Travel Briefs

January 2008 issue

Zambia visas

Zambia has waived visa fees for travelers visiting on package tours. The government hopes to grow the country’s tourism industry.

February 2009 issue

Country health / medical ratings

Available only in conjunction with any of their travel insurance or medical evacuation plans, Medex Global Group, Inc. (Baltimore, MD; 800/537-2029 or 410/453-6300, www.medexassist.com) offers analyses of the quality of health care and medical facilities in any of 237 countries.

Each 360°m Global Medical Monitor report covers one country’s current medical alerts, top diseases, required vaccinations, health care conditions and medical risk ratings and also lists local preferred hospitals and Medex emergency contact information.

Example — the Travmed International Medical/...

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July 2008 issue

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.

September 2008 issue

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 car chosen. The single supplement is $120.

March 2009 issue

Takao-san Mountain

At almost 2,000 feet high, Takao-san Mountain is 30 miles from downtown Tokyo — perfect for a day trip of casual hiking; for nonhikers, cable cars and chairlifts are available.

At the cable car’s summit station is the beer garden Takaozan Beer Mount, with a metropolitan view.

The cable car costs ¥900 ($10) round trip. Its hours are 8-5, but when the beer garden is open it operates 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. The Beer Mount garden is open 4-9:30, July 1-Sept. 30. A 2-hour, all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet costs ¥3,300 ($36.50). Visit www.takaotozan.co.jp/takaotozan_eng1/index.htm.

August 2008 issue

Airport parking

AirportParkingReservations.com (Suffield, CT; 800/727-5464) offers a listing of parking lots near 65 U.S. airports. The service allows price comparisons and the ability to reserve a space instantly for a fee equal to the price of the first day of parking plus $5.

All of the parking lots listed offer free shuttle and luggage service to the airport.

October 2009 issue

Pictures on iPhones

Available for iPhone (OS 2.0 or later) or iPod touch (with version 3.0 or before), the application “1,000 Words” shows simple pictures on the phone screen to help people communicate overseas.

Topics are organized into 12 categories, like money, activities, help (SOS), dining, hotels, etc. Simply tap the category, scroll through the pictures and enlarge the one needed to show to another person.

The app can be downloaded for 99¢ from the App Store and does not need Internet access to function.

January 2009 issue

Venice by wheelchair

The book “Venice: Easy Sightseeing: A Guide Book for Casual Walkers, Seniors, and Wheelchair Riders” (ISBN 1419698745) contains 14 sightseeing routes each a 3- to 5-minute walk from a boat dock. There are maps plus descriptions of wheelchair-accessible paths, elevators and bathrooms.

It is available from Amazon.com for $15.99 plus $3.99 shipping, or from bookstores.