Travel Briefs

September 2008 issue | Appears on page 71

Dumfries House opens

In Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, after 250 years, Dumfries House (phone 0044 [0] 1290 551111, www.dumfries-house.org.uk) opened to the public in June 2008 following an $88.4-million restoration.

The 18th-century Georgian mansion is almost unchanged since an inventory of its contents was taken in 1803. Thomas Chippendale furniture was designed specifically for the house. A black-and-gold lacquered chest is valued at $20 million.

Visits by prebooking only. In 2009 it will be open...

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September 2008 issue | Appears on page 71

Travel­Chums

The website www.travelchum.net matches people up with like-minded travel companions. With more than 40,000 members, the site is free and offers detailed searches of users’ profiles, messaging with other users, and discussion boards.

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September 2008 issue | Appears on page 81

GoCar Tours

In Barcelona and Lisbon, travelers can rent a 2-seater GoCar with a built-in GPS linked to an audio program that describes sights in the area. 

The small, open-topped cars each have three wheels, lap belts and a roll cage and can go 30 to 35 mph.

There are recommended routes, but the car gives info on sights wherever one is in the city.

Rates in Barcelona are €35 (near $55) for the first hour, €25 ($39) for the second and €20 ($32) for each additional hour. After four...

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September 2008 issue | Appears on page 83

Tokyo fish market

At Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Market, the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world, as of April 1, 2008, tourists can watch tuna auctions only from a designated area and only from 5 to 6:15 a.m.

Traders had complained that tourists were interfering with auctions by distracting them and touching and photographing the 600-pound fishes.

September 2008 issue | Appears on page 83

Renaissance science

A 3-hour walking tour in Florence, Italy, focusing on the history of science during the Renaissance is offered by Context Travel (2222 Lombard St., Ste. 2r, Philadelphia, PA 19146; 888/467-1986, www.contexttravel.com). Galileo receives special attention as do many tools and scientific instruments used by him.

The tour costs €50 (near $78) per person plus €4 ($6) for entry to the Museum of the History of Science.

September 2008 issue | Appears on page 83

Self-drive Thailand

Eight self-drive itineraries to the center, north and south of Thailand, including accommodations, are offered by Asian Trails, Ltd. (9th Floor, SG Tower, 161/1 Soi Mahadlek Luang 3, Rajdamri Road, Lumpinee Pratumwan Bangkok 10330, Thailand; phone 66 2 626 2000; fax 66 2 651 8111, www.asiantrails.net).

Example — the Chiang Mai-Sukhothai Loop offers views of the Yom River, Kamphaeng Phet and Mae Sot. The 6-day package costs $223 to $381 per person, double occupancy, depending on the...

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September 2008 issue | Appears on page 83

Ecuador’s Chiva Express

Metropolitan Touring offers expeditions in Ecuador on their Chiva Express one-car trains. The 38-passenger railcars each have large windows, a bar, a toilet and a rear platform. An outside ladder gives access to the roof, where there are securely attached seats and a guardrail.

Excursions by rail and road link Quito with Cotopaxi National Park, Riobamba, Guayaquil and Cuenca. The vehicles depart on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday year-round to journey along narrow-gauge tracks over...

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September 2008 issue | Appears on page 83

Calling long-distance cheaply

There are many companies offering VoIP (voice over Internet protocol), which allows free or discounted international calls that travel mostly through the Internet, saving on long-distance charges.

The major provider is Skype (www.skype.com), with over 300 million users. Skype allows one to make computer-to-computer calls through the Internet for free no matter one’s location in the world. (For a computer without a built-in microphone and speaker, a headset is required.)

It also...

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