TRAVEL SERVICES TRAVEL TICKER

Lonely Planet: the world's best guidebooks, travel advice and information text express | help about us WORLDGUIDE SHOP THORN TREE FORUM TRAVEL SERVICES TRAVEL TICKER THEME GUIDES ON THE ROAD POSTCARDS TRAVEL LINKS ABOUT US HELP FEEDBACK Bollywood or Bust The beat of Bollywood is pulsing through traveller Michaela Gordon's veins. Will she find a costume? Will she become a star? Will she get paid enough to pay rent? Read it › RELATED WorldGuide: Mumbai ; Shop: Six Degrees Mumbai Photo Feature - Best of blogs 2005 It was a year of pot-bellied men in pyjamas clutching revolvers, gifts of sour horse milk and folk being mistaken for kiwi fruits. Check out our top picks. See it › RELATED On the Road: Blogs ; Shop: The Travel Book Untitled Document Japan Ancient and modern, spiritual and sleek. Japan is a tale of two countries both of which inspire and delight. Buy it › Promo Totally, utterly, completely free delivery. Yours with minimum purchase. More › Related Japan: Phrasebook ; World Food Choose a product... ------------------------- Destination Guides - Best of... - Shoestring - Classic Overland Rts - City - Guides (en español) - Country - Regional - City Map Language Guides - Phrasebooks - Fast Talk Armchair Travel - Travel Journal - Journeys: Travel Lit - Pictorials - Music - LPI Puzzles - Guide Bag - Playing Cards - Six Degrees DVDs - Calendars - Travel Reference Activity/Interest Guides - Walking Guides - Watching Wildlife - Diving & Snorkeling - World Food - Cycling - National Parks - Road Trips - Travel Reference Pre-departure Guides - Healthy Travel - Travellers' Tips - Travel Reference Gifts - Travel Journal - Journeys: Travel Lit - Pictorials - Music - LPI Puzzles - Guide Bag - Playing Cards - Six Degrees DVDs - Calendars Specials - Free with purchase - Theme Packs Theme Packs - save! Hot Off the Press ----------------------------------- Top 5 Places to Spend New Year's Eve 1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2. Edinburgh, Scotland 3. Honolulu, Hawaii 4. Mumbai, India 5. Prague, Czech Republic Related Thorn Tree Forum: Submit your own top 5 list THREAD OF THE DAY: funny menus — Read on › LATEST THREADS: washington dc trip report... › Replies: 29 Views: 189 living in mexico... › Replies: 9 Views: 121 taxi from airport to kandy... › Replies: 5 Views: 28 Related Thorn Tree Forum: Join | Login | Search Shop Online Latest Releases: · Australia · Myanmar · Galapagos Islands · Japan · Belize Comet Newsletter The sun shines on Australia. Read it › Send me Lonely Planet's monthly e-newsletter. Country Australia Canada United Kingdom USA --- Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Barbuda Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire Bosnia-Hercegovina Botswana Brazil Britain British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cabinda Caicos Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Caroline Islands Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Ireland (Northern) Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kaliningrad Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Nevis New Caledonia New Guinea New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Northern Ireland Northern Mariana Islands North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Piedmont Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Principe Puerto Rico Qatar Rarotonga Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saba Samoa San Marino Sao Tome Saudi Arabia Scotland Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka St. Barts St. Eustatius St. Kitts St. Lucia St. Maartin St. Vincent Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Tibet Tobago Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay USA US Virgin Islands Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Wales Wallis & Futuna Yemen Yugoslavia Zaire Zambia Zimbabwe Travel Services · Flights Hostels/Budget Lodging --· Hotels Adventure Travel -- · Hostels · Travel Insurance Car Hire · Rail/Ferry Travel · Personal Trip Website -- · Global Communication · More Services Time-saving tickets Book it › Tsunami Updates The anniversary of this disaster is time to reflect, time to update, and time to get back to the beaches. Read more › On the Road Where did you spend Christmas? Did you have nasi goreng for lunch and dinner? Read more › Make a Difference Help the World Food Programme with food shortages in Pakistan, Guatemala, Niger and - sadly - many, many more nations. More Lonely Planet Sites · Tony Wheeler's blog · Experimental Travel · LP Six Degrees · Bookseller Resources · Press Room Business to Business · Business Solutions · Stock Photography · Lonely Planet TV International Sites · Français · Español · Italiano stock photography All text & images © 2005 Lonely Planet Publications . All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Read our privacy policy . about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

Central America Travel to

Costa Rica, Central America Travel, Tourism, Vacation Information for Visitors.  You are here: About > Travel > Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Costa Rica Travel Go Mexico Essentials Packing List for Travelers to Mexico Health Information Mexico / C. America Safety Considerations Travel Books Mexico and Central America Tourism Offices Mexico/ Central America Articles & Resources Mexico Mexico City Acapulco, Mexico Cancun Yucatan Baja Los Cabos Puerto Vallarta Other Places Photos of Mexico Belize, Central America Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Mexico / Central America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Costa Rica Costa Rica, Central America - Travel, Tourism, Vacation Information An index of online travel related resources to the country of Costa Rica, Central America, with information on accommodations, attractions, history, culture, geography and more. Costa Rica Travel, Tourism, Vacation Information for Visitors. Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve located in central Costa Rica is regarded by many as one of the top tropical plant and wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Find out why you should visit. Costa Rica - Map & Basic Facts Peruse an atlas of Costa Rica that provides a map of the country. The site also provides information on the people of this country as well as facts on its government, economics, geography, culture and history. Costa Rica - Travel Guide Costa Rica is a true tropical paradise with gorgeous beaches and a variety of environmental attractions. Here is a very comprehensive online travel guide to Costa Rica including maps and information on tour packages. Costa Rica - Travel Store Here is a directory of discount airline fares, hotels, car-rental agencies, tour packages and more for travelers to Costa Rica. Costa Rica - VirtualTourist.com Profile This site provides a detailed online tourist guide to the country of Costa Rica. Photos, personal accounts and information on accommodations, dining and sightseeing can be found here. Costa Rica Adventures This site offers a number of guided adventure tours and activities in Costa Rica for small private groups. The site includes photos of some of the excursions.        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico Headlines Top 6 Travel Books for Mexico and Central America There are many travel guidebooks devoted to Mexico and to... Health Information for Visitors to Mexico and Central America This article provides a summary of the more important health... Safety Considerations for Travelers to Mexico and Central America Travel to Mexico and Central America is not significantly less... Acapulco, Mexico Once a favorite destination of honeymooners, celebrities and the...

vacation rentals, paris apartments,

Vacation rentals by owner, apartment for rent by owner, vacation rentals by owner, apartment for rent by owner, amsterdam apartments, amsterdam vacation rentals, paris apartments, paris vacation rentals, london apartments, london vacation rentals, rome apartments, rome vacation rentals, barcelona vacation rentals, barcelona apartments, cyprus villas, cyprus apartments, vancouver vacation rentals, vancouver apartments, destin fl vacation rentals, destin apartments, buenos aires apartments, prague apartments, prague vacation rentals Menu English Deutsch Magyar Italiano Holland Untitled Document Welcome to our accommodation / lodging site! Our homepage contains vacation rentals / vacation home / bed and breakfast inns, apartment, condos, rooms for rent, last minute and special vacation offers all over the world from Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, Spain, Hungary, Greece, UK, USA, Florida, Hawaii, Canada, Kenya, Egypt, Thailand etc. Family vacations, cheap travel, holidays... For accomodation - owners Take the opportunity to try our 2-month-test period for free. Free vacation rental listing offer Click for more... Country search Europe Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia France Greece Holland Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg The Netherlands Northern Ireland Romania Russia Scotland Serbia and Montenegro Slovenia Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Poland Portugal Turkey USA states Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Americas Asia Argentina Bahamas Belize Bermuda Brazil British Virgin Islands Canada Cayman Islands Chile Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador Jamaica Mexico Netherland Antilles Nicaragua Panama Peru Puerto Rico St. Lucia St. Martin St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trindad and Tobago Turks and Caicos USA U.S. Virgin Islands Venezuela India Indonesia Israel Malaysia Nepal Sri Lanka Thailand United Arab Emirates Africa Australia and South Pacific Egypt Kenya Mauritius Morocco Senegal South Africa Tunisia Australia Cook Islands Fiji Islands Micronesia New Zealand Top offers Siofok, Lake Balaton, Hungary New vacation apartments with pool, air-conditioning only 50m away from Lake Balaton... apartments in Hungary... Apartment in Rome Elegant Rome apartment located in area Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy apartment in Rome - Limassol, Cyprus Family villa, holiday home in a quiet village nestled in a valley in Limassol, Cyprus Apartment in Cyprus Luxor, Egypt New opening holiday Luxor villa in Egypt on the bank of the river Nile in Luxor, Egypt villa in Luxor, Egypt... Sorrento Penisula, Vico Equense Amazing Apartment in Vico Equense on the Sorrento Coast About the Sorrento apartment Tortola, British Virgin Islands 2 magnificent Tortola villas with panoramic ocean -views in Tortola, British Virgin Islands Tortola villas Top destinations London Paris Rome Varna Barcelona Costa Blanca Siofok Tallinn Athens Bruges Prague Amsterdam New listings Rome apartment Amalfi coast apartment, Italy Athens Hotel Emmantina New Delhi apartment Barcelona apartment Czech Republic vacation home Tallinn apartment Estonia Dubai villa for rent with pool Luxury villa in Orlando, Florida Last minute offers Click button to view last minute offers Link Exchange Click here to add your link to our directory Another link directory Link Directory 2 Link directory 3 Link directory 4 Link directory 5 Link directory 6 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Nice, France London, England Apartment Rentals Amsterdam Apartment for rent in Amsterdam Nice villa rental is situated in Nice, on the French Riviera. Nice villa rental London bed and breakfast - Barry hotel in Central London About the small hotel London Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand Paris, France Prague, Czech Republic Blue Sky Hotel on Patong Beach resort, Phuket, Thailand about the hotel Paris apartment - The magical of Paris is HERE in the historic heart nearby the Seine Apartement Paris Comfortable vacation apartment Prague three tram stops from Charles Bridge in Prague Vacation apartment Prague Link partners Sitemap Subdomains Holiday home in Siofok Siofok, Lake Balaton, Hungary Neues Appartement Ferienhaus Pter Plattensee Ferienhaus, Ferienwohnungen, Appartement Casa vacanza, affitto Lago Balaton Ungheria Vacation rentals, holiday homes worldwide Zürich Reinigung Bed & Breakfast Inns Web statistics Untitled Document Top cities and destinations: Europe Paris | Paris apartments | Paris accommodation | Paris vacation rentals | Amsterdam | Amsterdam apartments | Amsterdam apartment rental | Amsterdam vacation rentals | Prague | Prague apartments | Prague accommodation | Rome | Rome apartments | Rome hotels | Rome villa | Siofok | Ferienhaus Siofok | Ferienhaus Siofok Pool | Siofok Ferienhaus Pool | Siofok Ferienhäuser | Oregon | Oregon vacation rentals | Tallinn | Tallinn accommodation | Tallinn apartments | Tallinn hotels | Beaver Creek | Beaver Creek lodge | Beaver Creek lodging | Beaver Creek rentals | Beaver Creek condos | Riga | Riga hotels | Riga accommodation | Riga apartments | Riga hostels | Riga accomodation | Austria | Austria ski chalets | Austria bed and breakfast | Austria chalets | Salzburg accommodation | Salzburg bed and breakfast | Salzburg hotels | Salzburg pension | Berlin hotels | Berlin Wohnung | Berlin Ferienwohnungen | Berlin Übernachtung | Berlin Ferienhaus | Berlin Appartement | Lisbon | Lisbon accommodation | Lisbon hotels | Lisbon accomodation | Lisbon apartments | Lisbon bed and breakfast | Crans Montana, Switzerland | Crans Montana, Switzerland | Crans Montana hotels | Crans Montana apartments | Crans Montana chalets | Amalfi Coast | Amalfi Coast villas | Amalfi Coast villa rentals | Amalfi Coast accommodation | Amalfi Coast apartments | Amalfi Coast vacation rentals | Schweiz | Schweiz hotels | Schweiz Ferienwohnungen | Schweiz Skihütte | Schweiz Ferienhaus | Schweiz Pension | Schweiz Appartement | Saas Fee | Saas Fee Hotel | Saas Fee Ferienwohnungen Asia Malaysia | Malaysia hotels | Malaysia villas | Malaysia accommodation | Malaysia apartments | Langkawi | Langkawi hotels | Langkawi villas | Langkawi holiday villas | Langkawi accommodation | Langkawi apartments | America Beaver Creek | Beaver Creek lodge | Beaver Creek lodging | Beaver Creek rentals | Beaver Creek condos | Belize | Belize hotels | Belize accommodation | Belize vacation rentals | Belize villas | Belize apartments Australia Africa Hungarian accommodation - Magyar szállás - szállások Debrecen | Debrecen apartman | Debrecen apartmanok | Debrecen hotel | Debrecen szoba | Esztergom | Esztergom szoba | Esztergom apartman | Esztergom apartmanok | Esztergom hotel | Sopron | Sopron apartman | Sopron apartmanok | Sopron szoba | Sopron hotel | Zalakaros | Zalakaros apartmanok | Zalakaros hotel | Zalakaros szoba Partners Siofokcity.com | Plattensee Ferienhaus, Ferienwohnung | Holiday next to Lake Balaton | Vacation rentals worldwide | Gyümölcsfa - faiskola | Holiday home in Siofok | Case Vacanze nel Lago Balaton, Ungheria amsterdam apartments, amsterdam vacation rentals, paris apartments, paris vacation rentals, london apartments, london vacation rentals, rome apartments, rome vacation rentals, barcelona vacation rentals, barcelona apartments, cyprus villas, cyprus apartments, vancouver vacation rentals, vancouver apartments, destin fl vacation rentals, destin apartments, buenos aires apartments, prague apartments, prague vacation rentals

Switzerland Travel Community? Join

Switzerland Travel Community: Zurich Tourism Home Browse: -- ---Destination--- Adelboden Airolo Aletsch Andermatt Anzre Appenzellerland Arosa Ascona Bad Ragaz Baden Basel Belinzona Bern Berner Oberland Bettmeralp Biel Braunwald Brienz-Meiringen Brig Brissago Celerina Centovalli Charmey Chteau-d'Oex Chur Crans-Montana Davos Disentis-Sedrun Einsiendeln Emmental Engelberg Estavayer-le-Lac Flims Laax Falera Fribourg Geneva Gimmelwald Glarus Grchen Grindelwald Gruyres Gstaad Interlaken Jungfrau Region Kandersteg Klosters La Chaux-de-Fonds Lago Maggiore Lausanne Lauterbrunnen Lenzerheide-Valbella Les Diablerets Leuk Leukerbaad Leysin Liestal Locarno Ltschberg Lucerne Lugano Martigny Mendrisio Montreux Morges Mount Pilatus Mt. Rigi Murren Murten Nendaz Neuchatel Nyon Pays du Grand-St-Bernard Pontresina Rapperswil Rheinfelden Riederalp Romont Saanen Saas-Fee Sainte-Croix Samedan Samnaun San Bernardino Sntis Savognin Schaffhausen Schwyz Scuol Sierre Sils-maria Silvaplana Sion Soglio Solothurn Splgen St. Gallen St. Moritz Thun Thurgau Thusis Ticino Toggenburg Torgon Vaduz Val de Illiez Verbier Villars Visp Region Weggis Wengen Winterthur Yverdon Zermatt Zug Zurich ---Region--- Basel Bernese Oberland Central Switzerland Eastern Switzerland/Liechtenstein Fribourg Geneva Graubnden Lake Geneva (Vaud) Neuchtel / Jura / Jura Bernois Schweizer Mittelland Ticino Valais Zurich Switzerland Game Log in Email Address: Password: Remember Me Problems logging in? Not a Member? What is the Switzerland Travel Community? Join the community to discover Switzerland through firsthand travel reviews and photos, to meet other Swiss travelers, earn valuable rewards, and much more! Switzerland > Zurich Journal Name: Zurich - Downtown Switzerland Member Name: Sierra (Register or Login to see this member's profile!) Type of Trip: Business Date Created: 10/13/2005 Description: Zrich, Switzerland's largest city, is the perfect place to begin exploring this varied country. Entry Category Member Recommendation Content Rating Zurich - Downtown Switzerland Overview N/A Hotel zum Storchen Lodging Very Highly Recommended Lush Brand-Name Retailers Highly Recommended H. Schwarzenbach Local Markets Very Highly Recommended Confiserie Sprngli Specialty Shops Very Highly Recommended Carlton Restaurant and Bar Dining Very Highly Recommended Blinde Kuh (Blind Cow) Dining Recommended Zrich - Walking Downtown Switzerland - Part 1 Experiences N/A Zrich Walking "Downtown" Switzerland - part 2 Experiences N/A has photos Community Zurich Members Who Live in Zurich tom tea DomThePom dasigi **bootsy riogrande See All Members With Zurich Journals pbharathkumar Alyssa mcgujer superpurd Nick Malgieri Zurich Photos See All Most Recent Zurich Journals Zurich - Downtown Switzerland A Taste of Old Europe Zurich: Easy Comfort Zurich: My Second Hometown Zurich and the Golden Pass Line See All Return to Home Information about Swiss Quality Switzerland Tourism : About Us : Privacy Statement

South America Travel Tips

South America Travel Tips Book Online or call (800) 682-3333 Europe Asia Americas Caribbean Mediterranean Pacific Cruises Home Hotels Find a Vacation Specials Contact Us Italy & Sicily Spain & Portugal Britain & Ireland France Belgium & Holland Central Europe Scandinavia Greece River Cruises China & Japan Southeast Asia Thailand India South America Brazil Peru Costa Rica Bahamas Caribbean & Mexico Bahamas Cancun Riviera Maya Punta Cana Jamaica Greece & Turkey Israel Egypt Morocco Australia & New Zealand Tahiti China & Japan Southeast Asia Sea Cruises River Cruises South America Travel Tips Climate / Clothing Language Code of Conduct Currency Holidays Travel Insurance Departure Tax Luggage Local Emergency/Phone Health Precautions Passports and Visas Driving Electricity Shopping Tipping Airport Tax - Chile Climate /Clothing Brazil: The weather in Brazil is temperate to hot year round. Bring casual, lightweight clothing that can be layered. Sunscreen and a hat are advisable. Bring insect repellent if you plan on a visit to the rainforest. Brazil Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Brazil-weather.htm . Peru: Peru's climate can be divided into 2 seasons - wet and dry. The coast and the slopes of the Western Andes are dry with summer falling between December and April. In the Andean highlands, the dry season is from May to September, while the wet season takes up the remainder of the year. Bring casual, lightweight clothes that can be layered and a jacket if you are going up into the mountains. Bring sunscreen and a hat to protect against the strong sun along the coast and in the rainforest. Insect repellent is necessary as well. Peru Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Peru-weather.htm . Argentina: The climate of Argentina is mostly temperate; arid in the southeast and sub-Antarctic in the southwest. Bring lightweight clothes you can layer, a sweater and an all-weather coat. Dress is more formal in the city of Buenos Aires and a jacket a tie or cocktail dress may be required at some of the finer restaurants. Casual dress is more appropriate in the countryside. Argentina Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Argentina-weather.htm . Chile: Climate varies from subtropical and sunny in the extreme north; dry and arid in the Atacama north desert; mild, pleasant and Mediterranean in the fertile central valley; cool, temperate and rainy in the southern region; and covered with ice and snow in the Antarctic region. Chile Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Chile-weather.htm . Ecuador: The climate and geography of Ecuador vary widely. The highlands are cool and dry. Bring lightweight clothes, a jacket and comfortable shoes. Along the coast it's warm and sunny all year round. Sunscreen and a hat are important accessories to have on hand. The Amazon rain forest is tropical and humid. Light, layered clothing and plenty of insect repellent are advisable. Ecuador Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/south-america-travel/weather/Ecuador-weather.htm . Language Brazil: The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Some English is spoken in the major cities. Peru: Spanish is the official language of Peru. In most tourist center, English is spoken. Argentina: Spanish is the official language of Argentina. English is spoken at hotels and restaurants in Buenos Aires. Chile: Spanish is the official language in Chile, although English is often spoken in hotels, restaurants and shops. Ecuador: Ecuador has two official languages - Spanish and Quechua. English is spoken in the major tourist centers. Passports and Visas Brazil: Passport and visa required. Peru: Passport required. Visa not required for tourist stay of up to 90 days, extendible after arrival. Argentina: Passport required. Visa not required for business/tourist stay of up to 90 days. Chile: Passport required. Visa not required for stay of up to 90 days. Entry fee of $100 (U.S.) charged at airport. Ecuador: (including the Galapagos Islands) - Passport required. Visa not required for a stay of up to 90 days. Columbia: All U.S. citizens must have a valid passport and proof of return ticket to enter Columbia. No visa is required. Uruguay: All U.S. citizens must have a valid passport to enter Uruguay. No visa is required for stays up to 90 days. See http://www.gate1travel.com/visas.htm for more information. Currency Brazil: The currency of Brazil is the Real. U.S. currency can be exchanged at banks, exchanges and hotels. Peru: The official currency is the Peruvian Sol. Most tourist areas accept and exchange U.S. Dollars. Exchange your currency at your hotel or a bank. Argentina: The currency of Argentina is the Pesa. It is not always easy to change money in the interior of the country. Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Chile: The unit of currency is the Chilean peso (CHP$). U.S. dollars and travelers checks are easily changed in banks and exchange bureaus. Major credit cards are widely accepted in shops and hotels. Ecuador: Official currencies are the U.S. Dollar and the Sucre. Tipping Brazil: Most services get tipped a mandatory 10%, often included in the bill. If a waiter is friendly and helpful, you may like to give more. Because of Brazil's high unemployment rate, services that may seem superfluous are customarily tipped. Parking assistants are the most notable as they receive no wages, but petrol-station attendants, shoe shiners and barbers are also frequently tipped. Taxi drivers are an exception: most people round the price up, but a tip is not expected. Peru: A combination of taxes and service charges are added to bills in the best hotels and restaurants and can total as much as 28%. The cheaper hotels and restaurants don't add taxes. Tipping is not expected in budget restaurants. A tip of 10-15% is fine in upmarket restaurants if a service charge has not already been added to the bill. Taxi drivers are not tipped - bargain hard beforehand and stick to your price. Local guides should be tipped US$3-5 per day. Argentina: Tipping around 10% is customary in restaurants. Chile: In restaurants, it is customary to tip about 10% of the bill. In general, waiters and waitresses are poorly paid, so if you can afford to eat out, you can afford to tip. Taxi drivers do not require tips, although you may round off the fare for convenience. Ecuador: Tipping is expected by tour guides, porters and other tourist industry workers, though not by taxi drivers. Quality restaurants add 10% tax and a 10% service charge to their bills; cheaper restaurants usually don't. If you want to tip your server, give the money to them directly - don't just leave it on the table. Please refer to our main brochure under www.gate1travel.com/tipping.htm for additional tipping suggestions. Electricity Brazil: Brazil's voltage is 110, however some hotels operate on 220. Peru, Argentina & Chile: The voltage used is 220. Ecuador: Ecuador's voltage is 110. *Note: The U.S. uses 120 volts and you can purchase a converter and transformer at most hardware stores for your 120V appliances. Shopping Brazil: Shops are open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Brazil has a rich array of native crafts from Afro-Brazilian textiles to Bahian pottery and delicate lace tablecloths. Peru: Duty-free shops and artisan's shops offer tourists the opportunity to purchase Peruvian handicrafts such as pottery, carvings, and weavings. Argentina: Business hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Banking hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shops open at 9 a.m. and generally close at 7 p.m. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Good buys include leather goods, jewelry and furs. Chile: Good shopping can be found in the streets of Providencia and Santiago. There are also a few big shopping malls. Handicrafts in Chile are the best bargains. Local jewelry made of lapis lazuli, found only in Chile and Afghanistan, makes a beautiful souvenir. Ecuador: Duty-free shops and artisan's shops offer visitors the opportunity to buy Ecuadorian handcrafts such as ponchos, tapestries, ceramics, jewelry. Health Precautions Brazil: No vaccinations are required to enter Brazil. However, it may be advisable to get inoculated against yellow fever, malaria and typhoid. Be sure to consult your doctor before your trip, especially if you are planning to go up the Amazon River. Drink only bottled water and do not eat raw fruits and vegetables. Peru: A yellow fever vaccination is recommended if you are going into the Amazon rain forest. Travelers with heart conditions or high blood pressure should check with their doctor about high-altitude travel if you will be visiting the mountainous regions. Avoid the tap water and raw fruits and vegetables. Bottled water is widely available Argentina: No inoculations are necessary when arriving in Argentina from the U.S. Chile: Tap water is fairly safe to drink, but it is advisable to drink bottled water. Consult with your doctor if you are planning to visit the higher altitudes. English speaking doctors are easy to find in all major cities. Ecuador: No inoculations are required for entry. Travelers with heart conditions or high blood pressure who plan to visit the highlands should check with their doctor about high-altitude travel. Bottled water is advisable and is available everywhere. *To prevent "Montezuma's Revenge," avoid the tap water, including raw fruits and vegetables washed in tap water. Your stomach may still become upset due to the change in diet. Bring anti-diarrhea medicine just in case. *For the latest overseas travel health information, call the Center for Disease Control's traveler's hotline at 404-332-4559. Or visit their web site at www.cdc.gov Conservation/Code of Conduct Brazil: Handshaking is customary on meeting and taking ones leave, and normal European courtesies are observed. Frequent offers of coffee and tea are customary. Flowers are acceptable as a gift on arrival or following a visit for a meal. A souvenir from the visitors home country will be well received as a gift of appreciation. Casual wear is normal, particularly during hot weather. In nightclubs smart-casual (eg blazer, no tie) is acceptable. For more formal occasions the mode of dress will be indicated on invitations. Smoking is acceptable unless notified otherwise. The Catholic Church is highly respected in the community, something which should be kept in mind by the visitor. Peru: Shaking hands is the customary form of greeting. Visitors should follow normal social courtesies and the atmosphere is generally informal. A small gift from a company or home country is sufficient. Dress is usually informal, although for some business meetings and social occasions men wear a jacket and tie. Life is conducted at a leisurely pace. Argentina: The most common form of greeting between friends is kissing cheeks. When invited to somebodys house it is quite common to take a homemade dish or dessert. Dinner is usually served between 7pm - 10pm. Avoid casual discussion of the Falklands/Malvinas war. Dress is not usually formal, though clothes should be conservative away from the beach. Formal wear is worn for official functions and dinners, particularly in exclusive restaurants. Smoking is prohibited on public transport, in cinemas and theatres. Chile: Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. Most Chileans use a double surname and only the first part should be used in addressing them. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting local people. It is very common to entertain at home and it is acceptable for invitees to give small presents as a token of thanks. Informal, conservative clothes are acceptable in most places but women should not wear shorts outside resort areas. Ecuador: Casual wear is widely acceptable, but businesspeople are expected to dress smartly. It is important to be punctual when arriving for meetings. Smart clothes are often required when visiting hotel dining rooms and better restaurants. Beachwear should only be worn on the beach and revealing clothes should not be worn in towns. Smoking is widely accepted. A tip may be requested if you wish to take someones photograph and it is better to seek permission first. Luggage *Gate 1 tour packages allow one piece of luggage per person, plus carry-on bag. Additional baggage will be subject to handling charges of up to $100 per piece. As Gate 1 will not be responsible for loss or damage to luggage and personal belongings, you MUST report any loss or damage immediately at the time of the incident and obtain a written report from the local authority for submission to your insurance provider. If you luggage is lost or damaged by the airlines, a baggage claim form MUST be filed with the carrier before leaving the airport. See www.gate1travel.com/destinations/luggage.htm for Important Baggage Information for U.S. Travelers. Departure Tax There is no Departure tax levied in Brazil. Please see www.gate1travel.com/Destinations/departure_tax.htm for more information. Travel Insurance We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance as additional security in the case of cancellation or interruption of travel plans, lost or damaged luggage, travel delays, illness, or accident. Keep all boarding passes, ticket copies and receipts for expenses paid during your trip if it later becomes necessary to file a claim. Local Emergency Phone # Brazil: general emergency: 911 Peru: general emergency: 011 or 5114 Argentina: ambulance/medical: 101 fire: 107 police: 101 Chile: ambulance/medical: 131 fire: 132 police: 133 Ecuador: ambulance/medical: 131 Holidays Brazil : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Jan 20 *Founding of Rio de Janeiro Jan 25 *Founding of So Paulo Feb 19-23 Carnival Mar 25 Good Friday Apr 21 Tiradentes May 1 St of Brazil May 26 Corpus Christi Sep 7 Independence Day Oct 12 Our Lady Aparecida, Patron St of Brazil. Nov 2 All Souls Day Nov 15 Republic Day Dec 24 Christmas Eve (half day) Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 31 New Years Eve (half day) *Note: Regional observances only. Argentina : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Mar 24 Maundy Thursday Mar 25 Good Friday Apr 4 Malvinas Day May 1 Labor Day May 25 National Day (Anniversary of the 1810 Revolution) June 20 National Flag Day Jul 9 Independence Day Aug 17 Death of General Jos de San Martn Oct 12 Day of the Americas (Columbus Day). Dec 8 Immaculate Conception Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 31 New Years Eve Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 31 New Years Eve (half day) Peru : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Mar 24 Maundy Thursday (half day) Mar 25 Good Friday May 1 Labor Day Jun 29 St Peters and St Pauls Day Jul 28-29 Independence Day Celebrations Aug 30 St Rosa of Lima Day Oct 8 Angamos Battle Nov 1 All Saints Day Dec 8 Immaculate Conception Dec 24 Christmas Eve (half day) Dec 25 Christmas Day Chile : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Mar 25 Good Friday Mar 26 Holy Saturday May 1 Labor Day May 21 Navy Day May 23 *Corpus Christi Jun 29 St Peter and St Paul Aug 15 Assumption Sep 5 Reconciliation Day Sep 18 Independence Day Sep 19 Army Day Oct 12 Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day) Nov 1 All Saints Day Dec 8 Immaculate Conception Dec 25 Christmas Day *Note: Corpus Christi dates for 2004 and 2005 are actually Jun 10 and May 26 respectively, however, the holiday is observed on the Monday closest to these dates. Ecuador : Public Holidays Jan 1 New Years Day Feb 7-8 *Carnival Mar 24 Maundy Thursday Mar 25 Good Friday May 1 Labor Day May 24 Battle of Pichincha May 26 Corpus Christi Jul 24 Simon Bolivar Day Aug 10 Independence Day Oct 9 *Foundation of Guayaquil Nov 2 All Souls Day Nov 3 *Foundation of Cuenca Dec 6 *Foundation of Quito Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 31 New Years Eve *Note: These holidays are not official public holidays, but are widely observed. Other holidays, in addition to the above, may be marked locally. Driving Brazil: Brazil has 1,940,400km (1,202,800 miles) of roads. Traffic drives on the right. Peru: The Central Highway connects Lima with La Oroya and Huancayo. From La Oroya there is a road connecting Cerro de Pasco, Hunuco, Tingo Mara and Pucallpa on the Ucayali River. Landslides are frequent in the rainy season (December to March), making for slow travel. The Touring y Automvil Club del Per and the Instituto Geogrfico Nacional sell maps. Travel guides like Gua Toyota and Gua Inca del Per include good road maps. Traffic drives on the right. Argentina: Major privatization programmes have resulted in many trunk roads being upgraded, and roads are generally in good condition. Expect tolls on motorways. Rural roads, composed of packed dirt, become impassable after rain. Nonetheless, buses are considered to be a more reliable form of long-distance transport than trains. Traffic drives on the right. Car hire: There are a number of agencies in Buenos Aires (including Avis , Dollar and Hertz ). Drivers must be at least 21 years of age (sometimes up to 25 years of age). International Driving Permit is required and this must be stamped at the offices of the Automvil Club Argentino (website: www.aca.org.ar ). These documents must be carried at all times whilst driving: proof of ownership, proof of insurance and receipt for last tax payment. Chile: Chile has about 80,000km (49,460 miles) of good roads. The Pan American Highway crosses the country from north to south (a total of 3455km or 2147 miles) from the Peruvian border to Puerto Montt. It is advisable in remoter areas to carry spare petrol and an additional spare tyre. Tires should be hard-wearing. Traffic drives on the right. Ecuador: Traffic drives on the right. An extensive network of roads spreads out from the main northsouth axis of the Pan-American Highway. The Government and PetroEcuador are developing highways into the Oriente. In general, road improvements are being put into effect rapidly but, due to the effect of earthquakes and flooding (in the south) during the last 10 years, conditions remain variable; potholes and cracks in the road are sometimes sizable.The roads between Quito and Guayaquil and between Quito, Latacunga, Ambato and Riobamba are completely paved. A road connects Quito, Otavalo, Ibarra and Tulcn, the frontier with Colombia. Airport Tax - Chile There is an entry fee of $45 per passenger that must be paid before proceeding through Immigration. Return to the South America brochure More TravelInformation Email This Page to a Friend © 2005 Gate 1 Travel Home | About Us | Travel Agent | Free Brochure | Help | Site Map | (800) 682-3333 Read our privacy policy . Contact Us . This site can be best viewed using Internet Explorer 4.0, or higher. The browser software can be downloaded, free of charge, from the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com . All external sites will open in a new browser. Gate1travel.com does not endorse external sites.