Family Vacation Ideas Winter

Cheap Cruises - for families  You are here: About > Travel > Travel with Kids Travel Travel with Kids Essentials Family Vacation Ideas Winter and Spring Break All-Inclusive Resorts Ten Latest Family Travel Deals Family Resorts: top places; photos Articles & Resources Family Travel: What's Hot Top Vacation Spots VT, ME, NH, CT, MA, NY, PA Mexico Family Vacations Caribbean Vacations More Beach Vacations Florida Family Vacations Resorts with Water Park More Family Resorts Fun Places for Kids Disney Vacations Family Cruises Babies;Teens;Single Parents Lots More Destinations Family Travel TIPS, GAMES Buyer's Guide TAKE ALONG: Christmas books Christmas flicks Activity Kits more CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Travel with Kids newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Travel with Kids Family Cruises: Deals It's no surprise that thousands of people search the Web for"cheap cruises": bargain-hunting is the name of the game. Scroll down, below. See also: tips and info on onboard programs and activities for families. Find Cheaper Cruises! latest listings: Disney Cruises: Magical Rates Disney Cruises are known for excellent kids' programs and entertainment with pizzazz; and docking at private island Castaway Cay isn't too shabby either. [p[Every week, Disney Cruises publishes "Magical Rates" on its Specials page. For example, rates posted Monday December 5, 2005 are valid until Sunday, December 11, 2005. You might find a 4-night Bahamian cruise for $479, for Sept. 200 dates; or a 7-night Easter Caribbean cruise for $859 (per person, based on double occupancy.) Chidren's rates are available for kids 3 to 12 in a room with two parents. Under-three's are a bargain as they're free-- unless you want to sign up for Flounder's Nursery. (Other kids programs are free.) Costa Cruises: Kids Sail Free Kids 17 and under are free-- on most Caribbean 2005/2006 sailings, on the new Costa Magica or the Costa Mediterranea-- when sharing a stateroom with 2 adults paying Early Booking Discount rates. Book by August 31, 2005. (Read the web site for some fine print.) Sample price, for adult: from $479, for. a Dec. 18 departure; 5 nights. . Costa is a classy cruise line, "Italian Style"; read about Costa Cruises for families. Single Parents' Cruise Single Parents Tours is an offshoot of the Single Parent Network site, and plans several trips a year, negotiating low rates and ensuring that penalties aren't charged for single-parent families. (Most travel industry pricing is based on two paying adults; the single parent often has to pay a "single supplement".) This trip -- June 26 to July 1 2006-- is on a Carnival ship, and departs from New York for Canada, with port calls in Saint John and Halifax. Royal Caribbean: new ship, with waterpark The new Freedom of the Seas ship, debuting in June 2006, has an on-board kid-friendly waterpark, in addition to rock-climbing wall and other fun. Find 7-night Western Caribbean cruises as low as $700/person. Read more about Freedom of the Seas for families. Booking Buddy A helpful online tool for finding deals; part of the budget-saving Smarter Living network. Alaska and Oregon Adventures Glacier Bay Cruise Line is a small-ship line that aims to take you to "wild and special places", with onboard naturalists and adventure activities such as sea kayaking. Family trips during summer have special activities for kids, and a price break: kids save 50%. (Click "Itineraries", then "Themes".) Hotwire The popular discount travel site has a section just for cruises. Disney cruise savings Brought to you by the excellent money-saving site, Mousesavers .com: a frequently-updated set of all the ways you can save money on Disney cruises. Disney: Specials Check the Specials page at the official Disney site for bargains, such as early booking prices. Kids' rates are available for children under 12 as 3rd and 4th passengers in a cabin. (See photos at Travel With Kids of Disney Cruise ship The Wonder , and article about Disney Cruises .) Disney Cruises Check this page at AllEarsNet for discounts on the Disney Wonder on specific sailing dates: 3 nights land, 4 nights sea. There are many sailing dates, and booking deadlines. Windjammer Barefoot Cruises: Kids Free Forget the Loveboat, and picture instead a tall-masted sailing ship: every summer, (June, July, August), Windjammer has a great deal for families with kids 6 to 17. For ages 6 to 11, "Junior Jammers" program has many fun activities, and kids sail free. "Teen Jammers" is for ages 12 to 17. Water fun includes snorkeling and complimentary SASY (a kiddie version of scuba-diving) and Bubblemaker intro to scuba for ages 8 to 12. Older kids can try scuba. See sample activities for both age groups. Holland America: price break for family reunions The Holland America line has a price break for families-- big families, that is. Those who book five or more cabins for a family reunion will get a price break and a bunch of perks. Holland America has new-and-improved youth programs, too. Norwegian Cruise Line NCL is a major line with several special features for families. NCL sails in both the east and the west, and offers discounts on many voyages including the Hawaiian islands. Discovery Cruises: Kids Sail and Stay Free Discovery runs popular one-day sailings from Ft. Lauderdale to Grand Bahama Island. Age 6 and under sail free; also children stay free (with paying adult) at a participating resort on Grand Bahama Island. Meanwhile, kids 7 to 11 pay only $49 for the sailing, and stay free at the resort. Discovery has a Kids Club, with focus on learning about marine life. TIPS: Advice from About's Linda Garrison, for families: The Disney family cruise line charges reduced rates for ages 3-17, and under 3 is free. Carnival has special rates that vary for those under 12. Almost all lines give special discounts for 3rd and 4th passengers in the same room. Current Deals *** A good place to hunt for cheaper cruises: the bargain page at About's Cruises site. Carnival Cruise Deals Check a bevy of deals. Carnival ships have lots of fun for all ages-- see article at TWKids . Crystal Cruises Crystal has for years been picked by readers' polls for Cond Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure as Worlds Best Large Ship Cruise Line. Check for Specials where kids sail free. * photo courtesy of Holland America. From Teresa Plowright , Your Guide to Travel with Kids . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Advertisement Most Popular Charades -How To Play Charades Family Vacation Spots The Atlantis Resort Great Places to See Santa Disney Christmas Magic Kingdom What's Hot Grand Floridian Chinese New Year - 2006 Poconos Great Wolf Lodge photo Dog Friendly Hotels, inns, lodges -- find dog-friendly vacat... Kwanzaa Related Topics Florida for Visitors New England for Visitors Theme Parks Hotels / Resorts / Inns Parenting of K-6 Children        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 Grand Floridian Chinese New Year - 2006 Poconos Great Wolf Lodge photo Dog Friendly Hotels, inns, lodges -- find dog-friendly vacat... Kwanzaa Headlines Bunch of family travel deals Latest deals added include a January Travel Special at the... First Nights! "First Night" events celebrate New Year's with family-friendly festivities-- and... Top Family Travel Trends in 2005 It's that time of year... to pause the mad dash... Bookmark the NORAD Tracks Santa site! It's not a family trip, but it's certainly a trip...

Golf Vacation. Great Travel

Las Vegas Golf Packages - Vacation Packages by TravelGolfVegas.com Las Vegas Golf Packages TravelGolf Vegas has a variety of golf packages to fit any budget. Each package includes choice of hotel and golf course . Just click on one of the links below for details on each package. Travel Golf Vegas Golf & Hotel Package Specials Imperial Palace Special Golf & Hotel Package Dates: September 26, 2005 - January 22, 2006 Price Range: $399 - $499 Enjoy 3 rounds of golf at Las Vegas National Golf Club , Painted Desert Golf Club , Aliante Golf Club Three Nights/Three Rounds Midweek Weekends Imperial Palace Hotel Casino $399.00 $499.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **New Years- 12/30/04-01/03/05** Packages are based on availability and subject to change. Prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Midweek hotel is Sunday through Thursday, golf is Monday through Thursday. Weekend hotel is Friday and Saturday, Golf is Friday through Sunday. Extra nights and rounds of golf can be added to any of the above packages for an additional charge. Prices may change for groups of 16 or more. To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Lake Las Vegas 2 Bedroom Villa Dates: November 28, 2005 - January 9, 2006 Price Range: $699 Enjoy 4 Nights /4 Rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club (2 Rounds) The Fall's Golf Club (2 Rounds) PLUS a Lake Las Vegas 2 Bedroom Villa at $699.00 per person , quad occupancy. Limited Package Availability! (****Must Have 4 Golfers****) To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Vacation SILVER Package Dates: October 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006 Price Range: $1299 - $1599 Day Golf Courses 1 Angel Park Mountain Golf Club 2 Rhodes Ranch Golf Club 3 Badland's Golf Club 4 Angel Park Palm Golf Club 5 Painted Desert Golf Club 6 Las Vegas National Golf Club 7 Legacy Golf Club 4 Bedroom 3 Bath 3200 SF Vacation Home Sleeps 8 $1299.00 per golfer double occupancy ( Based on 8 Golfers) $1599.00 per golfer single occupancy ( Based on 4 Golfers) Limited Package Availability! To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Vacation GOLD Package Dates: October 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006 Price Range: $1699 - $1999 Day Golf Courses 1 Revere @ Anthem Lexington Golf Club 2 The Fall's @ Lake Las Vegas Resort 3 Rio Secco Golf Club 4 Reflection Bay Golf Club 5 Dragon Ridge CC 6 Las Vegas Paiute- Wolf 7 Bear's Best Golf Club 4 Bedroom 3 Bath 3200 SF Vacation Home Sleeps 8 $1699.00 per golfer double occupancy (Based on 8 Golfers) $ 1999.00 per golfer single occupancy ( Based on 4 Golfers) Limited Package Availability! To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Paiute Resort Dates: January 2, 2006 - June 4, 2006 Price Range: $599 - $849 Enjoy 3 rounds of golf at the Las Vegas Paiute Sun, Las Vegas Paiute Snow, Las Vegas Paiute Wolf starting from $599 . Three Nights/Three Rounds Weekday Weekend Imperial Palace Hotel Casino $599.00 $699.00 Flamingo Hotel Casino $649.00 $749.00 Mirage Hotel Casino $699.00 $849.00 Vacation Home (Based on 8 Golfers) $699.00 $799.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Best Desert Golf Dates: January 2, 2006 - June 4, 2006 Price Range: $749 - $1049 Enjoy 3 rounds of golf at the Bear's Best Golf Club, Dragon Ridge CC, Rio Secco Golf Club starting from $749 . Three Nights/Three Rounds Weekday Weekend Imperial Palace Hotel Casino $749.00 $899.00 Flamingo Hotel Casino $799.00 $999.00 Mirage Hotel Casino $849.00 $1049.00 Vacation Home (Based on 8 Golfers) $899.00 $999.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Hyatt Lake Las Vegas Resort Dates: January 9, 2006 - August 31, 2006 Price Range: $649 - $1549 Enjoy 4 rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club, Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club starting from $649 . Dates Four Nights/Four Rounds Weekday Weekend 01/09/06-01/29/06 Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort $1149.00 $1249.00 01/30/06-05/28/06 Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort $1449.00 $1549.00 06/01/06-08/31/06 Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort $649.00 $749.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . The Villas at Lake Las Vegas Resort Dates: January 9, 2006 - August 31, 2006 Price Range: $699 - $1399 Enjoy 4 rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club, Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club starting from $699 . Dates Four Nights/Four Rounds Weekday Weekend 01/09/06-05/28/06 2 Bedroom Villa-(Based on 4 Golfers) $1299.00 $1399.00 06/01/06-08/31/06 2 Bedroom Villa-(Based on 4 Golfers) $699.00 $799.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . * Packages are based on availability and subject to change. Prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Midweek hotel is Sunday through Thursday, golf is Monday through Thursday. Weekend hotel is Friday and Saturday, Golf is Friday through Sunday. Extra nights and rounds of golf can be added to any of the above packages for an additional charge. Prices may change for groups of 16 or more. Click here to book Las Vegas golf packages now! • Course Guide • Course Reviews • Resort Reviews • Las Vegas Golf Map Get your FREE Las Vegas golf guide! Links Directory Golf Courses | Accommodations | Golf Packages - Specials | Incentive Travel Event Management | Home | Contact Us | Las Vegas Vacations | Golf Aerification Schedule Scottsdale Golf Packages Customized Scottsdale golf packages. 1-800-939-7998 travelgolfwest.com Golf Tucson Call for your custom Tucson Golf Vacation. Great Travel Deals! 1-800-426-6148 tucsongolftravel.com Cabo Golf Tours Experience the best of Cabo San Lucas Golf! 1-800-880-4655 cabogolftours.com Golf Orlando, Florida! Golf in sunny Orlando! Book Direct and Save! 1-800-383-4148 travelgolforlando.com Myrtle Beach Golf Compare Golf prices & find great travel deals to Myrtle Beach 888-851-7070 myrtlebeachtravel.com Florida Golf Vacations World class golf in Florida, golf packages for the true golf enthusiast! 1-800-383-4148 floridagolftravel.com Myrtle Beach Golf Tours Booking Over 100 Myrtle Beach Golf Courses. 1-866-499-4653 mbtourism.com Gulf Coast Golf Tours Golf packages to Gulf Shores, Alabama! 1-800-383-4148 gulfcoastgolftours.com Carolina Golf Travel Myrtle Beach, Wilmington or Brunswick Isles golf packages! 1-888-633-6102 CarolinaGolfTravel.com Hilton Head Golf Travel All inclusive customized Golf Packages to Hilton Head Island 1-866-870-4653 hiltonheadgolftravel.com Ads by TravelGolf Advertisment Here Tim McDonald: TPC Sawgrass: Which do you prefer? Stadium or Valley course? Ron Mon: Galileo and GPS: Euros win Ryder Cup again! Jennifer Mario: New Year's Resolutions: what's on your list? 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Switzerland Travel Centre Switzerland

Our partner Switzerland Travel Centre Home Switzerland Bernese Oberland Wallis Graubünden Rail passes Accommodation Swiss Shop Sitemap About us Contact Guestbook Advertisement Partners Technology Disclaimer Help MySwissAlps Our partner Switzerland Travel Centre Switzerland Travel Centre (STC) is a collaboration of Switzerland Tourism, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), the airline Swiss, Swiss Hotel Association, Gastro-Suisse and Europcar. Since 1998, the holidaymaker is offered a selection of over 2000 hotels, 4000 apartments and holiday homes and the most popular passes for unlimited use of the Swiss railways and other public transport. MySwissAlps.com is a partner of Switzerland Travel Centre since 2004. Switzerland Travel Centre processes orders of Swiss rail passes made through our website by Western European customers. Rail pass orders from customers not living in Western Europes are processed by our partner Rail Europe . Switzerland Travel Centre also processes bookings of accommodation made by customers world wide. For privacy reasons, we do not have access to detailed information about orders you place at Switzerland Travel Centre through our website. This also applies to personal particulars that you provide while placing your order. Switzerland Travel Centre takes care of a safe transaction and shipment of your rail passes or accommodation reservation. Do you have questions about your pending order ? Please contact Switzerland Travel Centre. Your questions will be answered quickly. For any other questions, you are welcome to contact MySwissAlps.com as well. Book a hotel room or apartment in Switzerland Order Swiss rail passes More about the partners of MySwissAlps.com Contact information Switzerland Travel Centre E-mail: Please enable JavaScript Grubenstrasse 12 8045 Zürich Switzerland Phone: ++41 43 266 2000 Fax: ++41 43 266 2001 Contact information for rail passes purchased in the UK, Ireland or Scandinavia E-mail: Please enable JavaScript 1st floor 30 Bedford Street London WC2E 9ED United Kingdom Phone: ++44 (0)207 420 4900 Fax: ++44 (0)207 420 4922 Questions about your pending order? Please contact Switzerland Travel Centre in English or German through Please enable JavaScript and include the following information in your e-mail: Your name, address (country included) and phone number; Where you placed your order (MySwissAlps.com); When you placed your order; What did you order (which rail pass, which hotel did you book); Your departure date. Please copy your message (cc) to Please enable JavaScript so that we are aware of your question and can help if necessary. If your inquiry is urgent, please call Switzerland Travel Centre and refer to your e-mail. © MySwissAlps.com 2005 MySwissAlps.com is a travel guide for your summer holidays in Switzerland HIKING TRAILS - PICTURES - TRANSPORTATION - DAY TRIPS - RAIL PASSES - ACCOMMODATION - RESORTS - LINKS

South America Travel Tips

South America Travel Tips Book Online or call (800) 682-3333 Europe Asia Americas Caribbean Mediterranean Pacific Cruises Home Hotels Find a Vacation Specials Contact Us Italy & Sicily Spain & Portugal Britain & Ireland France Belgium & Holland Central Europe Scandinavia Greece River Cruises China & Japan Southeast Asia Thailand India South America Brazil Peru Costa Rica Bahamas Caribbean & Mexico Bahamas Cancun Riviera Maya Punta Cana Jamaica Greece & Turkey Israel Egypt Morocco Australia & New Zealand Tahiti China & Japan Southeast Asia Sea Cruises River Cruises South America Travel Tips Climate / Clothing Language Code of Conduct Currency Holidays Travel Insurance Departure Tax Luggage Local Emergency/Phone Health Precautions Passports and Visas Driving Electricity Shopping Tipping Airport Tax - Chile Climate /Clothing Brazil: The weather in Brazil is temperate to hot year round. Bring casual, lightweight clothing that can be layered. Sunscreen and a hat are advisable. Bring insect repellent if you plan on a visit to the rainforest. Brazil Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Brazil-weather.htm . Peru: Peru's climate can be divided into 2 seasons - wet and dry. The coast and the slopes of the Western Andes are dry with summer falling between December and April. In the Andean highlands, the dry season is from May to September, while the wet season takes up the remainder of the year. Bring casual, lightweight clothes that can be layered and a jacket if you are going up into the mountains. Bring sunscreen and a hat to protect against the strong sun along the coast and in the rainforest. Insect repellent is necessary as well. Peru Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Peru-weather.htm . Argentina: The climate of Argentina is mostly temperate; arid in the southeast and sub-Antarctic in the southwest. Bring lightweight clothes you can layer, a sweater and an all-weather coat. Dress is more formal in the city of Buenos Aires and a jacket a tie or cocktail dress may be required at some of the finer restaurants. Casual dress is more appropriate in the countryside. Argentina Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Argentina-weather.htm . Chile: Climate varies from subtropical and sunny in the extreme north; dry and arid in the Atacama north desert; mild, pleasant and Mediterranean in the fertile central valley; cool, temperate and rainy in the southern region; and covered with ice and snow in the Antarctic region. Chile Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Chile-weather.htm . Ecuador: The climate and geography of Ecuador vary widely. The highlands are cool and dry. Bring lightweight clothes, a jacket and comfortable shoes. Along the coast it's warm and sunny all year round. Sunscreen and a hat are important accessories to have on hand. The Amazon rain forest is tropical and humid. Light, layered clothing and plenty of insect repellent are advisable. Ecuador Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Ecuador-weather.htm . Language Brazil: The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Some English is spoken in the major cities. Peru: Spanish is the official language of Peru. In most tourist center, English is spoken. Argentina: Spanish is the official language of Argentina. English is spoken at hotels and restaurants in Buenos Aires. Chile: Spanish is the official language in Chile, although English is often spoken in hotels, restaurants and shops. Ecuador: Ecuador has two official languages - Spanish and Quechua. English is spoken in the major tourist centers. Passports and Visas Brazil: Passport and visa required. Peru: Passport required. Visa not required for tourist stay of up to 90 days, extendible after arrival. Argentina: Passport required. Visa not required for business/tourist stay of up to 90 days. Chile: Passport required. Visa not required for stay of up to 90 days. Entry fee of $100 (U.S.) charged at airport. Ecuador: (including the Galapagos Islands) - Passport required. Visa not required for a stay of up to 90 days. Columbia: All U.S. citizens must have a valid passport and proof of return ticket to enter Columbia. No visa is required. Uruguay: All U.S. citizens must have a valid passport to enter Uruguay. No visa is required for stays up to 90 days. See http://www.gate1travel.com/visas.htm for more information. Currency Brazil: The currency of Brazil is the Real. U.S. currency can be exchanged at banks, exchanges and hotels. Peru: The official currency is the Peruvian Sol. Most tourist areas accept and exchange U.S. Dollars. Exchange your currency at your hotel or a bank. Argentina: The currency of Argentina is the Pesa. It is not always easy to change money in the interior of the country. Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Chile: The unit of currency is the Chilean peso (CHP$). U.S. dollars and travelers checks are easily changed in banks and exchange bureaus. Major credit cards are widely accepted in shops and hotels. Ecuador: Official currencies are the U.S. Dollar and the Sucre. Tipping Brazil: Most services get tipped a mandatory 10%, often included in the bill. If a waiter is friendly and helpful, you may like to give more. Because of Brazil's high unemployment rate, services that may seem superfluous are customarily tipped. Parking assistants are the most notable as they receive no wages, but petrol-station attendants, shoe shiners and barbers are also frequently tipped. Taxi drivers are an exception: most people round the price up, but a tip is not expected. Peru: A combination of taxes and service charges are added to bills in the best hotels and restaurants and can total as much as 28%. The cheaper hotels and restaurants don't add taxes. Tipping is not expected in budget restaurants. A tip of 10-15% is fine in upmarket restaurants if a service charge has not already been added to the bill. Taxi drivers are not tipped - bargain hard beforehand and stick to your price. Local guides should be tipped US$3-5 per day. Argentina: Tipping around 10% is customary in restaurants. Chile: In restaurants, it is customary to tip about 10% of the bill. In general, waiters and waitresses are poorly paid, so if you can afford to eat out, you can afford to tip. Taxi drivers do not require tips, although you may round off the fare for convenience. Ecuador: Tipping is expected by tour guides, porters and other tourist industry workers, though not by taxi drivers. Quality restaurants add 10% tax and a 10% service charge to their bills; cheaper restaurants usually don't. If you want to tip your server, give the money to them directly - don't just leave it on the table. Please refer to our main brochure under www.gate1travel.com/tipping.htm for additional tipping suggestions. Electricity Brazil: Brazil's voltage is 110, however some hotels operate on 220. Peru, Argentina & Chile: The voltage used is 220. Ecuador: Ecuador's voltage is 110. *Note: The U.S. uses 120 volts and you can purchase a converter and transformer at most hardware stores for your 120V appliances. Shopping Brazil: Shops are open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Brazil has a rich array of native crafts from Afro-Brazilian textiles to Bahian pottery and delicate lace tablecloths. Peru: Duty-free shops and artisan's shops offer tourists the opportunity to purchase Peruvian handicrafts such as pottery, carvings, and weavings. Argentina: Business hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Banking hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shops open at 9 a.m. and generally close at 7 p.m. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Good buys include leather goods, jewelry and furs. Chile: Good shopping can be found in the streets of Providencia and Santiago. There are also a few big shopping malls. Handicrafts in Chile are the best bargains. Local jewelry made of lapis lazuli, found only in Chile and Afghanistan, makes a beautiful souvenir. Ecuador: Duty-free shops and artisan's shops offer visitors the opportunity to buy Ecuadorian handcrafts such as ponchos, tapestries, ceramics, jewelry. Health Precautions Brazil: No vaccinations are required to enter Brazil. However, it may be advisable to get inoculated against yellow fever, malaria and typhoid. Be sure to consult your doctor before your trip, especially if you are planning to go up the Amazon River. Drink only bottled water and do not eat raw fruits and vegetables. Peru: A yellow fever vaccination is recommended if you are going into the Amazon rain forest. Travelers with heart conditions or high blood pressure should check with their doctor about high-altitude travel if you will be visiting the mountainous regions. Avoid the tap water and raw fruits and vegetables. Bottled water is widely available Argentina: No inoculations are necessary when arriving in Argentina from the U.S. Chile: Tap water is fairly safe to drink, but it is advisable to drink bottled water. Consult with your doctor if you are planning to visit the higher altitudes. English speaking doctors are easy to find in all major cities. Ecuador: No inoculations are required for entry. Travelers with heart conditions or high blood pressure who plan to visit the highlands should check with their doctor about high-altitude travel. Bottled water is advisable and is available everywhere. *To prevent "Montezuma's Revenge," avoid the tap water, including raw fruits and vegetables washed in tap water. Your stomach may still become upset due to the change in diet. Bring anti-diarrhea medicine just in case. *For the latest overseas travel health information, call the Center for Disease Control's traveler's hotline at 404-332-4559. Or visit their web site at www.cdc.gov Conservation/Code of Conduct Brazil: Handshaking is customary on meeting and taking ones leave, and normal European courtesies are observed. Frequent offers of coffee and tea are customary. Flowers are acceptable as a gift on arrival or following a visit for a meal. A souvenir from the visitors home country will be well received as a gift of appreciation. Casual wear is normal, particularly during hot weather. In nightclubs smart-casual (eg blazer, no tie) is acceptable. For more formal occasions the mode of dress will be indicated on invitations. Smoking is acceptable unless notified otherwise. The Catholic Church is highly respected in the community, something which should be kept in mind by the visitor. Peru: Shaking hands is the customary form of greeting. Visitors should follow normal social courtesies and the atmosphere is generally informal. A small gift from a company or home country is sufficient. Dress is usually informal, although for some business meetings and social occasions men wear a jacket and tie. Life is conducted at a leisurely pace. Argentina: The most common form of greeting between friends is kissing cheeks. When invited to somebodys house it is quite common to take a homemade dish or dessert. Dinner is usually served between 7pm - 10pm. Avoid casual discussion of the Falklands/Malvinas war. Dress is not usually formal, though clothes should be conservative away from the beach. Formal wear is worn for official functions and dinners, particularly in exclusive restaurants. Smoking is prohibited on public transport, in cinemas and theatres. Chile: Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. Most Chileans use a double surname and only the first part should be used in addressing them. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting local people. It is very common to entertain at home and it is acceptable for invitees to give small presents as a token of thanks. Informal, conservative clothes are acceptable in most places but women should not wear shorts outside resort areas. Ecuador: Casual wear is widely acceptable, but businesspeople are expected to dress smartly. It is important to be punctual when arriving for meetings. Smart clothes are often required when visiting hotel dining rooms and better restaurants. Beachwear should only be worn on the beach and revealing clothes should not be worn in towns. Smoking is widely accepted. A tip may be requested if you wish to take someones photograph and it is better to seek permission first. Luggage *Gate 1 tour packages allow one piece of luggage per person, plus carry-on bag. Additional baggage will be subject to handling charges of up to $100 per piece. As Gate 1 will not be responsible for loss or damage to luggage and personal belongings, you MUST report any loss or damage immediately at the time of the incident and obtain a written report from the local authority for submission to your insurance provider. If you luggage is lost or damaged by the airlines, a baggage claim form MUST be filed with the carrier before leaving the airport. See www.gate1travel.com/destinations/luggage.htm for Important Baggage Information for U.S. Travelers. Departure Tax There is no Departure tax levied in Brazil. Please see www.gate1travel.com/Destinations/departure_tax.htm for more information. Travel Insurance We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance as additional security in the case of cancellation or interruption of travel plans, lost or damaged luggage, travel delays, illness, or accident. Keep all boarding passes, ticket copies and receipts for expenses paid during your trip if it later becomes necessary to file a claim. Local Emergency Phone # Brazil: general emergency: 911 Peru: general emergency: 011 or 5114 Argentina: ambulance/medical: 101 fire: 107 police: 101 Chile: ambulance/medical: 131 fire: 132 police: 133 Ecuador: ambulance/medical: 131 Holidays Brazil : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Jan 20 *Founding of Rio de Janeiro Jan 25 *Founding of So Paulo Feb 19-23 Carnival Mar 25 Good Friday Apr 21 Tiradentes May 1 St of Brazil May 26 Corpus Christi Sep 7 Independence Day Oct 12 Our Lady Aparecida, Patron St of Brazil. Nov 2 All Souls Day Nov 15 Republic Day Dec 24 Christmas Eve (half day) Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 31 New Years Eve (half day) *Note: Regional observances only. Argentina : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Mar 24 Maundy Thursday Mar 25 Good Friday Apr 4 Malvinas Day May 1 Labor Day May 25 National Day (Anniversary of the 1810 Revolution) June 20 National Flag Day Jul 9 Independence Day Aug 17 Death of General Jos de San Martn Oct 12 Day of the Americas (Columbus Day). Dec 8 Immaculate Conception Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 31 New Years Eve Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 31 New Years Eve (half day) Peru : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Mar 24 Maundy Thursday (half day) Mar 25 Good Friday May 1 Labor Day Jun 29 St Peters and St Pauls Day Jul 28-29 Independence Day Celebrations Aug 30 St Rosa of Lima Day Oct 8 Angamos Battle Nov 1 All Saints Day Dec 8 Immaculate Conception Dec 24 Christmas Eve (half day) Dec 25 Christmas Day Chile : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Mar 25 Good Friday Mar 26 Holy Saturday May 1 Labor Day May 21 Navy Day May 23 *Corpus Christi Jun 29 St Peter and St Paul Aug 15 Assumption Sep 5 Reconciliation Day Sep 18 Independence Day Sep 19 Army Day Oct 12 Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day) Nov 1 All Saints Day Dec 8 Immaculate Conception Dec 25 Christmas Day *Note: Corpus Christi dates for 2004 and 2005 are actually Jun 10 and May 26 respectively, however, the holiday is observed on the Monday closest to these dates. Ecuador : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Feb 7-8 *Carnival Mar 24 Maundy Thursday Mar 25 Good Friday May 1 Labor Day May 24 Battle of Pichincha May 26 Corpus Christi Jul 24 Simon Bolivar Day Aug 10 Independence Day Oct 9 *Foundation of Guayaquil Nov 2 All Souls Day Nov 3 *Foundation of Cuenca Dec 6 *Foundation of Quito Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 31 New Years Eve *Note: These holidays are not official public holidays, but are widely observed. Other holidays, in addition to the above, may be marked locally. Driving Brazil: Brazil has 1,940,400km (1,202,800 miles) of roads. Traffic drives on the right. Peru: The Central Highway connects Lima with La Oroya and Huancayo. From La Oroya there is a road connecting Cerro de Pasco, Hunuco, Tingo Mara and Pucallpa on the Ucayali River. Landslides are frequent in the rainy season (December to March), making for slow travel. The Touring y Automvil Club del Per and the Instituto Geogrfico Nacional sell maps. Travel guides like Gua Toyota and Gua Inca del Per include good road maps. Traffic drives on the right. Argentina: Major privatization programmes have resulted in many trunk roads being upgraded, and roads are generally in good condition. Expect tolls on motorways. Rural roads, composed of packed dirt, become impassable after rain. Nonetheless, buses are considered to be a more reliable form of long-distance transport than trains. Traffic drives on the right. Car hire: There are a number of agencies in Buenos Aires (including Avis , Dollar and Hertz ). Drivers must be at least 21 years of age (sometimes up to 25 years of age). International Driving Permit is required and this must be stamped at the offices of the Automvil Club Argentino (website: www.aca.org.ar ). These documents must be carried at all times whilst driving: proof of ownership, proof of insurance and receipt for last tax payment. Chile: Chile has about 80,000km (49,460 miles) of good roads. The Pan American Highway crosses the country from north to south (a total of 3455km or 2147 miles) from the Peruvian border to Puerto Montt. It is advisable in remoter areas to carry spare petrol and an additional spare tyre. Tires should be hard-wearing. Traffic drives on the right. Ecuador: Traffic drives on the right. An extensive network of roads spreads out from the main northsouth axis of the Pan-American Highway. The Government and PetroEcuador are developing highways into the Oriente. In general, road improvements are being put into effect rapidly but, due to the effect of earthquakes and flooding (in the south) during the last 10 years, conditions remain variable; potholes and cracks in the road are sometimes sizable.The roads between Quito and Guayaquil and between Quito, Latacunga, Ambato and Riobamba are completely paved. A road connects Quito, Otavalo, Ibarra and Tulcn, the frontier with Colombia. Airport Tax - Chile There is an entry fee of $45 per passenger that must be paid before proceeding through Immigration. Return to the South America brochure More TravelInformation Email This Page to a Friend © 2005 Gate 1 Travel Home | About Us | Travel Agent | Free Brochure | Help | Site Map | (800) 682-3333 Read our privacy policy . Contact Us . This site can be best viewed using Internet Explorer 4.0, or higher. The browser software can be downloaded, free of charge, from the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com . All external sites will open in a new browser. Gate1travel.com does not endorse external sites.

Cheap Travel Plane Tickets:

Secrets of Cheap Travel Travel Writing Home Home-Travel Agent Cheap Travel Travel Light Secretsof Cheap Travel by: Steve Gillman There are two ways to save money traveling. Thefirst way is to get the best deals on the specific things you want. There is alimitation to this type of approach though. If , for example, you find thelowest price on the best hotel in Honolulu at the height of the season, you WILLsave money, but still have a very expensive vacation. Trying to get exactly whatyou want, or what you think you want, will generally be an expensiveproposition, in travel and in life. Be a Travel Opportunist The other approach is to be a true opportunist.This will be difficult for some of you, and entirely unacceptable to others.Nonetheless, the travelers who get to travel the most, go to the widest varietyof places, learn the most and do the most, are the opportunists. This will betrue until you are so wealthy that you have no monetary limits. The first time I went to Ecuador, I went therebecause it was cheap. If it wasn't, I would have had a great time - somewhereelse. The trip lasted a month, and cost $1045, which included airfare and eventhe $130 fee for a guide to take me to the top of glacier-covered MountChimborazo. I cut the cost by taking a bus from my home inMichigan to Miami, and back again when I returned from Ecuador. The round-tripticket cost $158. The round-trip flight to Quito from Miami was only $256,because it was a courier flight, which meant I signed for some luggage (carparts), and could only take carry-on luggage. Never did I feel deprived, or bored. I had agreat time, eating wherever it was cheap and clean, doing all sorts ofinexpensive, but interesting things, and traveling across the country to climbChimborazo. I also met and fell in love with my wife Ana. How to Become an Opportunist Traveler Can you drink rum at a dollar per bottle, insteadof your favorite beer? Can you eat chicken instead of steak? How about visitingthe free sights first, and dancing in the street festival instead of the disco? Being an opportunist means you'll have just asmuch variety, and probably almost everything you want - eventually. You justhave to stop trying to get exactly what you want exactly when you want it. Ifthe guide that took me up Chimborazo hadn't dropped his price from $200 to $130,I would have spent $2 for a bus and gone hiking on El Altar, another greatAndean mountain. That would have left me with enough money for several otherminor adventures. More Secrets of Cheap Travel Plane Tickets: My wife and I were planning a tripto visit family in Ecuador. The cheapest airfare from Traverse City, Michigan toQuito, was $1720. Out of curiosity, I checked Miami to Quito, and it was only$404. Airfare from Traverse City to Miami was $300. Book two separate flightsand save more than $2000! The discount sites aren't set up to search in this way(yet), so you have to do this on your own. By the way, the whole six-week trip,which we took in 2004, cost $2400, including losing $100, and being robbed of$174. Food: Whether traveling here or in othercountries, it is usually cheaper to buy some healthy snacks in a grocery store,rather than eat every meal in a restaurant. When you do eat in restaurants, itcan be cheaper to to order individual items on the menu from the list ofappetizers or side dishes. You also may get more variety in that way. Accommodation: For a long trip, you may want torent an apartment in an interesting city. We did this for two months in Tucson,for about $600 less per month, compared to even the cheaper motels. Watch forhotel coupon-books in gas stations. The coupons will often save you $10 on aroom you would have stayed in anyhow. If you have a conversion van or RV, youcan camp a couple nights a week, like we do, to save on motels. We love the hotsprings we've stayed at, for a $3 fee to the BLM, instead of $40 for thecheapest motel in the area. Travel Expenses: Do more and travel less. It isoften the traveling part that costs the most, due to the cost of gas, convenientfast food, and expensive hotels you are forced to pay for when you just can'tdrive any further. So if you find a place with a reasonable motel, and a lot todo in the area - stay for a while! About the Author Steve Gillman first hit the road on his own whenat sixteen, and traveled alone across the United States and Mexico at 17. Now40, he continues to travel and backpack with his wife Ana, whom he met inEcuador. Many of his stories, plus tips and information on travel andlightweight backpacking, can be found on his websites, http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com ,and http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com . Home Home-TravelAgent CheapTravel TravelLight