Travel Briefs | International Travel News

October 2012 issue

ATMs in Myanmar

The central bank of Myanmar and several private banks have begun installing ATMs in preparation for a nationwide network. Currently, the ATMs work only with accounts from Myanmar member-union banks, but the government is negotiating with Visa and MasterCard to bring international banking by mid 2013.

January 2011 issue

Carnival repairing Splendor

One day into a week-long Mexican Riviera cruise, an engine room fire on Nov. 8 left Carnival Cruise Lines’ Splendor dead in the water. 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew were left without electricity and, hence, no air-conditioning, hot water or hot food. Toilets backed up. While food was airlifted in, tugboats towed the ship 200 miles to San Diego within three days.

Passengers were offered a full refund and a free future cruise. Anyone booked on any of the nine additional Splendor cruises that were canceled will be refunded and get a 25% discount on a cruise.

Carnival plans to...

July 2007 issue

Cutty Sark fire

A fire on May 20 burned for over two hours aboard the historic 19th-century Cutty Sark, kept in dry dock at Greenwich in southeast London. The skeleton was substantially damaged and much of the deck was destroyed.

The damage could have been worse; the masts, the coach house and half of the planking had been removed for restoration. The figurehead was rescued.

August 2012 issue

Bulgaria smoking ban

On June 1, Bulgaria expanded its ban on smoking in public to include school courtyards, playgrounds, cinemas, restaurants, bars and cafés. Since 2005, smoking had been banned in government buildings, schools and airports and on public transportation.

Fines for smokers breaking the law run BGN300-BGN500 ($192-$320), and business owners face fines of up to BGN5,000 for the first offense, increasing to BGN10,000 for further violations.

March 2004 issue

Diphtheria booster advised

In October 2003, a man who had been working in a rural village in Haiti returned to Pennsylvania and was admitted to a hospital with a severe sore throat and respiratory distress. He was diagnosed with respiratory diphtheria and died. The clinical efficacy of the diphtheria vaccine is 97%, but the man had never been immunized.

Diphtheria is contracted by inhaling the bacteria directly from an infected person. It can lead to heart failure, paralysis and coma. Even death can occur in as little as a week; the mortality rate for diphtheria can be as high as 20%.

To minimize the...

August 2004 issue

Buy four nights, get eight in Nevis

Through Nov. 30, 2004, those booking Mount Nevis Hotel’s “Match Made in Nevis” family package at $375 a night for four nights get four more nights for free. Families who stay and pay for five nights get an additional five nights for free.

That’s in a 2-bedroom superior suite, with kitchen, that accommodates a family of four. Babysitting services are available. The 28-room property in the Leeward Islands of the eastern West Indies recently completed a million-dollar renovation. Call 800/756-3847.

November 2010 issue

Kyoto events, 2011

The year 2011 marks, respectively, 750 years and 800 years since the deaths of Shinran and Honen, important founders of two Japanese Buddhist sects. Memorial services will be held in Kyoto, Japan, March through January, with many events from March to late April. Most daily events will not be open to non-Buddhists.

Vacant hotel rooms in Kyoto will be scarce. Try near Osaka (30 minutes from JR Kyoto station) or Otsu (10 minutes). Contact the Japanese National Tourism Organization (in NY at 212/757-5640 or in CA, 213/623-1952, www.japantravelinfo.com).

July 2012 issue

‘Star Wars’ in Canada

“Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition” is being hosted at the Montréal Science Centre (at the foot of Saint-Laurent Boulevard, on King-Edward quay; 877/496-4724) until Sept. 16, 2012 (CAN26.50 [near $27] adult or CAN23.50 senior), then at the Telus World of Science (11211 142nd St., Edmonton, Alberta T5M 4A1, Canada; 780/451-3344) from Oct. 27, 2012, until at least April 1, 2013. The 5-year exhibition continues to Europe and Asia.

On exhibit are “Star Wars” props, costumes, models and artwork from the Lucasfilm archives, including C-3PO, Darth Vader’s costume and a full-sized...