European Vacation Planning Map

Europe Travel - A European Vacation Travel Guide  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and the world, it has one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe, and it was home to artist Peter Paul Rubens in the 17th century. What's not to like about this Belgian port city? See what it's all about in our latest photo Gallery: Antwerp Pictures . More Antwerp Travel: Antwerp Travel Directory | Antwerp Lodging | Antwerp Museums Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came recruiting at my college. Operatives really get to live it up when they travel, apparently. Imagine, the lucky seven of the "Surveillance Team" sent out to case the joint before kidnapping 39-year-old Muslim preacher Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, managed to spend "$39,995, not counting meals, parking and other services" for a week at Milan's Principe di Savoia ( check prices ), where a room goes for a mere $588 a night, according to Newsday . Once Abu Omar was behind bars in Cairo the CIA folks broke up and went their various ways, some to the renowned Grand Hotel Baglioni ( check prices ) in Florence , a few in cozy pairs to save the taxpayers money, no doubt. Travel Resources: Milan Profile | Florence Profile Tuesday December 27, 2005 | permalink Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated tapas bars thinking, "wow, I'm gonna down me some fine, fresh seafood this evening--non of that canned stuff like we get at home..." Well, Quimet and Quimet is one of Barcelona's best tapas bars, recommended by just about anyone. Joaquim Perez, owner of Quimet and Quimet, has been called Barcelona's culinary king of canned food. That's right, a tapas king devoted to high-quality goods preserved in metal. I had heard about the increasing interest in vintage sardines , whose flavors are said to increase in intensity and complexity with aging. But Mr. Perez has extended this idea of unlikely gourmet tinkering; he buys "fresh" Galician navajas (clams) from the cannery and sets them to aging for a year or two before serving them (plain) to his customers. And they love 'em. Maybe you should go and see what this canned gourmet thing is all about. There are worse places to spend time on a research expedition. More: Gastronomic Route: Barcelona, a tapas town? Travel Resources: Barcelona Guide | Barcelona Pictures Thursday December 22, 2005 | permalink North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000 loan and turned his investment into a "faithful reconstruction of Noah's Ark in scaled down form on the basis of biblical texts," according to the Mail & Guardian . Spring is the expected launch date. No word on where the animals will come from. Travel Resources: North Holland Travel | Holland Map | Benelux Rail Passes Thursday December 22, 2005 | permalink Appreciate Long John Shivers? Head for the Alps I know I frequently extol the virtues of off season travel, but there's a whole bunch of adventurers willing to go the extra mile in their long johns to enjoy icier surroundings than I'd care to experience. Those would be the Ice Hotel People. Word from Vagablond is that "a new ice hotel is being constructed 7,000 feet up into the German Alps." HotelChatter says this ice hotel might well be part of the Iglu-Dorf chain, who specialize in things like Inuit igloos in Switzerland. Like it cold? Get you thrills in the Alps this winter. I'll toast your bravado at the hearth with a steaming hot toddy. Travel Resources: Germany map and Travel Essentials | Switzerland Map and Travel Essentials . Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Europe Travel in the Off Season Why travel in the off season? Well, you know the reasons: fewer tourists, lower prices, and cooler temperatures, to name a few. But there's another reason for me, and that's the warm, slanting light that brings photos alive. See what I mean by taking a gander at: Liguria Pictures - Picture Gallery of Liguria in Autumn . And if you still want to see more pictures of Italy , try out Italy for Visitors Florence Pictures , taken in November. Travel Resources: Off Season Travel Tips | Italy Travel Map Sunday December 18, 2005 | permalink Travel Gifts Ok, you're thinkin' it's too late to post some ideas for gifts at this late date. Hey, you can chalk it up to sloth and indolence, but I don't start burdening my mind with thoughts about winter holidays in May like the rest of my family. The crunch starts now. So I've made up a list of recommended Travel Gifts . Of course, you could buy some of the stuff for yourself as well. Take a look. You've got language help, a deep, inside look at the Vatican, and more, not to mention that Tyrolean Boiled Wool Jacket like you've always wanted. More Stuff You Need: Top Travel Photography Gear Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink Joe Torre carries the Olympic Torch in Florence New York Yankee manager Joe Torre carried the Olympic torch 400 yards to the foot of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence yesterday as part of "American day" in the two-month Olympic torch relay. It was the first time he'd been to Italy in 20 years, despite the fact that his mother was born in the village of Patina near Naples. (Source: Indystar.com ) The torch Joe carried was designed by the folks at Pininfarina , who've banged out quite a few sexy Italian auto bodies in their time. The Olympic torch is designed to work in rain, snow and wind up to 74.56 miles per hour, not to mention temperatures from -4°F to +77°F. According to what I've heard, the torch suffered much less than Mr. Torre during the run. Travel Resources: Florence Travel Directory | Florence Pictures: Views from the Arno | Naples Travel Directory Photo above: Ponte Vecchio, Florence by Martha Bakerjian, Italy for Visitors ; click "read more" to see it larger. Read more... Thursday December 15, 2005 | permalink Sunny Valencia It's cold here in my corner of California, prime time to think of warmer climes. Valencia pops to mind. Host to the 2007 America's cup, the sunny Spanish port city has been spiffing itself up lately, and many travelers have remarked that Valencia seems to be passing Barcelona as Spain's city of tourist choice. What's not to like? The spring La Fallas festival is a not to be missed attraction (plan now if you're going), the City of Arts and Sciences holds 87 acres of fascinating art, science and architecture, and the Barrio del Carmen is chock full of music, restaurants and clubs. Find out more about Valence by taking a peek at our latest: Valencia Spain Travel Information - Valencia Profile , or peruse our Valencia Travel Directory . Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Hey Santa! Take That! Scroogy Musings: So a couple guys in Germany get asked what they want for Christmas by Santa, who happens to be waiting for a train home. They've been out shopping all day, unsuccessfully one assumes, because the next thing you know they've latched on to Santa's sack and "beat him over the head with it, breaking his fingers as he tried to protect himself." ( Santa - Germany's new stress buster ) Santa on a train? in Germany? A bit early, isn't it? Has the Christmas spirit been so commercialized that the little people like us suffer with the stress of plunking down good cash for stuff we think people might like but probably won't? Where is the joy of it all? Everyone remembers the magical experience of visiting Santa in the mall when they were kids and the smile it brought to your face. Unfortunately over the last few years it seems the spirit of Christmas is slowly being lost due to many different reasons including political correctness, busier lifestyles and many more issues. Hold on a sec. Now I'm angrier than a red-nosed reindeer. Everyone doesn't remember. Some of us are way too old to conjure the disgraceful vision of mall Santas in their mothball costumes and fake beards. The statement above comes from Live From Lapland (dot com). For a bit less than 15 dollars they'll make a custom video staring Santa, who'll be talking to your kids using the words you put in his mouth via the web site's control panel. Their Santa evidently lives in a paneled room and wears mall Santa clothes and beardage. It's in the sample flick. He could be in Kansas. Still, where else you gonna get a five minute flick to your specs for $14.95? Travel Resources: Lapland (the real one) | Chrismas in Europe Tuesday December 13, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors        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 Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...

RUSSIA Travel 309 Peters

Travel to Russia. Tours to Russia, Moscow, St. Petersburg. Moscow city tour, St. Petersburg city tours. TRAVEL AGENTS Home Train Reservations Full visa services - Armenia - Azerbaijan - Belarus - Georgia - Kazakhstan - Kyrgyzstan - Moldova - Russia - Turkmenistan - Ukraine - Uzbekistan Visa support only - Armenia - Belarus - Georgia - Kazakhstan - Kyrgyz stan - Moldova - Russia - Ukraine Fiancee visa - The Process - Services - Who we are Travel services - Cell Phone Rental - Guide and translator - Transport services and airport transfers - Tours and packages - VIP services - Travel Insurance Airport Transfers - Moscow Transfers - St.Petersburg Trans - Kiev Transfers - Odessa Transfers Hotels & Apartments - Hotels in Russia - Hotels in Ukraine - Apartments in Moscow - Apartments in St.Petersburg - Apartments in Yoshkar-Ola - Apartments in Ekaterinburg - Apartments in Kiev - Apartments in Odessa - Apartments in Lviv Airline Tickets - International - Domestic Adoption travel - Doing your own research - Buying your tickets - Airline recommendations - Passports - Travel visas - Hotels in Russia - Getting to your hotel - Safety Traveler’s essentials - Russian visa - Arriving by plane - Arriving by train - Foreign Embassies - Phone services - Internet Access - Exchanging money - Medical help - Time zones - Russian mail US Passports - New US Passport - Passport Renewal - Lost Passport - Second Passport - Adding Pages - Child US Passport - Child Lost Passport - Name Change Russia in Pictures Newsletter Internet Specials Gift Certificates Flower Delivery About us - What our clients say - Our staff - Our partners - Job Opportunities We operate individual and group tours to Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic states and other countries of the former USSR. Some of the tour descriptions and prices are listed here , and if you do not see a package that interests you, please email us - we can easily customize your trip for you! Our guides in Moscow and St. Petersburg are highly experienced and state-licensed professionals. While you can have a self-guided tour of many sights, you would never find out as much and enjoy your tour as you would with a private guide . We offer comfortable private transportation options upon your arrival to or departure from Russia. You don't have to pay what VIP's do to feel like one. For those who want a truly VIP service , we offer just that at International terminals in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev airports . Depending on the airport, you would be personally escorted off the plane, whisked through passport control and customs, while everyone else would still be elbowing their way off the plane. [ Guide and translator ] [ Transport services and airport transfers ] [ Tours and packages ] [ VIP services ] [ Travel Insurance ] What our clients say about Go To Russia Apply for Visa Online -Make your selection- Visa to Armenia Visa to Azerbaijan Visa to Belarus Visa to Georgia Visa to Kazakhstan Visa to Kyrgyzstan Visa to Moldova Visa to Russia Visa to Turkmenistan Visa to Ukraine Visa to Uzbekistan Track Your Visa Online Online tracking for visa papers received by our office Last Name: Date of Birth: 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 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 Save $$$ on travel to Russia and CIS! Our newsletter contains special announcements, sales, interesting stories & facts. GO TO RUSSIA Travel 309 Peters St., Unit A Atlanta, GA 30313 Phone: 1.888.263.0023 , 404.827.0099 Fax: 404.827.0435 Office hours Mon-Fri 9AM - 8PM EST Saturdays 11AM - 3PM EST 2004 GTR - Russian Visa All rights reserved Russian Visa Services

Air Travel Travel Air

Air Travel - find cheap airfares, book budget and business travel online, etc.  You are here: About > Travel > Air Travel Travel Air Travel Essentials Save money on airfare Airline Seat Maps Airlines - details and phone numbers Frequent Flyer 411 Info about the 30 Busiest Airports Articles & Resources Book your trip Shopping & gift giving Airlines big/small/budget Airport Info/Shop/Stay/Play Travel Docs and Mileage Seat maps and Inflight Advice and Tips In the news + Travel Tools Safety / Security Job search and training Info/History Buffs Skydive, glide and more Destinations and Events Humor and fun Service Issues Buyer's Guide Luggage Digital SLR Cameras Children's books Portable DVD Players MP3 Players Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Air Travel newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Air Travel From Arlene Fleming , Your Guide to Air Travel . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! What happened with the seaplane? This is the question that many officials are asking in the wake of a seaplane crash that killed everyone on board on December 19th. There are theories that the seaplane had some sort of crack in the wings that might have separated inflight. The hope was, with the retrieved voice recorder, that some clues to what happened would be revealed, but the recordings could not be deciphered. This was considered to be a safe airline, with a solid history. CNN has the details on what the voice recorder did not reveal... The history of the airline which had illustrious passengers such as Ernest Hemingway. Tuesday December 27, 2005 | permalink Happy Holidays Whatever holiday you may be celebrating, have a safe and happy holiday season. May all of your air travels be delay-free and on-time! Sunday December 25, 2005 | permalink Pay as you go Get used to keeping small change and bills ready for your flights. In a pilot project, the regional arm of American Airlines, American Eagle, is planning on charging for a can of cola, ginger ale, etc. Thirsty and hungry passengers be prepared! Although the staple of several low cost carriers for some time, scheduled carriers have continued to provide non alcoholic beverages to passengers on a complimentary basis. Now granted, this is a pilot project, but it could be the sign of more cutbacks to come. Connecticut's Hartford Courant reports on the latest cash grab idea in air travel... Sunday December 25, 2005 | permalink Charging at Check-in One of the low cost airlines in Europe has decided to embark on a new course for collecting fees - checked luggage. fly be has decided to charge for the luggage that you check in. It is a nominal fee, and they have decided to also increase the weight allowance for both checked in and carry on luggage. But how well will it work? First, you have the issue of collecting fees at check-in - time consuming. Then you have the issue of increased carry on luggage allowance - less space on board. The Scotsman reports the story on charging for checked in luggage Friday December 23, 2005 | permalink No holiday weight allowed An airline in India is taking the concept of excess baggage to a new level, and is now looking at its crew to drop the pounds...or else. Implying that some of its crew is obese, the threat is that if they don't shape up, they will be grounded, and reassigned to non-air tasks. For the brief details on the weight loss required policy, CBS's Tampa affiliate shares the story Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink Yes, he did it, he cut down the airport tree Blunder #1 ... chopping down a tree on a property other than your own. The bigger blunder - #2 ... chopping down a tree on airport property. In the spirit of the holidays a man cut down a pine tree on airport property, saying that he couldn't afford one. Now he has a criminal record to show for his act. The Washington Post reports ... Monday December 19, 2005 | permalink Airlines grounded Nigeria has had a huge share of the accidents in aviation this year. After 2 recent crashes, one which killed everyone on board, the president of Nigeria has decided to suspend the services of two Nigerian airlines, and has decided to try to overhaul a country's airline industry that has been plagued with corruption and questionable safety standards. It certainly is unusual for a country's leader to literally shut down several airlines, but given the frustration that must come with inadequate runways, poorly maintained aircraft, and suspect airline practices, it is not entirely surprising that things came down to this. Reuters reports on the suspension of flights, and a plea for help to international civil aviation authorities to help fix an airline industry gone terribly wrong... Saturday December 17, 2005 | permalink Coat check at the airport? A few airlines in Korea are offering passengers a service that allows them to store their winter coats at the airport for free (well, for five days). In a novel project that runs until March 2006, Asiana Airlines and Korean Airlines will hold your winter coat at Incheon Airport while you travel off to hotter climes. So you can head off to the heat without your cumbersome coat. The Korean Times reports on the coat check at Incheon. Thursday December 15, 2005 | permalink Don't have time to get out there and shop? Then the shopping and gift giving guide might save you time. If the thought of shopping malls, and worse...the parking lots at shopping malls, at this time of year seems daunting, then shopping online is always an option. From portable DVD players, to handheld GPS devices, to books and movies, there are lots of different gift ideas for the armchair or air traveler. Want to check out some of the gift ideas for things air travel related? The gift giving and shopping guide might help save you holiday shopping time. Monday December 12, 2005 | permalink Song front and center on the Apprentice If you saw the latest episode of Martha Stewart's Apprentice then you saw Song at the center of the task for the week. You would have also watched the promotion of Song's New York to Los Angeles for $99. I received a press release about the Song appearance, which also includes other cross country fares for $99 such as Orlando to San Francisco. The press release detailing all of the latest low fares from Song, including the one featured on the Apprentice is in the Air Travel Forum Sunday December 11, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Airline Phone Numbers Family emergencies - bereav... Paramount Airways Frequent Flyer - Air Tran Sun Country Airlines What's Hot Frequent Flyer - Singapore Jet2 Saving time checking in for... bmi baby Essential Philippines Related Topics Business Travel Budget Travel Hotels / Resorts / Inns        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 Frequent Flyer - Singapore Jet2 Saving time checking in for... bmi baby Essential Philippines Headlines What happened with the seaplane? This is the question that many officials are asking in... Happy Holidays Whatever holiday you may be celebrating, have a safe and... Pay as you go Get used to keeping small change and bills ready for... Charging at Check-in One of the low cost airlines in Europe has decided...

Orlando Vacation Rentals l

Orlando Hotels and Vacation Rentals 1.800.ORLANDO (1.800.675.2636) home | view/cancel reservation | contact | faq's Embassy Grand Beach Resort from $55.00 Liki Tiki Resort from $59.00 ORS Vacation Homes from $89.00 Resort Pool Homes from $139.00 Explore Orlando Orlando Dining Orlando Nightlife & Entertainment Getting Around in Orlando Arriving in Orlando 1.800.ORLANDO (1.800.675.2636) Enter Email for news & special offers: Search for hotels in Orlando Check in: January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2006 2007 Check out: January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2006 2007 Booking For Groups Of 5+ Rooms? Universal's Royal Pacific Hotel from $169.15 through 12/24/05 Howard Johnson Maingate Resort from $39.00 through 12/31/05 Masters Inn Main Gate from $38.00 through 12/24/05 Radisson Barcelo Hotel from $52.00 through 12/24/05 Country Inn & Suites International Drive from $66.00 through 12/24/05 Radisson Resort Parkway from $67.00 through 12/31/05 Seralago Hotel & Suites from $59.00 through 12/31/05 Best Western - Walt Disney World Resort from $99.00 through 12/31/05 Omni Resort - ChampionsGate from $159.00 through 12/31/05 Walt Disney Dolphin Resort from $220.00 through 12/24/05 Make Orlando.com your vacation guide to Orlando, Florida. Find airfare, attractions, hotels, resorts and car rentals. We offer special hotel room deals on major hotel chains. Get hotel discounts from budget to luxury accommodations! Enjoy Disney, Epcot Center, and Universal Studios. Remember to check our hotel maps for directions. Have Fun! Orlando Hotel Reservations l Orlando Vacation Rentals l Orlando Car Rentals l Orlando Flights contact l faq’s l privacy policy l user agreement l site map © 2005 Orlando.com - All Rights Reserved

Asia Travel Blog Moves...

Asia Travel Blog: All about Asian travel destinations, news, stories and more. We are now a part of b5media.com . Watch out for updates and news on the merger . MAIN | About | Archives | Admin | Jump to navigation Asia Travel Blog Moves... Finally Category: General : Asia Travel Sorry for not having updated this blog for a while. We had server problems for most of last week, and now we're finally migrating. Do tune around. I'll be back to regular posting soon! Er, I hope. tags: asia , travel , blog 12/19/05 - 07:34:05 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 315 times. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Opens In Tokyo Category: Asian Hotels and Resorts Visiting Tokyo? Try the newly-opened Mandarin Oriental and let the Tokyo panorama take your breath away: Guests arriving at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Tokyo are ushered from a private entrance, whisked directly to the 38th floor Sky Lobby and presented with a breathtaking view of the dramatic cityscape. Above, the sky is revealed through the vast glass windows. There is no doubt the new Mandarin Oriental hotel epitomises sophisticated luxury. Located on Chuo Dori, the 5th Avenue of the rich historical district off Nihonbash, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is offering introductory internet rates . Rates may vary from day to day, but a deluxe room on a weekday start at about JPY 48,000 (a bit less than $400). A bit pricey for me, personally, but hey, it's Mandarin Oriental! tags: tokyo, , mandarin , oriental 12/13/05 - 06:28:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 430 times. The Shopping Paradise That Is Singapore Category: Shopping in Asia Blogger Christine , who is a Filipino expatriate based in Singapore, wrote an article about Singapore as shopping haven. With the gamut of shops in Singapore, Christine provides a short primer of where to find what, bringing us to a cyber-shopping trip across Orchard Road, Marina Bay and the food jaunts at the Hawker Centers. Go and have a look-see . tags: singapore, , shopping 12/12/05 - 12:52:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 474 times. Air Travelling With Pets Category: Getting There and Away : Asia So you want to go on a holiday and would like to bring your pet with you? Think twice, because although it is not impossible, it's gonna cause you a great deal of hassle. Think hard, and plan well in advance. In most aircrafts, unless it's a service animal (such as guide dogs for blind passengers), pets are not allowed inside the cabins. However, some, like Thai Airways does allow, small pets in the cabin, as long as there are no more than two animals aboard the cabin at the same time (you've got to coordinate with the airline). The regulations and requirements naturally depend on the destination, and in places like Hongkong , for example, pets need an import permit even for transit. But here are a few other factors you might want to consider: Import Permit: Contact the government bureau of your destination country (usually that dealing with Animal and Plant Quarantine) to check your pet's immigration requirements. For pets flying in to Taiwan for example, pet tags , no matter how fancy they may be, just won't suffice. The dog or cat to be imported shall have been implanted microchip and vaccinated against rabies when at the age of at least 90 days old; and the period between the day of vaccination and the day of shipment shall be no less than 30 days and no more than one year. Cages/Kennels: Whether your pet will join you in the cabin or in the cargo section, your pet will need a cage or a kennel. In some cases, the kennels would even have to be pre-approved with the airline you're flying. Quarantine: Find out how long will the destination country will keep your pet in quarantine, if this is necessary. In some countries, this can be up to 6 weeks! Pet Travel is a good starting place to browse information, but feel free to contact your airline. Any good airline should have their regulations in place and should be able to help you out if you have specific situations. Enjoy sharing your Asian travel experience with your pet (if you really must). tags: pets , airline 12/12/05 - 08:13:41 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 474 times. Dubai Shopping Festival 2006 Category: Shopping in Asia In a previous post , I've enumerated the various shopping festivals in Asia. Well, brace yourself, year 2006 will start with a shopping spree... at the 11th Dubai Shopping Festival ! I've had stop-overs in Dubai several times and I have to say, if the awesome array of fashion, electronics, cosmetics and especially jewelry at the Duty-Free is anything to go by, the Shopping Fetival is one to wow even the most shoppaholics of shoppaholics! Themed ''One World, One Family, One Festival'', the month-long extravaganza will start on the 4th of January. Aside from shopping, there are exhibitions, plays, concerts, bazaars, street performances, fashion shows or sports events to suit everybody. Are you lucky with raffle draws ? Well,then be sure to get your ticket for a chance to win these awesome prizes: Each day, a Lexus LX 470 or ES 300 will be given away, and every other day, you have a chance to walk away with... get this.. one kilogram of gold bars ! If you're flying in for this shopping fiesta, might as well fly Emirates, the official airline of the DSF, and take advantage of the DSF travel package : for $56 per person, choose to stay at any of the 21 hotels available and enjoy the following amenities: Airport-Hotel tranfers by chauffeur-driven cars Buffet breakfast. Emirates Holidays 24-hour emergency assistance. Additional 10 kg free baggage allowance on return/onward flights from Dubai. Stopover charges in Dubai waived for onward bound passengers. Arabian Adventures Welcome Pack. Ah, what to buy, what to buy? Well, here are some definite must-haves from Dubai: Arabic perfumes (attar), from the Perfume Souk near the city centre. Incense: powder, crystal, rock or wood. At the very least, have a look for frankincense Arabic spices: cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, dried fruit and nuts at the Spice Souk. Gold trinkets at the Gold Souk. Carpets and rugs : Persian rugs, Turkish kilims, as well as Turkoman, Kashmiri and Afghan rugs. Dates: these fruits are yummy and healthy fiber-rich snacks! Haute couture clothing, electronics and handicrafts When taking a break from shopping, be sure to check out the myriad of adventures Dubai has to offer: historical tours, cruises, and desert safaris! Enjoy and... don't forget the sunblock! tags: dubai , shopping 12/12/05 - 06:19:33 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 495 times. Is Asia Too Risky? Category: General : Asia Travel Apparently, a lot of Japanese tourists think so . According to a survey conducted by a Japan travel agency, the expected number of Japanese tourists travelling abroad during this holiday season increased in comparison to last years'. However, "Fewer people plan to visit China after the anti-Japanese demonstrations and due to worries about the bird flu outbreak." Indonesia, hit by suicide bombings on Bali, will probably attract fewer Japanese travellers, with the number expected to decline by 18.7 percent. OK, let's take the political anti-Japanese sentiments out of the list and we're left with bird flu and terrorist threats. I can imagine how these two can possibly turn off tourists, inlcuding those coming from outside Asia as well. I have to admit, I'm mighty afraid of bird flu, as well. But there's bird flu reported in Europe and North America (Canada) as well. Same with terrorism. Spain, Ireland, France, Great Britain and naturally, America is not immune to it, neither. Yesterday, I met my husband's cousin who barely escaped that Bali bombing I blogged about a couple months ago. She said she'd really love to go back and spend another holiday to Bali, in spite of. No fear, no paranoia, nothing. What accounts for the difference in perspective, I wonder? tags: asia , travel , bali 12/08/05 - 06:10:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 684 times. Fly Across Asia For Free Via AirAsia!!! Category: Getting There and Away : Asia Well, if my yesterday's posts on budget airlines didn't wake your urge to travel, maybe this one will: AirAsia is celebrating its 4th annivesary and is giving away 2 million (!) seats for FREE ! To be eligible, book your ticket online or via mobile (available on GPRS, 3G, EDGE mobile phones or wireless device) between now and to 28th December 2005, for travel between 7 Feb 2006 and 10th October 2006. Naturally, offer is subject to availability, but free seats are most often found on midweek travel dates. C'mon, that's travelling for NOTHING (not counting the taxes and airport fees, of course)! If that's not incentive enough to go and explore more of Asia, I don't know what is! tags: budget airline , airasia 12/07/05 - 08:26:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 765 times. Junk? Jewelry? A Bit of Both! Category: Shopping in Asia There's an "art space" -- store to us mortals -- along Silom Road in Bangkok that's gaining popularity for jewelry afficionados. You won't find fancy yellow diamond rings in Kitti Manoonphol's shop , but his creations have been seen on beauty queens and Hollywood stars. He calls his creations "contemporary ethnic arts", making use of ancient beading techniques, and incorporates common materials we see from day to day--plastic toys, Lego blocks, vinyl beads-- to put together a unique portfolio. Check it out on your next shopping trip in Bangkok! Alternatively, according to the Time feature on Manoonphol's jewelries, if you're too lazy slash busy to brave the Bangkok traffic, for the right price, you can also ask him to call, "carting his collection around in the trunk of his BMW". 12/06/05 - 10:07:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 622 times. Birthday Blow-out from Jetstar Asia! Category: Getting There and Away : Asia Jetstar Asia is treating us to a birthday blow-out! After one year flying the Asian skies, Jetstar tempts us to fly more! Have a look at these bargain airfares originating from Singapore: Phuket fr S$18 one-way Bangkok fr S$18 one-way Hong Kong fr S$68 one-way Manila fr S$98 one-way Taipei fr S$88 one-way Kolkata fr S$98 one-way Siem Reap fr S$138 one-way Phnom Penh fr S$138 one-way Yangon fr S$208 return Want to take part in this treat? Simply book by 13 December 2005 for travel from 4 January to 30 June 2006. Sounds like a great Christmas gift idea! tags: jetstar , asia , budget , airlines 12/06/05 - 07:01:00 - Ruth - 3 comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 706 times. Budget Airline AirAsia FliesTo More Destinations Category: Getting There and Away : Asia Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia expands network and will soon add the following new connections (first flights this month or in January): From Kuala Lumpur to Balikpapan, Indonesia (RM99.99 / Rp 299.999), starting Dec 20, 2005 to Solo, Indonesia (RM49.99 / Rp 149.999), starting Dec 22. 2005 to Siem Reap, Cambodia (RM79.99 / US$ 22), starting Dec 27, 2005 to Pekan Baru,Indonesia (RM39.99 / Rp 119.999), starting Jan 12, 2006 From Johor Baru (tentatively set to begin on Jan 2006) to Tawau, Sandakan, Kota Bahru and Ipoh In addition to these new flights, AirAsia also increased frequency of flights to other stretches such as KL-Sibu KL-Macau Johor Baru-Penang Johor Baru-Kota Kinabalu Bangkok-Singapore Bangkok-Macau Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani 12/06/05 - 03:24:19 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 720 times. Is Expatriate Living In Asia For You? Category: General : Asia Travel The Bali Blog ponders: What would it take for you to move (for good, I guess he means) to Bali? Imagine your dream destination in Asia. Palm trees swaying in the tropical breeze... Warm sand and waters on the beach... drench in cheerful sunshine and witness to breathtaking sunsets. Who wouldn't want that 365 days of the year? Well, I don't. I think half of what makes holiday destinations extra-special is the distance to it all when you're not on holiday mode. The excitement begins as you make the first plans, and steadily increases as you book your tickets, and pack your stuff. When you get there, you've got nothing else on your to-do list except to relax, unwind, and enjoy. Whether it's a weekend get-away or a three-week holiday, you've got people pampering you, and your hotel room gets cleaned by people who, if the service is topnotch, you don't even get to see. No deadlines to meet, no housechores to do, no meetings to attend. All that will change if you're staying at that place for good. Suddenly sprouts the issues of residence permits, employment, insurance, pension, taxes, childcare and schooling. With these issues to attend to, I doubt you'd findmuch time to spend beachcombing and lying under the palm fronds. See how the perfect daydream breaks into shards? I will always yearn for an Asian holiday. Each trip is a glimpse of paradise. A glimpse, that's all. The mystery that remains and the prospect of novel experiences on the next visit are what make me yearn to come back for more. 12/06/05 - 02:23:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 695 times. Greg Bennett Finishes First at the 2005 Laguna Phuket Triathlon Category: Events in Asia A record-breaking field of 700 athletes competed at the 2005 Thai Airways International Laguna Phuket Triathlon held yesterday, Dec 4. Australian Greg Bennett bags $3000 prize money as the first finisher, with a time of 2:31:40. Last year's champ, Craig Alexander came second. Canadian Samantha McGlone finished first among the women, after 2:44:16 on the race. Congratulations to the winners, and goodluck for the Australian Ironman 2006! Special recognition also goes to the following: First overall amateur finisher Craig Johns from New Zealand Fastest Thai finisher Bunlubsak Doungdun First Thai female finisher Phuttrajit Sangkhaphan who was, at 14 years old, the youngest participant in this years Triathlon. See the finish times of all triathletes by category at the LagunaPhuket website . tags: triathlon , phuket 12/05/05 - 03:18:59 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 779 times. Hongkong Museums Category: Events in Asia There's more to Hongkong than just shopping and skyscrapers. How about museums? There are a couple of must-see museums in Hongkong that will give you an opportunity to dive into China's ancient dynasties. Here's something for you museum-afficionados out there: Until February 5, 2006, the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hongkong will feature "Elegance in Relief: Carved Porcelain from Jingdezhen of the 19th to Early 20th Centuries" . ...the Art Museum presents 166 pieces of carved porcelain. The exhibits, made in the period from the Qianlong reign (1736-1795) to the 1950's, are extremely diverse, comprising brushpots, inkstick stands, brush rests, paperweights, vermilion boxes, inkstones, brush washers, waterpots, vases, bottles, snuff bottles, lamps, incense holders, ruyi sceptres, arm rests, belt ornaments, table screens, plaques and many the like. Together they give a comprehensive overview of Jingdezhen carved porcelain that developed fully in the two centuries. Consider that a primer to snuff bottles. Now if you want to see more, then head on the University of Hongkong's Museum and Art Gallery's " Heavenly Creations: An Exhibition of Chinese Snuff Bottles ". This exhibition will feature over three hundred snuff bottles from the collections of five Hong Kong connoisseurs: Anthony K. W. Cheung, Humphrey K. F. Hui, Po-ming Kwong, Mrs Tuyet Nguyet and Christopher C. H. Sin. Their collections include bottles made of glass, porcelain, jade, quartz and other soft stones, organic materials and inside-painted glass and rock crystal, of both imperial and non-imperial origins. The exhibition will be up until February 26. Admission is free. Both museums are closed on public holidays. tags: museums , Hongkong 12/01/05 - 05:59:52 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 944 times. Asia Travel Blog Moves Category: General : Asia Travel Nope, it's not a pun, but the Asia Travel Blog will move. If you've been following the developments of the merger between the Aboutweblogs and the b5media blogging networks, you'll know what I mean. The merger would mean a lot of work for us, behind the scenes, but hopefully, you won't be aware of it. What it means for you, readers, though, is that this blog will move to another url address, so you might have to change your bookmarks and links. But, I'd be sure to give you a heads-up before this blog finally migrates. We're also trying to come up with a more catchy title, so if you've got any ideas, just shoot me an email. tags: asia , travel , blog 11/30/05 - 08:55:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 961 times. Garden Cliff Resort & Spa Pattaya Category: Asian Hotels and Resorts Yet another five-star hotel opens in Pattaya: the Garden Cliff Resort & Spa which is managed by Sofitel will "soft-open" on Dec 1. To celebrate its opening, the hotel is offering a promotional rate of 4,000 baht (US$97) ++ a night double occupancy in a Deluxe Sea view Room including breakfast until 31 March, 2006 (except during the peak season from 24 Dec 2005 to 10 Jan 06). Because of its relative proximity to Bangkok, Pattaya is gaining popularity among companies as a venue for meetings and conventions. It has a high-tech business center and the hotel ballroom can accommodate up to 420 people theatre-style supported by five fully equipped meeting rooms. Doesn't mean it's off limits for non-business travellers, though. Anyone can enjoy the sweeping view of the bay and the spa facilities just as much... If you want to avail of the promotional rates, you may book your rooms directly from the hotel: tel: (66 38) 259 333 fax: (66 38) 259 332 email: rsvn@gardencliffpattaya.com Source: E-Travel Blackboard tags: Pattaya , hotels 11/30/05 - 05:21:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 1005 times. About Asia Travel Blog Looking for travel tips, ideas, stories, and more about different destinations in Asia? Ruth Schaffer is here to offer resources about Asian travel. Member, AboutWeblogs.com Asia Travel Blog is part of a network that offers personal views, tips, news, reviews and other resources about different niche topics. Our focus is on passions, personal growth and lifestyles. If you have any ideas, suggestions or questions, please feel free to contact us . Navigation Navigation MAIN Archives Network Stats Admin Asia Travel Blog Categories Asian Adventure/Trekking Asian City Tours Asian Hotels and Resorts Asian Spas/Wellness Retreats Culture Shock: Asia Events in Asia Family Destinations in Asia Gastronomy and Asian Cuisine General : Asia Travel Getting There and Away : Asia Shopping in Asia Travel Promos and Deals in Asia Total Entries in This Blog: 131 Subscribe / Feed What's This? Search Login Username : Password : Shared Computer Latest Comments justice says i find this site sooo good that i... Ruth says justice, check out airasia's promo... justice says haha that's why my family is... GlobalDetail.com says Singapore is a sheer shoppers'... ruel says galingan nyo mga pinoy manalo... Ruth says thank you, justice. justice says I agree!off topic: just wanted... ABOUT WEBLOGS NETWORK AboutWeblogs.com Passions Jewelry & Beading Knitting & Crochet Performing Arts Quilting & Patchwork Scrapbooking Stamping Personal Growth Beauty Children's Books, Toys and Things Counselling/Self-Help Freelance Writing Journal Writing Leadership Make Money Online Parenting Teens Quotations Teenage and Adult Autism Lifestyles Asian Cuisine Asia Travel Birthday Discount Travel Europe Fashion Accessories Genetics & Public Health Housekeeping & Homemaking Online Journalism Philippine Culture Skiing & Snowboarding Weddings & Honeymoons Asian Travel Blogroll Macam Macam Simon World Tsunami Blog Middle Kingdom Stories Asia Pundit Pinoy Travel Blog Asia Travel Blog (c)2005 AboutWeblogs.com & Respective Authors. All rights reserved worldwide. Do not copy, distribute, or print the contents of this site without permission. Graphics/Photographs: Photo Credits | Privacy Policy | Powered by Nucleus .