Asia Travel || Laos

TRAVEL LEISURE TOURS HOTELS RESORTS LAOS Map of Laos Laos Visa Requirement LAOS AT A GLANCE Official Name : State of LAO P.D.R. : Head of State : Head of Government : Official Language : Land Area : Population : Currency : GDP per Capita : Main Exports : Main Imports : Exports : Imports : Lao People's Democratic Republic People's Democratic State President Nouhak PHOUMSAVANH Minister Khamtay SIPHANDONE Lao 236,800 square kilometres 4,581,128 (1995) Kip US$350 (1994-1995) Electricity, timber and wood products, garments and texties, coffee, tin, Petroleum, machinery and raw materials, vehicles, cement, iron, fabrics US$209.40 (1994-1995) US$375.40 (1994-1995) The Lao People's Democratic Republic is located in South East Asia at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula between latitude 14-23 degrees north and longitude 100108 degrees east. Laos has an eastern border of 1,957 km with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a western border of 1,730 km with the Kingdom of Thailand, a southern border of 492 km with the Kingdom of Cambodia a northern border of 416 km with the People's Republic of China and a North Western border of 230 km with the Union of Myanmar. Total area of Laos is 236,800 square kilometres, three quarters of which is mountainous and forest-covered 40 % while the country is rich in natural resources, such as mineral deposits, including 1 billion tons of high quality iron are between 60-70%, lead, gold, tin and 8200-8232 calorie/gram coal. Although the Lao P.D.R. has no direct access to the sea, it has the Mekong River which is the main river of the country flowing north to south. In addition, there are many branch rivers which nourish agriculture. Laos people use it as a power source which supplies hydro-electric of over 18,000 MW from 57 dams. The Population of the Lao P.D.R. is estimated at 4,581,128 (1995) and population density remains one of the lowest in the region at 19 persons per square kilometre with a population increase rate of 2.64 %. The Lao population is ethnically diverse with up to 68 different ethnic groups identified inhabiting the country, with various languages, cultures and traditions which are classified into three groups: The Lao Loam, who occupy the lowlands plains and the Mekong River valley, and constitute about 56% of the total population; the Lao Thing, who occupy the mountain slopes, comprising about 34% of the population, and the high mountain Lao, constituting about 9% of the total population, and one per cent foreigners. LAOS VISA REQUIREMENT - Request for Laos Visa Approval should be emailed to asiatrav@asiatravel.com giving the following informations: Family Name and Giving Name and Sex Nationaltiy Passport Number - Date of Issued & Expiry Date of Birth Occupation Date of Arrival ** It takes another 2 working days to obtain Lao visa aproval Ater getting the Laos Visa Approval, travellers have to obtain Lao Visa Stamp at the Lao Embassy in their own country or in Bangkok with the following documents: 2 Visa Application Form (Photocopy accepted) 2 photos Original Passport **It takes another 2 working days to obtain Lao visa stamp FOR TRAVELLERS WHO WISH TO OBTAIN LAO VISA ONLY The Arrangement fees is US$95 HOW TO REACH LAO PDR One can arrive in Vientiane either by air or by land BY AIR - From Bangkok, Hanoi or Phnompenh to Vientiane BY TRAIN - From Bangkok to Nongkai **Train from Bangkok to Nongkai travels at night berth. Upon arrival at Nongkai in the morning, you will have to take taxi or rickshaw to Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge and cross the border. The guide will wait for you after Lao Immigration to transfer you to Vientiane. Asia Travel || Laos Hotels & Resorts

Disney Vacation OurSpecialists are

Disney World Vacations - Guide to Disney World with Disney Resorts, Theme Parks, Dining, and Recreation Walt Disney World Price Your Vacation Book Your Disney Trip Disney Cruise Vacations Disney Beach Vacations Universal Studios Vacations Sea World Orlando Discount Tickets Hot Specials! Things to Do in Orlando Orlando Podcasts Client Testimonials About Us Affiliates Program Contact Us Tips of the Week Tip #1: Let the new Pal Mickey be Your Disney Theme Park Guide! This talking, huggable, Mickey Mouse toy is full of Disney information and insider tips. Tip#2: Enjoy an evening at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort with thenightly sing a long campfire with Chip and Dale. You can enjoy roasted marshmallows and fun songs by the campfire. Tip#3: A fantastic evening for children and adults is La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil . Orlando Newsletter Join our discount newsletter for the latest discounts at the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, and other Orlando attractions Planyour Disney Vacation OurSpecialists are the Insider Experts to helpplan your magical vacation. Our Specialists are Orlando locals so you knowyou are getting the most up to date information from the Inside Source! Allof our services are FREE and you will receive the same discounts you may find onyour own plus you receive extra services including itinerary planning, Insider newsletters,free promotions, and a Specialist to help you with your diningreservations, tee times, directions, and tips for your vacation. Why plan your own vacation to Orlando whenyou can have the Insider Experts help you for FREE! Be sure to Bookmarkthis site - we add new information daily and and check out our latest Podcast for more info on your visit Save time and money by pre-ordering your Disney World Tickets Once you arrive toDisney World, you can to spend your time playing not waiting in additional linesto purchase your tickets. We will mail your tickets to your home beforeyou leave for free! Plus you can save money with special pre-orderingprices - if you wait to purchase your tickets at Disney World, they will be moreexpensive. Bonus - For a limited time,purchase your tickets and receive a free Insider's Guide to Disney World anda free Disney Gift . TicketPricing & Pre-Order Tickets In planning your Once in aLifetime vacation to Disney World you want to get a good deal but you alsowant to make sure you get the help you need in planning your magicalvacation. We offer low prices plus you receive perks and experience youcan only receive from our company. Some of your benefits include: Disney Specialists who live in Central Florida - who better to give you advice and tips than Disney Specialists who live in Orlando and work part-time at your favorite Orlando Theme Parks! Free Disney Dollars*, 40 page Disney Must See Must Do Guide, and an "I'm going to Disney World" packet (with Mickey Mouse ears, Disney gift, and much more) with your Disney Packages Free Insiders Guide to Disney & gift with any Disney ticket order Insider E-Newsletters with lots of tips and suggestions for making the most of your vacation Dining, recreation, Cirque du Soleil, and golf tee time reservations - you can save hours by having your Disney Specialist make your reservations for you. We even offer suggestions on the best activities and restaurants for your family Personal Itinerary Planning - we can create an itinerary just for your family with suggestions on rides and attractions best for your family along with guidance on missing the long lines and avoiding the crowds These are just a few perks you can only receive with us! * Disney Dollars are based on yourpackage total Asto Disney artwork, logos, and properties: Disney HOTEL DISCOUNTS / THEME PARKS DINNER SHOWS / NIGHT LIFE / GOLF SHOPPING / KIDS PAGE / CONTACTUS DISCLAIMER / SITE MAP / LINKS / MORE LINKS If you are moving to Orlando, contact a local Real Estate Agent to assist with your home search. Fla. Sellerof Travel Ref. No. ST36132 SeralagoHotel & Suites is the "Family Fun Hotel" just 3 milesfrom Disney. Enjoy great hotel amenities for $35per night from December 1-22 and $55 per night from December 23-31. Add your Disney Tickets to save even more money onyour vacation. BOOKIT! RadissonResort Parkway is a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel just 1 1/2 miles fromDisney. This resort features a tropical pool with waterfalls andwaterslide, on-site restaurants, and much more. December discounts from$69 per night. BOOKIT! RodewayInn is right down the road from Disney World and offers an amazing rateof $33 per night for December 1-22 and $45per night for December 23-31. BOOKIT! Freetickets at Universal Studios - Stay 4 nights and get 2 adult and 2children (3-9) length ofstay passes FREE with the discount FREE For All Package. This package also includes Universal Express,complimentary transportation, and free admission into CityWalk. Clickhere for more details. FREE Stuff inOrlando - You can takeadvantage of lots of free promotions at Universal Studios, Sea World, and DisneyWorld during your vacation. Click here for all of the free promotions. The newest activity at Walt Disney World is Pin Trading. Check out this Guide to Pin Trading

Austria Travel

Austria. At Last! Site Map | Meeting & Incentive | Professionals | Jobs | Your Country Portal: ----------------------- Österreich Australia België (nl) Belgique (fr) Canada Česká republika China Hrvatska Danmark Deutschland España France India Italia Japan Korea Magyarország Malaysia Nederland Polska România Russia Schweiz Singapore Slovensk republika United Arab Emirates Israel Slovenia Sverige Taiwan Thailand UK & Ireland USA All other countries Macromedia Flash Player: DOWNLOAD Macromedia Flash Player: DOWNLOAD -- Hotline: USA: 212 944-6880 Canada: 416 967-3381 Brochure Request Brochure Download E-Mail: travel@austria.info Register to get the latest information and travel deals. Home The longing for a vacation in Austria cannot be easily explained, sketched or demonstrated. Our friends, the two penguins Joe & Sally are the manifestation of this desire. They are curious and fascinated by the appeal of discovering a destination and the unknown - the wonderful quality of a truly Austrian experience. Joe and Sally are well travelled. In fact they have been practically everywhere and seen everything there is to see. Finally, the two are experiencing the wealth of enjoyment Austria has to offer. Go ahead and discover Austria - the most charming travel destination! If you are looking for an agent with excellent knowledge about Austria, we can help. Every year we educate travel agents across the U.S. & Canada, who graduate from our intensive course on Austria and are designated Austria Experts. More Celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Sound of Music . This great 2-disc set is brimming with all-new special features, incl. audio commentary by Julie Andrews & Christopher Plummer, SINGALONG karaoke subtitles and much more... More ...and clebrate his 250th birthday with us with great celebrations staged throughout Austria ...book now and celebrate with us... More Arranging your trip to Austria is easy. We have compiled great Travel opportunities specially for you... More Add information marked with to the Suitcase. and listen to Jeremy Irons presenting Mozart... More buy your tickets online... More make your reservation now... More ...get ready and buy travel literature for your stay in Austria... More About Us | Press | Contact | Imprint/Disclaimer (c) 2005 by Österreich Werbung - All rights reserved.

Travel Insurance Life &

Travel Insurance Center - The Travel Insurance Experts! products | review your policies | help with insurance | affiliates Travel Insurance Life & AD&D Global & Expat Benefits War & Terrorism Insurance Group Insurance Travel Insurance is designed to protect your travel investment, cover emergency medical expenses, and provide peace of mind. Whether traveling for business or fun, travel insurance protection packages provide financial security for those unforeseen perils that may occur. Travel Insurance benefits vary by carrier and plan design, and may include coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, emergency medical expenses for illness or injury, costly emergency medical evacuation, travel delays, lost or damaged baggage, emergency assistance services, and more. Policy Picker ® Place of Residence United States United Kingdom Canada Mexico Caribbean Australia New Zealand Europe South/Central America Asia Africa I'm Interested In Protecting My Trip Cost Travel Medical Insurance Emergency Evacuation Departure Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2004 2005 2006 2007 Return Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2004 2005 2006 2007 Trip Cost Per Traveler (US$) Enter "0" to exclude Trip Cancellation Traveler Ages Destination Domestic International Both Click To Add More Travelers Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) and International Life Insurance protect your family's financial well-being should you become disabled or die prematurely. Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance plans will pay you, your beneficiary, or your estate a lump sum benefit (e.g. $500,000) should an accident result in your death, or the loss of a limb/eyesight. Available plans include coverage for Individual Trips, High Risk Activities, War coverage and International Term Life Insurance. No one can predict when an accident will happen but you can be sure your loved ones will be financially secure should one occur. Click here to view all Life and AD&D plans Now Featured Annual Travel Accident Elite Provides up to $1 million of Annual Common Carrier Travel Accident insurance with coverage worldwide for unlimited trips up to 185 consecutive days per trip. An Additional $10,000 for Emergency Evacuation, $10,000 for Repatriation of Remains, and 24/7 Travel Assistance services makes this a well-rounded annual package plan (US residents only). High Limit Accident Insurance (US$20 Million Max Benefit) Single-trip & annual accident insurance with optional war and terrorism coverage is available for all ages and nationalities. Benefits range from US$500K to US$20 Million. Additional optional coverages include: nuclear, biological and chemical coverage, dismemberment and disability, and choice of 24-hour, common carrier and flight-only coverage . To view all of our Life and AD&D Products, click here Our Global and Expatriate Benefit plans provide essential insurance benefits for all nationalities working and living anywhere in the world. The following types of insurance are available for individuals, families, and employer groups worldwide: Global Health and Medical Insurance, International Life Insurance, International Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and International Disability/Income Protection. Coverage for War and Terrorism is available upon request. Click here to view all Global and Expatriate plans Now Featured Global Medical and Global Basic Insurance Annual, renewable global health/medical insurance for individuals and families living worldwide. Maximum lifetime benefit is five million US dollars (US$5,000,000). Does not cover US citizens living in the US. International Life Insurance Guaranteed renewable term life insurance for individuals and groups. Covers all nationalities - including expatriates, missionaries, employees and contractors. Simplified underwriting with no medical exam and no blood test. International Accidental Death (AD&D) Annual, guaranteed renewable AD&D insurance for individuals and groups. Covers all nationalities - including expatriates, missionaries, employees and contractors. Simplified underwriting with coverage for War and Terrorism available upon request. To view all of our Global and Expatriate Products, click here War Risk & Terrorism Coverage provides otherwise unavailable insurance for acts of war and terrorism in areas of political unrest. In today's political and economic climate, acts of war and terrorism remain a constant threat. Many businesses, contractors, and professionals are finding that their jobs require them to travel abroad to places of political unrest (even war zones). We specialize in finding Medical Insurance, Life Insurance, AD&D, Defense Based Act (DBA), Disability Income Protection, Flight Accident or Common Carrier Accident plans for these high-risk areas. Click here to view all War Risk & Terrorism Insurance plans Now Featured Security First Travel Accident War Risk Insurance Travel accident insurance and travel assistance services for work-related travel outside traveler's home country. Covers acts of War & Terrorism worldwide. High Limit Accident Insurance Single trip or annual accident insurance for all ages and nationalities. Benefits from US$500,000 to US$20 Million. Annual Travel Accident Elite Annual Travel Accident insurance with coverage worldwide for unlimited trips up to 185 consecutive days per trip. Also includes Emergency Evacuation, Repatriation of Remains and 24/7 Travel Assistance services (US Residents only). To view all of our War and Terrorism Insurance Plans, click here Designed to protect groups of people traveling on the same itinerary If your group consists of ten people or more traveling to the same destination, then purchasing a group travel insurance plan may be your best choice. We can provide both voluntary and mandatory group programs (mandatory means that everyone traveling on the trip must be included in the coverage). Click here to view all Group plans orfor a customized group travel insurance quote click here. Now Featured Student Travel Protection This program is ideal for students on a budget. Perfect for full or part-time students 25 years of age or under who are enrolled in school or summer camp. 360 Group Travel Protection A competitively priced plan whose cost is not dependent on age and provides a waiver of pre-existing conditions. Click here to view all Group plans orFor a customized group travel insurance quote click here Contact Us By Email or call us +1 866-979-6753 or +1 402-343-3699 (source id: wtc ) Understanding Travel Insurance click here for our complete guide Why do I need travel insurance? You can begin your trip without any travel insurance and be self insured. But did you know that if you become ill abroad the costs to treat you could be very high. How would you find a doctor? Where would you find appropriate healthcare facility? Where would you seek advice? Did you know that HMO's, PPO's and Medicare typically do not cover you abroad? Travel Protection vs Travel Medical Travel Insurance Protection plans typically reimburse your non-reimbursed travel expenses if an emergency occurs causing your trip to be canceled, interrupted or delayed. Travel Medical insurance is medical insurance designed to reimburse you for medical expenses incurred while traveling. What's a Deductible? (Also known as excess in UK, NZ, AU) This is the amount that the insured must pay before the travel insurance provider starts paying. This may be an annual amount, an amount for the duration of the policy, or an amount for each incident. What are Pre-existing Conditions? Medical conditions that existed before the travel insurance plan or policy took effect. Different plans defined and cover Pre-existing Conditions differently. Be sure to check the plan details! What if my travel supplier declares Bankruptcy? Many travel insurance protection plans cover lost travel expenses due to travel supplier bankruptcy, but there are substantial differences among plans. Some travel insurance plans only cover a specified list of travel suppliers, others require that you purchase the insurance within 7-14 days of paying the initial trip deposit. Be sure to check plan details What is Co-Insurance or Co-pay? This is the percentage or amount of expenses that the insured pays (if any) after the deductible is paid. Example: "Co-Insurance = 20% or co-pay is 80/20" means that the travel insurance company pays 80% of the charges, the insured pays 20% Buy online or call us at +1 866-979-6753 or +1 402-343-3699 M-Th 8AM - 6PM Fri 8AM-4:30PM EST (source id: wtc ) products | my policies | helpdesk | insurance providers | affiliates contact us | site map | privacy policy | insurance licenses | about us © 2005 Travel Insurance Center and Senior Market Sales, Inc.

Europe Travel 101 -

Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the First Time  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 Europe Travel 101 - Before you take that first trip to Europe Here's a suggested timeline for things an independent traveler needs to do before heading off to that European destination. Thinking about taking an independent trip to Europe? Below you'll find topics to consider before you take off. The recommended time before departure that you should be taking action is found in the colored bar on the left. In the gray box on the right you'll find links leading to more detailed information on any of the topics. Like most planning guides, this is a tool meant to simply remind you what you need to do when to make the standard vacation go as smoothly as possible. Although the list may seem daunting to you, you'll find that many of the tasks are optional. Unless otherwise noted, most of the planning tasks can be done earlier than recommended. A shorter, unannotated list with resources can be found here . A printable checklist can be found here . Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute What You Need to Do Resources 6 months before you go - Choose Your Destination! Now (or even sooner) is the time to choose your general destination. There are lots of resources on the right to help you. Remember that while Europe is quite compact compared to the US, the travel times between countries may be longer than you think. Once you've chosen your primary destination, you'll be able to go on to the next things on the list. Language Let's say you've chosen France as your destination and you'd really like to get to know the country and its people. Well, now is the time to start thinking of learning a bit of the language. A single beginner's course in spoken French at your local community college will teach you the basics cheaply enough. We also have extensive resources for learning European languages here on the About network. Please, at least think about learning the "politeness" words--natives will thank you for trying and will likely be more receptive to your questions. See Languages for the Tourist on the right to find out how easy it is. Renting a House or Apartment Now is the time to think about reserving that perfect apartment for the week (or month). You can wait until later to do this, but the best go fast. Living in the country you're visiting gets you into the swing of daily life: you'll be able to go to the open air markets and cook the food you buy, you won't have to think about maids (unless you want to) or checking in, and things can be as secure as you make them. Guidebooks Once you've figured out where you'd like to spend most of your time, it may be time to pick out a guidebook. You can purchase guidebooks that cover all of Western Europe, just a single country, or even a province or region like Tuscany. Choosing a Destination: Travel Planning Europe Planning Map Clickable Europe map with links to Country maps and Travel Essentials. How I Travel Europe Europe and Fading Traditions: Go Soon! Weather -Climate - When to Go Language: Languages for the Tourist Rentals Unusual Lodging Lodging Links Guidebooks Top European Guidebooks 3-4 months before you go - Start Checking Airfares You can start checking sooner--although we've found searching 3-4 months before your flight is a pretty good bet; the airlines are starting to discount in order to reward early bookers and yet there's still time to wait if prices aren't to your liking. The airline computers are constantly revising the pricing based on the latest demand, so the cheapest prices might turn up anytime--but you might not want to wait that long. Use the Finding Bargain Airfares link if you're unfamiliar with the bargain hunting process. Apply for a Passport if you don't already have one If you don't have a passport, this is the time to start thinking of applying. While the literature says it takes 6 weeks to procure a US passport, you don't want to leave it to the last possible moment--it's a vacation killer if something goes wrong. And despite what you may have heard or read in the past, a separate passport is required for each and every family member traveling with you. First-time applicants 13 years of age and over must appear in person at a U.S. passport office, a designated courthouse or the Post Office. You'll need a birth certificate or proof of citizenship, a photo identification, two recent 2" x 2" photos of your face, and a bundle of money. You'll find the latest requirements and downloadable application form by clicking Passport Links there on the right. (You don't need a health certificate in Western Europe and you won't need to worry about a visa as long as you're staying fewer than 90 days and aren't going to Turkey.) Shoes and Walking Now is a good time to pick up some walking shoes and start getting them broken in. You'll walk a lot in Europe, even if you have a car; much of the city centers in Europe are pedestrian only zones. Be prepared. Airfares Finding Bargain Airfares Passports Passport Links Where to go to apply, a downloadable application form, and how to make it as easy as possible. 6 weeks to 2 months before you go - Reserve Lodging - Hotel If you haven't already reserved the hotels you've seen on the web and fallen in love with, now is the time to do so. But do you need to reserve in every city you're planning to visit? Here's what I do: I reserve a hotel for my arrival and departure days as well as any long-term apartment rentals I've selected. The rest I leave to chance. You may feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, but, with a few exceptions, it's worked just fine for me. When traveling by train, I prefer to arrive at my destination early, take a hotel by the train station and just drop my bags there and explore the city on foot. You can read the whole strategy in my Footloose Travel article. Car or Train? If you haven't already chosen, now would be a good time to select your primary mode of transportation. Select Train or Car? from the links on the right if you just can't seem to decide which is best for what you want to see. Rail Pass Do you need one? Here are some tips: Trains in the south-Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece--are pretty cheap. If you're going to one or several of these places you might find that a pass isn't necessary. Just go to the station and buy a ticket. EurRail passes offer great savings if you plan right. For a saver pass you'll need to plan to take several long trips so that you can spend the travel days mostly on the train. Save money by going overnight; you'll save on hotel costs and make maximum use of your pass. Check the types of passes available carefully, to use them to an advantage, you may have to juggle some travel plans. Car Rental or Leasing and an International Driver's License Leasing a car is sometimes better than renting, especially if you're staying in Europe for more than 17 days. Leasing gets you a brand new car without rental company stickers on it and the pricing includes everything you need. When you turn it in at the end of your trip a lucky European will get to purchase that almost-new car for much less than a completely new one (This comes about because taxes on a new car are much higher than the taxes on even a slightly used one, so both parties benefit from this arrangement). If you've chosen driving as your primary mode of transport in Europe, you should get an International Driver's License . Available at Auto Clubs, they're just a translation of your License into European languages. Sometimes police won't demand them, accepting your original license instead. But still, it doesn't hurt to get one, and they're pretty cheap. A couple of passport-sized pictures are required. Even though you can usually just walk into your auto club and come out with an International Driver's License, I recommend not putting this off: the paperwork needed is often "out of stock." Lodging Accommodation Links You can also find lodging in specific countries or cities by going to a specific destination page. Footloose Travel Striking a balance between travel freedom and overplanning. Hotel Star Ratings Do you know what they mean? How I Travel in Europe Just in case you want to know. Transportation within Europe Rent or Lease? Train or Car? Driving in Europe Links Transportation Links European Train Travel Links 1 Month before you go - Travel Insurance Now is the time to think about insurance. If your health insurance doesn't cover you overseas, or your homeowners insurance doesn't cover loss of material goods, then there are some temporary plans that might set your mind at ease. Check our Insurance Links for more. Luggage How's your luggage? Is it easy to carry? Got more than a foot and a half of duct tape holding it together? If you want to be mobile, maybe you want to see if you can fit everything into a carry-on. It's not all that hard to do in the summer when you probably won't be needing heavy clothes. Rick Steves recommends walking around with all the stuff you think you'll need, then discarding half of it. I like the method I learned in Boy Scouts. Separate everything into three piles: stuff you absolutely need and use often, stuff you'll use occasionally, and stuff you probably won't use at all. Then eliminate the last two piles. Remember: Europe isn't lacking material goods. If you need a heavy sweater because it's unusually cold in August, chances are you won't be more then 50 feet from someone who'll sell you a great one. Don't forget, laundries are pretty easy to find (but usually expensive) and laundromats are are starting to show up in most popular tourist areas. Besides, if you rent a house or apartment it may include a clothes washer and possibly a dryer (but more probably a clothesline). Cameras If you've bought one for this trip, learn how to use it. If you need one, now is the time to purchase--don't put it off until the last minute and then end up standing in front of the Louvre all befuddled because you can't figure the danged thing out. Film If you're going to use film (how so very 90's!) you might consider purchasing one of those lead-lined bags to take it in. These reduce (but don't eliminate) the radiation from airport x-ray machines and thus the chance of film fogging. What I do to bypass this possibility is to buy and process my film in Europe. Sure, guidebooks say film and processing is more expensive overseas (but not much these days), but I look at it this way: are you gonna worry about fogging or are you willing to spend a buck and a half more per roll for peace of mind out of the thousands you're gonna spend on your vacation in total. Seems like false economy to me. Plus I get to show my pictures around to other travelers while I'm in Europe. Cell Phones If you need to be in constant touch with the office or someone special, you can rent cell phones that work throughout Europe. Often your car rental company can handle this, or you can check our Cell Phone Rental links for companies that'll rent phones for the short term. Email It's time to think about how you're going to handle your email in Europe, if that's important to you. If you have several accounts you want to check, you'll need to set up an online system for getting all your email. I use webbox , but other options are explained in the article Staying Connected . Money Yeah, it's time to get the long green together. I take some traveler's checks as a back-up, but mostly use the plentiful ATM machines in Europe to get cash. You need to have a 4-digit pin number to use many European ATMs. Watch one thing though: plan to have enough money to last through weekends--some people are reporting that certain banks in Europe don't update the customer's daily limit on Saturdays and Sundays and so if you've maxed out your daily allowance on Friday, you might find that you can't get more until Monday. You might also think about getting some Euros (or local currency for countries that don't use Euros) for the first day or two, if only to get used to them and assure yourself that you'll be able to afford a coffee in the airport. How much Money? Well, that varies, of course. A couple like Martha and I can get by on on $150 a day in most Mediterranean countries, although it's becoming a stretch these days. That'll get you a two or three star hotel with breakfast and two other meals taken in a restaurant with wine, plus entrance fees to museums and such. It's an average over the whole period of vacation--some days you'll get soaked, some days you'll find bargains. Students and the young-at-heart set willing to stay in hostels and eat street food or make their own grub in the Hostel kitchen will be able to do it for much less, of course. Keeping your money and documents secure You'll need a way to keep your passport and important items away from thieves. While Europe is still safer from violent crimes than the US, high tourist volumes in major cities tend to attract the slash and run crowd. Use a money belt or pouch that goes inside your clothing like seasoned travelers do. Keep your passport and important documents together in it. Don't wear a fanny pack with the pack turned around to actually ride on your fanny. It looks stupid and is a magnet for thieves. Women should avoid big purses with shoulder straps as those straps can be cut easily and the purse removed by a well-trained thief in seconds. Whatever can be said about European petty thieves and pickpockets one thing stands out when you talk to people who've been hit: they're good at what they do. Find recommended security stuff and other indispensable items under Travel Accessories . Voltage and Plugs European voltage is twice that of the wimpy American 110. The wall plugs are different as well. If you plan on using electrical appliances you may need to purchase adapters and power converters now. Check out my article European Electricity and the Connected Tourist for the skinny on what you'll need to make your stuff work in Europe. Me? I don't carry much more than the battery charger I bought in Italy to recharge my digital camera's batteries. Maps You should be far enough along in your travel planning to think about what maps you'll need.If you're in a car and like to get off the main highways, you'll need to purchase good maps. We use Michelin country and regional maps when we drive, purchasing the regional maps for areas we're staying in for a week or longer. You can get European driving maps from your auto club, but they're often not detailed enough to get you to the back roads. Keeping in Touch If you're the postcard-writing type, you'll need to have a means of keeping all those addresses where you can find them. Before the era of PDAs and email, I made sheets of labels for everyone who'd want a postcard so I could just slap one on and be done with it. Now I email friends and keep all their addresses on my Palm Pilot. Check for Travel Dangers The US government doesn't just meddle in overseas affairs, it also alerts travelers to dangers and uprisings in other countries. You might want to check conditions now and right before you leave. Travel Insurance Insurance Links Luggage Top Carry-On Luggage Packing Tips Cameras Before you buy a digital camera for travel Top Compact Digital Cameras for Travel Top Semi-pro Cameras for Travel Olympus D40 Review Oneof the best compact digitals I've come across. Cell Phone Rentals Cell Phone Rental Companies Purchase a Cell Phone Email Staying Connected Cybercafe Links Staying Connected Links Money/Currency Money Matters ATM Finder Travel Accessories Top Travel Accessories Clip-on Security Wallet (review) Voltage and Plugs European Electricity and the Connected Tourist Maps Michelin Maps (compare prices) It's easier to buy the maps over the web--distribution to many stores seems spotty at best, and many times they're unsorted, making finding what you want a miserable experience. Keeping in Touch The Travel Writer's Toolkit Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Last minute - Oops, Forgot the Passport. Help! Well, you can get one expedited, especially if you already have tickets. See our Passport Expediting Company links for more. Make Copies Now is the time to think about keeping back-ups of your travel documents. Make at least two photocopies of your itinerary, your passport information page (the one with your picture and passport number) and copies of your credit cards showing the cc numbers. Give one copy to your mother, or someone else you trust and can get a hold of any time of day or night. Keep a copy of your passport and credit card info with you but in a different place than the original items. Final Check The basic stuff you need to carry are these: Passport, tickets, car rental agreements, hotel reservation receipts, credit cards, medications (and prescriptions, if required), addresses/password information and an open mind with a sense of wonder. Check them twice. Then go have fun in Europe. Passport Problems Passport Expediting Companies Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! 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