South America Travel
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South & Central America. Peru Tours and Ecuador Tours, Galapagos Tours, Machu Picchu, Amazon Rainforest. 1.800.344.6118 { contact us } Home · Testimonials · In the News · Tour Index · About Us · Once You're Booked · Lodging · Discounts South America Amazon Tours Argentina Tours Bolivia Tours Chile Tours Ecuador Tours Galapagos Tours Patagonia Tours Peru Tours Central America Belize Tours Costa Rica Tours Guatemala Tours Panama Tours Antarctica Antarctica Tours Our Newsletter - Text - HTML Newsletter Archive Gift Registry Family Travel Supplement Press Kit Employment Opportunities Questions about a tour? Contact us with your questions. Technical Problem? Contact the webmaster for assistance. Are you a Travel Agent? Click here to Contact us. Peru Tours - Machu Picchu, the Inca city of Cusco, hiking the Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca, the Amazon, ... Galapagos Tours & Cruises - Choose from over 40 yachts for your wildlife cruise in Darwin's amazing Galapagos. Chile Tours - Be tempted with a trek through Torres del Paine, the Atacama Desert, a wine tour in the vineyards of Santiago Belize Tours - Stunning snorkeling & scuba, island to island sea kayaking, Maya ruins, jungle adventures, Last Minute Savings for Galapagos Save up to $1,000/person on a Dec 31, 2005, 10 Day Tour on the Lammer Law, Evolution or Mistral. 20% off the Maryshev 20% off the Aleksey Maryshev's Feb 2, 2006, cruise to Antarctica and the Weddell Sea! 20% off the Polar Star 20% off the Polar Star's Feb 25, 2006, cruise to Antarctica, S. Georgia, and the Falklands! Bienvenidos (Welcome) ! See us in USA Today! Let us introduce you to the local culture and brilliant landscapes of the Andes, Amazon, Galapagos, Central America and Antarctica! At Adventure Life, we love travel and we love the people and places we visit. We've traveled, studied, worked and lived in these wonderful places and we want you to share in our experiences and enthusiasm. Our customers are looking for something distinctive, something personal. Visit the historic Panama Canal. Explore the Pacuare Nature Reserve on a Costa Rica trip. Snorkel in the crystal waters of Belize! Whether interested in a family Guatemala adventure, or custom Tikal ruins tour, we offer unique itineraries to suit any adventurer. Adventure Life is committed to providing quality small group tours that have a positive impact on the local culture and environment. Groups are rarely larger than twelve, and each tour is designed by the company's founder with the goal of providing a fun and exciting holiday, while creating a better understanding between travelers and our wonderful hosts. We invite the questions and comments you might have while planning your trip. Our first hand knowledge of Latin America means we can answer nearly any question that you might have regarding our destinations. We specialize in Costa Rica vacations, Belize tours, the ruins of Tikal, Guatemala trips, Panama travel, as well as a number of adventures to the Andes, Peru, Galapagos, Ecuador, Amazon, Bolivia and Antarctica. Please feel free to contact us with any of your travel questions. Wait. What am I saying? This isn't just travel. My friends, this is adventure. So how about it - are you ready? Adventure Life News Our Gift To You – 10% Savings On Your Holiday In The Galapagos! I can hardly believe it myself; we still have spaces left on a few of our Galapagos holiday departures! Join us for our 10-day tour of the Islands and celebrate the season among blue-footed boobies, iguanas, giant tortoises and Galapagos penguins in one the most unique and untouched ecosystems in the world. And to sweeten this Galapagos travel treat, we are now offering a 10% discount on our remaining island holiday departures! Discover for yourself what others have found so enchanting about this amazing archipelago that has captivated the imagination of adventurers, biologists, ecologists and travelers for centuries. To find out more about Galapagos travel, click here . 2 spaces available – departing Dec 23rd aboard the Fragata. Prices starting at $1566 2 spaces available – departing Dec 20th aboard the Coral I (moon suite). Prices starting $2979 Read Newsletter » Adventure Travel Possiblities Costa Rica Tours click here » Travel to Costa Rica puts you in the heart of an ecotourism mecca. Costa Rica vacations are ideally suited for multisport adventures. Climb into the canopy and explore the jungle of Costa Rica before heading to the beach or visiting an active volcano. Plan your Costa Rica tour to include horseback riding, whitewater rafting, surfing, or searching for giant leatherback turtles. Argentina Tours click here » An Argentina tour takes you through a spectacular variety of scenery, from wind-sculpted desert to the snow-capped peaks of Patagonia. Travel to Argentina offers opportunities for both outdoor adventure and cultural discovery. From the gauchos of the Argentine steppe to the tango dancers in Buenos Aires, the people of Argentina are a proud and passionate lot. A South America tour isn't complete without taking in this fascinating country. Guatemala Tours click here » For most travelers, the thought of Guatemala tourism brings to mind the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal. Indeed, no Guatemala tour is complete without a journey to the sprawling jungle-covered metropolis, but there is so much more Guatemala adventure in store! The picturesque volcanic highlands of Guatemala are home to thriving indigenous populations and their rich culture. Intricate regional weavings, bustling markets, and stately colonial cities are just some of the gems to discover on your Guatemala vacation. Patagonia Tours click here » The name Patagonia stirs the souls of adventurers. A Patagonia trip is a chance to see the end of the world, where you'll find emerald-colored glacial lakes and towering granite spires. Whether you're trekking in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, sailing the waters around the historic island of Chiloe, or visiting the famous Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentinean Patagonia, your Patagonia adventure will be memorable. Panama Tours click here » Any elementary history book can brief you on the importance of the Panama Canal, but what the textbooks fail to represent is the incredible texture of the "eighth wonder of the world," and the rest of the region. Panama travel includes snorkeling in the turquoise waters surrounding the islands of Bocas del Toro, and whitewater rafting on the Chiriqui. Relax at the ecological lodge, Sapibenga, on its private San Blas island and discover the colorful culture of the Kuna people. For the nature lover, the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park offers a vast variety of wildlife to explore and admire on your Panama vacation. Antarctica Tours click here » Although it's the most isolated continent, Antarctica is far from barren and lifeless. On an Antarctica cruise you'll likely see great whales, millions of seals, and teeming colonies of comical penguins, among other wildlife. Our Antarctica cruise ships vary in size and style, so you're sure to find one that's right for you. Join us on a trip to Antarctica to explore the last unspoiled continent on earth! the international ecotourism society international mountain explorers connection america outdoors international association of antarctica tour operators leave no trace international galapagos tour operators association Adventure Life • 1655 S 3rd St. W, Suite 1 • Missoula, MT 59801 • 1-800-344-6118 :: Site Map ::
Asia travel, Deluxe travel
Luxury travel to Asia - ABSOLUTE ASIA - deluxe tours to Asia "I loved the people, sights, hotels - I enjoyed everything!! Most of all, I enjoyed the flexibility and ease of the entire trip. Thank you!" --- -G.D., Piedmont, CA November 2005 Travel company offering deluxe, private tours in Vietnam , Japan , China , Indonesia , Bali , Tibet , Nepal , Bhutan , India , Central Asia , Cambodia , Burma , Turkey , Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong , Iran , Pakistan , and Thailand . luxury asia tour: Absolute Asia, Absolute Africa, and Absolute South Pacific are the leading providers of deluxe, custom-designed tours to Asia , the Middle East , North Africa, Australia, and the South Pacific. Since 1989 we have been offering an unrivalled collection of creative itineraries throughout these regions. Our parent company, Absolute Asia, began by specializing in travel to Thailand and Indochina. We now arrange customized tours to over 30 other Asian destinations including China, Japan, Bali and Indonesia, India, the Himalayas, Iran, and Turkey. In response to a growing demand for similar services in the South Pacific, we created Absolute South Pacific, a division devoted exclusively to travel in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the South Pacific islands. We have recently expanded into the Middle East and North Africa -- regions where travelers will find the culture and natural wonders to be as magnificent and fascinating as those found in Asia-Pacific - with the launch of Absolute Africa. luxury asia tour: In each destination, our tours include expert local tour guides, exclusive activities, luxury accommodations, gourmet restaurants, and travel innovative touring. We are dedicated to serving our travel clients before, during, and after they luxury asia tour travel and, as a result, most of our clients come to us by personal referral or on a repeat basis. In fact, we are regularly featured in various travel publications that represent some of the most discerning travel voices in the world of travel: Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, Town & Country, Frommer's, Fodor's, Saveur, Gourmet, and more. From elegant palace travel hotels in travel India, to luxurious travel resorts on the Great Barrier Reef - our tours are truly for the discerning traveler. We look forward to welcoming you to our world of travel! luxury asia tour LUXURY ASIA TOURS Asia, travel, tour, tours, travel Asia tours , Asia tour, Asia travel, Deluxe travel Asia Travel, Luxury Asia travel, Absolute Asia , Tours, touring, Asia, travel, deluxe , luxury, luxury tours, privately guided asia tour , Luxury tours to Asia: private, custom-designed, customized, customized touring , travel Southeast Asia , travel East Asia , travel India asia tour , travel Himalayas , travel Central Asia , travel Thailand asia tour , travel Cambodia , Asia luxury travel: Burma asia tour , Asia luxury travel: Myanmar asia tour , Asia luxury travel: Vietnam asia tour , Asia luxury travel: Laos , Travel Malaysia - asia tour , Asia luxury travel: Travel Philippines asia tour , Luxury tours to Asia: travel Singapore , Luxury tours to Asia: Hong Kong , China asia tour , Asia luxury travel: Indonesia asia tour , travel Bali , Japan , Korea, travel Taiwan , Mongolia , Luxury tours to Asia: travel Tibet , Luxury tours to Asia: travel Nepal , Luxury tours to Asia: Bhutan , Sikkim, Darjeeling, Luxury tours to Asia: Pakistan , Luxury tours to Asia: Maldives , Luxury tours to Asia: Sri Lanka tour , Luxury tours to Asia: Turkey asia tour , Luxury tours to Asia: Iran tour asia tour , Luxury tours to Asia: Jordan , Luxury tours to Asia: Syria tour asia tour , Luxury tours to Asia: Lebanon tour , Israel tour , Middle East tour , Uzbekistan tour , Luxury tours to Asia: Kyrgyzstan tour tour , Luxury tours to Asia: Turkmenistan tour asia tour , Mutli-Country tours.
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...
Taiwan Travel
Taiwan Travel, Tourism home publications events committees membership living in Taiwan yellow pages advertising -- about us contact Travel and Tourism: 2003 Issues Upgrade Taiwan's tourist industry Promote inbound tourism Link Taiwan to Greater China travel itineraries The ECCT Travel and Tourism Committee addresses issues concerning Taiwan's travel, tourism and hospitality industries and aims to help attract more visitors from Europe and raise the number of annual visitors to the island to six million as outlined in Taiwan's Challenge 2008 plan. While the issues raised in this position paper are focused on the business side on travel and to developing Taiwan's travel infrastructure, the ECCT wishes to point out that drawing more Europeans to Taiwan will help to improve understanding among Europeans of the island's people and their position in the world. The committee is happy to note that some progress has been made on issues raised in last year's position paper. With regards to the issue of immigration facilities at CKS International Airport, the committee welcomes the government's recent announcement to allow ARC holders that are members of the ECCT, and the American and Japanese chambers of commerce, to use the APEC-member immigration line. Although the committee would have preferred the adoption of its proposal to follow the Hong Kong model, where ID cardholders are not required to fill out any paperwork and are allowed to use a separate and speedier entrance and exit, the new measure is expected to significantly speed up immigration time for our members. Furthermore, progress has been made on the issue of female staff working at night. Although the penalty for infringements of Article 49 of the Labor Standard Law (which restricts women from working at night) has been reduced from a jail sentence to a fine, the committee urges the government to abolish this restriction, as it results in unfair discrimination against women, additional contract bargaining, and raises costs and reduces the competitiveness of firms operating in Taiwan. Upgrade Taiwan's tourist industry The Ministry of Transportation and Communications allotted NT$6.5 billion for upgrading the tourist industry. It is unclear how European companies, either as local branches or foreign entities, can apply for these preferential loans on equal terms with their Taiwan counterparts. Recommendation The committee proposes that investment by European companies be allowed and encouraged in all areas and that they have full access to the government funds and that any regulatory barriers to entry and operation of tourism entities are removed. Promote inbound tourism The Tourism Bureau has a larger promotion budget than ever before and this is a positive step in boosting visitors. Recommendations Attract more European visitors with incentives to foreign travelers and overseas and local Taiwanese tour operators. Allocate more of the Tourism Bureau's resources to attracting Europeans to Taiwan, rather than to mature markets where Taiwan is already well known. Japan is getting the lion's share of the promotion budget, with Hong Kong and Singapore taking up most of the remainder. Devoting more planning and funding to promote Taiwan systematically in Europe would reduce Taiwan dependency on a few sensitive sources. Publication of a tourism marketing plan would help European operators understand the government's strategic position and lead towards a quality tourism market. Cooperate with city government efforts to attract international tourists. Provide sufficient signage and information in English. Taipei has started to rectify this problem on bus signs, but not at bus stops. Bus maps and tour information for major cities and nearby areas should be published in foreign languages, and promoted both in and outside Taiwan. We offer our assistance in distributing this information. We also urge city and central governments to apply the Hanyu Pinyin system, which is taught in Europe for translating Chinese into foreign languages, and for use in addresses, on street signs, in government literature and elsewhere. Provide drug, weapon and quarantine information to travelers more discreetly. The lengthy and stern warnings provided during landing preparations give the passengers, the vast majority of whom are law-abiding, a "death penalty" image of Taiwan, as do posters at the international airport. The committee recommends that drug, weapon and quarantine information be provided together with visa application forms or landing cards and at tourist information outlets abroad. Promote specific aspects of Taiwan to Europeans. As a large number of current European visitors are traveling alone and are in Taiwan on business, attractions that would best be promoted to encourage them to extend their stay would include night life, museums, shopping (for IT and other products) and weekend trips to nearby mountains, hot springs, beaches and historic venues as well as to outlying islands. Our committee is ready to assist in supplying expertise from Europe to help develop these segments. Link Taiwan to greater China travel itineraries The committee encourages the promotion of Taiwan as a leading destination in greater China itineraries in support of the government's plan to operate direct flights between both sides of the Taiwan Strait in the near future. Technical preparations should be started soon, as trips between Taiwan and China now generally require combinations of tickets sold only in Taiwan or greater China at unpublished special prices, with a transfer most commonly in Hong Kong or Macau. Making matters even more bothersome, certain "agents" buy tickets outside Taiwan from mainland carriers for local resale, often without proper reservations or support. This raises the cost and complexity of organizing a tour to greater China including a stopover in Taiwan by European and local operators. Recommendation The committee proposes that to stimulate support and investments in the travel industry by European travel companies, efforts be made to regulate and upgrade this travel segment to international industry norms and provide tools to bring more ease and transparency to tour pricing and airline fares for European tourism via Taiwan to greater China. This would be helped by initiating Billing Settlement Plan membership and proper representation of mainland airlines, and by facilitating correct and full display of local and mainland flights and fares with unrestricted Global Distribution and airline reservation systems' access to the Taiwan market. © ECCT
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.
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Walks in Munich - Hitler's Munich > Page 1 ,
2 ,
3
More on Munich for the traveler
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Part 2: Walks in Munich
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Part 3: Visiting Dachau
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