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Plan your spring vacation now and see Europe in full bloom! With these great fares, you can melt away the long winter in style. Take in the culture, scenery and everything else Europe has to offer with fares starting at $649*.

Book by: Feb 9, 2012
Depart between: Apr 4 – May 17, 2012

New York to Dublin        from   $649*
New York to Krakow       from   $817*
Atlanta  to Budapest       from   $972*
Chicago to Prague           from  $845*
Chicago to Milan             from  $892*
Denver to Geneva            from  $990*
LAX  to Istanbul              from  $827*
LAX to Prague                  from  $992*
Seattle to Paris                 from  $980*
Seattle to Milan               from  $928*

* Round-trip including all taxes and fees. Weekend surcharges up to $60. To get these great bargains, read the fine print below, then contact your travel agent or Lufthansa Airlines

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I arrived in the Langhe region to visit the annual Alba White Truffle Festival. Located in a part of Italy’s Piedmont region, the Langhe is home to some of the most prized cooking ingredients on earth. White truffles, Carrú beef, and a variety of cheeses, such as, the Robiola Rocchetta, testun de fen, and Castelmagno cheeses are products of this region.

Some travelers that I met had accidentally stumbled upon the festival, whereas others had planned their visit months in advance. “We got married with the truffle festival in mind,” said Nadine Gordenev, who was with her husband Brian on their honeymoon. Piedmont produces many of Italy’s most popular egg pastas, including agnolotti, tajarin, and panzerotti; and its wines, with names like dolcetto, Barbaresco, Barolo, and barbera, are world-famous. For me, Alba and the towns that surround it—Barolo, Barbaresco, Bra—are culinary heaven.

I arrived in Alba during some of the heaviest rains in recent memory, and the Po River was threatening to flood its banks. The colors of the leaves in the vineyards were so brilliant that they looked like molten lava, but the pelting rain soon tore them to the ground. The truffle hunt—during which trained dogs paw the countryside looking for white truffles, some of which grow as much as a meter deep—had been canceled due to the rain , and because I didn’t feel like getting washed away in the river, I went straight to the Alba Truffle Festival.  You can read about another of my truffle hunting adventures here.

Two weeks prior to visiting Alba, I’d attended and written about the Zigante Truffle Festival  in Istria, Croatia.  Istria and Alba are the only two places on earth recognized for producing high quality white truffles. The white truffle perplexes scientists because it cannot be cultivated, and it only grows September-November. That white truffles stay fresh just seven to ten days makes them even more elusive, and when they appear on restaurant menus in the United States they are exceptionally expensive.

Wandering among the rows of truffle hunters, each seated behind glass cases full of white truffles, I was in search of good deals. Are white truffles more affordable if you buy them locally? I met with Stafano Cometti, who opened the Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo (the National Center for the Study of Truffles), a school—the first of its kind—dedicated to studying white truffles. He taught me that different truffles have different flavors, and that the flavors are determined by soil type as well as the type of tree under which the truffle grows. The larger and fresher the truffle, the more flavorful the truffle. At the fair, I found truffles that cost as little as 10€, but I noticed that they looked a little dried up, which is a sign of a lack of freshness. Fortunately, all of the truffles at the Alba Truffle Festival are examined by members of the Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo, and you can even get the experts to examine a truffle that you’ve bought. The prices of white truffles ranged from 10€ to almost 2,000€, and the next time I visit Alba during truffle season, I plan to rent an apartment and cook gigantic truffle feasts.

Besides white truffles, products showcasing white truffle essence were sold, which stay fresh longer than fresh white truffles. White truffle essence is not actually derived from white truffles, but it tastes similar and its flavors remain intact for months. There was fresh, truffle-stuffed agnolotti pasta, truffle sausage (raw samples of which were out of this world), white truffle cheeses, and white truffle honey. Wineries also set up stands, and you could buy a wine glass for eight euros and get unlimited tastes of all the wines. Entrance to the Alba Truffle Festival is two euros.

To get a taste of the Langhe’s traditional dishes, we attended the Saturday for Foodies event. I highly recommend it: For 15€, you get to learn about the local cuisine over a light lunch with wine. The first dish was the famous carne crudo, which features the area’s high quality beef. Literally translated as “raw meat,” carne crudo is a simple dish of carefully chopped or ground beef that is lightly seasoned. I was served three types of carne crudo: one with salt, pepper, olive oil, and garlic; one with salt, pepper, olive oil, and Parmesan shavings; and one with salt and hazelnut oil. Each crudo’s beef had been cut differently; the courser crudo showed the meat’s inherent texture whereas the more finely ground crudo revealed the beef’s sweetness. The crudo paired perfectly with the 2009 Rivetto Dolcetto D’Alba “Ercolino.”

I tried Alba’s fresh white truffles at two restaurants. Most restaurants offer either truffle tasting menus or the option to purchase truffle by the gram and add it to any dish. Most restaurants charge around five euros a gram. At La Piola restaurant, our waiter, Andrea Canaparo, suggested a minimum of three grams of fresh white truffle for a plate of pasta. If you want to taste truffle but don’t want to break the bank, I recommend ordering fried eggs—a ubiquitous menu item thanks to its ability to showcase truffle flavor—with two grams of fresh white truffle. The entire dish should cost around 16€.

La Piola restaurant is located in Alba’s main piazza, Piazza Risorgimento. I tried my first Albese white truffle over Tajarin pasta with salt and butter. Tajarin is a very eggy pasta cut into fine strips; it’s the perfect vehicle for fresh white truffle. The dish’s aroma was buttery and slightly mushroomy, and the heat brought out the flavor of the truffle. The dish paired excellently with the 2008 Ceretto Barbaresco Asij: the acidity and tannins were soft enough to let the truffle shine, and I tasted red fruit, cedar, and baking spices.

I had my second truffle experience at Il Vigneto restaurant, which is located in a farmhouse outside of Roddi (a 15-minute drive from Alba). Perched on a hill, the restaurant comes with astonishing views of the rolling, grapevine-covered hills (Roddi is just one town over from Barolo after all). The restaurant’s décor was youthful but refined, like a farmhouse meets a lounge in Milan. Here, white truffle was also served over Tajarin with salt and butter, but the flavor of the white truffle was strikingly different. Found on the Il Vigneto grounds, the white truffle was much more garlicy and at times I thought I tasted unsweetened chocolate with cinnamon, but that sounds too fantastic to be possible. Perhaps it was the trippy, ambient music playing in the dining room. The dish was finished with olive oil, which spread the truffle aroma even more. After eating at Il Vigneto I realized how different each truffle can be: this is something white truffle essence cannot replicate.

In my next article I head to the southern Italian region of Puglia. Parts of Puglia are just 69 miles from Albania, and ferries run direction to Dubrovnik, Croatia, from the Pugliese cities of Bari and Brindisi. This will complete my circumnavigation of the Adriatic Sea and all of its flavors.

Alba Hotel Recommendation

Hotel Langhe  – $$$
This modern hotel is located one mile from Alba’s center, making for a peaceful stay. As if the babbling brook that runs behind the hotel weren’t enough, the owners go out of their way to make sure their guests feel at home. The rooms are artfully decorated; some have balconies. The included breakfast is hearty, the 15-minute walk to the town center is pleasant.
View More photos
Strada Profonda, 21

Restaurant Recommendations in and Near Alba

 La Piola  – $$$
Bustling and professional, La Piola provides an excellent selection of traditional dishes. Antipasti begin at six euros, primo at twelve, wine by the bottle at fourteen, and fresh white truffle is sold for five euros a gram. This is a good place to taste white truffle and get to know the local cuisine; the preparation of the dishes is well executed.
Piazza Risorgimento, 4

Vincafe – $-$$
Thanks to Vincafe, it’s possible to find a good, cheap meal in Alba. Upon entering, you’ll see an unpretentious café, but continue upstairs to find a modern dining room. Dishes tend to run a few euros less than typical, and there’s no coperto (cover charge). The pastas are very good, and the list of wines by the glass is enormous.
Via Vittorio Emanuele, 12

Osteria Dell’Arco – $$$
You’ll have to walk through a courtyard off of Piazza Savona to find this restaurant, which serves inspired local dishes in Slow Food style. Osteria Dell’Arco seems to interpret Slow Food cuisine as food that is simple, seasonal, and creative. Expect to be surprised by familiar flavors. The wine list is extensive and there are many good, inexpensive bottles.
Piazza Savona, 5

Il Vigneto  – $$$
Il Vigneto provides a very special experience. Located in the middle of the countryside, the restaurant manages to combine the iconic Italian farmhouse with urban chic. Vaulted brick ceilings meet recessed lighting and designer furniture. All of it combines to create an atmosphere like no other, which is especially ideal if you’re ordering a once-in-a-lifetime meal of truffles. The plates are beautifully arranged. The homemade Tajarin that I had was perfectly cooked. Don’t miss the “Gianduia” Chocolate Mousse, which comes with a playful line of pop-rocks on the side.
Localita Ravinali, 19/20
Roddi d’Alba

Agriturismo Dindina  – $$$$
This is the type of place where you absolutely need to make a reservation: the chef only buys enough food to cover the numbers in the books. Expect authentic Lombardy cuisine cooked as your Lombard mother would cook it. Be warned, many of the dishes will include the traditional fish sauces, such as tonnato sauce and bagna cauda. There are no menus, but there will be at least two options for each course. A complete, four-course meal costs 30 euros before wine.
Via Umberto I
Neviglie

Asso di Quadri Pizzeria – $
Believe it or not, I had one of the best pizzas ever at this little pizzeria in Neviglie (about a 15-minute drive from Alba). If you like pizza like they make it in Naples, check out Asso di Quadri.
Via Mango, 7
Neviglie

Written by Mattie Bamman for EuropeUpClose.com

 

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Tags: alba, Piedmont

Hungary is one of those particularly unique countries in Europe – despite being landlocked and sharing borders with seven other countries, it’s developed and maintained a quite distinct language and culture. Hungarian is well-known to be one of the most difficult languages in Europe, but fortunately plenty of Hungarians speak a little English and you don’t need to learn the language to enjoy a trip there. I found it a particularly welcoming country with friendly, helpful locals, and would love to go back there again in the future.If you’re considering a trip, here are our travel tips for what to do in Hungary

Admire Lake Balaton

When I lived in Slovakia, many of my local friends told me I should take a trip to Lake Balaton, one of their most popular holiday destinations. Lake Balaton is the biggest lake in Central Europe and there are numerous villages on its edges catering to tourists – tiny Tihany with its lovely Benedictine Abbey was one of my favourites.

Lake Balaton on a stormy day by Amanda Kendle

Enjoy History in Pécs

Down towards the Croatian border, the town of Pecs is a popular destination in Hungary for its cultural and historical sites – it was even elected one of Europe’s Capitals of Culture for 2010.

Explore the Danube in Budapest

One of the highlights of Budapest and its surrounds is taking a cruise on the Danube River. You can even start way up in Germany and cruise down to Hungary if you want. Andy recommended the cruise along the Danube as a unique way to see the most beautiful spots of Budapest.

River Danube, Budapest by Amanda Kendle

Be Scared at the House of Terror, Budapest

One of the most popular museums in Hungary, the House of Terror in Budapest has exhibits explaining the various occupations of Hungary over the years and an explanation of the fascist and communist times the country has experienced.

Hike in Hungary

Many visitors to Hungary go there to follow some of the good hiking trails through the mountains. There’s no one best place, but some of the popular mountain ranges include the Mátra, Zemplén, and Bükk ranges, particularly in the summer season of course.

Sopron

Sopron in the west of Hungary is full of heritage buildings from the medieval era and onwards, and some of its highlights are the  Firewatch Tower, Storno House and the Gothic Goat Church.

Sopron by Emmanuel Dyan

Keszthely

Keszthely is one of the major resort towns near Lake Balaton and I personally found it the calmest and nicest. It includes a large palace but seems to have a relaxed atmosphere and good access to the lake and lake-based activities.

Take a Dip in the Heviz Baths

One of my personal highlights of Hungary was swimming at the Heviz Baths in the north-west. The thermally-heated water is warm all year round and apparently the fact that it’s slightly radioactive is good for our health? I’m not sure how that works but the setting is gorgeous so I highly recommend it!

Heviz Baths by Amanda Kendle

Dance to traditional music in Resck

Vineyards and wine are popular tourist attractions in Hungary, and Jeremy recommends the small town of Resck for a spot of wine tasting and in particular the Kohari Prince winery where there’s also musical entertainment and dancing offer.

Violinist at the Kohari Prince winery in Resck by Jeremy Branham

Party at Siofok

One of the resort towns around Lake Balaton, Siofok is famous as a summer destination for young people because it’s home to numerous nightclubs. I haven’t been there myself but have heard from party-loving friends that it’s heaps of fun!

Explore Baradla Cave

The Baradla Cave (and several more caves) in the Aggtelek National Park in northeastern Hungary is a great destination for travellers. These are World Heritage listed caves and the Baradla Cave is famous for being the largest stalactite cave in Europe.

Baradla Cave by rover0

Get regal at Godollo Castle

The Godollo Castle is an easy half-day trip from Budapest, and it’s become famous because it was once the summer residence of the famous Sisi! It features an impressive Empress Elisabeth exhibition devoted to her and is also a beautiful building in its own right.

Get into the groove at the Sziget Festival

One of Europe’s largest music festivals is the Sziget Festival, held every August in Budapest, on an island in the Danube. It runs for an entire week and at least half of the festival attendees come from outside Hungary; in the past the line-up has included famous singers and bands including Prince, Iron Maiden, REM and Lily Allen.

See Double at Komarom

If you travel between Bratislava and Budapest by train, then you are bound to stop in the twin towns of Komarno (on the Slovak side) and Komarom (on the Hungarian side). I enjoyed a day trip here and thoroughly recommend both sides of the border for an interesting cultural comparison.

Komarno by Amanda Kendle

Sample Wine in Resck

Wine tasting is an essential part of your trip to Hungary and the country has a long history of wine making following particular Hungarian traditions. Whichever part of the country you visit you will probably stumble across a wine making region (there are two dozen of them) but if you’re keen, try the areas around Sopron, Eger and in particular Tokaj.

 Szeged

If you’re keen on checking out the cities of Hungary then you’ll need to add its second-largest city, Szeged, to your list. It’s an interesting university town (there are three different universities there) and because it was destroyed by a flood in 1879 it was completely replanned and rebuilt.

Experience the Gellert Baths

Thermal baths are a fantastic part of visiting Hungary and while you’re in Budapest, you shouldn’t miss the Gellert Baths. Guide books sometimes liken this to swimming in a cathedral and I had a great experience there and must agree!

Gellert Baths by Amanda Kendle

Eger

Eger is another fantastic Hungarian city and it’s a good place to visit if you’re keen on historical monuments – its most famous being a 14-sided minaret.

Take time to reflect at the Gulag labor camps and Resck memorial

To explore one of the more sombre times in Hungarian history, Jeremy suggests the Gulag labor camps and Resck memorial are worth a visit. This area was home to some of the harshest camps operated by Stalin.

Take a Dip at the Szechenyi Bath

On a lighter note, another well-known thermal bath and set of pools can be found at the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest. I’ve not made it there yet but I have been keen to go ever since I owned a guidebook with a picture of men playing chess while in the water at these baths – looks like great relaxing fun!

Szechenyi Baths by PharPhoto

 See the Great Plains at Puszta

In the eastern half of Hungary, the Great Plains (centred around the Hortobágy National Park) is a World Heritage-listed area and is quite different to other parts of Hungary. It’s a place worth exploring for its unique folklore and scenery, especially in the national park where the steppe is relatively untouched.

Try Hungarian paprika

If you have even vaguely foodie interests, then you will be impressed by the paprika of Hungary. In Hungary paprika means not just the ground spice we use in cooking but the actual capsicum or pepper it’s obtained from and you will find them everywhere!

Paprika near Lake Balaton by Amanda Kendle

Visit the former capital of Esztergom

Not too far north of Budapest, the city of Esztergom was once the capital of Hungary and today boasts several interesting attractions including the largest cathedral in the country and a particularly extensive Museum of Christian Art.

Warm up at Fisherman’s Bastion

In Budapest, overlooking the Danube, the Fisherman’s Bastion is a wonderful spot on the “Buda” side of the city. You can walk along the top of the walls (it joins seven towers) or if you’re like me, enjoy a hot drink inside the Bastion.

Fisherman’s Bastion by Amanda Kendle

Go back to WW2 at the Hospital in the Rock

Relatively newly opened to the public, the Hospital in the Rock is part of the caves of Castle Hill in Budapest, and you can now enter some of the areas used during the siege of Budapest during the second World War.

Your Hungary tips

Have you been to Hungary, or heard of a great place to visit there? Please let us know your tips for what to do in Hungary in the comments.

25 Things To Do in Hungary

Tips on the what to do in Europe. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.

Tags: Albania, Hungary, Travel Tips

Budapest is a bargain for  travelers: it is the new Prague. Western travelers are discovering this exciting city, and prices are still much lower than in Western Europe’s top cities.

Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti summed up Budapest beautifully when he once said, “If you come from Paris to Budapest you think you are in Moscow. If you come from Moscow to Budapest, you think you are in Paris.”

Caught midway between Western and Eastern Europe, where the Carpathian basin meets the mountains and plains of central Hungary, the two ancient towns of Buda and Pest are divided by the wide blue Danube River. United into one city in 1873, Budapest displays a fascinating combination of east and west cultures. It’s visible everywhere in this vibrant city: In the Gothic architecture of its superb Houses of Parliament and restored Renaissance cathedrals and basilica; in ancient castles; and the Turkish baths strewn around the city like elaborate mosaic oases of heated water.

It’s easy to be entranced by the contrasts between old and new Budapest. Polite young hawkers standing on street corners, dressed in jeans and sweat tops bearing the names of U.S. Universities, try to talk you into taking their bus tour, over the din of the busy traffic-packed streets. Coffee shops and Izod and Cartier storefronts announce the 21^st century in modern shopping centers and street malls. Yet, around the corner you stumble across a Basilica echoing with Latin chants or gaze across the wide Danube to the old historic town’s austere, squat Buda Castle just as its citizens did in the 14^th century.

A great way to start your tour of Budapest is by soaking in its turbulent history at the Hungarian National Museum. Celts, Romans, Magyars, Turks, the Habsburgs, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union have invaded Budapest at one time or another. Stroll through the superb galleries in this neoclassical building, constructed between 1837 and 1846, as you look at the intriguing artifacts of these epochs, and relish in Hungary’s happy ending when it was declared a Republic on October 23, 1989 with the abrupt collapse of communism.

The Ethnographic Museum is well worth visiting for its marvelous collection of historical and cultural artifacts, its displays crammed with a huge variety of Bric-a-brac (192,000 objects!) dating from the town’s early settlements in the Bronze Age around 2000 B.C. You walk through time as each gallery brings you closer to contemporary society. But the main reason you should visit this museum is to admire the sheer magnificence of the museum’s marble entry hall. Originally the royal court or Palace of Justice, built in 1893-6, the hall’s breathtaking blend of Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical architecture is seen in its regal staircases, Corinthian columns, and inlaid floor tiles. It’s easy to see why it has been the backdrop of many a renaissance movie.

The nearby Houses of Parliament (built 1885-1904) is equally stunning, with a 96-meter high red dome, Neo-Gothic and Baroque architecture, and decorated with 233 statues, 27 gates, 10 courtyards, and 691 rooms. The line for the tour is however, formidable, and you might be better off simply walking around the outside.

Castle Hill overlooks Budapest like a majestic emperor, and you’ll easily spend a day or two exploring its eclectic museums, Sandor Palace, and Buda Castle (which houses the Hungarian National Gallery) in this perfectly maintained medieval town, complete with cobblestone roads. But, start your tour of the Castle District from Batthany Square down beside the Danube and walk a mile up the steep hill through the suburbs of Buda to get a feel for how the locals live.

Two spectacular sights within a stone’s throw of each other on Castle Hill’s picturesque Holy Trinity Square are the renowned Matyas Church, with an unforgettable mosaic tiled roof, and Fisherman’s Bastion, the section of the medieval wall manned by the Fisherman’s Guild, with spiked turrets looking like something from a fairy tale.

Budapest’s bustling Central market is a cultural hodge-podge of souvenir shops, food stalls, and delis, offering a crash course in Hungarian cuisine. I tried a progressive meal of Hungarian sausage, salami, cheeses, hams, savory pastries and goulash, all with varying amounts of the ubiquitous spicy red Hungarian paprika mixed in, with results from mildly appetizing to mouth burning. Take a moment to admire the structural steel girder architecture in this massive hall. If it looks vaguely familiar, it’s because it was designed by Gustav Eiffel of the Paris Tower fame.

To do justice to Budapest, a solid week of sightseeing is recommended. There’s far more in the town than can be compressed into a sound bite, but other must-dos include: crossing the Danube and Chain Bridge, taking the waters at any of Budapest’s renowned baths, visiting through St. Stephen’s Basilica, walking through Hero’s Square and the nearby Szechenyi Baths, window shopping along the Vaci Street pedestrian mall, and strolling through the town’s many fine museums.

You’ll find the Hungarians very eager to show you their city, with that sort of strong pride so evident in a country that has only recently gained its political and cultural freedom.

Visiting Budapest is like playing with Hungarian Erno Rubik’s famous Cube of the same name. Every time you turn one way or the other, dozens of intriguing scenic combinations confront you. Do I go this way to a history museum or that way to visit a Turkish bath; this way to a palace or that way to a historic town perched atop a hill? Whatever way you choose, Budapest will thrill you. And now is the time to visit, while its tourist prices are still very reasonable.

 Written by By Roy Stevenson for EuropeUpClose.com

Roy Stevenson is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Seattle, Washington. To view more of Roy’s  travel articles go to www.Roy-Stevenson.com

 

 

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Just a half hour west of Riga is Latvia’s new Wellness Paradise: Jurmala, the seaside resort town whose name translates to … seaside. What Jurmala may lack in creativity it makes up for in it’s refreshing, natural beauty.

Stretching along the Baltic Sea’s east coast, Jurmala features 33 kilometers of white sand and a line of forest to hedge against any development that would interrupt the pristine shore. Latvia understood long ago what a resource an unspoiled shoreline could be, and the law requires any development to take place inland, on the other side of the tree line.

History of Jurmala

So far, the peak of Jurmala’s popularity occured during the Soviet era, when the Baltic coast was a favorite holiday retreat for the Communist Party’s political elites. Khrushchev, in particular, was a fan of what was then the Soviet Union’s west coast.

Since independence, Jurmala has struggled to create an identity outside of the Baltics and Russia, though tourist numbers have yet to reach the peak that the mid-20th century brought. This is great news for anyone who enjoys uncrowded, undeveloped beaches; and the air is so fresh you can smell the sea salt and pine as you walk around Jurmala.

The natural bay keeps the water calm, and the water itself is quite shallow a way’s out from the shore, so it’s perfect for frolicking kids. Please note, though, that the Baltic Sea is never, ever warm. This is a good thing on those days when the temperature cracks 30C (86 Fahrenheit) and everyone in Riga needs to cool off.

Jurmala: A World-Class Spa Destination

The crisp, refreshing air and unspoiled natural setting has also contributed to making Jurmala home to many sanatoriums, wellness facilities, and health retreats. Today, the character and essential property of the area has led to a boom in health spas.

The spas in Jurmala are innovative, comprehensive and — above all — really, really cheap by European standards. Here are a couple of examples:
1. The day spa at Hotel Jurmala offers scores of treatment options, from an hour-long skin treatment with chocolate (about $60) to 80-minute buckwheat massages (about $80).

2. The spa at the Baltic Beach Hotel, a Soviet architectural marvel in its own right, offers some truly adventurous treatments such as a weightless-state bed massage with Dead Sea mud (about $60) and salt-room therapy (about $10).

Getting To Jurmala

By Car
You can take the A10 west out of Riga and be in Jurmala within a half hour. Please note that all cars entering Jurmala must stop to purchase a ticket for 1 Lat.

By Rail
If you are going to Jurmala by train, there is a trick to it. Jurmala technically comprises 13 different towns, and each has its own stop on the line. The two most trafficked stops are the Majori stop and the Dzintari stop. Further stops offer more secluded beaches. Have a look at this map for more information.

When you buy the ticket at the station, you have to tell the cashier which stop you’re going to. If you are not sure, probably take the train to Majori; that’s where most of the hotels and businesses are located, and it’s the most navigable stop after stepping off the train. Double-check the direction of the train (the Jurmala trains go in the direction of either Tukums or Dubulti), and find the corresponding platform. The train to Majori takes 30 minutes flat.

Jurmala’s Other Attractions

Dzintari Concert Hall
This is a great outdoor concert hall located just behind the tree line at the Dzintari stop. In the summer, Jurmala hosts some really fantastic festivals, operas and concerts. If you go, you can check the schedule here.

Livu Aquapark
The indoor waterpark just inside the city boundary is a great place to take your kids.

It’s also a great place to take yourself. On the adult side of the building, there are multiple saunas — of varying drynesses and temperatures — a few hot tubs and a pool bar with an adjacent bubble massager. A drink with an umbrella in it can be had for about $5. If you are ever in Latvia in January, you will understand what an important resource Livu Aquapark is.

Written by Eric Barrier for EuropeUpClose.com

 

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Tags: Jurmala

If you want to come and visit Latin America, for sure you are interested in ancient cultures, amazing nature and you also want to be a responsible Traveler that does not cause any harm. Here are some tips; please follow the following guidelines both before and during your visit. By doing this you can be a [...]

Tags: Travel Tips

When deciding where to stay in Venice, its important to know something about the differences between it’s many neighborhoods. Should you stay near the main piazza, Piazza San Marco, or would you prefer to stay nearer to the train station, eliminating the otherwise long walk or water taxi ride to your hotel? Venice’s picturesque alleyways can become a confusing labyrinth, even with a good map, and wheelie bags won’t be of much help going up and down the bridges, which are comprised of steps rather than smooth ascents. In short, Venice is unlike any other city in the world, and this article will help you prepare for the tricks it has up its sleeve. Here are a few tips and hotel recommendations to help you decide where to stay in Venice.

The main neighborhoods in Venice are Cannaregio, Santa Croce, San Polo, Dorsoduro, San Marco, Castello, and the island of Giudecca; and good accommodations can be found in all of them. Venice’s most important sights are found in the San Marco neighborhood, and the San Marco neighborhood is a great place to stay provided that you are prepared to embark on the adventurous task of getting there. The easiest way is to take a water taxi, which will drop you off within steps of your hotel and which will cost around 60 euros each way. Otherwise take an ACTV-operated vaporetto, which is a waterbus that will cost around six euro. Be forewarned that the vaporetto might not stop near your hotel. The only other way to Piazza San Marco is to walk, which takes roughly an hour, whether arriving to Venice by ferry, bus, train, or car, and is not recommended.

If you don’t want to deal with Venice’s public transportation, I recommend staying closer to the Santa Lucia train station or Piazzale Roma. However, this will put you about a 45-minute walk from the sights. Here are a few more tips to help you choose where to stay in Venice:

•  The island of Giudecca is home to many of Venice’s most luxurious hotels, and a ferry ride from Giudecca to Piazza San Marco takes roughly 10 minutes.
• Venice’s more residential neighborhoods include Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, Castello, and Santa Croce.
• Venice Mestre is the mainland portion of the city of Venice. Getting to Venice’s important sights from the Mestre neighborhood is very time-consuming and, therefore, not recommended for hotel accomodations.
• Obtain a map of the city before arriving so you can plan the route to your hotel.
• The tourist offices do not provide maps for free, and it is definitely worth purchasing one to help you get around.
• Keep your hotel’s phone number on hand in case you get lost on your way.

5-Star Hotels in Venice

San Clemente Palace Hotel & Resort
Looking for a really special hotel? This hotel comes with a private island: the island of San Clemente. An exclusive 5-star luxury hotel, it offers rooms that are exceptionally large and lavishly decorated. A one-time monastery, the hotel’s architecture is stunning, and white rabbits populate the grounds. Shuttle motor boats run regularly to the center of Venice and take around 15 minutes.
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Luna Hotel Baglioni
Located in a Venetian palace near the sight-filled Piazza San Marco, this hotel comes with great views of the Grand Canal, and its splendid rooms feature fine draperies, silk fabrics, and hand-blown Venetian glass chandeliers, as well as high speed WiFi. The concierge is fully prepared to help visitors plan trips and activities around Venice, including boat trips that leave from the hotel’s private dock. The staff is known for providing fantastic service.
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4-Star Hotels in Venice

Al Ponte Antico Hotel
Located in the San Polo neighborhood near the Rialto Bridge, this hotel offers spacious rooms that are so superbly decorated you’ll feel like Venetian royalty. Breakfast is included and eggs and crepes are made to order. For those with high standards while traveling on a budget, this hotel is a very good value. Enjoy its many amenities, including free WiFi, and don’t hesitate to ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the Grand Canal.
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Hotel Canal Grande
This hotel is in the vicinity of the train station on a private street next to the Grand Canal. All rooms come with safes, WiFi, satellite TV, and air conditioning. Rooms are decorated with golden framed mirrors, traditional furniture, and Murano glass. Prices are very competitive considering the quality of the rooms and service.
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Aqua Palace Hotel
Located in the Castello neighborhood, this hotel is a short walk from either the Rialto Bridge or Piazza San Marco. Guests are welcomed in a lobby set up to look like a classic Venetian living room. Rooms are spacious and come with WiFi, a mini bar, and traditional décor. Two rooms are handicap accessible. The hotel staff is particularly friendly and helpful.
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3-Star Hotels in Venice

Hotel Antiche Figure
This is a wonderful hotel for the money. The Hotel Antiche Figure provides high standards of service and quality. Easy to reach, it is located right across the Grand Canal from the train station. Guest rooms are recently remodeled in the Venetian style and free WiFi is available. The restaurant is also known for its great food. If sensitive to noise, ask for a room off of the Grand Canal.
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Hotel Ca’ Dogaressa
Located in the Cannaregio neighborhood on the Cannaregio Canal, this hotel gets you away from the tourists and welcomes you to Venice’s Jewish Ghetto neighborhood, which is known for its traditional restaurants. The staff excels at making you feel at home, and every room has a marble bathroom, air conditioning, and ADSL internet access. If you’re traveling without a computer, the hotel will even provide one for you.
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 Albergo San Marco
This 3-star hotel is close to Piazza San Mark and provides some of the best rates in the area. The rooms include a mini bar, WiFi, and flat screen TVs. If you’re traveling alone, the economy rooms are specifically designed for solo travelers. A continental breakfast is included.
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Budget Hotels in Venice

Hotel al Ponte Mocenigo
Another boutique hotel, this one is located just steps away from a vaporetto stop in the Santa Croce neighborhood. All ten rooms are unique and feature Venetian décor. The staff is professional and friendly. Walking to Piazza San Marco will take around 30-45 minutes. Free WiFi.
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Hotel Alloggi Serena
A great option for budget travelers, this boutique hotel has small rooms artfully decorated in typical Venetian style. The staff, while sometimes hard to track down, is very friendly and happy to answer questions. Located in the Santa Croce neighborhood, breakfast and WiFi are included.
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Written by Mattie Bamman for EuropeUpClose.com

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Tags: Venice

Bulgaria is a beautiful country in Eastern Europe full of art, culture, history, and fun. Prehistoric cultures in the area date all the way back to the Neolithic Period, and some of that history can still be seen today. There are also various UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the area, helping to make it a must-see destination on anyone’s travel bucket list. To help you plan your trip, here are my travel tips for what to do in Bulgaria.

Visit the Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was discovered in 1982 outside the village of Sveshtari. It dates back to the 3rd Century BC and contains unique decor architecture, with murals and half-human and half-vegetable female figures carved into the walls,  the only of its kind known in the Thracian region. A visit to this site will give you insight into the ancient Getae tribes, a group of Thracian people believed to be in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean of the ancient world.

Thracian Tomb by Klearchos Kapoutsis

Explore the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo

Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rock-Hewn churches reside in the village of Ivanovo and in the valley of the Roussenenski Lom River. A visit here will give you the chance to explore an entire community of rock-hewn churches, monasteries, chapels, and cells. From the 1220′s to the 17th century, monks inhabited the caves around the area, and were actually the ones to create this amazing site. At one time, there existed about 40 churches and over 300 other religious rock-hewn buildings. Today, there are five churches for you to enjoy, all with impressive frescoes and unbelievable history.

Rock-Hewn Churches by Klearchos Kapoutsis

Orpheus’ Sanctuary

Also known as the Thracian Sanctuary, this site is located near Tatul Village and is an enormous rock structure dating back to the end of the 5th and beginning of the 4th century BC. Surrounding it is a rock pyramid and tombs that date back to the 13th to 11th centuries BC. During excavations of the site, myriad religious artifacts were found like figures of the Sun God, clay human idols, models of vessels, and bronze items. Moreover, circular formations of clay alters used to make sacrifices were also discovered. Visitors can visit the site today and should, as in 2011 it was named one of the 10 Wonders of Bulgaria.

Orpheus’ Sanctuary by Klearchos Kapoutsis

Hike Around Pirin National Park

Pirin National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and encompasses an area of about 150 square miles. Visitors are immersed in unique limestone mountain landscapes, over 70 glacial lakes, caves, waterfalls, alpine meadows, and lush forests. There are also an array of animals that inhabit the area, like brown bears, grey wolves, eagles, owls, wild cats, badgers, otters, and more.

Pirin National Park by frans.sellies

Visit the Dzhendema Reserve

The Dzhendema Reserve, located in Stara planina (Old Mountain), is made up of the catchment area of the Bayala River, the upper part of the Tundzha River, and the gorge of the Tazha River. It is the biggest reserve in the Central Balkan National Park territory and is also considered a biosphere. The name “Dzhendema” literally means “hell”, which is no surprise as there are many steep gullies, dark forests, and unpredictable weather. Although the area is rough, it is also undeniably beautiful, especially with the array of unique and wild flora and fauna, and visitors can enjoy picturesque panoramic views.

Dzhendema Reserve by Evgeni Karalamov

Spend Some Time in the Ancient City of Nessebar

Visit this city for the perfect combination of history and present, as Nessebar has both an ancient area and a modern area. The ancient area contains millennia-old history with preserved monuments like fortress walls from Roman Times and the Middle Ages, old Byzantine churches, and antique houses. In fact, there is so much history in Nessebar that the area was actually named a Museum City in 1956.

Nessebar by Moty@BG

Peruse the Yambol Historical Museum

The Yambol Historical Museum is located in the center of town in Yambol, Bulgaria. Established in 1952, today the museum features 93,000 historical, cultural, and artistic exhibits. Several departments make up the museum, including Prehistory, Antiquity, Middle Ages, National Revival, Modern History, Contemporary History, Ethnography, and Numismatics. See archeological treasures, peruse traditional costume, and learn about local crafts, customs, and beliefs.

Yambol Historical Museum by vintagedept

Explore the Dragoman Marshland

Dragoman Marshland is located in close proximity to Dragoman (to get there you enter the town and turn at the road for the city of Godech). It is the biggest karst swamp in Bulgaria and encompasses an area of about 480 football fields. The Dragoman Marshland is inhabited by much flora and fauna, including 226 bird species, and plants like reed, threadworm, rush, and bulrush. One really unique plant in the area are the insectivorous plants that act as floating predators without roots. For those who want historical and ecological information, a visitor center offers interactive exhibitions and educations materials.

Lay Out on Sunny Beach

Sunny Beach is the biggest beach resort in Bulgaria and is situated on the southern side of the Bulgarian Black Sea Riviera. The beach faces east and blends together with the mountains in the north. This is also one of the few places left on the coast of the Black Sea where you can still find natural sand dunes, and rare plants varieties are preserved within these formations. When you’re done getting tan and swimming, shopping, restaurants, sports, and nightlife can all be enjoyed in the area.

Sunny Beach by Star Tour

Visit

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is located in Sofia and is a Bulgarian Orthodox church. It is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox churches in the world and can hold about 10,000 people inside. Construction for the cathedral began in 1882, and today visitors can enjoy beautiful features like colorful Italian marble interiors, a temple 12 giant bells, a gold plated dome, and furnishings made with luxury materials. Along with the architecture and design, visitors can also peruse ancient relics of Nevsky himself and a museum and art gallery inside the crypt.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral by David&Bonnie

Click here to find hotel deals in Bulgaria

10 Things To Do in Bulgaria

Tips on the what to do in Europe. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.

Tags: Bulgaria, Travel Tips

If you want to beat airline hand luggage restrictions, then wearing a Rufus Roo jacket could be the solution. While the six-pocket jacket isn’t going to win any fashion awards, the manufacturers say it can hold up to 10kg of luggage. Presently many airlines have a maximum size for hand luggage and a 1okg weight restriction (except easyJet who have no weight limit). If you want to take a bit more swag but not pay up for hold luggage, then pocket stuffing a Rufus Roo jacket could allow you to take more items for free.

Me taking a beach towel from a Rufus Roo jacket pocket

I already practise pocket stuffing by putting my computer leads, mobile phone charger and mobile phone in my (everyday) jacket pockets.  I also wear my heaviest clothes & shoes and tie at least one jumper around my waist. However a Rufus Roo jacket would greatly increase my carrying capacity.

Cost

I found a black Rufus Roo jacket in adult large size for £26 post free on the Amazon site. However all other adult sizes and colours cost £30, again post free.  The price is also £30 on the Rufus Roo site but there’s an additional £3.50 charge for postage and packing. However there was a special offer on the Rufus Roo site to save £10 if you bought two jackets. Therefore it could be cheaper to buy two jackets from the Rufus Roo site, as the total cost would be £53.50 (it still costs £3.50 for P&P for two jackets), as opposed to £54 on Amazon. You’d also have more choice of colours and sizes by ordering on the Rufus Roo site.

Bear in mind that Ryanair currently charge £40/40 Euro at the boarding gate if your one piece of cabin luggage exceeds their size or weight limit.

My Review

The large size was big enough for either my husband or me. I managed to fit a netbook (small laptop), a beach towel, 6 tops (T-shirts), a pair of sandals and charging leads for my phone and netbook into the four large pockets. The smaller pockets at the front were handy for my passport, purse and mobile phones. The generous arm holes mean that you can wear the jacket as a shoulder bag until you reach the boarding gate.

You can see all my Rufus Roo photos on Flickr.

I’ll be roadtesting the Rufus Roo Jacket on my next flight to see if I can get around the airlines hand luggage restrictions.

Disclosure

This post is based on my own personal experience and research, be sure to check the hand luggage restrictions with the airline before you fly. I will earn a commission if you purchase a Rufus Roo jacket through the links on this post.

Beat Airline Hand Luggage Restrictions with Rufus Roo

Tips on the what to do in Europe. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.

Tags: Airlines & Airports, How to Save on Travel

If you want to do the famous inca Trail in Peru, you need to know you have to book this between 2 – 4 month before arrival, according to the time of year. If you don’t, you are likely to discover that the Inca Trail Trek is completely sold out by the time you want [...]

Tags: Tourism Highlights and Curiosities!!, Traveller Testimonials and Tours