Cheap travel from NYC to Europe

Hi everybody.

Hope you are having a good week and I hope that if you are using your Christmas money to buy airline tickets to Europe that you are finding some good deals. I feel like the fares have dropped in the last weeks and cheap travel to Europe is more possible than it was just a few weeks ago! So that is good news for all of us.

I am not =( traveling for the holidays this year, but in keeping up with the trends and watching the fares, it feels like a good time to buy cheap airline tickets and hopefully the other things that go along with travel which must be bought. With not-so-rosy projections for next year's economy (again!), perhaps the airline companies are starting to loosen up a bit in order to sell some tickets to people like me who don't have to travel, but sure would like to if we can find some decent prices. If you are reading this, that probably includes you!

I just came across some fares that are A+ for any season. Now I'm not usually looking for cheap travel to Europe from the East Coast but I let myself wander over there today. Usually, I don't have the time or energy to find another miracle from the mid-west to the right coast like I used to back in the day. But if you do have time and desire to do that or if you are already leaving from New York City, give it a try. I found a doosy (apparently not a word according to spell check!) today. It's out of La Guardia to London Heathrow back to JFK airport, which adds surprise to my shock. Definitely the cheapest flights I've seen from La Guardia to Heathrow!! If you don't want to come back into JFK for whatever reason, that's a catch...

OK, so maybe you're not from New York, in which case you might like these fares better because some people--ok all people-- who live in NYC either love one or two airports and hate the other(s) with a passion and would rather take a train to Philadelphia or something than go out of x airport! What about tagging on a couple days to the trip to see NYC while you're at it? There is so much hotel capacity that there is almost always space (ok, maybe not New Year's Eve, but you know) and you can find a deal. You can check out some prices on cheaphotelsinnewyork.co.uk. Get an extra night or two and get good sleep and be ready to start the long trip to Europe. At $500 (and change) per person to London, you are saving a bundle on the airline tickets! From that perspective, the days in NYC may become a freebie add-on.

So without further ado, here it is:

La Guardia (LGA) -London Heathrow (LHR)- JFK airport for $517 including taxes!!

Details details! It's going out on Air Canada through Montreal (I've heard of them cutting rates before like this) and coming back on... Swiss Air through Geneva to JFK airport (not LGA!!). The dates I put in were January 18 through February 1, 2011 (yes, I could use a vaca!). These priced out today on Cheapoair.

To me this is just one more sign that the high prices that we have been seeing are coming down just a bit and it may be enough (I hope) that it hits that threshold where many more of us will be out and about traveling in the near future! Happy trails and all the best!

Cheap travel Chicago to Paris

Good morning and Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!

I am seeing some better and better OFFERS for cheap travel in Europe lately. In some cases, the offers were too good to be true (I saw $219 per person one way to Dublin--until I read that that didn't include the $240+ in taxes AND FEES that the site was tagging on!!).

While Dublin is about as good a deal as any in Europe as a gateway cities go, it is still coming in around $650 USD. Based on the going rate this is NOT BAD. In fact, I think that the real travel deal seekers will find sub-$600 fares to Dublin with some patience and flexibility.

But my search for cheap travel to Europe led me to other places this morning and I just thought I would share a pretty good deal I found to Paris-Charles De Gaul (CDG). The price may not knock your socks off, but the outbound is a non-stop and the return has a stop, but good connection in Amsterdam (a nice airport!). SO.... I found Delta flights in late March roundtrip Chicago-Paris-Chicago for $682 per person. As I say, considering the non-stop outbound. The older I get and the more crazy delays and things get, the more I like to get on and get off once.

This one was a late March Tuesday to Tuesday travel, which is a great time for people looking for cheap travel to Europe and I think this Spring will be a nice time to find some deals on airlines desperate to survive the "recession" in a year where the forecasts are already down. The same should go for hotels. I saw a couple for $140 USD a night, which is around 100 EUR a night for a hotel (please don't think I'm talking about hostels or other cheap ways to stay--those are MUCH cheaper--especially staying with old college buddy or something). These are pretty good prices for most European cities, especially Paris.

Good luck, fellow travellers. I will try to post some more good options on cheap travel to Europe soon. Wanted to get this one up while it was fresh. If you are traveling this holiday, be safe and may God protect you!

Tricky cheap travel to Europe

A quick check up on the cheap travel to Europe front (which coincides with a cold front in Europe) and I see my box is full of new offers in an apparent rush to get the end-of-the-year buyers to get their wallets out before Christmas (we wish you a merry.... ok nobody's paid me to sing in a long... ever!) and the New Year (and a happy..... wait for it.... oh forget it).

Yes, that's right. There is cheap travel to Europe to be had, but obviously not before Santa flies across Europe (now that's cheap travel--how much do reindeer eat? Maybe not so cheap after all...). It will be travel this Spring, but I must confess that the rates are not bad at all. There IS cheap travel to be had if your dates are flexible (I know, I know--they always say that!) and you want to go to a price-friendly place.

Some of it is just fluff and advertising. Air Lingus is advertising for under $600 non-stop to Dublin from Chicago but I sure can't find those special dates that the flights are available. But BMI (British Midland) is available to Dublin if you go through London for $548 per person from CHICAGO. Now that's cheap travel to Europe

I would probably go on US Air through Philadelphia for $557 all other things being equal. The dates I plugged in FYI are January 21-28, 2011. So there is cheap travel to Europe this Spring!

LOT of Poland is advertising some pretty impressive fares (from $620 to Poland) but I didn't get any of those from Chicago. The main advantage with them looks like it's not cheap travel to Europe but rather non-stop flights to Poland for a competitive price. In fact, the best rates seen to Warsaw ( I almost wrote I saw to Warsaw-bad!) were $784 with Scandinavian Air Services.. Did I ever tell you about the time I got kicked out of the SAS hotel lobby in... Stockholm? Or was it Helsinki... ah but I digress.

The real reason I wanted to write here is that an old trick in getting cheap travel and cutting ticket prices is to buy tickets to different locations and then get off at the change planes stop. I have to make a disclaimer. Haven't heard what the new rules on this are since 9/11 and wouldn't be surprised if they could tap your phone and look at all your personal files if you get off a plane at a change stop (oh wait, they can do all that stuff anyway)... It may be VERY illegal and you may go to jail.. So I DO NOT recommend it. But back when it wasn't or maybe wasn't, my friend would buy a ticket, for example to Bangor, Maine and just get off in Newark, instead of paying $100 more to just buy a ticket to Newark. He would then just tear out his tickets (paper tickets) between Newark and Maine and come back and get on the plane and go home the next week. All for the bargain price that they were giving to try and get people to go to Maine. So will this work for cheap travel to Europe ? I doubt it for several reasons... Now it's all electronic and the minute you miss a leg or flight it resets your status and if they see that you didn't continue the rest of your ticket is void and invalid. This has also only been a method of cheap travel for people who had carry-on bags, not checked. Although, if you are like "my friend" who used to do this and you are just going to see somebody for a week or weekend, a backpack was plenty. I--I mean my friend-- once even jumped off a plane in Houston (to go see a girl) and left my--uh his-- checked baggage on the plane. He picked it up a few days later at the airport when he got home. It was sitting in the unclaimed luggage section!! OK, so these are a long time ago and pre 9/11. And as I say they probably won't work. But it still can be done (IF IT'S LEGAL) when there are cheap one-way tickets available for cheap travel somewhere that go through the city you want to land and you just have carry-on. If you want to leave comments about this tricky way to find cheap travel to Europe, please feel free to tell me the rules on this. I would be very interested.

What got me thinking about this was checking the prices to Warsaw. Since SAS is cheapest to Warsaw ($784) and it goes through Copenhagen, I wondered how much flights were from Chi-town to Copenhagen? SAS's non-stop flights are $880 roundtrip!! So if you say you are going... quick google maps search... an extra 1016 kilometers to Warsaw, it's $100 per person cheaper!! So if you are with your loved one, it's close to $200 more money. But as I said, my friend who used to do that stuff might not even try it these days (though it's tempting to find a way--I bet he's thinking right now). Another option to Copenhagen from Chicago is BMI for $784, which is less than $100 per person savings, so makes paying bail to get released (after stranding a whole flight while they look for your luggage and check your seats because you acted like a T-rist) more expensive than the money you saved by going straight there. If you are going to Copenhagen, though you can fly to a gateway city and probably save some money.

OK. Thank you for reading and I wish you all luck in finding cheap travel to Europe!

Cheap travel to Europe helpful sites

Hi again.

Hope you are having a great day and a great holiday season. In looking around at the internet, trying to find more and more ways for cheap travel to Europe I thought about the interesting fact that Europe has traditionally drawn the "backpacker crowd." I remember almost 20 years ago now, when I first set out for a summer in Europe. The plane was full of other young people who were excited about spending time in Europe. Maybe it was then that I first fell in love with the hobby of finding cheap travel to Europe and ever since have always had an eye out for a cheap transatlantic flight. I remember a couple of people on the plane who asked me if I was going to Spain. I didn't have that in the plan. They mentioned to me that they would be there during a certain month and they were staying in a community lodging situation and that I would be welcome. They also mentioned how they were going to a city and when I asked where they would stay there, they said "We don't know yet. But we've heard that if you ask around, somebody will help you and it's really easy to find cheap accommodations in Barcelona, so we are just going to find something between now and then. People do it all the time."

Since that time, I've grown up a lot and even though I am still on the hunt for cheap travel to Europe, I usually part ways with the "backpacker crowd" after we get off the plane. However, there are a couple websites that interest me that are more in the travel way of the good old days and I hope will be of help to anyone who is truly seeking cheap travel to Europe . One of them is pretty region specific and isn't in English, which I hope you can get around using an online translator. It's a Southeast Europe site called www.gorivo.com It's basically a car-pool site offering rides or asking for rides. It's in former Yugoslavian languages, so like I say I hope that doesn't deter you too much. The main djist would be something like: Zagreb-Frankfurt, Zagreb-Beograd (Belgrade) or Bec (Vienna) Rijeka. Usually you split the fuel and tolls, but sometimes it's a flat rate or free for the company or extra helping driver. Use an online translator like babelfish or google to see the specifics. BTW gorivo means "fuel" so if that explains anything.... So if you are looking for cheap travel in southeast Europe and don't mind riding with someone, gorivo.com. You can also post that you are driving and get someone to help you with the fuel and tolls. Hope it's helpful.

The other site isn't exactly just for cheap travel in Europe but will work anywhere and you have probably already heard about it, but just in case you haven't: www.couchsurfing.org. This one is all over the world and people just offer to host you so that they can make the world a better place (I guess). Often you can even get an insider's view of the city as they give you tour. This is a similar thing as gorivo.com to share resources, except you have to become a member and it would help to have a few nice reviews from friends. If you could ride with someone and then stay with someone, that will go a long way in making your travel in Europe cheap! Now if we can only get the airlines to all go in on we-got-an-extra-seat.com. Don't hold your breath!

Global Fast Food. Doner Kebab, Danish Pork Sandwich, French Hot Dog

The Doner Kebab.  A global phenomenon, a vertical roasting conglomerate of meat, shaved as you order, and plated with some veggies, a pita, whatever.

Doner kebab, Roskilde, Denmark

We have no corner on the market as to fast foods, street food. 

Find earlier Kebab finds at Turin, Italy: Doner Kebab

For the famous Danish pork sandwich, see http://denmarkroadways.blogspot.com/2010/09/roskilde-best-fast-food.html

And the infamous hot dog, condiments in the cylinder, see Sweden's version at http://swedenroadways.blogspot.com/2011/05/uppsala-korven-med-brod-french-hot-dog_19.html

A new definition of Cheap Travel to Europe

Is it a new era in Cheap Travel to Europe ? What I mean is this: Are my expectations too low (or is it "too high"? *smile*) I think it is a new day.

What I mean is this: In the good old days I wouldn't call something Cheap Travel to Europe unless I could get over to Europe for $600 or less. If it wasn't under this price, it wasn't cheap travel to Europe. It was something else. It was still usually a reasonable deal, but it wasn't CHEAP.

My most recent check was the closest I've come to reaching this price in the past few months. I looked at airberlin from JFK to Berlin and got it for March (20th through the 28th if you're interested) for just under 600... Euros. So I quickly did the currency conversion and since it takes 1.31 US dollars to make a filthy EURO, that put my price at over $780!! So maybe cheap travel to Europe needs to start meaning $800! The first task in finding cheap travel to Europe is getting there If that's the case, I guess I can go back through what I've found and I may realize that I have found Cheap Travel to Europe several times this year. I just didn't recognize it when I saw it. I was looking for the young cheap travel model that attracted me 10 years... OK, it's been more than 10 years ago (hey now, we're all getting older, right?). I was looking for that Cheap Travel to Europe to look just like she did back then. Well news flash. She doesn't. She's gotten a little bigger over the years. Can't tighten the belt like I used to be able to, you know? Hey, it's nobody's fault (well, oil prices haven't helped!). Cheap Travel to Europe isn't what it used to be. So if you are looking for summer travel, you might even want to put your sights on something around $1000 and change the rules to call that "cheap travel to Europe." Especially if you live left of the East Coast at all. Let's face it: these days cheap travel might be well over $1000 if you are going into the middle or east part of Europe from the middle or west part of US during the high season. So I guess it's only fair that the fare plus taxes (BTW September 11 fees don't help either!) is rising and I can't spend hours and hours looking for a $600 solution any more. It isn't a find, but more like a miracle. Cheap travel to Europe isn't as cheap as it used to be.

Cheap Travel Europe Late Fall Snapshot

Hello! Thought I would give a quick snapshop of late Fall and Early Winter Cheap Travel to Europe.

I don't see any offers that I can't pass up right now.

Yes, Virgin Atlantic came up advertising some "cheap travel" but the taxes and exchange rate from dollar to pound right now are apparently not helping and I got rates of over $600 USD between London and New York! They are advertising for about $250, but when you read it, that's one way (I know, I know, it's called marketing). Made me look.

The fares look more friendly in the Spring. I found rates between Chicago and Vienna (right into the heart of Europe!) for $617 on United Tuesday to Tuesday. Spring break anyone? This is cheap travel into Central Europe, especially when you consider that Aer Lingus from Chicago to Dublin for those dates is $567, which makes it seem like a flight from UK to the mainland for just $50!!

These rising rates may push more people to start using their credit cards to rack up frequent flier miles and try to get free tickets! Remember when the fuel prices were so high and air fares went up? Well, oil went back down a bit but the airfares haven't. =)

Oppression - Restricted Experiences. Then Usual Gender activities

Oppression

Slovakia.

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We found fine, warm people, but

• Photo inside a supermarket.  We were not allowed even to take a picture inside the supermarket to show back home how alike theirs are to ours.  No! Arms waving. Stop.  And 
• Sex Trafficking, Farm. out in the country, across the border about half an hour from Hungary, Sign, in English, Sex Farm. A paved road, but a farmland-unsettled area, flat in all directions, some hedgerows, little woods, and a dirt road going off to the left. Nowhere to run. Arrow pointing the way off-road. And the road just went on and on until it disappeared. No getting away from there.  And guess the nationality of the clientele. We did not stop. 
• Otherwise great stay. But there are watchers.

Usual gender activities:

On the more predictable, moneymaking side:

 Passed this little red house need the border from Switzerland to Liechtenstein. Sign for the activities inside in general.

The Red House, Switzerland

• Overnight at a "zimmer" (rooms above a pub, main road) for a room, between Vienna and Bratislava. Had supper, went upstairs, then saw that the room had no curtains, bathroom no door. Just turn off the lights and sleep. Slow night. Good food, friendly people but the function rooms are clearly that. No curtains, and the parking lot below? 

Woman Sass. Equal Opportunity, Gender Equality, Gender Parity, Sass

Woman's armor, Chillon Castle, Switzerland (second from left.

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Woman's armor (left) Thun Castle Museum, Switzerland

The life after the wedding.  She works, he writes. Mariaplain Convent, Salzburg, Austria

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Woman in britches, sass finger signal, Sonderborg Castle furnishing, DK

Woman sass. Body language, hand and finger gestures: two fingers up can mean rudity crudity, see http://www.simplybodylanguage.com/finger-gesture.html.

 

Traffic control

Traffic opportunities, issues.

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 Ultimate Off-Road. San Bernardino Pass, Alps, Switzerland side (no injuries).

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Napoleon crossed the Alps here and also had problems. Here, the motorcycle won. The Grand San Bernardino Pass.

Traffic-calming on a budget, Thal, Austria 

Just put out some square planters in the road, add pretty flowers, and make the cars go around; or stop for each other. This is Arnold Schwarzenegger's home town. The idea actually works. Economical, effective, pulchritudinous.
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Here is Poland, telling you to slow down:

Poland. Budget-friendly speed non-trap

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Here is Switzerland, telling you to slow down.

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Switzerland. Budget-friendly speed non-trap.

That fake one aimed at the bikers, at an Altdorf repair shop.

A Fall Breakthrough for those seeking Cheap Travel to Europe

Are prices to Europe FALLing this Autumn? Perhaps.

Greetings, fellow travelers and bargain hunters! A little Saturday morning stroll through the airfares presents a nice opportunity I thought I would pass on.

Looking first of all for a one of our Gateway Cities, I decided on Chicago. My in-laws live there (and I like them, so that's a positive thing, not a negative one!) and can drop me off.

Arrival city: One of my faves since Ryanair will be waiting on the other side to get me to most of Europe: Dublin.

So Chicago to Dublin.

November 11-21st on Delta, there are flights (through NYC) for a very reasonable price of (drumroll):

Total airfare, taxes and fees: $ 570.30

This one is on Delta and got it on Orbitz (no I'm still not getting any love from them for sharing this). Delta might do it directly on their website, too. Didn't check (it's Saturday!)

Now go find yours!

Note added September 26. Several airlines have joined the fray. Just saw ORD-DUB for $560 with taxes on US Airways!! Dates were Nov. 10-18, which might account for the price difference. Still, not bad!

Weekend Getaway September 2010 Cheap Travel in Europe

The seasons for cheap travel to Europe are quickly approaching. OK. Actually, they are HERE. That's right. Any season except summer is a good time to find cheap travel to Europe



So I am looking for a couple good weekend getaways. I would like to go for around 100 EURO roundtrip... Assuming I'm already in Europe.

The first one to catch my eye is Easy Jet between London and Split Croatia. My dates are September 23-26, 2010. The price with Luggage is 224 EURO and it's in and out of Gatwick, which is preferable anyway. Still a little bit too much of the money.

Let's see. .cheap travel to Europe is what I am looking for. Aren't you?

BUT if you are willing to go RyanAir and go out of Stansted (which might be difficult), AND go to Zadar instead of Split (somehow I've got Croatia on my mind), you can go for just 110 GBP. If you are doing the roundtrip from Zadar to London during our dates (actually they don't fly Tues and Thurs, so 24th-26th). Interesting if I were already in Zadar and just wanted to go to London for the weekend, the price is only 95 EUROs. They are making more off the British!

I'm not that satisfied with these... are you?

Check back for cheaper deals.

Cheapest flights from the midwest to Europe

So I just looked up cheapest flights from Chicago this fall. I am not satisfied with what I found to the mainland. Not satisfied. Germany is coming in around $700 with all the taxes. Some flights start at $308 but add the taxes/fees and their more than the ones that start around $450! Buyer beware!

Finding cheap travel to Europe won't be easy right now.

But my old standby, Dublin, is also close to 700 at 687 USD. SO I guess the prices are just not really cheap right now. So... depending where you're going... go into the mainland. Or better yet, wait for some better prices! "Fall"ing prices hopefully soon this autumn!

Travel Tips for Reykjavik Iceland Where to Eat Sleep and Tour in Iceland

You may think that Iceland is rather a complicated place to go to and one of Europe’s more popular tourist destinations is easier and quicker to reach and navigate but you’d be wrong! Iceland lies between Boston and London and takes about 4 hours to reach either from the U.S. or Europe. 

The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik has all the tourist amenities and conveniences as any other popular tourist destination but is not as over run or as over done.

You will find Iceland a refreshing travel destination with some unexpected plus points, like the beautiful women, the raving nightlife on weekends and the breath taking scenery and natural wonders.

These travel tips are just some interesting points which I picked up on during my visit to Reykjavik, Iceland and they may make your trip to Iceland more pleasurable.

1. Weather and visiting Reykjavik, Iceland in the winter

Although cold in the winter don’t think you have to go during the summer. The winters have been mild in the past 5 years, with hardly any snow fall in the south, although you still get the snow capped mountains and icy glaciers. This means you can still easily navigate the roads around Reykjavik during the winter even if you are not used to driving in winter conditions. Traveling to Reykjavik, Iceland in winter also means a chance to see the northern lights, cheaper prices, fewer tourists and all the tourist attractions are still open. The only things you would miss out on if traveling in winter to Reykjavik, Iceland is the whale watching and Puffin birds.

2. Whale watching in winter in Reykjavik, Iceland

There are whale watching tours during the winter but you are more likely to see dolphins. We took a whale watching tour in Reykjavik during January and enjoyed the boat trip, although you need to go knowing you will most likely not see the mighty mammal. If you can look at it simply as a pleasant trip along the Icelandic coast then do it but if you have your heart set on seeing a whale then rather go in the summer months to avoid disappointment. We did however see a school of about 100 dolphins who ducked and dived around the boat and that was great.

3. Neighborhood ice cream parlor in Reykjavik, Iceland

Using the tourist map of the city of Reykjavik which every hotel hands out, follow your nose and taste buds to this small neighborhood ice cream shop which overflows with locals and plenty of character. Get away from Reykjavik’s main street for a while, about a 20 minute walk west and you will find an ice cream parlor run by a regular mum. The place is small but locals love it. You can have regular ice cream or frozen milk, and either come topped or blended with a variety of about 30 toppings. You will find it at: 67 Hagamel Street and can read more about the most popular reykjavik ice cream parlor here. Don’t miss out on all the wierd and wonderful traditional Icelandic foods as well!

4. Where to stay in Reykjavik, Iceland

Look at a map and choose a hotel walking distance from the main street - Laugavegur . Reykjavik is spread out with many of the hotels being far from the main street which buzzes with cafes, pubs, restaurants and all the amenities you will need. Although many trips to Reykjavik consist of simply staying at a hotel and then being picked up everyday from your hotel and being taken on an adventure into the incredible Icelandic nature, you may want to leave your hotel at some point for a coffee, a beer or simply to window shop. If your hotel is not close to the center you will have a hard time getting to the center as buses are not that regular and there are plenty of hotels to choose from around the main part of town. Don’t miss out on the Reykjavik nightlife and café culture by choosing a hotel too far away from the center. I recommend one of the Centerhotel chain hotels, Thingholt, Plaza or Klopp, all of which are central, and vary in price range, there is also a hostel right on the main drag.

5. The Golden Circle Tour, Reykjavik, Iceland

Combine your trip to the Golden Circle with some other attraction. Although the Golden Circle is exciting, unusual and breathtaking you will find that it takes a while to reach the attractions along the way as you come from Reykjavik, however if you have some other distraction it makes the day just that bit more special. You can combine the Golden Circle tour with snowmobile riding, glacier climbing, super jeep rides, horse riding and even snorkeling or diving. We did the snorkeling and it just broke the monotony of driving from one site to another getting out, being amazed, taking a photo and returning to the van. A note about superjeep riding, ask your tour operator if the jeep will actually be going off road, otherwise you might as well be in a car or van.

6. Reykjavik, Iceland tours

I had read many times on the net that there is no need to book tours before you leave home, but I found this hard to believe and went ahead and booked all our tours in advance. Once in Reykjavik I found that there were other tour options, tours that combined tours I had booked separately and that we needed some breathing space between tours. So definitely don’t book all your tours in advance. However book your first day’s tour and any special tours that you are scared to miss out on. The hotel reception or the local tourist information can book tours for you on the spot. For example there is no need to book northern lights tours too far in advance. We even booked a tour which was leaving in 20 minutes time, and they came to pick us up from the hotel.

Writer: Petal Mashraki

Source

Head to Helsinki This Summer!

How does the seaside capital of one of northern Europe’s most distinct countries, Finland feel like?

Some people experience Helsinki as unpresumptuous and cool while others think it is delightfully retro. 70% of Finland’s foreign business happens here, 10% of the Helsinki population of 584 420 were born abroad and they speak 132 languages.

A quarter of the population of the country, 29% of jobs, eight universities, six technology parks, and a third of Finland’s GDP can be found in and around Helsinki, founded in 1550.

How to Go Around Helsinki

At 42 € for 48 hours and giving unlimited travel on the excellent public transport system and with free access to 50 museums, the Helsinki Card is a great bargain.

Wake up with coffee and breakfast at Café Esplanad (Pohjoisesplanadi 37) or Café Strindberg (Pohjoisesplanadi 33).

A short walk away is one of the market squares, Kauppatori, full of tourists browsing handicrafts stalls. Locals buy fish, fruits or vegetable in this popular open-air marketplace overlooked by the red brick built Russian Orthodox Uspensky Cathedral on Katajanokka Island.

On the Senate Square, walk up the high flock of steps of the huge white Lutheran cathedral to get a beautiful panoramic city-view.

19th century neoclassic buildings like the imposing main building of the Helsinki University are around the square. A small side street, Sofiankatu, is paved with cobblestones and has street signs in Russian first, Swedish next and Finnish last as it was two hundred years ago. The stately parliament house built with red granite has a modern annex and modern glass buildings opposite.

Classical art-lovers shouldn’t miss the Ateneum Art Museum with Finnish art from the 18th century to the 1960s and foreign art from the 19th century onwards. Modern art-lovers have the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, an ultra-modern building designed by American architect Steven Holl. The National Museum, has an interactive exhibition to take you through Finnish history. Temppeliaukion Kirkko, a church hewed out of solid granite rock with a rolled copper roof hosts many concerts and is a tourist must see. You don’t need to have children tagging along to scream in childish delights at Linnanmäki amusement park. Many parks in Helsinki, like Esplanade park provide free WLAN Internet, so you can sit there in the sun with your laptop, people watching and posting updates on Facebook.

Helsinki has a glitzy and pricy Flamingo if you want that spa kind of pampering. The wood fired Kotiharjun Sauna (Harjutorinkatu 1) is a dare for the culturally brave. The Russians prescribe vodka for solving all the problems of life. The Finns use the sauna to that end. With separate saunas for men and women, the traditional relaxation solves all the problems of life, but no drinking alcohol in the sauna. You can experience swimming naked at the classical Roman style baths round the year at Yrjönkatu pools. Separate places and times for men and women. The Finnish Sauna society has eight different kinds of saunas for you to brag about back at home.

Suomenlinna is a UNESCO-listed group of islands only a 15-minute ferry ride away and Seurasaari is an open-air museum (in summer) a short bus-ride away with farmhouses, churches and manors to show how people lived in Finland hundreds of years ago.

FOOD, DRINKS and NIGHT-LIFE in Helsinki

The not-so-cheap restaurant Aino (Pohjoisesplanadi 21) serves excellent Finnish food. Lappi (Annankatu 22) and Saaga (Bulevardi 34B) serve exotic Lappish cuisine. Jailbird, located in a former prison is a restaurant for people who want to pay for dining in a jail.

The young party bums should check out Baarikärpänen (Mikonkatu 1), Fever (Annankatu 32) and KY Klubi (Pohjoinen Rautatienkatu 21). Seasoned partygoers try the following: Ahjo (Bulevardi 2/4), Fennia (Mikonkatu 19). Then there’s Millionaire’s Club (Kaivokatu 12) or Gentleman’s Club (Iso Roobertinkatu 4-6) for the really naughty men.

For gay and lesbian clientele, Bar Loop, the trendy Jenny Woo, Hercules nightclub, DTM offers you free WLAN, Mann’s Street is for real Finnish men who happen to be gay.

In the last two decades small boutiques in Helsinki have moved over to shopping centres like in all major cities. In summer, Helsinki is full of tourists - Americans coming in large cruise ships, Russians from Moscow and St Petersburg coming for bargains and for holidaying, the Japanese strolling around and buying Finnish design clothes at Marimekko. Check the latest on what’s happening in Helsinki from the Trip Advisor

WEATHER in Helsinki

When you come up so far north, weather can be very fickle, so dress appropriately. The average Helsinki daytime temperature is 17c in July and the daylight hours are around 20 hours then. Nights can be cooler. Check the latest weather here 

Two Finnish words Anteeksi (excuse me/sorry) check pronunciation here and Kiitos (Thanks) check pronunciation here will help you a lot. Most of the people in Helsinki speak a fair amount of English.

As a city, Helsinki symbolises the Finn’s penchant for the understatement. 

Source: factoidz.com

A Tourist Guide to Bruges, Belgium : the Venice of the North

Bruges can be considered as a crown jewel in Belgium and is located in the northwestern part of this small country of Europe. 

This beautiful city is the capital and largest city of West Flanders and attracts yearly more than 2 millions of tourists from all places over the world. Bruges is one of the most popular medieval cities all over the world and its historic center of is recognized by the UNESCO as world heritage center since 2000. Het Brugs beertje (the little Bruges bear) is the symbol of Bruges and represent, according to a legend, the oldest inhabitant of Bruges.

Bruges is also called “the Venice of the North” because this city has plenty picturesque canals which flow together in the River Reie. A boat trip on the Reie will show you why Bruges is called the Venice of the north and may never be missed if you visit Bruges. It is a boat trip of 30 minutes where you pass many bridges and you can view the most important buildings and places of Belgium. You will surely enjoy such boat trip because the driver informs you about the history and tells funny anecdotes which even many habitants of Belgium don’t know.

Traveling to Bruges can best be done by train because it is difficult to find a parking in this beautiful city of Belgium. The streets are narrow and often covered with cobblestones and it is already an art to drive with your car in Bruges. From the station, you can start your walk through the square‘t Zand which is located close to the shopping streets and the historical buildings. It is only a 5 minute walk from the station and you view as first the new concert hall which is built in red and a little bit further the fountain with sculptures by Stefaan De Puydt and Livia Canestraro.

From there; you can take the bus to the Market square to start your tour in Bruges. The market square in Bruges can be called the heart of this medieval city and you can already view from there the Belfry, which is likely the most famous monument in Bruges. The tower of the Belfry which dates back from the 13th century has a height of 88 meters and you need to climb 365 steps to reach the top and to view the impressive clock mechanism. From there, you have a breathtaking view of the entire city Bruges.

The Market square is surrounded by Guild houses, the Provincial Court (built in neo-gothic style), terraces and other beautiful houses.

In the middle of the market place, you can see the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter De Koninck which remind us the battle of Golden Spurs.

The Minnewater (Love Lake) and its lovely Minnewater Park can be considered as the most romantic place in Bruges. Most tourists will certainly visit this lovely park. No matter, when you visit this park you will always see some swans and ducks on the lake. The swan is also called the symbol of Bruges. The Minnewater Park is a peaceful place in Bruges where you can take a rest and for lovers the place to be for some moments romantic. You will often meet lovers who kiss each other in this beautiful Minnewater Park. It is the perfect place to be if you search a destination to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Behind the Minnewater Park, you can view the Beguinage. The Beguinage of Bruges (also called Beguinage “Ter Weyngaerde” was founded by Margaretha of Constantinople, the Countess of Flanders in 1245. It is peaceful and quiet place in Bruges and reflects a group of white houses surrounded with large trees. The Beguinage became a monastery in 1937 with Benedict sisters. The most beautiful period of the year to visit the Beguinage is April when daffodils are blooming. The beguinage is one of the most photographed places in Bruges.

Bruges is also a city of many churches and cathedrals. The Church of Our Lady is the most impressive one and has been built from the 13th until the 15th century. The exterior of this church is built in a gothic style while the interior is in a baroque style. The tower of this beautiful church has a height of 122 meters. One of the most famous art treasures in this gothic church is the sculpture of Madonna and child made by Michelangelo in Carrara Marble. The splendid tombstones of Mary von Burgundy are another reason why so many tourists visit this impressive gothic church in Bruges. The Saint Salvador Cathedral in Bruges is another important church in Bruges and originally not built with the intention to become a cathedral in Bruges. Saint Salvador was originally built as a paris church in 850. Nowadays the Saint Salvador Cathedral is a gothic cross church.

Bruges has also many museums and the Memling Museum (nowadays called Saint Jan Hospital) is likely the most impressive one. This museum exhibits 6 works of Hans Memling and the Shrine of St. Ursula is the most admired masterpiece. The other masterpiece which is exhibited in this museum is “the Altarpiece of Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the evangelist”. The Groeninge museum is another important museum and known as the museum of fine art. This museum collects arts work from the 14th until the 20th century.

It is also worthwhile to visit the Chocolate Museum: Choco Story. Belgium is well-known for its excellent chocolate and they inform you in this museum about the history of the chocolate and the process of making chocolate. You can also taste some chocolate and it’s certainly the place to be for chocolate lovers. Bruges is the only city in the world where you have more than 50 shops of chocolate in such a small area.

Bruges is also a city of beautiful statues. The most famous statues are these of Jan Breydel and Piet De Koninck, Hans Memling, the Apocalyptic Rider, Albert I, Jan Van Eyck, the “Brugs Beertje (the Bruges little bear), Guido Gezelle, Madonna and Child, Jacob van Maerlant and many others.

An often forgotten place to visit in Bruges is the side along the channel where you can view windmills. You can make a riverside walk to the east and visit the two windmills which are left. It is a quiet area and you can enjoy some beautiful sights. When you walk a little bit further, you can visit the Guido Gezelle museum where you can view documents, books, souvenirs of the Flemish poet Guido Gezelle. The Guido Gezelle Museum in Bruges is located in the house where the poet Guido Gezelle was born.

Many popular events, which attract visitors from all places of the world, are organized in Bruges. The Holy Blood Procession is an annual event which is organized in the month May on Ascension Day. It is a colorful parade where almost 1500 habitants of Bruges show the history of the relic of the Holy Blood. This parade memorizes the relic of the Holy Blood which was brought to Bruges by the Count of Flanders in 1149. The Parade of the Holy Blood shows as well scenes from the Bible as the relic of the Holy Blood to Bruges through the Count of Flanders.

Every 5 years, the Pageant of the Golden Tree takes place in August. This Parade commemorates the marriage between Charles the Bold and Margaret of York in 1468. This popular event, organized in the center of Bruges, the Venice of the North, represent the history and origin of the houses of Flanders and Burgundy. Many actors, dancers, singers show as well the romantic scenes of the marriage as the medieval scenes.

The Festival of Flanders is a musical event which takes place every year in the months July and August. This musical event is organized in cathedrals, churches, abbeys, concert halls and belfries. The festival of Flanders in Bruges is especially famous for its international Musica Antiqua competitions.

Bruges is a wonderful place in Belgium and can be considered as a city for all seasons. You best spend a few days in Bruges to discover all the beauties of the Venice of the North. It is not only a place for sightseeing but you also can enjoy the excellent cuisine and everyone will certainly enjoy the best Belgian chocolate. Bruges has many hotels for every budget and you may never forget to drink a Brugge Tripple, a typical beer of Bruges. Bruges is a popular travel destination for travelers from all places of the world. This city, well known as the Venice of the North, can be considered as the number one in your top ten places to visit in Belgium and many will choose this destination certainly in their list of top ten places to visit in Europe.

Willy Lustenhouwer, an habitant of Bruges made a song of the beauty of Bruges. This song "Brugge die scone" and sung in the Westflemish dialect descrbes perfectly how beautiful Bruges is. You can enjoy the video with a tour of the beauties of Bruges with the voice of Willy Lustenhouwer and the song : Brugge, die scone (The beauty of Bruges).

Bruges is beautiful from the morning until the evening. It is charming, lovely, romantic and has many popular places of interest. Everyone can enjoy Bruges; there are attractions for everyone. Bruges has always kept the medieval image of the city. The cobblestones streets, the medieval buildings, the canals make Bruges unique and the quantity of tourists proofs that Bruges a top travel destination is in Europe.

Source factoidz

Beautiful Popular Landmark Tourist Attractions in Germany

According to the German Tourism Association these eight buildings are the most visited landmark tourist attractions in Germany.

The list is for landmark buildings only and does not include places like the Black Forest or the city of Berlin or Europa-Park which in total probably see more tourists than these landmark buildings. All of these beautiful buildings are popular tourist attractions in Germany today and all have fascinating rich histories and are well worth seeing by anyone traveling to Germany. Indeed a trip to Germany will not be complete for tourists without seeing these beautiful landmark tourist attractions.

Cologne Cathedral 

 

The beautiful Cologne Cathedral is visited by over 7 million tourists a year. That works out to an astonishing 20,000 visitors per day. Cologne Cathedral was built from 1248 to 1880 and has the 2nd tallest church spires in the world. Located in Cologne, Germany this Roman Catholic church is the 15th largest church in the world today.

The Reichstag

The Reichstag building is located in Berlin and was built from 1884 to 1894 for the purpose of housing the parliament of Germany called the Reichstag. A purpose the building filled until 1933 when a fire in the building was used as an excuse by the Nazis to essentially ignore and override the Reichstag or Parliament of Germany. After the fire the Reichstag building became a ruin until it was repaired in 1961-1964 and then renovated to its present glorious form in 1992. When the Berlin Wall fell and the the country of Germany was unified in 1990 the unification ceremony was held at the Reichstag building which is located close to the wall in what was West Berlin. Today the magnificent Reichstag building is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Berlin.

Hofbrauhaus in Munich 

Hofbrauhaus is a large brewery or beer hall in Munich owned by the state government that receives some 1.8 million visitors per year most of whom come to the brewery building beer hall in the fall for the Oktoberfest. The original brewery building or Hofbrauhaus am Platzl dates dates back to 1607. The beer hall building was completely remodeled in 1897 and then again in 1958 and only serves its own brewed beer and is located right in the heart of Munich not far from most hotels so tourists celebrating Oktoberfest do not have to travel far while loaded up with beer.

Heidelberg Castle

Heidelberg Castle is a massive ruin of a medieval castle sitting on a hillside overlooking the city of Heidelberg in southwestern Germany. The original castle dates back to before 1200 and from that time until the 1700’s Heidelberg Castle was home to a number of kings and royalty and was often being rebuilt or destroyed depending upon who was in power and how good they were at holding off their enemies. Heidelberg Castle has been a tourist attraction for a long time at least since the 1800’s when French writer Victor Hugo fell in love with the place and wrote about its history. Today renovations are ongoing at the castle which is visited by some 3 million tourists per year. The castle is also a popular wedding spot and a magnificent architectural structure to behold.

Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria

Neuschwanstein Castle is a spectacular Romanesque Revival building located atop a rugged hilltop in southwestern Bavaria, Germany. The castle was built beginning in 1869 by King Ludwig II as a temple of friendship to his friend the German composer and conductor Richard Wagner whose music the king loved. King Ludwig died in 1886 having lived in the castle for only 174 days and Wagner who died in 1883 never even stepped foot in Neuschwanstein Castle. As soon as the king died the castle was opened up to tourists and at least 60 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle. Today some 1.3 million people visit Neuschwanstein Castle which was the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castles at Disney theme parks.

Zwinger Palace in Dresden

Zwinger Palace is a magnificent German Baroque building located in the city of Dresden in eastern Germany. Zwinger Palace was built beginning in 1710 for Frederick Augustus also known as Frederick the Strong who had visited Louis XIV at the Palace of Versailles and wanted a similar palace for himself. Zwinger Palace suffered great damage during WW II but has since been rebuilt and today is a beautiful tourist attraction in Germany that draws well over 1 million visitors per year.

Fernsehturm Tower in Berlin 

The Fernsehturm Tower is a 1,207 foot high observation tower that is a very popular tourist attraction located in the center of the city of Berlin, Germany. The tower was built from 1965-1969 by the East German Communist Government as a symbol of East Berlin and a television tower. Ironically the Fernsehturm Tower became something of an embarrassment to the Communists who did not believe in religion because when the sun shines on the stainless steel dome of the tower the reflection forms a very visible cross.

Today over 1 million people a year visit the Fernsehturm Tower which has two elevators to lift the tourists up to the observation deck for fantastic views of Berlin and as far away as 26 miles on a clear day. There is also a rotating restaurant where visitors can eat with a fabulous view.

Aachen Cathedral or the Imperial Cathedral 

The Aachen Cathedral which is also called the Imperial Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in western Germany in the city of Aachen. Built beginning in 792 by the Emperor Charlemagne the Aachen Cathedral was renovated around 1100 and restored in 1881. When Charlemagne died in 814 his remains were placed in a vault in Aachen Cathedral with Charlemagne’s body placed sitting on a throne with a golden crown on his head and holding a scepter in his gloved hand. His remains were placed in a casket in the vault in 1215. Aachen Cathedral was the church of coronation for 30 kings and 12 queens which earned it the name of Imperial Cathedral. Today the Aachen Cathedral is a very popular tourist attraction in Germany that sees over 1 million visitors per year.

Europe Travel

Travel Guide : Essential Things for Your Carry-on and Luggage Bags

Planning your travel is the first and foremost activity before a scheduled trip whether it is for business or personal purposes....

Careful planning will save you from forgetting something (imagine the stress when it happens), and for unexpected buying of necessary things which is usually costly at destinations. Here are some tips on planning, and a list of essential things to bring :

Write it down. There is no better way to start planning than making a list of things to do and things to bring. This will guide us through the whole preparation process.

Travel lightly. Every traveler do not want to be bothered about carrying a burden of luggage, so make it a goal to pack all things as lightly as possible.

Things for Carry-On Bag

For carry-on bag, it is advisable to have a large outsize zippered compartments as well as multiple compartments inside.

Airline tickets, passport, visa, tour vouchers, travel insurance (give copies of your travel insurance and itinerary to any of your relatives or trusted person in case of emergency), a list of contact details ( or have it saved in your mobile) of your accommodation, relatives, or any business contacts at destination.

Valuables such cash, credit cards, traveler’s checks, keys, and jewelry. Other valuables such as camera or if you opt to bring a notebook computer.

Basic personal things and toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, makeup and lipstick (for women), comb or brush, tissue, sunglasses or eyeglasses, contact lenses (with case and solution), mobile phone, religious items (if the traveler used to carry these items), small writing pad and pen.

Handy personal books or other reading material to keep you occupied while waiting on line or for any flight delays.

Bring some cookies or chocolates to keep your energy until the airline in-flight meals are served.

Essential Things for Luggage

Make sure that your luggage bag is just enough for your things, some travelers also prefer to have a distinct color rather than the common colors such as black and blue. This will help you easily spot your luggage during arrival. Make sure luggage tag is complete with your name and correct contact details.

Essential toiletries. Bring small containers of your toiletries and take only as much as you need. Zip-lock plastic bags are useful for small things and compressing the items.

On clothing, bring enough underwear and socks up to the last day of the trip. Choose clothes that are neutral colors, and can easily mix and match. Carry a light trench coat so you can still manage to bring your carry-on bags.

Bring two pair of shoes. Wear one and pack one. Traveling usually takes a lot of walking so make sure that you have a good pair of walking shoes to fully enjoy your trip.

For men : a travel electric shaver

For women: cosmetics kit and other beauty regimen products that might not be available at destination place.

For overseas trip, check the country voltage in advance. It is always safe to bring a 110/220 volt power converters.

An emergency medical kit that contains basic medicines for a cold remedy, upset-stomach, band-aids, and liniment oil to warm the body.

Always check airline luggage policies to avoid hassles at the airport.

Europe Travel