Travel Briefs

Dating from the 15th century and a convent for 150 years, historic Gillis House (phone 0131 623 8933) in Edinburgh, Scotland, is now a guest house.

Set in the Bruntsfield area, it offers three-star bed-and-breakfast accommodation with 19 bedrooms, all with bathrooms en suite. £40 (near $60) for one person or £60-£70 for two.

In 1834 the building was extended to include St. Margaret’s Chapel, and there is a large garden full of apple trees.

Wicklow Head Lighthouse, by the Irish Sea about an hour’s drive south of Dublin airport, was built in 1781. The interior of the 95-foot-tall stone tower was remodeled by the Irish Landmark Trust (25 Eustace St., Temple Bar, Dublin 2, 50 Bedford St., Belfast, BT2 7FW, Northern Ireland; phone +353 [0] 1 670 4733) and now contains six octagonal rooms and a kitchen.

The cost for one week’s stay in high season is €1,575 (near $1,925) and in low, €1,260. A midweek stay, arriving Monday and...

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Sponsored by the Wing Wah Cake Shop, Tasting Hong Kong (basement level, 478 Nathan Rd., Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; phone [852] 2374 6001, www.tastinghk.com) is a tourist attraction near Kowloon’s Temple Street shopping area.

With its exhibits and cooking demos focusing on local culture and customs, multilingual guides lead food tours. Souvenir shop. Free classes (up to 10 people) in making Chinese-style cakes are offered in multiple languages; book ahead. Open 9:30 a.m.-7:...

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Select Italy (303 W. Erie St., Ste. 410, Chicago, IL, 60654; 800/877-1755) offers after-hours guided tours of the Sistine Chapel. The two-hour visit also includes the Raphael Rooms, the Galleria of Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapestries and the Hall of Maps. 

Offered a day or two each week throughout 2010, the group tour (10 people maximum), in English, costs $449 per person, including taxes and entrance fees.

Football (aka soccer) fans can take a 90-minute tour of Wem­bley Stadium in London anyday except Christmas, New Year’s or during major events. Check out the Changing Room, walk through the Players’ Tunnel, hang out in the dugout and climb the Winners’ steps. A video presentation of highlights is included.

£15 (near $23) adult or £8 child (16 and under) or senior. Free with a London Pass. For tickets, call 0844 800 2755 or visit www.wembleystadium.com.

Through Dec. 31, 2010, people 66 years of age or older from any country can ride Irish Rail-operated trains in Ireland (but not Northern Ireland) for free with the “Golden Trekker” pass. Each pass is good for four days, and visitors may apply for up to three passes each (all at once, if desired).

Riders are restricted to economy class, and they must apply for the pass at least 48 hours in advance. Call 800/742-6762 or e-mail goldentrekker@tourismireland.com. Print out the confirmation...

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Walking distance from the Colosseum, the exhibit “3D Rewind” (Via Capo d’Africa 5, Rome, Italy; phone +39 0 6 77076627) centers on a video tour of ancient Rome with 3-D renderings.

There also is the exhibit “Wearing a toga,” a bronze shop reproducing ancient daily objects and the opportunity to take photos in period costume. Entry, €15 ($18) adult or, purchased online, €13.50.

Offering free entry and priority access to 55 major attractions, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and the Churchill War Rooms, “The London Pass” costs £40 (near $59) plus shipping for one day up to £90 for six days. It comes with a city map and a guide showing how to best use the pass. The website lists all attractions.

To purchase, contact Leisure Pass Group (P.O. Box 2337, London, W1A 5WE, U.K.; phone +44 [0] 1664 485 020, www.londonpass.com)… or buy in-store at...

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