Travel Briefs

In Lincoln, 140 miles north of London, a year-long restoration is underway of one of the most important examples of medieval stained glass in Europe.

Located in the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary (commonly known as the Minster), the 13th-century Dean’s Eye depicts the Second Coming of Christ and the Last Judgment. Its restoration will culminate in the window’s being replaced in its original position 80 feet above the ground in April 2005. Visit www.visitlincolnshire.com.

Founded in 1981, Wolsey Lodges is a consortium of 188 privately owned houses providing lodging in England, Scotland and Wales. Arrivals are treated as family or friends, rather than guests, and often dine with their hosts. 

Entries include stylish houses in London and Edinburgh, but most are in the countryside. Even a Scottish castle is listed.

Bed and breakfast ranges from £25 (near $45) to £90 ($161) per person per night, with an average of £38-£40 ($68-$72). Optional dinners...

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Many of the monasteries listed in Elizabeth Barish’s “The Guide to Lodging in Italy’s Monasteries” (ISBN 1-884465-19-6 — 512 pp., $22.95) and “The Guide to Lodging in Spain’s Monasteries” (ISBN 1-884465-17-X — 480 pp., $22.95) are hundreds of years old but provide visitors with modern and updated accommodations. Rates can be as low as $30 per day, and many include meals.

Obtain the guides at major bookstores or from the publisher (800/496-2665) or visit www.monasteriesofitaly.com and...

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Sri Lanka is an often forgotten but absolutely fascinating travel destination. A friend and I were most fortunate to travel there for 10 days in April ’03 with Ceylon Tours, Ltd. (8A Sir Ernest de Silva Ave., Colombo 07, Sri Lanka; phone +94-75-531611, e-mail info@ceylontours.com).

We covered most of the large and diverse island in an air-conditioned auto with the same driver/guide throughout. All the hotels were the equivalent of 3- or 4-star hotels in the U.S., and the tour...

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Princess Cruises ships in the Caribbean now are showing up to three feature-length films a day on deck at poolside, using a 300-square-foot LED screen and a 69,000-watt sound system. Chaise lounges can be reserved. The first movie to be shown was “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2004, Relais & Châteaux includes 450 privately owned hotels and restaurants in 50 countries around the world, each establishment adhering to the association’s quality charter.

Gift certificates, in denominations of $50, $100 or $500 and valid for two years, can be used for gourmet dining, hotel accommodations, spa treatments and other amenities and may be purchased by calling 877/334-6464 or visiting www.relaischateaux.com/gift.

To order...

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Bonus savings of up to $1,000 per person are being offered by Radisson Seven Seas Cruises for bookings made by Aug. 15, 2004, on the Jan. 15 and Jan. 26, 2005, sailings of the Explorer II from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica, the Falklands and the South Shetland Islands.

For those who book by Aug. 15, per-person prices start from $7,295 and include round-trip economy airfare from 86 North American gateways; one hotel night in Santiago (Jan. 15 sailing) or Buenos Aires (Jan. 26...

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Passengers on the MV Discovery will have the best vantage point to witness a rare annular total solar eclipse in the South Pacific near Polynesia on April 8, 2005. The ship will maneuver to find clear skies under the 15-mile-wide path of the eclipse.

Discovery World Cruises’ 19-night “South Pacific Eclipse” cruise-tour departs April 2 and visits Papeete, Moorea, Pitcairn Island, Easter Island and, in Peru, Pisco and Lima. A team of eclipse lecturers will be on board.

Priced...

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