Italy travel Siena -

Siena guide - Siena travel guide - Siena - guide to Siena - Italy travel Siena - airport Siena Siena guide - Siena travel guide - Siena - guide to Siena - Italy travel Siena - airport Siena - travel links Wednesday, 28 December 05 - 11:43 pm Top destinations Art Cities Beaches Lakes Mountains Spa Resorts Regions guides Abruzzo & Molise Alto Adige Apulia Basilicata & Calabria Campania Emilia Romagna Friuli Venezia Giulia Lazio Liguria Lombardy Marche Piedmont Sardinia Sicily Tuscany Trentino Umbria Valle d'Aosta Veneto Cities guides Aosta Asiago & 7 comuni Asolo Assisi Belluno & Dolomiti Venete Bologna Bolzano Brescia Bressanone Caorle & Bibione Capri Catania Cervia & Cesenatico's Beaches Chianti, Valdelsa, Valdarno Comacchio's Beaches Cortina d'Ampezzo Courmayeur M.Bianco Elba & Capraia Florence Garda Lake - Eastern Side Grosseto & Maremma Ischia Jesolo & Eraclea Como Lake & Lecco Lucca & Garfagnana Madonna di Campiglio Merano Milan Monte Cervino Montecatini Terme Naples Padua Palermo Pisa Portofino & Tigullio Gulf Ragusa Ravenna's Beaches Ravenna City Rimini, Riccione, Cattolica Riviera dei Fiori: Sanremo & Imperia Riviera del Brenta Rome Rovereto Rovigo e Delta del Po San Martino di Castrozza, Primiero, Val Venoi Siena Siracusa Sorrento & Amalfi Taormina Terme e Colli Euganei Turin Trento Treviso Val di Fassa Val di Fiemme Venice Verona Versilia & Viareggio Vicenza Siena Hotels Reserve Siena Hotels: save up 70% on rooms! Compare offers & book on line at hotel's web sites. About Tuscany Siena Guide Italy THINGS TO KNOW Getting there History and culture THINGS TO SEE Churches and Museums Palaces, monuments and places THINGS TO TRY Eating and Drinking Shopping Hotels and lodgings THINGS TO EXPERIENCE Events La Dolce Vita ITINERARIES An intense weekend The Siena Chianti area Val d'Orcia Directories of Web Sites Siena Italy Siena Hotels A wonderful city that is the home of some of the most precious medieval art and architectural treasures. Siena offers a never-ending number of cultural sights and interests for travelers: the unique “Palio” and wine tasting in the old wine bars, romantic walks along the narrow alleys and excursions outside the city in the Siena Chianti area and in Val’Orcia. Getting there Getting to Siena from any Italian city is very easy... >>> History and culture From the city’s Etruscan origins to the magnificence of the Medieval era... >>> Churches and Mu seums The city’s most interesting churches and museums... >>> Palaces, monuments and places Fascinating historical buildings and charming places... >>> Eating and Drinking All the typical Siena dishes: from salami to panforte... >>> Shopping Gold jewelry, tapestries, terracotta vases and other craftsman-made items... >>> Hotels and lodgings All the places to stay in Siena: hotels, bed & breakfast, and others too... >>> Events From the famous Palio to the International Festival of Short Films... >>> La Dolce Vita Fun and nightlife in the heart of this Medieval city... >>> A special day Discovering the city and its sights... >>> The Siena Chianti Amidst the gentle hills full of vineyards and olive groves, centuries-old oak woods and Medieval villages... >>> Val d'Orcia Old thermal spas and famous wine cellars where you can taste the famous Brunello di Montalcino... >>> More guides on: Region: Tuscany Tuscany Cities: Chianti, Valdelsa, Valdarno Elba & Capraia Florence Grosseto & Maremma Lucca & Garfagnana Montecatini Terme Pisa Versilia & Viareggio Click to view the map Servizi per le aziende Acquista la tua visibilità su Travel Plan Netplan Travel Network Travel Guides ItalyTravel Guides | VeniceTravel Guide | FlorenceTravel Guide | RomeTravel Guide | MilanTravel Guide | NaplesTravel Guide | Palermo Travel Guide | Taormina Travel Guide | SicilyTravel Guide | Cortina Travel Guide | VeronaTravel Guide | JesoloTravel Guide | Lucca & Garfagnana Travel Guide | Treviso Travel Guide | Ischia Travel Guide | Capri Travel Guide | Sorrento Travel Guide | Amalfi Travel Guide | More Italy Travel guides ... 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Venice Hotels | Cortina Hotels | Asolo Hotels | Hotel Golden Rome | Hotel San Niccolò - Chianti | Hotel Il Granduca Florence | Venice Travel Guide | Venice Booking Center | Venice Hotels Servizi per le aziende - Netplan Travel Network Links A1 A2 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1 H2 I1 I2 J1 K1 L1 M1 N1 O1 P1 Q1 R1 S1 T1 U1 V1 W1 X1 Y1 Z1 AA1 AB1 AC1 AD1 AE1 AF1 AG1 AH1 AI1 AJ1 AK1 AL1 AM1 AN1 AN2 AO1 AP1 AQ1 AR1 AS1 AT1 AU1 AV1 AW1 AX1 AY1 AZ1 BA1 BB1 Italy Travel Guide © 2004 Fatto da: Netplan

Disney Vacations Whether you

MouseSavers.com - Discounts and Information on Airfare, Amtrak, Car Rental, Shuttle, Limo, Van, Taxi and Bus Great deals on all things Disney! Find out how to save on: Walt Disney World Disneyland Disney Cruise Line Transportation Getting There: Airfare Discounts Road Trip Tips & Tricks Train Information Getting Around: Airport Shuttle City Bus from Airport to Disney World Limo, Luxury Sedan or Private Van Service Rental Car Discounts & Advice Taxi Service at Disney World Other Disney Travel Savings Discount Disney Shopping Mall Live Disney Shows Disney Freebies Disneyland Resort Paris Disney Parks in Asia Disney's Vero Beach/Hilton Head Non-Disney Theme Parks & Attractions More information: Frequently Asked Questions Trip Reports and Articles Links Testimonials About MouseSavers Privacy Policy & Legal Stuff Contact Mary Transportation for Disney Vacations Whether you plan to go on your Disney vacation by plane, train or automobile, it can be challenging to find the most economical way to get to your destination -- and then you need to figure out how you're going to get around while you are there! (At both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, transportation from the airport to your hotel is something you'll have to arrange for yourself, unless you purchase a package that includes transfers.) On these pages I've gathered some information about money-saving resources that will help you find the best prices on transportation, for both getting there and getting around. I also list specific transportation deals, discounts and coupons that are changed and updated frequently. The most popular area is the Rental Cars page, which lists dozens of rental car codes, coupons and discounts that can potentially save you a hundred dollars or more on a one-week rental! Be sure to check it out. Getting There Airfare - Tips and tricks for finding the best price on your airplane tickets. Amtrak - Have some fun and take the train! Road Trip - The journey is half the adventure. Tips from readers. Getting Around Disney's Magical Express - Disney's FREE shuttle service to its hotels Shuttle - Information on the various shared van / shuttle options. Rental Car - Tons of good ideas for getting the best possible deal! Limo, Luxury Sedan or Private Van Service - A surprisingly reasonable option, especially for groups of three or more. Taxi - Be sure to consider this -- it could be cheaper than renting a car at Walt Disney World! Bus - Tips for the cheapest way to get from the airport to Walt Disney World. Back to the home page Back to top Content of MouseSavers.com is © Mary Waring & MouseSavers 2001-2005. No part of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.

Cheap Travel

Expedia.co.uk Travel Book cheap flights, travel, hotels & package holidays Expedia.co.uk Skip Navigation HOME DEALS FLIGHTS HOTELS CARS HOLIDAYS ATTRACTIONS INSURANCE EUROSTAR GUIDES MAPS CORPORATE TRAVEL Welcome - Already a member? Sign in Site Map My Trips My Profile Customer Support Get ideas for your next trip Top 10 Hip Hotels World Cup 2006 Help with Booking Please call 0870 050 0808 Expedia email Best Deals Direct Email Address More info Traveller Tools Bookmark Expedia Arrivals/Departures Flight Timetables Currency Converter World Guide Weather Health & Safety CREATE YOUR PERFECT TRIP Flight Only Hotel Only Car Only Flight + Hotel Flight + Hotel + Car Flight + Car Tailor-make and save! Departing from: Destination: Pick up from: Depart: Pick up: Check-in: Morning Midday Evening Anytime 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 Check-out: Going to: Going to: Car class: No Preference Mini-car Economy Compact Midsize Standard Full Size Premium Luxury Return: Drop-off: Morning Midday Evening Anytime 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 Adults: (12-64) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Seniors: (65+) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Children: (0-11) 0 1 2 3 4 5 Please Note: All drivers must have held a full licence for at least one year and be 25 or older. If the driver is over 65, please call Expedia.co.uk on (0870) 050 0808 Specify ages of children at time of travel. Discounts may be offered to children of certain ages. Child 1: -?- 7 8 9 10 11 Child 2: -?- 7 8 9 10 11 Child 3: -?- 7 8 9 10 11 Child 4: -?- 7 8 9 10 11 Child 5: -?- 7 8 9 10 11 Child 6: -?- 7 8 9 10 11 More flight search options: Premium classes, one way trips, multiple destinations... More hotel search options: Hotel details, multiple rooms... More car search options: Need any special equipment? More flight + hotel search options: Multiple rooms, more destinations... More flight + car search options: More destinations... More flight + hotel + car search options: More destinations... January Sale now on! -- City Breaks from £112 Winter Sun from £111 Ski Deals from £173 Family Holidays from £133 -- Family Deals from £133 Last Minute from £102 World Cup from £199 Discover the World London departures Description from Destination Hotel Holiday Rome £44 £158 North America £34 £342 Caribbean £47 £537 Eastern Europe £42 £109 Far East £23 £435 Mediterranean £35 £116 UK & Ireland £35 £89 from --New York flights £253 Explore World Heritage sites Visit the Great Barrier Reef, the Pyramids of Egypt and more... Regional Departures London departures Holidays from Birmingham £148 Manchester £113 Scotland £111 flights | hotels | hotel chains | holidays | car hire | about expedia.co.uk | site map | affiliates | advertising | jobs | privacy policy | terms of use | international sites | ©2005, Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved travel , and travel guides . preferred partners Expedia, Inc., not responsible for content on external Web sites. Travel US | Travel CA | Voyages CA | Voyages FR | Reisen DE | Reis NL | Viaggio IT | Hotels.com | Travel AU Holidays that include air travel, which you arrange on Expedia.co.uk  are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under ATOL number 5788. ATOL protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom. For all pre-arranged holidays bought from Expedia.co.uk, Expedia, Inc acts as an authorised travel agent .

Asia Travel

PHILIPPINES TRAVEL INFORMATION Philippines Country Information The Land || History || The People || First-time Traveler Tips || Visas || Customs || Currency || Weather Clothing || Utilities || Newspapers & Media || Business Hours || Language || Getting Around Modes of Transport || Weather Conditions || Things to Know || Sightseeing || Museums and Art Further Information The Land The Philippines is an archipelagic nation made up of 7,107 islands spanning 1,840 kilometers north to south. It is part of the East Indies, a vast island group lying south and east of mainland Asia, with Taiwan at its northernmost coast and Borneo on the south. The three main Philippine island groups are Luzon , the Visayas and Mindanao . Luzon is the island of contrasts. The most modern districts in the Philippines , including the capital city of Manila , are in Luzon , but so are some of the oldest tribal communities in the nation like the Ifugao of the Cordilleras. Luzon is also where a visitor can see the latest model luxury cars overtaking a carabao sled or modern skyscrapers within driving distance of primordial volcanos. The Visayas is famous for its charm, a trait shared by many other southern regions in the world, but here seems to run deeper among a people who are intrinsically connected to their sun soaked island home. The Visayas is also famous as a seat of history, being one of the earliest landfalls of western voyagers. It has also gained a reputation as being a cradle of the nation's future, if the unprecedented economic growth of Cebu City continues. Mindanao is our offering to the Guinness Book of Records with the world's largest clam, the world's largest Eagle, the nation's highest peak and the world's largest city. Mindanao is also home to the Philippines' Muslim population. With a land mass of 300, 780 square kilometers, the Philippines is considered a medium-sized nation, about two- thirds the size of its first colonizer, Spain, and a little larger than the British Isles. Manila is only one hour and 40 minutes from Hong Kong by jet; Sydney only 7 1/2 hours away. Flights to Europe take 17 hours and to the American west coast 15 hours. The Philippines has many things to offer the visitor: a mixture of the old and the new, a diversity of art and culture and a warm, friendly people. Blessed by nature, the Philippines has something to offer every sportsman too . . . extraordinary dive sites, forests to roam, mountains to climb, caves to explore. Top History Situated on the crossroads of Asia, on the eastern rim of the China Sea, the Philippines has hosted voyagers, migrants and traders since the dawn of history. That it was the center of lively Asian trade route that stretched all the way to China and Japan can be seen from the relics these early visitors left behind. Among our archaeological treasures is a Neolithic spirit boat typical of early Southeast Asian culture. The West discovered the Philippines when Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who sailed for Spain, landed in Cebu in 1521. However, colonization didn't actually begin until 1565, when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established a Spanish base in the town of Manila. Because Philippine society was loosely organized, without a central government, the Spanish conquest was rapid and total. Only the Muslims in the south and some inaccessible hill tribes were able to resist Spanish influence. Along with the Spanish conquerors came a new religion, Christianity, a new language, new laws and the galleon trade. Despite several uprisings against Spain, including the Katipunan, a revolutionary movement inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal and led by Andres Bonifacio, it was the United States of America that broke the Spaniard's grip on the Philippines. Unfortunately, that began the nation's second period of colonization. Once again there was resistance, this time led by Emilio Aguinaldo; but his rag-tag army was no match for Admiral Dewey's forces. In 1901, with Aguinaldo's capture, the Americans were entrenched. The Americans brought over their educational system, their legal system and planted the seeds of their own style of government. In 1935, the Philippines became an American commonwealth country with Manuel Luis Quezon as president. The status quo ended with the Japanese Occupation; and it wasn't until 1946, after the end of the Pacific war, that the Philippines finally regained true independence as the Republic of the Philippines under the presidency of Manuel Roxas. Still one of the strongest democracies in Asia, the current president is Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Top The People Halo-halo is a Filipino word that means mixture. While it describes a popular dessert, it could also describe the Filipinos. They look like Asians, write and speak English like Americans, worship like Spaniards, and have an outlook that is international. Like the Southern Chinese, the Thai, Malay, Indonesian and Burmese, the modern-day Filipino traces his remotest genetic lines back to an Australoid and Mongoloid stock. You will also find a touch of Caucasian, Chinese, Indian and Arabic in their gene pool as well. But to truly understand the Filipino, you have to look at the land. The historic isolation between islands and the topographic isolation on each island, become the primary influence governing regional traits and societal behavior. This diversity makes Filipinos all the more interesting. However, what is apparent isn't how different they are from each other, but rather how alike they are. Brought together by a common history, and looking forward to a common future, it is not surprising to find a sharing of certain traits. Their warmth, graciousness and hospitalityall part of the Filipino psychewill make your stay a delight. Top Tips for First-time Philippine Travelers Generally speaking, it is important to travel light. Bring only what's necessary. Avoid the extra baggage. You don't want to pay exorbitant fees for your luggage service. As in any foreign place, be careful with pickpockets. Some might act as a helpful stanger, but they're out to get something from you! It's good to be cautious at all times. Whenever going outdoors, being in a group is recommended. If you're bringing kids with you, make sure to bring all the things they would need, like medicine, bottles of potable water (although many bottled water is available, it is always recommended to bring one), and one of your kids' favorite toys for their own receration. Top Visas If you are coming from America, Asia or Europe with a valid passport, and either a return ticket or a ticket to another destination outside the Philippines you may enter without a formal visa and stay for 21 days. If you wish to stay longer you must obtain a Visa Extension either before your trip from a Philippine Consulate or Embassy. Or, once here, you may obtain it from the Bureau of Immigration. Customs Upon Arriving: Visitors are allowed to bring in duty free personal belongings, two cartons of cigarettes or two tins of pipe tobacco and up to one liter of alcohol. Balikbayans have separate rules and should check with the Embassy or Consulate in their home city. You may bring in unlimited amount of foreign currency. Upon Leaving: Any antiques you may have acquired during your stay must be accompanied by a certificate from the National Museum. You may also not take more than PhP5,000.00 (five thousand Philippine pesos) out of the country. Currency The currency in the Philippines is the Peso (PhP) and the Centavo. 100 centavos = P1. Coin denominations are: 1, 5, 10, and 25 centavos, P1, and P5. Bill denominations are : 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1, 000 pesos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at your hotel, and in most of the large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops. Exchanging money anywhere else is illegal and the laws are strictly enforced. Most large stores, restaurants , hotels and resorts accept major credit cards including American Express , Visas and MasterCard. Traveller' s checks preferably American Express are accepted at hotels and large department stores. Personal checks drawn on foreign banks are generally not accepted. Top Weather The Philippines is tropical with just two seasons--hot and dry from November to June, and rainy from July to October. Filipinos will tell you that it is cool from December through February and they themselves will wear jackets. Clothing People in the Philippines dress for the weather (HOT!) Casual attire during the day for women are light blouses and shorts. For men collared T- shirts worn over slacks. In the evening skirts are substituted for shorts and the T-shirts are tucked in. For Men Only: If you expect to have to attend any occasion which would usually require a jacket and a tie (which is torture in this weather) there is a wonderful substitute. Go immediately to a department store and buy a barong tagalog. It is an embroidered shirt that is considered a formal dress. It will cost more or less PhP1,000.00, but it is worth every centavo. Utilities Electricity is 220 volts a/c. Many of the major tourist hotels also have 110 volt a/c outlets. Water supply in Metro Manila and in all the other major cities are considered potable. Bottled purified water, spring water or mineral water is often supplied by hotels and resorts, and sold in all grocery stores. Telephone service is modern and you can direct dial anywhere in the world. Public phones are plentiful. Public phones require a minimum of two one-peso coins for a local call. Some Important Telephone Numbers: (24-Hour Hotline) Police & Fire: 757 or 116 Emergency No.: 501- 650 or 501- 728 Directory Assistance: 114 National Operator: 109 International Operator: 108 For other emergency numbers, please refer to Directory . NOTE: It is advisable to always have the telephone number and the address of your embassy or consulate with you. Top Newspapers & Other Media The newspapers in the Philippines have been called the freest in the world, as you will see for yourself, with more than 24 different morning papers to choose from, most of them in English. There is also a wide selection of magazines printed in English including Time, Newsweek and Asiaweek. In Metro Manila you can buy the Asian Wall Street Journal, The International Herald Tribune and USA Today. Television is "on the air" from early morning to midnight, showing American programming as well as local programming. The standard channels are 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, and 23. If you need more channels, most of the major hotels are with Cable TV bringing in TV programs from all over the world. There is also AM and FM radio broadcasting with the pop stations primarily on AM in Filipino and the English language programs on FM. Top Business Hours Most businesses are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays and 8:00 AM till noon Saturdays. Banks are open from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM Mondays through Fridays. When banking in the Philippines, it is advisable to have your passport with you for identification. The post offices are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays only. Stamps for postcards are frequently available from the Concierge Desk at most major hotels. The Philippines uses ZIP codes, please include them in addressing local mail. NOTE: The Standard lunch hour is noon to 1:00 PM. Most businesses and government offices are closed. Language While there are over 100 regional languages in the Philippines, the national language is Filipino, with English as the most widely spoken second language. All business, governmental and legal transactions are conducted in English. Top Getting Around There are four modes of public transport in Metro Manila and surprisingly, they are easy to use. Buses : Both air-conditioned and regular buses travel most of the major routes in Metro Manila. On an air-con bus a short ride costs PhP 9.00, adding a few peso for every succeeding kilometer. The regular bus' minimum fare is PhP 4.00. Just tell the conductor where you are going and he will tell you how much it costs. Keep your bus receipt as it is your proof of payment. Jeepneys : Called "folk arton wheels," jeepneys ply most of Manila's secondary roads and even a few major thoroughfares. They're as much fun to ride on as they are to look at and you have to try one. Although there are regular stops, you can often just flag one down and hop on. Call out "bayad" (bah-yhad) and pay the driver. If you are too far back, pass your PhP 4.00 (minimum fare for the first 4 kilometers; 1 peso additional for every succeeding 500 meters) down. When you are ready to get off, call out "para" (pah-rah); wait till he slows down and jump. The LRT : It's a fast, cheap way to go to downtown Manila. A token can take you between Monumento (the northern end of Edsa) and Baclaran, travelling first along Rizal Avenue and then Taft Avenue. Many of the tourist maps have the route of the LRT marked. The MRT : After it's somewhat unsuccessful opening, the MRT is now enjoying a fair share of passengers plying EDSA. This is definitely the fastest mode of transport, this side of the metropolis. The MRT runs from the North Avenue Station in Quezon City up to Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City. Passengers would enjoy the traffic-less route, clean stations and coach, with a good view of Metro Manila's landscape. The only problem is that some stations have very high stairways. Although a number of elevators is operational, not all stations have one. Travel time is approximately 20 minutes end to end. Taxis : Air-conditioned taxis cost PhP25.00 on the meter and an additional PhP 2.00 is added for every succeeding 200 meters to the final cost. Non-airconditioned taxis do not ply anymore. Taxis are always lined up at the major hotels and tourist restaurants and can be hailed on the street. If you take a taxi, make sure the driver turns on the meter. If he gives you a story that it is broken, get out and take another taxi. Unless you are taking a long trip or the traffic is unusually horrible, most taxi rides should be well under P100. At least a 10% tip is expected. Top Other Modes of Transport Most of the major car rental agencies, including AVIS, Budget, and Hertz have offices in Metro Manila and carry a full line of vehicles from jeeps to limousines. All vehicles may be rented with or without a driver. If you wish to do your own driving you must have a valid foreign or international license. Inter-island transportation is provided by either airplane or ferry boat. Philippine Airlines services most of the major provincial airports. Cebu Pacific, Asian Spirit, SeaAir, Air Philippines, and Pacific Airways are smaller carriers servicing more remote tourist destinations. For information about boat schedules, check with the Department of Tourism on T.M. Kalaw Street, Manila (63-2-5267652, 5267653, 5267655). Top WEATHER CONDITIONS & GEOGRAPHY Climate: Tropical (two seasons) Dry Season: March -May (warm) 33-34 C Wet Season: June- October (monsoonal) November -February (coolest) 29-31C Coastline: 334,539 km. Terrain: Many of the islands in the Philippines are extinct volcanoes and atolls. On the larger islands, many mountains, rainforests, rich valleys and swamp regions. The Philippines still does have thermal activity consisting of active volcanoes and hot springs. Top THINGS TO KNOW Language: Filipino (based on Tagalog dialect) is the National Language. The American occupation was responsible for teaching the English Language. The Philippines is currently the third largest English speaking country in the world. Currency: Peso(PhP). Notes are issued in denominations of , PhP 10, PhP 20, PhP 50, PhP 100, PhP 500, and PhP 1000. Coins are issued for 5c, 10c, 25c, PhP 1, PhP 5. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized exchanged dealers. Outside of Manila payments are preferably made in pesos. Major Travellers Cheques are widely accepted. Major Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club) can be used to pay for most goods and services. Bank Hours: Banks are open 9am-3pm Mon-Fri (except public holidays). Shop Hours: Most shops operate 10am-7.30pm daily (except public holidays). Time : Local time is GMT plus 8 hours. Business English is the language used. Sexual equality is more widespread in the Philippines than in other Asian countries. Make sure you have business cards. Top SIGHTSEEING Casa Manila: A replica mid 19th Century house, recreating the Intramuros lifestyle of upper class Filipinos at this time. Corner Real and General Lunar Streets, Intramuros, Manila. Luzon Chocolate Hills : Bohols most famous attraction: the area is named thus, because of the rich grass which covers them turns brown in summer. Carmen Town, Bohol. Visayas* Colon Street: The oldest street in the Philippines located in the heart of Cebu. Cebu. Visayas* Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery: The only underground cemetery in the Philippines; it served as a meeting place for the revolutionary leaders in Laguna. Laguna, Luzon Island Magellans Cross: The most historically-famous landmark in Cebu. Planted by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, it marks the place where the first Christian Filipinos were baptized. Cebu. Visayas* Top PARKS & WILDLIFE Katibawasan Falls: These 250-foot falls cascade down to a pool surrounded by orchids and other rich tropical flora- 4 km from Mambajao. Camiguin. Mindinao* Maquinit Hot Springs : Located on a scenic beach corner, this is the premium hot spring in the Philippines. Palawan. Luzon* Hidden Valley: A natural recluse is created within this 90-meter crater . A haven for lush jungle life, natural springs and still water pools. Accommodation available. Alaminos, Laguna. Luzon, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife: Quezon Avenue. Quezon City. Luzon. Rizal Memorial Park: Within the lush park there are monuments, a skating rink and adventure playground. Free concerts every Sunday. Ermita, Manila. Luzon. Top MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES Museums & art galleries Ateneo Art Gallery Quezon City Tel: (02) 998 721 Metropolitan Museum of Manila Tel: (02) 832 3645 National Museum Manila Tel: (02) 494 450 Villa Escudero San Pablo City, Quezon City Tel: (02) 521 8698 Top VISAS AND PASSPORTS Visa and Passport No Visas are required for foreigners entering the country for a stay no longer than 21 days provided that you have valid passports and tickets to leave the Philippines. Visas are required only for stateless persons and citizens of countries with which the Philippines have no diplomatic relations. A temporary visitor's visa is required for those who are planning to stay up to 59 days. Vaccination certificates may be neccesary for long term stays. Holders of Hongkong and Taiwan passports need special permits. All visas and permits may be obtained from Philippine embassies and consulates. Duty Free Items: Two 1-litre bottles of alchohol, and two cartons of cigarettes are allowed. Air Travel to the Country : Ninoy Aquino International Airport (7 km from city centre) Ninoy Aquino Avenue Manila, Philippines: Mactan International Airport Cebu, Philippines: (Most major airlines have flights to the country). Top FURTHER INFORMATION Department of Tourism: T.M. Kalaw Street Rizal Park Metro Manila P.O. Box 3451 Tel: (02)523-8411 Fax: (02) 521 7374 Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporatiom: 4th Floor, Suites 10-17 Legasi Towers 300 Roxas Boulevard Metro Manila Tel: (02) 525-93-18-27 Fax: (02) 521-61-65/ 525-33-14 Top

Spain Travel Destination From

Salamanca Spain - Travel Essentials for Salamanca  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Spain and Portugal > Spain > Cities and Islands of Spain > Salamanca Spain - Travel Essentials for Salamanca 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! 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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 Salamanca Spain - Travel and Tourism Information Spain Travel Destination From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Location of Salamanca:  Salamanca is located in the southwest corner of Castile y Leon region of Spain, in the western part of Spain near Portugal. The old part of the city is found south of the modern city, on the banks of the Rio Tormes. Salamanca is 212 km west of Madrid. Population:  Salamanca has 363,000 people. Salamanca - Train Station:  Salamanca's train station, called the Paseo de la Estación de Ferrocarril, is located northwest of the old town. To get to the old section from the train station, exit and walk left on the Paseo de la Estacion. Just past the Plaza de Espana is the old city. Salamanca - Bus Station:  The main bus terminal is at Av. Filiberto Villalobos, northwest of the old town. Busses from Madrid, Avila, Zamora, Valladolid, León, and Cáceres use this station. Language:  The language spoken is Spanish, of course. Being a university town, you'll have no problem using English. In fact, it's hard to find a restaurant in Salamanca that doesn't have a menu in English with pictures of the food, a bad sign, usually. There are many language schools in Salamanca; it's an ideal place to study Spanish if you're so inclined. Food and Drink in Salamanca:  Roasts are popular--you'll see cabrito (young goat) and Cochinillo (suckling pig). Besides the Spaniards who've come here to study, Moors and Jews have left their mark on the cuisine of Salamanca--a very wide variety of dishes are available. There are many bars where you can enjoy tapas or pinchos, small bits of appetizers you have with a beer or glass of wine. Tourist Information:  You'll find tourist information in the Plaza Mayor and in the Casa de las Conchas. Festivals in Salamanca:  The most interesting sounding festival, it seems to me, would be the Lenten festival of Lunes de Aguas, the Monday of the Waters, where the women of ill repute are sent from Salamanca out to La Salud de Tejares to pass Lent, returning of the Monday of Quasimodo. People of Salamanica waited for their return at the Roman bridge with Easter cakes. How can you restist? See the festival links in the upper right for more. When to go to Salamanca:  Spring and fall are ideal. Summer temperatures run above 40 degrees C many days, and winter November through March can be quite cold. What to do in Salamanca:   Cathedrals Old and New - They're right next to each other. The older is Romanesque, begun in 1140, the new one is a sprightly 490 years old, having been started in 1513 and taking 200 years to complete. Southern section of the old town in Plaza Juan XXII. Open daily 9:30am-1pm and 4-7:30pm in the season. The University - I like nothing better than to stroll around the University quarter. It's the oldest in Spain and chock full of interesting architecture and arcades. Have tapas in the Plaza Mayor - It's one of my favorites, so clean that you'll see students sitting and playing chess in the center, while all around people eat, drink and make merry after the sun goes down. Lots of student performances in the evening keep you circulating. Casa de las Conchas - The house of the conch shells is now the Public Library where you can wander around wondering why the US doesn't pay as much attention to aesthetics as other folks in their public buildings. Dating from the 15th century it was considered one of the most representative constructions of the times of the Catholic King and Queen. The Monasteries - Near the cathedral along the Gran Via you can visit several monasteries, including the Convento y Museo de las Duenas, a 16th century building with cloister. There are 15 Museums in Salamanca, where you can see exhibits ranging from Art Deco to Fine Arts to religion. But mostly, this is a fine walking town, from the Roman bridge over the river to the Plaza Mayor, which may likely be the most compelling in Spain. Take a virtual tour of Salamanca with our Salamanca Picture Gallery .        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. 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