Family Vacation

A Victoria hotel for the whole family - Vacation Inn Victoria Hotel Room Rates Pet Friendly Waterslide Victoria Activities Mirage Spa Contact Us Book NOW! The only Victoria Hotel with all the fun! Victoria hotel for the Whole Family! Kids just wanna have fun...we know that, so this summer we will be entertaining the kids with our outdoor pool and Waterslide . The only Victoria BC hotel to offer a waterslide! Parents will like to stay here too... Kids Stay FREE! Weary travelers look forward to the warm west coast welcome of the Vacation Inn of Victoria BC. This Victoria hotel greets guests with its renowned hospitality and all the comforts of home - this Victoria BC hotel has tastefully appointed air conditioned rooms, brand new queen size beds and cable television. After a day of traveling or touring, guests can relax at this Victoria hotel in the heated pool and the garden patio lounge. The Vacation Inn features a wide range of dining services, including a casual dining lounge, licensed cocktail lounge, and full facilities for banquets or conventions in Victoria BC. The Vacation Inn is a centrally located Victoria hotel, putting all the delights of Victoria BC just minutes away. The friendly and courteous staff are always pleased to direct you to all the high points of the Garden City. The Vacation Inn also offers free guest parking. Read unbiased opinions about this Victoria hotel at TripAdvisor. All to make your stay a most enjoyable one! Air-conditioners in all rooms All queen size beds Complimentary morning papers Fresh brewed Coffee and Tea in every room Free local calls Free satellite movies and sports Wheelchair accessibility - some rooms 24 hour desk Outdoor heated pool - in season Near Mayfair Shopping Mall Restaurant, Lounge, Pub and Banquets Parking for 250 cars Fax and photocopy service available Visit our Virtual Concierge for Victoria and beyond! Privacy Policy Terms of Use Contact Us Links Address - 3020 Douglas Street Victoria BC V8T 4N4 Phone 250.386.6141 Fax 250.380.9990

South America Travel

Adventure holidays & singles holidays, adventure vacations, adventure travel & singles vacations - USA, Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Latin America & South America The Trek Idea | Why TrekAmerica? | How We Travel | Treknical Details | Special Groups | Contact Us Summer Tours | Winter Tours | Central & South America | Footloose Open Age | Australia | Receive our brochures by Mail or E-mail Availability | Make a Booking | Our Agents | Late Booking Discounts | Insurance | Booking Terms Frequently Asked Questions Trek Tips Information | Trekkers Message Board | Past Trekkers Websites | Trekkers Comments Press Releases | Trek E-Newsletters | Employment | Competitions | Our Affiliates | Useful Links adventure holidays adventure travel UK / International Websites the true spirit of adventure travel For over 30 years, TrekAmerica has been tempting travellers away from the "package" holiday approach and into the world of active and exciting small group adventure holidays. This is the world of TrekAmerica - the specialists in "off the beaten path" adventure travel across the Americas. So why not challenge yourself...not your budget. In addition to our TrekAmerica summer treks, we also offer the following range of adventure options: Footloose for all ages A wide range of camping, lodging, walking, biking & family adventure tours for all ages throughout USA, the Canadian Rockies, Alaska, Mexico, Belize & Guatemala. [ More information... ] TrekAdventures A unique selection of small group adventures through Central & South America including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and beyond. [ More information... ] Let's Trek Australia & NZ Sixteen different camping & lodging tours across Australia & New Zealand. Explore the outback, beaches, reefs, mountains & cities Trek style "Down Under". [ More information... ] TrekAmerica WinterSun *NEW 05/06 TREKS* Departing November to March a range of combination camping & lodging treks in the Southern United States, Mexico, Belize & Guatemala. [ More information... ] As North America's largest and most experienced small group adventure travel operator, TrekAmerica has expanded it's offerings with a year-round programme covering USA, Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and 11 countries throughout Central & South America. Whether you are travelling alone or with a group of friends, come and explore with us the awe-inspiring National Parks, vibrant cities, tropical beaches and mysterious indigenous civilisations that makes the Americas a truly unique travel destination. The true spirit of adventure travel... Working with the Parks Our U.S division, Premiere International Corp / {dba} TREKAMERICA is operating under a variety of Incidental Business and Special Use Permits from the United States National Park Service, the United States National Forest Service, the United States Bureau of Land Management, the Park Service of Canada, the Hopi Indian Nation and the Navajo Indian Nation. TrekAmerica is an equal opportunity service provider. TrekAmerica Summer Adventure Tours | TrekAmerica Winter Adventure Tours | TrekAdventures South America Tours Footloose open age & family Adventure Holidays | Let's Trek Australia & New Zealand Tours USA tours | America tours | Canada tours | Alaska tours | Mexico tours | Belize tours | Guatemala tours Costa Rica tours | Peru tours | Ecuador tours | Bolivia tours | Chile tours | Argentina tours | Patagonia Tours Trek Amerika German Home Page | Trek America Dutch Home Page | Trek America Japanese Home Page If you have any suggestions or comments about our website please e-mail our webmaster © TrekAmerica Travel Ltd. All trademarks remain the property of their owners. All holidays are operated by Trek America Travel Ltd, a member of the First Choice group of companies, of First Choice House, Crawley, RH10 9GX. site map Hurricane update Create your own trip website Lastest Visa Information Since running our first tours back in 1971, TrekAmerica has established its place as the largest and most experienced small group adventure travel operator in North America covering the USA, Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, Inca Trail, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Patagonia, Australia & New Zealand . TrekAmerica's adventure holidays are a unique combination of sightseeing and exciting activities that will take you to the big cities, National Parks, remote beaches and many other hidden places off the tourist routes. Hike in deep canyons and up high mountains; explore hot deserts and cool lakes; enjoy vibrant cities and little known towns. See the best of North America and experience the many adventures this beautiful land has to offer, with plenty of free time to join in with the action or just sit back and relax. Looking for a singles holidays ... No problem... many of our passengers are single travellers seeking the safety and camaraderie you can only find in a small group. Australia adventure Footloose adventure travel, walking, lodging, mountain biking & family adventure holidays Why TrekAmerica adventure tour operator singles travel singles holidays singles vacations Exodus Travel Discovery, Wildlife & Adventure Caradonna diving specialists FlexiSki skiing holidays SunSail sailing holidays Adventure Company family adventure specialists Trips Worldwide Latin America holidays Waymark cross country skiing and walking holidays Australia Zealand adventure Connoisseur Inland Waterways Boating Holidays

Golf Vacation. Great Travel

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

vacation house rentals - vacation houses, homes, condos Log In: Password: Forgot password? Vacation rentals Vacation house rentals, Vacation homes, condos Vacation Rentals Worldwide USA Caribbean Canada Europe Mexico Central America Cuba Australia Africa Asia You can find that perfect vacation rental! Rent directly from the owner and save $$$ VRUL - your online source for vacationing the world! Check Out these popular destinations! Florida Hawaii South Carolina North Carolina Save money by renting directly from the owner. V acation property owners list their vacation house rentals with us. Prospective renters search our listings to find the perfect vacation houses and condos . We specialize in vacation house rentals and beach house rentals in popular locations like Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Colorado, Orlando, Florida, Gatlinburg, Maui and Kauai, Hawaii. Here you will find BY OWNER vacation rentals such as private homes, condos, cabins, and apartments offered thru private owners and management companies. Find perfect vacation house rentals in locations like Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Orlando, Florida, Colorado, Maui and Kauai, Hawaii. Just Search for the destination of your choice, contact the owner directly, and begin packing your bags. We are continually adding new listings so please check back often. Do you own a Vacation Rental? Join Us and advertise your rental property for only $59 per year . Vacation rentals by owners - VRUL Satisfaction Guarantee . | Home | Search for Rentals | Why Join? | Member Login | List Your Rental | About Us | Links | FAQ's | Articles | Guestbook | Disclaimer | Contact Us | | Florida | Hawaii | Kauai | Hilton Head | South Carolina | Colorado | Tennessee | Bahamas | Caribbean | 2003.Created and maintained by WSI This site is optimized for Netscape 5 and Internet Explorer 5 or higher. Please download an updated version now.

Russia Travel Guide, climate:

Russia Travel Guide - Information and Advice Russia Travel Guide Information and Advice 'A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' Churchill St Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide Russia Map | Russia Pictures Russia Travel Guide, climate: Best: May, June, Sept, Oct. July/August can be wet . Worst: Nov-March [winter is long, dark and extremely cold with short days, but the snow scenes will be stunning. Early Spring is muddy, slushy and falling icicles kill! ] Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights: Moscow or St Petersburg are excellent for a wild and wooly underwear weekend. Recommended: 2 weeks to take in Moscow, St Petersburg and some of the surrounding towns - such as the Golden Ring - and countryside. The Trans-Siberian Railway to Irkutsk [Lake Baikal] will require at least 5 days. Main Russia Festivals Guide : 25 Dec- 5 Jan, Russian Winter is celebrated with traditional activities such as music, dance, sleigh rides, folk shows. New Year's Eve tends to be a family/friends occasion, so not wildly exciting. late Feb-early March, Goodbye Russian Winter, as above. Easter Sunday, Moscow, procession and service in stunning Kolomenskoe [Orthodox] church. April/May, Moscow Music Spring Festival , classical music. May 9, Victory Day Parade, Moscow. A stirring military procession. June, the White Nights arts festival is St Petersburg's liveliest event. April/May, St Petersburg Music Spring Festival , classical music. For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Colourful Festivals or European Festivals Activities Guide: The country is spacious - to say the least - and outdoor activities are popular but facilities and safety measures can be primitive so get specialist advice before undertaking anything halfway dangerous. Hiking: There is no shortage of excellent trekking terrain, just a shortage of marked trails or maps, so extracting information from locals regularly is essential, and as a consequence a few words of the language are vital. Either that or get a good guide. Lake Baikal [see Russia travel favourites, right], the Elbrus area of the Caucasus, west Ural Mountains and Altay Mountains are prime targets. Check the travel safety situation . White Water rafting: The Katun River in the Altay Republic, Vladisvostok and Kamchatka. Climbing: The Elbrus area of the Caucasus are superb but get specialist advice before arriving in Russia, safety aspects included . Cycling: roads are often in bad shape, cars and drivers even worse shape, but bike travel can still be rewarding, with care, a tough bike and essential spares. Local hospitality is tremendous. Canoeing: rivers can be heavily polluted so inland water travel is difficult to recommend, though the Volga River delta is supposed to be alive and delightful, while the coasts up north offer prospects of isolated adventure. Boat cruises: either on posh tourist boats or cheap, dilapidated Russian craft. The main highway is the Volga River and boats go to/from Moscow, Novgorod, Volgograd and many other attractive cities. Volgograd to Rostov-Don is supposed to be the most interesting section. June-September only. Fishing: mostly salmon out east e.g. from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Skiing: Cross country skiing is traditionally more popular than down-hill skiing; snowboarding is becoming increasingly popular and heli-skiing is available and remarkably good value. There are more than a hundred ski areas, many of which need modernisation, though some resorts in the Caucasus Mountains offer good facilities and comfortable accommodation. For instance, Cheget in the Baksan Valley offers challenging runs, including the longest of 2.5 km; or Mount Elbus - Europe's highest peak at 5,642m [1,8513 ft] - hosts one of Russia's largest resorts, Prielbrusye. There are at least 20 ski slopes within 50 miles of Moscow and some can even be reached by metro! Ice Skating: Possibly the country's most popular pastime with frozen lakes and outdoor rinks all over during the long winter and even indoor rinks open in the summer. Inexpensive and very cheerful. Banya bathing: this Russian style sauna is a good way to experience authentic Russian social life, particularly if you are a graduate of an old British public school where extreme heat, cold and beatings were a way of life. There are banyas everywhere, ranging from appallingly dilapidated to highly polished. The Trans-Siberian Railway This week long, non-stop 10,000km [6,000mls] or so ride travels from Moscow to either: - Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific coast. - via Mongolia to Beijing. - via Manchuria and Harbin to Beijing. This is reputedly one of the world's great train journeys but does not necessarily deliver a comfortable or fascinating experience for everyone. Downside: - there are no showers, except for a few lucky 1st class travelers. - conditions will be cramped. - dining car food will be abysmal. - the scenery is mainly dull, tending towards endless forests and grassy plains, interspersed with the occasional log cabin, log village or vast lake. The train stops for 10 minutes a few times a day, leaving no time to explore, just time to aquire emergency supplies from the platform. - As a consequence, life on the train is paramount, and this depends on various factors coming together. Is your car attendant cordial? Are your fellow passengers interesting? Does anyone snore? Do you mind living off fairly basic food for six days? Can you happily stare out of a dirty window looking at birch trees for hours on end? Is TV an integral part of your life? Do you have a good selection of books with you? Do you like vodka? And so on... Upside: - you can arrange to take a stop over at key points en route, for example attractive Irkutsk [see Russia travel favourites, right] and nearby huge, mountain-hemmed Lake Baikal. Siberian timber buildings are often charming, colourfully decorated and carved. - due to the fame of the train and the number of serious travellers on it there will almost always be someone interesting you can find to chat to for days , though a good companion and a monster picnic hamper [loaded with - you've guessed - vodka] would be a useful starting point. - if you are actually going east/west for a purpose - such as for work in Japan or China - you will be saving the air fare. Train Survival hints: - don't drink the tap water. A samovar [hot water pot] in each carriage supplies sterile water. - clean your window to improve views and photos. - stand well clear when flushing the toilet , it can backfire if the train travels at speed. - learn a few key Russian phrases to charm your surly attendants. - take lots of vodka with you . You can buy some snacks, fruit, cigarettes etc during 15 minute stops at stations, but no alcohol, and you will be doing a lot of socialising! Russia Travel Star Guide: Monuments **** Shopping and souvenirs *** Walkability *** Food Quality and Variety *** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value *** Beaches black sea Wildlife * Landscape *** Local People **** Architecture **** Safety ** Nightlife and Clubbing ***** Health Problems ** Museums ***** Why Travel to Russia? This vast and diverse country, occupying the top chunk of a continent all the way from Poland to Japan - and a big chunk of world history too - demands travel attention. The architecture is both glorious and hideous, the history is monstrous, the art is sensational and the people can be touchingly friendly . Absurd Fabergé eggs? Extraordinary onion domes? Caviar crepe? Yes, please. A hard day's White Night in St Petersburg? Slamming vodka with your taxi driver? Da! Big , brutal, beautiful and intriguing, Russia is an enigma that's got to be sampled by any serious traveller. Downside: - Accommodation is hardly cheap if comfort is an issue, though plenty of budget options are available. - Hygiene can be a problem. - Officials are often unpleasantly boorish . - Crime and corruption in the cities requires an ever-open eye . - Despite the size of the country, internal flights are unreliable and Russian airlines have the world's worst safety record. Some Russia tra vel favourites: 1] ***Moscow, a diverse and interesting city with masses of history, action and must-see spectacles, though not on the same planet as St Petersburg for elegance. See Moscow Travel Guide . 2] ***St Petersburg , one of the world's most beautiful cities, with many splendid buildings and museums, including the spectacular Hermitage, with a sophisticated service industry. See St Petersburg Travel Guide . 3] ***Novgorod, 190 km [118mls] south of St Petersburg , an important political and artistic centre from the 9th century and still holds a wide and varied collection of magnificent structures including Russia's oldest cathedral, frescoes galore, and plenty of glorious oddities. 4]***The Golden Ring,a few hours travel northeast of Moscow, are a collection of attractive historic towns dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. These can be visited on day trips, but better, hire a car or join a boat with a guide and take your time to enjoy: ***Suzdal , the most important town in the Golden Ring, Suzdal used be a political and religious centre and has more than fifty quaint and well-preserved old structures. About 210km [131 mls] from Moscow. It is a major tourist attraction, yet still retains an enchanting, pre-Soviet atmosphere. **Vladimir is famed for its Golden Gate and two splendid cathedrals. About 180km [112 mls] from Moscow. **Rostov. This quiet, rustic town offers the usual churches but also a lovely lake and spectacular kremlin. **Yaroslavl is much bigger than other towns in the Ring but totally crammed with gorgeous churches, if you haven't seen enough. 250kms [156mls] from Moscow. 5] **Irkutsk , the 'Paris of Siberia', is a long way from anywhere except Mongolia, but is on the Trans-Siberian train route [see more info left] and well worth a stop-off. The city is mostly charming, with considerable Chinese influence and some magnificent architecture, including typically elaborate Siberian 'gingerbread' houses. Another of Irkutsk's attractions is the proximity to lovely, 636km [398mls] long Lake Baikal where hiking, biking, horse trekking, fishing and boating are big time. The north end is the most beautiful and isolated. Listvyanka village is a popular place to stay for tourists. 6] ***Cruising the Volga River via some superb old towns like Kazan [ancient Tatar city], Shiryaeva and Ulyanovsk [Lenin's birthplace]. See Boat cruises, left. 7]**Black Sea, Sochi. This is a Russian beach resort town with a warm climate and sophisticated health spas [sanatoria], with beaches and tennis courts, scenically situated at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. 8] ** Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains is a pretty, pleasant city except perhaps for Tsar Nick II and his family who met their end here and the USA's U2 spy pilot who was shot down in the area. The place offers excellent architecture, museums, entertainment and access to the Urals for varied activities. Cuisine Guide: You can eat well and inexpensively nowadays, especially in cafés and fast food places in the cities. Do choose places that look clean and are busy , poor hygiene could result in intestinal blowout. Moscow and St Petersburg in particular have seen an astronomical growth in cafés, bars and restaurants, including classic Chinese, Japanese and Italian offerings, western fast food chains and traditional Russian cuisine . Russian food tends to be rich and on the heavy side in winter , such as meaty dumplings, meaty cabbage rolls, cabbage soup with sour cream, and the national icons - borscht [beetroot soup], blinis [pancakes] and caviar, while lighter foods like superb soups and salads are around in the summer . Avoid eating shellfish except in St Petersburg and street ice cream anywhere. Drinks: We all know the varied pleasures of vodka, particularly drunk chilled and in one gulp, but Russia also does a fine line in local beers with lively flavours, good champagne, not such good wine , passable tea and effective coffee. Russians love to press drinks on foreigners so prepare your excuses now. Or practice chugging. Accommodation guide: You are supposed to have a place booked in order to get a tourist visa . There's a wide range of accommodation from luxury hotels at silly prices to cheapish hostels at around $20 pn, but it's important to book well ahead for the June-September season. Private home stays are widespread , giving the tourist relatively good value rooms and a close look at real Russian life. The downside is that the place may be out of the way, the bed lumpy and the morning-after breakfast provider in-your-face during your recovery time. Camping is fine in many places though - as usual - check with locals before bedding down. Organised camping sites are rare and usually open mid-June to mid-September. Russia Tours Tour operators offering travel to Russia can be found in our listings here: Russia Tours For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Map of Europe Travel Safety: Travel to Chechenya and the north Caucasus is not recommended; check the Foreign Office site or tour operators for up-to-date warnings. Otherwise stay on the regular tourist routes. Don't flash your cash! Pickpocketing and bag filching may occur on crowded public transport while hotel rooms are by no means thief-proof. Lock everything into your bags before leaving the room and use a safe deposit if there is one. Take care with taxis. Don't get in if there is anyone other than the driver inside, and don't necessarily trust the driver. See Safety page. Travel Health: Do not drink Russian tap water , not even for cleaning your teeth. Check you are up to date with all jabs, and consider including vaccinations for diptheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B. A flu jab is also useful if you plan to travel to Russia in spring or autumn when the bugs are rampant. Foreigners usually prefer to be treated at private clinics, which are very costly. Get Insurance! Costs: Russia can be good value if you don't mind slightly crude accommodation and eat/drink at local establishments rather than typical tourist places. Change money for roubles only at official exchanges or banks. Cash is easier to change than travellers cheques. Tipping: About 10% to taxi drivers and 10-15% to waiters in restaurants. Electricity : Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Internet: There are masses of reasonably priced web cafés in bigger cities. Local travel: The big cities have good metro and bus services at low prices . Locals enjoy life as illegal taxi drivers for extra cash. Beware though, some are pure evil, others wonderful, hospitable guides. Hitch-hiking is common for Russians but not advisable for tourists . Intercity travel: Trains connecting Moscow to St Petersburg are common, efficient and inexpensive . The Aurora day train takes 6 hours, the evening train 4 hours. Passenger boats are common between cities - tho' slow - including Moscow to St Pete. For exploring the countryside around big cities consider car hire, with or without a driver/guide. It's not expensive and very convenient. International travel: Moscow and St Petersburg are both easy to reach from many European cities by fast, efficient trains and buses ; other Russia cities are more difficult to access directly. Language: Some locals speak English, French, or German but ability to recognise the Cyrillic alphabet and a few words of Russian would really help your experience along. Visas: All visitors need a visa which needs a hotel/hostel booking . If you plan to travel in Russia you may want to see our: China Travel Guide Japan Travel Guide Austria Travel Guide Czech Republic Travel Guide Finland Travel Guide Hungary Travel Guide Turkey Travel Guide Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog