Travel Guides Community Special

Adventure Travel & World Travel | iExplore 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 About Us | Testimonials | Corporate Travel | Advertise | Contact Us -- All Regions Africa Antarctica Australia and the South Pacific Caribbean Central and South America Europe Far East Middle East North America South and Southeast Asia All Countries All Activities Bicycle Touring Canal and River Cruising Canoeing Culinary Cultural Exploration Expedition Cruises Field Research / Volunteering Fishing Hiking / Trekking / Walking Horseback Riding Miscellaneous Mountain Biking Mountaineering Multi-Sport Once-in-a-Lifetime Rainforests and Ecotours Safari Sailing and Yachting Scuba Diving Sea Kayaking Snow Sports Whitewater -- -- Featured Destination The people, the place, the unhurried pace... Come discover the enchantment of Ireland. Check out Ireland's great cycling, hiking and horseback riding trips! Partner Offer -- Tour Spotlight iExplore Cape to Cairo Adventure Africa's ultimate journey... Trip Overview Trip Itinerary Departure Dates Egypt Photos Egypt Travel Guide Destination Of The Day Portugal Portugal is a country of astonishing beauty and diversity, not to mention clear blue skies and friendly, courteous people. Pick any destination and the view from your window might be a rugged stretch... Overview Where To Go Travel Tips Portugal Tours Portugal Photos Travel Photos Browse over 225,000 user-submitted travel photos. Journals & Reviews Read and write travel journals & reviews. Find a Travel Buddy Post a listing to find a like-minded travel buddy. Get Answers Find answers for all of your travel-related questions. Top Selling iExplore Tours 1. Machu Picchu Peru 2. Adventure in Argentina 3. Cultural Tour in Thailand 4. Safari in South Africa 5. The Pyramids of Egypt 6. Safari in Gabon 7. Cruise the Galapagos 8. Cultural Tour in Greece 9. Culinary Tour in Italy 10. Cultural Tour in Tunisia Client Testimonials " I had an absolutely wonderful time!! The staff treated the guests like family. Overall it was one of the best trips I have ever taken. Thank you so much! " Penny, 12/01/2005, Argentina " I wanted to let you know that my trip was beyond my wild dreams. I loved it!! Thanks for helping me. " Mary Lou , 11/16/2005, Vietnam & Cambodia Click here to view more testimonials Sponsored Listings ( Add your listing ) Europe and Russia Africa Central and South America South and Southeast Asia North America England France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Russia Spain Botswana Egypt Kenya Morocco Namibia South Africa Tanzania Argentina Belize Brazil Chile Costa Rica Ecuador Galapagos Islands Guatemala Peru Venezuela India Nepal Philippines Thailand Vietnam Indonesia Alaska Canada Greenland Mexico United States Australia and South Pacific Far East Caribbean Middle East Antarctica Australia Fiji French Polynesia New Zealand Papua New Guinea China Hong Kong Japan Mongolia South Korea Tibet Bahamas Barbados Cuba Dominican Republic Jamaica Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Iran Israel Jordan Syria Turkey Advertisement -- advertisement Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us © 2005 Adventure Travel with iExplore --

Ski Vacation

Ski Salt Lake Vacation Deals Customer Care | My Stuff Home Travel Info Center Flight Status Destination Guides Travelocity Business About Travelocity Flights Search Flights Top Deals Web Fares Low Fare Alert Last Minute Packages Hotels Search Hotels Top Deals Trip Ideas Popular Cities Cars/Rail Search Cars Search Rail Top Deals About Neighborhood Search Popular Car Destinations Vacation Packages Search Vacations Top Deals Disney Vacations Trip Ideas Cruises Search Cruises Search by Destination Search by Cruise Line Top Deals Ship Finder Last Minute Packages Search Deals Top Deals This Weekend Next Weekend Need Ideas? Activities Activities by Destination Book Your Ski Salt Lake Super Pass for $48 a day! Book Your Trip to Salt Lake City Flight + Hotel Hotel Only Departure Airport: Arrival Airport: Salt Lake City Hotel Area: Salt Lake City Cottonwood Canyon Resort Area Depart: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Return: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Adults 0 1 2 3 4 5 Children 0 1 2 3 4 Seniors 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 Maximum connections Property: ------Resort----- Alta Peruvian Lodge Goldminer's Daughter Lodge Inn at Snowbird Inn at Solitude Lodge at Snowbird Alta's Rustler Lodge Cliff Lodge and Spa at Snowbird Condos at Solitude Village Alta Lodge -- -----Downtown----- Crystal Inn Downtown, A Rodeway Inn BW Plaza Hotel at Temple Square Radisson Hotel Ramada Limited South Salt Lake City -- Red Lion Salt Lake Downtown Shilo Inn Little America Hotel Marriott Salt Lake City Downtown Embassy Suites Quality Inn - Airport Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City Marriott University Park -----South Valley----- Crystal Inn Midvalley, A Rodeway Inn Super 8 Midvale Midvalley SLC Area Best Western Executive Inn Days Inn South Courtyard by Marriott - Sandy Fairfield Inn By Marriott, SLC Draper Residence Inn by Marriott, SLC Sandy Comfort Suites Sandy Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Residence Inn by Marriott, Cottonwoods Check In: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Check Out: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ski Salt Lake Maps View the Salt Lake Valley Map View the Salt Lake Resorts Map Ski Salt Lake Resorts Snow Report Alta Ski Area Brighton Resort Snowbird Solitude Mountain Resort Weather Conditions Salt Lake Downtown: 53° F/Mostly Cloudy Photo Gallery View photos of Salt Lake City More about Salt Lake Dining Live Webcam Resorts Upcoming Events Through Dec 24 THEATRE Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Pioneer Theatre Company (801-581-6961) Through Dec 24 EVENT Christmas at Temple Square. Enjoy amazing lights, concerts, tours, and exhibits. December 17 EVENT Winter Solstice Festival at Salt Lake City's beautiful mountainside botanical gardens, Red Butte Garden December 24 EVENT Santa and Mrs. Clause ride Snowbird! Torchlight parade, interfaith Christmas Eve candlelight service, and lots of other fun holiday activities! December 31 EVENT First Night Celebration. A New Year's Eve Celebration with several great activities and attractions all over the city! Check out Salt Lake's Calendar of Events . Ski Salt Lake Vacation Deals Resorts Hotel Ratings Alta Peruvian Lodge 3 Nights + Airfare From $542 Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge 3 Nights + Airfare From $723 Inn at Snowbird 3 Nights + Airfare From $369 Inn at Solitude 3 Nights + Airfare From $476 Lodge at Snowbird 3 Nights + Airfare From $388 Alta’s Rustler Lodge 3 Nights + Airfare From $965 * Snowbird Cliff Lodge 3 Nights + Airfare From $407 Condos at Solitude Village 3 Nights + Airfare From $657 Alta Lodge 3 Nights + Airfare From $542 -- Downtown Hotel Ratings Crystal Inn Downtown 3 Nights + Airfare From $296 BW Plaza Hotel at Temple Square 3 Nights + Airfare From $271 Radisson Hotel 3 Nights + Airfare From $271 Ramada Ltd. - South SL 3 Nights + Airfare From $??? -- Red Lion Hotel Salt Lake Downtown 3 Nights + Airfare From $290 Shilo Inn 3 Nights + Airfare From $323 Little America Hotel 3 Nights + Airfare From $312 Marriott Salt Lake City Downtown 3 Nights + Airfare From $323 Embassy Suites 3 Nights + Airfare From $371 Quality Inn Airport 3 Nights + Airfare From $267 Hotel Monaco 3 Nights + Airfare From $464 Marriot University Park 3 Nights + Airfare From $296 South Valley Hotel Ratings Crystal Inn - Midvalley 3 Nights + Airfare From $287 Super 8 Midvale Midvalley Salt Lake City Area 3 Nights + Airfare From $262 Best Western Executive Inn 3 Nights + Airfare From $246 Days Inn South 3 Nights + Airfare From $243 Courtyard by Marriott, Sandy 3 Nights + Airfare From $365 Fairfield Inn - Draper 3 Nights + Airfare From $293 Residence Inn by Marriott - Sandy 3 Nights + Airfare From $379 Comfort Suites Sandy 3 Nights + Airfare From $299 Country Inn and Suites South Towne 3 Nights + Airfare From $643 Residence Inn by Marriott, Cottonwoods 3 Nights + Airfare From $381 Prices are per person based on double occupancy - air out of LAX for 12/5-12/8 (except where indicated otherwise). Our real-timedynamic Flight + Hotel packaging engine is constantly updating prices and availability. Pleasecheck pricing and availability for your travel dates and departure city on this site. * Alternative Dates Shopped: 12/12-12/15 Adding Travel Extras to Your TotalTrip SM Package is Easy! Select travel extras when booking your flight+hotel Ski Salt Lake Super Pass One Pass. Four Resorts. - From $48 '+' Means Some Taxes & Fees Additional | About Travelocity | Security Guarantee | Affiliate Program | Jobs | Site Map Partners and International Sites: IgoUgo | lastminute.com | Odysia.fr | ShowTickets.com | Site59 | Travelchannel.de | Travelocity Canada Travelocity Denmark | Travelocity Norway | Travelocity Sweden | Travelocity United Kingdom | World Choice Travel | ZUJI © 1996-2005 Travelocity.com LP. All rights reserved. Travelocity and the Stars Design are trademarks of Travelocity.com LP. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Travelocity User Agreement and Privacy Policy . CST# 2056372-50. prom.3050.dest_main|Promotions|TRAVELOCITY|ST||||| --

Asia Travel || Malaysia

Travel Information of Malaysia Malaysia Country and Travel Information Malaysia Hotels & Resorts Reservation GENERAL INFORMATION Malaysia is located in the heart of Southeast Asia. Consisting of 127,000 sq. miles (330,200 sq. km), Malaysia is divided into two main regions: Peninsular Malaysia, which lies just south of Thailand, and East Malaysia, which can be found north of Indonesia on the island of Borneo. These two regions are divided into thirteen states and federal territories. Although East Malaysia occupies the larger portion of Malaysia's total area, it is primarily comprised of undeveloped land and jungles. Malaysia is a land of fascinating sights and attractions. Rich in colour and contrasts, her multi-faceted charm provides intriguing images that leave visitors to the country in awe. The natural warmth of Malaysians is legendary; wherever one goes, the friendliness and hospitality of the people would prove to be a very special experience. Malaysia is paradise. Its sun-drenched beaches, enchanting islands, diverse flora and fauna, forest retreats and magnificent mountains are among the best in this region. Many visitors have discovered Malaysia's other attractions: a shopping haven, a versatile conference venue, an incentive destination, an adventure land and much more. WEATHER CONDITIONS With temperature that fluctuates little throughout the year, travel in Malaysia is a pleasure. Average temperature is between 21 to 32 degree celcius. Humidity is high. Rain tends to occur between November to February on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, on western Sarawak, and north-eastern Sabah. On the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia the rainy seasons is April to May and October to November. PEOPLE AND CULTURE Malaysia has a combined population of over 18 million people. Because of its central location, between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, Malaysia has traditionally been a meeting point for traders and travelers from both the East and West. As a result, Malaysia has a multicultural and multiracial population consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians and numerous indigenous peoples. Although Malay is the official language, English is widely spoken, especially in business, and the English language is a compulsory subject in all schools. With such a varying ethnic composition, it is no surprise that a great diversity of religions is prevalent throughout Malaysia. Although the official religion is Islam, freedom of worship is practiced. As a result, it is a common to see temples, mosques and churches within the same area. Ethnic Groups: 59% Malay and other indigenous, 32% Chinese and 9% Indian. Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Mandarin, Hakka dialects, Cantonese, Tamil and numerous tribal languages. Religion: Muslim (primarily Malays), Buddhism (Chinese), Hindu (Indian), Christianity, Confucianism, Taoism and tribal religions. LOCAL CUSTOMS General: When visiting Malaysia, the visitor should observe local customs and practices. Some common courtesies and customs are as follow:- Although handshakes generally suffice for both men and women, some Muslim ladies may acknowledge an introduction with a gentleman with a nod of her head and smile. A handshake is only to be reciprocated if the lady offers her hand first. The traditional greeting of "salam" resembles a handshake with both hands but without the grasp. The man offers both hands, lightly touches his friend's outstretched hands, then brings his hands to his chest to mean, " I greet you from my heart". The visitor should reciprocate the "salam". It is polite to call before visiting a home Shoes must be removed when entering a Malaysian home. It is also customary to do so upon entering a mosque or an Indian temple. The right hand is always used when eating with one's hand or when giving and receiving objects The right forefinger is not used to point at places, objects or persons. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with the four fingers, folden under is preferred usage. Toasting is not a common practice in Malaysia. The country's large Muslim population does not drink alcoholic bevergaes. THINGS TO KNOW Population: 20 million Capital: Kuala Lumpur Flag: Fourteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the U.S. flag. Shop Hours: Department stores and supermarkets are usually open from 10am to 10pm and shops from 9:30am to 7pm. In Kuala Lumpur, as well as in most major towns, there are several 24-hour stores. Bank Hours: Most states: Mon-Fri: 9:30am-4.00pm Sat : 9:30am-11:30am Sun : Closed Kelantan and Terengganu: Sat-Wed: 9:30am-4.00pm Thur : 9:30am-11.30am Fri : Closed VISAS AND PASSPORT Visitors must be in possession of a current passport or other internationally recognized travel document. They must be endorsed for traveling to Malaysia and have a period of validity of at least six months beyond the time of stay allowed in Malaysia. No visas are required for citizens of British Commonwealth countries (except India), British Protected persons, and citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, San Marino, Switzerland and the United States (for social, business or academic purposes only). No visas are required for stays not exceeding three months for citizens of: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Tunesia, U.S.A. , France and Germany (except for local employment). CUSTOMS REGULATIONS Duty-Free Items: Items such as cameras, watches, pens, portable radio-cassette players, perfume, cosmetics and lighters are duty-free in Malaysia. Visitors bringing in dutiable goods may have to pay a deposit for temporary importation, refundable on departure - usually 50% of the value (carry receipt of purchase and obtain an official receipt for any tax or deposit paid). Asia Travel || Malaysia Hotels & Resorts Reservation

Hotel Travel

Sydney hotels reservations, cheap hotels, travel, discounts and vacations Sydney Hotels 100,000 luxury, chain and discount hotels worldwide, Cheap hotels, accommodation and hotel reservations. all-hotels.com, travel lodgings and reservations Sydney Hotels Sydney: Often mistaken as Australia's capital city, Sydney is one of the most popular tourist vacation destinations in the world. With an average of 240 days of sunshine a year, and access to some of the world's most famous attractions, it's not surprising! Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is Australia's oldest city and is situated on Port Jackson - arguably one of the world's most beautiful natural harbours. The harbour is best seen at the weekends when it fills with a spectacular array of cruisers, yachts and sailing boats. A boat trip on the harbour will offer visitors unparalleled views of the world famous Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Search Hotel Directory " name="Join" class="subsgo_v" Where's your next vacation? Sydney hotel guide Hotels in Sydney Darling Harbour Sydney Airport Travel Guide & Information Cheap hotels European vacations US City breaks Discount hotels, lodgings Travel resources Currency converter Hotel Search Find out the availability of hotels in Sydney Where? Arrival Date DD 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 No. of Nights NN 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 No. of Adults 1 2 3 4 Hotel name? " name="Join" class="searchbutton" title="Search Accommodation and Lodgings" Refine your seach for other hotel deals and Discount hotels by using our.... Multiple Room Search Featured Sydney Hotels Grace Hotel Sydney Star Rating 77 York Street, Sydney, Australia, 2000 The Deluxe Grace Hotel is just 20 minutes from Kingsford Smith Airport and is right in the heart of the central business district. This hotel is only 500 meters from the Town Hall and the Wynyard Train Station. The Darling Harbors Convention and Exhibition Center and the Cockle Bay Wharf are within walking distance from the hotel. Hotel guests are just moments away from The Queen Victoria Building and the... Grace Hotel Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=306083'" Metro Sydney Star Rating 300 Pitt Street, Sydney, Australia, 2000 Located at 300 Pitt Street Sydney and situated in the very heart of the city, the new Metro Hotel Sydney stands ideally in the centre of the exciting business, tourism and leisure heart of Sydney. Only minutes away from the museum, Town Hall and Central Railway Stations and with monorail and buses at the hotel doorstep, traveling is effortless. There is a licensed restaurant on- site, Portobello, which features colorful... Metro Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=319230'" Travelodge Sydney Star Rating Corner Wentworth Ave/Goulburn STR, Sydney, Australia, 2000 Welcome to the Travelodge Hotel Sydney! This chain of hotels provides a consistent blend of modern quality accommodation and friendly service. Situated on the edge of the Central Business District, you will be perfectly positioned to explore the city of Sydney. Restaurants, theatres, a great range of shops and nightclubs are within easy walking distance. Major attractions that you won't want to miss include the Darling Harbour... Travelodge Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=306203'" Radisson Sydney 72 LIVERPOOL STREET, Sydney, N S W, Nova Scotia, Australia, 2000 The Radisson Hotel and Suites is a superior deluxe hotel located 20 kilometers from the Kingsford Smith International Airport. This boutique hotel is situated in the heart of Chinatown, within easy reach of Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Sydney Entertainment Centre. At your doorstep you will find some of Sydney's major attractions including Queen Victoria... Radisson Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=194974'" Marriott Sydney 30 Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000 The Sydney Harbour Marriott is ideally located in the central business district just one block from Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour. Guests can enjoy views of the botanical gardens, the city skyline, historic Macquarie Park, the world-renowned Sydney Opera House and beautiful Harbour Bridge. The main business and financial district, shopping, sightseeing and "The Rocks" restored historic area are all within easy... Marriott Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=208394'" Quality Hotel Sydney Star Rating Corner Wentworth Ave & Goulburn St., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000 The Quality Hotel SC Sydney is a 192 room, 4 star hotel, providing accommodation that is both cheap and friendly with courteous service. Located at the crossroads of Sydney, the hotel is only 15 minutes drive from the airport, and an easy stroll to Darling Harbour, Hyde Park, Chinatown and downtown Sydney. Shopping, theatre, cinema, museums, and the many attractions Sydney has to offer are all within easy reach. Guest rooms are spacious... Quality Hotel Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=272161'" Crown Plaza Darling Harbour 150 DAY ST. PRIVATE BAG Q600, Sydney, Australia, 2000 The Crowne plaza Darling Harbour is perfectly located on the city side of Darling Harbour. Not only are we on the fringe of the CBD, we are within walking distance to the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and many of Sydney's best tourist attractions.In a five to ten minute walk from your accommodation, you could be at the Darling Harbour Harbourside complex, Sydney Aquarium, Powerhouse Museum, Chinatown, Cockle Bay Wharf or... Crown Plaza Darling Harbour Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=198329'" Avillion Hotel Sydney Star Rating 389 Pitt Street, Sydney, Australia, 2000 The Avillion Hotel Sydney is a superior deluxe- class hotel located 12 kilometers from Sydney International Airport. This outstanding hotel is situated in the cultural and theatrical heart of Sydney's Central Business District. A myriad of tourist attractions of this harbor city is within easy walking distance such as Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney Aquarium and Chinatown. The theaters and cinema complexes and... Avillion Hotel Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=306040'" Hotel search around the world: Amsterdam Anaheim Atlanta Barcelona Berlin Boston Brussels Canada Cancun Chicago Dublin Edinburgh Florence Hong Kong Houston Istanbul Italy Las Vegas London Los Angeles Madrid Miami New Orleans New York Nice Oregon Orlando Paris Prague Rome San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Seattle Spain Sydney Tampa Toronto Venice Washington DC Our site works best on Explorer 5 + Netscape 7 + Firefox 1 Also to use our site you must have cookies enabled. About Us - Affiliates - Hotelier Services - Advertising - Privacy Policy - Disclaimer - Terms and Conditions All-Hotels is a registered trademark (RN 2,516,395) 1997 - 2005 OTC / Lastminute.com All-Hotels Home Featured Hotels Hotel Directory Cheap Hotels Promotions and Deals Help and FAQ Site Map

Germany Travel

How To Germany - Travel Home | Resources | Advertising | Contact Us | Disclaimer • Airports • Beaches • Best of Germany • High Times in Lower Bavaria • Nearby Countries • Offbeat Tourism • Oktoberfest / Festivals • Quedlinburg • River Boats • Theme Parks • Wine Regions • Christmas Museum • Winter Travel / Christmas Markets • Train Travel Basic Facts Clubs & Organizations Driving Education Embassies & Consulates Expat Experiences Financial Genealogy Insurance Language Schools Legal System Living In Germany Medical/Health Moving & Relocation Office Services Postal Services Press Radio/TV Residence/Work Permits Shopping Sports Telephone Service Voting Working Airports in Germany Germany's burgeoning airports are being linked into the nation's railway system. Cheap domestic and inter-European flights have put in a sudden appearance. An overview of Frankfurt International Airport. About 120 international scheduled airlines serve Germany, carrying more than 100 million passengers a year. Of these airlines 102 serve Frankfurt, the nation's biggest airport. The relatively new airport at Munich has become a second hub, and other major airports are located at Düsseldorf, Cologne and Hamburg. Berlin, presently with a collection of smaller airports, promises to be a major air center in the future. The former U.S. air base at Hahn, 75 miles from Frankfurt, is also playing a role in the aviation picture, as a base for super cheap airlines. These have sent domestic and inter-Europen fares plunging, even on the established airlines. There is also a very aggressive program to link air travel to rail travel. High speed InterCity trains directly serve the Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Cologne-Bonn airports. Frankfurt is the busiest airport not merely in Germany but on the entire European continent. It has scheduled connections to 296 airports in 105 countries. And it set a new record for passengers handled in 2004, topping 50 million for the first time. To cope with this traffic the airport opened a second large terminal building in 1994, and now has active plans to construct a third terminal and a fourth runway. Many of the passengers had Frankfurt itself as a destination, since the city is an important commercial center. But Frankfurt is also a transfer point for air and rail connections to other German cities and an air transfer point to many other countries, notably in Eastern Europe and the Asia. Europe's busiest expressway cloverleaf, the "Frankfurter Kreuz" is right adjacent to the airport. This is where the A3 and the A5 autobahns, the most important in Germany, intersect and allow quick access to Europe's extensive superhighway net. The airport also has parking facilities for 15,000 vehicles and its own bus station. But stress is being laid on reaching the airport swiftly and comfortably by rail. Some 88 long distance trains a day stop at its railway station, affording passengers direct connections to Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Dresden, Nürnberg and many other German cities, not to mention Vienna, Milan, Zürich and Amsterdam. Some airlines even have check-in counters right at the station. The new high-speed Frankfurt-Cologne rail line, which cuts travel time from two-and-a-half hours to less than an hour, also serves the Frankfurt airport, and also the Cologne-Bonn one. Frankfurt long has had a second railway station, offering rapid transit service to the Rhein-Main area, and this continues to operate. For all that Frankfurt is getting stiff competition from the relatively new Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich. Though it only opened in 1992, it is already Germany's second air hub, and the eighth largest airport in Europe, having counted 26.8 million passengers in 2004. This growth is largely because the German airline Lufthansa has chosen to do much of its expanding in Munich, which now handles more of Lufthansa's domestic flights than does Frankfurt. This rapid growth led first to an expansion of the original Munich terminal and then, in 2003, to the opening of a second terminal. The big disadvantage of Franz Josef Strauss Airport is that it is far from the city center. Plans to compensate for this with a high speed "Transrapid" magnetic train appear to be stalled. Another proposed "Transrapid," linking Frankfurt to the "cheapy" center at Hahn, also looks stalled, even though the former air base racked up nearly 2.8 million passengers in 2004. That was up 13.6 percent over the previous year. The Irish no-frills airline Ryanair has made the so-called "Frankfurt-Hahn" airport its hub, and will fly you from there to Stansted Airport, near London, for as little as €25. Ryanair offers similar bargain service to 74 airports, usually secondary ones, in 12 European countries The catch is that, despite that name "Frankfurt-Hahn," the airport actually is 75 miles (125 km) from Frankfurt, and it takes about an hour and 30 minutes to get there. Nor is Hahn the only center of no-frills flights. The Konrad Adenauer Airport, between Cologne and Bonn, is also becoming one. It is the home base for both Germanwings and Hapag-Lloyd Express. And its new railway station connects it to the Frankfurt Airport in less than an hour on the high speed InterCity line. This opens up many possibilities for connections that should contribute to the airport's growth and also relieve the Frankfurt runways to some extent. No frills flights also have played a role in preserving Berlin's historic Tempelhof Airport, which was established in 1923 and figured prominently in the 1948-49 Airlift. They've been talking for years about closing it because it is too small and surrounded by built-up areas. But several "cheapies" are glad to have it. The future of Berlin aviation, however, lies mainly in the planned Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI). Since German reunification Berlin traffic has been divided between three airports: Tempelhof; Tegel, which was hastily built during the Airlift, and Schönefeld, the East Berlin airport before unification. Now, however, final plans are being laid to expand Schönefeld and make it into a major airport, with an initial capacity of 20 million passengers a year. Construction was scheduled to begin in 2006 with operations expected to start in 2010. It is planned to close both Tegel and Tempelhof when BBI opens. The Fuhlsbüttel Airport in Hamburg is also getting a new terminal building. It was scheduled to be opened in May, 2005. By 2007 the airport was also to have an urban railway link-up, larger parking lots and a shopping plaza. Düsseldorf, too, has a new terminal, replacing and greatly improving upon the one that was destroyed by a disastrous fire in 1996. And Düsseldorf also has two railway stations, one for long distance and InterCity trains and one for the local area. Lufthansa has cut its fares on domestic and some European flights, partly to meet the competition of the no-frills, but also to better utilize its capacity by luring more people from trains and private cars. Its flights still cost more than the no-frills, but they are also full service. Most domestic trips are an hour or less in duration. Airlines from the U.S. that serve German airports include American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways. In the wake of September 11, Germany established flight safety rules similar to the ones in effect in the U.S., including the ban on knives, scissors and the like in hand baggage. Security at Frankfurt and Munich is especially tight on transatlantic flights, on flights to Israel and on flights by British and American airlines no matter where they are headed. It's important that passengers, especially ones on these flights, get to the airport well before takeoff. Some officials urge as much as three hours for international flights. German airports usually feature duty-free shops, restaurants, bars, car rental agencies, conference centers, banks, post offices and medical facilities. And sometimes they offer much more. The Frankfurt Airport almost doubles as a shopping mall. Visit our Storefronts! Airlines, Airports Travel and Destinations Entertainment, Food, Drink Fraport Launches "Airport City" Web Site to Showcase Frankfurt Airport's Diversity Use FRA's Travel, Leisure and Business Channels on the Internet at: www.airportcity-frankfurt.de FRA/rap Reflecting Frankfurt Airport's (FRA) development as a vibrant city, Fraport AG recently launched a newly designed Web site to present expanded information and features not only for passengers and visitors but also for various business partners. Located at www.airportcity-frankfurt.de , the new Web site for Germany's leading air transportation hub now offers details about FRA's strategic business advantages. Frankfurt Airport serves more than 51 million passengers per year. With more than 68,000 employees, FRA is Germany's biggest employment complex at a single location. The Frankfurt Airport City site features three clearly structured and color-coded channels: Travel, Experience, and Business. For example, the Travel channel provides helpful tips for travel planning: current flight information, departing, arriving, transferring, and meeting passengers. The Experience channel presents the extensive range of leisure activities and facilities at Frankfurt Airport City, such as Duty Free and Travel Value, airport shopping, restaurants, 24/7 services, travel services (Airport Reisemarkt, online travel agency, travel agents at FRA), as well as offerings for visitors (Airport Forum, Visitors' Terrace, and airport tours). The Business channel, targeted at airlines, logistics providers, and other trade and business partners, showcases FRA's locational advantages. This area includes detailed information about real estate, retailing, advertising, the Airport Conference Center, CargoCity Frankfurt, etc. A three-dimensional model of Frankfurt Airport City is one of the many interactive features of the site. The complete Web site is available in English and German, while "Quick Guides" provide basic travel information and terminal maps in six languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, and Russian. Site contents ©2001-2005 by ChuckEmerson Media Services Auf der Schorr 10, 54331 Pellingen, Germany Tel +49 (0) 65 88-99 25 65 • Fax +49 (0) 65 88-98 83 29 Site design and maintenance by Gear Brand