Central America Travel

Guatemala Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information  You are here: About > Travel > Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Guatemala > Guatemala Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information Travel Go Mexico Essentials Packing List for Travelers to Mexico Health Information Mexico / C. America Safety Considerations Travel Books Mexico and Central America Tourism Offices Mexico/ Central America Articles & Resources Mexico Mexico City Acapulco, Mexico Cancun Yucatan Baja Los Cabos Puerto Vallarta Other Places Photos of Mexico Belize, Central America Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Mexico / Central America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Mexico / Central America for Visitors Map image - Courtesy of CIA Stay up to date! Map image - Courtesy of CIA Email to a friend Print this page Explore More of Guatemala Guatemala Travel Links Guatemala Hotels Guatemala Travel Reservations Recent Discussions Travelling to Central/South America? Multi-Destination Flights Sport Fishing Charters Most Popular Mexican Music La Paz, Mexico Quinceanera Packing List Tijuana, Mexico What's Hot Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico Related Topics California for Visitors South America for Visitors Caribbean for Visitors Mexican Cuisine Guatemala, South America From Apply Now , Your Guide to Mexico / Central America for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America. It borders on the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize, and also borders on the Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico. It has a territory of about 42,000 square miles (slightly smaller than Tennessee) and a population of about 13 million people, the majority of which are Mestizo (Amerindian or mixed Amerindian-Spanish). The official language is Spanish, but many indigenous languages are also spoken. The country enjoys a warm climate throughout the year, with an average temperature above 20 degrees C (75 degrees F). Guatemala is a small country, but it has much to offer visitors. It is a natural paradise offering some truly breathtaking scenery of mountains, lakes, volcanoes and flora and fauna. It has a number of very beautiful tropical volcanic beaches on the Pacific Ocean, and some large coral reefs on the Caribbean side. Guatemala ranks very high in biological diversity, and has numerous tropical low rainforests and mountain cloud forests. Guatemala also has some of the largest and most fascinating Mayan ruins found anywhere in Latin America, together with a friendly, Mayan population with their culture and traditions. Below are some popular venues in Guatemala for visitors: Antigua This beautiful 16th-century city was founded in the early 16th century by the Spaniards. Built 1,500 meters above sea-level in the highlands of Guatemala, it was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, but many of the original monuments are still preserved as ruins. Antigua has some of the most gorgeous Spanish-style colonial architecture found anywhere. Its cobblestone streets, built in the 16th century lead you past dozens of great restaurants, flowered courtyards, and the preserved ruins of numerous churches, monasteries and other structures. Antigua's natural setting is spectacular, with several majestic volcanoes surrounding the city on all sides. The Colonial Museum, located in a building which at one time housed the third university founded on the American continent, is well worth visiting for its vast collection of colonial art. Tikal Tikal, at one time the largest Mayan city in the world, is now a world famous site of Mayan ruins. The ancient Maya began constructing Tikal around 550 B.C., and for many centuries thereafter the city was an important religious, and political center. Today, the largest number of Mayan ruins in the world are to be found in Tikal. The ruins, extending over six square miles, include temples, pyramids, terraces, palaces, ceremonial platforms, plazas, steam baths, and other stone structures. It is estimated that only about 30% of the ruins have been excavated - the remaining 70% lie buried underground. Visitors can visit the Tikal site by taking a short flight from Guatemala City to the rain forest area where Tikal is located. Lake Atitlan Lake Atitlan, which is of volcanic origin, is located about 90 miles from Guatemala City, in the mountainous province of Solola, in the Guatemalan highlands. Aldous Huxley once called this lake "the most beautiful in the world", and many would agree with this statement. The lake is located about 5,000 feet above sea level, has a depth of over 1,500 feet and covers an area of about 50 square miles. It is the deepest lake in Central America. The water of the lake, usually crystal clear and a vivid blue, changes in color as the light varies. The lake is set against a dramatic backdrop of three spectacular 10,000-foot volcanoes - Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro. Lake Atitlan is a is a great venue for a wide variety of water sports, including swimming, diving, water skiing, hang gliding and boating. It is also a great place for fishing, as the lake is home to numerous species of edible fresh water fish. Along the shores of Lake Atitlan are a number of small Indian villages where the traditional Maya lifestyle is followed. Guatemala City Guatemala City is home to 25% of the country's population and is the capital of Guatemala. The city lies in a deep valley where the dormant Agua volcano dominates the horizon. With a population of about 3 million, it is the country's commercial, financial, and cultural center. It is a city where colonial architecture, sits side by side with modern skyscrapers and shopping malls. For visitors, there is much to see and do in Guatemala City. Worthwhile is a visit to the Zona Viva , the trendy and very modern center of Zona 10 , where numerous upscale restaurants, bars, and clubs stay open long into the night. Those interested in Spanish colonial architecture should visit Zona 1, the city's historic center. Visitors interested in handicraft will find a wide variety of authentic Guatemalan wood carvings, textiles, leather, ceramics, jewelry and basket work in the downtown Central Market. Also worth seeing is the National Palace and the Ixchell 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 Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico

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scottish golf vacations, golf tours scotland, luxury scotland golf vacations - Golf Scotland Home About Us Sample Tours Join a Tour Golf Courses Accommodation Services News Contact Us Join Tee it Up in Scotland Travel Insurance Add to Favourites Join Newsletter Client Testimonials Print this Page Golfireland.com British Open Ryder Cup St Andrews United States US Open Monaco Grand Prix Betting Golf New Scotland Franchises Golf Scotland specialize in Scottish golf vacations, arranging many different types of luxury golf tours. We set up made-to-measure Scottish golf vacations and golf-related tours of Scotland covering all kinds of requirements. Every golfer should play in Scotland, the birthplace of the game. We use our expert knowledge of Scotland and Scottish golf to create Scottish golf vacations to suit all budgets and group sizes; as well as luxury golf tours (including VIP tours). Take a look at our sample luxury golf tour packages , as well as the latest VIP golf tours . Alternatively, if you are looking for a golf vacation that is a little more personalized, contact us now . 2006 Ryder Cup Packages Available Now 2006 Guaranteed Old Course Times Tee It Up Show goes to Scotland If you're interested in a Scottish golf vacation, look no further than Golf Scotland. We specialize in tailor made Scottish golf vacations and golf-related tours of Scotland to suit all budgets and group sizes. Formed in 1988, Golf Scotland combines an unparalleled quality of service with an expert knowledge of Scottish golf to provide the ultimate golfing experience. VIP Golf Tours - Golf Scotland provide VIP golf tours to suit all needs. Whether it is a specially chartered transatlantic jet to get you here or helicopter hire to fly you around, we can arrange it. Golf Scotland's VIP golf tours Luxury Golf Tours - We provide luxury golf tours to suit all budgets and needs. Whether you want to fulfil every golfers dream and play at St Andrews Old Course, or sample as many of Scotland's courses as possible, we can arrange it. Golf Scotland's Luxury Golf Tours Scottish Golf Courses - Scotland is the most exciting country in the world for golf, and Golf Scotland offer access to an unparalleled selection of golf courses throughout the country. Scottish golf courses Scottish Golf Accommodation - We arrange accommodation to suit all budgets and tour itineraries throughout Scotland. Scottish golf vacation accommodation Golf Scotland is one of less than a dozen 'Protected Tour Operators' with St Andrews Links trust which means that Golf Scotland is one of a select few that are given an allocation of guaranteed tee times at the legendary St Andrews Old Course. © 2003 Golf Scotland - Site by Scothosts Site Map | Privacy Statement | Contact Details | Booking Conditions

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Vacation Rentals, Holiday Rentals - Villas, Condos and Apartments to rent VACATION RENTALS AND HOLIDAY HOMES TO RENT WORLDWIDE PROPERTY OWNERS Advertise your holiday home on this site and lots more by adding your property to the Portside Promotions database. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS. MEMBERS LOGIN E-mail Password Lost Password? Mail me my password LOGIN TO CALENDAR Username Password SEARCH BY ID No ID Number AFFILIATE LOGIN Username Password Webmasters become an affiliate TODOSOL, AGUILAS, SPAIN - 2 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 4 - Rent to per Indian Point, Kissimmee, Florida - 4 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 10 Plus 1 baby - Rent 750 USD to 850 USD per week Golf del Sur, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain - 3 Bedroom Penthouse Apartment to rentSleeps 6 - Rent 450 GBP to 750 GBP per week Camposol Golf, Camposol, Mazarron, - 2 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 6 - Rent 140 GBP to 200 GBP per week Villa on LaSella Golf, Denia, Costa Blanca, Spain - 2 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 6 - Rent 225 GBP to 550 GBP per Week FLORIDA CAPE CORAL LUXURY Villa Nuala - 3 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 6 - Rent 950 USD to 1200 USD per WEEK Denia, Costa Blanca, Alicante, Spain. On the Beach - 1 Bedroom Apartment to rentSleeps 5 - Rent 100 GBP to 280 GBP per week Praia Camilo, Lagos, Western Algarve - 2 Bedroom Apartment to rentSleeps 4/6 - Rent 250 GBP to 475 GBP per week Sanctuary Villas Estate, Tobago, Caribbean - 4 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 8 - Rent 275 USD to 625 USD per night Welcome to Portside Promotions. We house a large database of vacation homes that you can rent direct from their owners. These vacation rentals are owned by individuals who have lavished a large amount of care and attention on the properties and a vacation in a private holiday home is far superior to one in a hotel. Booking is easy - a lot of the properties have an availability calendar so you can see immediately if the property is available for the period you want. You just need to get in touch with the owner through our enquiry form on the bottom of the page of the home you are interested in and they will answer any questions you might have and arrange the rental for you. By being in our database a lot of our owners can now take credit card bookings giving you added security and comfort. Choose the country from the list below where you would like to rent your vacation home. NORTH AMERICA All USA Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Canada Colorado Connecticut DC Delaware Florida Florida Disney A - L M - Z Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Lake Tahoe Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming EUROPE Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic England Estonia France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Malta Netherlands Norway Portugal Romania Russia Scotland Spain A - C D - J K - M N - Z Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine Wales CARIBBEAN All Caribbean Antigua Bahamas Barbados Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Jamaica Margarita Nevis Puerto Rico Saba St. Barthelemy St. Croix St. John St. Lucia St. Maarten/St. Martin Trinidad Tobago Turks & Caicos Islands Virgin Islands (US) CENTRAL AMERICA Belize Costa Rica Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama SOUTH PACIFIC Australia Cook Islands Fiji Islands New Zealand Tahiti Vanuatu ASIA Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Sri Lanka Thailand AFRICA Kenya Mauritius Morocco South Africa cottages houses villas apartments country houses vacation rentals gites fincas farmhouses chalets cabins condos penthouses chateaux castles lodges holiday homes beach rentals studios townhouses FEATURED VACATION RENTALS Antigua Vacation Rentals Jolly Harbour Villas, Marina & Golf, Antigua - 2 Bedroom 3 X 2 Bedroom Townho to rentSleeps 4 - Rent 350 GBP to 550 GBP per Week- More.... Australia Vacation Rentals Manly Holiday Apartments, Manly, Australia - 2 Bedroom Apartment to rentSleeps 3 - Rent to per- More.... Bahamas Vacation Rentals Staniel Cay, Exuma Islands, Bahamas - 2 Bedroom Cottage to rentSleeps 5 - Rent 2800 USD to 3500 USD per Week- More.... Barbados Vacation Rentals Barbados, West Coast, Settlers Beach Holetown, St James - 1 Bedroom Apartment to rentSleeps 2 - Rent 350 GBP to 450 GBP per week- More.... Bonaire Vacation Rentals Lighthouse Beach Resort - Bonaire, Caribbean - 2 Bedroom Townhouse to rentSleeps 6 - Rent 95 USD to 145 USD per night- More.... Bulgaria Holiday Rentals Balchik, Varna, Bulgaria - 7 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 14 - Rent 400 GBP to 990 GBP per week- More.... California Vacation Rentals Homewood, West Shore, Lake Tahoe, California, USA - 3 Bedroom Cabin to rentSleeps 8 - Rent 150 USD to 225 USD per night- More.... Canada Vacation Rentals Fairmont Host Springs, British Columbia, Canada - 2 Bedroom Condo to rentSleeps 6 - Rent 700 USD to 1200 USD per Week- More.... Caribbean Vacation Rentals Gros-Islet Near Rodney Bay, ST.Lucia, Caribbean - 2 Bedroom Apartment to rentSleeps 4 - Rent 190 GBP to 190 GBP per week- More.... Colorado Vacation Rentals Breckenridge, CO Woodmore Subdivision - 4 plus Loft Bedroom Duplex Home to rentSleeps 14-16 - Rent 349 USA to 899 USA per Night,- More.... Croatia Holiday Rentals Vodice, Croatia - 2 Bedroom Apartment to rentSleeps 5 - Rent to per- More.... Cyprus Holiday Rentals Paphos - Mandria village - Cyprus - 3 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 8 - Rent 350 GBP to 800 GBP per WEEK- More.... Disney Vacation Rentals High Grove, Clermont, Orlando, Disney, Florida - 4 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 10 - Rent 790 USD to 1050 USD per Week- More.... England Holiday Rentals Portmellon Cove, Cornwall, West Country, England - 2 Bedroom house to rentSleeps 4 - Rent 210 GBP to 410 GBP per week- More.... Florida Vacation Rentals Southern Dunes,Davenport, Orlando, Florida, USA - 4 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 10 - Rent 450 GBP to 600 GBP per week- More.... France Holiday Rentals France, Languedoc, Herault, Siran - 3 Bedroom House to rentSleeps 8 - Rent 400 GBP to 400 GBP per Week- More.... Greece Holiday Rentals Acharavi, Corfu, Greece - 2 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 4 - Rent 200 GBP to 400 GBP per Week- More.... Hawaii Vacation Rentals POIPU, KAUAI, HAWAII, USA - 2 Bedroom Condo to rentSleeps 6 - Rent 900 USD to 975 USD per week- More.... Italy Holiday Rentals Alassio, Liguria, Italy - 4 Bedroom Apartment to rentSleeps 8 - Rent 500 Euros to 850 Euros per week- More.... Jamaica Vacation Rentals Treasure Beach, Jamaica, Caribbean - 4 Bedroom villa to rentSleeps 8 - Rent 1325 USD to 2345 USD per week- More.... Mauritius Vacation Rentals Grande Baie, Mauritius - Studio and 2 Bedroom Apartments to rentSleeps 2 to 4 - Rent 25 Euros to 70 Euros per day- More.... Mexico Vacation Rentals ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA NORTE, MEXICO - 5 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 12 - Rent to per- More.... Portugal Holiday Rentals TAVIRA, ALGARVE, PORTUGAL - 3 Bedroom Duplex apartment to rentSleeps 8 - Rent 290 GBP to 490 GBP per Week- More.... Puerto Rico Vacation Rentals Gran Canaria, Canary Islands , Puerto Rico, Spain - 1/2 Bedroom Apartments to rentSleeps 4 - Rent 170 GBP to 250 GBP per week- More.... Scotland Holiday Rentals Loch Lomond Trossachs Central Scotland National Park - 5 Bedroom Large Country House to rentSleeps 12 - Rent 1650 GBP to 1950 GBP per week- More.... Spain Holiday Rentals Nr. Jimena and Gaucin, Andalucia, Spain - 2 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 5 - Rent 295 GBP to 950 GBP per week- More.... Tahoe Vacation Rentals Lake Tahoe - North Shore California - 2 Bedroom Cabin to rentSleeps 4 - Rent 950 USD to 950 USD per week- More.... Tennessee Cabin Rentals Homewood - West Lake Tahoe - 3 Bedroom Cabin to rentSleeps 9 - Rent 135 USD to 210 USD per night- More.... Thailand Vacation Rentals Koh Naka Retreat, Koh Naka Yai, Phuket, Thailand - 3 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 6 - Rent to per- More.... Tobago Vacation Rentals Tobago, Caribbean - 4 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 8 - Rent 850 GBP to 1200 GBP per week- More.... Turkey Holiday Rentals altinkum,agean coast,turkey - 3 Bedroom apartment to rentSleeps 10 - Rent 200 gbp to 375 gbp per week- More.... Turks & Caicos Islands Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, Caribbean - 4 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 10 - Rent 4800 USD to 6400 USD per week- More.... USA Vacation Rentals Sunset Lakes, Kissimmee, Florida, USA - 4 Bed/3 Bath - 4 Bedroom Villa to rentSleeps 10 - Rent 400 GBP to 525 GBP per week- More.... Vanuatu Vacation Rentals Vanuatu waterfront, Port Villa, Efate - 4 Bedroom Bungalow to rentSleeps 7 - Rent 1400 USD to 2000 USD per week- More.... Virgin Islands Vacation Rentals Christianstead, St. Croix, USVI Virgin Islands - 2 Bedroom condo to rentSleeps 4 - Rent 975 USD to 1575 USD per week- More.... Washington Vacation Rentals Mt. Baker / Glacier, Washington - USA - 3 Bedroom Executive Chalet. to rentSleeps 6. - Rent 534 USD to 3495 USD per week- More.... CONTACT US ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION RENTAL TRAVEL DIRECTORY AFFILIATES

Vacation Rental, Cottage or

Ultimate Vacation Rentals - Vacation Home Rentals by Owner, Villa Rentals and Condo Rental Properties The Fastest and Most Cost Effective Way to Book Your Next Vacation Rental, Cottage or B&B Inn Welcome to the ultimate vacation rental directory for thousands of vacation rentals (vacation homes, villa, condos, cottages, castles, chalets, etc.), vacation home rentals by owner, bed and breakfasts (B&B), inns and boutique resort hotels on the Internet. Whether you are planning the perfect family vacation or seeking a last minute vacation, your ultimate vacation rental is just a few clicks away. Vacation Rental and B&B Owners - PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE Ultimate Vacation Rentals offers a low risk way to market your vacation rental, resort or bed and breakfast property to the millions of travelers on one of the web's premier vacation websites... Purchase a one-year vacation rental or bed and breakfast property listing for only $9/month and take advantage of our "performance guarantee"! Register now... Translate the UVR site ... advanced find quick find search the web for more results featured property Located just outside Banff, Alberta, Santa Fe is Canmore's most elegantly appointed 3 bedroom condo that regularly attracts repeat guests due to its spacious and welcoming interior... featured destination At the heart of Canada's first national park is the bustling mountain community of Banff / Canmore. A scenic 1.5 hour drive west of Calgary, Banff is an internationally recognized tourist destination featuring four seasons of limitless outdoor recreational opportunities in an unparalleled mountain landscape. ultimate contest Win a 1-week Walt Disney family vacation rental getaway in the Central Florida / Orlando region. Your prize includes a stay in a luxury Orlando vacation rental villa and more... free registration Join our FREE travel club to receive special offers and last minute vacation deals on vacation rentals including villa rentals, condo rentals, vacation home rentals, bed and breakfasts, cottage rentals, inns and boutique resort hotels around the world... Start Your Search with our Vacation Guides Start your search for your ultimate vacation rental homes, vacation condo rentals, bed and breakfasts (B&B), cottages, resort hotels and inns around the globe direct from owners and property managers with our destination guides! These destination guides are the ideal place to start your search for your ultimate Florida vacation rentals, your dream villa rental in Tuscany, your cozy cottage rental in the English countryside, a quaint California bed and breakfast, the perfect beach house rental in the Outer Banks, or your ski chalet in Colorado. Start searching... Hot Vacation Rental Destinations Ultimate Vacation Rentals features private vacation rentals by owner in all the top resort destination around the world. Search thousands of vacation rentals in destinations like Orlando, Miami, Daytona Beach, Florida Keys, Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Gulf Shores, St Simons, Smokey Mountains, Cape Cod, New York, Vermont, Hamptons, Maine, Niagara Falls, Alaska, Muskoka, Ontario, PEI, Cavendish, Brackley Beach, Rustico, Mt Tremblant, Nova Scotia, Montreal, Quebec, Banff, Canmore, Jasper, BC Rockies, Kimberley, Fernie, Panorama, Fairmont Hot Springs, Invermere, Canadian Rockies, Okanagan, Vancouver, Victoria, Parksville, Tofino, Kelowna, Vernon, Whistler, Montana, Whitefish, Big Sky, Jackson Hole, San Francisco, Palm Springs, San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Phoenix, Tuscon, Oregon, Vail, Breckenridge, Telluride, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, Colorado Springs, Park City, Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Caribbean, Bermuda, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, US Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Australia, New Zealand, France, Tuscany, Italy, England, Spain, Portugal, Madeira, Scotland, Greece, Crete and more. Check it out... | home | travelers & vacationers | owners & managers | for sale | resources | | about us | contact us | help | site map | links | log-in | © 2002 - Ultimate Vacation Rentals Inc. Web Development: Cityhues New Media Design Group - Powered by Cityhues X-Hunter™

Europe Travel Planning >

Off Season Travel In Europe - Tips and Tools for Off-Season Vacations  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Europe Travel Planning > Off Season Travel In Europe - Tips and Tools for Off-Season Vacations 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 Off-Season Rain in Vienna - Time to duck into a cafe for some Sacher Torte! James Martin Stay up to date! Off-Season Rain in Vienna - Time to duck into a cafe for some Sacher Torte! James Martin Email to a friend Print this page Off Season Travel Tools Historic European Climate - Cities Hours of Daylight Winter Travel to Europe Off Season Things to Do Chrismas Markets in Europe Oktoberfest Fall Tours and Trips Recent Discussions Need Help Planning a Trip Accomodation in london Mediteranean Feries Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Off Season Travel In Europe - Tips and Tools for Off-Season Vacations From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Travel Cheap - Enjoy Europe's Culture - Go in the Off-Season You'll hear seasoned travelers extolling the virtues of September-May off-season travel so often you probably know them by heart: fewer tourists, greater cultural options and mingling opportunities with the locals, more relaxed atmosphere, cheaper airfares and hotel rates, and the lack of that summer swelter. But there's a reason folks travel in high season in Europe: it seldom rains, there's maximum daylight, it's easy packing light, and there are abundant tourist resources. But off-season travel still aces out high-season travel in my book, because all those problems with off-season travel can be overcome with a few tricks seasoned travelers call upon to make their vacations meaningful and fun. Read on. Places to Go - Choosing an Off-Season Destination Seasoned travelers base their destinations on seasonal considerations. For example, I don't particularly fancy eating the traditional tourist favorites of Germany, Switzerland or Austria in summer; the food is too heavy for the heat. But give me a crisp fall day to walk the black forest or cruise the Rhine, then let me return to my hotel, take a hot bath, and go downstairs to a medieval wood-beamed room with roaring fire and I'll happily eat mounds of sausages and spaetzle while drinking lustily from a flask of homemade reisling. For Mediterranean countries, fall starts the rainy season. Over the ages, many cities have found ways to deal with the inconvenience of a daylight rain. The Italian city of Bologna features a huge network of arcaded streets. You can walk from one side of town to the other without getting wet. Medieval Europe featured houses with overhangs, it's one of the ways you can tell the older parts of a city. Old towns also offer seductive cafes. Pop in and nurse a coffee, soda, or warming snifter of brandy while waiting for the rain to taper off. Or use your railpass to take a scenic train ride . Hours of Sunlight - Off-Season's "Shorter" Days Yep, the off-season in Europe is marked by fewer hours of sunlight. This doesn't bother me at all, because I find moonlight strolls more seductive than daylight ones. If you shudder at the thought of walking "downtown" in a city after dark, consider that European city centers are quite a bit safer than most American ones at these hours, because European culture favors convivial meetings in public places along with moderate alcohol consumption. Filling the streets with good, honest people is probably the best defense against street crime there ever was. But how can you figure out how much daylight there'll be? Here's a handy site, The Sun and Moon Ephemerides . Pick your destination and the date, and the tool will return the hours of daylight to expect. Climate - What's the Off-Season Like? Here is a directory of historic climate for Europe's major cities . Packing Tips for the Off-Season in Europe Packing light is easy to accomplish when your daily wear is shorts and a shirt. Things get tricky when the weather cools. The key is layering. Everything in my suitcase goes with everything else. I wear a light undershirt, long sleeved shirt, sweater if it's going to be cold, light windbreaker/rain jacket for the rainy days. I pack two fashionable sweaters of varying warmth instead of lugging around a coat. On the beautiful days I don't end up with a coat slung over my arm that's too big for my suitcase. When it rains I simply get out my rain jacket. I can also wear a sweater into a fancy restaurant and look pretty presentable. (Europeans tend to dress more formally, especially in the off-season. You might consider throwing a tie or scarf into your suitcase.) But sweaters are big and bulky. True, but there's a fix. A sweater keeps you warm by trapping air between thin fibers, much like house insulation. Take the air out and sweaters compress to a fraction of their size. If you're stuck in the 50's, you have dad sit on your suitcase while you latch it. Today you can purchase clothes compressor bags. Eagle Creek makes some I use and recommend ( review ) ( check prices ). You'll find that you can squeeze 40-50 percent of bulk out of a sweater with these bags. The downside is that sweaters don't work as efficiently in the wind, and you may need that rain jacket as a windbreak on blustery days. The Bottom Line - What's good about Off-Season Travel in Europe Europe takes advantage of the cultural activities that enjoy a winter season. Sure, in summer you can hear short chamber music in Vienna structured for a tourist's short attention span, but you'll have to wait until the real symphony and opera season to hear the best European orchestras playing serious music for hours on end. And who cares if it's raining outside when you intend to spend your day at the Louvre? Bottom line: if you like meeting folks on their own turf, have a hankering for high culture, or just like to lounge around a roaring fire listening to a foreign language and dreaming of learning it--off-season travel is something you should try.        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