Euro makes Greece, other countries a good deal

A preliminary accord on a financial bailout last week seemed to have stabilized Greece for the moment, but ongoing uncertainties about its suitability as a vacation destination remain.

From a financial standpoint, Greece and any of the 18 other countries that use the euro are more affordable for the U.S. traveler this year. A 180-euro hotel room last year would have cost $245. This year? About $198.

Or, in the lingo of hotels, stay six nights this year, pay the same as you would have for five last year, plus enough left over for dinner for one. For more tips to help you evaluate your plans to visit Greece, see here.

Storm season starts

Other kinds of storms can affect your vacation — and we mean those that bring rains, high winds and, sometimes, destruction.

Hurricane season began June 1 and continues through Nov. 30 for the Atlantic Basin, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

The outlook this year, according to the State Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was for a normal (20% chance) or slightly below-normal (70% chance) season. (The remaining 10%? Above normal.) NOAA said the area may have as many as six to 11 named storms.

In the Eastern Pacific, odds were higher for an above-normal season. NOAA put that possibility at 70%, which could result in as many as 22 named storms. Last week, Hurricane Dolores was menacing Baja Sur and the western coast of Mexico.

In the Western and Central Pacific, the tropical cyclone/typhoon season began June 1. Like the Eastern Pacific, it has a 70% chance of an above-normal storm season.

The State Department recommends carrying travel insurance “to cover unexpected expenses during an emergency.”

To learn more: www.lat.ms/1SjHOd9

Holy Land dispute

A new point of contention has sprung up between Jordan and Israel with the recent designation of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Jordan River, which draws huge numbers of Christian pilgrims, is thought to have been where Jesus was baptized, but dual traditions placed the spot in different places — one in Jordan and the other Israel.

Earlier this month, UNESCO said the spot was in Jordan on the eastern bank. But absent definitive archaeological proof, the western bank should have been included, many contend.

That location is in a territory that Israel captured in 1967; Palestinians would want that area, if it ever achieves statehood. For now, it is occupied by the Israeli military.

Nepal disaster

The April 25 earthquake that struck Nepal continues to cause issues for the landlocked Asian country. In a warning dated July 2, the State Department warned visitors about the possibility of aftershocks, especially those near the epicenter.

Katmandu appears to have improved significantly, thanks to cleanup of debris and the demolition of severely damaged buildings.

But away from Nepal’s capital, the situation remains grim; access to basic necessities is not assured.

The country experienced severe landslides after the quake, and the monsoon season, which continues through September, will exacerbate the situation.

Soviet art removed

If you’re looking for Soviet-era statues in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, prepare to be disappointed. They’re being removed.

Although many were taken down in the 1990s, some remained in Vilnius, including one that depicts the Red Army.

Many saw them as symbols of Soviet repression. Russia took sometimes-sporadic control of the Baltic country in 1795 but was swept aside during World War II when Germany took over. After the war, the Soviet Union swept Lithuania into the fold.

A period of repression followed as the Soviet Union bent Lithuania to its will. Those who disagreed often were shipped off to Siberia.

Lithuania voted for independence in 1990 and was recognized by the Soviets the following year. The country is a member of the European Union.

Sources: The U.S. Department of State, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Associated Press

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