Zanzibar Sprucing Up For Tourists

Zanzibar, once a center of the spice trade, has been attracting the tourist trade of late.

Hotels and cultural sites on the island off the east coast of Africa had fallen into disrepair.

But in the last few years, the government (Zanzibar and Tanganyika united in 1964 to become Tanzania) has encouraged tourism investment.

Tour operators say improved facilities have begun drawing travelers, many of them adding stops in Zanzibar to longer tours.

One of the island’s chief attractions is the Stone Town section of the city of Zanzibar, with its winding streets and balconied limestone houses with ornately carved doors.

Travel to Zanzibar is usually by a flight from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam, followed by a 22-mile hydrofoil ride.

Wildlife Safari offers a three-night stay on Zanzibar at no extra cost to anyone about to take its 15-day Wings Over Kenya (land cost from $3,195 a person) or Kenya Under Canvas (from $3,795) tours. Call Wildlife Safari, (800) 221-8118; fax (510) 376-5059.

Something fishy: The historic Paris fish restaurant Maison Prunier has reopened after a five-year closing.

The restaurant, an Art Deco landmark created in 1925 to celebrate the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs, eventually fell upon hard times and served its last meal on Aug. 15, 1989.

It was later bought by Sogo, a Japanese company, which entrusted the restoration and management to JeanClaude Vrinat of Taillevent in Paris.

Vrinat’s theme is “no revolution, only evolution,” thus it is no surprise to find many of the familiar items created by the founder, Emile Prunier, including a classic grilled turbot with an exquisite hollandaise sauce, and no less than nine types of oysters, Breton sea urchins, clams and crab, smoked salmon and caviar.

As at Taillevent, the wine list contains some real bargains, including many priced under $19.

Sunny spots: Where would travelers would like to go in the United States this winter? The results, from a survey of 1,500 Americans by the Travel Industry Association of America (some respondents listed more than one state):

1. Florida - 48 percent.

2. California - 34 percent.

3. Hawaii - 26 percent.

4. Nevada - 14 percent.

5. Colorado - 11 percent.

6. Arizona, Texas - 9 percent.

8. New York - 8 percent

9. Tennessee - 6 percent.

10. District of Columbia, Louisiana - 5 percent.

Cheaper eats: For the first time since the early ‘80s, the cost of an average meal (with drink, tax and tip) in New York has dipped below $30 per person, according to the 1995 Zagat New York City Restaurant Survey.

And while $29.38 is not much below (and only about 3 percent lower than last year), it’s 13 percent lower than 1991 - good news in the city that eats up your dining dollar faster than anywhere else in the country, according to Zagat.

The reason for the drop is more discount dining programs, prix fixe menus and lower-priced new restaurants.