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Hawaii State Vacation Planner - Hawaii vacation information, Waikiki and Big Island of Hawaii vacation rentals, Maui and Kauai hotels, Hawaii travel guides, island maps and Hawaii vacation stories Win a Trip to Hawaii! '10 Best in Hawaii' Insider's Guide Scenic Tours Maps Explore the Site Free Vacation Planner Service | Exclusive Discount Card | Travel Discounts Newsletter Hawaii Vacation or Vacation Hawaii -- these two Hawaii travel phrases define the dream tropical vacation experience of a lifetime. The Hawaii State Vacation Planner helps you plan and experience your own dream Hawaii Vacation. Best Places Hawaii is where you can "stop searching and start planning" your dream Hawaii vacation. Here, you will find complete Hawaii travel and vacation information including the largest direct source of Hawaii vacation rental homes, vacation rental condos, bed and breakfasts, resorts, hotels, and spas. The Hawaii State Vacation Planner also features the largest collection of vacation activities including luaus, helicopter tours, whale-watching, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, surfing, hiking, golf, guided tours and more. You will find extensive information on wedding and honeymoon services, major Hawaii events, dining, entertainment, shopping, real estate, airlines, rental cars, and travel booking providers. How to Use the Hawaii State Vacation Planner To explore any of the main Hawaiian Islands on your own, just click above on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, the Big Isle or specific categories. For even more personalized tour and travel information for planning your dream Hawaii vacation, take advantage of the totally Free Hawaii Vacation Planner Service , the ultimate vacation match-making service. Simply complete your personal profile and receive free information from Hawaii vacation providers (accommodations, activities, wedding services, Hawaii travel and tour companies, etc.) who will make your dream Hawaii vacation a reality. Also, be sure to sign-up now to receive TNT News Hawaii , a monthly Hawaii travel newsletter filled with entertaining, valuable, and useful Hawaii vacation information along with discounts on Hawaii travel. Welcome to the Hawaii State Vacation Planner, dedicated to making your Hawaii vacation the dream of a lifetime. - What's New - Special Offers and Savings! Exclusive travel discounts and Hawaii vacation savings for Best PlacesHawaii visitors only. Get big discounts, free nights, free goodies, and more... new Specials allthe time. Best Places Hawaii Discount Card Free to Get - Pays to Use! Sign up now to get the only totally FREE Discount Card in Hawaii! Available at no cost and welcome at locations across Hawaii. No Signup or renewal fees; No obligations; Never expires. Click to get! Free Listings for Hawaii Travel Businesses | Affiliate Administration Login © Best Places Hawaii , 1995-2005. All rights reserved. Photos by Mario Perez. Contact Us | Marketing/Advertising | Email this Page to a Friend | Privacy Policy

London Vacation Travel Honeymoons

London Vacation  You are here: About > Travel > Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways > Romantic Places > A to Z Destinations > Explore Europe > Great Cities of Europe > All About London > London for the First Time > London Vacation Travel Honeymoons Essentials 10 Ideas for a Great Romantic Getaway All-Inclusive Resorts Best Months to Go Nude Beach Guide Photo Galleries Articles & Resources Valentines Day Adults-Only Travel Honeymoon 101 Romantic Places Best of the USA Honeymoon in Hawaii Las Vegas Caribbean & Mexico Love Boats: Cruises for Two Destination Weddings Love & Romance Inexpensive Trips Honeymoon Buzz Weekend Getaways A - Z Romance Index Buyer's Guide Anniversary Gifts Cheap Champagne Find a Gift by Price Gown & Garment Bags Travelers' Gifts Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways London Taxis Photo by Susan Breslow Sardone Stay up to date! London Taxis Photo by Susan Breslow Sardone Email to a friend Print this page London Vacation Guides User-Friendly London Guidebooks London Attractions London Dining Explore More of London on Your Vacation London for First-Timers London Hotels London Maps Great Places and Sights to See on Your London Vacation London Museums/Palaces London Pictures London Shopping/Markets Most Popular Best New Romantic Hotels 2006 Romantic Getaway Ideas Love Quotes Anniversary Gift Last Minute Travel What's Hot Royal Caribbean Honeymoons New Year's Resolutions Beverly Hills Hotels Palmilla Resort in Mexico Travel Contests Related Topics Caribbean for Visitors Adventure Travel Canada for Visitors Hawaii / South Pacific for Visitors Marriage London Vacation From Susan Breslow Sardone , Your Guide to Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Thinking of a vacation in London? Thanks to affordable vacation airfares to London, this could be the perfect time to travel to London. Here's how to plan an utterly romantic London vacation that can save you both time and money. 1. Research London Vacation Deals Online. In advance of your London trip, become a fare watcher. Check a variety of vacation travel sites. Rates to London change frequently, and it's important to understand the price range before you purchase your vacation airfare and hotel stay. The airport code for Heathrow Airport in London, England is LHR. Tip: Keep in mind that midweek vacation departures to London and returns are cheaper than weekend ones. As you fare-search, you'll find that the online travel agents don't all return the same flight choices but they do provide a good idea of what's available to London. Before you click a "Buy" button, also check the dedicated site of the airline you prefer to fly on your vacation. 2. Study London Maps . London was not designed to flummox tourists, but it can confuse first-timers on vacation. Before you go, check out London maps online to acquaint yourself with the various areas of the city and where the major attractions are located. Once in London, don't travel without a map. Tip: Don't waste money or vacation time buying a London map if your hotel can supply one free. You can also pick up maps and other free tourist information at the Britain Visitor Centre, 1 Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus. Tip: If you ever get lost in London, hire a taxi. Drivers study for years to learn every nook and cranny of the system, and it's a matter of pride for one to safely deliver you to your destination. London Tube and double-decker buses that run frequently are, of course, more inexpensive ways to get around on your vacation. 3. Choose a London Hotel in the "Right" Neighborhood. What's your passion? If the monarchy, tradition, and parliamentary system of England fascinate you, select a hotel in Westminster close to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament. Hope to see plenty of theater on your London vacation? Find a hotel close to Covent Garden . Are you fashion-focused? Then a Kensington or Knightsbridge hotel nearby Harrods, Harvey Nichols, and the Victoria & Albert decorative arts museum can turn your London vacation into a shopping spree. "When a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." — Dr. Samuel Johnson 4. Take a Scenic Tour. The best way to see all that London offers is to take a tour on one of its double-decker, open-air, sightseeing buses soon after you arrive on vacation. There are two competing companies in London: The Original Tour and The Big Bus Company . Both have stops all over the city. A ticket is good for 24 hours and unlimited hops on and off the bus are permitted in that period. Both companies also offer River Thames cruises, which are included in the ticket price. Tip: Tour buses operate in one direction. If you're using one for transportation, understand that it may take up to three hours to reach an attraction on the other side of London. 4. Hit the London Museums . London features some of the world's finest museums and it would be a shame to vacation here without visiting a few. The biggest and the best are free to enter. Tops on my list are: The Victoria & Albert Museum, National Gallery, and the British Museum. The Imperial War Museum's Cabinet War Rooms (fee) show you the actual London quarters where Winston Churchill led England through World War II. Tip: Museum shops are great places to find gifts and souvenirs. Best buys include "mummy" cases from the British Museum, bone china from Buckingham Palace, and jewelry and art books from the Victoria & Albert Museum. 5. Pay Half Price for London Theatre Tickets. Tickets are available for a wide selection of West End shows on the day of performance at the Leicester Square TKTS ticket booth. While there are a number of competitors, this is the only official seller. Expect to pay exactly half price plus a 2.50 £ fee. Keep in mind that most theatres are dark on Sunday nights. Tip: Buy a copy of Time Out London to see what's going on during your vacation. Its calendar of events is extensive, and its theatre listings can help you make a choice you'll be happy with. 6. Organize Your Vacation in London. If you want to pack a lot of sight-seeing into a few days, plan an itinerary ahead of time. Use a map to locate attractions, and see those in proximity to one another instead of spending time racing all over London. Certainly allow time to stroll London's beautiful parks and gardens and linger over a pint at one of her many pubs on your vacation. Next page: Itinerary for a Long, Romantic Vacation Weekend in London > 1 2 Next        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 Royal Caribbean Honeymoons New Year's Resolutions Beverly Hills Hotels Palmilla Resort in Mexico Travel Contests

France Travel

FRANCE Geography History Politics Culture Transportation Lodging Restaurants Museums and Monuments Nightlife Currency 1. Geography France is bordered by the English Channel to the North; Belgium and Luxembourg to the Northeast; Germany, Switzerland and Italy tothe East; the Mediterranean Sea to the South; Spain and Andorra to the Southwest; and the Atlantic Ocean to the West. It includes theisland of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea to the Southeast of the mainland. The country's 210,026 squre miles offer vastly diverse scenery. It is comprised of the Alps and Pyrenees mountain ranges, the valleys of the Loire, Rhone, and Dordogne rivers, and the fertile flat lands and cliffs of Normandy and the Atlantic coast. France is bordered by 1800 miles of coastline. 2. History France was originally inhabited by Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon peoples. After the disintegration of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, it was settled by Gauls - a Celtic people. In the 8th century, Charlemagne established his Frankish empire stretching from the Pyrenees to the Baltic. Over the next several centuries the feudal lords of Paris consolidated power over various regions, creating for the first time a French nation. The reign of Louis VI from 1108-1137 represented the first time that royal authority came to fruition in certain areas of France. There remained however powerful rulers who served as Louis VI's vassals in name only, such as the Dukes of Normandy. During the FrenchRenaissance, Francois I helped develop the chateaux in the Loire Valley. These luxuries reached their peak during the reign of the SunKing Louis XIV (1643-1715) in which the power of the French state was further centralized and France became the major Europeanpower. Louis XV's reign (1715-1774) saw a time of prosperity as well as a growing gap between rich and power. During this period, the nobility and clergy were exempt from the payment of taxes. These disparities culminated in the French Revolution of 1789 which overthrew Louis XVI and sought equality of the individual before the law. Rising army commander Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the weak and unpopular governemnts of the end of the 18th century in 1799.Five years later he was declared Emperor and attempted to establish a French empire in Europe. In 1812 Napoleon's good fortune wasreversed after his failed invasion of Russia. He was exiled and his army dismantled but escaped and returned to France for a briefHundered Days until he was defeated at Waterloo by the Duke of Wellington. The 19th century saw France waver from republic to monarchy to republic to empire, and finally back to republic. It faced an emerging Germany in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871and again as the network of treaties and alliances collapsed in 1914 with the assassination of the Austrian Grand Duke Ferdinand in Serbia. In the interbellum period, after the Versailles Treaty, France recovered the Alsace-Lorraine region originally lost in the Franco-PrussianWar, and established a new electoral system based on proportional representation. With the advances of Nazi Germany into Poland in1939, France once again declared war on Germany and entered WWII. However, it was swiftly occupied by the Nazis who establishedthe Vichy Regime from 1940-1944. The Fourth Republic was established after the war but could not resist the pressures induced by the Algerian Conflict. General deGaulle, former Resistance leader of the exiled anti-Nazi government during WWII, established the Fifth Republic. 1968 saw the adventof student and industrial workers riots threatening to overthrow the fledgling Republic. Throughout the 1970s, conservative presidents and centre-right majorities governed in France. The Socialist party experienced its firstvictory in 1981 with the election of Francois Mitterand who remained in office until 1995. Jacques Chirac, the former mayor of Paris and Prime Minister in cohabitation with Mitterand was narrowly elected President in 1995. Edouard Balladur was first appointed PrimeMinister but was succeeded by Alain Juppe who was committed to streamlining the public sector. Having called for an early election, Chirac is now governing in cohabitation with the Socialist Lionel Jospin, his competitor in the 1995 election. 3. Politics The strong executive branch of the 5th Republic is directed by the President who is elected by direct popular vote for a 7-year term.The legislative branch is governed by a bicameral parliament comprised of a 577-member National Assembly which is elected for 5-yearterms, and the 321-member senate which is elected for 9-year terms with one-third of the seats up for reelection every 3 years. France's main foreign commitment is to the European Union. Its relations with Germany have been considered to be the pillar of the integration movement. France continues to be active in multifarious regions of the world as a means to assert its status as a worldpower. In opposition to American hegemony, France has come into conflict with the United States on a number of instances, most notably at the Uruguay Round of negotion on the 1993 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and with regards to the commandof armed forces in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. France has conducted several military interventions in Africa where it maintians a significant economic, military, and cultural presence inmany former colonies. In the Franc Zone, many francophone African countires have linked their currencies to the French franc. Frenchmilitary involvement also existed in French Polynesia in the 1995 when the Chiracien goverment conducted a series of nuclear tests atthe Mururoa atoll. Rioting broke out on Tahiti, the main island and severe international condemnation followed. French domestic politics are also rocky as Chirac and Jospin attempt to govern cohesively side-by-side. With an unemployment rate at arecord high of 12.8%, they are finding it difficult to streamline their country's economy to meet the strict criteria necessary for entry into the scheduled European Union economic and monetary union. 4. Culture The official language is French, but many regional dialects such as Basque and Breton exist. Many French speak basic English, but polite efforts to speak French are generally appreciated. 90% of the French population is Roman Catholic. There exists a Protestant minority, and representatives of almost every religion exist. The family is still relatively central to French life, as are long meals with excellent wine and gastronomical delights. The cuisine varies by region as does the wine. Most everything shuts down between noon and 2pm during the week and closes on Sundays. Major national holiday include January 1, Easter Monday, Labor Day (May 1), Victory in Europe Day (May 8), Ascension Day (May 8), Whit Monday (May 19), Bastille Day (July 14), Assumption Day (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Armistice Day (November 11), and Christmas (December 25). In addition,much of the less touristic parts of France slow down the month of August when everyone is on holiday in the often crowded coastal towns. 5. Transportation Visas are not required of U.S., Canadian, New Zealand, or EU citizens. Visas are required however of South Africans and Australians. AIR : France's national airline is Air France(AF), domestically Air Inter(AI). RAIL : Societe Nationale de Chemins de Fer (SNCF) operates an extensive rail network. Timetables are well-organized and color-codedto coincide with peak hours. Tickets are not valid until punched in the orange machine at the entrance to the platforms at the trainstation (la gare). Seat reservations are recommended for international trips, and are mandatory on EuroCity (EC), InterCity (IC), and TGV (train a grande vitesse/ high-speed) trains. All 3 mandate a ticket supplement (between US$3-18) and a reservation fee (betweenUS$2-3). The French Railpass which must be purchased outside France permits 3 days of travel within one month (US$145) with up to 6 additional days available (US$30 each). BUS : usually well-priced and well-organized. The bus station (gare routiere) is usually near the train station. PARIS : AIR : Most transatlantic flights arrive at Aeroport Roissy- Charles de Gaulle, NE of Paris. To get to town, take Roissy Rail, a cheap combination bus-rail system. To get to Roissy Rail, take free shuttle bus to train station, ride RER train B3 to the city. Taxis will be extremely expensive. Air France also offers a clean and safe shuttle bus service to various points in Paris as well as to Orly Airport. Flights arriving at Aeroport d'Orly, S of Paris usually arrive from various points in Europe. To get to town, take free shuttle bus to Orly train station and take RER C2 to central Paris. Or Air France shuttle buses also service Orly. RAIL : Gare du Nord services northern France, Belgium, Britain, Netherlands, Scandinavia, and northern Germany. Gare de l'Est services eastern France, Luxembourg, northern Switzerland, southern Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Gare de Lyon services southeastern France, southern Switzerland, Italy, and Greece.Gare d'Austerlitz services the Loire Valley, southwestern France, Spain, and Portugal.Gare St. Lazare services Normandy. Gare de Montparnasse services Brittany and the TGV to southwestern France. Within Paris, the subway (Metropolitain, Metro, M) is efficient and quick. Lines are numbered but are referred to by their final destinations.Connections are called correspondances. Coupon Vert allows unlimited weekly travel.Carte Orange is an ID which accompanies the Coupon Vert. The Reseau ExpressRegional (RER) is a commuter train to the suburbs and an express subway in Paris. BUS : use same tickets as Metro which may be purchased from driver. NICE : AIR : Aeroport Nice-Cote d'Azur. Take Sunbus 23 "St. Laurent" from the train station. The airport bus runs from the bus station by pl Massena. RAIL : Gare SNCF Nice-Ville, avenue Thiers is in the center of town next to the tourist office. Trains run frequently to Cannes, Antibes, Monaco, and elsewhere in France, Italy, and Spain. In summer months, several trains connect with the TGV from Marseille to Paris. BUS : Gare Routiere, promenade du Paillon to Monaco, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, and Cannes. Sunbus to museums and youth hostels. Can buy 5 ticket booklets or weekly passes at agency or kiosk at sq. Leclerc. Bus 12 goes from train station to pl Massena and the beach. LYON : AIR : Aeroport Lyon-Satolas E of Lyon. Take bus from Perrache via Part-Dieu. RAIL : Part-Dieu and Perrache stations both have TGV trains to Paris. Perrache is more central. Part-Dieu is the business district on the east bankof the Rhone. The Metro operates with tickets good for 1hr in 1 direction withbus and trolley connections included. Can purchase 1 day unlimited travel at tourist and TAG offices, not in stations. Troleys operate from pl. St. Jean to St. Just and the top of Fourviere. BUS : Perrache train station to Annecy, Grenoble. Philbert handlesmany domestic routes. Eurolines runs throughout Europe. Iberbus goes to Spain. 6. Lodging HOTELS : Room and all meals (pension) are most often offered with a stay of 3 days or longer. Room, breakfast, and one meal (demi-pension) are often offered outside peak holiday periods. Hotels are generally not expensive but have strict standards. Hotels docharge extra for a third bed in a double room and will charge extra for extra occupants. Logis de France are small or medium sized inexpensive hotels with basic clean and comfortable accomodations. Hotels de Tourisme are graded into categories according to government quality regulations. CAMPING : 7000 campsites exist throughout France. Some have tents and/or caravans for rent. Prices vary but all graded campsitesprovide water, toilet, and washing facilities. YOUTH HOSTELS : Hundreds exist throughout France. Simple accomodation at very low prices. Stays are usually limited to certain agebrackets and to 3-4 nights a week. Most require membership in the National Youth Hostel Association. Some accomodations are privaterooms and others are bunk-beds in shared rooms. Some have curfews. Reservations are advised during peak-seasons. This is a great way to travel cheaply and meet interesting people. Further information may be obtained from national youth hostel organizations. PARIS : HOTELS : Hotels in Paris may be the most practical for most and maybe the most economical for large groups. Costs range, and cheaper rooms maynot come with private baths. You may pay extra for the key to the hall shower. Rooms disappera quickly after morning checkout, so reserve ahead. They usually require one night's deposit. HOTEL DE NEVERS : -53, rue de Malte, 11e, tel: 01 47 00 56 18 HENRI IV : -25 place Dauphine, 1e, tel: 01 43 54 44 53 HOTEL STE-MARIE: -6 rue de la Ville Neuve, tel: 01 42 33 21 61 YOUTH HOSTELS : Most Parisian hostels don't have many restrictionswhich may be found in other hostels. They do often have maximum stays. Theyusually include breakfast and showersin the price. Only 2 HI hostels exist in the city proper. The rest are private hostels or fosters. CENTRE INTERNATIONAL DE PARIS (BVJ) : -Paris Louvre- 20, rue J.-J. Rousseau, 1er., tel: 01 42 36 88 18 -Paris Quartier Latin- 44, rue des Bernardins, 5e., tel: 01 43 29 34 80 AUBERGE DE JEUNESSE JULES FERRY (HI) : -Jules Ferry- 8 bd Jules Ferry, 11e, tel: 01 43 57 55 60 AUBERGE INTERNATIONALE DES JEUNES : -10, rue Trousseau, tel: 01 47 00 62 00 LYON : HOTELS : A financial center, Lyon has little lodging during the week,but many openings on the weekends so plan ahead. First try the hotels near Perrache, then near Pl. des Terreaux if they are full. CENTRE INTERNATIONAL DE SEJOUR : -46 rue du Commandant Pegoud, tel: 04 78 01 23 45 RESIDENCE BENJAMIN DELESSERT : -145 av. Jean Jaures, tel: 04 78 61 41 41 HOTEL VAUBECOUR : -28 rue Vaubecour, tel: 04 78 37 44 91 YOUTH HOSTELS : AUBERGE DE JEUNESSE (HI) : -51, rue Roger Salengro, Venissieux, tel: 04 78 76 39 23 NICE : HOTELS : Summer accomodations require advance reservation.Most affordable and clean hotels surround Notre-Dame rue d'Angleterre,rue de la Suisse, and rue de Russie. HOTEL BACCARAT : -39 rue d'Angleterre, tel: 04 93 88 35 73 HOTEL LES ALIZES : -10 ru de Suisse, tel: 04 93 88 85 08 HOTEL DES FLANDERS : -6 rue de Belgique, tel: 04 93 88 78 94 YOUTH HOSTELS : Very often full, especially summer months.Camping in front of the train station is a dangerous idea, even in groups. AUBERGE DE JEUNESSE (HI) : -rte. Forestiere du Mont-Alban, tel: 04 93 89 23 64 RELAIS INTERNL DE LA JEUNESSE CLAIRVALLON : -26 av Scuderi, tel: 04 93 81 27 63 RESIDENCE LES COLLINETTES (HI) : -Summer only! 3 av Robert Schumann, tel: 04 93 86 58 48 7. Restaurants LUNCH / DINNER : a complete meal includes an aperitif (pre-dinner drink), an entree (an appetizer), a plat (main course),salad, cheese, dessert, fruits, coffee, and a digestif (after-dinner drink). Wine is typically taken with meals. Boisson comprise means that you are entitled to a free drink, often wine, with your meal. In restaurants, fixed-price 3-course meals (menus) begin at 60f. A 15% gratuity is most often included in the price (service compris). BREAKFAST : continental breakfast usually includes your choice of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate; and breads and pastries with jam. PARIS : Cafes : LA COUPOLE : -102 bd du Montparnasse, tel: 01 43 20 14 20 LA CLOSERIE DES LILAS : -171 bd du Montparnasse, 6e, tel: 01 43 26 70 50 LES DEUX MAGOTS : -6 pl St-Germain des Pres, 6e, tel:01 45 48 55 25 RESTAURANTS : AU TROU NORMAND : -9 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 11e, tel: 01 48 05 80 23 LES FOUS DE L'ISLE : -33 rue des Deux-Ponts, tel: 01 43 25 76 67 CHEZ LES FONDUES : -17 rue des Trois Freres, 18e, tel: 01 42 55 22 65 CREMERIE RESTAURANT POLIDOR : -41 rue Monsieur-le Prince, 6e, tel: 01 43 26 95 34 TY BRIEZ : -52 bd de Vaugirard, 15e, tel: 01 43 20 83 72 LYON : RESTAURANTS : LE SUD : -11 pl Antonin Porcet, tel: 04 72 77 80 00 CHEZ MOUNIER : -3 rue des Marrioniers, tel: 04 78 37 79 26 CHAERT ET FILS : -11 rue des Marroniers, tel: 04 78 37 01 94 LA MERE VITTET : -26, cours de Verdun, tel: 04 78 37 20 17 CHEZ CARLO : -22 rue du Palais Grillet, tel: 04 78 42 05 79 NICE : RESTAURANTS : O MICHELANGELO : -28 cours Saleya, tel: 04 93 80 05 27 NISSA SOCCA : -5 rue Ste-Reparte, tel: 04 93 80 18 35 LE FAUBOURG MONTMARTRE : -39 rue Pertinax, tel: 04 93 62 55 03 RESTAURANT DE PARIS : -28 rue d'Angleterre, tel: 04 93 88 99 88 8. Museums and Monuments PARIS : MUSEUMS : LES CATACOMBS : -1 pl Denfert-Rochereau, 15e-5-6 million Parisians buried in former limestone mines CENTRE NATIONAL D'ART ET DE CULTURE GEORGES-POMPIDOU : -Palais Beaubourg, 4e.-Musee National d'Art Moderne, 20th century art MUSEE DES EGOUTS DE PARIS : -Quai D'Orsay and pl de la Resistance, 7e. -Sewer Museum MUSEE DU LOUVRE : -Palais-Royal, 1e-Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samotrace,David, Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, MonaLisa MUSEE D'ORSAY : -1 rue de Bellechasse, 7e-1848-1914 Impressionism, etc. MUSEE PICASSO : -5 rue de Thorigny, 3e MONUMENTS : ILE DE LA CITE/ ILE ST-LOUIS : -Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris-Palais de Justice -Ste.-Chapelle LATIN QUARTER/ St-GERMAIN-des-Pres : -Pantheon-La Crypt-Le Jardin des Plantes-Boulevard et Place St-Michel-Jardin du Luxembourg FAUBOURG ST-GERMAIN : -Espanade des Invalides-Musee de l'Armee / Napoleon's tomb-Tour Eiffel LOUVRE/OPERA/MARAIS/BASTILLE : -Louvre-Jardin des Tuilleries-Place Vendome-Palais-Royal-Opera CHAMPS ELYSEES/ BOIS DE BOULOGNE/ LA DEFENSE : -Place de la Concorde-Obelisque de Louxor-Avenue des Champs-Elysees-Arc de Triomphe-Bois de Boulogne-La Defense MONTMARTRE / PERE-LACHAISE : -Basilique du Sacre-Coeur-Butte Montmartre-Cimetiere Pere-Lachaise, Jim Morrison's grave LYON : MUSEUMS : MUSEE GALLO-ROMAIN : -17 rue Cleberg-mosaics, helmets, swords, jewlery MUSEE DES BEAUX-ARTS : -Hotel de Ville-French, Spanish and Dutch painters-Italian Renaissance. MUSEE D'ART CONTEMPORAIN : -Quai Charles de Gaulle-Modern Art MONUMENTS :-Basilique Notre-Dame de la Fourviere-Vieux Lyon-Cathedrale St-Jean-Place Bellecour NICE : MUSEUMS : MUSEE DES BEAUX-ARTS : -33 av Baumettes-Fragonard, Monet, Sisley, Degas, sculptures MUSEE MATISSE : -164 av des Arenes de Cimiez MUSEE NATIONAL MARC CHAGALL : -av du Docteur Menard MUSEE D'ART MODERNE ET D'ART CONTEMPORAIN : -Av St-Jean Baptiste and Traverse Garibaldi MONUMENTS :-Promenade des Anglais-Jardin Albert 1er-Espace Massena-La Colle du Chateau-Cathedrale Orthodoxe Russe St-Nicolas-Monastere Cimiez 9. Nightlife PARIS : DANCE CLUBS : -Les Bains, 7 rue de Bourg l'Abbee, 3e, tel: 01 48 87 01 80-Le Balajo, 9 rue de Lappe, 11e, tel: 01 47 00 07 87-Le Palace, 8 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 9e, tel:01 42 46 10 87 BARS : -Le Bar Sans Nom, 49 rue de Lappe, 11e, tel: 01 48 05 59 36-Le Piano Vache, 8 rue Laplace, 5e, tel: 01 46 33 75 03-Cafe Charbon, 109 rue Oberkampf, 11e, tel: 01 43 57 55 13 LYON : DANCE CLUBS : Check out quai Romain Rolland,quai de Bondy, and quai Pierre Scize in the old city. BARS : -Albion, 12 rue Ste-Catherine-Le Verre a Soi, 25 rue des Capucins-Le Broadway, 9 rue Terraille NICE : DANCE CLUBS : -Chez Wayne, 15 rue de la Prefcture, tel: 04 93 13 46-Master Home, rue de la Prefecture, tel: 04 93 80 33 82-Le Studio, 29 rue Alphonse Karr, tel: 04 93 82 37 66-De Klomp, 6 rue Mascoinat, tel: 04 93 92 42 85-The Hole in the Wall, 3 rue de l'Abbaye, tel: 04 93 80 40 16 10. Currency The basic currency unit is the French franc (Ffr), which is issued in both coins and paper notes, and is subdivided in 100 centimes.Coins are in denominations of Ffr 10,5,2, and 1 + 50,20,10, and 5 centimes. Notes are in denominations of Ffr 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, and 10. Some first-class hotels exchange foreign currency. Also the Credit Mutuel, Credit Agricole exchange currency. Shops and hotelsare prohibited from accepting foreign currency. American Express, Visa, Diners Club, and Travellers checques are widely accepted. Also Visit These Travel Pages GO BACK TO HOMEPAGE

Central America Travel

Buy Central America Travel Guides (Musical Spanish Bookstore) home why music? about us reviews teacher's guide links/shop features our songs learning blog \ All Central America Belize Costa Rica Guatemala Honduras Panamá Lonely Planet - Central America on a Shoestring A Lonely Planet Guide, offering the best advice for the budget traveler. Exhaustive information regarding low-cost accommodations, eateries, maps of popular destinations and travel tips. What we like best about this book are the country and city backgrounds provided for each area, including their relevant historical and political contexts. Let's Go Central America A general guide to travel in Central America from the kings of budget travel at Harvard University, known for their European backpacking guides. Fodor's upClose Central America Fodor's upCLOSE series is designed for travelers who want to travel well and spend less. With candid reviews and a fresh outlook, Fodor's upCLOSE points the way to authentic experiences that will take travelers away from the crowds and close to the culture — without having to spend a fortune. Frommer's Adventurous Guide to Central America Adventure travel is the fastest-growing trend in the travel industry today, and these exciting new guides offer a new approach to each destination. Each guide contains lively, personal accounts of 25 real adventures, combined with practical advice from the experts so you can plan a trip of your own – no matter what your interest, skill level, or budget. Rough Guide to the Maya World The Rough Guide to the Maya World features evocative descriptions of all the sites, from the extraordinary pyramid temples of Chichen Itza and Tikal to remote, unexcavated ruins in Tabasco and northern Belize. You'll find incisive coverage of the scientific and architectural achievements of the Maya, their religion, and their descendants, as well as details on the modern Maya world--including towns, jungles, and palm-fringed beaches, and the best places to stay, eat and drink throughout the region. Includes sites and routes through southern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. With 57 maps and 8 pages of color photos. Explore Costa Rica American Library Association Booklist "..this extensive, up-to-date guide for Costa Rica is a welcome sight. Selected accommodations and restaurants span the scale from luxury to low budget, while the author's respectful, ecologically aware perspective contributes a progressive view of the sights and scenes encompassed in mountains and lowlands, rain forests, and beaches." The Rough Guide - Costa Rica Whether you're into challenging treks through dense jungle, horseback rides, birdwatching, botany, or beachcombing, the Rough Guide features evocative, practical advice. For background, the guide expertly discusses Costa Rica's history, from its hazy pre-Columbian past to the plantation era of the powerful United Fruit Company and the relatively prosperous and peaceful present the country enjoys today. Fodor's Costa Rica Color planning sections help you decide where to go with region-by-region virtual tours and cross-referencing to the main text. Full-size, foldout map keeps you on course. Insider info that's totally up to date. Every year our local experts give you the inside track, showing you all the things to see and do — from must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun. Lonely Planet - Costa Rica Whether you come to Costa Rica in search of great beaches (you can choose either the Caribbean or Pacific coasts), to climb an active volcano, or explore the coral reefs, Lonely Planet Costa Rica is the perfect companion. In addition to in-depth sections on history, politics, economy, the environment, and the arts, Lonely Planet also covers a host of activities, outfitters, and special tours. The guide lists a variety of accommodations from budget lodgings to luxury hotels and includes 54 maps of cities, towns, regions and parks as well as a 36-page wildlife guide. Lonely Planet - Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan A Lonely Planet guide to the famous Mayan Route, encompassing the Yucatn Peninsula of Mxico, parts of Belize, and all of Guatemala. Excellent historial context and maps of the archeological sites. Michelin Guide to Guatemala-Belize From the large selection of detailed addresses, you can choose to lodge in an ancient colonial convent or a house on stilts overlooking the ocean, find where to savor the best tapado, enjoy a marimba or punta concert, hunt out traditional weavings or go diving in the atolls. Guatemala: Adventures in Nature Guatemala is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world. This guide contains an extensive listings of lodgings, restaurants, and services offers all the information needed by experienced travelers and newcomers alike. 65 photos, 15 in color. 12 maps. The Rough Guide - Guatemala Our favorite all-around travel guide. This book provides extensive background information, travel advice, lists of accommodations and must-know information for various ruins and archeological sites. Includes details and tour itineraries for both budget and upscale travelers. Honduras & Bay Islands Guide : Be a Traveler-Not a Tourist! Little-known, even less explored, Honduras is a destination for in-the-know travellers seeking, deserted beaches, spectacular diving, rain-forest adventure, colonial cities, and remote tribes living independently of the modern world. Paul Glassman and J. P. Panet put you in the know as well, with all the practical details and insider tips that will make for an unforgettable trip, along with historical and cultural background to be treasured for reminisces and reference. Lonely Planet Panama from a reader... "This is the book that every traveller (except for a few who are always asking to borrow it) takes with them to Panama. It was very accurate and very helpful. The only problems we encountered were unlabelled streets (suggestion: try putting landmarks on maps where no street signs are posted) and the trip from David to Bocas del Toro (which was more of a happy surprise than a problem, as in reality it's cheaper and easier than in Lonely Planet)." \ \\\ links menu travel menu mexico

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Though we do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information on our site about our tours, sometimes oversights and typographical errors can occur. Please confirm all tour prices and details with us via email or phone prior to booking. We will not be held responsible for misunderstandings arising from such errors.