Travel Briefs | International Travel News

December 2010 issue

‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ villa

Villa Laura, the actual property used in the filming of “Under the Tuscan Sun,” has been painstakingly restored and is available for rent through Doorways, Ltd. (Bryn Mawr, PA; 800/261-4460, www.villavacations.com).

On eight acres outside of Cortona, the estate contains two properties: the villa, which covers 6,000 square feet on three floors and sleeps 10, and the more rustic farmhouse, with 4,000 square feet on two floors and sleeping eight.

Weekly rates start at $14,580 for the villa and $10,936 for the farmhouse, depending on the season. A minimum stay of one week is...

March 2011 issue

Global phone

Big Five Tours & Expeditions and Wireless Traveler are offering a Wireless Traveler V Series global phone package that can be used in some 200 countries.

Each Motorola V600 phone ($94) is assigned a US phone number and a UK phone number. The 4.4-ounce phone comes with $15 in airtime and an international charger and features an alarm, calendar and currency converter as well as a single global SIM card.

A 40-cent connection fee is applied to all calls, and a 25¢-per-minute surcharge is applied to all incoming calls made to the US number. Additional per-minute charges vary...

December 2010 issue

‘Archi-Wine’ in Italy

Select Italy (Chicago, IL; 800/877-1755, www.selectitaly.com) has a series of day trips, “The Archi-Wine Tour: When Architects Meet Winemakers,” focusing on innovative wineries in the Tuscany and Piedmont regions. One half-day and three full-day tours are offered.

Example — the “Archi-Wine Tour III” in Piedmont offers transport from/to your hotel in Alba or La Morra in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle with English-speaking guide and driver, two winery visits with tastings, a gourmet lunch and a demo on truffle hunting and preparation. At about 9½ hours, it’s priced from $410 per...

March 2011 issue

Zürich iPhone app

Switzerland Tourism’s “City-Guide Zurich” iPhone app, available for free download from the Apple iTunes Store, allows users to find interesting places and events in the city or the quickest route to a hotel or ATM.

The offline guide includes an integrated city map; public transport information, and tours with text and pictures to help you explore the city independently. All content is available in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish.

December 2010 issue

iSrael app

The Israel Ministry of Tourism has released the iSrael iPhone and iPad application, which provides detailed, regularly updated information on tours, accommodations, leisure activities and events in Israel and includes mapped directions to heritage sites, archaeological sites, museums and nature reserves.

To download it in English or Hebrew, type “Israel tourism” in the Apps search bar on an iPhone or iPad or visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/israel-tourism/id393773314?mt=8. For info on travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com.

March 2011 issue

‘100 Countries, 5,000 Ideas’

National Geographic Books’ “100 Countries, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do” (400 pp., $26.95) offers trip-planning tips on destinations from Argentina to Zimbabwe.

Featured charts help design trips geared toward specific interests (ex., spa vacation, travel with children, etc.), list things to take into consideration (cost, hotel quality, transportation and safety) and include a month-by-month chart of each country’s average weather.

December 2010 issue

Aerial tram in Armenia

Armenia has the world’s longest aerial tram,* as of October. With terminuses near Halidzor and Tatev Monastery and crossing the Vorotan River Gorge, Tatevi tever (Tatev wings) stretches 3½ miles.

On the dual-cable system, two 25-passenger tram cars can make the 11-minute run simultaneously in opposite directions; the top speed is 23 mph. At their highest, the cars are 1,181 feet above ground.

*Teleferico de Merida in Venezuela is longer but has not run for several years.

March 2011 issue

Live interpreter app

Language Services Associates has an iPhone/Android app, INTERPRETALK® Mobile, which allows users to connect to a live interpreter, for any of 15 languages, in less than 30 seconds.

Using your smartphone anywhere you have cell phone and Internet service, download the free app from the iPhone App Store or Android Market, enter your contact and credit card billing information, request an interpreter from the language list and click on the “connect” button. While the interpreter is on the line, you are charged $2.89 per minute.

Support is currently available in Arabic, Cantonese...