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Chicago Hotel Deals - Unbiased Reviews - TripAdvisor Chicago Hotel Deals and TripAdvisor SmartDeals Sign in • Sign up Home > United States > Illinois > Chicago > SmartDeals Chicago tourism: Overview Hotels Flights Attractions Dining Deals Getaways Forums Maps, etc. Discount hotels | Hotel + air deals | All travel offers Search (e.g., Chicago hotels, Las Vegas, Paris art museum) Chicago Chicago Overview Chicago Hotels Flights to Chicago Chicago Deals Discount hotels Hotel + air deals All travel offers Chicago Attractions Chicago Restaurants Chicago Forum Chicago Maps Chicago Discount Hotels Chicago Vacation Packages Free Newsletter Get deals, news and articles on Chicago Plus weekend trip ideas from your hometown e-mail this page to a friend Popular hotel deals Acapulco hotel deals Alaska hotel deals Amsterdam hotel deals Anaheim hotel deals Arizona hotel deals Aruba hotel deals Aspen hotel deals Atlanta hotel deals Atlantic City hotel deals Bahamas hotel deals Barbados hotel deals Belgium hotel deals Bermuda hotel deals Boston hotel deals Branson hotel deals Breckenridge hotel deals British Virgin Islands hotel deals Cabo San Lucas hotel deals California hotel deals Canada hotel deals Cancun hotel deals Caribbean hotel deals Colorado hotel deals Costa del Sol hotel deals Cozumel hotel deals Dallas hotel deals Daytona Beach hotel deals Dominican Republic hotel deals Florida hotel deals Florida Keys hotel deals Fort Lauderdale hotel deals France hotel deals Germany hotel deals Grand Canyon National Park hotel deals Greece hotel deals Grenada hotel deals Hawaii hotel deals Hilton Head hotel deals Ibiza hotel deals Ireland hotel deals Italy hotel deals Ixtapa hotel deals Jamaica hotel deals Kauai hotel deals Key West hotel deals Lake Placid hotel deals Lake Tahoe hotel deals Las Vegas hotel deals London hotel deals Los Angeles hotel deals Los Cabos hotel deals Maui hotel deals Mazatlan hotel deals Melbourne hotel deals Mexico hotel deals Miami hotel deals Montreal hotel deals Myrtle Beach hotel deals Nashville hotel deals Nassau hotel deals New York hotel deals New York City hotel deals Niagara Falls hotel deals Nova Scotia hotel deals Oahu hotel deals Orlando hotel deals Paris hotel deals Park City hotel deals Philadelphia hotel deals Phoenix hotel deals Pigeon Forge hotel deals Puerto Rico hotel deals Puerto Vallarta hotel deals Punta Cana hotel deals Quebec City hotel deals Reno hotel deals Rome hotel deals Salt Lake City hotel deals San Antonio hotel deals San Diego hotel deals San Francisco hotel deals Santa Fe hotel deals Scotland hotel deals Seattle hotel deals Spain hotel deals St. Croix hotel deals St. Lucia hotel deals St. Maarten/St. Martin hotel deals St. Thomas hotel deals Sydney hotel deals Texas hotel deals Toronto hotel deals Tucson hotel deals U.S. Virgin Islands hotel deals Vail hotel deals Virginia Beach hotel deals Washington DC hotel deals Whistler hotel deals Read more Chicago tourism Chicago Hotel Deals and TripAdvisor SmartDeals The Windy City has hotels, attractions and entertainment to fit all tastes and budgets. From the Sears Tower to Lake Michigan, the Magnificent Mile to Wrigley Field, blues to plays, Chicago has it all. Hotel deals Super-savers, web deals, exclusive promotions — find today's best deals in Chicago lodging! Chicago : Hotel Deals from $70 Expedia.com Don't just travel. Travel right! Chicago : Great Prices, Great Rooms hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. View Maps, Photos, Rates. Book Now! Chicago : Low Hotel Prices Made Easy Orbitz.com The faster, easier way to find the hotel you want. Just Orbitz and go! Chicago : Guaranteed Best Room Rates. Starwood.com Official site for Westin and Sheraton Hotels. Click now for exclusive offers! Chicago : Great Hotel Rates! CheapTickets.com finds you low prices where you need to stay! Just click - you're there. Chicago : Country Inns & Suites Site CountryInns.com Official Online Reservation Site. Enjoy Our Best Web Rate Guarantee. Chicago : Room Rates from $76 Lodging.com Spend Less, Sleep Well with Lodging.com's RestEasy rates! 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Discount hotels Hotel + air deals All travel offers SmartDeals SmartDeals are the best deals we found on very popular hotels in Chicago. 5-star hotel Renaissance Chicago Hotel Average price: $305 Renaissance Chicago Hotel - Great Rates - CheapTickets.com | More reviews, deals Save up to 49% on 4-star hotels Sofitel Chicago Water Tower Average price: $289 Sofitel Chicago Water Tower from $175 - Expedia.com | More reviews, deals Hotel Monaco Average price: $273 Hotel Monaco - Great Rates - Priceline.com Hotels | More reviews, deals Renaissance Chicago O'Hare Hotel Average price: $193 Renaissance Chicago O'Hare Hotel from $99 - Expedia.com | More reviews, deals Save up to 46% on 3-star hotels Amalfi Hotel Chicago Average price: $257 Amalfi Hotel Chicago from $149 - hotels.com | More reviews, deals Hotel Burnham Average price: $274 Hotel Burnham - Great Rooms from $149 - Orbitz.com | More reviews, deals Fitzpatrick Chicago Hotel Average price: $224 Fitzpatrick Chicago Hotel from $189 - Lodging.com | More reviews, deals Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown Average price: $195 Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown - Great Rates - HiltonGardenChicago.com | More reviews, deals Crowne Plaza Chicago Silversmith Average price: $202 Crowne Plaza Chicago Silversmith - Best Web Rate - Crowne Plaza Hotels | More reviews, deals Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown Average price: $223 Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown - Low Rates - alpharooms.com | More reviews, deals Read more about Chicago travel! TripAdvisor's Tourism page has the web's best articles on Chicago travel . Our Chicago hotels page presents hotels ranked by popularity - read traveler reviews and guidebooks. Looking for things to do in Chicago? Try our Attractions page! TripAdvisor's Chicago restaurants page shows you the best local places to dine. Planning a weekend trip to Chicago? Check out our Chicago weekend itinerary ! Visit our Chicago forum page to ask questions and get advice about Chicago travel. TripAdvisor forums let you ask questions and get advice - post in our Chicago forum . Our Maps, etc. page has maps and other travel information. Visit our Chicago discount hotels page for great savings on Chicago hotels, including TripAdvisor SmartDeals. Looking for vacation packages to Chicago? We've got deals including hotel and airfare. Book a flight to Chicago on our Flights page. To view all the specials, vacation packages, and other travel offers we've found, visit our All travel offers page. 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Russia Travel Guide Despite
Russia for Travelers - City Transit You are here: About > Travel > Eastern Europe for Visitors > Ways to Travel > Metro Systems > Russia for Travelers - City Transit Travel Go Eastern Europe Essentials Best of Eastern Europe Map of Central/Eastern Europe Photo Gallery Country Profiles Discount Travel Websites Articles & Resources Planning Your Trip Ways to Travel What to Do in East Europe Maps for Eastern Europe Czech-SlovakTravel Hungary Travel Poland Travel Russia-Belarus-Ukraine Romania-Moldova Travel Baltic Travel Balkan Travel Culture and Holidays Photo Galleries East Europe Travel and Language Books Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Eastern Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Eastern Europe for Visitors Russian metro tokesn Stay up to date! Russian metro tokesn Email to a friend Print this page Elsewhere on the Web St Petersburg Metro Map Moscow Metro Map Moscow Tram Website Most Popular First Christmas Tree Europe map Best of Eastern Europe Croatia Naturism and Nudism Discount Travel Websites What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings Related Topics Hotels / Resorts / Inns European History Architecture Air Travel Europe for Visitors City Transit - Russia From Apply Now , Your Guide to Eastern Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Russia Travel Guide Despite the proliferation of private vehicles in Russia in the last decade, the majority of residents still rely on public transportation to get around, especially for city travel. Therefore, if you also travel on city transit sytems, you'll have plenty of company. While you will find reasonable public transportation routes in larger cities, be prepared for limited options as you get off the beaten track.
In all of Russia, only six cities have underground metro systems: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novosibirsk, and Samara. Buses and trams supplement these systems and also are the main city transit vehicles in other areas. In general, public transportation in Russia needs infrastructure modernization but lack of funding keeps improvements minimal.
The cost of public transportation in Russia is heavily subsidized, with costs ranging from four to 10 rubles (15-35 US cents).
Moscow
Moscow has four types of mass transit: the metro, trams, buses, and trolleybuses.
Metro. Moscow's best public transportation is the metro. With over 200 stops, you can get to just about everywhere you want to in the city. Metro entrances are marked with "M" signs. It's worth a visit to the metro just to see some of the stations with their elaborate and beautiful architecture. Trains run very frequently, at least every two to three minutes. They can be very crowded during peak hours.
Buses, Trolleybuses, Trams. Moscow has one kind of ticket for all three types of vehicles. You can buy them at kiosks or at metro stations, or from the conductor in the vehicle. When you get on board, look for a little metal box to punch your ticket. Don't lose your ticket until you get off.
Taxis. There are a number of taxi companies in Moscow. Like elsewhere in Russia, avoid gypsy cabs by phoning ahead for a taxi or asking your hotel to arrange one for you. If you arrive at the Moscow airport, you will see a number of drivers clamoring for your business. It's better to go outside and line up at the taxi queue, where regulated taxis can be found.
St. Petersburg
The city offers a metro, buses, trams, trolleybuses, taxis and boats.
Metro. The metro has four lines and 55 stations. You can pay with either tokens or passes purchased at stations. The metro runs from about 5:45 AM until around midnight. See the box at the upper right to see a map of the metro system.
Trams. If you'd rather travel above ground, jump on a tram. Tram stops have a "T" on the signs near the tracks. Trams have conductors whom you can pay directly or show your monthly pass.
Buses. Bus stops have an "A" on their signs (stands for avtobus). Regular buses also have conductors whom you can pay or show your pass. T-buses (taxi buses) and E-buses (express buses) take cash only and get you to your destination a bit faster.
Marshrutki are passenger vans that cost only about three rubles (10 US cents) and take you to your destination.
Trolleybuses. These vehicles are buses that are connected to overhead electric lines to give them power. Their signs are also marked by a "T."
Taxis. Taxis are more expensive than mass transit. They should have a meter that shows fares according to distance. If you need a taxi, you can flag one down in the street or ask your hotel to call one for you. Often you can find taxis in front of hotels. Russia Travel Guide Index
Profile of Russia
City Profile: Moscow
City Profile: St. Petersburg
Before You Go
Need to Know
Money Matters
Intercity Travel
City Transit
Driving
Health and Safety
Lodging
Dining and Drinking
Communications
Shopping
Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings
South America Travel Forum
South America Travel Forum on the Travoogle.com - Worldwide Travel Forum ~ probably the Web's favorite travel search engine ~ By participating in these forums you can earn free advertising! Click here for details. FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in South America Travel Forum Moderators: aaron , paul , Trev , axxiom , Dan , Red Tape , sunshine82 , Eurapart , georgep , GregW Users browsing this forum: None Goto page 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 Next Forum Index - South America Travel Forum Mark all topics read Topics Replies Author Views Last Post Sticky: [ Poll ] And the nominations for the South America Expert 2005 are... 3 aaron 526 Thu Dec 15, 2005 8:29 am thowra Sticky: A word of warning about advertising... 1 aaron 4222 Fri Apr 25, 2003 5:59 pm aaron need a place to stay in Rio? 1 locaindc 28 Wed Dec 28, 2005 1:07 am Red Tape i want to teach english in argentina, chile 2 Pete_ 637 Mon Dec 26, 2005 6:25 am andando Spanish courses 8 bwlamas 2146 Mon Dec 26, 2005 6:05 am andando South america.. backpacking.. language.. [ Goto page: 1 , 2 ] 17 Ryit 3731 Mon Dec 26, 2005 5:59 am andando Argentina 9 rjackf 927 Mon Dec 26, 2005 5:53 am andando Studies and accommodation in BA needed 3 hihihi 771 Mon Dec 26, 2005 1:02 am andando The safest and most dangerous countries in South America 12 JohnBoy1984 1500 Sat Dec 24, 2005 2:03 am adult-vacations [ Poll ] CYCLING SOUTH AMERICA 3 stuntmanjeff 1042 Thu Dec 15, 2005 8:49 am thowra Brazil: Low Fares and Mini-Air Pass for the Northeast 0 lagoaemar 194 Sun Dec 11, 2005 5:24 pm lagoaemar Lnaguages spoken in Argentina 3 Sidesplitter 413 Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:29 pm Sidesplitter Street Art in Buenos Aires, Argentina 0 frassinetti 175 Fri Dec 02, 2005 1:47 pm frassinetti Brazil: New low-tariff flight companies 0 lagoaemar 269 Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:32 am lagoaemar CCUSA's Work Brazil Scheme 1 beeee 251 Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:25 am beeee Sao Paulo - Looking for budget accomodation in 27th Nov... 0 carley 209 Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:13 pm carley Flights from Rio to Salvador 1 southam 454 Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:40 am paul Saquarema - Rio de Janeiro - Brasil 1 PHForever 325 Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:28 am paul Train / trip from Buenos Aires to Rio de jeneiro??? 1 southam 381 Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:11 pm Sidesplitter amazon jungle trek 4 spiderman2099uk 673 Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:57 pm spiderman2099uk Machu Picchu voted No.1 wonder of the world 0 paul 444 Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:59 am paul Brazil: Flight Rio - Salvador for 225 Reais 0 lagoaemar 495 Tue Nov 01, 2005 1:08 am lagoaemar Welcome to Per 1 Conociendo Per 513 Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:06 pm Sidesplitter Traveling To Paraguay 0 cbj 432 Mon Oct 31, 2005 12:35 am cbj Sex tourism in Brazil 10 aaron 12774 Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:06 pm paul Brazil trip concerns 2 Nigel_UK 983 Sat Oct 22, 2005 12:57 am Larry Aiello brazil first timer 3 lewis377 1028 Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:41 am Sidesplitter Teaching in Cuenca, Ecuador 0 Alyssabeth123 460 Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:11 pm Alyssabeth123 Learn Spanish in Cuzco Peru. 1 aqmaster 592 Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:16 pm paul Two way radios in South America 1 Wayne 670 Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:29 pm Sidesplitter Getting Married at the iguazu falls 3 J-Ro 1012 Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:24 pm Sidesplitter volunteer bolivia 1 pratzki 650 Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:20 pm Red Tape A few questions about Peru 0 gardkarlsen 632 Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:12 pm gardkarlsen Travelling to Buenos Aires 1 shahzad 694 Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:18 am paul Flights to Buenos Aires....Budget a Go Go?? 4 massivebigtoe 1061 Tue Sep 27, 2005 2:01 pm paul Lone female traveller 9 niamh 2406 Sun Sep 25, 2005 11:17 pm whereshegoes South America October 2005 9 jamy25 1667 Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:38 am Sidesplitter Going to Quito, want to teach English, need help. 4 Pete_ 1246 Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:50 pm Sidesplitter Volunteering 1 buttmunch 696 Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:42 am paul Spanish Language Schools Santiago 0 Glen 449 Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:22 am Glen South America in Sept 5 Joshila 2389 Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:50 pm sandy Love motel for pets 0 paul 620 Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:13 am paul My family offer accommodation at home in Lima - Peru 0 peruexplorer 599 Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:25 am peruexplorer Special Offers - Alternative to Brazil Airpass 0 lagoaemar 936 Sun Aug 07, 2005 12:40 am lagoaemar Warning against VARIG flights 0 lagoaemar 952 Sat Aug 06, 2005 10:34 pm lagoaemar Weather in Chile in July? 2 chapter11studios 1059 Fri Aug 05, 2005 2:23 pm chapter11studios Hilton hotel in Buenos Aires 0 paul 736 Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:32 am paul Have you been to the 'Valley of the Moon' in Chile? 4 chapter11studios 1225 Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:50 am Ginirover Florianopolis / Floripa - Brazil 1 redsand 1759 Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:40 pm ElPerroGrande Anywhere good between Rio and BA? 2 gazthornton 1057 Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:26 pm ElPerroGrande Display topics from previous: All Topics 1 Day 7 Days 2 Weeks 1 Month 3 Months 6 Months 1 Year Forum Index - South America Travel Forum All times are GMT Goto page 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 Next Page 1 of 7 Jump to: Select a forum CHECK-IN DESK ---------------- Introductions Forum General Chat Forum Travel News Forum ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES ---------------- Africa Travel Forum Asia Travel Forum Caribbean Travel Forum Central America and Mexico Travel Forum Europe - Eastern Europe Travel Forum Europe - Western Europe Travel Forum - UK & Ireland Europe - Western Europe Travel Forum - France, Spain and the rest... 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Travel Insurance
QBE Insurance Group - Home Page If you can read this your browser does not support javascript or this feature is currently switched off. Please update your browser using one of the following links or enable javascripting via your browser settings. Click here to download Internet Explorer 6 Click here to download Mozilla QBE Insurance Group "QBE Insurance is Australia's leading International General Insurance and Reinsurance groups and one of the to 25 world wide." Core underwriting entities Standard & Poor's Rating = A+ Our Vision internationally recognised as a highly successful general insurance and reinsurance group; a builder of shareholders' wealth; a developer of "can do" people; and an organisation that excels in the continuous delivery of new and proven quality products and services. Our Values increasing the long-term wealth of shareholders; customer satisfaction and retention; employee satisfaction; and integrity. Divisions Group Annual Report Press Releases Shareholder Centre Financial Centre Webcasts Australia "QBE Insurance Australia, protecting people in all walks of life - from the home to the office and beyond" From our humble beginnings as the North Queensland Insurance company we have grown into a sophisticated provider of general insurance products. Our strength is our diversity. We provide over nine broad categories of general insurance. We provide comprehensive protection for peoples' homes, their lifestyles, their work environments. As a group, QBE works together to improve our customer service, our technology and our products. QBE Insurance - Aviation QBE Insurance - Commercial - QBE Mercantile Mutual QBE Insurance - Compulsory Third Party - CTP QBE Insurance - Corporate QBE Insurance - Personal - WQBE - Western QBE QBE Insurance - Professional Liability QBE Insurance - Surety QBE Insurance - Trade Credit QBE Insurance - Travel QBE Insurance - Workers Compensation Application for Credit Limit Endorsement QBE Insurance - Europe QBE Insurance - Asia Pacific QBE Asia Pacific: Our Vision Increasing Accountability Local Knowledge - Specialist Expertise Thriving on Complexity Our Vision - QBE Asia Pacific We aim to be recognised within the Asia Pacific markets as: a highly successful provider of specialist insurance solutions a team of results-oriented entrepreneurs with high levels of expertise and integrity a strong and ethical business partner an organisation that thrives on innovation and excels in the delivery of quality products and services a builder of customer value and shareholder wealth Increasing Accountability & Litigation For Asia Pacific companies to thrive in today's challenging business environment, they must be smarter, quicker and more entrepreneurial. They constantly face new business exposures and challenges arising from government regulation and common law. The margin for error has been squeezed in business today, and managers are confronted by the global trend of increasing accountability and litigation. They need specialist insurance solutions, backed by technical expertise. Equally as important, they need risk management experts with specialist knowledge who can translate the global into practical solutions at the local level - and then provide the on-the-ground resources when they are needed most. QBE Asia Pacific Operations has developed considerable strengths to best serve clients. Our history of commitment to the Asia Pacific markets means that we've developed a wealth of knowledge and experience. Local Knowledge - Specialist Expertise Five of our operations were established in the late 1880s, and four more were established in the early 1890s. Building on this strong foundation, we entered four additional markets in the 1970s and 80s, and five more in the 1990s. We now have over 18 QBE operations in various markets throughout the Asia Pacific region. Each market features different characteristics and dynamics, and local market knowledge can make all the difference for clients. For example, QBE operates in: Mature markets such as Singapore, New Zealand and Japan Emerging markets such as Indonesia and the Philippines Developing markets such as Thailand and Malaysia Small markets characterised by tightly knit communities, such as Vanuatu and Micronesia Markets that are rapidly moving toward more open economies, such as Vietnam and China Markets that have seen new opportunities emerge from the return to their motherland, such as Macau and Hong Kong Markets that operate under French customs and law, such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia Markets that have experienced political and social upheavals, such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands In each of these markets, local knowledge is invaluable. And with the internationalisation of trade and business practice, businesses also need an underwriter with specialist insurance expertise, vast global experience and solid financial strength. Thriving on Complexity Ours is a complex business, and we thrive on that challenge. It is also a dynamic one, with growth driven by an acquisition strategy and a commitment to the professional development of our local teams. We are a grass roots company that is international in every sense of the word. The combination of local knowledge and specialist expertise provides important benefits to clients and intermediaries. In Asia Pacific, it's the QBE difference! QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Specialist Risks Unit QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Marine Risks Network QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Hong Kong QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Indonesia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Macau QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Mainland China QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Malaysia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Philippines QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Singapore QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Thailand QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Vietnam QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Fiji QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - French Polynesia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Japan QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Micronesia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - New Caledonia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - New Zealand QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Papua New Guinea QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Solomon Islands QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Vanuatu QBE Insurance - the Americas QBE Insurance Group Limited, is an insurance and reinsurance company publicly traded on the Australian Stock Exchange. Its history dates back over 116 years when the Company was founded in Australia. Since then the Company has grown to have operations in 47 countries with over $2 billion dollars of capital writing in excess of $3 billion dollars in premium. QBE the Americas operations commenced in 1986 when the QBE Insurance Group established a presence in the U.S. QBE the Americas now conducts business through its five companies, QBE Reinsurance Corporation, QBE Insurance Corporation, QBE Aseguradora de Riesgos del Trabajo S.A.,Argentina, QBE Del Istmo, Panama and QBE Brasil Seguros S.A. Lloyd's The Lloyd's division comprises QBE's share of the Lloyd's syndicates managed by Limit. The 2001 results are the first to contain a full year of activity from the acquisition of Limit in August 2000. Gross written premium for the Lloyd's division was $2,182 million, compared with $547 million last year. Net earned premium was up 273% to $1,365 million. Significant progress was made during 2001 towards achieving the objectives set out in last year's annual report. The rationalisation of the structure of the Lloyd's division continued with the merger of syndicates 79 and 2999, the closure of the under-performing syndicate 456 and the disposal of the property and aviation syndicate 318. This resulted in a significant reallocation of QBE's capital towards its best performing Lloyd's syndicates. Our exposure to poor performing US liability business was significantly reduced. QBE is now the sole capital provider to each of Limit's syndicates, other than syndicate 386 where our share has increased to over 40%. For the 2002 underwriting year, QBE provides 78% of Limit's aggregate capacity compared with 72% in 2001. The tragic events of 11 September overshadowed the year and the World Trade Center (WTC) loss had a significant impact on performance. In addition, upgrades were made to prior year outstanding claims provisions, principally to reflect adverse development on US liability business seen across the market. These upgrades have been substantially mitigated by reinsurance protections and provisions established on acquisition to allow for deterioration. Consequently, the result for the year largely reflects the performance of the 2001 underwriting year. The claims ratio was 72.9%, compared with 59.4% for last year. The combined operating ratio was 108.6%, compared with 101.1% last year. Excluding the WTC loss, the combined operating ratio would have been 101.0%. The movement in the commission ratio from 27.3% to 24.6% reflects the change in the mix of business during 2001. The decrease in the expense ratio from 14.4% to 11.1% reflects the synergies and savings delivered by the integration of QBE's former Lloyd's operations with Limit, partly offset by residual post acquisition integration costs during the year. 2001 was a transitional year in the market cycle with the rate increases anticipated at the start of the year not materialising until at least the middle of the year and, in some cases, not until after the impact of 11 September. We are now seeing substantial increases in premium rates across all classes of business underwritten within the Lloyd's division. These rate increases, together with a high level of business retention, new business opportunities and the reallocation of QBE's capital, should ensure profitability for the 2002 underwriting year. Our objectives for 2002 are to: take advantage of the dramatically improved rating environment and return all areas of underwriting to strong profitability; seek further rationalisation of the underwriting and operating structure in order to improve capital efficiency and our expense ratio; acquire further capacity on syndicate 386 as it becomes available; and be actively involved in the reforms proposed for the Lloyd's market. Our business at Lloyd's remains highly dependent upon the quality and commitment of our underwriters and their business franchise. I thank them for their efforts and achievements, which have ensured that QBE's Lloyd's division is now ideally positioned to take advantage of the hard market conditions now prevailing at Lloyd's. Steven Burns, Managing director, Lloyd's division Global Trade Credit "QBE Trade Credit, World-Wide credit solutions in an increasingly volatile business environment" QBE's Trade Credit underwrites $30bn of domestic and export trade credit from units in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe having extensive experience in assessing risks in over 150 markets. We are a Standard and Poors A+ rated company. Supported by a product range of tailored solutions to your credit needs, QBE is uniquely placed to offer our clients the opportunity to conduct business in a secure environment. Established in 1962, we have in the last four decades risen to become the largest Australian Insurer offering both Domestic and Export trade credit insurance and have expanded offshore to service our clients locally around the world. QBE Re QBE Re is a leading global reinsurer providing treaty and facultative reinsurance, direct insurance, and other financial products to its varied clients. QBE Re conducts business through three Divisions: Australia, Europe, and the Americas. As a global reinsurer, QBE Re underwrites traditional and financial products covering all major lines and classes of business. Through its divisional network of companies, QBE Re excels in providing regional expertise and service tailored to local-market needs. For additional solutions from QBE Re, please visit our local teams: QBE Insurance - Australia QBE Insurance - Europe QBE Insurance - the Americas
Switzerland Travel
Switzerland Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Switzerland Switzerland Leave the lederhosen at home and get in line with the stylish Swiss. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Switzerland Geneva Interlaken Zurich View Map Click here Feature Attraction Great St Bernard Pass Hospice Museum Perhaps the Great St Bernard Pass should be renamed the Great Alsation Pass. It might save the local rescue dogs at the local hospice some embarrassment. ... more Switzerland may be neutral but it is certainly not flavourless. The fusion of German, French and Italian ingredients has formed a robust national culture, and the country's alpine landscapes have enough zing to reinvigorate the most jaded traveller. Goethe summed up Switzerland succinctly as a combination of 'the colossal and the well-ordered'. You can be sure that your trains and letters will be on time. The tidy, just-so precision of Swiss towns is tempered by the lofty splendour of the landscapes that surround them. Factoid You Fondue? Most of the world left fondue back in the 70s, but in Switzerland it's always in style. The classic fondue is bread dunked in Emmental and Gruyere cheeses mixed with white wine and flour - consumed, of course, on shag-pile carpet. SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links