Central America Travel

A backpacking travel guide to Asia & Central America ! A backpacking travel guide to Asia & Central America ! Passplanet is a free practical travel guide that offers the latest backpacking information about Asia & Central America : 15 countries & 230 places precisely covered plus surveys, photos, essay, etc. Free as a backpacker ! You will find in this free travel guide lots of tips and most of the budget info you need to prepare your trip to Asia &Central America on a shoestring ("before"), live your backpacking adventure in the best conditions ("during") and share your experience with other backpackers ("after") plus a photos gallery, a backpacking forum, surveys on the asian& Central American countries or localities in Asia & America (backpacker 's ratings), travelogues, an essay in French, links to other asian travel guidebook or related budget informationabout latin America etc. All in one convenient stop ! Go for it : backpack Asia & America with pass planet ! If you know what you are looking for in Asia or America, use the Search Form to find backpacking info. Otherwise, have a look at the backpacker's Index or let Passplanet be your free guidebook to Asia & America The original features of this free backpacking travel guide to Asia &America include : - Budget & practical travel information about asian & central american countries only. - Ratings of the localities by the backpackers themselves : more than 230 localities precisely covered in Asia& Central America in 15 countries. - What to do there & what you may not like while you backpack Asia &Central America - The cheapest budget accommodations (guesthouse or hostel on a shoestring ) for backpackers - The various transportations' options for easy backpacking - Travel information on how to save money - Lots of backpacker's photos in special sections - A guidebook with frequent updates But Passplanet will, hopefully, be more than a free backpacking travel guide toAsia & Central America. My ambition is to make it a place where backpackers can freely exchange the latest info from "on the road" of the asianand americas countries and communicate with each others. In the world of backpacking, information indeed changes with the blowing of the winds. But while a guidebook is out of date by the time it reaches the shelves, a web site can be updated daily. Pass planet will strive to keep the budget information about Asia andCentral America warm ! But to achieve the above, we need your help & support. Passplanet is not supposed to be a single backpacker's journey and travel guide. There are too many trips ahead. Asia,Central America and the world are too vast to be covered by one individual. Let's share ! Everyone is welcome to join the backpacking adventure and submit travel information ! Passplanet is looking for new backpackers, budget writers, partners and ideas on a shoestring. And Passplanet also counts on you for its promotion. If you find it useful, please give the direction to other backpackers. The more traffic, the more updated info in the future to backpack Asia &Central America ! Passplanet is also a place of exchange related to Asia and Central America. Beside all the forms which allow you to share your budget info about asian& american countries, experiences about a place, Passplanet also hosts a forum and a links section to other travel guide. You are welcome to submit your own travel web site in the latter and benefit from Passplanet's growing popularity in the world of backpacking on a shoestring. Together, let's keep Passplanet as free & independent as a backpacker so more and more people can use this free travel guide to backpack Asiaand Central America ! I wish you a good backpacking experience, on the site and around Asia &Central America ! Ben. Founder. START YOUR TRAVEL TRIP HOME - ASIA - China - HK & Macau - Thailand - Laos - Cambodia - Myanmar - Malaysia - Singapore - Indonesia C.A. - Guatemala - Honduras - Nicaragua - Costa Rica - Panama www.oasis-centre.com www.guidebienetre.com www.lebienetre.org Passplanet :a backpacking travel guide to Asia & Central America !

Asia Travel || Indonesia

Travel Information of Indonesia Indonesia Country and Travel Information Climate || Visas || Customs || Transport || Currency || Tipping || Clothing Office hours || Food || Shopping || Culture || Public holidays Tourist Destinations || Map of Indonesia Introduction The Republic of Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago and is the fifth most populous country, with 17,700 islands streching 5,120 kms (3,200 miles) between Australia and the Asian mainland. Population and Language 200 million people are distributed throughout 27 provinces. However, 55% of these people are concentrated on Java, Bali and Madura, on only 7% of the total area. Climate A tropical country, with humidity ranging from 69% - 95%, there are two seasons: Dry Season, from May to October and Wet Season, from November to April. It should be noted that occasional showers do occur during the dry season; similarly, during the "rainy" season it is more likely that heavy tropical down-pours are interspersed with sunshine. Average temperatures range f rom 68 to 86 or 20 to 30C . Passport and Visas Visitors must arrive in Indonesia with passports valid for at least six months after arrival and with onward or return tickets. Visas are not required for nationals of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, New Zealand, Singapore,South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America and West Germany. A non-extendable tourist pass for citizens of these is issued for a maximum of 60 days with entry and departure through: Airports: Medan, Batam, Pekanbaru, Padang, Jakarta, Bali, Manado, Ambon, Biak,Ku pang, Pontianak, Balikpapan and Surabaya; Seaports: Medan, Batam, Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Riau, Bali, Manado, and Ambon. Through other ports, a visa is required. Nationals of countries not listed above can obtain 30-day tourist visas from any Indonesian embassy or consulate abroad. Health Certificates International certificates for smallpox and cholera are not required and yellow fever vaccination are necessary only for visitors coming from infected areas. Customs Each adult is permitted to bring, on entry, a maximum of two litres of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reasonable quantity of perfume. Photographic equipment and typewriters must be declared and are admitted provided they are taken out on departure. Prohibited from entry are the following items: narcotics, arms and ammunition, TV sets, radio and radio casette recorders, pornography, fresh fruit, printed matters in Chinese characters and Chinese medicine. All movie films and video casettes will have to be deposited for review by the Film Censor Board. There is no restriction on import and export of foreign currencies and travellers cheque; however, import or export Indonesia currency exceeding Rp 50,000,- is prohibited. Airport Tax Airport tax levied on passengers for international travel is Rp 17,000,-. While for travel within Indonesia it varies from one region to another with an average of Rp 3,500,- for each departure. Top Transportation An airconditioned airport-hotel shuttle service, operates frequently scheduled trips to/from major hotels to coincide with flights from Jakarta's international airport at a cost of approx Rp 4,000,per person. Taxis at a higher rate, are also available with metered taxis operating only in Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang and Solo. Elsewhere, other forms of transportation, which required setting the fare in advance, include minicars for two passengers, "bemos" or small buses covering regular routes and "becaks" powered by human energy. Trains operate in Java and parts of Sumatra. Garuda Indonesia has an extensive networkof dailyflights toallcitiesinthe 27 provinces. These flights are supplemented by domestic air services on Merpati, Nusantara, Mandala and Bouraq . Currency The local currency is the Rupiah. Foreign currencies, either banknotes or travellers cheques, are easily exchangedatbanks and moneychangers in major tourist destinations. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants in main cities. It is advisable to carry sufficient amounts of Rupiah when travelling to smaller towns or outer provinces. Tipping Major hotels add a 10% service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of between 5% to 10% of the bill would be appropriate if service is satisfactory. Airport poterage is Rp 500,- for a small bag and Rp 1,000,- if weighing more than 20 kg. Tipping taxi and hire-car drivers is not mandatory, but Rp 500,would be sufficient for a taxi driver, but more for a hire-car driver. Clothing Dress is generally informal in Indonesia. Light fabrics are recommendeddue to the warm, humid climate. For men, a jacket and tie is considered appropriate when making officials calls or non formal occasions. Or, follow local custom by wearing a long-sleeve batik shirt. It is recommended to bring a sweater or light jacket for travel to mountain areas. Shorts and beachwear are not considered appropriate except at sports facilities and on the beaches, and never appropriate for visits to temples, mosques and other places of worship. Top Office Hours Government offices: Monday - Thursday 8 am to 3 pm Friday 8 am to 11.30 am Saturday Saturday 8 am to 2 pm Business offices Monday - Friday 8 or 9 am to 4 or 5 pm Some offices are open half day on Saturday. Banks: Monday - Friday 8 am to 3 pm Food The main staple food of the majority of the population is rice. Coconut milk and hot chili peppers are popular cooking ingredients nationwide. Tastes range from very spicy dishes of meat; fish and vegetables to those that are quite sweet. The most popular dishes are "nasi goreng" (fried rice) which is otten served for breakfast, lunch or dinner, "satay" barbequed meat or chicken on skewers and "gado-gado", a vegetable salad with a pean ut sauce.All are most compatible with internationaltastes. Inthemaintouristcenters and cities, restaurants catering to international visitors are many, from fine continental grill rooms to Japanese specialty restaurants. Chinese restaurants are found in all towns throughout Indonesia. Tropical and subtropical fruits are available yearround. Bottled drinking water can be purchased everywhere. Shopping Many of Indonesia's main cities have department stores, supermarkets and large shopping complexes, open generally from 9 am to 8 pm, where fixed prices prevail. In local markets and small shops bargaining is the rule. Time Indonesia streches across three time zones:Western Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, West and Cen tral Kalimantan) + 7 GMTCentral Indonesia (Bali, South and East Kalimantan, Sula wesi, Nusa Teng gara) + 8 GMTEast Indonesia (Maluku and Irian Jaya) , +9 GMT Electricity Most hotels use 220 volts 50 cycles and two-pronged plugs. However it is not uncommon to find some hotels using 110 volts, particularly in the provinces. Check before using an appliance. Some hotels supply adaptors on request. Communication Long distance calls within Indonesia may be made by direct dialing through International Direct Dial (IDD) in major cities or through operator-assisted calls. Telex and fax services are readily available in major hotels and larger cities. Top Culture and Traditions Indonesians are a very friendly and polite people. Handshaking is customary, for both men and women, on introduction and greeting, smiling is a national characteristics. The population is predominantly Moslem. Nevertheless, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and other religions are freely practiced. Traditional customs form a major part of family and community life. The use of the left hand to give or receive is considered ill-mannered. Likewise crooking your finger to call someone is impolite. Public Holidays January 1 New Year Feb 20, 21 Idul Fitri Festival March 21 Seclusion Day / Saba New Year April 5 Good Friday April 28 Idul Adha Great Day May 16 Ascention day of Christ May 19 Hijriah New Year June 2 Waisak Day July 28 Maulid of Prophet Mumammad August 17 National Independence Day Dec 8 Isra Miraj of Prophet Muhammad December 25 Christmas Day Top Asia Travel || Indonesia Hotel and Resorts

Taiwan travel service providers.

U.S. Commercial Service Taiwan: Travel Facilitation BUYUSA.GOV -- U.S. Commercial Service Taiwan Local time: 06:39 AM Business Service Providers Start Accounting and Auditing Building and Construction Services Car Rental Conference Equipment and Facilitation Hotels and Meeting Facilities Human Resources Legal Services Market Research Office Rental Patent and Trademark Law Services Real Estate Services Relocation services Security and Personal Safety Trade Show and Exhibition Services Translation and Interpretation Transportation, Freight Forwarder and Storage Services Travel Facilitation Travel Facilitation Airtrade Express Ltd. Contact: Linda Cheng 12F, No. 92, Fu Hsing North Road, Taipei 104, Taiwan Phone: 886-2-2775-2640 Fax: 886-2-2776-9925 Email: linda@ N0SPAM. airtrade.com.tw Web: http://www.airtrade.com.tw Established in January 1989, Airtrade Express has been successfully offering travel services to our customers, corporate clients and individuals, in Taiwan. Including overseas staff, we now have more than 30 employees, compared to only 5 in 1989. As one of the leading travel agencies in Taiwan, Airtrade acts as a co-organizer in helping hundreds of business groups each year to attend various international exhibitions held worldwide, such as CeShow, Comdex Fall, APRA, InterBike, NAB, Las Vegas Hardware Show, etc. We provide a wide range of travel services including visa applications, flight scheduling, hotel accommodations, transportation arrangements, and many other services. Airtrade Express is the hallmark of Taiwan travel service providers. Home How We Help U.S. Companies How We Help Taiwanese Companies Doing Business in Taiwan Major Projects in Taiwan Business Service Providers Useful Links Internship Opportunities About Us Contact Us Asia Now Travel & Tourism Team Website Our Worldwide Sites Other Asian Markets Export.gov Trade Portal 中文 Search! Printable version © 2001-2005 All rights reserved Privacy Policy Disclaimer

EUROPE TRAVELERS In Europe,

Gemtlichkeit Travel Newsletter Travel Newsletter Germany, Austria, Switzerland Home | About | Subscribe | CarRental | Rail | Air Tickets | ContactUs | Members | Search Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Gemütlichkeit Contact the editor Address changes Subscriptions Renewals Free sample issue Gift subscriptions Passwords Back Issue Archive Hotel Database The Travel Shopper Links to our rail, car rental, air and trip planning. Air Tickets Lowest consolidator fares Car Rental Guaranteed best rates European Rail Passes No service fee, no shipping charge Germany Deals Book weekend packages, bicycle tours, Christmas markets, and special interest trips Hotel Bookings Low rates, Large Selection. These hotel affiliates are two of the largest online hotel brokers in the world Insure Your Trip Compare prices of the top travel insurers Trip Planning: Knowledgeable and expert Vacation Rentals Top sources for vacation rental apartments, houses, villas, castles, and chalets Travel Stories Archive Paid subscribers log on here to access 10 years of back issues plusour database of some 800 hotels. Members Login Password Special Discounts for Travelers : Save on Books, Maps, Clothing, Luggage, Travel Accessories and much more! Click Here We're All About Travel to Germany, Austria & Switzerland This is the Internet home of Gemtlichkeit: The Travel Letter for Germany, Austria & Switzerland , published 10 times a year and the only English-language publication devoted solely to travel in these three countries. Our archives are packed with travel information, and access is free to subscribers . News Mobile Phone Strategies MOBILE PHONE SERVICE FOR EUROPE TRAVELERS In Europe, I use a mobile phone mainly to call ahead to book hotels, make the occasional restaurant reservation, and stay in touch with my office in Oregon, (though 99 percent of the latter can be done via e-mail). When it came time to buy a... Full Text >> View All News... THE GOMS OF SWITZERLAND At the headwaters of the Rhne river is a high Swiss valley of wooden farm buildings blackened by weather, breathtaking vistas, simple little hotels, and a time-honored... Read Full Story About Gemtlichket The Travel Letter for Germany, Austria, & Switzerland Now in its 17th year, Gemtlichkeit is the world's leading in-English source for travel info on Germany, Austria & Switzerland. Featuring: Best restaurants & hotels Country hideaways Backroads drives Regional cuisine Off-the-beaten-track travel finds Lowest car rental and rail prices 10% discount on travel gear, maps, & books Free access to our online archives Free access to online database of hotels Click here for a sample copy and more information. Questions? Telephone: 800.521.6722 Search: Free Newsletter Free, via email. The latest Germany, Austria and Switzerland travel dealsincluding air, hotel and rail. Enter your email address below. Click here tosee the latest issue of Europe Travel Alert. Planning Your Trip Savvy Gemtlichkeit subscribers and editors share their tips and advice on traveling in Europe. Ask the experts here Europe Travel Kiosk 30 Essential Destinations The 10 top cities or regions to visit in Germany, Austria & Switzerland, including hotel recommendations Introduction Germany Austria Switzerland Travel Info Travel stories, tips and advice from Gemut.com Car Rental Advice from Andy Mobile Phone Strategies More on DCC Hotel Altstadt Currency Update Holiday Gift Guide Europe Travel Alert - November 2005 Europe Travel Alert - October 2005 Prepaid Travel Cards Hiking in Switzerland Swiss Alps Hike Learn to Speak German North Sea Hotel Dynamic Currency Conversion Car Rental Rates Decline Kandersteg for Connoisseurs New Avis Contract Airline Baggage Update Airport Car Rental Taxes On the Fast Track Oktoberfest Tips Europe Travel Alert - September 15, 2005 Historic Train Ride Lufthansa Business Class Coming Attractions in Fall 2005 SuperTravel Links Austria Tourist Office Austrian Rail German Rail German Tourist Office Swiss Rail Switzerland Tourism Cities... Regions... Dozens More... Login

cruise vacation along rivers

Barge cruise - european river and canal barge cruises, theme cruises - Golf, wine and family cruises, luxury barge cruise vacation along rivers and canals in France, Scotland, Ireland, England and Germany, GoBarging with European Waterways - website design, search engine optimisation, internet marketing by transform e business solutions UK, 360 virtual tours by www.360-virtual.com GoBarging with European Waterways Luxury Barge cruises in Europe Hello, and welcome to our GoBarging website. We'd like to introduce you to the European waterways, to the world of GoBarging. Our luxury hotel barges cruise the inland waterways of seven European countries, along canals, rivers, lakes and lochs. This is an opportunity to visit these countries and experience life there, from a truly unique perspective. Take our video tour for a taste of a unique barging experience Your floating hotel cruises gently along, while you relax, enjoy the fine wines and excellent cuisine, the company of fellow passengers - new friends, family, or old acquaintances. Take a guided tour around the many castles, markets, battlefields and ancient monuments, or go off exploring on your own. Whatever you do, our dedicated and highly trained professional staff will be there to look after you. Our Captains ensure a safe and yet exciting passage along your chosen route, our Chefs prepare a wide range of exquisite food to suit every taste, our Tour guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and our stewards & stewardesses ensure that our high standards are maintained throughout your cruise. Travel the route of Rick Stein's French Odyssey on Anjodi and Rosa - now showing on BBC2 TV, with accompanying BBC Book Please use our website to explore our GoBarging world. We offer many ways to navigate the website and find out about our barges. Use the side menu to visit our Europe cruise map to see the countries where we cruise, click on a region and find out more about it, and the barges which cruise there. If you are new to barging, have a look at our Barging Video, take a tour of our Barge fleet and read our GoBarging FAQ to find out more about barge cruises on the European Waterways. You can then use our Cruise guide to find a country, region and barge of your choice. Every barge page has its own menu, offering you lots of information on the unique merits of each barge. We offer a wide range of Theme cruise charters too, from Golf cruises to Wine cruises, and our Theme Cruise guide will help you to find a theme cruise to suit your needs. Our site map contains links to all pages, and a short description of each, offering another quick route to explore our website. We provide cruise rates and you can check availability for any barge and your preferred cruise dates. You can request a brochure, download a copy, or have one mailed, and why not subscribe to our monthly newsletter the Lockkeeper, where we feature different barges each month, provide cruise news and offers. So, welcome once again, and we hope this website gives you a taste for our unique barging world. For reservations or more information including a full colour brochure, contact Go Barging on International + 44 1784 482439, UK 0178 448 2439, USA 1 800 394 8630, Canada 1888 342 1917,fax: (+44) 1784 483072 or e-mail sales@GoBarging.com website design,search engine optimisation,internet marketing by transform ebusiness solutions uk