South America Travel


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Destinations: Temperate South America | CDC Travelers' Health Home About CDC Press Room Funding A-Z Index Centers, Institute & Offices Training & Employment Contact Us CDC en Español Search: Travelers' Health Travelers' Health Home > Destinations >Temperate South America Health Information for Travelersto Countries in Temperate South America On This Page Vaccines for Your Protection Diseases Found in Temperate South America Other Health Risks What You Need To Bring With You Staying Healthy During Your Trip After You Return Home For More Information Travel Notices in Effect Yellow Fever: Venezuela, South America (Released November 4, 2005) Dengue, Tropical and Subtropical Regions (Released June 9, 2005) U.S. Department of State See all Traveler's Health travel notices Vaccines for Your Protection: Temperate South America Check with your healthcare provider: you and your family may need routine as well as recommended vaccinations. Routine Vaccinations Before travel, be sure you and your children are up to date on all routine immunizations according to schedules approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP). See the schedule for adults and the schedule for infants and children . Some schedules can be accelerated for travel. See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect. If it is less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see your doctor. It might not be too late to get your shots or medications as well as other information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling. Recommended Vaccinations and Preventive Medications The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to Temperate South America. Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need. Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). Transmission of hepatitis A virus can occur through direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested in contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables, or other foods that are eaten uncooked and that were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling. Hepatitis B , especially if you might be exposed to blood or body fluids (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11–12 years who did not receive the series as infants. Malaria: if you are traveling to a malaria-risk area in this region, see your health care provider for a prescription antimalarial drug. For details concerning risk and preventive medications, see Malaria Information for Travelers to Temperate South America . Rabies , pre-exposure vaccination, if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas, such as might occur during camping, hiking, or bicycling, or engaging in certain occupational activities. Typhoid vaccine. Typhoid fever can be contracted through contaminated drinking water or food, or by eating food or drinking beverages that have been handled by a person who is infected. Large outbreaks are most often related to fecal contamination of water supplies or foods sold by street vendors . Yellow fever vaccination is recommended if you are traveling to northeastern forest areas in Argentina. As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles . Required Vaccinations None. Diseases found in Temperate South America (risk can vary by country and region within a country; quality of in-country surveillance also varies) Malaria An Anopheles freeborni mosquito takes a blood meal. Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. Humans get malaria from the bite of a mosquito infected with the parasite. Prevent this serious disease by seeing your health care provider for a prescription antimalarial drug and by protecting yourself against mosquito bites. Your risk of malaria may be high in some provinces of Argentina. In Argentina, you are at risk for malaria only in rural areas in the northern provinces bordering Bolivia and Paraguay. For additional information on malaria risk and prevention, see Malaria Information for Travelers to Temperate South America . There is no risk for malaria in Chile, the Falkland Islands, and Uruguay. Yellow Fever Yellow fever is present only in the northeastern forest areas of Argentina in this region. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into certain countries in the region if you have visited endemic areas in South or Central America, Trinidad & Tobago, or sub-Saharan Africa. For detailed information, see Comprehensive Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements . Also, find the nearest authorized U.S. yellow fever vaccine center . Food and Waterborne Diseases Avoid buying food or drink from street vendors, because it is relatively easy for such food to become contaminated. Make sure your food and drinking water are safe. Food and waterborne diseases are the primary cause of illness in travelers. Travelers’ diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout Temperate South America and can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting ( E. coli , Salmonella , cholera , and parasites), fever ( typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage ( hepatitis). Additional information: see the Safe Food and Water page for a list of links. Other Disease Risks Dengue , American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) , and leishmaniasis are diseases carried by insects that also occur in this region. In 2002, locally transmitted cases of dengue fever occurred for the first time in Chile on Easter Island. Protecting yourself against insect bites ( see below ) will help to prevent these diseases. Rodent-borne hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has been identified in the north-central and southwestern regions of Argentina and in Chile. If you visit the Andes Mountains, ascend gradually to allow time for your body to adjust to the high altitude, which can cause insomnia, headaches, nausea, and altitude sickness. In addition, use sunblock rated at least 15 SPF, because the risk of sunburn is greater at high altitudes . Other Health Risks Injuries Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers. Protect yourself from motor vehicle injuries: avoid drinking and driving; wear your safety belt and place children in age-appropriate restraints in the back seat; follow the local customs and laws regarding pedestrian safety and vehicle speed; obey the rules of the road; and use helmets on bikes, motorcycles, and motor bikes. Avoid boarding an overloaded bus or mini-bus. Where possible, hire a local driver. What You Need To Bring With You Long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a hat to wear whenever possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects (e.g., malaria , Dengue , filariasis , leishmaniasis , and onchocerciasis ). Insect repellent containing DEET . Bed nets treated with permethrin. For use and purchasing information, see Insecticide Treated Bednets on the CDC malaria site. Overseas, permethrin or another insecticide, deltamethrin, may be purchased to treat bed nets and clothes. Flying-insect spray to help clear rooms of mosquitoes. The product should contain a pyrethroid insecticide; these insecticides quickly kill flying insects, including mosquitoes. Iodine tablets and portable water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available. See Preventing Cryptosporidiosis: A Guide to Water Filters and Bottled Water for more detailed information. Sunblock, sunglasses, and a hat for protection from harmful effects of UV sun rays. See Skin Cancer Questions and Answers for more information . Prescription medications: make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy of the prescription(s) or letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you. Always carry medications in their original containers, in your carry-on luggage. Be sure to bring along over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication (e.g., bismuth subsalicylate, loperamide) and an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor to self-treat moderate to severe diarrhea. See suggested over-the-counter medications and first aid items for a travel kit . Staying Healthy During Your Trip Travelers should take the following precautions To stay healthy, do... When using repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children's eyes and mouth and use it sparingly around their ears. Wash your hands often with soap and water or, if hands are not visibly soiled, use a waterless, alcohol-based hand rub to remove potentially infectious materials from your skin and help prevent disease transmission. In developing countries, drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, learn how to make water safer to drink . Take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed. (See your health care provider for a prescription.) To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot, even on beaches. Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Protect yourself from mosquito insect bites: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats when outdoors. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats. Use insect repellents that contain DEET (N, N-diethylmethyltoluamide). For more information about insect repellents and correct use, see What You Need to Know about Mosquito Repellent on the CDC West Nile Virus site . If no screening or air conditioning is available: use a pyrethroid-containing spray in living and sleeping areas during evening and night-time hours; sleep under bed nets, preferably insecticide-treated ones. If you are visiting friends and relatives in your home country, see additional special information about malaria prevention in Recent Immigrants to the U.S. from Malarious Countries Returning 'Home' to Visit Friends and Relatives on the CDC Malaria site. Do not Do not eat food purchased from street vendors or food that is not well cooked to reduce risk of infection (i.e., hepatitis A and typhoid fever). Do not drink beverages with ice. Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized. Do not handle animals, especially monkeys, dogs, and cats, to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague). Consider pre-exposure rabies vaccination if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas. For more information, please see Animal-Associated Hazards . Do not share needles for tattoos, body piercing or injections to prevent infections such as HIV and hepatitis B. After You Return Home If you have visited a malaria-risk area in Argentina, continue taking your chloroquine for 4 weeks after leaving the risk area. Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the physician your travel history. For More Information For more information about these and other diseases, please check the Diseases page and CDC Health Topics A-Z Diseases carried by insects Dengue : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=dengue.htm : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=lyme.htm Malaria information for Travelers to Temperate South America : http://www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria/temsam.htm Malaria Frequently asked questions : http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/faq.htm Malaria Prescription Drugs : http://www.cdc.gov/travel/malariadrugs.htm : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=yellowfever.htm Diseases carried in food or water : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=madcow.htm Cholera : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=cholera.htm Escherichia coli diarrhea : http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/escherichiacoli_g.htm Hepatitis A : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=hav.htm : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=schisto.htm Typhoid fever : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=typhoid.htm Diseases from person-to-person contact Hepatitis B : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=hbv.htm HIV/AIDS prevention : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=hivaids.htm HIV-infected travelers (in The Immunocompromised Traveler) : http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=special&obj=hivtrav.htm&cssNav=browseoyb Important: This document is not a complete medical guide for travelers to this region. Consult with your doctor for specific information related to your needs and your medical history; recommendations may differ for pregnant women, young children, and persons who have chronic medical conditions. Date: November 4, 2005 Content Source: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine Destinations Vaccinations Diseases Yellow Book Safe Food and Water Illness and Injury Abroad Traveling with Children Cruise Ship and Air Travel Special Needs Travel Traveling with Pets Travel Medicine Clinics Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinics References and Resources Travelers' Health Automated Information Line PHONE: 877-FYI-TRIP toll free (Information about ordering the Yellow Book and International Certificates of Vaccination and recorded messages on travel-related health topics) VIA EMAIL: Contact Us Form Home | Policies and Regulations | Disclaimer | e-Government | FOIA | Contact Us Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A Tel: (404) 639-3311 / Public Inquiries: (404) 639-3534 / (800) 311-3435
Europe Travel
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Austria Travel
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Vacation Packages Preferred Hotels
MouseSavers.com - Disney World Vacation Package Discount Great deals on all things Disney! Find out how to save on: Walt Disney World Walt Disney World Resorts Walt Disney World Vacation Packages Preferred Hotels Near Disney World Other Hotels Near Disney World Tickets & Passes Meals, Snacks & Drinks Entertainment, Activities & Nightlife Other Disney World Savings Time is Money Disneyland Disney Cruise Line Transportation for Your Disney Vacation Other Disney Travel Savings Discount Disney Shopping Mall Live Disney Shows Disney Freebies Disneyland Resort Paris Disney Parks in Asia Disney's Vero Beach/Hilton Head Non-Disney Theme Parks & Attractions More information: About MouseSavers Frequently Asked Questions Trip Reports and Articles Links Testimonials Privacy Policy & Legal Stuff Contact Mary Discounts on Walt Disney World Vacation Packages LAST UPDATE: 12/20/05 - MOST RECENT ADDITIONS ARE IN RED All of the discounted vacation package rates listed below are subject to availability and are PER PERSON, per night, usually for adult double occupancy, unless otherwise noted. Adult single occupancy (or one adult plus kids) usually carries a surcharge. Most rooms are set up for 4 people. A few rooms can accommodate 5, mainly at the Deluxe resorts. There are a few rooms with trundle beds at Port Orleans Riverside that can handle 5, but one will have to be small enough to sleep on the trundle; none of the other Moderates can accommodate 5. There are no rooms at the All Stars that accommodate more than 4 people. Not sure which Disney resort to pick for your vacation package? Read about the various resort types and my recommendations for the best values in each resort category. Rates listed do not include tax, which is 11.5% for most resorts, 13% for the All Star Resorts. Jump to: Is a Package For You? 2006 "Magic Your Way" Packages 2005 "Magic Your Way" Packages My Value Recommendations Dream Maker Packages Grand Gatherings (Groups of 8 or More) Trip Insurance Package Specials That Are Available to Anyone: Package Promotions with Small World Vacations Discounted Packages Through Expedia Package Specials With Membership or Residency Required: Florida Resident Packages Canadian Packages Is a Package For You? A lot of people like Disney's vacation packages because they are convenient and worry-free. However, it is important to note that t he standard full-price Disney vacation packages offered by Disney, American Express, Delta Vacations and other tour operators are designed for convenience rather than savings. With the exception of AAA (American Automobile Club) vacation packages, you will NOT automatically get a discount by purchasing a package! It is frequently cheaper to book a " room only " reservation with the AAA discount or another discount and then buy the package components ( tickets , meals , etc) separately. In fact, it used to be that Disney's vacation packages were consistently more expensive than purchasing the components separately. However, Disney has responded to complaints and made package prices more consistent with paying full price for the separate components. Also, Disney sometimes offers special seasonal package discounts . You have to know the special discount codes, which I list here when available. Most Disney World packages must be purchased through Walt Disney Travel Company (WDTC). The WDTC rules about advance payment, cancellations and changes are usually much more restrictive than those associated with "room only" reservations, so be sure to inquire about the restrictions. It can be difficult to sort out what is best for your particular situation. That's why I think it's a good idea to have someone knowledgable on your side, making sure all the details are covered. My advice is this: if you want to book a Walt Disney World vacation package, I strongly recommend using a travel agent who specializes in Disney travel . It costs you nothing, and you can sit back, relax, and have all the vacation planning and hassle taken care of by someone else. 2006 "Magic Your Way" Packages 2006 Magic Your Way packages went on sale 6/30/05. For 2006, you can choose from the following Magic Your Way package options: Disneys Magic Your Way Package The base package helps you experience the magic of a Walt Disney World vacation at an affordable rate. The package includes accommodations at a Disney-owned-and-operated resort hotel, and Magic Your Way base tickets for everyone in the group. Disneys Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining This package includes everything from the Disneys Magic Your Way Package, and adds a dining plan that includes two meals and a snack per person, per package night at more than 100 restaurants across the Walt Disney World Resort. Disneys Magic Your Way Premium Package This deluxe package includes everything from Disneys Magic Your Way Package as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner per person, per package night, along with other exciting options like recreation, theme park tours, admission to the Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba and more. Disneys Magic Your Way Platinum Package - Due to popular demand, Disney is bringing back the Platinum Plan for 2006. In addition to your hotel room and tickets, this "ultimate luxury" plan includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service, unlimited recreation (bicycle and boat rentals), unlimited select tours, reserved seating for Fantasmic! , private golf lessons, one selected spa treatment, tickets for Cirque du Soleil La Nouba , unlimited child care in the resort Child Activity Centers, in-room child care, Fireworks Cruise, itinerary planning, Platinum Plan keepsake and turndown service. 2005 "Magic Your Way" Packages On January 2, 2005, Walt Disney World Resort unveiled an innovative new vacation package system called Magic Your Way. These vacation packages provide a wide range of options that allow you to design a Walt Disney World vacation that matches your needs and desires. The basis of the new packages is a completely new admission ticket system. The new Magic Your Way Tickets offer savings that grow the more days you visit. The new tickets offer the flexibility of adding options like Park Hopping or water park visits to theme park tickets or selecting a vacation package that includes meals. For that reason, Disneys Magic Your Way Vacations put you in control of framing the vacation that best suits your desires and budgets. The Magic Your Way packages have no minimum length of stay . Also, in most cases the length of the ticket no longer has to correspond with the number of nights a guest is planning to stay at the Walt Disney World Resort. So if you want to stay 5 nights and buy a 1-day ticket, you can do that! The exception is that guests selecting Disneys Magic Your Way Premium Package are required to have the length of the Magic Your Way passes be equal to the number of nights of the resort stay plus one day. You can choose from the following Magic Your Way package options: Disneys Magic Your Way Package The base package helps you experience the magic of a Walt Disney World vacation at an affordable rate. The package includes accommodations at a Disney-owned-and-operated resort hotel, and Magic Your Way base tickets for everyone in the group. Disneys Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining This package includes everything from the Disneys Magic Your Way Package, and adds a dining plan that includes two meals and a snack per person, per package night at more than 100 restaurants across the Walt Disney World Resort. Disneys Magic Your Way Premium Package This deluxe package includes everything from Disneys Magic Your Way Package as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner per person, per package night, along with other exciting options like recreation, theme park tours, admission to the Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba and more. My Value Recommendations for 2006 The first thing you need to bear in mind is that Disney REALLY wants you to stay for 6 nights/7 days. For that reason, the Magic Your Way Packages are heavily discounted on longer (5 to 7 day) stays . Staying for 7 days costs only a little more than staying 4 days! So live it up -- take the longer vacation. For most people, the Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining is the best value. To add the dining plan to a basic package, you pay only $37.99 per night per adult, $10.99 per night per child (ages 3-9), plus tax. For that amount you'll get a sit-down meal, a counter-service meal and a snack each day! That is a terrific value -- it is easy to get your money's worth. The best part is that the new dining plan is flexible , allowing you to swap a sit-down meal for a Character meal, or use two sit-down meals to attend a dinner show or eat at one of the higher-priced restaurants. You also have flexibility in when you use the meals. If you want to eat three of your sit-down meals in one day, you can. The higher level packages are really luxurious, but for the average family they are also serious overkill. First of all, eating the included three full meals a day is just too much for most people. But if you're like me, you'll feel compelled to eat all those darn meals, because you're paying for them! These upper-level packages also include lots of unlimited extras like recreation (i.e. boating) and behind-the-scenes tours, which sound great -- until you factor in the hot and humid Florida weather and the extensive walking, which slow most people's energy level to a crawl by the end of the day. The reality is, it's highly unlikely that you will play tennis in the afternoon and attend a Cirque du Soleil show in the evening, on top of spending your day in the theme parks. But to get your money's worth out of the Premium Package or the Platinum Package, you really need to be taking advantage of such "extras" every day. My Value Recommendations for 2005 The first thing you need to bear in mind is that Disney REALLY wants you to stay for 6 nights/7 days. For that reason, the Magic Your Way Packages are heavily discounted on longer (5 to 7 day) stays . Staying for 7 days now costs only a little more than staying 4 days! So live it up -- take the longer vacation. For most people, the Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining is the best value. To add the dining plan to a basic package, you pay only $35 per night per adult, $10 per night per child (ages 3-9), plus tax. For that amount you'll get a sit-down meal, a counter-service meal and a snack each day! That is a terrific value -- it is easy to get your money's worth. The best part is that the new dining plan is flexible , allowing you to swap a sit-down meal for a Character meal, or use two sit-down meals to attend a dinner show or eat at one of the higher-priced restaurants. You also have flexibility in when you use the meals. If you want to eat three of your sit-down meals in one day, you can. The higher level packages are really luxurious, but for the average family they are also serious overkill. First of all, eating the included three full meals a day is just too much for most people. But if you're like me, you'll feel compelled to eat all those darn meals, because you're paying for them! These upper-level packages also include lots of unlimited extras like recreation (i.e. boating) and behind-the-scenes tours, which sound great -- until you factor in the hot and humid Florida weather and the extensive walking, which slow most people's energy level to a crawl by the end of the day. The reality is, it's highly unlikely that you will play tennis in the afternoon and attend a Cirque du Soleil show in the evening, on top of spending your day in the theme parks. But to get your money's worth out of the Premium Package, you really need to be taking advantage of such "extras" every day. Dream Maker Packages You cannot purchase the Dream Maker packages anymore. Disney stopped selling them on 1/1/05, replacing them with the new "Magic Your Way" packages . However, Dream Maker packages purchased before that time will be honored for stays in 2005 and fulfilled according to the original offers. You can also choose to change a Dream Maker package to a Magic Your Way package if you wish -- contact Disney or your travel agent for help with the conversion. I have included links to information about the old Dream Maker packages below for those who have already purchased one of these packages and want information for their trip planning. Jump to: Dream Maker Package Dream Maker Silver Package Dream Maker Gold Package Dream Maker Platinum Package Dream Maker with Romance Plan Dream Maker with Princess and Prince Plan Grand Gatherings (Groups of 8 or More) With family and multiple-household travel increasing over the past few years, Walt Disney World has created a new program called Grand Gatherings, which is designed to provide special opportunities for groups traveling with 8 or more people ages 3 and up. (Babies under 3 can still come along, of course, but aren't counted toward the minimum number of people required to participate.) Grand Gatherings offers special benefits and one-of-a-kind experiences that may not be available to smaller groups attending Walt Disney World. As part of a Grand Gatherings group you will have the option of booking special events with your group. These include: International Dinner and IllumiNations Desert Reception This event offers international cuisine. Following dinner the children in the audience are invited up onto the stage to hear a classic Disney story by the bookmark storyteller. After the story there is a character meet-and-greet, a dessert reception and VIP viewing of the IllumiNations fireworks. The International Dinner experience is available on selected evenings at Epcot. Adults (10 and older) $59.99, children (ages 3-9) $24.99. Safari Celebration Dinner This event takes place at Disney's Animal Kingdom where your party will embark upon the Kilimanjaro Safari with a private guide. Following the safari is a dinner at Tusker House Restaurant with up-close animal visits, a Q & A and a visit from Terk and Timon. The Safari Celebration Dinner experience is available on selected evenings at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Adults (10 and older) $59.99, children (ages 3-9) $24.99. Good Morning Gathering A breakfast event at Tony's Town Square Restaurant. Guests are escorted from the front gate of the Magic Kingdom and served by Tony and other Disney characters. Included is some one-on-one time with Mickey Mouse. Beginning in 2006, this event will include reserved seats to experience Mickey's PhilHarmagic after breakfast . The Good Morning Gathering experience is available on selected mornings at the Magic Kingdom. Adults (10 and older) $26.99, children (ages 3-9) $13.99. As of 1/1/06, prices are Adults (10 and older) $39.99, children (ages 3-9) $19.99. Magical Fireworks Voyage This dessert party is hosted by Captain Hook and Smee and is followed by a cruise of the Seven Seas Lagoon to view the fireworks and Electrical Water Pageant. The evening concludes with a telling of the Peter Pan story, and Peter Pan greets your group upon return. The Magical Fireworks Voyage experience is available seasonally on selected evenings on the Seven Seas Lagoon near the Magic Kingdom. Adults (10 and older) $34.99, children (ages 3-9) $19.99. A Grand Gatherings group can book one of these special events, or all of them. Experiences will be shared by multiple Grand Gathering parties. Valid theme park admission is required for all Grand Gathering experiences except the Magical Fireworks Voyage. The same experience must be purchased by at least 8 guests (based on ages 3 and up) in the party. Experiences and dates are subject to change and weather conditions. Availability is limited. Reservations can be made from 90 to 6 days in advance (beginning 1/1/06, you can reserve 190 to 3 days in advance), and full payment for each experience is required 45 days prior to arrival. May be cancelled up to 6 days prior to first Grand Gathering Experience without penalty. Pricing includes gratuities/service charge(s). For 2006, you can use dining plan credits from the Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining for the three Grand Gatherings experiences that include a meal (International Dinner and IllumiNations Dessert Party, Safari Celebration Dinner and Good Morning Gathering): each experience requires 2 table service options per person. If you are on the Magic Your Way Premium or Magic Your Way Platinum package, the Grand Gatherings experiences will "cost" only one table service option per person. There are also custom events that can be arranged for your group's special needs, including dinner parties, behind-the-scenes tours, group photographs, spa experiences and golf. Interested in organizing a Grand Gathering? Here are four steps to follow when planning your group: Invite your friends and family to join you on vacation. You may want to read my page on organizing a reunion at Walt Disney World . Decide on the best time for your group to go. Consider family celebrations, holidays or special events that are going on at Walt Disney World. If your dates are somewhat flexible, try to go in the off-season. For more advice on when to go, click here . Choose your resort hotel. In order to qualify for a Grand Gathering, at least 80% of your group must be staying on Disney property. Guests not staying on property or at a Good Neighbor Hotel cannot participate in Grand Gathering events. You can select one resort or several to suit the individual needs of your group, and you can book the rooms as part of a package or as "room only" reservations. Use a travel agent. By using a travel agent who specializes in Disney , you can make the most of your money and time, allowing them to coordinate everything for your group. They can also do additional research and bookings for you. Trip Insurance It is especially important to buy trip insurance for a vacation package , because you have to pay the entire cost in advance and you won't get a refund if you have to cancel right before your scheduled departure. With hundreds or even thousands of dollars at stake, it's worth it to protect the investment. As events in 2004 proved, it's super-important to buy insurance if you will be visiting Walt Disney World on a package vacation during peak hurricane season (roughly the months of August and September). While Disney World weathered the 2004 hurricanes very well, guests were stuck in their rooms for up to 36 hours and many had major travel problems because airports were closed. While Disney did waive "no-show" fees for a few dates, those whose trips began before the specified dates (but whose travel plans overlapped with the hurricane) or just afterward were out of luck. Many people had similar problems with their airfares. The airlines allowed highly restrictive changes for certain dates without extra fees, but many of those who had to reschedule could not work within the airlines' narrow rules and just had to suck up the extra cost. Perhaps the most important coverage included in a trip insurance policy is trip cancellation and interruption insurance , which can protect your investment if you have to cancel your vacation at the last minute (or come home early) due to illness or injury. Depending on the policy, you may be covered if you cancel for other reasons, such as jury duty, terrorism at your destination, or even unemployment. Emergency medical coverage and medical evacuation insurance are very important if you become ill or injured during the trip. Otherwise you're on your own as far as booking very expensive last-minute airfare to get home. And if you're too ill to travel by commercial jet, you may have to pay for treatment in Florida (which your personal insurance may or may not cover) or for evacuation on a medically-equipped jet, which is incredibly expensive. Delayed baggage insurance will help you pay for replacement clothing if the airline sends your suitcase to Timbuktu and you need something to wear in the meantime. Supplemental baggage insurance will pay a predetermined amount if an airline loses your luggage completely. (Some higher-end credit cards provide extra baggage insurance, so check with your card issuer before paying extra for this coverage.) Disney sells trip insurance (which is provided by Access America), but it's expensive and it has major exclusions. For instance, it does not cover pre-existing medical conditions, most airline delays, terrorism or unemployment -- but there are many policies available from other companies that will cover these things. You can almost always get better insurance than Disney provides, and at better rates, by buying it elsewhere. Be aware that in most cases, trip insurance will provide slightly less coverage (usually by adding exclusions on pre-existing conditions) unless you buy it within about 14 days of paying your DEPOSIT on the vacation package. So be sure to purchase it right away, once you've committed to the trip. A great place to comparison-shop for trip insurance is InsureMyTrip.com , where you can see side-by-side policy information and rates for major, reputable insurance companies. I used InsureMyTrip.com myself to buy trip insurance. I saved about $25 and got much more comprehensive coverage than Disney's policy would have provided. Package Promotions with Small World Vacations I've been working with Sue Pisaturo at Small World Vacations to develop some nice package promotions that will add extra value to your vacation. Watch this space for information! Discounted Packages Through Expedia When discounted packages are offered, the same vacation package discounts that are offered through other travel agencies (and directly by Disney) are usually also available online through Expedia . The discounted rates are listed as "promotional rates" or are given special names such as "Magical Fall Rates." Be aware that Expedia makes it look as if you can book "room only" reservations at these special rates, but you really can't. Later in the ordering process you are forced to add on theme park tickets, which makes the purchase into a vacation package. Generally speaking you're better off to book the corresponding discounted package through a travel agent, because Expedia has rules and requirements that can be confusing, plus Expedia charges fees. In general Expedia is not very forgiving about changes and cancellations, and may charge significant fees for such changes. If you decide to use Expedia , be sure to read all the small print very carefully, and click on any "terms and conditions" links and read those carefully. Hints for best Expedia search results: Click on the bubble next to Orlando and enter your dates, number of rooms, and number of people traveling. On the next page, go over to the left panel and type DISNEY'S (or the name of a specific hotel, such as Contemporary) in the hotel name field, then search again. This will narrow the search so that you don't get pages and pages of results. Florida Resident Packages No current offers. Canadian Packages No current offers. Back to the home page Back to top Content of MouseSavers.com is © Mary Waring & MouseSavers 2001-2005. No part of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.
Argentina Travel
An MBendi Travel Profile: Argentina - Travel Advertise on MBendi Travel Search our directories for: - Accommodation - Airlines - Airports - Attractions - Car Rentals - Countries - Embassies - Event Venues - Events - Health Centres - Hotel Groups - Places - Publications - Restaurants - Tourist Bureaux - Travel Companies - Travel Specials - Travel Tips Tell us about your favourite: - Accommodation - Attraction - Event Venue - Restaurant - Travel Tips More ... - MBendi Travel - MBendi Business - About MBendi - Contact us Argentina - Travel General Information Places to Visit Travel Facilities MBendi Travel Directories Note to Travel Organisations More For This Country: - Tourism Industry ______________________________ Regions: ------------------------------------------ Country List ------------------------------------------ World Africa Antarctica Asia Australasia Europe North America South America ______________________________ General Information Time Zone: GMT-2h00 ISO Code: AR Dialing Code: +54 Continent: South America Places to Visit Bariloche , Cordoba , Buenos Aires :[ View All ] Travel Facilities Attractions (2) : Bariloche , Iguassu Falls Event Venues : La Rural Convention & Exhibition Center Transport : Buenos Aires Port MBendi Travel Directories The MBendi Travel website provides some of the most comprehensive information on African travel and tourism anywhere on the Internet. With your help, we would also like to make it one of the best sources of information on travel to Argentina ! MBendi Travel's directory of Tourist Attractions includes places to visit on each continent. If you find we've missed one of your own personal favourites, you can record the details on our website so others can share your pleasure. You can even E-mail us some of your holiday photographs , the best of which we will display on our website, with your ownership clearly attributed, or share your experiences of visiting some special spot by adding a glowing description through our website. While we provide information on somewhere to stay in every African country we are keen to know about similar places in Argentina and you can help other travellers by recording those details on our website. You can also give your favourite restaurants, at home or abroad, some free publicity by recording their details on our website. But first search the Accommodation or Restaurants directory to make sure some other fan has not already listed your special favourites. We also provide a Directory of Places so that you can see information you need tourist- or business-wise related a specific city, town or village. Again you can expect this directory of places to grow as new information is added to our other directories. You can use MBendi's directory of Event Venues to find the ideal place for your conference or exhibition, large or small, while MBendi's directory of Events provides one of the most comprehensive lists of public conferences and events anywhere on the Internet. If you are the manager of a venue or the organiser of a public event which is not recorded in our directories, then please submit their details via our website after first checking to ensure they are not already there. If you're an experienced traveller, you might like to use MBendi's Travel Tips section to share your special lore, while if you're a novice traveller, you could use MBendi's directory of Travel Organisations to find everything from tourist bureaux to event organisers ready to assist. In our directory of Publications , we are also compiling details of travel guides and other publications. If you're planning to visit Argentina on business, we also encourage you to refer to MBendi's business and industry profiles for Argentina. Note to Travel Organisations Travel organisations are particularly encouraged to ensure the MBendi Travel directories are comprehensive, current and correct as your businesses can only prosper from an increase in tourist numbers. MBendi's Business Opportunities section has details of leisure properties for sale, while the Employment Space includes job vacancies in the industry. Map of Argentina Iguazu Falls Tango in La Boca, Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Information Source: MBendi - Modified: 08.Mar.2004 [ Home Page ] [ About MBendi ] [ Contact MBendi ] [ Policy ] [ Legal Disclaimer ] Users of the MBendi Travel website are assumed to have read and agreed to our terms and conditions © 1995-2005 , MBendi and its associated information providers