European Vacation Planning Map

Your European Vacation and the Tumbling Dollar - Should you go this Year?  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 Your European Vacation and the Tumbling Dollar - Should you go this Year? Europe for Visitors Blog « Villa d'Este - Fabulous Renaissance Gardens and Fountains near Rome | Main | Copenhagen Travel Essentials » February 11, 2004 Your European Vacation and the Tumbling Dollar - Should you go this Year? Today you'll have to shell out a hard-earned buck twenty eight to buy a single Euro. Should you put off taking your European vacation until the dollar bounces back? Does it matter? I've put together a few arguments for traveling this year--including a couple that explain why the exchange rate may not make as much impact on your travel dollar as you think. Besides, you can always be frugal and enjoy your vacation just as much. We have a dozen tips on saving money without sacrificing a whole lot in our article: Saving Money on your European Vacation - 12 Frugal Vacation Tips . Email a Friend Display Latest Headlines Read Archives 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... 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        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 Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... 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...

France travel! TripAdvisor's Tourism

France Hotel Deals - Unbiased Reviews - TripAdvisor France Hotel Deals and TripAdvisor SmartDeals Sign in • Sign up Home > Europe > France > SmartDeals France tourism: Overview Hotels Flights Attractions Deals Forums Maps, etc. Discount hotels | Hotel + air deals | All travel offers Search (e.g., Boston hotels, Las Vegas, Paris art museum) France France Overview France Hotels Flights to France France Deals Discount hotels Hotel + air deals All travel offers France Attractions France Forums France Maps France Discount Hotels France Vacation Packages e-mail this page to a friend Popular hotel deals Acapulco hotel deals Alaska hotel deals Amsterdam hotel deals Anaheim hotel deals Arizona hotel deals Aruba hotel deals Aspen hotel deals Atlanta hotel deals Atlantic City hotel deals Bahamas hotel deals Barbados hotel deals Belgium hotel deals Bermuda hotel deals Boston hotel deals Branson hotel deals Breckenridge hotel deals British Virgin Islands hotel deals Cabo San Lucas hotel deals California hotel deals Canada hotel deals Cancun hotel deals Caribbean hotel deals Colorado hotel deals Costa del Sol hotel deals Cozumel hotel deals Dallas hotel deals Daytona Beach hotel deals Dominican Republic hotel deals Florida hotel deals Florida Keys hotel deals Fort Lauderdale hotel deals France hotel deals Germany hotel deals Grand Canyon National Park hotel deals Greece hotel deals Grenada hotel deals Hawaii hotel deals Hilton Head hotel deals Ibiza hotel deals Ireland hotel deals Italy hotel deals Ixtapa hotel deals Jamaica hotel deals Kauai hotel deals Key West hotel deals Lake Placid hotel deals Lake Tahoe hotel deals Las Vegas hotel deals London hotel deals Los Angeles hotel deals Los Cabos hotel deals Maui hotel deals Mazatlan hotel deals Melbourne hotel deals Mexico hotel deals Miami hotel deals Montreal hotel deals Myrtle Beach hotel deals Nashville hotel deals Nassau hotel deals New York hotel deals New York City hotel deals Niagara Falls hotel deals Nova Scotia hotel deals Oahu hotel deals Orlando hotel deals Paris hotel deals Park City hotel deals Philadelphia hotel deals Phoenix hotel deals Pigeon Forge hotel deals Puerto Rico hotel deals Puerto Vallarta hotel deals Punta Cana hotel deals Quebec City hotel deals Reno hotel deals Rome hotel deals Salt Lake City hotel deals San Antonio hotel deals San Diego hotel deals San Francisco hotel deals Santa Fe hotel deals Scotland hotel deals Seattle hotel deals Spain hotel deals St. Croix hotel deals St. Lucia hotel deals St. Maarten/St. Martin hotel deals St. Thomas hotel deals Sydney hotel deals Texas hotel deals Toronto hotel deals Tucson hotel deals U.S. Virgin Islands hotel deals Vail hotel deals Virginia Beach hotel deals Washington DC hotel deals Whistler hotel deals Read more France tourism France Hotel Deals and TripAdvisor SmartDeals Hotel deals Super-savers, web deals, exclusive promotions — find today's best deals in France lodging! France : Book Best Available Room. ClassicVacations.com Call 800-921-2680 to find your luxury travel specialist France : Book Now - Pay on Checkout! Venere.com Buying Direct Means Lower Prices. Hotels, B&Bs, Apartments and More. France : Why stay in tiny hotel room? Villa4Vacation.com Rent from owners. Vacation Rentals: Less money, more room! Paris Hotels www.Hotels-Paris.fr 250 Charming Hotels selected. Up to 50% discount- No prepayment 7000 hotels in France FranceHotelNetwork.com Special offer: Rooms from 39 Book Online or Call +33 489 884 005 France Hotels www.francehotelreservation.com Wide Selection of hotels in France Compare and Book online or by phone Discount Europe Hotels visiteu.net Wide Choice of European Hotels - Instant Booking, Amazing Rates! Hotels www.Travelocity.com Find Low Rates, Nearby Attractions & Dining, Hotel Pics, Maps & More! Paris Las Vegas www.ParisLasVegas.com Rates from $99/night! Best Rate Plus Guarantee. Book Now Heart of Paris hotels www.heart-of-paris-hotels.com A selection of charming hotels on the famous places of Paris. View more France hotel specials Hotel + air — Save money! Book hotel + air and save! Often called packages, these bundles can save you a bundle. France : Vacation Planning Experts. ClassicVacations.com Call 800-921-2650 to find your luxury travel specialist France : Low Vacation Prices Made Easy Orbitz Vacations The faster, easier way to find the hotel you want. Just Orbitz and go! Europe Vacation Packages www.GoAheadTours.com Buy Any Package - One Free Airfare. See Our Vacation Packages Today! All-Inclusive Resorts www.resortvacationstogo.com Great rates on the all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and Caribbean. Delta to France www.delta.com Booking your flight online at Delta.com just got even easier! France Vacation www.BudgetTravelOnline.com Travel Tips & Info on Destinations All Over Europe - Learn More! Vacation packages www.funjet.com FunJet Offers All-Inclusive Vacations For Less. Book Today! AAVacations.com www.aavacations.com As individual as you are. Book your dream vacation. TotalTrip on Travelocity www.Travelocity.com Save big when you create your own custom trip. Book Flight & Hotel. French Castle Vacations www.simplychateau.com 350+ self-catered castle & manor house rentals throughout France. View all 2859 France hotel + air packages Car rental Find great deals on rental cars. Europe car rental www.alamo.com Going to Europe? Reserve your rental car now at Alamo.com Car Rental France www.kemwel.com Save on Your France Car Rental. Book Online Today with Kemwel. Discount Car Hire France www.rentacar-worldwide.com Save on car rental in France when you book through Nova RentaCar Car Hire France-Online www.autoreservation.com Great Discount Rates with Alamo, Europcar, Sixt and more Airfare Get flight info from the airport of your choice to France All travel offers Don't see your favorite France hotel here? Click here to view all our deals for France hotels. Looking for More Deals? See all the travel deals TripAdvisor has to offer. Discount hotels Hotel + air deals All travel offers SmartDeals SmartDeals are the best deals we found on very popular hotels in France. Save up to 33% on 5-star hotels Four Seasons Hotel George V Average price: $979 Four Seasons Hotel George V - Great Rooms from $663 - Orbitz.com | More reviews, deals Hotel Lancaster Average price: $578 Hotel Lancaster - Great Rooms from $490 - Orbitz.com | More reviews, deals Chateau de Bagnols Average price: $490 Chateau de Bagnols - Book best available room - ClassicVacations.com | More reviews, deals 4-star hotels Renaissance Paris Vendome Renaissance Paris Vendome from $455 - Expedia.com | More reviews, deals Hotel de la Cite Average price: $384 Hotel de la Cite - Great Rates - Hôtel de la Cité | More reviews, deals 3-star hotels Victoria Palace Average price: $321 Victoria Palace - Great Rates - hotels.com | More reviews, deals Hotel d'Aubusson Average price: $408 Hotel d'Aubusson - Book Now! - Venere.com | More reviews, deals Save up to 35% on other SmartDeals Chateau des Ormeaux Average price: $151 Chateau des Ormeaux from $136 - Active Hotels | More reviews, deals Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes Average price: $190 Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes from $124 - Active Hotels | More reviews, deals Hotel Le Walt Average price: $289 Hotel Le Walt - Book Now! - Venere.com | More reviews, deals Read more about France travel! TripAdvisor's Tourism page has the web's best articles on France travel . Our France hotels page presents hotels ranked by popularity - read traveler reviews and guidebooks. Looking for things to do in France? Try our Attractions page! Visit our France forums page to ask questions and get advice about France travel. TripAdvisor forums let you ask questions and get advice - post in our France forums . Our Maps, etc. page has maps and other travel information. Visit our France discount hotels page for great savings on France hotels, including TripAdvisor SmartDeals. Looking for vacation packages to France? We've got deals including hotel and airfare. Book a flight to France on our Flights page. To view all the specials, vacation packages, and other travel offers we've found, visit our All travel offers page. About TripAdvisor Visit TripAdvisor for the very best deals on the most popular hotels in France. Recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, travel guides and lots more! Visit TripAdvisor in another language: About Us | Membership | Site Map | Become an Affiliate | Top Cities | Hotel Reservations | Hotel Deals | TripAdvisor Gear Popular Hotels: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , by city TripAdvisor Recommends: Las Vegas hotels , London hotels , Paris hotels , Rome hotels , New York City hotels , Chicago hotels , Orlando hotels © 2005 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved. TripAdvisor Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . * TripAdvisor, Inc. is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... ( more ) TripAdvisor, Inc. is not responsible for content on external web sites.

Cheap Travel

Cheap Flights to Vietnam, Asia - TripAdvisor Cheap Flights to Vietnam, Asia Sign in • Sign up Home > Asia > Vietnam > SmartDeals > Flights Vietnam tourism: Overview Hotels Flights Attractions Deals Forums Maps, etc. Search (e.g., Boston hotels, Las Vegas, Paris art museum) Vietnam Vietnam Overview Vietnam Hotels Flights to Vietnam Vietnam Deals Vietnam Attractions Vietnam Forums Vietnam Maps Vietnam Discount Hotels Vietnam Vacation Packages Airfare to Vietnam e-mail this page to a friend Popular airfares Cheap flights to Amsterdam Cheap flights to Atlanta Cheap flights to Atlantic City Cheap flights to Barcelona Cheap flights to Boston Cheap flights to California Cheap flights to Cancun Cheap flights to Chicago Cheap flights to Dallas Cheap flights to Daytona Beach Cheap flights to Disneyland - Anaheim Cheap flights to Disneyworld - Orlando Cheap flights to Dominican Republic Cheap flights to Dublin Cheap flights to Florence Cheap flights to Florida Cheap flights to Hawaii Cheap flights to Italy Cheap flights to Key West Cheap flights to Las Vegas Cheap flights to London Cheap flights to Los Angeles Cheap flights to Maui Cheap flights to Miami Cheap flights to Montreal Cheap flights to Myrtle Beach Cheap flights to New Orleans Cheap flights to New York City Cheap flights to Palm Springs Cheap flights to Paris Cheap flights to Philadelphia Cheap flights to Phoenix Cheap flights to Puerto Rico Cheap flights to Puerto Vallarta Cheap flights to Punta Cana Cheap flights to Reno Cheap flights to Rome Cheap flights to San Antonio Cheap flights to San Diego Cheap flights to San Francisco Cheap flights to Seattle Cheap flights to Sydney Cheap flights to Toronto Cheap flights to Vancouver Cheap flights to Venice Cheap flights to Virginia Beach Cheap flights to Washington DC Read more Vietnam tourism Special airfare to Vietnam  * 1 Enter your trip details once From ( airport lookup ) To ( airport lookup ) Depart: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 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 Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Return: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 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 Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Adults: 1 2 3 4 Roundtrip: One-way: Include nearby airports Prefer nonstop 2 We'll show you where you can book After you enter your trip details and click on "show sites," we'll find booking sites that offer flights to your destination. Sponsored links * Flights to Vietnam Vietnam Flights www.AirBrokers.com Deals to Vietnam from the Discount Int'l Air Experts. Just Compare! Cheap Tickets Vietnam www.asaptickets.com round trip from $645 major airline to book call (888) 585-2727 Flights To Vietnam www.cathayusa.com Hong Kong and Asia flight experts. Enjoy Cathay's world class service. Cheap Flights to Vietnam www.wholesale-fares.com Deep discounts on major airlines. Call toll free to compare and save. Vietnam Air Discounts www.Asia.com Fly Cheap Consolidator Flights Super Saver Fares 30% off Published Flights www.travelocity.com Find Great Fares with Travelocity Save on your Flight Today Indochina Travel Company www.indochinatravel.com Travel Specialists in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia & Thailand Asia Transpacific Journey www.AsiaTranspacific.com Custom or group travel to Vietnam for the sophisticated traveler. Sponsored links * Car rental Enterprise Rent-A-Car www.Enterprise.com Save 50% on weekends. Great cars & free pick-up. Book Now! Rentals From $10.86 A Day www.CarRentals.com Compare Rates From 7 Major Vendors Save Up To 40% - www.CarRentals.com Car Rental www.CheapSeats.com Low rates from all major agencies! Call now 1-800-cheapseats Discount Car Rentals www.TripMania.com Car Rentals from only $13.29 / day! Sponsored links * Recommended deals: Vietnam Hanoi : Hotel Deals from $290 Expedia.com Don't just travel. Travel right! Ho Chi Minh City : Great Prices, Great Rooms hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. View Maps, Photos, Rates. Book Now! Hoi An : Low Hotel Prices Made Easy Orbitz.com The faster, easier way to find the hotel you want. Just Orbitz and go! Nha Trang : Great Hotel Rates! CheapTickets.com finds you low prices where you need to stay! Just click - you're there. All results: View all 365 Vietnam travel deals Read more about Vietnam travel! TripAdvisor SmartDeals are the best deals on the best hotels in Vietnam. Visit our SmartDeals page. TripAdvisor's Tourism page has the web's best articles on Vietnam travel . Our Vietnam hotels page presents hotels ranked by popularity - read traveler reviews and guidebooks. Looking for things to do in Vietnam? Try our Attractions page! Visit our Vietnam forums page to ask questions and get advice about Vietnam travel. TripAdvisor forums let you ask questions and get advice - post in our Vietnam forums . Our Maps, etc. page has maps and other travel information. Visit our Vietnam discount hotels page for great savings on Vietnam hotels, including TripAdvisor SmartDeals. Looking for vacation packages to Vietnam? We've got deals including hotel and airfare. To view all the specials, vacation packages, and other travel offers we've found, visit our All travel offers page. About TripAdvisor TripAdvisor lists cheap flights and discount airfares to Vietnam, Asia. Recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, travel guides and lots more! Visit TripAdvisor in another language: About Us | Membership | Site Map | Become an Affiliate | Top Cities | Hotel Reservations | Hotel Deals | TripAdvisor Gear Popular Hotels: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , by city TripAdvisor Recommends: Las Vegas hotels , London hotels , Paris hotels , Rome hotels , New York City hotels , Chicago hotels , Orlando hotels © 2005 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved. TripAdvisor Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . * TripAdvisor, Inc. is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... ( more ) TripAdvisor, Inc. is not responsible for content on external web sites.

Asia Travel

PHILIPPINES TRAVEL INFORMATION Philippines Country Information The Land || History || The People || First-time Traveler Tips || Visas || Customs || Currency || Weather Clothing || Utilities || Newspapers & Media || Business Hours || Language || Getting Around Modes of Transport || Weather Conditions || Things to Know || Sightseeing || Museums and Art Further Information The Land The Philippines is an archipelagic nation made up of 7,107 islands spanning 1,840 kilometers north to south. It is part of the East Indies, a vast island group lying south and east of mainland Asia, with Taiwan at its northernmost coast and Borneo on the south. The three main Philippine island groups are Luzon , the Visayas and Mindanao . Luzon is the island of contrasts. The most modern districts in the Philippines , including the capital city of Manila , are in Luzon , but so are some of the oldest tribal communities in the nation like the Ifugao of the Cordilleras. Luzon is also where a visitor can see the latest model luxury cars overtaking a carabao sled or modern skyscrapers within driving distance of primordial volcanos. The Visayas is famous for its charm, a trait shared by many other southern regions in the world, but here seems to run deeper among a people who are intrinsically connected to their sun soaked island home. The Visayas is also famous as a seat of history, being one of the earliest landfalls of western voyagers. It has also gained a reputation as being a cradle of the nation's future, if the unprecedented economic growth of Cebu City continues. Mindanao is our offering to the Guinness Book of Records with the world's largest clam, the world's largest Eagle, the nation's highest peak and the world's largest city. Mindanao is also home to the Philippines' Muslim population. With a land mass of 300, 780 square kilometers, the Philippines is considered a medium-sized nation, about two- thirds the size of its first colonizer, Spain, and a little larger than the British Isles. Manila is only one hour and 40 minutes from Hong Kong by jet; Sydney only 7 1/2 hours away. Flights to Europe take 17 hours and to the American west coast 15 hours. The Philippines has many things to offer the visitor: a mixture of the old and the new, a diversity of art and culture and a warm, friendly people. Blessed by nature, the Philippines has something to offer every sportsman too . . . extraordinary dive sites, forests to roam, mountains to climb, caves to explore. Top History Situated on the crossroads of Asia, on the eastern rim of the China Sea, the Philippines has hosted voyagers, migrants and traders since the dawn of history. That it was the center of lively Asian trade route that stretched all the way to China and Japan can be seen from the relics these early visitors left behind. Among our archaeological treasures is a Neolithic spirit boat typical of early Southeast Asian culture. The West discovered the Philippines when Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who sailed for Spain, landed in Cebu in 1521. However, colonization didn't actually begin until 1565, when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established a Spanish base in the town of Manila. Because Philippine society was loosely organized, without a central government, the Spanish conquest was rapid and total. Only the Muslims in the south and some inaccessible hill tribes were able to resist Spanish influence. Along with the Spanish conquerors came a new religion, Christianity, a new language, new laws and the galleon trade. Despite several uprisings against Spain, including the Katipunan, a revolutionary movement inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal and led by Andres Bonifacio, it was the United States of America that broke the Spaniard's grip on the Philippines. Unfortunately, that began the nation's second period of colonization. Once again there was resistance, this time led by Emilio Aguinaldo; but his rag-tag army was no match for Admiral Dewey's forces. In 1901, with Aguinaldo's capture, the Americans were entrenched. The Americans brought over their educational system, their legal system and planted the seeds of their own style of government. In 1935, the Philippines became an American commonwealth country with Manuel Luis Quezon as president. The status quo ended with the Japanese Occupation; and it wasn't until 1946, after the end of the Pacific war, that the Philippines finally regained true independence as the Republic of the Philippines under the presidency of Manuel Roxas. Still one of the strongest democracies in Asia, the current president is Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Top The People Halo-halo is a Filipino word that means mixture. While it describes a popular dessert, it could also describe the Filipinos. They look like Asians, write and speak English like Americans, worship like Spaniards, and have an outlook that is international. Like the Southern Chinese, the Thai, Malay, Indonesian and Burmese, the modern-day Filipino traces his remotest genetic lines back to an Australoid and Mongoloid stock. You will also find a touch of Caucasian, Chinese, Indian and Arabic in their gene pool as well. But to truly understand the Filipino, you have to look at the land. The historic isolation between islands and the topographic isolation on each island, become the primary influence governing regional traits and societal behavior. This diversity makes Filipinos all the more interesting. However, what is apparent isn't how different they are from each other, but rather how alike they are. Brought together by a common history, and looking forward to a common future, it is not surprising to find a sharing of certain traits. Their warmth, graciousness and hospitalityall part of the Filipino psychewill make your stay a delight. Top Tips for First-time Philippine Travelers Generally speaking, it is important to travel light. Bring only what's necessary. Avoid the extra baggage. You don't want to pay exorbitant fees for your luggage service. As in any foreign place, be careful with pickpockets. Some might act as a helpful stanger, but they're out to get something from you! It's good to be cautious at all times. Whenever going outdoors, being in a group is recommended. If you're bringing kids with you, make sure to bring all the things they would need, like medicine, bottles of potable water (although many bottled water is available, it is always recommended to bring one), and one of your kids' favorite toys for their own receration. Top Visas If you are coming from America, Asia or Europe with a valid passport, and either a return ticket or a ticket to another destination outside the Philippines you may enter without a formal visa and stay for 21 days. If you wish to stay longer you must obtain a Visa Extension either before your trip from a Philippine Consulate or Embassy. Or, once here, you may obtain it from the Bureau of Immigration. Customs Upon Arriving: Visitors are allowed to bring in duty free personal belongings, two cartons of cigarettes or two tins of pipe tobacco and up to one liter of alcohol. Balikbayans have separate rules and should check with the Embassy or Consulate in their home city. You may bring in unlimited amount of foreign currency. Upon Leaving: Any antiques you may have acquired during your stay must be accompanied by a certificate from the National Museum. You may also not take more than PhP5,000.00 (five thousand Philippine pesos) out of the country. Currency The currency in the Philippines is the Peso (PhP) and the Centavo. 100 centavos = P1. Coin denominations are: 1, 5, 10, and 25 centavos, P1, and P5. Bill denominations are : 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1, 000 pesos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at your hotel, and in most of the large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops. Exchanging money anywhere else is illegal and the laws are strictly enforced. Most large stores, restaurants , hotels and resorts accept major credit cards including American Express , Visas and MasterCard. Traveller' s checks preferably American Express are accepted at hotels and large department stores. Personal checks drawn on foreign banks are generally not accepted. Top Weather The Philippines is tropical with just two seasons--hot and dry from November to June, and rainy from July to October. Filipinos will tell you that it is cool from December through February and they themselves will wear jackets. Clothing People in the Philippines dress for the weather (HOT!) Casual attire during the day for women are light blouses and shorts. For men collared T- shirts worn over slacks. In the evening skirts are substituted for shorts and the T-shirts are tucked in. For Men Only: If you expect to have to attend any occasion which would usually require a jacket and a tie (which is torture in this weather) there is a wonderful substitute. Go immediately to a department store and buy a barong tagalog. It is an embroidered shirt that is considered a formal dress. It will cost more or less PhP1,000.00, but it is worth every centavo. Utilities Electricity is 220 volts a/c. Many of the major tourist hotels also have 110 volt a/c outlets. Water supply in Metro Manila and in all the other major cities are considered potable. Bottled purified water, spring water or mineral water is often supplied by hotels and resorts, and sold in all grocery stores. Telephone service is modern and you can direct dial anywhere in the world. Public phones are plentiful. Public phones require a minimum of two one-peso coins for a local call. Some Important Telephone Numbers: (24-Hour Hotline) Police & Fire: 757 or 116 Emergency No.: 501- 650 or 501- 728 Directory Assistance: 114 National Operator: 109 International Operator: 108 For other emergency numbers, please refer to Directory . NOTE: It is advisable to always have the telephone number and the address of your embassy or consulate with you. Top Newspapers & Other Media The newspapers in the Philippines have been called the freest in the world, as you will see for yourself, with more than 24 different morning papers to choose from, most of them in English. There is also a wide selection of magazines printed in English including Time, Newsweek and Asiaweek. In Metro Manila you can buy the Asian Wall Street Journal, The International Herald Tribune and USA Today. Television is "on the air" from early morning to midnight, showing American programming as well as local programming. The standard channels are 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, and 23. If you need more channels, most of the major hotels are with Cable TV bringing in TV programs from all over the world. There is also AM and FM radio broadcasting with the pop stations primarily on AM in Filipino and the English language programs on FM. Top Business Hours Most businesses are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays and 8:00 AM till noon Saturdays. Banks are open from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM Mondays through Fridays. When banking in the Philippines, it is advisable to have your passport with you for identification. The post offices are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays only. Stamps for postcards are frequently available from the Concierge Desk at most major hotels. The Philippines uses ZIP codes, please include them in addressing local mail. NOTE: The Standard lunch hour is noon to 1:00 PM. Most businesses and government offices are closed. Language While there are over 100 regional languages in the Philippines, the national language is Filipino, with English as the most widely spoken second language. All business, governmental and legal transactions are conducted in English. Top Getting Around There are four modes of public transport in Metro Manila and surprisingly, they are easy to use. Buses : Both air-conditioned and regular buses travel most of the major routes in Metro Manila. On an air-con bus a short ride costs PhP 9.00, adding a few peso for every succeeding kilometer. The regular bus' minimum fare is PhP 4.00. Just tell the conductor where you are going and he will tell you how much it costs. Keep your bus receipt as it is your proof of payment. Jeepneys : Called "folk arton wheels," jeepneys ply most of Manila's secondary roads and even a few major thoroughfares. They're as much fun to ride on as they are to look at and you have to try one. Although there are regular stops, you can often just flag one down and hop on. Call out "bayad" (bah-yhad) and pay the driver. If you are too far back, pass your PhP 4.00 (minimum fare for the first 4 kilometers; 1 peso additional for every succeeding 500 meters) down. When you are ready to get off, call out "para" (pah-rah); wait till he slows down and jump. The LRT : It's a fast, cheap way to go to downtown Manila. A token can take you between Monumento (the northern end of Edsa) and Baclaran, travelling first along Rizal Avenue and then Taft Avenue. Many of the tourist maps have the route of the LRT marked. The MRT : After it's somewhat unsuccessful opening, the MRT is now enjoying a fair share of passengers plying EDSA. This is definitely the fastest mode of transport, this side of the metropolis. The MRT runs from the North Avenue Station in Quezon City up to Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City. Passengers would enjoy the traffic-less route, clean stations and coach, with a good view of Metro Manila's landscape. The only problem is that some stations have very high stairways. Although a number of elevators is operational, not all stations have one. Travel time is approximately 20 minutes end to end. Taxis : Air-conditioned taxis cost PhP25.00 on the meter and an additional PhP 2.00 is added for every succeeding 200 meters to the final cost. Non-airconditioned taxis do not ply anymore. Taxis are always lined up at the major hotels and tourist restaurants and can be hailed on the street. If you take a taxi, make sure the driver turns on the meter. If he gives you a story that it is broken, get out and take another taxi. Unless you are taking a long trip or the traffic is unusually horrible, most taxi rides should be well under P100. At least a 10% tip is expected. Top Other Modes of Transport Most of the major car rental agencies, including AVIS, Budget, and Hertz have offices in Metro Manila and carry a full line of vehicles from jeeps to limousines. All vehicles may be rented with or without a driver. If you wish to do your own driving you must have a valid foreign or international license. Inter-island transportation is provided by either airplane or ferry boat. Philippine Airlines services most of the major provincial airports. Cebu Pacific, Asian Spirit, SeaAir, Air Philippines, and Pacific Airways are smaller carriers servicing more remote tourist destinations. For information about boat schedules, check with the Department of Tourism on T.M. Kalaw Street, Manila (63-2-5267652, 5267653, 5267655). Top WEATHER CONDITIONS & GEOGRAPHY Climate: Tropical (two seasons) Dry Season: March -May (warm) 33-34 C Wet Season: June- October (monsoonal) November -February (coolest) 29-31C Coastline: 334,539 km. Terrain: Many of the islands in the Philippines are extinct volcanoes and atolls. On the larger islands, many mountains, rainforests, rich valleys and swamp regions. The Philippines still does have thermal activity consisting of active volcanoes and hot springs. Top THINGS TO KNOW Language: Filipino (based on Tagalog dialect) is the National Language. The American occupation was responsible for teaching the English Language. The Philippines is currently the third largest English speaking country in the world. Currency: Peso(PhP). Notes are issued in denominations of , PhP 10, PhP 20, PhP 50, PhP 100, PhP 500, and PhP 1000. Coins are issued for 5c, 10c, 25c, PhP 1, PhP 5. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized exchanged dealers. Outside of Manila payments are preferably made in pesos. Major Travellers Cheques are widely accepted. Major Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club) can be used to pay for most goods and services. Bank Hours: Banks are open 9am-3pm Mon-Fri (except public holidays). Shop Hours: Most shops operate 10am-7.30pm daily (except public holidays). Time : Local time is GMT plus 8 hours. Business English is the language used. Sexual equality is more widespread in the Philippines than in other Asian countries. Make sure you have business cards. Top SIGHTSEEING Casa Manila: A replica mid 19th Century house, recreating the Intramuros lifestyle of upper class Filipinos at this time. Corner Real and General Lunar Streets, Intramuros, Manila. Luzon Chocolate Hills : Bohols most famous attraction: the area is named thus, because of the rich grass which covers them turns brown in summer. Carmen Town, Bohol. Visayas* Colon Street: The oldest street in the Philippines located in the heart of Cebu. Cebu. Visayas* Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery: The only underground cemetery in the Philippines; it served as a meeting place for the revolutionary leaders in Laguna. Laguna, Luzon Island Magellans Cross: The most historically-famous landmark in Cebu. Planted by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, it marks the place where the first Christian Filipinos were baptized. Cebu. Visayas* Top PARKS & WILDLIFE Katibawasan Falls: These 250-foot falls cascade down to a pool surrounded by orchids and other rich tropical flora- 4 km from Mambajao. Camiguin. Mindinao* Maquinit Hot Springs : Located on a scenic beach corner, this is the premium hot spring in the Philippines. Palawan. Luzon* Hidden Valley: A natural recluse is created within this 90-meter crater . A haven for lush jungle life, natural springs and still water pools. Accommodation available. Alaminos, Laguna. Luzon, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife: Quezon Avenue. Quezon City. Luzon. Rizal Memorial Park: Within the lush park there are monuments, a skating rink and adventure playground. Free concerts every Sunday. Ermita, Manila. Luzon. Top MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES Museums & art galleries Ateneo Art Gallery Quezon City Tel: (02) 998 721 Metropolitan Museum of Manila Tel: (02) 832 3645 National Museum Manila Tel: (02) 494 450 Villa Escudero San Pablo City, Quezon City Tel: (02) 521 8698 Top VISAS AND PASSPORTS Visa and Passport No Visas are required for foreigners entering the country for a stay no longer than 21 days provided that you have valid passports and tickets to leave the Philippines. Visas are required only for stateless persons and citizens of countries with which the Philippines have no diplomatic relations. A temporary visitor's visa is required for those who are planning to stay up to 59 days. Vaccination certificates may be neccesary for long term stays. Holders of Hongkong and Taiwan passports need special permits. All visas and permits may be obtained from Philippine embassies and consulates. Duty Free Items: Two 1-litre bottles of alchohol, and two cartons of cigarettes are allowed. Air Travel to the Country : Ninoy Aquino International Airport (7 km from city centre) Ninoy Aquino Avenue Manila, Philippines: Mactan International Airport Cebu, Philippines: (Most major airlines have flights to the country). Top FURTHER INFORMATION Department of Tourism: T.M. Kalaw Street Rizal Park Metro Manila P.O. Box 3451 Tel: (02)523-8411 Fax: (02) 521 7374 Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporatiom: 4th Floor, Suites 10-17 Legasi Towers 300 Roxas Boulevard Metro Manila Tel: (02) 525-93-18-27 Fax: (02) 521-61-65/ 525-33-14 Top

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