France Travel Guide 2

France Travel Guide - information and advice France Travel Guide Information and Advice France Map | Paris Pictures | Paris Travel Guide France Travel Guide 2 - Attractions exodus specialises in “The different holiday”, offering the widest selection of walking, adventure, cycling, mountain biking, wildlife, cultural and winter holidays, and overland journeys across all seven continents! Homepage | France Tours | Brochure Request France Travel Guide, climate: Best: March-June, Sept, early-Oct for sightseeing. Jan-March for wintersports. Worst: July, Aug. The country is packed with foreign and local tourists, while many services - even museums and restaurants - are closed. Dec-Feb can be bitterly cold in mountain areas and in the north including Paris. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile travel, not incl. flights: Paris and île de France [a short excursion] - 4 days. Weekend trips to just Paris are good too. Recommended: At least 2 weeks to take in Paris, and some country/mountain/beach activities, but you'll need months to discover how diverse the country's attractions are. France Festivals guide: Apart from Bastille Day and Assumption of the Virgin Mary [Aug 15th], which are celebrated nationwide, there are regional folk festivals and arts festivals, as well as Catholic events throughout the country, especially around July. Most of the events involve food, wine and extreme dyspepsia. Jan. 1st: Grand Parade Paris , twinned event with London for New Year celebrations . Massive and colourful. Feb-March : Mardi Gras Nice [ more info and picture ], one of the biggest and the most original carnival s in the world, a two week event with colourful parades, street parties, fireworks, and monster illuminations. mid May: Cannes Film Festival - No need to be a celebrity to enjoy Europe's high profile film fiesta. Loads of public screenings are available, as well as a small chance of bumping into stars. No better place for people watching. mid May/mid Oct: Gypsy Festival [Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in Provence], a gypsy gathering; historic, unique and kaleidoscopic. June: International Music Festival [Strasbourg in Alsace, the North], contemporary music. July 14th: Bastille Day [nationwide], France's biggest street festival, with parties, parades and fireworks to remember the French Revolution. July: Tour de France , a three-week cycling race for 3,500km [2000 miles] over the country [route changes annually]. The world's most famous French sporting event. mid July-mid Aug: Festival d'Avignon [Avignon]- a dynamic and diverse Arts festival, boasting over 50 official productions and many more fringes. F or classical music, try Festival International d'Art Lyrique in Aix-en-Provence in July, too. early Aug: Festival Interceltique [Lorient in Brittany], a worthy folk event [Celtic music and culture]. Oct: Jazz Festival [Nancy ], one of the country's best jazz events. For some precise dates see: European Festivals or Arts Festiva ls . Cuisine Guide: Traditional French cuisine of the protein-covered-with-rich sauce kind has been top of the gastronomic world since Romans travelled there to eat wild boar with cranberries in 34AD. But it's finally out of fashion - too heavy, too fattening, too taste-limited, but... [ more info and picture ] Shopping Guide: Pricewise France is not so brilliant due to the €uro's strength, but French style and taste is still irresistible. If designer labels are not your thing, try French eccentricity at smaller boutiques in trendy areas, or cheap chic stuff at flea-markets. Bargain shopping for any French products at huge malls in places such as Calais or Lille is very popular [with mainly British travellers]. Visiting local open-air food markets for regional cheese, pastries and wine, especially in Provence, is a fun way to make lunch. France Star Rating: Monuments ***** Shopping and souvenirs **** Walkability **** Food Quality and Variety **** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value ** Beaches **** Wildlife ** Landscape ***** Local People ** Architecture **** Safety **** Nightlife and Clubbing **** Health Problems none Museums ***** Why Travel to France? The language is one of the most beautiful things about the country so let's forgive the French for being very sniffy about it. Style, culture, architecture, food, wine and fashion all exist in multiple layers of excellence , with Paris in particular capturing and displaying these assets to great advantage. This, the largest country in Europe, has an incredible diversity of soaring landscapes, gorgeous villages, world-famous resorts and spectacular romantic escapes. On top of that, French love anything to do with bodies, so there is no better place for fulfilling your physical dreams, whether it's paragliding off the Alps, boating through the Dordogne or stuffing yourself with foie gras and a bottle of Pouilly-Fuissé. Downside: - Traffic. Not only are French car drivers notoriously aggressive, inconsiderate and occasionally dangerous , but being a convenient transit thoroughfare for North-South Europe road deliveries means that many French roads suffer terminal truck overdose. - Endless, sudden, disruptive strikes. - Petty crime wherever groups of tourists congregate . - The Riviera is mostly crammed with the filthy rich these days. - Locals attitudes to foreign travellers could be improved, particularly in Paris. Activities Guide: Walking/Climbing: With more than 60,000 km [37,500 miles]of well-marked long-distance footpaths to travel on, France is a superb walking country [ more info and picture ] . Also see Walking Tours - France. Cycling: the most French of activities; t he first modern bike was French! France has 28,000km of marked cycle routes, as well as good city and town cycle lanes [ more info and picture ]. Camping : Plenty of choice of places and facilities from basic campsites to luxury holiday parks throughout the country, especially along west coast beaches [ more info and picture ]. Efficient, stress-free and perfect for the family. Skiing: France is one of world's finest and most popular destinations for both downhill and cross-country skiing [ more info and picture ]. Caving: The limestone caves along Spanish border or the Southwest are ideal. Golfing: There are over 500 golf courses in the country [ more info and picture ], with several world-class ones. Relatively inexpensive and uncrowded. Hangliding & paragliding: The Hautes-Alpes of Provence, the Pyrenees [ more info and picture ] and Corsica are considered to be best places to hang loose. Rafting /canoeing: rental boats and organised excursions are available just about everywhere by the water in summertime [ more info and picture ]. The gorges in the Pyrenees, the Alpes and the Massif Central are particularly suited for more adventurous travellers [ more info and picture ]. Swimming/sunbathing: From Normandy to Corsica there's no shortage of swimming spots in the summer. [ more info and picture ]. Sailing: The Atlantic coast has solid winds and good ports to visit unless you are silly rich and want to park your yacht in Cannes. Diving/snorkelling: Available in Corsica. Surfing: often good waves along the Atlantic coast, such as Biarritz, Anglet and Hossegor. Wind/Kitesurfing is most popular on the western Mediterranean coast. Many rivers as well as on lakes such as Lac d'Annecy and Lake Geneva have leisure centres offering a wide rage of watersports. Fishing: Available on rivers and lakes with permits. Try Brittany for carp fishing, River Loire and Brittany/ Normandy for trout and salmon, but the best and most scenic rivers for salmon fishing are in the western Pyrenees. Get a licence at the local tourist office. Sea-fishing, including night-fishing, is popular and available at most seaside resorts. Horse riding: widespread but particularly favoured in Burgandy and the Camargue at the Rhône Delta [in Provence], a nature reserve famous for its indigenous horses. Another horse friendly area is the north; Parc International de la Canche in Le Touquet has 112km of forest riding routes and 26km of beach trails. River/Canal Cruises: A large and sophisticated network of canals and rivers can take you all over the country in peace and quiet, and you still see the sights, but you don't have to book a room ahead or...[ more info and picture ]. France Tours Tour operators offering tours to France can be found in our listings here: France Tours Map of Europe For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Visas: EU citizens do not need visas, nor do many other country's residents - including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel for visits up to 90 days. Electricity: Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Safety: Relatively safe but always use common sense. Pickpockets operate on many metro and train lines, around tourist sights and along the Cote d'Azur. Cars travelling with foreign number plates are also popular targets for theft, ranging from smash 'n' grab by motorcycle while in motion, 'Mister your wheel it look funny' trickery, and regular parked break-ins. Always hide luggage, especially valuables, and park in a conspicuous area if possible. See Travel Safety. Language: Nowadays more locals understand English, but do not expect them to speak it, even if they are in service. If you can throw together a few words it will help when travelling in most places in France, except possibly Paris, where city dwellers are notoriously sniffy about their gorgeous language being tortured by foreigners. Do, at least try to say 'Bonjour Madame/monsieur' when you enter a small shop and 'Au revoir' when you leave, this will show that you have some appreciation of their culture, even if you don't speak any other French. If you plan to travel France you may find these other Bugbog guides useful: UK Travel Guide Spain Travel Guide Italy Travel Guide Germany Travel Guide Austria Travel Guide Belgium Travel Guide Portugal Travel Guide Czech Republic Travel Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog

Mexico Travel

Gay Mexico Arco Iris Travel Experts Tours Cancun Puerto Vallarta BARGAIN GROUP & INDEPENDENT TRAVEL -- Airfare, Accommodations, Packages & More .> > THE MOST FUN UNDER THE MEXICAN SUN < < CANCUN PUERTO VALLARTA MEXICO CITY GUADALAJARA ACAPULCO CANCUN INTERNATL GAY FESTIVAL MAY 11 TO 15 800-765-4370 Parties and Events Yearround Affordable Fun Exotic Locations Member of IGLTA GAY HOTELS Click here to see the only beachfront all-gay hotel in Puerto Vallarta OTHER GAY HOTEL OPTIONS IN MEXICO WEDDINGS IN PARADISE LET THE ARCO IRIS WEDDING EXPERTS PLAN A SPECIAL CEREMONY YOU'LL ALWAYS CHERISH IN A TROPICAL SETTING YOU'LL NEVER FORGET. SEND AN EMAIL REQUEST FOR DETAILS! CLIENT COMMENTS Welcome to the web site of the Gay Mexico Experts 2006 GROUP TOURS FEB 25 to MARCH 2 With ARCO IRIS GAY MEXICO EXPERTS, you have access to some of the best travel bargains and most fun vacations in the world. As the original GAY MEXICO EXPERTS, we know the various gay communities of Mexico better than anyone. Wtih nearly a decade of service to the gay community, we are recommended by many resources -- gay and mainstream. We specialize in Mexico because we know it so-o-o-o-o-o well. You can choose from our selection of party packages and events -- or create your own individual itinerary for yourself and a few friends or a few thousand friends. We can make all your travel dreams come true . One-stop shopping -- at a price that won't bust your budget. Just tell us when & where you want to go, and what kind of fun you want to have, and we'll do the rest. We'll make it happen. Send us an e-mail or call 619-297-0897 or toll-free in the USA 800-765-4370 . You'll love our FRIENDLY SERVICE and GREAT PRICES . ARCO IRIS GAY MEXICO EXPERTS 800-765-4370 / 619-297-0897 / Fax 619-297-6419 NOTE: If you do not receive a reply email from us within 7 days after you send an email, please check your spam basket or re-send your email or call us. Because we send a lot of emails, some computers block our emails mistaking them for spam. Please check your spam basket or re-send your email or call us if you do not receive a reply. BEARS IN PUERTO VALLARTA - JAN. 29 DON'T FORGET: THE NEXT BIG GAY PARTY IN CANCUN IS THE CANCUN INTERNATIONAL GAY FESTIVAL MAY 11-15 Check out TLA VIDEO for gay movies, books and lifestyle products

Travel Guide

Mexico Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Mexico Zona Hotelera hotel resort zone, Cancun (Scott Doggett)" title="Crystal clear blue waters at Zona Hotelera hotel resort zone, Cancun (Scott Doggett)" width="159" height="113" / Mexico A country so lively that even The Day of the Dead is a hoot. 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 Mexico Acapulco Cabo San Lucas Cancun Cozumel Mazatlan Mexico City Puerto Vallarta San José del Cabo View Map Click here Feature Attraction Popocatépetl & Iztaccíhuatl Mexico's second and third highest mountains, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, form the eastern rim of the Valle de México. While craterless Iztaccíhuatl ... more Mexico is a traveller's paradise, crammed with a multitude of opposing identities: desert landscapes, snow-capped volcanoes, ancient ruins, teeming industrialised cities, time-warped colonial towns, glitzy resorts, lonely beaches and a world-beating collection of flora and fauna. This mix of modern and traditional, the clichéd and the surreal, is the key to Mexico's charm, whether your passion is throwing back margaritas, listening to howler monkeys, surfing the Mexican Pipeline, scrambling over Mayan ruins or expanding your Day of the Dead collection of posable skeletons. Hurricane Damage/Crime in Mexico City Mexico's Yucatan peninsular has been hit hard by Hurricane Wilma, causing widespread flooding and property damage. Travellers are advised to check local information services before venturing to the Cancun/Yucatan region as many hotels will remain closed while undergoing repairs. Crime in Mexico continues to plague travellers, particularly in Mexico City. The incidence of violent crime and, more specifically, sexual crimes against women is on the up. Taxi theft, armed theft, pickpocketing, purse snatching, credit-card fraud and ATM robbery are frequently reported. A spate of recent kidnappings have targeted travellers in the Nuevo Laredo region of northern Mexico. When To Go Mexico is enjoyable year-round, but October to May is generally the most pleasant time to visit. The May-September period can be hot and humid, particularly in the south, and inland temperatures can approach freezing during December-February. Facilities are often heavily booked during Semana Santa (the week before Easter) and Christmas/New Year, the peak domestic travel periods. Mexico's climate has something for everyone: it's hot and humid along the coastal plains, and drier and more temperate at higher elevations inland (Guadalajara or Mexico City, for example). Try to avoid Mexico's southern coast between July and September - the resorts are decidedly soggy and jam-packed, as July-August is also the peak holiday months for foreign visitors. Factoid Pyramid Envy While Egypt might be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about pyramids, Mexico is actually home to the world's largest pyramid. The Quetzalcóatl Pyramid at Cholula de Rivadiais measures 3.3 million-cubic meters (4.3 million cubic yards) compared to The Great Pyramid of Giza's 2,600,600 cubic metres (3.4 million cubic yards). 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

Disney Vacation Club Mouse

Magical Mountain - Disney Vacation Club News | Columns | Travel | Forums | Emporium Disney Company News Disney Travel Center Magical Disney Forums Disney World Columns Theme Parks & Water Parks Disney World Resorts Disney World Dining Disney World Reviews Disney World Photos Downtown Disney Disney Cruise Line Disney Vacation Club Mouse | Tunes™ Podcast New Products Apparel Art of Disney Books Disney At Home Movies Music Disney iTunes Disney Pins Prints/Posters Theme Park Products Disney Auctions Disney Movie Reviews Disney Company Stock Magical Mountain Gear Countdown Clock Gear Mouse | Tunes™ Gear Enter Arrival Date 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 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 05 06 Enter Departure Date 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 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 05 06 Magical Mountain Toolbar Magical Countdown Clock Countdown Clock Member Area About Us Magical Mountain News Syndicated Content Scrapbook Advertising Contests Emporium Policies Privacy Policy Terms of Use Contact Us Disney Vacation Club Become part of the magic by owning a part of Disney through Disney's time-share, The Disney Vacation Club. Lastest DVC Resale Properties: Beach Club--150 Points--$12,750.00 Old Key West--230 Points--$16,560.00 Old Key West--84 Points--$4,200.00 Old Key West--62 Points--$5,208.00 Saratoga Springs--200 Points--$15,600.00 Boardwalk--100 Points--$8,400.00 Boardwalk--150 Points--$12,750.00 Old Key West--210 Points--$15,960.00 Beach Club--120 Points--$10,200.00 Beach Club--320 Points--$26,200.00 View All DVC Resale Properties So what is The Disney Vacation Club? Well it basically is Disney's versionof a time share. There are a number of benefits to joining the DVC. First, the value of the pointsthat you purchase will never change. The same value you receive today, will be thesame value you receive in 30 years. While the cost of staying at a Disney hotelrises by 5-10% per year, this is a great hedge against inflation.You also receive discounts on your Unlimited Magic Passes, discounts at Pleasure Islandand Disney Water Parks as well as 10% off merchandise at Disney Stores nationwide. The Vacation Point System When you become a Disney Vacation Club member, you purchase a real estate interestin the club. This real estate interest entitles you to an annual allotment of vacationclub points. The larger the real estate interest purchased, the more pointsyou are alloted. The minimum purchase amount of points allowed for purchase iscurrently 150. Your Home Resort You also have the benefit of being able to reserve at your home resort upto 11 months in advance of your check out date. Your home resort is the resort atwhich you purchased your interest ( Old Key West , Beach Club Villas , Boardwalk Villas , Vero Beach, Saratoga Springs , Hilton Head Islandand Villas at Wilderness Lodge ). You can reserve up to 7 months in advance at any other Disney Vacation Club location. For more information on a DVC Home Resort please click here to view Shontell Crawford's column about the ins and outs of theDisney Vacation Club. Member Getaways Another perk of being a Disney Vacation Club member is Member Getaways.Through Member Getaways, you can exchange your reserved Disney Vacation Club Resortaccommodations for over 300 fantastic destinations around the world, including selectpremier hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort and Walt Disney World Cruiseline. The member getaways include Internationalresort exchanges, Unites States resort exchanges, World Passport Collection, Concierge Collection,The Disney Collection, and The Adventure Collection. Disney Vacation Club by Resale Want to get a good deal on a DVC Resale? Click here to view Disney Vacation Clubproperties that are for resale by our affiliate partner, DVC By Resale. DVC By Resale is owned by Shontell Crawford, a licensed real estate broker dealing primarily with DVC property. Disney Vacation Club 2005 Annual Dues The following is a listing of per-point annual dues for 2005 Disney Vacation Club properties: Beach Club Villas - $4.26 Boardwalk Villas - $4.41 Hilton Head - $4.03 Old Key West - $3.86 Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - $3.82 Villas at Wilderness Lodge - $4.35 Vero Beach - $4.86 Discuss the Disney Vacation Club in our Magical Forums Home - News - Columns - Travel - Forums - Emporium - Photos - Contact Us © 2002-2005 Magical Mountain, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Magical Mountain™ website is a hobbyist/enthusiast website for the fans of The Disney Company.Magical Mountain™ is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with, The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates. Some images are © The Walt Disney Company. No part of this site may be reproduced without permission. Love Bug (Special Edition) Mickey And The Gang: Classic Stories ... 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Austria Travel

Austria Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Austria Austria Music, art and story-book scenery: Austria takes the sacher torte . At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Austria Salzburg Vienna View Map Click here Feature Attraction Krimml Falls These triple-level falls are an inspiring sight and attract hordes of visitors in summer. In winter, the slopes above Krimml village become a ski area, ... more Austria has few peers as a year-round holiday destination, with plenty of winter sports in the Alps, some of the most impressive and overblown architecture in Europe and an unrivalled musical tradition that even The Sound of Music couldn't sully. The cities have plenty to engage visitors. Vienna is the capital, hub of the country's musical life and littered with beautiful buildings. Music, art and architecture reach baroque perfection in Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace. Innsbruck's snow-capped peaks frame its fascinating historic buildings. Factoid Men In Hats Perhaps the most unusual Austrian festival is Perchtenlaufen , held every January in Sazburger Land. The highlight is a street procession with men wearing heavy ornamental headdress, accompanied by younger men dressed as women. 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