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We should debate this first as your financial position for the whole European trip as well as how you’re going to spend your time in Britain are dependent upon date of your holiday. The country is comparatively little but one place experiences a marginally different weather from its neighbours. Generally, high-season runs from the month of July to Sep . Because these months offer additional sunlight and a tourist-friendly weather with the least probabilities of rain, visitors head to the towns and cities of Britain . High-season offers higher airplane ticket costs and pricey hotel accommodation. Off-season runs from, Nov to May.

You can get less expensive hostels and airplane tickets during these months but traveling can present additional challenges thanks to the weather. If you’re doubtful of weather pattern, do the research online or check with your travel agent for guidance. Set your position Decide how much you’re going to spend in your holiday.

Include flight tickets, hotel accommodation, transport ( train, taxi or auto rent ), charges on visitor attractions and mementos. Food is much costly in Britain than in the U. S. . A regular meal can cost up to 50 Euro dollars per head. If you are traveling on a low budget, reflect upon taking package tours or comprehensive. If you are making plans to go flexible, take the very end booking and go to hotel as walk-in ( if it is off-season ). Check the prevailing exchange rate to offer you a clear notion of the price of your trip. Pick a destination there are a good number of places to go to in Britain , and usually, visitors can’t visit them all in one trip. Pick places that are close to each other. Plan your routes in such a fashion the trip is relaxing. Since European towns are just hours apart, consider visiting at least two more towns. As an example, you may visit London, Paris and Rome. How does one like to use your time? Do you like a steered tour or do you prefer doing your own thing? Do you like water or the mountains? Shopping or visit historic sites? Journey or historic museums? Such things should be considered when making plans for your trip. Be aware of the things you would like to do and places you need to visit while in England. Do the research on the web. Get arranged Traveling can become a headache more than a holiday if you aren’t getting arranged. Trip-planning software is a popular tool you may use but making a tick list will do.

Don’t forget your passport, an identification card, two visa cards, cash cards. Set express dates for booking a flight and a hotel room, leasing a vehicle, exchanging cash to local currency, and so on. Discover if getting a travel insurance works to your benefit. Travel light Packing needs to be taken seriously. Do this a few days before your departure. Don’t carry things which you do not need. Pick garments that are cosy to wear but aren’t too cumbersome. Do not fret too much if you forget something, you can get it once you achieve your destination. Eventually , have some fun! Planning is the key to a noteworthy Britain holiday.

If you’ve planned well, you’ll be able to chill and enjoy while on the trip. Still, you have got to open yourself to things you’ve not planned. As one says, "go with the flow".

Many seasoned travelers would say the best holidays are the ones when the sudden occurred.

Technorati Tags: european vacation

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France celebrates New Year on Jan first like lots of other states do.

The start of a new year, which is "le Jour de l’An" in French, is a long awaited occasion that’s noted with revels. Among these is the customary holding of a banquet, called "le Rveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre". The term "la Saint-Sylvestre" really makes reference to New Year’s Eve ( December 31 ). Therefore , the le Rveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre banquet is a grand celebration the French host to mark the closure of an old year and the arrival of another.

Special dishes ,eg foie gras ( fattened goose liver ), are aplenty in this time ; so are diverse categories of drinks including the very hip sparkling white wine "champers" and the similarly famous hot wine "vin chaud". At the stroke of midnight, family members and mates kiss under "le gui" ( the mistletoe ). Fireworks are common, particularly on the highways of Paris. These have become a crucial part of the New Year celebration in this town, which is helped a lot by the undeniable fact that fireworks are legally sold and purchased here. The party could be an easy get-together of family members over dinner or a flamboyant formal gathering of families and buddies called "une soiree" ( literally, an evening gathering ). Normal activities include swapping of "les etrennes" ( New Year’s gifts ) and even of "une bonne resolution" ( New Year’s resolutions ). Folk greet one another excitedly on the streets, give cards and other goodies, all intended to herald a wealthy new year. In Bordeaux and other towns and towns in southwest France, folks hear mass in the evening and join the torchlight procession that ends in the vineyards, where folks pick grapes and enjoy some mulled wine. In the southern town of Avignon, the famous "Illuminations Tour and Dinner" is a fully-booked activity at this time.

Merriment in the leading city of Paris are held with the collaboration of thousands of entertainers, vocalists and dancers. These merriment, essentially a two-day parade, go thru a couple of streets, proceed thru the city’s metropolitan area of Chantilly on December 31, and end at the Champion de Mars ( right under the Eiffel Tower ) next day ( Jan first ). New Year songs are heard all over ,eg "Choral des Adieux", equivalent to the Scottish poem-turned-folk song "Auld Lang Syne". Two other songs commonly sung in this occasion are "Toast pour le nouvel An" ( "Toast to the New Year" ) and "La chanson du Nouvel-An" ( "Song of the New Year" ).

Taking a cruise on your European tour has turned into a popular way to celebrate New Year in France of late. Cruise decisions ( reservations should be made one month before New Year ) include tours of the canals and streams of France, a tour of the northwards part of the country on the Seine beginning at Paris and stopping at Normandy ( this is excellent for couples ), or of the southern part on the Saone and Rhone beginning at Lyon and terminating at Provence. The conclusion of all parties of le Jour de l’An is on the banquet of the Epiphany ( Jan six ). Here, a special cake, called "la galette des rois" ( king’s cake ) is cut and shared among family members and chums.

Technorati Tags: france, french, new year celebration

I am planning two trips for later this year and I am wondering how health care works when in a European countyry or S. America. Does my US health insurance mean anything there or work there? Do I buy temporary insurance in the country where I am?

Health care throughout the world varies tremendously as do individual insurance plans. Traditional Medicare, for example, doesn’t do diddly for you outside the States BUT if you had an HMO, PPO, or PFFS Medicare Advantage plan you MIGHT be covered, so you MUST contact your insurer and see what, if anything, including emergency care, is covered.

Here is one of MANY sites that can give you other good ideas:

http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=56&category=5

I assume you already have your passport–if not, do it now. You should make sure your vaccinations are in order. Look at the consular advisory sheets and if anything is required, get it done; recommended ask your doctor. Make sure to type up a good summary of your medical history:
date of birth
meds you’re on
allergies
known conditions
prior surgeries/hospitalizations
all your doctor’s contact info for primary care and any important specialists
pharmacy contact info could be useful as well
Make sure you have enough meds of any sort you need to take and take them in their original bottles as you never know what Customs anywhere will be like. Be smart to have another prescription written–probably won’t honor it in another country BUT I think it would cut some ice with a local doctor.
IF you have a medical condition, such as diabetes, I’d recommend wearing something like a MedicAlert bracelet/necklace–again even if not "recognized" fully it should attract attention and speed things up for you.
Good luck.

I’m looking to travel from a German border town, Dusseldorf, to Amsterdam. The only prices I can find for a one way ticket are $150+. Is this accurate?? Surely, for a two hour train ride, I could find a cheaper price. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Check www.bahn.de, select English option, and be sure you buy in advance. The cheapest, I believe is EUR 33.60 (overnight) or EUR 47.80 for 2hrs 30 minutes trip.

I am traveling with two friends( we are all female) to Europe in May. We want to do a coach tour through Europe. I know that it is cheaper to buy coach tours through UK or European sites than from American sites. So far I found a 8 day/7 night trip that picks you up at the london airport then goes through Belgium, Holland, Germany,Switzerland and France. Then brings you back to the London airport.This has many cool inclusions ,tours,meals etc… It is a Cosmos tour.All for about $650 p/p. Is this a good deal? Do you have any tips on better tours,websites etc…? Has anyone ever been on a euro coach tour. Are they comfortable,roomy, fun,stop alot,safe…..? I would love any info. Thanks

Highlights of Europe: Professionally Escorted Motorcoach Tours
16 days Visiting England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Vatican City, Italy, Switzerland and France
Featuring 2 night stays in London, Rome and Paris

I don’t know if this is still going on but visit Insight Vacations they can help.

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Finding out how to make cheap Europe travel possible, you need to keep yourself armed with several pieces of knowledge – tips as it were. About the most important thing to help make travel in Europe cheap is the Eurailpass. They have many kinds of products, but basically, you get unlimited train travel in more than 20 European countries. You also get discounts on other modes of transportation getting around – the buses in some places, and even in some museums and hotels. Some people mistakenly think that just because they have a Eurail pass, they can just get on a train with no arrangements to make. That’s not strictly true. The pass entitles you to as many tickets as you want. It isn’t a ticket by itself though. If a train is full, you still can’t get on.

City passes are your other best bet for cheap Europe travel. A city pass like the one in London for instance, gives you access not only to local transportation, but also to all the major attractions in the city and the places surrounding it. The London Pass for instance gets you into the subway and bus system, but also into the Tower of London, the Windsor Castle and dozens of other places. You don’t even have to wait in line when you have one of these. While city passes let you use all the public transportation you want, your trip in general will be cheaper if you plan things. Plan ahead to visit all the attractions in one area when you go to that part of town. Once there, you can walk about from one attraction to the next, and save time and money.

Finding a place to stay and eating out are about the most expensive parts of traveling. Try to find hostels to stay in at IYHF or Hostelworld, and  you could really save a bundle . Many of them will even let you have a private room even if they are hostels. Just because you’re staying at a hoste,l doesn’t mean you’ll have to be bunked up with all kinds of strangers in cheap surroundings. This is Europe – it’s never cheap. Think chic instead. Hostels allow you to cook in the community kitchen if you don’t want to eat at the cafeteria (which is bound to be inexpensive anyway). All you need to do is go to a grocery store and pick up ingredients of a meal to bring back to the hostel.

If you want to find student discounts everywhere you go, apply for an international student identification card before you leave home. That’s the only kind of student card that’s recognized in Europe. Finally, make sure that you don’t lose a lot of money at the Bureaux de Change changing money. They usually charge horrendous commissions. Use your credit card or debit card to withdraw money at an ATM instead. These are tried and tested ways that make cheap Europe travel possible. All you need to do is take advantage of them.

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People wishing to holiday in Europe who have no idea where to begin may find it helpful to know the top European destinations.  It is probably helpful to review the cities in order to decide which vacation venue you would prefer.  For example, if you are newly married you may choose a city different from those seeking a number of attractions suitable to family-style outings.  Here are some top spots in Europe for your consideration.

One top spot is Paris France.  This is a highly idealized destination and individuals all over the globe enjoy visiting the city.  The city is well-recognized and receives the highest number of visitors of any city in France.  When visiting Paris you are going to want to visit:  a) The Eiffel Tower, b) the Cathedral of Notre Dame and c) the Louvre for certain.  However that said, since the city is such a touristy venue, you can pick up a pass where you pay one price for many of the most celebrated attractions.  Saint Germain des Pres is a fashionable district and inside its boundaries you may visit the trendiest of shops and eateries.  The underground tombs known as the Catacombs are a somewhat eerie yet popular draw. Regardless of whether you venture into subterranean tombs or keep your focus above-ground, the charm of Paris can have a narcotic effect.

The next important venue for your consideration is Venice in Italy.  The city is full of canals and interesting bridges.  You can easily walk the city or take a ride down the canal by way of gondola.  The Italians offer the best in cuisine so the city is great to enjoy dining out.  The areas you walk are quite narrow incorporated with majestic squares, i.e. St. Mark’s as well as landmarks such as the Rialto Bridge.  Upon a visit, make it a point to travel to Maruno Island and catch a glimpse of the glass manufacturing business. 

A third important consideration is London.  Many people consider the cosmopolitan city one of the best in all of Europe because there is a lot going on and plenty to do. You will want to visit:  a) The Big Ben clock, b) Westminster Abbey, c) the Wax Museum of Madame Tussauds, d) Buckingham Palace, e) Convent Garden,  g) Kensington, h)  the London Eye, and for shopping,  Camden Market.  The market is the most preferred shopping location within the city. From London you can easily ride by train or travel by air to the countries of a) Wales, b) Ireland, or c) Scotland.

Another enjoyable vacation is had within Barcelona, Spain.  This top European environment provides the traveler a mix of Mediterranean and European cultures.  This is a festive type of city and events are on-going.  You can attain a sense of the history of the city by strolling through Barri Gotic—a medieval portion filled with cafes and old-style churches.  In conclusion, planning travel to any of these locations provides you with plenty of attractions to explore and keep you busy.

Technorati Tags: england, france, italy, London, paris, top destinations, venice

I’ll join everybody else… it’s in Africa right across from Spain.

For example : If you were taking a train from Italy to France, how much would it cost? Or if you were taking a train from Portugal to Switzerland how much do you think a train ticket would cost?

go to either www.raileurope.com or eurail.com then go to their fares chart and compare ticket prices.

Are the parents really in a position right now to go travelling around….i have kids and i’d be distraught…too distraught to travel anyway? how about you? what do you think?

it wont but its a great holiday for the parents