On occasion, ITN receives information on special travel offerings that are short-lived, making it impossible for us to pass them on to our readers in print (considering the time delay between receiving information in the office and the printing of the magazine). So, we are passing on some of that information to you here. Also included are select offers not previously printed in ITN because, limited by space, we cannot include all of the offers we receive each month.

Keep checking…more travel deals coming soon!

“Inflation-Proof” cell

Telestial, an online retailer providing international cell phones and prepaid global-use phone cards, is offering for summer travel an “Inflation-Proof” package to combat the high cost of international cell phone rentals and expensive global-roaming charges of many U.S. carriers.

At $159, the package includes a Motorola GSM cell phone capable of working in over 170 countries; a global-roaming Passport SIM card; universal plug adapter and $10 of airtime (airtime rates start at 49¢ per minute). The package requires no yearly contract or monthly charges and is valid through Aug. 31. For more information, phone 800/707-0031 or visit www.telestial.com.

Madrid’s Museo Del Prado expands

Prado’s new expansion debuts October 31 with a show of rarely seen 19th-century Spanish art To celebrate the most extensive expansion in its 200-year history, Madrid ’s Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado) will present “A Collection Rediscovered: The 19th Century in the Prado” on October 31. More than 100 works – many not seen for many years – will offer a survey of the leading masters of 19th century Spanish art, from Francisco Goya to Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida. Running through April 24, 2008, the group of 95 paintings and 12 sculptures will be displayed in the Prado’s new temporary exhibition galleries. Additionally, a selection of drawings by Goya will be on display led off by the artist’s Winged Bull – its first showing since it was acquired by the Museum last year.

In the $208.8 million (152 million euro) restoration of the Museo del Prado, the original 1785 Villanueva building has been joined to a new structure, effectively doubling the museums’ space. One of Spain ’s most distinguished architects, Pritzker prize-winning Rafael Moneo, devised this addition, incorporating the 17th-century cloister of the Monastery of San Jerónimo el Real which was painstakingly dismantled and then rebuilt. The inclusion of the Cloister into the new building creates a light-filled gallery. The new 167,023-square-foot space includes a large underground area that connects the two buildings concealed beneath a roof garden. Also included are a large reception area and visitor area, a new gift shop/bookshop, a new cafeteria-restaurant and a lecture hall with seating for 438 people. Specially designed areas for restoration and larger and better equipped storage areas with a sizeable loading bay have been added.

The Prado Museum is located on Paseo del Prado (phone 011-34-91-330-28-00, fax: 011-34-91-330-28-56 or e-mail: museo.nacional@prado.mcu.es) and is open daily, except Mondays, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is about €6 ($8.50) except Sundays (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.), when it is free. Visitors under 18, over 65 and students from EU countries are admitted free of charge. Non-EU students pay a€3($4.25). For more information, visit museoprado.mcu.es/home.html.