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Warning of the week: America gets tougher
The cost and inconvenience of reaching the US steps up again this week
– but
holidaymakers and business travellers considering a transatlantic trip in
the next two years can dodge the new financial penalty by applying for
permission by next Tuesday, 7 September.
On Wednesday, the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) changes
from a free service to one that will cost $14 (nearly £10) per person. But
permission to enter the US lasts for two years, which means the ESTA will
expire at the end of the summer of 2012. You can re-apply even you have a
current ESTA.
Beware of simply tapping "ESTA" into a search engine, because the
first few entries will be commercial ventures seeking to get you to pay
more. Instead, use this link: www.bit.ly/cl5Hlb.
Bargain of the week: Long-haul ferry deals
Now the summer holidays are over, the operators of longer-distance ferry
crossings are cutting their fares in order to boost their traffic.
Stena Line is selling space on its Harwich-Hook of Holland route for as little
as £49 each way for a car plus driver, with an extra £12 each way for
additional adult passengers; book online at stenaline.co.uk to avoid a £10
charge for phone bookings.
Norfolkline is selling its Rosyth-Zeebrugge link for £80 each way for a car
plus two (norfolkline.com).
The new Nantes/St-Nazaire to Gijon service that starts on Wednesday is run by
GLD Atlantique, a joint venture between LD Lines of Paris and Grimaldi Lines
of Naples (book at gldatlantique.co.uk).
The opening offer for the 14-hour journey between western France and northern
Spain is £79 each way for a car plus two, including a cabin.
Destination of the week: Slovenia, underground
If the prospect of 48 hours in Ljubljana tempts you to Slovenia, extend your
stay – and ignore the weather – by heading underground, writes Norm Longley,
author of the Rough Guide to Slovenia (£13.99).
With more than 7,000 caves catalogued, Slovenia boasts some amazing
subterranean systems. Most are located in the Karst, a stony limestone
plateau bordering Italy in the south-west corner of the country. The immense
underground canyon of Skocjan – pictured – (park-skocjanske-jame.si; tours
hourly 10am-5pm, €14) is Slovenia's most memorable natural wonder.
At Postojna (postojna-cave.com; tours 9am-6pm, €20), hop aboard a cave train
that hurtles through enormous chambers to a complex of brightly lit grottoes
stuffed with stalactites and stalagmites.
Tip of the week: Oberammergau
This Bavarian village stages Passion Plays only once a decade. The present
season ends four weeks tomorrow; miss it, and you will have to wait until
2020. But some tickets are still available.
Through the German specialist DER Travel Service (020-7290 1111;
dertour.co.uk), a package with Lufthansa flights from Heathrow to Munich,
rail travel from the airport to Oberammagau, meals and a room in a private
home costs £779 – including category 2 tickets for one performance.
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Source: The Independent(www.independent.co.uk) |
