Travel health: Clinics short on yellow-fever vaccine

A shortage of yellow-fever vaccine has left some travelers scrambling to find a clinic with supplies. Word to the wise: Don't wait until the last minute, but don't panic.

If your usual travel health clinic can't provide the vaccine, check other options at private clinics listed at the Web sites of the International Society of Travel Medicine (www.istm.org) and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (www.astmh.org). The problem is a shortage of single-dose vials; many clinics had only vials with doses for five people, and once the vials are prepared, all the vaccine must be used within one hour. Thus, clinics tend to offer the vaccine only for limited periods of time.

Yellow-fever vaccine is recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for travel to many countries in Africa and all or parts of 13 countries in the Western Hemisphere, including Argentina and Brazil. Details: www.cdc.gov.

Air travel

Fuel charges soar on international fares

With high oil prices, fuel surcharges on many international flights have climbed in recent months to nearly half the price of a ticket. U.S. visitors to Spain can expect to pay as much as $390 extra in fuel surcharges for a round-trip flight. Air New Zealand imposes up to $360 in fuel fees.

There doesn't seem to be any relief in sight as airfares surge with the price of fuel.

In the U.S., major airlines charge about $20 in fuel fees for domestic flights. Last week, they doubled the surcharge to $40. It marked the third time the airlines have tried to pass on the cost of fuel to passengers, but each time consumers balked at buying the tickets.

The fuel charges are generally hidden in the ticket's fine print under "taxes and fees."

Strong demand for international travel has made airlines more willing to increase fuel surcharges on international flights, analysts said.

Road trips

Click here to see what your trip will cost

With gas costs around $3 a gallon, even a road trip is an expensive-sounding proposition. Get a good idea how much your next trip will cost at www.fuelcostcalculator.com.

Plug in the origin, destination, car make, model and year to get an estimate. A trip from Dallas to Atlanta comes in at $94.56 one-way in a 2001 Ford Mustang. The same one-way trip in an '07 Chevy Tahoe runs $144.62.

The AAA calculator uses estimated gas-price averages, which you'll see on a map at the site.

Go to www.gasbuddy.com to find the cheapest gas in your ZIP code. The prices are reported by members.

You can register for free and even do some reporting yourself.

National parks

Watch Old Faithful gush in real time

Yellowstone National Park has launched a live, streaming Webcam focused on the Old Faithful area.

The real-time Webcam provides full-motion video of Old Faithful Geyser, as well as other geysers located on Geyser Hill. Go to www.nps.gov/yell and click on "Photos & Multimedia."

Chicago

New guide helps disabled get around

Chicago is offering a new free guide for visitors with disabilities called "Easy Access Chicago."

Basic visitor information for city attractions like Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower are all in the guide, along with details on accommodations like ramps and elevators, handicapped parking, Braille signage and assistive listening devices.

Other tips include how to get a 21-day pass for paratransit services or arrange free guided tours for visitors with disabilities through the Chicago Greeter program, which offers 40 special-interest areas and 25 neighborhoods (see www.chicagogreeter.comor call 312-744-8000). "Easy Access Chicago" can be ordered by mail at no charge from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism at 800-226-6632 or downloaded in a PDF format from www.easyaccesschicago.org.

New York

Winter travel deals in the Big Apple

Several deals sponsored by NYC & Company, the city's official tourism and marketing organization, are making wintertime visits to New York City a little less chilly.

"NYC Sunday Stays" offers 20 percent off a Sunday-to-Monday overnight stay at 44 hotels. Besides the discounted rate, many hotels are offering room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and other amenities. Details at www.nycvisit.com/NYCSundayStays.

"NYC Open: Book," through Feb. 29, is offering two-for-one admission and discounts on tickets and shopping at a variety of museums, theaters and other attractions around the city, plus other offers. Details at www.nycvisit.com/openbook.

Compiled by Times staff and news services