Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 252

TRAVEL DATA The Arizona Republic T4 SUNDAY, OCIOBKR 8, 2(M)0 AIRFARES Historic El Rancho finally demolished Rockies search Nets mountains LAS VEGAS ADVISOR Fares were accurate as of October 8. Fares are subject to change at any time without prior notice and are also subject to limited seating availability and restrictions on flight dates, times and, in some cases, routing. Extremely limited fares, including some weekend fares, may not be included. For information on the most up-to-date fares for travel on a particular date, contact a travel agent, the airlines or 1-888-FLY-4-LESS. Domestic fores WORLD BY WEB By Anthony Curtis Special for The Republic Another piece of Las Vegas history bit the dust last week as the long-shuttered El Rancho hotel-casino was imploded 2:30 a.m.

Tuesday. The casino opened in 1948 as the Thunderbird, then changed its name to the Silverbird in 1977. It became El Rancho in 1982 but closed in 1992 and has stood empty at the north end of the Strip ever since. While the current owners aren't disclosing what's in store for the now-vacant 21 acres of prime Strip frontage, speculation is that the land will be leased or sold for a new casino. STRANGE CONNECTION: In a weird coincidence, a big name in the news of late has been Olympic swimmer and multimedalist Dara Torres.

She is the daughter of Ed Torres, the man who bought the Silverbird and ran it as. El Rancho. RIO ANNOUNCES: De la Guarda, the highly anticipated show at the Rio, will finally open Oct. 18. All tickets are $49.50.

Why not the usual escalating price structure? Because there are no seats; everyone stands throughout the performance. lOOx: There are now two Las Vegas casinos that offer 100X odds on their craps games. Sam's Town was recently joined in the practice by the little Casino Royale, located center Strip. The odds bet is a favorite of dice players because it pays at true odds and, hence, has no casino advantage. From Anthony Curtis' Las Vegas Advisor monthly newsletter.

For information, or questions for the Advisor, call 1-800-244-2224 or visit www.lasvegasadvisor.com. By Roger IVtterson Associated Press There are mountains and parks, but there is only one Rocky Mountain National Park, standing astride the Continental Divide in northern Colorado with peaks towering 14,000 feet in the sky. It's a place where you can watch regal elk wandering through meadows and see sure-footed bighorn sheep following their paths across the peaks. Or, instead of just looking, you can get out and hike your own trails or climb granite cliffs. For the official picture of the park, check the National Park Service www.nps.govromo.

Click on inDepth for the details. The Trip Planner section even has suggestions for impatient travelers with only one day to spend in the park, and Rocky Resources will fill you in on birds, animals, Web cam, with a file of wildlife shots. And they offer a guide to things to do, deals offered by motels and leads to campgrounds, RV parks, ranches and rooms with mountain views. Yet another handy local site is Estes Park On-Line estes.on-line.com. Many of its sections are for local consumption, but if you click on Attractions, you'll land on a page of assorted links to everything from the Longs Peak Scottish Highland Festival to Mike's Hikes, a collection of informative (but at least a year old) reports on hikes around the area by a local enthusiast.

You can dig out more hiking help at Colorado By Foot www.col-oradobyfoot.net. Visit the Estes Park Area Historical Museum www.estesnet.comMuseum. And for more historical perspectives, check the State Archives file of old postcards of the area www.ar-chives.state.co.ustourpcep E-mail comments and tips to cybertripap.org. TEMPERATURES EXPECTED THIS WEEK City Fare Carriers Anchorage 549 Alaska Atlanta 338 American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, America West, Northwest, TWA, United, US Air Boston 218 American, Delta, US Air Chicago 208 American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, America West, Northwest, Sun Country, TWA, American Trans Air, United, Southwest, Dallas, 238 American, Continental, Delta Denver 438 Delta, Frontier, America West, United Detroit 218 American, Continental, Delta, 1 America West, Northwest, United, US Air, Sputhwest Honolulu 754 American, Continental, American Trans Air Kansas, City 298 America West, Frontier, Northwest, TWA, United, Southwest Las Vegas 132 America West, United, Southwest Los Angeles 132 American, America West, United, Southwest Miami 248 Delta Minneapolis 260 American, Frontier, America West, Northwest, Sun Country, TWA, New York 398 American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, America" West, Northwest, American Trans Air, United, US Air Orlando 218 American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, America West, Northwest, TWA, United, US Air, Southwest Portland 254 Delta, America West, United, Southwest Salt Lake City 186 Delta, Frontier, America West, United, Southwest San Diego 132 American, America West, United, Southwest San Francisco 210 American, Delta, America West, United, Southwest Seattle 218 Delta, America West, United, Southwest, Washington D.C. 402 Frontier International fores Athens 715 British Airways Frankfurt 630 British Airways Paris 596 British Airways, Continental, Delta, Rome 646 British Airways Sydney.

1813 United Tokyo 810 American, Delta, United, Mexico City 451 Aeromexico Montreal 619 American, Air Canada, Continental, Canadian Airlines, Northwest, United, US Air EXCHANGE RATES trees ana geoiogy. ah seasons Rocky suggests winter hikes for travelers willing to leave a warm lodge. Next, head to www.explore-rocky.com and scroll down the page to the Panorama and Gallery links for collections of knockout photos. But it's not all pretty pictures; this site also has a broad selection of information on everything from fishing and wildlife watching to the Guide, which has dining and lodging tips. After being inspired by those pictures, amateur photographers might want to check out the schedule of photo workshops conducted by Rocky Mountain Reflections www.rockymtn-refl.comwkshps.htm.

Don't pass up the Staff Galleries. The town outside the park is Estes Park. Stop by City Hall www.estesnet.com and click on their WebCam. Click on Visitor Information to find a lodging guide. Move on to the Estes Park eWelcome Center www.es-tes-park.com.

(Yes, they really stuck an on the front of Welcome.) At this site, New Pics will take you to a City Pep City Pep Acapulco 90 75 32 Mexico City 71 51 48 Amsterdam 60. 50 58 Miami Beach 84 73 54 Athens 78 62 22 Moscow 50 39 48 Atlanta 74 58 23 Nairobi 75 54 22 Bangkok 88 75 46 New Delhi 93 67 5 Barbados 86 73 50 New York 71 51 30 Beijing 70 45 12 Paris 62 48 43 Berlin 59 44 44 Rio de Janeiro 76 66 40 Buenos Aires 68 49 28 Rome 73 57 24 Cairo 87 66 1 San Francisco 69 54 11 Cancun 88 72 57 San Juan 85 75 59 Chicago 63 49 30 Seattle 61 48 40 Copenhagen 56 46 50 Seoul 69 47 25 Denver 69 39 18 Shanghai 76 59 18 Dublin 59 45 39 Singapore 87 74 50 Fiji 81 70 50 Stockholm 51 43 47 Geneva 60 46 33 Sydney 70 55 39 Helsinki 49 39 55 Tahiti 87 70 28 Hong Kong 82 74 20 Tokyo 71 56 37 Jerusalem 82 60 3 Toronto 58 42 36 Johannesburg 76 52 20 Vienna 58 46 40 Kingston 88 73 27 Washington 69 50 26 Leningrad 50 40 58 Lisbon 74 60 24 Figure indicates statistical London 60 48 42 probability of rainsnow. Los Angeles 77 55 5 Source: Earth Environment Service Madrid 67 51 25 Manila 88 74 63 Country Per U.S. dollar Australia (dollar) 1.71 Austria (schilling) 13.93 Canada (dollar) 1.38 England (pound) .64 France (franc) 6.92 Germany (mark) 2.07 Greece (drachma) 350.60 Hong Kong (dollar) 7.13 India (rupee) 38.35 Ireland (punt) .83 Israel (shekel) 3.38 Italy (lira) 2056.43 Jamaica (dollar) 37.20 Japan (yen) 100.36 Mexico (peso) 7.99 South Korea (won) 930.06 Spain (peseta) 174.70 Switzerland (franc) 1.60 Venezuela (bolivar) 576.04 Rates compiled as of Thursday by Thomas Cook Currency Services Inc. (1-800-CURRENCY).

Rates are typical of those received over the counter by travelers and are subject to market fluctuations. Minneapolis $280 RT Vancouver $291 RT Orlando $294 RT Philadelphia $294 RT Hartford $310 RT Toronto $327 RT SPEND yOUR MONEy THERE NOT GETTING THERE" e've made the good life Los Angeles $136 RT Chicago $273 RT Washington DC 292 RT New York $305 RT Hong Kong $786 RT Tokyo $814 RT London $538 RT Paris $555 RT even better. 11 1 Lar Carnival 7-night Mexican Riviera from $649 per person. Elation departs from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta: Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28 and Feb.

4, 200 1 Carnival. THE MOST POPULAR CRljfit UNE THE WOflLDV. 800-640-7245 cheaptickets.comcruises Great one-way fares available. 'vYtl- Book your Discount Travel at: cheaptickets.com Choose from a broad selection of major airlines, rental cars, hotel accommodations and cruises- all at discount prices! 7 nights from Phone Reservations: 7 days a week from 5 am to 1 am 800-377-1000 Espanol: 800-991-6199 We offer overnight ticket delivery nationwide. Travel Stores: New york, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu and Maul Special roundtrip air to Aruba from Phoenix from $599" New Season begins November 4th It's an offer as remarkable as the Crown Dynasty herself.

Book now and two' will enjoy the good life aboard this amazing vessel for the price of one. And it's a very good life, indeed. The Crown Dynasty sails with a mere 800 guests and once aboard, her crew will cater to your every need. You'll dine on fine food and wine. And you'll delight in a stylish ambiance of polished woods, gleaming brass and soft lighting.

All as you sail from Aruba to Curagao, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada and Bonaire. K6 Another Great Sample Vegas Vacation Prices: Who Says You Can't Buy Fids? Vegas Vacation For Two DESTINATION: Reno fnI34 Atlantis Casioa Resort Lodge Westwinl Ei-Bexr 2ftJ99 USjf Luck CasiDJ-Earieo 21(99 Plan floit I. Tasini 2riiiut.s99 Mkcupaci Golden Najjet $inn Sands Regency Hotel Casing J139 mm. Uiu kcihki mm.

km kahk (jtvWn CRUISE LINE Enjoy the good life. www.crowncruiseline.com J154 Third Night Fret Reno Hilton firm. Into KtillKi John Asia's Negget fum. mm kcihki 0 iroptciu imtnLM mi from 'Rates are per person, double occupancy, cruise only. Based on early booking discounts for which reservations must be made at least 150 days prior to sailing date.

Port, handling charges, federal departure tax and custom fee extra. Capacity controlled, rates subject to change. Ships' registry: Panama. "U.S. and Aruba air and departure taxes additional.

QJSJ Silver Leoacy ImlU Additional hotels are available. Book Online at: www.swavacations.comfrlends.htm mat. MM AN" An VAMnaN Packages Include: Roundtrip Air 2 Nights Hotel Hotel Taxes 'Rapid Rewards credit 24-Hour Traveler Assistance SOUTKATSTL-niXrS VACATIONS A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM' Call your professional travel agent or 1-800-423-5683 Book Online at: www.swavacations.com Metrocenter, 602-861-3161 Fiesta Mall, 480-964-6918 Desert Sky Mall, 623-849-3141 Scottsdale, 480-481-7977 Arrowhead, 623-979-1689 Paradise Valley Mall, 602-996-4181 Superstition Springs, 480-832-0522 www.dillards.com Package are based on roundtrip purchase and do not Include a federal exdae tar of up to per peraoa wnlch will be Imposed on eaca flight segment of your Itinerary. A night segment Is defined as a takeoff and a landing. VEOS VttATrM FOR TWO OFFER: Package must be booked by 123100.

Pricels) quoted are eumptes for two adults based on double occupancy for a two-night package with Sun. through Wed. departures and vain) 111-1 18. 123-121800, 19-11 Ol from Phoenix. Blackout dales apply OTHER OESTIKATIOHS: Pricelsl quoted are examples per person based on double occupancy based on Mon.

departures and valid 1023-1 19 and 1120-112300 lor Reno packages unless otherwise noted horn Phoenii. Packages to other destinations aie also available. Rales may be slightly higher tor other days ol the week. Surcharges apply to weekends, holidays, special events, and convention periods. Packages must be booked no later than four business days prior to departure date.

Rates are subject to change until purchased. Seats are limited and ma) not be available on some Nights that opeiate during peak travel tiroes and holiday periods. Restrictions apply; Airport taxes ol up to S12 roundtrip are not included. The Mark Travel Corporation is the lour operator for Southwest Airlines Vacations..