Travel Briefs

August 2019 issue | Appears on page 4

Passport requests to take longer

The US State Department announced on June 1 that passport applications now will take six to eight weeks to be processed, up from the four to six weeks it had taken previously. At press time, it was not known whether this change was temporary or permanent. Expedited service, offering processing in two to three weeks, is still available for an extra $60.

August 2019 issue | Appears on page 4

Visitor limit at part of Great Wall

On June 1, China began limiting the number of visitors to the Badaling section of the Great Wall, outside of Beijing, to 65,000 people per day. To help enforce the limit, timed tickets for visiting that section must now be purchased at least seven days in advance.

As of press time, tickets were available only with the assistance of Chinese-speaking travel agents. A ticket costs CNY40 (near $6), April 1-Oct. 31, and CNY35, Nov. 1-March 31.

August 2019 issue | Appears on page 4

Tarry at the Taj at a cost

At the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, a new pricing structure with a time limit was introduced on June 23. Entry to the grounds now costs INR1,000 (near $14.40) for three hours, with entry to the mausoleum costing an additional INR200. Anyone staying even one minute beyond the allotted three hours will be charged INR1,000 for another three hours, with the same condition then applying again upon exiting.

(For example, a person spending six hours and one minute on the grounds will be charged...

CONTINUE READING »
August 2019 issue | Appears on page 4

Bruges limits cruises

In order to reduce the number of tourists visiting Bruges, Belgium, on June 16 the city reduced the number of cruise ships allowed to dock at its port, Zeebrugge, to two at a time. The port can accommodate five large cruise ships. The city has also limited to weekdays the days on which cruise ships can dock there, eliminating dockings on Saturdays and Sundays.

August 2019 issue | Appears on page 4

Russia seizes cruise ships

Russia unexpectedly seized two docked research vessels leased to the Arctic- and Antarctic-cruise company One Ocean Expeditions for passenger service — the Akademic Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov — in May 2019, saying the ships required maintenance. The ships, which each can carry about 100 passengers, have been in the service of One Ocean since 2012.

A company spokesman said they had no advance notice of the seizure and have been forced to cancel all scheduled 2019-...

CONTINUE READING »
August 2019 issue | Appears on page 4

Zimbabwe bans foreign currency

Zimbabwe banned the use of foreign currency in transactions on June 24 while reintroducing physical Zimbabwean dollar bills.

Zimbabwe has struggled with maintaining its own currency, dropping the previous Zimbabwean dollar in 2009 due to hyperinflation and making multiple foreign currencies, including the US dollar, South African rand and Chinese yuan, official currencies. At that time, one US dollar was worth 35 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollars.

In October 2016, the country...

CONTINUE READING »
August 2019 issue | Appears on page 17

No free lunch with AmEx

As of Aug. 1, holders of the Platinum-level American Express credit card who have signed up for Priority Pass will no longer enjoy the benefit of meal credits at restaurants in airports or airport lounges, though they will continue to have access to participating lounges worldwide. Anyone with a Priority Pass from a source other than American Express will still receive meal credits.

August 2019 issue | Appears on page 17

Oberammergau Passion Play

The Oberammergau Passion Play, staged in the southern Bavarian town every 10 years since 1633, will be performed in 2020 once a day each Tuesday and from Friday through Sunday, May 16 through Oct. 4.

Tickets, on sale since March 6, were still available at press time, priced from €30 to €180 (near $34-$205), depending on seat category. Visit www.passionsspieleoberammergau.de/en/home.

CONTINUE READING »