South America Travel Go
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Travel Planners for South America You are here: About > Travel > South America for Visitors > Plan Your Trip > Travel Planners for South America Travel Go South America Essentials Plan Your First Trip to South America Photo Gallery Travel Features - Countries and Culture News and Current Events Reader Participation Requested Articles & Resources Most Popular Destinations Countries and Territories Plan Your Trip Getting There Culture Events, Fiestas, Holidays Languages Geography News & Current Events History Archaeology Sports and Recreation Wildlife / Conservation Guides and Gear Cuisine Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Guide and Travel Books History and Culture Books Cookbooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the South America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search South America for Visitors click for more images Angel Falls, Venezuela Courtney Milne Stay up to date! click for more images Angel Falls, Venezuela Courtney Milne Email to a friend Print this page Traveler's Resources Travel Articles about South America Photo Gallery FAQ More for the Traveler A - Z Site Map Index South America 101 South America: Never Out of Season Recent Discussions Great Vegas Site, Great Discounts Great Vegas Site, Great Discounts Help..traveling to South America..... Most Popular All Stars 9 Empanada Iguazu Falls Pictures of Chile South America Photo Gallery What's Hot Cola de Mono - Monkey's Tail Cuzco Pisco Sour Chilean Style Falkland Islands Photos Virtual Tour Related Topics Caribbean for Visitors Mexico / Central America for Visitors Spanish Language Adventure Travel Budget Travel Travel Planners for South America From Bonnie Hamre , Your Guide to South America for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! First time or experienced traveler, here's the information you need! South America is a huge, spectacular continent, with great rivers, lush rain forests, snow covered mountains and tremendous glaciers, barren deserts and fertile agricultural areas. The countries are unique unto themselves, but can be grouped somewhat geographically.
The northern countries face the Caribbean Sea, have mixed populations, a tropical lifestyle and rugged mountains. Here you will find favorite destinations like Angel Falls, the coastal resort of Los Roques and Margarita Island.
The Andean heartland contains the area that once was the core of the Inca Empire. Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador are still the most Indian of the South American countries. Here you will find the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, the highest navigable lake in the world in Lake Titicaca, snow-covered peaks and live volcanos, like famous Cotopaxi in Ecuador, plus the dense rain forests of western Amazonia.
Brazil is like no other: language, culture, sheer size, superlatives, energy and style, but it does share the Pantanal with its neighbor, landlocked Paraguay where the Chaco is the last grand frontier on the continent. They share also the Parana river, where Friendship Bridge links the two nations near Iguazu Falls.
The countries of the "Southern Cone" are the most European in flavor. Argentina and Chile host some of the wildest extremes of climate and geography - pampas and desert, the Andes, Patagonian glaciers and the Straits of Magellan and Beagle Passage.
The islands, either territories or possessions, share very few characteristics with the mainland. They are unique and out of the way, yet they reward the traveler with sights and experiences far beyond the norm.
But, before you can get to any of these destinations, you have to have a travel plan!
Within these pages you'll particularly useful information for the first time visitor to South Anerica, but experienced travelers will also find this information a handy way to refresh their memories or find something new.
These pages will take you directly to hundreds more of resources for travel to and around South America. You'll find country facts, plus ways to get there, the documents you'll need for travel, accommodations, sightseeing suggestions, history, geography, culture, the arts, language aids, transportation and practical help, plus wonderful photos and maps
Please read these pages:
Introduction
Major Attractions and Countries
Transportation and Tours
Practical Information
Choose your Destination!
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Russia Travel St Petersburg Moscow Travel Hotels Tours Russia Travel Specialist since 1967 TRAVEL RUSSIA HOTELS TOURS & CRUISES TRAVEL TO RUSSIA & THE BALTIC STATES HOTELS RUSSIA St. Petersburg Hotels Moscow Hotels Russia - all hotels ESTONIA Tallinn Hotels Parnu Hotels Estonia - all hotels LATVIA Riga Hotels Jurmala Hotels Latvia - all hotels LITHUANIA Vilnius Hotels Kaunas Hotels Klaipeda Hotels Lithuania - all hotels Russia Estonia Latvia Lithuania Chauffeured Car Tour St. Petersburg Russian River Cruises Chauffeured Car Tours Moscow 4 days St. Petersburg 4 days St Petersburg Special Winter City Package 4 days/3 nights chauffeured car tour St. Petersburg Russia In Depth 6 day chauffeured car tour St. Petersburg Novgorod Moscow 7 days by chauffeured car 3 Day Taste of Estonia 3 days from Sweden to Russia by Cruise, Chauffeured Car & Coach Taste of Tallinn Estonia 3 days by ferry to Tallinn from Helsinki Rail Journey Unique 3 days by train Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Helsinki Iron Maiden Express 4 days by train (Escorted) Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Helsinki St Petersburg by Train 4 days by train (Unescorted) Helsinki - St Petersburg - Helsinki Moscow by Train 5 days by train (Unescorted) Helsinki - Moscow - Helsinki Route of the Czars 6 days by Private Coach & Train Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Moscow - Helsinki St. Petersburg & Moscow, Deluxe Package from Helsinki 7 days by Train & Private Car Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Moscow - Helsinki Helsinki St. Petersburg Mosow by Train 7 days by train (Unescorted) Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Moscow - Helsinki Road to St. Petersburg 4 days by Private Coach Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Helsinki The Baltic States 6 & 7 Day Tours Russia-Latvia-Estonia-Lithuania Estonia Info and links FIVE COUNTRIES HIGHLIGHTS TOUR Poland Baltics Russia POLAND - LITHUANIA - LATVIA - ESTONIA - RUSSIA 11 DAYS By Private Coach LUXURY SMALL SHIP CRUISES ABOARD M/S ANDREA Baltic Cruises Elegant & Intimate Cruises St. Petersburg, Baltic & Scandinavia ST. PETERSBURG OPERA & BALLET SEASON TASTE OF KALININGRAD & THE CURONIAN SPIT 7 Days BEST OF RUSSIA, FINLAND, SWEDEN & DENMARK 13 Days St. Petersburg Selection of tours St. Petersburg & Moscow 6 & 9 Day tours by ship, coach and train St. Petersburg Hotels Hotel descriptions and online reservations St. Petersburg Cruises Russia & The Baltics 16 Days Kings Road Imperial Passage through Scandinavia Kings' Road and St. Petersburg 3 Day & 7 Day tours St. Petersburg Sightseeing Full selection of sightseeing tours Moscow Sightseeing Full selection of sightseeing tours Moscow Hotels Hotel Descriptions and online reservations HOTELS RUSSIA St. Petersburg Hotels Moscow Hotels Russia - all hotels ESTONIA Tallinn Hotels Parnu Hotels Estonia - all hotels LATVIA Riga Hotels Jurmala Hotels Latvia - all hotels LITHUANIA Vilnius Hotels Kaunas Hotels Klaipeda Hotels Lithuania - all hotels Baltic States Tours About Scantours General Conditions Travel Insurance Practical Tips CST # 2022206-40 SCANTOURS INC. USA Toll free US & Canada: 1-800-223-7226 Local Phone: 310-636-4656 Fax: 310-390-0493 Comments? Suggestions? E-mail us at info@scantours.com 2005 Scantours Inc. All rights reserved. HOME USEFUL LINKS
European Vacation
Amazon.com: Lonely Planet Europe On A Shoestring (Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring): Books: Sarah Johnstone,China Williams,Reuben Acciano Your Store Books See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Subjects | Bestsellers | The New York Times® Best Sellers | Magazines | Corporate Accounts | Amazon Shorts | Bargain Books | Used Books | Textbooks Search Amazon.com Books Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . or Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . More Buying Choices 54 used & new from $17.59 Available for in-store pickup now from $26.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code: Have one to sell? See larger image Share your own customer images Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book. Lonely Planet Europe On A Shoestring (Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring) (Paperback) by Sarah Johnstone , China Williams , Reuben Acciano (7 customer reviews) List Price: $26.99 Price: $17.81 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details You Save: $9.18 (34%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Want it delivered Thursday, December 29? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 54 used & new available from $17.59 Better Together Buy this book with Europe by Eurail 2005, 29th (Europe By Eurail) byLaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski today! Total List Price: $45.94 Buy Together Today: $36.76 Customers who bought this book also bought Europe by Eurail 2005, 29th (Europe By Eurail) by LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski Lonely Planet Europe Phrasebook by Mikel Morris The Rough Guide to First-Time Europe 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) by Louis CasaBianca Party Europe 2005 (PartyEurope)- The supplemental guide to fun and social travel by Doug Bell Backpacking Through Europe by Paul Bradley Explore Similar Items : in Books , in DVD , and in Magazine Subscriptions Editorial Reviews Book Description Can't choose between the northern lights in Lapland, fairytale castles in Transylvania, picturesque beaches on the Mediterranean coast or the bright lights of Paris and London? Then why not try them all! Written for backpackers by backpackers, this guide lets you go further, stay longer and pay less for a trip of a lifetime. • FIND YOUR WAY - inspiring itineraries and hundreds of maps help you plan your modern-day Grand Tour • EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY - extended listings for cheap and chic sleeps, tasty budget eats, uber-cool bars and world-famous clubs, with hand-picked splurge suggestions • BE IN THE KNOW - our culture coverage puts everything from ancient Greece to flamenco dancing in context • SEE ANOTHER SIDE - discover wife carrying in Finland, cheese rolling in Britain and tomato fights in Spain with our lowdown on the strange world of Europe's festivals From the Publisher Europe is a chameleon; its colours change rapidly. One day you can be on the cobbled streets of a medieval city, the next atop a snowcapped peak. Nowhere else greets you with such a swift succession of different languages and menu changes. With more than 30 national cultures on a modest landmass, Europe frequently dazzles even Europeans. Dubbed a living museum for the way its past and present coexist, this wealthy continent offers the charms of quaint Amsterdam and Prague alongside the buzz of modern metropolises such as Berlin and London. Postmodern buildings such as the Guggenheim in Bilbao have quickly taken a place beside Barcelona's still unfinished Sagrada Familia and older architectural icons like the ancient Parthenon. Europe's appeal lies not just in an influential, often bloody past and a largely peaceful present, but also in its mix of culture and nature. Botticelli and Picasso masterpieces aren't far from the countryside or popular beaches. You can follow the footsteps of characters you read about in textbooks or blaze your own trail in the Alps. Whether you dream of experiencing the romance of Paris, absorbing the chaos of Istanbul or downing a few beers in Belgium, this multifaceted continent can satisfy your tastes. Just as the EU has expanded east, so too has the traveller's itinerary and many formerly communist countries - even those outside of the EU - have been more open to tourism. The new colours that these destinations reveal, show how diverse the European cultural palette is, but for budget travellers there's a bonus. While Europe usually requires a longer, thicker shoestring than elsewhere, many of these recent hot locations are among the continent's cheapest. Product Details Paperback: 1324 pages Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 4th edition (February, 2005) Language: English ISBN: 1740597796 Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.0 x 1.9 inches Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds. ( View shipping rates and policies ) Average Customer Review: based on 7 reviews. ( Write a review. ) Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #2,666 in Books Yesterday: #2,502 in Books (Publishers and authors: improve your sales ) Customers interested in this title may also be interested in: Sponsored Links: What is this? Travel Right With Expedia Save on Flights, Hotels, Vacations, Cruises, Cars and Trip Extras! www.Expedia.com Travel ORBITZ: Book Travel Faster & Easier Save on Flights, Packages & More! www.ORBITZ.com CheapTickets Compare Prices for Hotels, Flights, Packages, Car Rentals & More www.CheapTickets.com Feedback Customers who viewed this book also viewed Let's Go 2005 Europe (Let's Go Europe) by Stuart J. Robinson Let's Go 2006 Europe (Let's Go Europe) by Inc. Let's Go Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2005 (Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door) by Rick Steves Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2006 : The Travel Skills Handbook (Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door) by Rick Steves Rite of Passage: Tales of Backpacking 'Round Europe (Lonely Planet Journeys (Travel Literature)) by Lisa Johnson Explore Similar Items : in Books , in DVD Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 17 of 17 people found the following review helpful: A "must" for every money-conscious European tourist , June 6, 2005 Reviewer: Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews For those who feel that a trip to Europe would simply be beyond their means, Europe On A Shoestring: Big Trips On Small Budgets is a 1324-page travel guide that lives up to its title. Packed cover-to-cover with itineraries, a practical directory, easy-to-use maps, an expanded index, recommended sights and activities, and so much more, Europe On A Shoestring focuses both on seeing the best Europe has to offer and on keeping costs down to an affordable level, from eating and sleeping cheap to affordable festivals and wonderful cultural activities. Covering nations from Morocco, Spain and Portugal to Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, Finland, Sweeden and Norway, Iceland, Ireland, the United Kingcom, Belarus, the Ukraine, and of course all the countries located in between, Europe On A Shoestring is a "must" for every money-conscious European tourist. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. No guidebook is perfect... , December 19, 2005 Reviewer: Julia Webber "nerd" (South Bohemia, Czech Republic) - See all my reviews ... but I find the Lonely Planet guides to be better than most. Obviously this book covers a very large area, so it goes for breadth rather than depth. If you want to explore a country outside the major cities, get a local guide. This book contains a good amount of details about major Western countries- specifically Britain, Germany, France, Spain and Italy. If you are planning on travelling through the Balkans, Eastern Central Europe, the Baltics or Scandinavia, you should know that this guide only provides information about the major cities and tourist centers, and will not guide you away from the beaten path. Also, be aware that the book does not include Belarus or the Ukraine. Lonely Planet provides excellent maps, directions to attractions, and instructions for using the local transport (very useful), along with a language guide. Their advice regarding where to go and what to see, along with what to stay away from, is usually quite good. The main problem with this book is price inaccuracies. Naturally, prices change, so it is to be expected that the restaraunt, hotel and attraction prices cited in the guide may not be entirely accurate, but a person should be able to take it as truth when a guide says that ________ is the cheapest place to get food/accomodation/internet access... Lonely Planet misses a lot of budget traveler's gems and focuses mainly on expensive things in city centers. If you take the metro/bus/whatever a few stops away from the center in most of these towns, you can find hostels/restaraunts/internet cafes which are much cheaper than those listed in the book. It's worth the 10 extra minutes of travel time if you truly need to travel "on a shoestring." Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 2 people found the following review helpful: Great Guide Inside!! , December 11, 2005 Reviewer: Adhitya Mulya "history buff" (Abidjan - Cote d'Ivoire) - See all my reviews This book is really useful. However, the problem wih Lonely Planet in general is that you need to buy he most updated version everytime because things change and the lonely planet people know this. And they keep updating it. Luckyly this edition is the newest one because it has the wedding of prince of denmark in it which is pretty recent. All in all this is an excellent bok! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: Good Overview , September 6, 2005 Reviewer: Carolyn Howarter (germany) - See all my reviews This book is really great for young people seeing Europe on a tight budget, as the title suggests. It is also suitable for families as it gives hotel and camping options in addition to hostels. One of my favorite aspects of it are the quick tips, which are very useful, and the mini history lessons for each country. The book also includes how to say basic words (hello, goodbye, please, thank you) in each language as well as a little phrase book in the back. The book is incredibly helpful in planning trips because it also gives a suggested daily budget and whether or not a visa is needed to enter a country. However, since it highlights so many countries, it is not ideal if you are staying mostly in one country. None of the sections go very in depth on the small towns in each country. For most travellers, that is not a problem. If you are staying in a country for a semester or a year though, you might want to also buy a book specific to where you are. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 5 of 6 people found the following review helpful: Just what I needed! , August 9, 2005 Reviewer: Samwise (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews Contains almost every info I'd like to know. Because it covers so many countries/cities, it missed a few details that I thought should be included. But overall, I'd say this is more than enough as a survival guide in Europe! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: I now know what europe is , June 30, 2005 Reviewer: Deepth Dinesan "Happy" (Bangalore,India) - See all my reviews - Easy to read - Complete routes for eastern europe,western europe scandinavian... - Comprehensive - Well written on culture . Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 7 customer reviews... Listmania! Savvy Traveller : A list by "jlee008" surrender to the flow 3 : A list by Valerie Santiago Train Traveling Basics : A list by "traintraveling" Create a Listmania! list So You'd Like to... Travel to Europe : A guide by Darius Peczek , Eternal Traveller Lose Yourself in Europe : A guide by Amy , Who Did the Same and Found Something Better Use Eurailpass to visit 17 Countries : A guide by Bill Keeley , Ultimate Tourist Create a So You'd Like to... guide Look for similar items by category Subjects > Travel > Europe > General Subjects > Travel > General > Guidebooks Subjects > Travel > Guidebook Series > Lonely Planet Subjects > Travel > Specialty Travel > Budget Travel Look for similar items by subject Europe - General Travel Travel - Foreign i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ... This Book and You Sign in to rate this item Write a Review | Write a So You'd Like To... Guide | Tell a Friend About This Item | Rate This Item Favorite Magazines! Explore our Magazine Subscriptions store. Visit the DVD Store Rick Steves - Best of Travels in Europe (British Isles/France/Spain & Portugal/Germany, Austria & Switzerland/Italy/Greece, Turkey, Israel & Egypt) DVD ~ Rick Steves Spec tacular Readers Never misplace your reading glasses again with the hip and stylish magnetic readers from CliC . Make a Big Impression Create the perfect keepsake from your trip with a large format print from Shutterfly . Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. If you've found something incorrect, broken, or frustrating on this page, let us know so that we can improve it. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to suggestions made via this form. If you need help with an order, please contact Customer Service . Please mark as many of the following boxes that apply: Product information is missing important details. Product information is incorrect. Propose corrections using our Online Catalog Update Form . The page contains typographical errors. 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FRANCE TRAVEL INFORMATION :
France travel information tips, Paris hotel specials, and France travel and tourism facts. DISCOVER FRANCE FRANCE BICYCLE TOURS FRANCE WALKING TOURS FRANCE GETAWAYS PARIS TRIPS PARIS HOTELS Theme Travel » Honeymoons Family Trips Wine/Cooking Paris Packages His & Her Woman Tours Gay/Lesbian Corporate Group Travel Club Trips Info Book a Tour Site Map Walking Tour Regions Alsace Brittany Burgundy Champagne Dordogne/SW Paris/Ile de France Languedoc Loire Valley Normandy Provence Bicycle Tour Regions Alsace Brittany Burgundy Champagne Dordogne/SW Languedoc Loire Valley Normandy Poitou-Charentes Provence Rhone-Alpes Travel news/announcements/Info: See our latest newsletter for updates Southern France, Spain, Italy - the best weather in the fall season ! We can take last minute bookings up to 7 days in advance of travel - subject to hotel availability. Our recommendations: Carcassonne Countryside - more challenging cycling tour visits the famous Cite of Carcassonne and vineyards of the Corbiere before finishing at the sea side. Provence - Avignon to Mediterranean - most popular tour for a full cross section of charming Provence. Spain - Catalonia and the Costa Brava near Girona . Lovely farmhouse family style lodging or gastronomic charm hotels. Exceptional late season biycle tour! Italy -Tuscany - enchanting region with its famously hilly terrain is best visited in the fall. We can accommodate 4 or 6 night packages. Paris Getaways : Low Season - November through March from low rates for excellent hotels of charm. Add on museum passes, metro passes, airport transfers or even add a stay in any of the many provinces easily reached by train from Paris like Dijon, Bordeaux, Avignon, Strasbourg, Tours, Reims, Lyon, and so on! Paris by foot; see our new Da Vinci Code tour and other programs in Paris Self Guided Walking Tours : Our program of self-guided travel is open to anyone; to know more visit this page of our website: Self Guided Touring FRANCE TRAVEL INFORMATION : This bit of information is for general travel throughout France. Each of our tour clients will receive this in addition to more detailed information about their tour. Paris Hotels - see our site at www.hotelsparis.net Hotels throughout France - see our site at www.francegetaways.com Regional Tourist Offices throughout France - see our links page See our new Vocabulary and interactive Language page Arriving in Paris: most flights now arrive at Charles de Gaulle airport from foreign destinations. There are still some charters and inter France flights going out of Orly. Our site at www.gotoparis.net discusses in detail the different options available for getting into the city. These options include: express buses, trains, taxis, and private transfers. To get from CDG airport to Orly, the best is by Air France bus. They depart every 30 minutes between 6:30 am and 10:30 pm. Traveling around in France: France is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T. +1). This makes it 6 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (E.S.T. +6, and +9 PST). The time is the same all over the country. The country is divided in 95 departments – each has its name and its number and this number is set by alphabetical order. That number is found at the beginning of each zip code of the department as well as the last 2 digits of the car plates. Documentation U.S citizens only need a valid passport to travel to France as long as their stay does not exceed 3 months. You are required to carry identification with you at all times when traveling in France. If you lose your passport, contact: American Consulate 2, rue Saint Florentin - 75001 Paris Tel: 01.42.96.12.02 or 01.42.61.80.75 Consular Section for Canadians 35, Avenue de Montaigne - 75008 Paris Tel: 01.44.43.32.00 Post Office - Mail / Shipping The Post Office is called LA POSTE or PTT. Generally open M-F from 9am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 12pm. Telephone France is divided by 5 zones for the telephone. The 2 first digits of a phone number tells you the area: 01 is Paris / 02 northwest / 03 northeast / 04 southeast / 05 southwest. From the States, you don’t need to dial the 0. But once in France, you have to dial the 0. Phone numbers must have 10 digits (including the first 0), no exception – except of course the emergency numbers. Public phones in France require a telephone card, or they can often work also with a credit card. Check for the signs “Visa”, “Master Card”, etc… Emergency telephone numbers throughout France 24 hour ambulance (called “SAMU”): 15 Police: 17 Fire: 18 Other telephone numbers in Paris: 24 hour doctor: 01.47.07.77.77 24 hour dentist: 01.43.37.51.00 English language crisis line: 01.47.23.80.80 Public Holidays January 1st / Easter Monday / May 1st = Labor Day / May 8th / Ascension Thursday (last Thursday of May) / Pentecote Monday (beginning of June) / July 14 = Bastille Day / August 15 = Assumption / November 1st / November 11th / December 25th. Electric current Electricity in France runs on 220 volt, 50-cycle AC current. If you bring electrical devices, you will need to have a transformer and plug adapter. Banking / Purchasing Banks are generally open weekdays 9am - 4:30pm. In many cities outside Paris banks close for lunch, sometimes for 2 hours. Most banks are closed Saturday and Sunday and all holidays. The main banks are: BNP / Credit Agricole / Societe Generale / Caisse d’Epargne / Credit du Nord, etc… The Euro - € As of January 1, 2002, the Euro is the official currency in France and the 11 other countries currently participating in European currency union. The old French Franc is now part of history and is no longer accepted as a payment form. Check before departure the equivalent of the Euro compare to the U.S Dollar. The Euro paper currency will be the same in all 12 countries, in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros. The coins however, will bear a different face according to the country. There are 8 coins: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and 1 and 2 Euros. Driving in France Document / Insurance / Law - An American driver’s license is valid for Americans driving in France. Have another ID document with you like your passport. - Insurance is highly recommended, be sure you are set before you leave home. - The legal age to drive in France is 18. - Trucks – except with special authorization – are not allowed to drive on Sunday. - Seat belts must be worn at all times – children under 12 must sit in the backseat - Park your car only where it is authorized, fines arrive quickly! And cars are often towed away. Car rental The legal age to rent a car is 21– but most companies require being 25 years old. See our links page for companies, and insurance options. Gas Taxes on gas are very high in France, which explains the price of the liter: On the petrol pump “Sans Plomb” means unleaded petrol. Gas stations along highways are open 24 h / 7 days. French usually get gas at large stores like Carrefour, Leclerc, Casino, etc… You can go at any time, help yourself and use your credit card Types of roads Interstate toll way / Motorway = A + the number of the road / 130km/h is the speed limit. This is also a toll road, you can pay tolls with a credit card; this is the fast way to travel, but is not cheap! Every 20 km you have restaurants, gas station, sometimes shops, restrooms… National road = N + number of the road / 90km/h. If you are not traveling too far or if you have plenty of time, then the more scenic and free way to go is on the National roads. A famous road in France is the National 7 / N7. There is even a song ? about that road sung by Charles TRENET! Department road = D + number of the road / 50km/h. Great for seeing the back country of France; very slow going. PARIS - some basic info is below. Museum passes, metro passes, day tours, shows, bus tours, more: www.gotoparis.net TOURIST OFFICES There are many convenient locations within Paris: Carrousel du Louvre: 99 Rue de Rivoli, 75001. Metro: Palais Royal / Louvre (1,7) Montmartre: 21 Place du Tertre, 75018. Metro: Abbesses (12) Gare du Nord: Metro / RER (B,D,4,5) Tour Eiffel: Metro / RER: Champs de Mars / Tour Eiffel (C), Bir-Hakeim (6) Gare de Lyon: Metro / RER (A,D,1,14) Opera – Grands Magasins: 11 rue Scribe, 75009/ Metro: Opera (3,7,8) / RER: Auber (A) Train Stations in Paris: Gare du Nord: North of France, Belgium, Eurostar to London, UK Gare de L’Est: Champagne, Alsace / Germany Gare de Lyon: Southeast, Provence – Cote d’Azur / Italy Gare Austerlitz: Loire Valley, Southwest France Gare Montparnasse: Brittany, TGV to Loire and Southwest Gare Saint Lazare: Normandy, western coast More detailed travel information is available at the French Governement Tourist Office Website at www.franceguide.com Home | Cycling Classics | Pure Adventures | Bicycle Tours | Walking Tours | Media | Links Promotions | Travel Agents | FAQs | Weather | Newsletter | Group Travel | Privacy © 2006 Discover France (SM)
Mexico Travel Essential Mexico
Travel Mexico | GORP United States Canada Europe Top Adventures Message Boards Wallpapers Travel Screensavers Slide Show -- Contests Search: from Away.com Related Guides Mexico Vacations Popular Cities in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Monterrey Mazatlan Cancun Cabo San Lucas Mexico City Acapulco Locations US States Around the Globe City Weekends Regional Guides Parks & Preserves Discussion Boards Winter Olympics 2006 Classic World Hikes Best Winter Parks Off-Beach Caribbean Ski Guide 2005-06 from Outside Online -- DESTINATIONS Mexico Travel Essential Mexico Mexico Top Twenty GORP's picks for the best African safaris -- National Parks and Reserves Ecotouring Mexico World of the Ancient Indians Features by Activity Select Activity Paddling Hiking Scuba Fishing Camping _________________ Travel Highlights & Resources Baja & Northern Mexico Island Paddling in Southern Baja Southeastern Baja paddling around La Paz and Isla Espiritu Santo. Birding and wildlife descriptions, too. Climbing Potrero Chico Climber's mecca in the desert. Sierra Madre Explore the depths of Copper Canyon. Northern Baja South of the border adventures. Southern Baja Into the heart of Baja. Yucatan & Southern Mexico Mexico's Route 307 A scuba diver's pilgrimage. Made Up of Time An introduction to the Mayan world. Along the La Ruta Puuc Trail Hiking among remote Mayan ruins in western Yucatan state. Biking the Riviera Maya Can the Yucatan's rainforests and ruins be saved? Mexico Road Rules Tips for gringo drivers. Biking the Riviera Explore the new face of Mexico. Sponsored Results _default.adp -- RELATED TRIPS [Mexico Trips] Hiking/Trekking Cultural Immersion [North America Trips] United States Mexico Ski Guide 2005-06 Top North American Resorts // Best Family Skiing // Top Resorts for Beginners // Top Resorts for Experts // Best for Nightlife // Best Snowboarding // Lack of Crowds // Top Scenic Resorts // See All Resorts OUTDOOR GEAR REVIEWS [From Outside magazine] Tents // Sleeping Bags // Backpacks // Hiking Boots // Hydration Systems // Camp Stoves // Road Bikes // Mountain Bikes // Kayaks // Running Shoes // Jackets // Soft Shells // Luggage // Sunglasses // Cameras // Binoculars // Audio Players // GPS Devices [from GORP.com] GORP's full gear guide THE GEAR GUY Is there one boot to hike and climb the Americas? How can I take my two-year-old cross-country skiing? ( Outside ) What runners will keep me upright on muddy trails? 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