June 2008

Since 1979, the United States has designated Syria a State Sponsor of Terrorism due to its support for organizations such as Hizbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In addition, other extremist groups are present that oppose U.S. policies.

These groups have the potential to be either the targets of or perpetrators of acts of violence. On Feb. 12, 2008, an explosion in the residential Kafer Soseh neighborhood of Damascus killed Imad Moughniyeh, a senior Hizbollah operative.

The Department of State continues to strongly urge that Americans defer travel to Lebanon.

Groups such as Al-Qaeda and Jund al-Sham are present, and concerns remain about the threat of terrorist attacks against Western and Lebanese government interests in Lebanon. There have been several assassinations of military and political figures in Lebanon within the past year.

Land mines and unexploded ordnance pose significant dangers throughout southern Lebanon.

For decades, Egypt has provided its citizens subsidies for gasoline and public transportation and, for the poor, food staples as well as a type of flat, round bread. Unsubsidized bread can cost 10 to 12 times the subsidized price of less than one cent.

Recently, high food prices and the unavailability of staples such as rice, flour, sugar and cooking oil have led to long lines and waits of hours for the bread, with violence breaking out at some sites in poor neighborhoods. In early March there were riots involving thousands of people, and at least 10 people died.

The Department of State reports a heightened risk that extremist groups will conduct terrorist acts within China in the near future. Travelers are advised to be alert at all times, including at hotels, in restaurants, on public transportation and where there are demonstrations and other large-scale public gatherings.

Air Service Berlin (Berlin-Schönefeld Airport, Building G 005, D-12521 Berlin, Germany; phone +49 030 60 91 37 30, fax 60 91 37 31, www.air-service-berlin.de) offers a 35-minute flight on a restored DC-3, the plane the Allies used to supply West Berlin with food, coal and medicine during the East German blockade.

Allowing mo­-bility-impaired travelers to stay independent, the company Flying Companions (645 Greystone Park, Atlanta, GA 30324; 888/350-8886, www.flyingcompanions.com) provides experienced and insured companions to accompany them through airports and on national or international flights.

The service includes booking of travel arrangements, transportation from home to the destination, coordinating check-in, carrying luggage, wheelchair assistance and retrieving luggage.

On selected 2008-2009 Antarctica cruises of the mv Discovery, Voyages of Discovery (Ft. Lauderdale, FL; 866/623-2689, www.voyagesofdiscovery.com) is offering, from selected North American cities, airfare for from free to $199 as well as discounts up to 34% on bookings made at least 120 days before departure.

Example — the 38-night sailing from Lisbon to Antarctica, Nov. 13, 2008, also visiting Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo, is discounted to $8,395-$17,950 including air.

Hurtigruten (405 Park Ave., Ste. 904, New York, NY 10022; 866/257-6071, www.hurtigruten.us) is offering savings of $1,000-$3,600 per person on five 13- to 22-day Antarctic sailings in 2008 and 2009.

For a 19-day expedition departing Nov. 6, 2008, and visiting Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and Port Lockroy, the discounted cost is $5,499-$13,099, not including airfare, taxes, gratuities and $6-per-day fuel surcharge.

The 105-passenger MS Andrea is being chartered by PerryGolf for a “2009 British Open by Sea Cruise,” July 11-20.

Starting at St. Andrews, the cruise-tour offers opportunities to play five courses along Scotland’s coast (Kingsbarns, Royal Aberdeen, Royal Dornoch, Machrihanish and Machrihanish Dunes), ending at Turnberry for the final round of the 138th Open Championship at the Ailsa course (after the Open, course access is an option).

Two of the 12 people to have set foot on the moon’s surface, NASA astronauts Edgar Mitchell and Charles Duke, will be aboard the 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager on the final segment of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Feb. 1-May 8, 2009, world cruise. Suites left for the 20-day segment from Istanbul to Fort Lauderdale, April 18-May 8, cost $8,495-$30,250 per person, double. RSSC (877/505-5370, www.rssc.com or travel agent).