Austria Travel Specialists Client

Austria Vacations, Austria Travel, Austria Luxury Resorts, Austria Hotels Austria Luxury Vacations, Austria Cruises, and Austria Hotels Guide Austria Vacation Guide: Romantic Austria Hotels and Honeymoons Austria Vacations and Cruise Consultants Austria Luxury Vacation :Call 800 330 8820 to book your tour or cruise. Other Places in Austria Austria Glacial Skiing Austria Hiking Austria Mountain Biking Austria Skiing Vacations Graz Innsbrock Klagenfurt Linz Salzburg Vienna Other Places in Europe Albania Andorra Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Vacatioin Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Wales Europe Cruises River Cruises in Europe Mediterranean Guide Austria Vacation, Tours and Travel Guide In this section you will find all great Austria luxury hotels . Romantic Austria Honeymoon Destinations. Austria Yachting Vacations. Austria Hiking and Austria mountain biking ---Plus tons of enjoyable virtual tours and streaming videos---You will find everything here except the sunscreen. Austria luxury travel arrangements. Great Austria Skiing and Austria glacial skiing . romantic Austrian resorts and hotels--- Austria, located in the center of Western Europe, is famous for it fabulous skiing regions, but also for breathtaking scenery, magnificent mountains and wonderful hiking trails. The western Federal Provinces Vorarlberg, Tirol and Salzburg Province are the most popular tourist regions. The hilly terrain lends itself to fabulous hiking , walking and climbing as well as skiing . Alpine huts are available in the summer. Austria Skiing facilities can be found in hundreds winter sport resorts between Brand in the west and Semmering in the east. Skiing enthusiasts have the choice of some of the finest ski-instructors in the world. The capital, Vienna , is situated in the northeast of the country with the Danube running through the northern suburbs of the city. Variety and beauty, both natural and cultural, make Austria a (geographically) small jewel in the heart of Europe. Simply walking along one of the many cobblestone lanes, visiting a small country church, or standing awe-struck before a magnificent country abbey, brings you face to face with history and culture. During the 640-year reign of the Habsburg Empire, a few vivid symbols were brought into being, symbols that have remained alive and continue to define Austria in the minds of visitors today. Among these are the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lipizzan stallions of the Spanish Riding School and the Vienna Boys' Choir. Of course, there's music: In Austria, it seems that music mirrors the almost melodious beauty of the land. For centuries, music has been both an integral part of everyday life and the crowning glory of special occasions. There is no other country that has made such enormous musical contributions to the world or had such an enduring influence on the international musical scene as has Austria over the course of its long and distinctive history. Austria offers the riches of Europe in the proverbial nutshell: spectacular vistas, Alpine splendor, pulsating nightlife, sophisticated shopping, classical culture and culinary adventure. And don't forget: Austria is the cradle of Alpine skiing--and skiing is a way of life in the country of any skier's dreams. Austria has been a favored travel destination for more than a thousand years. We would like to introduce you to Austria, its Imperial cities and Alpine splendor, and possibly whet your appetite to get to know more about it all. The Austrian capital is an important area for East, West trade and a frequent host to major congresses either in the Vienna International Center or at the >Austria Center Vienna. Vienna is situated in the northeast of the country with the Danube running through the northern suburbs of the city. The Ringstrasse forms the boundary of the Inner City or Innenstadt, with its fine architecture, shops and hotels. An atmosphere of elegance and bygone style prevails in this area, which should be experienced on foot. Art Nouveau buildings, such as the Majolikahaus, line the streets of some suburbs, as Vienna was the birthplace of this then controversial style. The Austrian National Library at the Josefsplatz is regarded as an outstanding example of Baroque architecture. Vienna was the center of the cultural Renaissance during the 18th and 19th centuries, and home not only to Mozart and to Strauss but also to Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Bruckner, Brahms and Mahler. Vienna is ideal for art and music enthusiasts. The Viennese Boys' Choir and the Viennese Philharmonic are internationally renowned. Tirol is situated in the heart of the Alpine region, it is the most mountainous region of all, with forests, hamlets and alpine pastures, beautiful valleys and mountain lakes. In summer it is a popular destination for hikes; in winter, skiing and other winter sports are available. Traditional Tirolean architecture is reflected in the villages, churches and castles. Innsbruck, the Tirolean capital was twice the home of the Winter Olympics. It is the center of another internationally renowned ski complex comprising six major resorts. An 800-year-old university town, it has numerous fine buildings dating from Austria's cultural Renaissance in the 16th-18th centuries, and a 12th-century castle. For spectacular views over the town and southern Alps, take the funicular to Hungerburg and then the cable car to Hafelekar. The Lech area is most beautiful skiing and hiking area in Austria and Europe. Lech has the longest skiing tradition and because of the romantic location, its natural beauty and the huge number of skiing lifts it developed to the top skiing area and also to the most expensive skiing village in Austria visited by the noble and famous people. During summer Lech is famous for beautiful trekking in the Alps. 85 lifts, 260 km prepared skiing slopes, snowboard funparks, 3 skiing schools, private skiing teachers, paragliding school, ballooning and hiking. Saalbach/Hinterglemm area has 2 villages and is one of the main skiing paradises in Austria which is famous because of several skiing world championships. Because of its wonderful mountains which are up to 2000 m and its natural beauty Saalbach/Hinterglemm became to a huge winter and summer resort. You will love this nice area with over 200 km slopes and over 60lifts and all the possibilities. Last not least you will enjoy the Apres Ski and the evening nightlife in Saalbach and Hinterglemm. If you have ever heard of the classic grand tour of the Alps, if you are enchanted by romantic names like Klippitzt? Turracher H? Grossglockner, and Silvretta, and if you love to drive with the air blowing through your hair, then you have come to the right web site. The thirty-four scenic routes through Austria's provinces and Italian South Tyrol presented here are in fact thirty-four very different travel experiences. Another advantage is that each itinerary interlocks with the next. So open-air fans can put together a complete tour of Austria, or just a small part according to their individual tastes and interests. Some of these scenic routes are challenging and require a degree of driving skill, but they lead through the most stunning scenery Austria and South Tyrol have to offer, so take plenty of time to look at what there is to see along the way: car and motorcycle museums, castles and palaces, not to mention nature preserves and trails. "Challenging? also does not mean that these routes are for rally drivers. They have been planned as interesting and enjoyable drives. So that they may continue to be so for others in the future, and in the interest of those who live along them, please drive carefully and with a minimum of noise. Of course, the itineraries described here by no means exhaust the variety of touring possibilities and sites to see in Austria. They should be taken merely as an introduction, and an invitation to explore other fascinating highways and byways on your own individual tour through Austria. Inclusive, custom designed Austrian honeymoons at excellent values. Select exactly the components you want in your vacation. You choose your hotel, room category -from sea views to suites-, rental car, private transfers and customized sightseeing tours. We do it all! Our Virtuoso Travel and Cruise Consultants will create the Austrian vacation you have always dreamed of. Book Your Austria Vacation Submit a vacation planner to our Austria Travel Specialists Client Testimonials about our services Search Your Vacation, Tour or Cruise Austria Overview Austria History Austria Culture Austria Geography Austria After Arriving Austria Practical Info Austria Luxury Accommodations Austria Virtuoso Hotels Austria Luxury Hotels Europe Luxury Hotels European Hotels & Villas Europe Luxury Tours Central Eastern & Western England & Ireland Tours Scandinavia & Russia Tour Portugal & Spain Tours Escape to Europe Cruises France Luxury Tours Italy Luxury Tours Europe Train Vacations Europe River Cruises Eastern Europe Packages Europe Bike Vacations Europe Active Vacations Moderatly Priced Europe Tours England & Ireland Tours France Vacations Italy Tours Central & Eastern Europe Tours European River Cruises Europe Luxury Cruises Western Europe Cruises European River Cruises Luxury Cruises World Luxury Cruises Helpful Travel Links Other Helpful Travel Links Instant Passports in 24 hours Travelex Luxury Travel Insurance CSA Luxury Travel Insurance Travel Guard Insurance Travel Safety Expert Current Travel Warnings Travel Agent Career Opportunities Bookmark this page Full Service Luxury Europe Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury vacation with our full service Virtuoso Travel Consultants. We are recommended, authorized Virtuoso Vacation Specialists, and can arrange every little detail to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree cruise experience at no extra charge! You may call our Virtuoso Vacation Specialists, but first, we'd really appreciate it if you complete our "Luxury Vacation Planner" so we have all your requirements beforehand and are prepared to present you with all your options and up-to-the-minute specials. Thank you very much! Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe vacation . Full Service, Worldwide Luxury Europe Tour Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury tour vacation with our full service Virtuoso Luxury Tour Consultants. We can arrange every little detail of your tour vacation, including air, and pre-tour and post-tour arrangements to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree vacation experience at no extra charge! When you complete our "Luxury Tour Vacation Planner" our Europe Specialists will promptly call you, provide you with their direct toll free telephone number, all your options, and up-to-the-minute specials . Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe tour vacation . Full Service, Luxury Europe Cruise Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury cruise vacation with our full service Virtuoso Luxury Cruise Consultants. We can arrange every little detail of your cruise vacation, including air, excursions, and pre-cruise and post-cruise arrangements, to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree vacation experience at no extra charge! When you complete our " Luxury Cruise Vacation Planner" our Virtuoso--Specialists will promptly call you, provide you with their direct toll free telephone number, all your options, and up-to-the-minute specials . Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe luxury cruise . 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Chicago vacation package thats

US Airways Vacations - Destinations : US Airways Vacations - Vacation Packages to Walt Disney World Resort Florida Universal Studios Las Vegas Cancun Mexico Aruba Caribbean Jamaica Bermuda Bahamas Dominican Republic Paris London All-inclusive Sandals Honeymoon Bermuda California Canada -- Caribbean Europe Florida Hawaiian Islands Las Vegas Latin America Mexico Ski U.S. Cities Reservations Modify Inquiries -- Retrieve a Reservation Trip Cancellation Waiver Current Specials E-mail Sign-up FAQs Gift Certificates -- Terms & Conditions Codeshare Create Profile -- Manage Your Profile Travel Advisories Plan Your Vacation Now Customer Care Specialists Group Sales Airline Technical Help Who We Are Why Vacation With Us? Home | Destinations | Illinois | Chicago Select your Destination -- Caribbean -- Antigua Aruba The Islands of The Bahamas Barbados Dominican Republic Grand Cayman Grenada Jamaica Nevis Palm Island Puerto Rico /dest/sbh.asp"St. Barthelemy -- St. Kitts St. Lucia St. Martin/St. Maarten Turks & Caicos U.S. Virgin Islands -- Bermuda -- -- Mexico -- Cancun Cozumel Mexico City Riviera Mayan -- Latin America -- Belize Costa Rica -- Florida -- Captiva Island Clearwater Ft. Myers Ft. Lauderdale Islamorada Key Largo Key West Marco Island Miami Beach Naples Orlando West Palm Beach Sanibel Island Sarasota St. Petersburg Tampa Universal Orlando Resort Walt Disney World Resort Vero Beach -- -- Las Vegas -- -- Ski -- Colorado Reno/ Lake Tahoe Utah -- U.S. Cities -- Biloxi -- Boston Chicago Myrtle Beach Nashville New Orleans New York City Phoenix/National Parks Seattle Washington D.C. -- Hawaiian Islands -- Hawaii Oahu -- California -- Anaheim/Orange County Los Angeles Palm Springs San Diego San Francisco -- Europe -- Amsterdam Barcelona Budapest Dublin Edinburgh Florence Frankfurt French Riviera German Countryside Glasgow Great Britain Countryside Irish Countryside London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Prague Rome Salzburg Venice Vienna -- Canada -- Montreal Ottawa Toronto Vancouver Victoria -- US Airways Vacations makes it easy to create a Chicago vacation package thats just right for you! You can book your flight, hotel, rental car, city tours and tickets to all your favorite attractions quickly and easily online. Enjoy all that Chicago has to offer, including legendary restaurants, shopping on Michigan Avenue, the exhibits at the Chicago Art institute and the world-famous Sears Tower. Let US Airways Vacations help you plan a Chicago vacation that you wont soon forget! More... -- View Hotels Chicago Hotel Specials Chicago Your Way Optional Features Special Hotel Partners -- Virtual Tours United States Downtown Chicago Before You Go Introduction - Best Dining Bets - Frommer's Favorite Experiences Getting to Know - Fast Facts - Orientation - Neighborhoods in Brief While You're There Attractions - Suggested Itineraries - Especially for Kids Nightlife - Dance Clubs & Nightclubs - Late-Night Bites - Live Music - The Gay & Lesbian Scene - The Lounge & Bar Scene - The Movies - The Performing Arts Shopping - The Magnificent Mile - The Top Shopping Streets & Neighborhoods Before You Go Introduction - A Look Back at Vegas: No Tomorrow - Favorite Experiences Planning a Trip - When to Go - Health & Insurance - Money - Tips for Travelers with Special Needs Getting to Know - Fast Facts - Orientation - Getting Around While You're There Dining - Morrocan Restaurants - Some Dining Notes - Sweets - Buffets - Family Friendly Restaurants - Theme Restaurants Attractions - Suggested Itineraries - Top Attractions - Nearby Attractions - Especially for Kids - Getting Married - Sin City Inverted -- -- Departure City: Please Select A City AL - Birmingham AL - Huntsville/Decatur AL - Mobile AL - Montgomery AZ - Phoenix AR - Fayetteville AR - Little Rock CA - Fresno --- CA - Los Angeles CA - Monterey --- CA - Orange County CA - Palm Springs CA - Sacramento --- CA - San Diego CA - San Francisco CA - Santa Barbara --- CO - Denver CO - Vail CT - Bridgeport --- CT - Hartford CT - New Haven CT - New London FL - Ft. 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SC - Myrtle Beach TN - Chattanooga TN - Knoxville TN - Memphis TN - Nashville TN - Tri-City TX - Dallas/Ft. Worth TX - Houston VT - Burlington VT - Rutland VA - Charlottesville VA - Lynchburg VA - Newport News/ Williamsburg VA - Norfolk VA - Richmond VA - Roanoke VA - Shenandoah WA - Seattle WV - Beckley WV - Bluefield WV - Charleston WV - Clarksburg WV - Greenbrier WV - Huntington WV - Morgantown WV - Parkersburg WI - Madison WI - Milwaukee Washington, D.C. (Dulles) Washington, D.C. (National) Destination city: Please Select A City Anguilla -- Antigua AZ - Phoenix/ Scottsdale Aruba Bahamas - Nassau/ Cable Beach Bahamas - Paradise Island Bahamas - Grand Bahama Isl Barbados Belize Bermuda CA - Los Angeles CA - Orange County/ Anaheim CA - San Diego CA - San Francisco Canada - Montreal -- Canada - Ottawa -- Canada - Toronto -- Colorado - Denver Colorado - Vail Costa Rica Dominican Republic/ La Romana Punta Cana Santo Domingo FL - Daytona Beach FL - Ft. Lauderdale FL - Ft. Myers/Captiva FL - Marco & Sanibel Islands FL - Jacksonville FL - Key West FL - Miami Beach/ Key Largo FL - Islamorada/ Marathon FL - Naples FL - Orlando FL - Sarasota/ Lido Beach FL - Tampa FL - Clearwater/ St. Pete Beach FL - W. Palm Beach France - Paris/Nice Germany - Frankfurt Germany - Munich Grand Cayman Great Britain - London Great Britain - Manchester Grenada Hawaiian Islands - Honolulu Hawaiian Islands - Kona Ireland - Dublin Ireland - Shannon Italy - Rome/Florence Italy - Milan/Venice Jamaica - Montego Bay Jamaica - Ocho Rios Jamaica - Negril LA - New Orleans MA - Boston Mexico - Cancun Mexico - Cozumel Mexico - Mexico City Mexico - Riviera Maya Netherlands - Amsterdam NV - Las Vegas NV - Reno/Tahoe Nevis NY - New York City Palm Island Puerto Rico - San Juan Scotland - Glasgow SC - Myrtle Beach Spain - Madrid St. Barthelemy -- St. Kitts St. Lucia St. Maarten/St. Martin TN - Nashville Turks & Caicos U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands - St. John U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Thomas UT - Salt Lake City WA - Seattle Washington, D.C. Departure Date: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 05 06 Adults: Children Ages: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 na 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 na 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 na 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 na 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Promotional Code: Chicago Weather -- Vacation Information Vacation Inclusions Trip Cancellation Waiver Post Departure Travel Protection 2006 Availability Calendar INCLUDE FILE="includes/0US_brochure.asp" --- Destinations | Plan Your Vacation Now | Vacation Savers | Customer Service | Travel Advisories Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Site Map 1998-2005 US Airways, Inc., US Airways Vacations CST 2009218-20

South America Travel

South America for Visitors  You are here: About > Travel > South America for Visitors Travel Go South America Essentials Plan Your First Trip to South America Photo Gallery Travel Features - Countries and Culture News and Current Events Reader Participation Requested Articles & Resources Most Popular Destinations Countries and Territories Plan Your Trip Getting There Culture Events, Fiestas, Holidays Languages Geography News & Current Events History Archaeology Sports and Recreation Wildlife / Conservation Guides and Gear Cuisine Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Guide and Travel Books History and Culture Books Cookbooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the South America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search South America for Visitors From Bonnie Hamre , Your Guide to South America for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro - Festa de Iemanj In Rio de Janeiro, on December 31, throngs of people flock to the beaches to celebrate. Some of those people are there to celebrate the New Year, some are there to celebrate the Festa de Iemanj, the Goddess of the Sea and Mother of the Waters in the Umbanda religion of Brazil. Plan your trip with these resources about Rio . Photo of Copacabana beach and Rio de Janeiro by Night thanks to ClipArt.com. Tuesday December 27, 2005 | permalink Photo of the Week Once part of the infamous penal colony, and now a resort area, le du Diable, Devil's Island is one of the three les du Salut off the coast of French Guiana. Do you have a photo that you'd like to see featured as our photo of the week? If you do, send it to me via the Submit a Photo Form . Photo thanks to ClipArt.com. Sunday December 25, 2005 | permalink La Fiesta Grande Annually on December 24-26 thousands gather to worship the patron saint of local gold and copper mines, La Virgen del Rosario (The Virgin of the Rosary), in Andacollo, a small town in central Chile. The celebrations commemorate the many miracles attributed to her and the Nio Dios de Sotaqu, Christ Child of Sotaqui. Feliz Navidad to all! Friday December 23, 2005 | permalink Antarctic Wildlife Photo Gallery Summer in the Southern Hemisphere is the time for Antarctic cruising. One of the usual stops is at Deception Island , where passengers can go ashore for a dip in a narrow strip of shallow water heated by an active volcano and a look at penguins, seals and birds. Photo of a chinstrap penguin displayed with the kind permission of Peter and Jackie Main. Thursday December 22, 2005 | permalink Cuzco, Peru Cuzco, Capital of the Inca Empire, has both historical and cultural significance. As the hub of tourism for Machu Picchu, Ollytantambo, Sacsayhuaman, Pisac and the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba River, Cusco offers archaeological sites, colonial charm and up to date facilities for the visitor. Photo of the night illuminations of the Coricancha , meaning the Golden Courtyard in Quecha, used for ceremonial purposes, thanks to ClipArt.com. Enjoy the expanded Machu Picchu Photo Gallery . Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink 2005 Earthquake Count For those travelers who like to keep informed about earthquake activity in South America, you'll now find the weekly count update in the Geography section under Earthquakes, Temblors and Natural Events . Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink Two Great Destinations for 2006 Frommers announced their The Top 10 Up and Coming Destinations For 2006 and two of their recommendations are in South America: " Belm, Brazil: Nestled on the banks of the world's longest river and largest rainforest, Belm, Brazil is tropical paradise with an eclectic combination of both modern sophistication and frontier. Belem's collection of excellent restaurants utilizes local ingredients such as tropical fruits and Amazon fish to create a cuisine that is unlike anywhere in Brazil. Belem provides new surprises for the eager explorer. It is also a great gateway to the Amazon." Explore Belm, Gateway to the Amazon . Isla de Margarita, Venezuela : "Known for its reputation as a island getaway, Margarita, Venezuela offers the same amenities as its Caribbean neighbors: all-inclusive resorts, excellent white sand beaches, watersports, natural parks, a golf course, but all at a fraction of the price. Vacationers are benefiting from the economy's steep decline, and often visitors can even find inexpensive scuba diving adventures. Check out Isla de Margarita, Pearl of the Caribbean and choose from one of these Resorts, Hotels and Inns . Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Photo of the Week From Maldonado and Piripolis, past Punta del Este and Rocha to the Brazilian border, miles of sandy beaches sand dunes and great scenery attact beach goers to the Uruguayan Riviera. Do you have a photo that you'd like to see featured as our photo of the week? If you do, send it to me via the Submit a Photo Form . Photo thanks to ClipArt.com. Sunday December 18, 2005 | permalink Walk The Inca Trail Depending on your starting point, the Inca Trail is 27 to 35 miles long passing through high-mountain puno , cloud forest, and mountain passes with elevations of nearly 14,000 feet and an orchid-rich jungle before it brings you to to Machu Picchu, the fabled Lost City of the Incas. Photo of Intipunku , the Gateway of the Sun, the entrance to Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail, thanks to ArtToday.com. Sunday December 18, 2005 | permalink 2005 Reader's Choice - People Readers of South America for Visitor's pages about people, past or present, were most interested in these historical personages, media celebrities, missing persons, and larger than life gauchos. Note: This list is derived from the number of times a reader visited these pages. Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular All Stars 9 Empanada Iguazu Falls Pictures of Chile South America Photo Gallery What's Hot Cola de Mono - Monkey's Tail Cuzco Pisco Sour Chilean Style Falkland Islands Photos Virtual Tour Related Topics Caribbean for Visitors Mexico / Central America for Visitors Spanish Language Adventure Travel Budget Travel        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 Cola de Mono - Monkey's Tail Cuzco Pisco Sour Chilean Style Falkland Islands Photos Virtual Tour Headlines New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro - Festa de Iemanj In Rio de Janeiro, on December 31, throngs of... Photo of the Week Once part of the infamous penal colony, and now... La Fiesta Grande Annually on December 24-26 thousands gather to worship the... Antarctic Wildlife Photo Gallery Summer in the Southern Hemisphere is the time for...

Vacation Rentals at your

Owner Direct Vacation Rentals - Privately-owned villas, condos, apartments and homes for rent worldwide. World Wide Vacation Rentals at your finger tips Login | Site Map | Help | Customer Service Home Vacation Rentals Register Travel Guides Specials Last Minute Deals Welcome to Owner Direct Vacation Rentals! A Unique Matching Service that makes finding perfect Vacation Rental Accommodation quick and easy. Four Simple Steps 1. Find Your Destination 2. Enter Your Dates 3. View Accommodations 4. Book the Unit Enter Unit ID# Learn More About the Owner Direct Difference Looking for a Vacation Rental? Why spend more and get less with a hotel? We have thousands of privately-owned villas, condos, apartments, bed and breakfasts, chalets, cottages and cabins for rent nightly, weekly or monthly worldwide. Start Your Search Now Enter a resort, city or town: or Customer Service Daily 7am - 9pm Pacific Standard Time. NO charges until you communicate directly with the Owner . 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European Vacation Planning Map

Europe Travel - A European Vacation Travel Guide  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and the world, it has one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe, and it was home to artist Peter Paul Rubens in the 17th century. What's not to like about this Belgian port city? See what it's all about in our latest photo Gallery: Antwerp Pictures . More Antwerp Travel: Antwerp Travel Directory | Antwerp Lodging | Antwerp Museums Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came recruiting at my college. Operatives really get to live it up when they travel, apparently. Imagine, the lucky seven of the "Surveillance Team" sent out to case the joint before kidnapping 39-year-old Muslim preacher Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, managed to spend "$39,995, not counting meals, parking and other services" for a week at Milan's Principe di Savoia ( check prices ), where a room goes for a mere $588 a night, according to Newsday . Once Abu Omar was behind bars in Cairo the CIA folks broke up and went their various ways, some to the renowned Grand Hotel Baglioni ( check prices ) in Florence , a few in cozy pairs to save the taxpayers money, no doubt. Travel Resources: Milan Profile | Florence Profile Tuesday December 27, 2005 | permalink Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated tapas bars thinking, "wow, I'm gonna down me some fine, fresh seafood this evening--non of that canned stuff like we get at home..." Well, Quimet and Quimet is one of Barcelona's best tapas bars, recommended by just about anyone. Joaquim Perez, owner of Quimet and Quimet, has been called Barcelona's culinary king of canned food. That's right, a tapas king devoted to high-quality goods preserved in metal. I had heard about the increasing interest in vintage sardines , whose flavors are said to increase in intensity and complexity with aging. But Mr. Perez has extended this idea of unlikely gourmet tinkering; he buys "fresh" Galician navajas (clams) from the cannery and sets them to aging for a year or two before serving them (plain) to his customers. And they love 'em. Maybe you should go and see what this canned gourmet thing is all about. There are worse places to spend time on a research expedition. More: Gastronomic Route: Barcelona, a tapas town? Travel Resources: Barcelona Guide | Barcelona Pictures Thursday December 22, 2005 | permalink North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000 loan and turned his investment into a "faithful reconstruction of Noah's Ark in scaled down form on the basis of biblical texts," according to the Mail & Guardian . Spring is the expected launch date. No word on where the animals will come from. Travel Resources: North Holland Travel | Holland Map | Benelux Rail Passes Thursday December 22, 2005 | permalink Appreciate Long John Shivers? Head for the Alps I know I frequently extol the virtues of off season travel, but there's a whole bunch of adventurers willing to go the extra mile in their long johns to enjoy icier surroundings than I'd care to experience. Those would be the Ice Hotel People. Word from Vagablond is that "a new ice hotel is being constructed 7,000 feet up into the German Alps." HotelChatter says this ice hotel might well be part of the Iglu-Dorf chain, who specialize in things like Inuit igloos in Switzerland. Like it cold? Get you thrills in the Alps this winter. I'll toast your bravado at the hearth with a steaming hot toddy. Travel Resources: Germany map and Travel Essentials | Switzerland Map and Travel Essentials . Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Europe Travel in the Off Season Why travel in the off season? Well, you know the reasons: fewer tourists, lower prices, and cooler temperatures, to name a few. But there's another reason for me, and that's the warm, slanting light that brings photos alive. See what I mean by taking a gander at: Liguria Pictures - Picture Gallery of Liguria in Autumn . And if you still want to see more pictures of Italy , try out Italy for Visitors Florence Pictures , taken in November. Travel Resources: Off Season Travel Tips | Italy Travel Map Sunday December 18, 2005 | permalink Travel Gifts Ok, you're thinkin' it's too late to post some ideas for gifts at this late date. Hey, you can chalk it up to sloth and indolence, but I don't start burdening my mind with thoughts about winter holidays in May like the rest of my family. The crunch starts now. So I've made up a list of recommended Travel Gifts . Of course, you could buy some of the stuff for yourself as well. Take a look. You've got language help, a deep, inside look at the Vatican, and more, not to mention that Tyrolean Boiled Wool Jacket like you've always wanted. More Stuff You Need: Top Travel Photography Gear Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink Joe Torre carries the Olympic Torch in Florence New York Yankee manager Joe Torre carried the Olympic torch 400 yards to the foot of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence yesterday as part of "American day" in the two-month Olympic torch relay. It was the first time he'd been to Italy in 20 years, despite the fact that his mother was born in the village of Patina near Naples. (Source: Indystar.com ) The torch Joe carried was designed by the folks at Pininfarina , who've banged out quite a few sexy Italian auto bodies in their time. The Olympic torch is designed to work in rain, snow and wind up to 74.56 miles per hour, not to mention temperatures from -4°F to +77°F. According to what I've heard, the torch suffered much less than Mr. Torre during the run. Travel Resources: Florence Travel Directory | Florence Pictures: Views from the Arno | Naples Travel Directory Photo above: Ponte Vecchio, Florence by Martha Bakerjian, Italy for Visitors ; click "read more" to see it larger. Read more... Thursday December 15, 2005 | permalink Sunny Valencia It's cold here in my corner of California, prime time to think of warmer climes. Valencia pops to mind. Host to the 2007 America's cup, the sunny Spanish port city has been spiffing itself up lately, and many travelers have remarked that Valencia seems to be passing Barcelona as Spain's city of tourist choice. What's not to like? The spring La Fallas festival is a not to be missed attraction (plan now if you're going), the City of Arts and Sciences holds 87 acres of fascinating art, science and architecture, and the Barrio del Carmen is chock full of music, restaurants and clubs. Find out more about Valence by taking a peek at our latest: Valencia Spain Travel Information - Valencia Profile , or peruse our Valencia Travel Directory . Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Hey Santa! Take That! Scroogy Musings: So a couple guys in Germany get asked what they want for Christmas by Santa, who happens to be waiting for a train home. They've been out shopping all day, unsuccessfully one assumes, because the next thing you know they've latched on to Santa's sack and "beat him over the head with it, breaking his fingers as he tried to protect himself." ( Santa - Germany's new stress buster ) Santa on a train? in Germany? A bit early, isn't it? Has the Christmas spirit been so commercialized that the little people like us suffer with the stress of plunking down good cash for stuff we think people might like but probably won't? Where is the joy of it all? Everyone remembers the magical experience of visiting Santa in the mall when they were kids and the smile it brought to your face. Unfortunately over the last few years it seems the spirit of Christmas is slowly being lost due to many different reasons including political correctness, busier lifestyles and many more issues. Hold on a sec. Now I'm angrier than a red-nosed reindeer. Everyone doesn't remember. Some of us are way too old to conjure the disgraceful vision of mall Santas in their mothball costumes and fake beards. The statement above comes from Live From Lapland (dot com). For a bit less than 15 dollars they'll make a custom video staring Santa, who'll be talking to your kids using the words you put in his mouth via the web site's control panel. Their Santa evidently lives in a paneled room and wears mall Santa clothes and beardage. It's in the sample flick. He could be in Kansas. Still, where else you gonna get a five minute flick to your specs for $14.95? Travel Resources: Lapland (the real one) | Chrismas in Europe Tuesday December 13, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... 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Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...