Russia Travel

David Tomanek's Russia Travel Page David Tomanek's Russia Travel Page This is one of the most unusual destinations I have visited so far.Below are some of the noteworthy facts you will appreciate knowing as a visitor. To a large degree unspoiled by the Communist system, Russians (and other nationals of the former Soviet Union) have kept up withtheir tradition of hospitality. While service personnel may be unfriendly, people are generally friendly, caring and helpful on a personal level. Culture in its original sense, not restricted to performingarts or architecture, and including culture of human relationships,is highly valued. It is truly a joy to get involved in a livelydiscussion with Russians about Art, Science or Politics, and feel theexcitement and deep desire to find the fundamental truth. This alonemakes an encounter with the Russian culture worth the trip. With amazing accuracy, locals spot foreigners even beforethey open their mouth. By default, foreigners are assumed to beAmericans. Ownership of a car provides drivers with a license to kill. To alesser degree, this also applies at pedestrian cross­walks,where car drivers exercise their right of way somewhat lessaggressively. The dual­pricing system, where foreigners are charged a higherrate than locals for the same service, is an outgrowth of plannedeconomy in desperate need for resources. More resources are believedto be generated using the well­established method to increase egg production by forcing chickens to lay several eggs a day, rather thanacquiring more chickens. This dual­pricing system has recently reached a new level ofabsurdity. As an example, the beautiful state Hermitage museum in St.Petersburg charges foreigners 15­20 times more than Russians. Individual tourism is efficiently suppressed by linking visarequirements to a hotel reservation. This provides hotels with aneffective monopoly on visa, and allowing for hotel rates, applied toforeigners, to be a multiple of those applied to locals. Individualtourists are often asked to pay the price of a western first­classhotel accommodation for a room without running water or toilet paper. One unusual exception from this rule is the American­founded Youth Hostel in St. Petersburg .It charges locals and visitors the same rate of US$ 19 per night perperson (as of Summer 1997) in clean rooms with few beds. Showers andtoilets are unusually clean by local hotel standards. There are noage restrictions. Most important, the hostel is run very efficientlyby an in­house travel agency that specializes in arranging visa. Thehostel/travel agency runs a server on the internet and a very useful Web site . The staff are helpful and experienced, and routinely make use oftheir in­house e­mail and fax facilities. ... back to David Tomanek's home page David Tomanek at Michigan State University tomanek@pa.msu.edu This page has been visited 1325 times. Last update: 15 July 1997.

Vacation Travel and Outdoor

Adventure Vacation Travel - Family Adventures - GoPlayOutdoors Home | About Us | Request Information | Email Your Online Network of Adventure Vacation Travel and Outdoor Recreation Website Design Marketing & Promotion Search Engine Optimization Website Management Advertise With Us Growing with us Interactive Tools Testimonials Current Members How To Participate Suggest Our Site Request Information Take Our Survey Survey Results Contact Us Add to Favorites Check out our suite of Interactive Tools! Problems? Questions? ClickMe SELECT A REGION UNITED STATES • Alaska • California • Colorado • Florida • Hawaii • Minnesota • Utah • Northeast • Southeast • Northcentral • Southcentral • Northwest • Southwest CANADA WEST • Alberta • British Columbia • Northwest Territories • Saskatchewan • Yukon Territory CANADA CENTRAL • Manitoba • Ontario CANADA EAST • Quebec • New Brunswick • Newfoundland • Nova Scotia • Prince Edward Island WORLDWIDE • Africa • Asia • Caribbean • Central America • Costa Rica • Europe • Mexico • Middle East • North Pole • South America • South Pacific CHOOSE YOUR ACTIVITIES Adventures ATV/Jeep Biking Birdwatching Boating/Marinas and Cruises Campgrounds/RV Canoeing EcoTours/Lodges & Cultural Adventures Family Resorts FISHING - Charters & Guides Resorts & Lodges Golf Guest Ranch Health/Wellness/Spas Hiking/Trekking Horseback Riding and Pack Trips Hot Air Balloon Rides Houseboating Hunting Kayaking Meetings/Conventions National Parks Ocean/Beach Resorts Rafting Safaris Sailing/Yachting Charters Scuba/Snorkeling Sightseeing Tours Skiing/Snowboarding Snowmobiling Vacation Rentals Whalewatching Wilderness Retreats CHAMBERS, CVB's, TOURISM & ATTRACTIONS ALABAMA Robert Trent Jones Trail ALASKA Juneau CVB ARKANSAS Greers Ferry Lake CALIFORNIA Lake County COLORADO Ski Vacation & Lodging GEORGIA Dalton CVB Michigan Association Paddlesport Providers ---MINNESOTA Crane Lake Tourism Gunflint Trail Tourism Lake Kabetogama Lake of the Woods NEW YORK Whiteface Mountain SOUTH DAKOTA Rapid City CVB UTAH Ski Vacations & Lodging Carbon County -- Be part of the GoPlay Outdoors Network! Contact Us At: jeff@goplayoutdoors.com OUTDOORS ONLINE, INC. PO Box 176 - Grand Rapids, MN 55744 Toll-free: 1-877-327-7260 or 218-327-7200 © 2005 Outdoors Online, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement Sign up for PayPal! Enter city or US Zip Fishing Guides Hunting Guides

Austria Travel Guides Austria

Travel to Magical Austria: Tours, Hotels, Attractions and Culture AUSTRIA Places to Stay in Austria Austria Tours & Travel Attractions, Culture, and more... FIND THE PERFECT PLACES TO STAY IN AUSTRIA Contrary to popular perpections Austria is not all about mountains. In fact, the Alps only occupy about half of the country. A diverse mix of landscapes is packed into a relatively small area. Glaciers, meadows, alpine valleys, wooded foothills, gently rolling farmland, vineyards, river gorges, plains and even semi-arid steppes can be found in magical Austria. MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS... VIENNA HOTELS Austria's capital Vienna spreads along both sides of the 'Blue' Danube at the very foothills of the Alps. The city is a smorgasbord of Baroque and art nouveau ... SALZBURG HOTELS Salzburg is dubbed the 'Rome of the North' because of its many churches. It is a compact town easy to get around on foot. Salzburg is packed with attractions ... INNSBRUCK HOTELS Many visitors are drawn to Innsbruck by the renown created by the Winter Olympics, which as a result offers a great infrastructure for winter sports fans ... GRAZ HOTELS The name Graz is derived from the Slovenian word for castle. Graz was built around the Schlossberg. The first mention of it under its present name was in 881 ... SEEFELD HOTELS Seefeld is a village in the Tirol province of Austria. It is a popular destination for walking holidays in the summer, and winter sports in winter. The village has existed for centuries ... ALL AUSTRIA HOTELS TOURS & TRAVEL TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HOLIDAY TO AUSTRIA MOST POPULAR TOURS IN AUSTRIA ... VIENNA TOURS The Ringstrasse is known for such magnificent buildings as the Museum of Applied Arts, State Opera House, Museum of Fine Arts and Natural History ... SALZBURG TOURS In Salzburg , visit wonderful sights including Mirabell Palace, Mozarteum School of Music, Marionette Theatre, County Theatre, House where Mozart lived ... VIENNA AT NIGHT There is no better way to experience a city than by night! Feel the pulse of the nocturnal life and admire the spectacular city lights from the Danube Tower ... PLAYS IN SALZBURG Let the marionettes take you on a journey which begins begins on Christmas Eve as the guests of President Stahlbaum gather for the festivities ... GRAZ TOURS Travel back to where the simple things in life are the most comforting - a place where excellent wines are referred to as 'a good drop' ... ALL AUSTRIA TOURS EXPLORE THE CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS OF AUSTRIA One quarter of of Austria's population lives in Greater Vienna, located where the Danube meets the easternmost fringe of the Alps, not far from the boarder to Slovakia. Virtually all government, financial and cultural institutions, as well as national media and large corporations are based in Vienna. Thus, the capital dominates Austria's cultural and political life. Schloss Schonbrunn (Schonbrunn Palace or Schonbrunn Castle) in Vienna is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and since the 1860s has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna . In the 20th century the palace was used several times for important events such as the historical meeting between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev in the year 1961. ... read more ALL INTEREST Top of Page | Places to Stay in Austria | Things to Do in Austria | Links | Site Map | Contact Us AUSTRIA Places to Stay in Austria Austria Tours & Travel Attractions, Culture, and more... Austria Travel Guides Austria Posters & Prints See Also: Czech Republic Germany Switzerland

Russia Travel. Adoptive parents

Adoption travel to Russia - travel visas. Adopt your child in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan or other CIS country, adoption documents TRAVEL AGENTS Home Train Reservations Full visa services - Armenia - Azerbaijan - Belarus - Georgia - Kazakhstan - Kyrgyzstan - Moldova - Russia - Turkmenistan - Ukraine - Uzbekistan Visa support only - Armenia - Belarus - Georgia - Kazakhstan - Kyrgyz stan - Moldova - Russia - Ukraine Fiancee visa - The Process - Services - Who we are Travel services - Cell Phone Rental - Guide and translator - Transport services and airport transfers - Tours and packages - VIP services - Travel Insurance Airport Transfers - Moscow Transfers - St.Petersburg Trans - Kiev Transfers - Odessa Transfers Hotels & Apartments - Hotels in Russia - Hotels in Ukraine - Apartments in Moscow - Apartments in St.Petersburg - Apartments in Yoshkar-Ola - Apartments in Ekaterinburg - Apartments in Kiev - Apartments in Odessa - Apartments in Lviv Airline Tickets - International - Domestic Adoption travel - Doing your own research - Buying your tickets - Airline recommendations - Passports - Travel visas - Hotels in Russia - Getting to your hotel - Safety Traveler’s essentials - Russian visa - Arriving by plane - Arriving by train - Foreign Embassies - Phone services - Internet Access - Exchanging money - Medical help - Time zones - Russian mail US Passports - New US Passport - Passport Renewal - Lost Passport - Second Passport - Adding Pages - Child US Passport - Child Lost Passport - Name Change Russia in Pictures Newsletter Internet Specials Gift Certificates Flower Delivery About us - What our clients say - Our staff - Our partners - Job Opportunities Travel visas Russia , Ukraine , Kazakhstan and all other CIS countries require entry visas. Whatever the urgency, we can assist you in obtaining your visa in as fast as one business day. Please consult your adoption agency on details regarding your entry visas. Your agency may require you to send documents directly to the consulate in certain cases. There are many different types of visas, and although we can usually obtain any type of visa for you, check with your adoption agency on what you will need for your particular trip first. We have our own couriers in Washington, D.C., and process over 50 visa applications daily. Over the years, we have developed personal relationship with the Consul General of Russia, Consul Generals of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and other countries. What may be impossible to achieve for others is usually easy with Go To Russia Travel. Adoptive parents always get $10 off our regular visa processing charges at Go To Russia travel. Our visa processes are mostly automated and if you can scan your visa pictures and fill out online application you will only need to send us your passports by mail or courier. Everything, from filling out your visa application, to tracking your visa online is automated with Go To Russia. [ Welcome letter ] [ Airline recommendations ] [ Doing your own research ] [ Buying your tickets ] [ Passports ] [ Hotels in Russia ] [ Getting to your hotel ] [ Safety ] GO TO RUSSIA Travel 309 Peters St., Unit A Atlanta, GA 30313 Phone: 1.888.263.0023 , 404.827.0099 Fax: 404.827.0435 Office hours Mon-Fri 9AM - 8PM EST Saturdays 11AM - 3PM EST 2004 GTR - Russian Visa All rights reserved Russian Visa Services

Mexico Travel

Tulum Mexico Travel Information : TravelYucatan.com Tulum Mexico Travel Information Tulum Mayan Riviera Mexico TULUM MEXICO Tulum Mexico is the combination of a beach [coastline], archeological zone, and town. You could say that there are three distinct zones making up what people commonly refer to as Tulum. TULUM RUINS Tulum ruins are located 130 km south of Cancun. The "Tulum Archeological Zone" is the first distinct zone. You can't miss the ruins driving along Hwy 307 either in a rental vehicle or in a bus/collectivo. There are numerous signs and there is a big pink hotel on the corner. Tulum ruins are approximately 1 km down a road towards the coast. There is a large market there as well as a few fast food restaurants. Along the road towards the ruins on your immediate right is where the Mayan Pole Flyers do their pole flying. They perform throughout the day and you can sit and watch. Tulum ruins has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. You can jump in the water at Tulum ruins and swim north to Boca Paila [we have done this]. TULUMS HOTELS For current Tulum hotel and resort information including rates, availability and secure on-line reservations please see: Tulum Hotels and Resorts Cancun Airport to Tulum Transfer Information TULUM PHOTOS Click on Image to Enlarge Restaurants Restaurant Main 307 Strip Mini Super Tulum Taqueria Maya at Ruins Ruins Beach North Ruins Beach South Tulum Ruins Beach TULUM BEACH Boca Paila has yet to be invaded by the all-inclusive resorts and remains as one of the last popular bastions of hedonistic culture in the Riviera. Along the beach you find inexpensive cabana's for rent [no reservation needed] and the odd drink stand/BBQ joint. Clothing is optional. Snorkeling along the coast here is not that good. Lots of sand and weeds. Tulum Beach can be accessed through a number of points. You can walk in via the road that takes you to the ruins. Just keep following the road south when it hits the ruins. This same road takes you to the Sian Kaan Biosphere and Punta Allen. You can access the beach by walking through an opening or access point from the road. There is also access at Tulum Pueblo. TULUM PUEBLO Tulum Pueblo is either a small city or a large town; it is hard to say. This is where many of the locals live who work in the nearby resorts and hotels. Many support workers such as bus drivers and construction workers live here as well. It is a diverse population with everything from computer programmers to dive instructors. You enter Tulum Pueblo on Hwy 307. Along the highway is the tourista zona and there is shop after shop selling everything and anything. Lots of tortilla stands, restaurants, pharmacies and other kinds of stores. There are dive shops, tour companies, car rental agencies but no bank or bank machine, go figure. The closest bank machine is at Hacienda Isabela [Bahia Principe Resort]. Off of the highway are residential streets with people living in houses and businesses. BUS INFORMATION There are two bus terminals in Tulum, one near the Pemex station, open to the public from 9: 00 to 18: 00 hrs. The other is located in town and is open 24hrs. Both provide first & second class bus service. The collectivo also stops in town on Hwy 307. You can take the collectivo from Tulum to Playa del Carmen for 15 pesos. TAXI There are 2 main taxi stands. Just look for the line up of taxis. Usually you do not have to look for a taxi as they are constantly driving by looking for fares. TOURIST INFORMATION / POLICE The Police station as well as the library, the Mayor's Office and the Tourist Information Office are located beside the baseball field. The Post Office is located on the main avenue [Hwy 307]. ENGLISH SPANISH hello hola please por favor beer cerveza thanks gracias bathroom bao travelers de viajero cash efectivo credit credito bank el banco open abierto MAYAN RIVIERA Overview Photos Choosing a Hotel Hotel List Hotel Maps Group Hotel Rates Getting Around Map FAQ Weather Ruin Sites Things To Do DESTINATIONS Puerto Morelos Playa del Carmen Playacar Calica Puerto Aventuras Xpu-Ha Kantenah Paamul Akumal Chemuyil Xcacel Tulum OF INTEREST What's All Inclusive? Vacation Info Montezuma Revenge Mayan Riviera Airport Transfers Mark every piece of luggage inside and outside with your last nameand first initial only. Do not use a title [Mz.] Do not put your homeaddress or destination address on the luggage unless yourdestination is a hotel or resort. Mayan Arts & Crafts The Mexican name for the Atlantic coastal region of the Yucatan Peninsula is "Riviera Maya". The English translation is either Maya Riviera or Mayan Riviera. It is used all three ways in this web site. Can't find what you're looking for here, try... | Cancun | Chichen Itza | Merida | Uxmal | Isla Holbox | | Mayan Riviera | Playa del Carmen | Cozumel | Isla Mujeres | Last Mod: November 2, 2005 2005 TravelYucatan.com v3.1 Description: Mayan Riviera Mexico Vacation Information. Travel Information for the Mayan Riviera Mexico