Golf Vacation

Madden’s Brainerd Minnesota Vacation Hotel Golf Resort Golf Outings Lodging Activities Dining Meetings Get-Aways Madden's On Gull Lake... a 'Classic' Brainerd Minnesota Resort Where memories are made Located on over 1000 acres spanning miles of Gull Lake shoreline, you'll find a unique blend of quaintly picturesque or luxuriously contemporary accommodations, unrivaled recreation and excellent dining. Madden's on Gull Lake has been helping guests create memories for over 76 years. Madden's offers more recreational offerings than any resort in the Midwest. Spend your vacation on the water, fishing with Walleye Dan , boating, enjoying our Waterski School , swimming or relaxing at our sand beaches or swimming pools. Our Tennis & Croquet Club is home to five tennis courts, bentgrass croquet and lawnbowling lawns, shuffleboard, horseshoes, volleyball, badminton, basketball, and mountain bikes and our newest amenity, The Panache Spa at Madden's . The perfect choice for your Minnesota golf resort experience, Madden's is the Midwest's undisputed leader in the golf resort industry. With 63 holes of golf, from the historic Pine Beach East and West courses, to The Classic at Madden's , the crown jewel of Minnesota golf courses , to our par 3 Social 9, you'll find something for everyone's skill level. continue Visit Brainerd Lakes Vacationland New Year's Eve Wine Dinner New Year's Eve Wine Dinner at The Classic Grill. Join us for this fabulous six-course dinner. Call for reservations, 800/642-5363. The Classic Grill Winter Hours The Classic Grill is open for winter dining Wednesday-Saturdays, 5-9 pm, featuring a theme menu each week, along with our regular menu. We also ... ZAGAT Award The Classic at Madden's was recently included in Zagat Survey's 2006-07 Guide for America's Top Golf Courses. The Classic was rated as 'exceptiona... Gift Cards Purchase your Christmas gifts early! A Gift Card from Madden's is always perfect for anyone on your list. You may buy on-line on ... The Classic Ranks in the Top 50 of America's Greatest! The Classic at Madden's ranked in Golf Digest's Top 50 of America's Greatest Public Courses for 2005-06 The Panache Spa at Madden's Be sure to schedule a massage, manicure, pedicure or facial in the Panache Spa at Madden's during your visit to Madden's! MADDENS CLOTHING ON SALE PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY! Madden's Clothing is now 20% off on our secure website! Shop this great sale today and receive in time ... Wina One Night Deluxe Package Click Here to Sign Up Our site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, using the Macromedia Flash plugin. Click an Icon to download the Free Software. Click Here to Sign Up Hot Deals 11266 Pine Beach Peninsula ~ Brainerd, MN 56401 ~ 800-642-5363 This site is designed and maintained by Legendary Marketing

Switzerland Travel Community? Join

Switzerland Travel Community: Free Travel Reviews, Journals, Photos, and Special Deals Home Browse: -- ---Destination--- Adelboden Airolo Aletsch Andermatt Anzre Appenzellerland Arosa Ascona Bad Ragaz Baden Basel Belinzona Bern Berner Oberland Bettmeralp Biel Braunwald Brienz-Meiringen Brig Brissago Celerina Centovalli Charmey Chteau-d'Oex Chur Crans-Montana Davos Disentis-Sedrun Einsiendeln Emmental Engelberg Estavayer-le-Lac Flims Laax Falera Fribourg Geneva Gimmelwald Glarus Grchen Grindelwald Gruyres Gstaad Interlaken Jungfrau Region Kandersteg Klosters La Chaux-de-Fonds Lago Maggiore Lausanne Lauterbrunnen Lenzerheide-Valbella Les Diablerets Leuk Leukerbaad Leysin Liestal Locarno Ltschberg Lucerne Lugano Martigny Mendrisio Montreux Morges Mount Pilatus Mt. Rigi Murren Murten Nendaz Neuchatel Nyon Pays du Grand-St-Bernard Pontresina Rapperswil Rheinfelden Riederalp Romont Saanen Saas-Fee Sainte-Croix Samedan Samnaun San Bernardino Sntis Savognin Schaffhausen Schwyz Scuol Sierre Sils-maria Silvaplana Sion Soglio Solothurn Splgen St. Gallen St. Moritz Thun Thurgau Thusis Ticino Toggenburg Torgon Vaduz Val de Illiez Verbier Villars Visp Region Weggis Wengen Winterthur Yverdon Zermatt Zug Zurich ---Region--- Basel Bernese Oberland Central Switzerland Eastern Switzerland/Liechtenstein Fribourg Geneva Graubnden Lake Geneva (Vaud) Neuchtel / Jura / Jura Bernois Schweizer Mittelland Ticino Valais Zurich Switzerland Game Log in Email Address: Password: Remember Me Problems logging in? Not a Member? What is the Switzerland Travel Community? Join the community to discover Switzerland through firsthand travel reviews and photos, to meet other Swiss travelers, earn valuable rewards, and much more! Welcome! With its unparalleled mix of pristine scenery and rich culture, Switzerland offers visitors a wealth of exciting possibilities, whether it's skiing the Alps, soaking in Zurich's vibrant arts scene, or relaxing in Geneva's unique lakeside setting. Now, the Switzerland Travel Community lets you share the experiences you've had in this magnificent country, and read about what others have to say, too! Destination: Visp Region An incredibly diverse holiday region known as "the pocket version of the Valais," the area around Visp offers wonderful holiday opportunities in 24 original Valais villages, plus five ski areas. Some of them are in the mountains, some in the valley, but all of them will charm you with their… read more Read Visp Region reviews See Visp Region photos Swiss Regions Basel -- Bernese Oberland -- Central Switzerland -- Eastern Switzerland/Liechtenstein -- Fribourg -- Geneva -- Graubnden -- Lake Geneva (Vaud) -- Neuchtel / Jura / Jura Bernois -- Schweizer Mittelland -- Ticino -- Valais -- Zurich -- Sign Up Now! Write your own travel reviews Share your travel photos Send messages to other members Earn rewards with GO Points And much more! Join the Switzerland Travel Community What's a Travel Journal? Travel journals are a collection of reviews and photos about any Swiss destination. In a journal about Zurich, for instance, you'll find individual reviews for restaurants, attractions, activities, accommodations, and more. Featured Member Member Ozzy-Dave writes: "Northern Switzerland may face-off with France and Germany but pays scan..." read more Community Interlaken Members Who Live in Interlaken 1AAA RalphVSr paradisewhydah chrigu Swizzly See All Members With Interlaken Journals Haifa jemery Calypso dfrb Rainy Interlaken Photos See All Most Recent Interlaken Journals 1 Week in Interlaken Interlaken Trip Interlaken - Alps Country! Switzerland takes your breath away The Bernese Oberland - Switzerland See All Return to Home Information about Swiss Quality Switzerland Tourism : About Us : Privacy Statement

Spain Travel Guide @

Spain Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org Car Hire Cruises Flights Hotels Tours Vacations About Travel Notes™ Destinations Budget Travel Feedback Search Travel Forums Travel Writers Africa Asia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America Oceania Spain Spain Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org Andalucia , Around Spain , Balearic Islands , Barcelona , Canary Islands , Costa Blanca , Costa Del Sol , Hotels in Spain , Ibiza , Madrid , Mallorca , Map of Spain , Spanish Culture , Spanish Fiestas , Spanish Language , Valencia , Y Viva Espaa . Round The World Flights - Free TravelNotes e-mail Flag of Spain It always seems there's a fiesta on, somewhere or other in Spain. As most of them are dedicated to one of the large list of Saints, mass usually precedes the processions and merriment. Local Currency Convert your currency into euro . Buy a Map of Spain Countries neighbouring Spain are: Gibraltar , Portugal , France and Andorra . Algeciras is also the sailing point for Morocco . National Anthem of Spain. Food Travel Fiction Health Kids Bios Humor Mags Software Gifts Tech Business Other Your Ad Here Travel Notes Mailing List News Headlines World News Directory of newspapers and news sources from around the world. Hotel City Search : Hotels in Spain Find and Book a Hotel in Spain Hotels in Spain by City : A Corua , Alicante , Barcelona , Benidorm , Bilbao , Cordoba , Granada , Ibiza , Lloret de Mar , Madrid , Mlaga , Marbella , Palma de Mallorca , Pamplona , Puerto de la Cruz , Salamanca , San Sebastin , Santiago de Compostela , Seville , Tarragona , Tossa de Mar , Valencia , Vigo , Zaragoza . Popular Regions in Spai n : Andalusia , Balearic Islands , Canary Islands , Costa Blanca y Costa Clida , Costa Brava , Costa de Almera y Tropical , Costa de la Luz , Costa del Azahar y Valencia , Costa del Sol , Costa Dorada , Gran Canaria , Ibiza , Lanzarote , Mallorca , Tenerife . Y Viva Espaa Spain has been a favourite playground of British, Dutch, and German tourists who escape the dreary climates of their own countries for some summer sun by the sea, with copious quantities of sex, and sangria stirred in for good measure. Quite a cocktail for the 18-30 crowd. For the culturally inclined there is plenty of that too. Hemingway made bullfighting popular in America literature, but these are all clichs. Of course you'll want to have paella on the coast, and Spain wouldn't be the same without a little flamenco dancing and intricate guitar. After a few days, you'll even be an expert on the castanets yourself. Several regions in Spain have kept a separate identity, culturally and linguistically. These include the Basques around the Bay of Biscay; the Galicians in north-western Spain; and the Catalans of north-eastern Spain. The nomadic Spanish Gypsies, Gitanos, are a separate ethnic group. Spanish Culture The Roman Catholic religion has played an important part in Spanish life and culture. Spanish painters have contributed greatly to the global work on display in museums around the world. Among the most famous are El Greco, Diego Velzquez, Francisco Goya, Salvador Dal, and the prolific Pablo Picasso. Visit the Prado, in Madrid, for works by El Greco, Velzquez, Bartolom Estban Murillo, Goya, Botticelli, Titian, and Rembrandt. The National Museum of Modern Art, also in Madrid, concentrates on Spanish painting after 1800. And of course the new Guggenheim Museum opened in Bilbao on October 18th, 1997. There are 19 galleries in the building; considered something of a work of art in itself. Madrid Madrid : The capital of Spain lies in the middle of the Castillian plain, 646 metres above sea level. Madrid Airport : Transportation to and from Madrid/Barajas airport and other useful information about the terminal itself. Walks of Madrid : If you're looking for a long night of adventure in the capital of Spain this original tour premise will help you and your friends party in places that are hard to find, or difficult to get into, even for Madrileos themselves. Barcelona In Barcelona , the official languages are Catalan and Castilian with Catalan written, read and spoken by the majority of Barcelona's population. Barcelona : Barcelona is Spain's second largest city, and the capital of the Catalonian Region. Barcelona City Council : Visit Barcelona City Council's tourism section for a presentation of the city and essential tourist information for visitors to Barcelona. Getting Around Barcelona Barcelona's main train station is called Estacio-Sants. Barcelona City Map : This interactive map of Barcelona helps locate streets and places of interest around the city. The information database is only available in Catalan though. Barcelona -- Public Transportation : How to move around Barcelona by public transport and suggested tourist routes to take in major sights. Dictionary of Barcelona Street Names : (With Maps) These are names which not only guide us through the city but which also have gathered many memories which reflect a good part of our history. To delve into the memories of a city leads to a greater affinity with it, as much for those who live in it as for those who visit, virtually or not. Las Golondrinas : Take a boat trip around the port and coastal area of Barcelona and see the city from another angle. Barcelona Attractions Barcelona Aquarium : Barcelona's Oceanarium is a synthesis of the Mediterranean sea. Despite being regarded as a poor ocean due to its lack of nutrients (oligotrophy), the Mediterranean harbours a wide range of ecosystems and species. Get up close to sharks, rays and sunfish, with over four million of litres of sea water over your head. Buses : 14, 17, 19, 36, 38, 40, 45, 57, 59, 64, 91, 100. Metro : L3 Drassanes station and L4 Barceloneta station. Barcelona Experience : Offers tailor-made personal Barcelona tours and city breaks by people actually living in Barcelona. Barcelona Nightlife Guide : There's so much to do in Barcelona at night, there's a whole website dedicated to what to do and where to go when the sun goes down. Barcelona Tour Guides : Local regulations require a licence to practise as a tour guide in Barcelona. Only licensed guides may guide you openly at the sights and places of interest and even walk you past the waiting lines. Barcelona Zoo : Barcelona Zoo is set in a magnificent garden over 100 years old, covering 13 hectares of Ciutadella Park and containing a collection of some 7,500 individual animals belonging to more than 400 species from all over the world. Buses : 14, 39, 41, 42, 141. Metro : Barceloneta, Arc de Triomf, Ciutadells-Vila Olmpica. FC Barcelona : A visit to the Nou Camp is a must for football (soccer) fans visiting Barcelona. Fira de Barcelona : Full list of tourist fairs, salons and forthcoming shows and exhibitions taking place in Barcelona. Poble Espanyol : The Poble Espanyol offers visitors the chance to get to know all seventeen autonomous communities of Spain through handicraft markets, cultural displays, samples of food and folk shows. Barcelona Culture Gaudi and Barcelona : A place for people who love art, architecture, Barcelona, Spain, and the work of Catalan architect, Antonio Gaudi. Accommodation in Barcelona Barcelona Hostels : Budget accommodation in Barcelona. Barcelona Hotel Guide : Hotels in Barcelona to suit your budget. Barcelona Apartments For longer stays in Barcelona you may consider renting an apartment. They can often work out cheaper than hotels, especially if there are three of four of you in the apartment. Apartment Passeo de Gracia : Charming apartment situated in the very centre of Barcelona, on the intersection of the two main city's avenues. Passeo de Gracia is the city's most beautiful street, and Diagonal is its longest one. Price : Around €700 a week. Apartment Vila Olympica : Luxurious apartment situated in Vila Olympica, one of the most prestigious parts of the city centre -- 2 minutes walk from the beach. Safe neighbourhood with shopping and recreation centres, restaurants, cinemas, walking and hiking paths. Metro and bus station close by. Price : Around €1,000 a week. Barcelona Rentals : Barcelona apartments for rent on a daily or weekly basis. Happy Apartments Barcelona : If you're looking for cheap accommodation in a great location, try this selection of self-catering, holiday apartments - very near to places of tourist interest in Barcelona and ideal for big groups and family travel. Valencia Valencia is Spain's third largest city; a city of some three hundred bell towers, medieval cathedral and former palaces. According to legend, the Holy Grail is the chalice from which Jesus drank during the Last Supper and is presently kept in Valencia's Cathedral. Valencia's Holy Grail, one of a dozen claimed to be the original, was used by Pope John Paul II during the 1992 Papal visit to Valencia. Just 350km from the two most important Spanish cities, Madrid and Barcelona, Valencia is easily accessible from either of them... or you could base yourself at the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coast, opposite the Balearic Islands, and easily travel to both of them. Turis Valencia : The Valencia Visitors and Conventions Bureau. Valencia 2007 : Valencia hosts the America's Cup in 2007, making the Spanish port the first European venue since 1851 to stage sailing's oldest tournament. Valencia Online : Packed with useful tourist information to help travellers get the most out of their visit to Valencia. Valencian Institute of Modern Art : Attached to the Council of Culture, Education and Sport of the Regional Government of Valencia, the IVAM presents over 25 exhibitions a year, in the Centre Julio Gonzlez and the Sala de la Muralla. Walks in Spain : Travel to Valencia for a relaxing walking holiday. Each walk captures the essence of this varied part of Spain. Getting Around Valencia Metro Valencia : View the metro map of Valencia or plan the shortest route to your destination. Andalucia Andalucia , especially the coast area of Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz is a beautiful region for golf. Andalucia has lots of historical places to visit like the Alhambra in Granada, or Cordoba and Seville. Tarifa is the best region for wind and kite surfing. Endless routes for mountain bikers and many other great possibilities. Sent in by : Costa Holidays Costa Holidays : Rent your Holiday Rentals in Andalucia by the owner directly and enjoy your Holidays in this beautiful southern part of Spain. Finca el Moro : Unique riding and walking holidays in rural Andalucia. Seville All Seville : Directory of information related to Seville. Seville : Expo 92 reinforced the image of Seville as a modern and dynamic city, but it has always been one of my favourite locations in Spain. There's something special about the Moorish influences in this city. Around Spain Bilbao : The Basque region has plenty of surprises. Canary Guide : Comprehensive guide to the seven Canary Islands: El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, Lanzarote and Tenerife. Caos de Meca : Located on the Southern coast of Spain, near the straight of Gibraltar. Close to the towns of Barbate and Zahara de los Atunes, the charm and magic of Los Caos is mostly concentrated in the area around the lighthouse and the cape of Trafalgar. Galicia : The tourist guide of Galicia is mainly in Spanish, though it does have some English sections. Malaga Web : Between the sea and the sierra, this part of Eastern Andalucia is well visited by tourists to the beaches of the Costa del Sol. Palma : They call Mallorca the Island of tranquillity; or isle of light and beauty. I guess the lights are from the discos, and the beauty the half naked girls. Anyway, outside of rave season the island does get some of it's tranquillity back. Pamplona : There is more to Pamplona than the running of the bulls. Located on the fertile plain of the river Arga, Pamplona is a city full of history and deep-rooted traditions. The streets and squares of its historic quarter still preserve a significant collection of monumental buildings dominated by its churches and medieval walls. The Pilgrim's Way : Follow the most popular routes used to travel to the holy place of Compostela, and the history behind its significance. Costa Del Sol Estepona : Estepona, western Andalusia, lies in the SW. of the province of Mlaga; on the shores of the Mediterranean. Festivals in Estepona : In Andalusia the "fiesta" forms an important part of one of its most deeply entrenched expressions, and nowhere is this more so than in Estepona. Eating out in Esteopna : Restaurants in and around Estepona. Marbella : Marbella has 27km of coastline divided into 24 beaches. Brunos Car Rental : 24 hrs free service Malaga and Gibraltar airports. Neptuno Car Hire : A variety of cars to choose from if you're holidaying in or around Alicante. Costa Blanca Alicante Tourism : The official site of the Alicante Municipal Tourism Board. Costa Blanca Tourism : The Provincial Tourist Board of the Costa Blanca is an autonomous organisation, part of the Alicante Provincial Council. Balearic Islands The main islands are Mallorca and Ibiza but the smaller Menorca and Formentera shouldn't be overlooked if you want something a little quieter. Menorca Attractions Menorca is a vast open-air museum with a wealth of diverse historical monuments. Of particular note are the Paleo-Christian basilicas and monuments from the Talayotic culture. Formentera Attractions Crystal clear waters and fine sands blend in with an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquillity to make a visit to Formentera an attractive option to get away from it all. Ibiza Ibiza is now world famous. What many don't know, is that beyond the glittering club scene and the never-ending parties, there is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean just waiting to be discovered. Our tip is to hire a car, arm yourself with a detailed island map, brush up on a few Spanish phrases and go out exploring! There is a great deal more to Ibiza than just what you have seen on the television. Sent in by : Ibiza Spotlight . Ibiza Beaches : If you've spent all night in the Ibiza clubs, these are some of the beaches you might want to chill out on in the late afternoon. Ibiza Restaurants : This is the very first comprehensive Internet guide to the best restaurants on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza. Ibiza Spotlight : Colourful and informative guide to holidays on Ibiza -- in English, German and Spanish. Where to Stay in Ibiza Ibiza Accommodation : A small selection of places to stay around Ibiza. Ibiza Hotels : Listing hotels around Ibiza, with links to individual websites. Ibiza With Spirit : Find out the kind of accommodation you are looking for, the people you would like to meet, the things you may like to do. Then, when you come, wherever you come from, you will land as if you had lived there before. Miscellaneous Ibiza Ibiza in Pictures : Norbert is a German who has visited Ibiza at least 20 times and has a large gallery of nightlife pictures as well as information about the island, its beaches and club scene. Ibiza Nautica : Marine directory for Ibiza and Formentera. Mallorca Eating out in Mallorca can often be a frustrating experience. While there are many fine restaurants that provide traditional style Mallorcan food, there are also many tourist traps. CosyToes Babysitting Services : If you're enjoying the sun with the children and want to enjoy the nightlife in Mallorca without them, this company provides uniformed nannies to keep an eye on the kids until you return. Info Mallorca : An initiative by the Mallorca Island Council and Local Information Technology Consortium of Mallorca to offer a cultural, procedural and tourist agenda for all Mallorca's institutions to visitors. Magalluf and Palma Nova : Magalluf and Palma Nova are two bustling resorts offering a wide choice of activities for holidaymakers of all ages ... it isn't just for the young as many people believe. Mallorca For Brits : For over 30 years Majorca has been the most popular holiday destination in the Mediterranean for the British tourist. A combination of both outstanding natural beauty and professional tourist care will ensure that it's popularity will continue well into the future. Mallorca Web : Mallorca's search engine with Mallorca news, web directory, Mallorca map, diary of exhibitions, forum, postcards, hotels, apartments, bars and restaurants. Santa Ponsa : Santa Ponsa, on the south-west coast of Mallorca, is a thriving and busy holiday resort. This site is dedicated exclusively to the resort. Accommodation in Mallorca Posada de Lluc : Originally a retreat for monks and their students, who went there to rest after visiting the monastery at Lluc, this medieval town house - offering eight different bedrooms and a pleasant garden with swimming pool - was transformed into a quality hotel in 2002. Located in Pollena; in the north east of Mallorca, 52 km from Palma. Canary Islands Lanzarote Csar Manrique -- A Man And His Island : Eric Gray looks at the life of Lanzarote's renowned painter, sculptor, architect, landscape artist, urban designer and campaigning environmentalist. Lanzarote Island : Lanzarote is the most eastern island of the Canarian archipelago, north of Fuerteventura and some 125km away from the African coast. Playa Blanca : A 9km bay, on the southern part of Lanzarote, shelters three bays which in turn contain smaller bays. Together, they stretch from the lighthouse at Pechiguera Point in the west to Papagayo Point in the east. Tenerife Tenerife Sun : Located off the north coast of Africa, Tenerife is a sub-tropical paradise that offers something for everyone. To the south of the island the ever popular resorts of Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos are basked in year round sunshine, whilst the north of the island is a lush green tropical paradise of banana plantations, palm trees and flowers. Spanish Fiestas Si Spain : Check out the Fiestas when you travel to Spain, and much more. Very few people know that the most crazy street party in Madrid takes place on the 14th and 15th of August. It is "La Virgen de la Paloma" and the centre can be found at El Almendro St. Sent in by : Walks of Madrid . Spanish Language Language Schools : If you want to learn Spanish in Spain, or Latin America , then this directory might be of help. Learning Spanish : This free online tutorial includes written and oral exercises in some 50 separate topics. Europe Travel Forum : From Albania to Vatican City, Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, Europe is culturally eclectic and full of lavish history. Join us in the travel forums if you have a question about Europe or would like to share your experiences about travelling or living in Europe. The Internet TravelNotes.org Exploring Spain Flight Tickets : Save money on Round The World flight tickets. Travel News : Get the inside scoop with the latest travel features and tips. Past Articles . Airlines & Airports : This travel article points you to airlines and the three letter airport codes with links to their websites. Cyber Cafes : The Internet Caf Guide. Budget Hotels and Hostels in Spain Weather Outlook Car Hire Cruises Flights Hostels Tours Vacations Destinations Budget Travel Feedback Meta-Travel Travel Forums Travel Writers Africa Asia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America Oceania Travel Directory : Europe : Spain Travel Guide -- Submit to Travel Notes | Advertise on TravelNotes.org | Favourite Destinations | Magun'sCompass | Travel Articles | Writers | | Airlines | Airports | Car Hire | Cruises | Flights | Hotels | Online Reservations | Vacation Rentals | | Casinos | Olympics | World Cup | General Disclaimer | Meta-Travel | Search Resources | | TravelNotes is a Trademark of TravelNotes.org | Travel Notes Blog | Add URL | Add to Favorites The URL for this page is: http://www.travelnotes.org/Europe/spain.htm

Russia Travel Resources >

Russia Travel Guide - Money Matters  You are here: About > Travel > Eastern Europe for Visitors > Russia-Belarus-Ukraine > Russia Travel Resources > Travel Essentials - Russia > Russia Travel Guide - Money Matters Travel Go Eastern Europe Essentials Best of Eastern Europe Map of Central/Eastern Europe Photo Gallery Country Profiles Discount Travel Websites Articles & Resources Planning Your Trip Ways to Travel What to Do in East Europe Maps for Eastern Europe Czech-SlovakTravel Hungary Travel Poland Travel Russia-Belarus-Ukraine Romania-Moldova Travel Baltic Travel Balkan Travel Culture and Holidays Photo Galleries East Europe Travel and Language Books Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Eastern Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Eastern Europe for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Most Popular First Christmas Tree Europe map Best of Eastern Europe Croatia Naturism and Nudism Discount Travel Websites What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings Related Topics Hotels / Resorts / Inns European History Architecture Air Travel Europe for Visitors Money Matters From Apply Now , Your Guide to Eastern Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Russia Travel Guide Like everywhere else you travel, you'll need money when you visit Russia. Below you'll find handy information about money in Russia, including cash, credit cards, travelers checks, exchange rates, ATMs, and banks. Currency The currency in Russia is the ruble (RUR). One ruble equals 100 kopeks. Banknotes have a value of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rubles. Coins are found in 1, 5, 10 and 50 kopek pieces and 1, 2 and 5 ruble coins. Only notes and coins dated 1997 or after are valid. Taking Money with You If your travel plans are just to the larger cities of European Russia, it's best to bring a mixture of cash, travelers checks, and credit cards. You should bring just $100-200 per person. Travelers checks, which are safe because if lost or stolen can be replaced, can't normally be used to pay for goods or services but can be used to get cash when you need it. If you travel outside of larger cities in European Russia, expect to use cash only. Exchanging Money Check the latest conversion rates before you go. Don't change money on the street as there is no need and the risks are too great. Change money in a bank or currency exchange office, or use an ATM machine. The problem with ATMs is that there are now scams where account and PIN numbers are electronically stolen. Therefore, it might be safer to use an ATM machine inside a bank. Currency exchange offices are "obmyen balooti," and they usually advertise their rates in their windows. There are plenty of them in the big cities and their rates tend to be better than in banks. Credit Cards MasterCard and Visa credit cards are generally accepted at hotels, restaurants and many shops in larger cities. In the hinterlands, you'll have to rely more on cash. Travelers Checks American Express and Thomas Cook travelers checks are the most widely accepted, and there are offices in major cities where you can exchange them for cash. Banks Banking hours are generally Mon–Sat 10:00 am to 6:00 or 8:00 pm. Many banks offer Western Union money transfer services. Costs Moscow can be expensive for tourists, especially for hotels and upscale restaurnats, and costs can be twice that of St. Petersburg. Outside these two cities, costs are considerably lower. Depending on the level of luxury you require, however, budget travelers can still find reasonable costs in Russia's larger cities, whether for accommodations or meals. Other costs, such as certain groceries and public transportation, are very cheap. Russia Travel Guide Index Profile of Russia City Profile: Moscow City Profile: St. Petersburg Before You Go Need to Know Money Matters Intercity Travel City Transit Driving Health and Safety Lodging Dining and Drinking Communications Shopping        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings

Taiwan Travel

Andrew and Mei's Taiwan Travel Blog Andrew and Mei's Taiwan Travel Blog Andrew and Mei are in Taiwan teaching English and exploring the island! What fun adventures will they have? Find out here! Monday, October 31, 2005 Asia pictures Hello everyone! I finally finished uploading the 293 photos that are in this album. Again, you'll have to log into Snapfish in order to see the photos. Enjoy! http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=547311130794745666/l=65291688/cobrandOid=1000321/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB posted by Mei @ 17:06 0 comments Thursday, October 27, 2005 First Trickle of Photos... You have to have a snapfish account in order to view the photos. Sorry about the catch (No pun intended)! But it's free and I will be uploading all of my pics onto Snapfish. I'm not sure how Andrew will upload his pics. http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=192271130458320686/l=64809203/cobrandOid=1000321/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB posted by Mei @ 17:18 0 comments Friday, October 21, 2005 What? Who? Where? Luckily, my jet lag has been minimal, so I can discern easily whether that ("What? Who? Where?") is coming from the Nicholas Cage impersonation on SNL or from yours truly. I think that has something to do with the fact that on our last day in Thailand, we had to get up at around 4:30 AM and were only able to sleep minimaly for the next 36 hours. That led to an immediate crash upon coming home. However, I have been waking up at 8 AM (what the hell) and taking long, extended naps during the afternoon. So what now? Ideally, I'll be sitting on my ass for as long as possible. I DO have my movie collection I hope to watch. But in reality, for me now I have to a) find a job, b) find a car, and c) find a place to live. Not neccessarily in that order, either. I need to organize my pictures into a digestible format, but until I get my monitor back (currently on loan) that is an impossible task to do. Oh well, maybe it's for the best. I still need to FIND jobs, APPLY, finish my school apps, get a car, clean my room, organize the boxes that will be coming home, and last but not least, trying to figure out how I'll be seeing my friends. So what do I immediately notice about here compared to where I was? Driving to Wells Fargo, I was just amazed by how big our neighborhoods are. In cities in Taiwan, there are no neighborhoods and there are no noticable zoning regulations. It seems to be everywhere you go there are 4-5 story buildings, with the bottom floor being relegated for businesses and the top floors for people to live. Houses are minimal except in the 'country', and convenient stores are LITERALLY on every corner instead of on every commercial corner. Comparatively, the density of people here to there is non-existent. And it's cold here! Man. This is me, the guy who hates the heat, who withers and dies. But I must have gotten used to it, at least more so that previously, because I'm not enjoying the SJ autumn, I'm wearing jackets and pants constantly, and my hands are nearly frozen off (I have bad circulation in my hands). Well, this may be one my last postings on this blog, since it's not mine. Thanks so much to 6Q for letting us post on here and use this space. Maybe I'll make one of my own for my random thoughts and to provide therapy, if you're remotely interested just let me know. So concludes our trip: now, it's 'back to the real world.' Thanks for taking the time to read this, everyone! I hope I get a chance to see you all soon!! posted by Andrew @ 09:01 0 comments Tuesday, October 18, 2005 Home. Safe and Sound! Hello everyone! We are home, happy and healthy! Our plane was a little delayed and we had some trouble getting our bag (but at least they made it!) The end of our trip was nice, but we got rained on during our trip to see one of the smaller islands, and our canopy trekking was very quick but fun. When I get all of my pics uploaded, I will post a link for you guys to see our pics, and maybe Andrew will get his plethora of great shots uploaded as well. It's been a great ride, thanks for going along with us! posted by Mei @ 22:13 0 comments Saturday, October 15, 2005 Counting Down... Only a couple of days left in our trip! We're enjoying the last few days, doing things like relaxing on the beach and stocking up on last minute supplies. Huh? Supplies? Well, DVDs and PS2 games are extremely cheap here. (Of course they are burned.) The thing is, I don't know if the PS2 games (sorry, they're called DVD games) will work, but I am pretty sure that they will. But as games have gone from $4 to $2.50 to $2 as we have progressed around Thailand, you can imagine that I've been going a little crazy. Like a moth to a flame is a better description. Not as cheap as $0 for unlimited games like Todd can get, but hey, all the (PS2) games I can want for, what, $50? Not too shabby. Now I just hope they work. It's also ridiculous the number of DVD's I have bought here. After leaving America with *2* tapes, I'll return with an infinite number of movies. In fact, I think when I do get home, I'll need a couple of months to get all the games and movies out of my system. THEN maybe I'll start looking for a job. Haha. posted by Andrew @ 16:31 0 comments Friday, October 14, 2005 Koh Samui is a beautiful Island! Super quickly: Made it to Samui safe and sound, our bungalow is about a 15 sec walk to a very quiet, almost private beach. We've rented a jeep to see the island and it is absolutely gorgeous! We have plans to go sea kayaking, snorkeling, and "canopy climbing" which is apparently going through the trees on ropes, like rapelling, but you go horizontally through the air, instead of vertically down a cave or cliff. Yay! posted by Mei @ 17:15 0 comments Wednesday, October 12, 2005 "Bangkok is bitchin'" To quote Jerry, the guy who placed us at our jobs in Taipei, "Bangkok is bitchin'." Well, as it turns out, not really. If you recall, Jerry, the recruiter in Taiwan who placed us at our jobs, is a habitual liar. Some of his other comments include, "Your job isn't far from Neihu." (in fact, on the complete other SIDE of Taipei, a mere 1 1/2 hours away by bus and train), "Teachers have all the leverage.", "Schools have all the leverage.", etc. He has an insatiable thirst for lying. This isn't to say that we went to Bangkok because of what HE said, no, no no no. It's the capital of Thailand, of course we're going to stop by and say hello. However, bitchin' isn't the term I'd use to describe Bangkok. Big? Definitely. Boisterous? Sure. Belligerent? Yeah, you bet. But bitchin'? Eh... Bangkok isn't a bad place, but it is what most large Asian cities tend to be: big, unorganized (aka chaotic), polluted (nasty air and nasty stuff on the sidewalk), crowded, and, of course, there's bad traffic. What with 6 million people here, it's understandable that driving around is a lot like Office Space. But there is some of the stuff that we came here to see: the history, the temples, the art. Today, for instance, we headed down to the river and took a boat up to the Grand Palace and the Green Emerald Temple. The temple is remarkable: typical Thai style architecture ornately decorated. The temples are tall and have many spires seemingly reaching out toward heaven. Inside there is an actual Green Emerald Buddha, who interestingly enough changes clothes every season to reflect the current season (i.e. rainy, hot, cold). We then went to the adjacent Grand Palace, which is currently being rennovated (deja vu to Beijing). The King lived here, I believe, and performs some duties here still. Quite similar to the Buckingham Palace structurally (of course it does, all kings get big, luxurious buildings) but is more green and has elephants. Then we took a tuk-tuk to the National Museum. I think we described tuk-tuks, but if not, briefly they are three-wheeled motorcycle taxis (with a roof). Driver in front, two seats in the back. Perfect to inhale car/motorcycle exhaust, feel the full extent of potholes in the roads, and avoid getting ripped off in. Not my favorite. The National Museum is enormous and remarkably not crowded, considering how close it is to the main attraction in the area (Grand Palace and adjacent temple), which has throngs of people. The first building had the history of Thailand and its kings, and I was amazed by how often Thailand was at war for a Buddhist nation. However, it appears to be all or mostly all defensive in nature, so the museum says (nearly all by Myanmar (ex-Burma), those crazy war-hungry people!). But I am thankful that with the exception of some territorial concessions to France and Britin, Thailand was never colonized, and the evidence is in the language. While many people speak good English, the Thai language is predominant and never adopted roman letters. Instead, Thai characters are used. Anyway, from there, we explored other parts of the museum, including ceramics, ivory, old war weapons, gold figures, etc. It was massive. There was so much stuff. there were also massive chariots used for what seemed to be funeral processions. MASSIVE. I mean, we saw a video, and there were maybe 3000 people carrying the largest chariot ceremonially. To actually carry some of these massive contraptions, 56 people were needed. We are now at our guest house. An hour after we got in a massive afternoon storm came by; it was torrential, but it's eased off a bit now. Looking forward to getting to Ko Samui and relaxing, but I'm not too thrilled about the 4 AM wake up tomorrow! Ack! posted by Andrew @ 17:38 1 comments Contributors 6Q Mei Andrew End #profile -- Previous Posts Asia pictures First Trickle of Photos... What? Who? Where? Home. Safe and Sound! Counting Down... Koh Samui is a beautiful Island! "Bangkok is bitchin'" One night in Bangkok...Well, actually 3... I just ate delicious Thai food, cooked by ME! In Chiang Mai! This blog goes to the end of China, more later! Archives July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005