TSA removes body scanners criticized as too revealing

Washington (CNN) -- The harshest critics labeled them "virtual strip searches." Airport passenger screening that produced particularly realistic full-body images using backscatter technology.

Others also expressed health concerns about low doses of radiation from the X-rays underpinning those scans.

Well, it's all over now as the Transportation Security Administration says it has met a June 1 deadline to remove all 250 backscatter machines from U.S. airports.

Travelers will still go through other full-body scans that rely on a system that uses radio waves and produces less detailed body imaging. The millimeter wave machines raise fewer privacy and virtually no health concerns.

"I think from the privacy perspective, that (the elimination of backscatter machines) has to be considered a victory," said Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

TSA chief: Explosives are bigger threat

What the TSA does with your stuff

The TSA maintained that the backscatter machines, manufactured by Rapiscan Systems, were safe and effective.

The agency had developed protocols to assure that screeners who saw imagery of passengers never saw the passengers themselves.

But Congress voted to require all body scanners to have privacy-protecting software, and the TSA announced in February it was phasing out backscatter systems because they could not meet the new standard.

The last backscatter machines were removed about two weeks ago, a TSA spokesman said. All 250 units were removed at Rapiscan's expense, the agency said.

Currently, there are more than 700 body scanners at about 165 airports, all with Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) software, which display items on a generic body outline.

Rotenberg said he still has privacy concerns about millimeter wave machines, including what information is captured by the machine -- even if unseen by screeners -- and how long that information is retained.

"We'd like to see clearer rules about the collection of the images," Rotenberg said. "Are they deleted? Are they saved? Is some analysis being done and can they be linked to passengers?"

Most countries do not use body scanners, he said, preferring to use a combination of metal detection and technology that can identify explosives.

Backscatter machines could return one day if the company develops required software, the TSA has said.

Travel Insurance

Top 10 Reasons to Check Your Travel Insurance Carefully

May 20, 2013

 

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Lisa Bachelor, The Guardian, May 20, 2013
You've booked the flights, bought the sun cream and thumbed the glossy brochure to death. But have you bought any travel insurance and, if so, how much attention have you really paid to the details of the policy?
Insurance is notorious for being riddled with exclusions – and travel policies are no exception. If the worst happens, a rejected travel insurance claim can leave holidaymakers stranded abroad with little or no access to funds.
Here we reveal 10 of the hidden nasties lurking in the small print that could turn your holiday heaven into hell on earth.

1. Watch your excess

The excess is the amount you have to pay towards any cost you make a claim for – so if you claim for £250 and your excess is £50, the insurer will pay out £200. Straightforward, right? Not according to Graeme Trudgill, a director at the British Insurance Brokers' Association. "Be careful with this," he says. "Is it an excess per claim or per section of the policy? The difference on a stolen handbag, for example, could be one excess or three – for bag, money and passport." Some policies charge just one excess per claim, which can work out much cheaper.

2. Your own health

This is one of the most frequently used reasons for drawing on a travel insurance policy – and also one of the most common reasons for having a claim turned down. Often, a rejected claim relates to the issue of a pre-existing medical condition that has not been disclosed. The area is a complicated one because, according to the Financial Ombudsman Service, an insurer can reasonably reject a claim that has nothing to do with a pre-existing condition if they can show that they would not have allowed the policy to be taken out in the first place had the condition been disclosed.
Also, a pre-existing condition is not limited to medical conditions that have already been diagnosed. It may also apply to symptoms for which the customer has seen a doctor before buying the insurance – but where the cause of the problem has not yet been diagnosed.

3. Someone else's health

Be warned that the exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions may be more onerous when the person who is ill is not the policyholder, but a family member or someone who was going to travel with the policyholder. Most people don't have full details of other people's medical history.
Trudgill says: "If you have a relative or close business colleague whose state of health could lead to a decision by you to cancel or curtail your policy, you need to tell your insurer. If you do not disclose a serious condition you know about, and subsequently cancel your claim, it is unlikely to be paid – even if they are not travelling with you."

4. Suicide

You might not reasonably expect your own to be covered – but what about that of someone else close to you? The FOS says it recently dealt with a case where a holidaymaker cancelled his trip after his father-in-law committed suicide. The insurer refused to pay as the policy had a general exclusion for claims relating to suicide or attempted suicide.
The ombudsman ruled in favour of the holidaymaker, as his father-in-law was not a named party to the policy and his suicide had been an unforeseen event outside of the policyholder's control.

5. Make sure you start it in time

Be very careful about when you start your policy. Most people take out insurance to begin on the first day of their holiday, rather than the day they booked. This can become a problem when the policyholder has to cancel the holiday in advance. In these circumstances, the insurer may refuse to pay any cancellation costs because the policy cover hasn't actually started.
If your claim is turned down you will need to prove (usually via a recording of the phone conversation your insurer should supply) that the insurer hadn't made you aware that you would not be covered for events before the start date of your policy. Even if no conversation has taken place and you have bought your policy online, the insurer should make it clear that the cover only commences from the start of your holiday.

6. Watch your mileage

Holidaying within the UK? Don't assume you are covered by an annual travel insurance policy – you may not be travelling far enough. Most policies contain definitions of what constitutes a journey or trip for the purposes of cover. So, for example, you may only be covered if you are holidaying somewhere more than 25 miles from your home and staying for more than two nights.

7. Hazardous sports

Travel insurance policies routinely exclude a number of sporting activities and you should check these carefully, as your idea of hazardous may be different from that of an insurer. An obvious example is skiing – even if you are only a beginner on the green slopes this is usually excluded unless you ask to have it added on.
"Flying or any other airborne activity (except as a fare-paying passenger)" is also a routine exclusion, as is scuba diving below 30 metres. Slightly less dangerous sounding – and therefore not so obvious – sports such as rugby and ice hockey are also unlikely to be covered.

8. Don't be laid back about theft or loss

Failing to obtain a police report after a robbery or failing to notify your insurer within a certain time frame is another reason why a claim may be turned down. "Follow your insurer's instructions on what to do if you think you've had something stolen," says Jeremy Cryer, head of travel at Gocompare.com. "For example, your insurer may want you to report a theft within 24 hours of becoming aware of it, so leaving it until you get home before you contact your insurer's helpline may be too late."
Your insurer can also turn down your claim if they have grounds to believe you failed to take reasonable care of your belongings. "If you leave your wallet on your beach towel and go for a dip, this is not taking reasonable care and you could be left out of pocket," Trudgill says.

9. Beware the booze

Alcohol is a surprisingly common reason for disputes over claims, as most insurers have an exclusion that relates to it. Biba research last year into the wording of 20 different policies revealed the disparity between different insurers' attitudes. Some refused to cover any claims arising directly or indirectly from excessive alcohol intake, while one refused only where blood alcohol content level exceeded "0.19%, or eight units of alcohol in a single session".
The Financial Ombudsman Service recently came across a case where an insurer refused to pay the repatriation costs when the policyholder was taken seriously ill on holiday. The holidaymaker disputed that his condition was down to excessive alcohol intake and put it down to "a dodgy prawn curry". The ombudsman sided with the insurer – medical evidence showed the policyholder had a history of alcoholism and that he had been bingeing on whiskey for five days while on holiday.
However, the FOS says it has recently seen a number of inquiries about travel policies that seem to exclude any drinking of alcohol while on holiday. "Needless to say, while it's reasonable to be aware of the repercussions of drinking heavily, we'd take a dim view of insurers penalising consumers for having some drinks (and enjoying themselves) while away," says the FOS spokesperson.

10. Danger zones

The simple rule is: if the Foreign and Commonwealth Office says don't go there, then don't expect your policy to cover a trip. "If you're in any doubt, talk to your insurer or look at the fco.gov.uk website for guidance," says Cryer.
However, some policies do not provide cover for any trip to or through four nations: Cuba, Afghanistan, Liberia and Sudan. Policies excluding Cuba include those underwritten by AIG Europe, which are sold by companies such as Direct Travel Insurance and Yorkshire Bank.

Weddings at Hard Rock Hotels

Hard Rock Hotels have entered the all-inclusive market in Mexico and the Caribbean. They offer luxury accommodations with a fun atmosphere for families. They also assist with memorable weddings whether you prefer to marry on the beach or have the sunset for your backdrop. Here is some more information about what they can provide for your wedding:

Weddings are all the rage at Hard Rock Hotels' All-Inclusive properties. We hear that as of this month, the brand has surpassed previous records for destination weddings at each hotel in Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
The company attributes this to the partnership with Colin Cowie, designer event planner. Following the partnership's wedding success, the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels have announced "Harmony," the exclusive honeymoon collection bringing relaxation and sexy amenities to newlyweds looking for a post-wedding getaway.
Lovebirds on their honeymoon can indulge in the Showstopper Package, including a romantic dinner for two, 50-minute couples massage at the Rock Spa, excursion for two, VIP concierge service and transfers from the airport. This also includes in-room amenities such as Moet & Chandon champagne, personalized rose petal bed design upon arrival, chocolate-covered strawberries, breakfast in bed, Kama Sutra Romance Kit, bathrobes and more.
Visit www.hrhallinclusive.com.

Disabled Travel in Europe

We have a client taking a fabulous European vacation right now. You may be wondering what is so special about this trip because we send many clients to great European destinations. When you are wheelchair bound, planning these trips can be more difficult. However there are some companies that make trips that once were impossible, something awesome for our clients. Imagine taking a wheelchair accessible ramp to the bottom of the hill in Naples or a handicapped accessible gondola ride in Venice. Another perk is having luggage delivered to your hotel room or cruise ship. This lessens the burden of handling luggage at the airport. Here are some details from one of our preferred companies that offers this service and we can book for you:

The Europe disabled travel agents at Sage Traveling use their expertise in European accessible travel to create custom accessible holidays for disabled and senior travelers. Disabled visitors to Europe will encounter challenges during their travels, but nearly all can be avoided or overcome if you obtain the proper information before your trip.
They provide you with accessible hotel accommodations, accessible transportation within and between cities, detailed accessibility information on tourist attractions, and custom accessible itineraries to move you efficiently between tourist sights. Europe Wheelchair Accessible Hotels
One of the primary concerns for disabled travelers is finding a hotel that is truly accessible. Many hotels may describe themselves as “wheelchair friendly” or say “disabled guests welcome” when their hotel may actually have significant obstacles for disabled travelers.
A step at the hotel entrance, an elevator too small for a wheelchair, and poorly designed accessible hotel bathrooms are common in many European hotels. The Europe wheelchair accessible travel agents at Sage Traveling will provide you with a truly accessible hotel room that meets all of your accessibility needs.

Europe Disabled Access

Many disabled tourists spend hours and hours before their trip trying to find out if the tourist attractions they want to visit are accessible to wheelchair users. Some museum, palace, castle, and church websites will contain accessibility information.  Often this information is very basic and does not answer all the questions a disabled traveler may have. When trying to find accessibility information through a phone call, you may encounter language barriers or staff members that are unfamiliar with accessibility details.
At Sage Traveling, a Europe disabled travel agent will provide you with detailed tourist attraction accessibility information including the location of the accessible entrance, the parts of the attraction that are not accessible, and restroom accessibility.

Traveling Solo

There are many travel related companies that accommodate solo travelers. Some of those focus on women such as Gutsy Women that offer a large range of itineraries to all parts of the world. Here is a great article highlighting some of the companies that work with solo travelers to avoid paying the single supplement fees that can be quite expensive.

The dreaded single supplement has long been an albatross around a solo traveler's neck, but an increasing number of land and cruise suppliers are coming around to the notion that a customer vacationing alone deserves a fair shake.

To be sure, these suppliers are the exception rather than the rule, as the majority of providers continue to charge a 100% supplement fee, and sometimes more, so that an individual traveler is paying at least the equivalent of two cruise fares or two tour rates.

Solo clients can be a tough sales pitch for retailers. Aside from the single supplement cost, there often are concerns about safety and about feeling like a fifth wheel.

"The single supplement is a big obstacle. Nobody wants to get soaked," said Marie O'Brien, an agent with Acendas in Mission, Kan. "But it isn't only the cost. A lot of would-be solo travelers are older women who have the money, but they're afraid something could go wrong, like missing a flight and becoming stranded somewhere, or becoming ill on a trip, and they'd be all alone."

Even with the obvious drawbacks, the volume of solo travelers is considerable. They account for 11% of all U.S. adult leisure travelers, and they take 4.3 trips each year, according to data from the U.S. Travel Association.

In recent years, several prestigious travel suppliers who cater to upmarket clients have embraced the potential revenue from solo travelers by revamping their policies to include low or waived single supplements on a wide range of vacation products.

Strategies unfold

Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent is one of them. It decided to realign its policies three years ago with an eye toward actively courting the solo-traveler market. A collaboration among the company's executives and ground suppliers resulted in its Solo Savings program, where single supplements are either waived or reduced by as much as 75% on dozens of departures.

Since the program launched in 2011, the company's solo customer bookings have spiked by 27%.

"We did a careful analysis of what solos are looking for," said Bob Simpson, A&K's vice president of operations and small ships. "The goal was not necessarily to create a separate product line but rather to present a value for people traveling alone, because they tend to be penalized with single supplements. So we targeted specific programs where we could eliminate the supplement."

A&K attracts an upscale, professional crowd, which makes them an attractive market.

"Our solo travelers tend to be an older demographic, many of them retired with expendable income, and 70% are female," Simpson said.

The company, aware that safety and security are important issues for solo travelers, particularly mature women, takes steps to reassure prospective clients.

On its website's Solo Traveler page, for example, A&K uses marketing phrases such as "Travel on your own -- but never alone," and "Your tour director is both a guide and a companion."

Grand Circle Travel is another example of an operator that offers a wide range of departures with no single supplement. Its sister company Overseas Adventure Travel waives single supplements on all land and small-ship vacations and on trip extensions.

Both firms feature the Solo Traveler Challenge, which promises that if a customer finds a lower solo price on any comparable international trip they will match that price and then deduct $500.

While these supplier examples cater mostly to an older clientele, the solo travel market includes younger people, too.

Contiki, the tour operator for customers 18 to 35, has a growing share of independent travelers. President Melissa da Silva said that 46% of Contiki's guests last year traveled solo, and of those, 63% were females.

"We have found ourselves to be a great option for that solo young woman traveling abroad, because we provide a sense of security," da Silva said.

The numbers are higher for certain destinations, such as Asia and Latin America, where Contiki's solo guests account for 55% and 58%, respectively, of all customers.

Contiki's single supplement is relatively low compared with most operators. It varies by tour but averages about 25% of the double-occupancy land cost, da Silva said.

Contiki offers to pair up same-sex roommates on all itineraries, and for those who agree to share a room, the single supplement isn't an issue. Several operators provide this option, which likely appeals more to younger clients than to older ones.

Old and new ideas

Norwegian Cruise Line is the pioneer in bringing single-passenger studio cabins to mainstream lines. Accommodations for 128 solo guests debuted on the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Epic in 2010, and the studio accommodations will also be featured on the Norwegian Breakaway, set to debut this month, and the Norwegian Getaway, entering service next year.

In 2011, Royal Caribbean International said it would install three cabins for solo travelers on the 2,112-passenger Radiance of the Seas. Royal is expanding its single-passenger options aboard the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas, which will enter service next year with 28 studio cabins that will be sold without a single supplement.

"There's been a fair amount of interest in that recently," Adam Goldstein, line president, said during a recent press conference.

But while Norwegian and Royal have taken these steps to attract solo guests, the single-supplement policy persists in double-occupancy staterooms.

Norwegian Epic's studio rates vary by departure, but they are less than what a 100% single supplement would add to a double cabin. A seven-day Aug. 24 cruise from Barcelona, for example, would cost $1,099 in a studio, while an inside cabin costs $899, per person, double occupancy, according to website pricing. The single supplement on that inside cabin would bring the cruise fare for a solo occupant to $1,798, or roughly $700 more than the studio stateroom.

"The cruise industry operates under a very different business model than say, your regular hotel and resort, which may usually have unoccupied rooms and do not offer inclusives beyond bath amenities and in-room coffee," said Harry Liu, manager of global brand communications for Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises.

"Because food, entertainment and other amenities are standard inclusives across the cruise industry, our industry's pricing structure is based on at least two paying guests per stateroom," Liu said. In the case of Royal, he added, it would mean that one guest in one double cabin would pay the price of two guests, a 100% supplement.

Tavia Robb, public relations manager for Celebrity Cruises, said, "Celebrity doesn't really offer any substantial single supplement program. If a cruise fare is $1,200 per person [double], for example, and someone sails alone, she or he would pay $2,400."

Come one, come all

In the wider cruise market, it's the river ship companies and the luxury brands that are most solo-traveler-friendly. Several river cruise companies, including Uniworld, AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways, waive supplements on many cruises, and luxury lines such as Silversea Cruises and Crystal Cruises reach out to solo guests with low fees. (Read related story, "On AmaCerto, one not such a lonely number.") 

Silversea typically offers select sailings with a 10% single supplement, and Crystal this year added a dozen itineraries with a 10% supplement, offering 26 cruises with reduced single fares.

Jack Anderson, Crystal's senior vice president of marketing and sales, explained that "because we're a luxury brand, we do not plan to operate at 100% berth occupancy. We budget to operate at a 96% or 97% stateroom occupancy, and that gives us the flexibility to accommodate 50 to 60 singles per sailing. So it's part of our business plan that we want singles, and we will price attractively for singles."

Crystal accommodates singles in other ways.

"A lot of our onboard activities are designed to be considerate of solos, Anderson said. "We have the 'Table of Eight,' for example, in our alternative restaurants Silk Road and Prego, where solo travelers can dine with other solos. And we have dance hosts on every cruise.

Besides, Anderson said, the solo market is only going to grow.

"We believe the number of people healthy, wealthy and able to travel is increasing, and it's a demographic opportunity," he said. "My prediction is that [the solo market] will be strong and viable, and it will increase."

He said that would be particularly true as the 79-million-strong baby boomer generation retires during the next 20 years. Presumably, some percentage of them will travel alone as widows or widowers, or as divorcees.

"We want to be out in front with the solo market and capitalize on it," he said. "But we have to be careful not to stereotype solo travelers. Many are married and choose not to travel as a couple: He wanted to go to a golf resort, and she wanted to go to Asia."

Anderson said the line decided about a year ago, when it still had a 25% single supplement, that it would offer a lower supplement of 10% on a capacity-controlled basis.

"We designated those sailings based on the diversity of itinerary, the time of year, etc., so that our guests would have a wide menu to choose from," he said. "If we reach certain numbers that conflict with reaching budget goals, then the 10% would have to go away, and we'd go back to 25%."

8 Travel Tips from the Masses

Ben Abramson, USA TODAY1:18 p.m. EDT May 6, 2013

Tourists get a bad rap, stereotyped as shuffling sneaker-clad hordes flitting from sight to sight taking photos of statues. We choose instead to honor the wisdom of the masses. In honor of National Tourist Appreciation Day, here are eight lessons all travelers can learn from the tourist throngs.
Some places are popular for a reason
If someone asked you where they should visit on their first trip to your city or area, you'd likely name the most obvious choices. And you should. The Empire State Building is an architectural treasure with stellar views of one of the world's great cities. The National Air and Space Museum in Washington has an unparalleled aviation collection from the country that gave powered flight to the world. There's a good reason they're always crowded (Fisherman's Wharf, we can't explain).
Wear comfortable shoes
If you're going to walk several miles in a day, plus spend hours standing in lines and staring at museum display cases, you want comfortable footwear. From sneakers to hiking boots to slip-on moccasins, form should follow function for a heavy day of sightseeing. You can always put on something stylish for dinner. But if you give yourself blisters and foot pain, you'll ruin the rest of your trip.
High season is the right season
Sure, you can get a much better deal on that Wisconsin lake house in October, and many popular Florida destinations are less crowded in August. But why are you going there anyway? You pay more and fight the crowds to get that perfect summer day that carries you through the year, or revel in warm southern sunshine when home is iced in.
Car travel is convenient and economical
Pack all you want. Bring gallons of beverages. Let every passenger have their own electronic entertainment. A road trip is, in almost every case, the cheapest and most comfortable way to get a group or family from here to there. Plus you can follow a random sign, or your eyes, and experience something memorable along the way. Even gas price fluctuations won't add much more than $20 to a long road trip. The airfare to your destination may have gone up that amount in the time you spend reading this article.
Bus tours have their place
You try driving from Central Park to Carnegie Hall to Lower Manhattan — or anywhere in Boston — all while a passenger reads from a guidebook to describe what you're passing. Bus tours, especially the kind where you can hop on and off at attractions along the way, can be a great way to see many sights for minimal hassle.
Be prepared
We've all seen those super parents spring into action: Baby crying? Out comes a bag of Cheerios. Toddler meltdown? A shiny toy. And everyone in the family has a water bottle and a snack. Pack well now and you can avert many crises later. If a fanny pack helps you stay prepared, so be it.
Just ask
The cliché is true: There are no stupid questions. Don't know if you can take your pepper spray through airport security? You'd rather find out now than be pulled aside later. Looking for the Liberty Bell? Better to ask a local and discover you're standing directly in front of it than wander for blocks when you were already there. And never underestimate what your fellow travelers, or random citizens in strange cities, will do to help a stranger when asked.
Your kids will whine now, but ...
It's a safe bet that if you ask your children what they really want to do this weekend, they'll say play video games or go to the pool. Put them in the car anyway. Even if they scowl every moment of your trip, 20 years later they'll have vivid — and fond — memories of Colonial Williamsburg and the Grand Canyon.

ABBA Museum Opens in Sweden

Stockholm - Fans of the legendary Swedish disco group ABBA can hardly wait: in just a few weeks, Stockholm will open the doors to the world's first museum dedicated to the iconic foursome.

After ABBA The Movie in 1977, the Mamma Mia musical and movie, and a 2010 travelling museum exhibit, the world's first permanent ABBA museum will open in central Stockholm on May 7.

“We're going to offer visitors a unique experience,” museum director Mattias Hansson tells AFP, revealing that they may even get a chance to speak live with a band member.

After months of construction, the modern, blonde wood building in the leafy Djurgaarden neighbourhood is nearing completion.

As opening day looms, convoys of trucks roll up to the site to deliver the furnishings and items that will make up the collection: flamboyant sequined costumes, gold records, and recreations of their recording studio and dressing rooms, among other things.

Workers bustle to finish what will be a temple to the creators of some of the biggest hits of the 1970s, including Voulez Vous, Dancing Queen and Waterloo, the song that won the band the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and thrust them onto the international scene.

Through the museum's big windows, passersby can catch a glimpse of a large main room. Few people have been authorised to enter the premises, as organisers are intent on keeping things under wraps until the official opening.

But they have let slip a few details.

For example, fans who have dreamt of becoming the fifth member of the band will be able to appear on stage with the quartet and record a song with them thanks to a computer simulation.

And in another room dedicated to the song Ring, Ring, a 1970s telephone will be on display. Only four people know the phone number: ABBA members Agnetha Faeltskog, Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad, Benny Andersson and Bjoern Ulvaeus, who may occasionally call to speak live with museum visitors.

“It was Frida's idea ... so of course she'll call,” says curator Ingmarie Halling.

The museum will naturally pay homage to ABBA's music.

“We have to have the best isolation in the world to be able to play different music in each room,” Hansson jokes.

But he doesn't expect visitors to flock to the museum to hear the group's hits, since fans already know them by heart.

Rather, they will get to relive the band's active years and get a sense of their lives behind the scenes.

ABBA last appeared on stage together in 1982, and split a year later.

They have repeatedly refused to reunite.

“We will never appear on stage again,” Ulvaeus said in a 2008

interview with Britain's The Sunday Telegraph.

“There is simply no motivation to regroup. Money is not a factor and we would like people to remember us as we were,” he said.

After the split, the band members each went their own way and they've rarely appeared in public together - in 2008, they attended the Stockholm premiere of the movie Mamma Mia - so getting all four involved in the making of the museum is a coup.

Halling - the band's stylist from 1976 to 1980, an era she describes as “fun and magnificent” - has been instrumental in collaborating with them.

“They've lent us lots of stuff and I call them to tell them my ideas and they say, 'sure, go ahead!',” Halling explains.

As the person behind some of their glitzy and flamboyant costumes, Halling has made sure that many of their outfits are included in the exhibit.

Visitors will also be “able to experience how the ABBA members' lived their lives,” she says. The four will recount their own side of things in the museum's audio guide.

The group dominated the 1970s disco scene with their catchy melodies and kitsch dance routines.

But their popularity has grown over the years beyond those seeking a little nostalgia from a bygone era.

The 1999 musical “Mamma Mia”, and the 2008 film of the same name starring Meryl Streep, brought their music to a whole new generation of fans who weren't alive in the 1970s.

The group has sold some 378 million albums worldwide, outdone only by Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

“Our office is right next to Benny Andersson's. When I tell people in other countries that, and that I pass him on the street sometimes, people are like: 'No! Really? He walks in the street just like that?',” says Jeppe Wikstroem, an editor working on a book of previously unpublished ABBA photographs.

The museum's website says it expects to attract a quarter of a million visitors in 2013.

“It's very exciting,” says Micke Bayart, a 45-year old who headed the band's official fan club in the 1980s.

“ABBA is part of Sweden's musical history, it's only right that there be a museum dedicated to them: they deserve it,” he said.

Tickets for the museum - which cost 23 euros, or R230 - are almost sold out for the first few weeks, going primarily to tourists from abroad, museum director Hansson said.

Those who can't get their hands on a ticket will have to be content with a glimpse of some of the band's costumes on display at the arrival hall of Stockholm's Arlan airport. - Sapa-AFP