European Vacation - How

Your European Vacation - How Much Will it Cost?  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Europe Travel Planning > Your European Vacation - How Much Will it Cost? 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 Here's the Renault Clio we leased on our European Vacation. James Martin Stay up to date! Here's the Renault Clio we leased on our European Vacation. James Martin Email to a friend Print this page European Maps European Distance Map European Travel Planning Map European Vacation Transportation Driving in Europe Tips for Driving in France European Driving Links Europe Vacation Planning The Best of Europe Europe Travel Planning Directory Travel Planning Timeline Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Europe Travel - How Much Does a Typical Europe Vacation Cost? From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Apr 7 2005 Planning to Travel in Europe? Why not take a look at my bills! I've put together this page in order to show you about what the two of us spent on our 2003 European Vacation, and what you might expect to pay if travel Europe during the high season. I've broken it down into statistical categories: Transportation costs, Lodging costs, and Restaurant meal expense, one per page. OurEuropean Vacation Travel Expenses--What's Typical? This year we traveled around Europe for 7 weeks. We traveled in London, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, stayingmostly in hotels.Our average hotel had three stars. We leased a car, a Renault Clio 1.4, for 49 days (read about renting vs. leasing ). We are frugal but not cheap. We like to eat well, so we spent a little more than most folks on restaurant food, and most days more on food than lodging. (A detailed explanation of how I travel in Europe is available my article: How I travel in Europe ) The Statistics for our European Vacation--The Cost of Transportation. We drove a total of 8683 kilometers across Europe--that's 5393 miles, 110 miles per day. (Take into consideration that we were traveling as journalists at a breakneck speedin order to collectas much info aspossible on our "vacation." You will probably take it a bit more leisurely.) Our new Renault Clio had air conditioning and we needed it most drives. It went about 14km on a liter of fuel. (European volumes are specified in liters, 1 liter is .22 gallons, or close to a quart.) Fuel prices along our route varied between .76 and 1.15 Euros per liter. 1 US dollar let us travel about 12 km or 7.5 miles based on fuel costs alone. We spent about 600 Euros total for unleaded fuel on our trip. The 49 day lease of the car cost $1294 The total cost of driving an air conditioned car in Europe was around $2000 (converting the Euros for fuel into dollars at the time of transaction). That's about $275 per week for transportation. Thus we spent $1 for 4.34km or $1 for 2.7 miles or $0.37 per mile in total cost . (This is not far from the average ownership costs of a car in the US, which is 51.7 cents. The IRS allows a 36 cent deduction for business use of your own car.) Note: Diesel fuel is much cheaper than gasolinein Europe. Frugal travelers might want to look into renting or leasing a diesel vehicle. Transportation: Expense Comparisons with Train Tickets and Rail Passes Two Unlimited 2 month Eurail passes cost $2676, or $1338 each. A Eurail flexi pass that allows 15 days travel over two months costs $1350 or $675 each (source RailEurope) Thus, a car is quite economical compared to first class train travel with a Eurail pass, especially with two or more people. We don't have space to compare this with many point to point tickets, but you can get an idea of what rail travel might cost from my article Rail Travel in Europe - What's it Cost ? Here's a quick comparison of Italian rail travel per kilometer from 2002, when a 2nd class trip cost me 5.73 Euros for 113 kilometers, or 20 km per Euro, cheaper than our 14 km per dollar, but keep in mind that Italian train travel is about the cheapest in Europe (i.e. don't try this trick in the UK!). Remember that the expense of carrying more people multiplies the cost of a train trip, butmore riders don't increase the cost ofusing acar until you've reached your limit (for the Renault it was 4 people.) Fuel Costs in Europe - The Stats Country with Lowest Cost per Liter of Unleaded Fuel: 0.76 Euro, Spain . (Greece is also known to have cheap gas.) Italy, Belgium and France had comparable costs, which varied between 0.96 and 1.15 Euro/liter. (In France, the gasoline in those giant market malls called Hypermarkets was around 5-7 percent cheaper than most regular stations. Look for gas stations on the outskirts of town and usually inside Hypermarket parking lots.) Petrol Prices across Europe (in pounds sterling, but you can see the relationships between prices in all European countries). Click to the next page for information on the cost of Lodging on our European Vacation. 1 2 3 Next        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There

Family Vacation Ideas Winter

family vacations - family travel deals & family vacation ideas  You are here: About > Travel > Travel with Kids Travel Travel with Kids Essentials Family Vacation Ideas Winter and Spring Break All-Inclusive Resorts Ten Latest Family Travel Deals Family Resorts: top places; photos Articles & Resources Family Travel: What's Hot Top Vacation Spots VT, ME, NH, CT, MA, NY, PA Mexico Family Vacations Caribbean Vacations More Beach Vacations Florida Family Vacations Resorts with Water Park More Family Resorts Fun Places for Kids Disney Vacations Family Cruises Babies;Teens;Single Parents Lots More Destinations Family Travel TIPS, GAMES Buyer's Guide TAKE ALONG: Christmas books Christmas flicks Activity Kits more CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Travel with Kids newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Travel with Kids From Teresa Plowright , Your Guide to Travel with Kids . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Bunch of family travel deals Latest deals added include a January Travel Special at the one-of-a kind Atlantis Bahamas (with 14-acre "waterscape", shark lagoons, subterranean giant aquariums with Atlantis theme, lazy river, and waterslides-- not to mention spa, dining, and casino.) Also: Alaska Airlines Vacations has announced the return of its Kids Fly Free to Disneyland deal: a great promotion that both Alaska and United Airlines repeat every year for travel after New Year's. Alaska's travel dates extend through most of June. Check out these promotions and more of the Ten Latest Travel Deals : then check back frequently, as new deals get slotted in. Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink First Nights! "First Night" events celebrate New Year's with family-friendly festivities-- and as if that weren't good enough, they're low-cost, too. Read more about First Night events , and find celebrations in many cities. Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink Top Family Travel Trends in 2005 It's that time of year... to pause the mad dash of daily life, and try to figure out, how the heck did all those months go by so fast, and what the heck did it all mean? Family Travel Trend Number 1: Splish, Splash Our pick for biggest family vacation trend for 2005 is Big Splashes at Family Resorts : a whole bunch of resorts opened private water parks for their guests this year -- such as Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn (aka NickHotel), pictured right, in Orlando, which added not one but two water parks. Trend Two: new major players on the family vacation scene In this flurry of water play in 2005, one can see some major new players muscling their way up and out of the local scene. Great Wolf Lodge , for example -- one of the main resorts in waterpark super-town, Wisconsin Dells-- leads the pack in expanding beyond the Dells: its new Great Wolf Poconos resort (left) joins properties in Niagara Falls, Virginia, Sandusky Ohio, and more. Meanwhile, The Atlantis was already a behemoth in the Bahamas, with it's amazing 14-acre "waterscape". Now, it's not only expanding there -- with an upscale new Tower and a major new waterpark area -- its also about to replicate. The Atlantis The Palms Dubai is being built half-way around the globe, with 50-acre waterscape, a Ziggurat Temple with eight waterslides, 2-kilometer river ride, and much more. These brand-building resort openings make one wonder: what about NickHotel ? Can a concept this good be confined to one place? Trend Three: So who's your animated character? NickHotel is a good illustration of another trend, with its celebrity residents SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, the RugRats, and other animated characters from Nickelodeon tv. Animated characters have of course long been a feature at the Disney theme parks,but these days, they're popping up in more and more places. SpongeBob has done guest appearances at a number resorts. Elmo and Cookie Monster hang out at Beaches Resorts , thanks to a multi-year deal with Sesame Street. So will we see bidding wars, among resorts desperate for cartoon mascots? Stay tuned, in 2006... The big(gest) picture There were of course many more Grand Openings etc. in 2005 -- see Family Travel Newsmakers for a few. All the above paints a picture of a burgeoning time for family travel. Families are traveling more together, a trend that grew after 9-11. Also, it's so easy to "bring the kids" when virtually every resort has a kids' club, and some take kids' programs to soaring heights. But perhaps the most important travel story of 2005 is an invisible one: no news is good news, as, thankfully, another year of travel has proceeded peacefully with no trauma of terrorist attacks. Yet 2005 did see destruction: the tsunami and hurricane season battered many tourist zones, not only causing immediate damage but reminding everyone how important tourism is for local welfare. So please remember these areas as we open up the old hearts and wallets, in the last days of 2005. See also: Family Travel News-makers in 2005 2005: Big Splashes -- new indoor and outdoor water parks at Family Resorts Sunday December 25, 2005 | permalink Bookmark the NORAD Tracks Santa site! It's not a family trip, but it's certainly a trip that fascinates families... Every year, the official NORAD site gives a bit of magic to millions of kids: they can watch Santa's flight tracked by an official aerospace agency. Make sure you have the website-- and the right plug-ins-- all lined up for the big night. See: Track Santa on Christmas Eve at the NORAD web site . Saturday December 24, 2005 | permalink Christmas at Hershey - & Holiday Season countdown Three hours from NYC, 1.5 hours from Baltimore, "Chocolate Town USA" has several attractions, most notably Hersheypark and a historic hotel. In December, Hersheypark turns into Christmas Candyland. Even better, Hershey PA has a bunch of holiday getaway packages. Read about Christmas at Hershey . And lots more, in the Holiday Season Countdown: Gift ideas for traveling kids : baby gifts, stuffies, Leapfrog Leapster, activity kits, and more Ten Holiday Packages : "Home for the Holidays" package in Vermont with Christmas trimmings, including your own tree to decorate in your room; The Polar Express train in New Hampshire; 12 Days of Christmas at Sea Island... new : Holiday Package in the White Mountains, NH Disney Christmas: special events at Disney World include Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights; Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party; Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional... and that's not all. more Holiday Season in Orlando : it's the uber -destination for families, and the fun keeps escalating many more Holiday Season events in many cities Christmas Eve: on the big night, don't forget to track Santa's flight! Every year, the official NORAD site gives a bit of magic to millions of kids: they can watch Santa's flight tracked by an official aerospace agency. Make sure you have the website-- and the right plug-ins-- lined up and ready to go, to Track Santa's Flight on Christmas Eve. Kwanzaa : many cities have Kwanzaa celebrations , from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 New Year's Eve: finally, wrap up the year with a First Night : family-friendly and affordable New Year's Eve celebrations, staged in many cities. Read more... Saturday December 17, 2005 | permalink 2005: Big Splashes -- new indoor and outdoor water parks at Family Resorts Looking back at the year that was: in 2005 a trend become a tidal wave as multiple family resorts made major splashes with on-site water parks for their guests. For example: Sunset Beach Resort & Spa -- a value-priced all-inclusive in Jamaica-- opened the Pirate's Paradise water-park, above. Click to read about new water parks at Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn, Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos, Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark, Sunset Beach Resort in Jamaica; and a major planned waterpark at the Atlantis Resort. See also: Family Travel Trends in 2005 Family Travel Newsmakers in 2005 Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Visit an Ice Hotel It's like the essence of winter: so ethereally beautiful, so crystal cold, so melted by spring. There are two Ice Hotels, one in Sweden, one in Quebec. Far more people do tours than stay overnight; but those who do stay sleep in warm mummy-bags on top of reindeer skins on top of sculpted-ice beds: is this cool, or what? 28 degrees cool... read about the Ice Hotel in Sweden and Quebec take a photo tour of a past Ice Hotel in Quebec Note : check out a Happy Frosty Holidays promotion at the Quebec Ice Hotel Saturday December 10, 2005 | permalink Family Vacation Idea: Marien Coral by Hilton Coral by Hilton is a brand of the giant Hilton chain that should pique the interest of families: these four resorts in the Dominican Republic are all-inclusive, have kids clubs and are family-friendly, and offer a good price point. See photos of the Marien Coral by Hilton , and a profile for families , too. See more resorts in the Dominican Republic See also these other recent resort profiles: NEW: Natura Park Eco-Resort , DR: in Punta Cana, Bavara Beach area Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman : Ambassadors of the Environment Kids Program created by jean-Michel Cousteau Great Wolf Poconos : brand new; rustic chic and indoor waterpark Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark : also brand new, and the first hotel with indoor waterpark in NY state Hilton Los Cabos : sheltered cove for swimming (a plus in Los Cabos) Riu Ocho Rios : brand-new all-inclusive in Jamaica Dreams Los Cabos : all-inclusive in the popular Los Cabos area in Baja, western Mexico Grace Bay Club : luxury resort in Turks & Caicos; suites, kids program Monday December 05, 2005 | permalink Family Vacation Idea: Ski Utah Think Utah's out of the way? Think again: hop a direct flight (on an economy airline like Southwest) to Salt Lake City. Just an hour after you land you can be airborne again: on a ski lift. Solitude has a "village" that's great for families, with outdoor pools, game room, mini-movie theater. And there's six other resorts less than an hour from the airport. Click above for Solitude, or read about Alta terrific skiers-only ski resort , or other Salt Lake City skiing . More Ski Resorts: Colorado, Vermont, etc. Saturday December 03, 2005 | permalink "Snowland" at Great Wolf Lodge Great Wolf Lodge is one of the top resorts with indoor waterparks in that top town for indoor waterworks, Wisconsin Dells; and Great Wolf Lodge is leading the pack in building new properties in other states. Latest opening is in the Great Wolf Lodge Poconos , pictured right: with great-looking rustic chic, all-suite guestrooms, and a 78,000 sq. ft waterpark. As if the waterpark wasn't enough fun, Great Wolf Lodge has launched a new holiday tradition: from Dec. 2 to Dec. 31, "Snowland" will transform the resort's Grand Lobby with snowflakes, icicles, and indoor snow (though guests can still sit by the fire and sip hot choc.) Snowland also means many themed holiday events... Other Great Wolf Lodges -- in Sandusky OH, Wisconsin Dells, and more-- have Snowland too. Read more... Monday November 28, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Charades -How To Play Charades Family Vacation Spots The Atlantis Resort Great Places to See Santa Disney Christmas Magic Kingdom What's Hot Grand Floridian Chinese New Year - 2006 Poconos Great Wolf Lodge photo Dog Friendly Hotels, inns, lodges -- find dog-friendly vacat... Kwanzaa Related Topics Florida for Visitors New England for Visitors Theme Parks Hotels / Resorts / Inns Parenting of K-6 Children        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Grand Floridian Chinese New Year - 2006 Poconos Great Wolf Lodge photo Dog Friendly Hotels, inns, lodges -- find dog-friendly vacat... Kwanzaa Headlines Bunch of family travel deals Latest deals added include a January Travel Special at the... First Nights! "First Night" events celebrate New Year's with family-friendly festivities-- and... Top Family Travel Trends in 2005 It's that time of year... to pause the mad dash... Bookmark the NORAD Tracks Santa site! It's not a family trip, but it's certainly a trip...

Germany Travel > Munich

Munich Germany Travel Planner - Hotels Restaurants Languange Tipping Internet Access  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Germany Austria Switzerland > Germany Travel > Munich > Munich Germany Travel Planner - Hotels Restaurants Languange Tipping Internet Access 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 Map of Germany showing Munich James Martin Stay up to date! Map of Germany showing Munich James Martin Email to a friend Print this page Munich Transportation Information Munich International Airport Munich Public Transportation Riding the Rails in Germany Munich Travel Information Facts about Munich Munich Weather Forecast Munich's English Garden Germany Travel Resources Germany Map and Travel Info German Rail Map Munich Travel Links Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Munich Germany Travel Planner - Munich Information From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Munich Essentials for the Traveler Part 1: Munich Essentials - How to get there, where to find hotels, how to stay connected. Destination: Munich Germany Founded: June 14th, 1158 by Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony. It's Germany's third largest city. Munich has the second biggest number of working people in Germany. Munich has 10 Universities as well as 45 Museums and Collections. Munich Germany Quick Facts Munich is located near the geographical center of the Southern German region of Bavaria. The population of Munich is 1.2 million people, about 280,000 of which are foreigners. About 80% of Munich was bombed by the Allies during World War II and subsequently rebuilt. Getting to Munich From Munich's airport, Franz Josef Strauss Flughafen, you can get to the Hauptbahnhof (the city's main train station) by S-Bahn #8. The bus station is near the train station, which is located on the northwest corner of the old city. [ map ] Languages While German is, of course, the main language used in Munich, English is widely spoken and taught in schools. Most restaurants in the town center offer English menus, many with quite interesting translations. It is easy to get by with little or no German language knowledge. Hotels (Note: 2002 prices cited) There are many hotels within walking distance of the main train station. The average price of a reasonable (or inexpensive) hotel with private bath and breakfast is around 100 €. We stayed at the Hotel Europäischer Hof for 99 €. The Hotel Monaco , nearby on Schillerstrauss, was voted the best two star hotel in Germany. Doubles at the Monaco start at 110 €. The recommended youth hostel is found on nearby Senefelderstrasse. Euro Youth Hotel is number 5 on the left side of the road coming from the train station. Restaurants If you find yourself in the tourist center near the Marienplatz, The Neues Rathaus (The New City Hall) has two "kellers", a winestaube and a beer cellar. The winestaube has music (accordion when we were there) starting at 5. The beer celler has good food, but don't be persuaded to sit in one of the empty rooms, enter the hall from the Diener Street entrance and try to find a table in the big, noisy, main room where Munichers eat. They do try to funnel English speaking people into dull, empty rooms. Tipping While service is included in the bill, generally waiters are tipped 5% for good service. Internet Access in Munich Internet access is right in the main train station. Just follow the signs to the Times Square Bistro. They charge .5 Euro for 5 minutes, a bit steep for Europe, but you can sit anywhere in front of a big LCD screen, order a beer and feel you're part of a bar scene rather than crammed into a steamy room full of beige boxes. The Bistro features a friendly owner, too. Just take a seat and start surfing--the time is recorded automatically. There are other internet services near the station on the south side of Bayer Strasse. Nudity and the English Garden Now here's a controversy for you--the tourist powers that be are worried that there aren't enough attractive natives baring it all in the middle of Munich. Yup, that's right, nudity was once a feature of designated areas of the Englischer Garten and the practice is fading--you used to be able to count on gawking at naked people downing liters of beer in the beer gardens. Perhaps you can apply to be a token Munich nudist and make money while vacationing--if I hear anything I'll let you know. Anyway, Munich's Englischer Garten is the largest in Europe and twice the size of Central Park. And you can still practice your nudity there while slugging down some strong beer. Other Sage Advice for Munich Germany Many museums in Munich are closed on Monday. Pick up a copy of "The Inside Track," the EurAide newsletter, at the ticketing office in the train station. The newsletter offers many tips on getting around and enjoying Munich. The EurAide office is near track 11, room three at the station. Get advice, find excursions, passes and travel deals there. Next page > Walks in Munich - Hitler's Munich > Page 1 , 2 , 3 More on Munich for the traveler • Part 2: Walks in Munich • Part 3: Visiting Dachau        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There

Russia Travel Resources >

St. Petersburg, Russia for Travelers  You are here: About > Travel > Eastern Europe for Visitors > Russia-Belarus-Ukraine > Russia Travel Resources > Cities & Destinations > St. Petersburg, Russia for Travelers Travel Go Eastern Europe Essentials Best of Eastern Europe Map of Central/Eastern Europe Photo Gallery Country Profiles Discount Travel Websites Articles & Resources Planning Your Trip Ways to Travel What to Do in East Europe Maps for Eastern Europe Czech-SlovakTravel Hungary Travel Poland Travel Russia-Belarus-Ukraine Romania-Moldova Travel Baltic Travel Balkan Travel Culture and Holidays Photo Galleries East Europe Travel and Language Books Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Eastern Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Eastern Europe for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Elsewhere on the Web Russian Tourist Office State Hermitage Museum State Russian Museum From Other Guides St. Petersburg and Cruise Ships The Creation of St. Petersburg Winter Palace Architecture Most Popular First Christmas Tree Europe map Best of Eastern Europe Croatia Naturism and Nudism Discount Travel Websites What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings Related Topics Hotels / Resorts / Inns European History Architecture Air Travel Europe for Visitors St Petersburg, Russia From Apply Now , Your Guide to Eastern Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Travel to St. Petersburg, Russia's Elegant Former Capital City According to U.N. statistics, St. Petersburg, Russia is the eighth most visited tourist site in the world, with several million people visiting the city every year. Why do visitors flock to this former capital of Russia? St. Petersburg is a traveler’s delight, famous for its summertime White Nights, its marvelously designed old city section, beautiful buildings on the banks of the Neva River, and its many churches, museums, gardens, theaters and activities. The city's turbulent history also draws visitors. Key Points about St. Petersburg Tsar Peter the Great established St. Petersburg in 1703, with the founding of the Peter and Paul Fortress on May 27th of that year. While some may have wondered why the tsar chose to put his namesake city in a swamp prone to flooding, Peter delighted in the city's strategic position on the Gulf of Finland as an entry to Europe. By 1712, the city became the capital of Russia. Over the years, the city changed names to Petrograd and Leningrad but now has regained its original name. Young by European terms, the city is architecturally stunning, with many cathedrals, museums, monuments and more than 500 bridges over the river Neva. Nevsky Prospect is where most tourists go, as it is the main thoroughfare through the city’s historic center. St. Petersburg has two high seasons: May through July and the spectacular winter season between the New Year’s holiday through January. St. Petersburg is famous for its White Nights of summer when daylight never really goes away, particularly between June 11 and July 2. St. Petersburg has a deserved reputation for world-class attractions. The city is home to the State Hermitage Museum, the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theater, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, and the palace of Peter the Great. The city hosts annual art exhibits and music and film festivals, including the Viva Russian Cinema festival. Entry Russia requires that most foreign visitors obtain a visa. You cannot get a visa at the border so make sure you get one in plenty of time from a Russian embassy or consulate or an authorized travel agency. You will also need an official invitation, best obtained from an authorized travel agency. Major Attractions Nevsky Prospect has been St. Petersburg’s heart since the days of Peter the Great. It’s 4.5 km of shops, hotels, performance venues, and lively activity. Many of the attractive buildings have been recently renovated. The State Heritage Museum contains large collections of art from prehistoric to modern times. One building belonging to the museum is the Winter Palace, former home of the tsars. The State Russian Museum is the world’s largest museum of Russian art. The Peter and Paul Fortress was St. Petersburg’s first structure and today houses a number of museums and the Peter and Paul Cathedral where all Russian tsars since Peter, except Nicholas II, are buried. Peter’s Cabin is the city’s first residence. A wooden structure built for Peter the Great’s use, it contains artifacts from his time. St. Isaac’s Cathedral is the world’s third largest domed cathedrals. Featuring mosaics, red granite columns, loads of precious stones, and a gold-covered cupola, the cathedral is major landmark. Climb up the colonnade for a view of the city. For more about St. Peterburg’s attractions, see the Russian Tourist Office website. See page 2 for information about shopping, dining, and lodging. Russia Travel Guide Index Profile of Russia City Profile: Moscow City Profile: St. Petersburg Before You Go Need to Know Money Matters Intercity Travel City Transit Driving Health and Safety Lodging Dining and Drinking Communications Shopping 1 2 Next        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings

London Vacation Rentals section

New London - Vacation Rentals .com #1 Vacation Rentals Directory Beach Houses & Vacation Homes Contact Owners Direct... Home List Your Rental Help Home Owner Login About Us Disclaimer More Vacation Rentals World : United States : Connecticut : New London Our New London Vacation Rentals section features the following homes, villas, cabins, cottages or condos listed below. Please click on the description to view any of the New London Rentals you see listed for more information. New London Connecticut Rentals are added and updated every week, so please bookmark us and visit again. Be sure to check out Niantic (5 miles), Mystic (6 miles), Stonington (10 miles), Westerly, Rhode Island (14 miles), Old Saybrook (15 miles), and East Haddam (19 miles) for additional vacation rental choices. Notice a problem with our distances? Report it here. Photo's available Pets? please inquire Swimming pool Jacuzzi Availability Calendar Type Bed Bath Sleeps Rates or Community House 5 2 10 $700-$2550 USD/wk Lovely Beach House w/Private Beach- New London House 6 2 11 $800-$2200 USD/wk Sunny 1910 Beach House with Private Beach & Casinos Nearby VacationRentals.com is quickly becoming one of the largest and most useful specialized travel site on the internet for finding vacation rental homes. With its intelligent search engine, VacationRentals.com is the easiest place for travelers to find and rent unique vacation rentals including cabins, beach house, villas, bed and breakfasts and other vacation lodging. VacationRentals.com is the most efficient means for owners to promote their rental properties. ©1997-2005 VacationRentals.com LLC All Rights Reserved.