Boarding Pass

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 384th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine, something that YOU help make happen. For the most part, this magazine is written by pay-your-own-way travelers like yourself, everyone watching out for each other. Whether it was a terrific guide or a hotel that was the pits, write in to share what you found and learned on your latest trip.

In the meantime, here are some news items you may want to be aware of.

In Paris’ eighth arrondissement, which includes the Champs-Elysées, crime has risen sharply in the last few years. So reports France’s National Crime Observatory.

In 2006 there were about 1,500 personal assaults there — an increase of 32% from the previous year. Threatening behavior was up 48%, and cases of violence without theft were up 93% (450 reported).

The once-chic area is increasingly filling with sex shops as well as nightclubs that now stay open all night, attracting unsavory characters during those hours.

China is setting a limit on the number of visitors at some tourist sites. For example, no more than 53,300 tourists will be able to visit the Badaling site of the Great Wall or the Ming Tombs each day — or 16 million annually. To prevent damage, there also will be rules about climbing on the wall.

As of Jan. 7, 2008, Britain’s Department for Transport allows more than one piece of hand luggage per person on flights in UK airports where improved 3-D security scanners have been installed. However, smaller airports may find the cost of the new scanners prohibitive. Another provision — it will be up to each airline to decide how much cabin baggage is to be taken on board.

Passengers should contact the airline they’re flying to find out how many carry-on bags it — and the airport — allows.

The larger airlines, such as British Airways, have been requesting the change to ease the pressure on passengers and reduce luggage-screening lines at airports.

The limits on the maximum size of carry-ons (22"x18"x10") and the size limit on liquid and gel containers (three ounces each all in a one-quart bag) are still in place.

Until the end of March 2008, people flying across three or more time zones may participate in an online survey on the effectiveness of a new method of preventing jet lag. It is being conducted by Dr. Patricia Carrington, Ph.D., Associate Clinical Professor at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, New Jersey.

No drugs, devices or schedule manipulation (changes in eating or sleeping) are involved. The key is a new way of using acupressure. I was asked not to reveal the exact technique, which is “. . . unconventional.”

Those who would like to participate (there is no charge) will take a qualifying survey and, if chosen to take part in the study, will be e-mailed a PDF file of the 14-page instruction manual “Jet Lag Passport” (normally $19.95 at www.jetlagpassport.com). They also will be notified of the results.

To take the survey, go to www. masteringeft.com and click on the jet image.

“ITN is always interesting and useful. I’ve enjoyed it for years,” wrote Ted Merrell of Juneau, Alaska. He continued: “G.F. Mueden’s review of ‘National Geographic: The Ultimate Field Guide to Landscape Photography’ (Dec. ’07, pg. 95) was right on! The rigid binding and narrow margins in the gutter made it nearly impossible to read. I, too, sent the book back for a refund.

“An additional criticism, for me, was the nearly total lack of coverage of film photography. For those of us who have not yet abandoned film for digital, its relevance was marginal.”

Referring to an article on an overland journey in West Africa, the first of two parts (Dec. ’07, pg. 46), a reader wrote, “Too bad you plan to do a follow-up on Jim Sill’s story. . . . Why spend all that dough and end up with such a bad experience?”

I answered him, “I’m not sure Jim regrets having made the trip. He came through it in good shape, probably thinks of it as an adventure and now certainly has a story to tell. He wasn’t looking for a luxury experience; that’s for sure.”

In contrast, Philip Isenhouer of Yorba Linda, California, wrote, “I enjoyed Jim Sill’s article on his independent travels through Africa. In my opinion, this is the second-best ITN article ever. The first one was by the man who did the independent travel through Venezuela (published the year before).

“I like these articles on independent travel, for that is how I travel, plus I like to read about travels to second- and third-world countries. In the countries visited most often, there is almost no stone left unturned, while almost all is new in the independent-travel areas.”

That article on Venezuela that Philip referred to? It was written by Jim Sill too (Aug. ’06, pg. 44).

Boy, did my face turn red! I proudly introduced our new Contributing Editor, Bryan Henry, last month and then I discovered that I left out a digit in his e-mail address on page 16.

You’ll find what I hope is his correct address on page 15 in this issue. Re-welcome aboard, Bryan.

This next news you may consider mixed good and bad.

We’ve been featuring the ITN Reference Index — a listing of all of the features, letters and news items printed in the previous six months of ITN — in every March and September issue. Well, next month the Reference Index will be posted only on our website so that we can devote that space in the magazine to more articles, letters and news items.

For those of you without computers, the index (covering all of 2007) will be available by mail for $2.50. Sans advertisements, it’s about nine double-sided pages long.

An error in our introduction to Robert Pine’s article, “Reflections from the World’s Most-traveled Couple” (Dec. ’07, pg. 26), was pointed out by Joe Whitehouse of Oakland, California.

The intro stated that Robert and Dorothy are recognized by the Travelers’ Century Club as the first couple in the world to have visited all 315 countries on that organization’s list. The TCC refers to them as countries, but we should have put that word in quotes.

At this time, The ITN Official List of Nations has 194 entries.

By the way, in that issue I mentioned the Pines’ secret for successfully traveling together for so long, that is, without killing each other: “Be flexible and have a good sense of humor.” I then asked you readers to share your own tips on that subject.

Skip Siegel of West Bloomfield, Michigan, volunteered, “Get cross-aisle seats. It works wonders, and you each get an aisle seat!”

Let’s hear from a few more of you traveling couples. Tell us which of you decides where to go next, for example. Do any decisions ever involve rock, paper, scissors? What mistakes have you seen others make? All suggestions are welcome. — D.T.