Traveling in a new place is usually not an easy task. It would be much better to utilize your traveling time more efficiently if you could have a more understanding on the transportation facilities of your destination. This article introduces four types of transportation facilities in Paris which gives travelers to have a more in-depth understanding on Paris’s transportation services.

1. Metro and RER
Metro is the subway in the city while the RER (Reseau Express Regional) is the railway in the rural area. The subway service of Paris is started in 1900. Up to the present moment, there are 13 routes of subway and 4 routes of RER with total 367 stations which covers most parts of Paris. Therefore, if you could get used to the subway systems of Paris, it would be much leisure to travel around without any difficulties. The ticket fair inside city is unified as 7 Frs. for a single trip (billet). Ten- piece ticket booklet (carnet) is charged at 41 Frs. Besides, there is a Paris-Visite Billet which is specially designed for tourists. It is a pass for subway, RER and bus within a pre-set period of time. If you are staying in Paris for a longer period of time, you could choose to use the monthly ticket or the weekly ticket so that you take the subway, RER and bus whenever you like. Please be reminded that you have to take with you a personal photo (27 mm x 30 mm) in applying the fixed-time ticket in the station (guichet). Besides, it should be aware that the effective period of the monthly ticket is fixed from the first day to the last day of the month, and likewise Monday to Sunday for the weekly ticket. Therefore, you should count on the date when you buy the fixed-time ticket that how much the effective period is remaining.

2. Taxi
Taxi is the most convenient transportation as you could take it in any place. Usually it is easier to get the taxi in the taxi station (Tete de Taxi) in the main streets, hotel or the stations. Most of the taxi drivers are very familiar with the streets, and they could take you to your destination as long as you could mention you address clearly. Please be aware that the front seat is not for passenger, and one taxi could take 3 passengers in principal.

3. Public Bus
Most of the Paris residents like to take the public bus, but it seems to be quite difficult for tourists as they may not recognize the place to take off. However, you could enjoy the street scenery in taking the bus whereas the subway could not offer. Please be aware that you have to buy the ticket rather than just put the coins in. If you do not have a ticket, you have to tell the driver your destination, buy the ticket and put in the ticket cutter. Actually, you could use the subway ticket in taking the bus. You could just show your fixed-time subway ticket to the driver and you could get on and take off at any station you like. There is no station broadcasting service inside the bus and you have to ring the bell in advance before taking off. Therefore, it is suggested to take a bus road map at the information counter in the subway station, and find out the bus station name of your destination before you take the bus.

4. Tourist Ferry (Bateaux-Paris-ens)
Departure pier is at the Pont d’Iena which is near the Eiffel Tower. The cruise services could be divided as with and without meal provided. A single trip without meal provided is about 45 Frs. and the service hours are 10:00- 22:00 in summer time (depart in every 30 minutes) whereas 10:00-18:00 in wintertime (depart in every 1 hour). A lunch provided trip is about 300 Frs., departs at 12:30 while a dinner provided trip is about 550 Frs. departs at 20:30. Passenger must make advance booking for the meal provided cruise service and with formal attire on the trip.

Tags: flights France, flights Paris, hotel information in Paris, transportation, travel Parisflights France, flights Paris, hotel information in Paris, transportation, travel Paris

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Indonesia, a Country of thousands of beautiful and exotic Islands, that spark off your imagination with thoughts of fine sandy beaches, huge temple complexes, great diving and the giant dragons of
Komodo. The islands of Indonesia are spread over a vast expanse of ocean and technically speaking is divided by two Continents.

Some parts of the Country can be as different from each other as black is from white. The hustle and bustle of the modern capital Jakarta is like another planet when compared to the traditional Papuan tribes of the Baliem Valley.

Jakarta - Not only is it the largest City in the Country, Jakarta is also the heartbeat. Indonesian’s from all over the archipelago come to the City to try and find their fortune or just to survive. The face of the City is constantly changing due to the construction of new skyscrapers, shopping malls and hotels.

Jakarta is mainly a business and political City and not really a tourist destination, but the older colonial parts of the City are very interesting and the museums have a lot of fascinating exhibits.

Jakarta, like you would expect, is the most expensive place in Indonesia, as well as the most polluted and most congested. It can be very hard to cope with all of the hustle, dirt, crime and cost, but if you can you will find an exciting City with plenty to offer.

Kota - This is the old Town of Batavia, which was the capital of the Dutch East Indies and the best example of the colonial era in Indonesia. Though much of the old town has been destroyed or demolished over the years, some of the old Colonial buildings are still in active use, and the area has a definite Dutch feel to it.

The centre of the old Town is the pebble stone square known as Taman Fatahillah and this is the key to being able to orientate yourself around the sights of the old Town. The canal of Kali Besar is one block to the west of the square and runs alongside the Ciliwung River. This was a very prosperous area and on the west bank are some of the high class homes that date from the eighteenth Century.

The Chicken market bridge is the last remaining drawbridge from the Dutch era, it is at the north end of the Kali Besar. Buses always come by on their routes and the city train also has a stop here.

Jakarta History Museum - This museum is housed in the old town hall of Batavia, which is on the south side of Taman Fatahillah. It is a well built building, which was originally constructed in 1627 and added to in the early 1700’s. It was from here that the Dutch administered their colony, and the cities law courts were also here as well as their main prison compound.

It contains plenty of heavy, carved furniture from the colonial, as well as other memorabilia from the Dutch period. Open, 9am till 3pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: 1,000Rp

Wayang Museum - This museum is also on the Taman Fatahillah, and has a great assortment of
Wayang puppets. It also has examples of puppets from other Countries like Cambodia, China and India.

This building was formerly the museum of old Batavia and was built in 1912 on the site of the former Dutch church which was demolished in 1808 as the Dutchman ‘Daendel’s’ plan to rid the City of its unhealthy areas. In the downstairs courtyard, there are memorials to previous governors who were buried on site. Open, 9am till 3pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: 1,000Rp

Fine Arts Museum - Built in the 1860’s, the palace of Justice building is now the Fine arts museum. It has a nice collection of contemporary paintings from prominent artists. They also have some ceramics on show from Chinese items to Majapahit offerings. Open, 9am till 3pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: 1,000Rp

Gereja Sion - This church was built in 1695, and is the oldest Church in Jakarta. It is on Jl Pangeran Jayakarta near the Kota train station. The exterior of the Church is actually pretty plain but inside copper chandeliers, the original organ and the baroque pulpit makes it very appealing. Though thousands of people have been buried here there are very few tombs left remaining.

Sunda Kelapa - Just a 10 minute walk from the Taman Fatahillah, the old City port of Sunda Kelapa is full of wonderful Macassar schooners and the brightly coloured sails of these boats make for great viewing. The ships are still a vital means of transporting goods to outlying Islands.

Guides hang around the docks and for a few thousand rupiah will show you around and tell you some insightful stories. You can also take a ride out to the offshore fish market for around 5,000Rp.
Admission, 250Rp to the dock area.

Maritime Museum - This is an old VOC warehouse that was built in 1645 and is by the entrance
to the Sunda Kelapa. It has examples of Indonesian crafts from around the ages and has photos of the voyages from Europe to Jakarta. The building itself is well worth the visit and the lookout posts are part of the old City wall.

Just before the entrance to the museum proper, is the old watchtower that was built in 1839, it has brilliant views over the harbour. Opening hours are hit and miss, so try to find the caretaker.

National Museum - This museum, constructed in 1862, is considered the paramount museum in
Indonesia, and one of the finest in South East Asia. It has a huge ethnic and relief maps of Indonesia on which you can track your travels. The museum has a variety of different cultural displays that show a diverse collection of clothing, instruments, model houses and religious items. In addition the museum has a fine collection of Chinese ceramics that even date back to the Han dynasty of the third Century.

The museum is sometimes known as the Elephant house due to the giant bronze elephant that was a gift from the King of Thailand, and that now stands outside. Open, 8.30am till 2.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: 750Rp. Guides are around who can conduct tours in various different languages.

National Monument - This 130 metres high monument stands over Merdeka square and is Jakarta’s chief landmark. The construction was started in 1961 but was not finished until 1975, when it was officially opened by President Soeharto. At the base is the National History Museum which tells the story of the Indonesian struggle for independence. On national holidays and at the weekends the queues can be long. Open, 9am till 5pm, daily. Admission: 600Rp or 3,100Rp which includes a ride to the top.

Lapangan Banteng - Just east of Merdeka square is this nineteenth century colonial square. It has some of the best examples of Dutch colonial architecture in the whole of Jakarta. The Catholic Cathedral was built at the turn of the twentieth Century, and is opposite the principal place of worship for Jakarta’s Muslim community, the Istiqlal Mosque. To the east of the square is the Supreme Court that was built, along with the Ministry of finance, in 1809 by that man ‘Daendel’ to replace those buildings torn down.

Tags: Backpacking, Budget Holidays, Cheap Vacations, flights, holidays, Package Vacations, travel, vacationsBackpacking, Budget Holidays, Cheap Vacations, flights, holidays, Package Vacations, travel, vacations

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I know I speak for many when I say that there is nothing more annoying on a hot summer’s day than having to sit for hours in a crowded, noisy travel shop with a lack of air conditioning, while waiting for someone - anyone - to help you book that last minute deal. By the time you are finally served, you immediately begin to feel the pressure to choose your destination so that the next hopeful holidaymaker can get some attention.

For one, I feel that the travel agents these days don’t actually listen to what the customer wants. It’s as if they simply want to close the deal and get more money out of you - followed, of course, by the next potential holidaymaker in line; we become numbers in chairs rather than individuals with unique needs. I explain I want to go somewhere with culture, far from the tourist trap of strips featuring Big Ben pubs and McDonalds, and what does she suggest? Cavos! I then finally end up taking a deal to Zante which seems like the best option out of the only four offers available, and what does she do? She starts trying to up-sell by offering me insurance I can get cheaper elsewhere and wasting more of my precious weekend.

As a result, I decided to take a stand and book my summer holiday online this year. After all, some of my friends have been doing this for years and have never had any concerns. I approached my laptop and searched through some of the travel sites that were recently found by Hitwise to be in the top ten; I was able to find a fantastic deal with Excel Airways. Not only does this site have some impressive bargain flights and last minute holidays, it features a range of excellent travel guides with some really useful tips. Having the freedom to book my trip in the comfort of my own home and with a nice glass of wine in my hand was such a treat. There was no pressure to make a rushed decision, and I took time to read over the various reviews about the different locations on offer. In the end, I opted for a two week trip to Barbados at a very reasonable price.

Instead of having to go through various brochures, I also had the option to search for my chosen hotel online; I was even presented with a step by step tour of the pool area, the style of the rooms and the nearest beach.

Feeling like I was on a roll, I decided to skip the usual trip to my nearest bookstore; instead, I went onto Dorling Kindersley where I ordered one of their Caribbean travel guides on offer at the time.

I used to think the Internet was overrated; now I know differently and will be sure to recommend the method of online search to others who, like me, have been reluctant to give it a try. In fact I might even have another search tonight and see what Christmas offers are available. As the autumn weather is soon to kick in, we all need something to look forward to!

Tags: bargain flights, book publisher, buy books, cheap flight, excel airways, onli, special offer flightsbargain flights, book publisher, buy books, cheap flight, excel airways, onli, special offer flights

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