When Rick Steves of Europe Through the Back Door started traveling in the ’70s, “the Eurailpass was king-cheap, simple and the obvious best deal,” he said. “My choices were kindergarten-simple: one month or two?”
That has all changed, as he notes in the special 80-page ETBD newsletter devoted to the bewildering variety of rail-pass options now offered (see story on Page 14). There’s all-Europe, regional, country-specific, rail/drive, rail/drive/fly and on and on.
The newsletter lays it all out in black-and-white. Perhaps the most valuable addition to the information widely available from European rail companies themselves is the inclusion of small maps showing point-to-point rates within the continent and individual countries. For many travelers, buying tickets in Europe for specific destinations will be less expensive overall.
According to Mary Carlson, whose title with ETBD is “Our Lady of the Eurails,” another brand-new package bred of competition between Rail Europe and DER, the German rail company, is the latter’s Central Europe Pass, which includes travel in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany. The pass was made available only last month and didn’t make it into the newsletter.
A word of caution from ETBD: An editing error suggests that if your first use of a flexipass is for an overnight trip starting after 7 p.m., it will count as two days’ travel. Wrong. It will count as two days of your pass’ valid time-period of travel.
For more information on European rail travel, to order the free railpass newsletter or to buy a Eurailpass (ETBD is one of the top three retailers in the U.S.), call 206-771-8303.
Steaming through the fall
A very different domestic version of rail travel chugs off in the fall, as the New River Train excursion makes the 300-mile round trip between Huntington and Hinton, W.Va., through the New River Gorge and its spectacular foliage.
Operated by the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society, the venerable steam train will make stops at notable sites along the way. Prices range from $75 to $249 a person, and Private Car, Premium and Deluxe Service will be limited. Trips are scheduled for Oct. 16, 17, 23 and 24.
For information or reservations, call 800-553-6108 and ask for Don Maxwell.
Egypt has fewer visitors
Worldwide tourism to Egypt, which had grown steadily for six years, suffered a setback in the first two months of 1993 in the wake of the October murder of a British tourist and attacks on tourist buses in January by Muslim fundamentalists.
Nearly 20 percent fewer tourists visited Egypt in January and February compared to a year earlier. The number of U.S. tourists to Egypt, which had made a major comeback in 1992 after a sharp drop in 1991-the year of the Persian Gulf War-dropped in February as well, down more than 13 percent from February 1992.
Cleanliness No. 1 with women
Among travel researchers, security has been thought to be the most important lodging consideration for female business travelers, but a national survey now under way may change that perception.
Patrick J. Moreo, a professor in Penn State University’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Recreation Management, says that cleanliness was the No. 1 concern in focus group interviews with businesswomen on the go, followed by security, room size and decor. Moreo and colleagues are working on a national survey analyzing the hotel expectations of female business travelers compared to their male counterparts.
Exploring the Yukon
For those with abbreviated travel opportunities, Canadian River Expeditions has come up with a six-day wilderness river-rafting and hiking trip through Kluane National Park in Yukon Territory. Expeditions are scheduled for Aug. 1-6 and 8-13; the short duration allows travelers to fly to and from Whitehorse on the adjoining weekends. Cost is $1,420 excluding airfare. Call 604-738-4449.
Spotting bears in Alaska
The float planes of Juneau’s Loken Aviation offer scheduled flights to Alaska’s bear-rich Pack Creek in the Admiralty Island National Monument, Kootznoowoo Wilderness Area. A Forest Service Observation Station is a short walk from the beach landing area, and its personnel can answer questions about bear-spotting, habitat and temperate rain forests. Forest Service permits are required. Flights are $50 each way. Call 907-789-3331.
Flexible? Hitch a ride
Those with flexible schedules and few dollars may want to look into AIRHITCH, which can fly you one-way to Europe from Chicago for $229-provided you can fly to any of three destinations of your choice, within a range of five days, which you also select. The company recently initiated Chicago to West Coast service for $129 one way; travelers choose three destinations within a three-day range.
It can get tricky, though, as one’s point of departure also must be a little flexible. An AIRHITCH spokesman says that the service tries mightily to obtain a departure from the nearest airport, but one may have to get to Brussels, say, from Paris to make a flight, or to Chicago from Milwaukee. Also, CALHITCH flies coast-to-coast, and HAWAIIHITCH from Los Angeles to Hawaii; each flight is $129 one way. Call 800-326-2009.
Toll-free numbers for $2
The 1993 edition of The Phone Booklet lists plenty of toll-free numbers of hotels, airlines, car rentals, travel clubs and other services. It also includes a comprehensive list of state, city, regional and international travel and tourism offices for free destination information. Send $2 to Scott American Corp., Box 88, West Redding, Conn. 06896.
