Katie Hammel, Author at Europe Up Close

When to Splurge or Save on your Trip

Published/Revised January 6, 2018 By Katie Hammel This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Some budget-minded travelers count every penny on a trip, ensuring that they never go over a carefully planned budget and go as cheap as they can (get some Hitchhiking Tips here!); others prefer not to worry about the costs at all, spending what they want without a limit. Most travelers, however, fall somewhere in the middle. We want to keep costs low but we’re willing to splurge on a few things ... Read Full Article

Europe Packing Advice for Women

Published/Revised April 29, 2018 By Katie Hammel This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

With airline carry-on size allotments shrinking and checked baggage fees soaring, every little bit of luggage space counts. And, packing for a trip to Europe can be a balancing act between bringing the necessities while not using precious space for non-essentials. Our packing advice for women: sort through your must-take travel items, taking only what you will really need, while leaving what you ... Read Full Article

What You Need to Know About Icelandic Cuisine

Published/Revised November 19, 2017 By Katie Hammel This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

When most tourists think of Icelandic cuisine, they tend to picture the country’s slightly less appetizing foods. There’s the rotten shark, which Anthony Bourdain claimed was one of the worst things he’d ever eaten, as well as boiled sheep's head, and Brennivin, a liquor affectionately nicknamed the “black death.” Hungry yet? While these traditional foods make the travel shows, there’s much more ... Read Full Article

Why Take a Europe River Cruise?

Published/Revised November 17, 2018 By Katie Hammel This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

River cruising has been growing in popularity for the last two decades, with more and more cruise companies and ships plying the great rivers of Europe. Taking a Europe river cruise appeals to a wide range of travelers, which also makes it especially great for a multi-generational trip. Whether you’re traveling with your kids, parents, grandparents, or the whole extended family, river cruising ... Read Full Article

Creating and Sticking to a Travel Budget

Published/Revised May 27, 2016 By Katie Hammel This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

No traveler wants to count pennies while on their dream trip, but the reality is that most of us can’t afford to throw out our budgets and deal with the fallout once we’re back at home. While creating--and sticking to--a travel budget isn’t glamorous, it’s also not that difficult. With a bit of pre-planning, some organization, and, most importantly, a little self-discipline, making and abiding by ... Read Full Article

Exploring Iceland in a Camper-Van

Published/Revised November 20, 2017 By Katie Hammel This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Iceland is known as a great road-trip destination, thanks to an abundance of beautiful landscapes and an easy-to-follow route, the Ring Road, that circles the island. For those who want to make the most of their time on the road, but aren’t quite ready to rough it in a tent, exploring Iceland in a camper-van rental is a great way to go. Here’s what you need to know about planning a road trip in ... Read Full Article

Cheese, Chocolate and Wine – Three Ways to Savor Switzerland

When one thinks of the great foodie destinations of Europe; Spain, Italy, and France seem to come to mind first. But Switzerland has culinary charms of its own. In addition to the renowned cheeses of the region (which hardly resemble the hole-ridden Swiss cheese of American supermarkets), Switzerland produces some of the finest chocolate in the world and local winemakers quietly create quality ... Read Full Article

A Tapas Tour of Northern Spain

Published/Revised June 12, 2014 By Katie Hammel This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Tapas. Pinxtos. Or less formally, little bites of Spanish goodness. There are plenty of reasons to go to Spain; tapas just happen to be the tastiest. In northern Spain, typical tapas styles and the dishes that represent them can vary widely, as can the protocol for ordering and eating them in different regions. Here’s a primer on enjoying these small bites in three northern ... Read Full Article

Eating Well in Europe on a Budget

For many people (this writer included) one of the main joys of traveling is sampling all the culinary wonders of a new cuisine. It can be hard to reconcile a small budget with a big appetite, but with a little creativity, you can stretch your travel dollars and enjoy all the tasty delights a country has to offer, without going over budget. Create a Budget Decide how much you want to ... Read Full Article

Surviving a Long Distance Flight

Published/Revised July 18, 2015 By Katie Hammel This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

It’s safe to say that for most people, flying is the least fun part of any trip. And the longer the flight, the less enjoyable it is, especially for those of us unlucky enough to be seated in coach. The seats are cramped, the food is mediocre, and chances are there’s a screaming baby sitting next to you. How do you survive without going insane? Pack the following items in your carry-on and you ... Read Full Article