Travel News to Use
By Judy Newell, March 30, 2007



No luggage to lug around

Imagine never having to pack or unpack a suitcase again. Just walk right past the luggage carousel and hop into a cab, knowing that everything you need for your trip is waiting at your hotel. Perfect for any road warrior or frequent flyer who values time and convenience above all else, Flylite will deliver your luggage, sporting equipment, electronics or anything else you want to your hotel within the continental US. They send you a suitcase to pack with what you may need for your trip and then set up a virtual closet for you. You can go online and pick out what you need for the next trip, tell them your hotel and date of arrival and everything will be waiting for you. At the end of your trip, a courier will pick up everything and your dirty clothes will be cleaned, pressed and stored until you want to travel again. Nifty, but it will cost you. There’s a one time set-up fee of US$500 and delivery rates starts at US$100 per trip, plus dry cleaning. Contact www.flylite.com.  


Good news for travelers to Peru 

Peru is enacting stringent laws to protect tourists in the country. It just passed a law mandating life in prison as the maximum sentence for murdering or severely injuring a tourist. Tourist robberies have become very common in Peru and in November 2006, police began patrolling Peru’s Inca Trail, following an armed robbery of 13 tourists. The mandatory sentencing law will apply to both Peruvian citizens and to foreigners. 


Bad news for travelers to Turkey

The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons cautioned European travelers and tourists to avoid visiting Turkey. The warning was sent to Firat’s News Agency and threatened to attack tourist facilities and regions throughout the country. The armed group is responsible for a series of bomb attacks in Turkey. It blames European countries for turning against Kurds to keep their financial interests in the region.

Long lines at the Vatican

Planning to visit the Vatican anytime soon? Be aware that the cost has gone up to about US$20 and opening hours have decreased. New rules went into effect in January and now individual visitors must line up at the ticket office until its opening at 10am. The Vatican plans to phase in a mandatory reservation system over the next year for individuals and tour groups, which are getting priority as they are easier to manage. 

The shorter hours are part of a plan to control overcrowding before the reservation system is in place. By the time you wait in line (about two hours during the summer months) and the fact that tickets are sold only until 12:30pm in the off-season and 3:30pm in high season, visitors who are not part of a group will not have time to see much. 

The number of visitors to the Vatican has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, hitting a high of 4.2 million during 2006. It joins many famous sites in Italy that are taking measures to control overcrowding. 

Plans for new Riviera Maya airport

The Ministry of Communications and Transportation is expected to use a public bidding process for awarding the concession for construction, operation and management of an international airport in the Mayan Riviera in the state of Quintana Roo. Details about the expected public bidding process, the timing or terms have not been announced.

Airlines news

To lower weight (and save money), JetBlue eliminated one flight attendant per flight and removed a row of seats on planes. The good news is that it also increased legroom. L’Avion, the newest all-business-class airline, flies between Newark airport and Orly in Paris and is offering promotional round trips starting at US$999. 



Sources ARTA Online, Modern Agent, Newsweek Budget Travel