Mini Travel Guides

Travel Stuff We Love

The folks at Guerrilla Packs sent us their Airporter backpack to try out; and we did. We were thoroughly impressed with this pack that retails for $129. As a matter of fact their motto is “Great adventure products don’t have to cost $200!” So, all of their quality products are reasonably priced. Overall this is a exceptionally well made and affordable travel backpack with features galore. It’s the perfect size. Big enough to fit the things you need and small enough to stow as a carry on. It’s also very comfortable with adjustable straps and waist support.

Travel Clothes Care
The One-Care company (the folks who bring you Tide and Downey) sent us a great little travel kit to review. The kit included some highly useful little items that could make your travels easier. For instance, the Dryel on-the-go stain remover is just the ticket for those spill and stain events. With limited wardrobe changes on a trip, it is great to have a handy stain-remover. I wish I’d have had it when I dripped a gelato down the front of my dress last summer in Nice. I also tried out their  travel-size Bounce lint roller, and a Downey wrinkle release spray. This spray removes wrinkles from clothes that have been jam-packed in your suitcase. I really liked the Tide travel laundry bag. What a concept! This bag will absorb odors, and resist bacteria growth on the dirty clothes you store. All these items comply with TSA carry-on requirements.

Travel Websites We Love

Here are a few websites we like and think that you may enjoy as well.

Backpackmojo is a clever website that lets you build your own travel guide and then lets you publish it. The process is pretty user friendly, and you’ll be shepherded through the all the steps in developing your guide. Once you have built your guide, you can even sell copies of your little masterpiece. To help plan your next trip, you can  browse itineraries developed by other travelers. Here is a little video that tells you more about the site.

Spotted by Locals
This website, developed by a couple in Amsterdam, Sanne and Bart van Poll, connects travelers with locals who really know the city they write about. These locals write travel tips for their city that help travelers immerse themselves in the culture of that city. When visitors experience cities the local way, they learn about the culture and customs of the inhabitants. The van Polls are convinced that a better understanding of different cultures will make the world a better place, and we agree.

 Written by Terri Fogarty for EuropeUpClose.com

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2. What’s on Your Europe Travel Checklist? ...
3. Download Free Travel Secrets E-Book, and Help Get Clean Water ...

People often ask me: How do you find a long-term vacation rental in Europe? The short answer: Just show up. This requires risking failure, and you might want to hear my story before beginning your search.

My first trip to Italy was completely unplanned, yet after a few weeks of travel, my girlfriend and I moved into a six-room palace. It had a working fireplace, original artworks, and it was furnished with antique furniture and Venetian birdcages. Did I mention the six balconies? If you haven’t read my articles before, you might assume that I’m loaded with cash and that I paid top dollar for such privileges. Nope: the luxury apartment cost a mere 600 euro a month.

Many people want to get to know one particular city or region, and month-to-month rental accomodations can save money. But finding an apartment before leaving the United States seems like an obvious case of putting the cart before the horse. How can you get the right place if you haven’t inspected the market? Distance, unfamiliarity, language barriers, and other hurdles stand between travelers and comfortable accommodations. And it is also difficult to find month-to-month apartment rentals using the internet. Unfortunately, there’s no exact science to renting an apartment or house in Europe.

On that first trip to Italy, I arrived in Rome with only a vague sense of Italy and without a single hotel reservation. I planned to stay for three months, the longest period of time possible for a person to stay in the European Union without a work or resident visa, as required under the Schengen Visa law. A furnished long-term rental was an obvious choice. A good friend suggested trying southern Italy. The south is more rural, though no less beautiful than the north, and a good deal less expensive. I made my way down the Italian peninsula, eventually finding myself in the magical cliff-side town of Taormina, Sicily. This is where I began to ask about apartments. Local bulletin boards were bare except for weekly rentals that cost 1,000 euro and up. I was staying at a B&B, and the owner said that he had a place for rent. I jumped in his car, and away we went to check it out.

After a 20-minute drive up the palm-tree-studded coast, during which the towns grew smaller and smaller and the streets dingier and dingier, we pulled up in front of a house one block from the beach. Built out of concrete, the house was tragically furnished. It looked just like what it was: a bare-bones vacation rental during the off-season. I turned down the apartment, and after an awkward drive back to Taormina, I high-tailed it out of Dodge. But where exactly did I think I was going?

I decided to get back to the mainland, and I set my sights on the port town of Brindisi, in Puglia (the heel of the Italian boot). This was the last stop; it was as far south as I could go before crossing the Mediterranean Sea for Africa. Or, so I thought.

Brindisi was drab in March. The storefronts were empty except for commercial rental (vendesi commerciale) signs. After an unsuccessful week, I felt that I’d made a terrible mistake. It looked like my girlfriend and I would be living in a van down by the Adriatic for the next two months. Instead, we got lucky.

Deciding to take one more stab at the south, I searched my guidebook for another city. I wasn’t really excited about Puglia; the countryside was flat and the sea was angry. The towns were nothing like the towns of northern Italy: they showed the effects of the economic poverty they’d experienced since the unification of Italy in 1861. But one nearby city seemed interesting: the university town of Lecce.

Just a 40-minute train ride from Brindisi, Lecce immediately felt different. The city was beautiful, with winding cobblestone streets and an ancient Roman amphitheater comprising one half of the main piazza. More importantly, a large number of rental signs hung on the highly decorative fronts of its glorious residences. I returned to Brindisi, packed my things, and moved into Hotel Cappello, near Lecce’s train station (I later learned that the hotel is popular among sailors and prostitutes, giving truth to the classic interpretation of hotel star-ratings: 1-star: lots of prostitutes; 2-stars: prostitutes on the street in front of the hotel; 3-stars: a few prostitutes; 4-stars: there aren’t any prostitutes; 5-stars: there are prostitutes, but they are very expensive and you have to ask the concierge). From there, I searched for apartments, calling numbers and practicing my terrible Italian. It was a daunting task, but I made two appointments for the next day.

As luck would have it, the first landlord stood me up. The second made my dreams come true. The one-time palazzo, or palace, was beyond anything I could have imagined, and I couldn’t believe the price: 600 euros a month. The courtyard, marble staircases with elaborately carved banisters, the multitude of balconies overlooking a quiet street, the tower of the Duomo just a few blocks away . . . it proved that risking failure could lead to amazing rewards.

In the spirit of winging it, I recommend trying your luck. Be prepared to encounter difficulties, and perhaps even failure. But you might also find something really special, something that exactly fits your needs, that surpasses anything that you could have predicted. I recommend that you create your own adventure; arrive in Europe, purchase a cell phone or SIM card, and hit the streets.

Written by Mattie Bamman for EuropeUpClose.com

Related posts:

1. Finding the Perfect Apartment Rental in Europe
2. The Budget Traveler’s Guide to Planning a Trip to Europe
3. The Compact Guide To Planning a Trip to Europe

This guide is written for the budget traveler: a person who swaps sleep for a load of mind-altering experiences. When planning a budget trip to Europe, keep the following 8 steps in mind.

#1 The first thing to do is to choose a series of destinations and organize a route. Hopefully, you’ll have a bit of cheap champagne or German beer to give you inspiration. You might want to visit Europe’s most important cities, or just one country’s most important cities. The former option let’s you see it all, but doesn’t allow for very much downtime. The latter option let’s you become permeated with one particular country’s culture, but you might not get to see the Acropolis, Big Ben, and Venice. Your route can be loosely put together or rigorously pre-planned.

-Tip: Make sure that all of the destinations you choose are reasonably close to one another. Cities might look close on a map, but a 12-hour train ride can seriously cut into a ten-day trip.

#2 Next, you’ve got to decide how long to stay. How long can you get off from work? Who will look after your cat? Once you’ve determined the length of your stay, the style of the journey can be realized. Do you want to stay in hostels for an average of 1.5 nights per city? Maybe you’re traveling with friends and can share the cost of a private room. One of the easiest ways to make your trip more comfortable is to stay in one place for a few days. A good time to do this would be after one week of travel. You might get a discount on the hotel room because you’re staying longer. Further, not having to unpack your luggage for a few days could be just what you’re looking for.

Now, since we’re talking about style, we should discuss two popular methods of getting around Europe: extensive planning vs. totally winging it. Somewhere in the middle is usually the best option. While traveling, it’s common to meet people, and sometimes you hear about a great hotel on an unbelievable island that the world has yet to discover. You might want to head over there with the group of twelve surfers from South Africa that are leaving tomorrow, but you already booked a room in Munich. Situations such as this prompt some travelers to schedule only a few days in advance. They let the wind blow them where it will, shall we say. The risks are obvious: hotels are sometimes booked, trains sometimes stop running, and luggage gets heavy while tromping around in search of vacancy. Since it’s your trip, you get to decide, but it’s important to know that both options are in vogue.

-Tip: Make sure to pay attention to religious festivals or holidays that might correspond with the dates of your trip. Sometimes an entire country will take a day off!

#3 Transportation is key. If you want to see it all while saving money, the Eurail Pass is likely the best option. The Eurail Pass saves time and confusion when navigating multiple train stations with multiple languages. You’ll always know that you have your ticket. Alternatively, if you only want to visit one or two countries off-season, you can save money by skipping the Eurail Pass and simply purchasing tickets as you go.

Many parts of Europe cannot be accessed using public transportation, and sometimes up-to-date bus information is scarce. For travelers who truly want to get off of the beaten path, renting a car or motorcycle is an appealing option. Just make sure you know the local traffic rules and driving style. Here’s our favorite place to compare auto rental prices for Europe.

-Insider Tip: If you plan to travel by train, find the official web site of the government-run train system for the country in which you will begin your trip. Here are a few examples: Italy: Trentalia; France: SNCF; Germany: Bahn; England: NationalRail.

-Tip: If renting a car, significant discounts are offered for long-term rentals. Significant charges are added if returning the rental car to a different location than it was pick up.

#4 Finding inexpensive plane tickets can help establish travel dates, and even location. After determining your ideal trip, it’s time to establish the facts. Search for the best flights while searching for the best hotels in the corresponding city or cities. Some of the most important budget-friendly accommodation sites are hostels.  We prefer Hostelworld. You can also search for cheap hotels Here

#5 Luggage should not be unwieldy in the least. The debate of backpacks vs. luggage on wheels is growing outdated. Luggage design has advanced so far as to create backpacks with wheels, as well as backpacks with small daypacks as part of their construction. The only problems with wheels are that they do not work well on cobblestone or dirt, they jostle your belongings when coming off curbs, and the wheels can break. If you will be sticking to cosmopolitan cities, a wheeled suitcase should be fine.

#5 What to pack? The bare minimum: passport, seasonal clothing, toiletries (including travel towel), cash, ATM card, credit cards, a corkscrew (you can legally drink in public over there you know), a good guidebook, and good walking shoes. If you have these things, you should be ok. Luxury items include books, a computer, a small camera (as well as an extra memory card or an upload cable), a European outlet adapter, and flip-flops.

-Tip: Note that most hostels and hotels have book swaps that allow you to trade your old book for a new one free of charge.

#6 Money is the universal language that all travelers and business owners speak worldwide, so make sure you have access to it. Contact your bank and your credit card companies and provide them with an itinerary and travel dates. Otherwise, they might assume that your card has been stolen and deactivate it. Make sure you have the international toll free number written on the back of your cards in case of emergency. Always keep a few American dollars in your luggage just in case.

-Tip: Credit card companies usually give you the best exchange rates. However, most credit card companies add a surcharge for purchases made abroad. Getting a card that doesn’t, such as Capital One, is worth it.

-Tip: Not all banks charge you for using ATMs outside of the country, Wells Fargo is one that doesn’t charge.

#8 The language barrier can be a daunting prospect, but it doesn’t have to be. Just like in Manhattan, locals around the world are happy to help a friendly traveler catch a train. Just remember the “friendly” part. If you plan to stick to one country, invest in a phrase book. Trying to speak the native language is always appreciated, even if it ends in complete failure.

#7 Visas and medical shots are not required in most European countries or the Schengen Area if you are visiting for less than three months. Turkey is one notorious exception to the rule; it requires that you obtain a visa before entering the country or at the moment you arrive in the country. For this latter option, only Turkish currency is accepted, not credit cards, travelers checks, etc. Double-check the facts for each country you plan on visiting before you go. Our Country guides offer up to date visa information.

#8 If you’ve covered all these bases, then it’s time to relax and take in a whole new world of experiences! Rock on.

Written by Mattie Bamman for EuropeUpClose.com

Related posts:

1. Ten Things We Learned on Our Trip to Europe
2. Budget Savers in Europe
3. Eating Well in Europe on a Budget

Snow is lovely, isn’t it? Powdery, fun, pretty. Except if you want to get anywhere. And then it’s a nightmare. I can’t even imagine what it must be like at the airports at the moment. Chaos doesn’t quite cover it. Because if one flight is cancelled, it’s not like you can squish everyone onto the next flight over, is it?

And then there’s the trains. And they’ve been a nightmare. Despite the London underground and the DLR working pretty OK, the rest of London’s train services (and seemingly the UK) has come to a standstill leaving people stranded all over the place. Two hour journeys are taking almost an entire day, some people are getting stuck on tracks overnight.

So what have you done? Driven to your destination? Camped out at the airport? Braved the trains and decided to get to your destination no matter how long it takes and how many trains you have to get on? (I’m most impressed if you’ve done that!) When the unpredictable winter weather arrives, how do you make sure you get to where you want to go? Are you stubborn enough to stick it out, or are you ready to cancel everything you’ve planned for another time?

The worst thing about snow is that there’s nothing we can do about it. Whether we like the way our transport is run, it’s out of our hands unless we’ve got four wheels of our own (and they’re unlikely to get us somewhere sunny). This is the one time we don’t have other options. We can’t just jump on another flight, or pick another option. It’s unsurprising that so many people decide to stay at home.

You can see just how many people are being affected in the UK on Twitter using the hashtag #uksnow.

Which is what I’m doing. After a narrow escape to the Cotswolds last weekend, I think I’m set for snowy travelling. It started snowing badly the day after I returned, but what was an hour journey could have been much worse. I’ve decided unless I need to, I’m staying home. It’s far to icy outside for safe journeys.

Wherever you’re trying to get to in the snow, be safe. It’s dangerous out there and no journey is worth hurting yourself for.

How are you getting to your destination? Tell us in the comments!

Flickr image from roberthunt1987‘s photostream.

How has the UK snow affected your travel plans?

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

Except for those pesky bank holidays, there isn’t a worse time to travel in the UK than Christmas. It’s expensive, it’s busy, everything is delayed because of snow and Santa (yes, I’m blaming Santa). Usually, a trip home to North Wales for me takes a little over three hours. That’s very speedy. In between Christmas and New Year? That journey will not only cost lots, it’ll take six hours, and I’ll need to change trains twice. So how do you make the most of Christmas travelling, without ruining your relaxing holiday?

Book now. Right now. Get organised. If you can pick a day to travel, do it now. Because once you’re having trouble finding the times and right priced tickets, whether you’re flying or getting a train, you’re going to have a nightmare. Booking now means that you’ll save money, hopefully get a seat reservation and won’t have a mad scrabble to buy a ticket minutes before your train leaves.

Go first class. OK, now call me a snob, but if I’m travelling by train I’d rather bump myself up to first if it’s cheap enough. Usually I do this on the return leg of my journey, but it’s worth it. I get a little bit of luxury after a week of manic family time (as fun as Christmas is, it’s not exactly relaxing, is it?) If you can afford the extra, it’s worth it.

Get a quiet coach. This is key for me, especially on my journey home (my journey out of London is often full of snowy excitement and wine in a plastic cup). If you can sit somewhere where no mobile phones are allowed and there isn’t a screaming child next to you, you might just survive the journey. And if you do have kids, please don’t stay in the quiet carriage if they’re crying.

Leave a day early and a day late. Obviously this depends on your commitments, but if you can leave a couple of days either side of your trip, you’ll miss the rush and get extra holiday. OK, it’s a luxurious option, but it’s Christmas!

Have a ‘staycation’ and make people come to you. OK, on a travel blog I’m suggesting NOT travelling, but hear me out! Explore your local area instead. Always go for walks in the country? Find a riverside walk in your area. Love the Christmas markets in Brussels? Check out the ones in London and Birmingham. There’s often loads of great options without going anywhere, and there’s a lot to be said for people coming to see you over the holidays. At least once they’ve gone, you don’t have to worry about a six hour journey home.

How do you make the journey home at Christmas that bit easier?

Flickr image from davidhc‘s photostream.

UK Christmas Travel Tips

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

Although completely out of nature for me (my house is full of clutter and stuff I don’t need), I’m a very light packer. If I can get everything into one bag, even if I’m going away for a week, than I will. I don’t enjoy packing, I don’t enjoy waiting for bags, and I hate hate hate carrying heavy bags. So my only option is to pack light. And actually, it’s refreshing. Here are my five packing tips for travelling light.

1. Wear your bulky stuff.

This is the best tip, although it’s not easy if it’s winter and you’re going to a warm country. Make sure you arrive at the airport wearing your bulkiest item. Whether that’s a warm coat, or a snuggly jumper, you never get told off for putting these in the luggage holds. They’d take up masses of space in your bag, and instead you can change when you get to your destination. The same goes for shoes too. Wear your boots, pack your flats.

2. Take layers.

If you think layers of clothing, rather than specific items, you’ll have more outfits than you know what to do with. If everything matches you’ll have heaps more options. But do throw in a pretty dress for good measure. That will always come in handy. Smaller items of clothing, like t-shirts, and anything silk and jersey take up much less space than anything knitted. And don’t even think of packing more than one pair of jeans unless you have to.

3. Leave the hairdryer behind.

I don’t know many hotels that don’t have a hairdryer, and honestly, the £7 it’ll cost for a travel hairdryer doesn’t seem worth it these days (you’ll leave it behind, I have no idea which country mine is in). Just go without. It’s one of the biggest things you’ll pack, and you can probably do without it.

4. Decide what’s important.

Pack the important stuff first. I have to take my SLR camera with me. But once I’ve packed my lenses, it takes up a lot of space in hand luggage and weekend bags. Throw in a laptop and I’ve got problems. So, I downsize everything else. I use hotel toiletries, take one paperback, and make sure instead of hangbags and extras, I’ve got a canvas shopper bag for strolling during the day and the bare essentials. As long as I’ve got the basics, I’m happy. If there’s any space leftover, then I can take added extras. Which is very handy if I’m halfway through my book.

5. Get organised.

Packing light only works when you’re organised. You can’t just throw a pile of stuff in a bag and hope for the best (I’ve tried that). You need to plan, think and spend a good hour working out exactly what you’ll need for where you’re going. Once you’ve spent some time packing, and thought about what you need, your bag will be much lighter than you ever expected. It’ll fit in the hand luggage, save you money and won’t even hurt your weary little travelling shoulders.

Got any tips for travelling light? Share them so I fulfill my dream to go away with just a handbag and my passport!

Flickr image from Uggboy’s photostream.

5 Tips on How to Travel Light

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

Madrid is a city full of culture, action and the occasional relaxing moment. It always seems a little more formal than Barcelona but that’s probably fitting for a capital city, and it’s still one of the best European cities to visit. Art-lovers certainly shouldn’t miss Madrid but that’s certainly not the only reason to go there. Here are our tips on ten things to do in Madrid.

The Prado

Easily the most famous attraction of Madrid, the Museo del Prado is one of the most well-known art galleries in the world and features numerous must-see paintings from Bosch, Brueghel, Rubens, Goya, and, well, the list goes on! When you’ve had enough of the art inside the Paseo del Prado is a leafy pedestrian walkway nearby.

Goya at the Prado by MamboZ

Palacio Real

One of Europe’s largest palaces, the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) is no longer home to the actual Spanish royal family but that means you can tour throughout it – except when a special ceremony is held, since the royals do actually use their palace from time to time.

Palacio Real by alreza

Bullfighting at Las Ventas

I’ve heard you shouldn’t judge bullfighting until you’ve seen it. You still might hate it then, but at least you’ll be informed! The Las Ventas Bull Ring is one of the most popular bullfighting spots of all, so you if you’re going to do it, you might as well watch it here.

Bullfighting at Las Ventas by Jorge-11

Reina Sofia Art Centre

This is the modern art centre of Madrid and is home to a particularly large collection of Picasso’s works. You can also see paintings from Dali, Kandinsky, Miro, Yves Klein and Francis Bacon, to name but a few.

Reina Sofia museum by Shadowgate

Plaza Mayor

The main square of Madrid may have seen bullfights in the past, and executions during the Spanish Inquisition, but now it’s still busy but more peaceful. The impressive Casa de la Panaderia municipal building is the major construction on the square.

Plaza Mayor Madrid by librarygroover

National Archaelogical Museum

Home to exhibits from eras ranging from prehistoric times through to Celtic, Iberian, Greek and Roman, the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid is a particularly interesting one, even to those not normally drawn to “old” history. Worth a look.

Mosaic in the National Archaeological Museum by Zaqarbal

Puerta del Sol

Another main square of Madrid, the Puerta del Sol is home to two important icons: the “Kilometer Zero” plaque where the national highways officially begin, and the famous bear statue, the symbol of Madrid. Many would say it’s the heart of Madrid and you can’t say you’ve seen the city until you’ve strolled through Puerta del Sol.

Puerta del Sol by multisanti

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum of Art

Along with the Prado and the Reina Sofia, the Thyssen-Bornemisza galleries form what some call a “golden triangle” of art museums in Madrid, as they are all very close by each other. Its difficult name comes from a wealthy man who had collected a large number of paintings, and the collection today includes Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum by voces

Museo de America

Given Spain’s extensive history in South America, this museum is important as well as enjoyable, and contains artifacts from all over the Americas, ranging from pre-colonial times to the modern day. The only catch is that most of the exhibits are Spanish-only so take your phrase book or a Spanish-speaking friend.

Figurine from Museo de America by Zaqarbal

El Retiro

Close to the Prado, this perfectly-named park is a place to stroll and relax without leaving the centre of Madrid. El Retiro covers 350 acres and includes a lake, fountains, old buildings and, sadly, a memorial to the victims of the 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid.

El Retiro park by jandiano

More Madrid Tips

Rachel suggested that buying a Madrid Card could save you time and money – it gets you into a number of museums and provides some transport as well. Alternatively, as Andy suggests, you could check for free opening times at the museums – some have free days, or are free in the evenings.

Please let us know your favourite things to do in Madrid in the comments.

If you’re planning a trip to the Spanish capital, find the best deals on Madrid hotels on the HotelsCombined price comparison site.

Ten Things to Do in Madrid

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

Our Europe a la Carte dream European travel itinerary, put together from readers’ suggestions in celebration of the Blog’s fourth birthday, transports you to all corners of the continent. I bet that you’ll be planning a trip to Europe by the time you’ve read about these wonderful destinations and activities.

Faroe Islands

Anne-Sophie Redisch from Sophie’s World said that her latest favourite is the Faroe Islands: “verdant, steep, mystical, shrouded in mist, full of exciting Viking history. Absolutely magical to see the islands slowly rise up from the chilly North Atlantic as we approached by ship.”

The beautiful Faroe Islands by arne.list

Norway

Nancy D. Brown from Writing Horseback suggested we add riding a Fjord horse in Bergen, Norway at Øvre-Eide Farm to our dream itinerary for European travel: it was a dream come true for Nancy. If you’re looking for more activities on a Bergen trip, Neha wrote about Bergen museums last year.

Nancy D Brown riding Lynge-Tora, a fjord horse from Øvre-Eide Farm in Bergen, Norway.

United Kingdom

Kerry Dexter of Music Road had a suggestion: take in a traditional music event at Saint Andrew’s in the Square, in Glasgow.

St Andrew’s in the Square by gj_theWhite

We can’t leave Cardiff off a European travel itinerary, according to  John Williams from Eurapart. Karen recently gathered a bunch of tips for Cardiff visitors.

The Millennium Centre in Cardiff by rog.davies

It’s all about the sheep, according to Zoe Davies from The Quirky Traveller, who told us that the Lake District of England is the “loveliest and most inspiring part of England, the UK, Europe & the World”. The reasons she gives is that it has everything: “small yet perfectly formed mountains, limpid lakes, fast-flowing rivers, sparkling streams, picturesque villages, world-class literary heritage and so much more, including our quirky Herdwicks -the cutest sheep ever!”

Herdwick sheep in the Lake District by cloudsoup

Karen didn’t mention the sheep but she did enjoy visiting the Lake District’s only coastal village of Ravenglass.

Netherlands

From OrangeSplaash, Arwa Lokhandwala recommends a visit to the Zaanse Schans. Arwa says it’s a must visit “for its well preserved historic windmills, oil mills, Dutch houses, traditional art and craft shops like making wooden shoes (clogs) and cheese, river cruises, country side – in short, a peek into the Dutch culture!”

Zaanse Schans windmills by ComunicaTI

Estonia

Here comes my own tip – I had a lot of trouble picking just one place to add to the dream itinerary but I decided to say the island of Saaremaa in Estonia because I felt so relaxed there. This corner of Estonia is popular with local holidaymakers and has some interesting sightseeing to be done as well, but above all it’s friendly, easygoing and simply a pleasant place to visit. While I was there I visited the tiny island of Abruka, one of my all-time favourite travel experiences.

Kuressaare castle on Saaremaa by camera on autopilot

Spain

By far the most popular country for our dream European travel itinerary, Spain featured in numerous suggestions. One of these came from Anne Greaves who thinks the place to go is Ibiza town, to “soak up the atmosphere on summer nights”.

Ibiza town in the evening by aldask

Karen put together a useful guide to Ibiza.

Abigail King from Inside the Travel Lab recommends Zafra in Extremadura, Spain, for three reasons: “Beautiful, loads of history, tasty jamon!”

Soportales de la plaza chica by chemasanco

Both Charlotte and Homeaway UK couldn’t go past Andalucia with great weather, vibrant culture, beautiful palaces and buildings to visit and delicious food, and perhaps even discovering Andalucia by horse-back.

Cortijo de las Piletas, Ronda, in Andalucia by toprural

The petrified lava rivers of Tenerife’s Teide National Park is the dream itinerary contribution from  Joe Cawley.

Paisajes del Teider on Tenerife by ReservasdeCoches

The Rias Baixas in Galicia, northern Spain, “for the albarino wine, fabulous seafood and spectacular beaches” is Annie Bennett’s suggestion from Mooching Around Spain.

Rias Baixas by alexvc26

France

Ben McCullough from  Tour Dust suggests the Île de Ré in France: “we were there this summer, it is easy to get to, great beaches and wonderful little port towns with a real Mediterranean vibe (despite the Atlantic location).”

Bridge in Île de Ré by mrskyce

Claude from Hotel I Tour says one of France’s great assets is wine tourism and suggests the Loire Valley, Chamonix and Bordeaux. We have a great post from Thomas about the vineyards of the Loire Valley if you’re after more details.

Vineyards of Bordeaux by paularps

Iceland

The Lifecruiser couple suggested  “Iceland because of the lava fields, volcanoes & Blue Lagoon, and because it’s so very different from everything else.”

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland by doctorwho

Check out more ideas for Iceland in our post from Britt-Arnhild on Looking through windows in Reykjavik.

Latvia

On Twitter, BexIndigo suggested a stay at the Amber Spa Boutique Hotel in Jurmala on the Baltic Sea.

The beach at Jurmala by Dainis Matisons

Heather recommended a trip to Jurmala as a day excursion from Riga.

Ireland

Also on Twitter, WanderingEds suggested that instead of visiting the Ring of Kerry, we should try the Skellig Ring instead – apparently it’s “even more beautiful, if possible.”

Skellig Islands by technohippybiker

Portugal

Mary Goudie gave us a travel tip to add to our dream itinerary: “if flying to the Scottish west coast Prestwick airport, take the fabulous train from Lisbon to Faro and hop on a Ryanair flight.”

The highspeed train from Lisbon to Faro by bridgepix

Germany

Jill Love wrote that “the whole art and green scene and the excitement generated from Berlin is making me curious. In Germany-I’ve only been to Munich and Bavaria (loved it) and now it’s time for Berlin.” Check our Best of Berlin travel tips for plenty of ideas for activities in the German capital, as well as Marcus’s post on Street art in Berlin.

Berlin street art by Chris Buckridge

Slovenia

Terme Čatež, the largest natural spa and the second largest tourist centre in Slovenia, is the tip from Maya Maja Obrenovic.

Čatež, Slovenia by breki74

Switzerland

Emma Jamieson says that Gstaad in Switzerland is great in both summer and winter: “it’s always buzzing with activity!  Beyond the glitz and the glamour, Gstaad’s residents value their strong Swiss alpine culture and heritage. This love affair with all things authentic is reflected in a super busy calendar of events and festivities which mark the passing seasons and help preserve a traditional way-of-life. They also have some seriously happy cows and farm animals to see! ”

The Alps near Gstaad by timo_w2s

Italy

Nancy Aiello suggests that in Rome we should go off the beaten track, including taking a look at the Trastevere area and its underground sites or the Aventine hill for a nice picnic!

Aventine hill in Rome by xiquinhosilva

Kimberley has some more suggestions for visits to Rome, such as visiting the Protestant Cemetery or eating bread at Panella.

All over

And finally, Jools Stone suggested an entire dream itinerary: London to Istanbul on the Orient Express, with stops at Paris, Venice, Prague and maybe a detour to Berlin, “since I’m being wistful!” Andy gave us some detailed info on the Orient Express when he was considering a trip on it, too.

The Orient Express in Prague by infodad

A big thank you to all the contributors to this amazing dream European travel itinerary.  If you would like to recommend some other great places to visit in Europe, please leave a comment.

The Europe a la Carte Dream European Travel Itinerary

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

Rome, situated on the Tiber river, is truly the Eternal City with the city’s history spanning over two and a half thousand years. When we visited Rome for the first time, we not only enjoyed the sheer brilliance and beauty of the Colosseum and the Vatican, but were also mystified by the very many piazzas in Rome including the Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Venezia, Piazza della Rotonda and Piazza della Minerva. But my all time favourite Rome piazza has to be the Piazza Navona.

La Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi [Photo Credit - The Wolf]

The oval shaped Piazza Navona forms the center of Rome’s social life, with its relaxed atmosphere and open spaces. Located just a couple of minutes walk from the Pantheon, the piazza houses Bernini’s La Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) right in its center. This beautiful fountain, as the name indicates, represents four world rivers, namely the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio de la Plata.

Fontana del Nettuno [Photo Credit - Rafel Miro]

Two other famous sculptures in the piazza are the Fontana del Moro (the Moor Fountain) located at the southern end of the piazza and the Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune), situated at its northern end.

Fontana del Moro [Photo Credit - xiquinhosilva]

A prime example of the Baroque Roman architecture, the piazza is lined by beautiful buildings, shops and cafes. The place is frequented by tourists and locals alike, enjoying the elaborate art on display by street artists, musicians and painters from all over the world. Christmas market is held in the piazza in the months of December and early January.

Photo Credit – hslo

Other tips for visiting Rome include tasting the Volpetti delicacies and visiting the cemetery of artists and poets. Which is your favourite piazza in Rome?

If you’re planning a visit to the Italian capital, you can quickly find great deals at Rome hotels using the HotelsCombined price comparison site.

My favourite piazza in Rome – Piazza Navona

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

This weekend it was sunny and bright in the Netherlands – the perfect time to visit the Zandvoort beach. Situated in the province of North Holland, Zandvoort is famous for its Circuit Zandvoort (automobile racing circuit) besides being one of the major coastal resorts in the Netherlands.

Photo Credit – Orangesplaash

The west facing beach of Zandvoort is quite wide and clear. The sparkling blue waters appear inviting and you can see kids playing alongside the beach, with their castle-bucket sets. A number of water sports including kite surfing and wind surfing are quite popular here during the Spring and the Summer.

Photo Credit – Orangesplaash

This Dutch beach has ample amount of parking space, with affordable parking rates of around €1.8 per hour, but on hot days it is advisable to use the public transportation instead because of the frequent traffic jams. A number of cafes in and around the beach cater to the taste buds of the tourists and locals alike, dishing out delicious Dutch snacks, not to forget the frites.

Photo Credit – Loving Photography

Situated about 25 kms from the city of Amsterdam, the Zandvoort beach has a peculiar landscape bordered by coastal dunes, making cycling and walking some of the other popular activities here.

Scheveningen beach in the Hague is another place worth visiting on a sunny weekend.  Have you visited any Dutch beaches?

Visiting the Zandvoort beach in the Netherlands

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.