Vacation Package

ITALY TRAVEL ITALY TOURS, vacation discount travel packages to Rome, Venice, Florence by Cosmic E-mail sales@italy-travel.net 2005-2006 Edition Hotel Special Internet Rates , save up to 70%, select your destination DISCOUNT HOTELS AMALFI,POSITANO ASSISI BARI BERGAMO BOLOGNA CAPRI FLORENCE GENOA-GENOVA ISCHIA MILAN-MILANO NAPLES-NAPOLI PADUA-PADOVA PALERMO PERUGIA PISA RIMINI ROME-ROMA SIENA SORRENTO TAORMINA TURIN-TORINO VENICE-VENEZIA VERONA We accept credit cards online as well as Paypal payments for package tours reservations Travel Contract Cosmic is a company dedicated to offer reliable trips at affordable prices. This is our site dedicated to discover Italy and its wonderful cities: Visit Rome the famous eternal city, Venice th e mysterious city built on 177 islands 150 canals and 400 bridges, Florence and its artistic beauties, Pompeii the famous Roman city destroyed by the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 A.C., Verona the monumental city setting of Shakespeare's masterpiece "Romeo and Juliet", the leaning tower of Pisa and much more. We offer several cultural trips with fixed departure dates and also some comprehensive tours with daily departures, as well as hotels reservations, car rental, cheap airfares, discount vacation rental and cruises, enjoy ! Escorted Comprehensive Italy Package Tours with fixed departure dates from Rome and Milan Italy Express package tour 5 Days and 4 Nights From US$585 double, US$793 Single Rome-Assisi-Florence-Padua-Venice-Pisa-Siena-Rome Rome Milan package tour 5 days and 4 nights US$585 double, US$793 single Rome-Siena-Florence-Pisa-Venice- Verona - Garda Lake - Milan Italy One-week package tour 7 days and 6 nights US$905 double, US$165 single Rome-Siena-Florence-Pisa-Venice- Verona - Garda Lake - Milan-San Marino-Assisi-Rome Italy Classic package tour 8 Days 7 Nights From US$936 Double, US$1339 Single Rome-Assisi-Florence-Padua-Venice-Pisa-Siena-Rome Magic Italy package tour 10 days and 9 nights US$2088 double, US$2770 single Rome-Siena-Florence-Pisa-Venice- Verona - Garda Lake - Milan-San Marino-Assisi-Rome Italy Classic Plus package tour 12 Days 11 Nights From US$1957 Double, US$2682 Single Rome-Assisi-Florence-Padua-Venice-Pisa-Siena-Rome -Naples - Pompeii- Sorrento-Capri-Rome Italy Legend package tour 11 days and 10 nights From US$1682 double, US$2320 single Rome-Siena-Florence-Pisa-Venice- Verona - Garda Lake - Milan-San Marino-Assisi- Naples - Pompeii- Sorrento-Capri-Rome Rome Pompeii package tour 12 days and 11 Nights From US$1755 double, US$2405 Single Rome-Siena-Florence-Pisa-Venice- Verona - Garda Lake - Milan-San Marino-Assisi- Naples - Pompeii- Sorrento-Capri-Rome Wonderful Italy package tour 14 days and 13 nights From US2102 double, US$2900 simple Rome-Siena-Florence-Pisa-Venice- Verona - Garda Lake - Milan-San Marino-Assisi- Naples - Pompeii- Sorrento-Capri-Rome Milan Pompeii package tour 14 days and 13 Nights From US$2102 double, US$2900 Single Milan-San Marino-Assisi-Rome-Naples - Pompeii- Sorrento-Capri-Rome-Siena-Florence-Pisa-Venice- Verona - Garda Lake - Milan Sicily Classic package tour 8 days and 7 Nights From US$1196 double, US$1450 Single Palermo Segesta -Erice-Trapani-Agrigento-Siracusa Ragusa - Catania-Monte Etna - Taormina - Messina- Reggio Calabria-Capo DOrlando-Cefalu-Palermo Hotels included in our packages First class Hotels Tourist class Hotels Hotel special internet rates Escorted Full Day tours daily departures from Rome Archeological Rome Full day tour US$198 per person tour led by art historians in small group of 15 people maximum include lunch Daily departures on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays Baroque Rome Full day tour US$182 per person tour led by art historians in small group of 15 people maximum include lunch Daily departures on Mondays, Thursday, Fridays Capri Full Day US$192 per person Rome-Naples-Capri-Rome escorted tour by motor coach. Daily departures Naples Pompeii Full Day US$152 per person Rome-Naples-Pompeii-Rome escorted tour by motor coach. Daily departures Assisi Orvieto Full Day US$118 per person Rome-Orvieto-Assisi-Rome escorted tour by motor coach. Daily departures on on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays Florence Full Day Tour US$192 per person Rome-Florence-Rome escorted tour by motor coach Daily departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Partially Escorted package tours from Rome Florence Express 3 days 3 Days and 2 Nights US$515 double, US$617 Single Florence-Pisa Rome Venice 5 days 5 Days 4 Nights US$1113 Double, US$1429 Single Florence-Pisa-Venice Amalfi Express 3 days US$580 double - US$800 single Rome-Naples-Pompeii-Amalfi-Rome. Daily departures Amalfi Capri 5 days US$1088 Double - US$1400 Single Rome-Naples-Pompeii-Amalfi-Capri-Rome. Daily departures. Pompeii Capri Express 2 days US$373 double - US$424 single Rome-Naples-Pompeii-Sorrento-Capri-Rome. Daily departures Hotel Search | Package Tours | Full day Tours | Discount Airfares | Car Rental | Cruises | Destination Guides | Travel Directory Add URL | Contact Us Tours of Italy by Cosmic Discount vacation travel packages and tours to all the exciting destinations in Italy Email : sales@italy-travel.net US Fax Number 480-247-4242 This information is current as of today, Cosmic Worldwide Discount Travel Reservation Top Destinations Europe : London Paris Florence Rome Venice Italy Travel Packages South America: Travel to Peru Galapagos Machu Picchu Cusco Quito La Paz

Ski Vacation

Colorado Ski Vacations and Lodging Colorado Mountain Ski Resort SkiColorado.com offers world class accommodations throughout Aspen , Beaver Creek , Breckenridge , Copper Mountain , Crested Butte , Durango , Keystone , Snowmass , Steamboat , Telluride , Vail & Winter Park Colorado. Choose from thousands of Hotels, Condominiums, Private Homes & Lodges. Contact a SkiColorado.com reservation specialist to help plan your next unforgetable Colorado Vacation. Home Contact Us Hot Deals Reservation Request Snow Report Guest Services Real People! Real Answers!™ 1-888-604-5848 Search for lodging by Resort or # of Bedrooms. Enter your arrival date and # of nights. Resort: Bedrooms: Arrival Date: # of Nights: All Resorts Aspen Beaver Creek Breckenridge Copper Mountain Crested Butte Durango Keystone Snowmass Steamboat Summit County Telluride Vail Winter Park Any Hotel Studio 1-Bdrm 2-Bdrm 3-Bdrm 4-Bdrm 5+Bdrm Home - 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 - 05 06 07 - 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 Our Agents "Live & Work" in Colorado! 1,000's of Luxury Properties 1 to 5+ Bdrm Condos & Private Homes Exclusive Hotels Attentive Guest Service Extensive Local Knowledge Complete Travel Packages Featured Resort Aspen Featured Resort Beaver Creek Featured Resort Steamboat Featured Resort Vail Colorado Partners: Colorado Central Reservations About Us Privacy Groups Quick Links Aspen Lodging, Beaver Creek Lodging, Breckenridge Lodging, Copper Mountain Lodging, Crested Butte Lodging, Durango Lodging, Keystone Lodging, Snowmass Lodging, Steamboat Lodging, Telluride Lodging, Vail Lodging, Winter Park Lodging, Ski Colorado Other Links Park City Utah Lodging Club Lespri Moguls Mountain Travel

Vacation Rentals Villas, Condos,

Vacation Rental of Villas and Apartments. Holiday in France,Spain,Florida,Italy Etc. Late Deals, Special Offers. Reference Password Members 1 st Class Vacation Rentals Villas, Condos, Cabins and Apartments for Rental 37,850,517 visitors since opening on 24 May 1999 WANTED - Click here to ADD your own request. OWNERS - Add Your Property. Click here to add us to your favorites. Find your property from one of the regional lists below, or using the map, or one of the special lists such as golf, or browse the image gallery, or use the search list above to narrow your search by property type beds etc. or use our keyword search for special needs such as surfing, water skiing etc. Classified Adverts If you can't find what you want then add your details to our wanted list. This will get mailed to interested property owners on other sites as well as this one. Rental Properties Search for a Property Image Gallery of properties by Country Special late deals. Selected Rental Listings Example Listing using all the site features Latest Rentals Added Information Privacy Statement Terms and Conditions Miscellaneous "Flights from the UK." Tell a friend who might be interested. Click here for Home Exchanges . Select from the map for properties in that area If you know the number of the property you want to look at enter it and click on the button. Enter the property number here. Listings of properties by area. Europe(1215) Austria(2) Belgium(1) Bulgaria(21) Croatia(28) Cyprus(23) Denmark(2) Estonia(1) Finland(2) France(130) Aquitaine(16) Auvergne Limousin(1) Brittany(8) Corsica(1) Languedoc Roussillon(14) Loire Valley(4) Midi Pyrenees(8) Normandy(9) Paris-Ile de France(12) Poitou-Charentes(3) Provence-Cote d`Azur(53) Western Loire(1) Greece(86) Iceland(1) Ireland(6) Israel(7) Italy(286) Abruzzo(1) Calabria(2) Campania(17) Emilia Romagna(5) Friuli Venezia Giulia(1) Lazio(37) Liguria(14) Lombardy(15) Marche(2) Puglia(7) Sardinia(34) Sicily(56) Tuscany(57) Umbria(26) Val d`Aosta(1) Veneto (Venetia)(10) Malta(6) Netherlands(13) Norway(3) Poland(18) Portugal(49) Romania(2) Russian Federation(3) Spain(373) Andalucia(117) Asturias(1) Balearics(25) Basque Country(1) Canaries(32) Catalunya(39) Galicia(3) Madrid and Central Spain(3) Murcia(36) Valencia(116) Sweden(5) Switzerland(5) Turkey(104) United Kingdom(38) London(9) Midlands(2) North(4) Northern Ireland(3) Scotland(5) South West(7) SouthEast(8) Canada(41) Alberta(4) British Columbia(10) Northwest Territories(1) Nova Scotia(2) Ontario(5) Quebec(19) United States(334) Alabama(2) Arizona(3) California(39) Colorado(5) Connecticut(1) Florida(202) Central Florida(119) East Coast(29) Florida Keys(6) Gulf Coast(41) Panhandle(7) Georgia(2) Hawaii(15) Idaho(1) Indiana(1) Louisiana(1) Maryland(2) Massachusetts(5) Michigan(2) Minnesota(1) Montana(2) Nevada(1) New Jersey(2) New York(9) North Carolina(2) Oregon(2) Pennsylvania(3) South Carolina(12) Tennessee(3) Texas(2) Utah(2) Vermont(6) Washington(6) Africa(43) Egypt(9) Kenya(3) Mauritius(9) Morocco(3) South Africa(16) Tanzania and Zanzibar(1) Tunisia(2) Asia(50) China(4) India(10) Indonesia(4) Philippines(1) Saudi Arabia(1) Sri Lanka(5) Thailand(20) United Arab Emirates(5) Australasia(34) Fiji(3) New South Wales,ACT(8) New Zealand(8) Queensland(7) Victoria(2) Western Australia(6) Caribbean and Atlantic Islands(68) Anguilla(1) Antigua and Barbuda(7) Aruba(2) Bahamas(7) Barbados(9) Cayman Islands(2) Cuba(3) Dominican Republic(12) Jamaica(6) Puerto Rico (US)(2) Saint Lucia(1) St Maarten and St Martin(1) St.Kitts Nevis Anguilla(3) St.Vincent and Grenadines(1) Trinidad and Tobago(4) Virgin Islands(7) Central America(30) Belize(1) Costa Rica(5) Honduras(2) Mexico(22) South America(26) Argentina(4) Brazil(14) Peru(4) Venezuela(4) General Very competitive on price. From 42 dollars/ 32 Euros/ 24 pounds for rentals with extended terms for new adverts. Up to eight photographs of each property for exchange or rental. Your own page customised with keywords to your property location. Map links to help show features and facilities in your area. (Best for US/Europe/Canada properties). You can add links to your own home page (if you have one) and other sites which might be useful. Option of adding wide panoramic images for greater detail and views. A full availability calendar which you can link to from other sites. A special offers and last minute deals page. Worth the subscription for that alone. And if you decide to do holiday exchanges with your property. Multiple adverts get from 20% to 50% discounts. Email notification of new rental requests which meet your requirements. Registered Address: 45 Montpelier Road, Brighton, UK, BN1 3BA. Home Page , Add Property , Search , Admin Links Vacation rentals. TipTopVillas offers villa rentals throughout the world, direct from theowner.

Golf Vacation. Great Travel

Las Vegas Golf Packages - Vacation Packages by TravelGolfVegas.com Las Vegas Golf Packages TravelGolf Vegas has a variety of golf packages to fit any budget. Each package includes choice of hotel and golf course . Just click on one of the links below for details on each package. Travel Golf Vegas Golf & Hotel Package Specials Imperial Palace Special Golf & Hotel Package Dates: September 26, 2005 - January 22, 2006 Price Range: $399 - $499 Enjoy 3 rounds of golf at Las Vegas National Golf Club , Painted Desert Golf Club , Aliante Golf Club Three Nights/Three Rounds Midweek Weekends Imperial Palace Hotel Casino $399.00 $499.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **New Years- 12/30/04-01/03/05** Packages are based on availability and subject to change. Prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Midweek hotel is Sunday through Thursday, golf is Monday through Thursday. Weekend hotel is Friday and Saturday, Golf is Friday through Sunday. Extra nights and rounds of golf can be added to any of the above packages for an additional charge. Prices may change for groups of 16 or more. To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Lake Las Vegas 2 Bedroom Villa Dates: November 28, 2005 - January 9, 2006 Price Range: $699 Enjoy 4 Nights /4 Rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club (2 Rounds) The Fall's Golf Club (2 Rounds) PLUS a Lake Las Vegas 2 Bedroom Villa at $699.00 per person , quad occupancy. Limited Package Availability! (****Must Have 4 Golfers****) To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Vacation SILVER Package Dates: October 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006 Price Range: $1299 - $1599 Day Golf Courses 1 Angel Park Mountain Golf Club 2 Rhodes Ranch Golf Club 3 Badland's Golf Club 4 Angel Park Palm Golf Club 5 Painted Desert Golf Club 6 Las Vegas National Golf Club 7 Legacy Golf Club 4 Bedroom 3 Bath 3200 SF Vacation Home Sleeps 8 $1299.00 per golfer double occupancy ( Based on 8 Golfers) $1599.00 per golfer single occupancy ( Based on 4 Golfers) Limited Package Availability! To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Vacation GOLD Package Dates: October 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006 Price Range: $1699 - $1999 Day Golf Courses 1 Revere @ Anthem Lexington Golf Club 2 The Fall's @ Lake Las Vegas Resort 3 Rio Secco Golf Club 4 Reflection Bay Golf Club 5 Dragon Ridge CC 6 Las Vegas Paiute- Wolf 7 Bear's Best Golf Club 4 Bedroom 3 Bath 3200 SF Vacation Home Sleeps 8 $1699.00 per golfer double occupancy (Based on 8 Golfers) $ 1999.00 per golfer single occupancy ( Based on 4 Golfers) Limited Package Availability! To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Paiute Resort Dates: January 2, 2006 - June 4, 2006 Price Range: $599 - $849 Enjoy 3 rounds of golf at the Las Vegas Paiute Sun, Las Vegas Paiute Snow, Las Vegas Paiute Wolf starting from $599 . Three Nights/Three Rounds Weekday Weekend Imperial Palace Hotel Casino $599.00 $699.00 Flamingo Hotel Casino $649.00 $749.00 Mirage Hotel Casino $699.00 $849.00 Vacation Home (Based on 8 Golfers) $699.00 $799.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Las Vegas Best Desert Golf Dates: January 2, 2006 - June 4, 2006 Price Range: $749 - $1049 Enjoy 3 rounds of golf at the Bear's Best Golf Club, Dragon Ridge CC, Rio Secco Golf Club starting from $749 . Three Nights/Three Rounds Weekday Weekend Imperial Palace Hotel Casino $749.00 $899.00 Flamingo Hotel Casino $799.00 $999.00 Mirage Hotel Casino $849.00 $1049.00 Vacation Home (Based on 8 Golfers) $899.00 $999.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . Hyatt Lake Las Vegas Resort Dates: January 9, 2006 - August 31, 2006 Price Range: $649 - $1549 Enjoy 4 rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club, Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club starting from $649 . Dates Four Nights/Four Rounds Weekday Weekend 01/09/06-01/29/06 Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort $1149.00 $1249.00 01/30/06-05/28/06 Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort $1449.00 $1549.00 06/01/06-08/31/06 Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort $649.00 $749.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . The Villas at Lake Las Vegas Resort Dates: January 9, 2006 - August 31, 2006 Price Range: $699 - $1399 Enjoy 4 rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club, Reflection Bay Golf Club, The Falls Golf Club starting from $699 . Dates Four Nights/Four Rounds Weekday Weekend 01/09/06-05/28/06 2 Bedroom Villa-(Based on 4 Golfers) $1299.00 $1399.00 06/01/06-08/31/06 2 Bedroom Villa-(Based on 4 Golfers) $699.00 $799.00 **Black Out Dates**-- The Below Dates- Package Rates are subject to surcharge** **Suberbowl- 02/02/06-02/05/06** **NasCar- 03/09/06-03/12/06** **March Madness- 03/16/06-03/19/06** **March Madness- 03/23/06-03/26/06** To book this package, please call 1-800-470-4622or click here for an online quote . * Packages are based on availability and subject to change. Prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Midweek hotel is Sunday through Thursday, golf is Monday through Thursday. Weekend hotel is Friday and Saturday, Golf is Friday through Sunday. Extra nights and rounds of golf can be added to any of the above packages for an additional charge. Prices may change for groups of 16 or more. Click here to book Las Vegas golf packages now! • Course Guide • Course Reviews • Resort Reviews • Las Vegas Golf Map Get your FREE Las Vegas golf guide! Links Directory Golf Courses | Accommodations | Golf Packages - Specials | Incentive Travel Event Management | Home | Contact Us | Las Vegas Vacations | Golf Aerification Schedule Scottsdale Golf Packages Customized Scottsdale golf packages. 1-800-939-7998 travelgolfwest.com Golf Tucson Call for your custom Tucson Golf Vacation. Great Travel Deals! 1-800-426-6148 tucsongolftravel.com Cabo Golf Tours Experience the best of Cabo San Lucas Golf! 1-800-880-4655 cabogolftours.com Golf Orlando, Florida! Golf in sunny Orlando! Book Direct and Save! 1-800-383-4148 travelgolforlando.com Myrtle Beach Golf Compare Golf prices & find great travel deals to Myrtle Beach 888-851-7070 myrtlebeachtravel.com Florida Golf Vacations World class golf in Florida, golf packages for the true golf enthusiast! 1-800-383-4148 floridagolftravel.com Myrtle Beach Golf Tours Booking Over 100 Myrtle Beach Golf Courses. 1-866-499-4653 mbtourism.com Gulf Coast Golf Tours Golf packages to Gulf Shores, Alabama! 1-800-383-4148 gulfcoastgolftours.com Carolina Golf Travel Myrtle Beach, Wilmington or Brunswick Isles golf packages! 1-888-633-6102 CarolinaGolfTravel.com Hilton Head Golf Travel All inclusive customized Golf Packages to Hilton Head Island 1-866-870-4653 hiltonheadgolftravel.com Ads by TravelGolf Advertisment Here Tim McDonald: TPC Sawgrass: Which do you prefer? Stadium or Valley course? Ron Mon: Galileo and GPS: Euros win Ryder Cup again! Jennifer Mario: New Year's Resolutions: what's on your list? 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Russia Travel Guide, climate:

Russia Travel Guide - Information and Advice Russia Travel Guide Information and Advice 'A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' Churchill St Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide Russia Map | Russia Pictures Russia Travel Guide, climate: Best: May, June, Sept, Oct. July/August can be wet . Worst: Nov-March [winter is long, dark and extremely cold with short days, but the snow scenes will be stunning. Early Spring is muddy, slushy and falling icicles kill! ] Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights: Moscow or St Petersburg are excellent for a wild and wooly underwear weekend. Recommended: 2 weeks to take in Moscow, St Petersburg and some of the surrounding towns - such as the Golden Ring - and countryside. The Trans-Siberian Railway to Irkutsk [Lake Baikal] will require at least 5 days. Main Russia Festivals Guide : 25 Dec- 5 Jan, Russian Winter is celebrated with traditional activities such as music, dance, sleigh rides, folk shows. New Year's Eve tends to be a family/friends occasion, so not wildly exciting. late Feb-early March, Goodbye Russian Winter, as above. Easter Sunday, Moscow, procession and service in stunning Kolomenskoe [Orthodox] church. April/May, Moscow Music Spring Festival , classical music. May 9, Victory Day Parade, Moscow. A stirring military procession. June, the White Nights arts festival is St Petersburg's liveliest event. April/May, St Petersburg Music Spring Festival , classical music. For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Colourful Festivals or European Festivals Activities Guide: The country is spacious - to say the least - and outdoor activities are popular but facilities and safety measures can be primitive so get specialist advice before undertaking anything halfway dangerous. Hiking: There is no shortage of excellent trekking terrain, just a shortage of marked trails or maps, so extracting information from locals regularly is essential, and as a consequence a few words of the language are vital. Either that or get a good guide. Lake Baikal [see Russia travel favourites, right], the Elbrus area of the Caucasus, west Ural Mountains and Altay Mountains are prime targets. Check the travel safety situation . White Water rafting: The Katun River in the Altay Republic, Vladisvostok and Kamchatka. Climbing: The Elbrus area of the Caucasus are superb but get specialist advice before arriving in Russia, safety aspects included . Cycling: roads are often in bad shape, cars and drivers even worse shape, but bike travel can still be rewarding, with care, a tough bike and essential spares. Local hospitality is tremendous. Canoeing: rivers can be heavily polluted so inland water travel is difficult to recommend, though the Volga River delta is supposed to be alive and delightful, while the coasts up north offer prospects of isolated adventure. Boat cruises: either on posh tourist boats or cheap, dilapidated Russian craft. The main highway is the Volga River and boats go to/from Moscow, Novgorod, Volgograd and many other attractive cities. Volgograd to Rostov-Don is supposed to be the most interesting section. June-September only. Fishing: mostly salmon out east e.g. from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Skiing: Cross country skiing is traditionally more popular than down-hill skiing; snowboarding is becoming increasingly popular and heli-skiing is available and remarkably good value. There are more than a hundred ski areas, many of which need modernisation, though some resorts in the Caucasus Mountains offer good facilities and comfortable accommodation. For instance, Cheget in the Baksan Valley offers challenging runs, including the longest of 2.5 km; or Mount Elbus - Europe's highest peak at 5,642m [1,8513 ft] - hosts one of Russia's largest resorts, Prielbrusye. There are at least 20 ski slopes within 50 miles of Moscow and some can even be reached by metro! Ice Skating: Possibly the country's most popular pastime with frozen lakes and outdoor rinks all over during the long winter and even indoor rinks open in the summer. Inexpensive and very cheerful. Banya bathing: this Russian style sauna is a good way to experience authentic Russian social life, particularly if you are a graduate of an old British public school where extreme heat, cold and beatings were a way of life. There are banyas everywhere, ranging from appallingly dilapidated to highly polished. The Trans-Siberian Railway This week long, non-stop 10,000km [6,000mls] or so ride travels from Moscow to either: - Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific coast. - via Mongolia to Beijing. - via Manchuria and Harbin to Beijing. This is reputedly one of the world's great train journeys but does not necessarily deliver a comfortable or fascinating experience for everyone. Downside: - there are no showers, except for a few lucky 1st class travelers. - conditions will be cramped. - dining car food will be abysmal. - the scenery is mainly dull, tending towards endless forests and grassy plains, interspersed with the occasional log cabin, log village or vast lake. The train stops for 10 minutes a few times a day, leaving no time to explore, just time to aquire emergency supplies from the platform. - As a consequence, life on the train is paramount, and this depends on various factors coming together. Is your car attendant cordial? Are your fellow passengers interesting? Does anyone snore? Do you mind living off fairly basic food for six days? Can you happily stare out of a dirty window looking at birch trees for hours on end? Is TV an integral part of your life? Do you have a good selection of books with you? Do you like vodka? And so on... Upside: - you can arrange to take a stop over at key points en route, for example attractive Irkutsk [see Russia travel favourites, right] and nearby huge, mountain-hemmed Lake Baikal. Siberian timber buildings are often charming, colourfully decorated and carved. - due to the fame of the train and the number of serious travellers on it there will almost always be someone interesting you can find to chat to for days , though a good companion and a monster picnic hamper [loaded with - you've guessed - vodka] would be a useful starting point. - if you are actually going east/west for a purpose - such as for work in Japan or China - you will be saving the air fare. Train Survival hints: - don't drink the tap water. A samovar [hot water pot] in each carriage supplies sterile water. - clean your window to improve views and photos. - stand well clear when flushing the toilet , it can backfire if the train travels at speed. - learn a few key Russian phrases to charm your surly attendants. - take lots of vodka with you . You can buy some snacks, fruit, cigarettes etc during 15 minute stops at stations, but no alcohol, and you will be doing a lot of socialising! Russia Travel Star Guide: Monuments **** Shopping and souvenirs *** Walkability *** Food Quality and Variety *** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value *** Beaches black sea Wildlife * Landscape *** Local People **** Architecture **** Safety ** Nightlife and Clubbing ***** Health Problems ** Museums ***** Why Travel to Russia? This vast and diverse country, occupying the top chunk of a continent all the way from Poland to Japan - and a big chunk of world history too - demands travel attention. The architecture is both glorious and hideous, the history is monstrous, the art is sensational and the people can be touchingly friendly . Absurd Fabergé eggs? Extraordinary onion domes? Caviar crepe? Yes, please. A hard day's White Night in St Petersburg? Slamming vodka with your taxi driver? Da! Big , brutal, beautiful and intriguing, Russia is an enigma that's got to be sampled by any serious traveller. Downside: - Accommodation is hardly cheap if comfort is an issue, though plenty of budget options are available. - Hygiene can be a problem. - Officials are often unpleasantly boorish . - Crime and corruption in the cities requires an ever-open eye . - Despite the size of the country, internal flights are unreliable and Russian airlines have the world's worst safety record. Some Russia tra vel favourites: 1] ***Moscow, a diverse and interesting city with masses of history, action and must-see spectacles, though not on the same planet as St Petersburg for elegance. See Moscow Travel Guide . 2] ***St Petersburg , one of the world's most beautiful cities, with many splendid buildings and museums, including the spectacular Hermitage, with a sophisticated service industry. See St Petersburg Travel Guide . 3] ***Novgorod, 190 km [118mls] south of St Petersburg , an important political and artistic centre from the 9th century and still holds a wide and varied collection of magnificent structures including Russia's oldest cathedral, frescoes galore, and plenty of glorious oddities. 4]***The Golden Ring,a few hours travel northeast of Moscow, are a collection of attractive historic towns dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. These can be visited on day trips, but better, hire a car or join a boat with a guide and take your time to enjoy: ***Suzdal , the most important town in the Golden Ring, Suzdal used be a political and religious centre and has more than fifty quaint and well-preserved old structures. About 210km [131 mls] from Moscow. It is a major tourist attraction, yet still retains an enchanting, pre-Soviet atmosphere. **Vladimir is famed for its Golden Gate and two splendid cathedrals. About 180km [112 mls] from Moscow. **Rostov. This quiet, rustic town offers the usual churches but also a lovely lake and spectacular kremlin. **Yaroslavl is much bigger than other towns in the Ring but totally crammed with gorgeous churches, if you haven't seen enough. 250kms [156mls] from Moscow. 5] **Irkutsk , the 'Paris of Siberia', is a long way from anywhere except Mongolia, but is on the Trans-Siberian train route [see more info left] and well worth a stop-off. The city is mostly charming, with considerable Chinese influence and some magnificent architecture, including typically elaborate Siberian 'gingerbread' houses. Another of Irkutsk's attractions is the proximity to lovely, 636km [398mls] long Lake Baikal where hiking, biking, horse trekking, fishing and boating are big time. The north end is the most beautiful and isolated. Listvyanka village is a popular place to stay for tourists. 6] ***Cruising the Volga River via some superb old towns like Kazan [ancient Tatar city], Shiryaeva and Ulyanovsk [Lenin's birthplace]. See Boat cruises, left. 7]**Black Sea, Sochi. This is a Russian beach resort town with a warm climate and sophisticated health spas [sanatoria], with beaches and tennis courts, scenically situated at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. 8] ** Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains is a pretty, pleasant city except perhaps for Tsar Nick II and his family who met their end here and the USA's U2 spy pilot who was shot down in the area. The place offers excellent architecture, museums, entertainment and access to the Urals for varied activities. Cuisine Guide: You can eat well and inexpensively nowadays, especially in cafés and fast food places in the cities. Do choose places that look clean and are busy , poor hygiene could result in intestinal blowout. Moscow and St Petersburg in particular have seen an astronomical growth in cafés, bars and restaurants, including classic Chinese, Japanese and Italian offerings, western fast food chains and traditional Russian cuisine . Russian food tends to be rich and on the heavy side in winter , such as meaty dumplings, meaty cabbage rolls, cabbage soup with sour cream, and the national icons - borscht [beetroot soup], blinis [pancakes] and caviar, while lighter foods like superb soups and salads are around in the summer . Avoid eating shellfish except in St Petersburg and street ice cream anywhere. Drinks: We all know the varied pleasures of vodka, particularly drunk chilled and in one gulp, but Russia also does a fine line in local beers with lively flavours, good champagne, not such good wine , passable tea and effective coffee. Russians love to press drinks on foreigners so prepare your excuses now. Or practice chugging. Accommodation guide: You are supposed to have a place booked in order to get a tourist visa . There's a wide range of accommodation from luxury hotels at silly prices to cheapish hostels at around $20 pn, but it's important to book well ahead for the June-September season. Private home stays are widespread , giving the tourist relatively good value rooms and a close look at real Russian life. The downside is that the place may be out of the way, the bed lumpy and the morning-after breakfast provider in-your-face during your recovery time. Camping is fine in many places though - as usual - check with locals before bedding down. Organised camping sites are rare and usually open mid-June to mid-September. Russia Tours Tour operators offering travel to Russia can be found in our listings here: Russia Tours For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Map of Europe Travel Safety: Travel to Chechenya and the north Caucasus is not recommended; check the Foreign Office site or tour operators for up-to-date warnings. Otherwise stay on the regular tourist routes. Don't flash your cash! Pickpocketing and bag filching may occur on crowded public transport while hotel rooms are by no means thief-proof. Lock everything into your bags before leaving the room and use a safe deposit if there is one. Take care with taxis. Don't get in if there is anyone other than the driver inside, and don't necessarily trust the driver. See Safety page. Travel Health: Do not drink Russian tap water , not even for cleaning your teeth. Check you are up to date with all jabs, and consider including vaccinations for diptheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B. A flu jab is also useful if you plan to travel to Russia in spring or autumn when the bugs are rampant. Foreigners usually prefer to be treated at private clinics, which are very costly. Get Insurance! Costs: Russia can be good value if you don't mind slightly crude accommodation and eat/drink at local establishments rather than typical tourist places. Change money for roubles only at official exchanges or banks. Cash is easier to change than travellers cheques. Tipping: About 10% to taxi drivers and 10-15% to waiters in restaurants. Electricity : Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Internet: There are masses of reasonably priced web cafés in bigger cities. Local travel: The big cities have good metro and bus services at low prices . Locals enjoy life as illegal taxi drivers for extra cash. Beware though, some are pure evil, others wonderful, hospitable guides. Hitch-hiking is common for Russians but not advisable for tourists . Intercity travel: Trains connecting Moscow to St Petersburg are common, efficient and inexpensive . The Aurora day train takes 6 hours, the evening train 4 hours. Passenger boats are common between cities - tho' slow - including Moscow to St Pete. For exploring the countryside around big cities consider car hire, with or without a driver/guide. It's not expensive and very convenient. International travel: Moscow and St Petersburg are both easy to reach from many European cities by fast, efficient trains and buses ; other Russia cities are more difficult to access directly. Language: Some locals speak English, French, or German but ability to recognise the Cyrillic alphabet and a few words of Russian would really help your experience along. Visas: All visitors need a visa which needs a hotel/hostel booking . 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