Taiwan Travel

Taiwan Vacations, Taiwan Travel, Taiwan Luxury Resorts, Taiwan Hotels Taiwan Luxury Vacations, Taiwan Cruises, and Taiwan Hotels Guide Site Index Taiwan Vacation Guide: Romantic Taiwan Hotels and Honeymoons Taiwan Vacations and Cruise Consultants Asia Luxury Vacations: Call 1-800 330 8820 to book. Open Every day! 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Taiwan Luxury Villas---Plus tons of enjoyable virtual tours and streaming videos---You will find everything here, all the insider's secrets. Shaped roughly like a tobacco leaf, 240 miles long and 85 miles wide, Taiwan is located 100 miles off the coast of southeastern China and is approximately the same size as Holland. The Portuguese named it La Isla Formosa ("beautiful island") during their occupation in 1517 and for very good reasons. The east coast has magnificent cliffs that dive straight into the ocean and mountains, many over 10,000 feet high, cover two-thirds of the island. The Jade Mountain (Yushan), for example, is the tallest peak in northeast Asia at 13,114 feet; the climate at sea level is subtropical. Taiwan Luxury Tours Taiwan has been loosely affiliated with China since the 13th century and independent since 1945. Today, Taiwan is a living showcase of Chinese culture and tradition. The best display of China's past is seen in The National Palace Museum in Taipei, reputed to be the world's greatest repository of Chinese art. Taiwan Country Highlights Taiwan Country & Its People Another of Taipei's attractions is the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, one of the most breathtaking sites in Taiwan. Jade markets, tea shops, parks and more museums also await you. Taiwan is situated in the Western Pacific about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the southeastern coast of the Asiatic Continent. Lying midway between Korea and Japan to the north and Hong Kong and the Philippines to the south, Taiwan is a natural gateway for travelers to and within Asia. Taiwan has a total area of nearly 36,000 sq. km (14,400 sq.miles). The island is shaped roughly like a tobacco leaf, and is bisected north to south by the Central Mountain Range. About two-thirds of the island is covered with mountains with the rest made up of foothills, terraced flatlands, and coastal plains and basins. Yu Shan (Jade Mountain), the island tallest peak, towers 3,952 meters (12,966 feet) above sea level. The Tropic of Cancer crosses the southern part of Taiwan. Taiwan proper also includes the Penghu Archipelago--a group of 64 islands--and 21 other islands. Most of them are of volcanic origins, while some are formed by a mass of coral reefs. Taiwan is a stable democracy and has a strong and well-developed economy. Tourist facilities are widely available. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport required. Taiwan previously required that U.S. visitors to Taiwan hold passports valid for at least six months. This is no longer the case: Taiwan now considers U.S. passports valid for return to the United States for six months beyond the expiration date of the passport. For specific information about entry requirements, travelers may contact the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), 4201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016-2137, via either its main telephone number,(202) 895-1800, or its visa section telephone number,(202) 895-1814. The main fax number at TECRO is (202) 363-0999, and the visa section fax number is (202) 895-0017. There is also an Internet address: http://www.taipei.org/teco.htm. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) also has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Guam, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. AMERICAN INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN: Unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan are conducted through the American Institute in Taiwan, whose offices are authorized by law to perform American citizen services. For assistance, U.S. citizen travelers may contact the American Institute in Taiwan at No. 7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan; telephone (886-2) 2709-2000; fax: (886-2) 2709-0908; or the American Institute in Taiwan branch office at No. 2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, telephone: (886-7) 224-0154; fax: (886-7) 223-8237. In case of emergencies after working hours, the duty officer at the American Institute in Taiwan at Taipei may be contacted at (886-2) 2709-2013. Taiwan Luxury Vacations & Tours Taiwan boasts a remarkable range of attractions for the visitor, as a destination in itself or in combination with one of its neighbors. Known by the Portuguese as Ihla Formosa, or beautiful island, Taiwan's natural beauty is well complemented by its temples and historically rich cities. For aficionados of Asian art, a visit to Taiwan is almost a mandatory pilgrimage. The National Palace Museum boasts one of the world's most important art collections, originally housed in Beijing's Forbidden City. Taipei's temples and bustling streets are balanced by the waterfalls and hot springs of nearby Yangminshan Park, enlivened each spring by cherry blossoms. South of Taipei, artisans' villages make for a fascinating day's excursion. On the East Coast, Taroko Gorge is a steep ravine with marble-rich cliffs and delightful pavilions. Inland, Sun Moon Lake is a lovely spot, with deep blue waters surrounded by mountains. Traditional arts thrive at Lukang, on the western coast. Traveling south, Tainan boasts a wealth of temples, befitting a city that was the island's capital for over two hundred years. At the southern tip of the island, Kenting National Park is a beautiful land of white sand beaches and exotic tropical plants. Imperial Splendor Taipei 4 days/3 nights Cost per person based on double occupancy: Deluxe : $1,160 Beyond the City Walls: Taipei and its Surrounds Taipei, Yangmingshan, Yingko, Sanhsia, and Wulai 6 days/5 nights Cost per person based on double occupancy: Deluxe : $2,245 Eastern Visions Taipei, Taroko Gorge 6 days/5 nights Cost per person based on double occupancy: Deluxe : $2,540 Deluxe Highlights Taiwan Taipei, Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake 9 days/8 nights Cost per person based on double occupancy: Deluxe : $5,040 Over the Mountains, Down to the Sea Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kenting National Park, Taroko Gorge 9 days/8 nights Cost per person based on double occupancy: Deluxe : $5,010 Journey Along a Silken Thread: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama, Kurashiki 19 days/18 nights Cost available upon request. Great Cities of East Asia: Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam Tokyo, Kyoto, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Saigon 20 days/19 nights Cost available upon request. East Asian Odyssey: Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Japan Taipei, Taroko Gorge, Hong Kong, Beijing, Hangzhou, Guilin, Yangtse River Cruise, Xian, Tokyo, Kyoto 33 days/32 nights Cost available upon request. Book your Luxury Taiwan Vacation Submit a vacation planner to our Virtuoso Travel Specialists Client Testimonials about our services Asia Overview Search Your Vacation, Tour or Cruise Taiwan Overview Taiwan History Taiwan Culture Taiwan Country Highlights Taiwan Country & Its People Taiwan Geography Taiwan Practical Info Taiwan Luxury Accommondations Taiwan Luxury Hotels and Resorts Taiwan Luxury Vacations And Tours Taiwan Luxury Tour Asia Luxury Tour Vacation Packages Asia Tour Vacation Packages Taiwan Pictures Click here to book your Luxury Asia Vacation Click here to submit a vacation planner to our Virtuoso Travel Specialists Bookmark this page Full Service Luxury Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury vacation with our full service Virtuoso Travel Consultants. We are recommended, authorized Virtuoso Travel Consultants, and can arrange every little detail to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree cruise experience at no extra charge! You may call our Virtuoso Travel Consultants, but first, we'd really appreciate it if you complete our "Luxury Vacation Planner" so we have all your requirements beforehand and are prepared to present you with all your options and up-to-the-minute specials. Thank you very much! Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your luxury vacation . Full Service, Worldwide Luxury Tour Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury tour vacation with our full service Virtuoso Luxury Tour Consultants. We can arrange every little detail of your tour vacation, including air, and pre-tour and post-tour arrangements to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree vacation experience at no extra charge! When you complete our "Luxury Tour Vacation Planner" our Virtuoso--Travel Consultants will promptly call you, provide you with their direct toll free telephone number, all your options, and up-to-the-minute specials . Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your luxury tour vacation . Full Service, Worldwide Luxury Cruise Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury cruise vacation with our full service Virtuoso Luxury Cruise Consultants. We can arrange every little detail of your cruise vacation, including air, excursions, and pre-cruise and post-cruise arrangements, to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree vacation experience at no extra charge! When you complete our " Luxury Cruise Vacation Planner" our Virtuoso--Travel Consultants will promptly call you, provide you with their direct toll free telephone number, all your options, and up-to-the-minute specials . Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your luxury cruise . 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Italy travel Ischia -

Ischia guide - Ischia travel guide - Ischia - guide to Ischia - Italy travel Ischia - airport Ischia - Italy Ischia guide - Ischia travel guide - Ischia - guide to Ischia - Italy travel Ischia - airport Ischia - Italy - travel links Wednesday, 28 December 05 - 11:43 pm Top destinations Art Cities Beaches Lakes Mountains Spa Resorts Regions guides Abruzzo & Molise Alto Adige Apulia Basilicata & Calabria Campania Emilia Romagna Friuli Venezia Giulia Lazio Liguria Lombardy Marche Piedmont Sardinia Sicily Tuscany Trentino Umbria Valle d'Aosta Veneto Cities guides Aosta Asiago & 7 comuni Asolo Assisi Belluno & Dolomiti Venete Bologna Bolzano Brescia Bressanone Caorle & Bibione Capri Catania Cervia & Cesenatico's Beaches Chianti, Valdelsa, Valdarno Comacchio's Beaches Cortina d'Ampezzo Courmayeur M.Bianco Elba & Capraia Florence Garda Lake - Eastern Side Grosseto & Maremma Ischia Jesolo & Eraclea Como Lake & Lecco Lucca & Garfagnana Madonna di Campiglio Merano Milan Monte Cervino Montecatini Terme Naples Padua Palermo Pisa Portofino & Tigullio Gulf Ragusa Ravenna's Beaches Ravenna City Rimini, Riccione, Cattolica Riviera dei Fiori: Sanremo & Imperia Riviera del Brenta Rome Rovereto Rovigo e Delta del Po San Martino di Castrozza, Primiero, Val Venoi Siena Siracusa Sorrento & Amalfi Taormina Terme e Colli Euganei Turin Trento Treviso Val di Fassa Val di Fiemme Venice Verona Versilia & Viareggio Vicenza Ischia Hotels Reserve Ischia Hotels: save up 70% on rooms! Compare offers & book on line at hotel's web sites. About Campania Pompei: in search of a lost civilization The city of Pompeii was established in the XII century B.C. and enjoyed great prosperity from the point of view of culture, economy and city planning until 79 A.D. when the terrible eruption of Vesuvius covered everything in lava and small stones... The Cilento, discover its charm and beauty The Cilento is the southernmost part of Campania, before Basilicata, between the plains of the river Sele to the north... The Sorrento Peninsula, between the mythical sea and romantic land. The setting of a scene from the Odyssey and a land crossed by Grand Tour poets and scholars, the Sorrento Peninsula is a magical place... Teatro San Carlo - Napoli In this site you will find the complete schedule of the famous Neapolitan Opera House ... Ischia Guide Italy THINGS TO KNOW Getting there History and culture THINGS TO SEE Churches, Museums and Monuments Places and charm THINGS TO TRY Eating and Drinking Shopping Hotels and lodgings THINGS TO EXPERIENCE Events La Dolce Vita ITINERARIES A tour around the island villages Ischia's best beaches Directories of Web Sites Ischia Italy Ischia Hotels Downloads Ischia Guide in PDF format Ischia, the largest of the Neapolitan islands, with its volcanic origins and its thermal spas, some of the largest in the world: 67 fumaroles, 103 springs and 29 thermal spas that can help to cure illnesses, tone up your body and spirit or simply help you relax. In this charming place, travelers will be pleased with the climate and the fantastic landscape, the hospitality and the strong perfumes you can smell all round the island. Getting there The origins of the largest Neapolitan island: from the first colonization by the Greeks to the boom of thermal spa tourism... >>> History and culture The origins of the largest Neapolitan island: from the first colonization by the Greeks to the boom of thermal spa tourism... >>> Churches, Museums and Monuments The island’s artistic and architectural heritage: Mediterranean churches and fortified castles... >>> Places and charm From Mount Epomeo to the thermal spas: Ischia is full of nature oases... >>> Eating and Drinking Traditional Ischia cooking preserves its simple origins with pride: simple dishes and ingredients all coming from the island... >>> Shopping On Ischia you can satisfy your every desire: fashion boutiques, small craft shops, wine bars and food shops... >>> Hotels and lodgings All kinds of solutions for an unforgettable holiday: Ischia’s thermal hotels , rural country guesthouses, bed & breakfast places, campsites... >>> Events All the island’s festivals: religious celebrations that have a high scenic impact... >>> La Dolce Vita From Hollywood stars from the sixties to the elitist thermal tourism... >>> A tour around the island villages From Ischia Ponte to Casamicciola Terme, going through Brano, Serrara Fontana, Forio and Lacco Ameno... >>> Ischia's best beaches A tour of the best beaches that can be discovered on your tour around the island’s coastline... >>> More guides on: Region: Campania Campania Cities: Sorrento & Amalfi Capri Naples Click to view the map Servizi per le aziende Acquista la tua visibilità su Travel Plan Netplan Travel Network Travel Guides ItalyTravel Guides | VeniceTravel Guide | FlorenceTravel Guide | RomeTravel Guide | MilanTravel Guide | NaplesTravel Guide | Palermo Travel Guide | Taormina Travel Guide | SicilyTravel Guide | Cortina Travel Guide | VeronaTravel Guide | JesoloTravel Guide | Lucca & Garfagnana Travel Guide | Treviso Travel Guide | Ischia Travel Guide | Capri Travel Guide | Sorrento Travel Guide | Amalfi Travel Guide | More Italy Travel guides ... Hotels & Lodging Italy Hotels | Venice Hotels | Florence Hotels | Rome Hotels | Milan Hotels | Naples Hotels | Taormina Hotels | Verona Hotels | Morehotels ... Italy Hotels | Venice Hotels | Florence Hotels | Rome Hotels | Milan Hotels | Naples Hotels | Taormina Hotels | Capri Hotels | Ischia Hotels | More Italy Hotels ... Hotels | Italy Hotels | Venice Hotels | Florence Hotels | Rome Hotels | Milan Hotels | Naples Hotels | Taormina Hotels | Verona Hotels | Mestre Hotels | Treviso Hotels | More Italy Hotels ... Venice Hotels | Cortina Hotels | Asolo Hotels | Hotel Golden Rome | Hotel San Niccolò - Chianti | Hotel Il Granduca Florence | Venice Travel Guide | Venice Booking Center | Venice Hotels Servizi per le aziende - Netplan Travel Network Links A1 A2 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1 H2 I1 I2 J1 K1 L1 M1 N1 O1 P1 Q1 R1 S1 T1 U1 V1 W1 X1 Y1 Z1 AA1 AB1 AC1 AD1 AE1 AF1 AG1 AH1 AI1 AJ1 AK1 AL1 AM1 AN1 AN2 AO1 AP1 AQ1 AR1 AS1 AT1 AU1 AV1 AW1 AX1 AY1 AZ1 BA1 BB1 Italy Travel Guide © 2004 Fatto da: Netplan

Family Vacation Vegas has

Guide to Vegas HOME HOTELS AIR-HOTEL SHOWS My Account | Customer Support Gambling Tours Dining Golf Weddings Spas Attractions Nightlife Vegas Guide More Inside the Guide: - Insider Tips - Vegas' Popular Holidays - L.A.Drive Tips - Weddings You Also Might Be Interested In: - Dining - Sports Books - Spas - Shows - Transportation For your Vegas Vacation: - Book a Room - Book an Air/Hotel Package - Buy a Show Ticket - Book a Tour - Buy a Nightclub Ticket - Buy a Tee Time Vegas Guide Occasion: Family Vacation Vegas has something for everyone, even the kids. So Mom, Dad and the kids can enjoy the G-rated attractions in Vegas. Q: Where can I safely drop off my young children in Vegas while I gamble away their college fund? A: Hey, we would never recommend dropping off kids anywhere or gambling away their college fund, especially when there are a number of attractions for the whole family in Vegas, including GameWorks and Circus Circus' Adventuredome . Kids can kill a lot of hours at these places (and considering the prices of some new games, they might kill their own college fund). You also can spend a relaxing hour taking in the IMAX movies at the Luxor. If you do want to gamble, though, there are a handful of hotels that offer child-care facilities on property. Q: My sister and husband are coming to Vegas with their 1-year-old. Will we be allowed in the casinos? Where can I take them? We want to show them at least one casino, but we have baby considerations, such as feeding, napping, strollers, etc. What can you recommend? A: They'll be allowed to bring the baby into the casino if they're just passing through (to get to a restaurant, shopping, etc.) But babies and blackjack don't mix, so don't plan to sit down with a toddler at the tables. Also, the Bellagio does not allow children inside unless they're registered hotel guests, attending a show or dining with the family at one of the restaurants. Take it from us, the best places to take a baby would be shopping or to the many attractions Vegas offers. Try the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay (kids under 4 are free), the Forum Shops at Caesars or gardens at the Flamingo with live African penguins, Chilean flamingos, Mandarin ducks and Koi fish. Youngsters will definitely get a kick out of the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage. Q: We are coming to Vegas with our 8- and 12-year-olds. What is there to do for kids this age that will still be fun for us? A: Vegas may be Sin City, but there are still plenty of things that the whole family can enjoy: magician Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo, " Tournament of Kings " dinner theater at the Excalibur, the World's Largest Permanent Circus at Circus Circus, buffets , hiking at Red Rock Canyon , the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay and the IMAX Theater at the Luxor. If you want to get some shopping done, Caesars offers something for the whole family. Stop and shop at the Forum Shops where the kids can enjoy the Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain shows and aquarium . Some kids also enjoy seeing the Hoover Dam . Q: What is the best hotel to stay in with our kids? A: Location rules in this category. Check out New York-New York for its Manhattan Express roller coaster , Excalibur ( Merlin's Magic Motion Machines and Fantasy Faire midway),Luxor ( IMAX Theater , arcade), Mandalay Bay ( Shark Reef ) and finally Circus Circus , which has the most kid-centric activities per square foot. Q: What is the best free stuff to do with our kids in Vegas? A: There are so many free attractions in Vegas, it's hard to know where to begin. First, you have the sheer wonder of just wandering around the Strip. There also are the gardens at the Flamingo , the erupting Mirage volcano , the Fountains at Bellagio , the "Masquerade Show in the Sky" in the Masquerade Village at the Rio and the high-flying Circus acts at Circus Circus. You also won't want to miss M&M's World at the Showcase Mall, Mount Charleston , MGM Grand Lion Habitat , Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat (kids under 10 free) and White Tiger Habitat at the Mirage. For more, check our free attractions page. That ought to keep you busy. Q: We want a fun place to take the kids to eat. Any suggestions? A: Vegas boasts a lot of dining alternatives that are great for the kids. The themed Rainforest Cafe lets you dine among a 10,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and animatronic animals, and movie memorabilia is on display at Planet Hollywood . If your kid is a picky eater, you can't go wrong with a buffet . You might want to call ahead to find out children's prices and special offers. Back to the Vegas Guide VEGAS.com guards your privacy and security. We're certified by Verisign . Advertise | Employment | Privacy and cookies policy | About VEGAS.com | Site map All contents © 1998 - 2005

Switzerland Travel Guide, climate:

Switzerland Travel Guide - Information and Advice Switzerland Travel Guide Information and Advice Switzerland Pictures | Switzerland Map Guerba can take you walking in the very best parts of Switzerland with three itineraries ranging from 8 to 13 days. Guerba Tours | Swiss Alpine Trails | High Trails of Mont Blanc | Swiss Walking and Montreux Jazz | Free Brochure Switzerland Travel Guide, climate: Best: June-Sept for summer activities and Dec-March for winter sports. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights: Zurich or Lucerne for a romantic weekend, or Zermatt for a sports break. Recommended: 10 days to get totally knackered at your choice of activity. Switzerland Festivals Guide: Snow freaks have plenty of wacky winter festivals to attend, such as: pop festivals at 1,800m in deep snow [Fuchstival, mid March or Kleine Scheidegg early April]; dog sled racing [Zinal, mid March or Chandolin early April]; Waterslide Contest [Bettmeralp, late March or Valais, April]; downhill mountain bike races [on snow] from 3,600m [Allalin, early April]... Feb/March, Fasnacht [carnival] - especially colourful in Basel, but makes an appearance elsewhere too. July, Montreux Jazz Festival. August 1, Swiss National Day - with various activities including fireworks. For some precise dates see: European Festivals or Arts Festiva ls . Activities Guide: Hiking: With magnificent views of mountains, flower-carpeted alpine valleys, waterfalls and superbly organised and supported trails, this is a must-trek destination. Possibilities are too many to list with 50,000 kms of footpaths out there! Biking: There are over 150 well designed mountain bike routes in Switzerland, ranging from the easy to the insane, and all with staggering views. For regular bikes there are over 3,000 kms of track. Inline Skating: Around 600 kms of specially asphalted, reasonably flat, scenic routes , such as the Rhine, the Rhone and the Mittelland, make this possibly the world's best skating destination. Windsurfing: Wind can be erratic due to altitude or rock interference, but some popular spots are these lakes: Leman, Bieler, Urner, Alpenmacher, Maggiore [north], Lugano. Canoeing: The Muota River [Schwyz] and the Doubs [Jura] are most wanted. White-water rafting: The Rhine and Saane rivers are well known but the Alps provides many more possibilities. Mountaineering: Zermatt, Pontresina and Meiringen are areas favoured by serious climbers. Gliding: yet another use for those huge hunks of rock...hang and paragliding are well provided for in most larger resorts. Snow sports: Vast quantities of the white stuff are just about everywhere of course, but what makes this country a bit special is a] doing the white thing in the shadow of a truly awesome mountain, like Zermatt/Matterhorn, and b] that in some places the snow is around nearly all year. Zermatt and Verbier are best targets for skiing and nightlife. Wellness: With pure alpine air and a teutonic attitude to health, Switzerland offers a mass of spas, saunas and therapy centres in stunning locations. More unusual activities: Switzerland goes in for some off-the-wall sports too, such as canyoning , zorbing [rolling down a mountainside in huge transparent ball] or house running [abseiling down tall buildings at high speed]. Interlaken and Lucerne are centres for these mad moments. Switzerland Star Guide: Monuments * Shopping and souvenirs *** Walkability ***** Food Quality and Variety **** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value ** Beaches lakes Wildlife *** Landscape ***** Local People ** Architecture **** Safety ***** Nightlife and Clubbing **** Health Problems none Museums **** Accommodation Guide: Tourist offices are efficient in listing local rooms/hotels available, often with boards placed outside rail stations. They also hand out 'guest cards' that secure various discounts. Hotels are not necessarily expensive but hostels are, of course, the cheapest option , though still good quality. Campsites are good too, mostly open only in summertime. Free camping is not permitted. Cuisine Guide: If you're a non-dairy eater then you'll have a big problem if you travel in Switzerland, though vegetarians will be unusually fulfilled. Cheese appears frequently and is the star of Swiss specialities like fondue [dipping bread or potato into melted cheese], raclette [similar] and rosti [cheese-topped grated potatoes]. Lake fish are a popular dish and vegetarian restaurants common. Those on a budget can find good value set lunch menus or self-service restaurants in department stores. Why Travel to Switzerland? Yet another quirky little European country, Switzerland is unique, spectacular and well worth a trip or two. Clichés perhaps, but some of the best Swiss experiences involve incredible mountains and lakes, stunning sports - summer or winter, stylish, lively towns, quaint hillside villages , and all tied together with a supremely efficient transport system . In addition it's super-safe , just about everyone speaks two or three languages , including English, and it's loaded with terrific beers, rich food and amazing pastries and chocolate . Is that a good thing? You choose. Downside: - this not a cheap destination . - don't try anything remotely illegal , [such as crossing the road when the little man is red], this is a very law-abiding state. - Swiss people - about 65% Germanic - though extremely polite, are, like their climate, cool towards foreigners. Where to travel in Switzerland: South-west [Lake Geneva]: ** Geneva , attractively situated at the southwest tip of Lake Geneva and near France, is cultured and metropolitan, but more of a business and diplomatic centre than party place. It does, however, offer a great selection of museums and some decent architecture including the ubiquitous old town. ***Lausanne, on the other hand and the other side of the lake, really knows how to play, due partly to the university's youth contribution. Steeply tiered, it 's stylish and pleasantly walkable [going down or along the waterfront] and alive with varied street action and nutty cafés. On the east side of Lake Geneva lie three smaller locations of interest: *Vevey is a small, appealing market town with a lively Street Artist's Festival in late August; *Montreux , 6km down the road is bijou but wealth-oriented and not particularly hospitable apart from July's Jazz Festival; the 13thC ***Chateau de Chillon is the star attraction in this area, a beautifully located and well-preserved castle popularised by Lord Byron's ' Prisoner of Chillon .' The middle [Mittelland ]: **Bern's tiny, quiet, riverside elegance is not at all what you would expect of Switzerland's capital. The old town's cobbled streets and arcaded buildings date from the 11thC to the 18thC, and there is life there still... Just south of Bern the Lake Thun area affords castle freaks the opportunity to pleasure themselves repeatedly on fine 12th and 13thC fortifications. ***Lucerne [Luzern] is more than just another gorgeous Swiss city. Mix lake with river with mountain with alpine meadows with well-preserved old town, throw in some stunning new architecture, a lively youth-oriented street culture, plenty of adventure sports [mostly 1 hour by train uphill to Engelberg ], simmer gently and you've got the young traveller's #1 Swiss role model. The area also provides the country's most spectacular ferry rides. *Basel is wealthy, cultured and convenient, with a pleasant old town and fine museums, but too preoccupied with business to be much fun. ***Zurich, up north, is a far, gnomic cry from it's stuffy banking image these days. Gorgeously located astride a river and boxed in by Lake Zurich and distant snowy mountains, the city is a buzzing hive of creativity and charm, with a lovely medieval old town and a huge variety of imaginative new establishments to relieve you of your wad. The miniscule principality of Liechtenstein is two hours away but offers little of interest. The Alps mountains [south] : *** The Jungfrau Region towards the country's centre offers the highest and most scenic rail trip, connecting three peaks, the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, though some argue that the Schilthorn cable-car is cheaper, quicker and more scenic. **Murren and **Grindelwald towns are good bases for both winter and summer sports, but Interlaken is too busy to be enjoyable for those who value tranquility. ***The Matterhorn is a Swiss icon and the original model for Toblerone chocolate, while traffic-free *** Zermatt - at it's foot - is the place to stay and base for any number of staggering view experiences, including year-round snow sports and the day-long, panoramic Glacier Express train from Zermatt to St Moritz. **St Moritz. Very posh, very beautiful, and very expensive, though St Moritz-Bad would be less bad for your wallet than snooty St Moritz-Dorf. Ticino, the Italian region, south of the Alps: Warmer and culturally very different from the rest of Switzerland , Ticino sports palm trees, piazzas and pizzas along with the usual lakes, woody hills and medieval old towns. Prime targets are **Locarno and ***Lugano, both on lakes, with the latter offering more views, style and sights. Switzerland Tours Tour operators offering travel around Switzerland can be found in our listings here: Switzerland 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 Europe Map Visas: EU citizens and nationals of USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan do not need a visa for up to 3 months, though you should carry your passport. Electricity Guide: Electric sockets are 230v and are built for three round pin plugs but will accept the usual 2 round pin plugs , fortunately. Safety Guide: Switzerland is just about the safest place on the planet. Apart from overeating and snow accidents the biggest dangers are likely to be altitude sickness [AMS] or hypothermia if you overestimate your climbing/hiking ability . Language: Not a problem in this country which has more multi-lingual ability than any other on earth . A twisted German is the dominant tongue and French second, but everyone can handle English. Local Transport: Swiss transport is brilliant and trains are the way to go if available. InterRail or Eurail passes offer well-discounted travel, though not on a few spectacular mountain routes. Lake ferries are famously scenic [only June-Sept]. International Transport: Roads and railways from the rest of Europe are superb , while boating from Germany, France and Italy is also possible . Buses are a less comfortable option. Money: Contrary to expectations, the local currency is the Swiss Franc [also used by their little brother Liechtenstein], but most places in tourist areas will accept the Euro. Tipping is not necessary anywhere as 15% service charge is applied to just about everything including taxis. Costs are on the high side, though cheapish travel in Switzerland is possible if you eat fast food, use a railpass and stay in hostels. Pictures are courtesy of Switzerland Tourism. If you plan to travel Switzerland you may find these other Bugbog guides useful: Germany Travel Guide Austria Travel Guide France Travel Guide Italy Travel Guide Czech Republic Guide Hungary Travel Guide Belgium Travel Guide Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog

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