Spain Travel

Freelance Spain - Travel Facts Spain Destination Spain DESTINATIONS AT A GLANCE Want to discover one of the world's favorite countries? Here are some basic facts for the traveler in Spain. When to go In general, late spring and late summer-early autumn are the best times for traveling in Spain. Fair weather is practically guaranteed, and the countryside is at its best. High summer is stiflingly hot in most inland areas, including Madrid and the inland cities of Andalusia such as Seville and Crdoba. Big cities, especially Madrid, empty during August, with many shops and restaurants closing, though a visit then does have advantages, such as light traffic (you can even find a parking space). Summer weather is milder along the Mediterranean coast, but July and August in popular resorts such as the Costa del Sol are best avoided unless you like crowds. Summer along the northern coast of Spain, from the Basque Country to Galicia, can be very pleasant. Winters along the Mediterranean coast are generally mild, but expect occasional heavy rains - alternating with long spells of glorious sunshine - any time between October and April. In inland areas, winter temperatures can reach below freezing and snow is is not infrequent. Bear in mind Spain's fiestas when planning a trip - be it to go to them, or to avoid them. During major fiestas such as the San Fermin bull runs in Pamplona or the April Fair in Seville, hotel rates double and even so rooms must be reserved months in advance. Getting There Practically all transcontinental flights land at Madrid's Barajas airport, so you will need to book an extra flight if you want to travel by air to another destination in Spain. Air fares between North America and Europe are highly competitive. You might find it cheaper to fly to Spain via another European country. Rates between Great Britain and any number of destinations in Spain are especially worth checking out. Rail communications between the rest of Europe and Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Seville are very good. There are also regular ferries between southern England and northern Spain. Major cities in Spain are well connected to continental Europe and each other by motorway. Entry Formalities If you are a citizen of a European Union country, all you need to enter Spain is a national identity card. In the case of the United Kingdom, which does not issue such cards, you'll need a passport. Visas for stays of no longer than 90 days are not required for travelers from the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, but South Africans do need to apply for a visa before they leave. Language A knowledge of Spanish will enrichen a trip to Spain, but you can get by perfectly well with English in the major destinations. Spaniards are in general friendly and tolerant towards foreign visitors. Getting Around Spain is a big country - the second largest in western Europe after France - so don't expect to "do Spain" in a week. Flights between Spanish cities are frequent, but the fares tend to be high. Iberia, Spanair and Air Europa are the major operators. Train service between the larger cities is excellent, and irreproachably punctual, but slower in the case of smaller regional cities. The bus is an inexpensive alternative. Driving in Spain Renting a car is a reasonably-priced option, and by far the best way to travel if you want to enjoy Spain's rich and varied countryside. The major international car hire firms operate in Spain; local companies usually charge somewhat cheaper rates. In any case, it is usually a better bet to reserve and pay for your rental car from home, before you leave. To rent a car you have to be over 21 and have a valid driver's license. Your national license is valid for driving in Spain as a tourist. Major roads are generally good, though traffic can be heavy on more popular routes, especially on weekends or during holiday periods. Local roads range from good and pleasant to hair-raisingly narrow and winding. Enquire locally before embarking on a driver to a distant village, and don't take a road just because it is a reassuring color on the road map. Avoid driving in cities: it can be a nightmare experience, especially if you're unfamiliar with the city or with some of the quirkier local driving habits. Park in a guarded parking area, and take a taxi, which are very good value in Spain. In Madrid, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the excellent Metro (subway) system. Money Matters The official currency in Spain is the Euro Credit cards are widely accepted in Spain, Visa and Masters more so than American Express or Diners. Provided you know your Personal Identification Number, you can use your card to withdraw cash from ATMs in Spain. Often, you'll find the rate of exchange is more favorable than if you go to a bank or exchange bureau. When exchanging money at a bank, avoid converting small amounts at a time, as the minimum commission charged can be prohibitive. Most Spanish banks close in the afternoon, all day Saturday during summer, and all day Sunday year round. Value added tax (IVA) is charged on purchases, at a rate of 16% for most goods and services (it is 7% for hotel accommodation). If you are resident of a non-European Union country, you can get a refund of this tax on purchases over 100 Euros in certain participating shops. The refund can be claimed at the airport customs office on your departure: you can either get cash there, or have them send a check to your home address or credit the amount to your credit card. Staying in Touch To call abroad from Spain, dial the international access code (00), then your country code (such as 1 for the US, 44 for Great Britain), then the number. If you have a phone card from your home company, you can place a call by dialing your company's access number in Spain: ATT 900 990 011 MCI 900 990 014 Sprint 900 990 013 British Telecom 900 990 044 Mobile phones can be used in Spain provided they conform to the European GSM standard and the "roam" feature is activated. Hotels In general, hotels in Spain are comfortable and good value. Hotels in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona are around twice the price as hotels elsewhere in Spain. Hotels are rated from one to five stars, which gives a rough indication of their facilities, but not of the friendliness or efficiency of the service. Fodor's guide to Spain gives good, up-to-date information on hotels in the major Spanish destinations. Hotels often offer good deals in slower periods, such as summer in Madrid. When phoning for a reservation, always ask for the room rate, and enquire regarding special offers. Spanish hotels do not normally require your credit card number to accept a reservation. For more advice on choosing where to stay in Spain, see the article by Nick Inman on Hotels in Spain , and check our Guide to Hotels in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada and Seville. Electrical Current The electrical current in Spain is 200 volts, 50 cycles AC. Plugs are of the continental type, with two round prongs. American appliances require a transformer and a plug adapter for use in Spain. Have A Question? If you have a question regarding any aspect of traveling in Spain, you can obtain personalized travel information from the experts by visiting guidebookwriters.com . In addition, you can post a message in our Forum section to request information or exchange views with other travelers to Spain. For useful on-line sources of information for travelers, head for our Links section and click on "Travel". DESTINATIONS AT A GLANCE : Madrid - Barcelona - Bilbao - Granada - Seville Almera desert - La Mancha - Formentera Canary Islands: La Palma - Canary Islands: Puerto de la Cruz FREELANCESPAIN HOME Freelance Spain Showcase - Journalists - Photographers Features - Travel - People - Freelance Selections - Editor'sShortcut - Links little@spainview.com

Taiwan Travel Information, Tour

IntraPorta's Taiwan Travel Minisite - Taiwan Specialty Travel, Taiwan Custom Vacations, Taiwan Adventure Tours, Taiwan Outdoor Travel, Taiwan Tourism, Taiwan Travel Information, Tour Operators Taiwan, Online Travel Booking, Travel Reservations, Travel Tickets, Travel Accessories, Travel Documents, Travel Books help tips Are you ready for a perfect getaway in Taiwan? Consult IntraPorta's Taiwan Travel Minisite for all your travel needs to and around Taiwan: Custom Vacations, Pre-packaged Specialty/Adventure Tours, Online Reservations, Travel Books, Travel Supplies and Destination Information. Insert Your Ad/Link at WorldwideTravelSites.com Golden Ad / Link Sponsoring Opportunity $ 6.95 monthly - first month free www.worldwidetravelsites.com For viewing all travelsites at which you can put links on or place ads: Go to global travelsite index I am a: man woman Looking for a: man woman for: Love romance Quick Flight Search Depart From: Departure Date: Departure Time: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 AM PM Arrive At: Return Date: Return Time: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 AM PM Passengers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Adult Unaccompanied Child Accompanied Child Senior Citizen Student Youth Infant Without Seat Infant With Seat Advanced search Consult IntraPorta's Worldwide Travelfinder for all your Travel Needs around the world. Popular Minisites Specialty/Adventure Travel Minisites All Travel Topics Accommodations Airfares Car Rental Cruises Transportation Travel Accessories Travel Auctions Travel Books Travel Discounts Travel Events Travel Planning Travel Reservations Travel Tips Travel Warnings Worldwide Travel Information City Guides City Index Country Information Country Index Destination Guides Geography Globetrotting Mapping Worldwide Travel News, Magazines and Organizations TravelMole.com - Travel News TwCrossroads - The Internet news source for the global travel industry Travel News from TravelAgents.com EyeForTravel Business Travel News More Travel News and Travel Magazines Business Travel Travel Organizations World Information Global Gazetteer, a directory of 2.880.532 of the world's cities and towns, sorted by country and linked to a map for each town Find any place on earth (Concierge) Maporama.com - maps + itineraries + weather + phone numbers World News World Facts World History More World Information Special Sites All The World's Newspapers Greatestplaces.org Quoteland.com - worldwide quotes Merriam Webster's Dictionary More Special Sites Internet Cafes Internet CyberCafe Database Cybercafes.com Cybercaptive.com Netcafes.com Traveltales.com Worldwide Communication Groups IntraPorta's Taiwan Travel Minisite is a communication platform as well where you can meet your fellow Taiwan worldwide travelers, independent travelers, do-it-yourself travelers, adventurous travelers, backpackers, global travelers, savvy travelers, business travelers, opiniated travelers, hardy travelers, discerning travelers, intrepid travelers, globetrotters, vagabonds.... COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR FELLOW WORLDWIDETRAVELERS VIA WORLDWIDETRAVELER YAHOO!GROUP (CLICK HERE) Multi-Language Minisite Languages, Foreign Languages, Translations, Webtranslations, Internet Translations, Online Translations Multi-Dictionary Minisite Online Dictionaries & Encyclopedias 2000-2001 IntraPorta. All Rights Reserved. Return to Home ---------------------- Quick Travel Finder ---------------------- City Index City Information Continental Index Country Index Country Information Country Region Index Country Region Information General Portals Meta Travel Resources Newspapers Travel Sections Specialized Portals Special Sites ---------------------- All Travel Topics (Glossary) ---------------------- Travel Discounts Travel Events Travel Offers Travel Planner Travel Reservations Travel Shopping ---------------------- Site Index... *_l.txt Taiwan Get more advertising / link sponsoring information at WorldwideTravelSites.com Friendfinder.com Friendfinder is the most popular place for people looking to meet others for romance, dating, friendship and more! Millions of exciting members worldwide! Anonymous emails - private & safe! Sign up in 3 simple steps! Local and International Specialty Tour Operators serving Taiwan Special Interest / Adventure / Outdoor Travel (InfoHub) Taiwan - Destination Information Tourism in Taiwan Expedia Travel - Taiwan Start4all.com - Taiwan Lonely Planet - Taiwan CIA World Fact Book - Taiwan Ethnologue: Languages of the World - Taiwan Lycos Travel - Taiwan Travel Notes - Taiwan World Travel Guide - Taiwan Yahoo!Travel - Taiwan Yahoo!Chinese Send an Internet Greeting Card Enter Card ID Number to Pickup Your Greeting Card Tell A Friend! Type In Your Name: Type In Your E-mail: Your Friend's E-mail: Your Comments: Receive copy:

Germany Travel

Germany Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Germany Germany Story-book charm, cultural clout and a whole lot of gravitas. 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 Germany Berlin Cologne Dusseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Hanover Munich Stuttgart View Map Click here Feature Attraction Aachen Dom Aachen's main draw is its Dom, with Charlemagne's exquisite Pfalzkapelle (palace chapel) at its core. One of the best-preserved examples of Carolingian ... more Germany wears its riches well: elegant big-city charm, small picture-postcard towns, pagan-inspired harvest festivals, a wealth of art and culture and the perennial pleasures of huge tracts of forest, delightful castles and fine wine and beer are all there for the savouring. Deep in the heart of Europe, Germany has had a seminal impact on Continental history. From Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire to Otto von Bismarck's German Reich, Nazism and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, no other nation has moulded Europe the way Germany has - for better or worse. When To Go Germany is a fine destination year-round, but most people visit between May and September when sunny skies are most likely and much of life moves outdoors. Beer gardens and cafes bustle at all hours; outdoor events and festivals enliven cities and villages; and hiking, cycling and swimming are popular pursuits - at least as long as the weather plays along. Remember that rain is a possibility in any month. The flipside of summer travel is, of course, larger crowds at museums and other attractions. Accommodation needn't be hard to come by unless you're drawn to beach and mountain resorts popular with German holiday-makers. The shoulder seasons (from March to May and from October to early November) bring fewer tourists and often surprisingly pleasant weather. In April and May, when flowers and fruit trees are in bloom, it can be mild and sunny. Indian summers that stretch well into autumn are not uncommon. With the exception of winter sports, activities between November and early March are likely to focus more on culture and city life. In these months, skies tend to be gloomy and the mercury often drops below freezing. On the plus side, there are fewer visitors and shorter queues (except in the winter resorts). Just pack the right clothes and keep in mind that there are only six to eight hours of daylight. In December the sun (if there is any) sets around 15:30 . Factoid Smellpol When the files of the former East German secret service, the Stasi, were opened up, they were found to contain, among other things, cotton wool swabs of dissidents' body odour, kept in bottles for use by sniffer dogs. 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

France Travel

Visit Paris, France - Travel in Paris - Paris Hotels Visit - Paris . com : Travel in Paris and Paris Hotels Hotels in Paris Visit our partners : Paris Hotels - Paris - Paris Hotels - Strasbourg Hotels - France Hotels - Promotion d' hotel à Paris - Riviera Cannes Nice Hotels Visiter nos partenaires : Hôtels à Paris - Vacances à Paris - Hôtels Strasbourg - Hôtels France - Hotel sur la Cote d'azur - Hotel en Alsace - Paris Reservation Hotel - booking hotel paris If you come to Paris , it is before very discovering the city and benefitting from its wonders. But how to visit Paris and benefit from a city without being able to rest the evening under the best conditions in Paris Hotels . To know in advance that you will be able to sleep in all quietude and in comfort, if not the luxury, will enable you to benefit as well as possible from your stay in Paris . The choice of Paris Hotels is thus one of the fundamental points to take into account at the time of the development of your trip in Paris . The selection of your Paris Hotels will depend on several criteria as different as your budget, the geographical localization, the nature of the Paris hotels which you wish or the comfort to which you aspire. The Paris hotels remain of course the principal form of lodging for the tourists and we propose a broad choice of them to you to allow you to reserve as of now and under the best conditions of security, your paris hotels for your next stay in Paris.

Japan Travel

U.S. Commercial Service Japan: Travel and Tourism Sitemap BUYUSA.GOV -- U.S. Commercial Service Japan Local time: 07:42 AM Travel and Tourism Highlight Reports Japanese Outbound Travel Market Japan is the largest overseas travel market for the United States. In 2000, the number of Japanese outbound travelers totaled 17.8 million, an increase of 8.9 percent over the previous year. The U.S. is the most popular overseas destination for Japanese travelers, receiving more than 5 million Japanese travelers each year. The total market for Japan's international travel to the U.S. exceeded US$13 billion in 2000. Japanese Overseas School Travel Market In Japan, almost all schools including primary, junior, and senior high schools, both public and private, organize school trips for their students. Although most schools organize domestic excursions, the number of high schools that have been organizing overseas school trips is increasing. Useful Links International Trade Administration Tourism Industries Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) Japan Visit USA Committee Japan Association of Travel Agents CONTACTS Unit Chief: Joel Fischl Commercial Specialist: Yoko Hatano Home Focus on JAPAN, the World's Second-Largest Economy Exporting to East Asia & China Just Got Easier! How We Help U.S. Companies How We Help Japanese Companies Doing Business in Japan Country Commercial Guide Japanese Customs, Etiquette, and Culture Industry Highlights Public Comment Update Business Service Providers Useful Links FAQs Contact Us Our Worldwide Sites Other Asian Markets Export.gov Trade Portal 日本企業の皆様へ Search! Printable version Last updated 2004-01-21 © 2001-2005 All rights reserved Privacy Policy Disclaimer