European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Travel tips Dollar. I by Christopher Reynolds los Angeles times americans travelling around Europe this summer Are sure to have this question hanging somewhere in their Heads How far will our Money go the answer is far indeed if your destination is Italy Spain or Portugal and if you re comparing this year s prices with those of last year and the year before that if you re bound for Greece or Turkey the Dollar s Strong Exchange numbers Wil cheer you up. But racing inflation has been grinding away at the drachma and the turkish lira and your dollars will be left with Only slightly More clout than they had last year at this time. Similarly if you re bound for England France or Germany your 1994 dollars will carry essentially the same weight that1993 dollars did. Here s a Quick look at the Dollar s prospects in several european destinations All scenery and character aside the Exchange rates quoted below come from Thomas Cook foreign Exchange As reported on March 25,1992 March 23, 1993 and March 22,1994. In England a Dollar bought 55 Pence two years ago 65 Pence one year ago and 64 Pence last month. Inflation ran 2.4 percent in the year ended in february. Runzheimer International which calculates per diem rates for executives using first class hotels and restaurants in is Dayo Casey one of numerous currency Exchange Banks at the Airport in Frankfurt Germany. February 1994, set its daily London figure at $315.85. Keep in mind that the per diem numbers measure top notch places in the Center of principal cities some of the most expensive places a traveler can find in most countries Amsterdam s 4,000 bars cafes May get longer operating hours from wire reports Amsterdam Netherlands officials Are considering longer licensing hours for the 4,000 bars and cafes in the Venice of the  current regulations allow them to remain open until 2 . Weekdays and 3 . Weekends. City Council spokeswoman Poortje Van Oostveen said precise details of the extended opening plan in part aimed at the tourist Trade have riot yet been worked out. She added that the City s hundreds of Coffee shops would not get extra opening time. They currently have a 2 . Limit. V at to has unveiled its world plus service. It provides globetrotters with one simple method for making Calls sending messages and using advanced calling features in a familiar language from More than 40  by dealing an Access number account number and pin number subscribers can make Calls within the country they revisiting or to other countries Access a personal Mailbox and Send voice mail and fax messages. Also available Are Speed dealing sequence and conference calling use fan International directory interpretive services in 140 languages and a travellers hot line. $ the annual subscription fee for world plus which starts May 1, is $70 with each service billed at a Flat rate. Call 1 -800-382-5612 for further information. A letter in the new England journal of Medicine alerts travellers to a new flight related ear affliction. A patient who had recently returned from a trip to Europe complained of mild discomfort in his left ear according to two doctors from Emory University in Atlanta. An exam turned up a spongy Tan mass lodged in the ear and the patient had no idea of its source. Later while flying on a Domestic flight one of the doctors noticed that there was a foam Cyl de positioned loosely in the earpiece of the in flight Headset that exactly matched the one removed from the patient. The airline was not identified or. Henry s. Kahn and or. Sandra Maryman conclude in the March 31journal that they have identified a probable source of foreign bodies in the ear associated with the use of in flight headsets such is the serendipity of travel and medical  Mastercard Cirrus network has installed its first arms in Russia at three locations in Moscow the Central Telegraph office near red Square the novo Arbatsky department store Novi arbat 13, and at Moscow International Airport. The machines which have instructions in English Are dispensing dollars now but will switch to rubles by the end of april. _. According to the German press Agency spa starting May 1, Hungary will require foreign tourists entering the country to have the Cash equivalent of 5,000 forints about $50 in their Possession. Currently tourists Are required to have the equivalent of 1,000 forints about $10 for each Day they plan to stay. In France a Dollar bought 5.31 francs two years ago 5.25 francs one year ago and 5.45 francs last month. Inflation barely existed tunning 1.7 percent in the year ended in february. But Paris May never be cheap. Runzheimer s last per diem figure there set in August was $352.80. In Germany Austria Belgium Holland Ireland and Switzerland. Fluctuations of the Dollar against local currencies have been relatively minor in the last year and inflation rates have run at or below 3.4 percent. Now to the countries that seem to offer larger bargains Italy in March 1992, a Dollar bought 1,178 lire. In March 19931,488 lire. Last month 1,570 lire. That s a 33 percent gain Over two years. And if hoteliers and restaurateurs Are racing to keep their Tariff cards and menu prices up with those Exchange rates their efforts Don t much show in the nation s inflation figures. Italian inflation ran 4.4 percent for the year ended in february 4.5 percent for the year before that. Runzheimer Cut its daily rate for Rome from $349.85 in August 1992, to $259.25 last August. Spain in March 1992, a Dollar bought 96.6 pesetas. In March 1993 107.7 pesetas. Last month 128.1 pesetas another 33 percent gain Over two years Matching Italy. Spanish inflation ran far behind at 5 percent for the year ended in february up from 4.1 percent the year before. Runzheimer which assigned Madrid a $359.05 per diem figure in August 1992 slashed itto$260\60 last August. Portugal in March 1992, a Dollar bought 129.87 escudos. In March 1993, 137.63 escudos. Last month 158.1 escudos a gain of 22 percent while inflation was falling from 8 to 6.1 percent in the year ended in  s per diem for Lisbon has fallen from $245.75 in february 1993 to $192.40 in february 1994. Greece in March 1992, a Dollar bought 172 drachmas. A year later 200 drachmas. Last month 222 drachmas. That s a 29 percent gain but against inflation it s 11 percent for the year ended in february 14.5 percent the year before. Runzheimer which was assigning Athens visitors $249.35 in february 1992, adjusted that to $251.30 in february 1993 and $2 59.15 in february 1994. Turkey Turkey s Economy leaves an outsider wishing everyone would just hold still for a moment. In March 1992, a Dollar bought 5,263 turkish lire. In March 1993 7,874 turkish lire. Last month 19,231 turkish lire up 265 percent in two years. Runzheimer gave Istanbul a $221.40 per diem in february 1992, Cut it to $204.95 in february 1993, then Cut it again Ever so slightly to $203.05 in february 1994. One last reminder take along a calculator s&3 a Monument to 14th-Century reformer Jan Hus stands in Prague s old Square. New guide lists Best Wolks in by Steve silk the Hartford courant it s hard to imagine a City better suited to walking than Prague capital of the czech Republic. Prague walks by Ivana Edwards is a new guide that helps visitors get to know the City As if it were a huge open air museum. The medieval Skyline of the old town Square the looming presence of hrad Cany Castle the unforgettable Charles Bridge the baroque treasures of the Mala Strana the twisting streets and grizzled gravestones of jewish Prague the City s rewards for walkers Are anything but pedestrian. Prague walks is part of a Guidebook series that now covers More than a dozen cities worldwide. The Book offers step by step details on five of the Best walks in the City. Also included Are capsule information on dining accommodations and other topics of interest to travellers bound for the czech Republic. Prague walks is published by Henry Holt. The guide runs 269 pages and its listed retail Price is $14.95. April28, 1994 stripes Magazine 25