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 --

Asia Travel according to

Asia Travel - All about Asia Travel Asia Travel Hotels and Resorts Reservation Service World Travel Hotels and Resorts Reservation Service You may have already visited many of our hotels, resorts, travel and leisure establishments, scenic destinations, places of interest, and country travel information pages. Or perhaps you just arrived at our homepage ready for your exploration. In any event, we extend .... .. a very warm welcome and hope you enjoy your visit .. We hope that you find here, all the necessary information you need to plan your travel, or virtual travel. If there is some information that you cannot locate on our site, please feel free to e-mail us at info@asiatravel.com. We will do our best to supply the information you require. Our goal is to provide all information and necessary reservations for your business, or leisure travel. This information can be at your fingertips at home, at the office, or on the road. We are committed to bringing you a selection of hotel and resort accommodations in Asia, Pacific region, Middle East, USA and Europe. All the hotels and resorts on our site provide full information, such as rates and discounts, graphics of rooms, sport, recreation, function, food and cuisine facilities. Location and fact sheets are provided to ensure you a comfortable and memorable stay. All hotels and resorts are listed on Asia Travel according to the discounted room rates they are offering to the Internet User. This listing does not necessarily reflect the class rating of the hotel. For example, a 5 star property may be listed in the same rate category as a 3 star property due to the good discounts they are offering. All the information we put up on the hotels, resorts, and travel and leisure establishments is the official information supplied by the management and owners. All the information is checked and approved before it is activated online. Also constant updating is done to ensure such information is current. All hotels and resorts accept online enquiries and reservations through their online enquiry and reservation forms. All enquiry and reservation forms are programmed to be received by Asia Travel and the Individual Establishment from which the forms are being sent. All enquiries and reservations will be responded to within 24 working hours , either by the hotel or Asia Travel. Some hotels offer instant availabilty and confirmation for reservation and check-in voucher can be printed online. All discounts and special offers are only applicable if reservations are made through the online reservation forms or directly through Asia Travel. All hotels and resorts accept advance reservations. You pay directly to the hotels or resorts only upon check-in or check-out, either by cash or credit card. These hotels and resorts do not ask for any advance payment or deposits. In some cases, due to very high season demand, they may ask for a credit card guarantee for the first day only of the reservation. This again is only a guarantee of stay, not a payment. Also there will be a grace period for cancellation in which case the guarantee will be invalid. If there is a guarantee requirement, a credit card authorisation form will be e-mailed to you and you can fill in the details and return it by fax. In addition to providing a platform for hotels to offer their rooms direct to Internet users, we also work with travel wholesalers and tour operators to offer their hotels, sightseeings and air-ticketing services. However, products offered by these wholesalers and tour operators will have to be prepaid. To ensure that our guests are provided with the best service, all collection of payments and confirmation of services are co-ordinated and handled by asiatravel.com (a brandname of AT Reservation Network Pte Ltd). 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France Travel in September

France in September - Monthly Calendar and French Travel and Vacation Planner  You are here: About > Travel > France for Visitors > Things to Do in France > France Monthly Calendar > France in September - Monthly Calendar and French Travel and Vacation Planner Travel Go France Essentials New Year's Eve in Paris and France Worst of France 2005 Paris Travel Guide Top French Ski Resorts Best New Year's Eve Champagne Articles & Resources Destinations Trip Planning Transportation Interests & Situations Money, Safety & Issues Things to Do in France Where to Stay in France Staying Connected Blogs Picture Galleries Culture, Language & People Fun, Freebies & Quizes Relocating to France Nudism, Sex & Gay Travel D-Day & Historic Travel Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Sites Selling French Products Before You Buy the Gift of Travel Gifts for the France Fanatic Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the France for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search France for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading France in July France in August Holidays and Events in France Related Blogs Dispatches from France Blog Paris Blog French Word-a-Day Blog La Coquette Blog Chroniques dune Fraise Nice Blog Rsidence Les Marronniers Provence Blog L'Oiseau Blog Chocolate and Zucchini Blog Forty Days in Paris Blog Most Popular "Naked City" Christmas in Paris Photo Tour Paris Sex District Top Paris Attractions Christmas in France What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France Related Topics Europe for Visitors French Language French Cuisine Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways Wine France Travel in September From Kelby Carr , Your Guide to France for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Slower Tourist Season, Cooler Temperatures and Lower Rates are High Points September is a simply divine month to visit France. The tourist season is winding down, but you still get most of the positive aspects of summertime like warm weather and extended hours at attractions. The prices at hotels and for airfare start to dip a little. The evenings, especially in the north, begin to have that cool, crisp touch to the air. There are numerous events, the highlight of which is the ferias, or bullfighting festivals, of the South of France. Anyone who loves Paris in the springtime would have to adore it as fall starts to tinge the tips of the French leaves. Weather The weather can range from hot summertime temperatures to characteristically cool fall nights. Mostly, the weather is pleasantly moderate. There are major variations in climate depending on where you are in France, but here are weather averages for some major cities: Paris : Average high temperature is 21 degrees celsius/70 degrees farenheit, and the average low is 13 celcius, 55 farenheit. Average rainfall is 53 millimeters, or 2.1 inches. Nice : Average high temperature is 24 degrees celsius/75 degrees farenheit, with the average low at 17 degrees celcius/62 degrees farenheit. Average precipitation is 66 millimeters, or 2.6 inches. Bordeaux : Average high temperature is 23 degrees celsius, 73 degrees farenheit, and the average low is 12 celcius/53 farenheit. Average precipitation is 84 millimeters, or 3.3 inches. Strasbourg : Average high temperature is 21 degrees celsius, or 69 degrees farenheit, and the average low is 11 celcius/51 farenheit. Average precipitation is 61 millimeters, or 2.4 inches. What to pack It can be challenging to pack for France, particularly if you will visit multiple cities. For the most part, this is a moderate time of year. Be prepared for extremes, as you could encounter hot days or cool nights. Your packing list should include: A hot weather outfit A sweater or light jacket Good walking shoes Get more ideas with my Packing Tips . Why to go in September Enjoy the quiet as most European (and American) tourists return to work and school The weather is usually warm and mild All museums and attractions are open, usually still with extended summertime hours Rates start to go down on lodging and airfare Why not to visit France in September You may encounter some cool weather, or even downright chilly temperatures Weather is less predictable Events and festivals Basque Country Music Festival , (August 28-September 10 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz ) is one of France's premier music festivals and is situated in one of the country's prettiest small cities. Piano aux Jacobins (September 6-29 in Toulouse ), a festival devoted to classical piano music featuring numerous concerts at the Jacobins cloister. Feria du Riz or Rice Feria, (September 9-11 in Arles) is a showcase of bullfighting traditions in Southern France. Well after fans leave the arena, the party continues into the night in this lively Provence city. Here, you not only find running of the bulls, but they are also guarded by the lovely Camargue horses. Paris Techno Parade , (September 10 in Paris) is France's second most popular music festival and an ode to techno music. It is part of the Rendez-Vous Electroniques Festival (from September 8-18). Jazz a Beaune , (September 14-18 in Beaune), a wonderful indulgence on the local Burgundy wines and jazz music. There are also classes offered, both on wine tasting and the jazz masters. Feria des Vendanges or Grape Harvest Feria, (September 16 to 18, Nimes) is another festive bullfighting festival in a city jam-packed with historic attractions. Sauerkraut Festival , (September 16-17 in Brienne-le-Chateau) is a splendid homage to the Aube region, which produces much of France's sauerkraut annually. Heralding the Harvest , (September 18 in Saint-Emilion) marks the start of the harvest in one of France's key wine-producing areas. The highlights include a mass and a torchlight evening tour of the town.        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 New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France

Italy Travel Essentials -

Naples Italy Travel Essentials - Information for the Visitor to Naples Italy  You are here: About > Travel > Italy for Visitors > More Italian Cities > Naples > Naples Italy Travel Essentials - Information for the Visitor to Naples Italy 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 Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page More Italian Cities Top Ten Cities in Italy 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 Naples, Italy Travel Essentials From Martha Bakerjian , Your Guide to Italy for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Naples City Profile Naples Introduction: Naples, Napoli in Italian, is the third most-populated city in Italy and the biggest city in Southern Italy. Its close proximity to many interesting sites, such as Pompeii and the Bay of Naples, makes it a good base. Naples is a lively and vibrant city, full of wonderful historical and artistic treasures and narrow, winding streets with small shops, making it worth at least a few days visit. The name comes from the Greek Neapolis meaning new city. Naples Location: Naples is in the region of Campania in Southern Italy, about 2-hours south of Rome. It sits on the coast on the northern edge of the Bay of Naples, one of the most beautiful bays in Italy. Its harbor is the most important port in Southern Italy. Transportation to Naples: Naples is the main transportation hub for southern Italy with several major train lines. The train and bus stations are in the huge Piazza Garibaldi , on the eastern side of Naples. Naples has an airport, Aeroporto Capodichino, with flights to other parts of Italy and to Europe. A bus connects the airport with Piazza Garibaldi . Ferries and hydrofoils run from Naple's Molo Beverello to the islands of Capri, Ischia, Procida, and Sardinia. Naples Transportation: Naples has good public transportation and lots of traffic problems so it's best to avoid having a car in Naples. Naples has a large but crowded bus network, trams, a subway, funiculars, and a suburban train line, the Ferrovia Circumvesuviana , that will get you to Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorrento. Naples Tourist Information: There are tourist offices in the main train station, Piazza Gesu Nuovo, and Piazza Martiri. Naples Food Specialities: Pizza, one of Italy's most famous foods, originated in Naples and pizza is taken very seriously here. You'll find lots of great pizza places but be sure you look for one with a wood-burning oven! Spaghetti also became popular in Naples and today the best is with clams or mussels. Seafood is abundant and very good in Naples, too. Naples Festivals: Naples has one of the best New Year's Eve fireworks displays in Italy. During Christmas, hundreds of Creches decorate the city. There are many decorations for Easter, too, and a huge parade. Two huge religous festivals are held in September, the Festa di Piedigrotta on the 7th and San Gennaro on the 19th. During the summer, there are music festivals, too. Naples Attractions: The National Archaeological Museum of Naples has one of the world's best collections of Greek and Roman antiquities, including mosaics, sculptures, gems, glass and silver, and a collection of Roman erotica from Pompeii. Many of the objects come from excavations at Pompeii and other nearby archaeological sites. Spaccanapoli is one of the main streets crossing Naples and is the heart of the historic center. Teeming with people, the street holds many interesting churches, shops, and other buildings. The Spaccanapoli district is a string of narrow, winding streets and is mainly a pedestrian zone so its a fun place to wander around. The Duomo is a 13th century Gothic cathedral dedicated to Naple's patron saint, San Gennaro . It also includes a 4th century basilica (the oldest church in Naples), a baptistry, and Renaissance crypt. The Capodimonte Museum and Park, built as King Charles III's hunting lodge, houses one of Italy's richest museums with a great picture gallery and collection of majolica and porcelain. You can wander around the royal apartments and the surrounding park, too. Castel dell'Ovo , the oldest castle in Naples, sits in a prominent position on the harbor and is used for exhibitions and concerts. The Castel Nuovo , a huge castle erected in 1282, houses the Civic Museum.        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

Disney Vacation Club Reseller

Disney Vacation Club - A guide to DVC Resales and disney time share point charts The Internet's Largest Unofficial On-Line Guide to Walt Disney World Walt Disney World Disney Cruise Line Disneyland Parks Hotels Dining DVC Photos Events Transport Ratings Discounts Site Map Home Page Photos/Video Theme Parks Magic Kingdom Epcot MGM Studios Animal Kingdom Tickets Park Hours/Shows Park Maps Events more.... Resorts/Hotels Disney Resorts Hotel DIScounts Rack Rates Resort Maps Reservations more.... Discussion Forums Ratings/Reviews Abbreviations FAQ's Posting Guidelines Free Registration Disney Cruise Line Itineraries Activities Dining Staterooms Discounts more... DVC/Timeshare DVC Resales DVC Resorts Newcomers FAQ DVC Point Charts Rent/Trade Points Discounts Current Discounts Disney Cruise Line Package Discounts Resort Discounts more... Disneyland CA Theme Parks Accomodations Dining Discounts more... Dining Menus Dining Database Priority Seatings more... 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The DVC bulletin board is also a great source of information (you can reach that board by selecting BOARDS from the menu bar to the left). What are the benefits of membership? How does the point system work? How do I know how many points to purchase? Can I use my points at other resorts? What if I decide not to keep it? What should I know about buying timeshares through a resale company? Still have Questions? What are the benefits of membership? There are a number of benefits to joining the DVC. First, the value of the points that you purchase will never change. The same value you receive today, will be the same value you receive in 30 years. While the cost of staying at a Disney hotel rises by 5-10% per year, this is a great hedge against inflation. Members also receive discounts at Pleasure Island and Disney Water Parks as well as 10% off merchandise at The Disney Store nationwide. DVC offers discounts for a variety of WDW restaurants, recreational programs and tours. A complete list is provided to members when they check in at their resort. Members also receive a 10% discount on Unlimited Park Hopper passes, that allow unlimited admission to all WDW Theme Parks, Water Parks, Pleasure Island and Disney Quest for every day of your stay. These passes must be purchased at a DVC resort during your stay. You also have the benefit of being able to book at your home resort up to 11 months in advance of your check out date. Your home resort is the resort at which you purchased your interest. Current DVC resorts are Old Key West (OKW), Boardwalk Villas (BWV), Vero Beach (VB), Hilton Head Island (HH), Villas at Wilderness Lodge (VWL), Beach Club Villas (BCV) and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is due to open in May, 2004. You can reserve up to 7 months in advance at any DVC location that is not your home resort. Membership in DVC is included with ownership at a DVC Resort. The program is currently scheduled to end on January 31, 2042- for OKW, BWV, VWL and BCV. After that date, the present resorts will revert back to Disney ownership. Ownership rights may be transferred to others in a will or by a direct sale, after consult with DVC. DVC can add additional resorts in the future which could have a different end date. This has recently occurred with Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (SSR), where DVC will offer membership until January 31, 2054. All of the discount programs are subject to change and may be modified at any time, but the DVC resorts and their total points may not be changed. Back to top How does the point system work? When you buy into the DVC, you purchase a certain number of points per year. The current price (retail) is $89 per point, for purchases at SSR -with a 150 point minimum for initial purchase and $84 per point for add-ons at the other DVC resorts-with a 25 point minimum for DVC members. Let's say you purchased 200 points. You would be assigned a "use year" (that is the month of the year in which your points would recycle). For example, my use year is February, and I own 200 points. Every February, 200 points are available for me to use that year. When I decide to book my vacation, I choose the dates I want to visit, and the type of room that I want to stay in. That will determine how many points that visit will cost me. I also have the option of banking my points into the next use year, or borrowing points against next year for this year. Which leads to the next question... Back to top How do I know how many points to purchase? This depends on how often you plan to visit Disney World, what size accommodation you would need, and what times of the year you want to visit. The Disney Information Station maintains a DVC Point Calculator and a DVC Point Chart. I suggest that you enter in some sample information, based on what type of vacation habits you have, to find out how many points would be appropriate for you. Many ask if DVC will change the point requirement for a stay at a DVC resort. While the total number of points sold at the resort is a fixed number and cannot be changed, point needs for stays can be changed. However, if points needed for some nights (or room types) are raised, other nights (or room types) must be lowered, as the total points required to stay at the resort for the year cannot be changed. This has occurred only once, in 1996 at OKW, and is likely to happen only if necessary to keep resort utilization in balance for the benefit of DVC members. At that time some nights were raised a few points, some were lowered a few points and most were not changed at all. Back to top Can I use my points at other resorts? The DVC is part of Interval International (a large, worldwide timeshare organization). Your DVC points can be traded for accommodations at many of the Interval Internationals resorts nationwide. You can also use your points to stay at other Disney resorts, as well as the DVC locations at Vero Beach, FL and Hilton Head, SC. and a number of other vacation opportunities such as the Disney Cruise Line and special Adventure programs. Back to top What if I decide not to keep it? You are free to sell your interest in the DVC just as you would any other real estate property. Many people list their DVC properties with companies such as the Timeshare Store, Inc. The Timeshare Store is a licensed Florida real estate company that acts as the broker for the sale and purchase of timeshare interests. You can get more info on The Timeshare Store by visiting their web site at http://www.timesharesale.com and info on their DVC Resales specifically at http://www.dvc-resales.com Back to top What should I know about buying timeshares through a resale company? There are a couple of points you should keep in mind when purchasing resale. First, watch out for companies who want to charge you any up front fees. You should never pay anything until a sale is final. Second, make sure that the resale agent you are dealing with is a licensed real estate agency. This lends a great deal of credibility to that agency, and gives you direct recourse (through the state board of realtors) should anything go wrong. We recommend The Timeshare Store in Orlando, FL. Many people who have visited this site have purchased DVC through them and have had excellent experiences in doing so. Back to top Once a DVC resort is sold out, if I buy through resale, will there be problems trying to book rooms? Disney Vacation Club resorts are busy places, there is no question about that. However, if you plan far enough in advance, you should be able to get the dates you want without much of a problem. Remember, at your home resort, you can reserve up to 11 months in advance of your check out date and 7 months in advance at other DVC resorts. All members have the same benefits and restrictions regardless how they joined the DVC. There is no negative to a membership purchased through resale. Back to top Still have Questions? If you have other questions that are not listed here, pay a visit to our DVC bulletin board. There you can ask any question you like of other DVC members. CLICK HERE to go to the boards! 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