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In the News

New York Times
May 12, 2002
Section: TRAVEL Q & A

Lodgings in Greece; A Long Stay in Switzerland; Day Tours to Hoover Dam

by Pamela Noel

Lodgings in Greece
Q. My husband and I want to visit family in Marousi, a suburb of Athens. We'd like to stay at a B & B or rent an apartment in July or August, possibly near a beach. Is there a directory? — A. E., Vero Beach, Fla.

A. Marousi is just minutes from the Olympic Stadium, which will be the focus of the 2004 Summer Games, but at least one hour's drive from beach areas...

A Long Stay in Switzerland
Q. We are American citizens, retired. We would like to spend more than a year in Geneva, where our son works. What are the rules and restrictions for Americans? — C. H., Scarsdale, N.Y.

A. Americans who plan to stay longer than three months must obtain a Swiss visa (really a special sticker good for one entry) and, once in Switzerland, must register with the alien registration office of the region where they will be staying, said Keri Douglas, press secretary for the Swiss Embassy in Washington. The visa costs $25 and can take from three weeks to three months to receive...

Day Tours to Hoover Dam
Q. My wife and I would like to visit the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam in July by taking daily tours. Is there a big city we can fly into that offers daily tours? — K. F., Flushing, Queens

A. The best place to carry out your plans is Las Vegas. Being there in the July heat, however, can be daunting. The average temperatures in July range from a low of 76 degrees to a high of 105, according to weather.com.

There are many options for taking day trips from Las Vegas to the Hoover Dam and to the Grand Canyon, often combining a bus tour with a helicopter or plane ride. But to see both wonders up close would mean at least two days of bus trips (Hoover Dam is only 30 miles from Las Vegas, but the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is 278 miles away). In mid-April, the United States Bureau of Reclamation lifted some restrictions put in place after Sept. 11, and Las Vegas tour buses carrying passengers without luggage are once again allowed to cross the dam...

Among the tour operators listed on the Hoover Dam Visitors Center Web site, www.hooverdam.usbr.gov, is the Grand Canyon Tour Company, (800) 222-6966, www.gctco.com. The company's eight-hour Hoover Dam and Lake Mead tour includes morning hotel pick-up, two hours to visit Hoover Dam (an optional $10 for the new Discovery Tour, which includes a guided visit along the top of the dam and down to its power plant, as well as independent viewing of exhibits and films at the visitors center). Also included are lunch at the Hacienda Hotel and a stop at Ethel M's Chocolate Factory and its botanical garden. The cost is $69.99 for two; $35.99 for one.

The company also offers a South Rim Grand Canyon tour, which includes a photo stop at the Hoover Dam, lunch, time to tour and shop at the Grand Canyon and a return to Las Vegas by about 8:30 p.m. The cost is $179 for two; $100 for one...

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