Southbound.

When is the best time of the year to go to Antarctica?

There's only one time and that's from November to early March, during the continent's summer, says Jonathon Brunger, adventure coordinator for Adventure Life Journey, a U.S. tour company that takes tourists to Antarctica. Weather conditions during the winter months are too severe to allow for travel.

Even from November to March travel conditions can vary, Brunger says. If price is the main concern, November and March tend to be the cheapest months of the year to travel. November is also the best time to see flesh snowfalls and ice conditions that won't be around when the warmer months of December, January and February roll around. "Some people are more inclined to go at the beginning because they want to see the sculpted ice," Brunger says. However, colder weather often cuts the chance to see wildlife at the bottom of the planet. In December and January, for instance, visitors can see young penguins that have just hatched from their eggs. Also, daylight lasts for 20 hours, which leaves more than enough time to take pictures. February is best for whale watching, Brunger says.

How hard is it to ship a car from one country to the next?

It's easy if required paperwork is in order, says Virginia Taylor, a spokeswoman at Crowley Maritime, a U.S. shipping company. Those wishing to send their wheels out of the United States will need a title verified by customs officials, which places a 72-hour hold on all vehicles before shipping, even with all the paperwork in order, says Taylor. The year of the car, assessed value and the size and make of the vehicle can affect shipping prices, says Taylor, who says prices vary too greatly to disclose them. Nevertheless, cars larger than 150 cubic meters are often subject to higher charges.

Countries such as the Dominican Republic and Honduras have imposed age restrictions on cars allowed into the country, says Taylor. "The Dominican Republic does not accept any vehicle over five years old. Honduras doesn't accept any vehicle over seven years old," says Taylor. Thinking about buying a Bentley in the United States and sending it back home? Be ready to keep on spending. Some shipping companies charge extra for prestige vehicles. "For expensive cars like a Jaguar or a Mercedes we charge a 1% additional charge," Taylor says. Shipping companies will often cover damage done to cars during shipment, although cars worth more than $35,000 are slapped with a surcharge since they are normally more expensive to repair.

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