Travel Briefs

August 2008 issue | Appears on page 96

Vaux le Vicomte

In France, the Château of Vaux le Vicomte (77950 Maincy, France; phone +33 1 64 14 41 90, fax 33 1 60 69 90 85, www.vaux-le-vicomte.com), upon which the design for the castle of Versailles was based, is open to visitors in 2008 from March 15 to Nov. 9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5:30. 

Entry at €12.50 (near $19) includes access to the castle, gardens and carriage museum. Night visits cost €15.50 ($24). An audioguide costs €2.50.

The castle’s gardens, open 8 p.m. to midnight, with...

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August 2008 issue | Appears on page 96

The Chocolate Lady

In Suffolk, the shop The Chocolate Lady (Bower Hall Farm, Steeple Bumpstead, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 7EG, U.K.; phone +44 0 1440 730346, www.thechocolatelady.co.uk) offers 5-hour chocolate-making courses, covering materials, tempering, molding, truffles, dipping, coating and packaging. 

Each course, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., costs £150 (near $298) per person and includes refreshments and a gourmet lunch. Reservations a must. 

July 2008 issue | Appears on page 18

New Barcelona museum

The Francisco Godia Foundation (Diputació, 250, 08007 Barcelona, Spain; phone 93 272 31 80, fax 31 81, e-mail info@fundacionfgodia.org) opens in Barcelona in October 2008 with more than 100 pieces from the 12th century on.

The focus is on medieval art, ceramics and contemporary painting, and it includes works by Joan Miró, Picasso and Ramon Casas. Open 10-8. Closed Tuesday. €6 ($9) adult, €4 student/senior.

July 2008 issue | Appears on page 42

Youths’ BritRail savings

Eurail Pass is valid in Europe but not in Britain. Throughout 2008, travelers ages 16 to 25 who purchase any Eurail Pass (about $69-$2,089) can get a 50% discount off the regular adult price of a standard-class BritRail Consecutive Pass, BritRail FlexiPass, BritRail England Consecutive Pass or BritRail England FlexiPass.

Examples — with the 50% discount, the “all-access” standard-class 4-Day BritRail Consecutive Pass costs $130 and the FlexiPass version, $165. Contact BritRail (866/...

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July 2008 issue | Appears on page 63

Princess in Panama

Princess Cruises (800/774-6237, www.princess.com) has announced that all 2009-2010 Panama Canal transits of 15 days or longer will include a second day at port in Fuerte Amador. The stopover allows travelers to visit Panama City, the Panama Canal Railway and the Soberania National Park rainforest.

July 2008 issue | Appears on page 63

Suez Canal with OAT

For its 19-day Suez Canal transit cruises, visiting Egypt, the Sinai, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/493-6824, www.oattravel.com) has added two new ships.

Available January-April 2009, cruises on one of the three 50-passenger ships cost $5,495-$6,395 (plus tax), including airfare from New York.

July 2008 issue | Appears on page 63

Cell phones, Kuwait

Talking on cell phones while driving in Kuwait became illegal as of May 1. Violators will be fined 15 dinars (near $56). The law does not apply to people using hands-free calling equipment.

A law passed earlier prohibits eating or drinking while behind the wheel.

July 2008 issue | Appears on page 63

Laos highway

The last link on a cross-border road system leading from Singapore to Beijing, a new all-weather highway, Route 3, opened in Laos in March 2008 between China’s Yunnan province and northern Thailand. The previous highway was closed for four months each year during the rainy season.