Cheap Travel Plane Tickets:

Secrets of Cheap Travel Travel Writing Home Home-Travel Agent Cheap Travel Travel Light Secretsof Cheap Travel by: Steve Gillman There are two ways to save money traveling. Thefirst way is to get the best deals on the specific things you want. There is alimitation to this type of approach though. If , for example, you find thelowest price on the best hotel in Honolulu at the height of the season, you WILLsave money, but still have a very expensive vacation. Trying to get exactly whatyou want, or what you think you want, will generally be an expensiveproposition, in travel and in life. Be a Travel Opportunist The other approach is to be a true opportunist.This will be difficult for some of you, and entirely unacceptable to others.Nonetheless, the travelers who get to travel the most, go to the widest varietyof places, learn the most and do the most, are the opportunists. This will betrue until you are so wealthy that you have no monetary limits. The first time I went to Ecuador, I went therebecause it was cheap. If it wasn't, I would have had a great time - somewhereelse. The trip lasted a month, and cost $1045, which included airfare and eventhe $130 fee for a guide to take me to the top of glacier-covered MountChimborazo. I cut the cost by taking a bus from my home inMichigan to Miami, and back again when I returned from Ecuador. The round-tripticket cost $158. The round-trip flight to Quito from Miami was only $256,because it was a courier flight, which meant I signed for some luggage (carparts), and could only take carry-on luggage. Never did I feel deprived, or bored. I had agreat time, eating wherever it was cheap and clean, doing all sorts ofinexpensive, but interesting things, and traveling across the country to climbChimborazo. I also met and fell in love with my wife Ana. How to Become an Opportunist Traveler Can you drink rum at a dollar per bottle, insteadof your favorite beer? Can you eat chicken instead of steak? How about visitingthe free sights first, and dancing in the street festival instead of the disco? Being an opportunist means you'll have just asmuch variety, and probably almost everything you want - eventually. You justhave to stop trying to get exactly what you want exactly when you want it. Ifthe guide that took me up Chimborazo hadn't dropped his price from $200 to $130,I would have spent $2 for a bus and gone hiking on El Altar, another greatAndean mountain. That would have left me with enough money for several otherminor adventures. More Secrets of Cheap Travel Plane Tickets: My wife and I were planning a tripto visit family in Ecuador. The cheapest airfare from Traverse City, Michigan toQuito, was $1720. Out of curiosity, I checked Miami to Quito, and it was only$404. Airfare from Traverse City to Miami was $300. Book two separate flightsand save more than $2000! The discount sites aren't set up to search in this way(yet), so you have to do this on your own. By the way, the whole six-week trip,which we took in 2004, cost $2400, including losing $100, and being robbed of$174. Food: Whether traveling here or in othercountries, it is usually cheaper to buy some healthy snacks in a grocery store,rather than eat every meal in a restaurant. When you do eat in restaurants, itcan be cheaper to to order individual items on the menu from the list ofappetizers or side dishes. You also may get more variety in that way. Accommodation: For a long trip, you may want torent an apartment in an interesting city. We did this for two months in Tucson,for about $600 less per month, compared to even the cheaper motels. Watch forhotel coupon-books in gas stations. The coupons will often save you $10 on aroom you would have stayed in anyhow. If you have a conversion van or RV, youcan camp a couple nights a week, like we do, to save on motels. We love the hotsprings we've stayed at, for a $3 fee to the BLM, instead of $40 for thecheapest motel in the area. Travel Expenses: Do more and travel less. It isoften the traveling part that costs the most, due to the cost of gas, convenientfast food, and expensive hotels you are forced to pay for when you just can'tdrive any further. So if you find a place with a reasonable motel, and a lot todo in the area - stay for a while! About the Author Steve Gillman first hit the road on his own whenat sixteen, and traveled alone across the United States and Mexico at 17. Now40, he continues to travel and backpack with his wife Ana, whom he met inEcuador. Many of his stories, plus tips and information on travel andlightweight backpacking, can be found on his websites, http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com ,and http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com . Home Home-TravelAgent CheapTravel TravelLight

Japan Travel

Japan National Tourist Organization Website Add to Favorite | Home | Site Map | Contact US | Operation hours of Tourist Information Center (TIC) on the New Year's Day Good Dealh Hotel Special Promotion ! Akasaka Prince Hotel (Tokyo) Aranvert Hotel Kyoto (Kyoto) Fujiya Hotel (Hakone) Hotel New Otani Tokyo Hotel New Otani Osaka -- Tokyu Hotels Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (Tokyo) Shibuya Excel Tokyu Hotel (Tokyo) -- ANA Hotels ANA Hotel Hakata, Fukuoka -- Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel Hakata Tokyu Inn, Fukuoka -- more Luxury Hotel Four Seasons Tokyo at Chinzan-so Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Tokyo Sign up for site updates! Enter your email address: New Kyoto Tours Combine Serenity, Tradition and Elegance of the Geisha -- 60th Anniversary of the United Nations Special Exhibition in NY Japanese New Year's Special "Hatsumoude" Go back in time for a limited time at Mitsui Echigoya Station (Kimono Outlet) The Imperial Palace opens its grounds to the public for one of only two open houses during the yearI A chance to win a round-trip ticket to Japan! -- offered by Kintetsu International. The Mitsui Memorial Museum opened in October 2005 Fantastic Seasonal illuminations in Tokyo and Kobe! A Winter Wonderland in Hokkaido Reserve your place for the Sapporo Snow Festival The Spiritual Japan Program Japan Vacations 2006 to Fit Your Taste & Budget Last Minutes Winter Special Tour: "Sake" - gOnsenh(Hot Spring) 9 days 7 nights Highlight Japan plus Beyond (Tokyo, Kyoto, Seoul Package) Art Journey in Shikoku Tour Japan Cherry Blossom Tour 2006 g Bonsai h Exhibition Tour The Golf and gHanamih ( Cherry Blossom) Tour Ancient Treasures of Japan and Korea 7 days Japan Escorted Tour from Christmas Eve to the year end!! Last Minutes Tour Deals by JNA Travel. Two other dates available. gKOIh ( Colored Carp ) and gGARDENh Tour Other Kyoto experiences and Geisha Tours IACE's Package Tour Special:Sumo Tour, etc Frank Lloyd Wright's Japan,gTHE WRIGHT WAYh -- A Collectorfs Passion Japan Experience Spring 2006 Package Tokyo and Beijing, Yangtze River Cruise Japan Railways moves closer to non-smoking service. Can an obaasan (with nine grandchildren) visit Japan on her own? -- A story of 5 nights in Japan written by a sweepstakes winner. I entered a contest sponsored by Jalpak, the tour company for Japan Airlines .... in March. I had quite forgotten about it and was surprised to find out in June that I had won a flight to Japan [more] Bathing Monkeys: In Nagano's Yudanaka Onsen not only humans enjoy the hot spring waters Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen are the two most prominent of more than half a dozen hot springs, clustered together in Yamanouchi Town in northern Nagano Prefecture. [more] Japan Airlines All Nippon Airways United Airlines American Airlines more Current Japan time HOME • SITE MAP • WEBSITE INFO © Japan National Tourist Organization

Europe Travel 101 -

Travel with Kids - European Travel with Children - Family Vacation Fun Stuff  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > What to do In Europe > Travel with Kids Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors > What to do In Europe > Travel with Kids Travel with Kids - European Travel with Children - Fun Stuff Fun Stuff your kids might like while you introduce European travel to them, yet cool enough for adults. Subtopics Disneyland Paris Guides @ The Harry Potter Trail (5) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Pinocchio Remembered - Collodi and Vernante Italy Visit a park full of Pinocchio figures in Tuscany, or go to the birthplace of the illustrator tucked away in an alpile valley in the piedmonte region of Italy where you'll see those illustrations plastered on houses bigger than life. Travel with Kids - Family Vacations in Europe Here are a plethora of things to do in Europe with your kids, from travel with kids guide Teresa Plowright. Legoland Billund (Denmark) Here's a place you can take your kids in central Denmark. Legoland Billund is a park with rides, shows and events, and food. Your kid will love it. Legoland Windsor (near London) Our UK guide says, "If you find yourself near London in the summer, with children and at a lose end, then one of the places you might consider visiting is Legoland. Based in "Royal Windsor" and not far from the M4, this theme park has both rides and attractions, aimed mainly at children, but also loved by adults."        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 Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...

Germany Travel

How To Germany - Travel Home | Resources | Advertising | Contact Us | Disclaimer • Airports • Beaches • Best of Germany • High Times in Lower Bavaria • Nearby Countries • Offbeat Tourism • Oktoberfest / Festivals • Quedlinburg • River Boats • Theme Parks • Wine Regions • Christmas Museum • Winter Travel / Christmas Markets • Train Travel Basic Facts Clubs & Organizations Driving Education Embassies & Consulates Expat Experiences Financial Genealogy Insurance Language Schools Legal System Living In Germany Medical/Health Moving & Relocation Office Services Postal Services Press Radio/TV Residence/Work Permits Shopping Sports Telephone Service Voting Working Airports in Germany Germany's burgeoning airports are being linked into the nation's railway system. Cheap domestic and inter-European flights have put in a sudden appearance. An overview of Frankfurt International Airport. About 120 international scheduled airlines serve Germany, carrying more than 100 million passengers a year. Of these airlines 102 serve Frankfurt, the nation's biggest airport. The relatively new airport at Munich has become a second hub, and other major airports are located at Düsseldorf, Cologne and Hamburg. Berlin, presently with a collection of smaller airports, promises to be a major air center in the future. The former U.S. air base at Hahn, 75 miles from Frankfurt, is also playing a role in the aviation picture, as a base for super cheap airlines. These have sent domestic and inter-Europen fares plunging, even on the established airlines. There is also a very aggressive program to link air travel to rail travel. High speed InterCity trains directly serve the Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Cologne-Bonn airports. Frankfurt is the busiest airport not merely in Germany but on the entire European continent. It has scheduled connections to 296 airports in 105 countries. And it set a new record for passengers handled in 2004, topping 50 million for the first time. To cope with this traffic the airport opened a second large terminal building in 1994, and now has active plans to construct a third terminal and a fourth runway. Many of the passengers had Frankfurt itself as a destination, since the city is an important commercial center. But Frankfurt is also a transfer point for air and rail connections to other German cities and an air transfer point to many other countries, notably in Eastern Europe and the Asia. Europe's busiest expressway cloverleaf, the "Frankfurter Kreuz" is right adjacent to the airport. This is where the A3 and the A5 autobahns, the most important in Germany, intersect and allow quick access to Europe's extensive superhighway net. The airport also has parking facilities for 15,000 vehicles and its own bus station. But stress is being laid on reaching the airport swiftly and comfortably by rail. Some 88 long distance trains a day stop at its railway station, affording passengers direct connections to Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Dresden, Nürnberg and many other German cities, not to mention Vienna, Milan, Zürich and Amsterdam. Some airlines even have check-in counters right at the station. The new high-speed Frankfurt-Cologne rail line, which cuts travel time from two-and-a-half hours to less than an hour, also serves the Frankfurt airport, and also the Cologne-Bonn one. Frankfurt long has had a second railway station, offering rapid transit service to the Rhein-Main area, and this continues to operate. For all that Frankfurt is getting stiff competition from the relatively new Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich. Though it only opened in 1992, it is already Germany's second air hub, and the eighth largest airport in Europe, having counted 26.8 million passengers in 2004. This growth is largely because the German airline Lufthansa has chosen to do much of its expanding in Munich, which now handles more of Lufthansa's domestic flights than does Frankfurt. This rapid growth led first to an expansion of the original Munich terminal and then, in 2003, to the opening of a second terminal. The big disadvantage of Franz Josef Strauss Airport is that it is far from the city center. Plans to compensate for this with a high speed "Transrapid" magnetic train appear to be stalled. Another proposed "Transrapid," linking Frankfurt to the "cheapy" center at Hahn, also looks stalled, even though the former air base racked up nearly 2.8 million passengers in 2004. That was up 13.6 percent over the previous year. The Irish no-frills airline Ryanair has made the so-called "Frankfurt-Hahn" airport its hub, and will fly you from there to Stansted Airport, near London, for as little as €25. Ryanair offers similar bargain service to 74 airports, usually secondary ones, in 12 European countries The catch is that, despite that name "Frankfurt-Hahn," the airport actually is 75 miles (125 km) from Frankfurt, and it takes about an hour and 30 minutes to get there. Nor is Hahn the only center of no-frills flights. The Konrad Adenauer Airport, between Cologne and Bonn, is also becoming one. It is the home base for both Germanwings and Hapag-Lloyd Express. And its new railway station connects it to the Frankfurt Airport in less than an hour on the high speed InterCity line. This opens up many possibilities for connections that should contribute to the airport's growth and also relieve the Frankfurt runways to some extent. No frills flights also have played a role in preserving Berlin's historic Tempelhof Airport, which was established in 1923 and figured prominently in the 1948-49 Airlift. They've been talking for years about closing it because it is too small and surrounded by built-up areas. But several "cheapies" are glad to have it. The future of Berlin aviation, however, lies mainly in the planned Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI). Since German reunification Berlin traffic has been divided between three airports: Tempelhof; Tegel, which was hastily built during the Airlift, and Schönefeld, the East Berlin airport before unification. Now, however, final plans are being laid to expand Schönefeld and make it into a major airport, with an initial capacity of 20 million passengers a year. Construction was scheduled to begin in 2006 with operations expected to start in 2010. It is planned to close both Tegel and Tempelhof when BBI opens. The Fuhlsbüttel Airport in Hamburg is also getting a new terminal building. It was scheduled to be opened in May, 2005. By 2007 the airport was also to have an urban railway link-up, larger parking lots and a shopping plaza. Düsseldorf, too, has a new terminal, replacing and greatly improving upon the one that was destroyed by a disastrous fire in 1996. And Düsseldorf also has two railway stations, one for long distance and InterCity trains and one for the local area. Lufthansa has cut its fares on domestic and some European flights, partly to meet the competition of the no-frills, but also to better utilize its capacity by luring more people from trains and private cars. Its flights still cost more than the no-frills, but they are also full service. Most domestic trips are an hour or less in duration. Airlines from the U.S. that serve German airports include American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways. In the wake of September 11, Germany established flight safety rules similar to the ones in effect in the U.S., including the ban on knives, scissors and the like in hand baggage. Security at Frankfurt and Munich is especially tight on transatlantic flights, on flights to Israel and on flights by British and American airlines no matter where they are headed. It's important that passengers, especially ones on these flights, get to the airport well before takeoff. Some officials urge as much as three hours for international flights. German airports usually feature duty-free shops, restaurants, bars, car rental agencies, conference centers, banks, post offices and medical facilities. And sometimes they offer much more. The Frankfurt Airport almost doubles as a shopping mall. Visit our Storefronts! Airlines, Airports Travel and Destinations Entertainment, Food, Drink Fraport Launches "Airport City" Web Site to Showcase Frankfurt Airport's Diversity Use FRA's Travel, Leisure and Business Channels on the Internet at: www.airportcity-frankfurt.de FRA/rap Reflecting Frankfurt Airport's (FRA) development as a vibrant city, Fraport AG recently launched a newly designed Web site to present expanded information and features not only for passengers and visitors but also for various business partners. Located at www.airportcity-frankfurt.de , the new Web site for Germany's leading air transportation hub now offers details about FRA's strategic business advantages. Frankfurt Airport serves more than 51 million passengers per year. With more than 68,000 employees, FRA is Germany's biggest employment complex at a single location. The Frankfurt Airport City site features three clearly structured and color-coded channels: Travel, Experience, and Business. For example, the Travel channel provides helpful tips for travel planning: current flight information, departing, arriving, transferring, and meeting passengers. The Experience channel presents the extensive range of leisure activities and facilities at Frankfurt Airport City, such as Duty Free and Travel Value, airport shopping, restaurants, 24/7 services, travel services (Airport Reisemarkt, online travel agency, travel agents at FRA), as well as offerings for visitors (Airport Forum, Visitors' Terrace, and airport tours). The Business channel, targeted at airlines, logistics providers, and other trade and business partners, showcases FRA's locational advantages. This area includes detailed information about real estate, retailing, advertising, the Airport Conference Center, CargoCity Frankfurt, etc. A three-dimensional model of Frankfurt Airport City is one of the many interactive features of the site. The complete Web site is available in English and German, while "Quick Guides" provide basic travel information and terminal maps in six languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, and Russian. Site contents ©2001-2005 by ChuckEmerson Media Services Auf der Schorr 10, 54331 Pellingen, Germany Tel +49 (0) 65 88-99 25 65 • Fax +49 (0) 65 88-98 83 29 Site design and maintenance by Gear Brand

travel insurance plans from

Travel Insurance - Compare Every Major Company - Instant Cover Travel Insurance Made Simple Compare over 100 travel insurance plans from the top providers and buy immediately or use our comprehensive research features. Our technology is tightly integrated with the insurance carriers featured on our site, allowing you to quickly purchase on-line with confidence or to thoroughly investigate every feature of every policy. SQM Rating™ System We use the unique SQM Rating™ System to allow you to easily find the policy that provides the best coverage for your particular requirements. Whether it’s medical, baggage, cancellation etc. we rate every single benefit within every single policy. Zero Complaint Policy We work on your behalf. If any one of our clients has a complaint against an insurance carrier that cannot be resolved to our satisfaction, we will remove the carrier from our site and no longer sell its products. travelers insurance - quotetravelinsurance.com is now powered by squaremouth.com . Click the button to the right to instantly quote and purchase from over 100 travel insurance products. Our unique system is the first and only website to rate every individual element within each policy against it's competitors. We are also the ONLY insurance agent to offer a zero complaint tolerance guarantee with every carrier on our site. Every purchase is in real time , you will immediately receive a policy number and full email confirmation of your purchase. We also send a hard copy by US Mail. © 2000 - 2005 squaremouth.com all rights reserved (2961765) Use this site to compare plans We are recommended by Frommers Budget Travel Magazine. What is Travel Insurance? Travel insurance protects a traveler's vacation cost against cancellation and interruption while also providing medical, lost or damaged property and travel delay coverage. Travelers are reimbursed if they have to cancel or interrupt their travel, they are also covered should the need arise for emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation and a number of other situations. Travel insurance can be broken down into the following major categories: Trip Cancellation – Reimburses travelers unable to take their trip d ue to Illness or death (of the traveler or a family member), weather, airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, becoming unemployed, jury duty or their home being rendered uninhabitable due to fire/flood etc. Trip Interruption – Reimburses travelers if they have to cut short their trip due to Illness or death (of the traveler or a family member), weather, airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, becoming unemployed, jury duty or their home being rendered uninhabitable due to fire/flood etc. Medical/Health – Reimburses medical and emergency dental costs. Almost all travel insurance plans work by reimbursing the traveler after they have paid locally for treatment. Claims are usually paid within 7 to 10 days. Pre-Existing conditions are covered by most policies if the policy is purchased within (at the most) 21 days from the date the traveler made the first trip payment (deposit). Medical Evacuation – Provides emergency transportation to either a local hospital in the event the traveler is unable to get there by themselves or back to a hospital near the travelers home. If family members are covered on the same policy they can return home also. Accidental Death – This coverage is split into 3 parts – Air Flight Accident – Covers death or dismemberment during an air flight only. Usually provides the highest amount of coverage due to a lower risk. Common Carrier – Covers death or dismemberment while traveling on public transport such as, plane, ferry, train, bus or taxi. Accidental Death – Covers death or dismemberment at any time on your trip. Usually provides the lowest amount of coverage due to a higher risk. Travel Delay – Reimburses travelers for hotel, food or clothing expenses in the event of a flight delay. Some plans also cover costs associated with catching up to a cruise should a delay cause the traveler to miss embarkation. Baggage Loss – Reimburses travelers for lost, stolen or damaged personal items. This coverage is usually for the duration of the trip and not confined to baggage damaged or lost by the airline. There are two policy limits, total claim and per item maximum. Some policies also place limits on the type of items that can be claimed for such as jewelry, laptops and sporting goods. Rental Car Damage – Reimburses travelers for damage or loss to a rental vehicle. It is designed to allow the traveler to decline CDW (collision damage waiver) coverage offered by the car rental companies. Liability coverage should still be purchased through the car rental company. Rental Car Damage coverage is also often included with the credit card used to pay for the car rental which is often identical to the coverage provided in the policy. Assistance Services – Provides a 24 hour collect call advice and assistance service to travelers. This service can be used anytime a traveler needs advice. More on this topic insurance_health_articles - contact us - about us - why buy - press_room - health quotes - links - site map - travel insurance news UK travel insurance for UK residents