Argentina Travel Net :
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Travel: Argentina Travel Notes -- Argentina Tourism Round The World Flights - Free TravelNotes e-mail Travel Notes : Latin America : Argentina @ Travel Notes : Argentina Tourism -- Booking Engine Vacation Finder Latin America @ Travel Notes Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Caribbean Chile Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador El Salvador Falklands Fr. Guiana Guatemala Guyana Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Sth. Georgia Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Getting Around Argentina One of the best ways to travel around Argentina is by bus. The Buenos Aires bus station is on Av. Ramos Meja 1680 near to Retiro Station. Long distance buses have toilets, air conditioning and coffee bar. If time is limited, you can always buy the Visit Argentina Airpass, issued by Aerolneas Argentinas and Austral Lneas Areas in your own country, which allows you to travel cheaply in Argentina, or the Mercosur Airpass for an airtour of Argentina, Brazil , Paraguay and Uruguay . Aerolineas Argentinas : Aerolineas destinations and frequent flyer program. Airlines and Airports : This travel article points you to airlines and three letter airport codes, with links to their websites. Maps and Travel Information : Crdoba , Corrientes , Entre Ros , La Pampa , La Rioja , Prov. de Buenos Aires , San Luis , Santa Fe . Argentina Tourism Argentina Tourism : The official guide from the Secretara de Turismo. The head office is located in Buenos Aires: National Tourist Office, Santa Fe 883, Buenos Aires. Tel:(541) 312-2232/6560. Tourist Areas in Argentina : An overview of Argentina's tourist areas from the Consulate General of Argentina in Montreal. Argentina Regions : Patagonia, the Pampas and South America's largest ski area. Argentina National Parks : Argentina offers a rich variety of outdoor activities and environments, from the subtropical rainforests in the north to the subarctic coast of Tierra del Fuego in the south. Argentina Travel Net : Links to travel related websites around Argentina. Argentine Secretary of Tourism : The official website promoting tourism in Argentina. When the country is in economic crisis they need the tourism dollars more than ever. The tourist needn't be put off by some of the negative news however, as they will find their dollar goes even further. Argentrip : Travel guide to Argentina with details of intersting places to vist and how to get there. Traveler's Tales : A small selection of Travel articles about Argentina. SightseeingTours, Events and Attractions . Miscellaneous -- Online Reservations Maps & Travel Books : Stanfords is the UK's leading specialist retailer of maps and travel books. 1800-Hostels.com : Budget Accommodation in Latin America. Latin American Directory : Latin America links sorted by country and category. Send @ Postcard Unique images of travel destinations by Travel Notes. Travel Industry : Add Your Tours Add Your Property Latin American Spanish Phrasebook : Most guidebooks have a few words to help you get by but real travellers will need this companion. Learn Spanish . Mailing List Keep up with the latest news @ Travel Notes. Meta-Travel Forums : If you have a question, want to hang out with other travellers, tourists or the natives.... then join Travelnotes in the Meta-Travel forums and share in the global experience. Countries Weather Flights Cars Lodging Specials Contact Meta Flight Tickets : Save money on Round The World flight tickets. Travel News : Get the inside scoop with the latest travel features and tips. Past Articles . Argentina Cities Argentina Culture Argentina Hotels Argentina News Argentina Regions Argentina Skiing Argentina Tourism Argentina Tours Bariloche Buenos Aires Business Corner LearningSpanish Patagonia Local Currency Convert your currency into Argentine pesos. Travel Directory : Latin America : Argentina @ Travel Notes : Argentina Tourism -- Add URL Search Travel Notes | Travel Notes | Search Resources | Submit Your Travel Site | Meta-Travel Search | | 1800-Countries | 1800-Casinos | 1800-Cruises | 1800-Olympics | 1800-Worldcup | | Airlines | Airports | 1800-Fly | 1800-Lodging | 1800-RentalCars | Vacation Rentals | | Legal Notice | Travel Articles | Magun's Compass | Advertisers | Online Reservations | The URL for this page is: http://www.travelnotes.org/LatinAmerica/Argentina/argentina_tourism.htm
SKI VACATION HOLIDAYS Majestic
Lake Louise Ski Resort Banff, Canada - Ski Vacations, Packages, Holidays Reservations & Vacation Information 1.877.754.5462 Please Choose Snow Report Mountain Cam Recent Photos Terrain Parks Vacations Summer Louise Cards Weather Mountain Stats Trail Maps Tickets & Passes Ski/Board School Rentals Employment Photo Gallery Resort Events Getting Here Daycare Contact Us Lake Louise Inn • 1 nights lodging • 1 day tri-area lift ticket From CAD $89 / USD $79 Ptarmigan Inn • 3 nights lodging • 3 day tri-area lift ticket • Shuttle to ski areas From CAD $329 / USD $289 Jan 13 Celebrity Sport Invitational Jan 26 Australia Day Jan 28 Kokanee Freeride Feb 14 Valentine's Day > VIEW ALL EVENTS Torchlight Dinner Gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a guided night ride back down the mountain. -- WINTER SKI VACATION HOLIDAYS Majestic scenery and outdoor adventure. A great way to spend your winter holiday! Check out our vacation specials or create a package that is right for you. -- Torchlight Dinner Gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a guided night ride back down the mountain. -- 2005/2006 PASS SALE Season passes are on sale now. Join us in the mountains this winter! -- Torchlight Dinner Gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a guided night ride back down the mountain. -- Torchlight Dinner Gourmet food, live entertainment, fun and a run down from the mid-mountain lodge. An experience you won't forget! -- LAST 24HRS 3cm 1" SNOW DEPTH 141 cm 56 " FORECAST: High of -3 sunny periods with flurries later today Last Update: 12/28/2005 > VIEW -- LOUISE IMAGES • Webcams • Recent Photos - Dec 18, 2005 Sign up for snow reports, vacation deals, newsletters and more. Banff Lake Louise Ski Vacation Hotel and Lodging Packages. Build your custom vacation package online featuring Air, Transfers, Accommodation, Tickets, Rentals, Ski School and more. SITE MAP © RCR 2005
Vacation Rentals Villas, Condos,
Vacation Rental of Villas and Apartments. Holiday in France,Spain,Florida,Italy Etc. Late Deals, Special Offers. Reference Password Members 1 st Class Vacation Rentals Villas, Condos, Cabins and Apartments for Rental 37,850,517 visitors since opening on 24 May 1999 WANTED - Click here to ADD your own request. OWNERS - Add Your Property. Click here to add us to your favorites. Find your property from one of the regional lists below, or using the map, or one of the special lists such as golf, or browse the image gallery, or use the search list above to narrow your search by property type beds etc. or use our keyword search for special needs such as surfing, water skiing etc. Classified Adverts If you can't find what you want then add your details to our wanted list. This will get mailed to interested property owners on other sites as well as this one. Rental Properties Search for a Property Image Gallery of properties by Country Special late deals. Selected Rental Listings Example Listing using all the site features Latest Rentals Added Information Privacy Statement Terms and Conditions Miscellaneous "Flights from the UK." Tell a friend who might be interested. Click here for Home Exchanges . Select from the map for properties in that area If you know the number of the property you want to look at enter it and click on the button. Enter the property number here. Listings of properties by area. Europe(1215) Austria(2) Belgium(1) Bulgaria(21) Croatia(28) Cyprus(23) Denmark(2) Estonia(1) Finland(2) France(130) Aquitaine(16) Auvergne Limousin(1) Brittany(8) Corsica(1) Languedoc Roussillon(14) Loire Valley(4) Midi Pyrenees(8) Normandy(9) Paris-Ile de France(12) Poitou-Charentes(3) Provence-Cote d`Azur(53) Western Loire(1) Greece(86) Iceland(1) Ireland(6) Israel(7) Italy(286) Abruzzo(1) Calabria(2) Campania(17) Emilia Romagna(5) Friuli Venezia Giulia(1) Lazio(37) Liguria(14) Lombardy(15) Marche(2) Puglia(7) Sardinia(34) Sicily(56) Tuscany(57) Umbria(26) Val d`Aosta(1) Veneto (Venetia)(10) Malta(6) Netherlands(13) Norway(3) Poland(18) Portugal(49) Romania(2) Russian Federation(3) Spain(373) Andalucia(117) Asturias(1) Balearics(25) Basque Country(1) Canaries(32) Catalunya(39) Galicia(3) Madrid and Central Spain(3) Murcia(36) Valencia(116) Sweden(5) Switzerland(5) Turkey(104) United Kingdom(38) London(9) Midlands(2) North(4) Northern Ireland(3) Scotland(5) South West(7) SouthEast(8) Canada(41) Alberta(4) British Columbia(10) Northwest Territories(1) Nova Scotia(2) Ontario(5) Quebec(19) United States(334) Alabama(2) Arizona(3) California(39) Colorado(5) Connecticut(1) Florida(202) Central Florida(119) East Coast(29) Florida Keys(6) Gulf Coast(41) Panhandle(7) Georgia(2) Hawaii(15) Idaho(1) Indiana(1) Louisiana(1) Maryland(2) Massachusetts(5) Michigan(2) Minnesota(1) Montana(2) Nevada(1) New Jersey(2) New York(9) North Carolina(2) Oregon(2) Pennsylvania(3) South Carolina(12) Tennessee(3) Texas(2) Utah(2) Vermont(6) Washington(6) Africa(43) Egypt(9) Kenya(3) Mauritius(9) Morocco(3) South Africa(16) Tanzania and Zanzibar(1) Tunisia(2) Asia(50) China(4) India(10) Indonesia(4) Philippines(1) Saudi Arabia(1) Sri Lanka(5) Thailand(20) United Arab Emirates(5) Australasia(34) Fiji(3) New South Wales,ACT(8) New Zealand(8) Queensland(7) Victoria(2) Western Australia(6) Caribbean and Atlantic Islands(68) Anguilla(1) Antigua and Barbuda(7) Aruba(2) Bahamas(7) Barbados(9) Cayman Islands(2) Cuba(3) Dominican Republic(12) Jamaica(6) Puerto Rico (US)(2) Saint Lucia(1) St Maarten and St Martin(1) St.Kitts Nevis Anguilla(3) St.Vincent and Grenadines(1) Trinidad and Tobago(4) Virgin Islands(7) Central America(30) Belize(1) Costa Rica(5) Honduras(2) Mexico(22) South America(26) Argentina(4) Brazil(14) Peru(4) Venezuela(4) General Very competitive on price. From 42 dollars/ 32 Euros/ 24 pounds for rentals with extended terms for new adverts. Up to eight photographs of each property for exchange or rental. Your own page customised with keywords to your property location. Map links to help show features and facilities in your area. (Best for US/Europe/Canada properties). You can add links to your own home page (if you have one) and other sites which might be useful. Option of adding wide panoramic images for greater detail and views. A full availability calendar which you can link to from other sites. A special offers and last minute deals page. Worth the subscription for that alone. And if you decide to do holiday exchanges with your property. Multiple adverts get from 20% to 50% discounts. Email notification of new rental requests which meet your requirements. Registered Address: 45 Montpelier Road, Brighton, UK, BN1 3BA. Home Page , Add Property , Search , Admin Links Vacation rentals. TipTopVillas offers villa rentals throughout the world, direct from theowner.
Travel Insurance? Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance, Trip Insurance, Cruise Insurance Member BBB OnLine Reliability Program Smile of Satisfaction 364 Testimonials-18 Pages Home Site Map Get Side-By-Side Quotes Skip The Details - Order Safely Online Common Questions What's Covered? Or Not? Rental Car Insurance Flight Insurance How To Make A Claim Contact Us - Located in USA About Trip Insurance Store You Can Trust These Companies: Get all the details & prices: CSA Travel Protection HTH Worldwide Travelex Travel Guard Travel Insured TravelSafe - Cancel For Any Reason Coverage Instant Message / Chat If the icon's colored, we're available right now for free chat/instant messaging. If not, leave us a message. How Have We Done? Customers' Websites Link To Us Free Gifts Get A 2 Month Website Hosting Free Trial TripInsuranceStore.com is a Member in Good Standing of These Organizations: What Is Travel Insurance? Travel Insurance (Trip Insurance) is insurance that covers you for problems associated with traveling . Travel insurance protects you if you're forced to cancel or interrupt your trip because of unforeseen events : family emergencies, bad weather , lost luggage, terrorism and other events . Plus emergency medical treatment. Why Should You Get Your Travel Insurance From TripInsuranceStore.com? • Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed Thoroughly examine your policy for 10 days. Wear the smile of satisfaction, or it's no sale. Can you ask more! • 364 Testimonials from Satisfied Customers Unless you're a returning client, you don't know anything about us. Nor have you experienced first hand our great service. Read what others have said. • You Get Personal Service (a rarity when you're online) Call Steve (the President), Denise, Tara, Teresa, Mary or Terry toll free at 1-888-407-3854 (US & Canada) or 507-214-3854 for advice & recommendations. When was the last time a website (or any business) encouraged, wanted or begged you to call? And we answer live! • Selected, Pre-Screened Trustworthy Travel Insurance Companies You can browse or study plans from the only 6 travel insurance companies we trust . They are CSA , HTH , Travelex , Travel Guard , Travel Insured and TravelSafe . • You Get Side-By-Side Comparisons Not awkward top to bottom tables. Click here for your free quotes . • You Can Order Safely Online All orders are processed with 128-bit Military Grade Encryption Algorithms. Do you know which plan you want? If so, skip the details - click here for the secure purchase link . • You Will Enjoy Ongoing Service You can count on us to be here for you after the sale. We even call you a few days before you leave to make sure you have your insurance information. You can always call or contact us here . Over 100 different travel insurance policies are sold online. That's the bad news. The good news is that you don't have to wade through them all. You owe it to yourself to only work with reputable providers . See how these plans compare in an easy to read side-by-side comparison. You can email your quote to yourself, too. Click here to recommend this page to a friend. Your trip cancellation benefits start the day after you buy your travel insurance plan. Your trip interruption benefits begin when you leave home for your trip. You choose which travel insurance plan is right for you. Get your instant travel insurance comparison quote to easily compare the different plans, benefits and prices. You can safely order your travel insurance plan online, too. You'll find plans from the leading travel insurance providers: CSA Travel Protection , HTH , Travelex , Travel Guard , Travel Insured and TravelSafe . These links take you to our detailed description pages. Or skip the details, going straight to the Fastrack Online Purchase Links . Protect yourself if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip for a pre-existing medical condition . Keep these three important rules in mind: • You have to insure your trip's full prepaid, non-refundable cost (you can't round it down) and • The person (including non-traveling family members) with the medical condition has to be medically stable when you get your insurance and • You must get your travel insurance in the first 10, 14 or 21 days after your first trip payment date When your first trip payment date is more than 10, 14 or 21 days in the past and you're concerned about pre-existing medical conditions, click here . On the other hand, the Lookback Period doesn't apply to you when there aren't any pre-existing conditions. Discover how to protect yourself for pennies on the dollar. Look at these real life examples of a $3,000 trip (up to 30 days) for a 70 year young or a 35 year old traveler: -- Your Age: CSA Silver HTH TP HTH TP Pf'd Travelex Lite Travelex Plus TG Protect Assist Travel Insured Travel Safe Age 70 $174 (6%) $194 (6.5%) $255 (8.5%) $168 (5.5%) $257 (8.5%) $251 (8%) $185 (6%) $254 (8.5%) Age 35 $124 (4%) $139 (4.5%) $186 (6%) $129 (4%) $199 (6.5%) $145 (5%) $111 (4%) $101 (7%) Note: these plans have different coverages and benefit levels - Don't be influenced by price alone. Click here to see a detailed side-by-side plan benefit comparison . Medicare doesn't cover you outside the USA. You can get travel insurance as late as the day you leave home. Travel Supplier Waiver Plans are surprisingly different from travel insurance. Our Privacy Policy is in full FTC compliance. Your benefits are paid in Tax-Free US Dollars. Not vouchers. Not "trip credits". You get fast, not-in-a-hurry, unbiased advice. Steve, Denise, Tara, Teresa, Mary & Terry do not work on commission. You get personal service - a rarity when you're online. You're not limited to one choice or confused by too many choices. You'll find plans that are uniquely different from each other. You get the travel insurance plan that's best for your trip and your family's needs. We may recommend one plan for one trip and a different plan for another trip. There's no hidden agenda to steer you to one company over another. We don't charge you extra fees. You can read what others say about TripInsuranceStore.com Safely, easily online from CSA Travel Protection , HTH , Travelex , Travel Guard , Travel Insured or TravelSafe (these links take you to our detailed description pages) Over the telephone: Call Steve, Denise, Tara, Teresa, Mary or Terry toll free at 1-888-407-3854 (US & Canada) or 507-214-3854. - You get to talk to a live person. - We're happy to answer all your questions. - We can even complete your application over the phone. - Everything you tell us is confidential. Our Privacy Pledge . Through the mail: We'll fax or send you a brochure . Call the insurance providers directly: If you do this, please give them our agent or ID number. Here's what you need if you call. You get email or postal sevice confirmation of your policy, too. CSA Travel Protection has three plans: Silver, Comfort and Luxe. All plans include at least $50,000 emergency medical, $250,000 emergency medical evacuation and 150% Trip Interruption. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to US and Canadian residents only. View Details HTH Worldwide two plans: HTH Trip Protector and Trip Protector Preferred. Both HTH plans have at least $500,000 emergency medical evacuation. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to US and Canadian residents only. HTH TripProtector has $100,000 emergency medical and all the standard coverages. HTH TripProtector Preferred includes $250,000 emergency medical, 150% trip interruption and other higher coverages. View Details Travelex offers both $50,000 and $500,000 emergency medical / medical evacuation with 150% Trip Interruption. Children under 16 are covered at no charge when accompanied by a covered adult. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to US residents only. View Details Travel Guard is America's #1 travel insurance provider online insuring more than 6 million travelers each year. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to both US and Canadian residents. View Details Travel Insured gives you $50,000 emergency medical, $250,000 emergency medical evacuation and 150% Trip Interruption. Twenty-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to US residents only. View Details TravelSafe gives you $50,000 emergency medical, $250,000 emergency medical evacuation and 150% Trip Interruption. Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to both US and Canadian residents. View Details Do you want 'customized' travel insurance recommendations? Or do you have any questions? If so, call Steve, Denise, Tara, Teresa or Mary toll free at 1-888-407-3854 (US & Canada) or 507-214-3854. Links Town and Country, Ski, Frommers.com, The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, Reader's Digest, IHT, etc. Read 'em. to use , provides answers, and is backed up by the toll free phone line. You make shopping for a complicated product easier. Thanks! - Cynthia C., Portland, OR Are You Interested In? Pre-existing Conditions What's Covered? Instant Quotes Group Travel Insurance FAQ's Ordering Brochures Rental Car Insurance Top 10 Information Pages 1. Pre-existing conditions 2. What's Covered? 3. Common Exclusions 4. How To Make A Claim 5. Traveling companions 6. What is your trip's cost? 7. Site Map 8. FAQ's 9. Primary - Secondary 10. Travel Supplier Plans "Go directly to the source - a broker, where you can get competitive bids," says Bob Hunter, director of insurance services at the Consumer Federation of America.
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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