Travel Guide

Portugal Travel Guide Versão Portuguesa Tourist Information + Latest Travel News Where to Go + North Oporto • North • Centre Lisbon • Tagus Valley • Beiras • South Algarve • Alentejo • Islands Madeira • Azores • Where to Stay History Culture + Art • Architecture • Literature • Gastronomy Getting Around Shopping Sport & Leisure A-Z Factfile + Select Letter A B C D E F G H J L M N O P R T V MICE Traveller's Tips Win a Prize Image Bank WebCam Add to Favorites About Us Latest Travel News SEARCH FOR NEWS Combined Train and Rent-a-Car Ticket Available Travellers exploring the length and breadth of Portugal can let the train take some of the strain with a low-priced ticket combining car rental with a return rail trip to destinations all over the country. [+] Lisbon Travel Market in January Lisbon's annual travel market, the Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa (BTL), will take place from 18-22 January at the city's FIL fairground in the Parque das Naes. A popular attraction for visitors is the restaurant pavilion featuring local specialities and wines from every region of Portugal, including Madeira and the Azores. [+] Reid's to Close During Renovation Period The famous Reid's Palace in Funchal, Madeira, will be closed for important refurbishment work between 16 January and 13 April, 2006. [+] TAP to Test In-Flight Passenger Communications Passengers flying with TAP Air Portugal will be among the world's first to be able to switch on their mobile phones and make in-flight calls when OnAir's new air communication service is tested towards the end of next year. [+] TGV to Link Lisbon with Porto and Madrid Respective journey times from Lisbon to Porto and Madrid will take just 1 hour 15 minutes and 2 hours 45 minutes in the future, thanks to a new high-speed train service recently approved by the Portuguese government. [+] Europe's Largest Christmas Tree in Lisbon Visitors to the Portuguese capital over the forthcoming festive period literally cannot miss the 72-metre-high Christmas tree prominently located in the city's Praa do Comrcio. [+] More News Estoril and Sintra Golf Passport Available Pousada Winter Offer in the Algarve Vintage House Joins Relais & Chateaux New Year Festivities at the Bahia Palace in the Azores Gourmet Week at Choupana Hills 7-Night Cruises Along the Algarve Portugal Hotel Guide Distributed at the World Travel Market in London Lisbon Looks Back Useful Links + • Euro 2004 • Hotels in Portugal • Flight Information • Train travel in Portugal • Coach travel in Portugal • Lisbon Public Transport • Oporto Public Transport • Lisbon Metro • Lisbon Ferries • Maps of Portugal • Lisbon Zoo • Lisbon Tourism • Weather in Portugal • Wines of Portugal © 2004 Maisturismo Edições e Publicidade, S.A.

Golf Vacation

Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort: Myrtle Beach Hotel: Condo: Golf Resort: Vacation Package Check Rates/Availability Check-in Date: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Check-out Date: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Adults 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Children 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Rooms 1 2 3 4 5 Search for: Rooms Specials Golf Packages Welcome to the Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort In Your Dreams, You're Already Here Relax and enjoy the ultimate vacation at Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort. Our Resort is perfectly located in the beautiful Litchfield Beach/Pawleys Island section of the Grand Strand. This location affords our guest easy access to all the sights and sounds of Myrtle Beach, yet still offers that secluded, "away from it all" feeling a vacation should have. The Litchfield / Pawleys Island area has been a favorite family vacation destination for centuries, where visitors come to enjoy the warm waters and cool breezes of the Atlantic. The area has retained its historic Lowcountry charm, and today offers a superb selection of recreational amenities, including golf, tennis, shopping and dining, along with the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast. Experience your dream vacation at Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort. Browse through our website for complete details or call us toll free today. Now Open in our Hotel! Starbucks Serving the finest in gourmet coffees, cappuccinos and many more of your favorite coffee beverages. Featured Special Spring Plantation Golf Special - Choose from 10 of our most requested Plantation courses! Now Open Come Join the Fun! Brand New for the 2005 Summer Season, Our New Pool & Play Plaza More Information Video Tours | Signup for Newsletter & Special Offers | Group Tours | Golf Events | Press Releases | Site Map | Home Litchfield Beach, SC 29585 - 1-888-766-4633 - Local: (843) 237-3000 - info@litchfieldbeach.com Our Latest Specials 1) Litchfield Gift Certificates - Litchfield Gift Certificates-THE PERFECT GIFT! View Details 2) Romantic Escape - 3 nights accommodations, daily breakfast for 2, dinner for 2, choice of massage or facial, and more. View Details 3) Spring Plantation Golf Special - Choose from 10 of our most requested Plantation courses! View Details 4) Winter Getaway Package - Winter Getaway! 3 nights for 2 people from $225! View Details 5) Winter Savings Golf Package - 3 Nights, 3 Rounds w/carts, and more from $195! View Details

Asia Travel

Asia Travel Information: Things Asian: Asia Travel Magazine: Travel to Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore Experience Asia Through the Eyes of a Traveler Search Site: Advanced Search Photo of the Day | Stories | Photo Essays | Contributors | Travel | Gallery | Store Member: None ( Login ) Vietnam Thailand China Malaysia Japan India Indonesia More Destinations... Contributors Ira G. Barrows Jason Gibbs Planning a Trip to Asia? ThingsAsian Travel provides valuable resources for intelligent, independent travelers. December 28, 2005 Red Banner, Tokyo, Japan Photo by: Robert George This red banner hangs in an antique store in Gunma Prefecture outside Tokyo.The large white kanji symbols in the center denote a location near auniversity, the identity of which is obscured from view. And the handwrittenscript on either side represents two male names: Ichiro and Osamu. Who knowswho they were or what has become of them. SEND PHOTO TO A FRIEND. IT'S FREE! Bangkok Dazed Chopstick Cinema ThingsAnime Walking Hanoi's Old Quarter Photography by Lisa Spivey / Albert Wen Dawn of Happiness: Sukhothai By Kenneth Champeon ThingsAsian Store ThingsAsian Gallery To Asia With Love Edited & with contributions by Kim Fay Photographs by Julie Fay US $18.00 A concentrated collection of recent travel experiences in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Fifty seasoned travelers offer personal stories and insider advice on food, sightseeing and the love of being in Southeast Asia. LEARN MORE Artist Profile: Hoang An | Photo of the Day | Stories | Photo Essays | Contributors | Travel | Gallery | Store About Us Advertise in ThingsAsian -- | Press Information | Investor Relations | Our Privacy Policy | Partners | ThingsAsian Press ©1994-2005 Global Directions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Web Development & Design by Dayspring Technologies, Inc.

Travel Insurance

QBE Insurance Group - Home Page If you can read this your browser does not support javascript or this feature is currently switched off. Please update your browser using one of the following links or enable javascripting via your browser settings. Click here to download Internet Explorer 6 Click here to download Mozilla QBE Insurance Group "QBE Insurance is Australia's leading International General Insurance and Reinsurance groups and one of the to 25 world wide." Core underwriting entities Standard & Poor's Rating = A+ Our Vision internationally recognised as a highly successful general insurance and reinsurance group; a builder of shareholders' wealth; a developer of "can do" people; and an organisation that excels in the continuous delivery of new and proven quality products and services. Our Values increasing the long-term wealth of shareholders; customer satisfaction and retention; employee satisfaction; and integrity. Divisions Group Annual Report Press Releases Shareholder Centre Financial Centre Webcasts Australia "QBE Insurance Australia, protecting people in all walks of life - from the home to the office and beyond" From our humble beginnings as the North Queensland Insurance company we have grown into a sophisticated provider of general insurance products. Our strength is our diversity. We provide over nine broad categories of general insurance. We provide comprehensive protection for peoples' homes, their lifestyles, their work environments. As a group, QBE works together to improve our customer service, our technology and our products. QBE Insurance - Aviation QBE Insurance - Commercial - QBE Mercantile Mutual QBE Insurance - Compulsory Third Party - CTP QBE Insurance - Corporate QBE Insurance - Personal - WQBE - Western QBE QBE Insurance - Professional Liability QBE Insurance - Surety QBE Insurance - Trade Credit QBE Insurance - Travel QBE Insurance - Workers Compensation Application for Credit Limit Endorsement QBE Insurance - Europe QBE Insurance - Asia Pacific QBE Asia Pacific: Our Vision Increasing Accountability Local Knowledge - Specialist Expertise Thriving on Complexity Our Vision - QBE Asia Pacific We aim to be recognised within the Asia Pacific markets as: a highly successful provider of specialist insurance solutions a team of results-oriented entrepreneurs with high levels of expertise and integrity a strong and ethical business partner an organisation that thrives on innovation and excels in the delivery of quality products and services a builder of customer value and shareholder wealth Increasing Accountability & Litigation For Asia Pacific companies to thrive in today's challenging business environment, they must be smarter, quicker and more entrepreneurial. They constantly face new business exposures and challenges arising from government regulation and common law. The margin for error has been squeezed in business today, and managers are confronted by the global trend of increasing accountability and litigation. They need specialist insurance solutions, backed by technical expertise. Equally as important, they need risk management experts with specialist knowledge who can translate the global into practical solutions at the local level - and then provide the on-the-ground resources when they are needed most. QBE Asia Pacific Operations has developed considerable strengths to best serve clients. Our history of commitment to the Asia Pacific markets means that we've developed a wealth of knowledge and experience. Local Knowledge - Specialist Expertise Five of our operations were established in the late 1880s, and four more were established in the early 1890s. Building on this strong foundation, we entered four additional markets in the 1970s and 80s, and five more in the 1990s. We now have over 18 QBE operations in various markets throughout the Asia Pacific region. Each market features different characteristics and dynamics, and local market knowledge can make all the difference for clients. For example, QBE operates in: Mature markets such as Singapore, New Zealand and Japan Emerging markets such as Indonesia and the Philippines Developing markets such as Thailand and Malaysia Small markets characterised by tightly knit communities, such as Vanuatu and Micronesia Markets that are rapidly moving toward more open economies, such as Vietnam and China Markets that have seen new opportunities emerge from the return to their motherland, such as Macau and Hong Kong Markets that operate under French customs and law, such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia Markets that have experienced political and social upheavals, such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands In each of these markets, local knowledge is invaluable. And with the internationalisation of trade and business practice, businesses also need an underwriter with specialist insurance expertise, vast global experience and solid financial strength. Thriving on Complexity Ours is a complex business, and we thrive on that challenge. It is also a dynamic one, with growth driven by an acquisition strategy and a commitment to the professional development of our local teams. We are a grass roots company that is international in every sense of the word. The combination of local knowledge and specialist expertise provides important benefits to clients and intermediaries. In Asia Pacific, it's the QBE difference! QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Specialist Risks Unit QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Marine Risks Network QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Hong Kong QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Indonesia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Macau QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Mainland China QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Malaysia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Philippines QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Singapore QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Thailand QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Vietnam QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Fiji QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - French Polynesia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Japan QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Micronesia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - New Caledonia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - New Zealand QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Papua New Guinea QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Solomon Islands QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Vanuatu QBE Insurance - the Americas QBE Insurance Group Limited, is an insurance and reinsurance company publicly traded on the Australian Stock Exchange. Its history dates back over 116 years when the Company was founded in Australia. Since then the Company has grown to have operations in 47 countries with over $2 billion dollars of capital writing in excess of $3 billion dollars in premium. QBE the Americas operations commenced in 1986 when the QBE Insurance Group established a presence in the U.S. QBE the Americas now conducts business through its five companies, QBE Reinsurance Corporation, QBE Insurance Corporation, QBE Aseguradora de Riesgos del Trabajo S.A.,Argentina, QBE Del Istmo, Panama and QBE Brasil Seguros S.A. Lloyd's The Lloyd's division comprises QBE's share of the Lloyd's syndicates managed by Limit. The 2001 results are the first to contain a full year of activity from the acquisition of Limit in August 2000. Gross written premium for the Lloyd's division was $2,182 million, compared with $547 million last year. Net earned premium was up 273% to $1,365 million. Significant progress was made during 2001 towards achieving the objectives set out in last year's annual report. The rationalisation of the structure of the Lloyd's division continued with the merger of syndicates 79 and 2999, the closure of the under-performing syndicate 456 and the disposal of the property and aviation syndicate 318. This resulted in a significant reallocation of QBE's capital towards its best performing Lloyd's syndicates. Our exposure to poor performing US liability business was significantly reduced. QBE is now the sole capital provider to each of Limit's syndicates, other than syndicate 386 where our share has increased to over 40%. For the 2002 underwriting year, QBE provides 78% of Limit's aggregate capacity compared with 72% in 2001. The tragic events of 11 September overshadowed the year and the World Trade Center (WTC) loss had a significant impact on performance. In addition, upgrades were made to prior year outstanding claims provisions, principally to reflect adverse development on US liability business seen across the market. These upgrades have been substantially mitigated by reinsurance protections and provisions established on acquisition to allow for deterioration. Consequently, the result for the year largely reflects the performance of the 2001 underwriting year. The claims ratio was 72.9%, compared with 59.4% for last year. The combined operating ratio was 108.6%, compared with 101.1% last year. Excluding the WTC loss, the combined operating ratio would have been 101.0%. The movement in the commission ratio from 27.3% to 24.6% reflects the change in the mix of business during 2001. The decrease in the expense ratio from 14.4% to 11.1% reflects the synergies and savings delivered by the integration of QBE's former Lloyd's operations with Limit, partly offset by residual post acquisition integration costs during the year. 2001 was a transitional year in the market cycle with the rate increases anticipated at the start of the year not materialising until at least the middle of the year and, in some cases, not until after the impact of 11 September. We are now seeing substantial increases in premium rates across all classes of business underwritten within the Lloyd's division. These rate increases, together with a high level of business retention, new business opportunities and the reallocation of QBE's capital, should ensure profitability for the 2002 underwriting year. Our objectives for 2002 are to: take advantage of the dramatically improved rating environment and return all areas of underwriting to strong profitability; seek further rationalisation of the underwriting and operating structure in order to improve capital efficiency and our expense ratio; acquire further capacity on syndicate 386 as it becomes available; and be actively involved in the reforms proposed for the Lloyd's market. Our business at Lloyd's remains highly dependent upon the quality and commitment of our underwriters and their business franchise. I thank them for their efforts and achievements, which have ensured that QBE's Lloyd's division is now ideally positioned to take advantage of the hard market conditions now prevailing at Lloyd's. Steven Burns, Managing director, Lloyd's division Global Trade Credit "QBE Trade Credit, World-Wide credit solutions in an increasingly volatile business environment" QBE's Trade Credit underwrites $30bn of domestic and export trade credit from units in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe having extensive experience in assessing risks in over 150 markets. We are a Standard and Poors A+ rated company. Supported by a product range of tailored solutions to your credit needs, QBE is uniquely placed to offer our clients the opportunity to conduct business in a secure environment. Established in 1962, we have in the last four decades risen to become the largest Australian Insurer offering both Domestic and Export trade credit insurance and have expanded offshore to service our clients locally around the world. QBE Re QBE Re is a leading global reinsurer providing treaty and facultative reinsurance, direct insurance, and other financial products to its varied clients. QBE Re conducts business through three Divisions: Australia, Europe, and the Americas. As a global reinsurer, QBE Re underwrites traditional and financial products covering all major lines and classes of business. Through its divisional network of companies, QBE Re excels in providing regional expertise and service tailored to local-market needs. For additional solutions from QBE Re, please visit our local teams: QBE Insurance - Australia QBE Insurance - Europe QBE Insurance - the Americas

Austria Travel Map and

Austria Map and Essential Travel Information for Austria  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 Austria Travel Map and Travel Resources Start here if you're contemplating a trip to Austria You are Here Home Europe Map Austria Map and Travel Resources Here's a map of Austria showing some prime Austrian tourist destinations. Click the Train Routes button to toggle the major train routes and distances on and off. You'll need the Flash plugin to see the map. (Right click the map to zoom in or to print the map) Resources for Austria on Europe for Visitors: Articles See our AustriaCity Guide for information on Vienna, Salzburg, and Villach. Austria Pictures Vienna Pictures SalzburgPictures Austria Essentials: Currency The currency in Austria is the Euro. At the time the Euro was adopted, its value was set at 13.7603 Austrian Shillings. [ more on the Euro ] Austria Essentials: Language The primary language spoken in Austria is German. Dialects are spoken throughout Austria: Wienerisch in Vienna, Tirolerisch in the Tirol, and Volarlbergerisch in Vorarlberg. In major tourist centers, English is spoken widely. Austria Essentials: Restaurants You'll have a wide variety of eating places, including coffee houses, heurigen (wine bars) and pubs. In general, Austria restaurant food and service is remarkably well done, and not all of it is as heavy as you might expect. Still, you can dine on traditional Schnitzel (thin cut, usually of veal, breaded and fried) and Wiener Backhendl (chicken). To test if a Wiener Schnitzel is up to par, it can be sat upon in white trousers and should not leave a grease mark. This course of action is recommended only for brave souls with unlimited resources for buying trousers. Austria Essentials: Tipping A service charge of 10-15 percent in included in hotel and restaurant bills. Many people add 5% for good service. Attendents get a Euro or so, and taxi drivers expect 10 percent. Austria Essentials: Transportation The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) runs a network of 5700 km of rail lines. Smaller companies run lines on alpine routes. There are lines running only in the summer for tourists as well. A great resource for information on the Austrian rail system is found here . Austrian Rail Passes As Austria is a small country, you might wish to purchase a rail pass for Austria and one or more other countryies. Like mountains? The Switzerland Austria Pass ( Buy Direct or Get Information ) or the Switzerland Austria Saverpass ( Buy Direct or Get Information ) might be just the ticket. The Saverpass is for two or more people traveling together. Looking to go east? Try the Eurail Austria/Slovenia/Croatia Pass ( Buy Direct or Get Information ). A single country pass ( Buy Direct or Get Information ) for Austria is also available. For more Rail Pass information, see WhichRail Pass is Right for Your Vacation . Austrian Airports There are airports at Vienna , Linz , Graz , Salzburg , Innsbruck , Klagenfurt . Austria Essentials: Weather The weather in Austria varies with altitude. For representative temperatures see GeographyIQ Other Maps on Europe for Visitors: European Travel Planning Map European Distances Germany Map Baden Baden Map Italy Map Rome Travel Map Cinque Terre Map Tuscany Map Lunigiana Map Spain Map Switzerland Map Austria Map France Map Paris Interactive Map Netherlands Map , Belgium Map Portugal Map Turkey Map United Kingdom Map From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... 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Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...