Parking in Barcelona: Sparse and Expensive

The city of Barcelona will enforce strict traffic regulations--and triple the cost of parking in city-center lots--to discourage tourists from attempting to drive into the city during the July 25-Aug. 9 Summer Olympics. Some areas of the city will be off-limits to all private cars, with access permitted only to Olympic Committee vehicles, public transportation and residents of the area, according to the National Tourist Office of Spain. Those who do drive within the city limits will find it nearly impossible to find a parking place anywhere near the Olympic areas since street parking will be prohibited; city-center parking lots that can accommodate tourists will be charging $60 per day. As an alternative, dozens of parking areas are being built on the outskirts of the city--in areas adjacent to new freeways, including Hebron, Trinidad and Glorias, west, northwest and north of Barcelona. Cost for parking and transportation to the four Olympic sites and back out to the parking lot will be $10 per day. Meanwhile, the number of buses and subways to Olympic areas will be greatly increased, and there will be special transportation from some hotels to the Olympic areas and back.

Travel Quiz: What airline makes chess sets available to passengers and will have flight attendants make an announcement requesting a chess opponent?

Buenos Aires Airport Caution: Federal Aviation Administration specialists monitoring Ezeize International Airport have found that despite recent improvements in security, the airport does not meet minimum security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations organization that sets standards for airports around the world. The standards apply to checkpoint areas where travelers are screened and to so-called secure areas of the airport, and do not involve safety issues such as runway and air traffic conditions. Travelers are advised by the U.S. State Department to exercise caution when traveling through Ezeize, the only international airport in Buenos Aires.

Quick Fact: Cost of a locally made pack of 20 cigarettes in Cuba, a major tobacco producer and exporter: about $10.

A Taxing Affair: Despite the fact that the U.S. government collected an estimated $4.4 billion in 1990 in domestic airline ticket taxes, 83% of travelers questioned do not know where their travel-related tax dollars go, according to a nationwide poll of 200 travelers taken by the American Society of Travel Agents. Perhaps that’s not surprising, since about half of the money collected is not being used for its intended airport/airways improvement purpose. Eighty percent of the tax on domestic air tickets goes to the federal Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which was created by Congress to improve safety and prevent overcrowding in the aviation system. Twenty percent goes into the Treasury and is used to offset the federal deficit. That 20% currently is an uncommitted balance of about $7.2 billion.

Cheap(er) Eats: Best known as the place to buy foie gras and caviar, Paris’s world-renowned French delicatessen Fauchon last month opened a small, unpretentious, reasonably priced Italian trattoria on its second floor. Cost for a light lunch of pasta with a glass of wine: about $20 per person. This may not sound like a rock-bottom price, but considering the location on Place de la Madeleine near Paris’ haute shopping area, and the quality of Fauchon food, it’s a relative bargain.

Irish Roots: Though St. Patrick’s Day festivities are over, a major Irish celebration--the Irish Roots Homecoming, Sept. 20-27--has just been announced. It will feature clan rallies all over Ireland. For Irish-Americans unsure of specific roots, the Clans’ Alliance International (a nonprofit group) is offering a tour Sept. 19-27 led by genealogists to help them locate ancestors. Call (800) 321-9935.

Bush’s U.K. Campaign: A videotaped “Travel America” invitation by President Bush to citizens in the United Kingdom is being credited with prompting a 227% jump in inquiries about travel here, according to a U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration spokesman. During the six weeks the tape was part of print and television ads, tourism inquiries at the USTTA’s London office rose 227% over the same period last year and 57% over the same period in 1990. In response to that success, a 60-second version of President Bush’s message will be broadcast on television in 30 countries in Eastern and Western Europe.

Showy Boat: A new high-speed boat between Hakata Bay, in Japan’s seaside city of Fukuoka, and Pusan, Korea, has trimmed travel time between the two locations from 14 hours to three. In addition to saving time, the Jet-Foil, a joint venture of Japan-Rail-Kyushu and Korean National Railroad, can save money. A round-trip economy plane ticket between Fukuoka and Pusan is about $200, while the Jet-Foil costs $165. The Jet-Foil departs daily from both ports.

Comparatively Speaking: Cruise ship sanitation scores for ships inspected in February (a score of 87 or higher indicates acceptable sanitation): Amerikanis, 97; Celebration, 95; Costa Marina, 91; Crown Princess, 88; Discovery I, 93; Nantucket Clipper, 89; Noordam, 92; Mermoz, 82; World Renaissance, 88. (Source: Department of Health and Human Services.)

Fair Warning: Dancers, musicians, storytellers and magicians will be dressed in the traditional Danish costumes of characters from Hans Christian Andersen books at the sixth-annual Hans Christian Andersen Fairytale Festival in Solvang, April 11-19. Also planned are an Easter egg hunt, Easter parade and a variety of performances for children. For more information, contact the Solvang Visitors Center, P.O. Box 70, 1593 Mission Drive, Solvang 93463, (800) 468-6765 or (805) 688-6144.

Quiz Answer: Aeroflot.