The best, rare on Prime, non-existent on some worlds. These hotels provide
memorable accommodations, with every luxury you could imagine.Welcome to the Communauté globale. One of the more recently contacted worlds, the Communauté globale has nonetheless managed to cope reasonably well with the impact of contact with the other Earths of the ITA. This is due in part to its tremendously strong culture, inspired by the ideals of the Enlightenment and enforced by a series of revolutions.
The Communauté globale is a world full of seeming contradictions. In the modern day, much of the Communauté globale is thoroughly democratic and reasonably prosperous. Most technologies, with the exception of large-scale mechanics, are quite efficient; indeed, some elements of the Communauté globale's computer and biological technologies are among the most advanced in the known worlds. International and intercommunal competition has ensured that they shall continue their advances, unhindered by the traditionalism present on other worlds. Popular culture, too, is among the most innovative of any world in the ITA, with drama, modern art, and Réseau-based interactive texts all enjoying a remarkable level of popularity.
On the other hand, the Communauté globale certainly does have its problems. Political violence has been legitimized by decades of revolution, while political divisions are sharp and uncompromising. Outside of the most developed parts of this world, large-scale violence -- including internecine civil wars -- is quite common, while the global peace enforced by the Communauté globale often seems shaky.
It is best to take the Communauté globale as it is -- another Earth, with its own unique problems and paradises. A well-planned visit to this world can repay you handsomely.
These are numerous variants of government on the Communauté globale, with heads of state as variant as prime ministers and emperors, as presidents and despots. Despite this seeming diversity, however, almost all of these forms of government share one thing: All are responsible to the democratic people. Most régimes that forget this tend to come to a sudden end
Rousseauian State: These states have been inspired by Jean-Jacques Rousseau's dictum that the best kind of government is one close to the people. Often verging upon anarchic forms of government, the Rousseauian state is only practical in small, closely-knit populations. Most decisions are taken entirely by the people, without suggestions on the part of any state bureaucracies. Examples of Rousseauian states include the various cantons of the Swiss Confederation.
Constitutional Monarchy: Constitutional monarchies are essentially republican in form, but with a hereditary monarch as head of state, instead of a democratically-elected prime minister or president. Without exception, all monarchies are otherwise democratic, and tend to be comparatively centralized. Brasil, Canada, New England, New Netherlands, and Mexico are examples of constitutional monarchies.
Federal Constitutional Monarchy: Federal constitutional monarchies are quite similar to simpler constitutional monarchies; however, federal constitutional monarchies are monarchial federations of nations united in a loose confederation or federation, symbolized by a monarch, their common head of state. The two main examples of federal constitutional monarchies include Sweden and Denmark.
Republic: The republic is the most common form of government in this world, especially in the Occident. Republics tend to have small populations, have democratic governments based upon the principle of proportional representation of the voting population through elected assemblies, and have been profoundly influenced by the Revolutionary political heritage. Flanders, the Gaelic Republic, Catalonia, and Czechia are all examples of republics.
Federal Republic: The federal republic is similar to the republic, with the exception that certain territories within the federal republic have their own institutions and a certain degree of autonomy from the federal government. The only example of a federal republic in the Communauté globale is the French Union.
Autochthon Governments: Though varying widely in form, from the proto-democracy of Iroquoia to the benign absolutism of many of the Arafuran nations, all autochthon governments share the common fact of having been forced to merge their indigenous forms of government with the more sophisticated models provided by the Occidental nations. Thinly populated and covering large territories, the lands under the jurisdiction of autochthon governments amount to 15% of the world's total land surface area. Instances of autochthon governments include Paraguay, the Arafuran Commonwealth nations, Iroquoia, and Appalachee.
Autocracies: The autocracy is a non-democratic form of government, often ruled by a traditional élite or governing family, that has nonetheless been profoundly influenced by the Occident. The ruling élite is acknowledged to be bound by most of the laws that bind the rest of the population. Many observers hold that the autocracies are evolving into constitutional monarchies or republics. Examples of autocracies include Russia, Japan, Malacca, and Bali.
Enlightened Despotisms: An enlightened despotism is similar to an autocracy, with the exception that the rulers are not bound by the same laws that bind the rest of the population. Most rulers of enlightened despotisms do not behave irrationally, and guarantee most fundamental civil liberties. Some examples include Yakutia, Korea, and the south Indian states.
Despotisms: Despotisms are enlightened despotisms ruled by irrational rulers, or trapped in extensive civil strife. There is no rule of law applicable to either the ruling class or to the remainder of the population. The most prominent instances of despotisms include Bénin, Manchuria, and the Boerstaat.
The Communauté globale has not, as of yet, established a single global currency, like Earth Prime. However, there are only three major currencies, all of which are accepted almost everywhere in the Communauté globale. Exchange rates are usually fixed, with an approximate ratio of 1:3:12 between the Occidental franc, the Russian ruble, and the Japanese yen respectively. Off world currency is usually not accepted, though most banks will happily convert legitimate off world currencies into their Communauté globale counterparts.
Among the more prominent currencies are:
The Occidental Franc: Used throughout Europe and the Americas, the Occidental Franc is the most widely-used currency in the Communauté globale. At 13%, Inflation is relatively high, and the unofficial exchange rate with the ITA Pound and the Confederate dollar has been reported to be fluctuating widely. However, on the Communauté globale, the Occidental Franc is an excellent currency.
The Russian Ruble: Another of the three major currencies, the ruble is substantially more inflation-prone than the Occidental Franc, due in large part to the high rate of economic growth inside the Russian empire and its satellite states. Despite this, the Bank of Russia has backed the ruble with bimetallic script, and the ruble has been stabilizing.
The Japanese Yen: The yen is widely used throughout the Japanese Empire -- including the various settlement colonies in the North Pacific and Formosa -- and Japan's allies in mainland China. Though the yen briefly suffered hyperinflation in the 1980's, it has again achieved parity
The Indian Rupee: The Indian rupee is prototypical of the currencies of southern Asia and Africa, inasmuch as it is silver-backed and has rapidly changing unofficial exchange rates; the official exchange rate is 70 rupees per Occidental franc, but unofficial exchange rates vary from 80 to 110 rupees per franc.
Most other currencies in the Communauté globale -- including the Swiss franc, the Syrian rial, and the Béninois franc -- are not convertible into off-world currencies; holders of any of these currencies must first transfer them into Occidental francs, and then into the off-world currency of their choice, paying an additional transaction fee.
The Communauté globale has a reasonably large selection of accommodations, ranging from the famous Hôtel Du Regent in Paris to anyone of thousands of campgrounds located in the wild zones of the world. The following listing comprises only the most famous or the most common of these accommodations.
The best, rare on Prime, non-existent on some worlds. These hotels provide
memorable accommodations, with every luxury you could imagine.
L'Hôtel Du Regent (Paris): L'Hôtel Du Regent -- operated by the 1er Commune hôtelière du Paris, founded in 1878 -- is likely the most sumptuous hotel in all of the Communauté globale. Recently refurbished, Du Regent has been remade in the new Bruxelloise style, with all 40 stories -- 13 above ground, the remainder in the Ville souterraine -- filled with rooms individually furbished in the style of the pre-Revolutionary French court. The smaller apartments range from 300 to 450 square meters in size and are in the Ville souterraine, while the large apartments are found on the uppermost levels of the Du Regent and cover up to a thousand square meters. Regardless of the apartment, however, all include bars, holographic display terminals, free access to off-world media, a lounge, a bedroom, and a small collection of sculptures by some of the leading artists of the Communauté globale. The fees for apartments range from 150f to300f nightly, or 800f to 1100f weekly. The hotel offers easy access to the nearby exclusive Carré privé district of the Ville souterraine, where a carefully selected clientele -- including all guests at the Du Regent and their friends -- is free to enjoy a wide variety of shops, bars, cinemas, and the famous display hall of the 3eme Commune artistique de la France, renowned for its plastic arts and dramas. The Du Regent also offers a discreet escort service and monthly rates for most apartments.
Luxury hotels not as good as a 5 star but still very nice.
This is the luxury hotel
Rathaus (Berlin): Formerly the city hall of the Brandenburg capital of Berlin, upon the establishment of the Free State the Rathaus was converted into a luxury hotel. All apartments include private bedrooms, a sauna, large baths, and numerous other amenities.
Very comfortable
3eme Commune hôtelière: All apartments operated by this chain including a minimum of two comfortable rooms with access to private recreational facilities, including tennis courts and a swimming pool.
Economy comfort
Auberges Gaucho Inns: The Auberges Gaucho chain was founded by a Brasilian private corporation hoping to profit from the Occidental fascination with the gauchos of the south Brasilian plains. It offers full private washroom facilities -- including a private bath --, holographic display consoles coupled with full Réseau access, and free access to the Inn bar.
Economy
Basic 1 room accommodations Its a bed to yourself, a TV, and your own bathroom, safe clean and comfortable, with no frills.
19eme Commune hôtelière: Operated as a public-private consortium in most of the Occident and Russia, the 19eme Commune inns offer basic accommodations, including basic private washroom facilities and Réseau connections for an average nightly fee of 25f per night.
Super Economy - A safe place to sleep
Sleepmart: An import from Marketplace, Sleepmarts offer just one service: Sleep. It's a hostel level accommodation, with sterile, clean, and reasonably decent beds. Recently, some Radical Socialists have called for the nationalization of all Sleepmart facilities in the Communauté globale on the grounds that they are purposely undercutting the 19eme Commune hôtelière, but to date they have failed..
Tube-o-tels: Your basic Tube to sleep in, it's actually more comfortable than Sleepmart in some respects but its a bit claustrophobic. It's actually a Communauté Globale Japanese import for people who want safety and very low cost in a place to sleep. Especially common in the Japanese Empire but with regional operations in Korea, Russia, and the Occident.