Michelin Travel offers N. American road atlas

Michelin Travel offersN. American road atlas
Michelin Travel Publications, best known for its European guides and maps, has introduced its first North American Road Atlas, a 290-page, spiral-bound book that is a masterpiece of organization.
This atlas clearly cross-references its main maps and submaps, smoothly steering the user around its pages and avoiding that dead-end feeling that comes when your route leaves one page and you're not sure where it continues.
Other details include dozens of distance charts keyed to adjacent maps, and distance scales that are spelled out: "One inch equals 9.3 miles."
The cover price is $16.95; available in bookstores or by calling (800) 610-5122.
New cruise companytakes over 3 ships
Many passengers of Renaissance Cruises bemoaned the luxury line's passing when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and stopped operating in September 2001.
Three of the line's eight ships, all virtually new, seem headed for a new cruise company called Oceana Cruises, according to a report in Travel Weekly.
Oceana will be run by former Renaissance chief executive officer Frank Del Rio and former Crystal Cruises president Joseph Watters. Initial plans call for a reservation center to open by early next year.
Travel Weekly said Oceana has an agreement with Cruiseinvest, owner of the remaining Renaissance ships, for a charter operation with purchase options for up to three of the ships, the R1, R2 and R5.
The R1, renamed the Regatta, would start service in July, sailing a western European itinerary between Barcelona and Dover, England.
Among the other former Renaissance ships, the R3 and R4 are being operated by Princess Cruises; the R8 is under charter to Swan Hellenic Cruises, and the R6 and R7 are under discussion, according to Travel Weekly.
Eric Carle Museumset to open in Mass.
A new museum exploring art in children's literature from around the world will open in Amherst, Mass.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art was dedicated recently.
Festivities will continue Saturday and next Sunday with a celebration of reading, creating, eating, dancing and singing.
The 40,000-square-foot museum houses three galleries, which will feature rotating exhibitions of works by national and international guest artists and by Eric Carle, who helped found the museum.
He is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books printed in 30 languages. Among them is the 1969 classic "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."
The 130-seat auditorium will host performances, films and lectures by visiting artists and scholars, and a reading library will offer a comfortable setting for reading and storytelling.
The museum also will have a cafe and a shop.
For more information, call (413) 586-8934 or visit www.picturebookart.org on the Web.
Caribbean resortsoffer winter discounts
Vacationers who want to laze on a beach this winter can choose from a blizzard of bargains on Caribbean resorts.
Concerned that this winter may be even slower than last year, the resorts are offering discounts starting at 35 percent for island paradises.
At SuperClubs, the discount will be 40 percent from Jan. 1 to April 27, a spokeswoman said.
The chain, which operates 16 clubs in the Caribbean and Brazil, is opening two new clubs in the Dominican Republic, Breezes Punta Cana and Breezes Puerta Plata, which will also go on sale Jan. 1.
A rate of $115 per person per night, double, will include meals, sports and alcoholic beverages, the spokeswoman said.
Sandals and Beaches resorts are offering 35 percent discounts.
The sale started recently in two Sandals hotels, the Royal Bahamian in the Bahamas and Sandals Halcyon St. Lucia.
The rest of the 11 Sandals resorts go on sale Jan. 1.
Beaches resorts have a 35 percent discount through Dec. 18, 2003, a spokeswoman said.
Suit settled; hotelswill give discounts
Many travelers who stayed at several big hotel chains last year are receiving by mail vouchers related to a class-action lawsuit over energy surcharges.
Four chains that added the charges to guests' bills have agreed to settle California lawsuits alleging that the charges were illegal because they were not disclosed or were improperly disclosed.
Under the terms of the settlements tentatively approved July 23 in Los Angeles Superior Court, a guest who stayed at a Marriott, Starwood, Hilton or Hyatt hotel and who paid an energy surcharge is entitled to a $10 discount on a future stay.
The California energy crisis in early 2001 led to a rise in energy costs, and many California hotels instituted the surcharges, a practice that spread to hotels across the country.
The suit pivoted on the allegation that the hotel companies had failed to notify guests in advance about the fees, which often were $2.50 to $3.50 per day. Most people who stand to benefit from the settlements were guests between March and September 2001.
The vouchers could be used between Dec. 15, 2002, and Dec. 14, 2003, and a voucher holder would have to cite a discount code when making a reservation.
The settlement notices and samples of the vouchers can be found at www.energysettlements.com on the Web.
For $10, reservetower of Pisa time
There are still lines waiting to march the 293 steps to the top of Italy's popular leaning tower of Pisa, but you can make a timed reservation that will allow you to climb the steep tower without being already exhausted from waiting on line.
With a $10 reservation, you can climb the tower with an escort at the appointed time and have roughly 40 minutes to enjoy the view and the architectural detail. Children under 8 are not allowed.
The reservations are available throughout November from tour operator Select Italy, but don't wait until the last minute to apply, warns agency representative Maria Meyer.
Tickets are an additional 17 euro, purchased from the Tower.
Call (847) 853-1661 or visit www.selectitaly.com on the Web.
Central Fla. couponscan save you cash
The road to Central Florida is paved with travel discount coupon books, which can be picked up at tourist information centers and many fast-food stands and other establishments along the well-traveled routes.
The coupons promise hotel rates as low as $32 and $35 a night or a suite for the price of a room as well as two-for-one deals in restaurants and discounted attractions. But the hotel discount coupons are "subject to availability," so you may not get the rate if the place is almost full.
However, space is usually available these days in the Orlando area's 108,000 hotel rooms, says Rich Maladecki, president of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association.
"International travel is down. There are many discounted opportunities," Maladecki says, so he advises picking up a coupon book or two.
Britain marks birth ofchurch founder Wesley
The British Tourist Authority is inviting American travelers to celebrate the 300th anniversary next year of the birth of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church.
A brochure has been prepared in partnership with the Methodist Church in Britain and West Coast tour operator Trinity World Tours. It spotlights areas in Britain of significance to Methodism.
Tours include visits to Epworth, the birthplace of John Wesley and his brother Charles, and Oxford, where the brothers graduated from Christ Church College and the site of the church of St. Mary the Virgin, where John delivered numerous sermons.
Events and festivals planned in Britain during the Wesley year will include the Ecumenical Celebration in Lincoln Cathedral and the Oxford Festival of Sacred and Inspirational Music.
For more information, visit www.travelbritain.org/wesley2003. For a brochure, call (800) 462-2748.
Combined dispatches