|
More
Latest Travel News
Secure HOTEL RESERVATIONS
FULL
LIST. THAILAND
Asia
Hotel Bangkok, Chateau
de Bangkok Serviced Appartments, Holiday
Inn Crowne Plaza Bangkok, Hotel
Plaza Athenee Bangkok, Imperial
Impala Hotel Bangkok, Imperial
Queens Park Hotel, Imperial
Tara Hotel Bangkok, JW
Marriott Hotel Bangkok, Merchant
Court Hotel Bangkok, Novotel
Bangkok on Siam Square, Novotel
Bangna Bangkok, Novotel
Lotus Bangkok, Peninsula
Hotel Bangkok, Riverfront
Residence Appartments Bangkok, Royal
Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Sheraton
Grande Sukhumvit, Sofitel
Central Plaza Bangkok, Sofitel
Silom Bangkok, The
Landmark Hotel Bangkok, Zenith
Hotel Bangkok, Asia
Pattaya Beach Resort, Novotel
Coralia Rim Pae Resort Rayong, Kamala
Bay Terrace Resort Phuket, Novotel
Coralia Phuket, Phuket
Island Resort, Ban
Kaew Villa Samui, Chaweng
Regent Beach Resort Samui, Mercure
Resort Koh Samui, Peace
Bungalows (Bophut) Koh Samui, Poppies
Hotel Samui, The
Imperial Boat House Hotel Samui, The
Imperial Samui Hotel, The
Princess Village, The
Whitehouse Hotel Samui, Rayavadee
Premier Resort Krabi, Imperial
Golden Triangle Resort Chiang Rai, Imperial
Lake View Hotel & Golf Club Cha-Am, Sofitel
Central Hua Hin Resort, Imperial
Mae Ping Chiang Mai, Novotel
Chiang Mai Hotel, Imperial
Phukaew Hill Resort Petchaboon, Imperial
Tara Mae Hong Son, Hotel
Sofitel Raja Orchid Khon Kaen. PHILIPPINES
Atrium
Suites Manila, Bayview
Park Hotel Manila, Citadel
Inn Makati, Holiday
Inn Manila, Hotel
Inter-Continental Manila, New
World Renaissance Makati Manila, Pan
Pacific Manila Hotel, Peninsula
Manila Hotel, Primetown
Tower Makati, Imperial
Palace Suites Quezon City, Badian
Island Resort & Spa Cebu, Maribago
Bluewater Beach Resort Cebu, Golden
Peak Hotel Cebu, Pearl
Farm Beach Resort Davao. VIETNAM
Caravelle
Hotel Saigon, Hotel
Sofitel Plaza Saigon, Novotel
Garden Plaza Saigon Hotel, Omni
Saigon Hotel, Renaissance
Riverside Saigon Hotel, De
Syloia Hotel Hanoi, Hotel
Nikko Hanoi, Melia
Hanoi Hotel, Sofitel
Metropole Hanoi, Sofitel
Plaza Hanoi, Sunway
Hotel Hanoi, Century
Riverside Hotel Hue, Novotel
Dalat, Sofitel
Dalat Palace, Novotel
Coralia Ocean Dunes Phan Thiet, Anoasis
Beach Resort Long Hai, Furama
Resort Danang. CAMBODIA
Sunway
Hotel Phnom Penh, Sofitel
Royal Angkor HONG
KONG Century
Hotel Hong Kong, Century
Harbour Hotel Hong Kong, Century
Inn North Point, Eaton
Hotel Hong Kong, Grand
Plaza Hotel Hong Kong, Grand
Tower Hotel Hong Kong, Great
Eagle Hotel Hong Kong, Harbour
Plaza North Point, The
HongKong Hotel, The
Marco Polo Hong Kong, The
Prince Hong Kong, The
Salisbury YMCA of Hong Kong, The
Wesley. SINGAPORE
Century
Roxy Park Hotel Singapore, Hotel
Rendezvous Singapore, Novotel
Apollo Singapore, Raffles
Hotel Singapore, Royal
Plaza on Scotts, The
G@llery Evason, The
New Otani Singapore, The
Royal Wing. INDONESIA
Hotel
Atlet Century Park Jakarta, Hotel
Ibis Mangga Dua Jakarta, Hotel
Ibis Tamarin Jakarta, Mercure
Residence Puri Imperium Jakarta, Imperial
Century Hotel & Country Club, Century
Saphir Yogyakarta, Hotel
Ibis Malioboro Yogyakarta, Novotel
Hotel Yogyakarta, Melia
Purosani Yogyakarta, Bali
Melita Villa, Melia
Bali Hotel, Novotel
Benoa Bali, Pansea
Hotel Bali, Century
Mabisa Inn Bali, Century
Saphir Bali, Novotel
Coralia Lombok, Novotel
Hotel Batam, Novotel
Coralia Toraja (Sulawesi), Novotel
Coralia Bukittinggi (Sumatra). MALAYSIA
Century
Kuala Lumpur Hotel, Melia
Kuala Lumpur Hotel, Park
Plaza International Kuala Lumpur, Hotel
Century Manado, Century
Mahkota Hotel Melaka, Promenade
Hotel Kota Kinabalu, Mercure
Ace Johor Bahru, Sofitel
Palm Resort Johor Bahru, Avillion
Village Resort Port Dickson. CHINA
Century
Run Hua Hotel Jinan, Sofitel
Silver Plaza Jinan, Novotel
Peace Beijing Hotel, Hotel
Sofitel Zhengzhou, Novotel
Hia Hua Hangzhou, Novotel
Atlantis Shanghai, Sofitel
Hyland Shanghai. KOREA
Novotel
Ambassador Kangnam Seoul, Novotel
Amabassador Toksan, DUBAI
Admiral
Plaza Hotel Dubai, Al
Maha Desert Resort, Dubai
Marine Hotel, Dubai
Marine Beach Resort, Emirates
Towers Hotel Dubai, Four
Points Sheraton Bur Dubai, Le
Meridien Mina Seyahi, Le
Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Metropolitan
Hotel Dubai, Rydges
Plaza Hotel Dubai, Sheraton
Dubai Hotel & Towers, The
Ritz-Carlton Dubai. LONDON
Chelsea
Green Hotel. (we are working very hard on this section, adding
hotels all the time so do keep checking back).
Hotel Reviews Hotels
in Bangkok, Hotels
in Phuket, Hotels
in Koh Samui, Hotels
in Manila, Hotels
in Cebu, Hotels
in Jakarta, Hotels
in Bali, Hotels
in Hong Kong (Island), Hotels
in Hong Kong (Mainland), Hotels
in Hanoi, Hotels
in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Hotels
in Singapore, Hotels
in Dubai, Hotels
in other countries.
THAILAND - General
Bangkok - Hotels
in Bangkok, Bangkok
International Airport, Bars
in Bangkok, Calypso
Cabaret Bangkok, Restaurants
in Bangkok, Transport
in Bangkok, Shopping
in Bangkok, Chatuchak
Market, VAT
refunds for purchases in Thailand, Things
to do in Bangkok, Internet
Cafes in Bangkok, Pictures
of Thailand.
Koh Samui
- Hotels in Koh Samui, Bars
in Koh Samui, Restaurants in
Koh Samui, General
Information on Koh Samui, Map
of Koh Samui, Diving in Koh Samui,
Pictures
of Thailand.
Phuket - Hotels
in Phuket, Restaurants
in Phuket, Special
Offers, Pictures
of Thailand.
Vietnam - Hotels
in Hanoi, Hotels
in Ho Chi Minh, Beach
Resorts and Inland Resorts in Vietnam, Transport
in Vietnam, Bars
in Vietnam, Restaurants
in Vietnam, Special
Offers, Pictures
of Vietnam.
Hong Kong Hotels
on Hong Kong Island, Hotels
on Hong Kong Mainland, Hidden
Hotel Costs in Hong Kong, Bars
in Hong Kong, Using
a Mobile Telephone in Hong Kong, General
Travel Information on Hong Kong, Ocean
Park Hong Kong, Transport
in Hong Kong, Special
Offers, Pictures
of Hong Kong.
Indonesia Hotels
in Jakarta, Hotels in
Bali, Bars in Jakarta,
Melia Purosani
Hotel Jogyakarta, Special Offers.
Philippines Hotels
in Manila, Hidden
Hotel Costs in manila Hotels, Restaurants
in Manila, Bars
in Manila, Pictures
of Manila, Money
and Exchange Warning in the Philippines, General
Information on Manila, Hotels
in Cebu, Restaurants
in Cebu, Pictures
of Cebu, General
Information on Cebu, General
Information on Palawan, General
Information on Boracay, Transport
in the Philippines, Special
Offers.
Singapore Singapore
Hotels Reservations, Singapore
Hotels Reviewed, Changi
Airport review, Hidden
Hotel Costs in Singapore Hotels.
Dubai - Shopping
Festival 2000, Hotels
in Dubai, Bars in Dubai, Restaurants in Dubai,
Golf in Dubai, Pictures
of Dubai, Pictures of Dubai
May 2000, Special
Offers, Visa
Requirements.
Other Country Tips - Paris,
Singapore, Japan, Korea
Many hotels and tips not covered above.
General Travel Tips - Planning
you trip, Arriving at
the destination, At the
hotel, During your
stay, Using e-mail on the road,
Cutting the stress of
travel, How to avoid Culture
Shock, Beat Jet Lag, Internet
Security.
Travel AWARDS - 1999 Premier Travel Awards,
2000 Premier Travel Awards,
2001 Premier Travel Awards,
Vote now
in the 2002 Premier Travel Awards.
Picture Gallery Phuket,
Koh
Samui, Chaweng
Cove (Samui), Bangkok,
Koh
Samui (Jan2000), Bangkok
(Jan 2000), Bangkok
(May 2000), Pictures
of Chatuchak Market, Pictures
of Bangkok International Airport, Hong
Kong Night Life, Hong
Kong Government House, Hong
Kong, Hong
Kong Harbour, Hong
Kong (Jan 2000), Ocean
Park Hong Kong, Pictures
of Manila, Pictures
of Cebu, Dubai,
Dubai
(DFS), Pictures
of the ATM 2000 in Dubai, Dubai
(May 2000), Paris
France, Paris,
France (March 2000), Pictures
of the Press, Hanoi
Vietnam, Pictures
of the Euro Coins and Notes.
Airlines - Tips
on getting upgraded, Flying without
the frills, Tips on using Airport
Lounges.
Travel Trade Shows ATF,
ITB, ATM,
Pictures of the
ATM 2000, WTM,
Calendar of Shows.
Latest Travel News - ASIA
travel news, reports and articles. Add
Latest Travel News to your site.
|
|
AMERICAN
EXPRESS MAKES ITS FIRST EURO TRANSACTION
The
first American Express euro transaction in the world was conducted
in Australia today at 12am EST (1pm GMT), in an American Express
Foreign Exchange Office overlooking Sydney Harbour’s New Year’s
Eve fireworks display – an extravagant beginning for the long
awaited currency.
Mr
Brendan Walsh,
Senior Vice President and General Manager of American Express
Foreign Exchange Services, says “the
introduction of the euro brings with it a new era for over 300
million people in Europe and for millions of travellers all around
the world. There is no real precedent for such a large change in
popular behaviour.
“As
of today, 50 billion new coins and 14.5 billion notes will be
pressed into circulation with the goal of having most cash
transactions handled in euro within two weeks. There
will be a dual cash period of around two months where national
currency will exist alongside euro currency. After this time, only
the euro will be valid for every day use,” Mr Walsh said.
“The
most important thing for travellers is they will now be able to
travel with one euro-denominated currency for use in all twelve
participating countries. This means no more exchange commissions,
time wasted calculating price comparisons and shopping around for
the best exchange rate. Also, they won’t have to work out
beforehand how much money they will be spending in each country.”
The
euro replaces the
national currency of 12 participating European Union (EU) countries,
including Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy,
Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Luxembourg. It will
co-exist with local currencies until they are no longer legal tender
(28th February 2002 for all except Germany on 1st
January, Netherlands on 27th January, Ireland on 9th
February and France on 17th February).
“This
‘dual currency’ period is likely to be a time of confusion for
most people, so the use of payment cards and euro travellers cheques
will be an attractive option as they will offer the simplest means
of making payments in euros,” Mr Walsh said.
“American
Express has a dedicated team working on the euro to ensure the
transition is smooth for customers throughout Europe - our systems
are ready, our merchant network is ready and our customer service
operations are ready. We have also participated in the Partnership
Program initiated by the European Central Bank and have assisted
them in their drive to raise awareness of the new currency across
Europe.
"The
euro marketplace is not new to American Express, as we have been
offering euro Travellers Cheques since January 1999. The euro
Travellers Cheque has been very successful to date and we anticipate
it becoming more popular over the next few months. American Express
Travellers Cheques offer a simple, reliable and secure way to pay for
goods and services, and if they are lost or stolen,
they can be replaced usually within 24 hours.”
To
make the transition as easy as possible, American Express offers the
following advice for people in the 12 euro zone countries and for
those travelling to the euro zone from elsewhere:
For
people in the euro zone -
Consider
using credit and charge cards for the first few weeks.
This
will make everyday purchases easier to manage and voids the potential
losses from paying in one currency and getting the change back in
another. American Express will render statements in both euro and
legacy currencies until March 2002, which will help consumers get
adjusted to the new currency.
Buy
a small wallet-sized calculator and pre-program the legacy currency to
euro exchange rate. Many luggage and small electronics stores also sell battery powered
currency converters. Or write the exchange rate on a small calculator
you already have and use it until you are used to the new currency.
If
you are more mathematically inclined, memorise a simple formula you
can use to make quick conversions. For
example, at 1.96 Deutsche mark to the euro, you would simply multiply
by two to get a rough DM equivalent. Therefore, a pair of shoes
costing 100 euro would be about DM 200.
Convert
your family budget to euro. Having
a family budget is always a good idea, but working it through in euro
will help you determine what your common expenses will cost in the new
currency and how much you earn and pay taxes in euro. Do the same with
a household balance sheet: list the values of your important assets
(savings and investments, home and automobile) in euro.
Establish
an ‘emergency’ fund with leftover ‘legacy’ currency.
Instead
of cashing in old currency for new euros, use it to buy
euro-denominated travellers cheques. They are safe, can be replaced
and are a good store of value for household emergencies or in
disasters when ATMs may not be available.
For
travellers entering the euro zone -
Mixing old and new. Although euros will be
available both via automated teller machines and foreign exchange
offices, most countries will continue to use their currency alongside
the euro for the first few weeks of 2002.
You may want to consider paying by card to avoid any confusion. Local currencies will be withdrawn from circulation at
various times up to the end of February
2002.
Check your change. It is likely that prices will continue to be displayed in both euro
and local currency. To
avoid any potential confusion, always remember to check your change. If you are paying by card, it’s a good idea to check
whether the transaction slips are in euros or the national currency,
to avoid being incorrectly charged.
Getting euro savvy.
Familiarise yourself with the new designs. The euro notes will come in
values of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and five, with coins of one, two,
five, 10, 20 and 50 cents and one and two euros.
Illustrated with bridges, gateways and windows the notes will
include a watermark, security thread and hologram showing the value
and euro symbol. The
coins will have one common side and one national side, but each
country’s coins can be used in any other euro country.
As of December 20 one euro had a value of 90 cents in U.S.
currency.
How
much does it cost in euro?
|
1
EURO =
|
|
|
Cup
of coffee
|
10km
by taxi
|
CD
|
Litre
of milk
|
Tube
of toothpaste
|
Daily
newspaper
|
|
2.20371
|
Netherlands
Guilders
|
Amsterdam
|
1.6
|
17.2
|
21.6
|
0.8
|
1.6
|
0.9
|
|
340.750
|
Greek
Drachma
|
Athens
|
2.8
|
4.5
|
17.6
|
1.1
|
2.5
|
0.6
|
|
1.95583
|
German
Marks
|
Berlin
|
2.0
|
14.3
|
19.2
|
0.9
|
1.8
|
1.0
|
|
40.3399
|
Belgian
Francs
|
Brussels
|
2.0
|
11.8
|
19.2
|
0.6
|
1.5
|
0.7
|
|
0.787564
|
Irish
Punts
|
Dublin
|
2.5
|
9.5
|
19.0
|
0.9
|
2.4
|
1.1
|
|
5.94573
|
Finnish
Markkas
|
Helsinki
|
2.5
|
12.2
|
21.7
|
0.6
|
2.0
|
1.7
|
|
200.482
|
Portuguese
Escudos
|
Lisbon
|
0.8
|
4.5
|
18.3
|
0.7
|
1.8
|
0.7
|
|
40.3399
|
Luxembourg
Francs
|
Luxembourg
|
2.2
|
20.1
|
19.8
|
0.7
|
2.6
|
0.7
|
|
166.386
|
Spanish
Pesetas
|
Madrid
|
1.4
|
6.9
|
19.8
|
0.6
|
2.6
|
0.8
|
|
6.55957
|
French
Francs
|
Paris
|
1.8
|
8.8
|
21.5
|
1.0
|
2.6
|
1.1
|
|
1936.27
|
Italian
Lira
|
Rome
|
2.1
|
9.1
|
19.9
|
1.2
|
2.2
|
0.8
|
|
13.7603
|
Austrian
Shillings
|
Vienna
|
2.9
|
11.4
|
21.7
|
0.8
|
2.1
|
1.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EURO
|
Average
|
|
2.1
|
10.8
|
19.9
|
0.8
|
2.1
|
0.9
|
*Prices
as at June 2001
|
