Cruise Vacation and Honeymoon


|
|
Holland America Cruise Lines Vacations, Holland America Cruise Information Holland America Cruise Lines Vacations, Holland America Cruise Information Holland America Cruise Lines Vacations: Holland America Cruise Vacation and Honeymoon Guide Holland America Cruise Lines Vacations: Virtuoso Holland America Cruise Travel Consultants Call 1- 800- 330 8820 to book your Holland America Cruise vacation Holland America Cruise Destinations Holland America Alaska Cruises Holland America Alaska & Yukon Cruise Tours Holland America Canada & New England Cruises Holland America Caribbean Cruise Holland America Europe Cruise Holland America Hawaii Cruises Holland America Mexico Cruises Holland America Panama Canal Cruises Holland America Pacific Northwest South America Cruises Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific Holland America Cruise Line Holland America Cruise Guide, Holland America Cruise Vacations, Holland America Cruise Itineraries, Holland America Tours and land Excursions, Holland America Weddings, Holland America Honeymoons, Holland America World Cruises. We guarantee you that our Holland America Cruise Consultants will provide you with e very up to the minute special available! You will have the benefit of our three billion dollars a year buying power and you can get a lot more than you pay for with us. Each of our Cruise Consultants are extremely knowledgeable, with over fifteen years of industry experience on the ships serving as sales managers and consultants. They are experts in the art of cruising, will serve as your advocate and will always available to you. Holland America Line leads the cruise industry premium niche by offering virtually unlimited cruise and CruiseTour options that span the globe and satisfy every traveler's appetite for exploration. Over the course of the company's rich history as first a shipping and passenger line and subsequently a cruise line, Holland America Line's fleet has carried nearly 10 million passengers, either to new lives in the New World or to exotic locales for vacations of a lifetime. Holland America Line marked its 130 th anniversary in 2003. Our Virtuoso Cruise Consultants are known around the world by sophisticated traveler's for the extraordinary value of our custom designed cruise vacations, and excellent, dedicated service. Our professional services suit the world's most demanding travelers. Our name opens doors and guarantees value. Our network of specialists span the world. We can get get you the best accommodations, and privileged access when others fail! Virtuoso Travel Consultants have been consistently recommended by Conde Nast Traveler We start with the best price on over 400 cruise departures. Then we add nights in five-star resorts; dinner at Michelin-starred restaurants; private tours and great parties. All with the compliments of Voyager Club, by Virtuoso. We can also arrange private shore excursions in any port around the world, for just the two of you. Look for Voyager Club Sailings in our extensive inventory of cruise vacations. All cruise lines in the world will tell you they're the best. That they offer the best food, the best entertainment, the best ships. But there is one cruise line that lives up to its boast: Holland America... recognized time and time again as the "best premium cruise line" and "best overall cruise value." What must a cruise line do to earn such acclaim? Big things you would expect of a great cruise line. And little things that make Holland America the Premium Cruise Line. Sailaway in Five-Star Style. For the seventh year in a row, Holland America Line has been voted "best overall cruise value" by the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society, the experienced travelers who know cruising best. Service, ambience, cuisine, personal attention - only Holland America offers you such consistent quality and more "five-star" ships than any other major cruise line. Our Ships, Spacious and Intimate. Floating resorts, our ships are fabulous destinations in themselves, offering everything you would expect in a great resort on land, and more. Fine dining. Dazzling entertainment. Activities galore. When was the last time you paid so little for so much? The World Revolves Around You. Relax and let us lavish you with attention. You'll never have to ask twice for anything you desire because our staff takes pride in anticipating your every need. And our "Tipping Not Required" policy means service is always genuine, gracious and unconditional. Delicious Adventures. Our master chef, world-renowned Reiner Greubel, a member of the prestigious society Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, leads our award-winning culinary staff in the creation of exciting new dining options. Lovingly prepared, exquisitely presented. Activities from Dawn to Dusk. Life on board your Holland America ship is always exciting. Because there's always something happening. Join in myriad planned activities, or enjoy quiet time in superb surroundings. Worldwide Cruising. Holland America Line offers a five-star resort in 253 ports and scenic cruising areas throughout the world: Alaska, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Panama Canal, South America, World Voyages. Please Note: The Holland America Cruise prices listed in this guide are published fares. Our fares are often substantially lower. Please contact us for up to the minute specials and pricing. We are a member of Virtuoso - Specialists in the Art of Travel. Described by Conde Nast Traveler as "a network of the finest agencies...a reliable indicator of experience, knowledge, and industry clout." We are recommended by the Discovery Travel Channel, the Today Show, Conde Nast Traveler, ESPN TV, Fine Living TV, and Neiman Marcus Awards Program and National Geographic. Note: The Holland America Cruises prices listed in this guide are published fares - we often have cruise specials at substantially lower rates. Please use our "Cruise Vacation Planner" and our agents will tell you about all available specials. Special fares published in this guide are accurate at time of publishing. Holland America Cruises reserves the right to modify specials at any time. Please check with our Virtuoso Holland America Cruise consultants for all the latest specials. During this time of price volatility in the travel and cruise industry, please be advised the pricing can fluctuate within the same day. All of our promotions are subject to change without notice. As a result, prices will not be guaranteed until booked. Click here to book your Holland America Cruise Vacation Click here to submit a vacation planner to our Virtuoso Travel Specialists Client Testimonials about our services Search Your Vacation, Tour or Cruise Holland America Line Cruise Information Holland America Fleet Holland America Line On Board Accommodations Holland America Line On Board Dining Holland America Line On Board Spa & Salon Holland America Line On Board Activities Holland America Line On Board Weddings Other Helpful Travel Links Helpful Cruise Info Contact Us Imagine the romantic luxury vacation setting of your dreams. A snow white beach. Think of the love of your life beside you. Then imagine a carefree tropical luxury vacation with all the details taken care of by our competent staff. Travel Wizard.com, specializes in destination wedding groups and romantic getaways. Let our Virtuoso luxury vacation, travel, and cruise specialists take the stress out of your wedding bliss. We know all the most romantic places to propose to your fiancee, to get betrothed, or to just get sensuous with your sweetheart in private paradise on your own. Regional Travel and Vacation Guides Africa Asia Australia Caribbean Islands Canada Central America Europe Fiji Islands Hawaiian Islands Indian Ocean Costa Rica Mexico Mediterranean Middle East New Zealand South America South Pacific Tahiti Islands United States Special Interest Vacations Corporate Vacations Adventure Travel Ski Vacations Culinary Vacations Small Ship Vacations Virtuoso Hotels Spa Vacations Private Jet Vacations Family Vacations NBC Golf Getaways Scuba Diving All-inclusive Vacations Grand Prix Vacations Luxury Villas Luxury Tours Honeymoon Specials Wedding Vacations National Geographic Space Adventures Yacht Charters Golfing Vacations Active Vacations Biking Vacations Hiking Vacations Sport Travel Train Vacations ClubMed Vacations River Cruises Europe River Cruises Luxury Cruise Destinations Luxury Cruises Cruise Vacations South Pacific/Tahiti Hawaiian Islands Scandinavia Alaska Cruises Caribbean Panama Canal Mexico Cruises Mediterranean West Europe Western British Isles/ Ireland Greek Isle/Aegean Bermuda Cruises Costa Rica South America River Amazon Antarctica Australia/New Zealand Bahamas Africa Southern Canarys/North Africa Far East/Orient Southeast Asia Trans-Atlantic Trans-Pacific Russia Europe East Coast Cruises India Cruises Israel/Egypt New England/Canada Red Sea/Suez Canal West Coast World Cruises Baltic/Russia Luxury Cruise Lines Crystal Cruises Radisson Seven Seas Windstar Cruises Clipper Cruises Silversea Cruises Oceania Cruises Am West Steamboat Princess Cruises European River Norwegian Cruise ResidenSea Holland America Line Sea Dream Yacht Club American Safari Travel Dynamics Seabourn Cruise Orient Express Royal Caribbean Orient Lines Star Clippers Cunard Line Costa Cruises Cruise West Celebrity Cruises National Geographic Hebridean Cruises MSC Cruises Lindblad Expeditions Peter Deilmann Viking River Cruises Swan Hellenic Delta Queen River Zegrahm Expeditions Disney Cruises Tauck Discovery French Waterways The Moorings Int'l Expeditions Carnival Cruise Great American River Journeys About Travel Wizard Advertising Info Privacy Contact Us Home We accept credit cards: During this time of price volatility in the travel, tour and cruise industry, please be advised the Holland America Cruises pricing can fluctuate within the same day. All of our Holland America Cruises promotions are subject to change without notice. As a result, prices will not be guaranteed until booked. State of California seller of travel License # 2061139-40 We are on the Better Business Bureau Honor Roll. Travel Agent Opportunities Contact Information Advertise with Travel Wizard 1998 TravelWizard.Com, Holland America Cruises Vacation Dept. All rights reserved.
Mexico Travel Guide, climate:
Mexico Travel Guide - Information and Advice Mexico Travel Guide Information and Advice Mexico Pictures | Mexico Map | Mexico Beaches Specialists in the best adventure travel that Central America has to offer, Trek America have been successfully organising memorable camping, lodging and walking tours for 31 years. Mexican Tours - Ruta de Maya | Yucatan Adventure | Mexican Adventure | Canyons and Pyramids | Mexican Highlights Mexico Travel Guide, climate: Best: Nov-April. Worst: June-Oct [wet and hot]; June also has US College kid overload. Length of stay: Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights : 6 days , e.g. Cancun airport - Merida, Playa del Carmen & Chichen Itza. Recommended: 2 weeks, or much, much longer. Mexico's main Festivals: Jan, Chiapa de Corzo [Chiapas] Fiesta de Enero. Bizarre dances, costumes, masks, parades, fireworks. Feb/March.Veracruz [Gulf Coast] Carnival . Huge, wild party time. Dance. music, parades blahblah.. March, Chichen Itza [Yucatan] see the Kukulcan snake god appear, plus varied entertainments. Couple of days before & after too. Easter Week/Semana Santa. [nationwide but esp. Chiapas state] Processions, costumes, fireworks, music, dance and some weird rituals] Mid April - early May , Aguascalientes [the North] Feria de San Marcos. Large and long established celebration of Mexican music and machismo, with rodeos, bull fights, folk dancing, parades, mariachi and mucho more. May, Puebla [just north of Mexico City] Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with the usual music, dance, parades and mock battles in the 'living museum' of Puebla. Oct - Nov, Days of the Dead. Mainly in the states of Michoacan [ esp. Patzcuaro] and Oaxaca. See Dias de los Muertos. For precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Exotic Festivals Activities Guide: Hiking, Biking & Horse Riding: All over the country but especially well developed in Baja California and Copper Canyon [Barranca del Cobre]. White Water Rafting: Veracruz, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Morelos states. Snorkelling, diving & swimming with dolphins: Off 'Maya Riviera', esp. Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen. Also the Pacific coast between Peurto Vallarta and Acapulco. Surfing: All down the Pacific Coast, esp. around Baja California [Ensenada], and Mazatlan, Puerto Escondido. Wind Surfing: Puerto Vallarta, Los Barriles, Manzanillo. Whale, dolphin & seal watching: off Baja California and Puerto Vallarta. Grey whales are especially visible in February. Sea Turtle watching: around Puerto Vallarta and Zihuatanejo. 'EcoParks' [like Xcaret] will give you and the kids Disneyfied wildlife and environment experiences. Mexico travel star rating: Monuments ***** Beaches ***** Shopping and souvenirs **** Walkability **** Value for money **** Hotel prices and value **** Museums **** Food quality and variety *** Nightlife and clubbing *** Health problems *** Architecture *** Landscape *** Wildlife **** Safety ** Local people ** Butterflies: Millions of monarch butterflies migrate to the high forests around Michoacan in winter. Easiest to view by hiking up from El Rosario village. November - Feb. Why Travel to Mexico? Mexico is a multifaceted tourist paradise, with landscapes of every description, from wild deserts to monstrous mountains, superb beaches ranging from action-packed sand to stretches devoid of packaged life forms, chart-topping ancient Maya sites, wild and colourful festivals, wild and colourful wildlife, terrific weather if you get your timing right, excellent public transport systems, excellent undersea life on one coast and great surfing on the other, good food and booze, pleasant colonial towns, and all at a very reasonable price. Downside: - It's perhaps not quite as colourful as the myth of Mexico might suggest. It's a big country so some towns and landscapes can be dull. - Banditry and thievery are not a myth. - Handicraft quality has gone down the tubes. - Worst of all many Mexicans are resolutely uncommunicative [unless you've got $ in your hand] and taxi drivers in particular are a disgrace. However! Good handicrafts and people seem to have travelled out to the coastal resorts...try Mexico City and find out why! Where to travel in Mexico: *** Chichen Itza. A sensational Maya pyramid and many other strange and interesting structures in large expanse of greenery. Stay 2 nights nearby and do it properly. ***Oaxaca, a relaxed, pretty town with a lovely main square and the ancient Zapotec site of Monte Alban nearby. A great location for Dia de los Muertos festivities. **Merida , another pleasant colonial town, with agreeable daily free concerts and dance, good restaurants. A couple of days? Not too far from Uxmal. ***Uxmal, a good warmup for Chichen Itza: a pleasing and unusually rounded pyramid with other varied Maya buildings. A day trip. ***Palenque , a really wild Maya place; terrific but difficult to get to. Small plane, [new train line?] or looong bus travel. **Playa del Carmen [near Cancun] for a cool, casual beach scene and excellent bars/restaurants/shops. Also the Pacific Coast, from **Puerto Vallarta to **Puerto Escondido has great beaches and facilities. *Cancun for 5 star beaches with little culture. **Acapulco , a lively 20 mile bay of beaches, bars and hotels that has entertained Elvis, Sinatra and Kerouac but still has space for budget travellers. A bit brash and busy, but quiet spots survive, as do most of the famous [45m/148ft] cliff divers at La Quebrada. **Mexico City. Visit excellent museums, see superb murals at the Palacio Nacional, and frolic in the Zocalo. Also day trips out to : The grand Teotihuacan pyramids, and the 'living colonial museum' of Puebla. **Barranca [Canyon] del Cobre. A stunning 6 hour train ride from Los Mochis on the Pacific coast up the mountains to Divisadero or Creel drops you on the edge of Mexico's Copper Canyon. Good hiking but trails are not well marked. Travel Safety: Mexico City and some large towns endure fairly high levels of crime, most of it petty, but armed robbery and even rape is not unknown. As usual take special care in busy places like bus and metro stations, when using ATMs and at night. Green taxis are better avoided if possible as they have been implicated in serious assaults. See Bugbog Safety pages. Mexico Tours More tour operators offering travel around Mexico can be found in our listings here: Mexico Tours Caribbean Map Caribbean Beaches For more information on Mexico 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 Mexico Travel Links Electricity: 127v[!], 2 flat pins Health Guide: Hygiene is unexpectedly good in Mexico but, nevertheless, ensure your vaccinations are to the max and up-to-date. Diseases you should be concerned about, at least, are T yphoid [get a jab], Hepatitis A and B [get a jab], Hepatitis B, C,D [take care what you eat, drink, or who you share fluids with, blood included], and dengue fever and malaria , both acquired from mosquitoes . If you plan to travel in Mexico you may be interested in some nearby countries too: Costa Rica Travel Guide Cuba Travel Guide Guatemala Travel Guide Ecuador Travel Guide Peru 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
Travel Guide
Airwise - The Airport and Air Travel Guide Airwise Sections HubPage Airwise News Airport Guide Airwise Travel Discussion Forum Site Search Airwise Travel Book Flights, Hotels and Rental Cars Flight Schedules Worldwide Flight Schedules Flight Arrivals Check US Flight Arrival Times HubPage Airwise News Airport Guide Airwise Travel Discussion Forum Search Book Hotels, Flights and Rental Cars online at Airwise Travel . HOTELS • Hotel Reservations • Hot Rate Hotels AIR • Book a Flight CAR • Rental Cars • US Airport Car Rental CRUISES • Book a Cruise VACATIONS • Take a Break Airline, Airport And Aviation Industry News • UN Encourages Tax On Air Tickets • Aeroflot To Buy Boeing 787s - Report • China's Air Traffic Growth To Slow In 2006 • Nigerian Airline Bellview Flies Again • Top Stories • Airline News • Airport News • Travel News • Aviation Industry News Worldwide flight schedules - online now. • Flight Schedules Check flight arrivals for major airlines. • US Flight Arrivals The independent guide to airports and their facilities worldwide. • Airport Guide • World's Top Airports • Airline web sites • Currency Converter • Mastercard ATM locator • VISA Card ATM locator • American Express ATM locator • International Phone Codes US city weather conditions: Choose a city... * Other Cities * Albuquerque, NM Atlanta, GA Baltimore, MD Boise, ID Boston, MA Chicago, IL Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH Dallas, TX Denver, CO Detroit, MI Houston, TX Kansas City, MO Las Vegas, NV Los Angeles, CA Miami, FL Minneapolis, MN New Orleans, LA New York, NY Newark, NJ Orlando, FL Philadelphia, PA Phoenix, AZ Pittsburgh, PA Portland, OR Saint Louis, MO Salt Lake City, UT San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA Washington, DC * Other Cities * HubPage | Airwise News | Airport Guide | Airwise Travel | Discussion Forum | Airwise Site Search [ email to feedback@airwise.com ] © Ascent Pacific 2005
Mexico Travel Net PUERTO
Ensenada Mexico Hotels & Sport Fishing CABO LA PAZ LORETO Mexico Travel Net PUERTO VALLARTA CANCUN COZUMEL ACAPULCO EAST CAPE MAZATLAN ROSARITO BEACH IXTAPA MANZANILLO ENSENADA L.A. BAY HUATULCO CABO LA PAZ LORETO Mexico Travel Net PUERTO VALLARTA CANCUN COZUMEL ACAPULCO EAST CAPE MAZATLAN ROSARITO BEACH IXTAPA MANZANILLO ENSENADA L.A. BAY HUATULCO Ensenada Baja California, Mexico Ensenada's main downtown area is as tourist-friendly as Mexico gets. The city's merchandise selection is extensive, and shopping is concentrated along a single street Boulevard Lopez Mateos. Just a block from the waterfront, this shopping section attracts mostly cruise passengers and day trippers who browse for an afternoon. Many of Tijuana's top stores have Ensenada branches on Lopez Mateos. But there's far more to do here than shop. Ensenada is the heart of Mexico's wine country , and eight wineries in Baja's "Bordeaux Belt" of sheltered valleys near Ensenada produce almost 90 percent of Mexico's wines. The scenery picturesque vineyards surrounded by mountains alone merits a trip to Ensenada. Inexpensive tours and tasting is offered six days a week by several Guadalupe Valley and Ensenada wineries, and the mid-August wine festival, sponsored by the area's Wine Brotherhood, is one of Baja's most popular annual events. Known as the "Cinderella of the Pacific", Ensenada is located 70 miles south of the international border, a 90-minute drive from San Diego. Its warm Mediterranean climate, friendly atmosphere and accessibility by land, air, and sea have made Ensenada a favorite tourist destination for many years, and Mexico's second most-visited port-of-call for major cruise lines and pleasure boats. Ensenada Hotel & Resort Accommodations Hotel Cortez Ensenada Las Rosas Resort & Spa La Pinta Ensenada Baja Beach Resort Hotel Santo Tomas Villas at Bajamar San Nicolas Resort Estero Beach Resort Hotel Coral & Marina Hotel Villa Marina Ensenada Ensenada Map Click Here Where: 75 miles south of the border, an easy drive of just over an hour. Three tolls total about $6.15 one way. Spectacular coastal scenery en route rivals Big Sur. Best time to visit: Year-round. The weather is similar to San Diego's coastal areas, with pleasant ocean breezes in the downtown area in summer and a balmy, mountain-valley climate northeast of the city in the wine country. Cost : Inexpensive by California standards. Cheaper, overall, for hotels and meals than Tijuana, but a bit more expensive than Rosarito. Culture shock: None. Credit cards are accepted at most major restaurants and shops. English is spoken almost everywhere in the main tourist areas. Dollars are accepted everywhere. Kid-friendly: Absolutely. Curio shopping in the downtown area; lots of fun at the fishing pier; beach activities south of town, with calm water and good shelling along Punta Banda. Bajamar & Real Del Mar Golf Information Ensenada Area Wineries Ensenada Fishing Museums & Galleries Whale Watching Nearby Day Trips Group Transportation Local Beaches Baja Rent-A-Car National Parks and Natural Attractions Ensenada Activities & Attractions Group Transportation Baja Rent-A-Car Mexican Auto Insurance "CLICK HERE" to Visit Our NEW site - MexicoTravelNet.com CABO LA PAZ LORETO Mexico Travel Net PUERTO VALLARTA CANCUN COZUMEL ACAPULCO EAST CAPE MAZATLAN ROSARITO BEACH IXTAPA MANZANILLO ENSENADA L.A. BAY HUATULCO Top of Page HOME Contact Us
Italy Travel Resources: Rome
Italy - Travel and Tourism Information for Italy You are here: About > Travel > Italy for Visitors Travel Go Italy Essentials Italy Profile Top Ten Cities to Visit in Italy Eating Out in Italy Ski in Piedmont New Year's Celebrations in Italy Articles & Resources Planning and Information Florence, Italy Rome, Italy Venice, Italy More Italian Cities Regions of Italy Italy Pictures Food and Wine of Italy Language and Culture Festivals and Events Gay and Lesbian Travel Italian History Things to Do in Italy Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Italy for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Italy for Visitors From Martha Bakerjian , Your Guide to Italy for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Travel to Milan, Italy Milan is one of Italy's most fashionable and richest cities but it also has many great artistic and historical sights and a thriving cultural scene. Home to the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the famous opera house, La Scala, Milan has a lot to offer the traveler. If you want to travel in northern Italy, Milan, with 2 airports, makes a convenient starting or ending destination. Read our Travel Profile of Milan, Italy , to learn more about Milan. You don't have to spend as much money as the CIA did on their stay in Milan. If you want to look for a hotel, here are some Milan Hotel listings with links to Kayak so that you can compare prices and even book online if you find one you like. Tuesday December 27, 2005 | permalink 2006 Winter Olympic Update According to Northern Italy's Torino 2006 Blog , the Olympic Village in Turin is complete and ready for the Winter Olympics starting in February. The village has 750 apartments as well as service buildings and will be converted to residential and student housing following the games. Meanwhile, the Olympic torch is spending the Christmas holidays with friends and family in Sicily and will resume its travels on December 26. The travel route will take the torch into southern Italy where it will arrive in Naples on New Year's Eve. Naples has one of the best New Year's Eve fireworks displays in Italy. More on Celebrating the New Year in Italy . Sunday December 25, 2005 | permalink Where Are Italians Going This Christmas? According to AGI News , 7 million Italians will travel outside their city during the long Christmas weekend this year. 30% are families who will return on the 26th or 27th but 70% will take an extended vacation and travel through at least January 1. Where will they go? 65% will visit relatives or friends or their second home. The rest will travel to a mountain resort or visit one of the Italian art cities - Rome, Venice, or Florence. Most of those who plan to travel outside Italy will visit another European capital. Italy Travel Resources: Rome Travel Resources | Venice Travel Resources | Florence Picture Gallery | Winter Sports in the Piedmont Mountains Saturday December 24, 2005 | permalink Italy in the Travel Blogs: St. Nick and the Government Wine Bar Italians celebrate St. Nicholas in a feast day on December 6th. But did you know that St. Nick is buried in the coast town of Bari after sailors stole his body from Myra, Turkey? Gadling has the goods. Attitudes toward wine are different in Italy than in the US. Imagine the outcry in the US if the government financed a wine bar, just like the Italian region of Lazio did recently. Check out Gridskipper's Your Government Wine Bar . Friday December 23, 2005 | permalink Relive Casanova's Venice--or not Perhaps it was the movie Casanova ,but the old libertine's lusty ways seem to be undergoing a sort ofRenaissance. As you know, the legendary lover's heritage includes theoft publicized use of the early condom, which for Casanova consisted ofa reusable sheep-gut sheath tied on with a pink ribbon and rinsed, whenrequired, in the Grand Canal. Now, according to Venice Word ,"fourteen million tourists a year can now leave with a new"serenissimo" gadget that appears destined to be a hit: the Casanovacondom packed in a single-unit package with the image of GiacomoCasanova." You probably won't need to stand in line at Venice pharmacies toprocure a Casanova special, they'll be available in 2006 attobacconists and newspaper kiosks, the same place you get your bustickets, usually. And hold on you your...hats, "Beginning in January, the Casanova will also be sold in a seven-condom package shaped like a... gondola." Italy Travel Resources: Venice Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Florence Picture Gallery The off season is a wonderful time to capture the best light of Florence. Check out our new photo gallery: Florence Pictures - Monuments, Buildings and the art of Florence, Italy . The pictures, taken on Thanksgiving day, include a Florence street decorated for the winter holidays and two cow sculptures, part of Florence's CowParade open air exhibit that runs through January. Saturday December 17, 2005 | permalink Ski in Northern Italy's Piedmont Region The mountains of Piedmont featured at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics provide a unique backdrop for winter sports, especially skiing. Piedmont features 53 ski resorts with 1,300 kilometres of run. Winter sports that can be practiced in the Piedmont region include alpine and cross-country skiing, telemark, snowboarding, ice climbing, free riding, ski mountaineering, horse trekking, driving sleighs pulled by Siberian huskies, paraskiing, and heliskiing. The Piedmont region is also noted for gastronomic specialties and wine. With early snows in Italy, the region is ready for winter sports. Read about where to go to Ski in Italy's Piedmont region . Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink Celebrating New Year's Eve in Italy Italy is a great place to be on New Year's Eve for the celebration of La Festa di San Silvestro . No matter where you are there will probably be a celebration including fireworks. In the bigger cities, you will find music and dancing in the squares. Food is a part of any Italian celebration and New Year's Eve is no exception. Here's how the Italians celebrate New Years and some special places to go for a big New Year's festival or party . You'll also find out where the Olympic torch will be on New Year's Eve! Monday December 12, 2005 | permalink A Look at Turin, Italy Turin, Torino in Italian, will host the 2006 Winter Olympics. As a result, the city of Turin is frantically spiffing up for an influx of visitors on February 10. Turin's central piazza , the Piazza Castello , will become the stage for the awards ceremonies, integrating the Olympic outcome with Italy's famous piazza culture. Turin is a beautiful city with a great cafe culture, excellent museums, Baroque palaces, and arcaded promenades. It also has some of the best food in Italy. It's often overlooked by tourists but well worth a spot on a travel itinerary. Take a look at our Profile of Turin Travel Essentials . Sunday December 04, 2005 | permalink Florence Hotel Recommendation I've just returned from Florence where I stayed in a very nice and comfortable 4-star hotel for just a little more than I paid last November for a cramped and smoky 2-star with a terrible bathroom! The Hotel Adler Cavalieri is conveniently located, has a helpful English-speaking staff, and is very quiet. Both the common rooms and bedrooms are attractive and welcoming. I would definitely stay here again! The hotel also gave us a great restaurant recommendation where we enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing dinner. The Club Culinario Toscano da Osvaldo , although centrally located, is a little difficult to find but well worth the search. This was definitely one of the best meals I've had in Florence! Sunday December 04, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Naples, Italy Overview Italian New Year Celebrations Top Ten Cities in Italy Italy Information Rome Italy Travel Essentials What's Hot Italian New Year Celebrations Florence Pictures - Copy of Michelangelo statue David in fro... Florence Pictures - View of the Tuscan countryside from the ... Florence Pictures - Pitti Palace Fountain from Boboli Garden... Florence Pictures - Florence CowParade - Cow Art Related Topics France for Visitors Europe for Visitors Greece for Visitors Italian Cuisine 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 Italian New Year Celebrations Florence Pictures - Copy of Michelangelo statue David in fro... Florence Pictures - View of the Tuscan countryside from the ... Florence Pictures - Pitti Palace Fountain from Boboli Garden... Florence Pictures - Florence CowParade - Cow Art Headlines Travel to Milan, Italy Milan is one of Italy's most fashionable and richest cities... 2006 Winter Olympic Update According to Northern Italy's Torino 2006 Blog, the Olympic Village... Where Are Italians Going This Christmas? According to AGI News, 7 million Italians will travel outside... Italy in the Travel Blogs: St. Nick and the Government Wine Bar Italians celebrate St. Nicholas in a feast day on December...