European Vacation Ideas for

Benelux and Beyond - Northern European Vacation Ideas for the Benelux Countries You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Benelux Countries > Benelux and Beyond - Northern European Vacation Ideas for the Benelux Countries 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 Benelux and Beyond - Northern European Vacation Ideas for the Benelux Countries 5 Countries in 14 days? Why Not? If you have a short vacation and want to travel through the most varied cultural landscapes in a short time, why not consider Benilux--Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg--along with adjacent pieces of the bookend countries of France and Germany? Short distances and the availability of high speed rail connections mean that you won't spend all your time looking out a window on a moving landscape. Plus, Benelux rail 'n drive packages give you the flexibility to see it all by train and car. The Benelux countryside is flat and watery--you can bike or walk on tow paths along the many canals to observe calming rural vistas for hours. Benelux Countries - Benelux Rail Map Benelux Map © 2005 by James Martin, licensed to About Why Benelux? Benelux is compact. It's 123 miles between Brussels and Amsterdam, 184 miles between Paris and Brussels--and both of these destinations are served by high speed rail that'll speed you between Paris and Brussels in one hour and 25 minutes. Folks in Benelux countries are quite likely to speak English , since the local languages are confined to a relatively small goegraphic area. Benelux hospitality is legendary --you might want to consider a farm stay while you're there--especially if you have kids--to test the friendliness of the natives and get a feeling for what it's like (more below). Variety - and France and Germany are just across the border. Not only do you have three countries to visit, all within an hour or so travel time between each other, center to center, but France and Germany are easily visited as well. Lille, just across the border in France, was a European capital of Culture for 2004, and it's a major rail hub for high speed trains. Koln (Cologne) and its famous cathedral are also close, and the landscape around Trier--a colonial capital under Roman Emperor Augustus in 16 BC and Germany’s oldest city--is beautiful, and the city isa good starting point for trips into theMosel Valley and cruises on the scenic Mosel River, Germany’s mainwine-producing region--just in case you get tired of the almost infinite varietyof Beer styles you find in Belgium that is. Getting to the Benelux Countries You'll probably start your vacation from a large city. Major airports usually offer the best fares from the US, so you'll probably be starting from Paris, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam. If you find a good fare to London (or wish to add that city to your visit), you can take the Eurostar from London to either Paris or Lille, and continue your Benelux vacation from there. Getting Around the Benelux Countries While rail is highly recommended, and trains can get to most cities in the Benelux countries, you might want to also view a little of the countryside. Rail 'n Drive passes make this easy. Plan Your Benelux Adventure Transportation Rail Passes (Including Rail 'n Drive Passes) for Benelux, France and Germany. Thalys - High Speed Train Information - The thick blue line on the map is the Thalys route. Eurostar - All About the Eurostar - London to Lille, Paris, and Brussels. If your end point is Brussels, you'll get a free pass to any other stop in Belgium, just in case you wish to avoid Brussels altogether. Destinations in or Accessable from Benelux Lille, France Reims and the Champagne Region of France Belgium: Belgium Guide | Belgium Map | Belgium Pictures Netherlands: NetherlandsGuide | NetherlandsMap | Amsterdam Guide Luxembourg: Luxembourg Guide Cologne, Germany Dusseldorf Germany Frankfurt, Germany Trier, Germany Farm Stays in Belgium Many "farm" stays don't set you down in a real, working farm. I've found the Spreeuwenburg farm in a perfect location in the Belgian countryside not so far from the Netherlands border and nearby to the justly famous old smuggler house turned into a restaurant bar, Roste Muis. Read more: A Pleasant and Inexpensive Farm stay in Belgium . Benelux - The Final Word I hope you'll check out the Benelux countries. The major cities are interesting and chock full of art from old masters. Belgium cuisine is considered one of the best in Europe, and the beer is outstanding as well. Amsterdam is an amazing city, and if you want to visit a city that's mostly ignored by tourists, look into Antwerp, Belgium. Peter Paul Ruben's house makes an outstanding visit--and even Antwerp's main train station is worthy of the label "Railway Cathedral." From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! 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... 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Chicago Vacation

Chicago Vacation Rental All Vacation Rentals North America United States Illinois Chicago Luxury Living - Executive Retreat - CHICAGO Property Information Indian Trail, a serene and peaceful retreat that offers the finest touches for an executive away from home. An alternative for executives looking for an extended stay of 3 months or longer. It has all the comforts of home while overlooking a quiet pond and a nearby golf coarse. * Optional Amenities: Personal concierge, private chauffer, personal chef, massage therapist, personal trainer, nanny services. Smoking : No Pets : No 2 Bedroom(s) 1.5 Bathroom(s) Rates Info Eamil for rates.... Property Notes Availability Year Round Property Amenities Recreation/Activities Shopping Golf Nearby Tennis Nearby Other Unlisted Amenities Kitchen: Refrigerator with outside water and ice, oven range, dishwasher, coffee maker, blender, toaster, cookware, dinnerware, and linens. Living Space: Great Room, Dining Area, Eat in Kitchen, Private Patio with table and chairs for alfresco dining Electronics: Unlimited local phone calls, Home Theatre System, stereo, Cable TV, DVD/VCR, fax machine and Office. Property Resources Reservations Information Tammy Jo Day Phone: 630-455-9877 Fax: 630-455-9878 Click Here to send an email directly to owner/manager Mention Property #11539 at Findrentals.com Click Here to View Photo Slide Show Owners Login | About FindRentals | Customer Service | Legal Notices | Advertise | Privacy Policy © 2005 findrentals.com | All Rights Reserved Number of Visitors to the Page this Month: 31 Total Number of Visitors to this Page: 594 Property # 11539

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Japan Travel

Japan Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Japan Japan Hyperbolic, kitty-cute, switched-on, serene. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money General RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Japan Kyoto Nagoya Osaka Sapporo Tokyo View Map Click here Feature Attraction Mt Fuji Japan's highest mountain stands 3776m (12388ft) high. When it's capped with snow, it's a picture-postcard perfect volcanic cone. Fuji-san last blew in ... more Whether you end up taking photos of a reproduction Eiffel Tower, surfing an indoor wave, musing in a Zen temple, shacking up in a love hotel or kipping down in a capsule, you'll do best to come with an open mind and be prepared to be surprised. Somewhere between the elegant formality of Japanese manners and the candid, sometimes boisterous exchanges that take place over a few drinks, between the sanitised shopping malls and the unexpected rural festivals, everyone finds their own vision of Japan. When To Go Spring (March to May), with its clear skies and cherry blossoms, is probably the most celebrated Japanese season, but it's a holiday period for the Japanese and many of the more popular travel destinations tend to be flooded with domestic tourists. Autumn (September to November) is a great time to travel: the temperatures are pleasant, and the autumn colours in the countryside are fantastic. Mid-winter (December to February) can be bitterly cold, while the sticky summer months (June to August) can turn even the briefest excursion out of the air conditioning into a soup bath; on the plus side, major tourist attractions will generally be quieter at these times of the year. It's also worth considering peak holiday seasons when you plan your trip. Moving around and finding accommodation during New Year, Golden Week (late April to early May) and the midsummer O-Bon festival can be a real headache. Factoid Inking the King Japanese tattooing ( irezumi ) is often considered the world's best. The practice was banned under the Emperor Meiji, but revived after Prince George (later King George V) was tattooed, in 1881, by master tattooist Hori Chyo. SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

South America Travel

South America Travel | Panama, Argentina, Brazil & Chile | iExplore.com FORBES' #1 ADVENTURE TRAVEL SITE 5 YEARS IN A ROW — TIME MAGAZINE TOP 50 Keyword Search: -- Home Trip Finder Travel Guides Community Special Offers Store My iExplore advertisement -- Home Travel Guides Central and South America The dense Amazon rainforest . The jagged spires of the Andes Mountains . Tropical beaches. Towering waterfalls. With this kind of nature all around, it's no wonder why Central and South America have become nearly synonymous with ecotours . The cloud forests of Costa Rica , the birds and animals of Belize , the otherworldly Amazon rainforest , Ecuador's Galapagos Islands , Argentina's 22,834-foot Mount Aconcagua , Chile's Class V Rio Futaleufu , Mayan ruins hidden in the jungles of Guatemala , Peru's Machu Picchu ... There is an endless variety of things to see and do in Central and South America. Countries Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador El Salvador Falkland Islands French Guiana Galapagos Islands Guatemala Guyana Honduras Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Tour Spotlight iExplore Guatemala, Honduras & Belize Featuring the highlights of the region in this 13-day tour... Trip Overview Trip Itinerary Departure Dates Belize Photos Belize Travel Guide Destination Spotlight Peru Peru is a large, mountainous country on the Pacific coast of South America. It has borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and the... Overview Where To Go Travel Tips Peru Trips Peru Photos advertisement Sponsored Listings ( Add your listing ) Advertisement -- advertisement Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us © 2005 Adventure Travel with iExplore --