Argentina Travel Guide, climate:

Argentina Travel Guide - Information and Advice Argentina Travel Guide Information and Advice Argentina Pictures | Argentina Map | South America Map Argentina Travel Guide, climate: This is the eighth largest country in the world so summarizing weather conditions is tricky, but one thing we should point out first, this is mostly not a hot country , with temperatures rarely over 30C [85F] except in the far north. Winter [May-Sept] is driest in most areas, but also coolest, between 7-15C [45-60F] in Buenos Aires, so this time would be best if holidays mean skiing, the north country and/or general sightseeing, but don't think beaches, tank tops or Patagonia. Best: Spring [Sept-Nov] or autumn [March-May] strike a fine balance between warmth and clouds, but still no tank tops. Worst: Jan-Feb. Summertime is hot, humid, expensive and everything's booked up, but this is the best time for beaches and tank tops. Argentina holidays are around January, Easter and July, so transport and accommodation become a problem then. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not incl. flights [bearing in mind that this is a looong flight for most English speaking travel folk]: 2 weeks. 4 days in Buenos Aires, 5 days [flight] in Patagonia for glaciers and mountain hikes, 2 days [flight] to Iguazu Falls, and a few days northwest around Salta for Andean culture [flight], deserts and canyons, or skip that and hydrofoil into Uruguay for a quick look at Colonia, the beaches or Montevideo, the capital. Argentina Festivals Guide: February or March, Wine Harvest Festival, Mendoza, a few days. Parades and various folk events in honour of Mendoza's raisin d'etre , wine. March or April, Easter , unusually for a Latin Catholic culture, no big deal. May 25, Revolution Day , with a military parade in BA. Nov 12 or thereabouts, Tradition Day , with some Gaucho celebrations near BA but especially in San Antonio de Areco. Argentina Activities Guide: Tango: a fantastically complex and sensual dance, enjoyed by Argentinians as much as tourists, it's visible all over BA in clubs, in the street and around Plaza Dorrego at weekends. Try to learn it by all means, but it'll be a long job. See Pictures and more information. Wildlife: most famously visible around the barren cliffs of Peninsula Valdés - seals, elephant seals, killer whales, penguins, guanacos [llamas], but especially southern right whales. Puerto Madryn is the base from which to find a tour or rent a car. Wildlife is also found in Iguazu Park alongside the waterfalls, Ushuaia and in swampy Ibera Nature Reserve [wetlands] for cayman, capybaras, monkeys and birds. Activities below are best mainly in the Patagonian Andes, particularly from Los Glaciers National Park in the southwest to Mendoza in the centre-west. Bariloche, El Calafate and El Chalten are the three best activity centres, though Ushuaia is pretty wild too. Hiking: spectacular hikes, well signposted, long and short, particularly around Bariloche and El Chalten. See pictures and more information. Biking: Mendoza and the Lake District are best but mountain bike hire is widely available throughout Patagonia - in spite of occasionally fierce winds. Rock/Ice Climbing: fantastic challenges, mostly around El Chalten, Ushuaia and Mendoza ; a guide will generally be required. Mt. Aconagua 6,959m, near Mendoza, is the highest. Horse Riding: this is gaucho country so there are plenty of high quality horses and guides out there. The Pampas are the true home of gauchos - particularly in estancias [ranches] near San Antonio de Areco - but being mainly flat are far less scenic than rides in Patagonia. Skiing: good powder and sunshine at good prices; mostly resorts around Malargue, the Lake District or San Martin de los Andes, but also in Ushuaia, way south. Fishing: Sea fishing off Mar del Plata and Necochea or fly fishing [esp. in San Martin de los Andes {Patagonia} or Isla del Cerrito {north}] for trout, salmon, dorado and giant catfish. Kayaking and Whitewater Rafting: Availability is increasing, especially near Bariloche and San Martin de los Andes. Argentina Star Guide: 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 few Museums ** Why Travel to Argentina: This huge country contains climates ranging from tropical jungle thru desert and snow-capped Andes to barren Patagonia and the end of the world, containing some of the world's most stunning natural wonders and a wide selection of activities during which to enjoy them. Argentina has a down-at-heel but relatively sophisticated, energetic capital buzzing with people of south European stock, excellent soccer and rugby and fine dining - which you can afford thanks to incredibly low prices. Downside: - local culture is hardly exotic. - city traffic is hectic, noisy and polluting. - city pavements [sidewalks] sport ankle-snapping potholes, dog doo, or often both. - widespread poverty is common, restrained begging too. Unusually , we recommend giving beggars a few centavos[cents], most really are hard up. Argentina travel highlights: ***Buenos Aires. The capital is terrific for urban spacemen but a bit short on wow! sights. See BA pictures and more information. ***Glaciers National Park, in the southwest : near El Calafate , for glacier views, walks and boat rides or El Chalten for stunning mountain hikes [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. See pictures and more information. ***[San Carlos de] Bariloche is sadly overdeveloped but gateway to activities galore in the spectacular surroundings of Argentina's Lake District . The Seven Lakes Scenic Route is recommended. Hiking, riding, climbing, fishing, skiing, eating chocolate or heading for Patagonia or Chile, Bariloche gets you there. ***Mendoza is a pleasant town on the doorstep of some magnificent mountains, home to excellent wines and en route to Santiago, Chile. ***Iguazu National Park northeast for massive waterfalls, wildlife and plants [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. See pictures and more information. ***Peninsula Valdés for wildlife, see left for more info [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. ***Ushuaia , the world's most southerly town [3,580 kms from BA], offers terrific scenery, hiking, fishing, scenic boat trips, marine wildlife, dog-sledding and skiing [in winter] from a pleasant, if over-touristy town. Also boats to the Antarctic . See pictures and more information. **Cordoba , the country's lively second city has friendly people and a better collection of colonial architecture than BA; partly a World Cultural Heritage Site. **Beaches: Mar del Plata is overbuilt and tacky but has picturesque surroundings and monster beaches that go into overdrive December-February. There're fishing and horse riding as well as beach activities; 400kms [250 miles] from the capital. On both sides are prettier, more peaceful or exclusive resorts, such as Pinamar [posh], Miramar [families], Mar de las Pampas [horses] and Mar Azul . **Peninsula Valdés centre-east coast for marine wildlife. See left. **San Juan and La Rioja provinces sport weird rocks, paleontological delights, petroglyphs and condors passing by in Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. *Jujuy province in the far northwest contains adobe towns embraced by multicoloured landscapes around Salta and Quebrada de Humahuaca [UNESCO World Cultural Landscape]. *Uruguay - a one hour boat trip gets you to the pretty, laid back old town of Colonia . Return to BA or head off to Montevideo or the posh beaches of Punta del Este . See pictures and more information. Cuisine Guide: Porteños eat late so getting a table at 8pm-9pm should be no problem. Before that time only cheap eats may be available. Argentinian food basically means meat , huge portions of freshly killed cow grilled to perfection and eaten in digestion-challeging mass, or as a snack sandwich [lomito]. Steaks are superb so BA is perfect for confirmed carnivores, but what else is on offer? Cheap eats tend towards good pizzas, terrible pastas, ham and cheese sandwiches, various quality stuffed pies [empanadas] or fast food, but for those who can spare a few pesos more, Buenos Aires is home to a mass of superb foreign restaurants that deliver all kinds of cuisine - including vegetarian [e.g. Japanese, Thai, Middle-Eastern] - that anyone holding dollars/euros can easily afford. Shopping Guide: Argentina produces very high quality, stylish shoes, bags and clothes - particularly leather - at very low cost, so this is the place to do serious fashion shopping if you have room in your luggage. Jewellery and woolen goods are also excellent. Regular souvenirs of all types can be found around any tourist area. Argentina Tours More tour operators offering travel around Argentina can be found in our listings here: Argentina Tours For more information on Argentina Travel try these links: National Tourist Offices Online Travel Guides Cheap Airline Tickets UK Cheap Airline Tickets US Travel Insurance UK Tour Operators Embassies Currency Climate Language Visas: Europeans, Americans, Canadians, Irish, Australians, New Zealanders and most other nationalities can get 90 days permit to stay on arrival at the airport. Electricity: 220v, 2 [slim] round pins and/or three flat angled pins [but a 2 round pin adaptors will be quite sufficient]. Language: Spanish - known as Castellano in Latin America. It's an easy language so learn the basics, they will be useful though locals know some English. Some basic food vocabulary is vital. Safety: Crime is no worse in BA's centre than most of the world's big cities, but don't wear jewellery and stay away from the outer suburbs. Northeast border cities need some care. Health: No huge problems here, though the tropical north [i.e. not BA] can deliver dengue fever via mosquitoes, so keep the buzzers off you. Also be careful of AMS [Altitude Sickness] when hiking above 3,000m. See Travel Health Money Guide: When this research was done in late 2005 Argentina was amazingly cheap, apart from hotels - $10 for a fine dinner with drinks and $4 for a 20 minute taxi ride. ATMs all around, $ cash is king and accepted instead of pesos. Travellers cheques can be a little hard to change and the rate is poor. Traveling Around: Argentina is a massive country and best locations are widely spaced so unless you are ready for seriously long distance bus rides domestic flights will be necessary. These are efficient and reasonably priced but buy an airpass to get the best deals. And if you plan to travel in Argentina you may want to also check: Brazil Travel Guide Peru Travel Guide Ecuador Travel Guide 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

Vacation Rental Homes Featuring

Vacation Rentals: Cape Cod and Florida Vacation Homes Rentals Home Vacationer center Homeowner center About us Welcome to the Premier Website for Vacation Rental Homes Featuring from modest cottages or condos to grand waterfront homes, use our state-of-the-art advanced search to find what you want: where and when you want it! Search Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket vacation rentals . Search Florida vacation rentals . Snowbirds, try Florida! Katrina rentals and temporary housing in Florida and on the Cape Cod & the Islands Hear what vacationers say about website in their own words . Prefer to browse all the rentals? You can elect this option, also. You will also find maps and regional information on all the destinations we service. See over 2700 Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket vacation rentals See over 600 Florida vacation rentals Homeowners - increase your occupancy and income. Make the homeowner rental process easier and less costly. Visit our Homeowners Center . You'll find how we can help you increase the occupancy and income for your Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket or Florida rental AND make the homeowner rental process easier and less time consuming! Sign up today to join clients who know WeNeedaVacation.com performs as no other rental-by-owner website can! Click here to see what our homeowner clients have to say about the results they receive from WeNeedaVacation.com. Cape Cod & Islands Vacation Rentals Advanced search Browse all Cape & Islands info Fall rentals -- Long-term rentals Find by Property ID FAQ Florida Vacation Rentals Advanced search Browse all Florida map & info Long-term rentals Find by Property ID FAQ Just for Homeowners List Your Property Why List Here Existing Client Login Service Providers (Cape and Islands) FAQ Help & Info About Us How to use this site Customer Comments Site Status -- Press/News Privacy/Terms of Use Help & Support Resources Site Map -- Home Vacationer's center Homeowner's center About us 1998 - 2005 All Seasons Vacation Rentals, LLC .

Europe Travel

TRAVEL BY FINGERTIP: PARIS HOTELS, ROME HOTELS, FLORENCE HOTELS, VENICE HOTELS, MILAN HOTELS, LONDON HOTELS - EUROPE HOTELS - CARIBBEAN HOTELS - MEXICO HOTELS Toll Free 1 800 426 5445 5000 Hotels Up To 50% off Published Rates Photos, City Maps On-Site Hotel Reviews About Us EUROPE Reserve Online To access your choice of 3,000 superb Hotels throughout Europe, click the Europe Gateway and Major City Hotels at left or the Europe photo Some Favorite Cities Direct Hotel Links... 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Japan Travel Photos Japan

Japan (attitude Travel) Guide, Advice, Photos and Resources for Independent Travel You are here: attitude Travel > Japan Japan Independent Travel Guide Have your say: Your questions! Associated Resources: Japan Low Cost Airlines attitude Travel Japan is a resource for independent travellers planning a trip to Japan and a space for backpackers to share original writing & photos Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Photos Iya Valley Shikoku Photos More maps of Japan... Banzai! Travelling on a budget in Japan is far from easy. But third degree culture shock can set in when you realise that the country might not be the same place you heard about back at home... Forget about the revolving sushi bars and manga-inspired images of techno-cities - for the most part Japan means bad suburban planning, uncovered drains, and endlessly dull highways flanked by pachinko parlours and love hotels . And lose any exotic ideas of ninja castles, tip-toeing geisha and wooden rice-farming villages. About ninety-eight percent of modern-day Japan is nearly as far removed from the rural images adopted by romantic orientalists as it is from the futurist apocalyptica of anime fans. Just about the last thing Japanese society does is revolve in harmony around elusive zen principles. Most of the country is cluttered with telegraph wires and convenience stores , the rail network is overrated, the cities overcrowded and nobody in the countryside speaks English. Welcome to the rather less than serene reality of 21st century Nihon . "It should be understood that the sea in which the Island of Zipangu is situated is the sea of Chin, and so extensive is this eastern sea... it contains no fewer than 7,440 islands, mostly inhabited... It is impossible to estimate the value of gold and other articles found in these islands." The Travels of Marco Polo, Marco Polo, 1300 AD Have your say: Original Travel Articles Travellers' Cafe Associated Resources: Japan Travel Photos Japan Maps Japan: East of the Orient? © Alan Lansdowne, Joetsu City, May 1999 More books... First time arrivals in Japan, might be forgiven for expecting the country to feel oriental in the same way as China or Vietnam. But the island nation keeps a wary distance from the East Asian countries it eyes across the cold waters of the Nihonkai (Sea of Japan). In Japanese newspapers or on television there is occasionally debate over whether the country is even a part of Asia, or if it is something other. Japan cultivates an awareness that it is distinct from other nations but the boundaries of the distinction are unclear. Nevertheless, there is an endless fascination in Japan about the country's place not just in Asia but in the wider global community. Japan is almost certainly the only country in the world to claim that it is uniquely unique. The Japanese archipelago is, in fact, a patchwork of separate, insular cultures with strong regional loyalties which the central government in Tokyo attempts in vain to unite. Perhaps this is why successful descriptions of Japan's overarching national identity are rare and elusive. Travelling around Japan is likely to challenge the way you think about the country and indeed whether you continue to see it as just one country. Discovering a different Japan © Alan Lansdowne, Joetsu City, May 1999 Takada Park Beyond the hi-tech city sprawl along the Pacific coast, Japan conceals an astonishingly beautiful volcanic hinterland. Here, away from the neon hum of crowded shopping malls, you can discover beautiful retreats like the castle town of Matsumoto in Nagano-ken, only two hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen . But even further from the urbanised Pacific coast there is a poor, unseen Japan. Hidden away on the northern side of the Alps, farming villages and small ugly, industrial towns stretch out in a thin ribbon along the shore of the Japan Sea. To browse through more travel articles about Japan, please turn to the Japan Travel Articles page. © 1997-2004 attitude Travel a rounin media publication Last update: September 5th, 2004 Resource: attitude Travel Questions on Highlights of Travel Advice Background on Getting to Low Cost Airlines Getting around Where to stay in Where to go in Culture Shock! 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France Travel and Vacation

July France Travel and Vacation Planner  You are here: About > Travel > France for Visitors > Things to Do in France > France Monthly Calendar > July France 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 June Tour de France 2005 Bastille Day 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 July From Kelby Carr , Your Guide to France for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Tour de France and Bastille Day are Biggest Events > July is a popular vacation month in France. Beach destinations are bustling, and outdoor markets are bursting with activity and produce. There are almost endless events and festivals. The Tour de France storms through the country. Bastille Day revelry is everywhere. Depending on your destination, the weather can be a bit too balmy. Combine that with the crowds, and it can feel stifling. Either way, you'll find plenty to do during July in France. Weather The weather is usually quite nice in June, although it can get a bit too extreme and, in Paris, it can even be windy, cold and rainy. There are major variations in climate depending on where you are in France, but here are some major cities: Paris : Average temperature is 24 degrees celsius/75 degrees farenheit. Average rainfall is 57 millimeters, or 2.2 inches. Nice : Average temperature is 23 degrees celsius/73 degrees farenheit. Average rainfall is 16 millimeters, or 0.6 inches. Bordeaux : Average temperature is 20 degrees celsius, 68 degrees farenheit. Average rainfall is 52 millimeters, or 2 inches. Strasbourg : Average temperature is 19 degrees celsius, or 66 degrees farenheit. Average rainfall is 75 millimeters, or 3 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 mild time of year. Be prepared for either hot days or cool nights, however. Your packing list should include: Sun screen Light clothes Flip flops Good walking shoes A bathing suit Get more ideas with my Packing Tips . Why to go in July Tour de France and Bastille Day. Enough said! The weather is warm All museums and attractions are open, usually with extended summertime hours France is vibrant and lively Why not to visit France in July The crowds! This is one of France's peak tourist months Airfare and lodging is expensive There can be some really hot days Events and festivals Tour de France Bastille Day Bar-le-Duc Renaissance Festival Bagpipes of Europe Festival in Autun International Festival of Baroque Music in Beaune Estivales, Perpignan's Summer Festival Avignon Festival * find out more about Avignon Cannes International Golf Festival * find out more about Cannes Carcassonne Festival * find out more about Carcassonne Children's International Folk Festival in Saint-Maixent l´Ecole Francofolies in La Rochelle        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