Japan Travel International Travel

Metropolis - Japan Travel: Jesus in Japan JAPAN TODAY | METROPOLIS | CLASSIFIEDS | PERSONALS | JOBS Issue Index Original Features Features Mini Features Cultural Features Life in Japan Big in Japan Rant & Rave Cars & Bikes Health & Beauty Interiors Practical Jobfinder Money Talks Tokyo Tech Web Watch Food & Drink Food & Drink Restaurant Reviews Bar Reviews Word of Mouth Travel Travel Features Japan Travel International Travel Travelogue Style Art Artifacts Fashion Tokyo Talk In Store Buyline Music Japan Beat CD Reviews In Person Concerts Clubbing TRAVEL Jesus in Japan Jesus' supposed resting place Photos by Mary King Mary King hunts down the Messiah in the small village of Herai in the wilds of northern Japan. Church bells will ring out louder this year as millions of Christians across the world join in songs of praise for Jesus Christ's 2000th birthday. While most turn their thoughts to Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem, few know of the important role some claim Japan played in the life of Christ. There are probably very few Christians who have even heard of the small village of Herai that lies tucked away in the northern reaches of Aomori Prefecture, but some here maintain this to be the place where Jesus settled, married and died at the ripe old age of 106. Although it's commonly held that Jesus grew up as a carpenter in the Galilee town of Nazareth, according to the legend of Herai, or Shingo as it's now known, the 11 "missing years" of Christ's life not accounted for in the New Testament of the Bible were spent in Japan. According to the local legend, Christ first came to Japan, aged 21, during the reign of the 11th emperor, Suinin, and landed at the port of Hashidate on the Japan Sea coast. Apparently, he settled in Etchu province where, under the tutelage of a great master, he studied Japanese language, literature and various other subjects. The Legend of Daitenku Taro Jurai (Daitenku Taro Jurai was the name Christ is said to have later taken) claims that at the end of his 11-year stay, Christ returned to Judea, aged 33, where he taught about the "sacred land" of Japan. But, unfortunately, "Christ's teachings about Japan were considered too radical," and he was condemned to death. The New Testament teaches Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, rose from the dead after three days and later ascended into Heaven. However, according to the legend of Herai, Jesus escaped this fate, and instead his brother Isukiri was nailed to the cross and died. Christ, meanwhile, fled with his disciples and went into hiding, carrying locks of the Virgin Mary's hair and his brother's ear. After an arduous journey across Siberia, Christ finally returned to Japan and settled in Herai where he changed his name, married a Japanese woman called Miyuko, fathered three daughters and lived to the age of 106. Devout Christians may insist that the Garden Tomb, which lies not far from Damascus Gate outside the Old City of Jerusalem, is Jesus' true burial site, but the people of Herai have another story to tell-marked by a large wooden cross, Jesus' tomb ( Juraizuka ) sits alongside his brother's ( Judaibo ) in Herai. Isukiri's tomb holds his ear and locks of the Virgin Mary's hair. It's hard to imagine anyone, let alone Christ, would have schlepped out to one of the remotest parts of northern Japan in days of old, as even today it demands a great deal of effort to reach the village. Herai epitomizes the middle of nowhere. The place is little more than a lonely grocery store, a sprinkling of farmhouses and scraggly garlic fields and rice paddies blanketed with snow at this time of year. Most tourists either already know about the tombs, as well as the "pyramids" said to predate those of Egypt, or are so intrigued by the wild talk they hear of Herai while trekking out near Towadako Lake they can't resist coming to check it out. Remains of the Mirror Stone pyramid Pyramid scheme The first pyramid of the "O-Ishigami Pyramid" circle, we are told, was discovered in August, 1935 on Mt Towari, exactly one day after the discovery of Christ's tomb in the village. According to the "history of the Divine Age" found in the documents of the Takenouchi family, there are seven pyramids in Japan, dating back tens of thousands of years and older than the Egyptian pyramids. Legend has it that the largest of these "pyramids," the Mirror Stone, used to stand upright and had writing engraved on it, but fell over during an earthquake in 1857 and became embedded in the ground. Disappointingly, not one of the rocks slightly resembles a pyramid in the Egyptian or Mexican sense, but apparently Japanese pyramids are different from those found elsewhere. They were triangular rocks situated on the top of mountains and used for sun-worship in ancient times. A local standing by what may be Jesus' grave Tomb of the unknown Savior The "pyramids" are a five-minute drive from the Kirisuto no Sato Denshokan (Village of Christ Legend Museum; Tel: 0178-78-3741), where you can read about the history and customs of Herai, and catch the audio-visual show of the Kirisuto Matsuri (Christ Festival) held in the early summer. The museum is open from April to October. Contact the Shingo Business and Tourist Section at Shingo Village Office (Tel: 0178-78-2111) for visits during other times of the year. The present museum, open for the past five years, also records the uncanny circumstances surrounding the tombs of "Christ and his brother Isukiri" as well as old folk songs and customs that resemble ancient Judaic-Christian ones and various theories that either support or quash links between the Japanese and Christians of Jewish descent. Even the name of the village, Herai, is said to be derived from the word Hebrai (Hebrew). It sounds like a tall tale, but no stranger than stories of burning bushes, the parting of the Red Sea and water being turned into wine. For the people of Herai too, the revelation that Christ is buried in their village came as a shock when documents claiming Jesus had resided in Japan were discovered in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1935. Said to be Christ's will and testament and the proof that he had lived and died in Japan, the "Takenouchi documents" later proved to be fake. For years, many villagers felt that the shroud of mystery surrounding the large ancient tombs in a bamboo thicket had finally been lifted. The documents explained some of the village's customs, such as marking a cross on the forehead of a child when it first leaves the home and why Sanjiro Sawaguchi, a village elder, had "blue eyes like a foreigner." The museum explains mysterious local customs The tombs are located close to the Kirisuto no Sato Denshokan, marked by two large wooden crosses and are sitting on a small hill overlooking those of the Sawaguchi family-local garlic farmers who are said to be the descendants of Christ and who, to this day, care for their great ancestor's tombs. "Somebody special lies there but I don't really believe it's the tomb of Christ. It's probably the tomb of a foreigner who settled in the village at some point. It's certainly interesting that some of the old customs in this village are said to be similar to those of ancient Judea, and it may explain why some people in the village have blue eyes. But this village has always been Buddhist and the Shinto shrine in the village is more than 1000 years old, so I really don't think that there are any ancient links between Japanese and Jews or Christians of Jewish descent," said Yoshiteru Ogasawara, who runs Nobara Pension (Tel: 0178-78-2484). Regardless of what you believe, Herai makes an interesting-if somewhat barren-destination, and you're guaranteed a great travel story to share with friends. Getting there: From JR Ueno stn, take the Tohoku shinkansen to Morioka stn and change to the express train for Hachinohe. From Hachinohe, take a bus to Gonohe, where you can change to a bus for Shingo (Herai). For information on the local bus service, contact the tourist section of the Shingo Village Office (Tel: 0178-78-2111; Fax: 0178-78-2118). Getting around: Those seriously thinking of venturing out to this part of the world to see the tombs and the "pyramids" should consider hiring a car or taxi from Hachinohe or Gonohe as the local bus service is irregular, and getting around Herai on foot is nigh-on impossible, especially during the winter months. TRAVELOGUE WORLD TRAVEL TRAVEL FEATURES JAPAN TRAVEL: SEPTEMBER 389: God speed The mother of all Shinto temples, Ise Grand Shrine AUGUST 385: Hattoji Highland hamlet JULY 380: Nagasaki Remembrance of things past 378: Kawagoe From modern Tokyo to "Little Edo" 376: Tottori Tottori's stunning landscapes JUNE 375: Kyushu Bed and bath under the volcano 373: Ryogoku Land of the giants 372: Osaka Universal Studios Japan MAY 371: Osaka Amerika-mura: Osaka's funky town 369: Mie Mikimoto Pearl Island 368: Takarazuka Hyogo-ken's all women theater group APRIL 365: Kawasaki Kawasaki's annual fertility festival 364: Aomori A day on Fear Mountain MARCH 362: Nagano Chill out snowboarding 361: Asuka One foot in the grave FEBRUARY 356: Yamanashi Hakushu's hidden treasures 355: Waseda Tram Trip A streetcar named... 352/3: Aomori Jesus in Japan 351: Kumamoto Under the volcano in Kyushu 350: Sado Island Explore the forgotten charms of Shukunegi ISSUES 348- ISSUES 298- TOP

air travel shall be

UWSA - FPPP 36 - Travel Regulations - Part III. III. AIR TRAVEL Preaudit steps for this section A. Commercial When an airline ticket is required for official UW business travel, the employee must use a contracted travel agency to book airline reservations. (Please see Travel Agencies in this section below for more information.) Reimbursement for commercial air travel shall be limited to the lowest logical fare available. The "lowest logical fare" is defined as the least costly fare that: uses a regularly scheduled commercial carrier; prohibits preference for any airline, type of aircraft and connecting airports; may require one plane transfer both departing and returning; departs from the airport nearest to the employee's headquarters location or, at the discretion of the employee, from an airport offering a fare which is more cost effective for the UW, including parking, mileage or additional overnight stays; allows for up to a four-hour leeway in scheduling which may necessitate that the employee arrive up to two hours prior to the start of his/her UW business and may require up to a two-hour wait after the planned business ending time to take advantage of lower air fares. Note: In accordance with the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act of 1974, commercial air travel on certain grants must comply with the requirement that U.S. flag air carriers be used to the maximum extent possible when travel is between the U.S. and a foreign country or between foreign countries. The additional cost for premium class (first class or business class) travel is not reimbursable. If a situation should arise where premium class travel is the only alternative available, such travel must be cleared with the Institution Controller through the UW System Travel Office prior to booking the flight. Penalty fares are often cheaper, and their purchase is encouraged because most trips are not cancelled or changed, particularly those involving conferences. Penalties or additional costs assessed for cancellations or changes may be paid from UW-administered funds when a reasonable explanation for the change is documented in the payment voucher. It is the responsibility of the traveler to facilitate refund or credit from the travel agency or airline for any unused tickets. Employees may be held personally responsible for the cost of non-used tickets. Unusual circumstances should be justified in writing. Note: The State of Wisconsin's contract travel agencies have the capability to track unused tickets to prevent non-usage. When a more favorable price can be obtained for airfare by adding additional days to the trip, e.g., staying over a Saturday or flying on a particular day, reasonable expenses for lodging and meals for the minimum necessary additional days may be claimed if the total cost of the reduced fare, plus the additional days' expenses, are less than the lowest available airfare would have been without the additional days of travel. Reimbursement may only be granted under this provision for weekend days and holidays. The weekend for this purpose is considered to run from 4:30 p.m. on Friday to 7:01 p.m. on Sunday. Documentation of the air cost savings must be provided on the Travel Expense Report (TER). Effective October 17, 2005, a State/UW-issued purchasing card must be used for payment of official business-related airline tickets and travel agency service fees. If they so choose, employees have the option of utilizing the state-provided personal liability U.S. Bank travel card for payment. Because of significant administrative costs associated with use of the purchasing card, institutions may strongly encourage their employees to use the U.S. Bank travel card for payment of travel. As a result of electronic ticketing, the form of airline ticket may vary. When seeking reimbursement for the cost of airfare, an employee must provide the highest form of receipt issued by the airline/travel agency. In those instances where an airline ticket is reissued, previously issued documents should be attached for a complete audit trail. Claims for reimbursement of airfare must represent the net amount paid by the traveler after any applicable exchanges, discounts, change fees, etc. When airfare is paid direct by the UW and changes to the ticket are made which result in a refund, the refund must be credited or made payable to the UW. Documentation to support either claimed or direct billed airfare must include: traveler's name, destination, departure/return dates, amount of fare, routing, class of travel and purpose of trip. Regardless of the payment mechanism, airfare charges are a travel expenditure requiring proper approval by either the employee's supervisor, an approving authority (see definition, section II) or the department head. Benefits from any airline promotion, such as free tickets for frequent fliers, merchandise, etc., that accrue as a result of UW-paid travel belong to the UW and must be used for UW-related business. Benefits as a result of voluntary bumping may be retained by the employee provided the alternative travel resulting from the bumping does not involve any loss of work time or additional travel cost to the UW. An employee may not be compensated for business use of frequent flyer vouchers, vouchers for bumping, discount coupons or other instruments of value. Such discount instruments, if earned as a result of personally paid travel, should be used for subsequent personal travel. CONTRACT TRAVEL AGENCIES: The State has contracted with Adelman and Orbitz For Businesss for official, out-of-state business-related needs when airline arrangements are required. Contract details with Adelman and Orbitz are still being worked out. Until further notice, travelers should continue making airline reservations for business travel as they have done in the past. The State has also contracted with STA for student study abroad travel and Worldtek for athletic travel. B. Charter and Personal Airplane Travel Institution department heads may authorize employees to charter or rent an airplane or authorize them to use their personal airplane when such airplane use is the most efficient and economical. The State of Wisconsin has contracted with Wisconsin Air Service for charter air service. All UW institutions are required to utilize their service for charter air travel when it suits their needs. Their telephone number is (608) 246-4328. If they are unable to provide the needed service, an alternative service may be sought. Pilots who are flying aircraft on University business create a liability exposure for the University; therefore, the University requires preapproval in accordance with specific standards. For information on requirements which must be met, refer to Part 8B of the UW System Risk Management Manual or call your campus Risk Management Office or UW System Risk Management at 608/263-4381. Reimbursement rates for personal airplane business mileage shall be 38.5 per mile. The TER must include the names of the passengers transported. Reimbursement for costs directly associated with chartering, renting or use of a personal airplane shall not exceed the lowest logical commercial fare. The cost comparison should be attached to the TER. C. General Airfare discounts are generally available for groups of 8 or more persons traveling from the same origin to the same destination on the same plane (group fares) and for multiple individuals traveling from different origins to a common destination (meeting fares). Contact the contract travel agencies for details and assistance in setting up such travel. Unless it cannot be avoided, it is recommended that not more than five employees from the same business unit travel in the same aircraft. Travel Regulations Table of Contents | Financial and Administrative Policy Index | Financial Administration This information is provided as a service of The University of Wisconsin System Administration Office of Financial Administration. To suggest possible additions or improvements, please contact Financial Administration (608) 262-1313 Last Edited: 09/16/2005

France Travel Travel Go

Steals & Deals For France Travel  You are here: About > Travel > France for Visitors > Money, Safety & Issues > Money in France > Steals & Deals For France Travel Travel Go France Essentials New Year's Eve in Paris and France Worst of France 2005 Paris Travel Guide Top French Ski Resorts Best New Year's Eve Champagne Articles & Resources Destinations Trip Planning Transportation Interests & Situations Money, Safety & Issues Things to Do in France Where to Stay in France Staying Connected Blogs Picture Galleries Culture, Language & People Fun, Freebies & Quizes Relocating to France Nudism, Sex & Gay Travel D-Day & Historic Travel Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Sites Selling French Products Before You Buy the Gift of Travel Gifts for the France Fanatic Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the France for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search France for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading France Woos Americans With Deals Park Hyatt Paris Vendome Review Packing Checklist From Other About.com Guides Budget Travel Deals Of The Week Flight Deals Sleep Cheap In Europe Related Blogs Dispatches from France Blog Paris Blog French Word-a-Day Blog La Coquette Blog Chroniques dune Fraise Nice Blog Rsidence Les Marronniers Provence Blog L'Oiseau Blog Chocolate and Zucchini Blog Forty Days in Paris Blog Most Popular "Naked City" Christmas in Paris Photo Tour Paris Sex District Top Paris Attractions Christmas in France What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France Related Topics Europe for Visitors French Language French Cuisine Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways Wine Steals & Deals On France Travel From Kelby Carr , Your Guide to France for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Nov 18 2003 Find Out The Best Bargains For French Travel Planning a getaway to France? Why pay more than you have to? Here are some of the hottest deals on airfare, lodging, tours, you name it. Live like a king on a pauper's pay with these steals on travel to France. Check back weekly for the latest deals, and sign up for the newsletter ( use the box on the right--> ) to get deal alerts in your in-box every week. Also, click on a link even if you see the deal has expired, because many agencies extend those deadlines. If you know of any hot deals that are missing here, please send e-mail to gofrance.guide@about.com . Air France's Winter Promotion has great packages to Paris, Nice or Cannes for travel through Dec. 11 and again from Jan. 5 to March 31. Get four days/three nights hotel and airfare starting at $359. Orbitz features sale fares on United and Lufthansa airlines as low as $329 from Atlanta to Amsterdam and $279 from Philadelphia to Paris. American Airlines has two fare sales going on. The Paris Fare Sale features fares as low as $239 round-trip from Boston. The Europe & U.K. Winter Sale offers fares as low as $317 from Miami to Paris and $326 from Chicago to Paris. United Airline's International Holiday Fare Sale provides cheapo tickets (such as $238 New York to London) for travel between Nov. 20 and Dec. 17 and from Dec. 24 through April 4. They also have six-day, five-night Paris vacation packages as low as $806 with the Plan a Perfect Paris Package promotion. Why not add a side-trip to London during your Paris vacation? A Chunnel ride is now discounted at Rail Europe . Plus, the U.K. has added high-speed trains, which brings the trip from London to Paris down to a measly 2.5 hours. Zing! Save up to 25 percent on Paris hotels with this Expedia.com deal. Several France tourism industry agencies and companies, including the France Tourism Office, Rail Europe and Air France, are offering whopping deals for Americans visiting France through its "Let's Fall In Love Again" promotion. Frommers lists several hot deals on winter vacation packages to France on its Tres Chic for Tres Cheap page. New Frontiers' Paris Impulse Package is offering deals on airfare, five nights of hotel and breakfast packages for as low as $743. Please note this list is reporting deals as they are available at the time this is published, but the providers themselves could change the terms at any time. This is no guarantee you will receive this deals. If you hear about a deal that has expired prematurely or an inaccuracy on this page, please report it to me at gofrance.guide@about.com right away.        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 New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France

Europe Travel 101 -

Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the First Time  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 Europe Travel 101 - Before you take that first trip to Europe Here's a suggested timeline for things an independent traveler needs to do before heading off to that European destination. Thinking about taking an independent trip to Europe? Below you'll find topics to consider before you take off. The recommended time before departure that you should be taking action is found in the colored bar on the left. In the gray box on the right you'll find links leading to more detailed information on any of the topics. Like most planning guides, this is a tool meant to simply remind you what you need to do when to make the standard vacation go as smoothly as possible. Although the list may seem daunting to you, you'll find that many of the tasks are optional. Unless otherwise noted, most of the planning tasks can be done earlier than recommended. A shorter, unannotated list with resources can be found here . A printable checklist can be found here . Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute What You Need to Do Resources 6 months before you go - Choose Your Destination! Now (or even sooner) is the time to choose your general destination. There are lots of resources on the right to help you. Remember that while Europe is quite compact compared to the US, the travel times between countries may be longer than you think. Once you've chosen your primary destination, you'll be able to go on to the next things on the list. Language Let's say you've chosen France as your destination and you'd really like to get to know the country and its people. Well, now is the time to start thinking of learning a bit of the language. A single beginner's course in spoken French at your local community college will teach you the basics cheaply enough. We also have extensive resources for learning European languages here on the About network. Please, at least think about learning the "politeness" words--natives will thank you for trying and will likely be more receptive to your questions. See Languages for the Tourist on the right to find out how easy it is. Renting a House or Apartment Now is the time to think about reserving that perfect apartment for the week (or month). You can wait until later to do this, but the best go fast. Living in the country you're visiting gets you into the swing of daily life: you'll be able to go to the open air markets and cook the food you buy, you won't have to think about maids (unless you want to) or checking in, and things can be as secure as you make them. Guidebooks Once you've figured out where you'd like to spend most of your time, it may be time to pick out a guidebook. You can purchase guidebooks that cover all of Western Europe, just a single country, or even a province or region like Tuscany. Choosing a Destination: Travel Planning Europe Planning Map Clickable Europe map with links to Country maps and Travel Essentials. How I Travel Europe Europe and Fading Traditions: Go Soon! Weather -Climate - When to Go Language: Languages for the Tourist Rentals Unusual Lodging Lodging Links Guidebooks Top European Guidebooks 3-4 months before you go - Start Checking Airfares You can start checking sooner--although we've found searching 3-4 months before your flight is a pretty good bet; the airlines are starting to discount in order to reward early bookers and yet there's still time to wait if prices aren't to your liking. The airline computers are constantly revising the pricing based on the latest demand, so the cheapest prices might turn up anytime--but you might not want to wait that long. Use the Finding Bargain Airfares link if you're unfamiliar with the bargain hunting process. Apply for a Passport if you don't already have one If you don't have a passport, this is the time to start thinking of applying. While the literature says it takes 6 weeks to procure a US passport, you don't want to leave it to the last possible moment--it's a vacation killer if something goes wrong. And despite what you may have heard or read in the past, a separate passport is required for each and every family member traveling with you. First-time applicants 13 years of age and over must appear in person at a U.S. passport office, a designated courthouse or the Post Office. You'll need a birth certificate or proof of citizenship, a photo identification, two recent 2" x 2" photos of your face, and a bundle of money. You'll find the latest requirements and downloadable application form by clicking Passport Links there on the right. (You don't need a health certificate in Western Europe and you won't need to worry about a visa as long as you're staying fewer than 90 days and aren't going to Turkey.) Shoes and Walking Now is a good time to pick up some walking shoes and start getting them broken in. You'll walk a lot in Europe, even if you have a car; much of the city centers in Europe are pedestrian only zones. Be prepared. Airfares Finding Bargain Airfares Passports Passport Links Where to go to apply, a downloadable application form, and how to make it as easy as possible. 6 weeks to 2 months before you go - Reserve Lodging - Hotel If you haven't already reserved the hotels you've seen on the web and fallen in love with, now is the time to do so. But do you need to reserve in every city you're planning to visit? Here's what I do: I reserve a hotel for my arrival and departure days as well as any long-term apartment rentals I've selected. The rest I leave to chance. You may feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, but, with a few exceptions, it's worked just fine for me. When traveling by train, I prefer to arrive at my destination early, take a hotel by the train station and just drop my bags there and explore the city on foot. You can read the whole strategy in my Footloose Travel article. Car or Train? If you haven't already chosen, now would be a good time to select your primary mode of transportation. Select Train or Car? from the links on the right if you just can't seem to decide which is best for what you want to see. Rail Pass Do you need one? Here are some tips: Trains in the south-Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece--are pretty cheap. If you're going to one or several of these places you might find that a pass isn't necessary. Just go to the station and buy a ticket. EurRail passes offer great savings if you plan right. For a saver pass you'll need to plan to take several long trips so that you can spend the travel days mostly on the train. Save money by going overnight; you'll save on hotel costs and make maximum use of your pass. Check the types of passes available carefully, to use them to an advantage, you may have to juggle some travel plans. Car Rental or Leasing and an International Driver's License Leasing a car is sometimes better than renting, especially if you're staying in Europe for more than 17 days. Leasing gets you a brand new car without rental company stickers on it and the pricing includes everything you need. When you turn it in at the end of your trip a lucky European will get to purchase that almost-new car for much less than a completely new one (This comes about because taxes on a new car are much higher than the taxes on even a slightly used one, so both parties benefit from this arrangement). If you've chosen driving as your primary mode of transport in Europe, you should get an International Driver's License . Available at Auto Clubs, they're just a translation of your License into European languages. Sometimes police won't demand them, accepting your original license instead. But still, it doesn't hurt to get one, and they're pretty cheap. A couple of passport-sized pictures are required. Even though you can usually just walk into your auto club and come out with an International Driver's License, I recommend not putting this off: the paperwork needed is often "out of stock." Lodging Accommodation Links You can also find lodging in specific countries or cities by going to a specific destination page. Footloose Travel Striking a balance between travel freedom and overplanning. Hotel Star Ratings Do you know what they mean? How I Travel in Europe Just in case you want to know. Transportation within Europe Rent or Lease? Train or Car? Driving in Europe Links Transportation Links European Train Travel Links 1 Month before you go - Travel Insurance Now is the time to think about insurance. If your health insurance doesn't cover you overseas, or your homeowners insurance doesn't cover loss of material goods, then there are some temporary plans that might set your mind at ease. Check our Insurance Links for more. Luggage How's your luggage? Is it easy to carry? Got more than a foot and a half of duct tape holding it together? If you want to be mobile, maybe you want to see if you can fit everything into a carry-on. It's not all that hard to do in the summer when you probably won't be needing heavy clothes. Rick Steves recommends walking around with all the stuff you think you'll need, then discarding half of it. I like the method I learned in Boy Scouts. Separate everything into three piles: stuff you absolutely need and use often, stuff you'll use occasionally, and stuff you probably won't use at all. Then eliminate the last two piles. Remember: Europe isn't lacking material goods. If you need a heavy sweater because it's unusually cold in August, chances are you won't be more then 50 feet from someone who'll sell you a great one. Don't forget, laundries are pretty easy to find (but usually expensive) and laundromats are are starting to show up in most popular tourist areas. Besides, if you rent a house or apartment it may include a clothes washer and possibly a dryer (but more probably a clothesline). Cameras If you've bought one for this trip, learn how to use it. If you need one, now is the time to purchase--don't put it off until the last minute and then end up standing in front of the Louvre all befuddled because you can't figure the danged thing out. Film If you're going to use film (how so very 90's!) you might consider purchasing one of those lead-lined bags to take it in. These reduce (but don't eliminate) the radiation from airport x-ray machines and thus the chance of film fogging. What I do to bypass this possibility is to buy and process my film in Europe. Sure, guidebooks say film and processing is more expensive overseas (but not much these days), but I look at it this way: are you gonna worry about fogging or are you willing to spend a buck and a half more per roll for peace of mind out of the thousands you're gonna spend on your vacation in total. Seems like false economy to me. Plus I get to show my pictures around to other travelers while I'm in Europe. Cell Phones If you need to be in constant touch with the office or someone special, you can rent cell phones that work throughout Europe. Often your car rental company can handle this, or you can check our Cell Phone Rental links for companies that'll rent phones for the short term. Email It's time to think about how you're going to handle your email in Europe, if that's important to you. If you have several accounts you want to check, you'll need to set up an online system for getting all your email. I use webbox , but other options are explained in the article Staying Connected . Money Yeah, it's time to get the long green together. I take some traveler's checks as a back-up, but mostly use the plentiful ATM machines in Europe to get cash. You need to have a 4-digit pin number to use many European ATMs. Watch one thing though: plan to have enough money to last through weekends--some people are reporting that certain banks in Europe don't update the customer's daily limit on Saturdays and Sundays and so if you've maxed out your daily allowance on Friday, you might find that you can't get more until Monday. You might also think about getting some Euros (or local currency for countries that don't use Euros) for the first day or two, if only to get used to them and assure yourself that you'll be able to afford a coffee in the airport. How much Money? Well, that varies, of course. A couple like Martha and I can get by on on $150 a day in most Mediterranean countries, although it's becoming a stretch these days. That'll get you a two or three star hotel with breakfast and two other meals taken in a restaurant with wine, plus entrance fees to museums and such. It's an average over the whole period of vacation--some days you'll get soaked, some days you'll find bargains. Students and the young-at-heart set willing to stay in hostels and eat street food or make their own grub in the Hostel kitchen will be able to do it for much less, of course. Keeping your money and documents secure You'll need a way to keep your passport and important items away from thieves. While Europe is still safer from violent crimes than the US, high tourist volumes in major cities tend to attract the slash and run crowd. Use a money belt or pouch that goes inside your clothing like seasoned travelers do. Keep your passport and important documents together in it. Don't wear a fanny pack with the pack turned around to actually ride on your fanny. It looks stupid and is a magnet for thieves. Women should avoid big purses with shoulder straps as those straps can be cut easily and the purse removed by a well-trained thief in seconds. Whatever can be said about European petty thieves and pickpockets one thing stands out when you talk to people who've been hit: they're good at what they do. Find recommended security stuff and other indispensable items under Travel Accessories . Voltage and Plugs European voltage is twice that of the wimpy American 110. The wall plugs are different as well. If you plan on using electrical appliances you may need to purchase adapters and power converters now. Check out my article European Electricity and the Connected Tourist for the skinny on what you'll need to make your stuff work in Europe. Me? I don't carry much more than the battery charger I bought in Italy to recharge my digital camera's batteries. Maps You should be far enough along in your travel planning to think about what maps you'll need.If you're in a car and like to get off the main highways, you'll need to purchase good maps. We use Michelin country and regional maps when we drive, purchasing the regional maps for areas we're staying in for a week or longer. You can get European driving maps from your auto club, but they're often not detailed enough to get you to the back roads. Keeping in Touch If you're the postcard-writing type, you'll need to have a means of keeping all those addresses where you can find them. Before the era of PDAs and email, I made sheets of labels for everyone who'd want a postcard so I could just slap one on and be done with it. Now I email friends and keep all their addresses on my Palm Pilot. Check for Travel Dangers The US government doesn't just meddle in overseas affairs, it also alerts travelers to dangers and uprisings in other countries. You might want to check conditions now and right before you leave. Travel Insurance Insurance Links Luggage Top Carry-On Luggage Packing Tips Cameras Before you buy a digital camera for travel Top Compact Digital Cameras for Travel Top Semi-pro Cameras for Travel Olympus D40 Review Oneof the best compact digitals I've come across. Cell Phone Rentals Cell Phone Rental Companies Purchase a Cell Phone Email Staying Connected Cybercafe Links Staying Connected Links Money/Currency Money Matters ATM Finder Travel Accessories Top Travel Accessories Clip-on Security Wallet (review) Voltage and Plugs European Electricity and the Connected Tourist Maps Michelin Maps (compare prices) It's easier to buy the maps over the web--distribution to many stores seems spotty at best, and many times they're unsorted, making finding what you want a miserable experience. Keeping in Touch The Travel Writer's Toolkit Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Last minute - Oops, Forgot the Passport. Help! Well, you can get one expedited, especially if you already have tickets. See our Passport Expediting Company links for more. Make Copies Now is the time to think about keeping back-ups of your travel documents. Make at least two photocopies of your itinerary, your passport information page (the one with your picture and passport number) and copies of your credit cards showing the cc numbers. Give one copy to your mother, or someone else you trust and can get a hold of any time of day or night. Keep a copy of your passport and credit card info with you but in a different place than the original items. Final Check The basic stuff you need to carry are these: Passport, tickets, car rental agreements, hotel reservation receipts, credit cards, medications (and prescriptions, if required), addresses/password information and an open mind with a sense of wonder. Check them twice. Then go have fun in Europe. Passport Problems Passport Expediting Companies Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Advertisement 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        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 Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...

Spain Travel

TUSPAIN - Travel Spain - Index -- -- | Welcome | Learning Spanish | Real Estate | Arts & Culture | News | Travel | Embassies | Resources | Lifestyle | | Business | Opinion | Heritage | Shopping | Translators | Classifieds | Environment | Food & Wine | | Guestbook | Search | Your Letters | Feedback | Travel Index Map - Principal Cities | Map - Autonomous Regions Rural Spain The Alhambra, Granada Adventure Holidays Mountain Biking Provinces and Cities of Spain Map of Andalucia Spanish Crafts Towns of Spain Exchange Rates Hotels, Hostals, Pensons. Campsites Restaurants Ski Resorts Fiestas Heritage & History Art Galleries Theatres Learning Spanish Museums of Spain . . Fiestas of Spain Moors & Christians, a Valencian Fiesta. Madrid Tourist Information Campsites, Mountain Retreats, Airports, Airlines, Rail & Public Transport, Car Rental. Alicante Tourist Information Consulates, Town Halls, useful phone numbers. Sierra Nevada Ski Resort, Granada Complete travel, accommodation and piste information on Europes most southerly ski resort. Mountain Biking, Andaluca. A wide range of mountain biking and walking holidays in the beautiful foothills of the Alpujarra mountains. The Provinces of Spain Map - Principal Cities | Map - Autonomous Regions lava Albacete Alicante Almera Asturias vila Badajoz Balearic Islands Barcelona & Catalonia Burgos Cceres Cdiz Cantabria Castelln Ceuta Ciudad Real Crdoba Costa del Sol Costa Brava Costa Blanca Costa Calida / Alicante Costa del Azahar Costa del la Luz Costa Verde Cuenca Guipzcoa Girona Galicia Granada Guadalajara Huelva Huesca Jan La Rioja Las Palmas Len Lugo Lleida Madrid Mlaga Melilla Murcia Navarra Orense Palencia Pontevedra Salamanca Tenerife & Canaries Segovia Seville Soria Tarragona Teruel Toledo Valencia Valladolid Zamora Zaragoza Vizcaya Travel Related Links Map - Principal Cities | Map - Autonomous Regions BARCELONA METRO Underground subway/metro system information MADRID METRO Underground subway/metro system information CIEMAT Hang Gliding in Spain GO SPAIN A site based in the USA. SPAINTOUR Tourist information on the cities and regions of Spain. WEBFOOT GUIDE TO SPAIN General guide to Spain DISCOVER SPAIN! Information compiled by the Asia/Pacific Regional Tourist Office of Spain. SI SPAIN Compilation of Spain data by the Spanish Embassy, Toronto, Canada SPAIN ONLINE Information, features and news about Spain TOURIST GUIDE Travel information from around the world France Holiday Comprehensive information on vacationing in France Add a Link? Join our WORLDLINK program... tuSPAIN would be pleased to include quality web travel resources on a reciprocal basis. | Welcome | Learning Spanish | Real Estate | Arts & Culture | News | Travel | Embassies | Resources | Lifestyle | | Business | Opinion | Heritage | Shopping | Translators | Classifieds | Environment | Food & Wine | | Guestbook | Search | Your Letters | Feedback | This site has been optimised for Netscape 3 & Internet Explorer 3 © 1996 TUSPAIN.COM All Rights Reserved.