South America Travel

Central and South American Travel Schedule Travel Lifelong Learning UW Libraries Resources On Wisconsin Career Mentoring On the Road Founders' Day HOME GET CONNECTED LEARN & DISCOVER ALUMNI BENEFITS JOIN/RENEW ABOUT WAA UW-MADISON Central/South American Travel Schedule Get travel information sent to your home - with no obligation. Just check the box next to the trip(s) that interest you, then fill out the mailing information at the bottom of the page. A brochure for the indicated packages(s) will arrive shortly thereafter. Brochures are printed about eight months in advance. If you are interested in being added to our travel mailing list, but do not want any information at this time, click here . 2006 Jan. 27-Feb. 7 Cruise the Panama Canal March 9-19 Amazon March 27-April 9 Treasures of South America June 24-July 3 Galapagos Islands Voyage SOLD OUT July 19-28 Costa Rica Family Adventure Nov. 5-12 Mayan Splendor in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula To finish, just fill out the mailing information below, click the submit button, and WAA will send you more information on the indicated travel package(s). Asking for a brochure in no way obligates you to purchasing a travel package. IMPORTANT: To ensure that you receive all the information you requested, please take a moment to make sure that all the trips you want information about are still properly checked. Mailing Information (please double check to make sure everything is correct) First name Last name Address City State/Province Zip/Postal code Country Phone E-mail address WAA Membership number (Can be found on your membership card or on the label of the most recent copy of On Wisconsin Magazine) Check this box if you are not interested in receiving specific trip information at this time, but would like to be added to the general WAA travel mailing list. To receive information on future tours related to particular areas of interest, check all that apply: Astronomy Adventure/Rafting Family Athletic Service/Volunteer Educational Young Alumni All Please make sure you provide a complete and up-to-date mailing address so that all materials arrive promptly. Schedules Full 2005 Calendar Full 2006 Calendar Family Travel Athletic Travel Adventure Travel Service and Learning Tours by Location United States/Canada Central/South America Europe Africa Asia Australia/New Zealand Request a Tour Brochure Other Links Frequently Asked Questions Travel Scrapbooks and Diaries Travel Insurance Our Travel Suppliers Athletic Travel Travel Tips WUD Travel Adventure Film Series Contact WAA Travel For more information about WAA's travel opportunities, contact Director of Alumni Travel Sheri Hicks by e-mail or call toll-free 888-WAA-TRAVEL. Personal Vacation Club Not seeing just the right tour? WAA is pleased to recommend additional travel options through the Personal Vacation Club . Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | About uwalumni.com

RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE |

Russia Travel Guide: Russian Customs TRAVEL IN RUSSIA | TOUR GUIDES | ESCORTED TOURS | SHORE EXCURSIONS | VISAS | CLIENTS | RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE | HOTELS The State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg City of St. Petersburg Russia Travel Tips | St. Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide City of Moscow Cultural capital of Russia Peter and Paul Fortress Kanal Griboedova Kazan Cathedral Headquarters' Arch Michael's Castle Intro Russian Visa Russian Embassies Money Customs Things to Bring Laptop to Russia FAQ's Russia Customs Regulations Russian customs regulations are complicated and highly discretionary. 30% duty is required to export personal item(s) worth over US $10,000. Moreover, additional export duties apply to any items determined by customs officials to be of commercial use. Certain items, such as caviar, medications, jewelry, precious or semi-precious stones, or metals and fuel may be exported duty-free in limited amounts . As computers' hard-drives may be scanned by customs officials, it is recommended to present your laptops to customs at least 1,5 hours prior to you departure. The same goes for recordable storage media such as CDs, DVD-RWs, etc. Buying and Exporting Antiques All items which are of historical or cultural value - icons , antiques , paintings , coins , etc. - may be taken out of Russia only with prior written approval of the Ministry of Culture and payment of 100% duty. The process of getting the official approval may last from one to several weeks. When you are purchasing an antique item be sure to enquire from the retailer about the export status of your purchase. In all cases get an official receipt proving the fact of purchase and clearly indicating price, date and place of purchase. This receipt will later be handy when dealing with the customs official. Bear in mind that payment of the duty does not automatically make your goods eligible for export, and in most cases antique pieces may either be confiscated at the border or you may be asked to return them to your accompanying person. It is best to ask someone you know in Russia to accompany you to the airport. This way should your antique items not be allowed to be taken out of Russia you will be able to leave them with someone you know. This person may later try to get a refund from the unscrupulous retailer. Taking Money out of Russia You can bring as much money as you want to Russia. However, taking it out of the country can be tricky. You can take home only US $3,000 (or equivalent in other currencies) without any permission. For any amount over US $3,000 a special export permission is required. It can be obtained at any official currency exchange office unless you had the amount declared when entering Russia and can present your original signed declaration to the customs officer. A convenient way for taking money home is purchasing travelers' checks (like American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa, etc.). Russian Customs Declaration When first entering Russia be sure to fill out a customs declaration form . You will need to declare the amount of currency you are bringing into the country, as well as all valuable items you carry (jewelry, icons, art collections, laptops, cell phones, etc.). Make sure that the declaration is officially stamped and signed by a customs officer on entry to prevent difficulties when taking your currency and valuables after your travel to Russia is over. Remember that a signature by a customs official is not sufficient - you need to get a stamp on your declaration for it to be valid. Otherwise you will not be able to prove that you possessed that diamond ring or a cellular phone prior to your visit. Keep your stamped customs declaration for the entire duration of your stay in Russia - you will need it to prove how much money and what valuables you had with you when arriving in Russia. Additional Information For additional advice on Russian customs regulations, visit our Travel in Russia: Frequently Asked Questions section. Official website of the Russian Federal Customs Service : www.customs.ru/en/ Official capital of Russia Red Square Grand Kremlin Palace Ivan the Great Tower Christ the Savior Kremlin Towers 2005 Optima , B. Konyushennaya St., 9 suite 9. St. Petersburg 191186 Russia. Tel/fax: +1 253 5507816 E-mail SITE MAP | TERMS | FAQ's | GLOBAL RESOURCES

Germany travel! TripAdvisor SmartDeals

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Visit our Germany discount hotels page for great savings on Germany hotels, including TripAdvisor SmartDeals. Looking for vacation packages to Germany? We've got deals including hotel and airfare. Book a flight to Germany on our Flights page. About TripAdvisor TripAdvisor lists special deals and discounts on great vacation packages and travel packages to Germany, Europe. Recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, travel guides and lots more! Visit TripAdvisor in another language: About Us | Membership | Site Map | Become an Affiliate | Top Cities | Hotel Reservations | Hotel Deals | TripAdvisor Gear Popular Hotels: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , by city TripAdvisor Recommends: Las Vegas hotels , London hotels , Paris hotels , Rome hotels , New York City hotels , Chicago hotels , Orlando hotels © 2005 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved. 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All inclusive Vacations - Hawaii Vacations, Caribbean Vacations, spa Vacations A VERY WARM WELCOME TO YOU FROM CM.TRAVELONLINE.COM Caribbean Vacations Mexico Vacations Romantic Vacations Family Vacations New - Luxury Travel Site Map Please call us at 757-240-6642 for your free consultation One of the Internet's best sites for All inclusive Vacations , Hawaii Vacations , Hotel Reservations , and spa Vacations ! CM.Travelonline.com is a full-service travel company that specializes in custom tailored vacation experiences to include Hawaii vacations, Mexico vacations, Europe vacations, and Caribbean vacations all designed to suit the needs and desires of our customers. We also feature exciting honeymoon vacation ideas, family vacations, and cruise vacations. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? -- Please Select the Destination You'd Love To Visit-- " u-menulink1="all-inclusive.htm" clientside s-menu1="Caribbean" b-holdselection="0" u-menulink2="antigua_vacations.htm" s-menu2="....Antigua" s-target="" u-menulink3="aruba_vacations.htm" s-menu3="....Aruba" i-type="3" u-menulink4="bahama_vacations.htm" s-menu4="....Bahamas" i-count="62" tag="p" i-menusize="1" s-inform=" -- Please Select the Destination You'd Love To Visit-- " s-separator="" s-menu9="....Cayman Islands" u-menulink12="dominican_republic.htm" u-menulink17="http://www.funjet.com/destinations/detail.asp?Dest=STX&pageMode=D&OAC=&plCode=7575962774" u-menulink20="http://www.funjet.com/destinations/detail.asp?Dest=STT&pageMode=D&OAC=&plCode=7575962774" u-menulink7="http://ref.iliit.com/agents/page.asp?site=0296757C058&pin=&page=island&id=&island=bonaire" s-menu12="....Dominican Republic" s-menu17="....St. Croix" u-menulink6="bermuda_vacations.htm" 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u-menulink40="costa_rica_vacations.htm" u-menulink45="http://www.funjet.com/destinations/detail.asp?Dest=MCO&pageMode=D&OAC=&plCode=7575962774" s-menu50="....Los Angeles" s-menu29="....Guadalajara" s-menu24="Mexico" s-menu32="....Ixtapa" s-menu37="Latin America" s-menu45="....Disney World" u-menulink27="mexico_riviera.htm" u-menulink30="huatulco_vacations.htm" u-menulink35="mazatlan_vacations.htm" s-menu40="....Costa Rica" u-menulink43="http://www.vegasvacationsource.com" u-menulink48="http://www.funjet.com/destinations/detail.asp?Dest=0CA&pageMode=D&OAC=&plCode=7575962774" u-menulink51="http://dg.ian.com/index.jsp?action=viewLocation&locationId=41713&cid=64169" s-menu27="....Riviera Maya" s-menu35="....Mazatlan" s-menu43="Las Vegas" s-menu48="California" u-menulink25="http://www.cmtravelonline.com/acapulco_vacations.htm" u-menulink46="http://ref.iliit.com/agents/page.asp?site=0296757C058&pin=&page=island&id=&island=sflorida" u-menulink41="http://dg.ian.com/index.jsp?cid=64169&action=viewLocation&locationId=41713" s-menu38="....Belize" s-menu33="....Los Cabos" u-menulink36="puerto_vallarta_vacations.htm" u-menulink31="isla_mujeres_vacations.htm" s-menu28="....Cozumel" s-menu49="....Anaheim & Disney Land" u-menulink26="cancun_information.htm" s-menu44="Florida" u-menulink59="south_pacific_holidays.htm" u-menulink54="asia_travel.htm" s-menu62="More International Destinations" u-menulink60="tahiti_vacations.htm" s-menu52="Canada" s-menu57="....India" u-menulink55="dubai.htm" s-menu63="....Hong Kong" u-menulink61="go_europe.htm" s-menu53="Africa" s-menu58="Australia & South Pacific" u-menulink56="hong_kong.htm" s-menu61="Europe" s-menu56="....Hong Kong" u-menulink62="http://www.eeitravel.com/site_cobrand/index.asp?Group=cmtravelonline&GroupID=256" s-menu59="....Fiji" s-menu54="Asia" u-menulink57="india.htm" u-menulink52="http://dg.ian.com/index.jsp?cid=64169&action=viewLocation&locationId=29266" s-menu60="....Tahiti" u-menulink63="hong_kong.htm" s-menu55="....Dubai" u-menulink53="africa.htm" u-menulink58="australia.htm" -- 0) window.open( document.JBOT124110.dest.options[document.JBOT124110.dest.selectedIndex].value,'_self');this.selectedIndex = 0;" -- Please Select the Destination You'd Love To Visit-- Caribbean ....Antigua ....Aruba ....Bahamas ....Barbados ....Bermuda ....Bonaire ....British Virgin Islands ....Cayman Islands ....Curacao ....Dominica ....Dominican Republic ....Grenada ....Guadeloupe ....Jamaica ....Puerto Rico ....St. Croix ....St. Lucia ....St. Maarten ....St. John & St. Thomas ....The Grenadines ....Trinidad & Tobago ....Turks & Caicos Mexico ....Acapulco ...Cancun ....Riviera Maya ....Cozumel ....Guadalajara ....Huatulco ....Isla Mujeres ....Ixtapa ....Los Cabos ....Manzanillo ....Mazatlan ....Puerto Vallarta Latin America ....Belize ....Brazil ....Costa Rica United States Hawaii Las Vegas Florida ....Disney World ....Miami & South Florida ....Universal Orlando Resorts California ....Anaheim & Disney Land ....Los Angeles ...Other major U.S. cities Canada Africa Asia ....Dubai ....Hong Kong ....India Australia & South Pacific ....Fiji ....Tahiti Europe More International Destinations 0) window.open( document.JBOT162632.dest.options[document.JBOT162632.dest.selectedIndex].value,'_self');this.selectedIndex = 0;" -- Please Select Your Activity You'd Like To Do -- Book a flight & hotel together Book International Flights Find the best hotel deals Find an exotic vacation Find Passport information Find sightseeing tours & attractions Take a cruise Plan a destination Wedding Plan a honeymoon Plan a family vacation Plan a tropical spa vacation Plan a luxury vacation Plan an adults-only vacation Plan a clothing-optional vacation Plan a couples only vacation Plan a spa vacation Rent a villa or condo Research vacation ideas RELATED TRAVEL SECTIONS HONEYMOON VACATIONS CRUISE VACATIONS GO EUROPE SPA VACATIONS ONLINE RESERVATIONS Great Honeymoon 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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