Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.travel From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: travel Mon, Feb 17 1992 Date: Mon, 17 Feb 92 06:46:35 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: Travel USA TODAY Update Feb. 17, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network WEAK DOLLAR A TRAVEL OBSTACLE: The biggest obstacle for U.S. travelers to Europe is the weak dollar, according to travel experts. Airfares to Europe are low, but the dollar won't buy as many marks, francs or pounds as a year ago. The weak dollar is good for tourists coming to the USA but means higher prices overseas. Business travelers say a $100 U.S. room could cost $200 in London, for example. WATCH THE DEUTSCHE MARK: Would-be overseas travelers should keep an eye on the exchange rate between the dollar and the German deutsche mark. Most other Western European currencies are tied heavily to the mark. If the exchange rate goes from the current 62 cents per mark to 59 cents per mark, purchasing power jumps almost 5%. A bargain: Eastern Europe. Service is poor but prices are lower than Western costs. TRY NIGHT FLIGHT FOR KIDS: Flight attendants say the worst-behaved children are those ignored by their parents. When traveling with small children, be prepared for lots of entertaining. Try small bags of treats and toys that can be doled out separately. Also consider a night flight with lots of sleep time. Bring a change of clothes for kids in case of spilled food or drink. UKRAINE IS BLACKLISTED: The Ukraine and a few other places are blacklisted by major car-rental companies. Hertz' policy is most liberal, allowing renting a car in an Eastern European country or in Western Europe and driving it over. However, cars can't be taken into the Commonwealth of Independent States because distances are too great and Hertz locations too sparse. TOURISM PARTNERSHIP FORMED: The California Department of Commerce's office of tourism says it has entered into a partnership with other convention and visitor bureaus for trade representation in England and Germany. The partnership is with bureaus in Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Representation will be provided by Marketing Services (Travel & Tourism) Ltd. in London. COMPANY WILL BE LIAISON: Marketing Services (Travel & Tourism) Ltd. in London will serve as a liaison for those planning to visit California under a partnership formed with the California Department of Commerce and four state convention and visitor bureaus. England and Germany send more than one million visitors to California annually, about 23% of the total number of overseas visitors to the state. HAWAII LEVIES FLIER SURCHARGE: Hawaii plans to begin levying a $3 surcharge on passengers departing Honolulu Airport in the hope of raising $30 million per year. The money will be used to pay for work on airport facilities. Congress granted airports the authority to levy surcharges in 1990. N.D. PLANS SKI AREA: Construction is scheduled to begin June 15 on the White Mountain Ski area in Mandan, N.D., if $2.1 million in bonds authorized by the Morton County Park Board sell. The opening date for the ski area is targeted to be Nov. 1. MINIMAL RISK TO TOURISM CITED: A study by the Air National Guard contends that low-level training flights of F-16 jet fighters over central and northern Maine represent a small risk with only a minimal effect on tourism. Critics say the flights would cause noise and safety problems. HOUSE CHANGES MILES POLICY: A change in House rules allows members of the House of Representatives and their staff the option of converting frequent flier miles to personal use. The shift in policy brings the House in line with the "real world," insiders say. CHAIN TRIES AIRLINE TECHNIQUE: Marriott is taking a tip from the airlines. The hotel company's experiment with 24- and 21-day advance purchase requirements for rooms, begun about a year ago, has more than doubled executives' expectations. Marriott is testing the concept at all hotels, says Marriott's Richard Hanks. The latest twist is advance reservations. Marriott may test partially refundable advance purchase options. PAYMENT CUTS ABUSES: Jeanie Thompson Smith of auditing firm Topaz Enterprises says one manager fed up with travel policy abuse showed one traveler a report that the flier's choice of flights had meant an additional $307 for the company. The manager told the traveler he was sure it was a mistake and, in front of the traveler, wrote a personal check to cover it. Word spread and obedience to policy got better. 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Weather Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Travel Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 08:0002170000D0217 WEAT-R C More-rain-to-hit-West-Coast........... A D0217 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM