Ski Vacation

Whistler Blackcomb - Official Ski Resort Website - Whistler, BC, Canada -- Skip Navigation Accommodation Getting Here The Mountains Things to do Tickets & Passes Rentals & Lessons Groups Weather & Cams Official Site for Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort in Whistler, BC Canada. Plan and book Whistler vacations including lift tickets, ski and snowboard rentals, ski school and Whistler hotels. Plus Whistler web cams, photos, snow reports, live weather and everything else to help plan your Whistler escape. WHAT'S HAPPENING North Pole Central New Year's Eve in Whistler showcasesnowboards.com Photo taken December 28, 2005 image gallery Deals & Packages HOT Holiday Season Package - Dec 24 to Jan 1, 2006 Whistler Accommodations & Lift Ticket Packages can save you money! 2 Nights/ 2 Days - From $395 CAD ($329 USD) Last Minute Whistler Hotel Deals Hotel Room - From $99 CAD ($83 USD) Discount Airfare See our best rates - Flights to Whistler from $169 CAD ($140 USD) Kids Fly FREE with United & Alaska Airways! Find out how your kids can fly for FREE! Travelling from the US? What you need to know before entering Canada View all Whistler Hotel Deals & Packages Last Minute deals Rooms Starting From $99 CAD ($83 USD)! Take advantage of our Last Minute Deals and SAVE! See All Last Minute Deals PARKS & PIPES Check out the latest in Whistler Blackcomb's world renowed Parks & Pipes We wish to thank our corporate partners As the "World's Best Way to Pay", Visa is the leading credit card payment brand in Canada and around the world. Whistler Blackcomb - 4545 Blackcomb Way, Whistler BC, Canada V0N 1B4 french spanish german japanese Privacy Policy Employment Media Real Estate About Us Contact Us Site Map x Deals & Packages Last Minute Deals A-Z Accommodation Listing Accommodation Maps Whistler Hotels Condominiums Homes & Chalets Small Mountain Inns Free Vacation Guide About Whistler Flights to Whistler Buses & Taxis Car Rentals Airport Transfers Maps & Directions About Vancouver Road Report Entering Canada What's New - Winter Trail Maps Hours of Operation Mountain Stats Parks & Pipes Safety Bike Park Environment Alpine Hiking & Sightseeing Events Calendar Winter Activities Apres & Nightlife Dining Shopping & Services Families Teens Kids Summer Activities Winter Lift Tickets EDGE Cards Season Passes Summer Lift Tickets Deals & Packages Rentals Adult Lessons Teen Lessons Kids Lessons Ski Groups & Clubs Meeting and Incentive Groups Weddings School & Youth Groups Travel Agents Contact Group Sales Snow Report Web Cams Live Temperatures Lift Status Weather Forecast Grooming Maps Avalanche Advisory Weather Statistics Recent Photo Gallery Video Clips Virtual Tours

Travel Insurance - Multi

Travel Insurance and Ski Insurance - Travel Insurance Direct Cheap Ski and Holiday Cover Travel Insurance - Single Trip Holiday Insurance for family and single travellers offering great value for money with cheap quotes. The "Travel Bond" is available to UK & Eire residents up to the age of 69 (65 for trips to USA/Canada) Ski Insurance, Snowboard, and Winter Sports Ski and Snowboarding winter sports insurance with off piste cover and helicopter rescue and medical emergency repatriation. Annual Travel Insurance - Multi Trip Save time and money with Annual Insurance. Covers unlimited trips in one year up 60 day per trip. A Ski, snowboard and winter sports option is available. Annual Travel Cover is available to UK & Eire residents up to 65 years. Backpackers & Students Low cost single trip cover for backpackers, students and other young people. Includes sports and adventure activities. Business Multi Trip This is an annual policy covering business business equipment and computer cover and a 24 day ski & wintersports option. Leisure travel is also included. European Breakdown Cover Motoring breakdown service for cars and motorcycles in Europe by AXA Assistance. Insurance for non UK / Eire residents World Nomads offers travel cover for residents of over 44 countries including US & Canadian Residents, Australia and Europe. Ski Insurance, Travel Insurance & Cheap Holiday Insurance for UK & Eire Residents Travel Insurance Home | Help & Advice | About Us Travel Insurance Annual Multi Trip Ski Insurance Business Multitrip Backpackers European Breakdown Non UK / Eire Residents Activities Wording Compare Insurance Travel Guides Ski Guides Site Information Ski, Snowboard and winter holiday insurance On or Off Piste. Free Children's insurance Backpacker Insurance ideal for students and gap year travellers on extended stay trips Travel Insurance for single trips and family holidays with free children's insurance Annual Travel Insurance with Winter Sports Option including free children's insurance Cheap Ski Insurance and Snowboarding cover for young people extended stays Annual Travel insurance with Business Equipment cover - ideal for Business Travel Travel Insurance Agencies Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and are members of the British Insurance Brokers Association. GET AN INSTANT QUOTE or BUY YOU POLICY ONLINE FOR INSTANT COVER All policies have a 14 day money back guarantee. Compare our prices with other leading travel and holiday insurance companies Maps & Guides Airport Guides Airport Lounges Airport Hotels Airport Car Parking Travel Money Site Information Travel Advice travel insurance | cheap travel insurance | holiday insurance | ski insurance | annual travel insurance student travel insurance | help & information | Travel Europe | Ski & Winter Resort European Guide backpackers insurance | business travel insurance | european breakdown cover | travel tips | travel maps & guides Compare : Boots Travel Insurance | Sainsbury'sTravel Insurance | Post OfficeTravel Insurance | Tesco Travel Insurance Travel Insurance Agencies Limited are Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Hotel Travel

Travel Thailand - Hotels Thailand - Travel Thailand Info Travel Thailand - Hotels - Thailand Travel Information Travel Thailand - Thailand Travel & Hotels Thailand Hotels, Spas, Attractions, Restaurants, Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Samui Home Info Culture See & Do Tour Transport History Shop Maps Beaches Nature Diving Adventure Hotels Class FAQ Places Bangkok Chiang Mai Ko Chang Ko Samui Krabi Pattaya Phuket Issan North Thailand Travel & Destination Guide Thailand Search >> finds it fast -- New! Thailand Hotels are searchable by beach, city, region and rate, with .. hotel descriptions Thailand may be the easiest Asian country in which to travel, especially the major cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya ... Thailand travel info Bangkok Subway System pages with fares, procedures, tips and descriptions. Subway route maps plus maps of all subway stations .. Bangkok Subway Koh Chang has great beaches, waterfalls, scuba diving, reasonably priced bungalows and a sprawling archipelago. Maps include Ko Kood and the beaches on Koh Chang. Getting there, hotels, scuba diving sites and more to come .. Koh Chang Rainy Season in Thailand - What months are the best for scuba diving? Recommendations for Thailand's rainy season. Sea conditions table and more... Thailand rainy season Free! Thai Script Phrase Cards - print your own even without Thai fonts on your printer. Make your travels easier - PhraseWizard Bangkok is one of the world's great cities, teeming with adventure; and the first glimpse of Thailand for most travelers. Our Bangkok guide gives you a glimpse at one of the world's great destinations .. Bangkok Pattaya Beach Thailand a popular resort city by the sea is just two hours southeast of Bangkok. And there is more to Pattaya than the nightlifeit is famous for, Jomtien beach is just one of the many reasons.. PattayaBeach Thailand Beaches Not all the great beaches are on Koh Samui, Koh Chang and Phuket. A glimpse at some of the lesser known ... beaches in Thailand Scuba Diving & Phuket Liveaboards The waters around Thailand offer world class diving. Liveaboards are plentiful in the Andaman Sea. If the weather in Phuket is bad, dive at Koh Tao. Thailand dive site maps and dive weather maps at ... Thailand scuba diving Thai Visas & Consulates Visa information and listsof official and honorary Thai consulates worldwide plus ... Thaivisa information Adventure in Thailand is the reason many people travel.AndThailand has it's share from white water rafting and rock climbingto scuba diving .. adventuretravel in Thailand Maps of Thailand - Travel maps of cities and provinces include hotel locations. Maps of national parks and more ... Thailand travel maps Thailand Whitewater Rafting - rainy season meansadventure plusbargains, cheap accommodations and un crowded destinations.Whitewater raftingis one adventure that gets exciting during the rainy season whitewater rafting Luxury Destination Spas in Thailand are prime attractionsforthose wishing to be pampered. Thailand has world class ... healthspas Chiang Mai - "Rose of the North" with national parks, trekking, hill tribes, a night market, entertainment and good hotels ... Chiang Mai Online Hotel Booking Is it safe to book a hotel online? Can you save $$$. Suggestions for online booking ... hotels in Thailand Golf in Thailand may top your list of activities. If so, Thailand will neither disappoint you nor break your budget ... golf courses in Thailand Thailand's Festivals could make the difference between a good holiday and a great experience. Songkran and Loi Kratong are two of the most popular ... Thai festivals Business Travel to Bangkok can be much more pleasantif you know where to stay and where to play. A very brief rundown onpubs; plus Thai, western and ethnic restaurants .. Bangkokbusiness guide You, and travelers like you, are the true hotel experts . Read guest comments about many of the .. Bangkok hotels Speaking Thai is difficult for the beginner, butlearning a few basic phrases can be extremely rewarding when visitingThailand. Our Thai phrases won't make you a linguist, but theycan give you a beginning to the ... Thailanguage Thailand Tours are usually better than the reputationthey have. Try waiting until you land in Thailand to arrange a tour.Oreven better, puttogetheryourownpackagetour ... touringThailand Thai Baht Exchange Tips for money exchange plus realtimeexchange rates for all major currencies. ThaiBaht exchange rate Nature and National Park tours such as trekking, rafting and birding can be enjoyed at many of Thailand's national parks. Our section gives a brief description of Thai parks and what facilities they offer ... national parks Travel Thailand by Driving - a different perspective of Thailand. Use our ... distance calculator ... and read our new driving in Thailand resource Dining and Entertainment in Thailand - restaurants,healthspas,pubs,clubsandmore in. Cuisine in Thailand is a truly unique experience. Whetherseafood,Chinese or Indian, Bangkok has it .. diningin Bangkok Add to Favorites Search Hotels Thailand Tours Thailand Weather Hotel Maps Travel Health Alerts & Advice Alerts! Southern Thailand Visa Rules Change? Link to Us Travel Maps Maps-Thailand Recommended Ban Krut.com K-1 & K-3 Visa SpaStay Pattayai Home PhraseWizard • Accom • Family • Food • Medical • Misc • Personal • Shopping • Transport Alerts Survivor About Contact Links Site Map Link to Home Info Culture See & Do Touring Transport History Shopping Maps Beaches Nature Scuba Diving Adventure Hotels Travel Class Destinations Places Bangkok Chiang Mai Ko Samui Krabi Pattaya Phuket Issan North Travel Thailand Advice Thailand Travel Destinations Beaches in Thailand Thailand Culture Hotels in Thailand Thailand Travel Maps Thailand Adventure Travel Thailand Luxury Travel © 2005 GuidetoThailand.com. All rights reserved. Thailand Travel Information - Hotels Bangkok - Koh Samui Hotels - Chiang Mai - Phuket - Travel Thailand

Vacation Packages > Caribbean

Jamaica Vacation Packages - Orbitz - Jamaica Vacations Welcome to Orbitz. Sign In. Register now. Jamaica Vacations Discount Travel Directory > Vacation Packages > Caribbean Vacations > Jamaica Vacations Finding a Jamaica vacation package couldnt be easier onOrbitz. You can count on Orbitz to find the best places to stay, at the bestprices. We work with the top airlines and resorts to help you find and book thebest Jamaica vacation package right online, whether you want a pre-packageddeal or to create your own. Accommodations For Your Jamaica Vacation Package With stunning natural beauty and a rich history and culture,Jamaica has long been a vacation favorite. The island today offers a dizzyingarray of choices when it comes to vacation packages. Jamaica has plenty ofall-inclusive resorts, as well as smaller hotels and intimate guest houses. Nomatter where you want to stay, you can find it at Orbitz, at a great price. When your Jamaica vacation package includes the Half Moon Golf, Tennis & Beach Club ,you know what youll get: one of the worlds best golf courses, as well as theCaribbean headquarters for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy; tennis and squashcourts, plus professional instruction in each; and two beautiful beaches withall the watersports you can imagine. Need more? How about horseback riding,dolphins, five restaurants, seven bars, numerous childrens activities, and afull-service spa? And thats just the beginning. Half Moon features 419 rooms,suites and villas a few steps from Montego Bay, one of Jamaicas topdestinations. Another option for your Jamaica vacation package is Point Village in Negril. Sittingbetween Negrils famous seven-mile beach at Long Bay and the picturesque BloodyBay Beach, the resorts 175 rooms and suites each offers fantastic views from aprivate balcony or patio. Point Village offers a moderately priced tropicalescape for the entire family, where you can relax on the beach or in the largefreshwater pool, snorkel the grottoes that line the shoreline, or dine at thehotels restaurant. An all-inclusive option is available. The Royal Plantation ,in Ocho Rios on Jamaicas north shore, always receives rave reviews from itsguests, and its easy to see why. The Royal Plantation is intimate andfriendly, with just 82 suites. Each of those suites is nothing short ofluxurious, and each offers breathtaking views of the ocean and the beach. Whilethe resort is small, it offers all the amenities of the larger resorts, fromwatersports and gourmet dining to golf a spa. The Royal Plantation isall-inclusive, and its for adults only. Choose a Jamaica vacation package atthe Royal Plantation and chances are youll rave about it, too. Find Your Jamaica Vacation Package Now! Jamaica offers many, many more vacation choices, and you canfind the best of them right here on Orbitz. Well check with all the topresorts and airlines to get you the best deal, and you can often find Web-onlyspecials right here at Orbitz. So no matter where you decide to stay, withOrbitz you know youre getting a fantastic deal on a fantastic Jamaica vacationpackage. Jamaica Vacations: Montego Bay / Negril / Ocho Rios Vacation Packages My Trips | My Account | Flight Status | Site map | Contact us | Terms and conditions | Privacy | About Orbitz Orbitz for Hotels | Orbitz for Business | Advertise on Orbitz | Become an affiliate | Careers | Media | Investors OrbitzSaver Low Rate Guarantee Flights | Hotels | Car Rental | Vacation Packages | Travel Deals | Travel Guides | Cruises Vacations | Discount Travel | Hotel Reservations | Cheap Hotels | New York City Hotels | Las Vegas Hotels Cheap Vacations | Hawaii Vacations | Las Vegas Vacations | All Inclusive Vacations by 360i Orbitz guards your privacy and security. We're certified by TRUSTe and Verisign. © 2001-2004, Orbitz, LLC. All rights reserved. CST 2063530-50 From: To: Leave: Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 2005 Feb 2005 Mar 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Return: Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 2005 Feb 2005 Mar 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Travelers: 1 2 3 4 Adults (18+) 0 1 2 3 Children (0-17) --

Russia Travel Guide Overview

Russia Travel Tips and Advice | 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 Europe Russia Do's and Don'ts Russia Travel Guide Overview Tours Where to Go Activities General Info History Weather Travel Tips Dining Shopping Visa & Health View Trips to Russia Europe Overview Browse Russia Photos Russia Questions and Answers Read Russia Journals Find a Russia Travel Buddy Russia Travel Tips & Advice Social Conventions It is customary to shake hands when greeting someone. Company or business gifts are well received. Each region has its own characteristic mode of dress. Conservative wear is suitable for most places and the seasonal weather should always be borne in mind. Smoking is acceptable unless stated otherwise. Avoid ostentatious displays of wealth; it is advisable to keep expensive jewelry, watches and cameras out of sight and take precautions against pickpocketing. Tipping Hotels in Moscow and other large cities include a 10 to 15 per cent service charge. Otherwise 10 per cent is customary. International Travel: Travel warning Because of the security situation in the North Caucasus, it is strongly advised not to travel to Chechyna, Ingushetia, Dagestan, North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area) and to the eastern and southern parts of Stavropol Krai, particularly where it borders Chechnya and North Ossetia. Chechen militants have threatened further violence in response to the killing of their rebel leader, Aslan Maskhador, on March 8 2005. It is advised that potential travelers monitor this situation. There is a high threat from domestic terrorism in Russia, including suicide bombings in public places. Air The national airline is Aeroflot – Russian International Airlines (SU) (website: www.aeroflot.com ). Other airlines serving the Russian Federation include Air France , Austrian Airlines , British Airways , Czech Airlines , El Al , Finnair , Lufthansa and SAS Scandinavian Airlines . Approximate flight times From Moscow or St Petersburg to London is three hours 45 minutes. From Moscow to Almaty is four hours 40 minutes, to Baku is three hours 10 minutes, to Bukhara is three hours 40 minutes, to Kiev is one hour 45 minutes, to Minsk is one hour 20 minutes, to Odessa is two hours, to Samarkand is three hours 50 minutes and to Yerevan is two hours 50 minutes. International airports Moscow (SVO) (Sheremetyevo) (website: www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru ) is 35km (22 miles) northwest of the city. Taxis are available at the airport to the city center for approximately US$10-15 (travel time – 30 to 40 minutes). ‘Autoline’ fixed-route taxis and buses are also available. Express coaches depart for the city every 20 minutes (0545-0030). Coaches depart for the airport from the Central Air Terminal in Moscow, 37 Leningradsky Prospekt (travel time – 50 minutes for international flights). Express trains leave every 30 minutes. Airport facilities include outgoing duty free shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, car hire, restaurants and first aid. Moscow also has three primarily domestic airports: see Travel – Internal section. St Petersburg (LED) (Pulkovo) is 17km (10.5 miles) south of the city. Buses are available to the city center 0700-2000 every 10 minutes (travel time – 10 minutes). Taxis are available for roughly US$10 (travel time – 15 minutes). Airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change, flight information, duty free shops, restaurant, bar, snack bar, left luggage and first aid. Departure tax None. Rail There are various connections from London. The sleeper coach to Moscow takes about 53 hours. The main route is: London–Brussels–Cologne/Berlin–Moscow. The journey from London to Brussels can be made by a variety of train and ferry services (including via Eurostar ), or via the Channel Tunnel. Services from Brussels are daily. There are through trains or coaches from other Western and Eastern European cities, from CIS countries, and from China (PR), Iran, Mongolia and Turkey. See also Trans-Siberian Express in the Travel – Internal section. Road Foreign tourists may drive their own cars or may hire cars (see Travel – Internal ). The speed limit is 60kmph on minor roads, 90kmph on major roads and variable on highways. A road tax is payable upon entry to the country. The following crossing points between Finland and the Russian Federation are available: Vaalima–Torfianovska; Nuijamaa–Brusnichnoye and Rajajooseppi–Lotta. There are also crossing points between the Russian Federation and all neighboring countries although, at present, there are restrictions on cross-border travel to Azerbaijan and Georgia. Plans to simplify this process are currently underway. Those entering by car should have their visas registered at the hotel, motel or campsite where they will stay for the first night, and must also ensure that the car registration number is recorded in the visa. Travelers should also insure their vehicle with Ingosstrakh , which has offices at all crossing points and in most major cities, and to purchase service coupons at the border. Although motorcyclists can enter the Russian Federation, cyclists wishing to cross the Russian border should find out whether this is permissible from the Russian Embassy or their travel agent before departure. Eurolines , departing from Victoria Coach Station in London, serves destinations in the Russian Federation. For further information, contact Eurolines (tel: (08705) 143 219; e-mail: welcome@eurolines.co.uk ; website: www.eurolines.co.uk ). Duty free regulations are liable to change at short notice. The following should be used as a guide only, and travelers are advised to contact the Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date information. The following goods may be imported into the Russian Federation by persons of 16 years of age or older without incurring customs duty: 1000 cigarettes or 1kg of tobacco products ; 1 . 5l of spirits and 2l of wine ; a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use ; gifts up to the value of US$10,000 . Note On entering the country, tourists must complete a customs declaration form which must be retained until departure. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. Cameras, jewelry, computers and musical instruments should all be declared. Customs inspection can be long and detailed. It is advisable when shopping to ask for a certificate from the shop which states that goods have been paid for in hard currency. Presentation of such certificates should speed up customs formalities. Prohibited imports Photographs and printed matter directed against the Russian Federation, weapons and ammunition, narcotics, fruit, vegetables and live animals unless with a special permit. Prohibited exports Arms, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture), precious metals and furs. Note Up to 280g of caviar per person may be exported, provided a receipt is shown proving that it was bought at a store licensed to sell it to foreigners. Internal Travel: Air The internal network radiates from Moscow’s four airports. Aeroflot runs services from Moscow to most major cities. All-inclusive tours are available from specialist tour operators. Note: In the 1990s, Aeroflot was broken up into many small airlines which led to a catalog of air disasters earning it a reputation for poor safety. Thankfully, its safety record has improved in recent years. Domestic airports Vnukovo Airport (VKO) is 29.5km (18 miles) southwest of Moscow. Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal (travel time – one hour 15 minutes). Outgoing duty free facilities are available at the airport. Taxis are available to the city. Domodedovo (DME) is 48km (25 miles) southeast of Moscow. A coach goes from the Central Air Terminal to the airport (travel time – one hour 20 minutes). Bykovo Airport (BKA) is the smallest of Moscow’s airports, 35km from the city. Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal. Approximate flight times From Moscow to Bratsk is six hours 45 minutes, to Donetsk is one hour 30 minutes, to Irkutsk is seven hours, to Khabarovsk is seven hours 30 minutes, to Kharkov is one hour 15 minutes, to St Petersburg is one hour 30 minutes, to Volgograd is one hour 50 minutes and to Yalta is two hours 15 minutes. Sea Owing to its geographical position, the Russian Federation has ports on its Pacific and Baltic shores and in the south on the Black Sea. The most important eastern ports are Vladivostok, Magadan, Nakhodka and Petropavlovsk; the most important western ports are St Petersburg and Kaliningrad on the Baltic. The only links to the Atlantic are the ports of Murmansk on the Kola peninsula, which never freezes over and Archangelisk. Major harbors on the Black Sea are Novorossiysk and Sochi. There are plans to build an extension to the St Petersburg harbor at Ust-Luga. Upgrading of facilities at Kaliningrad and Vyborg is also planned. Sea cruises on the Black Sea and the Baltic are popular. River Cruises and excursions are available on the Amur, Don, Irtysh, Lena, Ob, Volga and Yenisey rivers. Many companies offer cruises on board comfortable, modern boats. The Volga towns, the Golden Ring and Moscow–St Petersburg are popular routes. Rail The 87,079km (54,109 miles) of track are a vital part of the infrastructure because of the poor road system. The largest and busiest rail network in the world is predominantly for freight traffic. Only a few long-distance routes are open for travel by tourists, and reservations must be made on all journeys. Children under five years of age travel free. Children aged five to nine pay half fare. Rail travelers are advised to store valuables in the compartment under the bed or seat and not to leave the compartment unattended. The Trans-Siberian Express , probably the most famous train in the world, is one of the best ways of seeing the interior of the country. It runs from Moscow to the Pacific coast of Siberia and on to Japan. There is a daily service, but the steamer from Nakhodka to Yokohama only sails approximately once a week. The through journey from Moscow to Yokohama takes 10 days. It is the world’s longest continuous train journey, crossing seven time zones and 9745km (5778 miles) from Europe to the Pacific, with 91 stops from Vladivostok to Moscow. Bed linen and towels are provided in the ‘Soft Class’ (first-class) berths, and there is a toilet and washbasin at the end of each carriage. Attendants serve tea from samovars for a small charge and there is a restaurant car on every train where meals can be purchased (however, no alcohol is available on the train, so passengers are advised to bring their own if desired). The Trans-Manchurian Express follows the same route, before heading southeast into China and down to Beijing. Another, slightly shorter but no less epic journey can be made on the Trans-Mongolian Railway to Beijing. It runs from Moscow to Irkutsk (Siberia), skirting Lake Baikal and then entering Mongolia. The journey to the Mongolian capital, Ulaan Baatar, is remarkable for its dramatic scenery. The journey concludes in Beijing. Road The European part of the Russian Federation depends heavily on its road network, which totals 552,000km (343,000 miles) throughout the Federation. Generally, the few roads in Siberia and further east are impassable during the winter. It is a good idea to arrange motoring holidays through a reputable agency. It is also advisable to pre-plan the itinerary and accommodation requirements. On the majority of tourist routes, signposts are also written in the Latin alphabet. Travelers can take their own car (see Travel – International ) or hire a vehicle; tariffs include the cost of insurance. Chauffeured cars are available in major cities. Sample distances: Moscow to St Petersburg: 692km (432 miles); Moscow to Minsk: 690km (429 miles); Moscow to Rostov-on-Don: 1198km (744 miles); Moscow to Odessa: 1347km (837 miles). Bus: Long-distance coach services have only recently become open to foreigners. They are a great way of seeing the country but patience is a necessity and getting lost is commonplace. Traffic regulations: Traffic drives on the right. Speeds are limited to 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas and 90kph (55mph) elsewhere. Hooting the horn is forbidden except when to do so might prevent an accident. Motorists should avoid driving at night if possible. It is forbidden to carry unauthorized passengers or pick up hitch-hikers. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is forbidden. Every car must display registration plates and stickers denoting the country of registration and be fitted with seat belts, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and an emergency sign (triangle) or red light. In case of an accident, contact the nearest traffic inspection officer and make sure all participants fill in written statements, to be witnessed by a militia inspector. All repairs will be at the foreign motorist’s expense. Documentation: An International Driving Permit and a national license with authorized translations are necessary. Visitors traveling in their own cars must also possess the following documents at all tmes: passport and visa; itinerary card bearing visitor’s name and citizenship, car registration number and full details of itinerary presented upon entry to the Russian Federation relating to the route to be taken and the date and place of stopovers; form provided by Customs on arrival guaranteeing that the car will be taken out of the Russian Federation on departure; petrol vouchers purchased at the border; and insurance cover documents. A road tax is payable upon entry to the country (see end of Travel – International ). Motor insurance for travel within the Russian Federation should be arranged prior to departure, or upon entry to the Russian Federation at the offices of Ingosstrakh , the Russian Federation foreign insurance agency. Contact the Embassy or a specialist tour operator for further details. Urban Public transport in the cities is comprehensive and cheap. Many services are electric traction (metro, tramway, trolleybus). Stations on the Moscow and St Petersburg metros are always elegant and often palatial. Entry to the underground is by tokens, which are inserted into the ticket barrier. Fares are standard for the various forms of transport. Taxis are also available; they can be hailed in the street, hired at a rank or booked by telephone. It is safer to use officially marked taxis, which should not be shared with strangers. Travel Times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Moscow to other major cities/towns in the Russian Federation: Air Rail Sea Khabarovsk 7.30 - - St Petersburg 1.30 9.00 - Irkutsk 7.00 88.00 - Nakhodka - - 141.00 Volgograd 1.30 - - Sponsored Listings ( Add your listing ) advertisement Advertisement -- advertisement Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us © 2005 Adventure Travel with iExplore --