By Andrea Sachs
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 29, 2005

Q Do you have any suggestions for things our granddaughters, ages 10 1/2 and almost 8, can do in Berlin?

Almuth Payne

Fairfax

A "Berlin is very child-friendly," says Kirsten Schmidt of Berlin Tourism Marketing North America. "There's an abundance of things [for children] -- parks, museums and indoor adventure playgrounds."

For example, kids who like heights (and speed) can zip up Europe's fastest elevator at the Kollhoff-Building on Potsdamer Platz or take a spin around the spiral walkways at the Reichstag's Norman Foster-designed glass dome. They might also enjoy the Radisson SAS Hotel's new AquaDom, an elevator that slices through an aquarium. For sightseeing that won't tire little feet, ride a double-decker bus (No. 100) or a boat on the Spree River. The Story of Berlin organizes guided tours tailored for kids, including "Childhood in Berlin during World War II and after War" (suitable for ages 8-14). Info: 011-49-30-887-20-100, http://www.story-of-berlin.de .

You can also visit the 155-year-old Berlin Zoo, which has a petting zoo, an adventure playground and the nearby Steiff Shop for top-shelf teddy bears. At the Museum for Technology and the adjacent Spectrum Science Center, children can make paper and finally get the answer to "Why is the sky blue?" Also, the Museum of Natural History houses the world's largest mounted dinosaur skeleton, while the Machmit! Museum for Children offers art labs and a 21-foot-tall wooden maze that kids can scramble through.

For battles and Cinderella stories, visit the Spandau Citadel, which has a dungeon, a puppet show and dining in the Gun Powder Chamber, or the ornate castles and gardens in Potsdam, just outside Berlin. Finally, every kid can be a clown at the cabuwazi or ufaKindercircus, a children's circus.

For more children-friendly attractions, check the Berlin Tourist Information's Web site, http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de .

We'd like to travel to Dubai. How safe is it for Americans, and can you recommend a good tour company?

Ruth Gordon Boca Raton, Fla.

Dubai is considered the commercial hub and cosmopolitan capital of the United Arab Emirates, whose seven independent states sit on the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia. The UAE's second-largest emirate has all the tell-tale signs of affluence: gleaming skyscrapers, Mall of Arabia shopping centers, golden beaches, elite sporting events (from horses to yachts) and hotels that take luxury to a whole new stratosphere.

"Dubai tends to be more open to the world. It has a lot of flights, hotels and big business interests," says Robert V. Keeley, a retired diplomat and former president of the Middle East Institute. "It is also a port of call for cruise ships. And ships don't like to go to places where people are unsafe on shore." Keeley added that Dubai has not been targeted by terrorists (like Egypt) nor does it have foreign military bases, which attracts dissension. For its part, the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on the UAE says crime is not an issue but that Americans "should exercise a high level of security awareness" because of "the possibility of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world."

To deflect unwanted attention, be respectful of Muslim beliefs by dressing conservatively (covered arms, legs and heads) near religious sites and eschewing skin-revealing clothes -- except on the beach, where bikinis are acceptable. Also, refrain from drinking alcohol outside of hotel restaurants and bars.

American travel agencies specializing in Dubai are rare, but Travel East of Rochester, N.Y., can customize packages (golfing, shopping, excavation sites, etc.) as well as organize daily tours, hotels and flights. Info: 800-333-0909, http://www.etravelease.com . The Ten Travel & Tourism's Web site ( http://travel.theemiratesnetwork.com/agencies ) also lists some travel agents in the UAE, as does the Dubai World Trade Centre ( http://www.dwtc.com ). Other sources include Dubai's Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing ( http://www.dubaitourism.ae ) and the Ministry of Information and Culture in the UAE ( http://www.uaeinteract.com ).

Jan White of Chevy Chase has a suggestion for a Spanish immersion program in Central America (March 13). White spent two weeks learning the language in Antigua, Guatemala, through Proyecto Linguistico Francisco Marroquin. "The instruction was one-on-one for seven hours a day for as many weeks as the student wants to attend," she says. "The school has many outdoor areas among gardens and ruins for individual classes." White paid $1,000, including airfare, classes, family home stay, a week at a B&B, meals, evening activities and private salsa lessons. Info: 800-552-2051, http://www.langlink.com/plfm .

Send queries by e-mail (travelqa@washpost.com), fax (202-912-3609) or U.S. mail (Travel Q&A, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20071).