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Whistler Ski Resort Lodging | Discounts| Whistler Ski Resort Checklist Whistler Ski Resort Lodging | Whistler Ski Resort Checkist & Savings Whistler Ski Resort-Priceless personal experiences you can afford . Use our Whistler lodging by owners directory & Whistler ski resort consumer-direct vacation planning tips to create precious lifetime Whistler memories with your friends & family. Search Whistler Lodging Options | View Whistler Ski Resort Vacation Checklist! Free! Book direct with Whistler owners on our wholesale, Whistler lodging & ski resort vacation planning site to avoid middle agent fees & for extraordinary personal service & hospitality-then use the savings to do something really special for yourself, friends & family to make your Whistler ski resort vacation unforgettable! Search Whistler Lodging Options | View Whistler Ski Resort Vacation Checklist! Fast! Whistler Ski Resort Lift Ticket, Rental, Snow School & Lodging Savings -Saving a ton of time & money are only the secondary benefits to using our Whistler lodging & Whistler Blackcomb ski resort site-having a great time with the money you saved is the first! Use our step-by-step checklist & handy links to quickly plan a vacation of a lifetime! Search Whistler Lodging | View Whistler Ski Resort Vacation Checklist! Easy & Fun! Whistler Lodging & Whistler Ski Resort Lift Ticket, Snow School & Rental Specials-Book by Oct. 31, 2004! Plan your Whistler ski vacation reservations around Whistler Blackcomb Discount Discovery Weeks for the best ski vacation resort deals. Act fast-you must book all of your Whistler lodging & Whistler ski resort tickets, rentals and snow school on this site before October 31, 2004. Get Whistler Ski Resort Discount Discovery Week Details Save Money!! Whistler Ski Resort & Lodging Easy Vacation Planning | Discounts Plannng your own Whistler resort ski vacation & Whistler lodging is fun, easy and fast! If you have a computer with an internet connection, creating your own personal Whistler ski vacation is as total snap! Here is a suggested road map and some helpful Whistler information tips & web site links: Step#1-Search & Book Whistler Ski Resort Lodging Book top-located Whistler Blackcomb mountain lodging direct with Whistler ski resort owners & save on your Whistler Blackcomb accommodation by avoiding middle agent fees. Quick search 420+ Whistler Canada lodging options & view the exact rental home you will stay in before you book online, including detailed photos, descriptions, Whistler maps, owner bios & more. Enjoy the personal hospitality & benefits of a Canadian ski resort home and a locally knowledgable, dedicated Whistler ski resort customer service representative with no other guests than you during your dates- the owner! Search Whistler Ski Resort Lodging Options | Send a Fast Whistler Lodging Inquiry Step #2 Book Flights to Whistler Ski Resort- Advice & Quick Tips Its worth it to shop around. Most sites allow you to select your seats and to check-in online, before you go to the airport! Wear good clean socks & get a pedicure-you have to take off your shoes in airport security! Here is a quick tip list to help you plan your Whistler vacation: Web Sites -check out Expedia , Travelocity , Orbitz , Priceline or CheapTickets . These sites have great prices & help you quickly compare fares! Book Direct with Airlines -lately, we have found that they have the best deals. Just go to to their web sites & do some searches. In addition to your favorite airlines, be sure to also visit Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, West Jet and Tango. They have great fares! Use your Airmiles! -Don't forget to use your points, if you can :) Travel Agents -Check-in with your local travel agent for fares. Book your lodging and flights on the same day and book early. Availability on our site changes by the minute! Search Whistler Ski Resort Lodging Options | Send a Fast Whistler Lodging Inquiry Step #3-Book Whistler Ski Resort Discount Ground Transportation Get to Whistler ski resort by car, bus, van shuttle, or our favourite way- by limo! That's right-hiring a limo or van is really affordable & totally worth it. Subscribe to our newsletter & get 10-20% consumer-direct discounts with our selected ground transportation providers. Instead of giving us a commission for our referral, they give you a discount, providing that you give them the customer code provided in the newsletter, when you book directly with them! Search Whistler Ski Resort Lodging Options | Subscribe to Whistler BC Newsletter Step #4-Book Whistler Blackcomb Resort Ski School Book Whistler Blackcomb Snow School early, since space is limited. Plan around Whistler Resort Discount Discovery Weeks for extra special Whistler mountain snow school deals. Act fast-you have to book Whistler lodging & snow school on this site by October 31, 2004! Search Whistler Ski Resort Lodging Options | View Snow School Programs Step #5-Book Whistler Ski Resort Childcare Book it early! There are 2 broad options: Whistler Blackcomb Kids -Whistler Blackcomb has great programs for kids 3 months & up! Nannies -The Nanny Network (604-938-2823) and Babysitting Whistler ( 60 4-902-baby) have certified & screened nannies and is an ideal option for families with many kids. Search Whistler Lodging | View Whistler Blackcomb Kids Programs Step #6-Book Whistler Ski Resort Discount Lift Tickets, Gear& Clothing Rentals Buy discount Whistler Blackcomb ski lift tickets & gear rentals on our Whistler ski resort lodging & ski vacation planning to site to save up to 30%! Research prices & pre-book online within 72 hours of your arrival in Whistler resort to avoid big ticket window line-ups and prices. Pick up your tickets as early as the day before your first skiing/riding day at one of 3 conveniently located Whistler Blackcomb mountain base customer service desks. All tickets and rentals must be booked with Whistler lodging on this site. Book Whistler lodging first, then buy your Whistler lift tickets & rentals. Over 10,000 lift tickets successfully sold and fulfilled from this site! Search Whistler Lodging Options | View Discount Whistler Lift Ticket Pricing or Buy Tickets.. Step #7-Book Whistler Ski Resort Activities Book your favorite activities in advance! Here are our recommended favourites: Snowmobiling, SnowCat, Fishing & Snowshoeing Tours - with Cougar Mountain Adventures Evening Whistler Blackcomb Snowmobile or Snowcat & Fondue Dinner Tour -with Canadian Snowmobile Blackcomb Sleighrides -Enjoy a great evening outing on Blackcomb with friends & family! Swimming, Indoor Skating, Working Out, Raquet Ball- Check out Meadow Park Recreation Centre-just 5 minutes north of Whistler Village on Hwy 99. They have a great kids pool and fitness facilities! 604-935-PLAY Whistler Welcome Nights- head to the Village gondola every Sunday night at 6:30 pm for incredible outdoor fun! Ziptrek Tours between Whistler & Blackcomb Mountains Ziptrek EcoTours Backcountry Touring & Avalanche Awareness -We highly recommend that you check out Whistler Guides to add a new dimension to your Whistler ski resort winter experience! Search Whistler Lodging | View Whistler Ski Resort Activities Info | Subscribe to Newsletter for Activities Discounts Step #9-Buy Whistler Ski Vacation & Lodging Travel Insurance We highly recommend travel insurance, because life happens, and it can happen to you at any time!Make sure that you are covered for lost luggage, as well as flights, lodging and medical. Here are some recommendations: Check your credit card accessory services options -sometimes travel insurance is included, or can be purchased at rock bottom rates! Check your life insurance policies -you may already be covered for medical and may not have to buy those components. Check www.insuremytrip.com to compare options and to buy it online. Leaving it to the last minute -you can buy it at most airports! Whatever you do, don't leave home without it! Search Whistler Lodging Options | Send a Fast Whistler Lodging Inquiry Step #10-Whistler Ski Resort Weather & Clothing Tips Whistler ski resort is located in the Coastal Mountain Range, which means that weather changes are fast and furious! Here are some tips: Dress in Layers -bring lightweather & cold weather gear Bring Gortex -you need waterproof gear. It may be raining in the Village, but snowing like mad just above the Village. Don't get wet before you get on the slopes! Treat your Gortex prior to Arrival -Follow the manufacturer's instructions for re-conditioning your Gortex gear!. We also recommend Nik Wax for Gortex gear and especially for gloves. Check out the Weather Links Below -Here are 3 must see weather sites: Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort Snow Forecast Whistler Ski Resort Weather Forecast Farmer's Almanac Weather Predictions Calling for the 2005 snow to begin flying in late September 2004-Yipee! Step #11- Whistler Resort Road Reports & Tips It is a 2.5 hour drive from Vancouver. Squamish is about 1 hour from Vancouver.Here are our best tips: Gas Up -in Vancouver Bathroom Breaks -before you leave the airport or in Squamish (1 hr from Vancouver). Food & Coffee for the Road - There is a Starbucks, and other restaurants in Squamish. White Spot is a great fast family restaurant (a BC classic :)) Arrive & Drive in Daylight Hours -the highway is complex and weather changes quickly.If you can't drive in daylight, get a limo 1-way and rent a car on the return trip from Avis in Whistler. Expert Drivers Only Please -this is not a drive for the faint of heart. Don't Speed -you will get busted or be killed-seriously. Don't Tailgate -be safe & polite. Everyone will get there. Don't Tailgate Logging Trucks -take this advice seriously, or kiss an old growth log coming through your windshield. Get Road and Snow Reports every 15 Mins -Listen to 102.1 or 107.1 FM. Check for Construction Delays & Conditions before you Leave Search Whistler Ski Resort Lodging Options | Send a Fast Whistler Lodging Inquiry Step #12-Whistler Ski Resort Groceries There is no need to buy groceries anywhere else but Whistler. There are several LARGE grocery stores: IGA -in Whistler Village North Grocery Store -in Whistler Village Pre-Order Online & Save- Order from Whistler Grocery to pre-order online and have your food delivered to your door. Subscribe to the newsletter program and give them the customer code, to receive free delivery. Search Whistler Lodging Options | Subscribe to Whistler BC Newsletter Stp #13-Whistler Ski Vacation GST Refunds If you are a non-Canadian resident, you can get a GST refund for all things purchased that you did not consume in Canada! Exceptions are Whistler lodging accommodations and gear rentals-which are considered services, and are therefore refund-eligible. Don't bother paying someone to do your Whistler resort lodging & ski vacation refund. Keep your money! It is easy to get on your own, as long as you keep your receipts and fill out the form correctly. Read the instructions before you go to Whistler Ski Resort so that you are familiar with the rules, and getting your refund will be a total snap! Download GST Refund Form, Information & Instructions Whistler Lodging & Whistler Ski Resort Consumer-Direct Vacation Guide-Help Support our Continued Efforts to Bring you the Best Whistler Ski Lodging & Whistler Resort Value! Our Whistler Lodging & Ski Resort Mission We are a consumer-direct Whistler lodging and Whistler ski resort vacation planning directory and have been in business for over 7 years. Our mission is to help people like to you get the best Whistler lodging and Whistler Blackcomb resort services at great prices and in a time-efficient safe and consistent way, by stripping away all uncessary and costly intermediaries that you end up paying for. As result of our Whistler lodging service and Whistler Blackcomb resort consumer-direct vacation planning site, Whistler owners and resort services providers can give you the absolute best, consumer-direct price. We also work fanatically to keep our own costs down, without compromising our great customer support, so that our fees are not passed on to you by owners. Our Whistler Ski Resort Fees-Keeping them Small to Non-Existent, so that you Pay Less! Whistler lodging owners pay us a flat annual subscription fee. We also make a extremely teeny tiny amount of money on Whistler lodging rent transactions, so that we can keep developing the search, property display & reservation software & payment system to make it safer, faster, more consistent & transparent, & more private for you & our other site users. When you pay online, you are ensuring that when you come back to Whistler ski resort, that this site will be even better! Whistler Blackcomb ski resort services providers are profiled for free in exchange for having what we feel is a great service to site users, and by passing on our our referral commission as discounts to you. Finally, we do not do any pesky paid banner advertising because it would impact with your enjoyment of the site and remove all objectivity from our company-thus compromising the quality of the service to you. How You Can Help us Improve & Grow our Whistler Ski Resort & Lodging Service Quality & Value If you liked & value this Whistler accommodations & Whistler Blackcomb resort service and similarly embrace our values and mission in making it easy, unintrusive and affordable for you to have a great & highly personalized vacation experience and would like to support us in continuing to help you get great vacation value in this and other destinations, we would deeply appreciate your support in helping us continually improve our service quality and customer support levels! Here are 4 vital ways that you can help: 1-Please link to our site from yours. Please let us know that you linked to us & tell us about you, your vacation and your web site! We will link back to you and profile you on our site! It really helps us get to know our customers and plays a big role in keeping our costs down to owners, who in turn pass on the benefit to you. Please use the exact link anchor text and URLs below: AlluraDirect.com Vacation Rentals by Owner (http://www.alluradirect.com) Whistler Blackcomb BC Canada- Ski Resort Accommodations by Owner (http://www.alluradirect.com/whistler) 2-Book your Whistler lodging & Whistler ski resort lift tickets, rentals and snow school directly on this site with your credit card. Your business transaction volume and customer feedback directly through this site are instrumental in strengthening our ability to work directly with accommodations homeowners and ski resort guest services providers like Whistler Blackcomb, to bring you tremendous consumer-direct Whistler value, customer support & resort deals. For example, because of your immense business support, we were able to pioneer, create & implement with Whistler Blackcomb, our massively successful Whistler Blackcomb Discount Discovery Weeks program, that now helps thousands of people like you explore more of what Whistler has to offer. 3-Tell your friends & family about this site -word of mouth referrals are deeply appreciated. 4- Send us Feedback! You shape this company, policies and resources with your feedback! We respond personally to all suggestions, comments, rants and feedback! Search Whistler Blackcomb Lodging | Send Fast Whistler Rentals Inquiry | Send Feedback to AlluraDirect.com Staff Thanks for booking on our Whistler British Columbia Lodging & Whistler Ski Resort consumer-direct directory! with gratitude from the AlluraDirect.com staff & owner-hosts! Vacation Rentals By Owner Vacation, Reservation & Check-In Support 9 am-11pm PST 7 Days per Week Local : 604-707-6700 Toll Free North America : 1 - 866 - 4 - Allura Toll Free UK : 0-800-028-9346 Toll Free Australia : 877-226-6358 Toll Free Hong Kong : 800-903-329 Email Us Whistler Homepage Organize Vacation Find Accommodations 4 Fast & EASY Searching Methods FastFind My Owner/Property Find a specific person or listing Book with Confidence Find out why people like you & Frommers Travel love this Whistler Blackcomb site! View All Discount Benefits Discount Lift Tickets Discount Equipment Rentals Discount Ski/Board Lessons Getting Here Suggested Activities Vacation Planning Resources Free! Get Secret Whistler Discount Codes, Local Tips & Savings Alerts! Keep In Touch All raves, rants & suggestions will be repsonded to! Send Positive Feedback Make Site/Service Suggestion Make a Complaint Update Your Guest Profile Owners Get Free Rental Business Tips! 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Chicago Vacation

Chicago vacation tips? | Ask MetaFilter MetaFilter AskMeFi Projects MetaTalk December 28, 2005 2:55 PM PST Home Archives Tags Search Login New User Tags: chicago tourism November 8, 2005 Chicago: I'm visiting Chicago for the first time in a couple of weeks. I'll be there for the weekend with a friend, staying at the Hotel Allegro , and I'm looking for suggestions regarding fun things to do. Where should I go and what should I see? For example: Is the Museum of Contemporary Art worth the trip? Is the Navy Pier a waste? Is the train a convenient way to get around, or am I better off renting a car? What sort of attractions are within a reasonable distance of my hotel (located, I believe, in the Loop). That sort of thing. I've already got tickets to the Second City. Thanks in advance. posted by gd779 to travel & transportation at 5:39 AM PST the responses to my question earlier this year were pretty dang helpful. posted by sluggo at 5:54 AM PST on November 8 The Allegro is right in the Loop and you're right near the trains, so you have lots of options. You're within blocks of shopping (State Street), theaters, and lots of mid to high end resteraunts and bars. Millenium Park is about a 5 minute walk. The Art Institue is about a 15 minute walk away. For loads of shopping Michigan Avenue (the Magnifcent Mile) is 15-20 minutes away on foot. It's all pretty touristy where you are, so it depends what you're into. I've never found anything fun about Navy Pier, but if you're looking for carnival food or overpriced t-shirts that's the place to go. Check Gaper's Block (from MeFite Me3dia) for a look at some of the cooler things happening in the city while you're here. CitySearch and MetroMix have even more things to look at. posted by Slack-a-gogo at 5:56 AM PST on November 8 See also here posted by einarorn at 5:58 AM PST on November 8 Just about any of the museums are a full-day visit, including the Art Institute. If you are using public transportation, Argyle street and Devon make for pleasant international shopping and dining, low key and few crowds. (Red line north to Argyle. Devon is a bus trip.) Public transportation in the central Chicago area is great unless you have plans to get into the surrounding suburbs. posted by KirkJobSluder at 6:19 AM PST on November 8 If you're looking for bars and clubs and things that less touristy check out the Reader . The paper is free and can be found all over the city. It comes out on Thursday afternoons, and from the Allegro you can pick one up at Rock Records, which is exactly one block South on Washington (it's at about the same spot on that block as the Allegro is on Randolph). There are loads of ads and listings, so you should definitely be able to find something to do. TimeOut is also now in Chicago, and you can pick that up anywhere that sells magazines. posted by Slack-a-gogo at 6:19 AM PST on November 8 Oh, I love the Hotel Allegro. I put my maid of honor up there as a thank you when she came into town for my wedding. I think you'll be absolutely fine with relying on the train/buses. If you need to get somewhere that's not really accessible for whatever reason, you'll be able to get a cab really easily. I enjoyed going to Chinatown. You can take the Red Line south a few stops. It's not like San Fransisco or New York, but it's fun. posted by sugarfish at 6:27 AM PST on November 8 The Pier is nice for an hour or so but it's primarilly food and drink. There's the Shakespeare Theatre there if you're so inclined, tho. In the summer Second City runs shows there as well - I saw The Trial of Friar Lawrence there and it was superb. The aquarium is awesome too. I resisted going, having grown up in Miami and with no shortage of great aquatic displays, but went on my most recent visit and it was excellent. Beautiful, well laid-out and well worth the money. The perfomance shows are corny as such things always are, but still neat. Presumably they're done screwing around with the bean so make sure you go see it. It seems like a moronic concept but it's impressive up close. And take a picture . posted by phearlez at 6:35 AM PST on November 8 Whoops - I meant to suggest going to one of the Second City shows while you're there, too. posted by phearlez at 6:35 AM PST on November 8 When I was in Chicago, I was pleasantly surprised that I could get a five day bus/train pass [not including the Metra] for $18. This was definitely the way to go for travelling. There were very few places that I couldn't get to this way, be sure to bookmark their trip planner . posted by jessamyn at 6:36 AM PST on November 8 If you do decide you'd rather not take the Bus or trains, just take cabs. By the time you rent a car and pay for parking you'll come out close enough to even that it's worth it to pay for the convenience. posted by Wallzatcha at 6:41 AM PST on November 8 If you'll be using public transportation, use this site or just call 836-7000 from any Chicago area code and they'll plan your trip for you (i.e. tell you where to get on, get off, and transfer). posted by jtron at 7:11 AM PST on November 8 These may be a little too off the beaten path for your visit, but catching a show by The Neofuturists or browsing the stacks at Quimby's Bookstore will yield unexpected pleasures. If you opt to visit the more readily accessible Shedd Aquarium - may as well walk an extra block and catch the show at Adler Planetarium as well. Great views of the city from out there. posted by tristero at 7:13 AM PST on November 8 The Art Institute of Chicago has one of the greatest Modern Art collections in the world. If you like art, don't miss it. posted by scottr at 7:14 AM PST on November 8 I would recommend Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind The historical society offers tours of the city via the brown and purple lines on Saturday and Sunday. Navy Pier is not a waste if you would like to see an IMAX movie, eat at McDonalds, or buy something that says Chicago on it. I think the art museum and the Shedd are great. posted by srburns at 7:17 AM PST on November 8 The Allegro is great, the restaurant downstairs (320 Grille?) has the BEST scallops appetizer I have ever had. There is a fondue restaurant on the north side called Geja's (I believe it's pronounced "yay-ya's"). It's a good time, celler-like environment, full 3 or 4 course meal. Make a night of it, and expect to spend $50-$75 a person. Also, Mambo Grill on Clark street has amazing latin food. Don't rent a car- it's just too expensive. You can get everywhere you need to go by El or train. Thumbs up on Art museum, thumbs down on Navy Pier, especially in cold weather. The Field museum and Shedd Aquarium are both fun, and farther south The Museum of Science and Industry is amazing. If you are interested in Chicago history, the main building is what's left of what was built for the World's Fair in 1893. Check out " Devil in the White City " posted by bradn at 7:18 AM PST on November 8 The Art Institute is worth seeing, even if the layout is infuriating for the modern works. I like to go there for two hour chunks with a clear idea of what I want to see, in order to avoid museum fatigue (though I can go longer, usually the people I'm with start to whine like babies in the face of all the art. Also, I'm not shy about skipping stuff I think is crap in order to sit for ten minutes in front of the Rothkos. Which you should do.) The Museum of Contemporary Art is usually pretty solid, and can be done in an hour. The Contemporary Photography Museum is small, but absolutely fantastic with its rotating shows, and can also be done in an hour (and is an easy walk from the AI). Aside from that, if you feel like trecking, you can visit the Brookfield Zoo. It's an excellent spot if you're either with kids or on drugs. Or both. Even if you're not, the Rainforest exhibit is worth seeing sooner or later, but I'd be hard pressed to make the trip from the loop that far out just to see it. The Museum of Science and Industry is OK, if you want to feel wistful for the great public works projects of yesteryear, and feel deeply frustrated with the screaming children that decend like locusts to break everything tangible around while their parents ignore them. Most of the really cool stuff is gone, and computer monitors have replaced a lot. Instead of having an emphasis on the sheer achievement and monumentalism that made Modernism so amazing, it's turning into just a large hands-on museum, and one cluttered with the garrish and transient. Though they do have a WWII sub as a last gasp grab towards The History Channel viewers. The Aquarium is top-notch (though I again recommend drugs to push the experience over the edge into truly fantastic), but can have an ungodly wait to get in, especially on the weekends and whichever day of the week is the cheap one. You should see it at least once in you life though, it's really great. My second favorite aquarium, next to the one in Monterey Bay, California (which is totally different in scale and emphasis-- the one in Chicago is just huge and gorgeous, but there's no interaction with the fish). Right next door is the under-rated Museum of Natural History, which I enjoy quite a bit. But I also enjoy looking at the giant rings of trees, dinosaur skeletons and old decrepit mummies, so your milage may vary. For all of those places, you should endeavor to keep a few dollars with you for the plastic models that are die-cast right in front of you. They're probably toxic and cause cancer, but they're so damned cool. I'm working on a full set... If you like music, you should look to Out of the Past records, a dusty anarchic set of vinyl (seriously, no order at all) that has so many hidden treasures that it should be declared on the national registry. It's near the Museum of Science and Industry. Dusty Groove is good too, if you've got some time to kill and are around Wrigleyville. Lots of out-of-print stuff. Totally easy to blow cash there. I dropped $50 like breathing, and I'm a cheapskate... posted by klangklangston at 7:52 AM PST on November 8 Navy Pier will make your soul hurt for a couple of days hence. If you brave Michigan Ave. for shopping or the desire to get your toes stepped on, I'd recommend going to the top of the Hancock. It's a great view of the city and you can have a $12 martini. posted by MarkAnd at 7:53 AM PST on November 8 If you get a chance, try an Ino's burrito-- you won't regret it. There's also a nice little thai place on Michigan Ave. right near the Art Institute that's surprisingly cheap and pretty tasty. Or there's the Chicago Diner, if you go for upper-middle-class vegetarian food. posted by klangklangston at 7:53 AM PST on November 8 Oh, I second the Neo-futurists (or rather, I third it) - TMLMTBGB is the best! The architectural boat tour is one of my favorite things to do in the Chi - it's probably too cold for that, though, so maybe one of the walking tours sponsored by the architects? I know it sounds boring, but it's actually really interesting and fun and pretty. And please eat some pizza. Mmm, pizza. And also, don't get a car, you don't need one, and it would be a pain to park -- public transportation in Chicago rocks (and don't discount the buses, I love the bus system in Chicago). The bar at the top of the Hancock building has great views, too, if the weather is clear. posted by echo0720 at 8:30 AM PST on November 8 As others have noted, if you care even a smidge about art The Art Institute is a must. It's my favorite art museum in the US. Do not miss its spectacular collection of Joseph Cornell's work--the largest one anywhere. The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers a wide array of tours . If the weather is not abominable I highly recommend the river cruise. Devon street was mentioned--this is a great place to eat Indian food. If you like German food, the Berghof is a classic and very popular at lunch. And much to my chagrin as someone who grew up on the West coast and has been eating MExican food all my life, my hands down favorite Mexican restaurants are in Chicago-- Frontera Grill and Topolbampo . posted by donovan at 10:01 AM PST on November 8 Oh yeah, lemme recommend TMLMTBGB as well. Excellent. posted by klangklangston at 10:31 AM PST on November 8 These are all great suggestions, thanks! posted by gd779 at 10:47 AM PST on November 8 Go to the Hideout . Best music in a city which abounds in beautiful noise. posted by felix betachat at 11:36 AM PST on November 8 MeTa . (Just in case the dates work, gd779.) posted by felix betachat at 12:21 PM PST on November 8 Second the Hideout, definitely. Also second (third/fourth/whatever) the Art Institute, in particular the modern collection -- and the Joseph Cornell collection is, indeed, not to be missed. As for restaurants, I always love going to Reza's when I'm back in Chicago -- the fessenjen (cornish hen in pomegranate sauce) is spectacular. On the fancy-schmancy end, if you're in the mood (and have the means!), Blackbird is stellar -- I had one of the greatest meals of my life there. posted by scody at 12:26 PM PST on November 8 Check out Wicker Park starting with the intersection of Damen, North and Milwaukee. It's still a little piece of heaven in some respects. Record shops, coffee shops, thai food, noodle shops, the Double-Door and all sorts of assorted tomfoolery can be had. The Hideout isn't too far north of there either. You'll be on Randolph street which has undergone a huge resurgence. All sorts of awesome stuff if you get on Randolph and head west. Also, as touristy as it is, the area of Wells and Division has Second City and cool things to see. For Blues, avoid Kingston Mines and the neck-high frat crowd and head over to Rosa's on West Armitage. Of course you could always come to our meetup! ;) posted by KevinSkomsvold at 12:39 PM PST on November 8 ON REVIEW: The Out of the Past record store is NOT near the Museum of Science and Industry, despite my visiting it on the same day and somehow believing that it was. Out of the Past is at 4407 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60624. I still recommend you go there. posted by klangklangston at 5:12 PM PST on November 8 I love the area around Clark and Belmont Ave...get off the El at Belmont, walk to Clark, turn left and walk up the street toward Wrigley Field. Lots of cool shops and things there. You should also stop in the Marshall Fields flagship store on State Street. This is nothing like the Marshall Fields stores in the mall. It's a definite experience. Plus the Christmas windows will be done by then, so check those out. : ) posted by SisterHavana at 1:05 PM PST on November 10 « Older I love my lotus lamp. I hate t... | My company has an ISDN2 link w... 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Welcome to South Africa Home / Welcome to South Africa Current Version: All Welcome to South Africa Welcome to the official South African Tourism website – the most comprehensive online source of information on travel to and in South Africa. Tourism Helpline: 083 123 6789 Have something to say? If you have some feedback on our website, we’d love to hear from you. Find an expert on South Africato fulfill your travel requirements. Click here to order your Welcome collateral. ETEYA Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award Click to see the finalists here . What's Hot The Untamed Elephant Coast Unusual Places to Get Wet It’s called the ‘Untamed Spirit of the Zulu Kingdom’, and if you’re looking for wild and wonderful adventures, look no further than KwaZulu Natal’s Elephant Coast. For those who want to take a self-drive along this coastline, there really is so much to explore. Read More... South Africa boasts incredibly good weather, gorgeous scenery and fantastic beaches. The country not only has wonderful oceans to swim in but there are also rock pools, freshwater streams, and natural lakes on offer. Here are some of the wetter areas worth exploring... Read More... Features Land of the Resurrection Bush Grass and Water There is an often repeated story about the Waterberg, an wild mountainous area of bushveld three hours north of Johannesburg. Whenever old President Paul Kruger was particularly vexed by one of his burghers, he would say: “Give him a farm in the Waterberg.” Read More... During the dry blonde and russet Free State winter, it is a bewildering thing to turn a corner on the road to Qwa Qwa and suddenly find the wind whipping up foaming white horses on an enormous stretch of blue water in what feels vividly like the middle of nowhere. Read More... The South African Tourism Corporate website. Click to access all trade, media and research information. ............................................................................................................. Take a Sho't Left to see great domestic travel packages and events. Find out more about travelling within South Africa here . ............................................................................................................. Find out more information about Indaba 2006 and register online. Click to learn more. ............................................................................................................. International Trade Only - The Fundi Tourism Expert Course (destination specialist training) has been specifically designed to enable the travel provider to sell South Africa more effectively. Click to learn more. To pre-register for the domestic Fundi course that is being developed for the South African trade selling domestic travel please click here. ............................................................................................................. Other Events December 2005 Click here to search all events in the database. Dusi Canoe Marathon 19, 20 and 21 January 2006 , The Powerade Dusi Canoe Marathon is regarded as one of the toughest canoe events in the world. It is held annually towards the end of January and normally brings the cream of South Africa's canoeing talent to Durban.In 1999 a total of 1545 paddlers took to the 120km route over three days of race. The event which begins at Camps Drift near Pietermaritzburg is paddled through two river systems, The Umsindusi and The Umgeni. The race ends at the Blue Lagoon and celebrity participants are welcomed home by thousands of participators. The race is alternated annually between singles and pairs formats. For more information on the Dusi canoe marathon call: 033 3949994 / 3421525/8 ................................................ Midmar Mile 11-12 February 2006 , If you are a water sports lover you cannot afford to miss the world’s largest open water swimming event, the Midmar Mile. Renowned as one of the world’s most important water events it is difficult to imagine that it started as an alternative event that came as a result of petrol restrictions in South Africa in 1973. Mike Arbuthnot, Dick Park and Brian Glover were unable to travel as far as East London to compete in the Buffalo Mile in 1973 due to the restrictions so they decided to start a similar race organized in Natal. Midmar Dam was chosen as the venue, and it proved to be a popular venue. 153 swimmers took part in the inaugural competition in 1974 and the event has been growing from strength to strength. Last year over 17 000 swimmers took part in the event. Money raised from the event is donated to conservation purposes. ................................................ Related Links | Contact Us | Email this page | Print this page | Link To Us | Privacy Policy Industry : About South African Tourism | Become a Fundi | Trade | Media | Research | Image Library D.E.A.T. | The Information Gateway to SA | South African National Parks | Tourism Grading Council | Indaba

Russia Travel Resources >

Russia Travel Guide - Communications  You are here: About > Travel > Eastern Europe for Visitors > Russia-Belarus-Ukraine > Russia Travel Resources > Travel Essentials - Russia > Russia Travel Guide - Communications 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 Stay up to date! 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 Communications From Apply Now , Your Guide to Eastern Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Russia Travel Guide Communications services throughout Russia vary according to the region, although improvements are gradually coming. Post Office Russia has 40,000 post offices. All of them sell stamps and envelopes and can process domestic and international letters and cards. Larger post offices will offer more service, including domestic and international parcel post, telephone calls, domestic and international express letters, Internet service and currency exchange. The post can take some time to be delivered in Russia. For quicker and more reliable service, use American Express if you are a member or a private delivery service. Telephones The country code is for Russia is 7. The city code for Moscow is 095 and for St. Petersburg 812. In larger cities, you will find modern public telephone booths that accept phonecards, for sale at hotel front desks, post offices, newspaper kiosks and metro stations. To make an international call from Russia, dial 8, wait for a tone, then 10 + country code + area code + number. To dial another city in Russia, dial 8, wait for the tone, then the city code + number. Send faxes from your hotel, business centers, or telegraph offices. Some post offices can also send faxes. Mobile Telephones There are three main providers of mobile telephone service in Russia: Mobile Telesystems - MTS VimpelCom Megafon (Russian-language site) If you want to use your own GSM phone (it has a Subscriber Identity Module smart card that has account information about the subscriber) you should check with your local provider about which company to use in Russia. However,the cost per minute will likely be high. GSM is a popular system in Russia, although other standards also operate on different networks. A good alternative is to buy a pay-as-you-go mobile phone. You can purchase one from a telecom shop for not much money. Internet Service You can find Internet cafes throughout Russia, and naturally cities have the greatest abundance. You won't have any trouble finding an Internet cafe in St Petersburg or Moscow. For a list of Internet cafes in Russia, see Globaltrek . Radio Radio stations abound in Russia. With the Internet, you can listen to Russian radio stations. See this list for a list of radio stations in Russia. Television Russians enjoy numerous television stations, now that satellite transmissions supplement the traditional fare. Major stations are: 1TV Ladya-TV RTR-Planeta Here you can get a list of other stations with Internet transmission. Newspapers There are several English-language newspapers published in Russia. The Moscow News and the Moscow Times are dailies. The St. Petersburg Times is an English-language paper published twice a week. Pravda has an English edition as well as its Russian version . Webcams Webcams provide a current look at far away places. Here are webcams of some favorite spots around Russia. St. Petersburg Moscow Ekaterinburg 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

Hotel Travel

hotel-travel Hotel and Travel Info The first new major hotel to grace Miami Beach in the last 30 years, the Loews Miami Beach Hotel offers an elegant setting by the sea. 800 rooms designed in classic Art Deco style, most with spectacular views. A uniquely designed ocean front swimming pool and direct access to 800 feet of sandy beach. Supervised Childrens Program. All this in the heart of SOUTH BEACH & Lincoln Road ! The Loews Miami Beach Hotel tends to sell-out quickly for this event. We cannot stress enough the importance of making your reservations EARLY! PHONE In US or Canada: 1-877-563-9762 International 1-305-604-1601 Request the Group Rate for the 23rd Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference! After January 26, 2006, reservations will be accepted based on availability only. Special daily HOTEL rates for this meeting are: $258.00 , single occupancy $278.00 , double occupancy These rates apply 3 days prior and 3 days after the meeting, subject to availability. One nights deposit is required. Travel Arrangements Special discounts on major airlines are available to all registrants by calling TRAVELEADERS Toll-Free: 800-448-7058, ext. 298 OR 472 Or, fax your travel requirements & contact information to: 305-648-8205 One call does it all: Airline ticketing, car rental, additional tourist or travel information! [ Home ] [ Program '06 ] [ Faculty '06 ] [ Register ] [Hotel-Travel] [ CD/DVD '05 ] CONTACT US: Phone/Fax: 954-888-9472 E-Mail: info@cancerconf.com Address: P.O. Box 266948 Weston, FL 33326 © 1997-2005; Miami Cancer Conference; All Rights Reserved