Travel Briefs | International Travel News

June 2011 issue

Copenhagen’s rainbow

In Copenhagen, the art installation “Your Rainbow Panorama,” by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, is like a giant halo on a building. A circular “hallway” sided with colored glass, 150 meters long, three meters tall and three meters wide, it’s permanently installed on the rooftop of the ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum (Aros Allé 2, DK-8000 Århus C., Copenhagen, Denmark; phone +45 8730 6600). Visitors can see Århus Bay while walking through the elevated pathway.

Museum open 10-5 Tues.-Sun., 10-10 Wed. DKK95 (near $19) adult, DKK75 senior, and child under 18 free.

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August 2011 issue

UK dining discounts

Visitors to the UK can enjoy savings of 50% on meals throughout the country with a new dining card, the Tastecard. Valid at over 5,000 restaurants, the 14-day Tastecard costs £25 ($40) and covers two people.

It is available at the Encore desk of the Britain & London Visitor Centre (1 Regent St., London). A list of participating restaurants is at www.tastecard.co.uk.

October 2011 issue

Dutch amphibi-bus

Travelers at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol might try a tour on the Floating Dutchman, an amphibious bus that holds 48 people. For the tour of two hours and 45 minutes, passengers transiting Schiphol should allow at least a four-hour stopover, timing it for one of the tour departures daily at 9, noon and 3 from Schiphol Plaza.

With commentary in English and Dutch, the Dutchman heads to Amsterdam, entering the water near the NEMO Science Centre. A 45-minute sailing on the canals takes passengers toward the Amstel River via the Nieuwe Herengracht, under the famous Skinny Bridge and the...

July 2011 issue

Handicapped-adapted rental cars in UK

A range of vehicles with handicapped-accessible features now can be rented in the United Kingdom from Auto Europe. Among the options — a single lever to take the place of floor pedals; thumb controls on the steering wheel for turn indicators, wipers and horn, and floor pedals for people who have use of only the left leg.

Examples, each with full insurance and VAT included — from London’s Heathrow Airport, a week’s rental of a Nissa Micra economy car with hand controls and automatic transmission costs $853, and, among vans, a standard van adapted for a wheelchair driver (room to...

September 2011 issue

Netherlands Fine Art Fair

The 25th European Fine Art Fair will take place March 16-25, 2012, at the Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Center (Forum 100, 6299 GV, Maastricht, Netherlands; phone 043 3838383).

Paintings, antiques, manuscripts and examples of applied arts will be on sale by 260 art and antique dealers from around the world. Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. March 16-24 and 11-6 Sunday, March 25. Admission, €55 ($80), includes a catalog. Child 12-18, €20.

European Fine Art Foundation (Broekwal 64, 5268 HD Helvoirt, The Netherlands; phone +31 411 64 50 90).

May 2011 issue

Dry shampoo

For travel situations where there’s little water to be had, Invisible Dry Spray Shampoo from Salon Grafix can get hair clean in one minute. The shampoo is sprayed onto the hair, allowed to sit one minute to absorb oils, then brushed out. The product is clear and leaves no residue. Available in drugstores, a four-ounce can may cost $7.99 and the one-ounce travel size, “good for about 10 uses,” $2.99.

November 2011 issue

Pittsburgh Int’l speed lane

Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania is one of the first in the US to set up a special security screening lane for travelers with one item of carry-on luggage (no larger than 22"x14"x9") — with no extra purse, briefcase or camera bag — or no carry-on at all.

This is not related to any TSA program, nor is it part of any perks program for first-class ticket holders or elite frequent flyers. All passengers still go through full security screening and metal detectors.

June 2011 issue

Florence for slow walkers

“Florence: Easy Sightseeing — Easy Visiting for Casual Walkers, Seniors & Wheelchair Riders” by Donald H. Bowling (2011, CreateSpace — 256 pp., $16.95 on Amazon.com) offers advice on seeing the sights of Florence, Italy, for mobility-impared visitors.

Using efficient trails in six historic neighborhoods, the book guides readers on three- to five-minute walks. It includes info on the new light-rail system and other transportation plus entertaining anecdotes. (A “Venice: Easy Sightseeing” guide costs $15.95.)