Asia Travel || Malaysia

Travel Information of Malaysia Malaysia Country and Travel Information Malaysia Hotels & Resorts Reservation GENERAL INFORMATION Malaysia is located in the heart of Southeast Asia. Consisting of 127,000 sq. miles (330,200 sq. km), Malaysia is divided into two main regions: Peninsular Malaysia, which lies just south of Thailand, and East Malaysia, which can be found north of Indonesia on the island of Borneo. These two regions are divided into thirteen states and federal territories. Although East Malaysia occupies the larger portion of Malaysia's total area, it is primarily comprised of undeveloped land and jungles. Malaysia is a land of fascinating sights and attractions. Rich in colour and contrasts, her multi-faceted charm provides intriguing images that leave visitors to the country in awe. The natural warmth of Malaysians is legendary; wherever one goes, the friendliness and hospitality of the people would prove to be a very special experience. Malaysia is paradise. Its sun-drenched beaches, enchanting islands, diverse flora and fauna, forest retreats and magnificent mountains are among the best in this region. Many visitors have discovered Malaysia's other attractions: a shopping haven, a versatile conference venue, an incentive destination, an adventure land and much more. WEATHER CONDITIONS With temperature that fluctuates little throughout the year, travel in Malaysia is a pleasure. Average temperature is between 21 to 32 degree celcius. Humidity is high. Rain tends to occur between November to February on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, on western Sarawak, and north-eastern Sabah. On the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia the rainy seasons is April to May and October to November. PEOPLE AND CULTURE Malaysia has a combined population of over 18 million people. Because of its central location, between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, Malaysia has traditionally been a meeting point for traders and travelers from both the East and West. As a result, Malaysia has a multicultural and multiracial population consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians and numerous indigenous peoples. Although Malay is the official language, English is widely spoken, especially in business, and the English language is a compulsory subject in all schools. With such a varying ethnic composition, it is no surprise that a great diversity of religions is prevalent throughout Malaysia. Although the official religion is Islam, freedom of worship is practiced. As a result, it is a common to see temples, mosques and churches within the same area. Ethnic Groups: 59% Malay and other indigenous, 32% Chinese and 9% Indian. Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Mandarin, Hakka dialects, Cantonese, Tamil and numerous tribal languages. Religion: Muslim (primarily Malays), Buddhism (Chinese), Hindu (Indian), Christianity, Confucianism, Taoism and tribal religions. LOCAL CUSTOMS General: When visiting Malaysia, the visitor should observe local customs and practices. Some common courtesies and customs are as follow:- Although handshakes generally suffice for both men and women, some Muslim ladies may acknowledge an introduction with a gentleman with a nod of her head and smile. A handshake is only to be reciprocated if the lady offers her hand first. The traditional greeting of "salam" resembles a handshake with both hands but without the grasp. The man offers both hands, lightly touches his friend's outstretched hands, then brings his hands to his chest to mean, " I greet you from my heart". The visitor should reciprocate the "salam". It is polite to call before visiting a home Shoes must be removed when entering a Malaysian home. It is also customary to do so upon entering a mosque or an Indian temple. The right hand is always used when eating with one's hand or when giving and receiving objects The right forefinger is not used to point at places, objects or persons. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with the four fingers, folden under is preferred usage. Toasting is not a common practice in Malaysia. The country's large Muslim population does not drink alcoholic bevergaes. THINGS TO KNOW Population: 20 million Capital: Kuala Lumpur Flag: Fourteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the U.S. flag. Shop Hours: Department stores and supermarkets are usually open from 10am to 10pm and shops from 9:30am to 7pm. In Kuala Lumpur, as well as in most major towns, there are several 24-hour stores. Bank Hours: Most states: Mon-Fri: 9:30am-4.00pm Sat : 9:30am-11:30am Sun : Closed Kelantan and Terengganu: Sat-Wed: 9:30am-4.00pm Thur : 9:30am-11.30am Fri : Closed VISAS AND PASSPORT Visitors must be in possession of a current passport or other internationally recognized travel document. They must be endorsed for traveling to Malaysia and have a period of validity of at least six months beyond the time of stay allowed in Malaysia. No visas are required for citizens of British Commonwealth countries (except India), British Protected persons, and citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, San Marino, Switzerland and the United States (for social, business or academic purposes only). No visas are required for stays not exceeding three months for citizens of: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Tunesia, U.S.A. , France and Germany (except for local employment). CUSTOMS REGULATIONS Duty-Free Items: Items such as cameras, watches, pens, portable radio-cassette players, perfume, cosmetics and lighters are duty-free in Malaysia. Visitors bringing in dutiable goods may have to pay a deposit for temporary importation, refundable on departure - usually 50% of the value (carry receipt of purchase and obtain an official receipt for any tax or deposit paid). Asia Travel || Malaysia Hotels & Resorts Reservation

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

Disney Vacations Whether you

MouseSavers.com - Discounts and Information on Airfare, Amtrak, Car Rental, Shuttle, Limo, Van, Taxi and Bus Great deals on all things Disney! Find out how to save on: Walt Disney World Disneyland Disney Cruise Line Transportation Getting There: Airfare Discounts Road Trip Tips & Tricks Train Information Getting Around: Airport Shuttle City Bus from Airport to Disney World Limo, Luxury Sedan or Private Van Service Rental Car Discounts & Advice Taxi Service at Disney World Other Disney Travel Savings Discount Disney Shopping Mall Live Disney Shows Disney Freebies Disneyland Resort Paris Disney Parks in Asia Disney's Vero Beach/Hilton Head Non-Disney Theme Parks & Attractions More information: Frequently Asked Questions Trip Reports and Articles Links Testimonials About MouseSavers Privacy Policy & Legal Stuff Contact Mary Transportation for Disney Vacations Whether you plan to go on your Disney vacation by plane, train or automobile, it can be challenging to find the most economical way to get to your destination -- and then you need to figure out how you're going to get around while you are there! (At both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, transportation from the airport to your hotel is something you'll have to arrange for yourself, unless you purchase a package that includes transfers.) On these pages I've gathered some information about money-saving resources that will help you find the best prices on transportation, for both getting there and getting around. I also list specific transportation deals, discounts and coupons that are changed and updated frequently. The most popular area is the Rental Cars page, which lists dozens of rental car codes, coupons and discounts that can potentially save you a hundred dollars or more on a one-week rental! Be sure to check it out. Getting There Airfare - Tips and tricks for finding the best price on your airplane tickets. Amtrak - Have some fun and take the train! Road Trip - The journey is half the adventure. Tips from readers. Getting Around Disney's Magical Express - Disney's FREE shuttle service to its hotels Shuttle - Information on the various shared van / shuttle options. Rental Car - Tons of good ideas for getting the best possible deal! Limo, Luxury Sedan or Private Van Service - A surprisingly reasonable option, especially for groups of three or more. Taxi - Be sure to consider this -- it could be cheaper than renting a car at Walt Disney World! Bus - Tips for the cheapest way to get from the airport to Walt Disney World. Back to the home page Back to top Content of MouseSavers.com is © Mary Waring & MouseSavers 2001-2005. No part of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.

Travel Insurance Take a

Travel Insurance - Health Insurance - Total Travel Insurance Companies Plans Products Coverages About Us Best in the Industry Welcome to Total Travel Insurance Take a test drive of the best travel insurance system. Select an area of insurance that interests you, click on a link below and browse. Review information about all major companies that sell travel insurance. Compare plans, products and coverages. Complete a quote, to see prices and plans that match your insurance needs. Companies Plans Products Coverages Compare You can review We offer Each Plan is divided into Every Major 100+ 17 30 travel insurance company plans different products coverages You can review and compare information about companies such as Travelex, TravelGuard, M H Ross and CSA. We offer a wide variety of products ranging from total trip protection that are ideal for expensive vacations, international travels and cruises, to cheap/economy - ideal for students and senior citizens. Some products include all coverages, some only trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight accident, evacuation, or medical. We are reviewed in NY Times Travel Section. You can see a re-print of this article and others in our News section. We now offer plans from HTH Worldwide . HTH operates its own 'best of class' physician community in 170 countries. Easy To Use Our on-line system is very easy to use. In 3 simple steps , you can get a quote, compare 100+ travel insurance plans , and purchase a policy on-line from one of our providers. Complete the 6-question quote to see what you are eligible for. Input your trip dates, trip cost, your residence, and age of all travelers. Then, click button and receive a list of all plans that you are eligible with prices Compare quotes, review plan's coverages side-by-side, and either change quote details or proceed to complete your purchase Select insurance that best suits your needs, complete trip details and instantly purchase policy Why Buy Travel Insurance From Us? Travel insurance is available from many sources, including your tour / cruise operators and individual insurance companies. Most tour / cruise operators and insurance companies sell plans from a single company only. They do not allow consumers to compare prices and coverages. Would you want to buy cruise insurance from a cruise company? At Total Travel Insurance you are able to compare prices of all major companies and select a plan that best suits your needs. Even our former competitors have chosen our system to offer their customers better value. We offer plans from including American International Group (AIG), Lloyd's of London, Stonebridge Casualty and Old Republic. Our system is unique in the industry. It dynamically changes the order of plans based on comparison of your trip insurance needs with the needs of thousands of other travelers. We sort plans based on three factors: What other travelers in an age and travel category similar to yours have purchased Our experience with plan administrators in paying claims Best level of protection afforded to you for the price (cheap is not necessarily the best) Our plans are prioritized based on how best they suit your needs, and not alphabetically or in plan cost order, as do other systems. Why do I Need Protection? You can start your trip without any insurance and thus insure yourself. But did you know that if you become ill abroad, costs to treat you would be very high. How would you find a doctor? Where would you find appropriate healthcare facility? Where would you seek advice? Did you know that HMO's, PPO's and Medicare typically do not cover you abroad? With one of our plans, you would be covered. Wouldn't trip insurance or cruise insurance make you feel better? Review certificate closely before you buy, receive instant quote, then policy (cover) and have a worry-free vacation. Frequently Asked Questions Researching trip cancellation insurance can be a daunting experience. That is why we created this section to list some of the frequently asked questions. What if there is an act of Terrorism at your departure or destination? If you have a specific question, please contact us at: What if your tour operator, cruise company or airline declares bankruptcy ? Will you be covered? info@totaltravelinsurance.com What if a Hurricane or other inclement weather affects my travel? What is Travel Insurance? If you have a group of 10 or more travelers, you can get a custom quote at: Latest News group@totaltravelinsurance.com Trip Deposit Date Departure Date Return Date Trip Cost $ Cost Per Traveler Total Trip Cost I live in Resident of Australia European Union (EU) Japan United Kingdom Other International Alabama Alaska Alberta Arizona Arkansas British Columbia California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Dist. of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Manitoba Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Brunswick New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York Newfoundland North Carolina North Dakota Nova Scotia Nunavut NW Territories Ohio Oklahoma Ontario Oregon Pennsylvania Prince Edward Isl Puerto Rico Quebec Rhode Island Saskatchewan South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Yukon Territory Age of Travelers (today) Get a quote from all of these companies: Travelex TravelGuard Travel Insured CSA M H Ross MNU Specialty Risk Intl Medical Group Global Underwriters iTravel Insured SOS International Medjet Assist HTH Privacy Policy Support Contact Us Links Site Map 1999 - 2005 Total Travel Insurance all rights reserved (261118)

Europe Travel

eurotrip - backpacking, hostels, bus and train travel on a budget across Europe NAME EMAIL European Hostel Reviews All the best hostels, reviews and links. Answers to all your hostelling questions Travel Destinations Places to visit, sights to see, favourite rail journeys, travel tips, where to party guide...the best of Europe Packing and Travel Advice Packing list, medical issues, safety & security, currencies... Cheap Flight Tactics Finding a bargain fare to Europe - tactics both on and off the web. We tell you how to ferret out the best deals! Free Travel Newsletter Get our free e-mail travel newsletter, the best of Europe. Just enter your email address in the left sidebar European Railpasses Railpass advice, sales and exclusive discounts, from our sponsors Rail Connection Railsaver - A great tool that helps you choose the right rail pass or tickets. Eurotrip Discussion Boards Our large travel discussion community -- All the information you could need on destinations, cheap flights, transport, hostels, packing, find a travel friend, special interests and more Budget Guidebooks Recommended travel reading for your trip Europe by Bus A great compliment, or affordable alternative, to a railpass. Modern, comfortable coaches with on-board guides and convenient drop-off locations in over 70 European cities Book cheap short flights anywhere in Europe with our No Frills Flight engine! Compare, combine and book low-cost tickets with the low-cost airlines, we do the work for you. BOOK NOW >> Got a favorite Web site to help plan your Eurotrip? Spread the word by listing it in our directory. Check back regularly, we intend to have the most useful European travel directory anywhere! On a day when it just all goes wrong... Mark Teramae shares the experiences of a day of backpacking frustrations Just back from Europe? Share your views on Europe's best and worst hostels with Eurotrip.com readers © eurotrip.com -- Terms of Use -- Privacy Policy -- About this site