EUROPE TRAVEL FEATURES Tasting

MSNBC - Europe Front Page Skip navigation Travel Active Travel Holiday Travel Luxury Travel Winter Travel Business Travel Family Travel Travel Tips Destinations Cultural Travel Golf Travel Your World Photos U.S. News World News Business Sports Entertainment Tech / Science Health Weather Travel Blogs Etc. Local News Newsweek Multimedia News Video Most Popular NBC NEWS MSNBC TV Today Show Nightly News Meet the Press Dateline NBC MSNBC Home Travel Europe Tourists visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Cathedral in the "Square of Miracle" August 24, 2002 in Pisa, Italy. The tower reopened in December 2001 after 10 years of stabilization work. Italian Dreams History, architecture, art and more - great Italian destinations in the hosting country of the 2006 Winter Olympics. SLIDE SHOW Franco Origlia / Getty Images Cross-border skiing in Europe Italy readying security for Turin Olympics Slide show: European Escapes Italian golf - at its most Italian! MORE EUROPE TRAVEL FEATURES Tasting Italy: Indulge in Piedmont Get away for some great Euro-shopping Spotlight on: Dubrovnik Austria's alive with action Spotlight on: Florence The village resorts of Austria that aren't Valencia's medieval center Low-fare airlines boom in Europe Magnificent London Italy's jaw-dropping Dolomites Go to Porto for the port, stay for more! Visiting Avebury henge Hungary for luxury? Find it here! The shopping capital of Scotland Visit Germany's rebuilt capital Pamplona: Spain's morning run Bullish on Pamplona, Spain Europe-bound? Pack these guides Live like a king in Spain's paradors Chur: Charm in the Swiss Alps The grandest places to visit in Scotland 10 great European drives Southern Spain escapes EU's new passenger rights Three days in Rome Video: Smart Travels with Rudy Maxa Travel Forecasts Weather.com Forecasts and Conditions Business Traveler Forecasts Plan your Vacation: Destination Finder Check your flight status, airport conditions MSNBC's Weekly Travel Newsletter TRAVEL TOOLS Currency converter Traveler's health warnings from the CDC Travel warnings from the State Department Airport status map from the FAA Cover | U.S. News | World News | Business | Sports | Tech/Science | Entertainment | Travel | Health | Blogs Etc. | Weather | Local News Newsweek | Today Show | Nightly News | Dateline NBC | Meet the Press | MSNBC TV About MSNBC.com | Newsletters | RSS | Podcasts | Help | News Tools | Jobs at MSNBC.com | Contact Us | Terms & Conditions | Privacy © 2005 MSNBC.com MSN Privacy | Legal Feedback | Help

cruise vacation! Nearly 17,000

Cruise Vacation Travel Planning Through Cruise Travel Agents Why Plan your Cruise Vacation With a Travel Agent? Because travel agents, particularly those affiliated with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), are the traveler's best resource for planning a cruise vacation! Nearly 17,000 travel agencies across the U.S. and Canada are affiliated with CLIA. These travel agencies join CLIA for sales and cruise product training, for information on current cruise vacation trends and to be kept informed by CLIA's 19 member cruise lines on cruise news and special offers. By being a CLIA affiliate these travel agencies have chosen to specialize in cruise vacations and, by doing so, they are especially qualified in helping you choose the perfect cruise and getting you the best vacation value. CLIA affiliated agencies take advantages of many CLIA programs in order to better serve their customers including: Attending up to 13 three-hour CLIA classroom training programs Viewing up to 14 CLIA training videos Completing CLIA'S internet based training courses Studying the CLIA cruise vacation textbook Attending CLIA's advanced training academy - The CLIA Institute Attending CLIA endorsed cruise conference for training seminars and familiarization with cruise lines and cruise ships. And, many travel agencies are proud to have CLIA Certified Cruise Counsellors on staff. Earning the designation of an Accredited Cruise Counsellor or Master Cruise Counsellor, these travel agents have completed a rigorous curriculum of cruise sales training and have personally sailed, or inspected, a wide variety of cruise ships. By working with a CLIA Certified Cruise Counsellor, you can be confident that many of the cruise vacations they recommend are based on personal experience. To find a cruise specialist in your area, look for the dark blue and gold CLIA seal, which designates an "Official Travel Agency of the Cruise Industry". Or, click onto the Cruise Expert Locator on this web site to find a CLIA affiliated travel agency and a Certified Cruise Counsellor. Our last bit of advice - take a vacation from planning your vacation - visit a CLIA affiliated travel agency soon because - You haven't lived until you've cruised! Search for any city or US zip code Search by Destinations All Destinations Africa - Southern Alaska Antarctica Australia/New Zealand Bahamas Baltic/Russia Bermuda Black Sea British Isles/Ireland Canary Islands/North Africa Caribbean Costa Rica Cruises to Nowhere East Coast Europe - Western Far East/Orient Greek Isles/Aegean Hawaii India Israel/Egypt Mediterranean - West Mexico New England/Canada Panama Canal Red Sea/Suez Canal River - Amazon River - China River - Europe Scandinavia, North Cape South America South Pacific/Tahiti Southeast Asia Trans-Atlantic Trans-Pacific West Coast World Cruises Search by Cruise Lines All Cruise Lines Carnival Cruise Line Celebrity Cruises Costa Cruises Crystal Cruises Cunard Line Disney Cruise Line Holland America Line MSC Cruises Norwegian Coastal Voyage Norwegian Cruise Line Oceania Cruises Orient Lines Princess Cruises Radisson Seven Seas Cruises Royal Caribbean International Seabourn Cruise Line Silversea Cruises Swan Hellenic Windstar Cruises Search by Length of Cruise All Cruise Lengths 3-7 days 8-14 days 15-21 days 22+ days Why choose a CLIA Certified Cruise Counsellor? Find a CLIA affiliated travel agent in your area Search Tips Site designed by RampageInteractive / Web Services by TheDestination Group Digital

Germany Travel

Germany Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Germany Germany Story-book charm, cultural clout and a whole lot of gravitas. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money General RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Germany Berlin Cologne Dusseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Hanover Munich Stuttgart View Map Click here Feature Attraction Aachen Dom Aachen's main draw is its Dom, with Charlemagne's exquisite Pfalzkapelle (palace chapel) at its core. One of the best-preserved examples of Carolingian ... more Germany wears its riches well: elegant big-city charm, small picture-postcard towns, pagan-inspired harvest festivals, a wealth of art and culture and the perennial pleasures of huge tracts of forest, delightful castles and fine wine and beer are all there for the savouring. Deep in the heart of Europe, Germany has had a seminal impact on Continental history. From Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire to Otto von Bismarck's German Reich, Nazism and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, no other nation has moulded Europe the way Germany has - for better or worse. When To Go Germany is a fine destination year-round, but most people visit between May and September when sunny skies are most likely and much of life moves outdoors. Beer gardens and cafes bustle at all hours; outdoor events and festivals enliven cities and villages; and hiking, cycling and swimming are popular pursuits - at least as long as the weather plays along. Remember that rain is a possibility in any month. The flipside of summer travel is, of course, larger crowds at museums and other attractions. Accommodation needn't be hard to come by unless you're drawn to beach and mountain resorts popular with German holiday-makers. The shoulder seasons (from March to May and from October to early November) bring fewer tourists and often surprisingly pleasant weather. In April and May, when flowers and fruit trees are in bloom, it can be mild and sunny. Indian summers that stretch well into autumn are not uncommon. With the exception of winter sports, activities between November and early March are likely to focus more on culture and city life. In these months, skies tend to be gloomy and the mercury often drops below freezing. On the plus side, there are fewer visitors and shorter queues (except in the winter resorts). Just pack the right clothes and keep in mind that there are only six to eight hours of daylight. In December the sun (if there is any) sets around 15:30 . Factoid Smellpol When the files of the former East German secret service, the Stasi, were opened up, they were found to contain, among other things, cotton wool swabs of dissidents' body odour, kept in bottles for use by sniffer dogs. SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

South America Travel

Central and South American Travel Schedule Travel Lifelong Learning UW Libraries Resources On Wisconsin Career Mentoring On the Road Founders' Day HOME GET CONNECTED LEARN & DISCOVER ALUMNI BENEFITS JOIN/RENEW ABOUT WAA UW-MADISON Central/South American Travel Schedule Get travel information sent to your home - with no obligation. Just check the box next to the trip(s) that interest you, then fill out the mailing information at the bottom of the page. A brochure for the indicated packages(s) will arrive shortly thereafter. Brochures are printed about eight months in advance. If you are interested in being added to our travel mailing list, but do not want any information at this time, click here . 2006 Jan. 27-Feb. 7 Cruise the Panama Canal March 9-19 Amazon March 27-April 9 Treasures of South America June 24-July 3 Galapagos Islands Voyage SOLD OUT July 19-28 Costa Rica Family Adventure Nov. 5-12 Mayan Splendor in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula To finish, just fill out the mailing information below, click the submit button, and WAA will send you more information on the indicated travel package(s). Asking for a brochure in no way obligates you to purchasing a travel package. IMPORTANT: To ensure that you receive all the information you requested, please take a moment to make sure that all the trips you want information about are still properly checked. Mailing Information (please double check to make sure everything is correct) First name Last name Address City State/Province Zip/Postal code Country Phone E-mail address WAA Membership number (Can be found on your membership card or on the label of the most recent copy of On Wisconsin Magazine) Check this box if you are not interested in receiving specific trip information at this time, but would like to be added to the general WAA travel mailing list. To receive information on future tours related to particular areas of interest, check all that apply: Astronomy Adventure/Rafting Family Athletic Service/Volunteer Educational Young Alumni All Please make sure you provide a complete and up-to-date mailing address so that all materials arrive promptly. Schedules Full 2005 Calendar Full 2006 Calendar Family Travel Athletic Travel Adventure Travel Service and Learning Tours by Location United States/Canada Central/South America Europe Africa Asia Australia/New Zealand Request a Tour Brochure Other Links Frequently Asked Questions Travel Scrapbooks and Diaries Travel Insurance Our Travel Suppliers Athletic Travel Travel Tips WUD Travel Adventure Film Series Contact WAA Travel For more information about WAA's travel opportunities, contact Director of Alumni Travel Sheri Hicks by e-mail or call toll-free 888-WAA-TRAVEL. Personal Vacation Club Not seeing just the right tour? WAA is pleased to recommend additional travel options through the Personal Vacation Club . Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | About uwalumni.com

RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE |

Russia Travel Guide: Russian Customs TRAVEL IN RUSSIA | TOUR GUIDES | ESCORTED TOURS | SHORE EXCURSIONS | VISAS | CLIENTS | RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE | HOTELS The State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg City of St. Petersburg Russia Travel Tips | St. Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide City of Moscow Cultural capital of Russia Peter and Paul Fortress Kanal Griboedova Kazan Cathedral Headquarters' Arch Michael's Castle Intro Russian Visa Russian Embassies Money Customs Things to Bring Laptop to Russia FAQ's Russia Customs Regulations Russian customs regulations are complicated and highly discretionary. 30% duty is required to export personal item(s) worth over US $10,000. Moreover, additional export duties apply to any items determined by customs officials to be of commercial use. Certain items, such as caviar, medications, jewelry, precious or semi-precious stones, or metals and fuel may be exported duty-free in limited amounts . As computers' hard-drives may be scanned by customs officials, it is recommended to present your laptops to customs at least 1,5 hours prior to you departure. The same goes for recordable storage media such as CDs, DVD-RWs, etc. Buying and Exporting Antiques All items which are of historical or cultural value - icons , antiques , paintings , coins , etc. - may be taken out of Russia only with prior written approval of the Ministry of Culture and payment of 100% duty. The process of getting the official approval may last from one to several weeks. When you are purchasing an antique item be sure to enquire from the retailer about the export status of your purchase. In all cases get an official receipt proving the fact of purchase and clearly indicating price, date and place of purchase. This receipt will later be handy when dealing with the customs official. Bear in mind that payment of the duty does not automatically make your goods eligible for export, and in most cases antique pieces may either be confiscated at the border or you may be asked to return them to your accompanying person. It is best to ask someone you know in Russia to accompany you to the airport. This way should your antique items not be allowed to be taken out of Russia you will be able to leave them with someone you know. This person may later try to get a refund from the unscrupulous retailer. Taking Money out of Russia You can bring as much money as you want to Russia. However, taking it out of the country can be tricky. You can take home only US $3,000 (or equivalent in other currencies) without any permission. For any amount over US $3,000 a special export permission is required. It can be obtained at any official currency exchange office unless you had the amount declared when entering Russia and can present your original signed declaration to the customs officer. A convenient way for taking money home is purchasing travelers' checks (like American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa, etc.). Russian Customs Declaration When first entering Russia be sure to fill out a customs declaration form . You will need to declare the amount of currency you are bringing into the country, as well as all valuable items you carry (jewelry, icons, art collections, laptops, cell phones, etc.). Make sure that the declaration is officially stamped and signed by a customs officer on entry to prevent difficulties when taking your currency and valuables after your travel to Russia is over. Remember that a signature by a customs official is not sufficient - you need to get a stamp on your declaration for it to be valid. Otherwise you will not be able to prove that you possessed that diamond ring or a cellular phone prior to your visit. Keep your stamped customs declaration for the entire duration of your stay in Russia - you will need it to prove how much money and what valuables you had with you when arriving in Russia. Additional Information For additional advice on Russian customs regulations, visit our Travel in Russia: Frequently Asked Questions section. Official website of the Russian Federal Customs Service : www.customs.ru/en/ Official capital of Russia Red Square Grand Kremlin Palace Ivan the Great Tower Christ the Savior Kremlin Towers 2005 Optima , B. Konyushennaya St., 9 suite 9. St. Petersburg 191186 Russia. Tel/fax: +1 253 5507816 E-mail SITE MAP | TERMS | FAQ's | GLOBAL RESOURCES