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! 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Russia Travel

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In this state-of-the-art plant we produce spray-dried powder and agglomerarted soluble coffee. With the vast capacity and the ancillary facilities at our disposal we are in a position to meet instant coffee requirements in any quantity, quality, packing or labeling. With over 75 years of coffee experience behind us, it is a question of our reputation to supply unmatched quality tailored to meet your exacting requirements. Russia - Metal.Com.Ru www.metal.com.ru is popular and most comprehensive Russia's metal business related portal containing a cutting-edge metal E-trading platform and a big pack of additional services - like Metal Newsline, Analytics, Bulletin Board, Events, Careers, Advertising and others. Metal.Com.Ru is the shortest way to make your business broadly-known on Russian metal market. Russia - [Banks] Ami Bank Russia - [Banks] Arsenal Bank Russia - [Banks] Bank of Business Assistance Russia - [Banks] Bank of Moscow Russia - [Banks] Banks in Russia and the NIS Russia - [Banks] Belarus Exchange Bank Russia - [Banks] Centr-Invest Russia - [Banks] Central Bank of the Russian Federation Russia - [Banks] Conto Russia - [Banks] Guta-Bank Russia - [Banks] Inkombank Russia - [Banks] Moscow Business World Bank, Saint-Petersburg Russia - [Banks] Moscow Clearing House Russia - [Banks] Most-Bank Russia - [Banks] NeftechimBank Russia - [Banks] Palbank Russia - [Banks] Promstroybank of Russia, Moscow Russia - [Banks] Rossiyskiy Kredit Bank Russia - [Banks] Tokobank Russia - [Banks] UNEXIM Bank, Moscow Russia - [Directory] Company Directories Russia - [Directory] Russian Green Pages business and environmental guide Russia - [Directory] Russian Organizations - Yellow Pages Russia - [Directory] Yellow pages of Russia and Ukraine Russia - [Government] Russian Consulate General Russia - [Info] AmCham in Russia Russia - [Info] BISNIS - Information on Russia and NIS Russia - [Info] CIA World Factbook Russia - [Info] REESweb Russia - [Info] Rusline Russia - [Info] Russia at your fingertips (TM) Russia - [Info] Russian Exchange Russia - [Info] Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey Russia - [Info] Russian Oil & Gas Russia - [Info] U.S-Russia Business Collaboration Center (BCC) Russia - [Info] Window-To-Russia Russia - [Media] Argumenty i Fakty Russia - [Media] Belarusian Market Russia - [Media] DELO Russia - [Media] Interfax News Agency Russia - [Media] Neva News Russia - [Media] News Bulletins Russia - [Media] Russia Today Russia - [Media] Russian Business & Trade Connections Russia - [Media] Russian Business and Trade Connections Russia - [Media] Russian Far East Update Russia - [Media] Russian Market Weekly Report Russia - [Media] St. Petersburg Times Russia - [Search] Aport Russia - [Search] Au Russia - [Search] Internet Yellow Pages Russia - [Search] OLVIT Russia - [Search] Rambler Russia - [Search] Russia on the Net Russia - [Search] Russian Search Engines Russia - [Search] Slavophilia Russia - [Search] Yandex Russia - [Trade] BIS Russia - [Trade] The Russian Import-Export Trade Board Russia - [Travel] The Traveller's Yellow Pages Online Russia - [Travel] Tips for Travel to Russia, etc. Companies Rad - Russian Federation - [Beverages] Wholesale of worldfamous alkohol drinks. Import of spirits, wines and beer from different countries of world. Target market is Russia. Open Company Gifts of the Nature - Russian Federation - [Food] Our company is engaged in gathering and drying of wild berries and mushrooms, sells their wholesale parties under very favourable prices. Berries and mushrooms are dried on the microwave vacuum equipment at low temperatures 35-60C, in them aroma is kept, the majority of vitamins, high regenerative ability, natural color without dimness of a product is kept. High microbiological quality of dried berries is kept more than 1 year. In 2004 at us in assortment a bilberry dried, a bilberry dried crushed, a mountain ash dried; a cranberry and a cowberry fresh, frozen; mushrooms white dried, mushrooms white dried crushed, cantharellus fresh, salty. We are always open for cooperation with the interested companies. ITS Partner c.c. - Russian Federation - [Household] "ITS" assembled saunas are created for you to be healthy and feel relaxed! 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vacation rental, is available

Bahamas Vacation Rental Bahamas Vacation Rental T he Sawyer House, is a delightful out island getaway, located in the heart of Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco, Bahamas. An ideal Caribbean rental for two couples or a family of up to eight. I t is easy to get to Hope Town from Florida or Nassau. US Air and Continental are the major carriers that fly to our destination. Alternatively, smaller carriers have frequent service and it's just a short one hour flight 190 miles east of Miami, West Palm or Fort Lauderdale. To check the price of Web Fares, please go to the Expedia.com site and use Marsh Harbour MHH as your destination airport. O ffering more privacy than Bahamas hotels, this ideal tropical vacation rental, is available for monthly or weekly rentals. Our Bahamian home sleeps 8 and offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a loft. Each bedroom has a queen size bed and the loft has two double beds. H ere's what you'll love about Elbow Cay: 4 Cool ocean breezes 4 Pristine sandy beaches 4 Crystal clear waters 4 Great fishing 4 Unspoiled beauty 4 Friendly people 4 Safe and family oriented 4 Remote but accessible 4 Beautiful flora and fauna 4 Great snorkeling & diving 4 Incredible sailing Comments from our renters Availability Rates & Terms I deally situated close to the ocean, between a beautiful, white powder, sand beach and the harbour with its famous candy-striped lighthouse. A tropical vacation rental, just steps away from swimming, boating, sailing, snorkeling, diving, beach combing, biking, fishing, gift shops, groceries, restaurants and night life yet it is located in a peaceful, serene area. P hoto Tour of Hope Town - Originally a small united empire loyalist village, this historical settlement wraps around a protected harbour. We invite you to explore the narrow streets with brightly painted clapboard houses, picket fences and flowering tropical gardens. Click here to walk the streets. D eep Sea Fishing, Bone Fishing - While vacationing at the Sawyer House, you will find a diverse palette of fishing opportunities. From dropping a relaxing hand line off the town dock, to battling giant blue marlin offshore. Just about everyone can find a way to enjoy the local fishing experience. Of course the Abacos islands are famous for fly fishing for bonefish. We encourage everyone to get out there and go fishing! For more on fishing click here. I sland Weddings - If you are planning an island wedding or honeymoon in the Bahamas, this is an ideal location. This romantic setting of emerald isles is surrounded by a translucent turquoise sea. Whether your ceremony takes place on the beach or in the Methodist Church, your tropical wedding will provide an unforgettable experience. After your ceremony there is no need to travel to your honeymoon destination. You are already there! We would be pleased to answer any questions you might have about planning your wedding or honeymoon in Hope Town. Hope Town Weddings E lbow Cay has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The Sawyer house is just steps away from one of them. Other secluded beaches are just a short golf cart or boat ride. For a look at our beaches click here. P lease visit our Map of Abaco or Map showing Abaco to US , to view the location of Elbow Cay. We also have a map showing the location of the Sawyer house in Hopetown. P rivate rental owners David and Ann Allison, invite you to enjoy all the amenities of a quaint vacation home in the Bahamas. We are also pleased to offer wheel chair access. For the most recent photos of the exterior of our Elbow Cay Rental click her. A1 Vacation Rentals Worldwide Dir ectory Abaco Scuba Diving | Abaco Fly Fishing 2 3 4 | Hope Town History | History of the Hope Town Light House Where is Hope Town? | What's included at the house? | Take a photo tour of Elbow Cay and Hope Town Link Partners Deep Sea Fishing, Bone Fishing offered by professional guides | Banner | Banner1 Lee Digital Scanning Link Partners Lodging --- United States Caribbean Mexico Other Contact Us Elbow Cay Vacation Rental David and Ann Allison Brockville, Ontario, Canada, K6V 5S2 E-mail ~ info@betterinthebahamas.com Phone ~ 1-613-345-3409 Mobile 1-613-349-7878 2005 All Rights Reserved

France Travel Guide 2

France Travel Guide - information and advice France Travel Guide Information and Advice France Map | Paris Pictures | Paris Travel Guide France Travel Guide 2 - Attractions exodus specialises in “The different holiday”, offering the widest selection of walking, adventure, cycling, mountain biking, wildlife, cultural and winter holidays, and overland journeys across all seven continents! Homepage | France Tours | Brochure Request France Travel Guide, climate: Best: March-June, Sept, early-Oct for sightseeing. Jan-March for wintersports. Worst: July, Aug. The country is packed with foreign and local tourists, while many services - even museums and restaurants - are closed. Dec-Feb can be bitterly cold in mountain areas and in the north including Paris. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile travel, not incl. flights: Paris and île de France [a short excursion] - 4 days. Weekend trips to just Paris are good too. Recommended: At least 2 weeks to take in Paris, and some country/mountain/beach activities, but you'll need months to discover how diverse the country's attractions are. France Festivals guide: Apart from Bastille Day and Assumption of the Virgin Mary [Aug 15th], which are celebrated nationwide, there are regional folk festivals and arts festivals, as well as Catholic events throughout the country, especially around July. Most of the events involve food, wine and extreme dyspepsia. Jan. 1st: Grand Parade Paris , twinned event with London for New Year celebrations . Massive and colourful. Feb-March : Mardi Gras Nice [ more info and picture ], one of the biggest and the most original carnival s in the world, a two week event with colourful parades, street parties, fireworks, and monster illuminations. mid May: Cannes Film Festival - No need to be a celebrity to enjoy Europe's high profile film fiesta. Loads of public screenings are available, as well as a small chance of bumping into stars. No better place for people watching. mid May/mid Oct: Gypsy Festival [Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in Provence], a gypsy gathering; historic, unique and kaleidoscopic. June: International Music Festival [Strasbourg in Alsace, the North], contemporary music. July 14th: Bastille Day [nationwide], France's biggest street festival, with parties, parades and fireworks to remember the French Revolution. July: Tour de France , a three-week cycling race for 3,500km [2000 miles] over the country [route changes annually]. The world's most famous French sporting event. mid July-mid Aug: Festival d'Avignon [Avignon]- a dynamic and diverse Arts festival, boasting over 50 official productions and many more fringes. F or classical music, try Festival International d'Art Lyrique in Aix-en-Provence in July, too. early Aug: Festival Interceltique [Lorient in Brittany], a worthy folk event [Celtic music and culture]. Oct: Jazz Festival [Nancy ], one of the country's best jazz events. For some precise dates see: European Festivals or Arts Festiva ls . Cuisine Guide: Traditional French cuisine of the protein-covered-with-rich sauce kind has been top of the gastronomic world since Romans travelled there to eat wild boar with cranberries in 34AD. But it's finally out of fashion - too heavy, too fattening, too taste-limited, but... [ more info and picture ] Shopping Guide: Pricewise France is not so brilliant due to the €uro's strength, but French style and taste is still irresistible. If designer labels are not your thing, try French eccentricity at smaller boutiques in trendy areas, or cheap chic stuff at flea-markets. Bargain shopping for any French products at huge malls in places such as Calais or Lille is very popular [with mainly British travellers]. Visiting local open-air food markets for regional cheese, pastries and wine, especially in Provence, is a fun way to make lunch. France Star Rating: Monuments ***** Shopping and souvenirs **** Walkability **** Food Quality and Variety **** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value ** Beaches **** Wildlife ** Landscape ***** Local People ** Architecture **** Safety **** Nightlife and Clubbing **** Health Problems none Museums ***** Why Travel to France? The language is one of the most beautiful things about the country so let's forgive the French for being very sniffy about it. Style, culture, architecture, food, wine and fashion all exist in multiple layers of excellence , with Paris in particular capturing and displaying these assets to great advantage. This, the largest country in Europe, has an incredible diversity of soaring landscapes, gorgeous villages, world-famous resorts and spectacular romantic escapes. On top of that, French love anything to do with bodies, so there is no better place for fulfilling your physical dreams, whether it's paragliding off the Alps, boating through the Dordogne or stuffing yourself with foie gras and a bottle of Pouilly-Fuissé. Downside: - Traffic. Not only are French car drivers notoriously aggressive, inconsiderate and occasionally dangerous , but being a convenient transit thoroughfare for North-South Europe road deliveries means that many French roads suffer terminal truck overdose. - Endless, sudden, disruptive strikes. - Petty crime wherever groups of tourists congregate . - The Riviera is mostly crammed with the filthy rich these days. - Locals attitudes to foreign travellers could be improved, particularly in Paris. Activities Guide: Walking/Climbing: With more than 60,000 km [37,500 miles]of well-marked long-distance footpaths to travel on, France is a superb walking country [ more info and picture ] . Also see Walking Tours - France. Cycling: the most French of activities; t he first modern bike was French! France has 28,000km of marked cycle routes, as well as good city and town cycle lanes [ more info and picture ]. Camping : Plenty of choice of places and facilities from basic campsites to luxury holiday parks throughout the country, especially along west coast beaches [ more info and picture ]. Efficient, stress-free and perfect for the family. Skiing: France is one of world's finest and most popular destinations for both downhill and cross-country skiing [ more info and picture ]. Caving: The limestone caves along Spanish border or the Southwest are ideal. Golfing: There are over 500 golf courses in the country [ more info and picture ], with several world-class ones. Relatively inexpensive and uncrowded. Hangliding & paragliding: The Hautes-Alpes of Provence, the Pyrenees [ more info and picture ] and Corsica are considered to be best places to hang loose. Rafting /canoeing: rental boats and organised excursions are available just about everywhere by the water in summertime [ more info and picture ]. The gorges in the Pyrenees, the Alpes and the Massif Central are particularly suited for more adventurous travellers [ more info and picture ]. Swimming/sunbathing: From Normandy to Corsica there's no shortage of swimming spots in the summer. [ more info and picture ]. Sailing: The Atlantic coast has solid winds and good ports to visit unless you are silly rich and want to park your yacht in Cannes. Diving/snorkelling: Available in Corsica. Surfing: often good waves along the Atlantic coast, such as Biarritz, Anglet and Hossegor. Wind/Kitesurfing is most popular on the western Mediterranean coast. Many rivers as well as on lakes such as Lac d'Annecy and Lake Geneva have leisure centres offering a wide rage of watersports. Fishing: Available on rivers and lakes with permits. Try Brittany for carp fishing, River Loire and Brittany/ Normandy for trout and salmon, but the best and most scenic rivers for salmon fishing are in the western Pyrenees. Get a licence at the local tourist office. Sea-fishing, including night-fishing, is popular and available at most seaside resorts. Horse riding: widespread but particularly favoured in Burgandy and the Camargue at the Rhône Delta [in Provence], a nature reserve famous for its indigenous horses. Another horse friendly area is the north; Parc International de la Canche in Le Touquet has 112km of forest riding routes and 26km of beach trails. River/Canal Cruises: A large and sophisticated network of canals and rivers can take you all over the country in peace and quiet, and you still see the sights, but you don't have to book a room ahead or...[ more info and picture ]. France Tours Tour operators offering tours to France can be found in our listings here: France Tours Map of Europe For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Visas: EU citizens do not need visas, nor do many other country's residents - including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel for visits up to 90 days. Electricity: Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Safety: Relatively safe but always use common sense. Pickpockets operate on many metro and train lines, around tourist sights and along the Cote d'Azur. Cars travelling with foreign number plates are also popular targets for theft, ranging from smash 'n' grab by motorcycle while in motion, 'Mister your wheel it look funny' trickery, and regular parked break-ins. Always hide luggage, especially valuables, and park in a conspicuous area if possible. See Travel Safety. Language: Nowadays more locals understand English, but do not expect them to speak it, even if they are in service. If you can throw together a few words it will help when travelling in most places in France, except possibly Paris, where city dwellers are notoriously sniffy about their gorgeous language being tortured by foreigners. Do, at least try to say 'Bonjour Madame/monsieur' when you enter a small shop and 'Au revoir' when you leave, this will show that you have some appreciation of their culture, even if you don't speak any other French. If you plan to travel France you may find these other Bugbog guides useful: UK Travel Guide Spain Travel Guide Italy Travel Guide Germany Travel Guide Austria Travel Guide Belgium Travel Guide Portugal Travel Guide Czech Republic Travel Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog

Disney Vacation Packages and

Disney Vacation Packages | The Royal Plaza "Magical Active Military Special" click here. 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Submit now for a free 4 day 3 night stay with 4 One day/one park Disney® Tickets! Part of the esteemed group of Official Walt Disney World® Hotels known as the Downtown Disney® Hotels, The Hotel Royal Plaza has been the crown jewel of the Downtown Disney® Resort area for over 25 years. Whether you are planning family vacations, business meetings, or romantic getaways, we have the ideal facilities to meet your travel needs. So come take advantage of our Disney Vacation Packages and hotel discounts! Magical Disney World ® Vacations Everything you could ever want in a Walt Disney World® vacation experience is just minutes away from the Hotel Royal Plaza. We are supremely located near the: • Magic Kingdom® Park • Epcot® • Disney-MGM Studios • Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park We provide with complimentary transportation to all four Disney Theme Parks, Disney Water Parks, and Pleasure Island. Within walking distance of the hotel are the exciting nightlife, dining, shopping and entertainment of the Downtown Disney® Resort Area. And you're just a chip shot away from all five championship Walt Disney World® Golf Courses, where guests of the Hotel Royal Plaza always receive preferred tee times! Comfort You Thought Was A Fantasy: In any of our 394 guest rooms, including suites and junior suites, you will enjoy the extravagances of a luxury vacation resort graciously blended with the relaxed atmosphere of home. For your convenience, every room has a sleeper sofa, coffee maker with complimentary coffee, mini-bar, hair dryer, remote control color TV with movies and games, ceiling fan, oversized safe, voice mail and data port. In addition, the hotel offers a host of services to ensure the comfort of you and your travel companions. 1905 Hotel Plaza Blvd. - PO Box 22203 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-2203 TEL.(407) 828-2828 - FAX.(407) 827-6338