cruise vacations, deals on

Anchors Away Cruise Travel Agents - Discount Cruise Vacations Family Travel, Family Cruise Vacations, Family Cruises, Family Reunions & Family Cruise Programs Family cruises, family cruise vacations, deals on family cruises, yourfamily can search over 10,000 cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico and Hawaii.Family reunion cruises and family cruise programs on Carnival Cruise, DisneyCruise Line and more. Corporate Cruises & Incentive Cruises - Corporate Meeting Planning Corporate Cruises and Incentive Cruises, CLIA certified international meetingplanners and cruise experts will charter a cruise ship for your corporation.Professional meeting planners and Corporate Meeting planners for Corporate Traveland Incentive Travel on all Cruise Ships world wide. Corporate meetings, corporatecruises, corporate meeting planning on cruise ships, your corporate travel sourcefor corporate cruise ship charters for 100 to 3,300 guests, 3 - 30 days, worldwide.Experienced Meeting planners and corporate group cruise vacation experts willdesign cruise meetings and event planner travel packages that reflect the natureof your association , corporation or organization. Service-oriented meeting plannerswill provide an outstanding value and free audio visual, video, data and computerequipment for convention events. Group Cruises, Group Cruise Rates, Group Cruise Discounts, Group Cruise Travel Packages Group cruises and special group cruise travel rates, group cruise discounts.Our group cruise experts will design a group cruise package offering your groupthe best group cruise discounts. Exclusive amenities such as free upgrades, cocktailparties, free cabins and onboard credits for your group cruises. Family & friendreunions, School reunions, Weddings, Birthdays, Celebration Clubs and Civic groups,Religious groups, Associations, Hobby Groups, Seminars, Special Interests Honeymoon Cruises and Wedding cruises, A Cruise Vacation is the Perfect Anniversary Gift If you are looking to experience a romantic cruise your search is over. You will find discount cruise rates for honeymoon cruises, cruise ship weddings and the perfect wedding anniversary gift. Luxury cruise discounts on all luxury cruise lines. Whether your luxury cruising tastes are for luxury cruises or premuim luxury cruises you will find discount cruise prices on all luxury cruise ships, including lines such as Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruises, Silversea Cruises,Windstar Cruises and Oceania Cruises. Singles Cruises, Singles Cruise Vacations, Cruise packages and Discounts for Single Travelers cruise packages for Single cruises, single travelers. Cruise vacations to choose from a wide variety of cruise vacations, Singles cruise vacation packages from active-adventure excursions and exotic cruises to cruise tours for singles travel explorers. Senior Travel, Senior Cruises, Senior Cruise Information and Senior Cruise Specials Senior travel, senior cruises, The internet's most comprehensive senior cruise guide to finding Senior cruise travel discounts: Exclusive to seniors 55 and over. Senior travel and general lifestyle Senior cruise information, Gentleman Hosts and more... From Cruise Travel agents Cruise Specials and Deals, Cruise Discounts on Last Minute Cruises for All Cruise Lines and Cruise Ships Cruise travel agents will help to Choose Cruise Specials and deals from thousands of sailings worldwide for your dream cruise. Discover the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda, Alaska, Hawaii and worldwide other destinations with last minute cruise specials and cruise deals. Discount Cruise Vacations Quote Form For Requesting a Discount Cruise Free Quote From Cruise Travel agents Our cruise specialists travel agents will research and contact you regarding your discount cruise request. Choosing the best cruise line, cruise ship, and cruise vacation itinerary for you. Travel Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance, International Travel Insurance Plans From Cruise Travel agents Travel and medical insurance, Are you looking for trip protection but don't knowwhat you need? Get real-time quotes and compare Travel Insurance plans from cruisetravel agents.

Asia Travel according to

Asia Travel - All about Asia Travel Asia Travel Hotels and Resorts Reservation Service World Travel Hotels and Resorts Reservation Service You may have already visited many of our hotels, resorts, travel and leisure establishments, scenic destinations, places of interest, and country travel information pages. Or perhaps you just arrived at our homepage ready for your exploration. In any event, we extend .... .. a very warm welcome and hope you enjoy your visit .. We hope that you find here, all the necessary information you need to plan your travel, or virtual travel. If there is some information that you cannot locate on our site, please feel free to e-mail us at info@asiatravel.com. We will do our best to supply the information you require. Our goal is to provide all information and necessary reservations for your business, or leisure travel. This information can be at your fingertips at home, at the office, or on the road. We are committed to bringing you a selection of hotel and resort accommodations in Asia, Pacific region, Middle East, USA and Europe. All the hotels and resorts on our site provide full information, such as rates and discounts, graphics of rooms, sport, recreation, function, food and cuisine facilities. Location and fact sheets are provided to ensure you a comfortable and memorable stay. All hotels and resorts are listed on Asia Travel according to the discounted room rates they are offering to the Internet User. This listing does not necessarily reflect the class rating of the hotel. For example, a 5 star property may be listed in the same rate category as a 3 star property due to the good discounts they are offering. All the information we put up on the hotels, resorts, and travel and leisure establishments is the official information supplied by the management and owners. All the information is checked and approved before it is activated online. Also constant updating is done to ensure such information is current. All hotels and resorts accept online enquiries and reservations through their online enquiry and reservation forms. All enquiry and reservation forms are programmed to be received by Asia Travel and the Individual Establishment from which the forms are being sent. All enquiries and reservations will be responded to within 24 working hours , either by the hotel or Asia Travel. Some hotels offer instant availabilty and confirmation for reservation and check-in voucher can be printed online. All discounts and special offers are only applicable if reservations are made through the online reservation forms or directly through Asia Travel. All hotels and resorts accept advance reservations. You pay directly to the hotels or resorts only upon check-in or check-out, either by cash or credit card. These hotels and resorts do not ask for any advance payment or deposits. In some cases, due to very high season demand, they may ask for a credit card guarantee for the first day only of the reservation. This again is only a guarantee of stay, not a payment. Also there will be a grace period for cancellation in which case the guarantee will be invalid. If there is a guarantee requirement, a credit card authorisation form will be e-mailed to you and you can fill in the details and return it by fax. In addition to providing a platform for hotels to offer their rooms direct to Internet users, we also work with travel wholesalers and tour operators to offer their hotels, sightseeings and air-ticketing services. However, products offered by these wholesalers and tour operators will have to be prepaid. To ensure that our guests are provided with the best service, all collection of payments and confirmation of services are co-ordinated and handled by asiatravel.com (a brandname of AT Reservation Network Pte Ltd). As you plan your next trip, please think of us and please tell us how we may serve you better. Once again thank you very much for your visit. We hope to be of service, always. Our Offices are shown below Singapore Corporate Office : Asiatravel.com Holdings Ltd 1 Kim Seng Promenade #13-07 Great World City West Tower Singapore 237994 Tel : (65) 6732 6773 Fax : (65) 6732 1226 For hotel enquiries, pls call below numbers Tel : (65) 6235 2498, 6235 6426 Singapore Reservation Office : AT Reservation Network Pte Ltd 22, Cavenagh Road/Orchard Road #02-05 Hotel Grand Central Singapore 229617 Tel : (65) 6235 2498, 6235 6426 Fax : (65) 6235 7620 TA Licence : 01148 Singapore Tour Division : SH Tours Pte Ltd 100 Kim Seng Road #02-03 Kim Seng Plaza Singapore 239427 Tel : (65) 6734 9923 Fax : (65) 6733 5763 TA Licence : 00790 Thailand : AT Network Co. Ltd. Lumpini Tower, 1168/44 18th Floor Rama 4 Road, Tungmahamek Sathorn Bangkok 10120, Thailand Tel (8 lines) : (662) 677 6240-5, 679 7185, 679 7187 Fax (2 lines) : (662) 677 6246-7 TA Licence : 11/1921 Indonesia Jakarta : PT Asia Travelindo Nusantara Jl Perjuangan No 21 Kompleks Ruko Sastra Graha, Block P&Q Kebon Jeruk, Jakarta-11530 Indonesia Tel : (62-21) 532 8682, 535 7573 Fax : (62-21) 535 7853, 536 4671 TA Licence : Kep.181/BPW/08/1999 Indonesia Bali Branch : Kompleks Pertokoan Tuban Plaza No 49 Jalan By Pass I Gusti Ngurah Rai Kuta 80361, Badung, Bali Indonesia Tel : (62-361) 763 701, 763-702 Fax : (62-361) 763 703 Hong Kong : Asia Travel Network Ltd Rm 7A, No 6, Knutsford Terrace Tsimshatsui, Kowloon Hongkong Tel : (852) 2736 0922 Fax : (852) 2405 0922 TA Licence : 352156 China : Asia Travel Shanghai Office, 333 Jiu Jiang Road, 17th Floor, Room 1707/1708 Finance Square Shanghai 200001, China Tel: (86-21) 6322 3855 Fax: (86-21) 63229542, 63600967 Philippines : AT Phil., Inc Unit 1203-1204 12/F Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road (formerly Emerald Ave.), Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines Tel : (632) 635 5099, 914 4970 up to 72 Fax : (632) 635 6699, 914 4973, 910 6294 DOT Accreditation No: TO-154-2004 Philippines- Cebu Branch: Lobby, Waterfront Airport Hotel 1 Airport Road, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines Tel : (6332) 341-20-35 Fax: (6332) 341-20-36 Dubai : Asia Middle East Tours LLC Suite 306 3rd Floor Al Bassam Centre, Port Saeed Road Deira, Dubai United Arab Emirates P.O.Box 112758 Tel: +971 42626751 Fax: +971 42669730 Tourism Licence : 549563 Indochina : AT Network Co. Ltd. Lumpini Tower, 1168/44 18th Floor Rama 4 Road, Tungmahamek Sathorn Bangkok 10120, Thailand Tel (8 lines) : (662) 677 6240-5, 679 7185, 679 7187 Fax (2 lines) : (662) 677 6246-7 TA Licence : 11/1921 Asia Travel

Japan travel tips -

Japan travel tips - tips for traveling in Japan - Japan how to  You are here: About > Travel > Japan for Visitors > Plan Your Trip to Japan > How to Travel > Japan travel tips - tips for traveling in Japan - Japan how to Travel Go Japan Essentials Clickable Map of Japan Japan Pictures Japan Travel Tips Japanese Geisha Japan 101 - Fact about Japan Articles & Resources Japan Maps Picture of Japan / Web cams Best of Japan / Attractions Hotels/Accommodations Tokyo / Cities / Regions Japanese Translators Japanese Culture Etiquette / Living in Japan Japan Weather / Geography Japan History / Samurai Japanese Penpal / Chat Plan Your Trip to Japan Air Travel / Train Travel Restaurants / Japanese Food Japanese Gift / Japan Books Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Japanese Gifts Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Japan for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Japan for Visitors Ryokan - Japanese Inn Shizuko Mishiima Stay up to date! Ryokan - Japanese Inn Shizuko Mishiima Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading Clickable Map of Japan Japan Postcards Japan Photo Gallery Recent Discussions Japanese Cooking School in Tokyo Need help with gift new U.S. business Most Popular New Year Cards Japanese Geisha Christmas in Japan Japanese Tattoos Free Japanese postcards - Japanese new year cards - japan fr... What's Hot Japan Postcard - Japanese free email postcards - New Year's ... Japan Map - Nagano Prefecture Map - Map of Japan Universal Studios Japan Odaiba Photos Pictures of Japan - mount fuji picture - mt. fuji Photo Related Topics Japanese Cuisine Japanese Language Asia for Visitors Anime PlayStation Games Japan Travel Practical Tips From Shizuko Mishima , Your Guide to Japan for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! How-tos How to eat Sushi How to use Chopsticks How to Cook Japanese Rice How to get a Japan Rail Pass How to get to Tokyo from Narita Airport How to handle Emergencies in Japan How to stay at a Japanese Inn How to take a Train or Subway in Japan How to take a Taxi in Japan How to travel by Japanese Bullet Train How to use Japanese-style bath How to use Public Phones in Japan Find Flights to Japan by Kayak Find Japan Hotels by Kayak *Know more about Japan: Japan Fact        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 Japan Postcard - Japanese free email postcards - New Year's ... Japan Map - Nagano Prefecture Map - Map of Japan Universal Studios Japan Odaiba Photos Pictures of Japan - mount fuji picture - mt. fuji Photo

Central America Travel

Cheap airline tickets, hotels, reviews, cars, cruises andvacations - Yahoo! Travel This browser does not support javascript Primary Navigation Home | Travel Guides | Hotels | Flights | Cars | Vacations | Cruises | Deals | FareChase Search Travel Great Prices on Flights, Hotels, Vacations and More in Deals Flight Only Flight & Hotel - Book-Together and Save From To Depart Return Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 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 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 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 My dates are flexible Adults 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Connections 0 1 2 3 More Flight Search Options: One-Way , Multi-City , more... -- Explore the Destination and Hotel Guides Where to stay and what to dofrom trusted experts and travelers like you. Boston Cancun Chicago Honolulu Las Vegas London Los Angeles New York City Orlando Paris San Francisco » More Cities Select a destination United States - Atlanta - Boston - Chicago - Cincinnati - Dallas - Denver - Honolulu - Houston - Key West - Las Vegas - Los Angeles - Miami - Myrtle Beach - New Orleans - New York City - Orlando - Philadelphia - Phoenix - Portland - San Antonio - San Diego - San Francisco - Seattle - St. Louis - Washington DC Asia - Bangkok, Thailand - Beijing, China - Hong Kong, China - Manila, Philippines - Seoul, Korea - Shanghai, China - Singapore - Tokyo, Japan Australia and South Pacific - Fiji - Melbourne - Sydney Canada - Montreal - Toronto - Vancouver Caribbean - Bahamas - Bermuda - Jamaica - Puerto Rico - US Virgin Islands Mexico - Cancun - Cozumel - Mexico City - Puerto Vallarta Europe - Barcelona, Spain - Dublin, Ireland - Florence, Italy - London, England - Madrid, Spain - Paris, France - Rome, Italy - Venice, Italy - Amsterdam - Athens - Stockholm - Edinburgh - Istanbul - Prague - Berlin Central America - Belize - Costa Rica - Panama South America - Buenos Aires - Rio de Janiero Where in the world do you want to go? North America Central America South America Caribbean Europe Africa Middle East Asia Australia & South Pacific » More Weekend Getaways Grand Canyon Maps & Directions Grand Canyon Today Fair Hi 58 / Lo 19 Where to stay User Rating Grand Canyon... The Grand Hotel El Tovar Hotel What to do Point Imperial Grand Canyon Village Rim Trail Tucson Maps & Directions Tucson Today Fair Hi 70 / Lo 39 Where to stay User Rating Loews Ventana... The Westin La... The Original... What to do Sabino Canyon Arizona-Sonora... Mission San Xavier... Interest Guides Get inspired and go. Ideas for every type of traveler. Ski and Snow Guide Get the latest snow conditions, top ski resorts, and more. Vacations by Interest: Romantic Getaways Best Beaches National and State Parks Top Singles Destinations » More Hotels in Top Destinations Find the best places to stay in Yahoo! Travel's most popular destinations. Amsterdam hotels Atlanta hotels Atlantic City hotels Bangkok hotels Barcelona hotels Boston hotels Cabo San Lucas hotels Cancun hotels Chicago hotels Cozumel hotels Dallas hotels Daytona Beach hotels Disneyland - Anaheim hotels Dublin hotels Florence hotels Hawaii hotels Hong Kong hotels Key West hotels Las Vegas hotels London hotels Los Angeles hotels Manila hotels Maui hotels Miami hotels Montreal hotels Nassau hotels New Orleans hotels New York City hotels Orlando hotels Palm Springs hotels Paris hotels Philadelphia hotels Phoenix hotels Phuket hotels Playa del Carmen hotels Puerto Vallarta hotels Reno hotels Rome hotels San Antonio hotels San Diego hotels San Francisco hotels San Juan hotels Seattle hotels Sydney hotels Tokyo hotels Toronto hotels Vancouver hotels Venice hotels Virginia Beach hotels Washington DC hotels Wellington hotels » More Hotels Yahoo! Travel Newsletter Get the best deals, travel tips, and news Destination Alerts The latest updates on your favorite places suppressing email signup module -- Destination Alerts Sign up for the latest news, deals, and trip ideas for any of 50 top cities. Sign up now. Updating spotlight... Planning a Trip? Clip, organize and share your trip ideas with Trip Planner. Some ideas: "Pure Puerto Rico" 2nd honeymoon by priscillita68 "A Long Weekend in New York" Things to do and see in NYC if you're there... by dan_visnick "Springtime in Banff" We want to head up to Banff for a little springtim... by greg_makris Browse more user trips View My Trips Travel Deals** Find great ideas for your next vacation Air view all deals... Big Sale on Brazil Airfare Air Only to Cancun from Buffalo Hotels view all deals... Orlando deals from $30 Kids Free at Universal Orlando Vacation Packages view all deals... Costa Rica NONSTOP! Four Seasons All Inclusive from $2429 » View All Deals & Offers Best Fares edit... Find the lowest fares on your favorite flights Depart: Los Angeles, CA Las Vegas, NV $83.00* Depart: Chicago, IL - O'Hare Orlando, FL $163.00* Depart: New York, NY - La Guardia San Francisco, CA $243.00* Sign Up For Alerts Disclaimer Find Cheap Airline Tickets Search Yahoo! FareChase My Travel Sign in to keep track of your travel plans, Best Fares, Trip Planner and more. New User? Sign up Check flight/gate status Sign up now -- See your deals on Yahoo! Travel Call 1-866-250-7572 to speak with a sales representative or sign up now Search Travel Search Yahoo! Farechase Find cheap airline tickets, hotels and car rentals on Yahoo! Travel. *Some taxes and fees additional. Learn more . ** Taxes & fees may apply. Click specific offer link for more details.

Germany Travel

U.S. Commercial Service Germany: Travel Site Map BUYUSA.GOV -- U.S. Commercial Service Germany Local time: 11:40 PM Business Travel Visa Travel Getting around in Germany Additional Information Timezone Currency Communication Electric Current Climate Money Matters Hours of Business VAT Refunds & Tax-Free Shopping Visa U.S. citizens do not require a visa to enter Germany. Without a visa, however, they may not stay longer than three months every half-year or take up gainful employment requiring a work permit. If required, citizens may obtain a residence and/or work permit after entry. For more information, visit the German Embassy site in the U.S. Travel Welcome to Germany: the meeting, convention and tourism destination for successful business representatives from around the world. What defines success in business also defines Germany: technology, innovation, flexibility, expertise, efficiency, organization, and mobility. Add drawing power in the form of brilliant natural beauty, majestic castles and regal palaces, world-class culture and cities steeped in history and you will come to see why no other destination for business travel even begins to compare. Visit the German National Tourist Board website and discover what attracts two-thirds of the world's top international trade fairs to one place: Germany. Getting around in Germany Air Domestic flights are well developed. All major cities are frequently served from many cities. Frankfurt and Munich are hubs to Lufthansa, Germany's national airline. Flight time is short (about 1 hour) to get anywhere in Germany. International Airports in Germany (IATA-Code): SXF - Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld http://www.berlin-airport.de TXL - Flughafen Berlin-Tegel http://www.berlin-airport.de THF - Flughafen Berlin-Tempelhof http://www.berlin-airport.de DUS - Flughafen Düsseldorf (Rhein-Ruhr) http://www.duesseldorf-international.de FRA - Flughafen Frankfurt am Main (Rhein-Main) http://www.frankfurt-airport.de HAM - Flughafen Hamburg (Fuhlsbüttel) http://www.airport.de HAJ - Flughafen Hannover (Langenhagen) http://www.hannover-airport.de CGN - Flughafen Köln/Bonn (Konrad Adenauer) http://www.airport-cgn.de MUC - Flughafen München (Franz-Josef-Strauß) http://www.munich-airport.de NUE - Flughafen Nürnberg http://www.flughafen-nuernberg.de STR - Flughafen Stuttgart (Echterdingen) http://www.stuttgart-airport.com National Airports in Germany (IATA-Code): ZCC - Flugplatz Baden-Baden http://www.baden-airpark.de BFE - Flugplatz Bielefeld http://www.flugplatz-bielefeld.de BRV - Flughafen Bremerhafen http://www.regionalflughafen-bremerhaven.de DTM - Flughafen Dortmund (Wickede) http://www.flughafen-dortmund.de DRS - Flughafen Dresden http://www.dresden-airport.de FDH - Flughafen Friedrichshafen (Löwenthal) http://www.fly-away.de HHN - Flughafen Hahn (Rheinland) http://www.hahn-airport.de HOQ - Flughafen Hof http://www.flughafen-hof.de KEL - Flughafen Kiel http://www.airport-kiel.de LHA - Flughafen Lahr (Schwarzwald) http://www.blackforest-airport.com LEJ - Flughafen Leipzig/Halle (Schkeuditz) http://www.leipzig-halle-airport.de LBC - Flughafen Lübeck http://www.flughafen-luebeck.de MGL - Flughafen Mönchengladbach http://www.mgl.de FMO - Flughafen Münster/Osnabrück (Greven) http://www.flughafen-fmo.de PAD - Flughafen Paderborn-Lippstadt http://www.flughafen-paderborn-lippstadt.de SCN - Flughafen Saarbrücken (Ensheim) http://www.flughafen-saarbruecken.de SGE - Flughafen Siegerland (Burbach) http://www.siegerland-airport.de Rail The Deutsche Bundesbahn offers a network that will get you almost anywhere in Germany. Rail travel is of no comparison to that in the United States. Highspeed trains operate between major cities, making it an option to flying, as railstations are always located in the city center. Car Germany's highway - the Autobahn - is famous. They are in excellent condition and very well developed. However, to keep such quality, maintenance is necessary and construction sites are common. Ferry From several seaports on the North-Sea and the Baltic-Sea you may find your desired ferry connection . Additional Information Timezone Germany is located within the Central European Time Zone. To convert U.S. time to German time: Eastern Standard(EST): +6 hours Central Standard Time(CST): +7 hours Mountain Standard Time(MST): +8hours Pacific Standard Time(PST): +9 hours Alaska Standard Time(AST): +10 hours Hawaii Standard Time(HST): +11 hours Currency Click here to recieve more information about Germany's currency and economy. Communication International Calls To Germany: 011 + 49 + Area Code (disregard 0) + number Example - 030 83052730: 001 49 30 83052730 To U.S.: 001 + Area Code + number Mobile Phones In Germany, cell phone coverage is almost 100% - you will always have service! However, frequencies throughout Europe differ from those used in North America. Your service provider can tell you if your phone is compatible with the German / European system and offer you alternatives if it is not. Network frequencies: EGSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900 Computers & Internet Bringing a laptop to Germany is simple: most run on both 110 volts, as in North America, or 230 volts, as found throughout Europe. Although the voltage is universal, you will still need an adapter to plug your computer into an electrical outlet. While in Germany, the Internet is easily accessible. You can often log on at your hotel, either right from your room or in computer rooms, and at business centers, which offer internet access to guests. If neither is available, ask your hotel about an Internet café – chances are excellent one is right around the corner! Electric Current Germany uses 230V. Therefore, a converter will be needed in order to use american 110V devices. Climate The climate is similar to that of the North Eastern U.S. The current weather can be found at: http://www.donnerwetter.de/deutschland/menu.hts Money Matters ATMs/ Banks: ATMs are as easily found in Germany as they are in North America. They are located at bank branches and standing alone in shopping, tourist and other busy areas. Major credit and debit cards, along with all other bank cards carrying the PLUS and NYCE symbols, are universally accepted. When located indoors, use your card to gain access if the door is locked, just as you would normally do. Credit Cards: Credit cards are commonly accepted in Germany, although they are not often used for everyday expenses. Restaurants, hotels, stores, train stations and other places regularly frequented by tourists will almost always accept them. Tipping: The bill you receive at a hotel, restaurant, cafe or bar often includes a service charge already. A tip is an indication of your satisfaction – 5% is average, whereas 10% indicates exceptional service. Tip taxi drivers about 5% and porters and others who assist you with baggage one Euro per item. Hours of Business Stores in Germany open between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Most close between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday between 6 or 8 p.m.. On Sunday almost all stores are closed, the exceptions being gas stations and convenience stores, which carry some food items as well as snacks and beverages. Banks and post offices are generally open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; some banks have extended hours on Thursday. Pharmacies open at 8 a.m. Museums are generally closed on Mondays. Throughout the year, many cities have a “Long Night of the Museums,” where all the city’s museums are open through the night. VAT Refunds & Tax-Free Shopping Prices for goods and services in Germany always include a 16% value-added tax (VAT). Some or all of the VAT may be refundable for goods purchased at stores displaying the “Tax-Free for Tourists” sign. You will receive a tax-free form upon making a purchase. Before leaving the country and before checking any luggage, present the purchased goods, the tax-free form and your receipt to German customs officials. They will certify the form as proof of legal export. You may then obtain a cash refund at one of the Tax-Free Shopping Service counters located at all major border crossings, airports, ferry ports and train stations. Links to interesting pages: Web page of the German Federal Government http://www.bundesregierung.de/en Information about Germany http://www.deutschland.de/ Home Doing Business in Germany Profile of Germany German Economy and Business Practices Business Infrastructure Travel German Holidays WEEE and RoHS Downloads Market research on Germany Find German Business Partners Trade Events Business Service Providers Contact Internship Links FAQ Our Worldwide Sites Other European Markets Export.gov Trade Portal Informationen für deutsche Firmen Search Printable version © 2001-2005 All rights reserved Privacy Policy Disclaimer