Argentina Travel Guide, climate:

Argentina Travel Guide - Information and Advice Argentina Travel Guide Information and Advice Argentina Pictures | Argentina Map | South America Map Argentina Travel Guide, climate: This is the eighth largest country in the world so summarizing weather conditions is tricky, but one thing we should point out first, this is mostly not a hot country , with temperatures rarely over 30C [85F] except in the far north. Winter [May-Sept] is driest in most areas, but also coolest, between 7-15C [45-60F] in Buenos Aires, so this time would be best if holidays mean skiing, the north country and/or general sightseeing, but don't think beaches, tank tops or Patagonia. Best: Spring [Sept-Nov] or autumn [March-May] strike a fine balance between warmth and clouds, but still no tank tops. Worst: Jan-Feb. Summertime is hot, humid, expensive and everything's booked up, but this is the best time for beaches and tank tops. Argentina holidays are around January, Easter and July, so transport and accommodation become a problem then. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not incl. flights [bearing in mind that this is a looong flight for most English speaking travel folk]: 2 weeks. 4 days in Buenos Aires, 5 days [flight] in Patagonia for glaciers and mountain hikes, 2 days [flight] to Iguazu Falls, and a few days northwest around Salta for Andean culture [flight], deserts and canyons, or skip that and hydrofoil into Uruguay for a quick look at Colonia, the beaches or Montevideo, the capital. Argentina Festivals Guide: February or March, Wine Harvest Festival, Mendoza, a few days. Parades and various folk events in honour of Mendoza's raisin d'etre , wine. March or April, Easter , unusually for a Latin Catholic culture, no big deal. May 25, Revolution Day , with a military parade in BA. Nov 12 or thereabouts, Tradition Day , with some Gaucho celebrations near BA but especially in San Antonio de Areco. Argentina Activities Guide: Tango: a fantastically complex and sensual dance, enjoyed by Argentinians as much as tourists, it's visible all over BA in clubs, in the street and around Plaza Dorrego at weekends. Try to learn it by all means, but it'll be a long job. See Pictures and more information. Wildlife: most famously visible around the barren cliffs of Peninsula Valdés - seals, elephant seals, killer whales, penguins, guanacos [llamas], but especially southern right whales. Puerto Madryn is the base from which to find a tour or rent a car. Wildlife is also found in Iguazu Park alongside the waterfalls, Ushuaia and in swampy Ibera Nature Reserve [wetlands] for cayman, capybaras, monkeys and birds. Activities below are best mainly in the Patagonian Andes, particularly from Los Glaciers National Park in the southwest to Mendoza in the centre-west. Bariloche, El Calafate and El Chalten are the three best activity centres, though Ushuaia is pretty wild too. Hiking: spectacular hikes, well signposted, long and short, particularly around Bariloche and El Chalten. See pictures and more information. Biking: Mendoza and the Lake District are best but mountain bike hire is widely available throughout Patagonia - in spite of occasionally fierce winds. Rock/Ice Climbing: fantastic challenges, mostly around El Chalten, Ushuaia and Mendoza ; a guide will generally be required. Mt. Aconagua 6,959m, near Mendoza, is the highest. Horse Riding: this is gaucho country so there are plenty of high quality horses and guides out there. The Pampas are the true home of gauchos - particularly in estancias [ranches] near San Antonio de Areco - but being mainly flat are far less scenic than rides in Patagonia. Skiing: good powder and sunshine at good prices; mostly resorts around Malargue, the Lake District or San Martin de los Andes, but also in Ushuaia, way south. Fishing: Sea fishing off Mar del Plata and Necochea or fly fishing [esp. in San Martin de los Andes {Patagonia} or Isla del Cerrito {north}] for trout, salmon, dorado and giant catfish. Kayaking and Whitewater Rafting: Availability is increasing, especially near Bariloche and San Martin de los Andes. Argentina Star Guide: 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 few Museums ** Why Travel to Argentina: This huge country contains climates ranging from tropical jungle thru desert and snow-capped Andes to barren Patagonia and the end of the world, containing some of the world's most stunning natural wonders and a wide selection of activities during which to enjoy them. Argentina has a down-at-heel but relatively sophisticated, energetic capital buzzing with people of south European stock, excellent soccer and rugby and fine dining - which you can afford thanks to incredibly low prices. Downside: - local culture is hardly exotic. - city traffic is hectic, noisy and polluting. - city pavements [sidewalks] sport ankle-snapping potholes, dog doo, or often both. - widespread poverty is common, restrained begging too. Unusually , we recommend giving beggars a few centavos[cents], most really are hard up. Argentina travel highlights: ***Buenos Aires. The capital is terrific for urban spacemen but a bit short on wow! sights. See BA pictures and more information. ***Glaciers National Park, in the southwest : near El Calafate , for glacier views, walks and boat rides or El Chalten for stunning mountain hikes [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. See pictures and more information. ***[San Carlos de] Bariloche is sadly overdeveloped but gateway to activities galore in the spectacular surroundings of Argentina's Lake District . The Seven Lakes Scenic Route is recommended. Hiking, riding, climbing, fishing, skiing, eating chocolate or heading for Patagonia or Chile, Bariloche gets you there. ***Mendoza is a pleasant town on the doorstep of some magnificent mountains, home to excellent wines and en route to Santiago, Chile. ***Iguazu National Park northeast for massive waterfalls, wildlife and plants [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. See pictures and more information. ***Peninsula Valdés for wildlife, see left for more info [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. ***Ushuaia , the world's most southerly town [3,580 kms from BA], offers terrific scenery, hiking, fishing, scenic boat trips, marine wildlife, dog-sledding and skiing [in winter] from a pleasant, if over-touristy town. Also boats to the Antarctic . See pictures and more information. **Cordoba , the country's lively second city has friendly people and a better collection of colonial architecture than BA; partly a World Cultural Heritage Site. **Beaches: Mar del Plata is overbuilt and tacky but has picturesque surroundings and monster beaches that go into overdrive December-February. There're fishing and horse riding as well as beach activities; 400kms [250 miles] from the capital. On both sides are prettier, more peaceful or exclusive resorts, such as Pinamar [posh], Miramar [families], Mar de las Pampas [horses] and Mar Azul . **Peninsula Valdés centre-east coast for marine wildlife. See left. **San Juan and La Rioja provinces sport weird rocks, paleontological delights, petroglyphs and condors passing by in Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. *Jujuy province in the far northwest contains adobe towns embraced by multicoloured landscapes around Salta and Quebrada de Humahuaca [UNESCO World Cultural Landscape]. *Uruguay - a one hour boat trip gets you to the pretty, laid back old town of Colonia . Return to BA or head off to Montevideo or the posh beaches of Punta del Este . See pictures and more information. Cuisine Guide: Porteños eat late so getting a table at 8pm-9pm should be no problem. Before that time only cheap eats may be available. Argentinian food basically means meat , huge portions of freshly killed cow grilled to perfection and eaten in digestion-challeging mass, or as a snack sandwich [lomito]. Steaks are superb so BA is perfect for confirmed carnivores, but what else is on offer? Cheap eats tend towards good pizzas, terrible pastas, ham and cheese sandwiches, various quality stuffed pies [empanadas] or fast food, but for those who can spare a few pesos more, Buenos Aires is home to a mass of superb foreign restaurants that deliver all kinds of cuisine - including vegetarian [e.g. Japanese, Thai, Middle-Eastern] - that anyone holding dollars/euros can easily afford. Shopping Guide: Argentina produces very high quality, stylish shoes, bags and clothes - particularly leather - at very low cost, so this is the place to do serious fashion shopping if you have room in your luggage. Jewellery and woolen goods are also excellent. Regular souvenirs of all types can be found around any tourist area. Argentina Tours More tour operators offering travel around Argentina can be found in our listings here: Argentina Tours For more information on Argentina Travel try these links: National Tourist Offices Online Travel Guides Cheap Airline Tickets UK Cheap Airline Tickets US Travel Insurance UK Tour Operators Embassies Currency Climate Language Visas: Europeans, Americans, Canadians, Irish, Australians, New Zealanders and most other nationalities can get 90 days permit to stay on arrival at the airport. Electricity: 220v, 2 [slim] round pins and/or three flat angled pins [but a 2 round pin adaptors will be quite sufficient]. Language: Spanish - known as Castellano in Latin America. It's an easy language so learn the basics, they will be useful though locals know some English. Some basic food vocabulary is vital. Safety: Crime is no worse in BA's centre than most of the world's big cities, but don't wear jewellery and stay away from the outer suburbs. Northeast border cities need some care. Health: No huge problems here, though the tropical north [i.e. not BA] can deliver dengue fever via mosquitoes, so keep the buzzers off you. Also be careful of AMS [Altitude Sickness] when hiking above 3,000m. See Travel Health Money Guide: When this research was done in late 2005 Argentina was amazingly cheap, apart from hotels - $10 for a fine dinner with drinks and $4 for a 20 minute taxi ride. ATMs all around, $ cash is king and accepted instead of pesos. Travellers cheques can be a little hard to change and the rate is poor. Traveling Around: Argentina is a massive country and best locations are widely spaced so unless you are ready for seriously long distance bus rides domestic flights will be necessary. These are efficient and reasonably priced but buy an airpass to get the best deals. And if you plan to travel in Argentina you may want to also check: Brazil Travel Guide Peru Travel Guide Ecuador 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

Central America Travel

Buy Central America Travel Guides (Musical Spanish Bookstore) home why music? about us reviews teacher's guide links/shop features our songs learning blog \ All Central America Belize Costa Rica Guatemala Honduras Panamá Lonely Planet - Central America on a Shoestring A Lonely Planet Guide, offering the best advice for the budget traveler. Exhaustive information regarding low-cost accommodations, eateries, maps of popular destinations and travel tips. What we like best about this book are the country and city backgrounds provided for each area, including their relevant historical and political contexts. Let's Go Central America A general guide to travel in Central America from the kings of budget travel at Harvard University, known for their European backpacking guides. Fodor's upClose Central America Fodor's upCLOSE series is designed for travelers who want to travel well and spend less. With candid reviews and a fresh outlook, Fodor's upCLOSE points the way to authentic experiences that will take travelers away from the crowds and close to the culture — without having to spend a fortune. Frommer's Adventurous Guide to Central America Adventure travel is the fastest-growing trend in the travel industry today, and these exciting new guides offer a new approach to each destination. Each guide contains lively, personal accounts of 25 real adventures, combined with practical advice from the experts so you can plan a trip of your own – no matter what your interest, skill level, or budget. Rough Guide to the Maya World The Rough Guide to the Maya World features evocative descriptions of all the sites, from the extraordinary pyramid temples of Chichen Itza and Tikal to remote, unexcavated ruins in Tabasco and northern Belize. You'll find incisive coverage of the scientific and architectural achievements of the Maya, their religion, and their descendants, as well as details on the modern Maya world--including towns, jungles, and palm-fringed beaches, and the best places to stay, eat and drink throughout the region. Includes sites and routes through southern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. With 57 maps and 8 pages of color photos. Explore Costa Rica American Library Association Booklist "..this extensive, up-to-date guide for Costa Rica is a welcome sight. Selected accommodations and restaurants span the scale from luxury to low budget, while the author's respectful, ecologically aware perspective contributes a progressive view of the sights and scenes encompassed in mountains and lowlands, rain forests, and beaches." The Rough Guide - Costa Rica Whether you're into challenging treks through dense jungle, horseback rides, birdwatching, botany, or beachcombing, the Rough Guide features evocative, practical advice. For background, the guide expertly discusses Costa Rica's history, from its hazy pre-Columbian past to the plantation era of the powerful United Fruit Company and the relatively prosperous and peaceful present the country enjoys today. Fodor's Costa Rica Color planning sections help you decide where to go with region-by-region virtual tours and cross-referencing to the main text. Full-size, foldout map keeps you on course. Insider info that's totally up to date. Every year our local experts give you the inside track, showing you all the things to see and do — from must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun. Lonely Planet - Costa Rica Whether you come to Costa Rica in search of great beaches (you can choose either the Caribbean or Pacific coasts), to climb an active volcano, or explore the coral reefs, Lonely Planet Costa Rica is the perfect companion. In addition to in-depth sections on history, politics, economy, the environment, and the arts, Lonely Planet also covers a host of activities, outfitters, and special tours. The guide lists a variety of accommodations from budget lodgings to luxury hotels and includes 54 maps of cities, towns, regions and parks as well as a 36-page wildlife guide. Lonely Planet - Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan A Lonely Planet guide to the famous Mayan Route, encompassing the Yucatn Peninsula of Mxico, parts of Belize, and all of Guatemala. Excellent historial context and maps of the archeological sites. Michelin Guide to Guatemala-Belize From the large selection of detailed addresses, you can choose to lodge in an ancient colonial convent or a house on stilts overlooking the ocean, find where to savor the best tapado, enjoy a marimba or punta concert, hunt out traditional weavings or go diving in the atolls. Guatemala: Adventures in Nature Guatemala is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world. This guide contains an extensive listings of lodgings, restaurants, and services offers all the information needed by experienced travelers and newcomers alike. 65 photos, 15 in color. 12 maps. The Rough Guide - Guatemala Our favorite all-around travel guide. This book provides extensive background information, travel advice, lists of accommodations and must-know information for various ruins and archeological sites. Includes details and tour itineraries for both budget and upscale travelers. Honduras & Bay Islands Guide : Be a Traveler-Not a Tourist! Little-known, even less explored, Honduras is a destination for in-the-know travellers seeking, deserted beaches, spectacular diving, rain-forest adventure, colonial cities, and remote tribes living independently of the modern world. Paul Glassman and J. P. Panet put you in the know as well, with all the practical details and insider tips that will make for an unforgettable trip, along with historical and cultural background to be treasured for reminisces and reference. Lonely Planet Panama from a reader... "This is the book that every traveller (except for a few who are always asking to borrow it) takes with them to Panama. It was very accurate and very helpful. The only problems we encountered were unlabelled streets (suggestion: try putting landmarks on maps where no street signs are posted) and the trip from David to Bocas del Toro (which was more of a happy surprise than a problem, as in reality it's cheaper and easier than in Lonely Planet)." \ \\\ links menu travel menu mexico

Austria Travel Guides Austria

Travel to Magical Austria: Tours, Hotels, Attractions and Culture AUSTRIA Places to Stay in Austria Austria Tours & Travel Attractions, Culture, and more... FIND THE PERFECT PLACES TO STAY IN AUSTRIA Contrary to popular perpections Austria is not all about mountains. In fact, the Alps only occupy about half of the country. A diverse mix of landscapes is packed into a relatively small area. Glaciers, meadows, alpine valleys, wooded foothills, gently rolling farmland, vineyards, river gorges, plains and even semi-arid steppes can be found in magical Austria. MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS... VIENNA HOTELS Austria's capital Vienna spreads along both sides of the 'Blue' Danube at the very foothills of the Alps. The city is a smorgasbord of Baroque and art nouveau ... SALZBURG HOTELS Salzburg is dubbed the 'Rome of the North' because of its many churches. It is a compact town easy to get around on foot. Salzburg is packed with attractions ... INNSBRUCK HOTELS Many visitors are drawn to Innsbruck by the renown created by the Winter Olympics, which as a result offers a great infrastructure for winter sports fans ... GRAZ HOTELS The name Graz is derived from the Slovenian word for castle. Graz was built around the Schlossberg. The first mention of it under its present name was in 881 ... SEEFELD HOTELS Seefeld is a village in the Tirol province of Austria. It is a popular destination for walking holidays in the summer, and winter sports in winter. The village has existed for centuries ... ALL AUSTRIA HOTELS TOURS & TRAVEL TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HOLIDAY TO AUSTRIA MOST POPULAR TOURS IN AUSTRIA ... VIENNA TOURS The Ringstrasse is known for such magnificent buildings as the Museum of Applied Arts, State Opera House, Museum of Fine Arts and Natural History ... SALZBURG TOURS In Salzburg , visit wonderful sights including Mirabell Palace, Mozarteum School of Music, Marionette Theatre, County Theatre, House where Mozart lived ... VIENNA AT NIGHT There is no better way to experience a city than by night! Feel the pulse of the nocturnal life and admire the spectacular city lights from the Danube Tower ... PLAYS IN SALZBURG Let the marionettes take you on a journey which begins begins on Christmas Eve as the guests of President Stahlbaum gather for the festivities ... GRAZ TOURS Travel back to where the simple things in life are the most comforting - a place where excellent wines are referred to as 'a good drop' ... ALL AUSTRIA TOURS EXPLORE THE CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS OF AUSTRIA One quarter of of Austria's population lives in Greater Vienna, located where the Danube meets the easternmost fringe of the Alps, not far from the boarder to Slovakia. Virtually all government, financial and cultural institutions, as well as national media and large corporations are based in Vienna. Thus, the capital dominates Austria's cultural and political life. Schloss Schonbrunn (Schonbrunn Palace or Schonbrunn Castle) in Vienna is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and since the 1860s has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna . In the 20th century the palace was used several times for important events such as the historical meeting between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev in the year 1961. ... read more ALL INTEREST Top of Page | Places to Stay in Austria | Things to Do in Austria | Links | Site Map | Contact Us AUSTRIA Places to Stay in Austria Austria Tours & Travel Attractions, Culture, and more... Austria Travel Guides Austria Posters & Prints See Also: Czech Republic Germany Switzerland

RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE |

Russia Travel Guide: Russian Customs TRAVEL IN RUSSIA | TOUR GUIDES | ESCORTED TOURS | SHORE EXCURSIONS | VISAS | CLIENTS | RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE | HOTELS The State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg City of St. Petersburg Russia Travel Tips | St. Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide City of Moscow Cultural capital of Russia Peter and Paul Fortress Kanal Griboedova Kazan Cathedral Headquarters' Arch Michael's Castle Intro Russian Visa Russian Embassies Money Customs Things to Bring Laptop to Russia FAQ's Russia Customs Regulations Russian customs regulations are complicated and highly discretionary. 30% duty is required to export personal item(s) worth over US $10,000. Moreover, additional export duties apply to any items determined by customs officials to be of commercial use. Certain items, such as caviar, medications, jewelry, precious or semi-precious stones, or metals and fuel may be exported duty-free in limited amounts . As computers' hard-drives may be scanned by customs officials, it is recommended to present your laptops to customs at least 1,5 hours prior to you departure. The same goes for recordable storage media such as CDs, DVD-RWs, etc. Buying and Exporting Antiques All items which are of historical or cultural value - icons , antiques , paintings , coins , etc. - may be taken out of Russia only with prior written approval of the Ministry of Culture and payment of 100% duty. The process of getting the official approval may last from one to several weeks. When you are purchasing an antique item be sure to enquire from the retailer about the export status of your purchase. In all cases get an official receipt proving the fact of purchase and clearly indicating price, date and place of purchase. This receipt will later be handy when dealing with the customs official. Bear in mind that payment of the duty does not automatically make your goods eligible for export, and in most cases antique pieces may either be confiscated at the border or you may be asked to return them to your accompanying person. It is best to ask someone you know in Russia to accompany you to the airport. This way should your antique items not be allowed to be taken out of Russia you will be able to leave them with someone you know. This person may later try to get a refund from the unscrupulous retailer. Taking Money out of Russia You can bring as much money as you want to Russia. However, taking it out of the country can be tricky. You can take home only US $3,000 (or equivalent in other currencies) without any permission. For any amount over US $3,000 a special export permission is required. It can be obtained at any official currency exchange office unless you had the amount declared when entering Russia and can present your original signed declaration to the customs officer. A convenient way for taking money home is purchasing travelers' checks (like American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa, etc.). Russian Customs Declaration When first entering Russia be sure to fill out a customs declaration form . You will need to declare the amount of currency you are bringing into the country, as well as all valuable items you carry (jewelry, icons, art collections, laptops, cell phones, etc.). Make sure that the declaration is officially stamped and signed by a customs officer on entry to prevent difficulties when taking your currency and valuables after your travel to Russia is over. Remember that a signature by a customs official is not sufficient - you need to get a stamp on your declaration for it to be valid. Otherwise you will not be able to prove that you possessed that diamond ring or a cellular phone prior to your visit. Keep your stamped customs declaration for the entire duration of your stay in Russia - you will need it to prove how much money and what valuables you had with you when arriving in Russia. Additional Information For additional advice on Russian customs regulations, visit our Travel in Russia: Frequently Asked Questions section. Official website of the Russian Federal Customs Service : www.customs.ru/en/ Official capital of Russia Red Square Grand Kremlin Palace Ivan the Great Tower Christ the Savior Kremlin Towers 2005 Optima , B. Konyushennaya St., 9 suite 9. St. Petersburg 191186 Russia. Tel/fax: +1 253 5507816 E-mail SITE MAP | TERMS | FAQ's | GLOBAL RESOURCES

Asia Travel

LAOS HOTELS LAOS RESORTS - ASIA TRAVEL Laos Travel And Country Information Vientiane Luang Prabang Lao Pako Phonsavanh Pakse Khong Savannakhet Saravan Huay Xai Check out the other Mekong regions Airpot Pick up Click here for Alphabetical Listing of Laos Hotels & Resorts Please Click Hotel Name Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort (Payment direct to hotel) Douang Deuan (Prepaid) Lane Xang (Prepaid) Lao Hotel (Prepaid) Lao Plaza (Prepaid) Novotel (Prepaid) Royal Dokmaideng (Prepaid) Settha Palace (Prepaid) Settha Palace (Payment direct to hotel) Tai Pan Hotel (Prepaid) Vansana Hotel (Prepaid) Bangkok Office Hours (GMT + 07:00) Monday - Friday 09:00 - 18:00 Saturday 09:00 - 13:00 CLOSE ON SUNDAYS & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Laos Tour Packages with Accommodation Click here to reserve hotels with up to 70% Discount (Prepayment Basis) Preview below for hotels with up to 60% discount (payment direct to hotel upon check-in) Room Rates at US$20 and above Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort Settha Palace Preview below for hotels with up to 75% discount (prepayment before check-in) Room Rates at US$ 20 and above Douang Deuan Room Rate at US$ 30 and above Lao Hotel Lane Xang Hotel Vansana Hotel Room Rate at US$ 50 and above Novotel Royal Dokmaideng Tai Pan Hotel Room Rate at US$ 70 and above Lao Plaza Settha Palace Prepayment Requirement : Above hotel rates are in US Dollars, inclusive of tax and service charge.All bookings made for the above hotels have to be paid in advance before the check-in date. Payment can be made by credit card (Only Visa, Master, JCB and AMEX) . Guest to check-in with passport. A check-in voucher showing booking details will also be faxed or emailed to guest for easy reference. No charge for children under 12 years old sharing room with parents with no extra bed. Cancellation for peak season (15 December - 15 January) is required at least 15 working days (not including Sat., Sun & Public Holidays ) prior to check-in date. Scenic Destinations and Places of Interest in Laos Browse or send an electronic postcard to your friends Click here to send electronic birthday cards... Asia Travel