Travel Briefs | International Travel News

December 2013 issue

Hertz ‘Supercars’ in Europe

Hertz (phone, in the US, 888/ 296-9124) has added new premium models to their Supercar rental programs in the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Spain. The new models for rent include the McLaren MP4-12C Spider, Ferrari F15 Berlinetta, Lamborghini LP570-4 and Porsche Cayman plus other luxury, high-performance cars. Not all of the models are in every country.

Example rates — you can rent a Ferrari for a day in Monaco for €1,330 (near $1,800) or a McLaren Spider in Berlin for €3,080 ($4,175).

April 2013 issue

Barcelona GourmetBus

In Barcelona, Spain, Gray Line’s GourmetBus (Balmes, 5; phone 902 024 443) offers travelers a 3-course meal by a Michelin-starred chef and a 3-hour tour that passes popular sites, including Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, Gaudí’s La Pedrera, the Sagrada Familia cathedral, the Torre Agbar, the Arc de Triomf and Port Olimpic.

The bus, which has three 4-person tables and three 2-person tables with facing seats, features a glass-fronted kitchen where meals are prepared. Each seat includes an iPad to look up sights during the tour and listen to an audio program in English. Offered year-round, the...

November 2013 issue

Leipzig Music Trail

The online printable map of the Leipzig Music Trail, which winds around five kilometers of downtown Leipzig, Germany, has been updated to include a selection of events in 2013/2014.

The trail visits 23 places of interest where famous composers have lived and worked, passing such locations as the Leipzig Opera, the New Gewandhaus, the Bach Museum and the Schumann House. The map includes historical info for each stop.

February 2013 issue

Treasure-finding moles

Twelve miles south of Hadrian’s Wall in northern England is Epiacum, a ruined Roman fort on the grounds of Whitley Castle in Alston, Cumbria. Epiacum is protected by the English Heritage commission and no excavating is allowed. However, moles have been unearthing bits of pottery, jewelry, nails, etc.

Free, guided walks can be arranged for small groups by contacting the land owner, Elaine Edgar (phone 01434 381733 or e-mail elaine.edgar@btinternet.com).

Artifacts from a small dig on the site in 1957 and one in the late 1800s are on display at the Great Northern Museum:...

October 2013 issue

Sailing with baseball greats

On select 2013-2014 “Caribbean Baseball Cruises” with MSC Cruises (Fort Lauderdale, FL; 877/665-4655), passengers will interact with former baseball stars like Cincinnati Reds All-Star Ken Griffey, Sr. (Jan. 12, 2014), and American League home-run king Gorman Thomas (May 10) in a variety of events, including question-and-answer sessions, free autograph sessions, player-hosted trivia games and pitching, hitting and defense strategy clinics.

Cruises sail round trip from Miami and feature varying itineraries, like the 7-night cruise departing May 10, 2014 (from $779, inside cabin, to $...

January 2013 issue

Lanzarote webguide

Lanzarote, one of Spain’s Canary Islands, is located 80 miles west of Morocco’s southern border with West Sahara. For planning an island visit, the website www.lanzaroteguidebook.com includes maps plus info on transportation, accommodations, finding a guide, dining, events, museums, attractions, festivals and climate. Download the info as a 51-page booklet for free.

July 2013 issue

White Nights worldwide

In 2013, 23 cities worldwide each will hold a “White Night,” an all-night celebration of free art, music, theater and other festivities, such as fireworks. Paris’ Nuit Blanche, in 2002, was the first such event. Each city chooses an overall theme for the evening. Restaurants, museums and shops stay open late, and museum admissions often are free.

This year’s events began Jan. 28 in Bologna, Italy. Melbourne hosted Australia’s first White Night event on Feb. 23. The majority take place in countries in the fall, including Singapore on three dates (Sept. 24, 25 & 31) and Jerusalem...

December 2012 issue

India tiger parks reopen

On Oct. 16, India’s Supreme Court lifted the ban on tourism in tiger reserves that it imposed in July, and tiger-viewing safaris have resumed. The reversal came after the National Tiger Conservation Authority announced new rules and guidelines to address the issues of tourism encroachment into the “core areas” of tiger habitats.

Under the new rules, tourism can continue, but no new tourism infrastructure can be created in core areas and all permanent structures will be removed from them. Also, there will be no increases in the numbers of tourists and vehicles.

To reduce the...