Travel Tips
Get great tips about travelling smart, having fun and saving!
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Train Travel
As a relatively new traveler, I search the Internet endlessly to find out information about my potential travel destinations and also to learn travel tips that could help me save money and stress.
I am planning a summer trip to a few European countries with some friends, and we planned on using the Eurail pass. When doing research on the much acclaimed pass, I came across an article from the editors of hidden Europe Magazine that offered this valuable advice.
- In their opinion, with a little advance planning, travelers can often get far greater savings by pre-purchasing destination to destination tickets. Deemed promotional fares, they are available from the various rail operators in Europe, often through online sales. I definitely plan to check this out; perhaps it will save us money just by buying our tickets in advance. While we won’t have as much flexibility, if the savings are great – it will be worth the preplanning.
- Here’s a great example of the savings that can be had… If visiting Wales, one option is a four-day BritRail Pass for around $329. Another option is to purchasing a Freedom of Wales tickets for a much cheaper $140 that provides four days travel within Wales and the border areas of England for eight days. Another perk, you can also use the pass on some bus services in Wales.
- Another great option if on a France vacation is to use the French TGV rail system. While it can be expensive to simply show up and purchase a ticket, booking directly through their website (in French) will give you some great deals. Book as far in as advance as possible and plan to travel on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday with flexible travel times for the best deals.
So, I’m convinced it is worth my time and effort to investigate purchasing tickets through the local travel authorities instead of a global pass through Eurail. Hey, if it saves me quite a bit of cash, that means I can plan a longer European vacation!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Dining Out During Your Paris Vacation
My friend lived in Paris for about five years. He made it his mission while there to indulge in as much fine dining as his wallet and waistline would allow! According to him, dining out as much as possible should be an important consideration when planning your Paris vacation itinerary. Since he has experienced so many Paris restaurants, I asked him to compile a list of absolute must dine locations for every Paris visitor.
- Gaya – Part of the bistro modern trend happening in France right now, Gaya is considered the baby bistro of its much more expensive parent Pierre Gagnaire. With plastic tables, it doesn’t have the suave and sophisticated feel of the other, yet the food was superb and probably only costs about a quarter of the cost of eating at Pierre Gagnaire.
- Le Comptoir du Relais – The perfect spot for those on a Paris vacation, this bistro serves up tantalizing food for a paltry cost. You’ll enjoy your meal in an old art deco room. While the menu is small, the kitchen uses amazing ingredients and combines flavors to create some of the best food my friend ever had. The best part is it is unbelievably affordable – especially by Paris standards!
- Besson’s – Classically French, this prix fixe menu serves amazing food that you’ll remember for a lifetime. Be prepared to enjoy foie gras, crêpes, Grand Veneur and of course, luscious French desserts. This is a restaurant where you linger and savor every bite – they are in no hurry to rush you out the door.
- Bechu – A café/bakery that has won Paris’s best baguette contest is definitely worth the trip for anyone who loves delicious baked goods. Don’t get discouraged by the lineup, there is a constant stream of people waiting for their prize winning baguettes. Great place to pick up items for an informal picnic!
Your Paris vacation just wouldn’t be complete without visiting some of its most renowned restaurants, bistros and bakeries. I’m going on my own Paris vacation this summer, and I can’t wait to visit these mouthwatering locales!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Free Things To Do On Your London Vacation
If you are like me, you love to travel. You love it so much that as soon as you are home from a vacation, you are already planning the next one. I have the travel bug… and I have it bad.
However, my income just doesn’t keep up with my love for travel! Therefore, I had to make a choice – travel as inexpensively as possible and stay within my budgets so that I can squeeze more trips in to more exotic locales.
We are going on a family London vacation this summer and I know that the entry fees to all the museums, attractions, castles etc. will quickly add up. So, to keep costs down, I started doing some research on free events and things to do while in London. While most things will cost you money in London, a few things won’t cost you a penny – or pence! In the spirit of sharing, I thought I’d post my list of free things to do on a London vacation!
- Speaker’s Corner – Probably the most popular free thing to do in London is to visit Speaker’s Corner based at the Marble Arch end of Hyde Park. The speakers gather on Sunday mornings, and from what I’ve read, it can be thought provoking, humorous or just plain weird. I look forward to seeing what all the fuss is about!
- Tate Modern Museum - Tate Modern is the national gallery of international modern and contemporary art from 1900 onwards. Admission is free and not surprisingly, the museum gets over 4 million visitors per year. Another great find!
- Museum of London – Actually, all of London’s major museums are free. The Museum of London documents the history of London with seven permanent exhibition galleries telling the story of London from prehistoric times until the end of the 19th century. Special exhibitions change regularly and will usually showcase info about modern London.
- Changing of the Guard – No London vacation would be complete without viewing this royal pomp and circumstance. The Queen’s Guard changes in the Forecourt inside the gates at 11:30 every day in summer and every other day in winter.
- Buskers – Always entertaining and free (but consider tipping these hard working performers) the West Piazza of Covent Garden Market has performers every afternoon. All performers are licensed and had to pass an audition to perform at this locale so you can be guaranteed of some good caliber, and free entertainment.
- Music – If you like Jazz, be sure to go over to the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank on Friday’s from 5:15pm to hear Commuter Jazz!
I hope you get to experience your own London vacation in the near future! If your budget is tight or you would like to stretch your travel dollars, consider adding some of these freebies to your itinerary.
Monday, June 23, 2008
I’m Going On A France Vacation With The Girls!
Like many women in their 20’s and 30’s, I recently went on a girl’s night out to see Sex in the City. It was great fun and inspired my group of girlfriends to plan a girl’s only trip. We thought it would be a truly memorable experience to get away and bond at a beautiful locale where we can relax and forget about our busy lives for a few days.
Women find getting away an ideal way to recharge our batteries so that we can bring even more to our families, husbands and careers. Yet, with busy lives, spending quality girl’s time together often is put on the backburner.
Not this year, we have made a firm commitment – let’s even call it a pact – to make sure we leave our careers and families for a France vacation.
I’m so pumped because I haven’t been to France since I was 19 years old! I have really fond memories and remember it as my favorite country of the 11 I visited in Europe. As we’ve started the planning process, I’ve realized that there are a few essential tips necessary for planning a successful girlfriend getaway. Here are my thoughts – feel free to add your own in the comment section!
- Plan Ahead – We’ve found that to get a date that fits all six of us, we had to really plan ahead. In our case, nine months ahead, but I would guesstimate that six months would likely work too. By planning ahead, it gives us more time to anticipate the trip and make all the arrangements for the trip and for our families while we are away.
- Remember That Planning is Half The Fun – Well for most of us anyway. Two of my girlfriends hate organizing stuff so they have pretty much stated carte blanche that they’ll be happy with whatever we decide. The four of us are having a great time planning our France vacation as we pour over travel guides, find great websites and start to narrow down the details of our time away.
- Don’t Forget To Splurge – We’ve really taken the attitude that it may be years, even decades before we get to do this again – so we are splurging on a few things. We’ve got a full spa day planned and we are going to a few renowned restaurants. Life is too short, so this vacation is not a time to be pinching pennies.
- Have Fun! – Of course, we plan to have a great time and we’re going to all try to take the attitude to ‘not sweat the small stuff’. This is our time to spend some quality female time together and we plan to make the most of our decadent France vacation! We are counting down the days and cannot wait for it to arrive!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Travel To Scotland in 2009!
My grandmother was born in Scotland, so it always has held a special place in my heart. In fact, it is one place I have always meant to visit; I just haven’t had the time or opportunity…yet. I came across this website announcing that 2009 is the year of the Scotland homecoming. Sounds like the perfect reason to plan my dream trip.
In 2009, Scotland will celebrate it’s first ever homecoming year – created to mark the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s national poet – Robert Burns. The entire country is gearing up and all types of organizations are planning activities and celebrations so it will be difficult to narrow down the itinerary! If you are interested, there is a great calendar of events that will be updated continuously as events are finalized.
Those in the tourism industry in Scotland hope that some of the 100 million people worldwide with blood links to Scotland (just like me!) will visit and take in the amazing cultural, sporting and historical events that are planned. The more I am researching the country, the more pumped I am to visit. Simply put – Scotland looks breathtaking. It looks like natural beauty abounds from every corner of the country!
The homecoming Scotland website has loads of information and every some great travel tips. In addition, the great Virgin Vacations packages will help make this dream trip more affordable. If you have Scottish blood and even if you don’t, I hope you will travel to Scotland in 2009 and help celebrate the homecoming!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Consider A Cycling Trip? Don’t Forget These Essentials!
A friend and I started small with our first cycling trip, just taking a 4-day trip around the local areas from our hometown. However, this summer, we are embarking on the trip of a lifetime and have decided to do a cycling trip in Europe. Based on a lot of research, we choose France due to the wonderful variety of countryside and scenery that’s in store for us.
As we were making our list of essentials for the trip, I thought it might be useful to others, hence the blog posting. Since we will be carrying everything ourselves, it is extra important that we pack wisely, and lightly!
Here’s what we’re planning on bringing – if there are any cycling trip veterans out there – I’d love to hear your comments or advice! Our trip includes 10 days of cycling (and a side tour booked through Virgin Vacations) but I’ve concentrated this list on what we need for the cycling portion of our journey. (We also plan on doing laundry along the way).
- Five sets of socks and underwear
- Three sets of cycling clothing (1 pair pants, 2 pair’s shorts, 1 long sleeve and 2 short sleeve shirts).
- Rain poncho (my cycling pants are waterproof)
- One outfit for evenings out
- Two water bottles (we’ve been told to fill them every chance we get!)
- Small flashlight
- Cycling repair kit for tires and bike (we’ve both taken bike repair courses so that we’ll be prepared if anything happens)
- Sunscreen and chap stick
- Toiletries (travel size and only what’s absolutely necessary)
- Small, soft cooler bag for snacks and lunches
- Maps and itinerary
Everything I’ve read says not to worry too much about forgetting something as all the small towns and villages will have shops where we can buy anything we need.
On a side note, the Tour de France is running during the month of July, so we’ve put it into our schedule to catch one of the stages of this unbelievable event. These amazing athletes cover an unbelievable 3,500 kms in a variety of terrains so it will be a really exciting addition to our cycling adventure to see them in action!
We are both counting down the days until our journey and cannot wait to post all about it when we return!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Three France Tours Not To Be Missed
I have relatives in France, so I travel there frequently. Even though I am visiting family, I always take time to discover new areas of the country by going on France tours. France is a wonderful country with so much diversity and an abundance of unique places to visit. I thought I’d write a quick blog posting on my three favorite France tours!
Culinary Tour – It really doesn’t matter what type of culinary tour you pick, I just highly recommend that anyone who has a love of fine food add this type of tour to his or her itinerary. A culinary tour gives you an opportunity to truly indulge in the fine foods and wines of France. I personally took my culinary tour in Provence and even had the opportunity to learn a bit of French cooking with the cooking classes that were included. My tour included the hands on cooking lessons, visits to local markets and vineyards and excursions in the area. Of course, it also included tasting some of the best culinary creations and wines of my life! I have extremely fond memories of my weeklong experience. 
A list of my favorite France tours wouldn’t be complete without a tour featuring Paris. I happened to book Virgin Vacation’s Paris Escape and added on two tours to this package. The Bateaux Mouche River Cruise was fabulous and it crossed under Paris’s many bridges on the River Seine and we had the chance to view many of the famous monuments all lit up. It was a unique way to see Paris! I also booked the Secret Paris tour where the tour was conducted in an amazing convertible car (Citroen 2CV) driven by a very knowledgeable chauffeur. It was a great way to see some unique sites of Paris and learn little known facts! 
Another area that must be seen during a France holiday is the southern coast. Often thought of as a haven for the rich and famous, the south coast of France is perfect for any type of traveler. Consider booking a small group tour through this area and make sure the itinerary includes the place you’d like to see (Cannes, St. Tropez, Nice etc). Another idea that a friend of mine did was to rent a private vacation home and then she hired a company that offered daily excursions in their van. She said it was an amazing and entertaining way to see the South of France. She gained a great appreciation for the French lifestyle, its culture and friendly people. There are many tour operators out there, just be sure to do your homework to ensure they are reputable and will provide the experience you are looking for.
France tours are a wonderful way to experience this unique and exciting country. I hope these travel hints help you with your travel planning. Best wishes for happy and safe travels!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Go Pub Crawling With UK Vacation Packages!
If you were born and raised in the U.S., then you probably have little appreciation for the UK pub culture. On a recent UK vacation package, I got to experience just how important the pub is to the culture of the locals.
In fact, according to Wikipedia, there are approximately 57,500 pubs in the UK – one in almost every city, town and village! So you should have little trouble finding your own favorite pub when you travel in the area.
The pub represents a place you can go for a friendly smile, good (and usually cheap) eats, and it’s a place to relax and connect with family and friends.
Every pub I visited during my UK trip to Scotland, Ireland and England was filled with friendly locales that were more than willing to regale me with wonderfully rich stories and of course, recommendations of what I positively needed to see during my trip. Since eating out can be really expensive in many corners of the UK, the pubs were a welcome respite from the high cost of restaurants.
Of course, I did get to enjoy a local favorite the Toad in the Hole. While I always thought a Toad in the Hole was a fried egg in the middle of a piece of toast, I learned on my trip that a true Toad in the Hole is a delicious mix of mashed potatoes, caramelized onions and sausages put together in a Yorkshire pudding and covered in gravy. Not for the diet minded, this tasty treat became a quick favorite of mine.
While I was somewhat haphazard in finding pubs during my UK vacation package adventure, there are some travelers who plan in advance what pubs they are going to visit. I came across this interesting blog http://barblog.co.uk/ that gives you reviews on many of the UK pubs and bars. Might be worthwhile to find some with top reviews and put them on your list of things to do during your own vacation.
If you are booking a UK vacation package in the near future, be sure to visit pubs along the way. I hope you’ll find them to be inviting, delicious just plain old fun!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Travel To Italy and Experience an Amazing Site
I just got back from an amazing two-week trip to Italy with my mom and sister. It was a once in a lifetime trip for the three of us and we savored every glorious moment. I just had to write about one amazing experience that we never planned during our travels to Italy – the annual floral street art in Fucecchio, Tuscany.
Fucecchio is the Province of Florence and the village takes advantage of the Tuscan farms surrounding it. The restaurants, wine cellars and Inns all offer local products and the municipality organizes loads of events to promote rural productions and traditional dishes.
But, what I wanted to write about is the annual event where this village puts together amazing pictures made from floral petals. The complexity and difficulty of the pictures is absolutely astounding, especially when you consider that every inch of the picture is made from flower petals. It was amazing to view these gorgeous floral pictures lying in the center of the village’s streets.
Although it may be too late for you to witness this floral wonder this year, I highly recommend anyone who will be in the region during the end of May/beginning of June make there way to this village to witness this very special event. In fact, the entire region of Tuscany is abuzz at this time of year as festivals take over piazzas as the locals celebrate pretty much everything imaginable like strawberries, tortelli, and even fried frogs! Next time you travel to Italy, plan a stop in Tuscany and be sure to visit Fucecchio!
Monday, June 02, 2008
France Travel Deals!
With all the talk about fuel surcharges and travel being more expensive than ever before, I’m here to tell you that there still are some terrific France travel deals to be had! There’s nothing like visiting France in the summer or fall, so now’s the time to get searching and find your own France travel deals so that you too can experience this once in a lifetime vacation destination!
Here are three cities (besides Paris) in France that you may want to consider visiting during your own trip to France.
- Lyon – Lyon is the second largest city in France and is filled with great museums, delicious cuisine and wonderful shops. Easily reached from Paris, you’ll want to visit the famous Opera of Lyon. One of the specialties of Lyon is fondue so if you love dipping bread in gooey cheeses or meat in tasty broths, be sure to taste it in Lyon! Also, if you love antiquing, you cannot go wrong in Lyon. Check out Quartier Auguste-Comte for some fabulous vintage finds!
- Avignon – Another great city to visit is Avignon. About two and a half hours from Paris by train, you’ll love this quaint and beautiful destination. Take a stroll along the famed Avignon Bridge and walk the rue des Lices and rue Joseph Vernet. If you like impressionist art, you won’t want to miss the Fondation Angladon-Dubruieaud with an impressive selection of impressionist paintings!
- Bordeaux – If you are a wine lover, then you must schedule time to visit Bordeaux, the capital of the Gironde. Bordeaux is much more than wine – this city offers beautiful 18th century buildings with unique stone face sculptures. You’ll also want to visit the Garonne riverfront with fine 18th century buildings. You can even take a tour of the Musee National des Douanes.
I try to visit France every few years because it truly is my favorite European country. I find it offers so much and I discover something new each time I visit. I hope you find some terrific France travel deals so that you can book your own French adventure! Bon voyage!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Paris Tours You Cannot Miss!
I love Paris. What’s not to love? It’s quaint, metropolitan, cultural, historical, and beautiful. In my mind, it is the ultimate vacation destination.
Here are my five favorite Paris tours that I hope you’ll enjoy the next time you visit the city of lights!
- The Paris Pass – While not really a Paris tour, the Paris Pass is your ultimate tool to seeing the best attractions in Paris. Prices vary based on the dates and number of days the pass is valid. Here’s what you get:
- Paris map
- Free entry to over 60 attractions and sites
- Free public transportation
- Fast track entry to major sites like the Pantheon, Arc de Triomphe, Centre Pompidou, Musee d’Orsay, the Louvre and more!
- Moulin Rouge – In my opinion, everyone should experience the dinner and show at Moulin Rouge at least once in their lifetime. It’s a great way to indulge in the exhilarating nightlife of Paris while you enjoy a three course dinner and witness the Paris Moulin Rouge, home of the French Cancan in bohemian Montmartre. The food served is traditional French food and of course, wine and champagne. It’s important to book early, as this attraction is extremely popular.
- Versailles Half-Day Tour – While I guess this shouldn’t technically be in my post about Paris tours, but it is such a great experience that I think everyone visiting Paris should take. You can experience the splendor of the Palace of Versailles with a wide range of half-day tours from Paris. It is a wonderful way to retrace the history of the famous palace and learn more about Louis XIV. Most tours include a chance to browse the marvelous gardens and witness the amazing Fountain Show.
- Louvre Museum – I first visited the Louvre when I was 19 years old and the amazing works of art the museum contains captivated me. You could easily spend an entire vacation in this magical place. I recommend a guided tour to get the most out of the museum. Be sure your tour will include seeing the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
- Eiffel Tower – It is so iconic, that you simply must visit the Eiffel Tower while in Paris. I personally recommend an illumination tour so you can truly experience the marvelous city of lights. On an illuminations tour, you watch Paris transform after dark. Most tours include stops at the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Trocadero, Invalides, Notre Dame Cathedral and Place du Chatelet.
Paris tours abound and there is no shortage of ways to experience the city and keep busy. I hope you get to enjoy your own Paris tours in the coming months – trust me, you won’t be disappointed and make sure to visit my older blog post about tips on saving money in Paris and elsewhere as for you will find it to be very helpful!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Review of My London Vacation With Virgin Vacations
I just got back from a London vacation that I booked with Virgin Vacations. I went on their 3 Night London Fling as my fiancé and I just wanted a quick trip before all the crazy wedding stuff starts.
It was amazing! We had the best time and we were thoroughly happy with all the arrangements made through Virgin. Our package included round trip air, 3 nights hotel (with private bath – which is a luxury in London), and continental breakfast.
Our flight arrived on time with no problems. We immediately made our way from the airport, into the city to the K West Hotel & Spa. We were really happy with the locale of the hotel because it is situated in Shepherds Bush – which is about a 3-minute walk to the tube (the subway). The hotel was awesome and had everything we need. I can see why it has won the Best Hotel in London award in the past.
Some of the benefits of the hotel were:
- Great location
- Spacious rooms – nicely decorated
- Great, funky lounge with comfy oversized chairs
- Awesome gym (even though we were only there for 3 days, I still made use of the gym cause I got to fit into my wedding dress!)
Some of the stuff we did during our three-day mini-trip!
- Buckingham Palace – I’ve never been on a London vacation before so seeing the palace was tops on my list. From May to July, they perform the changing of the guard daily. Definitely worth scheduling your trip around so that you can witness t! Check www.changing-the-guard.com for daily schedules. Also, there is a changing of the guard at Windsor Castle that is similar to the Buckingham Palace display. When I was there, it took place at 11:00am.
- Another must see for my London vacation was visiting Westminster Abbey. I have a thing for old churches and this one did not disappoint. If you are religious, you might want to attend a service (they take place daily as they have for over 1400 years!). Details are available on their website at www.westminster-abbey.org.
- Camden Market – Since I’m a bit of a shopping nut, a friend suggested visiting Camden Market for at least a few hours. Camden actually consists of six busy open air and indoor markets, each having a distinctive flavor. Awesome to see the crowds, shops, bars and restaurants, you could easily whittle away several hours in this area! Located in Camden Town, North West London.
- London Walks – Of course…my fiancé and I wanted to experience British pub life so we went on London Walks (oldest urban walking tour in the world) – we took a nighttime walking tour to three different pubs in different neighborhoods. It was awesome! We got to meet some lively locals and made friends with other tourists. Highly recommend this tour – especially if you are tight on time as we were. They offer all types of different tours; check out www.walks.com for more info and pricing.
- Museums – Amsterdam is home to many museums (I believe there are at least 37!). So truly, you could spend your entire trip traipsing through amazing museums. Visit Museum Quarter where you’ll find three of the main museums, - Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum.
- Historic Sites – Amsterdam also has many historic sites worth viewing. My favorite is Anne Frankhuis. You get an opportunity to visit the actual building where Anne Frank, her family and friends hid during the German Occupation. It is a somber place where you can see the once hidden rooms that contain memorabilia and the presence of these special people who spent two years of their lives hidden behind the walls.
- Dam Square – When you travel to Amsterdam, a great starting place is Dam Square that lies in the centre of Amsterdam. You will see locals and tourists all intermingling around the terrific shops, market stalls, cafes, bars and restaurants. When in Dam Square, make sure you visit the Koninkliik Palace – this is where the Dutch royal family used to live and can be found on the west side of Dam Square.
- Amsterdam By Canal – If you are taking the time to travel to Amsterdam, then you must explore the city from its unique canals. The canals truly are one of Amsterdam’s most famous attributes. Three main canals surround the inner city: Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht.
- Artis Zoo – Well, I’m a bit of a zoo fanatic and I had to visit the oldest zoo in the country. Founded in 1838, Artis Zoo features an amazing aquarium (complete with a salt-water section and fresh water tank), a wonderful Planetarium, botanical garden, Zoological Museum and Geological Museum. A really fascinating way to spend a day!
- Marseille - Definitely worth a visit, Marseille features an old port, lively markets, wonderful and delicious harbourside restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.
- Aix En Provence - Considered one of France’s most graceful and popular cities it features a fusion of majestic public squares, shaded avenues and mossy fountains. Located only 25kms from Marseille, why not pop by for an afternoon of sightseeing.
- The Vaucluse - I found this area to be the most picturesque of all I visited. Many of the towns amazingly date back to Roman times and you’ll find unbelievable Gallo-Roman structures. Be sure to visit some of the towns on market days when everything bursts into life. This area is home to Avignon. If you visit in the summer, try to time your visit with the annual performing arts festival.
- Arles & The Camargue - Famed for being home to Vincent Van Gogh, one travel book I read said that it is easy to see why the painter may have found Arles both soothing and visually exciting. I love the fact that little has changed since Van Gogh painted the city’s winding streets and shady squares. Bullfighting is very popular here and the city comes alive on fight days.
- Northeastern Provence - In the northeastern section of Provence, the land of sun and olive trees meets the land of snow and melted cheese! Consider visiting the town of Digne-Les-Bains, a laid back town named for its thermal springs. The town holds a large festival in August in honor of Lavender production and I’m told it is worth the trip.
Why not book your own trip because a London vacation is an awesome way to spend your precious holidays!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Travel to Amsterdam and Experience These Top Five Sites!
I love Amsterdam. It is such a unique city that truly is unlike any other place I’ve visited. Since I’ve been there a few times, I thought I’d give you my top five sites.
I hope you get the opportunity to travel to Amsterdam in the near future. It is a wonderfully compact city (consider traveling around by bicycle as the city is very bike friendly) and there are many things to see and do!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Go Provence!
As far as I’m concerned, going on a France vacation without visiting Provence is like having an ice-cream cone without the ice cream. Provence is by far by very favorite part of France - a place I could visit again and again.
Not only is Provence beautiful, but it is also a historically and culturally rich region with so many things to keep you busy every hour of the day. Yet, my favorite part of Provence is the region’s rich abundance of fresh produce and seafood accompanied by some of the best wine I’ve ever tasted (and so reasonably priced too!)
Provence stretches along both sides of the River Rhone from just north of Orange down to the Mediterranean, and along France’s southern coast from the Camargue salt marshes in the west to Marseille in the east.
It really is a wonderful place to visit no matter the time of year. For much of the year you will experience bright, sunny and dry conditions. The exception is the cold, dry winds of the mistral that strike southwards down the Rhone Valley. The first time I experienced the mistral I was surprised how quickly it turned a wonderful spring day into a blustery, winter one. Hopefully, your France vacation won’t coincide with the unpredictable mistral winds that can reach speeds of more than 100km/hour and can damage crops, cause forest fires and keep everyone inside. Typically, this weather condition is more common in winter and spring.
Provence covers a rather large area and it is broken up into five areas:
I love everything about Provence and dream of retiring there some day. I hope you’ll have your own opportunity to visit this wonderful land on a France vacation and gather up your own wonderful Provence experiences!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Europe In Style Is Possible With Virgin Vacations!
Even with the tightening U.S. economy, Europe doesn’t have to be off limits to travelers this summer. In fact, with Virgin Vacations unbelievable packages, Europe could be even more affordable than you imagined. Many of Virgin’s most popular packages are so valuable and thrifty; you could spend a week or more traipsing across Europe for even less than staying at a resort on home soil.
Just check out some of these incredible deals!
Paris - Why not spend four amazing nights in the City of Lights with the Paris Escape, a special four night package featuring roundtrip flight, 4 nights hotel accommodations, continental breakfast daily, and all mandated fuel surcharges. Starting at only $849 per person (for travel during September and October - summer months slightly more expensive) makes this package in the budget for just about everybody!
Compare this with other travel sites that are offering similar packages for at least $100 more.
London - London is an ideal summer vacation destination. With loads to see and do, you can pack every minute with fun and frolic. Virgin Vacations comes to the rescue with packages so affordable, you’ll feel like you are living like a queen!
Why not book Virgin’s incredibly popular London’s Six Night Fling package featuring roundtrip air to London, 6 night hotel accommodations with private bath, continental breakfast, hotel taxes and surcharges, and mandated fuel surcharges. For the summer months, packages start at a reasonable $1299 per person, or hold off until early fall and visit in September or October for a mere $1029 per person plus airport taxes and fees.
London’s Six Night Fling is an incredible value for six days in an incredible city!
Rome – There is nothing like Rome in the summer months. Just imagine seeing the many historic sites, sipping cappuccinos at a roadside café and shopping in the amazing Italian shops. Well, all that can be a reality with the Rome at Its Best package from Virgin Vacations. Starting at only $899 per person, this package includes round trip airfare, six nights’ hotel accommodations in Rome, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and surcharges, and mandated fuel surcharges.
For July packages, compared with other travel sites we found that Virgin Vacations offers quite a bargain. One package found on a popular website started at $2185 for a mid-July Rome vacation in a standard room at a four star hotel, while a comparable package with Virgin starts at $1829.
With rates this reasonable, Europe in style this summer doesn’t have to be off limits! Book your trip with Virgin Vacations today!
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