Air Travel Tips Medical

ASPCA: Pet Care: Pet Care Tips: Air Travel Tips " name=login width=10 Forgot password? As a member of the ASPCA online community, you can send eCards, get our newsletter, lobby for humane laws, shop for ASPCA gear and enroll in our Rewards program. SIGN UP advocacy alerts Federal: Fight Puppy Mills! Urge Your Representative to Support the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS)! Federal: Urge your Representative to End Animal Fighting! Support H.R. 817! aspca shop SALE! Check out our new shirts and more at the ASPCA Store! Donate | Adopt | Lobby | Shop | Programs | Cruelty | Pet Care | Hurricane Relief | Media | About Us | About You Pet Care Dog Care Cat Care Horse Care Small Pet Information Pet Care Tips Keep Your Pet's Home Poison Safe ASPCA Pet Nutrition Companion Lines Pet Care Topics Air Travel Tips Medical Tips Emergency Pet Preparedness Bioterror FAQ Free Pet Rescue Sticker Air Travel Tips Car Travel Tips Hot Weather Tips Cold Weather Tips Halloween Safety Tips ASPCA Announces Implementation of Safe Air Transport Law For Pets Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Air Transportation Incident Reports Download our reports of incidents involving the loss, injury or death of an animal during air transportation. Available by month or by airline. - May - June - July - August - September - October - Alaska Airlines - American - Comair - Continental - Delta - Frontier - Hawaiian - Horizon - Midwest - Northwest - United - US Airways Traveling with Your Pet Tips for how to go "on the road" with your pet. high bandwidth low bandwidth high bandwidth low bandwidth TOP TEN TIPS FOR SAFE AIR TRAVEL WITH YOUR PET Traveling can be highly stressful, both for you and the four-legged members of your family. But with thoughtful preparation, you can ensure a safe and comfortable trip for everyone. The ASPCA urges pet owners to think twice about flying their pets on commercial airlines, especially if they plan on checking them in as cargo. The Air Transport Association has reported that in the past, approximately 5,000 pets—or 1 percent of the companion animals are flown on commercial planes—have been injured, lost or killed during transport. "Unless your animal is small enough to fit under your seat and you can bring him or her in the cabin, the ASPCA recommends pet owners to not fly their animal," says Lisa Weisberg, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy. If pet owners have already committed to transporting their pets on commercial airlines, the ASPCA is offering the following top ten tips for safe air travel with your pet: 1. Make an appointment with your pet's veterinarian for a check-up, and make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date. Obtain a health certificate from your veterinarian dated within 10 days of departure. 2. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and an identification tag. Breakaway collars are best for cats. The collar should also include destination information in case your pet escapes. 3. Book a direct flight whenever possible. This will decrease the chances that your pet is left on the tarmac during extreme weather conditions or mishandled by baggage personnel. 4. Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate that is large enough for your pet to stand, sit and turn around in comfortably. Shipping crates can be purchased from many pet supply stores and airlines. 5. Write the words "Live Animal" in letters at least one inch tall on top of and at least one side of the crate. Use arrows to prominently indicate the upright position of the crate. On the top of the crate, write the name, address and telephone number of your pet's destination point, and whether you will be accompanying him or if someone else is picking him up. Make sure that the door is securely closed, but not locked, so that airline personnel can open it in case of an emergency. Line the crate bottom with some type of bedding—shredded paper or towels— to absorb accidents. 6. Affix a current photograph of your pet to the top of the crate for identification purposes. Should your pet escape from the carrier, this could be a lifesaver. You should also carry a photograph of your pet. 7. The night before you leave, make sure you’ve frozen a small dish or tray of water for your pet. This way, it can’t spill during loading, and will melt by the time he’s thirsty. Tape a small pouch, preferably cloth, of dried food outside the crate. Airline personnel will be able to feed your pet in case he gets hungry on long-distance flights or a layover. 8. Tranquilizing your pet is generally not recommended, as it could hamper his breathing. Check with your veterinarian first. 9. Tell every airline employee you encounter, on the ground and in the air, that you are traveling with a pet in the cargo hold. This way, they’ll be ready if any additional considerations or attention is needed. 10. If the plane is delayed, or if you have any concerns about the welfare of your pet, insist that airline personnel check the animal whenever feasible. In certain situations, removing the animal from the cargo hold and deplaneing may be warranted. | Powered By Convio Print | Tell A Friend | Contact | Site Map | Legal Info | Jobs | 2005 The ASPCA

Golf Vacations with priceline

Ireland Golf Vacations -- | Airfare | Hotels | Car Rentals | Vacations | Cruises Ireland Golf Vacations Ireland Golf Vacations with priceline Priceline offers great vacations to exotic and tranquil locations. Priceline provides all inclusive vacations year-round to more than 110 locations. With priceline, staying comfortably at your favorite vacation destination is a simple mouse-click away. Ireland Golf Vacations from priceline Priceline knows that ordinary fun in the sun vacations are not for everybody. Because of this, priceline offers specific Ireland Golf Vacations. Priceline offers numerous golf vacations to cities and countries scattered across the world. Priceline will book your flights, hotels, and even car rentals, so that you can spend your time enjoying your Ireland Golf Vacations. With great Ireland Golf Vacations destinations all over the world, priceline invites you to start your Ireland Golf Vacations today. Not looking for Ireland Golf Vacations? Search more vacation themes at priceline • Beach Vacations • Bird Watching Vacations • Casino Vacations • City Vacations • Cruise Vacations • Disney Vacations • Disney World Vacations • European Vacations • Family Adventure Vacations • Family Vacations • Fishing Vacations • Golf Vacations • Hiking Vacations • Horseback Riding Vacations • Ireland Golf Vacations • Island Vacations • Montana Fishing Vacations • Mountain Vacations • National Park Vacations • Rocky Mountain Vacations • Romantic Vacations • Sailing Vacations • Scuba Diving Vacations • Ski Vacations • Spa Vacations • Summer Vacations • Tropical Vacations • Walking Vacations • Wilderness Vacations • Winter Vacations • Yellowstone Vacations -- Airfare Hotels Car Rentals Air+Hotel Vacations Cruises Search For Vacations Departure City: Destination: -- Over 165 Destinations -- Acapulco Albuquerque Amsterdam Anchorage Annapolis, MD Aruba Aspen, CO Atlanta Atlantic City - Cape May Austin Baltimore Banff, Canada Barbados Barcelona Berlin Bermuda Biloxi, MS Birmingham Boise Boston Breckenridge, CO Brussels Buffalo - Niagara Falls, NY Burlington, VT Cabo San Lucas Calgary Cancun Charleston Charlotte, NC Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Colorado Springs, CO Columbia, SC Columbus Copenhagen, Denmark Corpus Christi, TX Costa Rica Cozumel Curacao Dallas Daytona Beach Denver Des Moines Detroit Disneyland, CA Dublin Edinburgh, Scotland Flagstaff Florence Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers Frankfurt Freeport Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge, TN Grand Cayman Guadalajara Hamburg Harrisburg, PA Hartford, CT Hawaii - Big Island Hawaii - Kauai Hawaii - Maui Hawaii - Molokai Hawaii - Oahu/Honolulu Hilton Head Island Houston Indianapolis Ixtapa Jackson Hole, WY Jacksonville Jamaica (MBJ) Jamaica - Kingston Kansas City, MO Key Largo Key West Killington - Okemo, VT Lake Tahoe Las Vegas Lexington, KY London Long Beach, CA Los Angeles Louisville, KY Madison, WI Madrid Mazatlan Memphis Mexico City Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis - St. Paul Mont-Tremblant, Quebec Monterey, CA Monterrey, Mexico Montreal Munich Myrtle Beach Mystic - New London, CT Napa Naples/Marco Island, FL Nashville Nassau New Orleans New York City Newark, NJ Oakland, CA Oklahoma City Omaha Orange County Coastal, CA Orlando Palm Springs Paris Park City, UT Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland, OR Prague Providence - Newport, RI Puerto Plata, D.R. Puerto Rico Puerto Vallarta Punta Cana, D.R. Quebec Raleigh/Durham, NC Reno Richmond, VA Riviera Maya Rome Sacramento Salt Lake City San Antonio San Diego San Francisco San Jose, CA Santa Fe, NM Santo Domingo, D.R. Savannah Scottsdale Seattle Sonoma County, CA South Padre Island, TX St. Croix St. John - USVI St. Kitts St. Louis St. Lucia St. Maarten St. Petersburg, FL St. Thomas Steamboat Springs, CO Stowe - Sugarbush, VT Tampa Telluride, CO Toronto Tucson Tulsa Vail, CO Vancouver Venice Victoria Vienna Virginia Beach Washington D.C. West Palm Beach Whistler (via Vancouver) Williamsburg - Yorktown, VA Zurich Depart: Return: Number of Passengers: Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Children 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Infants 0 1 2 3 4 Rooms: 1 2 3 4 Find out More About Ireland Golf Vacations • Vacation Themes , Vacation Brands , Vacation Properties , Vacation Destinations , Vacation Packages Find out More About Priceline Travel Services • Airfare , Hotels , Car Rentals , Vacation Packages , Cruises Book Your Travel Now on Priceline • Discount Airfare , Discount Hotels , Discount Car Rentals , Discount Vacation Packages , Discount Cruises More Money Saving Travel Sites • Lowestfare.com , Travelweb.com , Rentalcars.com , BreezeNet.com , Flycheap.com , MyTravelGuide.com All material herein © 1998-2002 priceline.com Incorporated, all rights reserved. PRICELINE.COM, and PRICELINE are registered service marks, and NAME YOUR OWN PRICE, and NAME YOUR PRICE are service marks of priceline.com Incorporated. ws-16 priceline.com home | priceline.com site map

South America Travel

South America Tour : Galapagos Tours - Amazon travel South America Tour & travel supplier with 20 years South America tour experience in Galapagos tours and Amazon travel South America tour hotline 1 800 747 0567 South America tour & Adventure experts will speak with you reservations@latintrails.com South America tour by Latin Trails your experts in Galapagos tours and Amazon travel South America tour and Adventure travel - Galapagos tours - Amazon travel - travel to Ecuador - Peru trips - Amazon and Galapagos cruises - Machu Picchu trips - wilderness adventures - rainforest lodges - tours for students - special interest travel by Latin Trails. GALAPAGOS Tours & cruises special! - 4, 5, 8 day cruises from $130 per day - Combine the Galapagos islands and Machu Picchu Dear Friends , South America tour have been designed by Latin Trails for more than 20 years so you can: listen, see, feel, smell and taste the sub-continent as a destination. Join us on a vacation on board our Galapagos yachts and Amazon expedition travel ships, visit our eco lodges on a rainforest trip or sustainable travel program with the indigenous peoples of the Andes. Special interest travel, wilderness adventures, wildlife trips, nature cruises in mind. Hotel and accommodation bookings. We can arrange your Latin American adventure. Marcel Perkins Latin Trails South America tour and Adventure travel Finder by destination: Travel to Ecuador tours Travel to Peru tours Travel to Bolivia tours Visit our Galapagos Island tours planner click on the wheel South America Tours Forum Chat with peers and other travellers, share experiences, find travel companions... links to adventure travel partner websites around the world South America tour Custom Itineraries: At Latin Trails we specialize in custom adventures and special interest travel, we work on your vacation with you from beggining to end, taking into account your unique interests and concerns, in the end together we obtain an itinerary that is a work of art that we have prepared together. South America tour in a diverse region and there are many travel opportunities, not everybody wants to do the same activities, we have developed many activities and orientations to each visitor site. Small groups and escorted tours: We have much experience working with travel clubs and special interest groups. We offer gratuities for every 15 paying passengers, if you want to travel for free ask us how we can help you put together a travel group. You can save money and bring your friends on your vacation. We organize travel for all size groups and interests ranging from university groups to company incentives with motivation programs and team building activities. Family vacations: Latin Trails started as a family travelling around Latin American countries, our expertise in travelling with children and grand parents allows us to offer programs for all ages and keep everybody interested. Special child activities and private time for adults are the key factors in every family vacation. We have special discounts for children under 12 when travelling with their parents, we offer properties with connecting rooms and the triple and quad accommodations. Responsible Tourism: We have developed a network of local hotels, eco lodges, and boutique accommodation options; we try to include these in every itinerary we organize so the money stays within the country you visit. We also offer community travel and sustainable tourism programs. All our holidays involve responsible trip guides and transportation suppliers and have strong respect for local cultures and the environment. Whenever possible we use native guides and rural lodging when requested. Reservations toll free contact : 1 800 747 0567 reservations@latintrails.com U.S. Adress: 311 Old Boonton Rd., Boonton - NJ, 07005 Ecuador Address: Av. Ruminahui # 221 & 1ra Transversal, San Rafael, Quito - Ecuador Latin Trails is a proud member of: Latin American Travel Association National Tours Association SOUTHERN AMERICAN TOURS IDEAS Nature & Wildlife National Parks Wildlife reserves Cloud forest tours Amazon tours Galapagos tours Pantanal Ecolodges Soft Adventure Bicycle tours Hiking & walking Horseback riding Andean yoga Snorkelling Sea kayaking Culture & History Archealogy tours Indian markets Community projects Community lodges Language study Active Adventures Climbing Diving Mountain biking Trekking Rafting site map

Russia Travel Guide, climate:

Russia Travel Guide - Information and Advice Russia Travel Guide Information and Advice 'A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' Churchill St Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide Russia Map | Russia Pictures Russia Travel Guide, climate: Best: May, June, Sept, Oct. July/August can be wet . Worst: Nov-March [winter is long, dark and extremely cold with short days, but the snow scenes will be stunning. Early Spring is muddy, slushy and falling icicles kill! ] Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights: Moscow or St Petersburg are excellent for a wild and wooly underwear weekend. Recommended: 2 weeks to take in Moscow, St Petersburg and some of the surrounding towns - such as the Golden Ring - and countryside. The Trans-Siberian Railway to Irkutsk [Lake Baikal] will require at least 5 days. Main Russia Festivals Guide : 25 Dec- 5 Jan, Russian Winter is celebrated with traditional activities such as music, dance, sleigh rides, folk shows. New Year's Eve tends to be a family/friends occasion, so not wildly exciting. late Feb-early March, Goodbye Russian Winter, as above. Easter Sunday, Moscow, procession and service in stunning Kolomenskoe [Orthodox] church. April/May, Moscow Music Spring Festival , classical music. May 9, Victory Day Parade, Moscow. A stirring military procession. June, the White Nights arts festival is St Petersburg's liveliest event. April/May, St Petersburg Music Spring Festival , classical music. For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Colourful Festivals or European Festivals Activities Guide: The country is spacious - to say the least - and outdoor activities are popular but facilities and safety measures can be primitive so get specialist advice before undertaking anything halfway dangerous. Hiking: There is no shortage of excellent trekking terrain, just a shortage of marked trails or maps, so extracting information from locals regularly is essential, and as a consequence a few words of the language are vital. Either that or get a good guide. Lake Baikal [see Russia travel favourites, right], the Elbrus area of the Caucasus, west Ural Mountains and Altay Mountains are prime targets. Check the travel safety situation . White Water rafting: The Katun River in the Altay Republic, Vladisvostok and Kamchatka. Climbing: The Elbrus area of the Caucasus are superb but get specialist advice before arriving in Russia, safety aspects included . Cycling: roads are often in bad shape, cars and drivers even worse shape, but bike travel can still be rewarding, with care, a tough bike and essential spares. Local hospitality is tremendous. Canoeing: rivers can be heavily polluted so inland water travel is difficult to recommend, though the Volga River delta is supposed to be alive and delightful, while the coasts up north offer prospects of isolated adventure. Boat cruises: either on posh tourist boats or cheap, dilapidated Russian craft. The main highway is the Volga River and boats go to/from Moscow, Novgorod, Volgograd and many other attractive cities. Volgograd to Rostov-Don is supposed to be the most interesting section. June-September only. Fishing: mostly salmon out east e.g. from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Skiing: Cross country skiing is traditionally more popular than down-hill skiing; snowboarding is becoming increasingly popular and heli-skiing is available and remarkably good value. There are more than a hundred ski areas, many of which need modernisation, though some resorts in the Caucasus Mountains offer good facilities and comfortable accommodation. For instance, Cheget in the Baksan Valley offers challenging runs, including the longest of 2.5 km; or Mount Elbus - Europe's highest peak at 5,642m [1,8513 ft] - hosts one of Russia's largest resorts, Prielbrusye. There are at least 20 ski slopes within 50 miles of Moscow and some can even be reached by metro! Ice Skating: Possibly the country's most popular pastime with frozen lakes and outdoor rinks all over during the long winter and even indoor rinks open in the summer. Inexpensive and very cheerful. Banya bathing: this Russian style sauna is a good way to experience authentic Russian social life, particularly if you are a graduate of an old British public school where extreme heat, cold and beatings were a way of life. There are banyas everywhere, ranging from appallingly dilapidated to highly polished. The Trans-Siberian Railway This week long, non-stop 10,000km [6,000mls] or so ride travels from Moscow to either: - Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific coast. - via Mongolia to Beijing. - via Manchuria and Harbin to Beijing. This is reputedly one of the world's great train journeys but does not necessarily deliver a comfortable or fascinating experience for everyone. Downside: - there are no showers, except for a few lucky 1st class travelers. - conditions will be cramped. - dining car food will be abysmal. - the scenery is mainly dull, tending towards endless forests and grassy plains, interspersed with the occasional log cabin, log village or vast lake. The train stops for 10 minutes a few times a day, leaving no time to explore, just time to aquire emergency supplies from the platform. - As a consequence, life on the train is paramount, and this depends on various factors coming together. Is your car attendant cordial? Are your fellow passengers interesting? Does anyone snore? Do you mind living off fairly basic food for six days? Can you happily stare out of a dirty window looking at birch trees for hours on end? Is TV an integral part of your life? Do you have a good selection of books with you? Do you like vodka? And so on... Upside: - you can arrange to take a stop over at key points en route, for example attractive Irkutsk [see Russia travel favourites, right] and nearby huge, mountain-hemmed Lake Baikal. Siberian timber buildings are often charming, colourfully decorated and carved. - due to the fame of the train and the number of serious travellers on it there will almost always be someone interesting you can find to chat to for days , though a good companion and a monster picnic hamper [loaded with - you've guessed - vodka] would be a useful starting point. - if you are actually going east/west for a purpose - such as for work in Japan or China - you will be saving the air fare. Train Survival hints: - don't drink the tap water. A samovar [hot water pot] in each carriage supplies sterile water. - clean your window to improve views and photos. - stand well clear when flushing the toilet , it can backfire if the train travels at speed. - learn a few key Russian phrases to charm your surly attendants. - take lots of vodka with you . You can buy some snacks, fruit, cigarettes etc during 15 minute stops at stations, but no alcohol, and you will be doing a lot of socialising! Russia Travel Star Guide: Monuments **** Shopping and souvenirs *** Walkability *** Food Quality and Variety *** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value *** Beaches black sea Wildlife * Landscape *** Local People **** Architecture **** Safety ** Nightlife and Clubbing ***** Health Problems ** Museums ***** Why Travel to Russia? This vast and diverse country, occupying the top chunk of a continent all the way from Poland to Japan - and a big chunk of world history too - demands travel attention. The architecture is both glorious and hideous, the history is monstrous, the art is sensational and the people can be touchingly friendly . Absurd Fabergé eggs? Extraordinary onion domes? Caviar crepe? Yes, please. A hard day's White Night in St Petersburg? Slamming vodka with your taxi driver? Da! Big , brutal, beautiful and intriguing, Russia is an enigma that's got to be sampled by any serious traveller. Downside: - Accommodation is hardly cheap if comfort is an issue, though plenty of budget options are available. - Hygiene can be a problem. - Officials are often unpleasantly boorish . - Crime and corruption in the cities requires an ever-open eye . - Despite the size of the country, internal flights are unreliable and Russian airlines have the world's worst safety record. Some Russia tra vel favourites: 1] ***Moscow, a diverse and interesting city with masses of history, action and must-see spectacles, though not on the same planet as St Petersburg for elegance. See Moscow Travel Guide . 2] ***St Petersburg , one of the world's most beautiful cities, with many splendid buildings and museums, including the spectacular Hermitage, with a sophisticated service industry. See St Petersburg Travel Guide . 3] ***Novgorod, 190 km [118mls] south of St Petersburg , an important political and artistic centre from the 9th century and still holds a wide and varied collection of magnificent structures including Russia's oldest cathedral, frescoes galore, and plenty of glorious oddities. 4]***The Golden Ring,a few hours travel northeast of Moscow, are a collection of attractive historic towns dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. These can be visited on day trips, but better, hire a car or join a boat with a guide and take your time to enjoy: ***Suzdal , the most important town in the Golden Ring, Suzdal used be a political and religious centre and has more than fifty quaint and well-preserved old structures. About 210km [131 mls] from Moscow. It is a major tourist attraction, yet still retains an enchanting, pre-Soviet atmosphere. **Vladimir is famed for its Golden Gate and two splendid cathedrals. About 180km [112 mls] from Moscow. **Rostov. This quiet, rustic town offers the usual churches but also a lovely lake and spectacular kremlin. **Yaroslavl is much bigger than other towns in the Ring but totally crammed with gorgeous churches, if you haven't seen enough. 250kms [156mls] from Moscow. 5] **Irkutsk , the 'Paris of Siberia', is a long way from anywhere except Mongolia, but is on the Trans-Siberian train route [see more info left] and well worth a stop-off. The city is mostly charming, with considerable Chinese influence and some magnificent architecture, including typically elaborate Siberian 'gingerbread' houses. Another of Irkutsk's attractions is the proximity to lovely, 636km [398mls] long Lake Baikal where hiking, biking, horse trekking, fishing and boating are big time. The north end is the most beautiful and isolated. Listvyanka village is a popular place to stay for tourists. 6] ***Cruising the Volga River via some superb old towns like Kazan [ancient Tatar city], Shiryaeva and Ulyanovsk [Lenin's birthplace]. See Boat cruises, left. 7]**Black Sea, Sochi. This is a Russian beach resort town with a warm climate and sophisticated health spas [sanatoria], with beaches and tennis courts, scenically situated at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. 8] ** Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains is a pretty, pleasant city except perhaps for Tsar Nick II and his family who met their end here and the USA's U2 spy pilot who was shot down in the area. The place offers excellent architecture, museums, entertainment and access to the Urals for varied activities. Cuisine Guide: You can eat well and inexpensively nowadays, especially in cafés and fast food places in the cities. Do choose places that look clean and are busy , poor hygiene could result in intestinal blowout. Moscow and St Petersburg in particular have seen an astronomical growth in cafés, bars and restaurants, including classic Chinese, Japanese and Italian offerings, western fast food chains and traditional Russian cuisine . Russian food tends to be rich and on the heavy side in winter , such as meaty dumplings, meaty cabbage rolls, cabbage soup with sour cream, and the national icons - borscht [beetroot soup], blinis [pancakes] and caviar, while lighter foods like superb soups and salads are around in the summer . Avoid eating shellfish except in St Petersburg and street ice cream anywhere. Drinks: We all know the varied pleasures of vodka, particularly drunk chilled and in one gulp, but Russia also does a fine line in local beers with lively flavours, good champagne, not such good wine , passable tea and effective coffee. Russians love to press drinks on foreigners so prepare your excuses now. Or practice chugging. Accommodation guide: You are supposed to have a place booked in order to get a tourist visa . There's a wide range of accommodation from luxury hotels at silly prices to cheapish hostels at around $20 pn, but it's important to book well ahead for the June-September season. Private home stays are widespread , giving the tourist relatively good value rooms and a close look at real Russian life. The downside is that the place may be out of the way, the bed lumpy and the morning-after breakfast provider in-your-face during your recovery time. Camping is fine in many places though - as usual - check with locals before bedding down. Organised camping sites are rare and usually open mid-June to mid-September. Russia Tours Tour operators offering travel to Russia can be found in our listings here: Russia Tours For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Map of Europe Travel Safety: Travel to Chechenya and the north Caucasus is not recommended; check the Foreign Office site or tour operators for up-to-date warnings. Otherwise stay on the regular tourist routes. Don't flash your cash! Pickpocketing and bag filching may occur on crowded public transport while hotel rooms are by no means thief-proof. Lock everything into your bags before leaving the room and use a safe deposit if there is one. Take care with taxis. Don't get in if there is anyone other than the driver inside, and don't necessarily trust the driver. See Safety page. Travel Health: Do not drink Russian tap water , not even for cleaning your teeth. Check you are up to date with all jabs, and consider including vaccinations for diptheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B. A flu jab is also useful if you plan to travel to Russia in spring or autumn when the bugs are rampant. Foreigners usually prefer to be treated at private clinics, which are very costly. Get Insurance! Costs: Russia can be good value if you don't mind slightly crude accommodation and eat/drink at local establishments rather than typical tourist places. Change money for roubles only at official exchanges or banks. Cash is easier to change than travellers cheques. Tipping: About 10% to taxi drivers and 10-15% to waiters in restaurants. Electricity : Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Internet: There are masses of reasonably priced web cafés in bigger cities. Local travel: The big cities have good metro and bus services at low prices . Locals enjoy life as illegal taxi drivers for extra cash. Beware though, some are pure evil, others wonderful, hospitable guides. Hitch-hiking is common for Russians but not advisable for tourists . Intercity travel: Trains connecting Moscow to St Petersburg are common, efficient and inexpensive . The Aurora day train takes 6 hours, the evening train 4 hours. Passenger boats are common between cities - tho' slow - including Moscow to St Pete. For exploring the countryside around big cities consider car hire, with or without a driver/guide. It's not expensive and very convenient. International travel: Moscow and St Petersburg are both easy to reach from many European cities by fast, efficient trains and buses ; other Russia cities are more difficult to access directly. Language: Some locals speak English, French, or German but ability to recognise the Cyrillic alphabet and a few words of Russian would really help your experience along. Visas: All visitors need a visa which needs a hotel/hostel booking . If you plan to travel in Russia you may want to see our: China Travel Guide Japan Travel Guide Austria Travel Guide Czech Republic Travel Guide Finland Travel Guide Hungary Travel Guide Turkey Travel Guide Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog

Germany Travel Guides ,

Germany Sight-Seeing, Tours and Travel GERMANY Places to Stay in Germany Germany Tours & Travel Attractions, Culture, and more... GERMANY HOME GERMANY TOURS AND TRAVEL GERMANY TOURS AND TRAVEL Berlin , though not as dominant in Germany as London in England or Paris in France , has been touted as one of the world's coolest big cities since the early 90s. The world's most famous beer culture is centered around Southern Germany's leading city ( Munich ), where beer is traditionally served in 1 liter mugs; Munich is also the site of the annual Oktoberfest , Europe's most visited festival. GERMANY TOURS: Berlin Tours , Bonn Tours , Cologne Tours , Dusseldorf Tours , Frankfurt Tours , Koblenz Tours , Mainz Tours , Frankfurt Tours , Koblenz Tours , Mainz Tours , Munich Tours , GERMANY TOURS & TRAVEL Berlin Tours and Travel Even though Berlin does have a number of impressive buildings from earlier centuries, the city's appearance today is mainly shaped by the key role it played in Germany's history in the 20th century. Each of the national governments which had their seat in Berlin initiated ambitious construction programs, each with its own character ... BERLIN TOURS: Berlin Sight-Seeing Tours , Day Trips from Berlin , Cologne Tours and Travel Cologne is one German city that has a very distinctive flavor to it. Most inhabitants take an exorbitant amount of pride in their city and the local language, resulting in sayings like Wo mir sin, is Koelle (Cologne is where we are). Cologne is a very friendly place, and the people are in general very friendly and open ... COLOGNE TOURS: Cologne Cruises , Cologne Transfers , Munich Tours and Travel Munich is a popular tourist destination and has been described as Germany's secret capital. Center of the city is the Marienplatz with the Old and the New Townhall, its tower contains as attraction the Rathaus-Glockenspiel, an ornate clock with almost life-sized moving figures that show scenes from a medieval jousting tournament ... MUNICH TOURS: Sight-Seeing Tours , Night Tours , Day Tours , TOURS & TRAVEL IN OTHER AREAS OF GERMANY BONN, GERMANY, TOURS & TRAVEL KD Rhine Pass - Bonn 1 day - An easy way to start your romantic day on the Rhine: Present your KD ticket onboard any KD ship and enjoy all scheduled day cruises on the Rhine and Moselle rivers for one whole day. The extensive and reliable timetable enables you to disembark as often as you like at the many interesting stops... DUSSELDORF, GERMANY, TOURS & TRAVEL Advent Afternoon Cruise - Dusseldorf 2 hours - A wonderful way to see pre-Christmas Dusseldorf! Enjoy afternoon tea onboard MS Warsteiner as you listen to music and watch the world go by! An easy way to start your romantic day on the Rhine: Present your KD ticket onboard any KD ship and enjoy all scheduled day cruises on the Rhine and Moselle rivers ... Christmas Lunch Time Cruise - Dusseldorf 2 hours - Sail through the city with the sounds of music in your ears and the aroma of a festive lunch floating through the air! Take the opportunity of this fantastic cruise onboard the MS Warsteiner, to take panoramic photographs of beautiful Dusseldorf. Dusseldorf is the bustling Rhine metropolis right in the heart of Europe... Romantic Evening Cruise - Dusseldorf 3 hours - Sail the beautiful Rhine around Christmas-time Dusseldorf as you enjoy live music and dancing! A wonderful way to see the city of Dusseldorf, from it's most attractive angle!A festive and romantic atmosphere with live music and dancing. Relax against the backdrop of Dusseldorf's Christmas-time panorama... FRANKFURT, GERMANY, TOURS & TRAVEL Christmas Delight 4 days / 3 nights - Enjoy the festive feeling of German Christmas as you travel through the Christmas Markets of this wonderful region! Enjoy a trip to the Erzgebirge region, to the ancient miner villages of Annaberg and Scheenberg, the home of the German tradition of woodcarving and Christmas Pyramids ... Private Frankfurt Arrival Transfer Varies, subject to traffic - Pre-organising transfers is now the norm for many travellers. Secure not only a great rate by locking in today's price, but secure peace of mind also. Leave the worrying for the birds and travel knowing your transfer is waiting for you at the airport! Why worry about catching a taxi ... Private Frankfurt Departure Transfer Varies, subject to traffic - Prebook your transfer from the comfort of your computer desk! Let your fingers do the hard work - all you do is click away! Print your voucher and present it at your hotel upon pickup, and the rest is history! Why worry about the inconvenience of calling and waiting for a cab? Don't go to the discomfort ... KOBLENZ, GERMANY, TOURS & TRAVEL KD Rhine Pass - Nostalgic Route 1 Day - The good old days of steamship travel are back! Take advantage of this unique nostalgic highlight and experience the best known sights on the steamship GOETHE on the romantic Middle Rhine. This fabulous boat-trip invites you to dream of castles, fairy tales and the good old days. Book now to experience this ... KD Rhine Pass - Koblenz 1 Day - An easy way to start your romantic day on the Rhine: Present your KD ticket onboard any KD ship and enjoy all scheduled day cruises on the Rhine and Moselle rivers for one whole day. The extensive and reliable timetable enables you to disembark as often as you like at the many interesting stops ... MAINZ, GERMANY, TOURS & TRAVEL KD Rhine Pass - Koblenz 1 Day - An easy way to start your romantic day on the Rhine: Present your KD ticket onboard any KD ship and enjoy all scheduled day cruises on the Rhine and Moselle rivers for one whole day. The extensive and reliable timetable enables you to disembark as often as you like at the many interesting stops ... GERMANY HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION GERMANY HOME GERMANY TOURS AND TRAVEL SEE ALSO FOR GERMANY: PLACES TO STAY: ALL HOTELS , Berlin , Bonn , Cologne , Dresden , Dusseldorf , Frankfurt , Hamburg , Hanover , Heidelberg , Leipzig , Munich , Niedersachsen , Stuttgart , TOURS & TRAVEL: ALL TOURS , Berlin Tours , Bonn , Cologne Tours , Dusseldorf , Frankfurt , Koblenz , Mainz , Munich Tours , ATTRACTIONS, CULTURE & MORE: BERLIN: Brandenburg Gate , Potsdamer Platz , FESTIVALS & EVENTS: Christmas Markets , Oktoberfest , World Cup 2006 , SHOP: Germany Posters and Prints , Germany Travel Guides , Images of Germany CULTURE OF GERMANY: Unlike the citizens of virtually all surrounding countries, most Germans are insecure and uneasy about their cultural heritage. They feel that German culture has been deeply compromised, even tainted by the Nazis who abused it to demonstrate German superiority. As a result, in Germany its frequent to find people - especially young people - openly declaring that theyd rather be not German and that there are many foreign places theyd prefer to live in. Part of this attitude comes from the German self perception as being fiercely individualistic. Identifying oneself as part of a group, an idea or a religion is often seen as uncool. This said, Germans have a strong sense of German culture and civilization as such. Theres a couple of names that you will come across over and over again: Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, Wagner, Nietzsche, Kant, Mann, Brecht, Klee and many more are authors, composers and philosophers of the 19th and 20th century who are profoundly admired, though only a minority will actually be familiar with their works. Germans like to think that in the 19th century, Germany was the one "Land der Dichter und Denker" - the land of poets and thinkers - in the world. And to an extent theres truth to that. Obviously, there have been significant German artists for many centuries - just think of Albrecht Drer in the 15th and the towering figure of Johann Sebastian Bach in the 17th century. But most notably in the short timespan between the foundation of the German Empire in 1871 and its end in 1918, prolonged until 1933, Germany experienced something like a cultural outburst. It created a treasure of modern philosophy and science, understanding of the world, artistical expression in painting, sculpturing and music, literature and architecture, world-conquering products and Nobel prize-winning innovations that had no rival in its time. While you will find that a large part of German museum buildings and its contents come from that period - an era when politicians sought to symbolically create a culturally united Germany by commissioning monumental "temples" of culture -, its this ideal that Germans hold the present against. And obviously, the present doesnt fare too well with that. When asked for their favourite authors or artists, a majority of Germans will put forward names from the past, while contemporary authors and artists are often perceived as lightweight and insignificant by comparison. Not only in this respect Germans are deeply nostalgic. Another reason for many Germans perceiving that culturally the good times are long gone might be the love/hate relationship with post-war US-American anglicized culture. You will notice how many billboards, shop windows and media spaces carry English phrases and expressions though theyre clearly not directed at foreigners. In public communications, advertising and media, English many times is preferred from German. Profoundly German companies like mobile network operator T-Mobile, part of telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom, carry English claims (currently "For a better world for you"). Until recently, virtually all German pop musicians sang in English which is felt to be more modern and precise - only recently there has been a revival of German pop and rock music. Top of Page | Places to Stay in Germany | Things to Do in Germany | Links , Site Map | Contact Us GERMANY Places to Stay in Germany Germany Tours & Travel Attractions, Culture, and more... Germany Travel Guides Germany Posters See Also: Austria Netherlands Switzerland