Europe Travel 101 -

Europe Travel in the Off Season You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Europe for Visitors Europe Travel in the Off Season Europe for Visitors Blog « Travel Gifts | Main | Appreciate Long John Shivers? Head for the Alps » From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! December 18, 2005 Europe Travel in the Off Season Why travel in the off season? Well, you know the reasons: fewer tourists, lower prices, and cooler temperatures, to name a few. But there's another reason for me, and that's the warm, slanting light that brings photos alive. See what I mean by taking a gander at: Liguria Pictures - Picture Gallery of Liguria in Autumn . And if you still want to see more pictures of Italy , try out Italy for Visitors Florence Pictures , taken in November. Travel Resources: Off Season Travel Tips | Italy Travel Map Email to a Friend Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...

Switzerland Travel Community? Join

Switzerland Travel Community: Zurich Tourism Home Browse: -- ---Destination--- Adelboden Airolo Aletsch Andermatt Anzre Appenzellerland Arosa Ascona Bad Ragaz Baden Basel Belinzona Bern Berner Oberland Bettmeralp Biel Braunwald Brienz-Meiringen Brig Brissago Celerina Centovalli Charmey Chteau-d'Oex Chur Crans-Montana Davos Disentis-Sedrun Einsiendeln Emmental Engelberg Estavayer-le-Lac Flims Laax Falera Fribourg Geneva Gimmelwald Glarus Grchen Grindelwald Gruyres Gstaad Interlaken Jungfrau Region Kandersteg Klosters La Chaux-de-Fonds Lago Maggiore Lausanne Lauterbrunnen Lenzerheide-Valbella Les Diablerets Leuk Leukerbaad Leysin Liestal Locarno Ltschberg Lucerne Lugano Martigny Mendrisio Montreux Morges Mount Pilatus Mt. Rigi Murren Murten Nendaz Neuchatel Nyon Pays du Grand-St-Bernard Pontresina Rapperswil Rheinfelden Riederalp Romont Saanen Saas-Fee Sainte-Croix Samedan Samnaun San Bernardino Sntis Savognin Schaffhausen Schwyz Scuol Sierre Sils-maria Silvaplana Sion Soglio Solothurn Splgen St. Gallen St. Moritz Thun Thurgau Thusis Ticino Toggenburg Torgon Vaduz Val de Illiez Verbier Villars Visp Region Weggis Wengen Winterthur Yverdon Zermatt Zug Zurich ---Region--- Basel Bernese Oberland Central Switzerland Eastern Switzerland/Liechtenstein Fribourg Geneva Graubnden Lake Geneva (Vaud) Neuchtel / Jura / Jura Bernois Schweizer Mittelland Ticino Valais Zurich Switzerland Game Log in Email Address: Password: Remember Me Problems logging in? Not a Member? What is the Switzerland Travel Community? Join the community to discover Switzerland through firsthand travel reviews and photos, to meet other Swiss travelers, earn valuable rewards, and much more! Switzerland > Zurich Journal Name: Zurich - Downtown Switzerland Member Name: Sierra (Register or Login to see this member's profile!) Type of Trip: Business Date Created: 10/13/2005 Description: Zrich, Switzerland's largest city, is the perfect place to begin exploring this varied country. Entry Category Member Recommendation Content Rating Zurich - Downtown Switzerland Overview N/A Hotel zum Storchen Lodging Very Highly Recommended Lush Brand-Name Retailers Highly Recommended H. Schwarzenbach Local Markets Very Highly Recommended Confiserie Sprngli Specialty Shops Very Highly Recommended Carlton Restaurant and Bar Dining Very Highly Recommended Blinde Kuh (Blind Cow) Dining Recommended Zrich - Walking Downtown Switzerland - Part 1 Experiences N/A Zrich Walking "Downtown" Switzerland - part 2 Experiences N/A has photos Community Zurich Members Who Live in Zurich tom tea DomThePom dasigi **bootsy riogrande See All Members With Zurich Journals pbharathkumar Alyssa mcgujer superpurd Nick Malgieri Zurich Photos See All Most Recent Zurich Journals Zurich - Downtown Switzerland A Taste of Old Europe Zurich: Easy Comfort Zurich: My Second Hometown Zurich and the Golden Pass Line See All Return to Home Information about Swiss Quality Switzerland Tourism : About Us : Privacy Statement

Russia Travel Resources >

Russia Travel Guide - Driving You are here: About > Travel > Eastern Europe for Visitors > Russia-Belarus-Ukraine > Russia Travel Resources > Travel Essentials - Russia > Russia Travel Guide - Driving Travel Go Eastern Europe Essentials Best of Eastern Europe Map of Central/Eastern Europe Photo Gallery Country Profiles Discount Travel Websites Articles & Resources Planning Your Trip Ways to Travel What to Do in East Europe Maps for Eastern Europe Czech-SlovakTravel Hungary Travel Poland Travel Russia-Belarus-Ukraine Romania-Moldova Travel Baltic Travel Balkan Travel Culture and Holidays Photo Galleries East Europe Travel and Language Books Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Eastern Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Eastern Europe for Visitors Traffic Stay up to date! Traffic Email to a friend Print this page Most Popular First Christmas Tree Europe map Best of Eastern Europe Croatia Naturism and Nudism Discount Travel Websites What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings Related Topics Hotels / Resorts / Inns European History Architecture Air Travel Europe for Visitors Cars and Driving - Russia From Apply Now , Your Guide to Eastern Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Russia Travel Guide Driving in Russia can be a challenge, given poorly maintained roads, road hazards, corrupt traffic police, and the frequent accidents. Also, with trains and public transportation systems, there's not much reason to drive. Furthermore, according to Russia's Ministry of Transportation, only about 40 percent of Russia's 135,000 towns are connected by roads, and of those, about 40 percent are substandard. The other roads aren't much better. However, Russia's eastern part is now connected to its western part, thanks to a newly opened section of highway linking Chita to Khabarovsk in Russia's Far East. With this highway section, is now possible to drive the 6,214 miles (10,000 km) from Moscow to Vladivostok. Of course, eager drivers should be aware that only about one-quarter of the eastern section of the highway is paved. The rest is gravel-topped, with plans to have the entire highway paved by 2080. Russian officials expect that the transcontinental highway will help move goods as well as people, lowering costs of items intended for the burgeoning Chinese market. Prior to the highway, air travel or the famous Trans-Siberian rail routes were the only other feasible ways to cross Russia's vast geography. Like elsewhere in Eastern Europe, car theft is common. Park in secured lots or well-lit areas. You will not find many car rental agencies, and those that exist will usually want to give you a driver as well as the car. Rules of the Road So, you still want to drive? Then here are some rules of the road. When you are stopped by the traffic police, you will be informed of the violation. Theoretically, you will issued a ticket and the officer can take your fine on the spot and give you a receipt for it. They are also known to take "payments" without receipts. Larger fines need to be paid at a Sherbank office. You need a valid drivers license from your home country, and a certified translation of it. If you are planning to drive in Russia for more than six months, you will need to get a Russian drivers license. Do not drink and drive. Speeds are 60 km per hour (37 mph) in urban areas and 90 km per hour (55 mph) outside of these areas. Speeding can get you fined. Russia Travel Guide Index Profile of Russia City Profile: Moscow City Profile: St. Petersburg Before You Go Need to Know Money Matters Intercity Travel City Transit Driving Health and Safety Lodging Dining and Drinking Communications Shopping 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 Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings

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Japan Travel Guide, climate:

Japan Travel Guide - Information and Advice Japan Travel Guide Information and Advice Japan Pictures | Japan Map | Asia Map Outstanding holidays on every continent from Explore, the biggest adventure travel company in the world! Extensive worldwide travel options include the 'Shogun Tour' of Japan. Explore: Japan 'Shogun Trail' Tour | Central Asia Tours | South East Asia Tours | Free Brochure Request Japan Travel Guide, climate: Best: March-May, Sept-Nov. Worst: July, August [rains, heat, humidity] Beware Japanese holiday accomodation problems: New Year [Dec 29-Jan 6], Golden Week [April 27-May 6], O-bon [midsummer] Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not incl. flights: Tokyo only - 4 days Recommended: 2 weeks, Tokyo & Kyoto Festivals Guide: Feb Lantern Festival, Nara : 3,000 ancient lanterns are lit, with dance, at Kasuga Shrine Feb, Snow Festival, Sapporo, Hokkaido : gorgeous, massive ice/snow sculptures & 'let's get wrecked' ambience. March, Water Drawing Festival, Nara : Spectacular religious night festival with torches and chanting, at Todaiji monastery. Late March, early April, Hanami : Japan gets plastered under the cherry blossom trees. Date depends on flowering. May,Toshogu Shrine Festival, Nikko : a huge fancy-dress parade and sacred dance at a supremely beautiful shrine . July, Gion Matsuri, Kyoto : a parade of monstrous, wonderfully decorated floats. Also good for a few days before the parade. Mid-July to mid-August, O-Bon Festival nationwide : date depends on local council. Festival of the Dead, paper lanterns on water, candle ceremonies etc. Oct, Festival of Ages, Kyoto : massive historical dress parade. For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Exotic Festivals Japan Activities Guide: Walking and Hiking: Nikko, Chichibu and Hakone Parks are not far from Tokyo. Best during the week. Hiking and Climbing: Mt Fuji [3,700m] is a serious hike, esp. non-summertime. Hot Springs and Baths [Onsen] , esp. 'rotenburo' [outdoor pools] are fun, functional and authentic. Traveller warning - No soap in the pool! Skiing Dec-April. Nightlife is lively and colourful, if expensive, and it's totally ok to get reeling drunk and throw up on your neighbour's shoes. Unless he's American. Japan Star Guide: Monuments **** Shopping and souvenirs ***** Walkability ***** Food Quality and Variety ***** Value for Money **** Hotel Prices and Value ** Beaches ** Wildlife * Landscape ** Local People **** Architecture *** Safety ***** Nightlife and Clubbing ***** Health Problems ***** Museums **** Why Travel to Japan? This is a great, confusing, fascinating, crammed, funny country, full of contradictions - not least of which is the mix of ultra high technology with ancient traditions. There are few great 'big' sights, but lots of terrific little sights, from exquisite elevator ladies in department stores to leather-clad rockers in Yoyogi park to funky old wooden restaurants [Akachochin/red lantern] to weird capsule hotels... It's so safe that you'd have to pay someone to mug you , and teach them how to do it, though the current youth attitude is not looking good. The food is superb, varied and not necessarily expensive. Traditional hotels [Ryokan] are relatively cheap and interesting. Domestic travel systems are superb. Try the bullet train if you can afford it. Downside: - It's sometimes expensive, crowded and hectic. - There are plenty of dull, endless suburbs, hideous overhead powercables, concrete, concrete. - Quaint trad clothing like kimonos are rarely seen outside ceremonial occasions. - It's not tourist oriented , so comprehensible signs can be rare and ATMs often don't like foreign credit cards. Where to travel in Japan: 1] ***Tokyo. A huge, busy city with lots of action, big and little. See the Imperial Palace, Asakusa area, Ginza area, Yoyogi park on a Sunday afternoon, Shinkuku at night, Roppongi at night, Shibuya love hotels, Sumo wrestling, Kabuki [at Kabuki-za, Ginza?], Hama Rikyu Japanese garden. Tokyo National Museum? Disneyland? Little known factoid: the set designer for Blade Runner was inspired by Shinjuku. 2] **Nikko. A recreation area, with a sensational temple, a waterfall and some lovely walks. 2hrs by train from Tokyo. 3] *Hakone. Another favourite mountainous, rec and hot spring area, esp. in the autumn, with great views and a superb futuristic museum. 1.5hrs train travel from Tokyo. 4] ***Kyoto/Nara. Hundreds of elaborate temples, buddhas and zen gardens, tho' central Kyoto has the usual urban sprawl apart from the Imperial Palace. Also see a tea ceremony, Geisha, Katsura Imperial Villa [& gardens] and Himeji castle nearby. 5] *Hida-no Takayama. Very old, traditional, rustic town[aka Little Kyoto]. 6] *Nagasaki. A museum and park dedicated to the A-bomb, a fine recreation of old European homes in the south and a full-scale, lived in Dutch town in the north. 7] Hiroshima. The first bomb site, also with an excellent museum and park and Japan's #1 sight [according to locals], the 'floating' Itsuku Shima Shrine, in Miyajima, not far away. 8] Yokohama, Osaka, Kyushu, Hokkaido, Okinawa. Not worth travelling there unless it's for a festival or some special interest or you have lots of time. Japan Tours Tour operators offering tours to Japan can be found in our listings here: Japan Tours For more information on Japan Travel try these links: National Tourist Offices Online Travel Guides Cheap Airline Tickets UK Cheap Airline Tickets US Travel Insurance UK Tour Operators Embassies Currency Climate Language Japan Travel Links And while you're in Asia you might like to see some other Travel Guides: China Travel Guide Vietnam Travel Guide Cambodia Travel Guide Thailand Travel Guide 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