Disney Vacation Club Reseller
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Disney Vacation Club - A guide to DVC Resales and disney time share point charts The Internet's Largest Unofficial On-Line Guide to Walt Disney World Walt Disney World Disney Cruise Line Disneyland Parks Hotels Dining DVC Photos Events Transport Ratings Discounts Site Map Home Page Photos/Video Theme Parks Magic Kingdom Epcot MGM Studios Animal Kingdom Tickets Park Hours/Shows Park Maps Events more.... Resorts/Hotels Disney Resorts Hotel DIScounts Rack Rates Resort Maps Reservations more.... Discussion Forums Ratings/Reviews Abbreviations FAQ's Posting Guidelines Free Registration Disney Cruise Line Itineraries Activities Dining Staterooms Discounts more... DVC/Timeshare DVC Resales DVC Resorts Newcomers FAQ DVC Point Charts Rent/Trade Points Discounts Current Discounts Disney Cruise Line Package Discounts Resort Discounts more... Disneyland CA Theme Parks Accomodations Dining Discounts more... Dining Menus Dining Database Priority Seatings more... Downtown Disney Cirque du Soleil Disney Quest Marketplace Pleasure Island West Side more... Transportation Town Car Service Bus Schedules Monorail Driving to Florida more... Recreation Golf Courses Parasailing/Skiing Richard Petty more... Community Discussion Community Photos Countdown Clock DIS Team more... Upcoming Events Universal Studios The #1 Disney Vacation Club Reseller in the World!! 1-800-550-6493 Disney Vacation Club Information, DVC Resales DVC Main Page DVC Resales Points Calculator Point Charts Rent/Trade Points Rent/Trade FAQ'S DVC FAQ'S DVC Resorts at WDW Room Reports DVC Discussion Forums DVC Frequently Asked Questions Deciding to join the Disney Vacation Club is a big decision. We all went through it, and we had a thousand questions in the process. One of the goals for this web site was to try and answer as many questions as possible here. The DVC bulletin board is also a great source of information (you can reach that board by selecting BOARDS from the menu bar to the left). What are the benefits of membership? How does the point system work? How do I know how many points to purchase? Can I use my points at other resorts? What if I decide not to keep it? What should I know about buying timeshares through a resale company? Still have Questions? What are the benefits of membership? There are a number of benefits to joining the DVC. First, the value of the points that you purchase will never change. The same value you receive today, will be the same value you receive in 30 years. While the cost of staying at a Disney hotel rises by 5-10% per year, this is a great hedge against inflation. Members also receive discounts at Pleasure Island and Disney Water Parks as well as 10% off merchandise at The Disney Store nationwide. DVC offers discounts for a variety of WDW restaurants, recreational programs and tours. A complete list is provided to members when they check in at their resort. Members also receive a 10% discount on Unlimited Park Hopper passes, that allow unlimited admission to all WDW Theme Parks, Water Parks, Pleasure Island and Disney Quest for every day of your stay. These passes must be purchased at a DVC resort during your stay. You also have the benefit of being able to book at your home resort up to 11 months in advance of your check out date. Your home resort is the resort at which you purchased your interest. Current DVC resorts are Old Key West (OKW), Boardwalk Villas (BWV), Vero Beach (VB), Hilton Head Island (HH), Villas at Wilderness Lodge (VWL), Beach Club Villas (BCV) and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is due to open in May, 2004. You can reserve up to 7 months in advance at any DVC location that is not your home resort. Membership in DVC is included with ownership at a DVC Resort. The program is currently scheduled to end on January 31, 2042- for OKW, BWV, VWL and BCV. After that date, the present resorts will revert back to Disney ownership. Ownership rights may be transferred to others in a will or by a direct sale, after consult with DVC. DVC can add additional resorts in the future which could have a different end date. This has recently occurred with Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (SSR), where DVC will offer membership until January 31, 2054. All of the discount programs are subject to change and may be modified at any time, but the DVC resorts and their total points may not be changed. Back to top How does the point system work? When you buy into the DVC, you purchase a certain number of points per year. The current price (retail) is $89 per point, for purchases at SSR -with a 150 point minimum for initial purchase and $84 per point for add-ons at the other DVC resorts-with a 25 point minimum for DVC members. Let's say you purchased 200 points. You would be assigned a "use year" (that is the month of the year in which your points would recycle). For example, my use year is February, and I own 200 points. Every February, 200 points are available for me to use that year. When I decide to book my vacation, I choose the dates I want to visit, and the type of room that I want to stay in. That will determine how many points that visit will cost me. I also have the option of banking my points into the next use year, or borrowing points against next year for this year. Which leads to the next question... Back to top How do I know how many points to purchase? This depends on how often you plan to visit Disney World, what size accommodation you would need, and what times of the year you want to visit. The Disney Information Station maintains a DVC Point Calculator and a DVC Point Chart. I suggest that you enter in some sample information, based on what type of vacation habits you have, to find out how many points would be appropriate for you. Many ask if DVC will change the point requirement for a stay at a DVC resort. While the total number of points sold at the resort is a fixed number and cannot be changed, point needs for stays can be changed. However, if points needed for some nights (or room types) are raised, other nights (or room types) must be lowered, as the total points required to stay at the resort for the year cannot be changed. This has occurred only once, in 1996 at OKW, and is likely to happen only if necessary to keep resort utilization in balance for the benefit of DVC members. At that time some nights were raised a few points, some were lowered a few points and most were not changed at all. Back to top Can I use my points at other resorts? The DVC is part of Interval International (a large, worldwide timeshare organization). Your DVC points can be traded for accommodations at many of the Interval Internationals resorts nationwide. You can also use your points to stay at other Disney resorts, as well as the DVC locations at Vero Beach, FL and Hilton Head, SC. and a number of other vacation opportunities such as the Disney Cruise Line and special Adventure programs. Back to top What if I decide not to keep it? You are free to sell your interest in the DVC just as you would any other real estate property. Many people list their DVC properties with companies such as the Timeshare Store, Inc. The Timeshare Store is a licensed Florida real estate company that acts as the broker for the sale and purchase of timeshare interests. You can get more info on The Timeshare Store by visiting their web site at http://www.timesharesale.com and info on their DVC Resales specifically at http://www.dvc-resales.com Back to top What should I know about buying timeshares through a resale company? There are a couple of points you should keep in mind when purchasing resale. First, watch out for companies who want to charge you any up front fees. You should never pay anything until a sale is final. Second, make sure that the resale agent you are dealing with is a licensed real estate agency. This lends a great deal of credibility to that agency, and gives you direct recourse (through the state board of realtors) should anything go wrong. We recommend The Timeshare Store in Orlando, FL. Many people who have visited this site have purchased DVC through them and have had excellent experiences in doing so. Back to top Once a DVC resort is sold out, if I buy through resale, will there be problems trying to book rooms? Disney Vacation Club resorts are busy places, there is no question about that. However, if you plan far enough in advance, you should be able to get the dates you want without much of a problem. Remember, at your home resort, you can reserve up to 11 months in advance of your check out date and 7 months in advance at other DVC resorts. All members have the same benefits and restrictions regardless how they joined the DVC. There is no negative to a membership purchased through resale. Back to top Still have Questions? If you have other questions that are not listed here, pay a visit to our DVC bulletin board. There you can ask any question you like of other DVC members. CLICK HERE to go to the boards! Back to top FL TOURS Transportation To Disney As low as $95 Round Trip Click Here Discount Disney Tickets Disney World Universal Studios Sea World Dinner Shows Click Here to Order Theme Parks | Accommodations | Dining | Transportation | DVC | Discounts | Pictures / Video | Holidays / Events Privacy Statement | Contact Us | Terms of Service | Advertising Information | Site Dedication | Disney Vacations Discounts | Cruise Line Overview | Disney Cruise Line | Tickets | Hotels | Downtown | Animal Kingdom | Rides Attractions Disney World Hotels | Epcot Future World | Epcot Overview | Magic Kingdom | Orlando Transportation | Page Listing This site is not affiliated in any way with the Walt Disney Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries. This site and the information contained therein represent the opinion of the webmaster. For official information on Walt Disney World, Click Here This site is owned and maintained by Werner Technologies. Click Here with any questions.
Europe Travel 101 -
Winter Travel to Europe - Low Season Highs from Europe for Visitors You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Europe for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page European Tickets on the Web European Tickets on the Web Box Office Online Italy Winter Travel Resources Christmas Markets Winter Festivals Europe Carnivals Europe Weather Europe Weather Links Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Winter Travel To Europe From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Winter may be the perfect time to travel. Why not travel in winter? Hotels and airfares are cheap, sweaty summer crowds are a dim memory, and there's plenty going on:
Attend Cultural events: Opera, Theater, and Symphony Winter Seasons.
Have Fun in the Snow: skiing, snowboarding
See Christmas Markets, Festivals and Carnival
Enjoy Winter food - an entirely different animal from summer's simplicity!
Why Travel in Winter?
While it's great fun hanging out under the August sun slurping spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce at an outdoor cafe in Rome, winter travel offers some interesting opportunities you may not have considered. There are the obvious ones, like skiing and snowboarding. But what about the opera and orchestra season? European cultural events in historic halls are going full blast in winter.
Winter offers you a chance to see Europe in a whole different--albeit dimmer--light. The season presents you with a chance to put on your woollies and hike snow covered peaks, or squeeze into a tux and go to an opera gala.
How can I afford all this? Saving Money
If you think you can't afford a winter vacation, take a look at winter airline prices. It could cost you a half to a third of the price of a summer flight to get to Europe in the off-season.
Hotels usually offer discounts in winter as well.
But isn't it Cold Over There?
Some places are indeed quite chilly. But the south of Italy, Spain, Portugal and most of Greece are pretty balmy in winter. Winter is a great time to visit Spain's Andalucian trio of Seville, Cordoba and Granada. Or perhaps you'd rather take a winter visit to almost deserted Pompeii with a stopover in Naples in order to eat some of the best food in Italy. Check our Europe Weather Links for the skinny on temperatures.
The Contrarian View - Winter as, well...Winter!
Why look for sun and balmy weather at all? Winter has charms of its own. Instead of a seat at an outdoor cafe, think of wandering through Venice's wintry fog, peering into the city's steamed-up windows in search of a cozy cafe--or, better yet, think of eating rich, winter foods beside a roaring fire beneath the intricately carved timber-beams of an historic guild hall restaurant in Basel, Switzerland.
In winter, European cuisine changes dramatically. Southern Mediterranean dwellers wouldn't think of eating heavy cream sauces in summer (although they will whip butterfat into just about anything for tourists who demand such culinary blasphemy). But once the leaves fall off the trees, European kitchens burst into winter mode--creamy, long-cooking sauces, preserved duck and goose, root vegetables, and the roasting of wild game all contributing to aromas that will leave you wishing you could stay in Europe forever. In winter you'll come to find all those food "specialties" you've read about in guidebooks but were never able to locate in summer.
Cultural Events also come alive in winter. The opera, theater, and symphony seasons are in full swing. Sure, in summer you can spend good money going to a historic building to see short ditties truncated for the enjoyment of limited-attention-span summer tourists, but the shorter days of winter leave time in the evenings for the real deal. Today you'll find many ticket sales for these events online. Check the "European Tickets on the Web" box on the upper right for more.
(continue to page two for Christmas Markets, Festivals, and Skiing. 1 2 Next Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There
South America Travel
South America Travel Planning index - Tips and Suggestions You are here: About > Travel > South America for Visitors Travel Go South America Essentials Plan Your First Trip to South America Photo Gallery Travel Features - Countries and Culture News and Current Events Reader Participation Requested Articles & Resources Most Popular Destinations Countries and Territories Plan Your Trip Getting There Culture Events, Fiestas, Holidays Languages Geography News & Current Events History Archaeology Sports and Recreation Wildlife / Conservation Guides and Gear Cuisine Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Guide and Travel Books History and Culture Books Cookbooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the South America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search South America for Visitors Travel Planning Guide picks Tours, tour operators, trip reports, airlines, cruises, health and safety, vacations, money, useful tips and reservations, money, news, reader reviews and useful publications to help plan your travels All About Touring South America Choosing destinations, time, cruises, plus helpful info about cuisine, tipping, festivals and more travel tips. Before You Buy A Tour to South America South America is a huge continent, offering the visitor a wealth of sightseeing opportunities. Tour agencies have developed itineraries enabling you to see as much as possible in as little time as possible. How do you know which tour operator is right for you? Countries and Capitals of South America This simple chart provides countries and capitals, plus links to updated World Fact Book data, and maps. Deals Page I'm pleased to be able to share with you great travel discounts, deals, argains, special offers, packages, and other tips and insider secrets as I find them. FAQ Some answers to those Frequently Asked Questions about using this site. First Time VisitorsTravel Planner Look at this illustrated index first to plan your trip. You'll find things to do before you leave, travel planning tips, destinations, top attractions, photo gallery, plus hundreds of pages of information about the countries you'll want to visit. Reader Reviews Choose a country, then fill in the form provided for location, time of visit, comments, recommendations, suggestions or warnings, plus add your rating of 1 -5. Tour Operators Tour Operators from A-Z, specialized tours, tour operators by country and related touring resources Weather Forecasts, average ranges, and more information to help you plan your trip Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Cola de Mono - Monkey's Tail Cuzco Pisco Sour Chilean Style Falkland Islands Photos Virtual Tour Headlines New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro - Festa de Iemanj In Rio de Janeiro, on December 31, throngs of... Photo of the Week Once part of the infamous penal colony, and now... La Fiesta Grande Annually on December 24-26 thousands gather to worship the... Antarctic Wildlife Photo Gallery Summer in the Southern Hemisphere is the time for...
ski vacation not falling
trip & travel guide for skier to ski in china skiing resort for winter vacation tour in yabuli Trip & Travel Guide for Skier to Ski in China Skiing Resort for Winter Vacation Tour Background Information for Major Ski Resort Ski Resorts Location around Ski Resorts Location around China Yabuli Int'l Ski Center Ha'erbing Mudanjiang trails 70Km Nanshan Ski Resort Beijing China Beidahu Skiing Resort Changchun total trails 20Km Huaibei Int'l Ski slope Beijing China Changbaishan Ski Resort Changchun total trails over 10Km Saibei ski Resort Beijing Erlongshan Ski slope Ha'erbing total trails 5.6Km Shijinglong Skiing Resort Beijing Alshan Skiing Resort Ulanhot Mulan Royal Ski Resort Chengde Skiing Tours Tour Code Tour name or itinerary Days & note Quotation(per person, minimum 2perosns) S-Yabuli-01 Harbin Yabuli ski tour 4 165USD+ S-Yabuli-02 Beijing Mudanjiang Yabuli ski tour 6 (plane) 696USD+ S-Yabuli-021 Beijing Mudanjiang Yabuli ski trip 4 (plane) 580USD+ S-Yabuli-03 Beijing Yabuli ski tour 7 (train) 490USD+ S-Yabuli-031 Beijing Yabuli ski tour 5 (train) 380USD+ S-Yabuli-05 Beijing Harbin Yabuli ski tour 6 (plane) 550USD+ S-Yabuli-051 Beijing Harbin Yabuli skiing trip 4 (plane) 440USD+ S-Yabuli-06 Harbin Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival tour 3 190USD+ S-Yabuli-061 Harbin Ice & Snow Iced Creations Festival and Yabuli ski tour 5 350USD+ S-Wjm-01 Harbin Wujimi ski slope for skiing tour 6 490USD+ S-001 Beijing Shenyang Changchun Harbin Yabuli winter tour 9 830USD+ S-Beidahu-01 Beiing Jilin Beidahu ski resort skinng trip 6 (plane) 63USD+ S-Beidahu-02 Beijing Jilin Beidahu ski trip 7 (train) 445USD+ S-Sjl-01 Shijinglong ski resort skiing tourt 2 150USD+ S-Sjl-02 Shijinglong skiing tour 1 70USD+ S-Nanshan-01 Nanshan ski tour 3 148USD+ S-Wanlong-01 Beijing Wanlong ski tour 4 (car) 360USD+ S-Wanlong-02 Beijing Wanlong ski tour 7 (car) 530USD+ S-Xiling-01 Mt.Xiling ski tour 4 S-Yfs-01 Yunfoshan ski resort tour 2 160USD+ S-Yfs-02 Yunfoshan ski resort tour 1 90USD+ S-SN122L Sichuan Snow & Ice Tour 7 S-Emeishan-01 Emeishan ski tour 5 150USD+ S-Tsn-01 Beijing-Xinjiang Urumuqi tianshan ski tour 6 880USD+ Local Chinese Ski Tour Group To join local ski tour group, Participant could ski in the resorts at low cost with basic service (although the service quality just so-so) and transportation, and almost all the participants are Chinese with Chinese speaking guide service only, although some young Chinese participant in this group could speaking English for your basic exchange. "Travel guide to China ski resorts" page covers almost all major ski resorts (slopes) in China with general information and some necessary travel arrangement for skier winter vacation In China , as a new sport activity, skiing resorts spread rapidly over the country, attract many foreigners for vacation in recent years with it lower cost. In China , the best resorts for really skiing just located in north-east area of China, such as Yabuli, Erlongshan, Beidahu, Changbaishan and Alshan Resorts around Ha'erbin and Changchun, with the best facilities, equipment, management and good weather, ideal slopes, terrain for skiing. If for professional or expert skiing, then you must to be there. Total about 110 ski & snowing resorts in northwest of china, and about 60 ski & snowing resorts in Heilongjiang province. 2nd , there are about 15 ski resorts donated around Beijing, with modern equipment and management, which is closest to the Beijing International A'port compersion to the north-east area, if family members travel, then Beijing is your destination for winter vacation. 3rd , in Sichuan, there are 4 snow and ice with skiing resorts around Chengdu. If you love both giant panda and skiing with family members, then Chengdu is your best destination for family vacation. Xiling Ski Resort Chengdu Emeishan Ski Resort Chengdu Wanlong ski resort Zhangjiakou Wawushan Snow & Ice World Chengdu Yulong Xueshan Ski Resort Lijiang Huishan ski resort Shenyang Jingyuetan Ski Resort Changchun Dongbeiya ski resort Shenyang Songhuahu ski resort Changchun Yuquan Ski Resort Ha'erbing Wujimi Ski Resort Ha'erbing Yueliangwan Ski Resort Ha'erbing Snow World Ski Resort Beijing Linshan Ski Resort Beijing Jindinghu Ski Resort Beijing Pinggu Ski Resort Beijing Cuiyunshan Ski Resort Beijing Yunfoshan Ski Resort Beijing If need information more about any ski resorts in China, just e-mail us. Name list for other china ski resorts The best 2 ski resorts with both alpine (alps) and cross country (nordic) ski trails, as well as for professional & athlete: Changbaishan ski resort and Beidahu ski resort. The best 2 ski resorts for tourist skiing: Yabuli ski slope and Nanshan ski resort. The best 2 ski resorts for family with children: Beijing Snow world and Sichuan Xiling ski resort. The best 2 ski resorts in & closest to town: Beijing Yabuluoni Ski and Jingyuetan ski resort in Changchun. Ski Tour Reservation & Payment 1, Tell us your date and flight with time of both departure and Arrival in China, make sure our quotation; 2, mail us your profiles such as name, sex, date of birth, nationality and passport number for reservation; 3, once the ski tour and flight (or train ticket) available, we will inform you to make bank wire full payment to the account of our corp.; 4, after that, we will make re-confirmation to you on this reservation, and mail you some details of arrangement for your tour; 5, in general, ski fee includes: ski gears (ski boards or and snow board), ski boots, ski poles, lift for alpine ski; 6, most accommodation in slopes without b'fast in their rate; 7, all tours (special the train number / time, flight /time) subject to its adjusted if necessary. Note : To save, it's better that you arrange your ski vacation not falling on the weekend, festival & holiday date or around. Usually, in ski resort skiing and accommodation on Fri/Sat/Sun cost as much as 125% than usual, and the festival & holiday days 140-170%. And the festivals & holidays dates in China for winter ski vacation as: New Year (4days as 31Dec, 01-03Jan) Xmas day(2days as 24-25Dec) Spring Festival (Chinese New Year, 8days as 30Dec--07Jan Chinese Calendar) In general, you can ski natural snow after 01Dec (better after 10Dec) in slopes in Northeastern China, and after 15Dec (better after 20Dec) in Beijing area, after 25Dec in slopes around Yangtze River. For winter ice climbing tour in Siguniangshan All information on China Ski in this website just for reference only Home Tibet Tour Yangtze River Giant Panda Sichuan Over China Special Guizhou Shop Contacting information E-mail: cits@4panda.com About our Corp.
Asia Travel || Laos
TRAVEL LEISURE TOURS HOTELS RESORTS LAOS Map of Laos Laos Visa Requirement LAOS AT A GLANCE Official Name : State of LAO P.D.R. : Head of State : Head of Government : Official Language : Land Area : Population : Currency : GDP per Capita : Main Exports : Main Imports : Exports : Imports : Lao People's Democratic Republic People's Democratic State President Nouhak PHOUMSAVANH Minister Khamtay SIPHANDONE Lao 236,800 square kilometres 4,581,128 (1995) Kip US$350 (1994-1995) Electricity, timber and wood products, garments and texties, coffee, tin, Petroleum, machinery and raw materials, vehicles, cement, iron, fabrics US$209.40 (1994-1995) US$375.40 (1994-1995) The Lao People's Democratic Republic is located in South East Asia at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula between latitude 14-23 degrees north and longitude 100108 degrees east. Laos has an eastern border of 1,957 km with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a western border of 1,730 km with the Kingdom of Thailand, a southern border of 492 km with the Kingdom of Cambodia a northern border of 416 km with the People's Republic of China and a North Western border of 230 km with the Union of Myanmar. Total area of Laos is 236,800 square kilometres, three quarters of which is mountainous and forest-covered 40 % while the country is rich in natural resources, such as mineral deposits, including 1 billion tons of high quality iron are between 60-70%, lead, gold, tin and 8200-8232 calorie/gram coal. Although the Lao P.D.R. has no direct access to the sea, it has the Mekong River which is the main river of the country flowing north to south. In addition, there are many branch rivers which nourish agriculture. Laos people use it as a power source which supplies hydro-electric of over 18,000 MW from 57 dams. The Population of the Lao P.D.R. is estimated at 4,581,128 (1995) and population density remains one of the lowest in the region at 19 persons per square kilometre with a population increase rate of 2.64 %. The Lao population is ethnically diverse with up to 68 different ethnic groups identified inhabiting the country, with various languages, cultures and traditions which are classified into three groups: The Lao Loam, who occupy the lowlands plains and the Mekong River valley, and constitute about 56% of the total population; the Lao Thing, who occupy the mountain slopes, comprising about 34% of the population, and the high mountain Lao, constituting about 9% of the total population, and one per cent foreigners. LAOS VISA REQUIREMENT - Request for Laos Visa Approval should be emailed to asiatrav@asiatravel.com giving the following informations: Family Name and Giving Name and Sex Nationaltiy Passport Number - Date of Issued & Expiry Date of Birth Occupation Date of Arrival ** It takes another 2 working days to obtain Lao visa aproval Ater getting the Laos Visa Approval, travellers have to obtain Lao Visa Stamp at the Lao Embassy in their own country or in Bangkok with the following documents: 2 Visa Application Form (Photocopy accepted) 2 photos Original Passport **It takes another 2 working days to obtain Lao visa stamp FOR TRAVELLERS WHO WISH TO OBTAIN LAO VISA ONLY The Arrangement fees is US$95 HOW TO REACH LAO PDR One can arrive in Vientiane either by air or by land BY AIR - From Bangkok, Hanoi or Phnompenh to Vientiane BY TRAIN - From Bangkok to Nongkai **Train from Bangkok to Nongkai travels at night berth. Upon arrival at Nongkai in the morning, you will have to take taxi or rickshaw to Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge and cross the border. The guide will wait for you after Lao Immigration to transfer you to Vientiane. Asia Travel || Laos Hotels & Resorts