An enticing fusion of ancient and avant-garde, Amsterdam is a beautiful city of creative legacy. Take a walk along the cobbled streets and serene canals and you can seem a million miles from the vibrant nightlife on every corner.  This is an ideal stopover on your European Travel Vacation.

1. Dam Square
Dam Square is the hub of the city and located on the site of the original Amstel dam. The focal point of the Square is the Royal Palace. Originally the town hall, it became regal following Louis Napoleon’s crowning in 1808.

2. Anne Frank’s House
In close proximity to the Square, Anne Frank’s house provides a constant reminder of Nazi occupation during the Second World War. Her infamous diary is kept here; be prepared to queue as it gets very busy during the tourist season.

3. Rijksmuseum
The fabulous Rijksmuseum is home to some of the most important historic art in the world. Perhaps the most famous pieces here are that by Rembrandt; the works of Frans Hals and Vermeer also feature prominently. Beautiful examples of porcelain dolls and dolls’ houses can also be seen.

4. Van Gogh Museum
Another unmissable illustration of fine art is exhibited at the purpose built Van Gogh Museum. Including many of his finest pieces, the Van Gogh Museum is home to the largest collection of his work in the world.

5. Albert Cuypmarkt
If you feel the need to shop, the Albert Cuypmarkt offers just about everything you could wish to buy. This cosmopolitan shopping region will provide your credit card fix.

6. Queen’s Day
A sight to behold, Queen’s Day is the celebration of all that is gay and lesbian. Music is pumped from every corner, as what seems to be the entire world’s gay population descends on Amsterdam.

7. Vondelpark Summer
This summer festival is held between June and August and features all forms of entertainment including open air concerts, theatre and cabaret. The fun is enjoyed by men, women and children of all ages.

8. Holland Festival
The Dutch certainly enjoy their festivals; this is the biggest annual arts event in the country and continues for three weeks during the month of June.

9. Dutch Clogs
You cannot visit Holland without at least trying on a pair of their famous wooden clogs. Other iconic souvenirs include Dutch dolls and Delft pottery. Cheese and the famous windmills are also very popular.

10. Grand Cafes
Amsterdam’s notorious cafes are spread densely throughout the city. Take a well earned break and try the local erwtensoep as you wet your whistle.

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Almost every European country currently has at least one no additions budget airline. Easy Jet and Ryan Air are becoming healthy known and well-liked in Great Britain and in Ireland. Germany has four or five low cost airlines and disgraceful airfare specialists.

Meanwhile, in Sweden, SAS have just launched their own budget offshoot called Snowflake. At initial look the fares that these airlines charge can seem incredibly low; Ryan Air have given their flights missing almost for free in the past – although you still have to pay the airport levy of around twenty UK pounds. But where’s the catch? Is there a catch?

Can you really vacation Europe by air without spending a fortune? Here is the deal if you want to vacation Europe on a cheap budget:

Firstly, the low fares airlines in Europe nearly always use out of city provincial airports – often about forty or fifty miles from the respective city centers. This can add up to two hours of vacation time to your journey at each end. You also have to pay for the bus or train connection to get from your airport to the city center. Make sure you add this price in to the cost of your ticket when comparing prices among cheap airfare deals and the prices thrilling by the conventional airlines. In most cases the main airlines fly you into the city center airport and therefore cut your vacation time and the cost of any spare transport.

If you are unsuccessful sufficient to miss a trip then you could literally be stuck in a very rural airport during the night with all the food outlets closed down and no way to get back to the town or the city. Secondly, you only obtain what you disburse for. The European budget airlines can offer no in-flight service for foodstuff and drinks. Or, if they do, they will charge you for it at a premium rate. Coffee, sandwiches and beer may be very pricey indeed. To be fair, many of the flights are only of an hour or two’s duration so snacks and drinks may not be such a big deal

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I am wondering if purchasing medical insurance is worth the additional cost. I will be 28 at the time I go and am a very healthy person in general. Anybody have an opinion or can share their secrets?

You should have a medical insurance in any case, at home as well as abroad, but it is even more needed abroad.

Many people do not need health treatment, but when they do, the costs will run high in no time.
One broken leg that forces you to stay in hospital a few weeks, or an appendix that does play up, will set you back so much money that all you spend on insurance will be paid back and more.
And yes, healthy 28 year old people do break legs and can need hospitalization for many other reasons, including an appendix operation.

If you have a good medical insurance that covers you at home, check whether they will also pay for your needs when you are in Europe, but do take a travel insurance on top of that, in case you need repatriation because of health reasons.
If you need to fly back home while ill, or even just with a few broken bones, you are likely to need to buy more than one seat in a plane, 5 if you need to stay horizontal, and those at premium cost as it will almost always be short notice. Believe me, your travel insurance costs will be pittance compared with that.

Compared to all costs of your holiday, the medical insurance is not going to make that much of a difference. It is often as little as a few nights in a good hotel.

im thinking of going backpacking next year across europe. i was thinking if you can get a train ticket where i could actually use the same ticket anywhere i went in Europe. is there such thing?

There used to be something called a Euro Rail pass, which I believe still exists, but is much more confined as to when you can travel and where than it used to be. I backed packed across Europe last year (PM me if you want some recommendations on where to go stay see etc ) and we looked into getting a rail pass but found that we could only travel for days out of the month and on selected trains and often had to buy supplements it ended up not being worth while.

We bought tickets from each location we were in, and it worked out more flexible and cheaper for us. Best advice is to get a phrase book and before you go work out how to say what you want for when and to where, when we were in the Ukraine and couldn’t pronounce the language we just used to book and wrote down what we wanted and passed it to the sales person, who seemed to be impressed that we had done that rather than stood there like touristpointingng and speaking slower and louder.

Gimme a message if you need a hand with places etc

The advantage of using a tour guide is that there is someone to lead the way, but at the same time I think that takes a bit away from the adventures of traveling.

How was your experience with a guided tour? Did you enjoy it? Did you wish you had more free time to do what you wanted?

How about independent traveling? Do you think its just too hard to plan? Cost more?

Thanks.

I’ve been to Europe many times. Never by guided tours, though. I book air and hotel through places like go-today.com or Expedia, etc. and just go. Sometimes I just book air and one hotel for the first night, then take trains to interesting cities or towns and find a bed and breakfast. It seems that either way is cheaper than the guided tours. But I am pretty independent. I read the guidebooks.

I have taken day tours, like to Versailles, or to the Cotswolds. Those are worth it since they got me to places I couldn’t get to on my own.

As a student of history, Rick explains the need for travelers to engage with Europe’s past and present. For more information on Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door, visit www.ricksteves.com.

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It’s only natural to get stressed-out, tired and basically sick of work and daily chores. This is when you know it’s time to take a much-needed vacation. You know, a jaunt off to some tranquil paradise where relaxation and fine cuisine are the only things running through your head. At this point you’re likely pondering a serene destination of some sort. Well, if this is the case, then I highly suggest that you don’t overlook affordable travel vacation package deals. These are all over the web now days, and I’d certainly wager that there’s one which applies to your ideal vacation.

Fortunately in this day and age vacationing is less of a hassle. When you actually sit and think about it, taking a vacation shouldn’t be a hassle at all. After all, isn’t a relaxing getaway about relaxing? Of course it is! This is what makes contemporary travel vacation package deals found online so perfect. Everything is right in front of you and there’s no reason for calling, taking notes, or worrying about what a hotel will look like in-person. All is divulged on the web. Try helpful websites such as expedia.com, priceline.com, travelocity.com, and tropicaltravel.net. These are there specifically to assist you in pinpointing the best travel vacation package deals. Maybe you’re in search of a two-week package deal to Hawaii. This is totally feasible for a reasonable cost if you take advantage of these convenient websites. Today is all about the best deals. Numerous companies are competing for your attention on the web. See who currently has the best deal pertaining to the vacation you desire.

One of the greatest aspects of online travel vacation packages is the fact that everything is settled ahead of time. You don’t have to worry about airline tickets or seedy lodging. In fact, you can acquire electronic tickets and print them out at home before you leave to the airport. Furthermore, you can take a look at the hotel you choose on the Internet. Every hotel has a website these days. See what the rooms and amenities look like before you actually book. While some lodging venues sound great, in reality they can disappoint. Squash this dilemma by seeing what they truly offer via their website. With the infinite travel vacation package offers currently available, you can’t go wrong.

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At the hub of European politics – Brussels is the cosmopolitan capital of bureaucracy. But when freed from the shackles of red tape, this compact capital of Belgium is a fascinating fusion of profound historical curiosity and contemporary living.

1. The Grand-Place
Brussels’ central square is the focal point of activity for locals and tourists alike. The heaving markets are bursting with souvenir-seeking bargain hunters. Look out for the town hall (Hotel de Ville), a magnificent example of 15th century architecture.

2. Manneken Pis
This sacred 17th century bronze statue of the small boy urinating is a Brussels landmark. Several legends exist as to the origins of this statue. One says it depicts a young boy urinating on a burning charge destined to blow up the city walls when under siege from a foreign army, thus saving the city from invasion. Whatever the truth, he is undeniable cute and has over 500 outfits, one for every occasion.

3. St Nicholas Church
Constructed in the 11th century, this fine example of medieval architecture is the oldest church in Brussels. If you are lucky, you may even catch one of the occasional services given in English.

4. Royales Galeries Sint-Hubert
Europe’s oldest glass arcade was designed by JP Cluysenaer and built in 1847. Home to fashionable boutiques and cool cafes, it was renovated and reopened in 2000. The arcade is worth visiting if only to experience the magnificent architecture.

5. Belgian Chocolate
No visit to Brussels is complete without experiencing the world famous Belgian chocolate. It has a quality all of its own and is the obvious choice for gifts to take back home.

6. Avenue Louise
If you crave a shopping fix then the Avenue Louise is the place to be. Designer shops aplenty provide ample opportunity to flex your spending power. Popular purchases include diamonds and antiques.

7. Waterzooi
This local Belgian speciality is a kind of fish stew and very popular with the locals. Other appetising native dishes include mussels, waffles, and sweetbreads.

8. Pistes de Lancement
If you are travelling with children, be sure to catch this clown festival during March. The Saint-Gilles region is awash with circus acts entertaining children and adults alike.

9. Flower Carpet
Throughout August, the Grand’ Place is subjected to a sea of colour as thousands of flowers are laid out in stunning patterns.

10. Christmas Market
The festive period is a flurry of activity as traditional Christmas stalls suddenly emerge. The effervescent displays keep you entertained between purchases as jugglers and musicians perform amongst the festive shoppers.

At the hub of European politics – Brussels is the cosmopolitan capital of bureaucracy. But when freed from the shackles of red tape, this compact capital of Belgium is a fascinating fusion of profound historical curiosity and contemporary living.

1. The Grand-Place
Brussels’ central square is the focal point of activity for locals and tourists alike. The heaving markets are bursting with souvenir-seeking bargain hunters. Look out for the town hall (Hotel de Ville), a magnificent example of 15th century architecture.

2. Manneken Pis
This sacred 17th century bronze statue of the small boy urinating is a Brussels landmark. Several legends exist as to the origins of this statue. One says it depicts a young boy urinating on a burning charge destined to blow up the city walls when under siege from a foreign army, thus saving the city from invasion. Whatever the truth, he is undeniable cute and has over 500 outfits, one for every occasion.

3. St Nicholas Church
Constructed in the 11th century, this fine example of medieval architecture is the oldest church in Brussels. If you are lucky, you may even catch one of the occasional services given in English.

4. Royales Galeries Sint-Hubert
Europe’s oldest glass arcade was designed by JP Cluysenaer and built in 1847. Home to fashionable boutiques and cool cafes, it was renovated and reopened in 2000. The arcade is worth visiting if only to experience the magnificent architecture.

5. Belgian Chocolate
No visit to Brussels is complete without experiencing the world famous Belgian chocolate. It has a quality all of its own and is the obvious choice for gifts to take back home.

6. Avenue Louise
If you crave a shopping fix then the Avenue Louise is the place to be. Designer shops aplenty provide ample opportunity to flex your spending power. Popular purchases include diamonds and antiques.

7. Waterzooi
This local Belgian speciality is a kind of fish stew and very popular with the locals. Other appetising native dishes include mussels, waffles, and sweetbreads.

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8. Pistes de Lancement
If you are travelling with children, be sure to catch this clown festival during March. The Saint-Gilles region is awash with circus acts entertaining children and adults alike.

9. Flower Carpet
Throughout August, the Grand’ Place is subjected to a sea of colour as thousands of flowers are laid out in stunning patterns.

10. Christmas Market
The festive period is a flurry of activity as traditional Christmas stalls suddenly emerge. The effervescent displays keep you entertained between purchases as jugglers and musicians perform amongst the festive shoppers.

Technorati Tags: brussels accommodation, brussels airline, brussels airlines, brussels guide, brussels hostel