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On 16 of its Mediterranean itineraries, Crystal Cruises is offering optional helicopter excursions.
Examples — the 6-hour “Majestic Dolomites” tour ($3,268 per person) includes flying over Venice, Treviso, the Piave River and Mt. Civetta, with lunch in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and the 1½-hour “Mount Etna” tour ($1,995) overflies Europe’s largest active volcano, then lands in Taormina where guests can explore on their own.
On ships of Crystal Cruises (888/799-4625, www.crystalcruises.com), the lounges, bars and entertainment areas have been primarily nonsmoking for years. A new policy prohibiting smoking on the verandahs of all staterooms and suites will go into effect May 7, 2008, for the Crystal Serenity and May 25 for the Crystal Symphony. Cigarette smoking will still be permitted inside private accommodations.
• Emirates airline on its Airbus A340-500s now provides SMS (short message service) and e-mail service to passengers’ mobile devices, using a satellite linkup.
Passengers can use their own GSM cell phones for text messages (SMS). Rates for cell-phone text messages are $1 per message. Passengers also can use Emirates’ in-flight WiFi service to send or receive e-mail on their own laptops or WiFi-enabled Blackberries.
The Open Skies Agreement went into effect in March 2008, easing restrictions on which airlines could fly into which airports and opening competition for flights between the U.S. and the European Union.
Travelers should expect more direct flights but also more congestion at airports, as several new airlines will be competing for gates. Ticket prices are NOT expected to go down (because of high fuel prices and the purchases of new planes to fly the added routes).
As of June 1, 2008, the 240 airlines that are members of IATA (International Air Transport Association) will stop issuing paper tickets and switch to electronic tickets only.
Tickets and boarding passes will be issued either at kiosks or check-in counters at airports or can be printed out by anyone anywhere with Internet access. Some airlines now even allow mobile phone check-in and reticketing.
In the village of Cuada on Flores Island, part of the Western Group of the Azorean Islands, many villagers emigrated in the 1960s. Carlos and Teotonia Silva purchased and restored 14 of their abandoned stone cottages and now offer them for rent.
Each is furnished in period antiques and features a TV, stereo, phone and barbecue. Prices are €55 ($72) per night for a one-bedroom, €75 for a 2-bedroom and €180 for a 6-bedroom cottage in this town with rough stone paths (no cars allowed), open fields and ocean and waterfall views.
Paying Guest Houses (F-25 A, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi, India; phone +91 9891980627) provides an online listing of B&Bs/homestays in India.
The website www.payingguesthouses.com currently lists 39 accommodations in Delhi, New Delhi, Gurgaon and South India and includes photos, prices and numbers of rooms. Prices run 1,400 to 3,800 rupees (near $35-$95) per night.
Thailand’s ban on smoking in public spaces was amended in February 2008 to include bars, restaurants, discos and marketplaces. The old policy covered only public buildings and closed-in, air-conditioned areas.
Individuals can be fined up to 2,000 baht (near $63) for not complying.
VisitBritain is offering an Essential London Kit, which contains a 3-day London Travel Card (Peak, Zones 1-2), one London Eye ticket, one Tower of London ticket and an Original London Sightseeing Bus tour ticket, which includes a river cruise on the Thames.
The kit costs $119 and a children’s kit is $66; add $10 shipping/handling. Call 800/462-2748, www.visitbritain.com/onlineshop.
After decades of restoration, the garden and some of the public spaces of Emperor Augustus’ palace on Palatine Hill in Rome, Italy, have reopened to the public. The 2,000-year-old palace is next to the House of Livia, built for Augustus’ wife. (Inquire about times of tours visiting the garden and receiving hall.)