TRAVEL BY NUMBERS | Top 10 Dream
Destinations
Americans’ top dream destinations, from a survey for MasterCard Advisors Global Cardholder Service.
1. Australia/New Zealand, 65 percent
2. Hawaii, 60 percent
3. (Tie) Alaska, 55 percent
4. England/Scotland/Ireland, 55 percent
5. (Tie) Caribbean, 48 percent
6. France/Italy/other Europe, 48 percent
7. African safari, 34 percent
YOU MUST BE DREAMING
Princess Cruises will return to world travel in 2008 with a full 102-day adventure aboard the intimate Pacific Princess. Traveling across six continents, visiting 31 countries, this journey of a lifetime offers passengers the opportunity to experience such iconic destinations as Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat and the Pyramids of Egypt. Departing Jan. 10, 2008, the 670-passenger Pacific Princess’ first round-the-world voyage sails from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton, visiting 42 destinations along the way. Featuring a unique small-ship atmosphere, Pacific Princess takes passengers on a westbound trek from North America that encompasses South America, the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Passengers who wish to extend their world-cruise experience have the unique opportunity to add an additional six-day transatlantic crossing aboard the legendary Queen Mary 2 for a 108-day adventure ending in New York. World cruise passengers will travel in style aboard the intimate Pacific Princess, one of the line’s three smallest vessels. Early booking fares for Pacific Princess’ world cruise begin at $19,995 for the 102-day sailing or $21,144 for the 108-day journey, including the QM2 crossing. Call 800-PRINCESS or visit princess.com.
BOOK YOUR VACATION
Part of the fun of traipsing through the Southwest is searching for that perfect piece of pottery to commemorate the trip, a stunning hand- woven rug to hang in the entranceway, a turquoise necklace to show off at the office after the vacation is over. But it can be a hassle to find a place to purchase such objects because quality can vary so widely and shops can be hidden down long stretches of desert road. But author Laura Morelli has done some of the legwork for us in “Made in the Southwest: A Shopper’s Guide to the Region’s Best Native American, Hispanic, and Western Craft Traditions” ($24.95, Universe Publishing). Filled with photos of scenery, art and crafts, the book is sectioned into two parts, the first an explanation of the three traditions and how their styles translate into Native American pottery, rugs and jewelry, Hispanic crafts and Western leatherwork, while the second is a listing of what Morelli considers to be the best stores and artisans purveying those goods by state. Each area showcases the towns known for their markets and products, and Morelli includes tips on ferreting out fakes, getting a good deal and a calendar of festivals. She also points out pricey spots.
GEARING UP
Travel gear that takes care of two jobs in one makes for lighter, smarter packing – and it’s easier on the environment, to boot. Check out the pocket toothbrush from Ohso, a handy-dandy little item that combines the brush itself with a storage container beneath that holds the toothpaste sucked out of your home tube. That means not only can you dispense with buying a million little extra travel toothpastes, but you also can take along the bubble-gum-flavored Barbie stuff that never comes in travel size anyway. Simply screw off the bottom of the toothbrush and vacuum pressure pulls the toothpaste out of your tube; the brush top is kept clean with a cap that looks like an office pen. When it’s time for a new head, purchase a three-pack for $6.95. The sets come in chrome and black rubber or clear and black rubber and are easy to clean; hot water washes the toothpaste out of the bottom and the pen cap, which also has a nice clip for snapping onto the cord of your travel bag or the pocket of your jammies. | $19.95, goohso.com
TRAVEL BY NUMBERS | Top 10 Dream Destinations
Americans’ top dream destinations, from a survey for MasterCard Advisors Global Cardholder Service.
1. Australia/New Zealand, 65 percent
2. Hawaii, 60 percent
3. (Tie) Alaska, 55 percent
4. England/Scotland/Ireland, 55 percent
5. (Tie) Caribbean, 48 percent
6. France/Italy/other Europe, 48 percent
7. African safari, 34 percent
8. New England, 29 percent
9. Asia, 28 percent
10. Latin America, 27 percent
– Chicago Tribune
GEOQUIZ
1. What is the official language of Liechtenstein?
2. Which country recently created the world’s largest reef sanctuary in the waters off Queensland?
3. Scotland’s capital city is located just south of the Firth of Forth. Name this city.
4. What island country just south of the Arctic Circle lies along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
5. Benelux, an economic and social alliance, was instituted after World War II by the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and which other country?
6. Giant waves from the North Atlantic are pushing huge boulders hundreds of feet inland on the Orkney Islands. The Orkney Islands lie off the coast of what large island?
7. Enslaved persons from Africa influenced the religion, food, and music of the region around Salvador in which South American country?
8. The Lofoten are a group of small, rocky islands that form a buffer between the Atlantic Ocean and which Scandinavian country?
9. In 732, Christian Franks defeated a Muslim army at the Battle of Tours in which present-day country?
10. Transylvania, a region rich in mineral resources, is located in Romania but was controlled throughout much of its history by a neighboring country to the west. Name this country.
ANSWERS: 1. German 2. Australia 3. Edinburgh 4. Iceland 5. Belgium 6. Great Britain (Also acceptable: Britain) 7. Brazil 8. Norway 9. France 10. Hungary
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
8. New England, 29 percent
9. Asia, 28 percent
10. Latin America, 27 percent
– Chicago Tribune
