Travel Briefs
Royal Navy events in 2005
In 2005, Britain’s Royal Navy will mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, which saw the death of the naval hero Admiral Lord Nelson in his hour of victory.
Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti
To celebrate the opening of the Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti on June 1, 2004, the 5-star resort is offering a special package with rates from CFP27,350 (approx. $273.50) per person, double occupancy, until Dec. 31, 2004.
Architecture in Denmark
The Danish Architecture Center’s new webguide helps you plan your own architectural walking tours through Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus and Aalborg. There are 14 tours in all. Visit www.dac.dk/guide, choose the ones you like, print them out and you’re ready to go!
Airline crew helps save life
Three cabin crew members saved the life of a pasenger who had become seriously ill with chest pains while on a British Midland Airways (bmi) flight from Chicago, Illinois, to Manchester, England, in February.
Guernsey Tennerfest
More than 60 restaurants, hotels and cafés throughout the Channel Island of Guernsey will compete in a “gastronomic grand-prix,” Oct. 1-Nov. 12, 2004, to serve the best menu for £10 (near $18.40).
Avis free phone
Avis, through their “Stay in Touch” program in Europe, offers car renters the newest global cell phones free for the first seven days.
Insect-repellent clothing
Among new products in Magellan’s summer 2004 travel supplies catalog is “Buzz Off” Insect Shield clothing. It repels mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects without lotion or spray; offers 30+ SPF sun protection, and wicks moisture away from skin for comfort.
Fan museum
Running until Sept. 19, 2004, in London’s riverside Greenwich, the exhibition “A Garden of Fans” displays floral motifs on fans from Europe and Asia from the 17th century onward. The Fan Museum, at 12 Crooms Hill, is open Tuesday to Saturday. £3.50 adults, £2.50 seniors. Phone 020 8305 1441 or visit www.fan-museum.org.
Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International has a new ship, Jewel of the Seas, the fourth and final ship in the line’s Radiance class.
Amphibious limos in London
For some of its Upper Class passengers traveling to and from London’s Heathrow airport, Virgin Atlantic in late summer 2004 plans to start offering Gibbs Aquada amphibious limo service.
Royal Opera tickets
Some of the best seats at London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, will cost just £10 (near $18.40) for the 2004-2005 season, thanks to a sponsorship deal with Travelex. One hundred top-price stalls and stalls circle tickets will be made available every Monday, 1½ hours before a performance.
Buy four nights, get eight in Nevis
Through Nov. 30, 2004, those booking Mount Nevis Hotel’s “Match Made in Nevis” family package at $375 a night for four nights get four more nights for free. Families who stay and pay for five nights get an additional five nights for free.
Bird observatory in Korea
The delta of the Geumgang River is one of Korea’s main breeding grounds for migratory birds. Just opened there in the Seongdeok-ri, Seongsan-myeon, Gunsan-si, area is the Geumgang Migratory Bird Observatory (phone 82-63450-6273).
Grand Bahama international airport
Grand Bahama Island opened its $30 million international airport terminal on June 2, 2004.
Golf hotels in Britain
The hotel group Best Western has a website that features hotels around Britain with excellent golfing facilities. Tee times can be arranged online. Visit www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotelsforgolf or phone 0845 6340 559.
Monastery stays, Italy and Spain
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.
Relais & Châteaux
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.
Canterbury Festival
The Canterbury Festival takes place this year Oct. 9-23. There will be concerts in Canterbury Cathedral and opera, dance and drama in the Marlowe and Gulbenkian theaters, not to mention a range of jazz and folk music, street theater and children’s events, plus exhibitions, walks and talks.
PanAm is back
In its third incarnation, having emerged from bankruptcy, PanAm debuted in spring with scheduled service from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Port of Spain, Trinidad; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It already was offering charters to Port of Spain.
‘Health Hints for the Tropics’
The 12th edition of “Health Hints for the Tropics” is available from the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene.