Travel Briefs

Zimbabwe switched to using the US dollar as its currency in 2009 and now is experiencing a coin shortage. Coins are too heavy to ship in economically and currently are too difficult for the Zimbabwe government to mint. The shortage means that shop customers often must purchase extra items to round up a purchase, a burden to some.

South African rands and Botswana pulas also are legal tender, but their values fluctuate greatly, making calculations troublesome. Some stores offer paper...

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According to a report from the Bank for International Settlements, Sweden is using less cash and relying more on electronic payments (credit cards, debit cards and bank transfers). Only 3% of its economy is tied to cash transactions, compared to 9% in the Eurozone and 7% in the United States.

Travelers to Sweden should be aware that more and more businesses are no longer accepting cash, and public buses require prepaid tickets.

At the new Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari (Via Paolo Ferreri 85, 41121 Modena, Italy; phone +39 059 4397979), visitors can tour the home in which Italian race car driver Enzo Ferrari was born, seeing mementos, biographical displays and rare film footage.

In the huge Exhibition Gallery, half a dozen vintage Ferraris are on display, and visitors can learn the history of Ferrari design and sport racing. There’s also a bookshop, cafeteria and store.

Open 9:30-6, Oct. 1-April 30, and 9:...

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New Zealand offers the ultimate stress release: drive a tank over a car and crush it flat! Tanks for Everything (985 McLeans Island Rd., Christchurch, NZ; phone +64 [03] 359 1007) has a fleet of armored vehicles for people to drive and ride in: three tanks (Centurion, T-55AM2 and FV432), a Saracen armored personnel carrier, a Ferret armored “scout” car and a Jeep.

All patrons get a 45- to 60-minute guided tour of the fleet; driving lasts 15-25 minutes and a ride, 10-15. (Size...

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In France, a new law which will begin to be enforced on Nov. 1, 2012, will require all cars, including rentals, to carry a breath-alcohol-testing instrument. If a driver does not have the device, he will be fined €17 (near $22).

Single-use devices each cost less than $2.50. Hertz will provide the devices for free, but Avis and Budget have not yet announced.

Alcohol limits are far more stringent in France (50mg per 100ml of blood) than in America (varying from 80mg to 100mg)....

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Here’s a new type of excursion: parahawking, which is paragliding with birds of prey. In Nepal, tandem parahawking adventure flights, which last 20 to 30 minutes each, are offered November through March at the Parahawking center (Maya Devi Village, Kapaudi, Lakeside, Pokhara, Nepal). It costs £115 (near $182) plus an additional £15 ($23) for souvenir in-flight pictures and video.

Participants must weigh under 220 pounds and be able to run a few steps. A trained bird from Himalayan...

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The Canadian Tourism Commission (#1400-1055 Duns­muir St., Box 49230, Vancouver, BC, V7X 1L2, Canada) has unveiled its new website, and the app “Explore Canada Like a Local.”

The website and app allow travelers to find Canada’s most popular activities (based on locals’ check-ins to social media sites) and to create custom itineraries that can be synced to the mobile app. The app, which is available for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android devices, allows visitors to view the most popular...

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For iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Android, the free app “Rick Steves’ Audio Europe” (www.ricksteves.com/audioeurope) contains hundreds of hours of content organized into geographic-specific playlists.

There are 25 self-guided audio tours that include museums, historic walks and city tours. Maps, diagrams of buildings and extensive details on each sight can be accessed by touchscreens. Once files are downloaded, they are saved to the device and can be viewed offline.