Mexico Travel

Mexico Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Mexico Mexico A country so lively that even The Day of the Dead is a hoot. 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 Mexico Acapulco Cabo San Lucas Cancun Cozumel Mazatlan Mexico City Puerto Vallarta San José del Cabo View Map Click here Feature Attraction Sierra de San Francisco Sierra de San Francisco is the gateway to spectacular pre-Hispanic rock art and as such has been declared a Unesco World Heritage site. At Cueva Pintada, ... more Mexico is a traveller's paradise, crammed with a multitude of opposing identities: desert landscapes, snow-capped volcanoes, ancient ruins, teeming industrialised cities, time-warped colonial towns, glitzy resorts, lonely beaches and a world-beating collection of flora and fauna. This mix of modern and traditional, the clichéd and the surreal, is the key to Mexico's charm, whether your passion is throwing back margaritas, listening to howler monkeys, surfing the Mexican Pipeline, scrambling over Mayan ruins or expanding your Day of the Dead collection of posable skeletons. Hurricane Damage/Crime in Mexico City Mexico's Yucatan peninsular has been hit hard by Hurricane Wilma, causing widespread flooding and property damage. Travellers are advised to check local information services before venturing to the Cancun/Yucatan region as many hotels will remain closed while undergoing repairs. Crime in Mexico continues to plague travellers, particularly in Mexico City. The incidence of violent crime and, more specifically, sexual crimes against women is on the up. Taxi theft, armed theft, pickpocketing, purse snatching, credit-card fraud and ATM robbery are frequently reported. A spate of recent kidnappings have targeted travellers in the Nuevo Laredo region of northern Mexico. When To Go Mexico is enjoyable year-round, but October to May is generally the most pleasant time to visit. The May-September period can be hot and humid, particularly in the south, and inland temperatures can approach freezing during December-February. Facilities are often heavily booked during Semana Santa (the week before Easter) and Christmas/New Year, the peak domestic travel periods. Mexico's climate has something for everyone: it's hot and humid along the coastal plains, and drier and more temperate at higher elevations inland (Guadalajara or Mexico City, for example). Try to avoid Mexico's southern coast between July and September - the resorts are decidedly soggy and jam-packed, as July-August is also the peak holiday months for foreign visitors. Factoid Pyramid Envy While Egypt might be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about pyramids, Mexico is actually home to the world's largest pyramid. The Quetzalcóatl Pyramid at Cholula de Rivadiais measures 3.3 million-cubic meters (4.3 million cubic yards) compared to The Great Pyramid of Giza's 2,600,600 cubic metres (3.4 million cubic yards). SPONSORED LINKS Enquire 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

Japan Travel

Japan.com - Travel - Travel in Japan - Japan Travel Search : on the web in Japan.com Powered by Home News Business Travel Travel Cities Flying to Japan Hotel Japan Overview Airports Climate Weather - Tokyo - Osaka - Other Cities Leisure Technology Living in Japan Study Job in Japan Immigration you@japan.com Login Address Password © 2001 Japan Inc. Communications K.K. All Rights Reserved. webmasters click here SONY Cyber-shot Digital Camera T1 (JE) Newly designed optical 3x zoom. Large 2.5-inch LCD and 5.1-million-pixels CCD. Meet the new, fully flat Cyber-shot with high-performance functions in a compact body : Click here to see more... JAPAN.COM FRIENDS Sign up for FREE and meet ADVERTISEMENT Free Newsletters Email : J@pan Inc Newsletter Wireless Watch Gadget Watch Terrie's Take Music Media Watch More NEWSLETTERS English OK Key Areas: » Kichijoji » Shinjuku » Harajuku » Omotesando » Shibuya » Ebisu » Shinagawa » Roppongi » Azabu » Akasaka Overview Japan, like any country, isn't something you can describe in just a few sentences. Below we have presented just some basic facts about the country, just to get things started. Japan (Nippon or Nihon) The four major islands of Japan are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, covering a total area of 377,829 square kilometers (or 145,880 square miles). According to the National Census of 2000, the total population of Japan was 126.92 million, and there were ten prefectures with more than 3 million residents. The average size for households is approximately 2.7 persons, with the average life expectancy for males being 77.64 years, and 84.62 years for females. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/index.html As of 2000, Japan's highly skilled workforce consisted of 64.46 million workers. The number of unemployed individuals, however, had exceeded 3 million per year for two consecutive years, and stood at 3.2 million. http://www.stat.go.jp/english/1.htm NATURAL FEATURES OF JAPAN The chief feature of the Japanese archipelago is its geological instability, resulting in frequent volcanic activity and earthquakes. Another distinctive characteristic of the topography is the fact that the Japanese archipelago is made up almost entirely of steep mountain districts with very few plains. Mountains and hills account for 73% of the land area, making Japan a very mountainous island country. MAJOR MOUNTAINS Mountains m Prefecture 1. *Fuji-san(Kenga-mine) 3776 Yamanashi Shizuoka 2. Kita-dake (Shirane-san) 3192 Yamanashi 3. Okuhotaka-dake 3190 Nagano Gifu An asterisk denotes a volcano. MAJOR LAKES A small number of large rivers, such as the Ishikarigawa, Shinanogawa, Tonegawa, Kisogawa, Yodogawa, and Chikugogawa, have large deltas at their mouths. A lake is defined as having an area of 10 kms2 or more and according to a 1999 survey, the lakes listed below are three of Japan's largest: lakes m Prefecture 1. Biwa-ko 670.3 Shiga 2. Kasumi-gaura 167.6 Ibaragi 3. Saroma-ko 151.9 Hokkaido FACTS IN BRIEF National Symbols Although Japan does not have an official national anthem, "Kimigayo" (His Majesty's Reign) is considered to be the 'de facto' anthem. Similarly, the "Hinomaru" ("the sun disk") has gained worldwide recognition as the 'national flag' of Japan, although it has never been officially designated as such. There is also no national flower of Japan, although many people believe it to be the cherry blossom for its overwhelming popularity or the chrysanthemum for its association with the Imperial Household. Japan has, however, officially recognized national entities such as the national butterfly (oomurasaki), national bird (pheasant), and the national sport (sumo). The national currency of Japan is yen (¥). Japanese language The Japanese language (known as nihongo in Japanese) has a complex writing system, comprised of Kanji and Kana. Kanji is derived from Chinese characters, with each character holding specific meaning, while Kana is a phonetic syllabry of characters, each character containing no inherent meaning in abstract. Hiragana and Katakana, two types of Kana, are used for locally derived Japanese words, and words initially 'imported' from other languages, respectively. It is not uncommon for students of the language to reach a level of fluency in spoken and written Japanese only after several years of dedicated study. World Heritage Sites in Japan In addition to Yakushima and Shirakami-Sanchi, which were both awarded World Natural Heritage status in December 1992, Japan also boasts nine World Cultural Heritage landmarks, including several well-known temples and shrines (see below). World Cultural Heritage Sites Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (listed in Dec. 1993) Himeji-jo (Dec. 1993) Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities: Dec. 1994) Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (Dec. 1995) Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome: Dec. 1996) Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (Dec. 1996) Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (Dec. 1998) Shrines and Temples of Nikko (Dec. 1999) Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (Dec. 2000) J@pan Inc Magazine Get all the news on the Business - Technology and People in Japan. Aims to tell the real story of Japan's move... http://www.japaninc.com

Disney Vacation Club Reseller

Disney Vacation Club - A guide to DVC Resales and disney time share point charts The Internet's Largest Unofficial On-Line Guide to Walt Disney World Walt Disney World Disney Cruise Line Disneyland Parks Hotels Dining DVC Photos Events Transport Ratings Discounts Site Map Home Page Photos/Video Theme Parks Magic Kingdom Epcot MGM Studios Animal Kingdom Tickets Park Hours/Shows Park Maps Events more.... Resorts/Hotels Disney Resorts Hotel DIScounts Rack Rates Resort Maps Reservations more.... Discussion Forums Ratings/Reviews Abbreviations FAQ's Posting Guidelines Free Registration Disney Cruise Line Itineraries Activities Dining Staterooms Discounts more... DVC/Timeshare DVC Resales DVC Resorts Newcomers FAQ DVC Point Charts Rent/Trade Points Discounts Current Discounts Disney Cruise Line Package Discounts Resort Discounts more... Disneyland CA Theme Parks Accomodations Dining Discounts more... Dining Menus Dining Database Priority Seatings more... Downtown Disney Cirque du Soleil Disney Quest Marketplace Pleasure Island West Side more... Transportation Town Car Service Bus Schedules Monorail Driving to Florida more... Recreation Golf Courses Parasailing/Skiing Richard Petty more... Community Discussion Community Photos Countdown Clock DIS Team more... Upcoming Events Universal Studios The #1 Disney Vacation Club Reseller in the World!! 1-800-550-6493 Disney Vacation Club Information, DVC Resales DVC Main Page DVC Resales Points Calculator Point Charts Rent/Trade Points Rent/Trade FAQ'S DVC FAQ'S DVC Resorts at WDW Room Reports DVC Discussion Forums DVC Frequently Asked Questions Deciding to join the Disney Vacation Club is a big decision. We all went through it, and we had a thousand questions in the process. One of the goals for this web site was to try and answer as many questions as possible here. The DVC bulletin board is also a great source of information (you can reach that board by selecting BOARDS from the menu bar to the left). What are the benefits of membership? How does the point system work? How do I know how many points to purchase? Can I use my points at other resorts? What if I decide not to keep it? What should I know about buying timeshares through a resale company? Still have Questions? What are the benefits of membership? There are a number of benefits to joining the DVC. First, the value of the points that you purchase will never change. The same value you receive today, will be the same value you receive in 30 years. While the cost of staying at a Disney hotel rises by 5-10% per year, this is a great hedge against inflation. Members also receive discounts at Pleasure Island and Disney Water Parks as well as 10% off merchandise at The Disney Store nationwide. DVC offers discounts for a variety of WDW restaurants, recreational programs and tours. A complete list is provided to members when they check in at their resort. Members also receive a 10% discount on Unlimited Park Hopper passes, that allow unlimited admission to all WDW Theme Parks, Water Parks, Pleasure Island and Disney Quest for every day of your stay. These passes must be purchased at a DVC resort during your stay. You also have the benefit of being able to book at your home resort up to 11 months in advance of your check out date. Your home resort is the resort at which you purchased your interest. Current DVC resorts are Old Key West (OKW), Boardwalk Villas (BWV), Vero Beach (VB), Hilton Head Island (HH), Villas at Wilderness Lodge (VWL), Beach Club Villas (BCV) and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is due to open in May, 2004. You can reserve up to 7 months in advance at any DVC location that is not your home resort. Membership in DVC is included with ownership at a DVC Resort. The program is currently scheduled to end on January 31, 2042- for OKW, BWV, VWL and BCV. After that date, the present resorts will revert back to Disney ownership. Ownership rights may be transferred to others in a will or by a direct sale, after consult with DVC. DVC can add additional resorts in the future which could have a different end date. This has recently occurred with Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (SSR), where DVC will offer membership until January 31, 2054. All of the discount programs are subject to change and may be modified at any time, but the DVC resorts and their total points may not be changed. Back to top How does the point system work? When you buy into the DVC, you purchase a certain number of points per year. The current price (retail) is $89 per point, for purchases at SSR -with a 150 point minimum for initial purchase and $84 per point for add-ons at the other DVC resorts-with a 25 point minimum for DVC members. Let's say you purchased 200 points. You would be assigned a "use year" (that is the month of the year in which your points would recycle). For example, my use year is February, and I own 200 points. Every February, 200 points are available for me to use that year. When I decide to book my vacation, I choose the dates I want to visit, and the type of room that I want to stay in. That will determine how many points that visit will cost me. I also have the option of banking my points into the next use year, or borrowing points against next year for this year. Which leads to the next question... Back to top How do I know how many points to purchase? This depends on how often you plan to visit Disney World, what size accommodation you would need, and what times of the year you want to visit. The Disney Information Station maintains a DVC Point Calculator and a DVC Point Chart. I suggest that you enter in some sample information, based on what type of vacation habits you have, to find out how many points would be appropriate for you. Many ask if DVC will change the point requirement for a stay at a DVC resort. While the total number of points sold at the resort is a fixed number and cannot be changed, point needs for stays can be changed. However, if points needed for some nights (or room types) are raised, other nights (or room types) must be lowered, as the total points required to stay at the resort for the year cannot be changed. This has occurred only once, in 1996 at OKW, and is likely to happen only if necessary to keep resort utilization in balance for the benefit of DVC members. At that time some nights were raised a few points, some were lowered a few points and most were not changed at all. Back to top Can I use my points at other resorts? The DVC is part of Interval International (a large, worldwide timeshare organization). Your DVC points can be traded for accommodations at many of the Interval Internationals resorts nationwide. You can also use your points to stay at other Disney resorts, as well as the DVC locations at Vero Beach, FL and Hilton Head, SC. and a number of other vacation opportunities such as the Disney Cruise Line and special Adventure programs. Back to top What if I decide not to keep it? You are free to sell your interest in the DVC just as you would any other real estate property. Many people list their DVC properties with companies such as the Timeshare Store, Inc. The Timeshare Store is a licensed Florida real estate company that acts as the broker for the sale and purchase of timeshare interests. You can get more info on The Timeshare Store by visiting their web site at http://www.timesharesale.com and info on their DVC Resales specifically at http://www.dvc-resales.com Back to top What should I know about buying timeshares through a resale company? There are a couple of points you should keep in mind when purchasing resale. First, watch out for companies who want to charge you any up front fees. You should never pay anything until a sale is final. Second, make sure that the resale agent you are dealing with is a licensed real estate agency. This lends a great deal of credibility to that agency, and gives you direct recourse (through the state board of realtors) should anything go wrong. We recommend The Timeshare Store in Orlando, FL. Many people who have visited this site have purchased DVC through them and have had excellent experiences in doing so. Back to top Once a DVC resort is sold out, if I buy through resale, will there be problems trying to book rooms? Disney Vacation Club resorts are busy places, there is no question about that. However, if you plan far enough in advance, you should be able to get the dates you want without much of a problem. Remember, at your home resort, you can reserve up to 11 months in advance of your check out date and 7 months in advance at other DVC resorts. All members have the same benefits and restrictions regardless how they joined the DVC. There is no negative to a membership purchased through resale. Back to top Still have Questions? If you have other questions that are not listed here, pay a visit to our DVC bulletin board. There you can ask any question you like of other DVC members. CLICK HERE to go to the boards! Back to top FL TOURS Transportation To Disney As low as $95 Round Trip Click Here Discount Disney Tickets Disney World Universal Studios Sea World Dinner Shows Click Here to Order Theme Parks | Accommodations | Dining | Transportation | DVC | Discounts | Pictures / Video | Holidays / Events Privacy Statement | Contact Us | Terms of Service | Advertising Information | Site Dedication | Disney Vacations Discounts | Cruise Line Overview | Disney Cruise Line | Tickets | Hotels | Downtown | Animal Kingdom | Rides Attractions Disney World Hotels | Epcot Future World | Epcot Overview | Magic Kingdom | Orlando Transportation | Page Listing This site is not affiliated in any way with the Walt Disney Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries. This site and the information contained therein represent the opinion of the webmaster. For official information on Walt Disney World, Click Here This site is owned and maintained by Werner Technologies. Click Here with any questions.

Argentina Travel

Argentina Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Argentina Argentina The home of the sultry tango does a good line in fiery soccer and juicy steaks. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Argentina Buenos Aires View Map Click here Feature Attraction Puente del Inca One of Argentina's most striking sights, situated 2720m (8920ft) above sea level, is Puente del Inca, a natural stone bridge spanning the Río Mendoza. ... more Despite Argentina's recent economic woes, its pleasures - stunning natural wonders, an elegant capital with a European-flavoured sophistication, and a passionate culture - are still as tempting as ever. The silver lining to the financial cloud is that it's now one of the best travel bargains going around. This is one Latin American country where Europeans and North Americans can feel at ease and travel relatively inconspicuously. An interest in soccer and some nimble foot skills may be all you need to feel like a local. 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

DISNEY VACATION PLANNER Port

CRUISE.COM - Authorized Disney Vacation Planner - Cruise discounts, cruise deals and discount cruise vacations from the web's largest seller of discount cruises. HOME CRUISE.COM is DESIGNATED AN AUTHORIZED DISNEY VACATION PLANNER Port Everglades, FL - Cruise.com has been designated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as an "Authorized Disney Vacation Planner" (not an agent of The Walt Disney Company or its affiliates), based on its strong support in selling Disney vacations. Cruise.com has been in business in Port Everglades, FL for seven years, and has established itself as an area expert on vacations to the Disneyland® Resort, Walt Disney World® Resort and Disney Cruise Line® vacations specializing in travel. Many travel counselors at Cruise.com have received extensive training on Disney Destinations theme parks, resorts, cruises, vacation packages and more, and can provide the utmost in professional assistance in planning customized Disney vacations. In fact, one reason the agency attained the "Authorized Disney Vacation Planner" status, is that at least 50 percent of the frontline leisure travel agents are College of Disney Knowledge graduates. The College of Disney Knowledge is an in-depth comprehensive correspondence course that allows agents to develop their expertise regarding the Disney Destinations, knowledge, that consumers can take advantage of when planning a Disney vacation. Legal | Privacy | FAQ | Site Index | Home | ©2005 CRUISE.COM All rights reserved Adventure Travel | Travel Guide | Vacation Rentals | Virtual Tours | TravTech.com