Iceland’s volcanic ash halts flights across Europe

Ash clouds from Iceland’s spewing volcano disrupted air traffic across Northern Europe on Thursday as authorities closed British and Nordic air space, shut down Europe’s busiest airport at Heathrow and canceled hundreds of flights. Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority said non-emergency flights would be banned until at least 6 p.m. (1700 GMT, 1 p.m. EDT). Irish [...]

Irish at home, worldwide cheer St. Patrick’s Day

Much of the world is turning green Wednesday for St. Patrick’s Day, the annual celebration of all hues of Irishness. Half a million people were forecast to line the 3-kilometer (2-mile) route of the flagship Dublin parade, which is exploring the theme “The Extraordinary World.” It is a nod to Ireland’s increasing multiculturalism — as [...]

Save on Rail Europe round-trip tickets, from $257

The Real Deal: Discounted round-trip tickets in Leisure Select class on the Eurostar route (18 departures daily between London, Paris, and Brussels) start at $257 per person—plus between $10 and $18 in fees. Leisure Select class is more spacious than economy class, with reclining seats and more legroom; you also get complimentary newspapers and a [...]

Hard-pressed Europeans flock to cheaper airlines

Budget airlines in Europe gained 13 million more passengers last year, with cheaper prices pulling in customers amid an overall drop in air travel. The European Low Fares Airline Association, which includes Ryanair and easyJet, said an 8.7 percent increase in passenger numbers in 2009 allowed their industry expand and hire 3,000 more workers. Airports [...]

France sprucing up cultural treasures

Mixing an abundance of cultural treasures and national pride, France is spiffing up its sights and museums from the Rhine to the Pyrenees. Of course, the biggest news is in Paris, where 2010 brings important changes that smart travelers will want to know about. The Eiffel Tower’s new online reservation system should help on-the-ball travelers [...]

Giraffes, cranky hippo oversee Paris zoo redo

For a zoo, it’s a quiet and lonely place. Among the few remaining residents of Paris’ main animal park are the giraffes — whose long necks make travel inconvenient — and a hippo who was permitted to stay put after she threw a temper tantrum in a shipping crate. Closed since 2008, and its animals [...]

What’s new in France for 2010

Mixing an abundance of cultural treasures and national pride, France is spiffing up its sights and museums from the Rhine to the Pyrenees. Of course, the biggest news is in Paris, where 2010 brings important changes that smart travelers will want to know about. The Eiffel Tower’s new online reservation system should help on-the-ball travelers [...]