QUESTION: Now that travel between the two Germanys is unrestricted for German citizens, what are the requirements for foreigners traveling to and in East Germany? Will I still have to exchange a certain amount of money for each day I am there?
ANSWER: East Germany has dropped the requirement that foreigners entering the country convert to East German marks the equivalent of about $15 for each day in the country. Otherwise, East Germany has retained its entry requirements.Those traveling to East Germany must first book hotel accommodations through an American travel agent.
Those staying at private residences must apply for permission through a travel agent or the East German Embassy (Embassy of the German Democratic Republic, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; 202-232-3134).
Hotel bookings can take 10 days to several weeks; approval for a stay at a private residence takes up to eight weeks. When travelers enter East Germany and show vouchers confirming their arrangments for accommodations, they will be given a visa, cost about $8. Visas are good for one entry only.
Travel inside East Germany is not restricted, except that travelers must stay in the hotels or private residences listed on their visa applications.
Despite the numerous new crossing points along the East Berlin-West Berlin border, Americans still must enter East Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie or the Friedrichstrasse subway station.
On showing their passports, Americans get a permit for a day trip. Americans traveling by car or train through East Germany en route to West Berlin get transit visas at the border. Such drivers must stay on special routes marked "transit." Those flying into West Berlin do not need visas.
QUESTION: My husband and I are planning a trip to West Germany in March and intend to stay in youth hostels. Has the recent influx of East Germans made it difficult to secure accommodations?
ANSWER: Many of the 537 hostels and guesthouses serving young people in West Germany are housing visitors and settlers from East Germany and other Eastern European countries, according to the country's hostel association.
There is no list of which hostels take resettlers, the association said, as the decision to do so was made locally. However, most hostels and low-cost guesthouses that have been taking in Eastern Europeans have also set aside space for tourists.
So it is a good idea to reserve early as space will be more limited than usual. The country code for telephoning West Germany is 49.
The owner of a low-cost guesthouse in Hamburg (Jugendgastehaus, 100 Rennbornstrasse, 2000 Hamburg 74; 40-6511671) said he was reserving a quarter of his rooms for resettlers and leaving the rest for tourists.
In Nuremberg the guesthouse (Jugendgasthaus, 2 Auf der Burg, 8500 Nuremberg 1; 911-221024) is not saving rooms especially for tourists but will accept early reservations.
In West Berlin, the youth hostel (48 Hermsdorfer Damm, 1000 Berlin 28; 30-4041610) and two guesthouses, Gasthaus Berlin (3 Luckstrasse, 1000 West Berlin; 30-8032034) and Gasthaus Wannsee (1 Badeweg, 1000 West Berlin 38; 30-8032034), are not taking in resettlers.
However, the head of the youth hostel recommends making reservations as early as possible, as he expects a flood of visitors.
Information about West German youth hostels can be obtained from Deutsches Jugendherhbergwer, 8 Bismarckstrasse, 4930 Detmold 1; 5321-74010.
QUESTION: I am interested in spending a week in the Art Deco district of Miami Beach this winter. Please provide information on renovated beachfront hotels in the area.
ANSWER: The chief concentration of Art Deco hotels (among some 800 other buildings in the style) is in South Beach, on the southern tip of the island on which Miami is situated.
There are several renovated Deco hotels along Ocean Drive, a milelong two-lane street along the beach.
The hotel rates given here are for the least expensive rooms, which often do not have an ocean view. The mailing address of all the hotels is Miami, Fla. 33139.
The Avalon (700 Ocean Drive; 305-538-0133) has 61 rooms, starting at $75. The Majestic, a Deco hotel across the street, will finish renovation in mid-February and open under the same managment.
The Leslie (1244 Ocean Drive) and the Cardozo (1300 Ocean Drive) can be reached at 800-338-9076 or 305-534-2135). Both are managed by the Art Deco Hotels Group, as is the Cavalier (1320 Ocean Drive; 800-338-9076 or 305-531-6424).
All have no more than 50 rooms. The Leslie's rooms start at $80, including breakfast, and the Cardozo's $95, no breakfast. Rooms at the Cavalier start at $95, with breakfast.
The Carlyle (1250 Ocean Drive), an outstanding Deco structure, is now an office building but has a restaurant, the Carlyle Grill (305-534-2135).
The Clevelander (1020 Ocean Drive; 305-531-3485) has 65 rooms starting at $50, plus an outdoor and indoor bar and a pool.
The Edison (960 Ocean Drive; 800-237-3522 or 305-531-0461) has 62 rooms starting at $75, a pool and two restaurants. A community center across the street blocks the view from the first and second floors.
Park Central (640 Ocean Drive; 305-538-1611) has 80 rooms starting at $75 and a restaurant.
QUESTION: I will be living in Europe this winter and spring and would like to attend some ice-skating competitions. Could you tell me about events coming up?
ANSWER: Listed below are the major competitions coming up in Europe. Whenever possible, where to get tickets and their prices are included. National figure skating associations are provided in other cases; they will be helpful in providing ticket information. Telephone numbers include country and city codes for calls from the United States.
The European Figure Skating Championships will take place Jan. 30 to Feb. 4 in Leningrad. USSR Skating Federation, 8 Lazhnetskaia, Moscow 119871; telephone, 7-095-201-0854.
The Nordic Figure Skating Championships will be held Feb. 10 and 11 in the Helsinki Ice Stadium (Helsingin Jaahalli), at 11-13 Nordenskioldinkatu; 35-80-418122. Tickets, $9 to $13, will be sold at the stadium.
The Sofia Press Cup competition takes place Feb. 16 to 18 in Sofia, Bulgaria, with ladies' and men's figure skating and ice dancing. Bulgarian Skating Federation, 18 Tolbukhin, 1000 Sofia; 359-2-8651.
The Basler Cup, an international ice-dancing competition, will be held Feb. 17 and 18 in Basel, Switzerland. The events will be at Margarethen Park, telephone 41-61-35.95.95. Tickets are $6.70 a day, $15 for both days.
A junior ladies' figure skating competition will take place in Brassanone, Italy March 30 and 31. Italian Ice Skating Federation, 44/B Via Piranesi, 1-20137, Milan; 39-2-76110261.
QUESTION: I am getting conflicting messages about the best method of changing money in Buenos Aires and whether to take money in cash or traveler's checks.
ANSWER: Since Dec. 15, the exchange rate has been freed in Argentina. This means the rate may vary greatly from day to day, but there should not be much difference among the various exchange offices and banks.
Since banks in Argentina are notoriously slow and bureaucratic, one of the exchange houses in the financial district around San Mart'in and Corrientes Streets is probably the best bet.
Most big hotels have an exchange window offering a competitive rate. There is also an exchange window on the right as you leave customs in the Buenos Aires airport. Buying australs, the national currency, before leaving the United States is not recommended because the rate changes so rapidly.
It is a good general rule for the sake of security to use traveler's checks, but many travelers to Argentina find it convenient to bring American cash, in a variety of denominations, 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-dollar bills.
Many merchants still prefer dollars, and some goods, such as and the silver and old jewelry in Buenos Aires's antiques markets, are priced in American dollars. The singles can be used for tips.
Another bit of advice: take enough money to cover all your expected expenses and don't count on being able to use credit cards in Argentina; many establishments do not accept them when inflation soars.
Moreover, it may not be a good idea to use them, because you will not know the exchange rate at which you will be billed when the transactions are calculated; the exception is major hotels, many of which which set rates in dollars.