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Complete Forecast for  Jul 24 2008

CHICAGO - The Mobil Travel Guide, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has for the first time awarded five stars to properties in Wyoming and Utah.

The Four Seasons Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah, were both new additions to Mobil's 2008 five-star club.

Other properties appearing on Mobil's five-star list for the first time are the Boston Harbor Hotel and The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island in South Carolina.

The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the longest-running property on Mobil's five-star list, marking its 48th year of receiving the honor.

Three new restaurants earned five stars from the 2008 guide: the Georgian Room in Sea Island, Ga., The Inn at Dos Brisas in Brenham and Le Bernardin in New York. Only one new spa -- the Spa at the Sanctuary at the Kiawah Island resort -- was added to the list this year.

Forty-one lodgings, 17 restaurants and three spas earned five stars from Mobil.

The new guide also lists 50 newly added four-star hotels, restaurants and spas.

The four-star list includes the famed Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The Greenbrier lost its five-star Mobil rating in 2000, and had hoped to regain the prestigious ranking following the completion last year of a $50 million renovation project.

First published in 1958, the Mobil Travel Guide uses a rigorous standardized system for evaluating properties, with 750 criteria for hotels, more than 250 for restaurants, and 450 criteria for spas. Mobil's inspectors also make unannounced, undercover visits. Their service evaluation, for example, looks to see if guests are greeted by a valet within 60 seconds upon arriving at a hotel or are offered a beverage within 60 seconds of being seated at a restaurant.

"We are thrilled to share this landmark year with travelers across the world and look forward to another fantastic 50 years," said Shane O'Flaherty, president and CEO for Mobil Travel Guide.

Special 50th anniversary editions of Mobil's 15 regional travel guides are available from Langenscheidt Publishing for $16.95-$19.95, or check out the list online at http://www.mobiltravelguide.com.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. - Yellowstone National Park has launched a live, streaming webcam focused on the Old Faithful area.

The real-time webcam provides full motion video of Old Faithful Geyser, as well as other geysers located on Geyser Hill.

A five-minute audio message plays with the live video stream, providing information about various hydrothermal features in the park.

Viewers may also observe wildlife and park visitors as they wander into the range of the webcam.

Park officials caution that the streaming webcam is still experimental, especially in the harsh environment of a typical Yellowstone winter, and may not work at times. To see the webcam, go to http://www.nps.gov/yell and click on "Photos & Multimedia."

CHICAGO - Chicago is offering a new free guide for visitors with disabilities called "Easy Access Chicago."

Basic visitor information for city attractions like Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower are all in the guide, along with details on accommodations like ramps and elevators, handicapped parking, Braille signage and assistive listening devices, and accessible bathrooms, counters and ticket windows.

Other tips include how to get a 21-day pass for paratransit services or arrange free guided tours for visitors with disabilities through the Chicago Greeter program, which offers 40 special interest areas and 25 neighborhoods to choose from (details at http://www.chicagogreeter.com or 312-744-8000).

"Easy Access Chicago" can be ordered by mail at no charge from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism at 800-226-6632 or by visiting http://www.enjoyillinois.com. It can also be downloaded in a PDF format from http://www.easyaccesschicago.org.

You'll find the link near the bottom of the welcome screen.

Last year Chicago was named one of America's most disability-friendly cities by the National Organization on Disability.

All the city's public buses are wheelchair-accessible.

Each July, the city hosts the largest Disability Pride Parade in the nation as well as AccessChicago, a products and services expo.

NEW YORK (AP) - More Americans are seeing Europe by cruise ship than ever before, and that trend has led Fodor's to publish a new book, "The Complete Guide to European Cruises" ($23.95).

"More cruise lines have moved ships to Europe, particularly to cater to the American market, than at any time I can remember," said the book's editor, Douglas Stallings.

"Americans are looking for new places to cruise. A lot of them have done the Caribbean and done it several times. For their next cruise, they want something different and they're choosing Europe."

Stallings added that the dollar's continued weakness against the euro makes cruises an attractive choice as a hedge against expenses.

You pay for the cruise upfront in dollars; all your lodging and meals are paid for.

"Americans see a great deal of value in a cruise that's priced in U.S. dollars," Stallings added. "A cruise is also one of the most cost-effective ways to see a variety of destinations -- albeit not for very much time in each place."

Convenience is a factor too. "It's an easy way to travel," Stallings said. You only unpack once, and you can take the tours offered by the ship or go off on your own.

Stallings said that depending on the itinerary, ships on European trips often stay in port until midnight, which means visitors have plenty of time to check out local restaurants and see the sights.

NEW YORK (AP) - Are the economy and the weak dollar putting a crimp in your vacation plans?

The Web site for Travel + Leisure magazine is offering an online report on the 10 best places to stretch a weak dollar at http://www.travelandleisure.com.

On the list are Eastern Europe, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Vietnam, South America, the Mediterranean, Mexico, the Bahamas, Western Europe's rivers via river cruise, and London.

And in case you're wondering how London got on the list with the euro at nearly $1.50, the Web site advises shopping for vacation packages that include airfare, meals and activities. Recommended in particular are Continental Vacations - 800-301-3800 or http://www.covaca-tions.com.

As an example, the Web site cited an eight-night package with accommodations at the Thistle Victoria - http://www.thistlehotels.com - for $1,300 per person based on double occupancy, which was described as offering a savings of $1,600 compared to separate hotel and air bookings.

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WASHINGTON (AP) - National Geographic Kids magazine is sponsoring its third annual "Hands-On Explorer Challenge," in which 15 kids ages 9-14 and two teachers will win an 11-day expedition to Australia, courtesy of Tourism Australia.

To enter, kids must write an original essay of no more than 300 words describing how they "actively explore their world" and the most interesting things they have encountered. They must also illustrate the essay with a photo they've taken. Subjects might include something found in a backyard, park, zoo, pond, or on a vacation with family. Each winner will bring a parent or guardian on the expedition.

For the teacher competition, educators are asked to conduct a hands-on activity related to Australia with their students, and write an essay about it of no more than 500 words. Activities can be original or based on ideas at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions. Detailed instructions for carrying out the activity, a photograph of students engaged in the activity and a letter of support from the principal or a supervisor also are required.

The contest is open only to full-time teachers in grades 3-8 on any subject matter during the 2007-08 school year and who plan to teach during the 2008-09 school year.

The Australia expedition is scheduled for July 16-28. Entries must be postmarked by Feb. 15, and received by Feb. 22. Complete rules and details can be found online at http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Explorer-trip-2008.


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NEW YORK (AP) - Several deals sponsored by NYC & Company, the city's official tourism and marketing organization, are making wintertime visits to New York City a little less chilly.

"NYC Sunday Stays" offers 20 percent off a Sunday-to-Monday overnight stay at 44 hotels. Besides the discounted rate, many hotels are offering room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and other amenities. Participating hotels include The Algonquin, the Grand Hyatt, the Hilton and others. Details at http://www.nycvisit.com/NYCSundayStays.

"NYC Open:Book," through Feb. 29, is offering two-for-one admission and discounts on tickets and shopping at a variety of museums, theaters and other attractions around the city, plus other offers. Open:Book also offers discounts of 15-25 percent off the best available rate at several hotels. The program includes Manhattan as well as other boroughs of the city. Details at http://www.nycvisit.com/openbook/.

And finally, 10 luxury hotels, part of the Signature Collection group, are offering a "Third Night" promotion, in which you get the third night free after purchase of two nights, through Feb. 29. Participating hotels include the Hotel Plaza Athenee; Jumeirah Essex House; Loews Regency Hotel; Mandarin Oriental New York; The London NYC; The New York Palace Hotel; The Sherry-Netherland; The St. Regis Hotel, New York; The Waldorf Towers; and Trump International Hotel and Towers.

Third Night guests also get a VIP package at Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store that includes a personal shopper. Details at http://www.nycvisit.com/thirdnight.

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HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - Vietnam's national air carrier hopes to have direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Los Angeles within a year after the U.S. provided $1.4 million to help upgrade safety standards, an official said.

The money will be used to ensure Vietnam's aviation safety and security procedures meet international standards required for all aircraft entering the United States, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi.

"The assistance is essential to Vietnam Airlines in its efforts to open direct flights to the United States," said Lai Xuan Thanh, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, or CAAV. "We need more direct flights to match the fine growing economic ties between Vietnam and the United States."

He said the project's three phases are expected to be completed by August. U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will then visit Vietnam to check that all of the standards have been met.

"The United States stands ready to help the CAAV and Vietnam Airlines upgrade its safety capacity and looks forward to the opening of direct service to the United States," the embassy statement said.

Vietnam Airlines could then launch its direct flight to the U.S. in late 2008 at the earliest, he said. It would fly from the southern commercial hub Ho Chi Minh City to Los Angeles via Osaka, Japan.

Currently, United Airlines is the only carrier to operate direct service to the U.S. It opened flight from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco via Hong Kong in late 2004.

These flights are considered direct because the planes only stop for a short time to pick up additional passengers.

EDMONDS, Wash. (AP) - Rick Steves, the travel writer and tour expert, is offering two European itineraries for families this summer.

While teenagers are welcome on all tours offered by Steves' company, two tours being offered this summer will accommodate kids as young as 8.

"Family Europe in 14 Days" begins in Rome, continues elsewhere in Italy, travels through Austria and Switzerland, and ends in Paris.

Departures are June through August; some are already full but others are still accepting bookings. Rates for adults are $3,595 plus airfare, with a $200 discount for children 8-17.

A second tour, "Family Paris & the Heart of France in 11 Days," which begins and ends in Paris, is full but putting families on its waiting list.

Steves' family tours were first offered in 2006.

Details at http://www.ricksteves.com/tours (click on "Family tours").