Travel Briefs
Crystal Cruises savings
Book a 2009 Europe, Asia or transatlantic cruise aboard the Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity by March 31 and receive 20% off on one of more than 50 Crystal itineraries in 2010. The 2010 cruise must be booked by Nov. 30, 2009.
Royal Oak Foundation
By joining the Royal Oak Foundation (New York, NY; 800/913-6565, ext. 205, or 212/480-2889, www.royal-oak.org), American visitors to Britain can enjoy unlimited free entry to more than 350 National Trust destinations: historic houses, gardens, castles, nature reserves and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Air France: Paris free
With the “+Paris Offer,” Air France (800/237-2747, www.airfrance.us) now offers a free stopover in Paris on any flight between the US and almost any other Air France destination in Europe, the Middle East, India or Africa.
Costa Rica entry fee
Costa Rica dropped its 3% hotel tax in November 2008, then scheduled an entry fee of $15 to be charged to tourists arriving by air. Over all, stays now will be less expensive. [See correction in the April issue. —Editor]
Cruising guide
“Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation” by Steven B. Stern (2009, Pelican Publishing. $26 paperback) covers the history, vital statistics, physical details and price categories of nearly 430 ships from more than 50 cruise lines and rates the ships and lines (1 to 6 stars).
Historic Dockyard
A one-hour drive from London, the Historic Dockyard Chatham (Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ, England; phone info line +44 [0] 1634 823807 or Trust office 823800, fax 823801, www.chdt.org.uk) is an 80-acre complex with historic warships, historic buildings and museum galleries.
Pageant in Brussels
Brussels hosts the 3-day Ommegang Pageant annually in the first week of July. Reenacting the spectacular entry of Charles V into Brussels in 1549, 1,400-plus Belgians take part. Dressed as nobles, guildsmen and jesters, they move on horseback or on foot in a procession from the Sablon to the Grand Place.
Lake District steam Railroad
The 7-mile Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1SW, U.K.; phone 01229 717171, fax 717011, www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk) shows the sights of England’s Western Lake District from Ravenglass to Dalegarth year-round.
Simpson Desert closure
Australia’s Simpson Desert parks in Queensland and South Australia will be closed until March 15, 2009, due to projected temperatures in excess of 122°F. Such temperatures can cause fuel vaporization, tire blowouts and battery failure. There have been deaths in the region.
Darwin’s 200th, UK
2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of “On the Origin of Species.” For event info, visit www.darwin200.org. Here are some events.
iPhone Frommer’s guides
Frommer’s travel guides for Paris and London are available for download on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Each point of interest can be plotted on the map relative to others, with reviews and contact information. Items like restaurants can be sorted by price, cuisine, rating or neighborhood.
Kew Gardens at 250
Founded in 1759, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (www.kew.org), celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2009. (Open 9:30-4:15. £13 adult; free for children under 17.)
Magritte Museum
The Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte was inspired by the bizarre and absurd. The new Magritte Museum (Place Royale, 1-100 Brussels, Belgium; phone +32 2 508 31 11, www.montdesarts.be) is set to open in the Mont des Arts (Museum Quarter) of Brussels, June 2, 2009.
Lisboa Card
The Lisboa Card offers free unlimited travel in Lisbon, Portugal, on buses, trolleys, funiculars and the metro, along with free admission at 25 museums and historic buildings and discounts at others. It is available at the Lisbon Airport and rail stations.
Clear Customs faster
US Customs & Border Protection has added more airports to the Global Entry program for travelers coming back into the US.
Kyoto treasures
Twelve cultural sites in Kyoto, Japan, not open to the public before are open until March 18, 2009. Included is Myoshin-ji, Kyoto’s largest Zen temple, containing 46 sub-temples.
Tanzanite showcase
Found only in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, tanzanite is one of the rarest gems in the world. The Tanzanite Experience (phone +255 0 27 250 5101, www.tanzaniteexperience.com) in Arusha, Tanzania, showcases the violet-blue gemstone, with information on its extraction, processing, cutting and polishing.
Venice by wheelchair
The book “Venice: Easy Sightseeing: A Guide Book for Casual Walkers, Seniors, and Wheelchair Riders” (ISBN 1419698745) contains 14 sightseeing routes each a 3- to 5-minute walk from a boat dock. There are maps plus descriptions of wheelchair-accessible paths, elevators and bathrooms.
Van Gogh’s twilight
In Amsterdam, the Van Gogh Museum (P.O. Box 75366, 1070 AJ Amsterdam, Netherlands; phone +31 020 570 5200, fax 570 5222) will exhibit the artist’s evening and nighttime scenes, Feb. 13-June 7, 2009.
Unusual Hotels of the World
Unusual Hotels of the World showcases on its website www.uhotw.com 149 “avant-garde” lodgings around the world, organized by location, price and “wow factor.”