Wikitravel - Changes related to "Angola" [en]

Democratic Republic of the Congo

2013-05-21T18:13:13Z

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Rio de Janeiro

2013-05-21T17:14:31Z

‎By bus:

Lisbon

2013-05-20T16:52:43Z

Restoring removed content.

Lisbon

2013-05-20T16:01:55Z

‎Do: typo corrected

South Africa

2013-05-20T10:29:01Z

‎History:

Madrid

2013-05-19T17:26:39Z

‎Parks:

Paris

2013-05-18T20:34:23Z

‎Airport transfers: $

Paris

2013-05-18T19:58:03Z

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Dubai

2013-05-18T11:52:03Z

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South Africa

2013-05-17T18:32:59Z

‎Money:

Johannesburg

2013-05-17T17:31:55Z

‎Car rental:

Madrid

2013-05-17T07:37:47Z

updated listing Zoo Aquarium Madrid

Madrid

2013-05-16T20:18:07Z

updated listing Catedral de la Almudena

Paris

2013-05-16T19:44:08Z

‎Bike rentals: correct formatting

Paris

2013-05-16T19:29:08Z

‎Bike rentals:

Paris

2013-05-15T18:59:53Z

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Wikitravel:How to edit a page

2013-05-15T06:15:55Z

‎Using the check boxes:

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London

2013-05-14T17:30:17Z

‎History: correct external links format

London

2013-05-14T16:48:35Z

please put the listing in the district article

Brazzaville

2013-05-14T15:32:42Z

‎Sleep:

Paris

2013-05-14T14:47:39Z

‎Get around: More logical sub-section order

Show changes

London

2013-05-14T11:10:08Z

‎By Tube / Underground: Price update

London

2013-05-14T06:34:43Z

added listing Amsterdam Hotel London

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 As for arriving overland, you're best off if your home country doesn't have a DRC embassy (such as Australia & New Zealand) in which case you can apply for a visa in neighboring countries without too much trouble. If your passport is from a country with a DRC embassy (USA, France), then embassies in neighboring countries (Uganda, Rwanda, etc) may tell you that you can only apply for a visa in your country of citizenship or residence.
-If your entering the DRC from Uganda or Rwanda (especially at Goma), the visa process seems different for everyone. You can apply for a visa at the embassies in Kigali, Kampala, or Nairobi with a 1-7 day turnaround for US$50-80. As recently as 2011, you could apply for a transit visa at the border relatively hassle-free for US$35 (and maybe a small "tip" for the official which goes away with persistence) with a yellow fever certificate and a passport-sized photo, although this no longer appears to be possible. Travelers trying to get a visa at the border recently (2012) have been asked for as much as US$500! It seems the actual cost depends on who's working at the post that day, your nationality, and how persistent you are with US$100 seeming to be the real cost, but many being told US$200-300 either as just the "fee" or a fee plus "tip" for the officials (which is what happens in the former situation anyways). These visas are either "transit" visas good for 7 days or visas only valid to visit the Goma and border areas. Given the bad security situation in North/South Kivu, you probably shouldn't venture outside Goma or the national parks anyways. If you visit Virunga National Park ([http://www.visitvirunga.org/visa/ official site]), you can get a visa for US$50 and apply online or through your tour operator. If you can't get a visa at Goma for a reasonable price, you can travel south and try to cross at Bukavu and take a boat across the  lake to Goma (do not go by road...too dangerous). Also, be sure if you cross the border to the DRC immigration post, you have officially left Uganda or Rwanda, so be sure you have a multiple-entry visa before leaving!
+If you're entering the DRC from Uganda or Rwanda (especially at Goma), the visa process seems different for everyone. You can apply for a visa at the embassies in Kigali, Kampala, or Nairobi with a 1-7 day turnaround for US$50-80. As recently as 2011, you could apply for a transit visa at the border relatively hassle-free for US$35 (and maybe a small "tip" for the official which goes away with persistence) with a yellow fever certificate and a passport-sized photo, although this no longer appears to be possible. Travelers trying to get a visa at the border recently (2012) have been asked for as much as US$500! It seems the actual cost depends on who's working at the post that day, your nationality, and how persistent you are with US$100 seeming to be the real cost, but many being told US$200-300 either as just the "fee" or a fee plus "tip" for the officials (which is what happens in the former situation anyways). These visas are either "transit" visas good for 7 days or visas only valid to visit the Goma and border areas. Given the bad security situation in North/South Kivu, you probably shouldn't venture outside Goma or the national parks anyways. If you visit Virunga National Park ([http://www.visitvirunga.org/visa/ official site]), you can get a visa for US$50 and apply online or through your tour operator. If you can't get a visa at Goma for a reasonable price, you can travel south and try to cross at Bukavu and take a boat across the  lake to Goma (do not go by road...too dangerous). Also, be sure if you cross the border to the DRC immigration post, you have officially left Uganda or Rwanda, so be sure you have a multiple-entry visa before leaving!
 When exiting the country by air, there is a US$50 departure tax that you'll need to pay in cash at the airport. If you travel by boat from Kinshasa to Brazzaville, you officially need a special exit permit and a visa for Congo-Brazzaville. To save time/money/stress, you should probably contact your embassy in Kinshasa before taking the ferry.

@@ Line 110: / Line 110: @@
 Some bus stops in the South Zone are equipped with a shelter and a bench, but sometimes, far from tourist areas, they are less obvious and have no signs at all - you might have to ask. As a general rule in most parts of Brazil, buses stop only when you hail them, by extending the arm. If you don't hail and there are no passengers waiting to get off, the bus simply won't stop. The same can be said if you are on the bus wanting to get off at a particular stop. You should know the surroundings or the name of the intersection of the area you are going, or inquire to the employee operating the turnstile, so you can signal to the driver that you want to get off, or he may not stop! There are no schedules or timetables, but there is an invaluable book called Ruas de Rio de Janeiro (The streets of Rio de Janeiro) that has maps of Rio and lists bus routes by bus line. Although it does not list the exact schedule of arrivals and departures, it lists the bus stops, and one can easily orient oneself and navigate the city using it. Usually buses run at least every 15 minutes. However, they can run just once an hour or more infrequently late at night or in remote areas of town. Google Maps and the Maps app also has the Rio bus system in it, allowing you to plug your location and destination with step-by-step instructions.
-There are a baffling 1000+ bus lines in Rio (including variants), covering nearly all of the city, operated by about a dozen independent operations. (At least 6 operations ply the streets of Copacabana and Ipanema.) The [http://www.rioonibus.com] website contains a catalog of the lines, but is of little help unless you know the line number or can enter exact street names. Many lines differ only a few streets from each other in their itineraries, and some even have variants within the same line. Bus lines with a * or a letter means that this bus has a variant. It means that there may be a bus with the same name, same number, same origin, even same destination but with a complete different route. Lines are numbered according to the general route they serve:
+There are a baffling 1000+ bus lines in Rio (including variants), covering nearly all of the city, operated by about a dozen independent operations. (At least 6 operations ply the streets of Copacabana and Ipanema.) The [http://www.rioonibus.com] website contains a catalog of the lines, but is of little help unless you know the line number or can enter exact street names. The website VaDeOnibus [http://www.vadeonibus.com.br] contains a route planner: you can enter two addresses and it gives you the buslines that go between them, including their time tables. Many lines differ only a few streets from each other in their itineraries, and some even have variants within the same line. Bus lines with a * or a letter means that this bus has a variant. It means that there may be a bus with the same name, same number, same origin, even same destination but with a complete different route. Lines are numbered according to the general route they serve:
 * beginning with 1 - South Zone/Downtown
 * beginning with 2 - North Zone/Downtown

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:52, 20 May 2013
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	* Enjoy a jazz concert and drinks at the '''Hot Clube de Portugal''' [http://www.hcp.pt] (''telephone: +351 21 3619740'') - Portugal has a thriving jazz scene, the center of which is the Hot Clube de Portugal - one of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, located in Praça da Alegria, near Avenida da Liberdade. The club's first location was lost in a fire in 2009 but it has since reopened literally next door. Shows and open jam sessions are always on, with both national and international jazz stars performing weekly.		* Enjoy a jazz concert and drinks at the '''Hot Clube de Portugal''' [http://www.hcp.pt] (''telephone: +351 21 3619740'') - Portugal has a thriving jazz scene, the center of which is the Hot Clube de Portugal - one of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, located in Praça da Alegria, near Avenida da Liberdade. The club's first location was lost in a fire in 2009 but it has since reopened literally next door. Shows and open jam sessions are always on, with both national and international jazz stars performing weekly.
		+
		+	* International Charter Group: [http://www.barcosbarcelona.com]. Yacht charter and sailing, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in Lisbon. Operating from nine offices worldwide (USA, Spain, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Honk Kong and Dubai).
		+	*<do name="" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long=""></do>

	==Work==		==Work==

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 * Have a picnic in '''Jardim Botanico''' (see details in [[##Jardim Botanico|"See" section]]).
-* You cannot come to Lisbon without exploring '''Alfama''' [http://www.lisbonweekendguild.com/districts/Alfama.html] - the city's oldest district. You will enjoy simply getting lost on its labyrinthine streets and alleys with medieval to 19th Century architecture. Highlights include the Castle of São Jorge, Santa Luzia view point, and the medieval Lisbon Cathedral ("Sé").
+* You cannot come to Lisbon without exploring '''Alfama''' [http://www.lisbonweekendguild.com/districts/Alfama.html] - the city's oldest district. You will enjoy simply getting lost on its labyrinthine streets and alleys with architecture ranging from late medieval to 19th Century buildings. The area is old and slightly run down, although renovation efforts have been undertaken in the past two decades. There is a wealth of small historical and cultural landmarks and pleasant restaurants, cafés and Fado clubs can be found all over the place. Highlights include the Castle of São Jorge, Santa Luzia scenic view point, and the medieval Lisbon Cathedral ("Sé de Lisboa").
-* Take a walk in the lush gardens of the '''Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation''' [http://www.gulbenkian.pt] and check out the Museum and its classical art collection, the newer Modern Art Museum and the concert hall with a continuously ongoing programme of classical, jazz and world music.
+* Take a walk in the lush gardens of the '''Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation''' [http://www.gulbenkian.pt], one of Europe's most respected cultural institutions. Check out the Gulbenkian Museum (which is also an architectural landmark in itself) and its classical art collection; the newer Gulbenkian Modern Art Museum and the concert hall with a continuously ongoing programme of classical, jazz and world music. During the summer, concerts are held in the Gulbenkian gardens' open-air theatre.
 * If you are on a cultural trip and looking for more concerts, theatre, dance and arts, you can also check the '''Centro Cultural de Belém''' [http://www.ccb.pt] near Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, and the '''Culturgest''' arts center [http://www.culturgest.pt/] near the Campo Pequeno area.
@@ Line 314: / Line 314: @@
 * Enjoy a jazz concert and drinks at the '''Hot Clube de Portugal''' [http://www.hcp.pt] (''telephone: +351 21 3619740'') - Portugal has a thriving jazz scene, the center of which is the Hot Clube de Portugal - one of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, located in Praça da Alegria, near Avenida da Liberdade. The club's first location was lost in a fire in 2009 but it has since reopened literally next door. Shows and open jam sessions are always on, with both national and international jazz stars performing weekly.
 ==Work==
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 ===Crime===
-According to Eurostat [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1073,46587259&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_product_code=KS-SF-08-019], the overall crime rate and in particular '''robberies''' are on the rise in Portugal, a possible effect of the current economic crisis and unemployment rate.
+According to Eurostat [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1073,46587259&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_product_code=KS-SF-08-019], the overall crime rate and in particular '''robberies''' are on the rise in Portugal, a possible effect of the current (since 2011) economic crisis and unemployment rate.
-Some areas on the outskirts of Lisbon are becoming more dangerous, but it is unlikely the average tourist will visit these areas. The most common crime against tourists is '''pickpocketing and theft''' from rental cars or on public transport. The metro carriages can become crowded and opportune for pickpockets but simple precautions are enough to maintain your safety while travelling on them.
+Some areas on the outskirts of Lisbon are becoming more dangerous, but it is unlikely the average tourist will visit these areas. The most common crime against tourists is '''pickpocketing and theft from rental cars or on public transport'''. The metro carriages can become crowded and opportune for pickpockets but simple precautions are enough to maintain your safety while travelling on them.
-There are some episodes of violent and/or drug related crimes (i.e. robberies/mugging) in places such as ''Bairro Alto'' and ''Santos'', especially at night. Chances are you'll be approached at least a few times by certain types offering 'hash' or 'chocolate', especially in the downtown area on and around Rua Augusta. If you are of fair complexion or obviously a tourist you are more likely to be approached. Young tourists should be wary as they will likely be approached, especially near the Chiado Plaza - usually by drug dealers or scammers.
+Violent and/or drug related crimes are known to take place in areas such as ''Bairro Alto'' and ''Santos'', especially at night. Chances are you'll be approached at least a few times by certain types offering 'hash' or 'chocolate', especially in the downtown area on and around Rua Augusta, or near the Chiado Plaza. If you are of fair complexion or obviously a tourist you are more likely to be approached (young tourists out for drinks are also very likely be approached). These approaches are usually done by drug dealers and scammers and may degenerate into ''mugging''.
-Due to soaring house prices, the "Baixa" area (encompassing Rua Augusta, Terreiro do Paço, etc.) has become depopulated - as soon as the shops and offices close at night, the area sometimes becomes fair ground for muggers, caution is needed in back streets, and walking alone is not advised unless you know the area well. Be wary of the Intendente-Martim Moniz area: Intendente is a well known area for prostitution and drug trafficking, and even though the situation has changed in the past couple of years (police now regularly patrol the area), it is still problematic. Martim Moniz is also notorious: at night time, the area occupied by shifty crowds that more often than not will cause some trouble. During the day, however, Martim Moniz is quite safe and pleasant.
+Due to soaring house prices, the "Baixa" area (encompassing Rua Augusta, Terreiro do Paço, etc.) has become depopulated - as soon as the shops and offices close at night, the area becomes fair ground for muggers, caution is needed in back streets, and walking alone is not advised unless you know the area well. The Intendente area is well known for prostitution and drug trafficking. Martim Moniz is also notorious: at night time, the area occupied by shifty crowds that more often than not will cause some trouble. During the day, however, the Martim Moniz plaza is quite safe and pleasant.
-'''ATM / bank machine muggings''' are commonplace in the city center. Groups of adolescents occasionally stay close to the "multibanco" and wait until you have entered your PIN. They then force you away from the machine and withdraw the maximum amount  (€200 maximum per withdrawal; however, two withdrawals of €200 per day per bank card are allowed). Try to withdraw money earlier in the day and try to avoid withdrawing money in some of the train stations late at night, especially Cais do Sodre.
+'''ATM / bank machine muggings''' are commonplace in the city center. Groups of adolescents occasionally stay close to the ATM / "multibanco" and wait until you have entered your PIN. They then force you away from the machine and withdraw the maximum amount (€200 maximum per withdrawal; however, two withdrawals of €200 per day per bank card are allowed). Try to withdraw money earlier in the day and try to avoid withdrawing money in some of the train stations late at night, especially Cais do Sodré.
 '''Car jacking''' is also on the rise, usually targeting luxury/top brand vehicles or unescorted female drivers. Always make sure your car doors are locked even during daytime.
 Criminals in Lisbon are witty and continuously come up with new '''scams'''. Examples include:
-- someone approaches you with no apparent reason and distracts you with conversation or begging, while someone else pickpockets you;
+- someone approaches you for no apparent reason and distracts you with conversation or begging, while someone else pickpockets you;
 - someone pretending they need to "borrow" money from you, promising to pay you back in a few hours;
 - another well known scam involves one person offering you drugs, while a second person will suddenly approach you pretending to be a police officer, and asking you to pay a "fine" if you want to avoid "jail".
@@ Line 659: / Line 655: @@
 A firm 'no thank-you' or "não, obrigado", if you're a male; "não, obrigada", if you're female should be enough to deter them. Another possible option is simply walking away and avoiding any interaction from the first moment.
-Finally, when driving, be on the lookout for one of Lisbon's greatest plagues: '''"arrumadores"''' - "ushers" or '''illegal parking "assistants"'''. These are drug addicts, petty thieves or simply homeless people who stand near vacant car parking spaces and "help" you to park your car even though no help is obviously needed. As soon as you step out of the vehicle, the "arrumador" will ask or try to extort money from you as payment for the "service" through begging at best or physical abuse in the worst situations (rare). They might also pretend to be "official" parking space "guards" or "security" and promise to keep an eye on your car - naturally, they will leave as soon as you give them money and walk away.
+Finally, when driving, be on the lookout for one of Lisbon's greatest plagues: '''"arrumadores"''' - "ushers" or '''illegal parking "assistants"'''. These are drug addicts, petty thieves or simply homeless people who stand near vacant car parking spaces and "help" you to park your car even though no help is obviously needed. As soon as you step out of the vehicle, the "arrumador" will try to extort money from you as payment for the so-called "service", through begging at best or physical abuse in the worst situations (rare). They might also pretend to be "official" parking space "guards" or "security" and promise to keep an eye on your car - naturally, they will disappear as soon as you give them money.
-If you are not in a isolated area (i.e. other people / witnesses are around) and decide not to give them money at all you may simply ignore them and walk away after parking your car - should you do so, however, there is a slight risk of having your car damaged or broken into once you are gone, but most of the time nothing will happen and the "arrumador" will move on to other targets.
+If you are not in a isolated area (i.e. other people / witnesses are around) and decide not to give them money at all you may simply ignore them and walk away after parking your car - should you do so, however, there is a slight risk of having your car damaged or broken into once you are gone, but most times the "arrumador" will just move on to other targets.
-Although "arrumadores" are not usually dangerous, caution is always needed: many have been known to use this scam to attack or rob people, and instances of car jacking have been reported, specially when unescorted female drivers are concerned. Generally, the best course of action is park somewhere else (preferably in areas that are not too isolated) or just pay for a place in a private parking lot, which is a bit more expensive but avoids the hassle.
+Generally, the best course of action is to park somewhere else (preferably in areas that are not too isolated) or just pay for a place in an official parking lot - a bit more expensive, but hassle-free.
 ===Walking, Cycling and Driving===

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 The tip of [[Africa]] has been home to the Khoisan (''collective name for Hottentot (Koi) and Bushmen (San)'') people for thousands of years. Their rock art can still be found in many places throughout [[South Africa]]. It is estimated that Bantu tribes may have started to slowly expand into the northernmost areas of what is today [[Southern Africa]] at around 2,500 years ago and by around 500 AD the different cultural groups as we know them today had been established in the lush areas to the north and east of the what is today known as Eastern South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The desert and semi-desert areas of the Western and Northern Cape provinces, as well as the western parts of the Eastern Cape province remained unsettled by the Bantu as the arid climate, limited seasonal rainfall, sparse vegetation and scarcity of natural sources of water could not sustain large migrations of people and herds of cattle, cattle being the primary livestock reared by the Bantu and fulfilling numerous cultural and economic functions within the tribal society (cattle served as a rudimentary currency and basic unit of exchange with a mutually agreeable value between bartering parties, thus fulfilling the function of money). The "Khoisan" existed in these areas as nomadic hunters, unable to permanently settle as the movement of desert game in search of dwindling water supplies during winter months determined their own migration. Not until the "Boers" (see next paragraph) moved into these areas and established boreholes and containment ponds could any permanent settlements be established in these areas. Today, with more reliable sources of water and modern methods of water conservancy the agricultural activity remains limited mainly to sheep and ostrich ranching as these animals are better suited to the sparse feed and limited water.
-The first permanent European settlement was built at Cape Town after the Dutch East India Company reached the Cape of Good Hope in April 1652. In the late 1700s, the ''Boers'' (''the settling farmers'') slowly started expanding first westward along the coastline and later upwards into the interior. By 1795, [[Britain]] first took control of the Cape, as a consequence of the Napoleonic wars on the Dutch, and in 1820, a large group of British settlers arrived in the region. In 1835, large numbers of ''Boers'' started out on the ''Groot Trek'' (the great migration) into the interior after becoming dissatisfied with the British rule. In the interior, they established their own internationally recognized republics.
+The first Europeans to reach South Africa were the Portuguese, who named the tipping end of the country "Cape of Good Hope" in 1488, when they managed to sail around it to reach India. But permanent European settlement was only built at Cape Town after the Dutch East India Company reached the Cape of Good Hope in April 1652. In the late 1700s, the ''Boers'' (''the settling farmers'') slowly started expanding first westward along the coastline and later upwards into the interior. By 1795, [[Britain]] first took control of the Cape, as a consequence of the Napoleonic wars on the Dutch, and in 1820, a large group of British settlers arrived in the region. In 1835, large numbers of ''Boers'' started out on the ''Groot Trek'' (the great migration) into the interior after becoming dissatisfied with the British rule. In the interior, they established their own internationally recognized republics.
 Two wars for control over the region were fought between the ''Boers'' and the British in 1880 and 1899.  The second war occurred after British settlers flooded into the area surrounding Johannesburg known as the "Witwatersrand" (white water escarpment) in response to the discovery of gold in 1886. The Second Boer War (Afrikaans: 'Die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog' or 'Second War of Independace') was particularly unpleasant, as the British administration contained the Boer civilian population in concentration camps resulting in one of the earliest recorded genocides. Boer farms, livestock, crops and homesteads were also largely destroyed.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:26, 19 May 2013
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	* <see name="Templo de Debod" alt="" address="Paseo del Pintor Rosales 2" directions="Metro: Plaza de España (lines 3 and 10)" phone="+34 91 765108" url="http://www.munimadrid.es/templodebod/" hours="Tue-Fri: 10AM - 2PM and 6PM - 8PM, Sat-Sun: 10AM- 2PM, closed Mondays and holidays" price="Free" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">An Egyptian temple, located in one of Madrid′s most beautiful parks. Near the Royal Palace and Plaza de España, it was a present given by [[Egypt]] to [[Spain]] for its role in saving the temple of [[Abu Simbel]] from the floodwaters of Lake Nasser following the construction of the Aswan Dam in southern Egypt. A great place to watch the sunset.</see>		* <see name="Templo de Debod" alt="" address="Paseo del Pintor Rosales 2" directions="Metro: Plaza de España (lines 3 and 10)" phone="+34 91 765108" url="http://www.munimadrid.es/templodebod/" hours="Tue-Fri: 10AM - 2PM and 6PM - 8PM, Sat-Sun: 10AM- 2PM, closed Mondays and holidays" price="Free" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">An Egyptian temple, located in one of Madrid′s most beautiful parks. Near the Royal Palace and Plaza de España, it was a present given by [[Egypt]] to [[Spain]] for its role in saving the temple of [[Abu Simbel]] from the floodwaters of Lake Nasser following the construction of the Aswan Dam in southern Egypt. A great place to watch the sunset.</see>
		+
		+	* <see name="Rosaleda del Parque del Oeste" alt="" address="Calle Rosaleda 2" directions="Metro: Principe Pio (lines 6 and 10)" phone="" url="" hours="10AM - 7PM" price="Entry is free" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">The rose garden of Madrid, located in the same park as the Templo de Debod. If you like roses and are in Madrid when they have flowered, definitely worth a visit. The garden holds an international competition yearly.</see>

	* <see name="La Casa de Campo" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Lago, Batan (line 10) or Casa de Campo (lines 5 and 10)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The park at the rear of the Palacio Real which used to belong to the Royal family. Much of the park has been taken to smaller activity parks such as the Zoo but in general it's peaceful. From Moncloa you can take a ''teleferico'' across into the park.</see>		* <see name="La Casa de Campo" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Lago, Batan (line 10) or Casa de Campo (lines 5 and 10)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The park at the rear of the Palacio Real which used to belong to the Royal family. Much of the park has been taken to smaller activity parks such as the Zoo but in general it's peaceful. From Moncloa you can take a ''teleferico'' across into the park.</see>

@@ Line 160: / Line 160: @@
 There are no mid-range clothes or shoes stores, only luxury brands.
-===== Get in / out =====
+=====Airport transfers=====
 For getting to or from Paris, the RER commuter train, line B, has stations in T3 (from where you can take the free CDGVAL shuttle train to T1) and T2. Trains to Paris leave every 7-8 minutes and stop at Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, Port-Royal, Denfert-Rochereau and Cité Universitaire. Adult tickets cost €9.50, and for children between 4-10 the fare is €6.65 each; unusually, day tickets are normally '''not valid''' for travel to and from the airport. The train takes around 35 minutes to Gare du Nord and 45 minutes to Denfert-Rochereau, making this the fastest way to get to the city. Tickets can be purchased either through green (sometimes blue) automated ticket vending machines ("Billetterie Ile-de-France") or through the ticket office serviced by transport authority personnel. Engineering works near CDG Terminal-1 and Aulnay-Sois-Bois stations are conducted between 2300hrs and 0100hrs everyday, so you must take a coach (bus) from  Terminal 3 to the station where you can take the RER B train to Paris. The fare is included in the train ticket you purchase.
@@ Line 169: / Line 169: @@
 Alternatively, the ''Roissybus'' service (€10) connects all terminals directly to Opéra Garnier in central Paris, but it's subject to traffic jams and rush hour, so it averages 60-90 min even on a good day. You could take bus number 350[http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan.php?fm=gif&amp;loc=bus_banlieue/300&amp;nompdf=350&amp;lang=ang&amp;partenaire=]and 351[http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orienter/f_plan.php?loc=bus_banlieue/300&nompdf=351&fm=pdf&lang=fr&partenaire=ratp] to the city and it requires three tickets t+ per person (about €5.10, or €5.70 if the tickets are purchased on the bus), making this the cheapest option to go to and from Paris. The tickets can be purchased at newsstands, at ticket machines, or, for a higher price, inside the bus from the driver and they need to be validated with a device lying next to the driver's seat.
-Air France buses [http://cars.airfrance.fr] offer two stops in Paris (Porte Maillot, Montparnasse) from CDG with a 50-min ride. To reach a specific address into the city, this shared shuttle service [http://www.airport-paris-transfer.com/] costs €19 per person.
+[http://cars.airfrance.fr Air France buses] offer two stops in Paris (Porte Maillot, Montparnasse) from CDG with a 50-min ride. To reach a specific address into the city, this shared shuttle service [http://www.airport-paris-transfer.com/] costs €19 per person.
-Non-shared (limo service) transfer is also available and can be booked online:
+Non-shared (limo service) transfer is also available and can be booked on-line:
-*[https://easyprivatetaxi.com Easy Private Taxi] offers a sedan from CDG to the city up to 2 people for 60€, up 4 people for 70€ and up to 8 people for 90€
+*[http://www.cabservice-prestige.com Cab Service Prestige] offers a Mercedes E transfer for up to 4 people for €150 from CDG to the city
-*[http://www.cabservice-prestige.com Cab Service Prestige] offers a Mercedes E transfer for up to 4 people for 150€ from CDG to the city
+*[https://easyprivatetaxi.com Easy Private Taxi] offers a sedan from CDG to the city up to 2 people for €60, up 4 people for €70 and up to 8 people for €90
 There is also a TGV station in T2 for high-speed connections, mostly towards [[Lille]] and [[Brussels]], but there are also some trains that head south to eg. [[Rennes]] and [[Nantes]], bypassing Paris.

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	Air France buses [http://cars.airfrance.fr] offer two stops in Paris (Porte Maillot, Montparnasse) from CDG with a 50-min ride. To reach a specific address into the city, this shared shuttle service [http://www.airport-paris-transfer.com/] costs €19 per person.		Air France buses [http://cars.airfrance.fr] offer two stops in Paris (Porte Maillot, Montparnasse) from CDG with a 50-min ride. To reach a specific address into the city, this shared shuttle service [http://www.airport-paris-transfer.com/] costs €19 per person.
		+
		+	Non-shared (limo service) transfer is also available and can be booked online:
		+
		+	*[https://easyprivatetaxi.com Easy Private Taxi] offers a sedan from CDG to the city up to 2 people for 60€, up 4 people for 70€ and up to 8 people for 90€
		+	*[http://www.cabservice-prestige.com Cab Service Prestige] offers a Mercedes E transfer for up to 4 people for 150€ from CDG to the city

	There is also a TGV station in T2 for high-speed connections, mostly towards [[Lille]] and [[Brussels]], but there are also some trains that head south to eg. [[Rennes]] and [[Nantes]], bypassing Paris.		There is also a TGV station in T2 for high-speed connections, mostly towards [[Lille]] and [[Brussels]], but there are also some trains that head south to eg. [[Rennes]] and [[Nantes]], bypassing Paris.

@@ Line 263: / Line 263: @@
 Dubai is practically synonymous with shopping. The huge amounts of cargo passing through its port and the low tariffs ensure that practically anything is available at fairly competitive rates, although the appreciation of the Dirham, and the plentiful supply of shoppers means that Dubai is no longer a bargain basement shopping city. You'll also find products in western chain stores, still with the original tags quoting euro or sterling prices, being sold with a 20-30% mark-up once converted to Dirhams.
-The best things to buy in Dubai is textiles, electronics and gold, electronics is believed to be much cheaper while textiles and gold offer a wide range of selection.
+The best things to buy in Dubai are textiles, electronics and gold, electronics is believed to be much cheaper while textiles and gold offer a wide range of selection.
 Even in the mega-malls, Dubai shops suffer from the standard developing world shopping phenomenon of having no storeroom and no stocks in reserve - and for clothes shopping this may mean that you may struggle to find the style you want in the size you want.  Shops open as early as 9AM and stay open to 10PM and on weekends to 12AM and some stay to 1AM.

@@ Line 495: / Line 495: @@
 Coins are in denominations of R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c. Production of 2c and 1c coins was suspended in April 2002, but those still in circulation remain legal tender. All transactions are rounded down to the nearest lower 5c, so as not to require the use of 2c and 1c coins.
-[http://www.xe.com/ict/table.cgi?currency=ZAR&historical=false&template=ict-en Conversion rates] vary wildly depending on politics. It's best to import or carry US$, € or GB£, as conversion between any of them and the Rand can be done at any bank without trouble. South Africa is part of the ''Southern African Common Monetary Area'' and the Rand can be used in Namibia (''where it is an official currency along with the Namibian Dollar'') as well as [[Lesotho]] and [[Swaziland]] (''where it is widely accepted, but not an official currency'')
+[http://www.xe.com/ict/table.cgi?currency=ZAR&historical=false&template=ict-en Conversion rates] vary wildly depending on politics. It's best to import or carry US$, € or GB£, as conversion between any of them and the Rand can be done at any bank without trouble. South Africa is part of the ''Southern African Common Monetary Area'' and the Rand can be used in Namibia (''where it is an official currency along with the Namibian Dollar'') as well as [[Lesotho]],[[Swaziland]] and [[Mozambique]] (''where it is widely accepted, but not an official currency'')
 '''Traveller's Cheques''' are a safe way of carrying money around. You can exchange them at all banks (which are found throughout the country even in rural areas) and you will get a refund if they are stolen. The disadvantage is that you cannot pay with them and you will need change when exchanging them into Rand. Use ATMs instead if possible.

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 For getting money try to avoid the many banks and money changers on the left of the arrivals door: They display the exchange rates but don't indicate their excessive "commissions" that can reduce what you actually get by 10% or more - this is the case at all banks and bureaux de change in South Africa.  Better to use the ATM machines to withdraw cash (South African ATMs do not charge fees  for withdrawals). The ATM machines are located one floor higher up in the airport, in the retail mall where there are many shops and restaurants.
-*'''Lanseria Airport'''[http://www.lanseria.co.za], is Johannesburg's other airport that caters for passengers on commercial airlines. It is privately owned unlike O.R. Tambo which is run by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). Situated north west outside of Johannesburg, it is reachable from the Sandton, Pretoria, Westrand and Midrand regions, but can be traffic hell to get there. Fewer airlines fly to this airport and it is mostly used for regional, corporate and diplomatic passage. There are however regular flights from Lanseria on some of the budget airlines such as Mango and 1Time.
+*'''Lanseria Airport'''[http://www.lanseria.co.za], is Johannesburg's other airport that caters for passengers on commercial airlines. It is privately owned unlike O.R. Tambo which is run by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). Situated north west outside of Johannesburg, it is reachable from the Sandton, Pretoria, Westrand and Midrand regions, but can be traffic hell to get there. Fewer airlines fly to this airport and it is mostly used for regional, corporate and diplomatic passage. There are however regular flights from Lanseria on some of the budget airlines such as Mango.
-For South African travel and discounted fares you can search for : [[Discount airlines in Africa]] and [[Air travel in South Africa]] airlines like Mango, Kulula and 1 Time.
+For South African travel and discounted fares you can search for : [[Discount airlines in Africa]] and [[Air travel in South Africa]] airlines like Mango and Kulula.
 ===By train===
@@ Line 92: / Line 92: @@
 From the airport: Stay on the freeway between the airport and Sandton, and don't divert through the townships and Alexandra on London Road.  A GPS following the fastest route will usually divert around the townships, but it pays to know where you are going. (If you are coming from the airport and you are afraid of getting this wrong, carry on past Marlboro Drive with the N3 (which becomes the N1) until you reach Rivonia road.  Then turn left/south and this will take you straight into Sandton, bypassing any townships.)
 * <listing name="Pace Car Rental" alt="Car Hire" directions="" address="34 14th Street, Marlboro , Sandton" phone="083 236 7129 or 087 808 2542"
 email="info@pacecarrental.co.za" url="http://www.pacecarrental.co.za" hours="" price="">[http://www.pacecarrental.co.za/ Long Term Car Rental]in Johannesburg South Africa.</listing>

@@ Line 237: / Line 237: @@
 * <see name="La Casa de Campo" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Lago, Batan (line 10) or Casa de Campo (lines 5 and 10)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The park at the rear of the Palacio Real which used to belong to the Royal family. Much of the park has been taken to smaller activity parks such as the Zoo but in general it's peaceful. From Moncloa you can take a ''teleferico'' across into the park.</see>
-* <see name="Zoo Aquarium Madrid" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Casa de Campo (lines 5 and 10); Bus line 33" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.zoomadrid.com/" hours="" price="Adults €18.65; Children: €15">See the Pandas. Pet the Lemurs. Watch the Dolphin show.  Enjoy the Bird show.</see>
+* <see name="Zoo Aquarium Madrid" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Casa de Campo (lines 5 and 10); Bus line 33" phone="" url="http://www.zoomadrid.com/" hours="" price="Adults €22.90; Children: €18.55" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">See the Pandas. Pet the Lemurs. Watch the Dolphin show.  Enjoy the Bird show.</see>
 * <see name="Faunia" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Valdebernardo (line 9)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.faunia.es/" hours="" price="">A different type of zoo, aiming to recreate the native habitats of the animals (e.g. the building of the nocturnal animals is dark on the inside, emulating night time and allowing visitors to see the animals during their active hours). Several shows, incluidng marine mammals and birds of prey.</see>

@@ Line 166: / Line 166: @@
 * <see name="Palacio Real" alt="" address="Calle Bailen" directions="Metro: Opera (lines 2, 5 and R)" phone="+34 91 4548800" url="http://www.patrimonionacional.es/" hours="M-Sa 9:00-17:00, Su and holidays 9:00-15:00, closed occasionally for official ceremonies" price="Entry €10; Guided tour €11; Students and children €5; free W for EU citizens" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) is an enormous palace, one of the biggest in Europe, with scorching plains of concrete around it. Though it is the official residence of the King of Spain, the royal family does not actually reside here and it is generally used only for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace is considered to be one of the most emblematic and beautiful buildings in Madrid, not only for its location on a bluff overlooking the river valley but also for its architecture and the artistic treasures to be found in its rooms. A simple one-way tour of the palace (both self-guided and guided are available) takes you up the grand stairway and through the lavishly decorated state rooms with their elegant tapestries, frescoes, porcelain, carvings and added decor like china, silverware, medals, etc. From the courtyard you can access the ''Farmacia'' (Pharmacy), which contains hundreds of bottles of early medicines and a reconstructed laboratory, and the ''Real Armorial'' (Royal Armory), a two-story collection of medieval weapons and armor. Explanations in the armory are in Spanish only, so do not expect to understand much unless your know the Spanish names for all that medieval weaponry. The lines to get in are very long, especially on Wednesday when the place is free - try to go early. Photography inside the palace is not allowed.</see>
-* <see name="Catedral de la Almudena" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Opera (lines 2, 5 and R)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">This massive cathedral faces the Palacio Real. Finished near the end of 20th century, it is where the Princes of Asturias Felipe and Letizia were married in 2004.</see>
+* <see name="Catedral de la Almudena" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Opera (lines 2, 5 and R)" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">This massive cathedral faces the Palacio Real. Finished near the end of 20th century, it is where the Princes of Asturias Felipe and Letizia were married in 2004. look up lela star for info</see>
 * <see name="Plaza de España" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Plaza de España (lines 3 and 10) or Noviciado (line 2)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A prominent square on the northwest side of central district, adjacent to two of the tallest buildings in Madrid: the Torre de Madrid (the taller, white one) and the Edificio España (the red and white one). The square contains a large fountain and a sculpture of Cervantes and his famous Don Quixote and Sancho Panza characters.</see>

@@ Line 337: / Line 337: @@
 There are a few different bike rental programs in Paris:
-*[http://en.velib.paris.fr/ Vélib"] ☎ +33 1 30 79 79 30" In July 2007 the municipality of Paris introduced the '''Vélib''' program (''vélo Liberté'' or Freedom Bikes) making it possible to rent a bike for a very modest price. Numerous stations are found around the city (at major landmarks and metro stations, basically every 300&nbsp;m). With a credit card with a "puce" smart-chip (that means that US Visa and MasterCards do not work, however American Express cards should work even though they don't have a chip), you can subscribe for 1 day (€1.70) or 7 days (€8) with a security deposit of €150 & then get a bike. If your card doesn't work in the machines, you can pay on-line for your 1 or 7 day ticket and will be given an ID number to use at the kiosk. The first 30 min are free, the following 30 min costs €1, following 30 min cost €2, etc. to avoid long rentals... so the game is to get to another station in 25 min and get another bicycle. This rental system has been designed to allow you to "pick & drop" a bike, not rent the same one all day long. Try it ! If your card works in the machines it's a great way to get around! The bicycles are wonderful cruiser bikes, with a front basket to put a purse or bag.
+*[http://en.velib.paris.fr/ Vélib] ☎ +33 1 30 79 79 30 In July 2007 the municipality of Paris introduced the '''Vélib''' program (''vélo Liberté'' or Freedom Bikes) making it possible to rent a bike for a very modest price. Numerous stations are found around the city (at major landmarks and metro stations, basically every 300&nbsp;m). With a credit card with a "puce" smart-chip, you can subscribe for 1 day (€1.70) or 7 days (€8) with a security deposit of €150 & then get a bike. If your card doesn't work in the machines, you can pay on-line for your 1 or 7 day ticket and will be given an ID number to use at the kiosk.<br />The first 30 min are free, the following 30 min costs €1, following 30 min costs €2, etc. to avoid long rentals... so the game is to get to another station in 25 min and get another bicycle. This rental system has been designed to allow you to "pick & drop" a bike, not rent the same one all day long. Try it! If your card works in the machines it's a great way to get around! The bicycles are wonderful cruiser bikes, with a front basket to put a purse or bag.<br />If the saddle is turned around, it most probably means the bike is out of order (it's a convention among Velib users, so do the same if you notice your Velib has problems).  Also be sure to check your lock before leaving as many of them do not function (and you do not want to get stuck with a bike locked to a fence post that you cannot unlock). Also be sure to budget some time for parking your bike in case you need to get back for a flight.  Especially during lunch hour, many of the return stations get full quite readily.<br />US Visa and MasterCards without chips do not work - however, American Express cards should work even though they don't have a chip)<br />A full day rental that you [https://aboen-paris.cyclocity.fr/subscribe/details can reserve on-line] is definitely your best option in case your credit card does not have a smart chip (eg: if you are American).  After registering on-line for €1.7, they will give you a code that you plug in at any Velib station and is good for 24 hr. You can return the bike at any station any time and get a new bike with this same code any place within this time frame.
-−
-A full day rental that you can reserve online [https://aboen-paris.cyclocity.fr/subscribe/details] is definitely your best option in case your credit card does not have a smart chip (i.e. if you are American).  After registering online for EU1.7, they will give you a code that you plug in at any Velib station and is good for 24hrs.  You can return at any station anytime and get a new bike with this same code anyplace within this time frame.
-−
-If the saddle is turned around, it most probably means the bike is out of order (it's a convention among Velib users, so do the same if you notice your Velib has problems).  Also be sure to check your lock before leaving as many of them do not function (and you do not want to get stuck with a bike locked to a fence post that you cannot unlock).  Also be sure to budget some time for parking your bike in case you need to get back for a flight.  Especially during lunch hour, many of the return stations get full quite readily.
 * In addition to operating a number of bike rental buses, the RATP has some permanent locations, including:

@@ Line 169: / Line 169: @@
 Alternatively, the ''Roissybus'' service (€10) connects all terminals directly to Opéra Garnier in central Paris, but it's subject to traffic jams and rush hour, so it averages 60-90 min even on a good day. You could take bus number 350[http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan.php?fm=gif&amp;loc=bus_banlieue/300&amp;nompdf=350&amp;lang=ang&amp;partenaire=]and 351[http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orienter/f_plan.php?loc=bus_banlieue/300&nompdf=351&fm=pdf&lang=fr&partenaire=ratp] to the city and it requires three tickets t+ per person (about €5.10, or €5.70 if the tickets are purchased on the bus), making this the cheapest option to go to and from Paris. The tickets can be purchased at newsstands, at ticket machines, or, for a higher price, inside the bus from the driver and they need to be validated with a device lying next to the driver's seat.
-If you prefer not to share a vehicle with other people you can catch a taxi, or book a private transfer in advance. These are especially convenient for larger groups. A couple companies offering this service are:
+Air France buses [http://cars.airfrance.fr] offer two stops in Paris (Porte Maillot, Montparnasse) from CDG with a 50-min ride. To reach a specific address into the city, this shared shuttle service [http://www.airport-paris-transfer.com/] costs €19 per person.
-<ul>
+There is also a TGV station in T2 for high-speed connections, mostly towards [[Lille]] and [[Brussels]], but there are also some trains that head south to eg. [[Rennes]] and [[Nantes]], bypassing Paris.
-<li>[http://www.cabservice-prestige.com Cab Service Prestige] offers a Mercedes E transfer for up to 4 people for 150€ from CDG to the city</li>
-<li>[https://easyprivatetaxi.com Easy Private Taxi] offers a sedan from CDG to the city up to 2 people for 60€, up 4 people for 70€ and up to 8 people for 160€</li>
-</ul>
-−
-Air France buses [http://cars.airfrance.fr] offer two stops in Paris (Porte Maillot, Montparnasse) from CDG with a 50-min ride. To reach a specific address into the city, this shared shuttle service [http://www.airport-paris-transfer.com/] costs €19 per person [http://manstouch.com/travel/airport-transfers.html], private transfers cost €79 [http://manstouch.com/travel/airport-transfers.html]. Mercedes E transfer costs €129 and are available from CDG and ORY. There is also a TGV station in T2 for high-speed connections, mostly towards [[Lille]] and [[Brussels]], but there are also some trains that head south to eg. [[Rennes]] and [[Nantes]], bypassing Paris.
 BE CAREFUL when using buses to get to CDG. There are frequent traffic jams on the motorways leading to the airport - the Air France bus normally may need 50 minutes to get to CDG, but it may take 1½ hours as well... your best bet for arriving on time with the buses is to take them very early in the morning or during times otherwise when there isn't much traffic.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 If you are [[Special:userlogin|logged in]] to a [[Wikitravel:How to create a user account|user account]] there will be a '''This is a minor edit''' checkbox for marking your changes as "minor". The idea with this is that people reviewing page history or recent changes can filter out unimportant changes. It's up to you to determine what makes your changes "minor" -- usually, spelling corrections, grammar, or formatting changes are "minor", and changes to the real information on a page are not.
-The '''Watch this article''' checkbox puts this article on your [[Wikitravel:Watchlist help|watchlist]]. Any changes to the article, or to the article's talk page, by you or anyone else will show up in your watchlist, so you can keep an eye on the article.
+The '''Watch this article''' checkbox puts this article on your ''[[Wikitravel:Watchlist help|Watchlist]]''. Any changes to the article, or to the article's talk page, by you or anyone else will show up in your Watchlist, so you can keep an eye on the article.
-The default setting -- whether these checkboxes are checked or not by default -- can be set in your [[Wikitravel:User preferences help|user preferences]].
+The default setting -- whether these checkboxes are checked or not by default -- can be set in your user ''[[Wikitravel:User preferences help|Preferences]]''.
 ==Starting new pages==
-If you are starting a new page from scratch, please make use of our '''[[Wikitravel:Article templates|templates]]''' which helps to organize the information on a page and give a consistent look. See [[Wikitravel:How to start a new page]] for more information.
+If you are starting a new page from scratch, please make use of our '''[[Wikitravel:Article templates|Article templates]]''' which help to organise the information on a page and give a consistent look. See [[Wikitravel:How to start a new page]] for more information.
 ==Restoring previous article versions==
-If an editor changes or removes content from an article the old versions of the article are still available from the article's history.  To view article history, click on the "history" tab for any article, then click on the date for the revision that you are interested in.  To revert the article to the specified revision, simply click on the "edit" tab while viewing the old version and then re-save the version.  Alternately, if you just want to revert a single edit click on the "undo" link from an article's history next to the edit that is being reverted.
+If an editor changes or removes content from an article the old versions of the article are still available from the article's history.  To view article history, click on the "'''View history'''" tab for any article, then click on the date for the revision that you are interested in. To revert the article to the specified revision, simply click on the "edit" tab while viewing the old version and then re-save the version.  Alternately, if you just want to revert a single edit click on the "undo" link from an article's history next to the edit that is being reverted.
 ==See also==

@@ Line 180: / Line 180: @@
 Settlement has existed on the site of London since well before Roman times, with evidence of Bronze Age and Celtic settlement. The Roman city of ''Londinium'', established just after the Roman conquest of Britannia in the year 43, formed the basis for the modern city (some isolated Roman period remains are still to be seen within the City). After the end of Roman rule in 410 and a short-lived decline, London experienced a gradual revival under the Anglo-Saxons, as well as the Norsemen, and emerged as a great medieval trading city, and eventually replaced [[Winchester (England)|Winchester]] as the royal capital of England. This paramount status for London was confirmed when William the Conqueror, a Norman, built the [[London/City of London#See|Tower of London]] after the conquest in 1066 and was crowned King of England in [[London/Westminster|Westminster]].
-London went from strength to strength and with the rise of England to first European then global prominence and the city became a great centre of culture, government and industry. London's long association with the theatre, for example, can be traced back to the English renaissance (witness the Rose Theatre [http://rosetheatre.org.uk] and great playwrights like [[London/South_Bank#Do|Shakespeare]] who made London their home). With the rise of Britain to supreme maritime power in the 18th and 19th centuries and the possessor of the largest global empire, London became an imperial capital and drew people and influences from around the world to become, for many years, the largest city in the world.
+London went from strength to strength and with the rise of England to first European then global prominence and the city became a great centre of culture, government and industry. London's long association with the theatre, for example, can be traced back to the English renaissance (witness the [http://rosetheatre.org.uk Rose Theatre] and great playwrights like [[London/South_Bank#Do|Shakespeare]] who made London their home). With the rise of Britain to supreme maritime power in the 18th and 19th centuries and the possessor of the largest global empire, London became an imperial capital and drew people and influences from around the world to become, for many years, the largest city in the world.
 The Royal families over the previous centuries, added much to the London scene for today's traveller: the [[London/Mayfair-Marylebone#See|Albert Memorial]], [[London/Westminster#See|Buckingham Palace]], [[London/Notting Hill-North Kensington|Kensington Palace]], [[London/South Kensington-Chelsea#See|Royal Albert Hall]], [[London/City_of_London#Do|Tower of London]], [[London/West|Kew Palace]] and [[London/Westminster#See|Westminster Abbey]] being prominent examples.

@@ Line 1,162: / Line 1,162: @@
 Most people want to base themselves within the central area of London (Zones 1 and 2 of the Underground) - but this is also by far the most expensive part of the city to stay in, with even the traditional "budget" hotel chains like Premier Inn or Travelodge charging a premium in the centre compared to properties located just on the fringes of Zone 2 or in the outer boroughs.  Be wary therefore of big-name chain hotels with the word "London" in their title that look suspiciously cheap - you may find that they are actually on the outskirts of the city with a commute of nearly an hour into Zone 1.  Hotel prices are often linked to their proximity to a Tube or overground railway station with a fast link to the centre of town, so for this reason do your research carefully - sometimes being that extra five minutes away from a station can make the difference in cost and quality and local food and drinking options. In any case, you can always catch a bus anyway - by far the best way to see the city and get about generally.
 ===Hotels===
 Your budget will have a lot to do with what part of London you will want to stay in. Tourist-standard prices range from £20-200 per person per night. Expect smaller than average rooms especially at the low end of this range. As a general rule, expect to pay between £75-150 per night for a 2 or 3 star hotel in the central area of the city.  Many of the big name chain hotels now offer substantial discounts (with rates often down as low as £30-£50 per room per night) if you book well in advance, but the drawback is that you have to pay the full amount upfront at the time of booking and there are no refunds if you cancel. The heart of the West End is the most expensive place to stay with most hotels being either 4 or 5 star and are therefore priced accordingly.

@@ Line 178: / Line 178: @@
 * <sleep name="Olympic Palace Hotel" alt="" address="BP 1050" directions="" phone="+242 81 34 36" tollfree="" email="olympicreception@hotmail.com" fax="+242 81 00 30" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="100.000 for old room, 150.000 for new room, 180.000 for double room" lat="" long="" tags="">The new section of the hotel is the only one in Brazza that keeps westerns standards. The whole hotel arguably the best in the town (Air France personnel has moved from Laico to Olympic in last months, so now all the airlines have their air crews there, even the ones landing in Kinshasa, DRDC). The only drawback is the loud music till the morning once a week, when weddings take place. Free internet in the bar for anyone.</sleep>
-*'''Hotel Hippocampe''', +242 668 60 68 Price: 26,000 - 36,000 F CFA/night, depending on the room. Average price for a meal: 5,000 F CFA food + 2,000 F CFA drinks = 7,000 F CFA (€11). Owned by a French-Vietnamese couple. Staff is very nice. Food is good, though most of it is non-Congolese. It has warm water and wireless in some rooms and in the restaurant. Very nice outdoors restaurant.
+* <sleep name="Hotel Hippocampe" url="http://www.hippocampe.asia" phone="+242 06 668 60 68" price="28,000 - 48,000 F CFA/night, depending on the room">Average price for a meal: 5,000 F CFA food + 2,000 F CFA drinks = 7,000 F CFA (€11). Owned by a French-Vietnamese couple. Staff is very nice. Food is good, though most of it is non-Congolese. It has warm water and wireless in some rooms and in the restaurant. Very nice outdoors restaurant.</sleep>
 *'''Hotel Oriental''', Price: 30,000 - 40,000 F CFA/night, depending on the room. New hotel opened in May 2012 by a Lebanese in the quieter Bacongo district (on the road leading to "Case De Gaulle") - A restaurant is expected to open later in the same 3 storey building... It has air-con and brand new big flat screens in every room. Staff is very nice.

@@ Line 522: / Line 522: @@
 ====Pay-as-you-go (PrePay)====
-You can charge up your Oyster card with electronic cash at any tube station ticket machine or ticket desk (you can even use a credit card to do this if your credit card has a PIN number) with Oyster pay-as-you-go, also known as PrePay. This money is then deducted from your card each time you get on a service. The fare is calculated based on your start and end points. Pay-as-you-go is much cheaper than paying in cash for each journey. For instance, a cash tube one way in Zone 1 is £4, while with an Oyster Card it costs £1.90. Furthermore, a cash bus fare is £2.40 while with Oyster it is £1.35.
+You can charge up your Oyster card with electronic cash at any tube station ticket machine or ticket desk (you can even use a credit card to do this if your credit card has a PIN number) with Oyster pay-as-you-go, also known as PrePay. This money is then deducted from your card each time you get on a service. The fare is calculated based on your start and end points. Pay-as-you-go is much cheaper than paying in cash for each journey. For instance, a cash tube one way in Zone 1 is £4.50, while with an Oyster Card it costs £2.10. Furthermore, a cash bus fare is £2.40 while with Oyster it is £1.40.
-The amount of PrePay deducted from your Oyster card in one day is capped at the cost of the appropriate '''paper day ticket (day Travelcard)''' for the zones you have travelled through. For zone 1-2 (central London including everywhere inside the Circle line and some places outside) this is £6.60 (£8 M-F before 09:30).
+The amount of PrePay deducted from your Oyster card in one day is capped at the cost of the appropriate '''paper day ticket (day Travelcard)''' for the zones you have travelled through. For zone 1-2 (central London including everywhere inside the Circle line and some places outside) this is £7.00 (£8.80 M-F before 09:30).
 On the tube, be sure to touch in and touch out again at the end of your journey. If you forget to touch your Oyster card at the start and finish you will be charged extra! This is usually a hefty charge of £7.20. This fine can be disputed by calling TFL using the phone number on the back of the card. Just quote your Oyster number and remember where you finished your journey.
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 Almost all stations have automatic ticket barriers. If you pay by Oyster Card, just tap your card against the yellow pad to open the barriers (both upon entrance and exit). If you have a paper ticket, insert it face-up into the slot on the front of the machine, and remove it from the top to enter the station. If you have a single-ticket it will be retained at the exit gate. If you have luggage or if your ticket is rejected there is normally a staffed gate as well. Paper tickets can be purchased from vending machines in the station lobby. There are two types of machine: the older machines that have buttons for different fare levels and accept only coins and the new touchscreen machines that have instructions in multiple languages, offer a greater choice of ticket and accept bills and credit/debit cards (note that if your card has no embedded microchip, you cannot use these machines, you pay at the ticket counter).
-Single tickets are charged at a premium (often costing only a little less than a 1-day travelcard) of £4 flat fare for journeys within or beyond Zone 1 or £3 for journeys outside of Zone 1. Single Oyster fares are charged by the number of zones crossed, starting at £2.00 for 1 zone up to £4.80 for 6 zones. Paper travel cards valid for 1 day, 3 days or 7 days are also available and can also be used on buses, National Rail trains, the DLR and Croydon Tramlink. They are priced by zones: a 1-day travelcard for Zones 1-2 costs £8.40 (day anytime).
+Single tickets are charged at a premium (often costing only a little less than a 1-day travelcard) of £4.50 flat fare for journeys within or beyond Zone 1 or £3 for journeys outside of Zone 1. Single Oyster fares are charged by the number of zones crossed, starting at £2.00 for 1 zone up to £5.50 for 6 zones. Paper travel cards valid for 1 day, 3 days or 7 days are also available and can also be used on buses, National Rail trains, the DLR and Croydon Tramlink. They are priced by zones: a 1-day travelcard for Zones 1-2 costs £8.80 (day anytime).
 ===By bus===