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Jackson Hole Wyoming Vacations: Lodging, Hotels, Ski Trips Yellowstone | Grand Teton | Glacier | Big Sky | Black Hills | Bozeman | Cody | Jackson | Red Lodge | West Yellowstone Jackson Hole Wyoming Vacations: Lodging, Hotels, Ski Trips home | subscribe | site map | contact info | request a link | WIN A TRIP! supporters Lodging Deals in JH Travel Package Deals : Jackson Hole Attractions : Jackson Hole Lodging : Reservations : Specials & Deals : Winter Packages : Winter Recreation : Travel Planning : Transportation : Airport & Airlines : Summer Recreation : Guides & Tours : RV / Camping : Entertainment : Restaurants : Group/Event Planning : Shopping : Local Services : Jackson Hole Real Estate : Relocation Services : Employment & Jobs : Wedding Planning : Skiing : Snowmobiling : Sled Dog Tours : Snowcoach Tours : Wildlife Tours : Sleigh Rides : Art & Culture : Grand Teton Park : Yellowstone Park : Area Info : Articles : Getting Here : Live Web Cams! : Local News : Nature & Wildlife : State of Wyoming : Travel Tips : Report Center : Weather : Events Calendar : Images & Videos : Area Maps : Local Columns : Email Subscriptions : Alpine, Wyoming : Driggs, Idaho : Dubois, Wyoming : Idaho Falls, Idaho : Island Park, Idaho : Lander, Wyoming : Pinedale, Wyoming : Star Valley, Wyoming : Swan Valley, Idaho : Teton Valley, Idaho : Teton Village, Wyoming : Wilson, Wyoming Welcome to Jackson Hole, Wyoming! Report Center: Weather , Road , Fishing , Snow Reports & more ! Coming to Jackson Hole? It's easy to get here! Jackson Hole Local News: Search goes on for snowmobiler Alcohol sting nets five citations Holidays get off to a soggy start Gov: Aid kids, not tram Forest seeks skier input on sheep click to subscribe Near Jackson Hole: Dubois WY , Island Park ID , Pinedale WY , Star Valley WY , Swan Valley ID , Teton Valley ID , Teton Village WY Homepage Spotlight Triangle X Winter Cabins Offering spectacular views of the Tetons. Secluded cabins, wildlife access, ski trails, snowshoeing BW Lodge at Jackson Hole Exceptionally priced packages for lodging, ski/snowmobile combos - see our options. WiFi access too! Snowmobile Yellowstone Single- and Multi-day tours of Jackson Hole, Continental Divide, and Yellowstone area. Book early! Flat Creek Ranch "One of the greatest wilderness sanctuaries I've ever seen" author of Gene Kilgore's Ranch Vacations Goosewing Guest Ranch One of Wyoming's finest! 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Jackson Hole Lodging Ask the Locals! Complimentary Vacation Planning, Lodging and VIP Benefits when you book today! Flat Creek Inn Packages! Summer Lodging & Activities. Breathtaking views of the National Elk Refuge & Sleeping Indian Mtn. Spirit and Power of Place Personal care from Jackson's independent Realtor. Unique properties for your unique situations. A World Class Mountain Destination. Southern Gateway to both Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the "Crown Jewel" of the Rocky Mountains in the Western United States. Featuring Wyoming travel / tourism attractions such as Grand Teton National Park , Yellowstone National Park and the National Elk Refuge. Browse our complete selection of Jackson Hole Wyoming lodging , including: luxury spa resorts , family dude ranch vacations , vacation rentals & homes , log cabins, hotels , motels and lodge accomodations . Jacksonhole offers many Winter activities and Summer activities. From Wyoming fly fishing trips and whitewater rafting on the Snake River to skiing at one of 4 Jackson Hole Ski Resort options. Book airline flights directly into Jackson Hole airport . Research our many available travel packages , from ski vacation packages to honeymoon vacation packages and destination weddings . Jackson Hole Wy has it all! See our Jackson Hole real estate and Wyoming jobs pages for relocation assistance. From ski reports and fishing reports to the latest Wyoming weather and road report , we provide access to the information you need! Call us for Specials! 800.618.6898 Build a Vacation Vacation Packages Condo, Hotel or Luxury options near Town Square JH Snowmobile Tours Yellowstone Tours, Backcountry & Hot Springs trips Discount Ski Package Super 8 Motel - start at $99, room & lift ticket The Wyoming Inn Elegant rooms, fireplaces, jacuzzis, ski packages Best Winter Deals! Stay 4 nights, get one free. Home/Condo rentals! The Wort Hotel Luxury Packages in Jackson's Historic Landmark Snowmobile Tours National Park Adventures: Yellowstone Jan. special Luxury Special Elegant rooms for romantic getaway or ski vacation Teton Wagon Train 4 days/3 nights: Living the Pioneer Experience Big Sky Winter Fun BigSkyChamber.com Luton's Teton Cabins 1 & 2 bedroom log cabins with Teton views. Unique Holiday Gifts Ornaments, Huckleberry Candy, Wood Bears, Posters The Buckrail Lodge Beautiful, unique, quiet, spacious cedar log rooms The Sundance Inn $59-$99 all Winter Long w/ Jacuzzi & Breakfast Discover The West Buffalo Bill Historical Center - Cody, Wyoming JH Visitor Guides JH Skier, JH Dining, & Mountain Country magazines. The best local help Quick quote finder or talk direct to their agents Sled Dog Tours A must do winter experience: Hot Springs Tour Snowmobiling Coupon Discount for December & January Yellowstone tours Holiday Excitement! A Christmas Special is showing at JH Playhouse! 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Travel Insurance Small Business

Insurancewide : motor insurance, home & contents insurance, life insurance, travel insurance Find Insurance For Please select Cars & Bikes Your Home Your Holiday Your Business Life & Health Women Young People Students Your Wedding Your Pet Tell Me More About Motor Insurance Household Insurance Travel Insurance Small Business Insurance Lifestyle Insurance Insurance for Women Insurance for Students Insurance for Young People Go To Insurancewide Home page Information & Tools Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Technical Support Welcome to insurance wide .com Access to a wide range of top quality insurance products at competitive prices Quick and easy to use quotation systems requiring minimal input Simple online purchase facilities offering total security and peace of mind Dedicated help lines with experts standing by and first class claims handling. Motor Insurance Products Motor Insurance Get a Quote Comprehensive and third party cover from a specially selected panel of insurers, all providing the same level of protection, allowing you to get the best value going. Use our unique MotorWizard(TM) to find the best insurer for you. Motorcycle Insurance Get a Quote Simple, fast and cheap cover for your motorbike. More Motor Insurance Products Household Insurance Products Household Insurance Get a Quote Buildings and contents insurance from a range of top quality insurers selected for their excellent value and wide coverage. Use our unique HomeWizard(TM) to find the best insurer for you. Higher Value Homes Get a Quote Buildings and contents insurance for higher value homes and for contents exceeding £50,000 in value. More Household Insurance Products Travel Insurance Products Travel Insurance Get a Quote Policies specially designed to suit all types of travel and offering great value for money. Long Stay Get a Quote Travel insurance for those who will be away for an extended period. More Travel Insurance Products Lifestyle Insurance Products Life Insurance Get a Quote Compare and buy level term assurance, mortgage protection and critical illness plans from leading insurers. Mortgage Payment Protection Get a Quote Protect your monthly mortgage payment if you lose your job due to unemployment or you are unable to work due to a disability, accident or sickness. You will also be entitled to receive FREE COVER benefits at the start of your policy. Income Payment Protection Get a Quote Protect your income if you lose your job due to unemployment or you are unable to work due to a disability, accident or sickness. More Lifestyle Insurance Products Business Insurance Products Business Liability Get a Quote Employer's, Public and Product Liability insurance for almost any type of business. If you employ staff it is a legal requirement to hold employer's liability insurance. Home Business Insurance Get a Quote Covers office contents, computers, business interruption, employers liability, public liability, money and portable equipment. Computer Insurance Get a Quote Cover for your computer and business equipment, including laptop computers. More Business Insurance Products IMPORTANT NOTICE: This is a service whereby Insurancewide.com Services Ltd, an intermediary, introduces you to insurance which you can buy direct from authorised insurance providers and other authorised intermediaries ("Insurers") in various ways including on the Insurers' websites and by phone. Insurancewide does not advise on or recommend or sell, and is not responsible for or in connection with, any insurance products or services. These are subject amongst other things to the Insurers' separate terms and conditions which you should read. Your use of Insurancewide's service / website, and Insurancewide's use of your data, are subject to Insurancewide's terms and conditions and privacy policy . Insurancewide.com Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. ©2000-2005 Insurancewide.com Services Limited. All rights reserved. Site version 2.53.001db1.137

Air Travel Tips Medical

ASPCA: Pet Care: Pet Care Tips: Air Travel Tips " name=login width=10 Forgot password? As a member of the ASPCA online community, you can send eCards, get our newsletter, lobby for humane laws, shop for ASPCA gear and enroll in our Rewards program. SIGN UP advocacy alerts Federal: Fight Puppy Mills! Urge Your Representative to Support the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS)! Federal: Urge your Representative to End Animal Fighting! Support H.R. 817! aspca shop SALE! Check out our new shirts and more at the ASPCA Store! Donate | Adopt | Lobby | Shop | Programs | Cruelty | Pet Care | Hurricane Relief | Media | About Us | About You Pet Care Dog Care Cat Care Horse Care Small Pet Information Pet Care Tips Keep Your Pet's Home Poison Safe ASPCA Pet Nutrition Companion Lines Pet Care Topics Air Travel Tips Medical Tips Emergency Pet Preparedness Bioterror FAQ Free Pet Rescue Sticker Air Travel Tips Car Travel Tips Hot Weather Tips Cold Weather Tips Halloween Safety Tips ASPCA Announces Implementation of Safe Air Transport Law For Pets Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Air Transportation Incident Reports Download our reports of incidents involving the loss, injury or death of an animal during air transportation. Available by month or by airline. - May - June - July - August - September - October - Alaska Airlines - American - Comair - Continental - Delta - Frontier - Hawaiian - Horizon - Midwest - Northwest - United - US Airways Traveling with Your Pet Tips for how to go "on the road" with your pet. high bandwidth low bandwidth high bandwidth low bandwidth TOP TEN TIPS FOR SAFE AIR TRAVEL WITH YOUR PET Traveling can be highly stressful, both for you and the four-legged members of your family. But with thoughtful preparation, you can ensure a safe and comfortable trip for everyone. The ASPCA urges pet owners to think twice about flying their pets on commercial airlines, especially if they plan on checking them in as cargo. The Air Transport Association has reported that in the past, approximately 5,000 pets—or 1 percent of the companion animals are flown on commercial planes—have been injured, lost or killed during transport. "Unless your animal is small enough to fit under your seat and you can bring him or her in the cabin, the ASPCA recommends pet owners to not fly their animal," says Lisa Weisberg, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy. If pet owners have already committed to transporting their pets on commercial airlines, the ASPCA is offering the following top ten tips for safe air travel with your pet: 1. Make an appointment with your pet's veterinarian for a check-up, and make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date. Obtain a health certificate from your veterinarian dated within 10 days of departure. 2. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and an identification tag. Breakaway collars are best for cats. The collar should also include destination information in case your pet escapes. 3. Book a direct flight whenever possible. This will decrease the chances that your pet is left on the tarmac during extreme weather conditions or mishandled by baggage personnel. 4. Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate that is large enough for your pet to stand, sit and turn around in comfortably. Shipping crates can be purchased from many pet supply stores and airlines. 5. Write the words "Live Animal" in letters at least one inch tall on top of and at least one side of the crate. Use arrows to prominently indicate the upright position of the crate. On the top of the crate, write the name, address and telephone number of your pet's destination point, and whether you will be accompanying him or if someone else is picking him up. Make sure that the door is securely closed, but not locked, so that airline personnel can open it in case of an emergency. Line the crate bottom with some type of bedding—shredded paper or towels— to absorb accidents. 6. Affix a current photograph of your pet to the top of the crate for identification purposes. Should your pet escape from the carrier, this could be a lifesaver. You should also carry a photograph of your pet. 7. The night before you leave, make sure you’ve frozen a small dish or tray of water for your pet. This way, it can’t spill during loading, and will melt by the time he’s thirsty. Tape a small pouch, preferably cloth, of dried food outside the crate. Airline personnel will be able to feed your pet in case he gets hungry on long-distance flights or a layover. 8. Tranquilizing your pet is generally not recommended, as it could hamper his breathing. Check with your veterinarian first. 9. Tell every airline employee you encounter, on the ground and in the air, that you are traveling with a pet in the cargo hold. This way, they’ll be ready if any additional considerations or attention is needed. 10. If the plane is delayed, or if you have any concerns about the welfare of your pet, insist that airline personnel check the animal whenever feasible. In certain situations, removing the animal from the cargo hold and deplaneing may be warranted. | Powered By Convio Print | Tell A Friend | Contact | Site Map | Legal Info | Jobs | 2005 The ASPCA

Switzerland Travel Guide @

switzerland travel vacations Switzerland Tourism Home World Tourism AfghanistanTourism - Albania Tourism - AlgeriaTourism - Andorra Tourism - AngolaTourism - Antigua and Barbuda Tourism - ArgentinaTourism - Armenia Tourism - AustraliaTourism - Austria Tourism - AzerbaijanTourism - Bahamas Tourism - BahrainTourism - Bangladesh Tourism - BarbadosTourism - Belarus Tourism - BelgiumTourism - Belize Tourism - BhutanTourism - Bolivia Tourism - Bosniaand Herzegovina Tourism - BotswanaTourism - Brazil Tourism - BritishVirgin Islands Tourism - BulgariaTourism - Cambodia Tourism - Canada Tourism - CaymanIslands Tourism - Chad Tourism - ChileTourism - China Tourism - ColombiaTourism - Comoros Tourism - CroatiaTourism - Cuba Tourism - CyprusTourism - Czech Republic Tourism - DominicaTourism - Dominican Republic Tourism - DenmarkTourism - Ecuador Tourism - EgyptTourism - El Salvador Tourism - EstoniaTourism - Ethiopia Tourism - FijiTourism - Finland Tourism - FranceTourism - Georgia Tourism - GermanyTourism - Ghana Tourism - GreeceTourism - Grenada Tourism - GuyanaTourism - Haiti Tourism - HondurasTourism - Hungary Tourism - IcelandTourism - India Tourism - IndonesiaTourism - Iraq Tourism - IranTourism - Ireland Tourism - IsraelTourism - Italy Tourism - IvoryCoast Tourism - JamaicaTourism - Japan Tourism - Jordan Tourism - KazakstanTourism - Kuwait Tourism - KyrgyzstanTourism - Laos Tourism - LatviaTourism - Lebanon Tourism - LibyaTourism - Lithuania Tourism - LuxembourgTourism - Madagascar Tourism - MaldivesTourism - Mauritania Tourism - MauritiusTourism - Mexico Tourism - MoldovaTourism - Mongolia Tourism - NepalTourism - Netherlands Tourism - NewZealand Tourism - Nicaragua Tourism - NigeriaTourism - North Korea Tourism - NorwayTourism - Oman Tourism - PakistanTourism - Panama Tourism - PapuaNew Guinea Tourism - Paraguay Tourism - PeruTourism - Philippines Tourism - PolandTourism - Portugal Tourism - QatarTourism - Romania Tourism - RussiaTourism - Saudi Arabia Tourism - SerbiaTourism - Seychelles Tourism - SingaporeTourism - Slovakia Tourism - SloveniaTourism - Somalia Tourism - SouthAfrica Tourism - South KoreaTourism - Spain Tourism - Sri Lanka Tourism - St.Kitts and Nevis Tourism - St. LuciaTourism - Sudan Tourism - Sweden Tourism - SwitzerlandTourism - Syria Tourism - TajikistanTourism - Thailand Tourism - Trinidadand Tobago Tourism - Turkey Tourism - TurkmenistanTourism - Turks and Caicos IslandsTourism - Uganda Tourism - United Arab Emirates Tourism - UnitedKingdom Tourism - United StatesTourism - Uruguay Tourism - Uzbekistan Tourism - VenezuelaTourism - Vietnam Tourism Due to the nature of the topic and the wide range of information available, in order to cover only a tiny bit of it properly, some of the websites included here may have a commercial element in addition to the excellent information they provide. Such inclusion does not constitute an endorsement of product or service by archaeolink.com. Sites are included for information value only. The number of sites available online for this topic is enormous. This site can not and does not index all travel resources for a country. These "tourism" pages are basically designed as a supplement to the Switzerland Social Studies links rather than for the avid business or pleasure traveler. For those of you for whom this "supplementary" material is not enough, the following does provide some idea of what is available online and will hopefully be a good starting point for a more serious search. IgoUgo: Switzerland Tourism, Things To Do In Switzerland __ You will find a series of journals written by real travelers giving their impressions and recommendations. - illustrated - From igougo.com - http://www.igougo.com/planning/journalRegion.asp?LocationID=298 Switzerland __ "Switzerland conjures up a fair swag of clichs: irresistible chocolates, kitsch clocks, yodelling Heidis, humourless bankers, international bureaucracies and an orderly, anally-retentive and rather bland national persona. But Harry Lime was wrong on more than one account when, in The Third Man , he said 500 years of Swiss democracy and peace had produced nothing more than the cuckoo clock. For a start, the Germans invented this monstrous timepiece; secondly, the Swiss, who are a brainy lot, have won more Nobel Prizes and registered more patents per capita than any other nation on earth. Muesli, DDT and life insurance may not be the stuff of legend, but where would the rest of us swashbucklers be without a bit of Swiss nous behind us?" History, culture, statistics and more. - illustrated - From Lonely Planet - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/switzerland/ Switzerland Tourism __ Learn all you need to have a great vacation in Switzerland. You will find information about sights to see and things to do along with accommodations, events, weather, shopping and a lot more. - illustrated - From myswitzerland.com - http://www.myswitzerland.com/ Switzerland tourism - Switzerland vacation reviews __ Wide ranging general interest page about Switzerland tourism including hotel recommendations, sights to see and things to do. - illustrated - From tripadvisor.com - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g188045-Switzerland-Vacations.html Switzerland Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org __ "...Switzerland is also called La Suisse in French; Schweiz in German; and Svizzera in Italian. Find out more about Switzerland." - From TravelNotes.org - http://www.travelnotes.org/Europe/switzerland.htm Web archaeolink.com Top of Page

Russia Travel Guide, climate:

Russia Travel Guide - Information and Advice Russia Travel Guide Information and Advice 'A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' Churchill St Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide Russia Map | Russia Pictures Russia Travel Guide, climate: Best: May, June, Sept, Oct. July/August can be wet . Worst: Nov-March [winter is long, dark and extremely cold with short days, but the snow scenes will be stunning. Early Spring is muddy, slushy and falling icicles kill! ] Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights: Moscow or St Petersburg are excellent for a wild and wooly underwear weekend. Recommended: 2 weeks to take in Moscow, St Petersburg and some of the surrounding towns - such as the Golden Ring - and countryside. The Trans-Siberian Railway to Irkutsk [Lake Baikal] will require at least 5 days. Main Russia Festivals Guide : 25 Dec- 5 Jan, Russian Winter is celebrated with traditional activities such as music, dance, sleigh rides, folk shows. New Year's Eve tends to be a family/friends occasion, so not wildly exciting. late Feb-early March, Goodbye Russian Winter, as above. Easter Sunday, Moscow, procession and service in stunning Kolomenskoe [Orthodox] church. April/May, Moscow Music Spring Festival , classical music. May 9, Victory Day Parade, Moscow. A stirring military procession. June, the White Nights arts festival is St Petersburg's liveliest event. April/May, St Petersburg Music Spring Festival , classical music. For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Colourful Festivals or European Festivals Activities Guide: The country is spacious - to say the least - and outdoor activities are popular but facilities and safety measures can be primitive so get specialist advice before undertaking anything halfway dangerous. Hiking: There is no shortage of excellent trekking terrain, just a shortage of marked trails or maps, so extracting information from locals regularly is essential, and as a consequence a few words of the language are vital. Either that or get a good guide. Lake Baikal [see Russia travel favourites, right], the Elbrus area of the Caucasus, west Ural Mountains and Altay Mountains are prime targets. Check the travel safety situation . White Water rafting: The Katun River in the Altay Republic, Vladisvostok and Kamchatka. Climbing: The Elbrus area of the Caucasus are superb but get specialist advice before arriving in Russia, safety aspects included . Cycling: roads are often in bad shape, cars and drivers even worse shape, but bike travel can still be rewarding, with care, a tough bike and essential spares. Local hospitality is tremendous. Canoeing: rivers can be heavily polluted so inland water travel is difficult to recommend, though the Volga River delta is supposed to be alive and delightful, while the coasts up north offer prospects of isolated adventure. Boat cruises: either on posh tourist boats or cheap, dilapidated Russian craft. The main highway is the Volga River and boats go to/from Moscow, Novgorod, Volgograd and many other attractive cities. Volgograd to Rostov-Don is supposed to be the most interesting section. June-September only. Fishing: mostly salmon out east e.g. from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Skiing: Cross country skiing is traditionally more popular than down-hill skiing; snowboarding is becoming increasingly popular and heli-skiing is available and remarkably good value. There are more than a hundred ski areas, many of which need modernisation, though some resorts in the Caucasus Mountains offer good facilities and comfortable accommodation. For instance, Cheget in the Baksan Valley offers challenging runs, including the longest of 2.5 km; or Mount Elbus - Europe's highest peak at 5,642m [1,8513 ft] - hosts one of Russia's largest resorts, Prielbrusye. There are at least 20 ski slopes within 50 miles of Moscow and some can even be reached by metro! Ice Skating: Possibly the country's most popular pastime with frozen lakes and outdoor rinks all over during the long winter and even indoor rinks open in the summer. Inexpensive and very cheerful. Banya bathing: this Russian style sauna is a good way to experience authentic Russian social life, particularly if you are a graduate of an old British public school where extreme heat, cold and beatings were a way of life. There are banyas everywhere, ranging from appallingly dilapidated to highly polished. The Trans-Siberian Railway This week long, non-stop 10,000km [6,000mls] or so ride travels from Moscow to either: - Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific coast. - via Mongolia to Beijing. - via Manchuria and Harbin to Beijing. This is reputedly one of the world's great train journeys but does not necessarily deliver a comfortable or fascinating experience for everyone. Downside: - there are no showers, except for a few lucky 1st class travelers. - conditions will be cramped. - dining car food will be abysmal. - the scenery is mainly dull, tending towards endless forests and grassy plains, interspersed with the occasional log cabin, log village or vast lake. The train stops for 10 minutes a few times a day, leaving no time to explore, just time to aquire emergency supplies from the platform. - As a consequence, life on the train is paramount, and this depends on various factors coming together. Is your car attendant cordial? Are your fellow passengers interesting? Does anyone snore? Do you mind living off fairly basic food for six days? Can you happily stare out of a dirty window looking at birch trees for hours on end? Is TV an integral part of your life? Do you have a good selection of books with you? Do you like vodka? And so on... Upside: - you can arrange to take a stop over at key points en route, for example attractive Irkutsk [see Russia travel favourites, right] and nearby huge, mountain-hemmed Lake Baikal. Siberian timber buildings are often charming, colourfully decorated and carved. - due to the fame of the train and the number of serious travellers on it there will almost always be someone interesting you can find to chat to for days , though a good companion and a monster picnic hamper [loaded with - you've guessed - vodka] would be a useful starting point. - if you are actually going east/west for a purpose - such as for work in Japan or China - you will be saving the air fare. Train Survival hints: - don't drink the tap water. A samovar [hot water pot] in each carriage supplies sterile water. - clean your window to improve views and photos. - stand well clear when flushing the toilet , it can backfire if the train travels at speed. - learn a few key Russian phrases to charm your surly attendants. - take lots of vodka with you . You can buy some snacks, fruit, cigarettes etc during 15 minute stops at stations, but no alcohol, and you will be doing a lot of socialising! Russia Travel Star Guide: Monuments **** Shopping and souvenirs *** Walkability *** Food Quality and Variety *** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value *** Beaches black sea Wildlife * Landscape *** Local People **** Architecture **** Safety ** Nightlife and Clubbing ***** Health Problems ** Museums ***** Why Travel to Russia? This vast and diverse country, occupying the top chunk of a continent all the way from Poland to Japan - and a big chunk of world history too - demands travel attention. The architecture is both glorious and hideous, the history is monstrous, the art is sensational and the people can be touchingly friendly . Absurd Fabergé eggs? Extraordinary onion domes? Caviar crepe? Yes, please. A hard day's White Night in St Petersburg? Slamming vodka with your taxi driver? Da! Big , brutal, beautiful and intriguing, Russia is an enigma that's got to be sampled by any serious traveller. Downside: - Accommodation is hardly cheap if comfort is an issue, though plenty of budget options are available. - Hygiene can be a problem. - Officials are often unpleasantly boorish . - Crime and corruption in the cities requires an ever-open eye . - Despite the size of the country, internal flights are unreliable and Russian airlines have the world's worst safety record. Some Russia tra vel favourites: 1] ***Moscow, a diverse and interesting city with masses of history, action and must-see spectacles, though not on the same planet as St Petersburg for elegance. See Moscow Travel Guide . 2] ***St Petersburg , one of the world's most beautiful cities, with many splendid buildings and museums, including the spectacular Hermitage, with a sophisticated service industry. See St Petersburg Travel Guide . 3] ***Novgorod, 190 km [118mls] south of St Petersburg , an important political and artistic centre from the 9th century and still holds a wide and varied collection of magnificent structures including Russia's oldest cathedral, frescoes galore, and plenty of glorious oddities. 4]***The Golden Ring,a few hours travel northeast of Moscow, are a collection of attractive historic towns dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. These can be visited on day trips, but better, hire a car or join a boat with a guide and take your time to enjoy: ***Suzdal , the most important town in the Golden Ring, Suzdal used be a political and religious centre and has more than fifty quaint and well-preserved old structures. About 210km [131 mls] from Moscow. It is a major tourist attraction, yet still retains an enchanting, pre-Soviet atmosphere. **Vladimir is famed for its Golden Gate and two splendid cathedrals. About 180km [112 mls] from Moscow. **Rostov. This quiet, rustic town offers the usual churches but also a lovely lake and spectacular kremlin. **Yaroslavl is much bigger than other towns in the Ring but totally crammed with gorgeous churches, if you haven't seen enough. 250kms [156mls] from Moscow. 5] **Irkutsk , the 'Paris of Siberia', is a long way from anywhere except Mongolia, but is on the Trans-Siberian train route [see more info left] and well worth a stop-off. The city is mostly charming, with considerable Chinese influence and some magnificent architecture, including typically elaborate Siberian 'gingerbread' houses. Another of Irkutsk's attractions is the proximity to lovely, 636km [398mls] long Lake Baikal where hiking, biking, horse trekking, fishing and boating are big time. The north end is the most beautiful and isolated. Listvyanka village is a popular place to stay for tourists. 6] ***Cruising the Volga River via some superb old towns like Kazan [ancient Tatar city], Shiryaeva and Ulyanovsk [Lenin's birthplace]. See Boat cruises, left. 7]**Black Sea, Sochi. This is a Russian beach resort town with a warm climate and sophisticated health spas [sanatoria], with beaches and tennis courts, scenically situated at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. 8] ** Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains is a pretty, pleasant city except perhaps for Tsar Nick II and his family who met their end here and the USA's U2 spy pilot who was shot down in the area. The place offers excellent architecture, museums, entertainment and access to the Urals for varied activities. Cuisine Guide: You can eat well and inexpensively nowadays, especially in cafés and fast food places in the cities. Do choose places that look clean and are busy , poor hygiene could result in intestinal blowout. Moscow and St Petersburg in particular have seen an astronomical growth in cafés, bars and restaurants, including classic Chinese, Japanese and Italian offerings, western fast food chains and traditional Russian cuisine . Russian food tends to be rich and on the heavy side in winter , such as meaty dumplings, meaty cabbage rolls, cabbage soup with sour cream, and the national icons - borscht [beetroot soup], blinis [pancakes] and caviar, while lighter foods like superb soups and salads are around in the summer . Avoid eating shellfish except in St Petersburg and street ice cream anywhere. Drinks: We all know the varied pleasures of vodka, particularly drunk chilled and in one gulp, but Russia also does a fine line in local beers with lively flavours, good champagne, not such good wine , passable tea and effective coffee. Russians love to press drinks on foreigners so prepare your excuses now. Or practice chugging. Accommodation guide: You are supposed to have a place booked in order to get a tourist visa . There's a wide range of accommodation from luxury hotels at silly prices to cheapish hostels at around $20 pn, but it's important to book well ahead for the June-September season. Private home stays are widespread , giving the tourist relatively good value rooms and a close look at real Russian life. The downside is that the place may be out of the way, the bed lumpy and the morning-after breakfast provider in-your-face during your recovery time. Camping is fine in many places though - as usual - check with locals before bedding down. Organised camping sites are rare and usually open mid-June to mid-September. Russia Tours Tour operators offering travel to Russia can be found in our listings here: Russia Tours For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Map of Europe Travel Safety: Travel to Chechenya and the north Caucasus is not recommended; check the Foreign Office site or tour operators for up-to-date warnings. Otherwise stay on the regular tourist routes. Don't flash your cash! Pickpocketing and bag filching may occur on crowded public transport while hotel rooms are by no means thief-proof. Lock everything into your bags before leaving the room and use a safe deposit if there is one. Take care with taxis. Don't get in if there is anyone other than the driver inside, and don't necessarily trust the driver. See Safety page. Travel Health: Do not drink Russian tap water , not even for cleaning your teeth. Check you are up to date with all jabs, and consider including vaccinations for diptheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B. A flu jab is also useful if you plan to travel to Russia in spring or autumn when the bugs are rampant. Foreigners usually prefer to be treated at private clinics, which are very costly. Get Insurance! Costs: Russia can be good value if you don't mind slightly crude accommodation and eat/drink at local establishments rather than typical tourist places. Change money for roubles only at official exchanges or banks. Cash is easier to change than travellers cheques. Tipping: About 10% to taxi drivers and 10-15% to waiters in restaurants. Electricity : Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Internet: There are masses of reasonably priced web cafés in bigger cities. Local travel: The big cities have good metro and bus services at low prices . Locals enjoy life as illegal taxi drivers for extra cash. Beware though, some are pure evil, others wonderful, hospitable guides. Hitch-hiking is common for Russians but not advisable for tourists . Intercity travel: Trains connecting Moscow to St Petersburg are common, efficient and inexpensive . The Aurora day train takes 6 hours, the evening train 4 hours. Passenger boats are common between cities - tho' slow - including Moscow to St Pete. For exploring the countryside around big cities consider car hire, with or without a driver/guide. It's not expensive and very convenient. International travel: Moscow and St Petersburg are both easy to reach from many European cities by fast, efficient trains and buses ; other Russia cities are more difficult to access directly. Language: Some locals speak English, French, or German but ability to recognise the Cyrillic alphabet and a few words of Russian would really help your experience along. Visas: All visitors need a visa which needs a hotel/hostel booking . 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