Train tour firm to shut down
GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, a company based in Evergreen, Colo., that runs luxury U.S. train tours, was expected to halt operations late last week because of financial problems, said Tom Rader, the company's chairman. The action affects customers on dozens of trips scheduled this year and next who each paid thousands of dollars to travel in private cabins with vintage furnishings on four- to 12-day rail journeys. Destinations include the American West and South and, what was to have been new next year, Mexico's Copper Canyon. Industry insiders expressed surprise at the shutdown of GrandLuxe, which earlier this year was named one of the world's top 25 trains by the Society of International Railway Travelers. Customers with bookings should contact their credit-card company about getting refunds, Rader said, or contact GrandLuxe by e-mail at reservations@grandluxerail.com (the preferred method) or call (800) 320-4206.
-- Jane Engle
Sleeping softly
Camping doesn't usually mean a comfortable night's sleep. You're too cold or too hot; the ground under your sleeping bag is too hard or too lumpy. And if you packed an inflatable mattress, you'll probably roll off of it during the night. Big Agnes Inc. of Steamboat Springs, Colo., offers a sleeping bag with a built-in pocket to hold a full-length inflatable mattress. This design keeps the bag and the pad together, as they should be. We tested the Big Agnes Encampment 15 model on a recent camping trip and enjoyed a warm, comfortable night's sleep. And green-minded shoppers will be happy to know that the pad we tested is made of recycled material. The bag and the pad together weigh about 4.5 pounds. Prices range from $110 to $260 for the bags and $40 to $145 for the pads. Info: Bags are available at REI and Sport Chalet, or go to www.bigagnes.com.
