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Travel Briefs

Cancun SailFish Tours

Travelers to Cancún can snorkel among sailfish in the wild, between Jan. 1 and March 31, with Cancun SailFish Tours (Cancun, Mexico; phone, in the US, 888/209-5583, http://cancunsailfishtours.com)

If whale sharks or manta rays are spotted, guests may swim with them. Tours typically take two hours from departure to return, including about an hour of swimming time. A private tour, departing earlier, offers two hours of swimming time. 

myCharge portable charger

For travelers who have the need to charge both an Android device (cell phone or tablet) AND an Apple product, the portable myCharge HUB series has both Apple Lightning and micro-USB charging cables integrated into its powerbank. Devices can be used and recharged while the hub, itself, is being recharged. 

Italy for mobility impaired

Mobility-impaired travelers to Italy can plan trips that meet their needs with Accessible Italy (Via C. Manetti 34, 47891 Dogana, San Marino; phone +378 0549 941111, www.accessibleitaly.com).

The company assists in finding accessible hotel rooms and also will transfer travelers to and from airports, train stations and ports or to their destination of choice in a wheelchair-compliant van with English-speaking driver. Manual and motorized wheelchairs can be rented.

Iceland volcano museum

On the island of Heimaey in Iceland, after a volcanic eruption on Jan. 23, 1973, one family’s home that was preserved under ash and volcanic debris was made the centerpiece of the museum Eldheim­ar (Sudurvegur/Gerdisbraut 10, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Heimaey, Iceland; phone +354 4882700, http://eldheimar.is/en).

Tate Modern expansion

London’s Tate Modern Museum (Bankside, London, England, SE1 9TG, UK; phone +44 20 7887 8888, www.tate.org.uk) opened its new, twisting-pyramid-shaped tower, the Switch House, on June 17. The 200-foot-tall, 10-story building, with a top-floor observation deck, increases by 60% the amount of art that can be displayed. 

Queen’s wardrobe

In the “Fashioning a Reign” exhibit, some of the dresses and outfits England’s Queen Elizabeth II has worn are being shown in three of her official residences.

Until Oct. 2, the largest exhibit is in the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace (London; www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/buckingham palace), open daily, £21.50 (near $29).

Until Oct. 16 at Palace of Holyroodhouse (Edinburgh, Scotland; www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse), open daily, £12.

Franco-American Museum

Art, historical documents and other memorabilia highlighting the centuries of cooperation and friendship between France and the US are displayed in a salvaged, 17th-century château that was damaged during World War I in the city of Blérancourt, now the Franco-American Museum (Château de Blérancourt, 02300 Blérancourt, France; phone + 33 [0] 3 23 39 14 71, http://en.museefrancoamericain.fr).

The museum is scheduled to reopen in late September 2016 after a lengthy renovation and expansion. Open hours and entry fees have not been set yet. 

Quark’s online boutique

An online Polar Boutique store was opened in March by the polar-adventure-travel company Quark Expeditions (Seattle, WA; 888/978-5722, https://shop.quark
expeditions.com
)

The shop sells Arctic clothing as well as T-shirts, caps and small gifts. Among products are the Quark Parka ($350 and previously available only to those on Quark’s trips) and, for men or women, the Polar Gear Package, with base- and mid-layer clothing, waterproof pants, hand warmers, sunscreen and lip balm ($299).

AirPortr London bag drop

Those flying into London at Gatwick, Heathrow or London City airport can have their luggage delivered anywhere in the city by AirPortr (phone +44 203 384 6677, http://portr.com). A traveler can leave his luggage at the AirPortr desk in the airport, and it is guaranteed to be delivered within five hours or delivery is free. He also can have bags delivered from a London location to the AirPortr desk in the airport. 

Camping Lake Zürich

On the shores of Lake Zürich, Switzerland, the campground Fischer’s Fritz (Seestrasse 559, 8038 Zürich, Switzerland; phone +41 44 482 1612, www.fischers-fritz.ch/en), open all year, offers three ways for visitors to camp.

For CHF30 (near $30) per person per night for up to three people, campers can sleep under a “hanging tent” (no walls) suspended from a tree. Campers must bring their own bedding.