ski vacation in a

Whistler | Big White | Sun Peaks BC Vacation Rentals by Owner Whistler, Big White & Sun Peaks BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals by Owner-Book & Save! Whistler, Sun Peaks & Big White BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals by Owner Savings, Value & Hospitality! Spend your supernatural BC Canada ski vacation in a cozy, intimate & unique, top-located personal vacation rental home managed by its owner. Enjoy the thoughtful personal extras & touches of a private ski home that will make your next Britsh Columbia mountain holiday special. Save money by avoiding middle agent fees & taxes! Go to Whistler Ski Resort | Go to Sun Peaks Ski Resort | Go to Big White Ski Resort Whistler, Big White & Sun Peaks BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals By Owner Savings-See Your Vacation Rentals Before You Book It! BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals -Quick Search & See it before you Book it! Use our fast and easy powerful BC ski resort vacation rentals by owner search tools to quickly and easily find, view and compare detailed Whistler , Big White & Sun Peaks vacation rentals descriptions, rates, features,comprehensive photos, accommodations maps & owner profiles. Booking with one of our friendly Whistler Ski Resort , Big Ski White Resort or Sun Peaks BC Resort homeowners takes a little as 2 minutes! Search Whistler BC Vacation Rentals | Search Sun Peaks BC Vacation Rentals | Search Big White BC Vacation Rentals Whistler, Big White & Sun Peaks BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals by Owner Benefits Plan & book your Whistler BC , Big White BC or Sun Peaks BC ski resort mountain lodging directly with its owner on this site to experience the following benefits: Ski Resort Vacation Lodging Savings -Avoid Whistler, Big White & Sun Peaks middle agent fees by booking your vacation rentals direct with owners. Incredible Ski Resort Value -Get all the convenience extras typically found in personal home rather than standard vacation rentals accommodations! More Vacation Rental Space -Get more vacation rental space for your money & enjoy more comfort for you & your family. See the Exact Ski Holiday Vacation Rental You will Stay In! -What you see online is exactly where you will stay. See it before you book it! Big Vacation Rentals by Owner Selection -Choose from economy-luxury homes to suit your personal preferences or budget. Personal Service, Canadian Hospitality & Local Ski Resort Knowledge -You will be dealing with a single vacation rental homeowner with local Whistler, Sun Peaks & Big White knowledge, and whose sole customer is YOU, rather than a multi-property reservations agent. Fast, Easy Search & Instant Online BC Bookings- Our vacation rentals search tools & easy vacation rentals booking process will save you hours & allow you to pay securely by credit card for your Whistler BC, Big White BC or Sun Peaks BC rentals. Book Your Vacation Rental with Confidence -Owners are bound by terms of service standards, our site is secure & your bookings are tracked when you pay online with your credit card. Join Frommer's Travel and the tens of thousands of confident, satisfied and loyal AlluraDirect.com guests who have discovered the benefits of our friendly & safe BC ski resort Whistler, Big White and Sun Peaks vacation rentals by owner directory! (check out our Guest Testimonials!) BC Ski Resort Reservations Flexibility -Vacation rentals home owners are more flexible regarding arrival and departure days and times. Local Travel, Rental, Activities, Mountain Ski Resort Tips & Discounts - Get local ski resort tips & direct to consumer discounts on tickets, activities, transportation and more to help you get the most out of your BC alpine adventure! Vacation Rentals by Owner Customer Support- Use our toll-free number for live customer support if you require assistance while on the web site, during the course of your reservation, or while in Big White, Sun Peaks or Whistler BC. Discover the personal side of Whistler , Sun Peaks & Big White BC & get more Canadian value & hospitality for less money by booking directly with one of our friendly vacation rentals lodging home owners. Go to Whistler BC Ski Resort | Go to Sun Peaks BC Ski Resort | Go to Big White BC Ski Resort Whistler BC - Whistler Ski Resort Vacation Rentals, Resort Tips & Ski Vacation Discounts Whistler Canada is one of the world's most spectacular and scenic BC alpine ski resorts. Both Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain are accessible from Whistler Village. Whistler resort activities and programs are diverse to ensure that your Whistler ski resort vacation is jam packed with experiences that will create incredible lifetime Whistler Blackcomb memories. Our Whistler travel site includes: Rapidly searchable directory of over 400 private, owner-managed Whistler vacation rentals by owner options Whistler ski resort guide, info & tips Whistler maps Discount Whistler ski lift tickets, gear rentals & ski school reservations deals (over 20,000 tickets sold online!) Whistler BC activity and adventure tour discounts Whistler ski vacation planning tips & resort info Whistler accommodation rental tips Take me to Whistler BC Ski Resort! Big White BC-Vacation Rentals, Resort Info, Ski Tips Big White is voted North America's # 1 family ski resort, and is a BC favourite with good reason. It has North America's largest tube park & outdoor skating rink, is Canada's largest ski-in/out resort and has fantastic champagne powder and terrain to suit all ability levels. This ski resort is pure fun and still has the charm and appeal of a small, non-commercial ski town with a big mountain and champagne powder experience. Our Big White ski resort site features: Rapidly searchable directory of ski-in/ski-out slopeside Big White chalets, townhomes and condos lodging options Big White BC ski resort tips Big White vacation planning tips Big White maps Big White ski resort accommodation rental tips Big White mountain tips! Take me to Big White BC ! Sun Peaks BC-Vacation Rentals & Resort Info Sun Peaks is BC 's second largest ski area. With 3 great mountains, incredible powder and a wonderful, tastefully developed village that has retained the characteristics and charm of an intimate BC ski resort with vastly diverse terrain for all ability levels.You will never be bored in this ski vacation town! Our Sun Peaks ski resort site features: Rapidly searchable directory of ski-in/ski-out slopeside Sun Peaks chalets, townhomes and condos Sun Peaks BC ski resort tips Sun Peaks vacation planning tips Sun Peaks maps Sun Peaks ski resort accommodation rental tips Sun Peaks mountain tips! Take me to Sun Peaks BC! BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals by Owner Holiday Guide -We Need Your Help! First-a Big Huge Thanks from AlluraDirect.com! First-we would like to thank all of you for your continued business on AlluraDirect.com and for the feedback you keep giving us over the years. After 7 years in business, we now know many of you on a first name basis! Our Consumer-Direct BC Ski Resort Mission We help people like to you get the best BC vacation value in a time-efficient, safe and consistent way, by stripping away all unnecessary and costly intermediaries & commissions that you end up paying for in the end.. As result, you get the best, consumer-direct price. We also work fanatically to keep our own costs down, without compromising our great customer support, so that our fees are not passed on to you by owners. We believe that it should be easy, safe, enjoyable unintrusive and affordable for you to create and have a great vacation Help Support AlluraDirect.com's BC Ski Resort Consumer-Direct Vacation Site-for FREE! To continue in our efforts to bring you consumer-direct BC value & savings, we need your help in keeping costs down and business volume high, so that: Increasing business & marketing costs are not passed on to you by owners. We can pass commissions on as savings to you. We can negotiate great, volume-based vacation deals for our site users and cost-effective business services for owners. When they save money-they charge you less! We can work with owners to help keep their costs down through better, cost-effective technology and marketing. They save money-you pay less for lodging! We can continue to expand our customer support and vacation planning resources, thus making it even easier, more fun & even safer for you to use AlluraDirect.com than ever before. Here are 5 FREE, EASY & enormously SIGNIFICANT ways that you can help support our continued efforts in BC and other vacation destinations: 1-Link to Vacation Rentals by Owner Site This is one of the most important and free ways you can help us! Please tell us about your BC ski vacation, about yourself & your web site. We will link back to you and profile you as an AlluraDirect.com supporter on our site! It really helps us get to know our customers and plays a big role in keeping our costs down to owners, who in turn pass the benefit on to you. Please use the exact link anchor text and URLs below: AlluraDirect.com Vacation Rentals by Owner (http://www.alluradirect.com) 2-Book & Pay for BC Ski Resort Accommodation Online with your Credit Card through the Owner's Web Site It costs you nothing, but helps you enormously when you pay online for the following reasons: Better, faster & easier customer support -if something goes wrong, we are better able to assist you-often within minutes. Better reservation tracking & lower reservation error risk -all problematic reservations on this site involve bookings whereby the guest did NOT pay by credit card through the owner's web site. Instantly confirmed, guaranteed bookings -Don't wait around for your booking to be confirmed,while you lose out on other great properties! More accurate business volume tracking -this helps us negotiate with vendors for better prices for our site users & owners, thus helping you get more value & service. Fraud prevention & increased privacy- no one sees your credit card information, not even the owner. If something goes seriously wrong, you can reverse the charges on your credit card. Get loyalty rewards & pay on credit Make an important site contribution -we make an extremely teeny tiny amount of money on all rent transactions. Since we do a lot of transactions, it funds live customer support 7 days per week and continued development of the web site technologies & payment system that make the site even safer, faster & more private for you & other site users. Online payments cost you nothing, makes your booking safer and more convenient & is a nominal, tax-deductible business cost to the owners that is no more, and usually less, than standard, industry-wide merchant credit card fees. 3-Buy your British Columbia Vacation Rentals by Owner & Lift Tickets Directly on this Site with Your Credit Card Your business transaction volume directly through this site strengthens our ability to work directly with homeowners and resort guest services providers like Whistler Blackcomb, to increase your Whistler experience & value opportunities. 4-Spread the Word! Refer your friends and family to our vacation rentals by owner web site! 5-Send Feedback You shape this company, policies and resources with your feedback! We respond personally to all suggestions, comments and feedback! Send us Feedback! To say that we are grateful for your kind and generous support would be a huge understatement! Have a great vacation & thanks for using our BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals by Owner Site! Wishing you deep powder and the ability to gracefully ski/ride it! Have fun & yell for joy:) The AlluraDirect.com Staff & Owner Hosts Search Whistler British Columbia Accommodation Now! Search Whistler BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals by Owner | Seach Big White Ski Resort Vacation Rentals by Owner | Find Sun Peaks BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals by Owner | Site Map BC Ski Resort Vacation Rentals by Owner Vacation, Reservation & Check-In Support 9 am-11pm PST 7 Days per Week Local : 604-707-6700 Toll Free North America : 1 - 866 - 4 - Allura Toll Free UK : 0-800-028-9346 Toll Free Australia : 877-226-6358 Toll Free Hong Kong : 800-903-329 Email Us Homepage Start Here Choose BC Ski Resort Whistler BC Ski Resort Big White BC Ski Resort Sun Peaks BC Ski Resort Find My Owner Book with Confidence Guest Testimonials Vacation Rental Lodging Standards Vacation Rental Booking Tips Your Security Your Privacy Corporate Affiliations Keep In Touch All raves, rants & suggestions will be repsonded to! Send Positive Feedback Make Site/Service Suggestion Make a Complaint Update Your Guest Profile Owners Get Free Rental Business Tips! Get Property Listing Information List Property Now Owner Login Free Business Listings List Owner Service Business List Guest Services Business About Us Learn about AlluraDirect.com! Whistler | Sun Peaks | Big White | BC Ski Resort Canada Vacation Rentals by Owner Whistler Blackcomb Accommodation Rentals Home Big White Ski Resort Lodging Home Sun Peaks Lodging Home Vacation Rentals by Owner Homeowner Newsletter

Germany Travel Travel Go

Germany - Travel Information and Planning Travel in Germany  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Germany Austria Switzerland > Germany Travel Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors > Germany Austria Switzerland > Germany Travel Germany Travel Information - Planning your Trip to Germany Germany covers a huge part of Europe, and there is a great variety of landscapes to cover, from the Black Forest to Bavaria to the romantic Rhine river, to the urban sprawl of Berlin--get information on traveling in Germany here. Subtopics Auto Museums (5) Germany Transportation (11) Baden Baden (9) Germany Web Resources (22) Bamberg (7) Hamburg (11) Berlin Germany (39) Heidelberg (24) Bonn (10) Karlsruhe (8) Cologne Germany - Koln (17) Leipzig (12) Cycling Germany (3) Maps of Germany @ Dinkelsbuhl, Germany (10) Munich (8) Dresden, Germany (13) Oktoberfest (7) Dusseldorf (7) Pictures of Germany (10) Frankfurt (14) Romantic Road (13) Freiburg (4) Rothenburg (7) German Rail Passes (3) Trier, Germany (7) German Wine Regions (13) Weimar (9) Germany - Lodging (7) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Germany Travel Map and Travel Resources See a map of Germany showing the main tourist cities, as well as basic information on transportation, tipping, language and customs in Germany. Links to Germany Rail Map with Rail Pass information and a Germany region map. Germany Maps - Michelin Road Maps of Germany Michelin road maps of Germany to buy for your travel while driving in Germany. Germany Travel Guides - Recommended Guidebooks for Germany The top ten recommended travel guidebooks for Germany, featuring German cities and Germany travel advice. Germany's Castle Road - Map and Travel information Like scenic drives? Here's one with plenty of fairytale castles in the south of Germany. We have a map, tourism information, and alternative attractions in the region. Cologne Travel Essentials - Cologne City Profile Our page of essentials for visiting the German city of Cologne, including transportation options, attractions, weather, internet access, and more. Leipzig Germany Travel Planner A concise guide to visiting Leipzig, including hostel and hotel information, a recommended restaurant, attractions, travel and transportation information, and pictures. Munich Germany Travel Planner Information on visiting Munich, including restaurant and hotel recommendations, pictures, walking tour information, and information on visiting the Dachau Memorial. Neuschwanstein Castle Mad Ludwig's Dream - Neuschwanstein Castle: Perched over one of the world's prettiest gorges, Neuschwanstein Castle is everyone's fantasy dream. It's the image you've seen everywhere that makes you want to start planning your trip to Germany. Why not rent that Porsche and hit the romantic road? We'll give you what you need to know. Nuremberg Germany Travel Planner Picturesque Nuremberg, a compact city with cobble-stoned squares and half-timbered houses, is a photographer's dream and a great place to visit. We give you essential info on traveling there - hotels, restaurants and attractions, plus a map and photo gallery. Nurburgring - Driving Germany's Nurburgring Race Track on Your Vacation The Nurburgring is the most challenging race track in the world. Called "The Green Hell" by Jackie Stewart, the Nurburgring is today a toll road, test center, and formula one race track. Strasbourg Cathedral - View from the Viewing Platform of the Cathedral Pictures from the viewing platform of Strasbourg cathedral in Strasbourg, France. Schwabish Hall - Travel and Tourism guide for Schwabisch Hall Germany Schwabisch Hall is a less touristed stop along Germany's Castle Road than Rothenburg. Known for its salt production, Schwabisch Hall is a rail junction and a popular tourist center with saline baths. Bavaria - Travel Guidebooks to Germany's Bavaria Region Bavaria is in the southwest of Germany, home to Munich and Pope Benedict XVI. Bavaria is one of the top regions in Germany to visit The Pope's Bavaria - Map and Information for Following in the Pope's Footsteps Pope Benedict XVI grew up and taught in southern Bavaria. Here we offer a map of important places for an independent pilgrimage to the places that were touchstones in the new Pope's spiritual life. The Pope's Bavaria - Traunstein and Marktl am Inn, Germany Here is a map for the Bavarian cities that influenced Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the new Pope Benedict XVI, including his birthplace Marktl am Inn, and the village of his seminary, Traunstein. Travel and tourism information for pilgrims interested in the new Pope.        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 Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...

South America Travel

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

European Vacation Planning Map

Europe Travel - A European Vacation Travel Guide  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and the world, it has one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe, and it was home to artist Peter Paul Rubens in the 17th century. What's not to like about this Belgian port city? See what it's all about in our latest photo Gallery: Antwerp Pictures . More Antwerp Travel: Antwerp Travel Directory | Antwerp Lodging | Antwerp Museums Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came recruiting at my college. Operatives really get to live it up when they travel, apparently. Imagine, the lucky seven of the "Surveillance Team" sent out to case the joint before kidnapping 39-year-old Muslim preacher Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, managed to spend "$39,995, not counting meals, parking and other services" for a week at Milan's Principe di Savoia ( check prices ), where a room goes for a mere $588 a night, according to Newsday . Once Abu Omar was behind bars in Cairo the CIA folks broke up and went their various ways, some to the renowned Grand Hotel Baglioni ( check prices ) in Florence , a few in cozy pairs to save the taxpayers money, no doubt. Travel Resources: Milan Profile | Florence Profile Tuesday December 27, 2005 | permalink Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated tapas bars thinking, "wow, I'm gonna down me some fine, fresh seafood this evening--non of that canned stuff like we get at home..." Well, Quimet and Quimet is one of Barcelona's best tapas bars, recommended by just about anyone. Joaquim Perez, owner of Quimet and Quimet, has been called Barcelona's culinary king of canned food. That's right, a tapas king devoted to high-quality goods preserved in metal. I had heard about the increasing interest in vintage sardines , whose flavors are said to increase in intensity and complexity with aging. But Mr. Perez has extended this idea of unlikely gourmet tinkering; he buys "fresh" Galician navajas (clams) from the cannery and sets them to aging for a year or two before serving them (plain) to his customers. And they love 'em. Maybe you should go and see what this canned gourmet thing is all about. There are worse places to spend time on a research expedition. More: Gastronomic Route: Barcelona, a tapas town? Travel Resources: Barcelona Guide | Barcelona Pictures Thursday December 22, 2005 | permalink North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000 loan and turned his investment into a "faithful reconstruction of Noah's Ark in scaled down form on the basis of biblical texts," according to the Mail & Guardian . Spring is the expected launch date. No word on where the animals will come from. Travel Resources: North Holland Travel | Holland Map | Benelux Rail Passes Thursday December 22, 2005 | permalink Appreciate Long John Shivers? Head for the Alps I know I frequently extol the virtues of off season travel, but there's a whole bunch of adventurers willing to go the extra mile in their long johns to enjoy icier surroundings than I'd care to experience. Those would be the Ice Hotel People. Word from Vagablond is that "a new ice hotel is being constructed 7,000 feet up into the German Alps." HotelChatter says this ice hotel might well be part of the Iglu-Dorf chain, who specialize in things like Inuit igloos in Switzerland. Like it cold? Get you thrills in the Alps this winter. I'll toast your bravado at the hearth with a steaming hot toddy. Travel Resources: Germany map and Travel Essentials | Switzerland Map and Travel Essentials . Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Europe Travel in the Off Season Why travel in the off season? Well, you know the reasons: fewer tourists, lower prices, and cooler temperatures, to name a few. But there's another reason for me, and that's the warm, slanting light that brings photos alive. See what I mean by taking a gander at: Liguria Pictures - Picture Gallery of Liguria in Autumn . And if you still want to see more pictures of Italy , try out Italy for Visitors Florence Pictures , taken in November. Travel Resources: Off Season Travel Tips | Italy Travel Map Sunday December 18, 2005 | permalink Travel Gifts Ok, you're thinkin' it's too late to post some ideas for gifts at this late date. Hey, you can chalk it up to sloth and indolence, but I don't start burdening my mind with thoughts about winter holidays in May like the rest of my family. The crunch starts now. So I've made up a list of recommended Travel Gifts . Of course, you could buy some of the stuff for yourself as well. Take a look. You've got language help, a deep, inside look at the Vatican, and more, not to mention that Tyrolean Boiled Wool Jacket like you've always wanted. More Stuff You Need: Top Travel Photography Gear Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink Joe Torre carries the Olympic Torch in Florence New York Yankee manager Joe Torre carried the Olympic torch 400 yards to the foot of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence yesterday as part of "American day" in the two-month Olympic torch relay. It was the first time he'd been to Italy in 20 years, despite the fact that his mother was born in the village of Patina near Naples. (Source: Indystar.com ) The torch Joe carried was designed by the folks at Pininfarina , who've banged out quite a few sexy Italian auto bodies in their time. The Olympic torch is designed to work in rain, snow and wind up to 74.56 miles per hour, not to mention temperatures from -4°F to +77°F. According to what I've heard, the torch suffered much less than Mr. Torre during the run. Travel Resources: Florence Travel Directory | Florence Pictures: Views from the Arno | Naples Travel Directory Photo above: Ponte Vecchio, Florence by Martha Bakerjian, Italy for Visitors ; click "read more" to see it larger. Read more... Thursday December 15, 2005 | permalink Sunny Valencia It's cold here in my corner of California, prime time to think of warmer climes. Valencia pops to mind. Host to the 2007 America's cup, the sunny Spanish port city has been spiffing itself up lately, and many travelers have remarked that Valencia seems to be passing Barcelona as Spain's city of tourist choice. What's not to like? The spring La Fallas festival is a not to be missed attraction (plan now if you're going), the City of Arts and Sciences holds 87 acres of fascinating art, science and architecture, and the Barrio del Carmen is chock full of music, restaurants and clubs. Find out more about Valence by taking a peek at our latest: Valencia Spain Travel Information - Valencia Profile , or peruse our Valencia Travel Directory . Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Hey Santa! Take That! Scroogy Musings: So a couple guys in Germany get asked what they want for Christmas by Santa, who happens to be waiting for a train home. They've been out shopping all day, unsuccessfully one assumes, because the next thing you know they've latched on to Santa's sack and "beat him over the head with it, breaking his fingers as he tried to protect himself." ( Santa - Germany's new stress buster ) Santa on a train? in Germany? A bit early, isn't it? Has the Christmas spirit been so commercialized that the little people like us suffer with the stress of plunking down good cash for stuff we think people might like but probably won't? Where is the joy of it all? Everyone remembers the magical experience of visiting Santa in the mall when they were kids and the smile it brought to your face. Unfortunately over the last few years it seems the spirit of Christmas is slowly being lost due to many different reasons including political correctness, busier lifestyles and many more issues. Hold on a sec. Now I'm angrier than a red-nosed reindeer. Everyone doesn't remember. Some of us are way too old to conjure the disgraceful vision of mall Santas in their mothball costumes and fake beards. The statement above comes from Live From Lapland (dot com). For a bit less than 15 dollars they'll make a custom video staring Santa, who'll be talking to your kids using the words you put in his mouth via the web site's control panel. Their Santa evidently lives in a paneled room and wears mall Santa clothes and beardage. It's in the sample flick. He could be in Kansas. Still, where else you gonna get a five minute flick to your specs for $14.95? Travel Resources: Lapland (the real one) | Chrismas in Europe Tuesday December 13, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors        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 Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...

Air Travel, U.S. Official

U.S.-EU Pact Could Revolutionize Air Travel, U.S. Official Says- U.S. Department Of State Advanced Search/Archive Español | Français | Pycckuú | | | You Are In: USINFO Products Washfile U.S.-EU Pact Could Revolutionize Air Travel, U.S. Official Says Transportation official says changes would enhance competition in "dramatic way" By Vince Crawley Washington File Staff Writer Washington – A tentative Open Skies agreement to deregulate air travel between the United States and the European Union could revolutionize trans-Atlantic passenger service by allowing free-market competition for routes and fares, a senior U.S. official says. “A U.S.-EU aviation agreement would not only bring an entirely new level of liberalization to trans-Atlantic air services, but would facilitate the most important reinvention of international aviation we have ever seen,” Jeffrey N. Shane, under secretary for policy at the Department of Transportation (DOT) said December 8. “It can be expected to enhance the quality of competition across the Atlantic in a dramatic way,” Shane said, speaking to the Royal Aeronautical Society in Montreal. The tentative agreement, announced by negotiators November 18, would allow every EU and U.S. airline to fly between every city in the European Union and every city in the United States, according to a Department of State fact sheet. It would allow U.S. and EU airlines to determine the number of flights and their routes and fares according to market demand, as well as to enter freely into such cooperative arrangements with other airlines as code-sharing and leasing. (See related article .) Currently, air services between the United States and European Union countries are conducted under bilateral aviation agreements with each EU member state. A number of the agreements are so-called Open Skies pacts that set liberal ground rules for international aviation markets and minimize government intervention. The U.S.-EU Open Skies agreement, if approved, would replace those bilateral pacts with a single policy. Shane said media accounts seem to miss the importance of the tentative agreement. “I must tell you that many of us on the U.S. side are more than a little puzzled at how accounts of this effort to conclude the most far-reaching agreement in the entire history of international aviation have been reduced to the story of a U.S. Department of Transportation rulemaking proceeding,” he said. “The press seems to have missed the most important point: that the agreement concluded in November by the two delegations, with or without the rulemaking, has the potential to transform the trans-Atlantic aviation market in fundamental ways.” The agreement “brings U.S.-E.U. relations into conformity with the requirements of European law at long last,” Shane said. “The willingness of the United States to eliminate the traditional nationality clause that is currently in every U.S. bilateral agreement -- meaning that an EU airline’s flights to the U.S. will no longer have to begin or end in that airline’s home country -- is more an advantage for EU carriers than for U.S. carriers, and means that consumers on both sides of the Atlantic would enjoy a quality of competition that exceeds anything we have seen up to now,” he said. “Potentially even more important,” he said, “the draft agreement would open an infinity of new possibilities for the reinvention of the EU airline industry. The anachronistic bilateral impediments to otherwise sensible mergers and other combinations – even under existing Open Skies agreements -- would be swept away on day one, and the implications for a more robust and competitive global presence by EU carriers would be profound.” EU transport ministers, Shane said, will take further action on the tentative pact after the outcome of a pending DOT rulemaking that would give foreign investors in U.S. airlines more of a say in business practices.  That proposed rulemaking, which is open for comments from the public until January 6, 2006, would apply only to international investors from countries that have open-skies aviation agreements with the United States and allow similar investments by U.S. citizens in their domestic airlines. (See related article .) Shane said the department will need about two months to evaluate comments after the comment period closes and issue a final rule. The full text of Shane’s speech is posted on the Department of Transportation Web site. Created:09 Dec 2005 Updated: 09 Dec 2005 Page Tools: Print this article E-mail this article USINFO delivers information about current U.S. foreign policy and about American life and culture. This site is produced and maintained by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. Home | About USINFO | Site Index | Contact Us | Privacy Topics | Regions | Resource Tools | Products Sorry, you need a JavaScript capable browser to get the best from this page