Disney Vacation more affordable

The Disney Blog: Airline Shakeout could make Disney Vacation more affordable -- The Disney Blog Informing Disney Fans the World Over with the latest news and updates from all Disney companies, divisions, and related stories. Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruises, Disney Animation, Pixar, ESPN, and more are covered in as much detail as I can muster. Our Sponsors Blogads Disney DVDs Walt Disney: Walt Disney Treasures - The Adventures of Spin & Marty - The Mickey Mouse Club Walt Disney: Walt Disney Treasures - Elfego Baca and The Swamp Fox - Legendary Heroes Walt Disney Treasures - The Chronological Donald, Volume Two (1942-1946) Walt Disney : Walt Disney Treasures - Disney Rarities - Celebrated Shorts, 1920s - 1960s Disney Books Robert Tieman: The Disney Keepsakes Sequel to the Disney Treasures book. A must have for any Disney fan. (****) Pixar: The Art of Pixar: 100 Collectible Postcards Full of wonderful postcard art. 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First, if the consolidation of hubs and routes occurs this will leadto fewer seats in the air. This means less capacity to bring the hugecrowds to Orlando and Anaheim during the peak vacation seasons.Vacation Destinations had better be looking at alternate ways to getguests to the gates, more dependance on the international and localmarkets, or plan for flatter attendance patterns. Second, less capacity often results in increased demand. After thecurrent shakeout settles down expect to see a corresponding rise inprices, even on the low cost carriers, until some excess capacity isbuilt back into the system. Also expect there to be less flexibility inwhen and where you travel. The days of non-stop to your destination arewaning and the days of two-to-three hour layovers are once again uponus. Personally, the low cost airlines have worked just fine for me in mycoast to coast travel. I can usually find affordable non-stop flights.But they are less efficient going south to north on the west coast.What should be a 2 hour flight turns into a 5 hour ordeal with layovers and a trip on a commuter plane. I don't see the country becoming any less dependant on air travelanytime soon (and neither do the mega-vacation destinations like Las Vegas which keeps building new hotels). High Speed Rail is still a very expensive alternativeand, so far, impractical when large elevation changes exist. Gas pricesand time make driving much more than 6-8 hours in any direction lessefficient than flying and renting a car. Finally, there is one technology that might shift the balance oftravel. The radius at which it becomes less expensive to fly and rent acar could change dramatically with the wide spread use of fuel cells incars and dual hybrid/plug-n-go configurations. The complete economicramifications of this are left to those with more experience than I,but it will make the next five to ten years interesting to watch. Posted by John Frost in Travel , disney cruise , disney world , disneyland | Permalink TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/1651163 Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Airline Shakeout could make Disney Vacation more affordable : Comments Post a comment If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In You are currently signed in as (nobody) . Sign Out Name: Email Address: URL: Remember personal info? Comments: Partner Blogs Home4Sale Orlando Bound Blog Resume Upgrade - New! The Home Blog RSS Feeds Subscribe to this blog's feed Recent Posts Attendance Numbers re-examined Not impressed with Disney Xmas Parade Coverage? Pixar and Disney: can a working partnership be reached? Toy Story 3-D? Can the Disney Co. Really be Saved? 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Spain Travel

Welcome to the don Quijote website. Spanish Courses. | SPANISH COURSES | | DESTINATIONS | | INCLUDED SERVICES | | OUR GUARANTEES | | LEARN SPANISH ONLINE | Receive a don Quijote free brochure Surname: First Name: Address: City: ZIP: State: Country: SELECT AFGHANISTAN ALBANIA ALGERIA AMERICAN SAMOA ANDORRA ANGOLA ANTIGUA ANTILLES ARGENTINA ARMENIA ARUBA AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA AZERBAIJAN BAHAMAS BAHRAIN BANGLADESH BARBADOS BELGIUM BELIZE BELORUSSIA BENIN BERMUDA BHUTAN BOLIVIA BONAIRE BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BOTSWANA BRAZIL BULGARIA BURKINA FASO BURMA BURUNDI CAMBODIA CAMEROON CANADA CAPE VERDE CAYMAN ISLANDS CHAD CHILE CHINA COLOMBIA CONGO, DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO, REP. OF THE COSTA RICA CROATIA CUBA CURAAO CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC DENMARK DJIBOUTI DOMINICA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ECUADOR EGYPT EL SALVADOR EQUATORIAL GUINEA ERITREA ESTONIA ETHIOPIA FALKLAND ISLANDS FAROE ISLANDS FIJI ISLANDS FINLAND FRANCE FRENCH GUIANA FRENCH POLYNESIA GABON GAMBIA GEORGIA GERMANY GHANA GIBRALTAR GREECE GREENLAND GRENADA GUADELOUPE GUAM GUATEMALA GUINEA GUINEA BISSAU GUYANA HAITI HAWAII HOLLAND HONDURAS HONG KONG HUNGARY ICELAND INDIA INDONESIA IRAN IRAQ IRELAND ISRAEL ITALY IVORY COAST JAMAICA JAPAN JORDAN KAZAKHSTAN KENYA KIRIBATI KUWAIT KYRGYZSTAN LAOS LATVIA LEBANON LIBERIA LIBYA LIECHTENSTEIN LITHUANIA LUXEMBOURG MACEDONIA MADAGASCAR MALAWI MALAYSIA MALDIVES MALI MALTA MARTINIQUE MAURITANIA MAURITIUS MAYOTTE MEXICO MICRONESIA MOLDOVA MONACO MONGOLIA MORROCO MOZAMBIQUE NAMIBIA NEPAL NEW CALEDONIA NEW ZEALAND NICARAGUA NIGER NIGERIA NORWAY OMAN PAKISTAN PALESTINE PANAMA PARAGUAY PERU PHILIPPINES POLAND PORTUGAL PUERTO RICO QATAR REUNION ROMANIA RUSSIA RWANDA SAINT LUCIA SAN MARINO SAUDI ARABIA SENEGAL SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO SEYCHELLES SIERRA LEONE SINGAPORE SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH KOREA SPAIN SRI LANKA ST. KITTS AND NEVIS St. MARTEEN ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES SUDAN SURINAM SWAZILAND SWEDEN SWITZERLAND SYRIA TAIWAN TAJIKISTAN TANZANIA THAILAND THE UNITED KINGDOM THE UNITED STATES TOGO TONGA TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TUNISIA TURKEY TURKMENISTAN TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS UGANDA UKRAINE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNITED KINGDOM UNITED STATES URUGUAY USA UZBEKISTAN VANUATU VENEZUELA VIETNAM VIRGIN ISLANDS (UK) VIRGIN ISLANDS (US) WEST INDIES YEMEN ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE Email: Studying Spanish with don Quijote is more than learning the world's second most-used language. It also means having a wonderful experience and making friends from all over the world -all assets for life. Learn Spanish in Latinamerica Mexico Peru Argentina Bolivia More...... Learn Spanish in Spain Courses Destinations Included Services Our Guarantees Learn Spanish Online Dictionaries Word of the day Verb Conjugator Spanish Lessons Test your level Spanish Jokes Spanish Games "In Salamanca I had a great time. Not only I learned the Spanish language/culture but I made some friends for life too. It was really a fantastic period!" More opinions of our students © 1996 - 2005 don Quijote S.L. All rights reserved.   |  Affiliate Program  |

Europe Travel by month

Europe Travel Guide Europe Travel Guide 'I want to travel in Europe... I'm only going to a graveyard, but it's a most precious graveyard' Dostoevski Europe Travel by month | Why Travel to Europe? | Europe Map | European Walking Tours Kumuka WORLDWIDE offer 24 different itineraries throughout Europe covering the major European cities. Tours range from an eleven day 'Escapade' to a forty three day 'Bonanza'! Kumuka Worldwide: visit their website | see their European Adventures | request a free brochure Europe Travel Guide Austria Travel Guide - best May-Sept, worst Jan, Feb, see also Vienna Belgium Travel Guide - best May-Sept, worst Jan, Feb, see also Brussels Czech Republic Travel Guide - best Apr-June, Sept, worst July, Aug, see also Prague Denmark - best May-Sept, worst Jan, Feb; see Copenhagen Finland Travel Guide - best June-Sept, worst Jan, Feb; see also Helsinki France Travel Guide - best April-July, Sept, worst Jan, Feb, August; see also Paris Germany Travel Guide - best May -Oct, worst Jan, Feb. see also Berlin | Heidelberg Greece Travel Guide - best March-June, Sept, Oct. Worst Nov-March; see also Athens Hungary Travel Guide - best May-Oct, worst Nov-Feb; see also Budapest Iceland Travel Guide - best June-Aug, worst Jan, Feb; see also Reykjavik Ireland Travel Guide - best May-Sept, worst Nov- Feb; see also Dublin Italy Travel Guide - best March-Sept, worst Dec- Feb. See also Florence | Rome | Venice Netherlands - best April-Oct, worst Jan, Feb; see also Amsterdam Norway Travel Guide - best May-Sept, worst Nov-Feb; see also Oslo Portugal Travel Guide - best April-Sept, worst Nov-Feb; see also Lisbon Russia Travel Guide * - best May-Sept, worst winter; see also St.Petersburg | Moscow Spain Travel Guide - best April-June, Sept, Oct. Worst Aug, Dec- Feb; see also Barcelona | Madrid | Seville Sweden - best May-Sept, worst Jan, Feb; see also Stockholm Switzerland - best June-Sept for summer and Dec-March for snow activities. UK Travel Guide - best Apr-Sept, worst Nov-Feb; see also Edinburgh | London Turkey Travel Guide* - best April-Nov, worst Dec-Feb; see also Istanbul * These countries are partly in Europe! Photo:Venice Carnival, Italy Travel to which best Europe cities in these months: January February March April May June July August September October November December So what has Europe Travel got to offer you? Architecture: This crammed and chaotic part of the world has a stunning variety of architectural styles, both public buildings and private. From Paris' Eiffel Tower to the cramped but characterful canalside housing of Amsterdam, from Barcelona's melting Sagrada Familia to Venice's decaying palazzos, and from London's Houses of Parliament to Vienna's backstreets, the area has the greatest concentration of sensational old buildings in the world. And don't forget some amazing post-modern architecture too, ranging from Bilbao's wacky Guggenheim museum to Berlin's crystal Reichstag. Walkabout: most Euro city centres are compact, reasonably well preserved and have developed car-free or car-limited pedestrian areas that make travelling around the city centres a pleasure. And then there's Venice... History: 2,000 years of brutal, fascinating history lurks behind the civilized facades of most Euro cities. World changing civilizations like ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, Napoleonic France, Victorian England, Turkey's Ottoman Empire, Spain's conquistadors and Germany's Third Reich rose and fell in Europe - and the scars are still visible. Culture: The cultural heritage on show in every Euro city is staggering. Among the world beating museums and galleries are St Petersburg's Hermitage, Paris' Louvre, London's British Museum, Madrid's Prado, Istanbul's Topkapi palace, and Rome's Vatican. In most cases the building housing these treasures are treasures themselves. Cuisine: European cuisine has also given the world some everlasting icons. Taste the original pizza in Italy, caviar in Russia, roast beef in Britain, coffee in Vienna, croissants in France, sausage in Germany. Then go and have a Macdonald's if you must... Style: Style and fashion are a dynamic part of everyday life in much of the Euro zone too. From London's punk to Paris' haut couture to Italian leather to Scandinavian minimalism, the creative process is constantly being pushed to the limit. Shopping in the right places in Euro cities will yield styles ranging from wild and wacky avant garde to perfect classical, though prices often require deep pockets. Festivals: Europe's cities also offer a rich crop of strange and wonderful festivals, like the Bull Running in Pamplona [Spain], the masked Carnival in Venice [Italy], Edinburgh's [Scotland] huge and crazy International Festival, Salzburg's [Austria] prestigious music Festival and... Escape: Finally, when you're tired of the cities, there's plenty of travel interest in the countryside: castles and palaces and ancient ruins and mountains and lakes and sports of every description to refresh you before you go back to the cities. Europe Travel Guide - Best Cities © Bugbog.com Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog

Russia Travel Guide Overview

Russia Travel Tips and Advice | iExplore.com FORBES' #1 ADVENTURE TRAVEL SITE 5 YEARS IN A ROW — TIME MAGAZINE TOP 50 Keyword Search: -- Home Trip Finder Travel Guides Community Special Offers Store My iExplore advertisement -- Home Travel Guides Europe Russia Do's and Don'ts Russia Travel Guide Overview Tours Where to Go Activities General Info History Weather Travel Tips Dining Shopping Visa & Health View Trips to Russia Europe Overview Browse Russia Photos Russia Questions and Answers Read Russia Journals Find a Russia Travel Buddy Russia Travel Tips & Advice Social Conventions It is customary to shake hands when greeting someone. Company or business gifts are well received. Each region has its own characteristic mode of dress. Conservative wear is suitable for most places and the seasonal weather should always be borne in mind. Smoking is acceptable unless stated otherwise. Avoid ostentatious displays of wealth; it is advisable to keep expensive jewelry, watches and cameras out of sight and take precautions against pickpocketing. Tipping Hotels in Moscow and other large cities include a 10 to 15 per cent service charge. Otherwise 10 per cent is customary. International Travel: Travel warning Because of the security situation in the North Caucasus, it is strongly advised not to travel to Chechyna, Ingushetia, Dagestan, North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area) and to the eastern and southern parts of Stavropol Krai, particularly where it borders Chechnya and North Ossetia. Chechen militants have threatened further violence in response to the killing of their rebel leader, Aslan Maskhador, on March 8 2005. It is advised that potential travelers monitor this situation. There is a high threat from domestic terrorism in Russia, including suicide bombings in public places. Air The national airline is Aeroflot – Russian International Airlines (SU) (website: www.aeroflot.com ). Other airlines serving the Russian Federation include Air France , Austrian Airlines , British Airways , Czech Airlines , El Al , Finnair , Lufthansa and SAS Scandinavian Airlines . Approximate flight times From Moscow or St Petersburg to London is three hours 45 minutes. From Moscow to Almaty is four hours 40 minutes, to Baku is three hours 10 minutes, to Bukhara is three hours 40 minutes, to Kiev is one hour 45 minutes, to Minsk is one hour 20 minutes, to Odessa is two hours, to Samarkand is three hours 50 minutes and to Yerevan is two hours 50 minutes. International airports Moscow (SVO) (Sheremetyevo) (website: www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru ) is 35km (22 miles) northwest of the city. Taxis are available at the airport to the city center for approximately US$10-15 (travel time – 30 to 40 minutes). ‘Autoline’ fixed-route taxis and buses are also available. Express coaches depart for the city every 20 minutes (0545-0030). Coaches depart for the airport from the Central Air Terminal in Moscow, 37 Leningradsky Prospekt (travel time – 50 minutes for international flights). Express trains leave every 30 minutes. Airport facilities include outgoing duty free shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, car hire, restaurants and first aid. Moscow also has three primarily domestic airports: see Travel – Internal section. St Petersburg (LED) (Pulkovo) is 17km (10.5 miles) south of the city. Buses are available to the city center 0700-2000 every 10 minutes (travel time – 10 minutes). Taxis are available for roughly US$10 (travel time – 15 minutes). Airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change, flight information, duty free shops, restaurant, bar, snack bar, left luggage and first aid. Departure tax None. Rail There are various connections from London. The sleeper coach to Moscow takes about 53 hours. The main route is: London–Brussels–Cologne/Berlin–Moscow. The journey from London to Brussels can be made by a variety of train and ferry services (including via Eurostar ), or via the Channel Tunnel. Services from Brussels are daily. There are through trains or coaches from other Western and Eastern European cities, from CIS countries, and from China (PR), Iran, Mongolia and Turkey. See also Trans-Siberian Express in the Travel – Internal section. Road Foreign tourists may drive their own cars or may hire cars (see Travel – Internal ). The speed limit is 60kmph on minor roads, 90kmph on major roads and variable on highways. A road tax is payable upon entry to the country. The following crossing points between Finland and the Russian Federation are available: Vaalima–Torfianovska; Nuijamaa–Brusnichnoye and Rajajooseppi–Lotta. There are also crossing points between the Russian Federation and all neighboring countries although, at present, there are restrictions on cross-border travel to Azerbaijan and Georgia. Plans to simplify this process are currently underway. Those entering by car should have their visas registered at the hotel, motel or campsite where they will stay for the first night, and must also ensure that the car registration number is recorded in the visa. Travelers should also insure their vehicle with Ingosstrakh , which has offices at all crossing points and in most major cities, and to purchase service coupons at the border. Although motorcyclists can enter the Russian Federation, cyclists wishing to cross the Russian border should find out whether this is permissible from the Russian Embassy or their travel agent before departure. Eurolines , departing from Victoria Coach Station in London, serves destinations in the Russian Federation. For further information, contact Eurolines (tel: (08705) 143 219; e-mail: welcome@eurolines.co.uk ; website: www.eurolines.co.uk ). Duty free regulations are liable to change at short notice. The following should be used as a guide only, and travelers are advised to contact the Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date information. The following goods may be imported into the Russian Federation by persons of 16 years of age or older without incurring customs duty: 1000 cigarettes or 1kg of tobacco products ; 1 . 5l of spirits and 2l of wine ; a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use ; gifts up to the value of US$10,000 . Note On entering the country, tourists must complete a customs declaration form which must be retained until departure. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. Cameras, jewelry, computers and musical instruments should all be declared. Customs inspection can be long and detailed. It is advisable when shopping to ask for a certificate from the shop which states that goods have been paid for in hard currency. Presentation of such certificates should speed up customs formalities. Prohibited imports Photographs and printed matter directed against the Russian Federation, weapons and ammunition, narcotics, fruit, vegetables and live animals unless with a special permit. Prohibited exports Arms, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture), precious metals and furs. Note Up to 280g of caviar per person may be exported, provided a receipt is shown proving that it was bought at a store licensed to sell it to foreigners. Internal Travel: Air The internal network radiates from Moscow’s four airports. Aeroflot runs services from Moscow to most major cities. All-inclusive tours are available from specialist tour operators. Note: In the 1990s, Aeroflot was broken up into many small airlines which led to a catalog of air disasters earning it a reputation for poor safety. Thankfully, its safety record has improved in recent years. Domestic airports Vnukovo Airport (VKO) is 29.5km (18 miles) southwest of Moscow. Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal (travel time – one hour 15 minutes). Outgoing duty free facilities are available at the airport. Taxis are available to the city. Domodedovo (DME) is 48km (25 miles) southeast of Moscow. A coach goes from the Central Air Terminal to the airport (travel time – one hour 20 minutes). Bykovo Airport (BKA) is the smallest of Moscow’s airports, 35km from the city. Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal. Approximate flight times From Moscow to Bratsk is six hours 45 minutes, to Donetsk is one hour 30 minutes, to Irkutsk is seven hours, to Khabarovsk is seven hours 30 minutes, to Kharkov is one hour 15 minutes, to St Petersburg is one hour 30 minutes, to Volgograd is one hour 50 minutes and to Yalta is two hours 15 minutes. Sea Owing to its geographical position, the Russian Federation has ports on its Pacific and Baltic shores and in the south on the Black Sea. The most important eastern ports are Vladivostok, Magadan, Nakhodka and Petropavlovsk; the most important western ports are St Petersburg and Kaliningrad on the Baltic. The only links to the Atlantic are the ports of Murmansk on the Kola peninsula, which never freezes over and Archangelisk. Major harbors on the Black Sea are Novorossiysk and Sochi. There are plans to build an extension to the St Petersburg harbor at Ust-Luga. Upgrading of facilities at Kaliningrad and Vyborg is also planned. Sea cruises on the Black Sea and the Baltic are popular. River Cruises and excursions are available on the Amur, Don, Irtysh, Lena, Ob, Volga and Yenisey rivers. Many companies offer cruises on board comfortable, modern boats. The Volga towns, the Golden Ring and Moscow–St Petersburg are popular routes. Rail The 87,079km (54,109 miles) of track are a vital part of the infrastructure because of the poor road system. The largest and busiest rail network in the world is predominantly for freight traffic. Only a few long-distance routes are open for travel by tourists, and reservations must be made on all journeys. Children under five years of age travel free. Children aged five to nine pay half fare. Rail travelers are advised to store valuables in the compartment under the bed or seat and not to leave the compartment unattended. The Trans-Siberian Express , probably the most famous train in the world, is one of the best ways of seeing the interior of the country. It runs from Moscow to the Pacific coast of Siberia and on to Japan. There is a daily service, but the steamer from Nakhodka to Yokohama only sails approximately once a week. The through journey from Moscow to Yokohama takes 10 days. It is the world’s longest continuous train journey, crossing seven time zones and 9745km (5778 miles) from Europe to the Pacific, with 91 stops from Vladivostok to Moscow. Bed linen and towels are provided in the ‘Soft Class’ (first-class) berths, and there is a toilet and washbasin at the end of each carriage. Attendants serve tea from samovars for a small charge and there is a restaurant car on every train where meals can be purchased (however, no alcohol is available on the train, so passengers are advised to bring their own if desired). The Trans-Manchurian Express follows the same route, before heading southeast into China and down to Beijing. Another, slightly shorter but no less epic journey can be made on the Trans-Mongolian Railway to Beijing. It runs from Moscow to Irkutsk (Siberia), skirting Lake Baikal and then entering Mongolia. The journey to the Mongolian capital, Ulaan Baatar, is remarkable for its dramatic scenery. The journey concludes in Beijing. Road The European part of the Russian Federation depends heavily on its road network, which totals 552,000km (343,000 miles) throughout the Federation. Generally, the few roads in Siberia and further east are impassable during the winter. It is a good idea to arrange motoring holidays through a reputable agency. It is also advisable to pre-plan the itinerary and accommodation requirements. On the majority of tourist routes, signposts are also written in the Latin alphabet. Travelers can take their own car (see Travel – International ) or hire a vehicle; tariffs include the cost of insurance. Chauffeured cars are available in major cities. Sample distances: Moscow to St Petersburg: 692km (432 miles); Moscow to Minsk: 690km (429 miles); Moscow to Rostov-on-Don: 1198km (744 miles); Moscow to Odessa: 1347km (837 miles). Bus: Long-distance coach services have only recently become open to foreigners. They are a great way of seeing the country but patience is a necessity and getting lost is commonplace. Traffic regulations: Traffic drives on the right. Speeds are limited to 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas and 90kph (55mph) elsewhere. Hooting the horn is forbidden except when to do so might prevent an accident. Motorists should avoid driving at night if possible. It is forbidden to carry unauthorized passengers or pick up hitch-hikers. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is forbidden. Every car must display registration plates and stickers denoting the country of registration and be fitted with seat belts, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and an emergency sign (triangle) or red light. In case of an accident, contact the nearest traffic inspection officer and make sure all participants fill in written statements, to be witnessed by a militia inspector. All repairs will be at the foreign motorist’s expense. Documentation: An International Driving Permit and a national license with authorized translations are necessary. Visitors traveling in their own cars must also possess the following documents at all tmes: passport and visa; itinerary card bearing visitor’s name and citizenship, car registration number and full details of itinerary presented upon entry to the Russian Federation relating to the route to be taken and the date and place of stopovers; form provided by Customs on arrival guaranteeing that the car will be taken out of the Russian Federation on departure; petrol vouchers purchased at the border; and insurance cover documents. A road tax is payable upon entry to the country (see end of Travel – International ). Motor insurance for travel within the Russian Federation should be arranged prior to departure, or upon entry to the Russian Federation at the offices of Ingosstrakh , the Russian Federation foreign insurance agency. Contact the Embassy or a specialist tour operator for further details. Urban Public transport in the cities is comprehensive and cheap. Many services are electric traction (metro, tramway, trolleybus). Stations on the Moscow and St Petersburg metros are always elegant and often palatial. Entry to the underground is by tokens, which are inserted into the ticket barrier. Fares are standard for the various forms of transport. Taxis are also available; they can be hailed in the street, hired at a rank or booked by telephone. It is safer to use officially marked taxis, which should not be shared with strangers. Travel Times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Moscow to other major cities/towns in the Russian Federation: Air Rail Sea Khabarovsk 7.30 - - St Petersburg 1.30 9.00 - Irkutsk 7.00 88.00 - Nakhodka - - 141.00 Volgograd 1.30 - - Sponsored Listings ( Add your listing ) advertisement Advertisement -- advertisement Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us © 2005 Adventure Travel with iExplore --

Japan Travel

Outdoor Japan - Your guide to travel and the outdoors in Japan Outdoor Japan Magazine is the only bilingual magazine about travel and the outdoors in Japan. Have fun, meet friends, plan trips, buy gear , get inspired and get out there! OUTDOOR JAPAN MAGAZINE - CURRENT ISSUE OUTDOOR STORE DIRECTORY OUTDOOR JAPAN CLASSIFIEDS OUTDOOR OPERATORS - EXCITING ACTIVITIES GREAT PLACES TO STAY AROUND JAPAN EVENT & RACE CALENDARS A search for my fathers birthplace brought me to the land of rising suns and falling pink blossoms. Locals dubbed me KintaroGolden Boyafter the legendary Japanese character, and so began Kintaros journey that would last more than four months and 3,000 kilometers with nothing but an old sketch as a clue... I t had been raining since the previous day, and I could feel the thick moisture spread through the air, falling through the crevices of tree branches that covered the sky above. My rain gear was completely wet with humidity and sweatwhat a messyet my heart was like a sunny day filled with joy, soaking in the precipitous scenery. Yakushima is rain. Subscribe & Win! Subscribe to Outdoor Japan Magazine in until Nov. 30 for a chance to win tickets to the Banff Film Festival, Kintaro DVDs and a Deluxe Room for two nights with breakfasts (up to 4 people) at the Hotel Grand Mer in Okinawa! 購読して、当てちゃおう！ １０月にアウトドアジャパンの雑誌を購読すると、バンフ・フィルムフェスティバルのチケット、「金太郎日本をゆく」のDVD、沖縄のグランドメールホテルのデラックスルームにて２泊（朝食付き）無料宿泊（最大４名様）のチャンス、いずれかが当たるよ！ * News & Notes: Tokyo Real Ale Festival - Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Tournament - Shin Yokohama 2006 Ski Trips - Japan Underwater Explorers * OJ Feature Story in BEPAL Magazine * OJ booth at the Kudos Travel Fair 2005 * New Video section! * OJ / JA Monthly Hiking Trips * Listen to Outdoor Japan's Adam Clark on Kanaz@wee! Podcast The Vault [Past Features] Join the OJ Newsletter . It's free and a great way to keep up with what's going. Just type in your e-mail address below. CLICK FOR LATEST NEWSLETTER OUTDOOR JAPAN WINTER SPORTS SECTION INTRODUCTION AREA GUIDE RESORT SPOTLIGHTS FEATURE STORIES WINTER GIVEAWAY COMING SOON! LATEST FEATURES Traveling this summer, I walked into Forest Rhythms, a pottery studio deep in the woods of the North Eastern United States owned Steve Hodgkin. A narrow strip of road leads four hours northward from Jaipur, through the desert to the land of Shekhavati, to extraordinary frescoed mansions in the sand. The castle town of Mandawa serves as the ideal anchor for a visit to Shekavati. By now most of us here in Japan are enjoying a bit of a reprieve from the stifling heat and humidity of summer. HyakumeizanJapans 100 Famous Mountains: #82 Yarigatake Traveler's Tune: Ben Folds' Island Retreat With a careful eye for deserted mountain roads, a cool late summer morning in Iwate Prefecture brought about a sensational downhill longboard carving session. The Local Brew: The Fishmarket Taproom, Numazu, Shizuoka（静岡県沼津市） Eco Corner: Choices for Sustainable Lifestyles The North Face Tadpole 23-Convertible Made for Japans humid weather Trail Recipes: Tamago Oziya (Egg & Rice Soup) Spirit of Silence: Like most people, I love traveling. However, I explore a soundless worldas I was born deaf. The samurai warriors who were exiled to Hokkaido set the tone for the type of rugged individualists that became the Dosanko (children of Hokkaido) of today. Off the tourist trail is about about little-known places such as Omine-okugake Trail spanning Nara and Wakayama Prefectures. If you are looking for a quick escape with the family, look north to Saitamas Chichibu Youth Outdoor Activity Center. OJ Video Section See some fun video clips of great places and activities in Japan. Outdoor Japan Classifieds (Japan & Int'l) NEW OUTDOOR OPERATORS Westylife specializes in VW Westfalia Campers. Sales, repair and customization in Japan. Come to The Outpost and learn to snowboard in English in beautiful Nozawa Onsen Village in Nagano. Great skiing and snowboarding in a traditional Japanese hot spring town. Skybus Sapporo is a great way to get to and from New Chitose Airport in Sapporo and where you are staying. Niseko, Furano & more. OkinawaAdventure in paradise! OAC is committed to providing the safest possible eco-friendly outdoor adventure experience that is also a lot of fun. NEW PLACES TO STAY Kanzanso is an onsen ryokan located in a quiet Oigami hot spring village in Gunma Prefecture. The Oigami area is surrounded by mountains rivers. Hotel Heights is located in Northern Nagano in the Shiga Kogen Ski Resort area, one of Japans most scenic and natural sites. Hotel Matsushima is the home of budget travelers in Tokyo, offering quality service and making life easy for foreigners, backpackers and travelers in Japan. Hotel Grand Mer brings you affordable luxury and impeccable style in the heart of Okinawa, Japan's tropical paradise. Fontana is a leading international real estate provider with over 800 furnished apartments and guesthouses conveniently located throughout Tokyo. BIGAIR Fukuoka Hakata, Fukuoka Studio Nada Ocean View Cottages Kashima, Ibaraki We welcome comments, suggestions, reviews and contributions. Enjoy! home ׀ write for oj ׀ send in a review ׀ advertise ׀ contact us All contents Outdoor Japan Y.K. All rights reserved.