The “Go Round Asia & Southwest Pacific Pass” gives travelers a flexible way to visit 26 countries. Travelers book a minimum of two and a maximum of 10 stops for travel in economy or business class. Travel must begin and end in the same country (although it can be different cities in that country), and at least one stop must be in Australia, New Zealand or Micronesia. Also, one flight/connection must be on China Airlines, China Eastern or China Southern.
A new website, Rome2Rio (www.rome2rio.com), shows travelers various options on how to get from one place to another in the Americas, Europe and Asia, often using combinations of trains, buses, ferries, cars and taxis.
Example — on a route from Munich, Germany, to Düsseldorf, trains, bus companies and rideshare companies were suggested. Each option listed the mode of transport, the total time it would take and an estimated cost. The fastest shown, a 4-hour flight, cost $101-$196. The cheapest, a 5½-hour rideshare, cost $45.
The SpeechTrans app, which requires a data connection, can translate speech or text in real time in more than 40 languages.
With the app’s image mode, you can take a picture using a smartphone or tablet, identify the area in the picture with text to be translated, and the app will try to translate it.
With the app’s speech-translation mode, someone speaks in their language into your device, and it will be spoken back into English (or vice versa). For optimal results, a fast data connection and a quiet environment will be needed.
Crystal Cruises (Los Angeles, CA; 888/722-0021, www.crystalcruises.com) is adjusting their ships’ dinner dress code.
The free app “Amazing Athens” offers info on more than 120 tourist sites in the capital of Greece and covers museums, historical monuments, shopping, food, beaches, etc. Site listings include photos, historical info, directions, hours open and entry fees.
Launched by the Hellenic Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organization, the app also includes info on public holidays, medical services, currency, electricity and more. Download from the App Store or Google Play.
Traveling 16 miles between the towns of Lillooet and Seton Portage in British Columbia, the 2-car, 30-passenger Kaoham Shuttle (Site 3, Box 76, Shalalth, B.C., V0N 3C0, Canada; 866/259-8227 or 250/259-8227, http://tsalalhnet/shuttle.html) is said to offer Canada’s “greatest hidden rail journey.”
Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane was forced to flee the country on Aug. 30 after fire was exchanged between the armed forces and police outside two police stations in the capital, Maseru. One police officer died and four were wounded. Reports from the nation indicate that the military is loyal to Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing, while police support Mr. Thabane.
In Waverly, New South Wales, Australia, Bondi Park will be getting a 10-year, AUD20 million makeover. Though the final plan has not yet been approved, it will include additional and upgraded toilets, more trees and green areas, an upgrade to the children’s play area and new pathways to improve beach access. The historic Bondi Pavilion, a large, Mediterranean-style building built in 1928, will be restored.
At press time last month, ITN reported (Oct. ’14, pg. 4) that, on Aug. 26, American Airlines and US Airways would remove their tickets from online broker Orbitz.com due to a contract dispute. On Aug. 29, American, US and Orbitz agreed on a deal that immediately returned the airlines’ tickets to the site.
Starting on Oct. 1, Tunisia began levying a departure tax of TND30 (near $16) on travelers exiting the country. Visitors to Tunisia did not previously pay any tourism taxes. EGYPT instituted a similar tax in June 2014, adding a departure tax of nearly $25 onto the price of incoming airline tickets.