Japan Travel Guide Japan

Japan Travel Guide Japan Hotel Reservations - Hotels in Tokyo,Osaka,Sapporo,Fukuoka,Kyoto,Nagoya,Narita and Yogohama Online Reservations Japan Travel Guide Japan Travel Guide | Japan Attractions Guide | Japan Travel Basic | Japan City Map | Japan Food & Drink Japan Entertainment | Japan Festivals & Events | Japan Onsen | Shopping in Japan | Transportation in Japan Tokyo information | Kyoto Information Tokyo Hotels | Kyoto Hotels | Osaka Hotels | more Japan Hotels Introduction Open the world map and look at the extensive Asia/ Pacific region. Almost at the very center, you'll discover the Japanese archipelago stretching north to south along the eastern edge of the Asian continent. Japan has lured untold numbers of adventure since Marco Polo first introduced it to the world back in the 13th century as "Zipangu - the land of Gold." Though the Japan of today may not be a land of gold, the "NEO ZIPANGU" does possess powerful and magnet-like attractions: great culture variety, colorful and inspiring natural attractions beautifully interwoven by distinct for seasonal changees, not to mention the overflowing hospitality of its people. As such, Japan is vigrously gaining in popularity as a tourist destination that is easily accessible from any part of the world. A destination any on can enjoy on a resonable budget and with a sense of complete security. This is where the past literally greets the furture. This is where they both mingle. Japan has a long history of absorbing advance cultures from the Asian Continent from ancient times through the Middle Ages. Later it began to assimilate elements of western civilization from latter half of the 19th century. By selectively assimilating these many cultural influence, the country hassuccessfully added rich new dimensions and depth to its indigenous culture. This marvelous harmony between the refinement of things and concepts "Oriental" blended with the leading-edge technology and the often ultra-modern urban lifestyle you find in Japan today is truly proof of a long and eloquent history. Beautiful, relaxing, nostalgic, profound, fashionable, mouth-watering, exciting, succulent, historic, cultural, Just name it!, Japan, Japan! Which would you like to meet¥ Interwined with a genuine and heart-warming hospitality, Japan awaits you. Yes! Welcome to our Japan! Japan General Information Total Land Area: About 378,000 sq. km.., an archipelago of over 6,800 islands Population: 127 million Capitol: Tokyo, with a population of some 12 million Official Language: Japanese; English is taught in schools from the 7th grade on. Relogion: Shintoism and Buddhism are the two main religions. Climate: Generally mild, but since the nation stretches for some 3,000 km. from the north to south, the weather depends on where and when one travels. Seasonal Clothing (for Tokyo & Vicinity): Spring (Mar. - May.): lightweight jackets and sweaters Summer(Jun. - Aug.): light clothing, short sleeves Autumn (Sep. - Nov.): same as spring Winter (Dec. - Feb.): topcoats, wool suites and warm sweaters and jackets. National Holidays Date National Holiday: January 1 New Year's Day 2nd Monday of January Coming-of-age Day February 11 National Foundation Day March 20 (or 21) Vernal Equinox Day April 29 Greenery Day May 3 Constitution Memorial Day May 5 Children's Day 3rd Monday of July Maritime Day 3rd Monday of September Respect-for-the-aged Day September 23 (or 24) Autumnal Equinox Day 2nd Monday of October Health-Sports Day November 3 Culture Day November 23 Labor Thanksgiving Day December 23 The Emperor's Birthday When a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a holiday. When a weekday is sandwiched between national holidays (except Sundays and Mondays), it also becomes a holiday. This rule applies to the 4th of May. December 25 (Christmas) is not a national holiday in Japan. Government and other public offices as well as many companies are closed between December 29 and January 3. The above material are taken from All Travel Japan Tourism Our system will help you to find the best Japan discount hotels and Japan Information . Whether you are looking for hotels in major Japan cities such as Tokyo Hotels , Kyoto Hotels , Osaka Hotels , Fukuoka Hotels , Nagoya Hotels , Narita Hotels , Yokohama Hotels and Sapporo Hotels , there is a great selection from when to choose. Make your payment with our SSL security online payment . Welcome to Thailand Hotels & Resorts Online Reservation Service. You will find special Thailand Travel Hotels rate and Discount Packages throughout Thailand. Variety of destinations, hotels, resorts are waiting for you WE LOVE GOOGLE

vacation package FEATURED DESTINATION

Future Vacations - Vacation Package destinations Mexico All-inclusive Caribbean Hawaii Las Vegas Mountain Ski vacations family Orlando Florida Beach romantic European vacation package FEATURED DESTINATION VACATION DESTINATIONS Bermuda California Canada Caribbean Europe Florida Beaches Hawaii Las Vegas Latin America Mexico Orlando Other US Destinations Ski Universal Orlando Resort SAN JOSE Future Vacations provides a variety of air-inclusive and hotel-only tour packages to more than 120 of the world's most desirable vacation destinations, including the Bahamas, California, the Caribbean, Europe, Florida, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Mexico, and more. Click here to learn more about the advantages of booking with Future Vacations. Book your Vacation in 5 easy steps. Select your departing location (airport/city) followed by your destination. Enter the number of adult travelers, followed by the ages of up to four chidren (17 and under). Next enter the departing date. Leaving From: Abilene, TX Akron, OH [Canton] Albany, GA Albany, NY Albuquerque, NM Alexandria, LA Allentown, PA Altoona, PA Amarillo, TX Appleton, WI [Outagamie] Asheville, NC Athens, GA Atlanta, GA [Hartsfield] Atlantic City, NJ Augusta, GA [Bush] Augusta, ME Austin, TX Bakersfield, CA Baltimore, MD Bangor, ME Bar Harbor, ME Baton Rouge, LA Beaumont, TX Beckley, WV [Raleigh] Billings, MT [Logan] Binghamton, NY Birmingham, AL Bloomington, IL Bluefield, WV [Mercer] Boise, ID [Gowen] Boston, MA [Logan] Bozeman, MT [Gallatin] Bradford, PA [Bradford] Brownsville, TX Brunswick, GA [Glynco] Buffalo, NY Burbank, CA Burlington, IA Burlington, VT Butte, MT [Bert Mooney] Calgary, Canada Cape Girardeau, MO Carlsbad, CA Casper, WY [Natronay] Cedar City, UT Cedar Rapids, IA Champaign (Urbana), IL Charleston, SC Charleston, WV [Yeager] Charlotte, NC Charlottesville, VA Chattanooga, TN Chicago, IL [Midway] Chicago, IL [O'Hare] Cincinnati, OH Clarksburg, WV [Benedum] Cleveland, OH Cody, WY [Yellowstone] College Station, TX Colorado Springs, CO Columbia, MO Columbia, SC Columbus, GA Columbus, OH Columbus/West Point, MS Corpus Christi, TX Cumberland, MD Dallas, TX [Love] Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Dayton, OH [Cox] Daytona Beach, FL Decatur, IL Denver, CO Des Moines, IA Detroit, MI Dodge City, KS Dothan, AL Du Bois, PA Dubuque, IA [Dubuque] Duluth, MN Durango, CO El Centro/Imperial, CA El Paso, TX Elko, NV Elmira, NY Erie, PA [Erie Intl.] Eugene, OR [Mahlon] Evansville, IN Farmington, NM Fayetteville, AR Fayetteville, AR [Drake] Fayetteville, NC Flagstaff, AZ Flint, MI [Bishop] Florence, SC [Florence] Fort Huachuca, AZ Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Leonard Wood, MO Fort Myers, FL Fort Smith, AR Fort Walton Beach, FL Fort Wayne, IN Franklin, PA [Venango] Fredericton, Canada Fresno, CA Gainesville, FL Garden City, KS Grand Junction, CO Grand Rapids, MI [Kent] Great Bend, KS Great Falls, MT Green Bay, WI [Austin] Greenbrier, WV Greensboro, NC [Piedmont] Greenville, NC Groton, CT Gulfport/Biloxi, MS Gunnison, CO Hagerstown, MD Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax, Nova Scotia Harlingen, TX Harrisburg, PA Hartford, CT Hays, KS Helena, MT Hickory, NC Hilton Head Island, SC Houston, TX [Ellington] Houston, TX [Hobby] Houston, TX [Intercont.] Huntington, WV [Tri-State] Huntsville/Decatur, AL Hyannis, MA [Barnstable] Idaho Falls, ID [Fanning] Indianapolis, IN Inyokern, CA [Inyokern] Islip, NY [Mac Arthur] Ithaca, NY [Tompkins] Jackson, MS Jackson, WY Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville, NC [Ellis] Jamestown, NY Johnstown, PA Joplin, MO Kalamazoo, MI Kalispell, MT [Glacier] Kansas City, MO Key West, FL Killeen, Tx Kingman, AZ Knoxville, TN [McGhee] La Crosse, WI/Winona, MN Lafayette, LA Lake Charles, LA Lancaster, PA Lansing, MI Laredo, TX Las Vegas, NV Latrobe, PA Lawton, OK Lebanon, NH Lexington, KY [Blue Grass] Lincoln, NE Little Rock, AR [Adams] Long Beach, CA Longview, TX [Gregg] Los Angeles, CA [LAX] Louisville, KY [Standiford] Lubbock, TX Lynchburg, VA Macon, GA Madison, WI [Dane] Manchester, NH, USA Manhattan, KS Marathon, FL Marion, IL [Williamson] Marquette, MI Martha's Vineyard, MA Massena, NY McAllen, TX [Miller] Medford, Oregon Melbourne, FL Memphis, TN Meridian, MS [Key] Miami, FL Midland/Odessa, TX Milwaukee, WI [Mitchell] Minneapolis, MN [St. Paul] Missoula, MT Mobile, AL [Bates] Moline, IL [Quad] Monroe, LA Monterey, CA Montgomery, AL Montreal, Canada Montrose, CO Morgantown, WV Muskegon, MI Myrtle Beach, SC Nantucket, MA Naples, FL Nashville, TN Nassau, Bahamas New Bern, NC [Craven] New Haven, CT [Tweed] New Orleans, LA New York, NY [JFK] New York, NY [LGA] Newark, NJ [Newark] Newburgh, NY [Stewart] Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA Oakland, CA [Oakland] Ogdensburg, NY Oklahoma City, OK Omaha, NE [Eppley] Ontario, California Orange County, CA Orlando, FL Ottawa, Canada Owensboro, KY [Daviess] Oxnard, CA [Oxnard] Paducah, KY [Barkley] Page, AZ Palm Springs, CA Palmdale, CA [Palmdale] Panama City, FL Parkersburg, WV [Wood] Pasco, WA [Tri-Cities] Pensacola, FL Peoria, IL Philadelphia, PA Phoenix, AZ Pinehurst/S. Pines, NC Pittsburgh, PA Plattsburgh, NY [Clinton] Pocatello, ID Portland, ME Portland, OR Poughkeepsie, NY Prescott, AZ Presque Isle, ME Provid., Caicos Is. [Provid.] Providence, RI [Green] Quincy, IL [ Baldwin] Raleigh-Durham, NC Rapid City, SD Reading, PA Reno, NV Richmond, VA Roanoke, VA Rochester, MN Rochester, NY Rockford, IL Rockland, ME [Knox] Rocky Mount, NC [Wilson] Rutland, VT Sacramento, CA Saginaw, MI [Tri City] Salina, KS Salisbury, MD [Wicomico] Salt Lake City, UT San Angelo, TX [Mathis] San Antonio, TX San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA San Juan, Puerto Rico San Luis Obispo, CA Santa Barbara, CA Santa Maria, CA Saranac Lake, NY Sarasota, FL Savannah, GA Scranton, PA Seattle, WA Shreveport, LA Sioux City, IA Sioux Falls, SD [Joe Foss] South Bend, IN [Michiana] Spartanburg, SC Spokane, WA Springfield, IL Springfield, MO St. George, UT St. Louis, MO St. Thomas, Virgin Isl. State College, PA Staunton, VA Steamboat Springs, CO Stockton, CA Sun Valley, ID [Friedman] Syracuse, NY Tallahassee, FL Tampa, FL [Tampa] Texarkana, AR Toledo, OH Topeka, KS [Forbes] Toronto, Canada Traverse City, MI [Cherry] Tri-Cities, TN [Tri-City] Tucson, AZ Tulsa, OK Twin Falls, ID Tyler, TX Utica, NY [Oneida] Vail/Eagle, CO [Eagle] Valdosta, GA Vancouver, Canada Vernal, UT [Vernal] Victoria, TX [Victoria] Waco, TX Washington, DC [Dulles] Washington, DC [Reagan] Waterloo, IA Watertown, NY Wausau, WI West Palm Beach, FL West Yellowstone, MT Westchester County, NY Wichita Falls, TX Wichita, KS Williamsburg, VA Williamsport, PA Wilmington, NC Worcester, MA Youngstown, OH Yuma, AZ Going To: Acapulco, Mexico Amsterdam Schiphol Antigua Aruba Athens, Greece Atlantic City, NJ Barbados Barcelona, Spain Berlin, Germany Bermuda Boise, ID [Gowen] Brussels, Belgium Budapest, Hungary Calgary, Canada Cancun, Mexico Cozumel, Mexico Curacao Daytona Beach, FL Denver, CO Dublin, Ireland Florida Keys, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Myers, FL Frankfurt, Germany Freeport, Grand Bahama Island Geneva, Switzerland Grand Cayman Guadalajara, Mexico Gunnison/Crested Butte, CO Ixtapa, Mexico Jackson, WY Jacksonville, FL Kauai, HI Kona, HI La Romana, Domincan Republic Las Vegas, NV London, England Los Angeles, CA Los Cabos, Mexico Madrid, Spain [Barajas] Manchester, England Manzanillo, Mexico Maui, HI Mazatlan, Mexico Mexico City, Mexico Miami, FL Milan, Italy Montego Bay, Jamaica Montreal, Canada Moscow, Russia Munich, Germany Nassau, Bahamas New Orleans, LA New York, NY Nice & Cannes, France Oahu (Honolulu), HI Orlando, FL Palm Beach, FL Palm Springs, CA Paris, France Phoenix, AZ Prague, Czech Republic Puerto Plata, Dom Rep. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Reno/Lake Tahoe, NV Rome, Italy [Fiumicino] Salt Lake City, UT San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA San Juan, Puerto Rico Santo Domingo, Dom Rep. Shannon, Ireland St. Croix, Virgin Islands St. Lucia St. Martin/St. Maarten St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Tampa, FL Taos/Albuquerque, NM Toronto, Canada Turks & Caicos Vancouver, Canada Vienna, Austria Warsaw, Poland Zurich, Switzerland Adults: 01 02 03 04 Children's Ages: na 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 na 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 na 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 na 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Departing: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2005 2006 Promotional Code: Hotel/Car Only - Decline Airfare FEATURED VACATIONS Occidental Grand Aruba, All-Inclusive Aruba Crystal Cove Hotel, All-Inclusive St. James Top Promotions Get Free Alamo Upgrades in Florida Ski More for Less with Free Nights Stay 4, Play Free at Universal Orlando Resorts We've got some ASTONishing deals in Hawaii More... Punta Cana London St. Maarten -- Home | Vacation Packages | Promotions | Reservation Inquire | Contact Us | Help © 2005 Future Vacations - All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Legal Notice | Terms and Conditions | Travel Agents | Group Travel F V

Chicago Vacation Rentals Show

Illinois Vacation Rentals - VRBO® is Vacation Rentals by Owner Illinois - Illinois Hotels, Illinois Lodging, Illinois Travel and Tourism Property Owners Join Us VRBO ® is Vacation Rentals by Owner ® Ctrl-D to Bookmark | VRBO Home | JOIN us | Testimonials | Want Ads | Advantages | Links | Member Area | Disclaimer Illinois Vacation Rentals Home USA Illinois Illinois Chicago Galena Gurnee Available Dates Credit Cards OK Guest Comments Pet Friendly VRBO Bear stayed here (#) Photos Sort this page by: Default Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Sleeps: Chicago Vacation Rentals Show only: Chicago Vacation Rentals Top Other areas nearby to Chicago: Lake Michigan Area Chicago Lincoln Park - Corporate Apartments with Personal Comforts [#21277] 12 2BR+/1BA (Sleeps 4-8) $145-$235/nt US Dollars Chicago Downtown Chicago 53rd Floor Luxury Condo with Awsome Views [#46269] 12 2BR+/2BA (Sleeps 6) From $300/nt US Dollars Chicago Downtown 55th Floor- Incomparable Views! Luxury Condominium! [#65673] 12 1BR+/1BA (Sleeps 2-4) From $169/nt US Dollars Chicago Winter Discounts - Sleep Above Chicago and Michigan Ave. [#71108] 12 1BR+/1BA (Sleeps 4) $175-$200/nt US Dollars Chicago Winter Discounts! 2 Bedroom Condo Sleeps 6 Off Michigan Avenue [#71820] 12 2BR+/1BA (Sleeps 6) $200-$275/nt US Dollars Chicago New Years Special $279/nt Downtown Designer Penthouse [#72685] 12 2BR+/2BA (Sleeps 4-6) From $269/nt US Dollars Chicago Holiday Apartments in Chicago, Illinois [#77083] 12 2BR+/1BA (Sleeps 4-6) $135-$245/nt US Dollars Chicago Chicago Guest House 4BR on Lakewood Ave - Lakeview [#59723] 11 4BR/2BA (Sleeps 6-8) $360-$450/nt US Dollars Chicago Chicago Guest House on Henderson St. ~ Lakeview [#52837] 10 3BR/2.5BA (Sleeps 6) $320-$400/nt US Dollars Chicago Chicago Guest House~ 3BR on Lakewood~ Lakeview [#59725] 10 3BR/2BA (Sleeps 4-6) $272-$340/nt US Dollars Chicago Wicker Park, Bucktown East Village - 3 Bedroom Apartments [#65053] 10 3BR+/2BA (Sleeps 3-7) $200-$450/nt US Dollars Chicago Luxurious & Sophisticated Downtown Condo on the Chicago River! [#67660] 9 1BR/1BA (Sleeps 1-3) From $175/nt - $1150/wk US Dollars Sort this page by: Default Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Sleeps: Top Chicago December Discount!- $175/nt Downtown Chicago Luxury Highrise [#73121] 9 1BR+/1BA (Sleeps 3) From $175/nt US Dollars Chicago Unmatched Luxury & Convenience to Chicago's Culture & Beauty [#64817] 8 2BR+/2BA (Sleeps 6-7) From $250/nt US Dollars Chicago Chicago Gold Coast Penthouse Spectacular Views Spacious Layout [#71247] 6 2BR/2BA (Sleeps 6) $270-$300/nt US Dollars Chicago Gorgeous Downtown Chicago Printers Row Loft [#55316] 5 1BR+/1BA (Sleeps 2-4) $150-$200/nt - $900/wk - $2500/mo US Dollars Chicago Lincoln Park... 4 Bedroom Apartment Suite [#21849] 4 4BR/2BA (Sleeps 8) $225-$365/nt - From $3200/mo US Dollars Chicago Greenview Flat - 3 Bedroom Apartment [#49463] 3 3BR/2BA (Sleeps 8) $205-$305/nt - $2400/mo US Dollars Chicago Beautiful Furnished Apartments in Chicago's Gold Coast Area! 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[#76569] 2BR+/2BA (Sleeps 4-5) $175/nt - $3000/mo US Dollars Chicago Minutes from Michigan Avenue, Water Tower Place, Bloomingdales [#78206] 2BR/1BA (Sleeps 5-7) From $195/nt US Dollars Other areas nearby to Chicago: Lake Michigan Area Galena Vacation Rentals Show only: Galena Vacation Rentals Top Galena Secluded Family Getaway or Retreat with Golf & Spa [#51192] 7 4BR+/4.5BA (Sleeps 8-12) $350 - $450/nt US Dollars Galena Beautiful Private Hideaway in the Galena Territory [#74267] 3 3BR+/3BA (Sleeps 6-10) From $185/nt US Dollars Gurnee Vacation Rentals Show only: Gurnee Vacation Rentals Top Gurnee Bear Haven, Private 2BR/1BA on Lake County Il Estate [#55237] 8 2BR+/1BA (Sleeps 4-7) $400/wknd - $950/wk - $3500/mo US Dollars This page updated hourly - next update at 18:56:20 Eastern Time Ctrl-D to Bookmark | VRBO Home | JOIN us | Testimonials | Want Ads | Advantages | Links | Member Area | Disclaimer VRBO ® is Vacation Rentals by Owner ® - The largest and most popular vacation rental site. To report any problems with this site contact webmaster@vrbo.com URL: http://www.vrbo.com/Index/Index.aspx ©1995-2005 by VRBO International LLC - all rights reserved

Spain Travel Guides Map

In-Spain.info - Culture in Spain Information on Spain - Travel Spain - Spain Tourism - Map of Spain - Spanish Travel Guide - Spanish Phrases You are here: Home > At a Glance > Spanish Culture Search this site with Google: Web in-spain.info Tell a friend about this site ySpanish Culture While in Spain, be prepared for late lunches and dinners and late evenings out on the town. We've found that taking a siesta in the afternoons helps in getting adjusted to the Spanish schedule. Do's and Don'ts Don't be surprised at how rapidly people speak. We found our Spanish skills are severely tested on many occasions. And don't forget to lisp your z's and internal c's. (For example, Ibiza is pronounced Ee-BEETH-a). Don't complain about cigarette smoke in bars—be aware you'll either be laughed at or shown the door. And don't expect to find "No Smoking" sections in restaurants, either. There is no such thing in Spain. Spaniards often tell us that people who complain about such things are "afraid of life". Do carry some small change—you'll need it to use the public bathrooms. Don't wear shorts in churches; wear them only on beaches and at beach resorts. Women may be the object of unwanted attention more than in Northern Europe, particularly if they're traveling alone or visiting Andalusia or the southern Mediterranean coast. The Best response is no response at all—any attention given is likely to be misinterpreted. Do try to see the fastest ball game in the world, pelota (jai alai), played mainly in Bilbao and Guernica. Do be aware that the penalties for drug possession are severe, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences. Tipping Tipping is a great tradition in Spain. While practically all establishments currently include a surcharge for service it is still common to leave something of a tip. This custom, common in bars and restaurants, has extended to hotel porters, theatre ushers and taxi drivers, though in none of these cases is it obligatory nor will anyone recriminate a client for not tipping. Smoking Smoking is commonplace amongst men and women in Spain, and do not expect to find many non-smoking areas designated in bars and restaurants. Smoking is also common in fast food restaurants, shops and malls. You probably won't get a polite answer if you ask someone to stop smoking a cigarette for whatever reason. For smokers, this will not be a problem, but non-smokers may find this uncomfortable. Cigarettes and cigars are reasonably cheap, and at the moment average about 2€ per packet. Your Ad Here Book your holiday: Hotels in Spain Car Hire in Spain Organised Tours in Spain Basic Info Spanish News Headlines Spanish News Weekday Roundup Spanish Flags Postal Service Travel & Transport Map of Spain Transport in Spain Tourist Information If things go wrong Hotel Accommodation Spanish Tourist Offices - Wordwide Spanish Culture Spanish Culture Spanish Time Dress codes Spain Travel Guides Map of Spain Spain - Home | Spain at a glance | Spain region guide | Best of Spain | Learn Spanish Phrases | Special Features | Hotels in Spain | Map of Spain All content © 2003 In-Spain.info All Rights Reserved. If you notice any errors on this site, please report them to webmaster@in-spain.info . You can add a link to this site here. Site Map - Useful Travel Links - Spain related links Looking for car hire in Malaga and Andalucia? Try Malaga car hire for great deals! Looking for hotels in Marbella and the rest of the Costa del Sol? Try Hotels in Marbella for top savings!

Asia Travel || Indonesia

Travel Information of Indonesia Indonesia Country and Travel Information Climate || Visas || Customs || Transport || Currency || Tipping || Clothing Office hours || Food || Shopping || Culture || Public holidays Tourist Destinations || Map of Indonesia Introduction The Republic of Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago and is the fifth most populous country, with 17,700 islands streching 5,120 kms (3,200 miles) between Australia and the Asian mainland. Population and Language 200 million people are distributed throughout 27 provinces. However, 55% of these people are concentrated on Java, Bali and Madura, on only 7% of the total area. Climate A tropical country, with humidity ranging from 69% - 95%, there are two seasons: Dry Season, from May to October and Wet Season, from November to April. It should be noted that occasional showers do occur during the dry season; similarly, during the "rainy" season it is more likely that heavy tropical down-pours are interspersed with sunshine. Average temperatures range f rom 68 to 86 or 20 to 30C . Passport and Visas Visitors must arrive in Indonesia with passports valid for at least six months after arrival and with onward or return tickets. Visas are not required for nationals of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, New Zealand, Singapore,South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America and West Germany. A non-extendable tourist pass for citizens of these is issued for a maximum of 60 days with entry and departure through: Airports: Medan, Batam, Pekanbaru, Padang, Jakarta, Bali, Manado, Ambon, Biak,Ku pang, Pontianak, Balikpapan and Surabaya; Seaports: Medan, Batam, Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Riau, Bali, Manado, and Ambon. Through other ports, a visa is required. Nationals of countries not listed above can obtain 30-day tourist visas from any Indonesian embassy or consulate abroad. Health Certificates International certificates for smallpox and cholera are not required and yellow fever vaccination are necessary only for visitors coming from infected areas. Customs Each adult is permitted to bring, on entry, a maximum of two litres of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reasonable quantity of perfume. Photographic equipment and typewriters must be declared and are admitted provided they are taken out on departure. Prohibited from entry are the following items: narcotics, arms and ammunition, TV sets, radio and radio casette recorders, pornography, fresh fruit, printed matters in Chinese characters and Chinese medicine. All movie films and video casettes will have to be deposited for review by the Film Censor Board. There is no restriction on import and export of foreign currencies and travellers cheque; however, import or export Indonesia currency exceeding Rp 50,000,- is prohibited. Airport Tax Airport tax levied on passengers for international travel is Rp 17,000,-. While for travel within Indonesia it varies from one region to another with an average of Rp 3,500,- for each departure. Top Transportation An airconditioned airport-hotel shuttle service, operates frequently scheduled trips to/from major hotels to coincide with flights from Jakarta's international airport at a cost of approx Rp 4,000,per person. Taxis at a higher rate, are also available with metered taxis operating only in Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang and Solo. Elsewhere, other forms of transportation, which required setting the fare in advance, include minicars for two passengers, "bemos" or small buses covering regular routes and "becaks" powered by human energy. Trains operate in Java and parts of Sumatra. Garuda Indonesia has an extensive networkof dailyflights toallcitiesinthe 27 provinces. These flights are supplemented by domestic air services on Merpati, Nusantara, Mandala and Bouraq . Currency The local currency is the Rupiah. Foreign currencies, either banknotes or travellers cheques, are easily exchangedatbanks and moneychangers in major tourist destinations. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants in main cities. It is advisable to carry sufficient amounts of Rupiah when travelling to smaller towns or outer provinces. Tipping Major hotels add a 10% service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of between 5% to 10% of the bill would be appropriate if service is satisfactory. Airport poterage is Rp 500,- for a small bag and Rp 1,000,- if weighing more than 20 kg. Tipping taxi and hire-car drivers is not mandatory, but Rp 500,would be sufficient for a taxi driver, but more for a hire-car driver. Clothing Dress is generally informal in Indonesia. Light fabrics are recommendeddue to the warm, humid climate. For men, a jacket and tie is considered appropriate when making officials calls or non formal occasions. Or, follow local custom by wearing a long-sleeve batik shirt. It is recommended to bring a sweater or light jacket for travel to mountain areas. Shorts and beachwear are not considered appropriate except at sports facilities and on the beaches, and never appropriate for visits to temples, mosques and other places of worship. Top Office Hours Government offices: Monday - Thursday 8 am to 3 pm Friday 8 am to 11.30 am Saturday Saturday 8 am to 2 pm Business offices Monday - Friday 8 or 9 am to 4 or 5 pm Some offices are open half day on Saturday. Banks: Monday - Friday 8 am to 3 pm Food The main staple food of the majority of the population is rice. Coconut milk and hot chili peppers are popular cooking ingredients nationwide. Tastes range from very spicy dishes of meat; fish and vegetables to those that are quite sweet. The most popular dishes are "nasi goreng" (fried rice) which is otten served for breakfast, lunch or dinner, "satay" barbequed meat or chicken on skewers and "gado-gado", a vegetable salad with a pean ut sauce.All are most compatible with internationaltastes. Inthemaintouristcenters and cities, restaurants catering to international visitors are many, from fine continental grill rooms to Japanese specialty restaurants. Chinese restaurants are found in all towns throughout Indonesia. Tropical and subtropical fruits are available yearround. Bottled drinking water can be purchased everywhere. Shopping Many of Indonesia's main cities have department stores, supermarkets and large shopping complexes, open generally from 9 am to 8 pm, where fixed prices prevail. In local markets and small shops bargaining is the rule. Time Indonesia streches across three time zones:Western Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, West and Cen tral Kalimantan) + 7 GMTCentral Indonesia (Bali, South and East Kalimantan, Sula wesi, Nusa Teng gara) + 8 GMTEast Indonesia (Maluku and Irian Jaya) , +9 GMT Electricity Most hotels use 220 volts 50 cycles and two-pronged plugs. However it is not uncommon to find some hotels using 110 volts, particularly in the provinces. Check before using an appliance. Some hotels supply adaptors on request. Communication Long distance calls within Indonesia may be made by direct dialing through International Direct Dial (IDD) in major cities or through operator-assisted calls. Telex and fax services are readily available in major hotels and larger cities. Top Culture and Traditions Indonesians are a very friendly and polite people. Handshaking is customary, for both men and women, on introduction and greeting, smiling is a national characteristics. The population is predominantly Moslem. Nevertheless, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and other religions are freely practiced. Traditional customs form a major part of family and community life. The use of the left hand to give or receive is considered ill-mannered. Likewise crooking your finger to call someone is impolite. Public Holidays January 1 New Year Feb 20, 21 Idul Fitri Festival March 21 Seclusion Day / Saba New Year April 5 Good Friday April 28 Idul Adha Great Day May 16 Ascention day of Christ May 19 Hijriah New Year June 2 Waisak Day July 28 Maulid of Prophet Mumammad August 17 National Independence Day Dec 8 Isra Miraj of Prophet Muhammad December 25 Christmas Day Top Asia Travel || Indonesia Hotel and Resorts