Russia Travel Guide @

Russia Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org Car Hire Cruises Flights Hotels Tours Vacations About Travel Notes™ Destinations Budget Travel Feedback Search Travel Forums Travel Writers Africa Asia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America Oceania Russia Russia Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org Cruising To Russia , Map of Russia , Moscow , Russia Tourism , Russian Food , Russian Tours , Russian Visas , St Petersburg , Soviet Memorabilia , The Urals , Visiting Russia , Wild Russia . Round The World Flights - Free TravelNotes e-mail Flag of Russia Local Currency Convert your currency into Russian roubles. Buy a Map of Russia Countries neighbouring Russia are: Norway , Finland , Estonia , Latvia , Belarus , Ukraine , Kazakhstan , Mongolia , China , North Korea and Alaska , USA; across the Bering Straight. National Anthem of Russia. Food Travel Fiction Health Kids Bios Humor Mags Software Gifts Tech Business Other Your Ad Here Travel Notes Mailing List News Headlines World News Directory of newspapers and news sources from around the world. Russia Today : More than just the news from Russia. Hotel City Search : Moscow On Arbatskaya , the main pedestrian street in Moscow, the red flag is a tourist commodity worthy of currency, along with other Lenin memorabilia and former soviet uniforms, Russian dolls, tin-badges and revolution-era cameras. Sovietski -- Soviet Memorabilia Turn back the clock with this original work of Soviet Memorabilia from 1800-Russia.com . This original Soviet clock can only be purchased at Sovietski -- Soviet Memorabilia . Travel Notes From Russia With Love : The thawing of attitude has seen the people of St. Petersburg and Moscow take to the streets; Lenin statues have fallen and individual traders have sprouted. Moscow Life : An excellent collection of articles. from Andrey Sebrant. Russia Tourism East Russia Travel : This site has been designed to educate, inform and promote Eco, cultural and other tourism opportunities in Eastern Russia. New Russia : Official Site of the Russian National Tourist Office. This is a beautifully presented site, and very easy to navigate; who needs frames? There is an enlightening history section, and of course the mythical Trans Siberian Railway routes. Trans-Siberian : A Dutchman's well-illustrated, and fast-loading travelogue. Visiting Russia Russian Visas : All foreign nationals are required to have entry visas to travel to the Russian Federation. You can easily obtain your entry visas for Russia and the CIS online, from the comfort of your own home. If you are transiting through Moscow Sheremetyevo airport, you may also purchase a visa at the airport, to visit Red Square and The Kremlim while you wait for your connecting flight. And believe me, there can be some very long waits. If you're staying in Russia for more than 3 days, you'll need to register your visa through your hotel or sponsor. For those travelling to a number of Russian cities, all points of entry and all itinerary stops in Russia need to be printed on the visa. It's also a good idea to make photocopies of your passport and visa and carry them with you at all times. Travellers who wish to stay in Russia for more than 3 months need to have an HIV test, to prove that they don't carry the virus. The HIV certificate needs to be in Russian and English and valid for 3 months from the date of medical examination. Russian Customs Regulations : You need to fill out a customs declaration upon arrival in Russia with the amount of currency brought into the country declared and all valuable items listed (including your cell phone). Make sure that the declaration is officially stamped by customs officers on entry, to prevent difficulties in taking currency and valuables out. Russian Consulates : Listings of Russian Consulates around the world. Russian Phrasebook : You're in Russia. Chances are you'll have to stand in line at least once. With this book in hand, this potentially dreary experience could become a social event. Talk politics, meet the love of your life or simply ask where the toilets are. St. Petersburg Russian Folk Show : Enjoy an exotic Russian folk show in the former Ballroom of the Nikolayevsky Palace. Featuring the best folk companies in St. Petersburg with delicious Russian appetisers served in the intermission. St. Petersburg : A virtual tour of Russia's jewel in the crown. Sit back and enjoy as you learn more about the sights. St. Petersburg Guide : Aims to be the best on the web -- don't we all -- for information about the one time Leningrad. St Petersburg Hostel : More Youth Hostels are appearing as budget travel takes off -- when we first went to Russia, you had to pre-book your itinerary through Intourist to receive vouchers for dollar hungry hotels. The State Hermitage Museum : The State Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the embankment of the River Neva, right in the heart of St. Petersburg. The Hermitage collections of works of art (over 3,000,000 items) present the development of the world culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th century. Where Russia : Moscow and St Petersburg are two different cities. Get a feel for these Russian cities by reading the articles at Where Russia. Pulkovo Passengers travelling through St. Petersburg, on Pulkovo flights, get a free hotel stay if their connecting flight is the following day or they have more than a six hour wait. Pulkovo Airlines : The regional airline of St Petersburg operates charter flights to some 84 cities abroad and 46 cities within Russia and the CIS. Pulkovo Airport : Pulkovo airport has two air terminals: Pulkovo-1-- for domestic, CIS and charter flights and Pulkovo-2 for international flights. Pulkovo Airport Transfers : As well as arranging accommodation for visitors to St. Petersburg, Gopetersburg now offer airport transfers for €25 (1-2 people) as compared to the €40-60 normally charged by taxis at the airport. It's a good idea to book your airport taxi in advance. 5% discount to Travel Notes members . Pulkovskaya Hotel : The hotel is situated close to the Moskovskaya metro station, in one of the most beautiful St. Petersburg districts. Only 10 minutes, free shuttles can also whisk you into the city within 20 minutes. The hotel is especially convenient for guests planning to visit the famous royal estates: Peterhof, Pushkin, Pavlovsk and the residence of the Russian President -- Constantinovsky Palace. The Urals The Ural Mountains are stuffed with gems and precious stones. You can buy fantastic handmade jewellery and souvenirs in Ekaterinberg: malachite, garnet, turquoise and jasper made into colourful, sparkling rings, necklaces, key chains and jewellery boxes. About Ekaterinburg : Ekaterinburg is the third largest Russian city, administrative centre of Sverdlovsk oblast and the capital of the Urals. Ekaterinburg History : Ekaterinburg (Yekaterinburg), the capital city of the Urals, was founded in 1723 by Tzar Peter the Great (and named after his wife, Catherine). The city witnessed the death of monarchy in Russia, as it was in Ekaterinburg that the last Russian czar Nicholas II with his family was assassinated, in Ipatiev house by the Bolsheviks on July 16, 1918. When Josef Stalin ruled the Soviet Union, Ekaterinburg became the largest passing point for the so called political criminals, who were sent to develop the lands of Siberia and the Far East; the inhuman work was another name for a death sentence. Ekaterinburg Webcam : A view of the Malysheva - Khokhryakova crossroad in Ekaterinburg . Forsage-plus : (Incoming Tourism) There are many outstanding historical monuments in the area. We suggest that you take a one-day tour to Verkhoturje -- a truly amazing village not far from Ekaterinburg, where you can see the most beautiful churches in Russia and listen to stunning legends about the famous ancient monastery. Ural Airlines : Located at Sputnikov str., 6 in Ekaterinburg. Tel: +7 /3432/ 242-850, 266-789 Fax: +7 /3432/ 266-416 Information phone +7 /3432/ 268-845 . US Consulate in Ekaterinburg : American visitors to Russia can find out about citizen services and the region; Russian travellers to America can learn about visa services; U.S. businessmen can access reports on trade and investment, and Russian students and journalists can read the latest U.S. policy statements on events around the world. Russian Tours All-Russia Travel Services : Apart from offering the usual Russian visa and accommodation services, this website also has a section on rail travel in Russia and driving across Siberia ; from Moscow to Vladivostok. The 10,000 kilometre road journey is probably best taken from west to east, as the most arduous part of the journey is undertaken first and the vehicle's resale value is higher in Moscow. Up to 5% discount to Travel Notes Members . Mak Moscow : Explore the charm that lives in every corner of Russia from the Kremlin and the palaces that fascinate the visitor with their beauty, to the churches outlining the profile of Moscow and the cities that decorate the shores of the Black Sea and Baltic Coast. 4% discount to Travel Notes Members . Travel in Russia : Escorted tours around Saint Petersburg and its suburbs. Also offer tours and shore excursions for cruise ship tourists . Cruising To Russia 1800-Cruises.com : Enjoy a cruise of Russia, the Baltic States and Scandinavia. Princess' Grand Princess : (10 nights) Departs Copenhagen, Denmark >> Nynashamn, Sweden >> Helsinki, Finland >> St. Petersburg, Russia >> Tallinn, Estonia >> Gdansk, Poland >> Warnemunde, Berlin >> Helsingor and Copenhagen, Denmark. Departure Dates in 2004: May 19; Jun 8; Jun 28; Jul 18; Aug 7. NCL's Norwegian Dream : (12 nights) Departs Dover, England >> Transit Kiel Canal (optional tour to Hamburg) >> Berlin (Warnemunde) >> Cruise Baltic Sea >> Tallinn, Estonia >> St. Petersburg, Russia (optional tour to Moscow) >> Helsinki, Finland >> Stockholm, Sweden >> Cruise Swedish Archipelagos >> Copenhagen, Denmark >> Cruise North Sea >> Return to Dover. Departure Dates in 2004: May 13; May 25; Jun 6; Jun 18; Jun 30; Jul 12; Jul 24; Aug 5; Aug 17; Aug 29; Sep 10. Celebrity's Constellation : (12 nights) -- Aug 26th, 2004 Departs Dover, England >> Cruise the North Sea >> Oslo, Norway >> Stockholm, Sweden >> Helsinki, Finland >> St. Petersburg, Russia >> Muuga (Tallinn), Estonia >> Copenhagen, Denmark >> Return to Dover, England. Orient's Marco Polo : (12 nights) -- Aug 30th, 2004 Departs Stockholm, Sweden >> Helsinki, Finland >> St. Petersburg, Russia >> Tallinn, Estonia >> Riga, Latvia >> Cruise Baltic Sea >> Copenhagen, Denmark >> Warnemunde, Germany >> Kiel Canal >> Amsterdam, Holland >> Disembark in Dover, England. 7 Nights also available: Stockholm to Copenhagen (Jul 5; Aug 2) Copenhagen to Stockholm (Jun 28; Jul 26; Aug 23) The Radisson Seven Seas Voyager and SilverSea's Silver Cloud also do seven-night Baltic Cruises in July, although they are a little more expensive. For something a little special , Windstar's Wind Surf take sailing to a new dimension. Pamper yourself on teak decks, as sails catch the wind to propel you around Scandinavia and the Baltic . 10-Night Cruises (Departing Copenhagen on July 12th and August 11th). 13-Nights (Departs St Petersburg July 29th). Russian Food Food and Russia are not talked about kindly in the same breath. Russian Recipes : Pelmeni -- an ear of dough, and blini -- Russian pancakes. Wild Russia Visit Siberia : Located in Tomsk, the geographical centre of Russia, Visit Siberia is an authorised company possessing a license for Russian visa support, hotel reservations and air ticketing. They also have contacts with travel companies in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Irkutsk and Vladivostok. Europe Travel Forum : From Albania to Vatican City, Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, Europe is culturally eclectic and full of lavish history. Join us in the travel forums if you have a question about Europe or would like to share your experiences about travelling or living in Europe. The Internet TravelNotes.org Russia For Adventure Travellers Moscow and St Petersburg Flight Tickets : Save money on Round The World flight tickets. Travel News : Get the inside scoop with the latest travel features and tips. Past Articles . Airlines & Airports : This travel article points you to airlines and the three letter airport codes with links to their websites. Cyber Cafes : The Internet Caf Guide. Weather Outlook Car Hire Cruises Flights Hostels Tours Vacations Destinations Budget Travel Feedback Meta-Travel Travel Forums Travel Writers Africa Asia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America Oceania Travel Directory : Europe : Russia Travel Guide -- Submit to Travel Notes | Advertise on TravelNotes.org | Favourite Destinations | Magun'sCompass | Travel Articles | Writers | | Airlines | Airports | Car Hire | Cruises | Flights | Hotels | Online Reservations | Vacation Rentals | | Casinos | Olympics | World Cup | General Disclaimer | Meta-Travel | Search Resources | | TravelNotes is a Trademark of TravelNotes.org | Travel Notes Blog | Add URL | Add to Favorites The URL for this page is: http://www.travelnotes.org/Europe/russia.htm

France Travel Guide 2

France Travel Guide - information and advice France Travel Guide Information and Advice France Map | Paris Pictures | Paris Travel Guide France Travel Guide 2 - Attractions exodus specialises in “The different holiday”, offering the widest selection of walking, adventure, cycling, mountain biking, wildlife, cultural and winter holidays, and overland journeys across all seven continents! Homepage | France Tours | Brochure Request France Travel Guide, climate: Best: March-June, Sept, early-Oct for sightseeing. Jan-March for wintersports. Worst: July, Aug. The country is packed with foreign and local tourists, while many services - even museums and restaurants - are closed. Dec-Feb can be bitterly cold in mountain areas and in the north including Paris. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile travel, not incl. flights: Paris and île de France [a short excursion] - 4 days. Weekend trips to just Paris are good too. Recommended: At least 2 weeks to take in Paris, and some country/mountain/beach activities, but you'll need months to discover how diverse the country's attractions are. France Festivals guide: Apart from Bastille Day and Assumption of the Virgin Mary [Aug 15th], which are celebrated nationwide, there are regional folk festivals and arts festivals, as well as Catholic events throughout the country, especially around July. Most of the events involve food, wine and extreme dyspepsia. Jan. 1st: Grand Parade Paris , twinned event with London for New Year celebrations . Massive and colourful. Feb-March : Mardi Gras Nice [ more info and picture ], one of the biggest and the most original carnival s in the world, a two week event with colourful parades, street parties, fireworks, and monster illuminations. mid May: Cannes Film Festival - No need to be a celebrity to enjoy Europe's high profile film fiesta. Loads of public screenings are available, as well as a small chance of bumping into stars. No better place for people watching. mid May/mid Oct: Gypsy Festival [Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in Provence], a gypsy gathering; historic, unique and kaleidoscopic. June: International Music Festival [Strasbourg in Alsace, the North], contemporary music. July 14th: Bastille Day [nationwide], France's biggest street festival, with parties, parades and fireworks to remember the French Revolution. July: Tour de France , a three-week cycling race for 3,500km [2000 miles] over the country [route changes annually]. The world's most famous French sporting event. mid July-mid Aug: Festival d'Avignon [Avignon]- a dynamic and diverse Arts festival, boasting over 50 official productions and many more fringes. F or classical music, try Festival International d'Art Lyrique in Aix-en-Provence in July, too. early Aug: Festival Interceltique [Lorient in Brittany], a worthy folk event [Celtic music and culture]. Oct: Jazz Festival [Nancy ], one of the country's best jazz events. For some precise dates see: European Festivals or Arts Festiva ls . Cuisine Guide: Traditional French cuisine of the protein-covered-with-rich sauce kind has been top of the gastronomic world since Romans travelled there to eat wild boar with cranberries in 34AD. But it's finally out of fashion - too heavy, too fattening, too taste-limited, but... [ more info and picture ] Shopping Guide: Pricewise France is not so brilliant due to the €uro's strength, but French style and taste is still irresistible. If designer labels are not your thing, try French eccentricity at smaller boutiques in trendy areas, or cheap chic stuff at flea-markets. Bargain shopping for any French products at huge malls in places such as Calais or Lille is very popular [with mainly British travellers]. Visiting local open-air food markets for regional cheese, pastries and wine, especially in Provence, is a fun way to make lunch. France Star Rating: Monuments ***** Shopping and souvenirs **** Walkability **** Food Quality and Variety **** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value ** Beaches **** Wildlife ** Landscape ***** Local People ** Architecture **** Safety **** Nightlife and Clubbing **** Health Problems none Museums ***** Why Travel to France? The language is one of the most beautiful things about the country so let's forgive the French for being very sniffy about it. Style, culture, architecture, food, wine and fashion all exist in multiple layers of excellence , with Paris in particular capturing and displaying these assets to great advantage. This, the largest country in Europe, has an incredible diversity of soaring landscapes, gorgeous villages, world-famous resorts and spectacular romantic escapes. On top of that, French love anything to do with bodies, so there is no better place for fulfilling your physical dreams, whether it's paragliding off the Alps, boating through the Dordogne or stuffing yourself with foie gras and a bottle of Pouilly-Fuissé. Downside: - Traffic. Not only are French car drivers notoriously aggressive, inconsiderate and occasionally dangerous , but being a convenient transit thoroughfare for North-South Europe road deliveries means that many French roads suffer terminal truck overdose. - Endless, sudden, disruptive strikes. - Petty crime wherever groups of tourists congregate . - The Riviera is mostly crammed with the filthy rich these days. - Locals attitudes to foreign travellers could be improved, particularly in Paris. Activities Guide: Walking/Climbing: With more than 60,000 km [37,500 miles]of well-marked long-distance footpaths to travel on, France is a superb walking country [ more info and picture ] . Also see Walking Tours - France. Cycling: the most French of activities; t he first modern bike was French! France has 28,000km of marked cycle routes, as well as good city and town cycle lanes [ more info and picture ]. Camping : Plenty of choice of places and facilities from basic campsites to luxury holiday parks throughout the country, especially along west coast beaches [ more info and picture ]. Efficient, stress-free and perfect for the family. Skiing: France is one of world's finest and most popular destinations for both downhill and cross-country skiing [ more info and picture ]. Caving: The limestone caves along Spanish border or the Southwest are ideal. Golfing: There are over 500 golf courses in the country [ more info and picture ], with several world-class ones. Relatively inexpensive and uncrowded. Hangliding & paragliding: The Hautes-Alpes of Provence, the Pyrenees [ more info and picture ] and Corsica are considered to be best places to hang loose. Rafting /canoeing: rental boats and organised excursions are available just about everywhere by the water in summertime [ more info and picture ]. The gorges in the Pyrenees, the Alpes and the Massif Central are particularly suited for more adventurous travellers [ more info and picture ]. Swimming/sunbathing: From Normandy to Corsica there's no shortage of swimming spots in the summer. [ more info and picture ]. Sailing: The Atlantic coast has solid winds and good ports to visit unless you are silly rich and want to park your yacht in Cannes. Diving/snorkelling: Available in Corsica. Surfing: often good waves along the Atlantic coast, such as Biarritz, Anglet and Hossegor. Wind/Kitesurfing is most popular on the western Mediterranean coast. Many rivers as well as on lakes such as Lac d'Annecy and Lake Geneva have leisure centres offering a wide rage of watersports. Fishing: Available on rivers and lakes with permits. Try Brittany for carp fishing, River Loire and Brittany/ Normandy for trout and salmon, but the best and most scenic rivers for salmon fishing are in the western Pyrenees. Get a licence at the local tourist office. Sea-fishing, including night-fishing, is popular and available at most seaside resorts. Horse riding: widespread but particularly favoured in Burgandy and the Camargue at the Rhône Delta [in Provence], a nature reserve famous for its indigenous horses. Another horse friendly area is the north; Parc International de la Canche in Le Touquet has 112km of forest riding routes and 26km of beach trails. River/Canal Cruises: A large and sophisticated network of canals and rivers can take you all over the country in peace and quiet, and you still see the sights, but you don't have to book a room ahead or...[ more info and picture ]. France Tours Tour operators offering tours to France can be found in our listings here: France Tours Map of Europe For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Visas: EU citizens do not need visas, nor do many other country's residents - including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel for visits up to 90 days. Electricity: Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Safety: Relatively safe but always use common sense. Pickpockets operate on many metro and train lines, around tourist sights and along the Cote d'Azur. Cars travelling with foreign number plates are also popular targets for theft, ranging from smash 'n' grab by motorcycle while in motion, 'Mister your wheel it look funny' trickery, and regular parked break-ins. Always hide luggage, especially valuables, and park in a conspicuous area if possible. See Travel Safety. Language: Nowadays more locals understand English, but do not expect them to speak it, even if they are in service. If you can throw together a few words it will help when travelling in most places in France, except possibly Paris, where city dwellers are notoriously sniffy about their gorgeous language being tortured by foreigners. Do, at least try to say 'Bonjour Madame/monsieur' when you enter a small shop and 'Au revoir' when you leave, this will show that you have some appreciation of their culture, even if you don't speak any other French. If you plan to travel France you may find these other Bugbog guides useful: UK Travel Guide Spain Travel Guide Italy Travel Guide Germany Travel Guide Austria Travel Guide Belgium Travel Guide Portugal Travel Guide Czech Republic Travel 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

Europe Travel

Eurail, Eurorail pass, Europe train tickets, Eurostar reservations and much more from the official Rail Europe site. Interactive Map of Europe Home | Rail Passes | Hotel | Air + Hotel | Car | Packages | Group Travel | Destination | About Us | FAQ | Email | Site Map | View Shopping Cart Rail Passes Train Tickets Eurail pass Eurail Selectpass British Products France'n Italy France'n Switzerland France'n Spain France Railpass Swiss Pass Single Country Passes Multiple Country Passes Rail 'n Drive Rail Packages All Premier Trains Eurostar Tickets TGV Train Hotel Elipsos Travel Agents Track Your Shipment Download Brochure Group Travel Additional Services Hotel Air + Hotel Car Packages Rail Packages Travel Resources Non U.S. residents please choose: Canadian , UK or Other Countries . En Español Most Popular Rail Passes Eurailpass Train Tickets Europass ® France Railpass Eurorail Swiss Pass Eurostar tickets British Products Eurail Selectpass Italian Rail Rail 'n Drive Regional Passes : Single Country France 'n Switzerland Multiple Country France 'n Italy France 'n Spain Rail Packages Germany 'n Benelux Germany 'n Denmark SAVE! on Hotels in Europe Greece 'n Italy Romania 'n Hungary Spain 'n Portugal Senior Passes for those 60 years of age and over. Find the Right Rail Pass Pass comparison chart What to consider before choosing a pass The most popular passes Learn from the best experts in European travel in 1 click. It's FREE! Why buy your Eurail pass or Eurail ticket anywhere else? Rail Europe is North America's official distributor of these products as well as the France Rail Pass, BritRail Pass, Swiss Rail Pass, Eurostar Tickets, Trenitalia Tickets, SNCF Tickets and DeutscheBahn Tickets. Plus, we offer the largest customer care center in North America . Find a Product ---------------------------- Specials & Promotions Hotel Air + Hotel Car Packages Download Brochure ---------------------------- Rail Passes Single Country Multiple Country Rail 'n Drive Passes Senior Passes Youth Passes Train Tickets Eurostar Thalys TGV Med ---------------------------- London Airport Transfers ---------------------------- British Products Eurail passes Eurail Selectpasses Swiss Products ---------------------------- Austrian Railpass Balkan Flexipass Benelux Tourrail Pass Bulgaria Flexipass Czech Flexipass European East Pass Finnrail Pass France Railpass France 'n Italy Pass France'n Switzerland Pass Switzerland 'n Austria Pass German Rail Pass Greek Rail 'n Fly Holland Rail Pass Hungarian Flexipass Trenitalia Pass London Day Tour The London Pass Norway Railpass Paris Museum Pass Paris Visite Portuguese Railpass Romanian Pass Spain Flexipass Scanrail Pass Swiss Passes Specials/Promotions NEW! Britrail Off Peak Specials NEW! Trenitalia Winter Promo more special offers... How to Save When Buying Foreign Currency Under 26? Get a Deal! Eurail Selectpass 3 to 5 countries Eurailpass 17 countries France 'n Italy Youthpass Swiss Youth Pass Eurostar Youth Voucher Find a Hostel in Europe Get Your International Student ID card INTERACTIVE FLASH RAIL MAPS Home | Rail | Hotel | Air + Hotel | Car | Packages | Group Travel | Destination | Affiliates | About Us | FAQ | E-mail | Site Map View Shopping Cart © 2000 through 2005 Rail Europe Group, all rights reserved. Please read our privacy policy .

Italy travel! TripAdvisor SmartDeals

Italy Vacation Packages - Reviews of Italy Travel Packages - TripAdvisor Italy Vacation Packages and Hotel Deals Sign in • Sign up Home > Europe > Italy > SmartDeals > All travel offers Italy tourism: Overview Hotels Flights Attractions Deals Forums Maps, etc. Discount hotels | Hotel + air deals | All travel offers Search (e.g., Boston hotels, Las Vegas, Paris art museum) Italy Italy Overview Italy Hotels Flights to Italy Italy Deals Discount hotels Hotel + air deals All travel offers Italy Attractions Italy Forums Italy Maps Italy Discount Hotels Italy Vacation Packages Free Newsletter Get deals, news and articles on Italy Plus weekend trip ideas from your hometown e-mail this page to a friend Italy vacation packages Acapulco vacation packages Alaska vacation packages Amsterdam vacation packages Anaheim vacation packages Arizona vacation packages Aruba vacation packages Aspen vacation packages Atlanta vacation packages Atlantic City vacation packages Bahamas vacation packages Barbados 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Santa Fe vacation packages Scotland vacation packages Seattle vacation packages Spain vacation packages St. Croix vacation packages St. Lucia vacation packages St. Maarten/St. Martin vacation packages St. Thomas vacation packages Sydney vacation packages Texas vacation packages Toronto vacation packages Tucson vacation packages U.S. Virgin Islands vacation packages Vail vacation packages Virginia Beach vacation packages Washington DC vacation packages Whistler vacation packages Read more Italy tourism Italy Vacation Packages and Hotel Deals Choose a specific destination Select one of the following destinations within Italy: --choose-one-- ---------- Abruzzi -- Alba Adriatica -- Assergi -- Chieti -- Francavilla Al Mare -- Giulianova -- L'Aquila -- Loreto Aprutino -- Martinsicuro -- Montesilvano -- Ovindoli -- Pescara -- Pineto -- Silvi Marina -- Vasto ---------- Basilicata -- Maratea -- Matera ---------- Calabria -- Catanzaro -- Cosenza -- Crotone -- Parghelia -- Reggio di Calabria -- Ricadi -- Scalea -- Tropea ---------- Campania ---------- -- Amalfi Coast ---- Amalfi ---- Minori ---- Positano ---- Ravello ---- Salerno ---- Scala ---- Sorrento ---------- -- Avellino -- Baia Domizia -- Benevento -- Capaccio ---------- -- Capri ---- Anacapri ---------- -- Casal Velino -- Caserta -- Castellammare Di Stabia -- Castelvolturno -- Cava De' Tirreni ---------- -- Ischia ---- Barano ---- Casamicciola Terme ---- Forio ---- Ischia ---- Lacco Ameno ---- Sant'Angelo ---------- -- Maiori -- Marina di Camerota -- Massa Lubrense -- Naples -- Nola -- Paestum -- Palinuro -- Pompeii -- Pozzuoli -- Praiano -- Procida -- Sant'Agnello -- Solofra -- Torre Annunziata -- Vico Equense ---------- Emilia-Romagna -- Bagno Di Romagna -- Bellaria -- Bologna -- Calderara di Reno -- Castrocaro Terme -- Cattolica -- Cervia -- Cesena -- Cesenatico -- Correggio -- Faenza -- Ferrara -- Forli -- Imola -- Lido Di Savio -- Maranello -- Milano Marittima -- Modena -- Montechiarugolo -- Parma -- Piacenza -- Ravenna -- Reggio Emilia -- Riccione -- Rimini -- Riolo Terme -- Salsomaggiore Terme ---------- -- San Marino ---- San Marino ---------- Friuli-Venezia Giulia -- Caneva -- Duino -- Grado -- Lignano Sabbiadoro -- Pordenone -- Trieste -- Udine ---------- Italian Riviera -- Alassio -- Albenga -- Bordighera -- Camogli -- Celle Ligure -- Chiavari ---------- -- Cinque Terre ---- Levanto ---- Manarola ---- Monterosso ---- Riomaggiore ---- Vernazza ---------- -- Diano Marina -- Finale Ligure -- Genoa -- Imperia -- La Spezia -- Lavagna -- Lerici -- Loano -- Novi Ligure -- Pietra Ligure -- Portofino -- Portovenere -- Rapallo -- San Remo -- Santa Margherita Ligure -- Savona -- Sestri Levante -- Spotorno -- Varazze -- Ventimiglia ---------- Lampedusa ---------- Lazio -- Bolsena -- Cassino -- Civitavecchia -- Fiano Romano -- Fiuggi -- Frascati -- Gaeta -- Latina -- Pomezia -- Ponza -- Riano -- Rieti -- Rome -- Sabaudia -- Tivoli -- Vatican City -- Viterbo ---------- Lombardy -- Aprica -- Bergamo -- Bormio -- Brescia -- Cernobbio -- Chiesa In Valmalenco -- Cremona -- Erba -- Fasano -- Iseo ---------- -- Lake District ---- Desenzano Del Garda ---- Garda ---- Gardone Riviera ---------- ---- Lake Como ------ Bellagio ------ Cima di Porlezza ------ Como ------ Lecco ------ Varenna ---------- ---- Lake Garda ------ Gardone ------ Maderno ------ Sirmione ------ Torbole ---------- ---- Lake Maggiore ------ Baveno ------ Stresa ---------- ---- Molveno ---- Riva Del Garda ---- Torbole Sul Garda ---- Verbania ---------- -- Limone sul Garda -- Livigno -- Lodi -- Mantova -- Menaggio -- Milan -- Pavia -- Peschiera Borromeo -- San Pellegrino Terme -- Varese ---------- Marche -- Ancona -- Ascoli Piceno -- Civitanova Marche -- Fano -- Gabicce Mare -- Loreto -- Marotta -- Numana -- Pesaro -- Porto Recanati -- Porto San Giorgio -- San Benedetto Del Tronto -- Senigallia -- Urbino ---------- Molise -- Campobasso -- Termoli ---------- Piedmont -- Acqui Terme -- Alba -- Alessandria -- Asti -- Bardonecchia -- Belgirate -- Borgaro -- Bra -- Cavaglia -- Cuneo -- Ivrea -- Limone Piemonte -- Moncalieri -- Novara -- Orta San Giulio -- Pettenasco -- Salice D'Ulzio -- Sestriere -- Turin ---------- Puglia -- Alberobello -- Bari -- Bisceglie -- Brindisi -- Foggia -- Lecce -- Manfredonia -- Mattinata -- Peschici -- Rodi Garganico -- Santa Maria di Leuca -- Taranto -- Torre Canne -- Vieste ---------- Sardinia -- Alghero -- Arzachena -- Cagliari ---------- -- Costa Smeralda ---- Porto Cervo ---------- -- Golfo Aranci -- Nuoro -- Olbia -- Oristano -- Palau -- Pula -- Quartu Sant Elena -- Sassari -- Villasimius ---------- Sicily -- Agrigento -- Augusta -- Catania -- Cefalu -- Enna -- Erice -- Giardini Naxos -- Letojanni -- Lipari -- Marsala -- Messina -- Milazzo -- Motta Camastra -- Palermo -- Pantelleria -- Ragusa -- Sciacca -- Stromboli -- Syracuse -- Taormina -- Trapani ---------- Trentino-Alto Adige -- Badia -- Bolzano -- Dimaro ---------- -- Dolomites ---- Bressanone ---- Brunico ---- Canazei ---- Corvara ---- Folgaria ---- Kastleruth ---- Levico Terme ---- Moena ---- Ortisei ---- Rovereto ---- San Candido ---- San Cassiano ---- San Martino Di Castrozza ---- Santa Cristina ---- Selva Di Val Gardena ---- Valdaora ---------- -- Madonna Di Campiglio -- Merano -- Naturns -- Scena -- Senales -- Tirolo -- Trento ---------- Tuscany -- Abbadia San Salvatore -- Arezzo -- Borgo San Lorenzo -- Calenzano -- Capoliveri -- Castagneto Carducci -- Castellina In Chianti -- Castiglione Della Pescaia -- Certaldo -- Chianciano Terme -- Chiusi -- Cinquale -- Cortona -- Elba Island -- Fiesole -- Florence -- Follonica -- Forte Dei Marmi -- Gragnano -- Greve -- Grosseto -- Isola Del Giglio -- Lido Di Camaiore -- Livorno -- Lucca -- Marciana Marina -- Marina Di Campo -- Marina Di Massa -- Marina Di Pietrasanta -- Montecatini Terme -- Montepulciano -- Monteriggioni -- Montevarchi -- Orbetello -- Pisa -- Pistoia -- Porto Ercole -- Porto Santo Stefano -- Portoferraio -- Prato -- Procchio -- Punta Ala -- Radda in Chianti -- Reggello -- Rignano sull'Arno -- Rio Marina -- Ronchi -- San Gimignano -- San Giovanni d'Asso -- San Vincenzo -- Sansepolcro -- Sesto Fiorentino -- Siena -- Tirrenia -- Viareggio -- Vinci -- Volterra ---------- Umbria -- Assisi -- Bastia Umbra -- Bevagna -- Castiglione Del Lago -- Citta di Castello -- Foligno -- Gubbio -- Montefranco -- Norcia -- Orvieto -- Perugia -- Solomeo -- Spoleto -- Terni -- Todi ---------- Valle d'Aosta -- Aosta -- Breuil-Cervinia -- Courmayeur -- St. Vincent ---------- Veneto -- Abano Terme -- Altavilla Vicentina -- Asiago -- Bardolino -- Bassano Del Grappa ---------- -- Belluno ---- Cortina D'Ampezzo ---------- -- Bibione -- Brenzone -- Caorle -- Cavallino -- Chioggia -- Cinto Euganeo -- Conegliano -- Follina -- Galzignano Terme -- Iesolo -- Jesolo Lido -- Malcesine -- Marghera -- Mestre -- Mira -- Mogliano Veneto -- Montegrotto Terme -- Padua -- Pieve di Cadore -- Quarto D'Altino -- Rovigo -- San Vito Di Cadore -- 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TripAdvisor SmartDeals are the best deals on the best hotels in Italy. Visit our SmartDeals page. TripAdvisor's Tourism page has the web's best articles on Italy travel . Our Italy hotels page presents hotels ranked by popularity - read traveler reviews and guidebooks. Looking for things to do in Italy? Try our Attractions page! Visit our Italy forums page to ask questions and get advice about Italy travel. TripAdvisor forums let you ask questions and get advice - post in our Italy forums . Our Maps, etc. page has maps and other travel information. Visit our Italy discount hotels page for great savings on Italy hotels, including TripAdvisor SmartDeals. Looking for vacation packages to Italy? We've got deals including hotel and airfare. Book a flight to Italy on our Flights page. About TripAdvisor TripAdvisor lists special deals and discounts on great vacation packages and travel packages to Italy, Europe. 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Switzerland Travel Guide, climate:

Switzerland Travel Guide - Information and Advice Switzerland Travel Guide Information and Advice Switzerland Pictures | Switzerland Map Guerba can take you walking in the very best parts of Switzerland with three itineraries ranging from 8 to 13 days. Guerba Tours | Swiss Alpine Trails | High Trails of Mont Blanc | Swiss Walking and Montreux Jazz | Free Brochure Switzerland Travel Guide, climate: Best: June-Sept for summer activities and Dec-March for winter sports. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights: Zurich or Lucerne for a romantic weekend, or Zermatt for a sports break. Recommended: 10 days to get totally knackered at your choice of activity. Switzerland Festivals Guide: Snow freaks have plenty of wacky winter festivals to attend, such as: pop festivals at 1,800m in deep snow [Fuchstival, mid March or Kleine Scheidegg early April]; dog sled racing [Zinal, mid March or Chandolin early April]; Waterslide Contest [Bettmeralp, late March or Valais, April]; downhill mountain bike races [on snow] from 3,600m [Allalin, early April]... Feb/March, Fasnacht [carnival] - especially colourful in Basel, but makes an appearance elsewhere too. July, Montreux Jazz Festival. August 1, Swiss National Day - with various activities including fireworks. For some precise dates see: European Festivals or Arts Festiva ls . Activities Guide: Hiking: With magnificent views of mountains, flower-carpeted alpine valleys, waterfalls and superbly organised and supported trails, this is a must-trek destination. Possibilities are too many to list with 50,000 kms of footpaths out there! Biking: There are over 150 well designed mountain bike routes in Switzerland, ranging from the easy to the insane, and all with staggering views. For regular bikes there are over 3,000 kms of track. Inline Skating: Around 600 kms of specially asphalted, reasonably flat, scenic routes , such as the Rhine, the Rhone and the Mittelland, make this possibly the world's best skating destination. Windsurfing: Wind can be erratic due to altitude or rock interference, but some popular spots are these lakes: Leman, Bieler, Urner, Alpenmacher, Maggiore [north], Lugano. Canoeing: The Muota River [Schwyz] and the Doubs [Jura] are most wanted. White-water rafting: The Rhine and Saane rivers are well known but the Alps provides many more possibilities. Mountaineering: Zermatt, Pontresina and Meiringen are areas favoured by serious climbers. Gliding: yet another use for those huge hunks of rock...hang and paragliding are well provided for in most larger resorts. Snow sports: Vast quantities of the white stuff are just about everywhere of course, but what makes this country a bit special is a] doing the white thing in the shadow of a truly awesome mountain, like Zermatt/Matterhorn, and b] that in some places the snow is around nearly all year. Zermatt and Verbier are best targets for skiing and nightlife. Wellness: With pure alpine air and a teutonic attitude to health, Switzerland offers a mass of spas, saunas and therapy centres in stunning locations. More unusual activities: Switzerland goes in for some off-the-wall sports too, such as canyoning , zorbing [rolling down a mountainside in huge transparent ball] or house running [abseiling down tall buildings at high speed]. Interlaken and Lucerne are centres for these mad moments. Switzerland Star Guide: Monuments * Shopping and souvenirs *** Walkability ***** Food Quality and Variety **** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value ** Beaches lakes Wildlife *** Landscape ***** Local People ** Architecture **** Safety ***** Nightlife and Clubbing **** Health Problems none Museums **** Accommodation Guide: Tourist offices are efficient in listing local rooms/hotels available, often with boards placed outside rail stations. They also hand out 'guest cards' that secure various discounts. Hotels are not necessarily expensive but hostels are, of course, the cheapest option , though still good quality. Campsites are good too, mostly open only in summertime. Free camping is not permitted. Cuisine Guide: If you're a non-dairy eater then you'll have a big problem if you travel in Switzerland, though vegetarians will be unusually fulfilled. Cheese appears frequently and is the star of Swiss specialities like fondue [dipping bread or potato into melted cheese], raclette [similar] and rosti [cheese-topped grated potatoes]. Lake fish are a popular dish and vegetarian restaurants common. Those on a budget can find good value set lunch menus or self-service restaurants in department stores. Why Travel to Switzerland? Yet another quirky little European country, Switzerland is unique, spectacular and well worth a trip or two. Clichés perhaps, but some of the best Swiss experiences involve incredible mountains and lakes, stunning sports - summer or winter, stylish, lively towns, quaint hillside villages , and all tied together with a supremely efficient transport system . In addition it's super-safe , just about everyone speaks two or three languages , including English, and it's loaded with terrific beers, rich food and amazing pastries and chocolate . Is that a good thing? You choose. Downside: - this not a cheap destination . - don't try anything remotely illegal , [such as crossing the road when the little man is red], this is a very law-abiding state. - Swiss people - about 65% Germanic - though extremely polite, are, like their climate, cool towards foreigners. Where to travel in Switzerland: South-west [Lake Geneva]: ** Geneva , attractively situated at the southwest tip of Lake Geneva and near France, is cultured and metropolitan, but more of a business and diplomatic centre than party place. It does, however, offer a great selection of museums and some decent architecture including the ubiquitous old town. ***Lausanne, on the other hand and the other side of the lake, really knows how to play, due partly to the university's youth contribution. Steeply tiered, it 's stylish and pleasantly walkable [going down or along the waterfront] and alive with varied street action and nutty cafés. On the east side of Lake Geneva lie three smaller locations of interest: *Vevey is a small, appealing market town with a lively Street Artist's Festival in late August; *Montreux , 6km down the road is bijou but wealth-oriented and not particularly hospitable apart from July's Jazz Festival; the 13thC ***Chateau de Chillon is the star attraction in this area, a beautifully located and well-preserved castle popularised by Lord Byron's ' Prisoner of Chillon .' The middle [Mittelland ]: **Bern's tiny, quiet, riverside elegance is not at all what you would expect of Switzerland's capital. The old town's cobbled streets and arcaded buildings date from the 11thC to the 18thC, and there is life there still... Just south of Bern the Lake Thun area affords castle freaks the opportunity to pleasure themselves repeatedly on fine 12th and 13thC fortifications. ***Lucerne [Luzern] is more than just another gorgeous Swiss city. Mix lake with river with mountain with alpine meadows with well-preserved old town, throw in some stunning new architecture, a lively youth-oriented street culture, plenty of adventure sports [mostly 1 hour by train uphill to Engelberg ], simmer gently and you've got the young traveller's #1 Swiss role model. The area also provides the country's most spectacular ferry rides. *Basel is wealthy, cultured and convenient, with a pleasant old town and fine museums, but too preoccupied with business to be much fun. ***Zurich, up north, is a far, gnomic cry from it's stuffy banking image these days. Gorgeously located astride a river and boxed in by Lake Zurich and distant snowy mountains, the city is a buzzing hive of creativity and charm, with a lovely medieval old town and a huge variety of imaginative new establishments to relieve you of your wad. The miniscule principality of Liechtenstein is two hours away but offers little of interest. The Alps mountains [south] : *** The Jungfrau Region towards the country's centre offers the highest and most scenic rail trip, connecting three peaks, the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, though some argue that the Schilthorn cable-car is cheaper, quicker and more scenic. **Murren and **Grindelwald towns are good bases for both winter and summer sports, but Interlaken is too busy to be enjoyable for those who value tranquility. ***The Matterhorn is a Swiss icon and the original model for Toblerone chocolate, while traffic-free *** Zermatt - at it's foot - is the place to stay and base for any number of staggering view experiences, including year-round snow sports and the day-long, panoramic Glacier Express train from Zermatt to St Moritz. **St Moritz. Very posh, very beautiful, and very expensive, though St Moritz-Bad would be less bad for your wallet than snooty St Moritz-Dorf. Ticino, the Italian region, south of the Alps: Warmer and culturally very different from the rest of Switzerland , Ticino sports palm trees, piazzas and pizzas along with the usual lakes, woody hills and medieval old towns. Prime targets are **Locarno and ***Lugano, both on lakes, with the latter offering more views, style and sights. Switzerland Tours Tour operators offering travel around Switzerland can be found in our listings here: Switzerland 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 Europe Map Visas: EU citizens and nationals of USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan do not need a visa for up to 3 months, though you should carry your passport. Electricity Guide: Electric sockets are 230v and are built for three round pin plugs but will accept the usual 2 round pin plugs , fortunately. Safety Guide: Switzerland is just about the safest place on the planet. Apart from overeating and snow accidents the biggest dangers are likely to be altitude sickness [AMS] or hypothermia if you overestimate your climbing/hiking ability . Language: Not a problem in this country which has more multi-lingual ability than any other on earth . A twisted German is the dominant tongue and French second, but everyone can handle English. Local Transport: Swiss transport is brilliant and trains are the way to go if available. InterRail or Eurail passes offer well-discounted travel, though not on a few spectacular mountain routes. Lake ferries are famously scenic [only June-Sept]. International Transport: Roads and railways from the rest of Europe are superb , while boating from Germany, France and Italy is also possible . Buses are a less comfortable option. Money: Contrary to expectations, the local currency is the Swiss Franc [also used by their little brother Liechtenstein], but most places in tourist areas will accept the Euro. Tipping is not necessary anywhere as 15% service charge is applied to just about everything including taxis. Costs are on the high side, though cheapish travel in Switzerland is possible if you eat fast food, use a railpass and stay in hostels. Pictures are courtesy of Switzerland Tourism. 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