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More forum topics Trip tips Shinkansen trains connect Tokyo station and Hiroshima (4.5hrs, ¥18,550 one-way), while overnight buses leave from Tokyo Station’s Yaesu south exit (12hrs, ¥21,200 round-trip). Hiroshima’s sites are easily negotiable by foot, but the city’s tram system connects the main JR station with the city center and beyond. Hotel 28 Hiroshima (082-247-2811) is a centrally located, functional business hotel. At ¥4,000 for a small single room, this is possibly the city’s most reasonable offering. For something more upmarket, the ANA Hotel Hiroshima (082-241-1111) offers twin rooms for ¥20,000. Some guidebooks recommend the World Friendship Center (082-503-3191), run by an anti-nuclear NPO (¥3,500/p including breakfast). The Hiroshima City Hotel and Ryokan Union can be contacted at 082-261- 0074. There are two city information desks at the JR Station and another excellent facility at the Rest House inside the Peace Park (082-247-6738). The Hiroshima Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.hiroshima-navi.or.jp The Hiroshima Interpreter and Guide Association at www.urban.ne.jp/home/higa ADVERTISERS : Flight Shop A'cross Travellers Bureau 03-5467-0077 No 1 Travel CAN Tour Four Seasons Travel 03-5907-5220 JAL Story and Beltop Travel Service Just Travel 03-3362-3441 Hit Travel TRAVEL ARCHIVE: 611: City of Sand From crowded markets to placid mosques, Cairos attractions are legion 609: On the edge Hateruma Island offers a primeval slice of sand and surf 607: Land of calm Get a glimpse of unspoiled Asia in the lush countryside of Laos 605: Just like heaven Nokogiri-yama in chiba is as appealing as Nikko or Kamakura, and just as accessible 602: Place your Bets Macau pays its respects to history while keeping a keen eye on the future 598: Bring it on Peak season can’t come soon enough for hotelsin southern Thailand 596: Rhythm City Cuba In the island nation’s largest port, the common language is music 594: City of Peace Sixty years after the infamous attack, Hiroshima is a site of remembrance 592: Big sky country Endless vistas and mysterious shrines await in rural Mongolia 590: Hidden pleasures Kyoto’s little-visited gardens justify a trip all their own 588: Another Country While maintaining its cultural distinction, the Basque homeland of Bayonne offers the best of Spain and France 586: Stepping into the past Beaches, museums—and painted ladies—await visitors in Atami and Ito 584: Getting to the Roots of Kuala Lumpur In quiet parks and bustling markets, Malaysia’s capital reveals its past and future 582: The great outdoors Shinrin Koen in Saitama offers year-round fun for space-deprived Tokyoites 580: Seoul, revisited Ancient and modern worlds collide in the Korean capital, a city of futuristic architecture, tranquil palaces and fiery cuisine 576: Ancient treasures Explore untouched 900-year-old temples in Myanmar’s Bagan region 574: The High Life Squeeze a last bit of fun out of winter in the mountains of Nagano 572: The Other Side of Cape Town Township tours offer a vibrant glimpse of daily life in South Africa 570: White day Yuzawa offers beginners a chance to ski before the snow melts 568: City of spice Take a gastronomic tour through India’s food capital 566: Life Cyclist An around-the-world biker makes a pit stop in Tokyo 564: Forest in the Clouds Rainswept trails and lush beauty await in Costa Rica's Monteverde nature preserve 561-2: Geisha for a day Kyoto's makeover studios offer visitors a new twist on tradition 559: Southern comfort Indonesia’s most vibrant village replenishes heart, mind and soul 557: Show time Nagoya is a city of potential heading into Expo 2005 555: Waterworld Float across the watery heart of Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan 553: Mountain dew A retreat restores the senses in the highlands of Fukushima 551: Turquoise baths Warm, white sand meets an ocean of blues in a remote corner of the South Pacific 549: Sea world A grueling 25-hour boat ride ends in the idyllic island chain of Ogasawara 547: Train spotting The Trans-Siberian Railway is an epic journey that begins right at Japan’s doorstep 545: In praise of slowness Yunishigawa offers a leisurely glimpse into Japan's illustrious past 543: Block party A guide to fun on the fringe at Hong Kong’s nightlife district of Lan Kwai Fong 537: The middle way Andrew McHugh embarks on a timeless pilgrimage in Tokyo’s tranquil backyard. 533: The simple life City slicker Matthew Reiss takes a breather along Shikoku’s Shimanto River. 529: The lost world In search of an ancient civilization swallowed by the sea, Carlo Niederberger plunges into the waters off Yonaguni. 525: Nature trails Hakkakuso in Tateyama offers a jumping-off point for cycling, swimming, and the well-preserved charm of Japanese fishing villages. Steve Trautlein heads to the coast. 521: High tea Cha and music have long been Nagasaki's two great passions. Simon Rowe hops on a tram to sample the Kyushu city's delights. 517: The hill is alive Grab your coats and your wallets for a tour of the best of Osaka with local boy Simon Rowe. 513: A walk in the woods Matt Button heads to Hokkaido and revels in the serenity of Daisetsuzan National Park. 507: Time and again The history of Arima runs as deep as its hot springs. Stephen Mansfield soaks up the local ambience. 503: Riverside retreat The rustic Okayama town of Takahashi offers the casual visitor a release from the world. Stephen Mansfield enjoys the time on his hands. 499: Tropics of interest Urban escapees in search of a little anonymity are drawn to Ishigaki-jima. Simon Rowe finds out why. 495: City by the sea Once a pirate haunt, the port town of Onomichi in the Inland Sea still houses an intriguing array of temples, and a surprising number of cats and cat lovers. Stephen Mansfield goes exploring. 491: Easy streets Ocean breezes, smiling faces, exotic markets, and a laid-back pace. Catherine Pawasarat finds Japanese-style relaxation on the shores of the Noto Peninsula. 487: Into the wild John McGee plumbs the depths and scales the heights of Tohoku's grandest national park. 483: Green Peace Home to Kyoto-style gardens and the Peace Museum for kamikaze, Chiran offers a healthy dose of history and culture. Stephen Mansfield takes a walk. 479: Walk in the woods Take a step back in time with a leisurely stroll through the forests and towns of the Kiso Valley. Mary King sets the pace. 475: Pilgrim’s progress Simon Rowe braves the storms and heads down to Shikoku’s “Typhoon Ginza,” Cape Ashizuri. 471: Companions of the sea Life in the Seto Inland Sea town of Tomo-no-Ura revolves around its fishing industry. Stephen Mansfield experiences the salty charm. 467: Monuments to history Once a refuge from wars, Yamaguchi has survived the blight of modern urban development, Stephen Mansfield observes. 463: Land of the giants Simon Rowe goes hiking on Yakushima Island, home to tropical beaches, granite hills, and the world's oldest-and largest-cedar trees. 459: Northern exposure Home to king crabs, towering snow sculptures and one of the country's biggest beer companies, Sapporo is the center of life on Hokkaido. Simon Rowe hits the city streets. 456: In from the cold Simon Rowe and Masami Hamada fight off the winter chill in the warm waters of Kinosaki 452: Keeping the peace David Capel visits the quiet hamlet of Matsumoto, home to Japan's oldest existing castle. 448: Past into present Stephen Mansfield takes the road less traveled and turns up in the historic samurai homestead of Obi 444: Chariots of ire The annual Nada Fighting Festival 440: Hook, line and sinker Summertime and the fishin' is easy-in Ichikawa village 436: Peaks and valleys Stephen Mansfield ventures into the picturesque calderas of Kyushu's Aso-Kuju National Park 432: Water's edge Seto Inland Sea the place for epicures and adventurers 428: Block party Renowned for its legendary temples and manicured gardens, Kyoto is one of Japan's top tourist destinations 424: Honshu's holy hotels Simon Rowe seeks serenity and a satisfying meal alongside the monks of Koya-san 420: High Art Since its opening five years ago, a reclusive sect's stunning museum has attracted wide international acclaim. 416: Fire and brimstone Hot water and Japanese hell come together in Oita Prefecture 412: Snowed in Finding peace and a warm bath in the mountains of Gunma 408: Edo elegance Old world artisans keep tradition alive in Honshu's Kurashiki 401: Bird's eye view Mary King mingles with the ghosts of Himeji Castle. 397: It takes a village Feed your spirits in Honshu's seaside town, Amanohashidate 393: Bathing Apes For a scenic dip with rare, furry primates and ready to primp for your pictures, head to Jigokudani Onsen. Mary King gets in to hot water. 389: God speed The mother of all Shinto temples, Ise Grand Shrine 385: Hattoji Highland hamlet 380: Nagasaki Remembrance of things past 378: Kawagoe From modern Tokyo to "Little Edo" 376: Tottori Tottori's stunning landscapes 375: Kyushu Bed and bath under the volcano 373: Ryogoku Land of the giants 372: Osaka Universal Studios Japan 371: Osaka Amerika-mura: Osaka's funky town 369: Mie Mikimoto Pearl Island 368: Takarazuka Hyogo-ken's all women theater group 365: Kawasaki Kawasaki's annual fertility festival 364: Aomori A day on Fear Mountain 362: Nagano Chill out snowboarding 361: Asuka One foot in the grave 356: Yamanashi Hakushu's hidden treasures 355: Waseda Tram Trip A streetcar named... 352/3: Aomori Jesus in Japan 351: Kumamoto Under the volcano in Kyushu 350: Sado Island Explore the forgotten charms of Shukunegi ISSUES 348- ISSUES 298- By Rob Gilhooly City of Peace Sixty years after the infamous attack, Hiroshima is a site of remembrance Photos by Rob Gilhooly There are things we put off: things that are difficult to tackle, troublesome, or unsavory. For 15 years since first coming to Japan, I have put off visiting Hiroshima. Having seen other examples of the terrors of war—Ho Chi Minh’s War Remnants Museum (in those days less ambiguously named the American War Atrocities Museum), for example—I decided Hiroshima could wait. This year, however, marks the 60th anniversary of the bombing, a suitable time, I thought, to stop putting it off and confront the world’s most damning testimony against nuclear warfare. For two days I roamed the city’s broad boulevards and narrow alleyways, crossing the many bridges that link several islands formed by rivers snaking through the city’s heart—a striking geographical feature that helped seal Hiroshima’s fate. For the most part, Hiroshima today is a succinct example of how Japan rose from the ashes of war and rebuilt itself to become the economic power it is today. There’s a bustling business zone, ubiquitous nighttime neon and a bubbly soapland district. Red-faced business-folk tumble out of eateries serving okonomiyaki, the savory pancake that locals will tell you is Hiroshima’s contribution to world cuisine, while a few hundred die-hard fans cheer on the local baseball team, the Hiroshima Carp, doing overtime battle with the Yokohama Bay Stars. Yet, there are ample reminders of that tragic morning in 1945 when the Enola Gay off-loaded the “Little Boy” bomb and blew what was then a little-known provincial city straight onto the map of global consciousness. At the entranceway to Fukuro-machi Elementary School, which was recently turned into a museum, an enlarged panoramic photo—the first to be snapped after the bombing—reveals the scale of the destruction. The city, quite simply, is desolate. Inside the school, messages penned on the stairwell by desperate survivors appealing for information about missing relatives are testimony to the anguish they suffered. The authors have been traced, and their heart-wrenching stories imaginatively documented. Across the river, at the city’s main museum, there are copious more reminders of individual tragedies: charred lunchboxes, ripped school uniforms, melted bottles, a step from the entrance of the Bank of Japan, blackened where a vaporized blast victim had been sitting. There’s nothing on the shock scale of Ho Chi Minh’s museum here—no pickled Agent Orange specimen or images of torture and execution—but enough to turn stomachs of those not yet desensitized by “Nuke the f***ers”-style Hollywood flicks or Al Jazeera-style churn-alism. From the second floor, a long glass-fronted corridor affords a panoramic view across the city’s Peace Park and the nearby cenotaph. Under this memorial—a graceful arc of granite that frames the nearby Peace Flame—a chamber houses tomes listing the names of the 230,000-plus victims, many of whom died from radiation-related illnesses. Here I chat at length with Yuriko Anno, 79, who visits weekly from Ninoshima, a nearby island where thousands of hibakusha, as the A-bomb victims are known, are buried, to pray for relatives and friends who perished. Anno survived because she was transporting family belongings to a new home some 30km away when the bomb was detonated. Like many of Hiroshima’s peace proponents, she expresses bitterness over Japan’s continued endeavors in nuclear power development and recent conflicts in which her country has been involved as “peacekeepers.” “Someone once said, ‘The only thing we have learned from history is that we never learn from history,’” she remarks. “Anyone who believes in war as a solution to anything should come right here.” By now we have meandered through the Peace Park, past the Flame of Peace and the Children’s Peace Monument, where a group of school kids are solemnly chanting prayer and draping countless rows of colorful paper cranes in deference to Hiroshima’s most famous child, Sadako Sasaki—the leukemia victim of “1,000 Cranes” fame. We come to a halt by the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, which under rather different circumstances would likely have been replaced by a searing shiny structure housing collars and ties. Yet this is the original Ground Zero, now a World Heritage Site and the symbol for which the city is known worldwide. More commonly known as the A-Bomb Dome, it is the only remaining physical evidence of the attack. Its burnt and mangled shell serves as a chilling reminder of the A-bomb’s destructive force. As Anno continues her tale—of how her sister was killed instantly in the grounds of her school—I try to imagine the sight of a 1 million Centigrade force capable of buckling a meter-think iron girder, of wiping out an entire city in a micro-second or imprinting a human shadow on stone. I can’t. So I turn to the only item of comfort at hand, face the music and press the shutter. Would you like to comment on this article? Send a letter to the editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp . Discuss travel with METROPOLIS readers at http://forum.japantoday.com top

Japan Travel

JAPAN AIRLINES - CONSULT US! Japan Specialist Travel Agencies -- Choose a Country. AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA BELGIUM BRAZIL CANADA CHINA EGYPT FRANCE GERMANY HONG KONG INDIA INDONESIA ITALY JAPAN KOREA MALAYSIA MEXICO NETHERLANDS NEW ZEALAND PHILIPPINES RUSSIA SINGAPORE SPAIN SWITZERLAND TAIWAN (R.O.C.) THAILAND U.K. U.S.A. VIETNAM For further information regarding your travel to Japan, please send a facsimile message or e-mail to Japan Airlines office or the appointed agency in your country listed below. AUSTRALIA Office Name JALPAK INTERNATIONAL OCEANIA PTY.LTD. Address Level 14, Darling Park, 201 Sussex St. Sydney Telephone (02) 9285-6600 Facsimile (02) 9267-1321 E-mail sydksm@jalpak.com.au AUSTRIA Office Name JALPAK INTERNATIONAL (AUSTRIA) Address Kaerntner Strasse 11 Weinburgasse 2 4 Stock Telephone 01-512-7525 Facsimile 01-512 -2561 E-mail vienna@jalpak.co.uk BELGIUM Office Name JALPAK INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE) B.V. Address Av.Louise 283, Box17 1050 Brussels Telephone 02-639-0910 Facsimile 02-639-0911 E-mail info@jalpak.be BRAZIL Office Name JAPAN AIRLINES SAO PAULO OFFICE Address Avenida Paulista, 542 - 2/3 andares - Cerqueira Cesar 01310-000 - Sao Paulo - SP Telephone 11-3175-2260 Facsimile 11-3175-2241 E-mail org.saossu.jali@jal.com CANADA Office Name JAPAN AIRLINES VANCOUVER OFFICE Address 25th Floor, 1075 West Georgia St., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6E 3C9 Telephone 604-606-7735 Facsimile 604-606-7704 E-mail jalcanada@jal.com To page top CHINA Office Name JAPAN AIRLINES BEIJING OFFICE Address 1st Floor, Chang Fu Gong Office Bldg., jiangguo Menwai Dajie, Beijing Telephone 010-6513-0888 Facsimile 010-6513-9865 E-mail org.bjsssu.jal@jal.com Office Name JAPAN AIRLINES SHANGHAI OFFICE Address Room 201, Shanghai Rui Jin Bldg., 205 Mao Ming Nan Lu, Shanghai Telephone 021-6288-3000 Facsimile 021-6288-2505 E-mail shanghai.sales@jal.com EGYPT ( Middle East & Africa ) Office Name JAPAN AIRLINES CAIRO OFFICE Address 1, El Saleh Ayoub St., Zamalek, Cairo Telephone 02-738-1422 Facsimile 02-738-1421 E-mail org.caissg.jal@jal.com FRANCE Office Name JALPAK INTERNATIONAL (FRANCE) S.A.S Address 4, Rue Ventadour 75001 Paris Telephone 01-4455-1500 Facsimile 01-4455-1599 E-mail kss@jalpak.fr GERMANY Office Name JALPAK INTERNATIONAL (GERMANY) GmbH. Address Immermannstr.45 40210 Duesseldorf Telephone (0211)1686-01 Facsimile (0211)1686-160 E-mail web@jalpak.de HONG KONG Office Name JAL SETELLITE TRAVEL CO.LTD. Address Rm. 2901, 29/F., Tower 6, The Gateway, Harbour City, 9 Canton Road, T.S.T., Kowloon Telephone (852) 3429-1298 Facsimile (852) 6104-9053 E-mail satellite@jalselect.com.hk To page top INDIA Office Name JAPAN AIRLINES NEW DELHI OFFICE Address Chandralok Bldg., 36 Janpath, New Delhi 110 001, INDIA Telephone (011)-2332-3174 Facsimile (011)-2332-0586 E-mail delssjl@del2.vsnl.net.in INDONESIA Office Name P. T. TAURINA TRAVEL JAYA Address Kyoei Prince Bldg. Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav, 3-4 Jakarta Telephone (021)251-0555 Facsimile (021) 251-0556 E-mail sales@taurina.co.id ITALY Office Name JALPAK INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE) B.V. Address Piazza Bertarelli 1, 20122 Milan Telephone 02-7255-3333 Facsimile 02-7200-0618 E-mail booking-it@jalpak.it JAPAN Office Name JAL TRAVEL Address 3-7-10 Shimo-meguro, Megoru-ku, Tokyo Telephone 03-5436-6734 Facsimile 03-5436-6796 E-mail inb@jaltravel.com KOREA Office Name JAPAN AIRLINES SEOUL OFFICE Address Paiknam Bldg.188-3,Eulchi-Ro,1-Ka.Chung-Ku,Seoul Telephone 02-757-1720 Facsimile 02-774-1286 E-mail jal@jal.co.kr To page top MALAYSIA Office Name JALPAK MALAYSIA SDN. BHD. Address Suite 20.01A Level 20, Menara Lion, 165, Jalan Ampang. 50450, Kuala Lumpur Telephone 03-2161-0922 Facsimile 03-2161-4719 E-mail yoyaku@jalpak.com.my MEXICO Office Name JALPAK DE MEXICO,S,A,DE C.V Address Paseo de la Reforma No. 382, Piso, Col Juarez Del. Cuauhtemoc Mexico D.F.C.P. 5 to Telephone 55-5514-9976 Facsimile 55-5207-6858 E-mail outbound@jalpak.com.mx NETHERLANDS ( Scandinavia ) Office Name JALPAK INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE)B.V. Address Jozef Israelskade 48C, 1072 SB Amsterdam Telephone 020-5709820 Facsimile 020-6736171 E-mail info@jalpak.nl NEW ZEALAND Office Name JALPAK INTERNATIONAL OCEANIA PTY LTD. Address 12th Floor, Westpac TRUST Tower, 120 Albert Street, Auckland Telephone (09) 303-2887 Facsimile (09) 366-0772 E-mail aklssp.jal@jalpak.co.nz PHILIPPINES Office Name UNIVERSAL HOLIDAYS, INC. Address Mezzanine Floor, Dusit Hotel Nikko Ayala Center, Makati City Telephone (02) 819-0080 Facsimile (02) 819-0097 E-mail marketing@universalholidays.com To page top RUSSIA Office Name JAPAN AIRLINES MOSCOW OFFICE Address GALS Tower, 1st Tverskaya Yamskaya St.5, Moscow Telephone (095)730-3070 Facsimile (095)956-4759 SINGAPORE Office Name CREATIVE TOURS (SINGAPORE) PTE, LTD. Address 16 Raffles Quay #01-01 Hong Leong Bldg, Singapore Telephone 6222-8465 Facsimile 6224-5937 E-mail jalselect@creativetours.com.sg SPAIN Office Name JALPAK INTERNATIONAL (SPAIN) S.A. 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London Vacation

How To Vacation in London Food, Coffee, and People Coffee lovers: relax. Tea may be the morning cocktail of choice for many Britons, but there are plenty of bean havens throughout the city. Also, most hotels offer both at breakfast, but if not, just ask. British hospitality is superb, and it's almost a guarantee that piping hot coffee will be served on request. Another popular misconception is about the food. Yes, some British recipes are simple, maybe even a little on the plain side, but that's not true for the entire gamut of dishes served up, especially in diverse London. As in many other large cities, you'll find a host of restaurants specializing in international cuisine. Lebanese, Thai, Ethiopian, Indonesian, Italian, French, Japanese, Chinese, and the official EuroVacations favorite, Indian, is available all over London, but don't miss an opportunity for fish-n-chips, Scotch eggs, Shepherd's Pie, Ploughman's Lunch, or crumpets with clotted cream. Londoners are generally friendly, talkative folks who will be happy to strike up a conversation about books, history, archeology, or a selection of other topics. In many pubs and restaurants, you may find yourself sharing a table with another patron or even a large group. Settle in for a long chat and get ready to make a few new friends. top of page Going With the Gang Face it: you won't be able to get away without a ride on a double-decker bus if you've got the little guys with you, so whether it makes you look like a tourist or not, you may as well resign yourself to it. But the thrill will pass, and you'll then find all that London has to offer for kids at heart, teenagers, little ones, and even the wee little ones. On weekends, the Victoria & Albert Museum has a fun cart, which has been keeping children busy and entertained for a few years now. The London Eye can be reserved for after they've been extra good, and the Tower of London to teach them a lesson (it's where the Little Princes were hacked by their infamous uncle, but the kids love the place all the same). One note: many pubs in London have special seating areas for groups traveling with children. Ask on entry if the pub allows/serves children and if there's a separate seating area. You Can Probably Skip It Famous Addresses: Elementary! You won't ever find 221B Baker Street. The Abbey National Building Society headquarters takes up the whole block, though you can seek out the Sherlock Holmes museum just down the street. And for those of you who are "looking for the England of English literature" a la Helene Hanff, well, 84 Charing Cross Road is now a Pizza Hut. And, finally, if, like Sabine, you go looking for Griffin at 41 Yeats Avenue, you'll be very disappointed. But maybe he went to find you... top of page Booking a vacation package to London with EuroVacations is easy. Our vacation packages to London offer a great selection of hand-picked London hotels, with free breakfast. Book car rentals, rail tickets and passes, and tours, so you can see more of London at a great value. Click here How to Vacation in London · First Things First · Where to Stay · Getting to Your Hotel · At Your Hotel · Around London · Food, Coffee, and People · Going With the Gang · Top Ten · If You Have Time · You Can Probably Skip It First Things First The land of kings and knights, Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes, moors and manor houses, Britain is one of those places that is all it's cracked up to be. Fantastic, refined London is the epicenter of all the magical elements of the realm. The unit of currency in the United Kingdom is the pound sterling (£). (Prices below are expressed in U.S. dollars for convenience; check the rate of exchange prior to arrival in Europe.) You shouldn't have any trouble communicating, but remember the hard and fast vocabulary differences (brolly, bobby, banger, etc.). top of page Where to Stay Most of London is at your fingertips via the city's beloved Underground. Nearly the whole of Europe is accessible via the major rail stations. Staying near a rail station is a good idea, especially if you are traveling by rail to more cities than London, and you'll have access to a tourist office, ATMs, and other services t'boot. London is made up of many neighborhoods and districts, each with their own character and flair. Check out: The City: The financial district and real "downtown" London South Kensington, Earls Court: One of the most desirable locations in the city Euston/Kings Cross : The literary area of London Knightsbridge: Home to Harrod's and more fantastic shopping Hampstead Heath/Regents Park: Quaint Georgian neighborhoods Paddington: Excellent tourist-class hotels and access to transportation Victoria: Home to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the London Eye, Parliament West End/Centre: Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus top of page Getting to Your Hotel ... From London Heathrow Airport Getting downtown from the world's busiest airport is easier than you might think. Most flights from the United States arrive in Terminal 3; the rest in Terminal 4. The best route is the Heathrow Express non-stop rail service between the airport and Paddington Station. It's a 15-minute ride and leaves every 15 minutes from all terminals. Fares are about $16. From 6 a.m. to midnight, you may use the Underground--the Circle Line, which connects to the District Line to downtown London. This will set you back a little more than $6. At the tourist information center in the terminal, ask about bus service between Heathrow and the many bus stations downtown. Of course there are taxis--about $70 for a black cab each way, or roughly $40 for a mini-cab. ...From London Gatwick Airport From the South Terminal, take the convenient, speedy Gatwick Express directly to Victoria Station. This is the most popular way to get from the airport to downtown, takes about 30 minutes, and costs about $18. If you arrive at the North Terminal, take the free shuttle to the South Terminal to connect to Gatwick Express. If you don't have too much luggage and you can spare the time, save a few bucks by taking the regular British Rail service. The trip takes only a few minutes longer and costs a few pounds less. You may also try the Thameslink, regular rail service to Blackfriars, Farringdon, and Kingscross stations in central London. Check the BritRail office in the terminal for more information on both services. And the taxis... about $70 for a black cab each way, or roughly $40 for a mini-cab. ... From Waterloo, Liverpool, Victoria, Kings Cross, Paddington, or other rail stations Rail stations of London are all served by the London Underground. Pick up an Underground map at the information center or tourist center once you arrive. top of page At Your Hotel Free city maps and other information can usually be obtained in hotel lobbies or from the front desk. Check in, freshen up, and, with your bags unpacked, your room key in your pocket, and ready to lose a few pounds, take on London! top of page Around London You have a lot ahead of you. London is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, as well as a pretty well populated city. Sure, you will have a lot of company around, but you won't be bored, not for a second. We compiled a list of things that you absolutely cannot miss, a few more to do if you can squeeze them in, and a few places you shouldn't even look for. Here they are: top of page Top Ten: Tours: It's hard to say which will be the best, but there are fantastic half-day walking tours and, if you don't mind feeling like a tourist, double-decker bus tours of London. It's a great way to get oriented and plan your days ahead. Walking tours are about $7 per person; bus tours vary but start at about $14. MW tours offers a very nice several-hour jaunt through London. While jolly busmasters navigate the increasingly confusing and congested streets on your behalf, very knowledgable guides navigate through history, legend, royalty, and more. Our favorite tour is a little steep but well worth it: start off with a quick tour of the big sights, then head to a traditional pub for lunch (included), then it's off to the Tower of London and a visit to the Crown Jewels. The tour is about $55 and lasts roughly 4 very entertaining hours. British Museum: It's been said that the inspiration behind Britain's centuries-long colonization of lands all over the world was a quest to fill London's museums. It's hard not to consider this among the spoils from the farthest reaches of the globe in the museum's millions of artifacts and more than 2 miles of galleries. The museum is inspiring just for its size. It looks and feels like a good, old-fashioned museum, with enormous, thick walls, high ceilings, massive stone staircases that curve around from here to there, and lots of mummies. The British Museum is also home to the Rosetta Stone and the newly refurbished King's Library. Admission is free; there is a small charge for certain exhibits. The museum is open till 8:30 on Thursday and Friday evenings, the best times to go. Victoria and Albert Museum: Of all the treasures stored at the V&A, some of the most interesting are located in the Fakes and Forgeries gallery--a bona fide collection of counterfeits. Take time to explore the endless other galleries, and consider, as you spend a few hours roaming the halls, that for every artifact you see, the museum has another ten in storage someplace. That means the display is revolving, so this massive space is worth more than one visit. A small donation is requested for entrance. London Eye: The ultimate Ferris wheel is comparatively new to the city and is already quite popular. You may make reservations in advance for a pod "flight" and get a 360° view of the whole kit-n-caboodle. Book online in advance to save a few pounds, or buy a ticket on site (you may not be able to get a ticket for the exact day you wish, though). It costs about $16. Buckingham Palace: Unless you have Windsor someplace in your string of last names, forget hanging out in the royal residence in a smoking jacket with your elbow on the mantle. But informative tours are available at select times of the year. If you're just any old bloke, or if the tours are not available, check out the Changing of the Guard at 11 a.m. Pack breakfast and get there before 10 for a good view. Parliament and Big Ben: The House of Lords and the House of Commons, along with scattered other halls and galleries, make up the Palace of Westminster, otherwise known as Parliament. The lines are longest in the afternoon, as throngs gather to witness Question Time (you've probably caught this occasionally on C-SPAN). As for Big Ben (which is actually just the bell, not the whole tower), views and postcard-perfect pictures are available from the opposite side of the Thames. If you're walking along Birdcage Walk from Buckingham Palace, though, stop a few blocks short of Westminster Abbey and get a great shot of just the clock tower (not the rest of the building). From here, you can manage a nice, vertical shot with old lamposts and, if you time it correctly, cabs and double-deckers. Don't forget to listen for the chimes. Cabinet War Rooms: Churchill and his staff conducted operations from here during World War II. You'll be amazed at what was accomplished with what seems today like so few resources. Reserve an afternoon, at least, for this; if you happen to move through quickly, the Cenotaph, 10 Downing Street, and Westminster Cathedral (not Abbey) are nearby. Admission to the war rooms is about $7. Tower of London and the Tower Bridge: Built as a fortress and used as a royal residence, the Tower became best known in its role as the home of the damned. Sir Walter Raleigh, Anne Boleyn, two little princes, and even QE I were "residents" here. Come to see the royal armory and Crown jewels, among the countless other structures, then walk around to the suicide-proof Tower Bridge, with new exhibits in each tower house at either end. Admission is about $11 to the Tower of London and $7 to the bridge exhibits. Crowds don't show up until about 10:30, but the Tower opens at 9. Get there a little early and see it without the crowds. (See our secret tip below.) Westminster Abbey: Edward the Confessor rebuilt this 8th-century chapel, which has since become a repository of many of England's most famous citizens and a treasure trove of English history. Admission is free and photography is allowed on Wednesday evenings (check for exact times), otherwise admission is about $6 and shutter snapping is verboten. (See our secret tip below.) Trafalgar Square: Get there, then decide what to do... the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (anyone hear a choir?) are all off the square. Climbing up on Admiral Nelson's lions to get your picture taken is technically illegal but popular all the same. top of page If You Have Time: Harrods: Once again, if you don't have a roman numeral after your first name, you can forget buying a lot here, it's very expensive. But it's a great place to browse and get some nosh material to go; eating in the store is a no-no. If you're in London around Christmas time, stopping here to admire the holiday displays is a must. Down the road a piece is the famous Ritz Hotel of London. Just a quick walk through the lobby is impressive enough. Kensington Palace: The former "official" residence of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the palace is still open to the public. Former state apartments and the Court Dress Collection are included in a tour, which leaves four times an hour and costs about $6. Mayfair: There's a lot here: Marble Arch, Grosvenor Square, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Bond Street, the Shepherd's Market, and Berkeley Square. Westminster Abbey: Make sure you save time for Edward's Chapel, the site of the coronation of English monarchs. The coronation chair has been marred by graffiti artists over the past few decades. Although its defacing is unfortunate, take a peek at the chair and its 20th-century "artwork" so you can have a little chuckle when it's finally time for Charles to be crowned on it. Visitors to the Tower of London often miss the eerie Ceremony of the Keys, performed by the guards to lock up the tower at night. Tickets are free but may only be obtained by requesting them in advance by writing, on plain paper (no letterhead) to: The Ceremony of the Keys, Her Majesty's Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom. top of page Home . Hotel . Air + Hotel . Car . Rail . Packages . How To Vacation In . View Shopping Cart Affiliates . About Us . FAQ’s . Help © 2004 Eurovacations.com. All rights reserved. Eurovacations® is a registered trademark of Eurovacations.com. Use of the Website constitutes acceptance of the Eurovacations Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy . 1-877-471-3876 State of California Seller of Travel Certificate of Registration # 205-2601

Central America Travel to

Panama, Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information  You are here: About > Travel > Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Panama Travel Go Mexico Essentials Packing List for Travelers to Mexico Health Information Mexico / C. America Safety Considerations Travel Books Mexico and Central America Tourism Offices Mexico/ Central America Articles & Resources Mexico Mexico City Acapulco, Mexico Cancun Yucatan Baja Los Cabos Puerto Vallarta Other Places Photos of Mexico Belize, Central America Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Mexico / Central America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Panama Panama, Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information A selection of online travel related resources to the country of Panama, Central America, with information on accommodations, attractions, history, culture, geography and more. Panama Travel Tourism Vacation Information for Visitors. Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Eco Travels in Panama Learn about Panama's ecotourism opportunities. Includes information on bird-watching, tropical hikes and other attractions. Focus Panama - Panama City Panama City is one of Central America's most vibrant cities. This site provides a good description of Panama City and includes suggestions on what to do and see there. Panama - Consular Information Sheet This official U.S. State Department site provides useful travel advice and warnings for visitors to Panama. Also lists U.S. consulate addresses in Panama. Panama Canal Take a memorable cruise through the Panama Canal - the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Find out more information here. Panama Canal Zone Read an interesting account of a family's recent trip to the Panama canal. Some excellent photos are included on the site. Panama Travel Obtain some good general advice for touring in Panama. Also, get answers to frequently asked questions about Panama. Panama Visitors Info This site tells you what you need to bring with you on a trip to Panama. It also has maps of Panama and information on the people and climate. Recommendations on what to see in Panama and some safety tips are also offered. Travel Panama Panama is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. This site provides information on the history, environment and culture found in the San Blas Archipelago, Darien Jungle, Canal Zone, Pacific Lost Coast and the Bocas Archipelago areas.        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 Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico Headlines Top 6 Travel Books for Mexico and Central America There are many travel guidebooks devoted to Mexico and to... Health Information for Visitors to Mexico and Central America This article provides a summary of the more important health... Safety Considerations for Travelers to Mexico and Central America Travel to Mexico and Central America is not significantly less... Acapulco, Mexico Once a favorite destination of honeymooners, celebrities and the...

Europe Travel

Fregata Travel - Eastern Europe Holiday and Travel Specialists Tel: 020 7420 7305 City Breaks - Hotels - Luxury - Cruising - Incentive & Business - Activity - Exciting Offers - Brochure Welcome to Fregata Travel , your comprehensive resource for travel and holidays to Central & Eastern Europe, and the UK's number one specialist for over 50 years. Click here to see what the press have to say about us... Escorted Tours in Eastern Europe Choose from a selection of escorted tours in Eastern Europe, that offer a unique opportunity to witness this fascinating region. More... Hotel Only Book your hotel anywhere in Central and Eastern Europe, along with optional extras like excursions, show tickets, and guided tours. More... City Breaks in Eastern Europe We have superb value on city breaks all over Central and Eastern Europe, both with low cost airlines and with BA and other national carriers. More... Exciting Offers Indulge in a last-minute weekend break in Eastern Europe to include a concert or a sports event. More... Luxury Breaks in Eastern Europe Stay in a real castle or a grand country house and get unrivalled value for money. Pamper yourself with the superb facilities. More... Spa Breaks in Eastern Europe Take a week off and spend your time taking care of your body at one of many superb thermal spas, around Eastern Europe. More... Austria Belarus Bulgaria Czech Rep. Estonia Germany Hungary Latvia Lithuania Poland Romania Russia Slovakia Ukraine Book Your Airport Lounge Book Your Airport Parking Book Your UK Airport Hotel Book Travel Insurance City Guides - About Us - Contact Us - Order a Brochure - Useful Links - Exciting Offers See our terms and conditions Eastern Europe Holidays with Fregata Travel Ltd., The Eastern Europe holiday specialists. Book city breaks to all eastern European cities, including Budapest, Prague, Tallinn and Moscow. Book escorted tours that suit the needs of all tastes, from cultural tours to activity holidays, spa breaks in Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland. We have river cruises along the Danube, the Elbe, and river cruises that take you from Moscow to St. Petersburg via Novgorod and some wonderful scenery along the way. Fregata Travel tour operators are a division of Commodore International Ltd. and are bonded with ABTA as tour operators under number W3442, ATOL 1607 and with IATA for your peace of mind. The air holidays and flights show are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. our ATOL number is ATOL 1607. ATOL Protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United kingdom . Click the ATOL logo if you wish to find out more .