Spain Travel

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Contest > Word Trips Contest > Subscribe > See All > forums spain Barcelona Stunning, still evolving architectural... more Granada The Alhambra, a glorious complex of Moorish... more Madrid Now head-to-head with Barcelona in hip... more Intro Map Fact Sheet Photos Why Go? Balearic nights-chill on Formentera or party on Ibiza Weigh in on the Barcelona vs. Madrid debate-but only after you've thoroughly researched both Seville-city of sun and late night religious processions (and flamenco) All spain Guides Toledo Granada Madrid Barcelona Valencia Seville Balearic Islands Barcelona Madrid Toledo Valencia Balearic Islands Seville Granada Deals Experience Italian hospitality with MSC Cruises Andalusian Style, Resort Exclusivity in Marbella Book your 2006 cruise now and get 2-for-1 fares, free airfare, and more Resort Exclusivity in Marbella, Spain Cultural Discovery, Unique Style in Madrid More Related Articles October 2004 Europe on Adrenaline Beyond—way beyond—the piazzas, the... 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September 2005 Around the World in 50 Films They don't call them motion pictures for nothing:... August 2005 Ombudsman: Turbulent Transaction A couple find themselves out $8,000 when an... August 2005 Trip Tech: Snap Happy Organizing and sharing digital photos has never... March 2005 Word of Mouth: Hostel Takeovers As Spain pushes its number of government-owned... From our Forums Share opinions, advice, and travel tales about Spain Information may have changed since date of publication. Please confirm details with individual establishments before planning your trip. Subscribe Now And Save 78%! 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travel insurance policies and

UK Travel and Holiday Insurance in an Instant UK instant online travel and holiday insurance cover All required policy cover details and emergency telephone numbers will be on the insurance documents you receive online and via email. Read about our various travel insurance policies and find the right one for you and your family Find a complete index to our travel insurance products by clicking on the bold text above. With the information on these pages, you can make better use of our comparison and booking software, and obtain the right cover . . . at the right price. We believe travel insurance should be affordable, solid, and effective. So, these pages offer the cheapest good quality insurance in the UK. Please feel free to click on the link above and read for yourself. If you are already comfortable with the process of taking travel insurance, then simply click on one of the quotation buttons in the blue panels at the top of this page. Contacting your Emergency Services Provider? Please Note : If you bought one of our policies prior to 1st January 2004 then your emergency contact details are as follows. For emergency contact details for policies purchased after this date then click here 24 HOURS MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE OPERATED BY MEDI-CALL LIMITED We try to make any claims procedures as easy as possible, but by reading a few of the rules below you can make any possible holiday claim you may need to make a lot easier. IMPORTANT - please quote Essential Travel and Scheme Number shown on the first page of your Certificate and Your Certificate Schedule Number. Medi-Call Limited provides immediate help in the event of Your illness or injury arising outside the UK (United Kingdom) - they provide 24 hour multi-lingual emergency service 365 days a year and can be contacted by telephone, telex or fax. UK Insurance Emergency Telephone Numbers Should a serious medical problem arise You must contact Medi-Call Limited immediately. (+44) 1273 321976 Fax: UK (+44) 1273 731261 Responsibility You are responsible in advising Your attending doctor to seek prior approval for any treatment except in extreme circumstances where a request for prior approval would delay surgery in a life threatening situation or medical crisis. Failure to contact Medi-Call Ltd may limit the benefits payable, or in certain circumstances, insurance cover will not be provided. When You call upon the services of Medi-Call Ltd it is a condition of the service that First Assist shall solely be responsible for all decisions on the most suitable and reasonable solution to any medical problem. The service includes, where necessary: 1. Multi-lingual assistance with hospitals and doctors 2. Repatriation arrangements and necessary escorts by a medical attendant 3. Travel arrangements for other members of Your party or next-of-kin 4. On arrival in the United Kingdom, an ambulance service to hospital or home. Please note: We are not responsible for the availability, quality or results of any medical treatment received by You. Ho To Make a Travel Insurance Claim from policies bought BEFORE 1st January 2004 All claims other than Medical Emergency Assistance must be made direct to: CLAIMS SETTLEMENT AGENCIES 308-314 LONDON ROAD HADLEIGH ESSEX SS7 2DD Telephone 01702 553443 Fax 01702 553231 They will send You a travel insurance claim form which You will need to complete and return to them with Your Certificate Schedule and any other documents requested. All Claims must be submitted within 31 days. Claims Agency For all claims we use Claims Settlement Agencies Limited who have been settling claims since 1990 and is our preferred Loss Adjusters and also handles certain insurance claims for other insurers such as AXA. They are experienced in handling and maintaining large corporate accounts in particular Air Miles. They currently have 25 staff who are processing approximately 25,000 claims per year . Emergency contact details for policies bought after 1st January 2004 Emergency Medical Assistance. It is important that in the event that you need to contact the medical emergency you must quote Optimum and your policy number ET/AON (followed by your number) Travelsolve Assistance provides immediate help in the event of an insured persons illness or injury arising outside the United Kingdom, they provide 24 hour multi-lingual emergency service 365 days a year and can be contacted by telephone or fax. Emergency Numbers are : UK: +44 (0) 1733 457593 FAX: +44 (0) 1733 502293 When an insured person calls upon the services of Travelsolve Assistance it is condition of service that Travelsolve Assistance shall be responsible for all decisions on the most suitable and reasonable solution to any medical problem. The service includes, where necessary: 1. Multi-lingual assistance with hospitals and doctors. 2. Repatriation arrangements by escort by a medical attendant. 3. Travel arrangements for other members of your party or immediate relative. 4. On arrival in the United Kingdom, an ambulance service to hospital or home. NOTE: FAILURE TO CONTACT THE ASSISTANCE COMPANY MAY RESULT IN A CLAIM BEING INVALID. Making A Claim on policies bought ON or AFTER 1st January 2004 If you need to make a claim please obtain a claim form by telephoning or writing to our claims handlers. Please note that for your claim to be considered you must register this within 28 days of returning from you trip. When contacting the claims company please insure that you quote Optimum and your policy number that will start ET/AON (followed by your policy number) At Instant Holiday Insurance we use Claims International Limited ( CIL ) who are the market leaders and are the leading specialist in there field. They have a large portfolio which includes travel and medical related claims handling, policy administration services and fulfillment services, financial protection and credit card enhancement and other related claims handling products. From 1992, CIL has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lindsey Morden Group of companies and as such forms part of a global network of claims handling companies, including Cunningham Lindsey, the UK's largest loss Adjuster. CIL has managed and administered over 140,000 claims per annum and has strong working relationships with major Insurers and Intermediaries as well as Lloyds Underwriters and other insurance based clients. In the event if having to make a claim on your travel insurance policy please use the contact details below: Claims International Ltd 14th Floor Leon House 201-204 High Street Croydon CR9 1ER TEL: 0208 680 5142 FAX: 0208 760 0298 info@cilint.com Once you have contact the relevant department, please return your claims form, with your original policy documents, and please insure you have photocopies or any paper work that is requested from the claims company. Tips for Travellers Abroad. Always take out Travel Insurance well in advance of travelling. The travel insurance policy will cover you for any medical expenses that you incur should you be involved in an accident or become ill and require hospitalisation . Sometimes medical costs can be astronomic and without sufficient insurance cover you could end up in serious trouble. Apart from medical expenses the policy should also cover things like; legal expenses,cancellation & curtailment, loss of money, baggage, passport, etc. and personal liability. Make sure you are covered for any activity that you intend to undertake so that you and your equipment are covered while participating, e.g. skiing, scuba diving etc. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport (and visas, if required). Also, before you go, make sure you fill in the emergency contact information page of your passport! Read the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit. Familiarise yourself with any local laws and customs of the countries to which you are travelling and avoid violating them whilst on holiday, deal only with authorised agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques. Remember, while you are in a foreign country on holiday, you are subject to its laws. Make two copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency. Never leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers. If you plan to stay abroad for more than two months, upon arrival you should notify by phone or register in person with the British Embassy in the country you are travelling to. This will facilitate communication in case someone contacts the embassy looking for you. To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewellery and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards. Finally, if you do get into trouble, contact the nearest British Embassy. Travel Insurance Policies for UK Residents in Brief With instant online quote and immediate certificate & policy cover. Travel insurance in an instance without any hassle and with totally safe online transaction from start to finish. Covering backpackers and student cover as well as wintersport for ski and snowboarders and more as well as multi & single trip policies, annual and seasonal cover for resort workers who maybe in a ski resort or holiday complex for a matter of months and need adequate cover but do not want to pay the normal travel and holiday insurance rates. Online Travel Insurance Booking Procuedures Explained in Brief You will be presented with an instant online holiday insurance quote for your selected insurance package which could be for Europe or Worldwide or ski wintersport cover for example and for your selected dates of travel. You can then either select that policy or choose an annual policy which is also returned, this is usually slightly more but obviously it covers you for a full year and not just a single trip. You then enter your details with your credit card details being last of all. You can print off your travel insurance policy and cover details online immediately. You will receive your insurance certificate also via email and regular post. site map | ski-insurance | travel sites | uk-travel-links | worldwide-travel-links | home UK Airport Hotels | Uk Airport Lounges | Short Breaks other insurance sites which also offer great rates uk income protection insurance | uk mortgage insurance | uk home insurance | uk online finance

Argentina Travel

Argentina Travel Pictures | Argentina Travel Photos Argentina Travel resources, links and information for Argentina. Click on the thumbnails to read stories and see travel pictures. Book your hotel Book a hotel in Argentina Book a hostel Book Youth hostels in Argentina Fly your way! Book your flight to Argentina online - saving 40% or more! Other countries: Belize Bolivia Brazil Chile Costa Rica Cuba Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Netherlands Antilles Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Surinam Trinidad & Tobago Uruguay Venezuela The second largest country in South America, Argentina is also the most European. Buenos Aires is definitely the cultural capital of the country. Otherwise, Argentina has a lot to offer for nature lovers. Stories and pictures: Buenos Aires Perito Moreno Glacier Puente del Inca Puerto Madryn La Boca Useful travel links: Book your hotel in Argentina La Hora online news (Spanish) Weather Lonely Planet Tourist Organization Internet access Buenos Aires Herald (English) Learn Spanish in Buenos Aires Current time in Argentina Accommodation in Buenos Aires Bariloche - Patagonia Argentina Learn Spanish abroad Travelogues for Argentina Currency exchange Many more links on Argentina ! Suggest a site Go directly to: Africa Asia Europe North America Oceania South America Join our mailinglist: If you want to be updated about developments at Around the World in 80 Clicks, subscribe! Your E-mail address: Travel Forum Join others in discussions on South America Also on this site: read and sign the guestbook send us your suggestions ! send this site to a friend read about the background of this site publications on this site meet new friends for travel, dating or just fun! Around the World in 80 Clicks All rights reserved - www.traveladventures.org - 1999-2005 Share your comments

Asia Travel

PHILIPPINES TRAVEL INFORMATION Philippines Country Information The Land || History || The People || First-time Traveler Tips || Visas || Customs || Currency || Weather Clothing || Utilities || Newspapers & Media || Business Hours || Language || Getting Around Modes of Transport || Weather Conditions || Things to Know || Sightseeing || Museums and Art Further Information The Land The Philippines is an archipelagic nation made up of 7,107 islands spanning 1,840 kilometers north to south. It is part of the East Indies, a vast island group lying south and east of mainland Asia, with Taiwan at its northernmost coast and Borneo on the south. The three main Philippine island groups are Luzon , the Visayas and Mindanao . Luzon is the island of contrasts. The most modern districts in the Philippines , including the capital city of Manila , are in Luzon , but so are some of the oldest tribal communities in the nation like the Ifugao of the Cordilleras. Luzon is also where a visitor can see the latest model luxury cars overtaking a carabao sled or modern skyscrapers within driving distance of primordial volcanos. The Visayas is famous for its charm, a trait shared by many other southern regions in the world, but here seems to run deeper among a people who are intrinsically connected to their sun soaked island home. The Visayas is also famous as a seat of history, being one of the earliest landfalls of western voyagers. It has also gained a reputation as being a cradle of the nation's future, if the unprecedented economic growth of Cebu City continues. Mindanao is our offering to the Guinness Book of Records with the world's largest clam, the world's largest Eagle, the nation's highest peak and the world's largest city. Mindanao is also home to the Philippines' Muslim population. With a land mass of 300, 780 square kilometers, the Philippines is considered a medium-sized nation, about two- thirds the size of its first colonizer, Spain, and a little larger than the British Isles. Manila is only one hour and 40 minutes from Hong Kong by jet; Sydney only 7 1/2 hours away. Flights to Europe take 17 hours and to the American west coast 15 hours. The Philippines has many things to offer the visitor: a mixture of the old and the new, a diversity of art and culture and a warm, friendly people. Blessed by nature, the Philippines has something to offer every sportsman too . . . extraordinary dive sites, forests to roam, mountains to climb, caves to explore. Top History Situated on the crossroads of Asia, on the eastern rim of the China Sea, the Philippines has hosted voyagers, migrants and traders since the dawn of history. That it was the center of lively Asian trade route that stretched all the way to China and Japan can be seen from the relics these early visitors left behind. Among our archaeological treasures is a Neolithic spirit boat typical of early Southeast Asian culture. The West discovered the Philippines when Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who sailed for Spain, landed in Cebu in 1521. However, colonization didn't actually begin until 1565, when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established a Spanish base in the town of Manila. Because Philippine society was loosely organized, without a central government, the Spanish conquest was rapid and total. Only the Muslims in the south and some inaccessible hill tribes were able to resist Spanish influence. Along with the Spanish conquerors came a new religion, Christianity, a new language, new laws and the galleon trade. Despite several uprisings against Spain, including the Katipunan, a revolutionary movement inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal and led by Andres Bonifacio, it was the United States of America that broke the Spaniard's grip on the Philippines. Unfortunately, that began the nation's second period of colonization. Once again there was resistance, this time led by Emilio Aguinaldo; but his rag-tag army was no match for Admiral Dewey's forces. In 1901, with Aguinaldo's capture, the Americans were entrenched. The Americans brought over their educational system, their legal system and planted the seeds of their own style of government. In 1935, the Philippines became an American commonwealth country with Manuel Luis Quezon as president. The status quo ended with the Japanese Occupation; and it wasn't until 1946, after the end of the Pacific war, that the Philippines finally regained true independence as the Republic of the Philippines under the presidency of Manuel Roxas. Still one of the strongest democracies in Asia, the current president is Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Top The People Halo-halo is a Filipino word that means mixture. While it describes a popular dessert, it could also describe the Filipinos. They look like Asians, write and speak English like Americans, worship like Spaniards, and have an outlook that is international. Like the Southern Chinese, the Thai, Malay, Indonesian and Burmese, the modern-day Filipino traces his remotest genetic lines back to an Australoid and Mongoloid stock. You will also find a touch of Caucasian, Chinese, Indian and Arabic in their gene pool as well. But to truly understand the Filipino, you have to look at the land. The historic isolation between islands and the topographic isolation on each island, become the primary influence governing regional traits and societal behavior. This diversity makes Filipinos all the more interesting. However, what is apparent isn't how different they are from each other, but rather how alike they are. Brought together by a common history, and looking forward to a common future, it is not surprising to find a sharing of certain traits. Their warmth, graciousness and hospitalityall part of the Filipino psychewill make your stay a delight. Top Tips for First-time Philippine Travelers Generally speaking, it is important to travel light. Bring only what's necessary. Avoid the extra baggage. You don't want to pay exorbitant fees for your luggage service. As in any foreign place, be careful with pickpockets. Some might act as a helpful stanger, but they're out to get something from you! It's good to be cautious at all times. Whenever going outdoors, being in a group is recommended. If you're bringing kids with you, make sure to bring all the things they would need, like medicine, bottles of potable water (although many bottled water is available, it is always recommended to bring one), and one of your kids' favorite toys for their own receration. Top Visas If you are coming from America, Asia or Europe with a valid passport, and either a return ticket or a ticket to another destination outside the Philippines you may enter without a formal visa and stay for 21 days. If you wish to stay longer you must obtain a Visa Extension either before your trip from a Philippine Consulate or Embassy. Or, once here, you may obtain it from the Bureau of Immigration. Customs Upon Arriving: Visitors are allowed to bring in duty free personal belongings, two cartons of cigarettes or two tins of pipe tobacco and up to one liter of alcohol. Balikbayans have separate rules and should check with the Embassy or Consulate in their home city. You may bring in unlimited amount of foreign currency. Upon Leaving: Any antiques you may have acquired during your stay must be accompanied by a certificate from the National Museum. You may also not take more than PhP5,000.00 (five thousand Philippine pesos) out of the country. Currency The currency in the Philippines is the Peso (PhP) and the Centavo. 100 centavos = P1. Coin denominations are: 1, 5, 10, and 25 centavos, P1, and P5. Bill denominations are : 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1, 000 pesos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at your hotel, and in most of the large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops. Exchanging money anywhere else is illegal and the laws are strictly enforced. Most large stores, restaurants , hotels and resorts accept major credit cards including American Express , Visas and MasterCard. Traveller' s checks preferably American Express are accepted at hotels and large department stores. Personal checks drawn on foreign banks are generally not accepted. Top Weather The Philippines is tropical with just two seasons--hot and dry from November to June, and rainy from July to October. Filipinos will tell you that it is cool from December through February and they themselves will wear jackets. Clothing People in the Philippines dress for the weather (HOT!) Casual attire during the day for women are light blouses and shorts. For men collared T- shirts worn over slacks. In the evening skirts are substituted for shorts and the T-shirts are tucked in. For Men Only: If you expect to have to attend any occasion which would usually require a jacket and a tie (which is torture in this weather) there is a wonderful substitute. Go immediately to a department store and buy a barong tagalog. It is an embroidered shirt that is considered a formal dress. It will cost more or less PhP1,000.00, but it is worth every centavo. Utilities Electricity is 220 volts a/c. Many of the major tourist hotels also have 110 volt a/c outlets. Water supply in Metro Manila and in all the other major cities are considered potable. Bottled purified water, spring water or mineral water is often supplied by hotels and resorts, and sold in all grocery stores. Telephone service is modern and you can direct dial anywhere in the world. Public phones are plentiful. Public phones require a minimum of two one-peso coins for a local call. Some Important Telephone Numbers: (24-Hour Hotline) Police & Fire: 757 or 116 Emergency No.: 501- 650 or 501- 728 Directory Assistance: 114 National Operator: 109 International Operator: 108 For other emergency numbers, please refer to Directory . NOTE: It is advisable to always have the telephone number and the address of your embassy or consulate with you. Top Newspapers & Other Media The newspapers in the Philippines have been called the freest in the world, as you will see for yourself, with more than 24 different morning papers to choose from, most of them in English. There is also a wide selection of magazines printed in English including Time, Newsweek and Asiaweek. In Metro Manila you can buy the Asian Wall Street Journal, The International Herald Tribune and USA Today. Television is "on the air" from early morning to midnight, showing American programming as well as local programming. The standard channels are 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, and 23. If you need more channels, most of the major hotels are with Cable TV bringing in TV programs from all over the world. There is also AM and FM radio broadcasting with the pop stations primarily on AM in Filipino and the English language programs on FM. Top Business Hours Most businesses are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays and 8:00 AM till noon Saturdays. Banks are open from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM Mondays through Fridays. When banking in the Philippines, it is advisable to have your passport with you for identification. The post offices are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays only. Stamps for postcards are frequently available from the Concierge Desk at most major hotels. The Philippines uses ZIP codes, please include them in addressing local mail. NOTE: The Standard lunch hour is noon to 1:00 PM. Most businesses and government offices are closed. Language While there are over 100 regional languages in the Philippines, the national language is Filipino, with English as the most widely spoken second language. All business, governmental and legal transactions are conducted in English. Top Getting Around There are four modes of public transport in Metro Manila and surprisingly, they are easy to use. Buses : Both air-conditioned and regular buses travel most of the major routes in Metro Manila. On an air-con bus a short ride costs PhP 9.00, adding a few peso for every succeeding kilometer. The regular bus' minimum fare is PhP 4.00. Just tell the conductor where you are going and he will tell you how much it costs. Keep your bus receipt as it is your proof of payment. Jeepneys : Called "folk arton wheels," jeepneys ply most of Manila's secondary roads and even a few major thoroughfares. They're as much fun to ride on as they are to look at and you have to try one. Although there are regular stops, you can often just flag one down and hop on. Call out "bayad" (bah-yhad) and pay the driver. If you are too far back, pass your PhP 4.00 (minimum fare for the first 4 kilometers; 1 peso additional for every succeeding 500 meters) down. When you are ready to get off, call out "para" (pah-rah); wait till he slows down and jump. The LRT : It's a fast, cheap way to go to downtown Manila. A token can take you between Monumento (the northern end of Edsa) and Baclaran, travelling first along Rizal Avenue and then Taft Avenue. Many of the tourist maps have the route of the LRT marked. The MRT : After it's somewhat unsuccessful opening, the MRT is now enjoying a fair share of passengers plying EDSA. This is definitely the fastest mode of transport, this side of the metropolis. The MRT runs from the North Avenue Station in Quezon City up to Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City. Passengers would enjoy the traffic-less route, clean stations and coach, with a good view of Metro Manila's landscape. The only problem is that some stations have very high stairways. Although a number of elevators is operational, not all stations have one. Travel time is approximately 20 minutes end to end. Taxis : Air-conditioned taxis cost PhP25.00 on the meter and an additional PhP 2.00 is added for every succeeding 200 meters to the final cost. Non-airconditioned taxis do not ply anymore. Taxis are always lined up at the major hotels and tourist restaurants and can be hailed on the street. If you take a taxi, make sure the driver turns on the meter. If he gives you a story that it is broken, get out and take another taxi. Unless you are taking a long trip or the traffic is unusually horrible, most taxi rides should be well under P100. At least a 10% tip is expected. Top Other Modes of Transport Most of the major car rental agencies, including AVIS, Budget, and Hertz have offices in Metro Manila and carry a full line of vehicles from jeeps to limousines. All vehicles may be rented with or without a driver. If you wish to do your own driving you must have a valid foreign or international license. Inter-island transportation is provided by either airplane or ferry boat. Philippine Airlines services most of the major provincial airports. Cebu Pacific, Asian Spirit, SeaAir, Air Philippines, and Pacific Airways are smaller carriers servicing more remote tourist destinations. For information about boat schedules, check with the Department of Tourism on T.M. Kalaw Street, Manila (63-2-5267652, 5267653, 5267655). Top WEATHER CONDITIONS & GEOGRAPHY Climate: Tropical (two seasons) Dry Season: March -May (warm) 33-34 C Wet Season: June- October (monsoonal) November -February (coolest) 29-31C Coastline: 334,539 km. Terrain: Many of the islands in the Philippines are extinct volcanoes and atolls. On the larger islands, many mountains, rainforests, rich valleys and swamp regions. The Philippines still does have thermal activity consisting of active volcanoes and hot springs. Top THINGS TO KNOW Language: Filipino (based on Tagalog dialect) is the National Language. The American occupation was responsible for teaching the English Language. The Philippines is currently the third largest English speaking country in the world. Currency: Peso(PhP). Notes are issued in denominations of , PhP 10, PhP 20, PhP 50, PhP 100, PhP 500, and PhP 1000. Coins are issued for 5c, 10c, 25c, PhP 1, PhP 5. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized exchanged dealers. Outside of Manila payments are preferably made in pesos. Major Travellers Cheques are widely accepted. Major Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club) can be used to pay for most goods and services. Bank Hours: Banks are open 9am-3pm Mon-Fri (except public holidays). Shop Hours: Most shops operate 10am-7.30pm daily (except public holidays). Time : Local time is GMT plus 8 hours. Business English is the language used. Sexual equality is more widespread in the Philippines than in other Asian countries. Make sure you have business cards. Top SIGHTSEEING Casa Manila: A replica mid 19th Century house, recreating the Intramuros lifestyle of upper class Filipinos at this time. Corner Real and General Lunar Streets, Intramuros, Manila. Luzon Chocolate Hills : Bohols most famous attraction: the area is named thus, because of the rich grass which covers them turns brown in summer. Carmen Town, Bohol. Visayas* Colon Street: The oldest street in the Philippines located in the heart of Cebu. Cebu. Visayas* Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery: The only underground cemetery in the Philippines; it served as a meeting place for the revolutionary leaders in Laguna. Laguna, Luzon Island Magellans Cross: The most historically-famous landmark in Cebu. Planted by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, it marks the place where the first Christian Filipinos were baptized. Cebu. Visayas* Top PARKS & WILDLIFE Katibawasan Falls: These 250-foot falls cascade down to a pool surrounded by orchids and other rich tropical flora- 4 km from Mambajao. Camiguin. Mindinao* Maquinit Hot Springs : Located on a scenic beach corner, this is the premium hot spring in the Philippines. Palawan. Luzon* Hidden Valley: A natural recluse is created within this 90-meter crater . A haven for lush jungle life, natural springs and still water pools. Accommodation available. Alaminos, Laguna. Luzon, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife: Quezon Avenue. Quezon City. Luzon. Rizal Memorial Park: Within the lush park there are monuments, a skating rink and adventure playground. Free concerts every Sunday. Ermita, Manila. Luzon. Top MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES Museums & art galleries Ateneo Art Gallery Quezon City Tel: (02) 998 721 Metropolitan Museum of Manila Tel: (02) 832 3645 National Museum Manila Tel: (02) 494 450 Villa Escudero San Pablo City, Quezon City Tel: (02) 521 8698 Top VISAS AND PASSPORTS Visa and Passport No Visas are required for foreigners entering the country for a stay no longer than 21 days provided that you have valid passports and tickets to leave the Philippines. Visas are required only for stateless persons and citizens of countries with which the Philippines have no diplomatic relations. A temporary visitor's visa is required for those who are planning to stay up to 59 days. Vaccination certificates may be neccesary for long term stays. Holders of Hongkong and Taiwan passports need special permits. All visas and permits may be obtained from Philippine embassies and consulates. Duty Free Items: Two 1-litre bottles of alchohol, and two cartons of cigarettes are allowed. Air Travel to the Country : Ninoy Aquino International Airport (7 km from city centre) Ninoy Aquino Avenue Manila, Philippines: Mactan International Airport Cebu, Philippines: (Most major airlines have flights to the country). Top FURTHER INFORMATION Department of Tourism: T.M. Kalaw Street Rizal Park Metro Manila P.O. Box 3451 Tel: (02)523-8411 Fax: (02) 521 7374 Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporatiom: 4th Floor, Suites 10-17 Legasi Towers 300 Roxas Boulevard Metro Manila Tel: (02) 525-93-18-27 Fax: (02) 521-61-65/ 525-33-14 Top

Orlando Vacation Package with

Courtyard Orlando International Drive/Convention Center: Vacation packages and specials in Orlando Home International Sites Help Contact Us Site Map Find & Reserve Specials & Packages Destinations Events & Meetings Marriott Rewards Courtyard Orlando International Drive/Convention Center Home View All Photos Guest Rooms in Detail Hotel Specials & Packages About This Hotel Area Information Maps & Transportation Plan Events & Meetings Use Marriott Rewards Points Printable Hotel Fact Sheet SeaWorld ®  Orlando Vacation Package with Marriott ®  Hotels Take advantage of SeaWorld Orlando vacation packages offered, now through January 3, 2007. Package includes deluxe accommodations for two nights, "Length of Stay" tickets to SeaWorld offering unlimited access throughout your stay, SeaWorld Guest Value Booklet with special park offers, "Ride Again" passes on SeaWorld's most popular rides, upgrade to preferred parking at regular SeaWorld parking rate, and a Shamu plush toy for each child. SeaWorld® Guest Value Booklet includes: 1.  Free upgrade to Preferred Parking 2.  Ride Again Voucher for Kraken 3.  Ride Again Voucher for Journey to Atlantis 4.  Ride Again Voucher for Wild Arctic 5.  Buy One Get One Free Sky Tower Ride 6.  Save $10 on admission to Makahiki Luau 7.  Free Dessert at Sharks Underwater Grill (with entrée purchase) 8.  50% off Child’s dinner at Dine with Shamu (with purchase of an      adult dinner) 9.  $1 off admission Animal Rescue Tour 10.  $10 off Sharks Deep Dive Reservations Click on a "Check Availability" link below to make your reservation on Marriott.com, or call 1-800-834-7015 and ask for promotional code THM. Rates from$311 Terms and Conditions Valid through 1/3/07.  Available seven days a week.  Rates are per stay for 2 adults, 2-night minimum stay and based on availability.  Free shuttle transportation to SeaWorld available at select hotels.  Rates vary by property and season.  Tax is additional.  Offer does not apply to groups of 10 or more rooms.  Cannot be combined with any other promotions.  Blackout dates may apply.  Add additional nights to your stay and "Length of Stay" tickets will be adjusted accordingly.  Advance reservations required.  Other restrictions may apply. Check Rates & Availability Check-in date Dec, 2005 Jan, 2006 Feb, 2006 Mar, 2006 Apr, 2006 May, 2006 Jun, 2006 Jul, 2006 Aug, 2006 Sep, 2006 Oct, 2006 Nov, 2006 Dec, 2006 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Check-out date Dec, 2005 Jan, 2006 Feb, 2006 Mar, 2006 Apr, 2006 May, 2006 Jun, 2006 Jul, 2006 Aug, 2006 Sep, 2006 Oct, 2006 Nov, 2006 Dec, 2006 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 No. of rooms Guests / room 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Need more rooms? Optional Information Marriott Rewards number Corporate/promotional code THM More options Join Marriott Rewards Not a Marriott Rewards member? Become one today. Joining is fast, easy and free. Join Now Courtyard Orlando International Drive/Convention Center 8600 Austrian Court Orlando,Florida32819USA Phone: 1-407-351-2244 Fax: 1-407-351-3306 Sales: 1-407-351-2845 International Sites Travel Agents Corporate Information Careers Help Contact Us Site Map © 1996 - 2005 Marriott International, Inc. All rights reserved. Marriott proprietary information. Terms of Use Internet Privacy Statement