Japan Travel

Japan Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Japan Japan Hyperbolic, kitty-cute, switched-on, serene. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money General RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Japan Kyoto Nagoya Osaka Sapporo Tokyo View Map Click here Feature Attraction Iriomote-jima Dense jungle blankets much of Iriomote-jima, an island that could well qualify as Japan's last frontier. Trekking through the interior, you may find ... more Whether you end up taking photos of a reproduction Eiffel Tower, surfing an indoor wave, musing in a Zen temple, shacking up in a love hotel or kipping down in a capsule, you'll do best to come with an open mind and be prepared to be surprised. Somewhere between the elegant formality of Japanese manners and the candid, sometimes boisterous exchanges that take place over a few drinks, between the sanitised shopping malls and the unexpected rural festivals, everyone finds their own vision of Japan. When To Go Spring (March to May), with its clear skies and cherry blossoms, is probably the most celebrated Japanese season, but it's a holiday period for the Japanese and many of the more popular travel destinations tend to be flooded with domestic tourists. Autumn (September to November) is a great time to travel: the temperatures are pleasant, and the autumn colours in the countryside are fantastic. Mid-winter (December to February) can be bitterly cold, while the sticky summer months (June to August) can turn even the briefest excursion out of the air conditioning into a soup bath; on the plus side, major tourist attractions will generally be quieter at these times of the year. It's also worth considering peak holiday seasons when you plan your trip. Moving around and finding accommodation during New Year, Golden Week (late April to early May) and the midsummer O-Bon festival can be a real headache. Factoid Inking the King Japanese tattooing ( irezumi ) is often considered the world's best. The practice was banned under the Emperor Meiji, but revived after Prince George (later King George V) was tattooed, in 1881, by master tattooist Hori Chyo. SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

France Travel

france travel vacations France Tourism Home World Tourism AfghanistanTourism - Albania Tourism - AlgeriaTourism - Andorra Tourism - AngolaTourism - Antigua and Barbuda Tourism - ArgentinaTourism - Armenia Tourism - AustraliaTourism - Austria Tourism - AzerbaijanTourism - Bahamas Tourism - BahrainTourism - Bangladesh Tourism - BarbadosTourism - Belarus Tourism - BelgiumTourism - Belize Tourism - BhutanTourism - Bolivia Tourism - Bosniaand Herzegovina Tourism - BotswanaTourism - Brazil Tourism - BritishVirgin Islands Tourism - BulgariaTourism - Cambodia Tourism - Canada Tourism - CaymanIslands Tourism - Chad Tourism - ChileTourism - China Tourism - ColombiaTourism - Comoros Tourism - CroatiaTourism - Cuba Tourism - CyprusTourism - Czech Republic Tourism - DominicaTourism - Dominican Republic Tourism - DenmarkTourism - Ecuador Tourism - EgyptTourism - El Salvador Tourism - EstoniaTourism - Ethiopia Tourism - FijiTourism - Finland Tourism - FranceTourism - Georgia Tourism - GermanyTourism - Ghana Tourism - GreeceTourism - Grenada Tourism - GuyanaTourism - Haiti Tourism - HondurasTourism - Hungary Tourism - IcelandTourism - India Tourism - IndonesiaTourism - Iraq Tourism - IranTourism - Ireland Tourism - IsraelTourism - Italy Tourism - IvoryCoast Tourism - JamaicaTourism - Japan Tourism - Jordan Tourism - KazakstanTourism - Kuwait Tourism - KyrgyzstanTourism - Laos Tourism - LatviaTourism - Lebanon Tourism - LibyaTourism - Lithuania Tourism - LuxembourgTourism - Madagascar Tourism - MaldivesTourism - Mauritania Tourism - MauritiusTourism - Mexico Tourism - MoldovaTourism - Mongolia Tourism - NepalTourism - Netherlands Tourism - NewZealand Tourism - Nicaragua Tourism - NigeriaTourism - North Korea Tourism - NorwayTourism - Oman Tourism - PakistanTourism - Panama Tourism - PapuaNew Guinea Tourism - Paraguay Tourism - PeruTourism - Philippines Tourism - PolandTourism - Portugal Tourism - QatarTourism - Romania Tourism - RussiaTourism - Saudi Arabia Tourism - SerbiaTourism - Seychelles Tourism - SingaporeTourism - Slovakia Tourism - SloveniaTourism - Somalia Tourism - SouthAfrica Tourism - South KoreaTourism - Spain Tourism - Sri Lanka Tourism - St.Kitts and Nevis Tourism - St. LuciaTourism - Sudan Tourism - Sweden Tourism - SwitzerlandTourism - Syria Tourism - TajikistanTourism - Thailand Tourism - Trinidadand Tobago Tourism - Turkey Tourism - TurkmenistanTourism - Turks and Caicos IslandsTourism - Uganda Tourism - United Arab Emirates Tourism - UnitedKingdom Tourism - United StatesTourism - Uruguay Tourism - Uzbekistan Tourism - VenezuelaTourism - Vietnam Tourism Due to the nature of the topic and the wide range of information available, in order to cover only a tiny bit of it properly, some of the websites included here may have a commercial element in addition to the excellent information they provide. Such inclusion does not constitute an endorsement of product or service by archaeolink.com. Sites are included for information value only. The number of sites available online for this topic is enormous. This site can not and does not index all travel resources for a country. These "tourism" pages are basically designed as a supplement to the France Social Studies links rather than for the avid business or pleasure traveler. For those of you for whom this "supplementary" material is not enough, the following does provide some idea of what is available online and will hopefully be a good starting point for a more serious search. All about Paris in English __ A wide ranging website covering aspects of the city from find dining to medical care. You will find an interactive map, sections about Parisian life and culture, history, general tourism information and much more. - illustrated - From france.jeditoo.com - http://france.jeditoo.com/IleDeFrance/Paris/paringlish.html France __ "The French wrote the book on la vie en rose and gave the world champagne and camembert, de Beauvoir and Debussy, the Tour de France and the Tour Eiffel. There's a term for their seductive lifestyle - Douce France (Sweet France) and you'll find yourself using it often." - illustrated - From Lonelyplanet.com - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/france/ France Guide.com, the Tourist Office WebSite for Tourism in France __ You will find a great look at France and tour opportunities. Learn about festivals and other events, where to go and stay, what to do and much more. Just select the country you are traveling from and you will find information just for you. - illustrated - From franceguide.com - http://www.franceguide.com/prehome.asp France tourism - France vacation reviews __ Wide ranging general interest page about French tourism including hotel recommendations, sights to see and things to do. - illustrated - From tripadvisor.com - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187070-France-Vacations.html FranceWay, France homepage, travel, culture __ "A site dedicated to promoting what France has to offer. Explore anything from French culture and regions to the best of where to eat and sleep." - illustrated - From franceway.com - http://www.franceway.com/welcome.htm French Tourist Office __ Official travel website. You will find all you need to know to plan a business trip or vacation. - illustrated - From French Tourist Office - http://www.francetourism.com/ IgoUgo: France Tourism, Things To Do In France __ You will find a series of journals written by real travelers giving their impressions and recommendations. - illustrated - From igougo.com - http://www.igougo.com/planning/journalRegion.asp?LocationID=173 IgoUgo: Paris Tourism __ See above - illustrated - From igougo.com - http://www.igougo.com/planning/journal.asp?JournalID=38457 Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau __ If your trip is of a business nature, planning a group event, or if you just want to have fun, there is information here to help you do it all. - illustrated - From Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau - http://www.paris-touristoffice.com/index_va_v2.html Paris travel __ "Paris stimulates the senses, demanding to be seen, heard, touched, tasted and smelt. From romance along the Seine to landscapes on bus-sized canvases to the pick-an-ism types in cafes monologuing on the use of garlic or the finer points of Jerry Lewis, Paris is the essence of all things French." - illustrated - From Lonelyplanet.com - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/paris/ Paris Travel and Tourism Guide __ You will find several articles about Parisian tourism. - from About.com - http://goeurope.about.com/od/paris/ Web archaeolink.com Top of Page

cruise vacation news and

CLIA | Cruise Line International Association | Cruise Vacation Travel Packages For 160 years, Cunard has worked to make the art of cruising indistinguishable from the art of living well. Travel the world on the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Mary 2 and experience British elegance while recalling the golden age of sea travel. Lush tropical rain forests, exotic wildlife, exciting places to visit and the transit from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean through one of the world's historic marvels add up to a unique cruise destination. STRONG 3RD QUARTER PASSENGER GROWTH EXTENDS 2005 TREND FOR CLIA-MEMBER CRUISE LINES read more Register to receive the latest cruise vacation news and information on special offers Click here to sign up PASSPORTS REQUIRED TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES Read further -- Search for any city or US zip code Search by Destinations All Destinations Africa - Southern Alaska Antarctica Australia/New Zealand Bahamas Baltic/Russia Bermuda Black Sea British Isles/Ireland Canary Islands/North Africa Caribbean Costa Rica Cruises to Nowhere East Coast Europe - Western Far East/Orient Greek Isles/Aegean Hawaii India Israel/Egypt Mediterranean - West Mexico New England/Canada Panama Canal Red Sea/Suez Canal River - Amazon River - China River - Europe Scandinavia, North Cape South America South Pacific/Tahiti Southeast Asia Trans-Atlantic Trans-Pacific West Coast World Cruises Search by Cruise Lines All Cruise Lines Carnival Cruise Line Celebrity Cruises Costa Cruises Crystal Cruises Cunard Line Disney Cruise Line Holland America Line MSC Cruises Norwegian Coastal Voyage Norwegian Cruise Line Oceania Cruises Orient Lines Princess Cruises Radisson Seven Seas Cruises Royal Caribbean International Seabourn Cruise Line Silversea Cruises Swan Hellenic Windstar Cruises Search by Length of Cruise All Cruise Lengths 3-7 days 8-14 days 15-21 days 22+ days Why choose a CLIA Certified Cruise Counsellor? Find a CLIA affiliated travel agent in your area Search Tips Site designed by RampageInteractive / Web Services by TheDestination Group Digital Site Map

Disney Vacation

DLT: Disneyland Tokyo Home -- Back to Previous Page Theme Parks Photo Gallery Disneyland Disneyland Paris Disneyland H.K. Disneyland Tokyo - Adventureland - Critter Country - Fantasyland - Tomorrowland - Toon Town - Westernland - World Bazaar Walt Disney World Last revised 16-Dec-2000 . [ Whats New? ] NOTE: Don't get caught out with the wrong credit card at Tokyo Disney . . . . Tokyo Disneyland first opened to the public at Urayasu, just outside Tokyo on 15th April 1983, twelve years after The Magic Kingdom opened at Walt Disney World, and twenty eight years after the original Magic Kingdom theme park opened at Disneyland in Anaheim California. After the considerable success of Disneyland, and later the Walt Disney World resort in Florida, The Disney Company were approached by various countries, all eager to share in the tourist industry the Disney theme parks sparked. In Japan, The Oriental Land Company owned a sufficiently large enough parcel of land that had been reclaimed from Tokyo Bay, which was to be used for recreational purposes. The area also satisfied the other key requirement for Disney, in that it had a large local population within a 30 mile radius. The Japanese were frequent visitors to Disneyland, and subsequently to Walt Disney World, and so it was decided that it would make an ideal location for a third Disney theme park, which would be built along the same lines as the previous two existing Disney theme parks, rather than building a park with a distinct Oriental theme. The weather in the Tokyo Bay area however is far more changable than in Anaheim or Orlando, so the Disney Imagineers planned a glass-roofed World Bazaar area instead of the usual Main Street to greet visitors when they first entered the new park. The attractions were also designed with more covered areas than at the other Disney parks. One of the unique things about Tokyo Disneyland is that the various lands are not accessed by the central hub, but instead by a series of paths that branch off of the Main Street. The one main concession to the fact that it was Disney's first major theme park outside of the USA is the "Meet the World" attraction, that uses Audio Animatronics to deal with Japanese History. The now standard attractions of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Star Tours, and Splash Mountain have all been added to the park since it was initially opened, and as a result Tokyo Disneyland regularly attracts more than 10 million guests each year. Tickets for the park can be bought from several locations, but are probably best bought at the main park entrance. Unlike the original Disneyland in Anaheim, and later Walt Disney World in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland doesn't have it's own Monorail system, however if monorail rumours are to be believed this may soon change. The full address for the Tokyo Disneyland theme park is: Tokyo Disneyland Park 1-1, Maihama, Urayasu-shi, Chiba 279, Japan Ttel: 047(354)0001 Solarius.Com Vacation Planner Home Walt Disney World Disneyland Disneyland Paris Disneyland Hong Kong Solarius. All rights reserved. Terms of Use

South America Travel

Adventure Associates | Antarctica, Arctic, South America Expedition Cruises Home Antarctica Arctic Latin America Oceania Africa Bhutan Madagascar Worldwide Calendar Intro eNews Adventure News Rhumba, sway to the rhythm of South America! 16 April to 14 May - 2 to 24 July - 1 to 23 October 2006 - 22 Days The continent of South America has captivated us and our many thousands of clients for over thirty years. This huge multifaceted landmass contains such incredible diversity and virtually limitless adventure possibilities, that one meagre lifetime is barely enough to experience all it has to offer. Designed for the first time visitor to South America, our acclaimed Rhumba tour distils Adventure Associates’ extensive knowledge of the world’s fourth largest continent. Beginning in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, we fly to Lima, the capital of Peru, to enjoy the wonderful legacy of Spanish colonial architecture. We venture to the near-silent serenity of the Amazon jungle, travelling by boat to Ceiba Tops, a luxury resort located directly on the Amazon and just 40 kms from Iquitos. You’ll spend three days exploring the primordial beauty of undisturbed Amazonian jungle including a trading visit with the local Yagua Indians, one of the few native tribes still living by traditional means. A tour of the famous former Franciscan mission town of Indiana is planned. The town is home to a thriving river community with a colourful market where it’s possible to buy unique and authentic souvenirs. Then it’s on to Cuzco and the crowning jewel of South American archeology, Machu Picchu, the fabled “Lost City of the Incas”. Journey from Peru to Bolivia by train and hydrofoil across Lake Titicaca, and on to the world’s highest city, La Paz in Bolivia, one of the central points of the ancient Inca civilisation. Fly to famous Rio de Janeiro with three days of sightseeing and relaxing in the sun and on to astonishing Iguazú Falls, the world’s widest and most spectacular cascades. We wind down in bustling Buenos Aires – schedule some shopping and build up your appetite for a sumptuous barbecue lunch in an authentic Argentine estancia! Optional extensions are available to the stunning Galápagos Islands, the truly breathtaking Andes Lakes District or the dramatic, icy terrain of Patagonia. High Arctic Adventures 2006 New Icebreaker expeditions just announced... The Arctic comes alive for just a few short months each year. Summer arrives with a rush, bringing warmth and almost continuous daylight, along with a rich collection of wildlife. Polar bears, musk ox, walrus, ringed seals, bearded seals, belugas, narwhal, gray whales, bowhead whales, wildfowl, waders and seabirds are some of the animals that take advantage of the brief abundance of food in the otherworldly landscapes of the far north. The region is also home to small numbers of people who, against all the odds, have thrived and developed some of the hardiest societies on the planet. Russia's Far East & Wrangel Island • Northwest Passage, The Amundsen Route • Baffin Island Circumnavigation • Tanquary Fjord, Ellesmere Island & Greenland • The High Arctic: Canada & Greenland Click on the pdf icon to download issue 2 of the new World Adventurer magazine in pdf format (2MB) Namibia and South Africa Diamonds, sand dunes and curious blooms 23 August to 17 September 2006 26 days Our inaugural Namibia & South Africa tour has just returned and our passengers were enchanted by the beauty of Namibia’s stark, yet stunning desert landscapes and the plethora of springtime floral colour experienced in South Africa’s Namaqualand and Cape Province. So, we have at once started planning our August 2006 departure. Home to the oldest desert in the world, the Namib which contains the world’s highest sand dunes, Namibia is a land of contrasts from dunes and desert, coastal plains to the Kalahari Basin, wooded bushveld and mountain uplands. One of the greatest wonders is the spectacular Fish River Canyon which is the second largest canyon in the world. Travelling onwards to South Africa, our tour will not only take us to many of the better known highlights but also to rarely visited areas with a special emphasis on the springtime beauty of Namaqualand and the eastern Cape Atlantic Coast. On to Cape Town with its historic, nearby winelands and the stunning UNESCO-listed Cape Province Floral Region, before taking the scenic garden route to Port Elizabeth. An extension to Botswana, Victoria Falls or even exotic Zanzibar can also be arranged. Our tour is limited to 22 participants plus your tour leader. Accommodation is the best available including the exclusive Bushmanskloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat. Indeed in some places the venues are a “special” feature in themselves and add greatly to the overall enjoyment of the experience! Voyage to the North Pole 2006 01 to16 July 2006 - 16 Days 14 to 29 July 2006 - 16 Days on board the nuclear icebreaker Yamal For centuries, explorers set out for the North Pole by sled, ship, aircraft and even balloon, but it wasn’t until 1948 that a human reached 90º north. Now Adventure Associates can take you there – aboard the icebreaker Yamal, one of the few ships powerful enough to push through the formidable Arctic ice pack. Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime journey and add your name to the handful of adventurers who’ve stood at the top of the world. SUBSCRIBE To subscribe to our eNews mailing list, please complete the following form. name: email address: For security purposes and to prevent unwanted spam, an automated response will be sent to your email address given, asking for confirmation of your subscription. All addresses are kept strictly private. We never give out addresses to any third parties. Bhutan, land of the Thunder Dragon 29 Mar to 13 Apr 2006 - 16 days 22 Sep to 7 Oct 2006- 16 days Nestled in the eastern Himalayas, only in the last decade or so has the Kingdom of Bhutan opened even slightly to the outside western world. Little by little, a limited number of tourists have trickled into a country where “gross national happiness” (a term coined by Bhutan’s King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck 30 years ago) is used to define prosperity. In 2003 Adventure Associates first offered an escorted tour to this land steeped in history, culture and deep Buddhist piety. Our tour in April 2005 sold out so we decided to include another one in October 2005. In the Bhutanese spring and autumn of 2006, we set off (via Bangkok) to Paro, Bhutan on two more departures to this unique country. The highlights not only include the splendid Bhutanese landscapes, magnificent Dzongs (Fortress Temples) and wonderful flora and fauna, but also the cultural aspects. A highlight is the opportunity to visit farmers in regional areas who will demonstrate traditional Bhutanese cooking. Madagascar, the rainbow island 18 Apr to 9 May 2006 - 22 days 26 Sep to 17 Oct 2006 - 22 days Madagascar’s long isolation from neighbouring continents has resulted in an unique mix of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world. Some ecologists refer to Madagascar as the “eighth continent” and the entire landmass could almost be considered a national park. Following our sold out September 2005 tour, our new tours for 2006 spend two weeks exploring some of the key nature reserves, marvelling at the curious lemurs, colourful chameleons, imposing baobab trees and many other endemic species. The fascinating Malagasy culture is once again a highlight. At the beginning and end of the tour, you will also be able to relax in our first class, beachside hotel on the beautiful island of Mauritius. There is also an optional seven day extension to the verdant, volcanic French island of Réunion. Leave the hustle and bustle of the 21st Century behind you and experience an adventure to a different world. Remotest Australia and Oceania 2006 New expedition cruises to the Kimberley, Across the Top End and East Coast of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Melanesia When the early European navigators of the 15th, 16th and 17th Centuries ventured to the ‘East Indies’ they found wild and untamed lands beyond their imagination. Some overflowed with riches like spice and minerals, while others were so inhospitable and desolate they went unexplored for hundreds more years. Today we celebrate the feats of courageous men such as Dampier, Hartog, de Torres and Tasman with voyages of rediscovery to those same remote and isolated landfalls with luxury vessels of space-age construction. The savage vistas that so intimidated these otherwise courageous men are now within our reach to fully explore and enjoy. Our modern mastery of navigation allows us to access the pristine, untouched beauty of the Kimberley, the wild islands of Melanesia and the breathtaking fjords of New Zealand in complete contrast to the harsh deprivation of our seafaring forefathers. Join us as we venture to ancient and mysterious lands, still completely untouched by modern man. Relive the thrill of discovery as we anchor in secluded coves previously only known to the local tribes. Examine prehistoric art, so old it can’t be carbon-dated. These are just some of the unforgettable experiences awaiting you when you join one of our new expedition cruises aboard our brand new, luxury expedition ship, Oceanic Princess or the much-lauded Coral Princess to any of these truly unusual destinations. Adventure Associates are proud to offer this greatly expanded suite of adventures that open up yet more of our exquisitely rugged continent and its equally untamed near-neighbours. ADVENTURE ASSOCIATES Pty Ltd 197 Oxford Street Mall, Bondi Junction, Sydney NSW 2022, Australia Postal Address: PO Box 612 Bondi Junction NSW 1355 Australia Ph: (+61 2) 9389 7466 Fax: (+61 2) 9369 1853 NSW Travel Agent's Licence No. 2TA000351 ABN: 12 001 118 332 Entire contents of this website © Adventure Associates - reproduction without permission strictly prohibited. Note: All dates and prices quoted may be subject to change and must be confirmed with Adventure Associates at the time of booking. Web Design by If you experience technical difficulties, please contact the webmaster .