Switzerland Travel

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... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors        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 Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... 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...

South America Travel

South & Central America. Peru Tours and Ecuador Tours, Galapagos Tours, Machu Picchu, Amazon Rainforest. 1.800.344.6118 { contact us } Home · Testimonials · In the News · Tour Index · About Us · Once You're Booked · Lodging · Discounts South America Amazon Tours Argentina Tours Bolivia Tours Chile Tours Ecuador Tours Galapagos Tours Patagonia Tours Peru Tours Central America Belize Tours Costa Rica Tours Guatemala Tours Panama Tours Antarctica Antarctica Tours Our Newsletter - Text - HTML Newsletter Archive Gift Registry Family Travel Supplement Press Kit Employment Opportunities Questions about a tour? Contact us with your questions. Technical Problem? Contact the webmaster for assistance. Are you a Travel Agent? Click here to Contact us. Peru Tours - Machu Picchu, the Inca city of Cusco, hiking the Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca, the Amazon, ... Galapagos Tours & Cruises - Choose from over 40 yachts for your wildlife cruise in Darwin's amazing Galapagos. Chile Tours - Be tempted with a trek through Torres del Paine, the Atacama Desert, a wine tour in the vineyards of Santiago Belize Tours - Stunning snorkeling & scuba, island to island sea kayaking, Maya ruins, jungle adventures, Last Minute Savings for Galapagos Save up to $1,000/person on a Dec 31, 2005, 10 Day Tour on the Lammer Law, Evolution or Mistral. 20% off the Maryshev 20% off the Aleksey Maryshev's Feb 2, 2006, cruise to Antarctica and the Weddell Sea! 20% off the Polar Star 20% off the Polar Star's Feb 25, 2006, cruise to Antarctica, S. Georgia, and the Falklands! Bienvenidos (Welcome) ! See us in USA Today! Let us introduce you to the local culture and brilliant landscapes of the Andes, Amazon, Galapagos, Central America and Antarctica! At Adventure Life, we love travel and we love the people and places we visit. We've traveled, studied, worked and lived in these wonderful places and we want you to share in our experiences and enthusiasm. Our customers are looking for something distinctive, something personal. Visit the historic Panama Canal. Explore the Pacuare Nature Reserve on a Costa Rica trip. Snorkel in the crystal waters of Belize! Whether interested in a family Guatemala adventure, or custom Tikal ruins tour, we offer unique itineraries to suit any adventurer. Adventure Life is committed to providing quality small group tours that have a positive impact on the local culture and environment. Groups are rarely larger than twelve, and each tour is designed by the company's founder with the goal of providing a fun and exciting holiday, while creating a better understanding between travelers and our wonderful hosts. We invite the questions and comments you might have while planning your trip. Our first hand knowledge of Latin America means we can answer nearly any question that you might have regarding our destinations. We specialize in Costa Rica vacations, Belize tours, the ruins of Tikal, Guatemala trips, Panama travel, as well as a number of adventures to the Andes, Peru, Galapagos, Ecuador, Amazon, Bolivia and Antarctica. Please feel free to contact us with any of your travel questions. Wait. What am I saying? This isn't just travel. My friends, this is adventure. So how about it - are you ready? Adventure Life News Our Gift To You – 10% Savings On Your Holiday In The Galapagos! I can hardly believe it myself; we still have spaces left on a few of our Galapagos holiday departures! Join us for our 10-day tour of the Islands and celebrate the season among blue-footed boobies, iguanas, giant tortoises and Galapagos penguins in one the most unique and untouched ecosystems in the world. And to sweeten this Galapagos travel treat, we are now offering a 10% discount on our remaining island holiday departures! Discover for yourself what others have found so enchanting about this amazing archipelago that has captivated the imagination of adventurers, biologists, ecologists and travelers for centuries. To find out more about Galapagos travel, click here . 2 spaces available – departing Dec 23rd aboard the Fragata. Prices starting at $1566 2 spaces available – departing Dec 20th aboard the Coral I (moon suite). Prices starting $2979 Read Newsletter » Adventure Travel Possiblities Costa Rica Tours click here » Travel to Costa Rica puts you in the heart of an ecotourism mecca. Costa Rica vacations are ideally suited for multisport adventures. Climb into the canopy and explore the jungle of Costa Rica before heading to the beach or visiting an active volcano. Plan your Costa Rica tour to include horseback riding, whitewater rafting, surfing, or searching for giant leatherback turtles. Argentina Tours click here » An Argentina tour takes you through a spectacular variety of scenery, from wind-sculpted desert to the snow-capped peaks of Patagonia. Travel to Argentina offers opportunities for both outdoor adventure and cultural discovery. From the gauchos of the Argentine steppe to the tango dancers in Buenos Aires, the people of Argentina are a proud and passionate lot. A South America tour isn't complete without taking in this fascinating country. Guatemala Tours click here » For most travelers, the thought of Guatemala tourism brings to mind the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal. Indeed, no Guatemala tour is complete without a journey to the sprawling jungle-covered metropolis, but there is so much more Guatemala adventure in store! The picturesque volcanic highlands of Guatemala are home to thriving indigenous populations and their rich culture. Intricate regional weavings, bustling markets, and stately colonial cities are just some of the gems to discover on your Guatemala vacation. Patagonia Tours click here » The name Patagonia stirs the souls of adventurers. A Patagonia trip is a chance to see the end of the world, where you'll find emerald-colored glacial lakes and towering granite spires. Whether you're trekking in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, sailing the waters around the historic island of Chiloe, or visiting the famous Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentinean Patagonia, your Patagonia adventure will be memorable. Panama Tours click here » Any elementary history book can brief you on the importance of the Panama Canal, but what the textbooks fail to represent is the incredible texture of the "eighth wonder of the world," and the rest of the region. Panama travel includes snorkeling in the turquoise waters surrounding the islands of Bocas del Toro, and whitewater rafting on the Chiriqui. Relax at the ecological lodge, Sapibenga, on its private San Blas island and discover the colorful culture of the Kuna people. For the nature lover, the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park offers a vast variety of wildlife to explore and admire on your Panama vacation. Antarctica Tours click here » Although it's the most isolated continent, Antarctica is far from barren and lifeless. On an Antarctica cruise you'll likely see great whales, millions of seals, and teeming colonies of comical penguins, among other wildlife. Our Antarctica cruise ships vary in size and style, so you're sure to find one that's right for you. Join us on a trip to Antarctica to explore the last unspoiled continent on earth! the international ecotourism society international mountain explorers connection america outdoors international association of antarctica tour operators leave no trace international galapagos tour operators association Adventure Life • 1655 S 3rd St. W, Suite 1 • Missoula, MT 59801 • 1-800-344-6118 :: Site Map ::

Russia Travel Guide Overview

Russia Travel Tips and Advice | iExplore.com FORBES' #1 ADVENTURE TRAVEL SITE 5 YEARS IN A ROW — TIME MAGAZINE TOP 50 Keyword Search: -- Home Trip Finder Travel Guides Community Special Offers Store My iExplore advertisement -- Home Travel Guides Europe Russia Do's and Don'ts Russia Travel Guide Overview Tours Where to Go Activities General Info History Weather Travel Tips Dining Shopping Visa & Health View Trips to Russia Europe Overview Browse Russia Photos Russia Questions and Answers Read Russia Journals Find a Russia Travel Buddy Russia Travel Tips & Advice Social Conventions It is customary to shake hands when greeting someone. Company or business gifts are well received. Each region has its own characteristic mode of dress. Conservative wear is suitable for most places and the seasonal weather should always be borne in mind. Smoking is acceptable unless stated otherwise. Avoid ostentatious displays of wealth; it is advisable to keep expensive jewelry, watches and cameras out of sight and take precautions against pickpocketing. Tipping Hotels in Moscow and other large cities include a 10 to 15 per cent service charge. Otherwise 10 per cent is customary. International Travel: Travel warning Because of the security situation in the North Caucasus, it is strongly advised not to travel to Chechyna, Ingushetia, Dagestan, North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area) and to the eastern and southern parts of Stavropol Krai, particularly where it borders Chechnya and North Ossetia. Chechen militants have threatened further violence in response to the killing of their rebel leader, Aslan Maskhador, on March 8 2005. It is advised that potential travelers monitor this situation. There is a high threat from domestic terrorism in Russia, including suicide bombings in public places. Air The national airline is Aeroflot – Russian International Airlines (SU) (website: www.aeroflot.com ). Other airlines serving the Russian Federation include Air France , Austrian Airlines , British Airways , Czech Airlines , El Al , Finnair , Lufthansa and SAS Scandinavian Airlines . Approximate flight times From Moscow or St Petersburg to London is three hours 45 minutes. From Moscow to Almaty is four hours 40 minutes, to Baku is three hours 10 minutes, to Bukhara is three hours 40 minutes, to Kiev is one hour 45 minutes, to Minsk is one hour 20 minutes, to Odessa is two hours, to Samarkand is three hours 50 minutes and to Yerevan is two hours 50 minutes. International airports Moscow (SVO) (Sheremetyevo) (website: www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru ) is 35km (22 miles) northwest of the city. Taxis are available at the airport to the city center for approximately US$10-15 (travel time – 30 to 40 minutes). ‘Autoline’ fixed-route taxis and buses are also available. Express coaches depart for the city every 20 minutes (0545-0030). Coaches depart for the airport from the Central Air Terminal in Moscow, 37 Leningradsky Prospekt (travel time – 50 minutes for international flights). Express trains leave every 30 minutes. Airport facilities include outgoing duty free shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, car hire, restaurants and first aid. Moscow also has three primarily domestic airports: see Travel – Internal section. St Petersburg (LED) (Pulkovo) is 17km (10.5 miles) south of the city. Buses are available to the city center 0700-2000 every 10 minutes (travel time – 10 minutes). Taxis are available for roughly US$10 (travel time – 15 minutes). Airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change, flight information, duty free shops, restaurant, bar, snack bar, left luggage and first aid. Departure tax None. Rail There are various connections from London. The sleeper coach to Moscow takes about 53 hours. The main route is: London–Brussels–Cologne/Berlin–Moscow. The journey from London to Brussels can be made by a variety of train and ferry services (including via Eurostar ), or via the Channel Tunnel. Services from Brussels are daily. There are through trains or coaches from other Western and Eastern European cities, from CIS countries, and from China (PR), Iran, Mongolia and Turkey. See also Trans-Siberian Express in the Travel – Internal section. Road Foreign tourists may drive their own cars or may hire cars (see Travel – Internal ). The speed limit is 60kmph on minor roads, 90kmph on major roads and variable on highways. A road tax is payable upon entry to the country. The following crossing points between Finland and the Russian Federation are available: Vaalima–Torfianovska; Nuijamaa–Brusnichnoye and Rajajooseppi–Lotta. There are also crossing points between the Russian Federation and all neighboring countries although, at present, there are restrictions on cross-border travel to Azerbaijan and Georgia. Plans to simplify this process are currently underway. Those entering by car should have their visas registered at the hotel, motel or campsite where they will stay for the first night, and must also ensure that the car registration number is recorded in the visa. Travelers should also insure their vehicle with Ingosstrakh , which has offices at all crossing points and in most major cities, and to purchase service coupons at the border. Although motorcyclists can enter the Russian Federation, cyclists wishing to cross the Russian border should find out whether this is permissible from the Russian Embassy or their travel agent before departure. Eurolines , departing from Victoria Coach Station in London, serves destinations in the Russian Federation. For further information, contact Eurolines (tel: (08705) 143 219; e-mail: welcome@eurolines.co.uk ; website: www.eurolines.co.uk ). Duty free regulations are liable to change at short notice. The following should be used as a guide only, and travelers are advised to contact the Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date information. The following goods may be imported into the Russian Federation by persons of 16 years of age or older without incurring customs duty: 1000 cigarettes or 1kg of tobacco products ; 1 . 5l of spirits and 2l of wine ; a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use ; gifts up to the value of US$10,000 . Note On entering the country, tourists must complete a customs declaration form which must be retained until departure. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. Cameras, jewelry, computers and musical instruments should all be declared. Customs inspection can be long and detailed. It is advisable when shopping to ask for a certificate from the shop which states that goods have been paid for in hard currency. Presentation of such certificates should speed up customs formalities. Prohibited imports Photographs and printed matter directed against the Russian Federation, weapons and ammunition, narcotics, fruit, vegetables and live animals unless with a special permit. Prohibited exports Arms, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture), precious metals and furs. Note Up to 280g of caviar per person may be exported, provided a receipt is shown proving that it was bought at a store licensed to sell it to foreigners. Internal Travel: Air The internal network radiates from Moscow’s four airports. Aeroflot runs services from Moscow to most major cities. All-inclusive tours are available from specialist tour operators. Note: In the 1990s, Aeroflot was broken up into many small airlines which led to a catalog of air disasters earning it a reputation for poor safety. Thankfully, its safety record has improved in recent years. Domestic airports Vnukovo Airport (VKO) is 29.5km (18 miles) southwest of Moscow. Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal (travel time – one hour 15 minutes). Outgoing duty free facilities are available at the airport. Taxis are available to the city. Domodedovo (DME) is 48km (25 miles) southeast of Moscow. A coach goes from the Central Air Terminal to the airport (travel time – one hour 20 minutes). Bykovo Airport (BKA) is the smallest of Moscow’s airports, 35km from the city. Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal. Approximate flight times From Moscow to Bratsk is six hours 45 minutes, to Donetsk is one hour 30 minutes, to Irkutsk is seven hours, to Khabarovsk is seven hours 30 minutes, to Kharkov is one hour 15 minutes, to St Petersburg is one hour 30 minutes, to Volgograd is one hour 50 minutes and to Yalta is two hours 15 minutes. Sea Owing to its geographical position, the Russian Federation has ports on its Pacific and Baltic shores and in the south on the Black Sea. The most important eastern ports are Vladivostok, Magadan, Nakhodka and Petropavlovsk; the most important western ports are St Petersburg and Kaliningrad on the Baltic. The only links to the Atlantic are the ports of Murmansk on the Kola peninsula, which never freezes over and Archangelisk. Major harbors on the Black Sea are Novorossiysk and Sochi. There are plans to build an extension to the St Petersburg harbor at Ust-Luga. Upgrading of facilities at Kaliningrad and Vyborg is also planned. Sea cruises on the Black Sea and the Baltic are popular. River Cruises and excursions are available on the Amur, Don, Irtysh, Lena, Ob, Volga and Yenisey rivers. Many companies offer cruises on board comfortable, modern boats. The Volga towns, the Golden Ring and Moscow–St Petersburg are popular routes. Rail The 87,079km (54,109 miles) of track are a vital part of the infrastructure because of the poor road system. The largest and busiest rail network in the world is predominantly for freight traffic. Only a few long-distance routes are open for travel by tourists, and reservations must be made on all journeys. Children under five years of age travel free. Children aged five to nine pay half fare. Rail travelers are advised to store valuables in the compartment under the bed or seat and not to leave the compartment unattended. The Trans-Siberian Express , probably the most famous train in the world, is one of the best ways of seeing the interior of the country. It runs from Moscow to the Pacific coast of Siberia and on to Japan. There is a daily service, but the steamer from Nakhodka to Yokohama only sails approximately once a week. The through journey from Moscow to Yokohama takes 10 days. It is the world’s longest continuous train journey, crossing seven time zones and 9745km (5778 miles) from Europe to the Pacific, with 91 stops from Vladivostok to Moscow. Bed linen and towels are provided in the ‘Soft Class’ (first-class) berths, and there is a toilet and washbasin at the end of each carriage. Attendants serve tea from samovars for a small charge and there is a restaurant car on every train where meals can be purchased (however, no alcohol is available on the train, so passengers are advised to bring their own if desired). The Trans-Manchurian Express follows the same route, before heading southeast into China and down to Beijing. Another, slightly shorter but no less epic journey can be made on the Trans-Mongolian Railway to Beijing. It runs from Moscow to Irkutsk (Siberia), skirting Lake Baikal and then entering Mongolia. The journey to the Mongolian capital, Ulaan Baatar, is remarkable for its dramatic scenery. The journey concludes in Beijing. Road The European part of the Russian Federation depends heavily on its road network, which totals 552,000km (343,000 miles) throughout the Federation. Generally, the few roads in Siberia and further east are impassable during the winter. It is a good idea to arrange motoring holidays through a reputable agency. It is also advisable to pre-plan the itinerary and accommodation requirements. On the majority of tourist routes, signposts are also written in the Latin alphabet. Travelers can take their own car (see Travel – International ) or hire a vehicle; tariffs include the cost of insurance. Chauffeured cars are available in major cities. Sample distances: Moscow to St Petersburg: 692km (432 miles); Moscow to Minsk: 690km (429 miles); Moscow to Rostov-on-Don: 1198km (744 miles); Moscow to Odessa: 1347km (837 miles). Bus: Long-distance coach services have only recently become open to foreigners. They are a great way of seeing the country but patience is a necessity and getting lost is commonplace. Traffic regulations: Traffic drives on the right. Speeds are limited to 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas and 90kph (55mph) elsewhere. Hooting the horn is forbidden except when to do so might prevent an accident. Motorists should avoid driving at night if possible. It is forbidden to carry unauthorized passengers or pick up hitch-hikers. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is forbidden. Every car must display registration plates and stickers denoting the country of registration and be fitted with seat belts, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and an emergency sign (triangle) or red light. In case of an accident, contact the nearest traffic inspection officer and make sure all participants fill in written statements, to be witnessed by a militia inspector. All repairs will be at the foreign motorist’s expense. Documentation: An International Driving Permit and a national license with authorized translations are necessary. Visitors traveling in their own cars must also possess the following documents at all tmes: passport and visa; itinerary card bearing visitor’s name and citizenship, car registration number and full details of itinerary presented upon entry to the Russian Federation relating to the route to be taken and the date and place of stopovers; form provided by Customs on arrival guaranteeing that the car will be taken out of the Russian Federation on departure; petrol vouchers purchased at the border; and insurance cover documents. A road tax is payable upon entry to the country (see end of Travel – International ). Motor insurance for travel within the Russian Federation should be arranged prior to departure, or upon entry to the Russian Federation at the offices of Ingosstrakh , the Russian Federation foreign insurance agency. Contact the Embassy or a specialist tour operator for further details. Urban Public transport in the cities is comprehensive and cheap. Many services are electric traction (metro, tramway, trolleybus). Stations on the Moscow and St Petersburg metros are always elegant and often palatial. Entry to the underground is by tokens, which are inserted into the ticket barrier. Fares are standard for the various forms of transport. Taxis are also available; they can be hailed in the street, hired at a rank or booked by telephone. It is safer to use officially marked taxis, which should not be shared with strangers. Travel Times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Moscow to other major cities/towns in the Russian Federation: Air Rail Sea Khabarovsk 7.30 - - St Petersburg 1.30 9.00 - Irkutsk 7.00 88.00 - Nakhodka - - 141.00 Volgograd 1.30 - - Sponsored Listings ( Add your listing ) advertisement Advertisement -- advertisement Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us © 2005 Adventure Travel with iExplore --

London Vacation Rental, UK

London Vacation Apartment Rentals & Rental Homes In London, UK London Apartments & Houses for Rent, London Vacation Rental, UK Inquiry Form | List of all flats in London | London apartment search | Terms and Conditions | Home Apartments in Paris | Apartments in London | Villas & houses in Bali Paris Sweet Home offers fully-furnished London apartments for holiday rentals, self-catering in London. LONDON APARTMENT RENTAL Availability Search Number of Guests : 2 3 4 5 6 Area : All London areas Bankside Battersea Bayswater Belgravia Bloomsbury Chelsea Covent Garden Earls Court Fulham Holland Park Kensington Knightsbridge Marylebone Notting Hill E-mail : parissweethome@yahoo.com Ovington2 Square Apartment - Knightsbridge, London Price per night for 2 : Range #2 (288 us$ - 525 us$) This is the most desirable London postcode .In this immaculate and very quiet one bedroom holiday flat, visitors can share the owners high standard of living. Harrods and Harvey Nichols, here we come!....[ Photos of the flat ] Palace Place Mansions Apartment - Kensington, London Price per night for 6 : Range #2 (288 us$ - 525 us$) This is a family home in Kensington perfect for larger parties visiting London. The vast and magnificent Hyde Park is just across the road with fascinating Kensington Palace and Gardens.....[ Photos of the flat ] Sandwich Street Apartment - Bloomsbury, London Price per night for 2 : Range #1 (155 us$ - 288 us$) A rare opportunity to stay in the very heart of London, in the famous and celebrated Bloomsbury. The accommodation is in the most comfortable one bedroom apartment just a short walk away from the British Library and the British Museum....[ Photos of the flat ] P aris Sweet Home offers a large portfolio of privately owned apartments to rent in London. We arrange holiday rentals and business rentals for those visiting London and need short term accommodation. Staying in one of our luxury London rental apartments offers both the comfort and privacy unavailable in hotel rooms. Our short term vacation rentals allow our clients to experience London living. We can provide the perfect solution for family vacations, with a self contained family apartment or house to give both children and adults the benefit of their own personal space. Whether you are in London on business and need a short term flat to rent in the heart of the city or in one of London's boutique locations such as Chelsea, Knightsbridge or Kensington, Paris Sweet Home is the answer. You can rent a London apartment from one week to one year. Make an enquiry to Paris Sweet Home today ! HOW TO BOOK OUR LONDON APARTMENTS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY Please send us the Inquiry Form that you have already filled in online by clicking on the "Send" button. Make sure that you have selected at least one of our listed London apartments. Upon confirmation from us of the availability of the requested London furnished flats which will be valid for two business days, you can then proceed with a downpayment of 25% of the total rental value by effecting an international money transfer. It's necessary to inform us by e-mail as soon as you have effected your money transfer in order that the London self-catered apartment in question is put on hold for you immediately. If you have a reference given by your bank concerning your wire transfer, it will be of a great help for us. As soon as our bank account is credited with the requisited downpayment, an e-mail of reservation confirmation will be sent to you detailing instructions for check-in and all the necessary information and contacts pertaining to the selected London apartment. Thank you for using our services. Inquiry Form | List of all flats in London | London apartment search | Terms and Conditions | Home Apartments in Paris | Apartments in London | Villas & houses in Bali London Apartments & Houses for Rent, London Vacation Rental, UK London Vacation Apartment Rentals - Short Term London Apartment Rentals are provided by Paris Sweet Home. Paris Sweet Home Rosentalweg 9, 6340 Baar, Switzerland Firma-ID-No.: CH-170.2.000.982-1 Phone : + 41 41 761 07 06 Paris Sweet Home 2005. All rights reserved. Webmaster : webmaster@parissweethome.com

Asia Travel according to

Asia Travel - All about Asia Travel Asia Travel Hotels and Resorts Reservation Service World Travel Hotels and Resorts Reservation Service You may have already visited many of our hotels, resorts, travel and leisure establishments, scenic destinations, places of interest, and country travel information pages. Or perhaps you just arrived at our homepage ready for your exploration. In any event, we extend .... .. a very warm welcome and hope you enjoy your visit .. We hope that you find here, all the necessary information you need to plan your travel, or virtual travel. If there is some information that you cannot locate on our site, please feel free to e-mail us at info@asiatravel.com. We will do our best to supply the information you require. Our goal is to provide all information and necessary reservations for your business, or leisure travel. This information can be at your fingertips at home, at the office, or on the road. We are committed to bringing you a selection of hotel and resort accommodations in Asia, Pacific region, Middle East, USA and Europe. All the hotels and resorts on our site provide full information, such as rates and discounts, graphics of rooms, sport, recreation, function, food and cuisine facilities. Location and fact sheets are provided to ensure you a comfortable and memorable stay. All hotels and resorts are listed on Asia Travel according to the discounted room rates they are offering to the Internet User. This listing does not necessarily reflect the class rating of the hotel. For example, a 5 star property may be listed in the same rate category as a 3 star property due to the good discounts they are offering. All the information we put up on the hotels, resorts, and travel and leisure establishments is the official information supplied by the management and owners. All the information is checked and approved before it is activated online. Also constant updating is done to ensure such information is current. All hotels and resorts accept online enquiries and reservations through their online enquiry and reservation forms. All enquiry and reservation forms are programmed to be received by Asia Travel and the Individual Establishment from which the forms are being sent. All enquiries and reservations will be responded to within 24 working hours , either by the hotel or Asia Travel. Some hotels offer instant availabilty and confirmation for reservation and check-in voucher can be printed online. All discounts and special offers are only applicable if reservations are made through the online reservation forms or directly through Asia Travel. All hotels and resorts accept advance reservations. You pay directly to the hotels or resorts only upon check-in or check-out, either by cash or credit card. These hotels and resorts do not ask for any advance payment or deposits. In some cases, due to very high season demand, they may ask for a credit card guarantee for the first day only of the reservation. This again is only a guarantee of stay, not a payment. Also there will be a grace period for cancellation in which case the guarantee will be invalid. If there is a guarantee requirement, a credit card authorisation form will be e-mailed to you and you can fill in the details and return it by fax. In addition to providing a platform for hotels to offer their rooms direct to Internet users, we also work with travel wholesalers and tour operators to offer their hotels, sightseeings and air-ticketing services. However, products offered by these wholesalers and tour operators will have to be prepaid. To ensure that our guests are provided with the best service, all collection of payments and confirmation of services are co-ordinated and handled by asiatravel.com (a brandname of AT Reservation Network Pte Ltd). As you plan your next trip, please think of us and please tell us how we may serve you better. Once again thank you very much for your visit. We hope to be of service, always. Our Offices are shown below Singapore Corporate Office : Asiatravel.com Holdings Ltd 1 Kim Seng Promenade #13-07 Great World City West Tower Singapore 237994 Tel : (65) 6732 6773 Fax : (65) 6732 1226 For hotel enquiries, pls call below numbers Tel : (65) 6235 2498, 6235 6426 Singapore Reservation Office : AT Reservation Network Pte Ltd 22, Cavenagh Road/Orchard Road #02-05 Hotel Grand Central Singapore 229617 Tel : (65) 6235 2498, 6235 6426 Fax : (65) 6235 7620 TA Licence : 01148 Singapore Tour Division : SH Tours Pte Ltd 100 Kim Seng Road #02-03 Kim Seng Plaza Singapore 239427 Tel : (65) 6734 9923 Fax : (65) 6733 5763 TA Licence : 00790 Thailand : AT Network Co. Ltd. Lumpini Tower, 1168/44 18th Floor Rama 4 Road, Tungmahamek Sathorn Bangkok 10120, Thailand Tel (8 lines) : (662) 677 6240-5, 679 7185, 679 7187 Fax (2 lines) : (662) 677 6246-7 TA Licence : 11/1921 Indonesia Jakarta : PT Asia Travelindo Nusantara Jl Perjuangan No 21 Kompleks Ruko Sastra Graha, Block P&Q Kebon Jeruk, Jakarta-11530 Indonesia Tel : (62-21) 532 8682, 535 7573 Fax : (62-21) 535 7853, 536 4671 TA Licence : Kep.181/BPW/08/1999 Indonesia Bali Branch : Kompleks Pertokoan Tuban Plaza No 49 Jalan By Pass I Gusti Ngurah Rai Kuta 80361, Badung, Bali Indonesia Tel : (62-361) 763 701, 763-702 Fax : (62-361) 763 703 Hong Kong : Asia Travel Network Ltd Rm 7A, No 6, Knutsford Terrace Tsimshatsui, Kowloon Hongkong Tel : (852) 2736 0922 Fax : (852) 2405 0922 TA Licence : 352156 China : Asia Travel Shanghai Office, 333 Jiu Jiang Road, 17th Floor, Room 1707/1708 Finance Square Shanghai 200001, China Tel: (86-21) 6322 3855 Fax: (86-21) 63229542, 63600967 Philippines : AT Phil., Inc Unit 1203-1204 12/F Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road (formerly Emerald Ave.), Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines Tel : (632) 635 5099, 914 4970 up to 72 Fax : (632) 635 6699, 914 4973, 910 6294 DOT Accreditation No: TO-154-2004 Philippines- Cebu Branch: Lobby, Waterfront Airport Hotel 1 Airport Road, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines Tel : (6332) 341-20-35 Fax: (6332) 341-20-36 Dubai : Asia Middle East Tours LLC Suite 306 3rd Floor Al Bassam Centre, Port Saeed Road Deira, Dubai United Arab Emirates P.O.Box 112758 Tel: +971 42626751 Fax: +971 42669730 Tourism Licence : 549563 Indochina : AT Network Co. Ltd. Lumpini Tower, 1168/44 18th Floor Rama 4 Road, Tungmahamek Sathorn Bangkok 10120, Thailand Tel (8 lines) : (662) 677 6240-5, 679 7185, 679 7187 Fax (2 lines) : (662) 677 6246-7 TA Licence : 11/1921 Asia Travel