Travel Briefs

You’ll need to supply your own sleeping bag and pillow, but all else is provided on a “Roar ’n‘ Snore Overnight Camp” sleep-over at the Melbourne Zoo in southeastern Australia.

Tents (with mattresses) are in the former elephant house, where you have dinner, then explore the zoo after dark, seeing nocturnal creatures and listening to camp hosts’ stories. After supper, retire to your tent. Wake to the calls of gibbons and birds, eat breakfast, then...

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On May 25, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began testing new protocols at security lines in 10 US airports. The new protocols require that any electronic device larger than a cell phone, such as a tablet or e-reader, must be removed from carry-on baggage before going through the x-ray machine. Additionally, some other items, including food items, may be required to be removed from bags for inspection. These rules do not apply to TSA Preè (Pre-check) passengers...

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The countries of Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, UAE, Bahrain and the Maldives cut off all diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5, claiming that Qatar supported terrorist organizations, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the al-Qaeda allied Nusra Front in Syria, and accusing Qatar of offering assistance to Iranian-backed groups in the region.

In addition, all sea and air travel between Qatar and the four countries was ceased. The airlines involved, such as...

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Major airlines began a massive terminal swap at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on May 12, the first stage in $1.9 billion in improvements that Delta Air Lines is making at Terminals 2 and 3 and at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Terminal moves were completed by June 4. Airline gate and check-in counters of both domestic and international airlines were involved in the move. The check-in counters for some airlines are now in different terminals than their departure gates....

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The Rwanda Development Board announced on May 6 that the fee for a gorilla-viewing permit at Volcanoes National Park will be doubled, from $750 to $1,500, effective immediately. Anyone who also visits other national parks in Rwanda for at least three days is eligible for a 30% discount on a gorilla permit. Permits purchased before the announcement was made will be honored.Neighboring country Uganda announced that it would not raise the cost of its gorilla permits — $600 during peak...

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Starting on Jan. 1, 2018, visitors to Machu Picchu in Peru will no longer be offered all-day passes to the site. Instead, visitors will be given a choice between a morning pass (allowing access from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and an afternoon pass (12-5:30 p.m.). Anyone wanting to spend the entire day on the site will be allowed to purchase both passes. Pass prices had not been announced as of press time.

On May 2, Sweden ended ID checks for people entering the country on the Öresund Bridge, which connects Malmø, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Up to 20,000 people cross the bridge each day.The ID checks were initiated on Jan. 4, 2016, when Sweden temporarily suspended its participation in the Schengen Area Agreement, which calls for free movement across borders of member countries, in order to stem the flow of asylum-seekers into the country. More than 163,000 people sought...

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In an effort to prevent tourists from “camping out” on city landmarks, the mayor of Florence, Italy, announced on May 31 that some parts of the city will be hosed down around noon each day. According to the mayor, some people visiting the city picnic on the steps of some landmarks at lunchtime, occasionally leaving garbage behind. The sites scheduled for a daily watering are the Basilica di Santa Croce, the Chiesa di Santo Spirito and the streets of Florence’s historic...

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