Travel made easy during Olympics

Tourism Vancouver has developed what it says is the world's first interactive tourist and sporting event mobile application called CitySmart.

Made for smart phones, the free application is a complete guide to the city in the palm of your hand and can be downloaded free of charge from the Tourism Vancouver website ( www.tourismvancouver.com/download).

It provides updated tourist and event information, an advanced GPS system that gives visitors street navigation, traffic news and a host of other useful information about the city. CitySmart will even allow Tourism Vancouver's staff to help tourists with its SMS (text messaging) capabilities.

CitySmart is compatible with smart phones running on Windows and Android (Google) platforms with a Blackberry version due at month end and an iPhone version in development. It can also be downloaded on to your PC and then synced with your mobile device to save you download charges.

TWOFER CRUISE

Viking River Cruises ( www.vikingrivercruises.com)has a two-for-one offer on its Russia and Ukraine cruises with its Viking's Spring Sale promotion. You also receive $400 off (per couple) on international airfare plus complimentary wine with all on-board dinners.

One of the itineraries is the 13-day Waterways of the Czars which takes you between Moscow and St. Petersburg along the Volga River. The journey includes an opportunity to visit the Golden Ring city of Yaroslavl. Founded in 1010, Yaroslavl is celebrating its millennial anniversary this year.

You must book and pay in full by Mar. 1. Contact your travel consultant and mention code "08P".

BIRDS AND WHALES

Spitsbergen, an island high in the Arctic in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, is encased in ice most of the year but adventure companies run trips through the islands in high summer. .

Gap Adventures ( www.gapadventures.com/marine/spitsbergen-cruise)offers $500 less on specific cabins if they sign up by Feb. 28 for tours starting July 14 and running until Aug. 31.

All of the nine day 'Spitsbergen --The Realm of the Polar Bear' cruises are led by a team of highly experienced expedition staff and naturalists.

OLYMPIC FERRIES

BC Ferries (1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779), www.bcferries.com)offers five additional daily saplings between Feb. 12 and 28.

The affected routes are Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay; Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay; and Horseshoe Bay and Langdale. Check the website for schedule details.

Barbara Braidwood and Rick Cropp are Vancouver based writers.