Europe Vacation and Travel

Paris perfect for solo trip

2009-02-20T12:50:00.001-05:00

What is your image of the solo traveller in Europe? Probably, it's a twentysomething wearing jeans and a backpack. Or maybe a suited business guy with a laptop. Well, why not a late middle-aged woman in Tilley travel clothes with a wheeled suitcase? Hey, that's me in France!
When it comes to vacations, I have a lifetime of baggage with no weight constraints. I moved from Ontario to Calgary in my early twenties leaving my family behind. No one warned me that I would spend almost all my vacations, for years to come, travelling back to Ontario to visit them.

When I finally accumulated enough to organize the trip to Europe that I missed in my 20s, travelling on my own agenda was a big factor in planning.

Make Tracks in Europe with this "Train Trio" Vacation Package

2009-02-20T12:38:00.001-05:00

Often, the most economical way to travel internationally is on a package: for instance, when you combine airfare, hotel accommodations and train transportation in this one flexible vacation you pay between 20 to 25% less than if you would purchase the various elements separately.

Take a look at this new "Train Trio" vacation package from Austrian Airlines Vacation Center - its ten-day itinerary includes roundtrip air from New York (JFK) or Washington (IAD), rail within Europe plus three consecutive nights each in Prague, Berlin and Amsterdam at just $1,999 per person, double occupancy. For travel during the peak summer months, the package price is $2,299. This "Train Trio" package is available for travel between April 1 and October 25, 2009. You'll travel in economy class on Austrian Airlines to Prague where you'll stay three nights in Hotel Victoria***. Then, board a second class train from Prague to Berlin for the next three nights in Express by Holiday Inn City Center***, and from there, travel by train to Amsterdam for the final portion of your "Train Trio" vacation.

In Amsterdam, enjoy three nights hotel accommodation in Hotel Avenue***or Hotel Bellevue***, both centrally-located superior tourist class properties, before flying back to the USA. Daily breakfast, hotel service charges and hotel taxes are included, and extension nights and upgrades are available upon request.

Traveler Beware: Vacationers Are Easy Marks For Thieves In Europe

2009-02-16T12:19:00.000-05:00

Thieves in Europe are apparently eagerly awaiting the daily arrival of tourists. After all, it's a non-ending cash flow for them. I have a friend who travels constantly and is wise to the wiles of thieves. He carries a cheap wallet filled with paper when riding public transportation. The thieves must have been very disappointed on two occasions.

Most of us are not so clever when it comes to protecting our travel assets. The following examples are actual thefts to frequent-traveler-friends where only the names have been changed. Geneva, Switzerland, a place one would normally trust, was the scene of a recent brazen theft during a ski holiday.

Paris leads vacation wish list

2009-02-16T12:14:00.002-05:00

Whether it's firm planning or just wishful thinking, bloggers have started swapping tips on vacation spots for 2009 with Paris, London and New York leading, while some travellers are looking to stay closer to home.

Zeta Interactive, a digital marketing services company, has found the 10 most "buzzworthy" travel destinations in the 30 days before 2009, using a formula measuring volumes of online posts on that destination and the tone -- positive or negative -- of the post.
CEO Al DiGuido said it not surprising that as temperatures plummeted in North America and Europe, bloggers started to talk about hot weather holidays and beach vacations with Sydney, Las Vegas and San Juan in Puerto Rico making the list.

All-Inclusive Uniworld Europe River Cruise Packages

2009-02-13T12:35:00.001-05:00

Savvy travelers know that all-inclusive vacations are the way to go, so they aren't faced with surprise expenses for transportation, meals or accommodations while they're on vacation. All of Uniworld's Europe River Cruises are all-inclusive which means luxurious riverview staterooms, all meals with complimentary fine wine, beer, and soft drinks during dinner onboard company-owned ships, fully guided shore excursions, and all transfers on arrival and departure days.

Travelers can reduce their costs by booking their trips in advance. Couples who would like to place a deposit on a 2009 Europe River Cruise can save up to $600 by booking and depositing by April 30, 2009, with Uniworld's Spring Savings Offer. Plus, the Spring Savings offer is combinable with Uniworld's incredible 2 for 1 Free Air offer for all Europe cruises departing in 2009. For any new bookings made to Europe s on or before February 27, 2009, Uniworld will offer each travel companion a FREE Air Ticket for International economy travel to Europe when the first traveler pays Uniworld's 2009 published brochure rates.

HomeAway Boosts European Listings with Acquisition of Homelidays

2009-02-13T12:34:00.000-05:00

HomeAway, Inc., the world's leading online vacation rental marketplace, today announced its acquisition of Paris-based Homelidays SAS. Homelidays operates Homelidays.com, the largest pan-European for-rent-by-owner vacation rental or "self-catering" site, featuring more than 40,000 listings. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition further strengthens the company's global leadership position in this rapidly growing $48 billion segment of the travel industry. HomeAway® now features more than 360,000 worldwide properties and operates the number one and two vacation rental sites in France, United Kingdom and United States and the number one sites in Germany and Italy.
The news follows the company's record $250 million equity capital raise in November 2008. As a result, HomeAway is in an excellent position to continue to fund strategic growth initiatives, such as this acquisition, and marketing investments to increase the awareness of vacation rentals as a great value alternative to hotels.

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net

A European Ski Safari: Three Countries, Seven Resorts, Five Days ...

2009-02-04T09:54:00.001-05:00

With numerous skiing opportunities in North America, its easy to overlook the potential of the European Alps. It's not cheap to get there and you lose valuable mountain time in making such a mammoth trip.I'm a Brit.

I learned to ski in Switzerland 20 years ago. There's a tradition for UK winter sports enthusiasts to stick to just one country, or even one resort, for their annual break. For many years, I followed the crowd. Austria was my country of choice and I was happy to sample its many delights year upon year. But then I met Jeff Bateman, a rather remarkable man who is one of the few Alps-based tour operators specializing in the concept of a ski safari. He's the man who can make your visit to the Alps a multi-national experience to remember.

For the things we love Europe for

2009-02-04T09:40:00.001-05:00

25 Reasons Europe is Great and Peculiar to Americans:

When a friend from Germany calls you and tells you that her vacation is coming up and he is thinking of going to Belgium for chocolate shopping and then to Normandy (northern France) for caramel liquor and on the way back will check out a play on the West End of London, you start thinking about your ten-day vacation and, based on your relatively remote location, about the realistic locations you could visit in ten days, taken you are allowed to take all ten days at once.

My point is, you start to wonder and day-dream of what your life would have been like if you’ve lived in Europe. Anywhere in Europe, that is.

Cheaper Vacations in France Help Beat Recession

2009-02-04T09:38:00.000-05:00

Road trip in France Beats Recession BluesExpert Describes Why France Is A Good, Cheap Bet in Down Economy. The good thing about the depressed economy is that in today's global marketplace, it means the economy is down everywhere, making once-expensive trips affordable.

For instance, travel to France has decreased in cost every year for the last 4 years, and since April, the dollar has gained nearly 20 percent against the Euro. This means it is cheaper than ever to get to Europe, and one expert recommends seeing the sights the old fashioned way - by car.

Ireland's vibrancy makes it a favorite

2009-01-24T08:47:00.001-05:00

Born in Blackpool and raised in Manchester, England, actor John Mahoney moved to the U.S. at age 19, enlisted in the Army and was quickly shipped back to Europe. After graduating from Quincy College and getting a master's degree in English at Western Illinois University, he settled in Chicago, taught English but decided he'd be happier acting. At age 37, after just two acting classes, he was invited by John Malkovich to join Steppenwolf Theater Company; he's been a member for three decades and currently stars in "The Seafarer," running through Feb. 22.

Mahoney, 68, has homes in Chicago and Oak Park—"This is where I was born to live," he said of the city—and is best known for his long run as Marty Crane on the television show "Frasier."

Q What's your favorite vacation spot?

A Galway City, Ireland, because not only is it so beautiful and vibrant, it is also perfectly located for trips up and down the coast to the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, the Aran Islands and the Ring of Kerry. I've been there about 12 times. I worked at the Galway Arts Festival, did an evening with T-Bone Burnett, went with Northlight Theater and was invited by the Abbey Theatre to do a play. The audiences are great there. I didn't hear a candy wrapper; they didn't move. I was out with Tom Murphy, the playwright, and he said, "Theater's sacred to the Irish people."

Q What's your favorite hotel?

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net

Disney Cruise Line Ranked As No. 1 Cruise Experience

2009-01-24T08:43:00.000-05:00

Disney Cruise Line was recently named the top large cruise ship experience by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the 9th annual “Reader’s Cruise Poll.” The Cruise Poll recognizes the best cruise ships as voted on by Condé Nast Traveler readers. Winners were determined by a survey of more than 11,000 participants who rated 400 ships. Participants were asked to rate ships based on specific criteria including: staterooms, activities, service, design and layout, dining, itineraries and shore excursions. LaughingPlace.com recommends MouseEarVacations.com - the Official Travel Agency of LaughingPlace.com - for all your Disney travel needs.

“We are pleased to receive this honor from the readers of such an esteemed travel publication,” said Tom McAlpin, President of Disney Cruise Line. “Winning the No. 1 spot is a testament to the beauty of our ships and the dedication our cast and crew members have in creating an unparalleled vacation for every member of the family.”

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net

With a tour to Europe, take a much needed break with all preparations

2009-01-06T08:27:00.000-05:00

A very amazing destination for holiday is Europe which will take your breath away with the beauty that the place has been endowed with. It sometimes becomes very important for us to take a break from the busy schedules of our lives and Europe is just the right place for the purpose. A tour to Europe will make it so much easier for you to arrange everything. Tour to Europe provides all the services that you need to organize and manage your trip to this beautiful country.

The scenic beauty, the breathtaking wonders natural and man-made, are simply too much to absorb. The natural beauty of the place in destinations like Greece, Cyprus, Switzerland, etc is a completely different sight from any other part of the world. The architectural wonders present in Rome, France, etc are also something beyond any competition levels.

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net

Central Europe Guided & Escorted Tours

2009-01-04T09:04:00.002-05:00

Central European Vacations & Tours: Looking for a once in a lifetime Vienna travel experience? Book a Europe vacation or tour with Gate 1 Travel, the premier provider of Central Europe travel packages. Browse our Prague vacation packages and Budapest tours below to find the getaway that’s perfect for you. See the world in style with Gate 1 Travel.

Tour Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, Russia and the Baltic States on these escorted, motor coach bus tours including flights, hotel accommodations, transfers, transportation, meals and sightseeing. A professional English-speaking tour manager handles all of the group's needs throughout your tour of Central and Eastern Europe.

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net/

Cheap Europe Vacation: Roam in Europe Within Your Budget

2008-12-31T18:22:00.000-05:00

Europe has so much so beautiful and hot tourist destinations in it that it has always been the centre of attraction for tourists of different places.

The natural sights, man-made monuments, historical places, museums, theatres, traditional customs and lifestyle of this second largest continent is loved by all. So, would you not like having a trip to this splendid place? For keeping everything within your budget you can even choose to opt for the cheap Europe vacation.

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net

Pound's flirtation with euro parity hits tourists

2008-12-30T14:38:00.001-05:00

LONDON (AP) — British tourists going to continental Europe to celebrate the New Year were getting fewer euros for their pounds on Tuesday than at any time since the common European currency's 1999 launch.

The pound's relentless fall showed no sign of letting up and currency analysts said it was only a matter of time before the official exchange rate hits one pound per euro. Officially, a pound was still worth slightly more than a euro on Tuesday, hovering at a near-record low of euro1.0240 after sustaining falls of 13 percent against the euro this month alone. But many tourists changing their money to go on vacation were already getting less than a pound for each euro, as exchange booth rates are usually slightly lower than rates on financial markets.

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net

Europe Flights Last Minute - Last Minute Vacation

2008-12-30T14:36:00.000-05:00

Agreed, Europe is a hustling and bustling tourist destination. The climate is extremely conducive here, with both the best climatic choices of the earth - West European and Mediterranean - present here round the year. Plus, there is a vast assortment of touristy places such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower, the Centre Georges Pompidou, the Cologne Cathedral, the Stonehenge... the list is endless.

It is absolutely no wonder that tourists are attracted to Europe like bees to nectar.However, there are ways to get last minute tickets if you really need them. And you can get them from your home itself. Do a search on the Internet on 'Europe press releases tours' and see what shows up. You will see so many travel packages, some of them leaving within the next day or two. That means, if you try for a package instead of individual flights, you stand a much better chance of getting your Europe flights last minute.

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net

Portugal's Algarve Coast: Europe's best kept secret

2008-12-29T19:23:00.001-05:00

The Holiday Season is everyone's favorite time of year -- it's when friends and family get together to share in the joys of the season. It's a time to look back at events of the old year and look forward to the new one that's just ahead. It's also a time to start planning next year's vacation. Whether it's to be a winter sunshine break, or the main holiday of the year, this is an opportunity to agree upon the perfect destination to please everyone - but finding that special place can be a daunting challenge. Many who set out on the mission with the very best of intentions, determined to find somewhere different and special, give up in frustration. After searching through innumerable travel brochures and websites, looking for brilliant ideas from travel agents and friends, find no inspiration at all and eventually return to the same, familiar places where they have spent vacations in the past.

Most of us travel to discover new places and savor new experiences and that's something you are not going to find if you keep returning to the same old familiar ground. It's time to be a little more adventurous and try someplace different. It's time to think just a little bit outside of the box and these days Europe might be the most tempting of all. If you think you already know Europe, chances are you may not be familiar with one of the most charming corners of the entire continent -- Portugal, Europe's best kept vacation secret.

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net

Eastern Europe Travel Guide

2008-12-29T19:09:00.001-05:00

Once virtually off limits to Western tourists, places such as Prague, Budapest, and Warsaw have come alive again, opening the doors that were once welded shut. All three nations have welcomed and embraced their newly-found tourist economies. Most of Eastern Europe is still a great travel bargain, so pack a few extra bags for the goodies you'll want to carry home with you!
The currency in the Czech Republic is the koruna, in Hungary the forint, and in Poland the zloty. Prices below are expressed in U.S. dollars for convenience; check the rate of exchange prior to arrival in Europe.

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net

Visiting four of Europe's smallest gems

2008-12-27T13:09:00.001-05:00

If you can identify the five smallest countries in continental Europe, you get a gold star. If you know where they are on the map, you should be on "Jeopardy." And if you have visited them, you don't get anything else; you have already been rewarded.

The tiniest, Vatican City, is undeniably the most influential. The next smallest, Monaco, gets very noisy in May. The third most diminutive, San Marino, was the hilltop hideout of an escaped slave. The fourth, Liechtenstein, is widely considered a beautiful Alpine tax haven. The fifth, Andorra, has the highest average life expectancy in the world at 83.4 years. Together they take up less space than the Hawaiian island of Oahu, have survived by slipping through history's cracks and are much fancied by tourists, especially in fall, when the crowds have departed.

Find more Europe information at http://www.europe.thevacationzone.net