Projects Abroad (New York, NY; 888/839-3535) offers two-week learning vacations in 24 countries. There are projects in conservation, archaeology, language classes, coaching children’s sports, medical aid and care giving. While most volunteers are between 18 and 25 years old, projects are open to those 16 through 75.
Visitors to Nottinghamshire, England, can follow a Robin Hood Trail that takes in seven locations associated with the legend, including Nottingham Castle and Sherwood Forest. A free audio tour is available on CD or, along with a map, can be downloaded to an MP3 player from the website www.robinhoodbreaks.com.
The London Sightseeing Pass and the Paris Sightseeing Pass allow free entry to, respectively, over 55 attractions in London (such as Hampton Court Palace and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre) or 55 in Paris (including the Louvre and a Seine River cruise) plus discounts at selected restaurants and shops or on tours. Avoid long lines by showing your pass at the door.
The London pass costs £39 (near $65) adult or £26 child (five to 15) for one day on up to £89/£62 for a six-day pass. (A 6-day pass could save a total of £420, or $695.)
The 126-year run of the Orient Express* ended on Dec. 13, 2009.
When the service was inaugurated in 1883 by entrepreneur Georges Nagelmacher, it ran twice a week from Paris to Varna, Bulgaria, where a ferry took passengers on to Istanbul. Later, the rail line was extended to Istanbul.
The rococo palace of Frederik VIII (Amalienborg Slotsplads 1, 1257 Copenhagen, Denmark; phone +45 2257 3020) is being renovated and modernized as a residence for Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. It will be open to the public Tuesday-Sunday, Feb. 27-May 30, 2010. Entry, DK40 (near $8).
Built in 1760, the palace was last renovated in 1828. The current renovation restored the exterior to its look before 1828.
Travelers with layovers of six to 12 hours at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport can take any of 15 tours of four to seven hours from/to the airport. Example — the four-hour “City & Temple Tour,” at 1,100 baht (near $33) per person for two people, visiting the Golden Buddha, pagodas of Wat Pho and the marble temple of Benchamabophit.
Travelers can charter boats to cruise on Lake Baikal, in southern Siberia, during summer season (June-October).
One company, Baikal Explorer (Irkutsk, Russia; phone +7 3952 742440), offers three boats for exploring and fishing. They come with experienced crews and because of their low draft can pull up almost anywhere along shore.
The 30-page booklet “Cape Town Nature Reserves” profiles each of the South African city’s 24 nature reserves and areas with a photo, activities available, types of species found, hours open and entry fees.
It is available at the Rietvlei, Rondevlei and Helderberg nature reserves for R5 (near 50¢) and also at the Botanical Society Bookshop in Kirstenbosch Gardens. For a free PDF download, visit www.capetown.gov.za/en and in the Search box type “Cape Town Nature Reserves Booklet.”
The Bach Museum Leipzig (Thomaskirchhof 15/16, 04109 Leipzig, Germany; phone +49 0 341 9137 202, fax 9137 205) will reopen March 20, 2010, following a renovation and expansion.
Offering new multimedia exhibits exploring the composer’s life and music as well as original manuscripts and an organ examined by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1743, it is open 10-6 Tuesday-Sunday. Adult €6 ($9), “reduced” €4 and under 16 free.
While in Thailand, travelers now can dial the tourist hotline 1672 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for assistance as well as for information on accommodations, sightseeing and more. Or they may submit “live chat” inquiries at www.tourismthailand.org by clicking on the box “1672” (lower right on homepage).