Travel Briefs

September 2008 issue

Surrealism exhibition

The Scharf-Gerstenberg collection, housed in Berlin in the newly renovated Stüler building (10 miles east of the city center, opposite the castle), is hosting a 10-year exhibition of surrealist and presurrealist art. Including works by René Magritte, Paul Klee and Salvador Dalí, the collection is open 10-6 Tuesday-Sunday. €8 ($12.50).

Contact the Stülerbau (Schloßstraße 70, 14059 Berlin, Germany; phone +49 0 30 34357315, fax +49 0 30 3435 7312, www.smb.museum).

March 2009 issue

Frequent-flyer e-mails

YAPTA (www.yapta.com) is a flight-search engine that finds options for you based on your flight dates, times and preferences. It tracks airfares on flights you want and notifies you via e-mail if the prices change.

Now YAPTA also notifies you when award seats become available for which you may use your frequent-flyer miles. Frequent-flyer programs currently supported include those of the airlines Alaska, Continental, Delta, United and US Airways. The service is free to use; the site carries advertising. 

August 2008 issue

Solar eclipse cruise

On July 22, 2009, a total eclipse of the sun will be visible on a path from west to east across central India, continuing over SE Asia, central China and the Pacific Ocean, ending in Polynesia. Viewing times will be as high as 6.39 minutes (a time length which won’t occur again until 2132). 

Eclipse of the Century is offering an 8-night cruise from Keelung (Taipei), Taiwan, that will put the ship at an optimum viewing point, near Yakushima Island, Japan. 

The cruise-only price of £1,395-£2,375 per person, shared room, includes five nights aboard Superstar Libra with all meals...

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January 2008 issue

MP3 Europe tours

Downloadable to iPods and MP3 players, iJourneys are narrated walking tours featuring commentary, historical context, humor and travel tips for a number of cities in Europe (Rome, Paris, Barcelona, etc.). A map is included. Each tour takes about one to two hours and costs $14.95. Visit www.ijourneys.com.

January 2008 issue

Ice village, Japan

On Shikaribetsu Lake in western Hokkaido, Japan, a kotan (village) of snow is built every year, with igloos, ice houses and an ice bar (with ice glasses). The village, open Jan. 27-March 31 in 2008, also offers outdoor hot springs on top of the frozen lake.

Contact the Japan National Tourism Organization (515 So. Figueroa St., Ste. 1470, Los Angeles, CA 90071; 213/623-1952, www.jnto.go.jp).

July 2008 issue

Self-drive boats in Europe

European Boating Holidays (86 Averyville Lane, Lake Placid, NY, 12946; 866/606-5278, www.europeanboatingholidays.co.uk or call a travel agent) offers self-drive boating vacations in the waterways of France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy and Poland. No experience necessary — training is provided. All boats have fully equipped kitchens and entertainment systems.

Prices range from $50 to $100 per person per day, depending on the boat selected and the group size (two to 12). Example — a week-long rental for up to six people on Ireland’s Shannon River in spring or fall costs about $2,...

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May 2008 issue

Open Skies Agreement

The Open Skies Agreement went into effect in March 2008, easing restrictions on which airlines could fly into which airports and opening competition for flights between the U.S. and the European Union.

Travelers should expect more direct flights but also more congestion at airports, as several new airlines will be competing for gates. Ticket prices are NOT expected to go down (because of high fuel prices and the purchases of new planes to fly the added routes).

September 2009 issue

Neues Museum, Berlin

When the Neues Museum opens in Berlin on Oct. 16, 2009, after an 11-year, $255-million restoration, it will be the first time in 70 years that all five museums on Museum Island will be open to the public.

Originally opened in 1855, the Neues Museum (Bodestraße 3, 10178 Berlin, Germany; phone +49 [0] 30 20 90 55 44, www.egyptian-museum-berlin.com) has been closed since its aerial bombardment in World War II. New, modern wings have been combined with the partially destroyed building, and it once again will house the Egyptian Museum & Papyrus Collection (including the bust of Queen...

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