European Vacation By Ray
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10 Money-Saving Tips for Your European Vacation Web TransitionsAbroad.com Home Work Study Travel Living As seen in Transitions Abroad Magazine March/April 2001 Related Topics Back Door Travel with Rick Steves Budget Travel Related Articles Europe’s Online Travel Deals Cheap Travel in Europe Ricks Steves' Thrifty Fifty: How to Make Your Dollars and Sense Carry You Further in Europe Ricks Steves' Dirty Thirty: More Tips on How to Make Your Dollars, Euros, and Pounds Stretch 10 Money-Saving Tips for Your European Vacation By Ray Bangs Traveling cheaply is not just about saving a few francs, it is really about getting a better value for your money. Eat like the locals and you will save big bucks. Food and drink costs add up. For breakfast, a cup of coffee, a roll, assorted cold cuts, and a piece of fruit from the local market can be very reasonable. For lunch, try a picnic. Even in winter you may find Europeans unpacking a sandwich in the park. Choose the fixed menu and the house wine. Restaurants usually offer two or three choices that highlight some of the house specialties. Spend the night on a train. Your long-haul transportation and accommodations are taken both care of and you gain one more day for exploration. Bring a meal and snacks with you, since the dining car prices are often outrageous. Water is essential and will help you avoid that hangover effect if you do not sleep well. If you decide against the sleeper-car, an inflatable neck-pillow is important. Buy the postcard. Instead of snapshots of the Eiffel Tower take pictures of your friends and the people you meet. Keeping the rolls of film in a Ziploc bag will allow you to safely transport them back to the U.S. where developing costs are much less. Digital cameras are another eco- and wallet-friendly option, as long as you have some means of recharging the battery. Send an email instead. At a dollar each, the cost of mailing postcards can add up. Try to get everyone’s email address before you go, then at every city send a group email from an Internet café. If you are using a digital camera, you could even send that photo of you trying to distract the Buckingham Palace guards. It’s nice to receive emails from the people who write back to you as you travel. Try to speak the language and meet the locals. Everything can cost more than it should when you are unfamiliar with the currency, the customs, and the language. Following the advice of locals beats following the guidebooks. Use your credit card and get cash at ATMs. You will get a much better exchange rate and not have to pay conversion fees. Buy prepaid phone cards. In Europe these are available at any market or kiosk. Plan your souvenir budget. The little sew-on patches, stickers, or postcards are inexpensive mementos. If you simply must have a replica of Julius Caesar’s bust, remember that the further away from the Coliseum you go, the cheaper it will be. Get the discounted price. A student ID card can help you get the best prices on everything from museums to hotels. Joining a hostel association is worth the small investment. In the larger cities, an inexpensive public transportation ticket will allow you to enjoy the tour at your own pace. RAY BANGS lived for two years in Europe before moving to Tempe, AZ. He is planning a move back to Europe. Contact him at RCBangs@hotmail.com . Web TransitionsAbroad.com Home Work Study Travel Living Disclaimer ©Transitions Abroad
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Europe Travel - A European Vacation Travel Guide You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Europe for Visitors From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and the world, it has one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe, and it was home to artist Peter Paul Rubens in the 17th century. What's not to like about this Belgian port city? See what it's all about in our latest photo Gallery: Antwerp Pictures . More Antwerp Travel: Antwerp Travel Directory | Antwerp Lodging | Antwerp Museums Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came recruiting at my college. Operatives really get to live it up when they travel, apparently. Imagine, the lucky seven of the "Surveillance Team" sent out to case the joint before kidnapping 39-year-old Muslim preacher Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, managed to spend "$39,995, not counting meals, parking and other services" for a week at Milan's Principe di Savoia ( check prices ), where a room goes for a mere $588 a night, according to Newsday . Once Abu Omar was behind bars in Cairo the CIA folks broke up and went their various ways, some to the renowned Grand Hotel Baglioni ( check prices ) in Florence , a few in cozy pairs to save the taxpayers money, no doubt. Travel Resources: Milan Profile | Florence Profile Tuesday December 27, 2005 | permalink Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated tapas bars thinking, "wow, I'm gonna down me some fine, fresh seafood this evening--non of that canned stuff like we get at home..." Well, Quimet and Quimet is one of Barcelona's best tapas bars, recommended by just about anyone. Joaquim Perez, owner of Quimet and Quimet, has been called Barcelona's culinary king of canned food. That's right, a tapas king devoted to high-quality goods preserved in metal. I had heard about the increasing interest in vintage sardines , whose flavors are said to increase in intensity and complexity with aging. But Mr. Perez has extended this idea of unlikely gourmet tinkering; he buys "fresh" Galician navajas (clams) from the cannery and sets them to aging for a year or two before serving them (plain) to his customers. And they love 'em. Maybe you should go and see what this canned gourmet thing is all about. There are worse places to spend time on a research expedition. More: Gastronomic Route: Barcelona, a tapas town? Travel Resources: Barcelona Guide | Barcelona Pictures Thursday December 22, 2005 | permalink North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000 loan and turned his investment into a "faithful reconstruction of Noah's Ark in scaled down form on the basis of biblical texts," according to the Mail & Guardian . Spring is the expected launch date. No word on where the animals will come from. Travel Resources: North Holland Travel | Holland Map | Benelux Rail Passes Thursday December 22, 2005 | permalink Appreciate Long John Shivers? Head for the Alps I know I frequently extol the virtues of off season travel, but there's a whole bunch of adventurers willing to go the extra mile in their long johns to enjoy icier surroundings than I'd care to experience. Those would be the Ice Hotel People. Word from Vagablond is that "a new ice hotel is being constructed 7,000 feet up into the German Alps." HotelChatter says this ice hotel might well be part of the Iglu-Dorf chain, who specialize in things like Inuit igloos in Switzerland. Like it cold? Get you thrills in the Alps this winter. I'll toast your bravado at the hearth with a steaming hot toddy. Travel Resources: Germany map and Travel Essentials | Switzerland Map and Travel Essentials . Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Europe Travel in the Off Season Why travel in the off season? Well, you know the reasons: fewer tourists, lower prices, and cooler temperatures, to name a few. But there's another reason for me, and that's the warm, slanting light that brings photos alive. See what I mean by taking a gander at: Liguria Pictures - Picture Gallery of Liguria in Autumn . And if you still want to see more pictures of Italy , try out Italy for Visitors Florence Pictures , taken in November. Travel Resources: Off Season Travel Tips | Italy Travel Map Sunday December 18, 2005 | permalink Travel Gifts Ok, you're thinkin' it's too late to post some ideas for gifts at this late date. Hey, you can chalk it up to sloth and indolence, but I don't start burdening my mind with thoughts about winter holidays in May like the rest of my family. The crunch starts now. So I've made up a list of recommended Travel Gifts . Of course, you could buy some of the stuff for yourself as well. Take a look. You've got language help, a deep, inside look at the Vatican, and more, not to mention that Tyrolean Boiled Wool Jacket like you've always wanted. More Stuff You Need: Top Travel Photography Gear Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink Joe Torre carries the Olympic Torch in Florence New York Yankee manager Joe Torre carried the Olympic torch 400 yards to the foot of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence yesterday as part of "American day" in the two-month Olympic torch relay. It was the first time he'd been to Italy in 20 years, despite the fact that his mother was born in the village of Patina near Naples. (Source: Indystar.com ) The torch Joe carried was designed by the folks at Pininfarina , who've banged out quite a few sexy Italian auto bodies in their time. The Olympic torch is designed to work in rain, snow and wind up to 74.56 miles per hour, not to mention temperatures from -4°F to +77°F. According to what I've heard, the torch suffered much less than Mr. Torre during the run. Travel Resources: Florence Travel Directory | Florence Pictures: Views from the Arno | Naples Travel Directory Photo above: Ponte Vecchio, Florence by Martha Bakerjian, Italy for Visitors ; click "read more" to see it larger. Read more... Thursday December 15, 2005 | permalink Sunny Valencia It's cold here in my corner of California, prime time to think of warmer climes. Valencia pops to mind. Host to the 2007 America's cup, the sunny Spanish port city has been spiffing itself up lately, and many travelers have remarked that Valencia seems to be passing Barcelona as Spain's city of tourist choice. What's not to like? The spring La Fallas festival is a not to be missed attraction (plan now if you're going), the City of Arts and Sciences holds 87 acres of fascinating art, science and architecture, and the Barrio del Carmen is chock full of music, restaurants and clubs. Find out more about Valence by taking a peek at our latest: Valencia Spain Travel Information - Valencia Profile , or peruse our Valencia Travel Directory . Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Hey Santa! Take That! Scroogy Musings: So a couple guys in Germany get asked what they want for Christmas by Santa, who happens to be waiting for a train home. They've been out shopping all day, unsuccessfully one assumes, because the next thing you know they've latched on to Santa's sack and "beat him over the head with it, breaking his fingers as he tried to protect himself." ( Santa - Germany's new stress buster ) Santa on a train? in Germany? A bit early, isn't it? Has the Christmas spirit been so commercialized that the little people like us suffer with the stress of plunking down good cash for stuff we think people might like but probably won't? Where is the joy of it all? Everyone remembers the magical experience of visiting Santa in the mall when they were kids and the smile it brought to your face. Unfortunately over the last few years it seems the spirit of Christmas is slowly being lost due to many different reasons including political correctness, busier lifestyles and many more issues. Hold on a sec. Now I'm angrier than a red-nosed reindeer. Everyone doesn't remember. Some of us are way too old to conjure the disgraceful vision of mall Santas in their mothball costumes and fake beards. The statement above comes from Live From Lapland (dot com). For a bit less than 15 dollars they'll make a custom video staring Santa, who'll be talking to your kids using the words you put in his mouth via the web site's control panel. Their Santa evidently lives in a paneled room and wears mall Santa clothes and beardage. It's in the sample flick. He could be in Kansas. Still, where else you gonna get a five minute flick to your specs for $14.95? Travel Resources: Lapland (the real one) | Chrismas in Europe Tuesday December 13, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors 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 Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...
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SARS affects the health of air travel You are here: About > Travel > Air Travel Travel Air Travel Essentials Save money on airfare Airline Seat Maps Airlines - details and phone numbers Frequent Flyer 411 Info about the 30 Busiest Airports Articles & Resources Book your trip Shopping & gift giving Airlines big/small/budget Airport Info/Shop/Stay/Play Travel Docs and Mileage Seat maps and Inflight Advice and Tips In the news + Travel Tools Safety / Security Job search and training Info/History Buffs Skydive, glide and more Destinations and Events Humor and fun Service Issues Buyer's Guide Luggage Digital SLR Cameras Children's books Portable DVD Players MP3 Players Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Air Travel newsletter! See Online Courses Search Air Travel Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Elsewhere on the Web World Health Organization - SARS Centers for Disease Control and Prev. Travelers' Health Suggested Reading SARS: from About - Asthma Air travel safety and security Most Popular Airline Phone Numbers Family emergencies - bereav... Paramount Airways Frequent Flyer - Air Tran Sun Country Airlines What's Hot Frequent Flyer - Singapore Jet2 Saving time checking in for... bmi baby Essential Philippines Related Topics Business Travel Budget Travel Hotels / Resorts / Inns SARS affects the health of air travel From Arlene Fleming , Your Guide to Air Travel . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! SARS attacks the air travel industry It is not just war or armed conflict that can have an adverse effect on air travel. Sometimes a virulent virus can create enough ripples of panic in passengers that travel plans are changed or canceled, and airlines suffer as people stop flying or stay closer to home. SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is proving to be an example of a virus that is steering passengers away from flying to certain regions of the world.
Part of the reason that SARS is so potentially devastating to certain sectors of air travel is the fact that it remains ill-understood. Could you catch it from a fellow passenger? How easily transmittable is it? How long can the virus survive airborne, or on objects that have been used by someone infected by SARS? As world health authorities grapple with trying to find concrete answers to such questions, less passengers are willing to risk their well-being (and potentially their lives) over a virus that seems to be reaching different countries by infected passengers traveling via international flights.
Not knowing all that there is to know about SARS has led to thousands of canceled bookings as many companies and individuals are heeding the advice to not travel to certain parts of the world unless absolutely necessary. Some airlines have had employees invoke work refusals as the fear of contracting the virus, and its rapid worldwide spread are realized. In light of the growing impact of SARS on air travel, it is important to know what advice is out there for passengers and what efforts airlines are taking on to prevent the spread of SARS. 1 2 3 4 Next 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 Frequent Flyer - Singapore Jet2 Saving time checking in for... bmi baby Essential Philippines
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Russia Vacations & Tourism, Russia Hotels, Russia Attractions - Yahoo! Travel Primary Navigation Overview | Hotels | Things to do | Restaurants | Map | Flights | Cars | Deals | FareChase Russia: Search Travel Travel > Guides > Europe > Russia Email this page Print Russia Vacations, Tourism, Hotels View larger map of Russia Top Cities in Russia Moscow St. Petersburg Pyatigorsk Kaliningrad Volgograd Vladivostok Ekaterinburg Irkutsk Novgorod Perm Chelyabinsk Khabarovsk Tver Sochi Krasnodar Nizhniy Novgorod See all cities in Russia View larger image Russia is a country of contrasts -- a vast territory rich in natural resources (especially oil and gas), where some are incredibly rich and millions of others are desperately poor. When asked what they want for the future, many Russians speak of "having an easier life, being able to buy good things." Their dreams of prosperity are fueled by foreign films and … Read More Popular Russia Hotels Moscow Marco Polo Presnja Hotel Marriott Grand Hotel Park Hyatt Moscow Golden Apple Boutique Hotel Sheraton Palace Hotel St. Petersburg Grand Hotel Europe Astoria Hotel Helvetia Guest Suites Radisson SAS Royal Hotel Renaissance St Petersburg Baltic Hotel Pyatigorsk Intourist Hotel Motel-Camping Volna Kaliningrad Baltica Hotel Best Eastern Deima Hotel Best Eastern Comandor Hotel Best Eastern Olimpic Best Eastern Dona Volgograd Best Eastern Volgograd Hotel Best Eastern Yuzhnaya Hotel Intourist Hotel Vladivostok Gavan Hotel Vlad Inn Hotel Hotel Hyundai Best Eastern Vizit Pyramid Hotel Ekaterinburg Trans Hotel Atrium Palace Hotel Protea Hotel Ekaterinburg Best Eastern Ural Hotel Best Eastern Home Hotel Irkutsk Baikal Business Centre Best Eastern Sun Hotel Best Eastern Baikalskye Terema Best Eastern Baikal Hotel Best Eastern Angara Hotel Related Information Popular Attractions in Russia The Kremlin (Kreml') Red Square (Krasnaia Ploshchad') Peter and Paul Cathedral Monument to Peter the Great (Monument Petry Velikomu) Isaakievskii Sobor (St. Isaac's Cathedral) Dvortsovaia Ploshchad' (Palace Square) Tretiakov Gallery (Tret'iakovskaia Galereia) St. Basil's Cathedral (Sobor Vasiliia Blazhennogo) Gorky Park Ostankino Television Tower (Ostankinskaia Televizionnaia Bashnia) Popular Hotels in Russia Marco Polo Presnja Hotel Grand Hotel Europe Astoria Hotel Marriott Grand Hotel Helvetia Guest Suites Park Hyatt Moscow Golden Apple Boutique Hotel Volna Hotel Sheraton Palace Hotel Baltica Hotel Popular Cities in Russia Moscow St. Petersburg Pyatigorsk Kaliningrad Volgograd Vladivostok Ekaterinburg Irkutsk Novgorod Perm Yahoo! FareChase: Search dozens of websites, find a cheap airfare Help get your favorite places listed on Yahoo! Travel: suggest a hotel or suggest an attraction .
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Central America Travel Videos at TotalVid -- DVDs and video downloads ---- All Videos ---- Action Sports -BMX -Inline -Kiteboarding -Mountain Bike -Paintball -Skateboarding -Skiing -Snowboarding -Snowmobiling -Surfing -Wake -Windsurfing -Extreme Life Anime -Action/Adventure -Comedy -Fantasy -Science Fiction -Supernatural Comedy Cooking Fitness Gambling Instruction -Baccarat -Blackjack -Card and Chip Tricks -Craps -Poker -Roulette Home Improvement -Carpet and Flooring -Concrete -Electrical -Home Decorating -Homeowner Education -How Do I? Projects -Miscellaneous -Painting and Refinishing -Plumbing -Special Projects -Stone and Masonry -Walls and Ceilings -Windows and Doors -Wood and Woodworking Martial Arts -Boxing -Capoeira -Hapkido -Jujitsu -Karate -Kickboxing -Kung Fu -Mixed Martial Arts -Special Forces -Taekwondo -Tai Chi -Training -Weapons -Wing Chun Motorsports -Motocross -Offroad/4x4 -Sportbike -Street Racing Music Concerts -Alternative -Bluegrass-Country -Christian-Gospel -Classical -Hip Hop-Rap -Jazz -Latin -Pop-Rock -Reggae -Soul Music Documentary Music Instructional -Drums -Guitar -Keyboards Outdoors -Boating -Climbing -Fishing -Hiking -Kayaking -Sailing -Scuba Diving -Shooting Parenting Self-Defense Sports -Baseball -Basketball -Figure Skating -Golf -Hockey -Soccer -Tennis Travel -Africa -Asia -Australia -Caribbean -Central America -Europe -Family Attractions -Far East -Hawaii -Middle East -National Parks -New Zealand -North America -South America -South Pacific -Special Home Action Sports Anime Comedy Cooking Fitness Gambling Instruction Home Improvement Martial Arts Motorsports Music Concerts Music Documentary Music Instructional Outdoors Parenting Self-Defense Sports Travel Africa Asia Australia Caribbean Central America Europe Family Attractions Far East Hawaii Middle East National Parks New Zealand North America South America South Pacific Special Gift Cards Links Affiliate Program Subscription Category Banner Travel >Central AmericaVideos Sort By: Most Popular Title Year Just Added Video Title/Description Format/Price Dropping In...The Unauthorized Guide to Surf Travel: Panama Dropping Inis for the majority of the surfing nation as it documents what happens when regular surfers set out to explore unknown destinations while ... [ More ] Category: Surfing Videos Producer: Footprint Films Year: 2005 Download - $3.99 DVD - $19.95 Globe Trekker: Central America The stretch of land separating North and South America is a diverse assembly of countries and cultures. While hundreds of ruined cities throughout the ... [ More ] Category: Travel Videos Producer: Pilot Productions Year: 1998 Download - $3.99 DVD - $19.95 VHS - $17.95 Globe Trekker: Mexico City Mexico is a vast country sharing one border with the United States and the other with Central America. Founded in 1319 by the Aztecs, its capital, Mexico ... [ More ] Category: Travel Videos Producer: Pilot Productions Year: 1999 Download - $3.99 DVD - $19.95 VHS - $17.95 Globe Trekker: Baja California & the Copper Canyon The isolated peninsula of Baja California is situated off the southwest coast of the United States. Once a haven for mercenaries, revolutionaries, gangsters ... [ More ] Category: Travel Videos Producer: Pilot Productions Year: 1996 Download - $3.99 DVD - $19.95 VHS - $17.95 ScubaCore - Socorro Islands: Mantas and Dolphins and Whale SharksOh My! The SOLMAR V journeys from Cabo San Lucas to the eastern Pacific islands known as the Revillagigedos, in search of encounters with big animals. People ... [ More ] Category: Scuba Diving Videos Producer: Scuba Core Download - $2.99 DVD - $22.95 ScubaCore - Costa Rica: The Emerald Garden Central America's green and friendly "Rich Coast," or Costa Rica, is one of the best places on earth to be close to nature. It's everywhere: the trees, ... [ More ] Category: Scuba Diving Videos Producer: Scuba Core Download - $2.99 DVD - $22.95 Page 1 of 1 ^Top About TotalVid TotalVid has the world's largest collection of the most popular Central America travel videos available in our convenient download format. For as little as $1.99 you can download one of our top Central America travel videos and begin viewing in just minutes. Interested in buying a travel DVD or VHS? When you buy any Central America travel video from TotalVid, you get a free download version that you can begin viewing immediately. Need help choosing the right Central America travel video ? Drop us a note at customerservice@totalvid.com and we'll help you pick the perfect one to meet your needs. About Us | Terms and Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy List Your Video | Feedback/Contact Us | Jobs | Sitemap