Austria Travel

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Contest > Word Trips Contest > Subscribe > See All > forums austria Vienna Imperial Danube city: baroque palaces,... more Salzburg Chic, cosmopolitan Alpine city with Medieval... more Intro Map Fact Sheet Photos Why Go? Old Vienna, suddenly hot again Salzburg Festspiele-top summer music fest with great restaurants attached Coffee and cake at a Kaffeehaus All austria Guides Salzburg Vienna Vienna Salzburg Deals Book your 2006 cruise now and get 2-for-1 fares, free airfare, and more Save on Scandinavia and Europe with Icelandair Get a $600 in shipboard credit on a Crystal Cruise More Related Articles January 2005 Great Hotel Chefs For G. Y. Dryansky's article, "The Chef... January 2005 The Chef Comes With the Room G. Y. Dryansky ties on his bib in four of... April 2004 The Next Seven Wonders Municipalities are the new Medicis, erecting... March 2004 Night Moves: From Paris to the moon Only half the story of a place is told during the... October 2003 The Real Deal There's more to a travel bargain than price.... October 2003 Europe: 20 Money-Saving Tips Shopping & Service October 2003 Vienna: The Real Deal There's more to a travel bargain than price.... October 2003 Great Drives Germany: Going to Extremes Stephan Wilkinson takes an up-tempo tour of... July 2003 Ombudsman: Clothes Call My wife and I booked a Flight from New York t from CondéNast Traveler December 2005 Concierges, A User's Manual A mystery to many but a friend to all, the hotel... November 2005 Hotel Imperial Room 506, Hotel Imperial, Vienna; 43-1-501100; Pick a Card City cards promise savings and convenience at top... November 2005 Peak Experiences Hitting the slopes in the Alps can cost less than... November 2005 A Hotel Too Far? What do you get when you transform the Nazis'... September 2005 Around the World in 50 Films They don't call them motion pictures for nothing:... 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Travel Insurance Car Insurance

AA Ireland : AA Travel Last Updated: 28/12/2005 22:42:04 SEARCH SITE: QUICKFIND: 0) document.location = this.options[this.selectedIndex].value;" Choose a Section... Membership Members Area Travel Insurance Car Insurance Home Insurance Special Offers Int. Driving Permit Petrol Prices Top Tips 0) document.location = document.qf.QFind.options[document.qf.QFind.selectedIndex].value" Your Options Home AA Membership Members Area Company Membership AA Car Insurance AA Home Insurance AA Travel AA Signs AA Special Offers AA Hotels & Accommodation AA Technical Route Planning AA Information Desk More Information About Us Jobs @ AA Ireland News Releases Petrol Prices New Car Guide Car Reviews AA Motoring Magazine Site Options Contact Us Sitemap Mailing List Privacy Policy AA Roadwatch SMS/EMail Alerts -- Add to Favorites AA Travel home travel insurance AA Travel From the moment you begin planning your motoring holiday to your return home, the AA can provide the following services to members: AA Travel Insurance Buy Online Fast and Convenient Learn about Frequent Travel Insurance worldwide cover for 12 months Learn about One Trip Travel Insurance Comprehensive personal cover Learn about Five Star Travel Insurance Assistance & insurance International Driving Permit Camping Card International Ferry Booking Services Route Planning European Regulations Five Star Travel Insurance More motorists choose AA Five Star Travel Insurance rather than any other breakdown assistance organisation when they motor abroad. This offers breakdown assistance and personal insurance throughout the UK and Europe. Children under 15 are insured FREE when all adults take out 5 Star Travel Insurance. AA One Trip Travel Insurance If you are not taking your car with you and are travelling anywhere in the world by land, air or sea, AA One Trip Travel Insurance offers comprehensive personal cover for you & your family anywhere in the world. 20% AA Customer discount. Children under 15 get a 50% discount & under 2 are free. AA Frequent Travel Insurance Whether going on holiday or taking a business trip abroad the AA provides you with multitrip, worldwide cover for 12 months. 20% AA Customer discount. AA Ferry Booking Service Special discounts are available to AA Members and Car/Home Insurance customers with Irish Ferries and Stena line. Simply call AA Travel and make your booking today . Please quote your membership number. *Available to AA Car and Home Insurance Customers too! Travel Advice & Information A great deal of AA information and advice is available for those wishing to plan journeys in advance. The AA is the leading authority in this field, and produces a wide variety of information for the motorist. Camping Card International Available to those with 5 Star cover, CCI cards offer discounts at amusement parks, museums and campsites. International Driving Permits An International Driving Permit allows you to drive a private motor vehicle in many countries without further formality. Motoring In Europe When motoring in Europe , there are numerous rules and regulations, bye laws and procedures that differ from country to country. Special discounts are available to AA Members and Car/Home Insurance customers with Irish Ferries and Stena line - Applies to bookings made for Irish Ferries and Stena Line motoring fares. For more details call AA Travel: 01 6179988 Legal Information AA Ireland Ltd. trading as AA Insurance is a Multi-Agency Intermediary regulated by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Links Travel Insurance Application Form Your Options: @ AARoadwatch.ie AA Roadwatch Traffic Update Flights Bus Rail Ferries Car Parking Events News & Advice Dublin News Petrol Prices Driving Tips Route Planning Golden Spider Award Winners! AAIreland.ie wins Best E-Commerce Web Site Award 2004. Insurance News Home Insurance For a quick quote contact: 01 6179300 Car Insurance For a quick quote contact: 01 6179950 Travel Insurance Special Rates for AA Members. For details contact: 01 6179988 //-- AA Ireland, 56 Drury Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 (0)1 617 9999. Fax: + 353 (0)1 617 9900. Email: aa@aaireland.ie

Family Vacations youll ever

Winter Vacations at Smugglers' Notch Vermont Smugglers' Notch, Vermont - Voted the #1 Resort for Family Programs in North America for 7 years by the readers of SKI Magazine! A ski vacation at Smugglers Notch Vermont is one of the best Vermont Family Vacations youll ever experience and, as you can see, were not the only ones who think so! SKI Magazine Readers have voted us Number One for Family Programs in North America for 7 years! This year, they also voted us: · Number One Resort Overall in the Eastern U.S. · Number One for Lodging in the Eastern U.S. · Number One for Service in the Eastern U.S. · Number One for Off-Hill Activities in New England! Weve designed our family vacation packages with your winter family vacation in mind. Our Vermont ski packages include 3 big mountains of skiing, snowboarding, snow blading or ski blading. Plus, your familys vacation package will include award-winning childrens ski lessons and childrens snowboard lessons (including your teens) with upgrades to full-day camps available at a great value. Off-slope, indoor activities include an indoor pool, Family Entertainment Center and two teen centers and we also offer a variety of dining and evening entertainment for families and adults right here at Smuggs. Also included in your winter family vacation package is a long list of daily outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow tubing, ice skating and Winter Walking. We also have lots of optional activities for skiers and non-skiers to choose from; snowmobiling, dog sledding, air boarding, massage, art workshops and more! No matter how you spend your day - you'll be happy to return to your mountainside condominium lodging nestled in the snow-covered Green Mountains of Vermont. Our experienced Vacation Planners will help you with all the details prior to your arrival so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the Winter Family Vacation of a Lifetime. Come visit Smugglers Notch Vermont this Winter and discover why were Americas Family Resort. Winter Read the awards Family Vacation Packages Ski & Ride Info Snow Report Winter Children's Programs Winter Kids Programs Winter Teen Programs Family Reunions Group Vacations Ski School Adult Programs Snowboarding XC Skiing Snowshoe and Nordic Ski Center Lift Ticket and Season Pass Rates Make Your Winter Reservation Online Winter Events Calendar Summer Family Vacation Packages Make Your Summer Reservation Online Resort Amenities Summer Children's Programs Summer Kids Programs Summer Teen Programs Family Reunions Group Vacations Summer Events Calendar Summer Fun Options Fall Family Vacation Packages Resort Amenities Fall Kids Programs Fall Children's Programs Fall Family Activities Foliage Tours & Day Trips All Seasons Family Vacations Vacation Homeowners RCI Visitors Ownership Opportunities Smugglers' Notch Press Box Privacy Policy America's Family Resort is a service mark, and Smugglers' Notch Vermont, Smugglers' Notch Resort, Smuggs, FamilyFest, Snow Sport University, Summer Fun University and the accompanying designs are registered service marks of Smugglers' Notch Resort. Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont ® America’s Family Resort SM Request a FREE Planning Guide & DVD Enter to WIN a Winter Vacation! Make Your Winter 2005-2006 Vacation Reservation Today! >>> Gift Certificates for the Holidays! Special Winter Vacation Values >>> T No Bull Snow Report Wed, Dec 28, 2005 - 03:12 PM Trails Open: 60 Lifts Operating: 8 Current Weather: Partly sunny skies and 32 degrees at Sterling Summit with winds of 1 to 5 mph. New Snow: 4 inches of new snow in the past 48 hours! Comments: Top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains! 2005-2006 Season Passes & Bash Badges HOME EMPLOYMENT ENVIRONMENT OWNER INTRANET PRESS PRIVACY SPONSORS CORPORATE CONTACT US SITE MAP Smugglers' Notch Resort, 4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Smugglers' Notch, VT 05464-9537 phone: 1-800-451-8752 fax: 1-802-644-1230 email: smuggs@smuggs.com © 2005 Smugglers' Notch Resort. All rights reserved. LOG IN LODGING & REAL ESTATE SKIING & SNOWBOARDING CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS ACTIVITIES & AMENITIES PLAN YOUR VACATION SMUGGS JUKEBOX ACCOMMODATIONS & FLOOR PLANS RESORT MAP VACATION OWNERSHIP & REAL ESTATE OWNER INTRANET RCI WATER PARKS & POOLS FUNMEISTER’S CLUBHOUSE TREASURES CHILD CARE CENTER TEEN CENTERS TENNIS CENTERS GOLF DRIVING RANGE MINI-GOLF VIDEO ARCADE PLAYGROUNDS PETTING PEN CABLE TV, INTERNET & CELLULAR SERVICES EXPERIENCE OUR MOUNTAINS TRAIL MAP TERRAIN PARKS & SUPERPIPE GLADED TERRAIN MOUNTAIN STATS & LIFT HOURS DAY LODGES TRAIL BY TRAIL HUGH’S BLOG & PHOTO OF THE DAY WEATHER FORECAST INDOOR POOL & HOT TUBS FUNZONE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER TREASURES CHILD CARE CENTER TEEN CENTERS DAY LODGES CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING VIDEO ARCADE CABLE TV, INTERNET & CELLULAR SERVICES ACCOMMODATIONS & FLOOR PLANS RESORT MAP VACATION OWNERSHIP & REAL ESTATE OWNER INTRANET RCI ACCOMMODATIONS & FLOOR PLANS RESORT MAP VACATION OWNERSHIP & REAL ESTATE OWNER INTRANET RCI POOLS FUNMEISTER’S CLUBHOUSE TREASURES CHILD CARE CENTER TENNIS CENTER MINI-GOLF DISC GOLF VIDEO ARCADE PLAYGROUNDS CABLE TV, INTERNET & CELLULAR SERVICES WATERPARKS & POOLS EXPERIENCE OUR MOUNTAINS HIKES & WALKS TENNIS GOLF OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WEATHER 360 DEGREE VIEWS AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES VERMONT COUNTRY FAIR EVENING ENTERTAINMENT DAY TRIPS CANOEING & KAYAKING WINTER WALKING CROSS COUNTRY SKIING SNOWSHOE TOURS SNOWMOBILE TOURS DOG SLEDDING AIRBOARDING TUBE SLIDING ICE SKATING SMUGGS 3 MOUNTAINS SNOW REPORT PHOTOS & VIDEOS EVENTS LIFT TICKETS & PASSES CHILDREN’S LESSONS & PROGRAMS ADULT LESSONS & PROGRAMS EQUIPMENT CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH SKI & SNOWBOARD CLUB DRIVING DIRECTIONS TRANSPORTATION & SHUTTLE SERVICES POOLS EXPERIENCE OUR MOUNTAINS HIKES & WALKS TENNIS GOLF COURSES NEARBY MINI-GOLF DISC GOLF OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WEATHER CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS & CAMPS TEEN CENTERS & EVENTS TREASURES CHILD CARE CENTER BABYSITTING ONLINE KIDS’ FUN ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS GUIDED HIKES & WALKS SELF-GUIDED HIKES & WALKS HIKING TRAIL MAP PHOTO OF THE DAY PHOTO ARCHIVE VIDEOS 360 DEGREE VIEWS CHILDREN’S LESSONS & PROGRAMS TEEN CENTERS & EVENTS TREASURES CHILD CARE CENTER BABYSITTING ON-LINE KIDS’ FUN ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS CHILD CARE - 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS KIDS’ CONNECTION - 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS BABYSITTING ON-LINE KIDS’ FUN GUIDED HIKES & WALKS SELF-GUIDED HIKES & WALKS HIKING TRAIL MAP RESORT AMENITIES RESTAURANTS & LOUNGES FAMILY ACTIVITIES TEEN ACTIVITIES ADULT ACTIVITIES HEALTH & WELLNESS MASSAGE ARTS & CRAFTS WORKSHOPS SHOPPING EVENTS THE SURROUNDING AREA TRANSPORTATION & SHUTTLE SERVICES EXPLORE SMUGGS WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE TEEN CENTERS & EVENTS TEEN PROGRAMS 11-15 YEARS TEEN PROGRAMS 16-17 YEARS EVENING ENTERTAINMENT TENNIS CENTER ADULT TENNIS PROGRAMS CHILDREN’S TENNIS PROGRAMS COURT RENTAL & PRIVATE INSTRUCTION INDOOR ACTIVITIES OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES EVENING ENTERTAINMENT DAY TRIPS RESORT AMENITIES OUTDOOR ADVENTURES RESTAURANTS & LOUNGES FAMILY ACTIVITIES TEEN ACTIVITIES ADULT ACTIVITIES ARTS & CRAFTS WORKSHOPS MASSAGE & YOGA SHOPPING EVENTS THE SURROUNDING AREA TRANSPORTATION & SHUTTLE SERVICES EXPLORE SMUGGS WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE RESORT AMENITIES RESTAURANTS & LOUNGES ACTIVITIES DAY TRIPS ART WORKSHOPS MASSAGE SHOPPING EVENTS THE SURROUNDING AREA WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE VACATION PACKAGES & RATES REQUEST A QUOTE MAKE A RESERVATION SPECIAL OFFERS REUNIONS GROUP VACATIONS & MEETINGS REQUEST A VACATION PLANNING GUIDE & DVD BUILD A CUSTOM BROCHURE READ BEFORE YOU PACK TRAVEL INFO DRIVING DIRECTIONS DAYTIME ACTIVITIES EVENING ENTERTAINMENT DAY TRIPS BIG KIDS’ CAMP CANOEING & KAYAKING DISC GOLF FISHING LLAMA TREKS DRIVING RANGE ADULT GOLF PROGRAMS CHILDREN’S GOLF PROGRAMS GOLF COURSES NEARBY MINI-GOLF LIFT TICKET RATES SEASON PASSES & BASH BADGES DISCOUNTED TICKETS & SPECIALS GIFT CERTIFICATES CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOE TRAIL PASSES MULTI-WEEK KIDS PROGRAMS LEARN TO SKI & SNOWBOARD PROGRAMS VACATION PACKAGES INDOOR ACTIVITIES OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES EVENING ENTERTAINMENT VACATION PACKAGES & RATES REQUEST A QUOTE MAKE A RESERVATION SPECIAL OFFERS GROUP VACATIONS & MEETINGS REQUEST A VACATION PLANNING GUIDE & DVD BUILD A CUSTOM BROCHURE READ BEFORE YOU PACK PERFECT VACATION GUIDE DRIVING DIRECTIONS TRAVEL INFORMATION VACATION PACKAGES & RATES MAKE A RESERVATION SPECIAL OFFERS REQUEST A QUOTE MOTORCOACH TOURS GROUP VACATIONS & MEETINGS REUNIONS REQUEST A VACATION PLANNING GUIDE READ BEFORE YOU PACK TRAVEL INFO DRIVING DIRECTIONS BIG KIDS’ CAMP CANOEING & KAYAKING DISC GOLF GEOCACHING LLAMA TREKS MOUNTAIN BOARDING & DIGGLING CLIMBING ADVENTURES BIKING FISHING INDOOR ACTIVITIES OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES EVENING ENTERTAINMENT DAY TRIPS DAILY PROGRAMS MULTI-WEEK PROGRAMS SHOPPING AT THE RESORT ON-LINE SHOPPING SHOPPING IN THE AREA SALES RENTALS & DEMOS TUNING & REPAIR CANOEING & KAYAKING BIKING FISHING AREA RESTAURANTS AREA ATTRACTIONS CULTURAL HERITAGE SHOPPING IN THE AREA SHOPPING AT THE RESORT ON-LINE SHOPPING SHOPPING IN THE AREA SHOPPING AT THE RESORT ON-LINE SHOPPING SHOPPING IN THE AREA AREA RESTAURANTS AREA ATTRACTIONS CULTURAL HERITAGE SHOPPING IN THE AREA AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES RESORT SHUTTLE AREA RESTAURANTS AREA ATTRACTIONS CULTURAL HERITAGE SHOPPING IN THE AREA AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES RESORT SHUTTLE BURLINGTON SKI BUS AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES RESORT SHUTTLE BURLINGTON SKI BUS

Taiwan travel guide Hostel

Flights to Taiwan | Travel Guide home hostels apartments hotels travel guide tours flights rail insurance faq | about us | | contact us Taiwan travel guide Hostel Reservations > Taiwan Hostels > Changhua Hostels > Hualien Hostels > Keelung Hostels > Taichung City Hostels > Taipei Hostels Hotel Reservations > Taiwan Hotels > Changhua Hotels > Taichung City Hotels > Taipei Hotels Tours by Continent > Europe Tours > Asia Tours > Africa Tours > North America Tours > South America Tours > Oceania Tours Top 10 Hostel Destinations 1 Hostels In London 2 Hostels In Rome 3 Hostels In Paris 4 Hostels In Dublin 5 Hostels In Venice 6 Hostels In Barcelona 7 Hostels In Amsterdam 8 Hostels In Madrid 9 Hostels In Florence 10 Hostels In Prague A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z You are here: youth-hostels-in > Travel Guides > Flights to Taiwan Taiwan Location : Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China Capital City : Taipei Curreny : new Taiwan dollar (TWD) Languages Spoken : Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects Climate : tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year National Holiday : Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911) Background Information In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan, however it reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native population within its governing structure. This culminated in 2000, when Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island has prospered to become one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform. Geographical Note strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait Economy Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities. In keeping with this trend, some large government-owned banks and industrial firms are being privatized. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8% during the past three decades. Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialization. The trade surplus is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Agriculture contributes 2% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved offshore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam; 50,000 Taiwanese businesses are established in China. Because of its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from the Asian financial crisis in 1998-99. The global economic downturn, however, combined with poor policy coordination by the new administration and increasing bad debts in the banking system, pushed Taiwan into recession in 2001, the first whole year of negative growth since 1947. Unemployment also reached a level not seen since the 1970s oil crisis. Religions mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5% Ports : Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung International Disputes - Risks to travellers : involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China You are here: youth-hostels-in > Travel Guides > Flights to Taiwan Home | Hostels | Apartments | Hotels | Travel Guide | Tours | Flights | Rail Passes | Travel Insurance | Resources | Exchange Rates Hostels in Europe | Hostels in Asia | Africa Hostels | North America Hostels | South America Hostels | Oceania Hostels | Countries London Hostels | Amsterdam Hostels | Paris Hostels | New York Hostels | Dublin Hostels | Venice Hostels | Rome Hostels | Sydney Hostels Barcelona Hostels | Prague Hostels | Florence Hostels | Milan Hostels | Los Angeles Hostels | Manchester Hostels | Edinburgh Hostels Singapore Hostels | San Francisco | Hawaii Hostels | Italy Hostels | Ireland Hostels | France Hostels | Scotland Hostels | Australia Hostels A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z © 2004 - 2005 Youth-Hostels-In.com

Europe Travel 101 -

Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the First Time 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 Europe Travel 101 - Before you take that first trip to Europe Here's a suggested timeline for things an independent traveler needs to do before heading off to that European destination. Thinking about taking an independent trip to Europe? Below you'll find topics to consider before you take off. The recommended time before departure that you should be taking action is found in the colored bar on the left. In the gray box on the right you'll find links leading to more detailed information on any of the topics. Like most planning guides, this is a tool meant to simply remind you what you need to do when to make the standard vacation go as smoothly as possible. Although the list may seem daunting to you, you'll find that many of the tasks are optional. Unless otherwise noted, most of the planning tasks can be done earlier than recommended. A shorter, unannotated list with resources can be found here . A printable checklist can be found here . Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute What You Need to Do Resources 6 months before you go - Choose Your Destination! Now (or even sooner) is the time to choose your general destination. There are lots of resources on the right to help you. Remember that while Europe is quite compact compared to the US, the travel times between countries may be longer than you think. Once you've chosen your primary destination, you'll be able to go on to the next things on the list. Language Let's say you've chosen France as your destination and you'd really like to get to know the country and its people. Well, now is the time to start thinking of learning a bit of the language. A single beginner's course in spoken French at your local community college will teach you the basics cheaply enough. We also have extensive resources for learning European languages here on the About network. Please, at least think about learning the "politeness" words--natives will thank you for trying and will likely be more receptive to your questions. See Languages for the Tourist on the right to find out how easy it is. Renting a House or Apartment Now is the time to think about reserving that perfect apartment for the week (or month). You can wait until later to do this, but the best go fast. Living in the country you're visiting gets you into the swing of daily life: you'll be able to go to the open air markets and cook the food you buy, you won't have to think about maids (unless you want to) or checking in, and things can be as secure as you make them. Guidebooks Once you've figured out where you'd like to spend most of your time, it may be time to pick out a guidebook. You can purchase guidebooks that cover all of Western Europe, just a single country, or even a province or region like Tuscany. Choosing a Destination: Travel Planning Europe Planning Map Clickable Europe map with links to Country maps and Travel Essentials. How I Travel Europe Europe and Fading Traditions: Go Soon! Weather -Climate - When to Go Language: Languages for the Tourist Rentals Unusual Lodging Lodging Links Guidebooks Top European Guidebooks 3-4 months before you go - Start Checking Airfares You can start checking sooner--although we've found searching 3-4 months before your flight is a pretty good bet; the airlines are starting to discount in order to reward early bookers and yet there's still time to wait if prices aren't to your liking. The airline computers are constantly revising the pricing based on the latest demand, so the cheapest prices might turn up anytime--but you might not want to wait that long. Use the Finding Bargain Airfares link if you're unfamiliar with the bargain hunting process. Apply for a Passport if you don't already have one If you don't have a passport, this is the time to start thinking of applying. While the literature says it takes 6 weeks to procure a US passport, you don't want to leave it to the last possible moment--it's a vacation killer if something goes wrong. And despite what you may have heard or read in the past, a separate passport is required for each and every family member traveling with you. First-time applicants 13 years of age and over must appear in person at a U.S. passport office, a designated courthouse or the Post Office. You'll need a birth certificate or proof of citizenship, a photo identification, two recent 2" x 2" photos of your face, and a bundle of money. You'll find the latest requirements and downloadable application form by clicking Passport Links there on the right. (You don't need a health certificate in Western Europe and you won't need to worry about a visa as long as you're staying fewer than 90 days and aren't going to Turkey.) Shoes and Walking Now is a good time to pick up some walking shoes and start getting them broken in. You'll walk a lot in Europe, even if you have a car; much of the city centers in Europe are pedestrian only zones. Be prepared. Airfares Finding Bargain Airfares Passports Passport Links Where to go to apply, a downloadable application form, and how to make it as easy as possible. 6 weeks to 2 months before you go - Reserve Lodging - Hotel If you haven't already reserved the hotels you've seen on the web and fallen in love with, now is the time to do so. But do you need to reserve in every city you're planning to visit? Here's what I do: I reserve a hotel for my arrival and departure days as well as any long-term apartment rentals I've selected. The rest I leave to chance. You may feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, but, with a few exceptions, it's worked just fine for me. When traveling by train, I prefer to arrive at my destination early, take a hotel by the train station and just drop my bags there and explore the city on foot. You can read the whole strategy in my Footloose Travel article. Car or Train? If you haven't already chosen, now would be a good time to select your primary mode of transportation. Select Train or Car? from the links on the right if you just can't seem to decide which is best for what you want to see. Rail Pass Do you need one? Here are some tips: Trains in the south-Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece--are pretty cheap. If you're going to one or several of these places you might find that a pass isn't necessary. Just go to the station and buy a ticket. EurRail passes offer great savings if you plan right. For a saver pass you'll need to plan to take several long trips so that you can spend the travel days mostly on the train. Save money by going overnight; you'll save on hotel costs and make maximum use of your pass. Check the types of passes available carefully, to use them to an advantage, you may have to juggle some travel plans. Car Rental or Leasing and an International Driver's License Leasing a car is sometimes better than renting, especially if you're staying in Europe for more than 17 days. Leasing gets you a brand new car without rental company stickers on it and the pricing includes everything you need. When you turn it in at the end of your trip a lucky European will get to purchase that almost-new car for much less than a completely new one (This comes about because taxes on a new car are much higher than the taxes on even a slightly used one, so both parties benefit from this arrangement). If you've chosen driving as your primary mode of transport in Europe, you should get an International Driver's License . Available at Auto Clubs, they're just a translation of your License into European languages. Sometimes police won't demand them, accepting your original license instead. But still, it doesn't hurt to get one, and they're pretty cheap. A couple of passport-sized pictures are required. Even though you can usually just walk into your auto club and come out with an International Driver's License, I recommend not putting this off: the paperwork needed is often "out of stock." Lodging Accommodation Links You can also find lodging in specific countries or cities by going to a specific destination page. Footloose Travel Striking a balance between travel freedom and overplanning. Hotel Star Ratings Do you know what they mean? How I Travel in Europe Just in case you want to know. Transportation within Europe Rent or Lease? Train or Car? Driving in Europe Links Transportation Links European Train Travel Links 1 Month before you go - Travel Insurance Now is the time to think about insurance. If your health insurance doesn't cover you overseas, or your homeowners insurance doesn't cover loss of material goods, then there are some temporary plans that might set your mind at ease. Check our Insurance Links for more. Luggage How's your luggage? Is it easy to carry? Got more than a foot and a half of duct tape holding it together? If you want to be mobile, maybe you want to see if you can fit everything into a carry-on. It's not all that hard to do in the summer when you probably won't be needing heavy clothes. Rick Steves recommends walking around with all the stuff you think you'll need, then discarding half of it. I like the method I learned in Boy Scouts. Separate everything into three piles: stuff you absolutely need and use often, stuff you'll use occasionally, and stuff you probably won't use at all. Then eliminate the last two piles. Remember: Europe isn't lacking material goods. If you need a heavy sweater because it's unusually cold in August, chances are you won't be more then 50 feet from someone who'll sell you a great one. Don't forget, laundries are pretty easy to find (but usually expensive) and laundromats are are starting to show up in most popular tourist areas. Besides, if you rent a house or apartment it may include a clothes washer and possibly a dryer (but more probably a clothesline). Cameras If you've bought one for this trip, learn how to use it. If you need one, now is the time to purchase--don't put it off until the last minute and then end up standing in front of the Louvre all befuddled because you can't figure the danged thing out. Film If you're going to use film (how so very 90's!) you might consider purchasing one of those lead-lined bags to take it in. These reduce (but don't eliminate) the radiation from airport x-ray machines and thus the chance of film fogging. What I do to bypass this possibility is to buy and process my film in Europe. Sure, guidebooks say film and processing is more expensive overseas (but not much these days), but I look at it this way: are you gonna worry about fogging or are you willing to spend a buck and a half more per roll for peace of mind out of the thousands you're gonna spend on your vacation in total. Seems like false economy to me. Plus I get to show my pictures around to other travelers while I'm in Europe. Cell Phones If you need to be in constant touch with the office or someone special, you can rent cell phones that work throughout Europe. Often your car rental company can handle this, or you can check our Cell Phone Rental links for companies that'll rent phones for the short term. Email It's time to think about how you're going to handle your email in Europe, if that's important to you. If you have several accounts you want to check, you'll need to set up an online system for getting all your email. I use webbox , but other options are explained in the article Staying Connected . Money Yeah, it's time to get the long green together. I take some traveler's checks as a back-up, but mostly use the plentiful ATM machines in Europe to get cash. You need to have a 4-digit pin number to use many European ATMs. Watch one thing though: plan to have enough money to last through weekends--some people are reporting that certain banks in Europe don't update the customer's daily limit on Saturdays and Sundays and so if you've maxed out your daily allowance on Friday, you might find that you can't get more until Monday. You might also think about getting some Euros (or local currency for countries that don't use Euros) for the first day or two, if only to get used to them and assure yourself that you'll be able to afford a coffee in the airport. How much Money? Well, that varies, of course. A couple like Martha and I can get by on on $150 a day in most Mediterranean countries, although it's becoming a stretch these days. That'll get you a two or three star hotel with breakfast and two other meals taken in a restaurant with wine, plus entrance fees to museums and such. It's an average over the whole period of vacation--some days you'll get soaked, some days you'll find bargains. Students and the young-at-heart set willing to stay in hostels and eat street food or make their own grub in the Hostel kitchen will be able to do it for much less, of course. Keeping your money and documents secure You'll need a way to keep your passport and important items away from thieves. While Europe is still safer from violent crimes than the US, high tourist volumes in major cities tend to attract the slash and run crowd. Use a money belt or pouch that goes inside your clothing like seasoned travelers do. Keep your passport and important documents together in it. Don't wear a fanny pack with the pack turned around to actually ride on your fanny. It looks stupid and is a magnet for thieves. Women should avoid big purses with shoulder straps as those straps can be cut easily and the purse removed by a well-trained thief in seconds. Whatever can be said about European petty thieves and pickpockets one thing stands out when you talk to people who've been hit: they're good at what they do. Find recommended security stuff and other indispensable items under Travel Accessories . Voltage and Plugs European voltage is twice that of the wimpy American 110. The wall plugs are different as well. If you plan on using electrical appliances you may need to purchase adapters and power converters now. Check out my article European Electricity and the Connected Tourist for the skinny on what you'll need to make your stuff work in Europe. Me? I don't carry much more than the battery charger I bought in Italy to recharge my digital camera's batteries. Maps You should be far enough along in your travel planning to think about what maps you'll need.If you're in a car and like to get off the main highways, you'll need to purchase good maps. We use Michelin country and regional maps when we drive, purchasing the regional maps for areas we're staying in for a week or longer. You can get European driving maps from your auto club, but they're often not detailed enough to get you to the back roads. Keeping in Touch If you're the postcard-writing type, you'll need to have a means of keeping all those addresses where you can find them. Before the era of PDAs and email, I made sheets of labels for everyone who'd want a postcard so I could just slap one on and be done with it. Now I email friends and keep all their addresses on my Palm Pilot. Check for Travel Dangers The US government doesn't just meddle in overseas affairs, it also alerts travelers to dangers and uprisings in other countries. You might want to check conditions now and right before you leave. Travel Insurance Insurance Links Luggage Top Carry-On Luggage Packing Tips Cameras Before you buy a digital camera for travel Top Compact Digital Cameras for Travel Top Semi-pro Cameras for Travel Olympus D40 Review Oneof the best compact digitals I've come across. Cell Phone Rentals Cell Phone Rental Companies Purchase a Cell Phone Email Staying Connected Cybercafe Links Staying Connected Links Money/Currency Money Matters ATM Finder Travel Accessories Top Travel Accessories Clip-on Security Wallet (review) Voltage and Plugs European Electricity and the Connected Tourist Maps Michelin Maps (compare prices) It's easier to buy the maps over the web--distribution to many stores seems spotty at best, and many times they're unsorted, making finding what you want a miserable experience. Keeping in Touch The Travel Writer's Toolkit Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Last minute - Oops, Forgot the Passport. Help! Well, you can get one expedited, especially if you already have tickets. See our Passport Expediting Company links for more. Make Copies Now is the time to think about keeping back-ups of your travel documents. Make at least two photocopies of your itinerary, your passport information page (the one with your picture and passport number) and copies of your credit cards showing the cc numbers. Give one copy to your mother, or someone else you trust and can get a hold of any time of day or night. Keep a copy of your passport and credit card info with you but in a different place than the original items. Final Check The basic stuff you need to carry are these: Passport, tickets, car rental agreements, hotel reservation receipts, credit cards, medications (and prescriptions, if required), addresses/password information and an open mind with a sense of wonder. Check them twice. Then go have fun in Europe. Passport Problems Passport Expediting Companies Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! 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