Travel Briefs

April 2018 issue

Desert boat races, Australia

In the landlocked desert city of Henley-on-Todd, Northern Territory, Australia, the Henley-on-Todd Regatta is held every year on the third Saturday of August (in 2018, Aug. 18).

In multiple competitions, participants race on foot while carrying facsimile boats. At the end, a Battle of the Boats is held in which three motorized land-boats fire cannons full of flour and water at each other.

Visit henleyontodd.com.au or call the Henley-on-Todd Rotary Club (phone +61 417 864 085).

April 2018 issue

Santorini limits cruise passengers

The Greek island of Santorini now limits the number of cruise passengers allowed to land to 8,000 per day. The island averaged about 12,000 visitors per day in 2017. Authorities have also asked cruise lines to better schedule their arrivals and shorten their stopovers so that groups of visitors can be more evenly spread out over the day.

March 2018 issue

Barcelona Gaudí Pass

Before visiting Barcelona, Spain, you can purchase a Gaudí Pass that provides entry to, and allows you to skip lines at, La Sagrada Família church and La Pedrera building. The pass also includes an audio guide at La Pedrera; a one-day ticket on Barcelona Bus Turístic with city guide, and free access to the top of the Columbus Monument, near the port of Barcelona, with wine tasting.

Visits to Sagrada Família and La Pedrera must be scheduled in advance. To purchase a pass (€65 [near $81]) and schedule visits, call +34 932 853 832 or visit bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com and type...

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March 2018 issue

Saudi Arabia OKs solo women

Saudi Arabia announced on Jan. 11 that it would begin accepting applications for tourist visas from solo women travelers over the age of 25, allowing them to travel to and within the country without male escorts. The visas are single-entry and good for 30 days.

Also, the Saudi visa form no longer requires the applicant to declare a religion.

February 2018 issue

Delta bag-check fee

Beginning on April 10, 2018, Basic Economy passengers on Delta Air Lines flights to and from Europe and North Africa will each be charged a $60 fee for one checked bag and a $100 fee for each additional checked bag. Delta codeshare partners Air France, KLM and Alitalia will be charging the same fees.

Passengers in every class other than Basic Economy will not (yet) be charged these fees.

February 2018 issue

Subtitled plays in Paris

English-subtitled plays are staged at some venues in Paris, with tickets available from Theatre in Paris (Paris, France; phone +33 1 85 08 66 89, www.theatreinparis.com).

When you book with Theatre in Paris, you get seats with the best views of the translations, which are projected above the stage. An English-speaking staff member meets you at the venue, escorts you to your seat and provides an English program. Call or go online for a list of subtitled shows.

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January 2018 issue

Paris foodie tour

Baguettes, patés and terrines — on the 3-hour “Taste of the Left Bank” food tour of Paris offered by Paris By Mouth (phone +33 9 70 73 66 99, parisbymouth.com), travelers will visit a popular Parisian boulangerie, a charcuterie and a high-end froma­gerie as well as a sweets shop and a wine merchant’s, sampling selected wares.

Tours are guided in English and include at least two hours of walking time. €110 (near $131) per person includes all provided food.

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January 2018 issue

Brazilian evisa

US and Canadian citizens can apply for a tourist visa to Brazil online starting Jan. 15, 2018. The processing time is anticipated to be no more than 72 hours. (The process of applying for a tourist visa at a Brazilian consulate can take more than six weeks.) The Web address for the application and the cost had not been announced as of press time, but it was believed the visa cost of $160 per US citizen would remain the same. 

For more information, contact the Consulate General of Brazil in Washington, DC (202/461-3000, cgwashington.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us).

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