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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
Vacation Rentals Villas, Condos,
Vacation Rental of Villas and Apartments. Holiday in France,Spain,Florida,Italy Etc. Late Deals, Special Offers. Reference Password Members 1 st Class Vacation Rentals Villas, Condos, Cabins and Apartments for Rental 37,850,517 visitors since opening on 24 May 1999 WANTED - Click here to ADD your own request. OWNERS - Add Your Property. Click here to add us to your favorites. Find your property from one of the regional lists below, or using the map, or one of the special lists such as golf, or browse the image gallery, or use the search list above to narrow your search by property type beds etc. or use our keyword search for special needs such as surfing, water skiing etc. Classified Adverts If you can't find what you want then add your details to our wanted list. This will get mailed to interested property owners on other sites as well as this one. Rental Properties Search for a Property Image Gallery of properties by Country Special late deals. Selected Rental Listings Example Listing using all the site features Latest Rentals Added Information Privacy Statement Terms and Conditions Miscellaneous "Flights from the UK." Tell a friend who might be interested. Click here for Home Exchanges . Select from the map for properties in that area If you know the number of the property you want to look at enter it and click on the button. Enter the property number here. Listings of properties by area. Europe(1215) Austria(2) Belgium(1) Bulgaria(21) Croatia(28) Cyprus(23) Denmark(2) Estonia(1) Finland(2) France(130) Aquitaine(16) Auvergne Limousin(1) Brittany(8) Corsica(1) Languedoc Roussillon(14) Loire Valley(4) Midi Pyrenees(8) Normandy(9) Paris-Ile de France(12) Poitou-Charentes(3) Provence-Cote d`Azur(53) Western Loire(1) Greece(86) Iceland(1) Ireland(6) Israel(7) Italy(286) Abruzzo(1) Calabria(2) Campania(17) Emilia Romagna(5) Friuli Venezia Giulia(1) Lazio(37) Liguria(14) Lombardy(15) Marche(2) Puglia(7) Sardinia(34) Sicily(56) Tuscany(57) Umbria(26) Val d`Aosta(1) Veneto (Venetia)(10) Malta(6) Netherlands(13) Norway(3) Poland(18) Portugal(49) Romania(2) Russian Federation(3) Spain(373) Andalucia(117) Asturias(1) Balearics(25) Basque Country(1) Canaries(32) Catalunya(39) Galicia(3) Madrid and Central Spain(3) Murcia(36) Valencia(116) Sweden(5) Switzerland(5) Turkey(104) United Kingdom(38) London(9) Midlands(2) North(4) Northern Ireland(3) Scotland(5) South West(7) SouthEast(8) Canada(41) Alberta(4) British Columbia(10) Northwest Territories(1) Nova Scotia(2) Ontario(5) Quebec(19) United States(334) Alabama(2) Arizona(3) California(39) Colorado(5) Connecticut(1) Florida(202) Central Florida(119) East Coast(29) Florida Keys(6) Gulf Coast(41) Panhandle(7) Georgia(2) Hawaii(15) Idaho(1) Indiana(1) Louisiana(1) Maryland(2) Massachusetts(5) Michigan(2) Minnesota(1) Montana(2) Nevada(1) New Jersey(2) New York(9) North Carolina(2) Oregon(2) Pennsylvania(3) South Carolina(12) Tennessee(3) Texas(2) Utah(2) Vermont(6) Washington(6) Africa(43) Egypt(9) Kenya(3) Mauritius(9) Morocco(3) South Africa(16) Tanzania and Zanzibar(1) Tunisia(2) Asia(50) China(4) India(10) Indonesia(4) Philippines(1) Saudi Arabia(1) Sri Lanka(5) Thailand(20) United Arab Emirates(5) Australasia(34) Fiji(3) New South Wales,ACT(8) New Zealand(8) Queensland(7) Victoria(2) Western Australia(6) Caribbean and Atlantic Islands(68) Anguilla(1) Antigua and Barbuda(7) Aruba(2) Bahamas(7) Barbados(9) Cayman Islands(2) Cuba(3) Dominican Republic(12) Jamaica(6) Puerto Rico (US)(2) Saint Lucia(1) St Maarten and St Martin(1) St.Kitts Nevis Anguilla(3) St.Vincent and Grenadines(1) Trinidad and Tobago(4) Virgin Islands(7) Central America(30) Belize(1) Costa Rica(5) Honduras(2) Mexico(22) South America(26) Argentina(4) Brazil(14) Peru(4) Venezuela(4) General Very competitive on price. From 42 dollars/ 32 Euros/ 24 pounds for rentals with extended terms for new adverts. Up to eight photographs of each property for exchange or rental. Your own page customised with keywords to your property location. Map links to help show features and facilities in your area. (Best for US/Europe/Canada properties). You can add links to your own home page (if you have one) and other sites which might be useful. Option of adding wide panoramic images for greater detail and views. A full availability calendar which you can link to from other sites. A special offers and last minute deals page. Worth the subscription for that alone. And if you decide to do holiday exchanges with your property. Multiple adverts get from 20% to 50% discounts. Email notification of new rental requests which meet your requirements. Registered Address: 45 Montpelier Road, Brighton, UK, BN1 3BA. Home Page , Add Property , Search , Admin Links Vacation rentals. TipTopVillas offers villa rentals throughout the world, direct from theowner.
Golf Vacation. Great Travel
Las Vegas Golf Packages - Vacation Packages by TravelGolfVegas.com Las Vegas Golf Packages TravelGolf Vegas has a variety of golf packages to fit any budget. Each package includes choice of hotel and golf course . Just click on one of the links below for details on each package. Travel Golf Vegas Golf & Hotel Package Specials Imperial Palace Special Golf & Hotel Package Dates: September 26, 2005 - January 22, 2006 Price Range: $399 - $499 Enjoy 3 rounds of golf at Las Vegas National Golf Club , Painted Desert Golf Club , Aliante Golf Club Three Nights/Three Rounds Midweek Weekends Imperial Palace Hotel Casino $399.00 $499.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **New Years- 12/30/04-01/03/05** Packages are based on availability and subject to change. Prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Midweek hotel is Sunday through Thursday, golf is Monday through Thursday. Weekend hotel is Friday and Saturday, Golf is Friday through Sunday. Extra nights and rounds of golf can be added to any of the above packages for an additional charge. Prices may change for groups of 16 or more. To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Lake Las Vegas 2 Bedroom Villa Dates: November 28, 2005 - January 9, 2006 Price Range: $699 Enjoy 4 Nights /4 Rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club (2 Rounds) The Fall's Golf Club (2 Rounds) PLUS a Lake Las Vegas 2 Bedroom Villa at $699.00 per person , quad occupancy. Limited Package Availability! (****Must Have 4 Golfers****) To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Vacation SILVER Package Dates: October 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006 Price Range: $1299 - $1599 Day Golf Courses 1 Angel Park Mountain Golf Club 2 Rhodes Ranch Golf Club 3 Badland's Golf Club 4 Angel Park Palm Golf Club 5 Painted Desert Golf Club 6 Las Vegas National Golf Club 7 Legacy Golf Club 4 Bedroom 3 Bath 3200 SF Vacation Home Sleeps 8 $1299.00 per golfer double occupancy ( Based on 8 Golfers) $1599.00 per golfer single occupancy ( Based on 4 Golfers) Limited Package Availability! To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Vacation GOLD Package Dates: October 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006 Price Range: $1699 - $1999 Day Golf Courses 1 Revere @ Anthem Lexington Golf Club 2 The Fall's @ Lake Las Vegas Resort 3 Rio Secco Golf Club 4 Reflection Bay Golf Club 5 Dragon Ridge CC 6 Las Vegas Paiute- Wolf 7 Bear's Best Golf Club 4 Bedroom 3 Bath 3200 SF Vacation Home Sleeps 8 $1699.00 per golfer double occupancy (Based on 8 Golfers) $ 1999.00 per golfer single occupancy ( Based on 4 Golfers) Limited Package Availability! To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Paiute Resort Dates: January 2, 2006 - June 4, 2006 Price Range: $599 - $849 Enjoy 3 rounds of golf at the Las Vegas Paiute Sun, Las Vegas Paiute Snow, Las Vegas Paiute Wolf starting from $599 . Three Nights/Three Rounds Weekday Weekend Imperial Palace Hotel Casino $599.00 $699.00 Flamingo Hotel Casino $649.00 $749.00 Mirage Hotel Casino $699.00 $849.00 Vacation Home (Based on 8 Golfers) $699.00 $799.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Best Desert Golf Dates: January 2, 2006 - June 4, 2006 Price Range: $749 - $1049 Enjoy 3 rounds of golf at the Bear's Best Golf Club, Dragon Ridge CC, Rio Secco Golf Club starting from $749 . Three Nights/Three Rounds Weekday Weekend Imperial Palace Hotel Casino $749.00 $899.00 Flamingo Hotel Casino $799.00 $999.00 Mirage Hotel Casino $849.00 $1049.00 Vacation Home (Based on 8 Golfers) $899.00 $999.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Hyatt Lake Las Vegas Resort Dates: January 9, 2006 - August 31, 2006 Price Range: $649 - $1549 Enjoy 4 rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club, Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club starting from $649 . Dates Four Nights/Four Rounds Weekday Weekend 01/09/06-01/29/06 Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort $1149.00 $1249.00 01/30/06-05/28/06 Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort $1449.00 $1549.00 06/01/06-08/31/06 Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort $649.00 $749.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . The Villas at Lake Las Vegas Resort Dates: January 9, 2006 - August 31, 2006 Price Range: $699 - $1399 Enjoy 4 rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club, Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club starting from $699 . Dates Four Nights/Four Rounds Weekday Weekend 01/09/06-05/28/06 2 Bedroom Villa-(Based on 4 Golfers) $1299.00 $1399.00 06/01/06-08/31/06 2 Bedroom Villa-(Based on 4 Golfers) $699.00 $799.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . * Packages are based on availability and subject to change. Prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Midweek hotel is Sunday through Thursday, golf is Monday through Thursday. Weekend hotel is Friday and Saturday, Golf is Friday through Sunday. Extra nights and rounds of golf can be added to any of the above packages for an additional charge. Prices may change for groups of 16 or more. Click here to book Las Vegas golf packages now! • Course Guide • Course Reviews • Resort Reviews • Las Vegas Golf Map Get your FREE Las Vegas golf guide! Links Directory Golf Courses | Accommodations | Golf Packages - Specials | Incentive Travel Event Management | Home | Contact Us | Las Vegas Vacations | Golf Aerification Schedule Scottsdale Golf Packages Customized Scottsdale golf packages. 1-800-939-7998 travelgolfwest.com Golf Tucson Call for your custom Tucson Golf Vacation. Great Travel Deals! 1-800-426-6148 tucsongolftravel.com Cabo Golf Tours Experience the best of Cabo San Lucas Golf! 1-800-880-4655 cabogolftours.com Golf Orlando, Florida! Golf in sunny Orlando! 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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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Central America Travel
Guatemala Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information You are here: About > Travel > Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Guatemala > Guatemala Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information Travel Go Mexico Essentials Packing List for Travelers to Mexico Health Information Mexico / C. America Safety Considerations Travel Books Mexico and Central America Tourism Offices Mexico/ Central America Articles & Resources Mexico Mexico City Acapulco, Mexico Cancun Yucatan Baja Los Cabos Puerto Vallarta Other Places Photos of Mexico Belize, Central America Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Mexico / Central America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Mexico / Central America for Visitors Map image - Courtesy of CIA Stay up to date! Map image - Courtesy of CIA Email to a friend Print this page Explore More of Guatemala Guatemala Travel Links Guatemala Hotels Guatemala Travel Reservations Recent Discussions Travelling to Central/South America? Multi-Destination Flights Sport Fishing Charters Most Popular Mexican Music La Paz, Mexico Quinceanera Packing List Tijuana, Mexico What's Hot Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico Related Topics California for Visitors South America for Visitors Caribbean for Visitors Mexican Cuisine Guatemala, South America From Apply Now , Your Guide to Mexico / Central America for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America. It borders on the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize, and also borders on the Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico. It has a territory of about 42,000 square miles (slightly smaller than Tennessee) and a population of about 13 million people, the majority of which are Mestizo (Amerindian or mixed Amerindian-Spanish). The official language is Spanish, but many indigenous languages are also spoken. The country enjoys a warm climate throughout the year, with an average temperature above 20 degrees C (75 degrees F). Guatemala is a small country, but it has much to offer visitors. It is a natural paradise offering some truly breathtaking scenery of mountains, lakes, volcanoes and flora and fauna. It has a number of very beautiful tropical volcanic beaches on the Pacific Ocean, and some large coral reefs on the Caribbean side. Guatemala ranks very high in biological diversity, and has numerous tropical low rainforests and mountain cloud forests. Guatemala also has some of the largest and most fascinating Mayan ruins found anywhere in Latin America, together with a friendly, Mayan population with their culture and traditions. Below are some popular venues in Guatemala for visitors: Antigua This beautiful 16th-century city was founded in the early 16th century by the Spaniards. Built 1,500 meters above sea-level in the highlands of Guatemala, it was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, but many of the original monuments are still preserved as ruins. Antigua has some of the most gorgeous Spanish-style colonial architecture found anywhere. Its cobblestone streets, built in the 16th century lead you past dozens of great restaurants, flowered courtyards, and the preserved ruins of numerous churches, monasteries and other structures. Antigua's natural setting is spectacular, with several majestic volcanoes surrounding the city on all sides. The Colonial Museum, located in a building which at one time housed the third university founded on the American continent, is well worth visiting for its vast collection of colonial art. Tikal Tikal, at one time the largest Mayan city in the world, is now a world famous site of Mayan ruins. The ancient Maya began constructing Tikal around 550 B.C., and for many centuries thereafter the city was an important religious, and political center. Today, the largest number of Mayan ruins in the world are to be found in Tikal. The ruins, extending over six square miles, include temples, pyramids, terraces, palaces, ceremonial platforms, plazas, steam baths, and other stone structures. It is estimated that only about 30% of the ruins have been excavated - the remaining 70% lie buried underground. Visitors can visit the Tikal site by taking a short flight from Guatemala City to the rain forest area where Tikal is located. Lake Atitlan Lake Atitlan, which is of volcanic origin, is located about 90 miles from Guatemala City, in the mountainous province of Solola, in the Guatemalan highlands. Aldous Huxley once called this lake "the most beautiful in the world", and many would agree with this statement. The lake is located about 5,000 feet above sea level, has a depth of over 1,500 feet and covers an area of about 50 square miles. It is the deepest lake in Central America. The water of the lake, usually crystal clear and a vivid blue, changes in color as the light varies. The lake is set against a dramatic backdrop of three spectacular 10,000-foot volcanoes - Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro. Lake Atitlan is a is a great venue for a wide variety of water sports, including swimming, diving, water skiing, hang gliding and boating. It is also a great place for fishing, as the lake is home to numerous species of edible fresh water fish. Along the shores of Lake Atitlan are a number of small Indian villages where the traditional Maya lifestyle is followed. Guatemala City Guatemala City is home to 25% of the country's population and is the capital of Guatemala. The city lies in a deep valley where the dormant Agua volcano dominates the horizon. With a population of about 3 million, it is the country's commercial, financial, and cultural center. It is a city where colonial architecture, sits side by side with modern skyscrapers and shopping malls. For visitors, there is much to see and do in Guatemala City. Worthwhile is a visit to the Zona Viva , the trendy and very modern center of Zona 10 , where numerous upscale restaurants, bars, and clubs stay open long into the night. Those interested in Spanish colonial architecture should visit Zona 1, the city's historic center. Visitors interested in handicraft will find a wide variety of authentic Guatemalan wood carvings, textiles, leather, ceramics, jewelry and basket work in the downtown Central Market. Also worth seeing is the National Palace and the Ixchell Museum. Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico