Switzerland Travel Guide Travel

Switzerland - Travel and Tourism Information for Switzerland  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Germany Austria Switzerland > Switzerland Travel Guide 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 > Germany Austria Switzerland > Switzerland Travel Guide Switzerland Travel and Tourism Information Guide Our Tourism Information Guide to Switzerland - where to come for select information on travel in Switzerland. Switzerland is an expensive but beautiful country. Like all expensive countries, a little research can save you enough money to give Swizerland a shot on your European vacation. Subtopics Basel, Switzerland (4) Skiing Switzerland (5) Bellinzona Travel Guide (7) Switzerland Transportation (5) Geneva, Switzerland (6) Switzerland Web Links (16) Interlaken, Switzerland (10) Zurich, Switzerland (9) Lausanne, Switzerland (7) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Switzerland - City Map and Travel Essentials Switzerland in a Nutshell -- find essential information on traveling to Switzerland using our map and travel guide. St. Gallen Switzerland Travel Planner Switzerland's seventh largest city is located near Lake Constance in eastern Switzerland. It boasts a well preserved old town, Europe's oldest monastic library, and the world's finest examples of ornate oriel windows. There's also an interesting hotel to stay in. Swiss Rail Improvements 2005 - Switzerland Train Travel Gets Faster and More Comfortable Here's what's new on the Swiss rail system starting December 2004. Train travel in Switzerland is getting easier and faster due to new trains, rail technology, and timetables. Swiss Rail Passes and Transportation Information - Swizerland Trains Here is information on getting around in Switzerland. Swiss rail passes, Swiss postal busses, and Swiss regional passes are discussed. Switzerland's Little Red Train A train line designed to take advantage of Switzerland's fine alpine scenery, with open observation cars, special trains, and more for the tourist looking for great rail journeys. Swizerland Travel Guides - Top Switzerland Guidebooks Need a guidebook to Switzerland? Guidebooks are great for getting around a country, and these Swiss guidebooks are the best of the lot. The Swiss Alps - Mountain Magic in Switzerland A good primer in navigating the Swiss alps by Susan Breslow Sardone. Ticino Map and Travel Information The Swiss canton of Ticino is a warm wedge that presses into Italy's lake country. It offers stunning scenery, compelling walking and bicycle routes, fine resorts and summer festivals and a mild, sub-tropical climate. So what are you waiting for? Ticino Tourism for the Disabled - Ticino for Everyone Ticino canton of Swizerland is a wonderful and warm region that is starting to open up to disabled people with movility problems. Itineraries for handicapped and mobility impared or disabled. Top 6 Travel Tips for Zurich, Switzerland Get the latest tips on restaurants, hotels, and general tourism in Zurich.        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...

Cheap Travel

Flights | Index | Montrosetravel.com - Flights, Tickets, Vacations, Cruises, Cheap Travel, Hotels, Cars, Cheap Tickets -- Login | Register | Email Signup | Sitemap Home One Way Multiple Segments Flight Search Definitions Select State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Travel Tools Travel Alerts Weather Maps Destination Info Airport Codes Flight Status Flight Tracker Flight Itinerary Passport Info Buy Foreign Currency Flights Home > Flights Round Trip Flight Search Round-Trip | One-Way | Multiple Cities Departure City or Airport Departure Date and Time: Anytime 1:00 AM 2:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM 5:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 1:00 PM 2:00 PM Cheapest 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Midnight Arrival City or Airport Return Date and Time: Anytime 1:00 AM 2:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM 5:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 1:00 PM 2:00 PM Cheapest 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Midnight Flight Class Economy/Coach Business Class First Class Search options Non-Stop flights only Number of Travelers: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Adults 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Seniors (age 65+) 0 1 2 3 4 5 Infants (under 2) Infant in an adult's lap Infant in a reserved seat Airlines to Search: All airlines... American Airlines Continental Delta Northwest United US Airways ------------------------------ Adria Airways Aer Lingus Aero California Aeroflot Aerolineas Argentinas Aeromar Aeromexico Aerosur Air Algerie Air Botswana Air Canada Air China Air Creebec Air Dolomiti Air Europa Air Fiji Air France Air India Air Jamaica Air Lithuania Air Madagascar Air Madrid Air Malta Air Marshall Isl Air Namibia Air Nauru Air New Zealand Air Niugini Air Pacific Ltd Air Portugal Air Tahiti Air Tran Airways Air Vanuatu Alaska Airlines Alitalia All Nippon Air Aloha Airlines America West Airlines American Airlines Asiana ATA Augsburg Airways Austral Lineas Aereas Australian Airlines Austrian Airlines Aviacsa Avianca Aviateca Bahamasair Belavia Bemidji Airlines Biman Bangladesh Air Binter Canarias BMI (British Midland) BMI Baby British Airways BWIA International Canjet Cathay Pacific China Airlines China Eastern China Southern Air Condor Flugdienst Continental COPA Airlines Croatia Airlines Cyprus Airways Czech Airlines Delta Denim Airways Dragonair Ecuatoriana Egyptair El Al Israel Airlines Emirates Estonian Air Ethiopean Airlines Eva Airways Finnair Frontier Airlines Frontier Flying Svc Garuda Indonesia Great Plains Airlines Gulf Air Gulfstream Intl Hawaiian Airlines Horizon Air Iberia Airlines Icelandair Independence Air Japan Airlines Japan Asia Airways KLM Korean Airlines Krasair Kuwait Airways LACSA Lan Chile LAN Ecuador LAN Express Lauda Air Liat Lloyd Aereo Boliviano LOT Polish Airlines LTU Intl Airways Lufthansa Malaysia Airlines Mexicana Midwest Airlines Northwest Odessa Airlines Olympic Airways Oman Air Pakistan Airlines Penair Phillippine Air Portugalia Primaris Airlines Qantas Royal Air Maroc Royal Brunei Royal Jordanian Royal Nepal Sahara India Airlines Sata Air Acores Saudi Arabian Air Scandinavian (SAS) Servivensa Silkair Singapore Air Solomon Airlines South African Airways Southwest Spanair Spirit Airlines Srilankan Airlines Sudan Airways Sun Country Airlines Surinam Airways Ltd Swiss Airlines Taag Angola Airlines TACA Airlines Tarom Romanian Thai Airways Trans Air Turkish Airlines Ukraine Intl United US Airways Varig Vietnam Airlines Virgin Atlantic Airways Vlm Belgium Westjet Wideroes Flyveselskap All airlines... American Airlines Continental Delta Northwest United US Airways ------------------------------ Adria Airways Aer Lingus Aero California Aeroflot Aerolineas Argentinas Aeromar Aeromexico Aerosur Air Algerie Air Botswana Air Canada Air China Air Creebec Air Dolomiti Air Europa Air Fiji Air France Air India Air Jamaica Air Lithuania Air Madagascar Air Madrid Air Malta Air Marshall Isl Air Namibia Air Nauru Air New Zealand Air Niugini Air Pacific Ltd Air Portugal Air Tahiti Air Tran Airways Air Vanuatu Alaska Airlines Alitalia All Nippon Air Aloha Airlines America West Airlines American Airlines Asiana ATA Augsburg Airways Austral Lineas Aereas Australian Airlines Austrian Airlines Aviacsa Avianca Aviateca Bahamasair Belavia Bemidji Airlines Biman Bangladesh Air Binter Canarias BMI (British Midland) BMI Baby British Airways BWIA International Canjet Cathay Pacific China Airlines China Eastern China Southern Air Condor Flugdienst Continental COPA Airlines Croatia Airlines Cyprus Airways Czech Airlines Delta Denim Airways Dragonair Ecuatoriana Egyptair El Al Israel Airlines Emirates Estonian Air Ethiopean Airlines Eva Airways Finnair Frontier Airlines Frontier Flying Svc Garuda Indonesia Great Plains Airlines Gulf Air Gulfstream Intl Hawaiian Airlines Horizon Air Iberia Airlines Icelandair Independence Air Japan Airlines Japan Asia Airways KLM Korean Airlines Krasair Kuwait Airways LACSA Lan Chile LAN Ecuador LAN Express Lauda Air Liat Lloyd Aereo Boliviano LOT Polish Airlines LTU Intl Airways Lufthansa Malaysia Airlines Mexicana Midwest Airlines Northwest Odessa Airlines Olympic Airways Oman Air Pakistan Airlines Penair Phillippine Air Portugalia Primaris Airlines Qantas Royal Air Maroc Royal Brunei Royal Jordanian Royal Nepal Sahara India Airlines Sata Air Acores Saudi Arabian Air Scandinavian (SAS) Servivensa Silkair Singapore Air Solomon Airlines South African Airways Southwest Spanair Spirit Airlines Srilankan Airlines Sudan Airways Sun Country Airlines Surinam Airways Ltd Swiss Airlines Taag Angola Airlines TACA Airlines Tarom Romanian Thai Airways Trans Air Turkish Airlines Ukraine Intl United US Airways Varig Vietnam Airlines Virgin Atlantic Airways Vlm Belgium Westjet Wideroes Flyveselskap All airlines... American Airlines Continental Delta Northwest United US Airways ------------------------------ Adria Airways Aer Lingus Aero California Aeroflot Aerolineas Argentinas Aeromar Aeromexico Aerosur Air Algerie Air Botswana Air Canada Air China Air Creebec Air Dolomiti Air Europa Air Fiji Air France Air India Air Jamaica Air Lithuania Air Madagascar Air Madrid Air Malta Air Marshall Isl Air Namibia Air Nauru Air New Zealand Air Niugini Air Pacific Ltd Air Portugal Air Tahiti Air Tran Airways Air Vanuatu Alaska Airlines Alitalia All Nippon Air Aloha Airlines America West Airlines American Airlines Asiana ATA Augsburg Airways Austral Lineas Aereas Australian Airlines Austrian Airlines Aviacsa Avianca Aviateca Bahamasair Belavia Bemidji Airlines Biman Bangladesh Air Binter Canarias BMI (British Midland) BMI Baby British Airways BWIA International Canjet Cathay Pacific China Airlines China Eastern China Southern Air Condor Flugdienst Continental COPA Airlines Croatia Airlines Cyprus Airways Czech Airlines Delta Denim Airways Dragonair Ecuatoriana Egyptair El Al Israel Airlines Emirates Estonian Air Ethiopean Airlines Eva Airways Finnair Frontier Airlines Frontier Flying Svc Garuda Indonesia Great Plains Airlines Gulf Air Gulfstream Intl Hawaiian Airlines Horizon Air Iberia Airlines Icelandair Independence Air Japan Airlines Japan Asia Airways KLM Korean Airlines Krasair Kuwait Airways LACSA Lan Chile LAN Ecuador LAN Express Lauda Air Liat Lloyd Aereo Boliviano LOT Polish Airlines LTU Intl Airways Lufthansa Malaysia Airlines Mexicana Midwest Airlines Northwest Odessa Airlines Olympic Airways Oman Air Pakistan Airlines Penair Phillippine Air Portugalia Primaris Airlines Qantas Royal Air Maroc Royal Brunei Royal Jordanian Royal Nepal Sahara India Airlines Sata Air Acores Saudi Arabian Air Scandinavian (SAS) Servivensa Silkair Singapore Air Solomon Airlines South African Airways Southwest Spanair Spirit Airlines Srilankan Airlines Sudan Airways Sun Country Airlines Surinam Airways Ltd Swiss Airlines Taag Angola Airlines TACA Airlines Tarom Romanian Thai Airways Trans Air Turkish Airlines Ukraine Intl United US Airways Varig Vietnam Airlines Virgin Atlantic Airways Vlm Belgium Westjet Wideroes Flyveselskap Home Page | Flights | Cars | Hotels | Cruises | Vacations | Group Travel | Corporate Travel | Honeymoon Travel | Independent Contractors | Luxury Travel | Customer Service | About Montrose Travel Affiliate Programs SARA Enterprises Inc., is not responsible for content on external Web sites. ©2005 Montrose Travel. All rights reserved. CST#1018299-10

Ski Vacation

ski resorts, lodging - Snowshoe Mountain West Virginia Skip Navigation Deals & Packages Lodging Mountain Events & Activities Tickets & Passes Rentals & Lessons Village Groups Employment Media Snowshoe Mountain is 100% open, offering the most and best skiing and riding terrain for the Holidays. Come enjoy all 57 trails, including both Cupp Run and Shays Revenge as well as two terrain parks, our 400' halfpipe and the Tubing Hill. Special Offers, latest events, snow reports, deals and promotions. Join Now! Date: 12/28/2005 @ 6:42 AM * new snowfall: 0" * trails open: 56 * lifts open: 13 * average open: 30" - 42" View Detailed Report Date: 12/28/2005 @ 6:42 AM * temp: 37 * Wednesday: Hi: 47 | Lo: 36 / Cloudy * Thursday: Hi: 38 | Lo: 29 / Rain * Friday: Hi: 38 | Lo: 28 / Flurries Brochure Request Jobs Real Estate About Us Media Site Map Privacy Getting Here OWNERS Site designed by Snowshoe Marketing Group and property of Snowshoe Mountain 10 Snowshoe Drive, Snowshoe WV 26209. All rights are reserved to Snowshoe Mountain 2004. For more information please contact us . Print Email to a Friend Print Snowshoe Mountain is the perfect year round destination for adventure filled vacations in West Virginia, especially skiing and snowboarding. Learn about the mountain and book your lodging and vacation packages right here. Hot Deals Winter Packages Package Planning Help Summer Packages Mountain Base North Mountain Silver Creek South Mountain Backcountry Hut Village Central West Ridge Homes Snowshoe Resort Map Photo / Video Gallery Mountain in Summer Mountain in Winter Snowshoe Resort Map Snowshoe Snow Report Winter Activities Event Calendar Summer Activities Area Attractions Season Passes Winter Lift Tickets Adaptive Programs Kids Programs Equipment Rental Ski & Board Programs Ski and Board Team Become a Village Partner Dining Nightlife Shopping Split Rock Pools Snowshoe Resort Map Saint Bernard Chapel Assoc / Gov Meetings Conference Center Corporate Market Day Groups Packages Group Info Request Meet the Staff Tour Our Area Weddings Career Center Employee Housing Employee Uniforms Frequently Asked Questions International Employees Snowshoe Job Fairs Our Mission, Vision and Values Perks and Priviledges Traveling Here Event Calendar Media Kit Public Relations Team

Chicago vacation rentals TheseChicago

Chicago Vacation Rentals Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Main Page | Special Discounts | List Your Property | Keyword Search: State Search: Bahamas Dominican Republic Nassau & Paradise Island Abaco Abaco / Elbow Cay Abaco Island Abaco Islands Abruzzo Alabama Alaska Alberta Algarve Anasco Andros Andros Island Anguilla Anse Marcel Apulia-Puglia Arizona Arkansas Aruba Austria Bahamas Baja California Baja California Sur Barbados Bay Islands Belgium Belize Black Point Bonaire British Columbia British Virgin Islands Cabarete Cabarete Beach Cabrera Calabria California Campania Casa de Campo Case de Campo Cat Island CATALINA / CABRERA Cayman Islands Cofresi Beach Colima Colorado Connecticut Costa Rica Costa Verde Croatia Crocus Hill Czech Republic Dalmatia Dawn Beach Estates Delaware Dominican Republic Double Bay Eleuthera Emilia-Romagna Florida France Frank Sound Bay French Lowlands French Riviera / Cote d'Azur Georgia Govenors Harbour Governor's Harbour Governors Harbour Grand Bahama Grand Bahamas Grand Cayman Great Abaco Great Bay Great Exuma Greece Guanacaste Guanajuato Guerrero Harbour Island Hawaii HYDRA ISLAND Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Ireland Isabela Island of Hispaniola Island of Tobago Jalisco Jamaica Kentucky La Romana Latium-Lazio Liguria Limassol region / Amathus area Lombardy-Lombardia Louisiana Maine Maria T. Sanchez Martinique Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nassau Nayarit Netherlands Nevada New Brunswick New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York NON US North Carolina Nova Scotia Ohio Oia Island Oklahoma Ontario Oregon Pennsylvania Petit Trou lagoon Piedmont-Piemonte Playa Cofresi Poland Portugal Prince Edward Island Providenciales Puerta Plata Puerto Plata Puerto Rico Punta Cana Quebec Quintana Roo Rhode Island Rincon San Juan San Pedro, Ambergris Caye Savannah Sound Sicily-Sicilia Sinaloa Sonora South Andros Island South Carolina South Dakota St John St Lucia St Maarten St Martin St Martin , French Lowlands St Martin - French Lowlands - St Martin - Orient Beach - Gra St Martin, French Lowlands St Martin, French Lowlands, Te St. Barts St. James St. Maarten St. Maarten (Dutch Side) St. Maarten , Dawn Beach St. Maarten - Dutch Side St. Maarten - Dutch Side - Oys St. Maarten - Dutch Side - Pel St. Maarten - Dutch Side - Sim St. Maarten - Duth Side - Oyst St. Maarten - Oyster Pond St. Maarten, Bourgeaux Bay St. Maarten, Dutch Lowlands St. Maarten, Oyster Pond St. Martin St. Martin , French Lowlands St. Martin , French Lowlands St. Martin - Anse Marcel St. Martin - Baie Rouge St. Martin - French Lowlands - St. Martin - Orient Beach - Gr St. Martin, Anse Marcel St. Martin, French Lowlands St. Martin, Orient Beach St. Philip Switzerland Tar Bay / Great Exuma Tennessee Texas Tortola Trentino_Alto_Adige Tuscany-Toscana Umbria Unknown US Virgin Islands Utah Veneto Vermont Vieques Virgin Gorda Virginia Washington State West End West Virginia White Bay Windermere Island Wisconsin Wyoming Yucatan Chicago vacation rentals TheseChicago vacation homes, condos, villas and bed & breakfasts are presented by their owners or agents. Please contact them directly with your inquiries. Click on the underlined descriptions below for more details and property photos. City Bedrooms Bathrooms Sleeps Description Featured Properties Chicago Studio-2 BR BA Varies At Home Inn Chicago - fully furnished apartment suites & "bed & breakfast-type" accommodations Chicago 1 or 2 BR 1 BA 1-10 Corporate Apartments with Personal Comforts - Chicago, Illinois Chicago 2+ Den BR 2 BA 6 Downtown Chicago Luxury Condo Chicago 2 BR 2 BA 6-7 Unmatched Luxury & Convenience to Chicago's Culture & Beauty Rental Locations '0' Order By trim(city), HEX(bedrooms) LIMIT 0, 100 -- Chicago Studio-2 BR BA Varies At Home Inn Chicago - fully furnished apartment suites & "bed & breakfast-type" accommodations Chicago 1 or 2 BR 1 BA 1-10 Corporate Apartments with Personal Comforts - Chicago, Illinois Chicago 1 BR 1 BA 4 Gorgeous Downtown Chicago Printers Row Loft Chicago 2 BR 1 BA 6 Holiday Apartment in Historic Lincoln Park Chicago 2+ Den BR 2 BA 6 Downtown Chicago Luxury Condo Chicago 2 BR 1.5 BA Luxury Living - Executive Retreat - CHICAGO Chicago 2 BR 2 BA 6-7 Unmatched Luxury & Convenience to Chicago's Culture & Beauty Chicago 4 BR 3.5 BA Luxurious Living at the Castle in one of Chicago's Premier Neighborhoods Featured Properties At Home Inn Chicago - fully furnished apartment suites & "bed & breakfast-type" accommodations Corporate Apartments with Personal Comforts - Chicago, Illinois Downtown Chicago Luxury Condo Unmatched Luxury & Convenience to Chicago's Culture & Beauty -- FindRentals.com Resources Customer Service About FindRentals.com Pricing Information Legal Notices Privacy Policy About FindRentals | Customer Service | Legal Notices | Advertise | Privacy Policy © 2005 findrentals.com | All Rights Reserved

Europe Travel 101 -

Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the First Time  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 Europe Travel 101 - Before you take that first trip to Europe Here's a suggested timeline for things an independent traveler needs to do before heading off to that European destination. Thinking about taking an independent trip to Europe? Below you'll find topics to consider before you take off. The recommended time before departure that you should be taking action is found in the colored bar on the left. In the gray box on the right you'll find links leading to more detailed information on any of the topics. Like most planning guides, this is a tool meant to simply remind you what you need to do when to make the standard vacation go as smoothly as possible. Although the list may seem daunting to you, you'll find that many of the tasks are optional. Unless otherwise noted, most of the planning tasks can be done earlier than recommended. A shorter, unannotated list with resources can be found here . A printable checklist can be found here . Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute What You Need to Do Resources 6 months before you go - Choose Your Destination! Now (or even sooner) is the time to choose your general destination. There are lots of resources on the right to help you. Remember that while Europe is quite compact compared to the US, the travel times between countries may be longer than you think. Once you've chosen your primary destination, you'll be able to go on to the next things on the list. Language Let's say you've chosen France as your destination and you'd really like to get to know the country and its people. Well, now is the time to start thinking of learning a bit of the language. A single beginner's course in spoken French at your local community college will teach you the basics cheaply enough. We also have extensive resources for learning European languages here on the About network. Please, at least think about learning the "politeness" words--natives will thank you for trying and will likely be more receptive to your questions. See Languages for the Tourist on the right to find out how easy it is. Renting a House or Apartment Now is the time to think about reserving that perfect apartment for the week (or month). You can wait until later to do this, but the best go fast. Living in the country you're visiting gets you into the swing of daily life: you'll be able to go to the open air markets and cook the food you buy, you won't have to think about maids (unless you want to) or checking in, and things can be as secure as you make them. Guidebooks Once you've figured out where you'd like to spend most of your time, it may be time to pick out a guidebook. You can purchase guidebooks that cover all of Western Europe, just a single country, or even a province or region like Tuscany. Choosing a Destination: Travel Planning Europe Planning Map Clickable Europe map with links to Country maps and Travel Essentials. How I Travel Europe Europe and Fading Traditions: Go Soon! Weather -Climate - When to Go Language: Languages for the Tourist Rentals Unusual Lodging Lodging Links Guidebooks Top European Guidebooks 3-4 months before you go - Start Checking Airfares You can start checking sooner--although we've found searching 3-4 months before your flight is a pretty good bet; the airlines are starting to discount in order to reward early bookers and yet there's still time to wait if prices aren't to your liking. The airline computers are constantly revising the pricing based on the latest demand, so the cheapest prices might turn up anytime--but you might not want to wait that long. Use the Finding Bargain Airfares link if you're unfamiliar with the bargain hunting process. Apply for a Passport if you don't already have one If you don't have a passport, this is the time to start thinking of applying. While the literature says it takes 6 weeks to procure a US passport, you don't want to leave it to the last possible moment--it's a vacation killer if something goes wrong. And despite what you may have heard or read in the past, a separate passport is required for each and every family member traveling with you. First-time applicants 13 years of age and over must appear in person at a U.S. passport office, a designated courthouse or the Post Office. You'll need a birth certificate or proof of citizenship, a photo identification, two recent 2" x 2" photos of your face, and a bundle of money. You'll find the latest requirements and downloadable application form by clicking Passport Links there on the right. (You don't need a health certificate in Western Europe and you won't need to worry about a visa as long as you're staying fewer than 90 days and aren't going to Turkey.) Shoes and Walking Now is a good time to pick up some walking shoes and start getting them broken in. You'll walk a lot in Europe, even if you have a car; much of the city centers in Europe are pedestrian only zones. Be prepared. Airfares Finding Bargain Airfares Passports Passport Links Where to go to apply, a downloadable application form, and how to make it as easy as possible. 6 weeks to 2 months before you go - Reserve Lodging - Hotel If you haven't already reserved the hotels you've seen on the web and fallen in love with, now is the time to do so. But do you need to reserve in every city you're planning to visit? Here's what I do: I reserve a hotel for my arrival and departure days as well as any long-term apartment rentals I've selected. The rest I leave to chance. You may feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, but, with a few exceptions, it's worked just fine for me. When traveling by train, I prefer to arrive at my destination early, take a hotel by the train station and just drop my bags there and explore the city on foot. You can read the whole strategy in my Footloose Travel article. Car or Train? If you haven't already chosen, now would be a good time to select your primary mode of transportation. Select Train or Car? from the links on the right if you just can't seem to decide which is best for what you want to see. Rail Pass Do you need one? Here are some tips: Trains in the south-Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece--are pretty cheap. If you're going to one or several of these places you might find that a pass isn't necessary. Just go to the station and buy a ticket. EurRail passes offer great savings if you plan right. For a saver pass you'll need to plan to take several long trips so that you can spend the travel days mostly on the train. Save money by going overnight; you'll save on hotel costs and make maximum use of your pass. Check the types of passes available carefully, to use them to an advantage, you may have to juggle some travel plans. Car Rental or Leasing and an International Driver's License Leasing a car is sometimes better than renting, especially if you're staying in Europe for more than 17 days. Leasing gets you a brand new car without rental company stickers on it and the pricing includes everything you need. When you turn it in at the end of your trip a lucky European will get to purchase that almost-new car for much less than a completely new one (This comes about because taxes on a new car are much higher than the taxes on even a slightly used one, so both parties benefit from this arrangement). If you've chosen driving as your primary mode of transport in Europe, you should get an International Driver's License . Available at Auto Clubs, they're just a translation of your License into European languages. Sometimes police won't demand them, accepting your original license instead. But still, it doesn't hurt to get one, and they're pretty cheap. A couple of passport-sized pictures are required. Even though you can usually just walk into your auto club and come out with an International Driver's License, I recommend not putting this off: the paperwork needed is often "out of stock." Lodging Accommodation Links You can also find lodging in specific countries or cities by going to a specific destination page. Footloose Travel Striking a balance between travel freedom and overplanning. Hotel Star Ratings Do you know what they mean? How I Travel in Europe Just in case you want to know. Transportation within Europe Rent or Lease? Train or Car? Driving in Europe Links Transportation Links European Train Travel Links 1 Month before you go - Travel Insurance Now is the time to think about insurance. If your health insurance doesn't cover you overseas, or your homeowners insurance doesn't cover loss of material goods, then there are some temporary plans that might set your mind at ease. Check our Insurance Links for more. Luggage How's your luggage? Is it easy to carry? Got more than a foot and a half of duct tape holding it together? If you want to be mobile, maybe you want to see if you can fit everything into a carry-on. It's not all that hard to do in the summer when you probably won't be needing heavy clothes. Rick Steves recommends walking around with all the stuff you think you'll need, then discarding half of it. I like the method I learned in Boy Scouts. Separate everything into three piles: stuff you absolutely need and use often, stuff you'll use occasionally, and stuff you probably won't use at all. Then eliminate the last two piles. Remember: Europe isn't lacking material goods. If you need a heavy sweater because it's unusually cold in August, chances are you won't be more then 50 feet from someone who'll sell you a great one. Don't forget, laundries are pretty easy to find (but usually expensive) and laundromats are are starting to show up in most popular tourist areas. Besides, if you rent a house or apartment it may include a clothes washer and possibly a dryer (but more probably a clothesline). Cameras If you've bought one for this trip, learn how to use it. If you need one, now is the time to purchase--don't put it off until the last minute and then end up standing in front of the Louvre all befuddled because you can't figure the danged thing out. Film If you're going to use film (how so very 90's!) you might consider purchasing one of those lead-lined bags to take it in. These reduce (but don't eliminate) the radiation from airport x-ray machines and thus the chance of film fogging. What I do to bypass this possibility is to buy and process my film in Europe. Sure, guidebooks say film and processing is more expensive overseas (but not much these days), but I look at it this way: are you gonna worry about fogging or are you willing to spend a buck and a half more per roll for peace of mind out of the thousands you're gonna spend on your vacation in total. Seems like false economy to me. Plus I get to show my pictures around to other travelers while I'm in Europe. Cell Phones If you need to be in constant touch with the office or someone special, you can rent cell phones that work throughout Europe. Often your car rental company can handle this, or you can check our Cell Phone Rental links for companies that'll rent phones for the short term. Email It's time to think about how you're going to handle your email in Europe, if that's important to you. If you have several accounts you want to check, you'll need to set up an online system for getting all your email. I use webbox , but other options are explained in the article Staying Connected . Money Yeah, it's time to get the long green together. I take some traveler's checks as a back-up, but mostly use the plentiful ATM machines in Europe to get cash. You need to have a 4-digit pin number to use many European ATMs. Watch one thing though: plan to have enough money to last through weekends--some people are reporting that certain banks in Europe don't update the customer's daily limit on Saturdays and Sundays and so if you've maxed out your daily allowance on Friday, you might find that you can't get more until Monday. You might also think about getting some Euros (or local currency for countries that don't use Euros) for the first day or two, if only to get used to them and assure yourself that you'll be able to afford a coffee in the airport. How much Money? Well, that varies, of course. A couple like Martha and I can get by on on $150 a day in most Mediterranean countries, although it's becoming a stretch these days. That'll get you a two or three star hotel with breakfast and two other meals taken in a restaurant with wine, plus entrance fees to museums and such. It's an average over the whole period of vacation--some days you'll get soaked, some days you'll find bargains. Students and the young-at-heart set willing to stay in hostels and eat street food or make their own grub in the Hostel kitchen will be able to do it for much less, of course. Keeping your money and documents secure You'll need a way to keep your passport and important items away from thieves. While Europe is still safer from violent crimes than the US, high tourist volumes in major cities tend to attract the slash and run crowd. Use a money belt or pouch that goes inside your clothing like seasoned travelers do. Keep your passport and important documents together in it. Don't wear a fanny pack with the pack turned around to actually ride on your fanny. It looks stupid and is a magnet for thieves. Women should avoid big purses with shoulder straps as those straps can be cut easily and the purse removed by a well-trained thief in seconds. Whatever can be said about European petty thieves and pickpockets one thing stands out when you talk to people who've been hit: they're good at what they do. Find recommended security stuff and other indispensable items under Travel Accessories . Voltage and Plugs European voltage is twice that of the wimpy American 110. The wall plugs are different as well. If you plan on using electrical appliances you may need to purchase adapters and power converters now. Check out my article European Electricity and the Connected Tourist for the skinny on what you'll need to make your stuff work in Europe. Me? I don't carry much more than the battery charger I bought in Italy to recharge my digital camera's batteries. Maps You should be far enough along in your travel planning to think about what maps you'll need.If you're in a car and like to get off the main highways, you'll need to purchase good maps. We use Michelin country and regional maps when we drive, purchasing the regional maps for areas we're staying in for a week or longer. You can get European driving maps from your auto club, but they're often not detailed enough to get you to the back roads. Keeping in Touch If you're the postcard-writing type, you'll need to have a means of keeping all those addresses where you can find them. Before the era of PDAs and email, I made sheets of labels for everyone who'd want a postcard so I could just slap one on and be done with it. Now I email friends and keep all their addresses on my Palm Pilot. Check for Travel Dangers The US government doesn't just meddle in overseas affairs, it also alerts travelers to dangers and uprisings in other countries. You might want to check conditions now and right before you leave. Travel Insurance Insurance Links Luggage Top Carry-On Luggage Packing Tips Cameras Before you buy a digital camera for travel Top Compact Digital Cameras for Travel Top Semi-pro Cameras for Travel Olympus D40 Review Oneof the best compact digitals I've come across. Cell Phone Rentals Cell Phone Rental Companies Purchase a Cell Phone Email Staying Connected Cybercafe Links Staying Connected Links Money/Currency Money Matters ATM Finder Travel Accessories Top Travel Accessories Clip-on Security Wallet (review) Voltage and Plugs European Electricity and the Connected Tourist Maps Michelin Maps (compare prices) It's easier to buy the maps over the web--distribution to many stores seems spotty at best, and many times they're unsorted, making finding what you want a miserable experience. Keeping in Touch The Travel Writer's Toolkit Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Last minute - Oops, Forgot the Passport. Help! Well, you can get one expedited, especially if you already have tickets. See our Passport Expediting Company links for more. Make Copies Now is the time to think about keeping back-ups of your travel documents. Make at least two photocopies of your itinerary, your passport information page (the one with your picture and passport number) and copies of your credit cards showing the cc numbers. Give one copy to your mother, or someone else you trust and can get a hold of any time of day or night. Keep a copy of your passport and credit card info with you but in a different place than the original items. Final Check The basic stuff you need to carry are these: Passport, tickets, car rental agreements, hotel reservation receipts, credit cards, medications (and prescriptions, if required), addresses/password information and an open mind with a sense of wonder. Check them twice. Then go have fun in Europe. Passport Problems Passport Expediting Companies Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... 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...