztec city that Cortez destroyed, it is the centerpiece of more than...

What a carry-on ... Finding the right piece of carry-on luggage to keep both you and your chosen airline happy is no mean feat. Jonathan Futrell and Mary Beth Hubbard go shopping.(Tools)
August 1, 2004... Travelpro Garment Bag This Crew5 Expandable Rolling Garment Bag 7409 busts all the carry-on size guidelines, but because it's so thin and lightweight, it's unlikely to create any objections. It's a real gem, too, with the best suit- and...

Chicago: how to get to and from both the city's airports, via rail, shuttle and taxi.(On Track)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... O'HARE INT'L AIRPORT (ORD) WEB SITE: www.ohare.com/ohare.home.asp AIRPORT NUMBER: 773-686-2200 GROUND TRANSPORTATION: 773-686-8040 PARKING CUSTOMER SERVICE: 773-686-7530 LOCATION: 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago ...

New York: best--and cheapest--public transportation options to JFK, La Guardia and Newark Liberty International airports.(On Track)
August 1, 2004... JFK AIRPORT SERVICE AIRTRAIN JFK TIME 45 minutes from Midtown FROM Jamaica subway station, Queens; Howard Beach subway station COST (round-trip) $10 plus MTA Transit Subway or LIRR fare into Manhattan CONTACT INFORMATION...

Los Angeles: how to get to and from the airports, both international and domestic, via rail, bus and taxi.(On Track)
August 1, 2004... LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAX) WEB SITE: www.lawa.org/lax AIRPORT NUMBER: 310-646-5252 AIRPORT POLICE LOST AND FOUND: 310-417-0440 TSA LOST AND FOUND: 310-655-7382 BAGGAGE STORAGE: 310-646-0222 LOCATION:...

Hotel Esturion, Puerto Iguazu, Argentina.(Offer Of The Month)
August 1, 2004... Located in the heart of Argentina's Iquazu, Jungle and just minutes away from the spectacular Iquazu Waterfalls, the Hotel Esturion offers 118 well-appointed rooms, including five spacious suites. Each room boasts individually controlled...

Temple of indulgence: a lush oasis on the road to Siem Reap town captivates Margie T. Logarta.(Great escape: Angkor Wat)
August 1, 2004... Before Angelina Jolie built her stilt house in the former war-tom kingdom, this was her favorite retreat. Famous and not-so-famous guests still come and go, and they've all been recipients of Cambodian hospitality, one that's respectful, warm...

Publisher's letter.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Dear Readers: >From your feedback, we know that Business Traveler's monthly "Four Hours In" department is one of the magazine's most popular. Having published two successful Four-Hour compilations, we are pleased to present you with...

4 hours in Moscow: pay your respects to Lenin in his crystal casket, gape at Faberge eggs and drop some rubles among the now well-stocked shelves of GUM. Abby Ellin reports from Red Square.
August 1, 2004... The name still has somewhat of a sinister ring to It (think May Day parades, mass executions, Warren Beatty In "Reds") but you can't visit Moscow-Moskva, to the locals-without going to Red Square, the rose-colored stretch that is, in effect,...

4 hours in Dubai: the bustling commercial center of the United Arab Emirates is situated on the banks of Dubai Creek, which divides the city neatly into two halves--Deira and Bur Dubai. Ben Smalley visits Dubai's traditional souks and modern skyscrapers.
August 1, 2004... [1] GOLD SOUK Dubai is known as the City of Gold, and a visit to the Gold Souk Is the perfect place to start a tour. Prices are among the lowest in the world, and haggling is a must if you are looking to buy; otherwise, the dazzling...

4 hours in Abu Dhabi: in a trek through Abu Dhabi, Yawar Mian takes in the exclusives views from a cruise along the corniche, visits a traditional Bedouin village and souks that evoke ancient trade links and wanders through the first palace of a long-ago ruler.
August 1, 2004... Across from the Abu Dhabi Hilton on the corniche, the breakwater is the site of Marina Mall, a modern boat marina, a small heritage village and coffee shops. The breakwater was built with rubble from old buildings and offers a sweeping view of...

4 hours in Helsinki: Helsinki is a metropolis by the sea, offering much to see and do. Luckily, it is an ideal city to see on foot, with many attractions centrally located, and safe streets.
August 1, 2004... [1] CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION Completed in 1918, built by Eliel Saarinen--the father of architect Eero Saarinen, best known for the remarkable TWA Terminal at JFK--the station is a great example of Art Nouveau architecture. Its main...

4 hours in Taipei: Brent Hannon tours Taipei, stopping to enjoy an icon-packed temple, Chiang Kai-shek's custom-built Cadillac's, a shopping bargain mecca and Peking duck on a perfect pancake.
August 1, 2004... [1] LUNGSHAN TEMPLE The 350-year-old Lungshan Temple, a swirling fusion of different deities end practices, is the busiest temple in town. The atmosphere is vibrant and strange, filled with chanting, incense burning, oracle reading and...

4 hours in Sao Paulo: from venomous snakes and slithery buildings, to Van Gogh and De La Renta, Darren Foster gives some tips on leisurely pursuits in Brazil's working city.
August 1, 2004... [1] MUSEU DE ARTE DE SAO PAULO MASP boasts perhaps the most impressive permanent collection of Western art in Latin America, with works by Picasso, Van Gogh and Cezanne among other greats. The boxy, modern building on Avenida Paulista also...

4 hours in Stockholm: from the capital of the land of Ikea, Jill Dunning creates a four-hour guide that takes in some of the best of Scandinavian design, old and new, and finishes up at the stunning Cafe Opera for an end-of-day pick-me-up.
August 1, 2004... [1] KULTURHUSET There are two good reasons for a stop at Kulturhuset. First, take a look in the Design Torget shop. This innovative outlet sells a wide range of stylish goodies from both established designers and fledgling talents-it even...

4 hours in Bangkok: the bustling capital of Thailand is a heady mix of sights and scents. Sangeeta Mulchand recommends a trail that takes in everything from its dazzling flower market to its largest temple.
August 1, 2004... [1] PAK KLONG TALAT This spectacular flower and vegetable market is a riot of colors. The combined perfume of Jasmine, marigold, roses and lilies also makes it one of the few places in Bangkok where you willingly take in the air. But be...

4 hours in London: Jill Dunning leaves the bustle of the West End behind and heads east for a tour by the Thames that takes in London's architectural wonders, old and new.
August 1, 2004... [1] ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL You may have admired it from the outside, but have you ever been inside the magnificently baroque St. Paul's Cathedral? Now's your chance. Admission is $12.38, but it's worth it to gaze up at the massive dome from...

4 hours in Santiago: Michael T. Luongo takes in the dramatic views of Santiago and traces its history, stopping along the way to enjoy the bustle of the streets and to sample some excellent seafood.
August 1, 2004... [1] PLAZA DE ARMAS See where the city began: the Plaza de Armas, Santiago's colonial heart. Little besides the Cathedral has survived from that time, and the scars of numerous earthquakes are visible inside the church. Just down the...

4 hours in New York: Eva Leonard and Jaclyn Ignall explore the Meatpacking District, between Chelsea and the West Village, one of New York's hottest neighborhoods, dotted with ultrahip boutiques and trendy restaurants.
August 1, 2004... [1] Jeffrey It might seem an unlikely spot for one of Manhattan's most exclusive clothing stores, but it's here that you'll find Jeffrey (449 W. 14th Street at Tenth Ave.). Looking for that perfect suit by Prada or Jil Sander? Jeffrey is...

4 hours in Auckland: Margie T. Logarta scours Auckland and discovers Pacific Island artifacts, Maori paintings, green-lipped mussels, original fashions and some powerful espresso.
August 1, 2004... [1] AUCKLAND MUSEUM Set in the heart of the genteel Auckland Domain, this cultural and spiritual touchstone is the best place to get an insight into New Zealand's unique past. It features an excellent and extensive range of Maori taonga...

4 hours in Johannesburg: visitors to Johannesburg seldom spend much time in South Africa's commercial heartland, but four hours in the city's prime gallery district could prove very rewarding.
August 1, 2004... [1] KIM SACKS GALLERY Don't be too keen spending any money just yet. You can always come back later. It's pricey, but offers an extraordinary experience in tribal African art. Housed in a striking terra-cotta-colored building, with double...

4 hours in Singapore: Margie T. Logarta explores some of Singapore's most popular landmarks and restaurants, then enjoys a little retail therapy at the city's trendy Bugis Junction boutiques.
August 1, 2004... [1] ESPLANADE THEATRES ON THE BAY If Singapore wanted a design icon like the Sydney Opera House to reflect its intention to become a cultural hub, then the Esplanade complex is a worthy effort indeed. The spiky twin domes resembling the...

4 hours in Rio De Janeiro: year after year, countless visitors to this Brazilian city fall in love with the infectious flavors of samba and caipirinhas and the charms of its people.
August 1, 2004... [1] CORCOVADO A visit to the top of Corcovado, the mountain that holds the city's famous statue, should be one of the first sights on your list. The views from this early 1930s monument are simply breathtaking. The statue's outstretched...