Italy Travel queries on

Tourism in Italy, ItaliaPlease - hotel, itineraries, travel, guides, cities... NEW: A Speciality from Montefeltro: 'fossa' or 'pit' cheese DIARY - Baroque painting in Genoa , a unique exhibition ... SNAPSHOT - Mount Etna erupts! Web www.italiaplease.com Giro d'Italia Style File Shopping Culture Vulture Sugar and Spice Music! Feel@home Panorama Ciao Italia Go Figure Notebook Tried and Tested SPOTLIGHTS INTERACTIVE forum newsletter spread the word advertising THE SURVIVOR'S GUIDE • • • Italy by book Driving in Italy Travel queries on Internet • Italian holiday destinations tested out by the experts! Bicycles Boat - Cruises Books Calendar Camping Car rental Cinema Cities Crafts Cycling Disabled access Embassies and consulates Emergencies Events Exchange rates Exhibitions Farm holidays Fashion Festivals Ferries Flights Food Football Galleries Holiday villages Hotel in Italy Lakes Last Minute Maps Mountains Museums Nationals parks Naturism News bulletin Opera Parks People finder Pubs and bars Railway Regions Restaurants Sailing Sea Shopping Souvenirs Sport Taxis Theatre Thermal baths Tour operators Tourist books Towns UNESCO Voluntary work Walking Weather forecast Webcams Wine with animals with children Work Unusual Proposals Early Christian Monuments and Mosaics of Ravenna Rate Crespi d'Adda Rate Castello di Ripa d'Orcia Rate Hotel Miramonti - Cingoli Rate PMNEWS Rate Trade Shows Rate Pintadera - Italian Language School Rate Historic Centre of Siena Rate Ferrara, City of the Renaissance and its Po Delta Rate Osteria Gallo Nero Rate Anghiari Rate Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula Rate The Residences of the Royal House of Savoy Rate The Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua Rate Venice and its Lagoon Rate Villa Conca Marco near the blu sea of Salento Rate Oste Meraviglioso Rate Aboca Museum Rate Old Italian Values -- New Novel by Dr. DeFelice Rate Italian classes in Boston Rate New Sites Otranto nel Mondo - Learn Italian by the Sea Rate Italy Weekly Rentals Rate Tour of Italy - Welcome to Capua Rate italian classes in alghero Rate Italian Language Courses in Sardinia Rate Golf in Sicily Rate Hats in Italian Style: Cappellificio Filippo Catarzi Rate Travel Lake Maggiore Rate In Rome Today Rate Learn Italian in Italy at the seaside Rate Italian Lakes Rate Volareweb.com - low cost made in Italy Rate KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - The Reliable Airline Rate eBookers.com Rate Openjet.com Rate EasyJet.com Rate Sterling Rate Germanwings Rate Ferrara - guided tours Rate ILS Italian Language School Apulia - Italy Rate Most Requested EuroWEATHER - Italy Clicks/Month: 146 - Rate Hotel reservation (by Venere) Clicks/Month: 134 - Rate Lake Garda Clicks/Month: 107 - Rate Hotel Reservation - Find the right hotel for you! (by ITWG) Clicks/Month: 104 - Rate Italian Lakes Clicks/Month: 96 - Rate Country Tuscany Clicks/Month: 91 - Rate Travel Lake Maggiore Clicks/Month: 89 - Rate Train Clicks/Month: 87 - Rate Italian Celebrities Clicks/Month: 80 - Rate Italian Webcam Index Clicks/Month: 79 - Rate Train Click/Month: 122 - Rate EuroWEATHER - Italy Click/Month: 111 - Rate Lake Garda Click/Month: 74 - Rate People finder Click/Month: 70 - Rate Camping and holiday villages Click/Month: 63 - Rate Hostels Click/Month: 60 - Rate Italian Celebrities Click/Month: 59 - Rate Travel guides Click/Month: 51 - Rate Italian Lakes Click/Month: 47 - Rate Main Events in Italy Click/Month: 46 - Rate -- The Best InCucina.TV Rating: 9.6 (14) - Rate Metallo Nobile Metallo Nobile design and technical Rating: 9.3 (6) - Rate Locanda della Valle Nuova organic farmstay Urbino Rating: 9.3 (24) - Rate Hassan.tv Rating: 9.2 (17) - Rate Miracle of San Gennaro - Naples - September 19th Rating: 9.2 (17) - Rate Eatalia Rating: 9.2 (5) - Rate Romaround Rating: 9.2 (6) - Rate The City of Udine Rating: 9.1 (9) - Rate ParmaGrocery.com Rating: 9.1 (13) - Rate Umbria Rentals Rating: 9.1 (16) - Rate • TRAVEL • CULTURE • PEOPLE • SHOPPING ITALIA PLEASE Who's Who Mail FAQ Link to Italiaplease Advertising Disclaimer mail to: Web Marketing by Factotum

Cheap Travel

Cheap Flights to Florence, Tuscany - TripAdvisor Cheap Flights to Florence, Tuscany Sign in • Sign up Home > Europe > Italy > Tuscany > Florence > SmartDeals > Flights Florence tourism: Overview Hotels Flights Attractions Deals Forums Maps, etc. Search (e.g., Florence hotels, Las Vegas, Paris art museum) Florence Florence Overview Florence Hotels Flights to Florence Florence Deals Florence Attractions Florence Forum Florence Maps Florence Discount Hotels Florence Vacation Packages Airfare to Florence e-mail this page to a friend Popular airfares Cheap flights to Amsterdam Cheap flights to Atlanta Cheap flights to Atlantic City Cheap flights to Barcelona Cheap flights to Boston Cheap flights to California Cheap flights to Cancun Cheap flights to Chicago Cheap flights to Dallas Cheap flights to Daytona Beach Cheap flights to Disneyland - Anaheim Cheap flights to Disneyworld - Orlando Cheap flights to Dominican Republic Cheap flights to Dublin Cheap flights to Florence Cheap flights to Florida Cheap flights to Hawaii Cheap flights to Italy Cheap flights to Key West Cheap flights to Las Vegas Cheap flights to London Cheap flights to Los Angeles Cheap flights to Maui Cheap flights to Miami Cheap flights to Montreal Cheap flights to Myrtle Beach Cheap flights to New Orleans Cheap flights to New York City Cheap flights to Palm Springs Cheap flights to Paris Cheap flights to Philadelphia Cheap flights to Phoenix Cheap flights to Puerto Rico Cheap flights to Puerto Vallarta Cheap flights to Punta Cana Cheap flights to Reno Cheap flights to Rome Cheap flights to San Antonio Cheap flights to San Diego Cheap flights to San Francisco Cheap flights to Seattle Cheap flights to Sydney Cheap flights to Toronto Cheap flights to Vancouver Cheap flights to Venice Cheap flights to Virginia Beach Cheap flights to Washington DC Read more Florence tourism Special airfare to Florence  * 1 Enter your trip details once From ( airport lookup ) To ( airport lookup ) Depart: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 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 Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Return: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 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 Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Adults: 1 2 3 4 Roundtrip: One-way: Include nearby airports Prefer nonstop 2 We'll show you where you can book After you enter your trip details and click on "show sites," we'll find booking sites that offer flights to your destination. Sponsored links * Flights to Florence Italy Flights www.delta.com The official Delta site has special deals and everyday low fares! Flights www.travelocity.com Great Fares on all Airlines and all Destinations with Travelocity. Cheap Flights to Florence www.wholesale-fares.com Deep discounts on major airlines. Call toll free to compare and save. Florence Cheap Tickets www.AirGorilla.Com Beat the Airlines Fares to Florence Super Saver Airfares Flights To Florence www.BookingWiz.com Save Big On Your Flight To Europe Compare All Major Travel Sites $39+ SuperFly US Fares www.ShermansTravel.com Fly OW Across the US - SuperFly Fare Only $39+. Book Now & Save! Cheap International Fares www.asaptickets.com Save up to 50% on International travel Never pay retail price. Flight To Florence PriceGrabber.com Compare Prices on Flights from a Variety of Travel Sites today! Sponsored links * Car rental Florence : Save on car rentals Expedia.com Book & compare rates on Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Payless & 8 others. Drive Hertz in Europe www.hertz.com Discover Europe with Hertz From only $220 a week! Car Rental Florence www.kemwel.com Save on Your Florence Car Rental. Book On-Line Today with Kemwel. Car rental florence www.alamo.com On your next trip to Italy book Your rental car online at Alamo.com Sponsored links * Florence Travel Deals Florence : Hotel Deals from $91 Expedia.com Don't just travel. Travel right! Florence : Great Prices, Great Rooms hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. View Maps, Photos, Rates. Book Now! Florence : Low Hotel Prices Made Easy Orbitz.com The faster, easier way to find the hotel you want. Just Orbitz and go! Florence : Book Now - Pay on Checkout! Venere.com Buying Direct Means Lower Prices. Hotels, B&Bs, Apartments and More. All results: View all 2,033 Florence travel deals Read more about Florence travel! TripAdvisor SmartDeals are the best deals on the best hotels in Florence. Visit our SmartDeals page. TripAdvisor's Tourism page has the web's best articles on Florence travel . Our Florence hotels page presents hotels ranked by popularity - read traveler reviews and guidebooks. Looking for things to do in Florence? Try our Attractions page! Visit our Florence forum page to ask questions and get advice about Florence travel. TripAdvisor forums let you ask questions and get advice - post in our Florence forum . Our Maps, etc. page has maps and other travel information. Visit our Florence discount hotels page for great savings on Florence hotels, including TripAdvisor SmartDeals. Looking for vacation packages to Florence? We've got deals including hotel and airfare. To view all the specials, vacation packages, and other travel offers we've found, visit our All travel offers page. About TripAdvisor TripAdvisor lists cheap flights and discount airfares to Florence, Tuscany. Recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, travel guides and lots more! Visit TripAdvisor in another language: About Us | Membership | Site Map | Become an Affiliate | Top Cities | Hotel Reservations | Hotel Deals | TripAdvisor Gear Popular Hotels: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , by city TripAdvisor Recommends: Las Vegas hotels , London hotels , Paris hotels , Rome hotels , New York City hotels , Chicago hotels , Orlando hotels © 2005 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved. TripAdvisor Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . * TripAdvisor, Inc. is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... ( more ) TripAdvisor, Inc. is not responsible for content on external web sites.

Argentina Travel

Travel: Argentina Travel Notes -- Argentina News Round The World Flights - Free TravelNotes e-mail Travel Notes : Latin America : Argentina @ Travel Notes : Argentina News -- Booking Engine Vacation Finder Latin America @ Travel Notes Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Caribbean Chile Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador El Salvador Falklands Fr. Guiana Guatemala Guyana Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Sth. Georgia Suriname Uruguay Venezuela News From Argentina Argentina's international newspaper is the Buenos Aires Herald and there are a large selection of Spanish language papers in Argentina. Argentina News Links : Moreover.com's links to news stories relating to Argentina. Buenos Aires Herald : Reporting on Argentina as it is. Updated every day, at 3pm Argentina time. Spanish Language Papers : A whole collection of Spanish papers in Argentina; too many to review here. Newspapers of the World : Directory of newspapers and news sources from around the world. Enter Argentina : Getting to Argentina, and other information for tourists. SightseeingTours, Events and Attractions . Miscellaneous -- Online Reservations Maps & Travel Books : Stanfords is the UK's leading specialist retailer of maps and travel books. 1800-Hostels.com : Budget Accommodation in Latin America. Latin American Directory : Latin America links sorted by country and category. Send @ Postcard Unique images of travel destinations by Travel Notes. Travel Industry : Add Your Tours Add Your Property Latin American Spanish Phrasebook : Most guidebooks have a few words to help you get by but real travellers will need this companion. Learn Spanish . Mailing List Keep up with the latest news @ Travel Notes. Meta-Travel Forums : If you have a question, want to hang out with other travellers, tourists or the natives.... then join Travelnotes in the Meta-Travel forums and share in the global experience. Countries Weather Flights Cars Lodging Specials Contact Meta Flight Tickets : Save money on Round The World flight tickets. Travel News : Get the inside scoop with the latest travel features and tips. Past Articles . Argentina Cities Argentina Culture Argentina Hotels Argentina News Argentina Regions Argentina Skiing Argentina Tourism Argentina Tours Bariloche Buenos Aires Business Corner LearningSpanish Patagonia Local Currency Convert your currency into Argentine pesos. Travel Directory : Latin America : Argentina @ Travel Notes : Argentina News -- Add URL Search Travel Notes | Travel Notes | Search Resources | Submit Your Travel Site | Meta-Travel Search | | 1800-Countries | 1800-Casinos | 1800-Cruises | 1800-Olympics | 1800-Worldcup | | Airlines | Airports | 1800-Fly | 1800-Lodging | 1800-RentalCars | Vacation Rentals | | Legal Notice | Travel Articles | Magun's Compass | Advertisers | Online Reservations | The URL for this page is: http://www.travelnotes.org/LatinAmerica/Argentina/argentina_news.htm

Germany travel newsletter today!

Travel to Germanys Historic Cities Free German Travel Newsletter! Enter your email to subscribe to the Historic Highlights of Germany travel newsletter today! HTML Text AOL Travel to Germanys Historic Cities Travel to the Historic Highlights of Germany, 13 cities chosen for their special charm, architectural brilliance and historic character. Our cities have banded together to provide a single point of contact to help you plan your travel to Germany. How to use our site Click on Cities to learn more about our charming towns what to do, what to see, and where to stay. Learn about history, culture, food and wine, attractions, excursions, activities, events and the general region. In Interests , find out about German art, literature, music, religion, architecture and history and to learn which cities to visit to match your travel preferences. Click on Plan a Trip for tips on hotels and travel packages you can use as building blocks to prepare your own personal itinerary within Germany. Our new Personal Planning Guide lets you assemble a booklet with information you choose from our cities. Our planning wizard helps you create a kit you can use as you plan your travel in Germany. Visit our cities In the Historic Highlights of Germany, youll travel in the footsteps of emperors and kings, bishops and scholars, and generals and presidents who changed the face of Germany, Europe and the world. Youll travel to cities where seamen and merchants built the power of the Hanseatic League. Marvel at our architecture. Freiburgs cathedral with its 381-foot tower ranks among the masterworks of Gothic architecture. Wrzburgs baroque Residenz took 24 years to build. In Augsburg, rococo grew so prevalent that it became known as the Augsburg style. Walk amid gothic-renaissance Heidelberg Castle, Wrzburgs massive baroque Residenz and Potsdams Sanssouci Palace, the 18th-century retreat of Frederick the Great. Or travel to Mnster, the land of 100 moated castles. Trace the roots of Martin Luther and the Protestant faithand spend the night in Luthers former monastery. Walk through Roman ruins, medieval town centers, and thriving marketplaces. Taste history, too. Enjoy wine and seaside specialties in restaurants founded by captains nearly 500 years agoand with reserved tables where todays skippers carry on the tradition. Our vintners and brew masters will take pride in your pleasure. One of our monasteries has been brewing since the 11th century, and we can even serve you wine from your birth year. Travel to our cities, where history lives! © 2003 Historic Highlights of Germany, info@historicgermany.com Map of Germany click on the city icons to get more information Inbounds in Historic Germany: The Soccer Games The 13 cities of Historic Highlights of Germany are quite close* to the stadiums of the World Championships and even closer to Germanys rich history.... more... Featured Travel Packages: Germany's Architectural Treasures Special Travel Values German Christmas Markets Proud Travel Partners Lufthansa German Rail German National Tourist Office Gemuetlichkeit Travel Letter for Germany, Austria, Switzerland & the New Europe

Russia Travel

* GoToRussia.Ru * When you wish to visit Russia :: Information, tips, guides, routes, cities, excursions, etc. Visa To Russia Online Tourist invitations; Business Visa Visit: www.VisaToRussiaOnline.com Call: +7 095 7413870 ABOUT RUSSIA: HISTORY TRAVEL TIPS RUSSIAN EMBASSIES ENTRY Requirements VISA CURRENT PRICES PHRASE BOOK FAQ ABOUT MOSCOW: HISTORY ARRIVING BY PLANE MEETING AT SVO CUSTOMS ARRIVING BY TRAIN METRO FOREIGN EMBASSIES WHAT TO SEE MAPS AND PLANS Travel Tips What to pack. The days of having to bring your own bottled water and toilet paper have gone long time ago, although you may still find them useful in regional cities. Now it is possible to easily find basic food, bottled water and toiletry items in many places around Moscow. However, the following are items some tourists prefer to bring for themselves. 1. Bring your own toiletries and pharmaceuticals. Although there are many stores carrying western medicines, you may not be able to read the Russian or European labels. 2. Comfortable, waterproof and warm, (if winter) boots or shoes. It is frequently wet in Moscow from snow or rain, and you will probably walk a lot. 3. Umbrella. 4. Adapter for small appliances like hair dryers. Russia has the same 220 watt currency as Europe and electrical sockets take round two prong plugs. 5. Travel alarm clock. 6. All phone numbers and addresses you will need. 7. Enough cash for your entire stay. Bring clean, crisp, new bills. 8. Travel money holder/conceiler. Pickpocketing is not uncommon, especially in the center of town and incrowded markets. 9. Photocopy of passport and visa. 10. Warm hat, coat, clothes and gloves in winter. 11. Camera and film, of course. 12. Leave your expensive jewelry at home. You don't need to be conspicuous. 13. Locks for your luggage. Make sure to secure all your baggage with heavy locks. Money Currency: Rouble (Rub) = 100 kopeks. Notes are in denominations of Rub 500, 100, 50, 10. Coins are in denominations of Rub 5, 2 and 1. Currency exchange: The ruble is the only legal tender. It is illegal to pay for goods and services in U.S. dollars. According to the Rusian law foreign currency should only be exchanged at official bureaux. Bureaux de change are numerous and easy to locate. Large shops offer their own exchange facilities. You may see many individuals there who would offer you better exchange rate. Please, be careful and under no circumstances exchange money from them. It is advisable not to change large amount of money at a time unless you really need a lot of Roubles. Exchange rate is unpredictable and may change very fast even during one day. All dollar bills must be recent and clean. The Russians are all concerned about getting stuck with an outdated bill that will no longer be honoured, even though this is also a violation of currency laws. Contact us to get more info on today's best exchange rate quotes. more about money... Credit cards Major European and international credit cards, including American Express, Visa and Diners Club, are accepted in the larger hotels and at foreign currency shops and restaurants. Some ATM'S in Moscow are now accepting EC cards together with your PIN number - if you want to get roubles. Compared to most other possibilities of getting roubles, this is a cheap (compared to credit cards) and time saving (compared to travellers cheques) method. Depending on the Russian bank that maintains the cash machine, you may be charged a 1% - 4% commission fee, on top of what your credit card charges. Travellers Cheques Are a big hassle in Russia. Very few places take them and you pay a premium to cash them. If you're not willing to go all cash, credit cards are much better. AMEX traveler's checks may be cashed at the American Express office at Sadovaya Kudrinskaya 21a in the center of town. Expect to pay a 3% commission for cashing the checks. Selected Russian banks will also cash them for a fee. Banking hours 0900 am - 0500 pm Monday to Friday. Some of bureaux de exchange are open 24 hours. Public Holidays Jan 1 - New Year, Jan 7 - Russian Christmas (Orthodox), Mar 8 - International women’s Day, Apr 15 - Russian Orthodox Easter, May 1-2 - Spring and Labour Day, May 9 - Victory in Europe Day, Jun 12 - Russian Independence Day, Aug 22 - National Flag Day, Nov 7 Constitution Day. Calling home? Calling abroad from ALL Russian hotels is a rip-off. For example, to call USA would cost you about US$ 5 per minute, Australia - US$ 8 per minute. To make sure you pay your phone bill most of the hotels require a deposit of a quite a large amount of money or your credit card information. Without it you won't be able to dial an outside line. There is a solution, however. In our office you can obtain pre-paid phone cards of a few Russian telephone companies (US$ 5, US$ 10, US$ 20, US$ 25 and US$ 50) and call from your hotel or home for as low as 25 cents a minute to the USA and Europe. All you need is a touch-tone phone. Some of the hotels in Moscow and in St.-Petersburg and almost all hotels in all other cities in Russia do not have touch-tone phones. But you still be able to use those cards if before you leave home you buy a bipper (cost about US$ 5 in the USA). With the bipper all you have to do is to dial a number shown on the card and then use the bipper to enter your access code and destination phone number. Please, contact us for more information. To call USA from Moscow for as low as 13.5 cents a minute you can use Net Phone Card. Follow this link to check it out. Or just click on the Net Phone Card banner on our first (entrance) page to go there. You can also use it to call from anywhere to anywhere. Computer equipment The State Customs Committee has stated that there are no restrictions on bringing laptop computers into the Russian Federation for personal use. The software, however, can be inspected upon departure; and some equipment and software have been confiscated because of the data contained in them, or due to software encryption, which is standard in many programs. HIV Testing Requirement Any person applying for a visa for a stay of more than three months must present a certificate showing that the individual is HIV negative. The certificate must contain the applicant's passport data, proposed length of stay in Russia, blood test results for HIV infection, including date of the test, signature of the doctor conducting the test, medical examination results, diagnostic series, and seal of the hospital/medical organization. The certificate must be in both Russian and English and valid for three months from the date of medical examination and blood test. For information concerning entry, exit, and HIV requirements, travelers can contact the Russian Embassy, Consular Division, 1825 Phelps Place, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20008; telephone (202) 939-8918, or the Russian consulates in New York, San Francisco or Seattle. Medical facilites Medical care is usually far below Western standards, with severe shortages of basic medical supplies. Access to the few quality facilities that exist in major cities usually requires cash payment at Western rates upon admission. The U.S. Embassy and consulates maintain lists of such facilities and English-speaking doctors. Many resident Americans travel to the West for virtually all of their medical needs; such travel can be very expensive, if undertaken under emergency conditions. Therefore, travelers may wish to check their insurance coverage and consider supplemental coverage for medical evacuation. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at particular risk. The cost of a medical evacuation from the Russian Far East can be as high as $50,000. It is helpful to carry a letter, in Russian, from your health care provider, describing the nature of any personal medication that you carry into Russia. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline (404) 332-4559, or via the CDC home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/. Bring with you all prescription drugs. Tap water is not to be drunk without first boiling. A good mosquito repellant is recommended for summer. Areas of instability Travel to Chechnya, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Dagestan, and the areas surrounding Chechnya is extremely dangerous due to political instability and frequent kidnappings. Two U.S. citizens have disappeared in Chechnya and remain unaccounted for. In addition, public gatherings and demonstrations occur frequently in Russia, particularly in Moscow. Although such demonstrations are usually peaceful, travelers are urged to exercise caution when in areas where large groups are gathered. Passports and visas Carry them with you at all times. When you are out walking and you see some motley looking guys with black leather caps and jackets with dark gray uniforms, these are the police. They listen for English language being spoken and they will love it if they stop you and you are without your passport and visa. If you don't have your visa and passport, they will escort you to the nearest jail and try their best at expropriating whatever funds they think they can get out of you. Usually, the fine (bribe) is $50 and there won't be anything we can do for you to get you out of it. If the cops haul you in and you do have your visa and passport, call us immediately and we will rescue you. Your visas, if registered through us, will be in perfect order. Don't pay them anything if, once again, you have your visa and passport in your possession. Air travel Air travel within Russia is often unreliable, with unpredictable schedules and difficult conditions, including deterioration of the quality of service. Russian based airlines certified to operate internationally meet higher standards than domestic-only air carriers and fly to most domestic destinations. Traffic safety and road condition Inclement weather and lack of routine maintenance of roads and vehicles make road conditions throughout Russia highly variable. Drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents, which are commonplace. Many accidents involve drunk drivers. Traffic police sometimes stop motorists to extract cash "fines," and bandits occasionally prey on travelers. Crime information Crime against foreigners is a problem, especially in major cities. Pickpocketings, assaults, and robberies can occur frequently and at any time or place. The most vulnerable areas include underground walkways and the subway, overnight trains, train stations, airports, markets, tourist attractions, restaurants, hotel rooms, and residences, even when locked or occupied. Groups of children are known to assault and rob foreigners on city streets or underground walkways. Foreigners who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around nightclubs or bars, or on their way home. Robberies may occur in taxis shared with strangers. Travelers have found it safer to travel in groups organized by reputable tour agencies. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If you receive a replacement for your lost or stolen U.S. passport in Russia, your exit visa must also be replaced, with assistance from your sponsor, so that the passport number written on the visa matches your new passport. This requires a Russian police report. The Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Additional information on the region can be found in the brochure "Tips for Travelers to Russia and the Newly Independent States." Both publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Crime Against Foreign Businesses: Extortion and corruption are common in the business environment. Organized criminal groups target foreign businesses in many cities and have been known to demand protection money under threat of serious violence. Many Western firms hire security services which have improved their overall security, although this is no guarantee. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable. Over the past several years, several American business people have been attacked, kidnapped, and even killed. U.S. citizens are encouraged to report all extortion attempts to the Russian authorities and to inform consular officials at the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S. consulate.In general, when staying in Moscow avoid walking through dark, unknown, deserted streets in the evening; check your pockets and purses, while walking along the crowded streets, do the same in big stores and market places. The crowded public places (i.e. close to railway terminals, Arbat, etc.) are full of Gypsies (people, mainly women, wearing pictures skirts and shawls), who may tell you your fortune by hand, playing cards, etc. Of course, not all of them are thieves or pickpockets, try to get rid of them as soon as possible. When visiting somebody don't get into lift cabin with persons you don't know. It is also advisable to have a telephone number of your tourist agency or a close friend, whom you may always call in case of need or emergency. Embassy location & registration All American citizens who reside in Russia for three months or longer are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy or at one of the U.S. consulates. Americans who will remain for shorter periods may also register and inquire about updated travel and security information. Registration allows for quicker replacement of a lost or stolen passport, as well as contact in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located in Moscow at Novinskiy Bulvar 19/23; phone (7)(095) 252-2451; fax (7) (095) 956-4261. After hours emergencies: phone (7-095) 956-4422. U.S. consulates are located in: St. Petersburg: Ulitsa Furshtadskaya 15; phone (7-812) 275-1701; fax (7-812) 110-7022. After hours emergencies: phone (7-812) 274-8692. Vladivostok: Ulitsa Pushkinskaya 32, phone (7-4232) 268-458 or 300-070; fax (7-4232) 300-091. After hours emergencies: (7) (4232) 471-644 and (7) (4232) 287-290. Yekaterinburg: Ulitsa Gogolya 15a, 4th floor; phone (7-3432) 564-619; fax (7-3432) 564-515. | TOP | HOME | Ask your questions on our discussion board GoToRussia.Ru © 2002-2005 Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy --