Europe Travel 101 -
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Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the First Time 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 Europe Travel 101 - Before you take that first trip to Europe Here's a suggested timeline for things an independent traveler needs to do before heading off to that European destination. Thinking about taking an independent trip to Europe? Below you'll find topics to consider before you take off. The recommended time before departure that you should be taking action is found in the colored bar on the left. In the gray box on the right you'll find links leading to more detailed information on any of the topics. Like most planning guides, this is a tool meant to simply remind you what you need to do when to make the standard vacation go as smoothly as possible. Although the list may seem daunting to you, you'll find that many of the tasks are optional. Unless otherwise noted, most of the planning tasks can be done earlier than recommended. A shorter, unannotated list with resources can be found here . A printable checklist can be found here . Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute What You Need to Do Resources 6 months before you go - Choose Your Destination! Now (or even sooner) is the time to choose your general destination. There are lots of resources on the right to help you. Remember that while Europe is quite compact compared to the US, the travel times between countries may be longer than you think. Once you've chosen your primary destination, you'll be able to go on to the next things on the list. Language Let's say you've chosen France as your destination and you'd really like to get to know the country and its people. Well, now is the time to start thinking of learning a bit of the language. A single beginner's course in spoken French at your local community college will teach you the basics cheaply enough. We also have extensive resources for learning European languages here on the About network. Please, at least think about learning the "politeness" words--natives will thank you for trying and will likely be more receptive to your questions. See Languages for the Tourist on the right to find out how easy it is. Renting a House or Apartment Now is the time to think about reserving that perfect apartment for the week (or month). You can wait until later to do this, but the best go fast. Living in the country you're visiting gets you into the swing of daily life: you'll be able to go to the open air markets and cook the food you buy, you won't have to think about maids (unless you want to) or checking in, and things can be as secure as you make them. Guidebooks Once you've figured out where you'd like to spend most of your time, it may be time to pick out a guidebook. You can purchase guidebooks that cover all of Western Europe, just a single country, or even a province or region like Tuscany. Choosing a Destination: Travel Planning Europe Planning Map Clickable Europe map with links to Country maps and Travel Essentials. How I Travel Europe Europe and Fading Traditions: Go Soon! Weather -Climate - When to Go Language: Languages for the Tourist Rentals Unusual Lodging Lodging Links Guidebooks Top European Guidebooks 3-4 months before you go - Start Checking Airfares You can start checking sooner--although we've found searching 3-4 months before your flight is a pretty good bet; the airlines are starting to discount in order to reward early bookers and yet there's still time to wait if prices aren't to your liking. The airline computers are constantly revising the pricing based on the latest demand, so the cheapest prices might turn up anytime--but you might not want to wait that long. Use the Finding Bargain Airfares link if you're unfamiliar with the bargain hunting process. Apply for a Passport if you don't already have one If you don't have a passport, this is the time to start thinking of applying. While the literature says it takes 6 weeks to procure a US passport, you don't want to leave it to the last possible moment--it's a vacation killer if something goes wrong. And despite what you may have heard or read in the past, a separate passport is required for each and every family member traveling with you. First-time applicants 13 years of age and over must appear in person at a U.S. passport office, a designated courthouse or the Post Office. You'll need a birth certificate or proof of citizenship, a photo identification, two recent 2" x 2" photos of your face, and a bundle of money. You'll find the latest requirements and downloadable application form by clicking Passport Links there on the right. (You don't need a health certificate in Western Europe and you won't need to worry about a visa as long as you're staying fewer than 90 days and aren't going to Turkey.) Shoes and Walking Now is a good time to pick up some walking shoes and start getting them broken in. You'll walk a lot in Europe, even if you have a car; much of the city centers in Europe are pedestrian only zones. Be prepared. Airfares Finding Bargain Airfares Passports Passport Links Where to go to apply, a downloadable application form, and how to make it as easy as possible. 6 weeks to 2 months before you go - Reserve Lodging - Hotel If you haven't already reserved the hotels you've seen on the web and fallen in love with, now is the time to do so. But do you need to reserve in every city you're planning to visit? Here's what I do: I reserve a hotel for my arrival and departure days as well as any long-term apartment rentals I've selected. The rest I leave to chance. You may feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, but, with a few exceptions, it's worked just fine for me. When traveling by train, I prefer to arrive at my destination early, take a hotel by the train station and just drop my bags there and explore the city on foot. You can read the whole strategy in my Footloose Travel article. Car or Train? If you haven't already chosen, now would be a good time to select your primary mode of transportation. Select Train or Car? from the links on the right if you just can't seem to decide which is best for what you want to see. Rail Pass Do you need one? Here are some tips: Trains in the south-Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece--are pretty cheap. If you're going to one or several of these places you might find that a pass isn't necessary. Just go to the station and buy a ticket. EurRail passes offer great savings if you plan right. For a saver pass you'll need to plan to take several long trips so that you can spend the travel days mostly on the train. Save money by going overnight; you'll save on hotel costs and make maximum use of your pass. Check the types of passes available carefully, to use them to an advantage, you may have to juggle some travel plans. Car Rental or Leasing and an International Driver's License Leasing a car is sometimes better than renting, especially if you're staying in Europe for more than 17 days. Leasing gets you a brand new car without rental company stickers on it and the pricing includes everything you need. When you turn it in at the end of your trip a lucky European will get to purchase that almost-new car for much less than a completely new one (This comes about because taxes on a new car are much higher than the taxes on even a slightly used one, so both parties benefit from this arrangement). If you've chosen driving as your primary mode of transport in Europe, you should get an International Driver's License . Available at Auto Clubs, they're just a translation of your License into European languages. Sometimes police won't demand them, accepting your original license instead. But still, it doesn't hurt to get one, and they're pretty cheap. A couple of passport-sized pictures are required. Even though you can usually just walk into your auto club and come out with an International Driver's License, I recommend not putting this off: the paperwork needed is often "out of stock." Lodging Accommodation Links You can also find lodging in specific countries or cities by going to a specific destination page. Footloose Travel Striking a balance between travel freedom and overplanning. Hotel Star Ratings Do you know what they mean? How I Travel in Europe Just in case you want to know. Transportation within Europe Rent or Lease? Train or Car? Driving in Europe Links Transportation Links European Train Travel Links 1 Month before you go - Travel Insurance Now is the time to think about insurance. If your health insurance doesn't cover you overseas, or your homeowners insurance doesn't cover loss of material goods, then there are some temporary plans that might set your mind at ease. Check our Insurance Links for more. Luggage How's your luggage? Is it easy to carry? Got more than a foot and a half of duct tape holding it together? If you want to be mobile, maybe you want to see if you can fit everything into a carry-on. It's not all that hard to do in the summer when you probably won't be needing heavy clothes. Rick Steves recommends walking around with all the stuff you think you'll need, then discarding half of it. I like the method I learned in Boy Scouts. Separate everything into three piles: stuff you absolutely need and use often, stuff you'll use occasionally, and stuff you probably won't use at all. Then eliminate the last two piles. Remember: Europe isn't lacking material goods. If you need a heavy sweater because it's unusually cold in August, chances are you won't be more then 50 feet from someone who'll sell you a great one. Don't forget, laundries are pretty easy to find (but usually expensive) and laundromats are are starting to show up in most popular tourist areas. Besides, if you rent a house or apartment it may include a clothes washer and possibly a dryer (but more probably a clothesline). Cameras If you've bought one for this trip, learn how to use it. If you need one, now is the time to purchase--don't put it off until the last minute and then end up standing in front of the Louvre all befuddled because you can't figure the danged thing out. Film If you're going to use film (how so very 90's!) you might consider purchasing one of those lead-lined bags to take it in. These reduce (but don't eliminate) the radiation from airport x-ray machines and thus the chance of film fogging. What I do to bypass this possibility is to buy and process my film in Europe. Sure, guidebooks say film and processing is more expensive overseas (but not much these days), but I look at it this way: are you gonna worry about fogging or are you willing to spend a buck and a half more per roll for peace of mind out of the thousands you're gonna spend on your vacation in total. Seems like false economy to me. Plus I get to show my pictures around to other travelers while I'm in Europe. Cell Phones If you need to be in constant touch with the office or someone special, you can rent cell phones that work throughout Europe. Often your car rental company can handle this, or you can check our Cell Phone Rental links for companies that'll rent phones for the short term. Email It's time to think about how you're going to handle your email in Europe, if that's important to you. If you have several accounts you want to check, you'll need to set up an online system for getting all your email. I use webbox , but other options are explained in the article Staying Connected . Money Yeah, it's time to get the long green together. I take some traveler's checks as a back-up, but mostly use the plentiful ATM machines in Europe to get cash. You need to have a 4-digit pin number to use many European ATMs. Watch one thing though: plan to have enough money to last through weekends--some people are reporting that certain banks in Europe don't update the customer's daily limit on Saturdays and Sundays and so if you've maxed out your daily allowance on Friday, you might find that you can't get more until Monday. You might also think about getting some Euros (or local currency for countries that don't use Euros) for the first day or two, if only to get used to them and assure yourself that you'll be able to afford a coffee in the airport. How much Money? Well, that varies, of course. A couple like Martha and I can get by on on $150 a day in most Mediterranean countries, although it's becoming a stretch these days. That'll get you a two or three star hotel with breakfast and two other meals taken in a restaurant with wine, plus entrance fees to museums and such. It's an average over the whole period of vacation--some days you'll get soaked, some days you'll find bargains. Students and the young-at-heart set willing to stay in hostels and eat street food or make their own grub in the Hostel kitchen will be able to do it for much less, of course. Keeping your money and documents secure You'll need a way to keep your passport and important items away from thieves. While Europe is still safer from violent crimes than the US, high tourist volumes in major cities tend to attract the slash and run crowd. Use a money belt or pouch that goes inside your clothing like seasoned travelers do. Keep your passport and important documents together in it. Don't wear a fanny pack with the pack turned around to actually ride on your fanny. It looks stupid and is a magnet for thieves. Women should avoid big purses with shoulder straps as those straps can be cut easily and the purse removed by a well-trained thief in seconds. Whatever can be said about European petty thieves and pickpockets one thing stands out when you talk to people who've been hit: they're good at what they do. Find recommended security stuff and other indispensable items under Travel Accessories . Voltage and Plugs European voltage is twice that of the wimpy American 110. The wall plugs are different as well. If you plan on using electrical appliances you may need to purchase adapters and power converters now. Check out my article European Electricity and the Connected Tourist for the skinny on what you'll need to make your stuff work in Europe. Me? I don't carry much more than the battery charger I bought in Italy to recharge my digital camera's batteries. Maps You should be far enough along in your travel planning to think about what maps you'll need.If you're in a car and like to get off the main highways, you'll need to purchase good maps. We use Michelin country and regional maps when we drive, purchasing the regional maps for areas we're staying in for a week or longer. You can get European driving maps from your auto club, but they're often not detailed enough to get you to the back roads. Keeping in Touch If you're the postcard-writing type, you'll need to have a means of keeping all those addresses where you can find them. Before the era of PDAs and email, I made sheets of labels for everyone who'd want a postcard so I could just slap one on and be done with it. Now I email friends and keep all their addresses on my Palm Pilot. Check for Travel Dangers The US government doesn't just meddle in overseas affairs, it also alerts travelers to dangers and uprisings in other countries. You might want to check conditions now and right before you leave. Travel Insurance Insurance Links Luggage Top Carry-On Luggage Packing Tips Cameras Before you buy a digital camera for travel Top Compact Digital Cameras for Travel Top Semi-pro Cameras for Travel Olympus D40 Review Oneof the best compact digitals I've come across. Cell Phone Rentals Cell Phone Rental Companies Purchase a Cell Phone Email Staying Connected Cybercafe Links Staying Connected Links Money/Currency Money Matters ATM Finder Travel Accessories Top Travel Accessories Clip-on Security Wallet (review) Voltage and Plugs European Electricity and the Connected Tourist Maps Michelin Maps (compare prices) It's easier to buy the maps over the web--distribution to many stores seems spotty at best, and many times they're unsorted, making finding what you want a miserable experience. Keeping in Touch The Travel Writer's Toolkit Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Last minute - Oops, Forgot the Passport. Help! Well, you can get one expedited, especially if you already have tickets. See our Passport Expediting Company links for more. Make Copies Now is the time to think about keeping back-ups of your travel documents. Make at least two photocopies of your itinerary, your passport information page (the one with your picture and passport number) and copies of your credit cards showing the cc numbers. Give one copy to your mother, or someone else you trust and can get a hold of any time of day or night. Keep a copy of your passport and credit card info with you but in a different place than the original items. Final Check The basic stuff you need to carry are these: Passport, tickets, car rental agreements, hotel reservation receipts, credit cards, medications (and prescriptions, if required), addresses/password information and an open mind with a sense of wonder. Check them twice. Then go have fun in Europe. Passport Problems Passport Expediting Companies Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! 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. 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South America Travel
South America Travel Pictures | South America Travel Photos South America Get travel inspiration and travel suggestions for visiting South America. Fly your way! Book your flight to South America online - saving 40% or more! Countries: Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Chile Costa Rica Cuba Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Netherlands Antilles Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Surinam Trinidad & Tobago Uruguay Venezuela The first occurrence in my life of South America was when I read Tintin and the Suntemple at a very young age (I must have been around 9 years old). On the first page of the album, there is a map with the West side of South America and I can remember how far, remote and unreachable that area seemed to me. Callao was the magic name. In 1989, when I studied Spanish in Madrid, for the first time in my life South America came closer. People in my school were studying Spanish because they were planning to go to South America. At that time, I had travelled already here and there, mainly in Europe, and also in Asia and Africa. But still "thinking West" was still something I did almost not consider. Nevertheless, it took me less than a year to start working as a flight attendant and then North America came into quick reach. My first wish for a flight was to be South America. By that time, end 1990, I was already fascinated by the stories, the pictures, and moreover my Spanish has become fluent. The first visit to South America, which took me to Rio de Janeiro and Santiago de Chile, was above my expectations. From that time, it has been my favourite destination, and I spent many holidays and working trips in one of the many South American countries.My first holidays I went to Guatemala and Belize, and I was struck by the many colours everywhere, in the clothes of the people, the landscapes, the villages. People often ask me which is my favourite destination, and I always answer: South America. It has much more to offer than many people think. Its inhabitants are mostly extremely friendly, interesting, and interested. Therefore: welcome to the Colourful Continent! Go directly to: Africa Asia Europe North America Oceania Join our mailinglist: If you want to be updated about developments at Around the World in 80 Clicks, subscribe! Your E-mail address: Travel Forum Join others in discussions on South America Also on this site: read and sign the guestbook send us your suggestions ! send this site to a friend read about the background of this site publications on this site meet new friends for travel, dating or just fun! Around the World in 80 Clicks All rights reserved - www.traveladventures.org - 1999-2005 Share your comments
European Vacation Planning Map
Your European Vacation and the Tumbling Dollar - Should you go this Year? 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 Central Sardinia, where viewing ancient "Giant's Tombs" is free. James Martin Stay up to date! Central Sardinia, where viewing ancient "Giant's Tombs" is free. James Martin Email to a friend Print this page The Euro Guide to the Euro Using your Credit Card in Europe Using your ATM Card in Europe Recent Discussions Need Help Planning a Trip Accomodation in london Mediteranean Feries Planning your European Vacation European Vacation Planner Map Europe Travel Basics 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 Your European Vacation and the Tumbling Dollar - Should you go this Year? From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Feb 12 2004 Will my vacation be too exensive? Maybe not as expensive as you think! A reader asks: "Should we wait until the Euro gets weaker to plan our European vacation?"
While I am certain to be viewed as a biased source of information on this topic, and considering the fact that no one I know has a crystal ball able to predict exchange rates, I will nevertheless plunge ahead and give my reasons and justifications for taking that vacation to Europe this year.
Exchange Rate. No one can predict what the future will hold, but some "experts" have surmised that the dollar may fall to as low as 1.5 Euros before the bloodbath is over. At the time of writing, the rate seems to have stabilized in the short term at around 1.25 or so. It's hard to see the dollar strengthening anytime soon, given the huge deficit and slow economy. Waiting for the dollar to strengthen may leave you waiting a long time. But maybe things aren't as bad as you think.
Historically, Things Average Out. I've been traveling to Europe since the mid 1970s, and it's always seemed to me that prices have slowly risen as hotels adapted higher standards and the economy reacted to general increases in living standards, especially in Southern Europe. These changes seemed slow and steady, and largely independent of major short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate. See the next argument for a free market reason why I may not have noticed currency fluctuations much during my travels.
The Equal and Opposite Reaction. With the sharp decline in US visitors to Europe we've seen over these past couple of years, hotels are finally lowering their rates, recognizing that their excess supply of rooms may continue unless something is done to entice visitors. For example Arthur Frommer reports that London "hotels of five-star quality (are) charging less than $150 for a double room that would normally cost $400." This is how the Free Market is supposed to work; when things get too expensive for people to buy, prices must drop to "incent" them. It's happening for hotel rooms, airfares, and other tourist-only items right now. The effect may be that your vacation cost won't be as high as you might think compared to previous years. Just don't expect to buy standard European goods at a discount--shopping at home is recommended when the dollar is week.
Last year I walked into a great looking hotel in Chaves, Portugal, only to notice the sign on the desk proclaiming that all rooms were 90 Euros. When the clerk asked to help me, I pointed out that the room was too expensive and turned to leave--but fortunately not before she offered the room at 60 Euros, a price she quoted as standard for these tough tourist times. While still expensive for Portugal, the room offered 4 star, air conditioned comfort with a great view of the castle from the balcony, and the most elegant bathroom we've ever bathed in.
Things Change. An argument put forth by Carol Field and others is that European traditions are fading quickly in a multi cultural, easily traveled world. While independent of exchange rate, this argument, for me, is a compelling one, especially as Starbucks and McDonalds replace small, family run cafes and restaurants and Europe starts to look more and more like main street USA. I don't travel to experience the same things I can at home, and it's why I have to dig deeper and deeper to find places that celebrate those rapidly disappearing cultural differences.
The price of gas and the doomsday scenario. Many experts suggest that the price of gasoline will have to rise sharply to cover the cost of recovering oil from the neglected wells in Iraq (yes, oil wells go bad, I've read) and this increase is likely to spike after the elections and continue on an upward trend. Europe, it seems to me, is in a much better position to weather these increases in the short term, as they offer alternative modes of public transportation.
Even Worse: There is no doubt that oil is an increasingly rare commodity in an energy hungry world, and steadily rising prices will effect most of us around the globe equally. (Studies of Peak Oil and Gas ( pdf ) have predicted the production of Oil peaking at the end of this decade, and slowly declining thereafter.) This is my doomsday strategy, "go while you can, who knows what economic nastiness lurks around the next corner as we run out of energy sources."
Have a different view? Why not submit a rebuttal through our submittal form ?
How to offset the dollar's weakness without sacrificing your vacation Fun? Read on to Page Two: Saving Money on your European Vacation - 12 Frugal Vacation Tips . 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
Japan Travel Tips Japanese
Japan Travel Information - World Travel You are here: About > Travel > Japan for Visitors Travel Go Japan Essentials Clickable Map of Japan Japan Pictures Japan Travel Tips Japanese Geisha Japan 101 - Fact about Japan Articles & Resources Japan Maps Picture of Japan / Web cams Best of Japan / Attractions Hotels/Accommodations Tokyo / Cities / Regions Japanese Translators Japanese Culture Etiquette / Living in Japan Japan Weather / Geography Japan History / Samurai Japanese Penpal / Chat Plan Your Trip to Japan Air Travel / Train Travel Restaurants / Japanese Food Japanese Gift / Japan Books Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Japanese Gifts Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Japan for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Japan for Visitors From Shizuko Mishima , Your Guide to Japan for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Best Japan Photos in 2005 Which Japan photo gallery was viewed the most by visitors to About Japan for Visitor's site? Best Japan Photo Gallery of 2005 Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink Japanese New Year's Cards Sending New Year's cards to relatives, friends, teachers, classmates, and co-workers is an important custom in Japan. Send your favorite Japanese new year's cards online! Free Japanese ecards Monday December 26, 2005 | permalink Photo Gallery: Christmas Decorations in Japan Christmas in Tokyo Disneyland, Odaiba, Ebisu Garden Place, and more. Japanese Christmas Pictures Saturday December 24, 2005 | permalink Christmas in Tokyo There are many fun events and beautiful Christmas illuminations to visit in Tokyo. Here is a list of places to go. Tokyo Christmas Pictures of Christmas in Japan Shibuya Photo (c) Shizuko Mishima, licenced to About.com, Inc. Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink Japan Holiday Travel Tips Are you planning to visit Japan in December or January? I have some travel tips for you. Japanese Holidays Monday December 19, 2005 | permalink Japanese Railways Japanese railway systems are very advanced. Traveling by trains is very efficient. Plan a trip by trains in Japan. A list of railways in Japan Photo (c) 2005 Shizuko Mishima, licensed to About.com, Inc. Saturday December 17, 2005 | permalink Health Insurances in Japan "I plan on going to Japan in April to study for two years can anyone tell me what is a good insurance company. I hear health care in Japan is very expensive..." Suggestions? Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink Christmas in Japan December 25th is not a Japanese national holiday . How do Japanese people spend Christmas? Read more... Pictures of Christmas in Japan Pictures of Tokyo Ebisu Garden Place, Tokyo - Photo (c) Shizuko Mishima, licenced to About.com Inc. Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Japanese Gift Ideas This is a list of Japanese things which might be good gifts for your loved ones. Japanese Gifts Monday December 12, 2005 | permalink Top 10 Christmas Lights to See in Japan Beautiful Christmas decorations are seen many places. This is a list of popular destinations for Christmas illuminations in Japan. Visit many places near your destinations! Japan Christmas Lights and Decorations Chirstmas in Japan Photo (c) Shizuko Mishima, licenced to About.com, Inc. Saturday December 10, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular New Year Cards Japanese Geisha Christmas in Japan Japanese Tattoos Free Japanese postcards - Japanese new year cards - japan fr... What's Hot Japan Postcard - Japanese free email postcards - New Year's ... Japan Map - Nagano Prefecture Map - Map of Japan Universal Studios Japan Odaiba Photos Pictures of Japan - mount fuji picture - mt. fuji Photo Related Topics Japanese Cuisine Japanese Language Asia for Visitors Anime PlayStation Games 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 Japan Postcard - Japanese free email postcards - New Year's ... Japan Map - Nagano Prefecture Map - Map of Japan Universal Studios Japan Odaiba Photos Pictures of Japan - mount fuji picture - mt. fuji Photo Headlines Best Japan Photos in 2005 Which Japan photo gallery was viewed the most by visitors... Japanese New Year's Cards Sending New Year's cards to relatives, friends, teachers, classmates, and... Photo Gallery: Christmas Decorations in Japan Christmas in Tokyo Disneyland, Odaiba, Ebisu Garden Place, and more.... Christmas in Tokyo There are many fun events and beautiful Christmas illuminations to...
Hotel Travel
Hotel and Travel Information Hotel | Rental Car | Airline Tickets | Travel Assistance Hotel Information This hotel consists of two adjacent structures--an East and West Tower. Unless you specify a particular Tower, you will be placed by room availability on confirmation of your reservation. To make your hotel reservations call: 1-800-325-3535 or Call the hotel directly at (619) 692-2265 To be eligible for these discounted rates you must identify yourself as attending the "O'Reilly Open Source Convention". NOTE: The cutoff date for this discount is June 22, 2001. Reservations requests will be accepted only on a space and rate availability basis after the cut-off date. Rates Standard View Premium Club Level $171.00 $181.00 $239.00 All rates are single or double occupancy. Additional persons are $20.00 per person, per night. Room categories are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. A percentage of each category is available for the entire week. Rates do not include a 10.545% city occupancy tax (subject to change without notice). Hotel Address Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina 1380 Harbor Island Drive San Diego, California 92101 Tel: (619) 291-2900 Fax: (619) 692-2337 Getting There The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina offers a complimentary shuttle Service between the Airport and Hotel from 5:30am-Midnight. Vans depart every 15 minutes from the hotel lobbies. Parking Valet parking: $18.00 per night Self Parking: $12.00 per night Both include in and out privileges and rates are subject to change without prior notice. Upon Request To assist you with packing your bags, it might be helpful to know that the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina offers the following items available upon request. Bedboards High chair Bed rails Pillows (additional) Blankets (additional) Non-allergenic pillows Continental Bed Sewing kits Crib Shaving cream Curling Iron Shower stool Disposable Razor Step stool Electrical converter plugs TDD Glassware (additional) Towels (additional) Hangers (additional) Toothbrush kit Travel Assistance To make travel arrangements which include the special O'Reilly discounts on United Airlines and Hertz rental cars, and discounts on hotels (other than the conference hotel), attendees are encouraged to call the official O'Reilly conference travel planner: Vivian Russell Travel Services 182 Farmers Lane, Suite 102C Santa Rosa, CA 95405 Phone: 707-525-0550 Fax: 707-525-0560 Email: vivianv@sonic.net Rental Car Should you choose to make travel arrangements independently, you may contact Hertz directly to receive the special O'Reilly discount on rental cars at the Open Source Convention. To reserve a car with your special rate, call Hertz : 1-800-654-2240 in the U.S. 1-800-263-0600 in Canada 1-405-749-4434 outside of these areas or call your nearest Hertz reservation center, your corporate travel department or your travel agent. You must give the agent the Hertz CV# 01XY0010 . Airline Tickets O'Reilly & Associates is pleased to announce that it has been able to secure a special discount agreement with United Airlines unavailable to the general public. If you are making your travel arrangements independently, you are encouraged to call United Airlines' toll free number: 1-800-521-4041 to receive a 5% discount off the lowest applicable discount fare, including First Class, or, a 10% discount off the unrestricted mid-week coach fare. United will also offer an additional 5% off of those tickets purchased at least 60 days in advance. Discounts also apply on Shuttle by United and United Express flights. You must refer to Meeting ID Number 550QK in order to receive the conference attendee discount. See & Do This years Open Source Convention offers fun for the whole family. We encourage all attendees, speakers, and exhibitors to bring their families and significant others for the entire week to take advantage of our beautiful tropical locale. View our See & Do page . O'Reilly & Associates assumes no responsibility or liability for the facilities or services provided by the vendors and suppliers. Anyone attending this conference releases O'Reilly from any and all claims that may arise out of attending at this conference.